Thursday 29 October 2015

Spectre: Bond, Bellucci & menopause




Last monday was the world premiere of the latest James Bond movie, Spectre. From now on, this film is also shown in the Dutch cinemas. Monday was the world premiere of the latest James Bond movie, Spectre. From now on, this film is also shown in the Dutch cinemas. Of course I look forward to the adventures of the fine Daniel Craig, but my particular interest goes to the role of Monica Bellucci, the oldest Bond girl ever.

That Bond in Spectre falls for the charms of an older woman, is only logical for Craig. In The Red Bulletin, he says: 'I think you mean the charms of a woman his own age. We're talking about Monica Bellucci, for heaven's sake. When someone like that wants to be a Bond girl, you just count yourself lucky!'

In the same interview, he indicates that he finds James Bond very misogynistic and that the viewer can't learn anything from him.

Monica Bellucci made also some bold statements in the interviews she gave to promote the film. She says that it took only a little effort to get in shape for her role as Bond girl. A few days without her beloved pasta was sufficient. Her advice: 'Eat well, drink well, have good sex and laugh a lot. The rest comes all by itself.'

That Bellucci is getting older, it is no big deal for her. In the Daily Mail, she says she's looking forward to all the developments that are associated with aging. Wearing glasses is fun and also with the menopause, she foresees no problems. She expects that her body will be taken aback, but after a year it will be over.

I hope so much that she's right. Because I know because this list of all the problems that the  menopause can bring:

hot flashes - weight gain - irregular periods - lower libido - vaginal dryness - mood swings - tiredness - hair loss - insomnia - inability to concentrate - memory loss - dizziness - changing voice - incontinence - bloating - allergies - brittle nails - change in body odor - irregular heartbeat - depression - anxiety - irritability - panic disorder - chest pain - headache - painfull joints - burning tongue - shock - digestive complaints - complaints gums - muscle tension - dry skin - nausea - night sweats.

You probably understand now why I don't share her enthusiasm about the menopause and why I'm certainly not looking forward to it. Instead, I'm looking forward to Spectre. I have the feeling that this will bring me much more fun.







Photo: H&K/JME Photo











Monday 26 October 2015

Brainpower






Do you also love the Mediterranean cuisine? Then I have good news for you. A Mediterranean diet slows down the aging process of your brains.* This process in which you lose brain cells, your brains shrinks and the risk of Alzheimer's disease increases, can be delayed by five years. Just by following these nutritional guidelines:

Eat lots of:
  • fruit
  • vegetables.
  • nuts and seeds
  • monounsaturated fatty acids such as in olive oil 

Be moderate with:
  • saturated fatty acids such as  in dairy products
  • fish and poultry
  • wine

Use very little:
  • red meat
  • eggs
Healthy and tasty food from the Spanish, Italian, Moroccan and Greek cuisine. Nice!



*) American Academy of Neurology: The survey was conducted among 647 healthy octogenarians. Their diet is.followed for several years.







Friday 23 October 2015

A good advice



This is so much fun!

Watch this video where with good advice from 'experts' for the generation before them...

Good advice by and for young and old:



Nice weekend!

Source: CBC Radio





Wednesday 21 October 2015

Doggy style


FRED - 2 years - 10 years


This cute photos of Amanda Jones from her book 'Dog Years' prove that also dogs can not escape the aging process. Enjoy these endearing images. s" prove that dogs can not escape the aging process. Enjoy these endearing images. I'm going to cuddle my doggies.


MADDY - 5 years - 10 years

COPPER - 3 years - 10 years

LILY - 8 months - 15 years

RUFUS - 6 months - 13 years

ABIGALE - 4 months - 8 year

AUDREY - 3 years - 12 years

BRISCOE -  1 year - 10 years

CORBET - 2 years - 11 years










Sunday 18 October 2015

Coco





'Nothing makes a woman looks so old 
as 
trying desparetely hard to look young'

-  Coco Chanel -



More Coco Chanel? Klick here.





Friday 16 October 2015

Going bananas




Weekend! It's always nice to celebrate it. You can obviously do that during cocktail hour with a nice cocktail, but also in the morning by taking time for a delicious breakfast or brunch.

I prefer to eat banana pancakes for breakfast. They are so nice and always make me think of my time in Thailand. Since recently I have a recipe for delicious and mega-healthy banana pancakes. Because they are made from only banana and egg - so no flour and milk - they are also very 'light'.

It is anyway very good for you to eat bananas. Why?
  • A banana contains a lot of potassium, which helps against high blood pressure.
  • Banana neutralizes stomach acid and prevent stomach ulcers.
  • Bananas also contain tryptophan. This amino acid produces serotonin, which is then you happier and calmer. This makes you sleep better and also gives you a lower risk of depression and anxiety.
  • Bananas work well against diarrhea.
  • Eating a banana will give you quick energy, because the sugars are rapidly absorbed. Good to know when your sugar level drops and you have a dip. 
  • The vitamin B6 in bananas promotes the interaction between nerves and muscles.
  • Good to know: your hangover disappears quickly if you eat bananas.
The following recipe is already good, but now you know this, these banana pancakes will probably taste better.

Ingredients (for 6 thin, small pancakes)

- 1 banana
- 2 eggs
- (coconut) oil

Preparation

Mash the banana and mix it with the two eggs to a batter. Heat the oil in a (non-stick) frying pan. Put some batter into the pan and fry it over and over until the pancake is golden brown on both sides.

The pancakes taste best when they are not too thick and too big.

You can garnish it with some banana (or other fruit) and cinnamon. Of course you can also opt for maple syrup, honey or syrup.

Bon appetit and a wonderful weekend.




Wednesday 14 October 2015

Sophie's choice




Forgive me that title, but that is the topic of today: Sophie's choice.

Early September I wrote on this blog about a Dutch TV program about botox. In this program searched the 40-year-old Sophie Hilbrand for the answers to all the questions she had about botox, and especially on the key question: should she use Botox?

Yesterday came her answer: No, Sophie will not use botox! And that is striking. Especially in the television world in which she moves, she is one of the few. 

Her decision is also quite brave. As a TV presenter you will be constantly judged by the viewer on your appearance. The series begins with responses Sophie reads from Twitter after one of her TV appearances. And they are not always friendly, like: 'What Sophie is still a stupid and ugly woman'. In addition, the television world is also not kind to aging presenters. Often they need to make a way for a new generation, so the competition is fierce. If then your older colleagues all use botox, it is difficult to keep your back straight. Sophie shows that pressure on female TV presenters and actresses well in her TV program.

The series reveals that every year more than $ 4 billion is spent on botox and that this use in the coming years will increase by another 30%. In some countries (such as Japan, China, Korea and Dubai) is a botox treatment as common as going to the dentist. For the younger generation is botox already a given fact and something you should use when you get older. 

With all this information I think Sophie's even braver to make such a clear distinct choice. 
If the whole (TV) world around you is doing her best to look younger, you need to have a very highly developed self-confidence and self-esteem in order not to go with this flow.

We also know that not everyone becomes more beautiful with cosmetic procedures. 

Therefore my question is: where do you stand on this issue?

Friday 9 October 2015

Cocktail Time




























It's weekend! As you know, we like to celebrate this with a cocktail. Last summer was the gin and tonic our favorite. Here on Sarah's secrets unveiled could already read that gin is not only tasty, but also healthy. Provided you drink it in moderation of course. As the days get colder it is nice to add some warmer taste to your gin and tonic. Orange and cinnamon now fit better with the weather and so your gin and tonic tastes even better.

Gin and tonic with orange, cinnamon and star anise

Ingredients

- your favorite gin
- tonic
- a curl of orange peel (zest)
- a cinnamon stick
- star anise
- lots of ice cubes

Preparation

Fill the glass to the rim with ice cubes, add the zest and cinnamon stick. Then pour one part gin and tonic on three parts on it. Garnish with star anise.

Another tasty variation arise if you replace the cinnamon and star anise by clove. Clove also goes very well with the gin and tonic and the orange.

Cheers ... and have a nice weekend.



Photo: Hans Geel




Wednesday 7 October 2015

Sexy Taboo




If you have a blog where you want to to unveil all the secrets of aging, then you have to go all the way... so that's why I'm talking today about incontinence. Maybe you think that's not a very sexy subject, but that may come. Just watch.

As we speak we have the Fashion Weeks in New York, London and Milan behind us and is the Paris Fashion Week in full swing. Therefore, I want to show you a special fashion show from the New Zealand Fashion Week (August 2015). It's a lingerie show from last August. Maybe it is not as spectacular as theVictoria Secret shows, but it's just as controversial.




The lingerie brand Confitex designed the sexy lingerie collection Hi-Life for both men and women who suffer from incontinence. Apart from the fact that the designs are really very beautiful, I think it is a smart concept that can serve a big target group. Incontinence is a huge problem worldwide. A search on Google showed me that half of the women in the US suffers from bladder control problems and in the Netherlands that's one in three and that are not only older women. That is why I am surprised that there are no other designers who design for this target group.  For them, this is an interesting challenge and a huge market




Maybe because incontinence is still a bit of a taboo? It's a topic were people don't talk about very openly. But incontinence has a tremendous impact on the self-confidence, the work situation, the social life and sex life for millions of women and men. That they thereby have to wear big underpants with thick diapers, isn't very good for their self-confidence either.

Therefore has Confitex developed an ultra thin absorbent and waterproof material that offers protection and that even fits in a sexy thong. This material has been incorporated into the modern and sexy lingerie line Hi-Life. You'll be protected, but you can still wear the lingerie that you like and that makes you more beautiful. Because that's exactly what Confitex wants to achieve with Hi-Life: that this lingerie makes you look sexy and feel sexy.

In my opinion Hi-Life has achieved this. What do you think? Watch the entire Hi-Life show below:



The question now is: which designer is next?


Thursday 1 October 2015

Badass Baddie




Meet Baddie Winkle. For some time now this great-grandmother of 87 years is an internet sensation. And that has not gone unnoticed. In addition to her 1.6 million followers on Instagram and 225,000 followers on Twitter... she was also spotted by stars like Miley Cyrus.


Nowadays Baddie herself is a star and is she asked for advertising campaigns. Thus she took of her clothes (but in a bathing suit) for Dimepiece...





and was she a Kate Moss-copycat for Grit.




I close with a warning from Baddie: keep an eye on your man ... otherwise she steals him.




This badass bitch has it all.

Photo's: Instagram