When two cousins combined their spiritual journey, they found a way to share it!

Searching for the true meaning of “happiness” can be a life-long journey.  While the definition is different for everyone, cousins Tamsen Fadal and Shannon Elizabeth crossed spiritual paths while coming to their own realizations of what happiness means to them.  Actresses in both television and film, Tamsen (WPIX Anchor, Broadway Actress, and Over Forty Female Favorite) and Shannon (American Pie, Scary Movie) have spent their lives on sets and stages, keeping up with the hustle and bustle of show-biz.  Fortunately, within the craziness of the media industry, the two have been able to find time to discover what it means to THEM to be happy. 

Recently, the two have teamed up to create an extremely original, inspiring, and meaningful jewelry line.  Spiritual Awakening jewelry is much more than an average accessory line; while intertwining healing gemstones with deep rooted meanings, the two have hand crafted an assortment of bracelets, necklaces, and one-of-a-kind pieces sure to turn heads.  According to their website, “The collection is a combination of semi-precious gemstones and messages so that each person who possesses a piece of Spiritual Awakening Jewelry will know the true meaning of the stones, the combination of the properties and the message Shannon and Tamsen are giving them on their daily journey.” 

By wearing a piece of Spiritual Awakening jewelry, you are blessed with the peace of mind and sense of truth that Tamsen and Shannon wish to extend to you.  As an Over 40 Female, you reserve the right to OWN your Spiritual path with beauty and elegance radiating from every inch of you, why not let your jewelry exude that same message?

Discover your own Spiritual Awakening and check out Tamsen and Shannon’s line at:

 www.spiritualawakeningjewelry.com

As we grow older, it's unfortunately more difficult to bear children. Shouldn't it be easier? I'm a little confused as to why it's so easy when you are young, and probably not as ready, then when you are older and ready to go with (at that point) oodles of responsibilities to deal with, along with aging, career, health and all the rest of it.

So instead of getting frustrated, and blindly calling doctors that want to drug you up with hormones and take your money faster than you can finish your personal story to them, I would suggest getting 3rd party help to guide you along the way. As someone who has been through fertility issues, I wish there was such a thing as the "Fertility Mentor" when I was going through all my back and forth to the doctor, trying to deal with the stress that fertility took upon me and my husband, the hospitals, the testing, and the emotional upheaval that touched every part of our lives after years of going through this.

Caryn Portnoy, the "Fertility Mentor," went through SIX YEARS of this awfulness. She has loads of contacts, resources and advice to help you navigate the process. She is quick to say she is NOT a therapist, but a concierge of sorts, to save you money, time and aggravating issues like the ones that everyone knows this process brings.

Check her out, and if you already have children, congratulations! But if you know of someone suffering through the process, tell them to have a look at TheFertilityMentor.com

People going through fertility issues are silently suffering, and "The Fertility Mentor" may save you or someone you know a whole lot of frustration, time and money along the way.

But for Christina Roughan, Owner of
Roughan Interiors, motherhood (of twins!) has just begun.

From Fairfield County, Connecticut and the Hamptons, all the way to Park City, Utah and beyond, you will find Christina's designed interiors in country estates, luxury cruise liners, resort properties and much more.

Over 40 Females asked Christina what her biggest challenge is in being an entrepreneur over the age of 40, and here is what she said:

"I find being over 40 empowering as I have more knowledge about business and life.  One challenge I encounter is finding a balance. My work is  demanding, so my time is limited. An average day for me is:

• Alarm 5:30, shower and dressed before the baby girls wake up at 6:00-6:30.
• 6:30  Girlies up and all smiles……baby talk in their crib with each other until I arrive and pick one up and take downstairs to change and bathe for the day.
  
• 7:30 Start making breakfast for the girlies, typically something good.  Currently it has been fascinating watching the girls eat as they have sophisticated palate for 14 month olds.   One of their faves is feta & garlic omelet!
• 8:00 My Nanny arrives, I give the girls lots and lots of kisses & hugs and I’m off to the Greenwich RID office or NYC for appointments.
• 9:00 Arrive at the office. If I don’t have meetings in the city, I will start the day with an employee meeting and discuss projects and where we are with them, goals and to dos with the RID Girls (They all are sophisticated and are different ages however prefer to be called "Girls" rather than "Ladies").
• 10:00 Phone calls, sourcing, PR and general business starts.  Every day is different as every client has different needs and projects.
• 6:00, Typically, I leave the office at this time, but twice a week I usually go to a work function afterwards. 
• 7:00 on the other three days that I'm able to go home or not traveling, I go home and relieve my Nanny and spend time with the girlies. I play, hug and kiss the twins, take them to bed sing and read to them.
• 8:00-8:30 When they are asleep, I call my husband as he travels quite a bit.
• 9:00 - Surf the web, source for clients or sometimes watch a guilty pleasure such as “The Vampire Diaries” or one of the “Housewives”
• 10-12 - Bed"

That schedule would make anyone dizzy! And Christina's biggest challenge about being a woman over 40?

"My biggest challenge is finding time to exercise and every woman, especially over 40, should always have that in their lives."

Christina is currently being featured in WAG and East Coast Home Magazines for her exemplary talent as an interior designer.

For more on Christina, please visit: www.roughaninteriors.com

I love when I hear women, especially women over 40, that have reinvented themselves,along with reinventing an entire industry!

Lauren Piskin, a former gold medal figure skater, has done just that. She has started a revolutionary addition to fitness that comes from her extensive training as a professional figure skater, dancer and fitness expert.

In the past, Lauren had combined her passion for skating with her gift of working withchildren, launching a career in coaching figure skaters both on and off theice for 15 years -- using innovative methods such as slideboard training,plyometrics, stability ball work and pilates. Lauren received her Pilatescertification from the Physicalmind Institute and has been working with dancers,private clients and elite athletes for the past 28 years.

Fast forward to the present, PHYSICALMIND Studio opened its doors this Spring with a whole new concept in getting and staying fit.  The nationally renowned expert Lauren Piskin and her team of trainers have developed a revolutionary system designed to safely achieve the ultimate fitness results safely and effectively.

PHYSICALMIND Studio offers clients a collection of fun and innovative classes as well as one-on-one Pilates training.  The menu of classes consists of signature PHYSICALMIND Slideboard, TRX, PHYSICALMIND MVe Chair, Pilates Reformer and Tower.  Designed for the studio as commissioned by Lauren Piskin, the slideboard and the MVe Chair are the only apparatus of their kind in New York City. 

The unique new signature combination of classes, all taught using the most advanced in new techniques and state-of-the-art apparatus, has transformed not only the industry, but also the overall health and appearance of PHYSICALMIND's avid followers.  PHYSICALMIND Studio is located in Manhattan at 1200 Lexington Avenue, 2nd floor, between 81st and 82nd Streets.

For more information visit: www.phyiscalmindstudio.com

If you could take care of your dog the way you take care of yourself, why wouldn't you? Well, now you can!

Zak and Mikel

Mikel Sacher, a vivacious entrepreneur, has combined the luxurious beauty world with dog hygiene. Her passion shines through as she pioneers her way through a fresh concept of pampering your pooch..."FUR" products , including an all natural cleanser and detangler made with botanical extracts and anti-oxidants - it's like a spa for your dog!

Their bottles are as clean and natural-looking as the ingredients inside - everything is made from flowers, trees and herbs.

"Before developing FUR™, J Mikel spent years in the beauty industry, working with brands and companies as diverse and respected as Estee Lauder’s Aveda brand, Slatkin and Co, L’Atelier duSavon, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf  Goodman. J Mikel has extensive experience in the fields of aromatherapy and perfumery, developed over years of relationships with top apothecaries and retail giants."

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BUY PRODUCTS VISIT: www.furdogsnyc.com

Mikel just turned 40, and excitedly told me about her company that is taking off quickly...well Mikel, welcome to the fold and thank-you for looking out after our precious pooches!

Every Over 40 Female should be praised when they discover a new facet of themselves...well, Kim Anderson has done just that.

Kim Anderson

After an incredibly successful career as an internationally acclaimed model, Kim decided that she wanted to try her hand at what it's like behind the camera.  Here is her story, in her words:

My first job as a photographer was when I was about fourteen or fifteen. My youngest sister was in a pre-school at our local church and I offered to photograph the children for their yearly school pictures. My father had a large format Mamaya 645 camera and instead of shooting them all sitting in a pose I followed them around the playground shooting them in groups going down the slide, hanging from the monkey bars, hiding in the bushes.

We had installed a black and white darkroom in the basement of our home in Virginia. It was a place to be feared and loved in that it was always too hot or too cold and the resident spiders did not like to be disturbed but it was the place where I learned to bring my first images to life.

Moving on from my seeming success as a portrait photographer I went in the opposite direction and worked with my father as an aerial photographer. We would fly over buildings and businesses and photograph them. I would then take the prints and sell them to the various business owners and clients. You could say that this experience “broadened” my vision dramatically. From large scale to small I have never felt particularly constrained in what I can photograph.

I then went on to become an architect major at Virginia Tech. While most of my design friends were concerned with the “bigger picture,” like the structure of a building, I seemed to be forever focused on the details. I would sketch a barn door latch or take pictures of the view out of a window. I enjoyed the process of taking a three dimensional object or scene and making it two dimensional. This obsession with detail led me to a degree in textile design and my first job as an assistant swimwear designer is what brought me to live and work in New York.

That was over twenty five years ago and despite an early twist of fate, where I ultimately spent most of that time working on the other side of the lens as an actress and model, my love of capturing and creating images has persisted. It has been my joy and pleasure to have worked with many top photographers on sets around the world and I spent much of that time observing their work in progress and continuing to hone my own skills as a photographer.

With the advent of the digital camera and all of the ever changing software that comes along with it comes a new sense of freedom. Gone are the days of “dodging and burning” images by hand or the acrid smell of fixer clinging to my hair. Now, after capturing an image the steps to creating a print are available at my fingertips, almost instantaneously.

As a person used to developing my own film and paying dearly for every scrap of photographic paper it feels like cheating. Yet, the process is still the same.  The key of course is to start with a compelling image. It is one thing to fix a bad picture in “photoshop” it is another to take a beautiful photograph and turn it into something “else.”

“The Art of Heightened Reality” is a series of landscapes, portraits and still-life’s aimed at expressing that “something else.” I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.

"The Art of Heightened Reality"

Over 40 Females are all about being "on the go" these days...we are not to be taken lightly.

But we should be packing lightly (for those of you with back issues, you KNOW what I'm talking about!), and "Chick on the Go," founded by Over 40 Female Silvia Allegrini, is a great way to have it all at your fingertips without having to worry about lost luggage, color coordination or even comfort!


I suppose having candy-colored Jimmy Choos with a clutch and jewelry to match is fun, but who's got the time for that when you're traveling for business or taking a quick trip to visit your kid at college?

Fashion’s latest evolution revolution is here with Chick on the Go, a complete, versatile wardrobe with just five pieces that can combine to create 25 different outfits.   The black and white garments made of  rayon and spandex blend are suitable for all seasons and can be taken everywhere.  AND they come from size XS - XL - the best part! This Momma is tired of one size fits all rayon/spandex, and this is such a refreshing change from that!



Says company founder Silvia Allegrini, who’s worked in the fashion industry and cosmetics field for over twenty years, “What we’ve created is an all-in-one wardrobe with just five basic pieces and two accessories. By switching around and combining the garments, women can create 25 different outfits!  The pieces fit all body-types and have no buttons or zippers, for ultimate comfort. Light, sleek and chic that’s  what Chick on the Go is about.”

Packaged in a stylish carry-on-case, Chick on the Go is perfect for the traveling woman, for business meetings, for vacations or honeymoons, social events, casual and elegant dining or even lounge wear.  

The kit, which retails for $199.00, weighs less than 4 lbs and includes:

1.     A black wide leg pant
2.     A black slip dress
3.     A white long-sleeve shirt
4.     A white tank top
5.     A black poncho that can be worn as a skirt and a shirt

Two accessories are included -- black and white sashes that can be worn as a belt, a scarf or a headband.

“I came up with this idea while traveling overseas to Italy.  My luggage was delayed and I had to spend a great deal of time and money buying replacement clothes...” says Allegrini, at the time the CEO of Make-Up Moods, a cosmetic retail shop in Manhattan.

Ok, now off to find fab black pumps that I can slip into that case!

Chick on the Go is sold exclusively at www.thechickonthego.com

Juliet Williams, Designer

It seems as though her pieces are from another world...one that transcends from Heaven.
When I first wore her art to one of my events, I could hardly believe that a piece so beautiful, and with so many parts to it, sat on my neck so lightly like there was nothing there! Except for the fact that I could hardly forget I was wearing a JulRe necklace, because so many people came up to me to rave about it:

Judy Goss wearing JulRe Designs

Juliet Renee Williams, is a former corporate recruiter and personal image specialist who has worked with many men and women to create success strategies and powerful images. As President of Image Management Systems, LLC, Juliet is devoted to helping people achieve personal satisfaction and superior self-confidence.

In 2000, Juliet responded to a cry from her clients for whom she performed wardrobe consulting services who were frustrated with the lack of original jewelry available in stores. Never one to turn down a challenge and aching to quench a thirst for creative fulfillment, she took one basic beading class and started to design pieces to fit the personalities of her individual clients. The response to her custom work was overwhelming. Hence, JulRe Designs was born and immediately took on a life of its own.

Her Exquisite Wearable Art consists of a wide variety of high quality semi-precious and precious stones and metals. She designs and handcrafts each piece in her studio in Jersey City, NJ. Her work is showcased in her New York City showroom by appointment and sold online at JulReDesigns.com as well as at Trunk Shows and Fashion events in major US cities. Her jewelry has been featured on NBC's "Today Show", WNBC's "Weekend Today in New York" and Heart & Soul magazine. Juliet's designs are inspired by her undying love of color and fashion.

"I get inspiration from the rapid pace of the fashion world and the beautiful colors that nature bestows upon us. The mind, body and spirit connections help me to remain balanced and creative. The love and support of my wonderful family and friends keeps me grounded and centered. It all comes together in harmony through the beautiful pieces I love to create and share" says Juliet.

Juliet is a member of The International Jewelry Designers Guild and the American Craft Council. She is certified as an Image Consultant by the Institute for Image Communications in New York City and she is a former Member of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI).

JulRe Designs is a trademark and division of Image Management Systems LLC.

For more about JulRe Designs, please visit: www.julredesigns.com

Tracy Davis, a talented, beautiful and very successful entrepreneur said that she started out as a little girl wanting to be a nun or a model! 

How's that for reinventing yourself?  I suppose as children many of us strayed from our original visions of ourselves, but most of the time that was probably best.

Here is Tracy's story:

Raised and educated in the Midwest, Tracy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Bowling Green State University.  Her designs have been influenced by her travels through Europe, South America, and the interior U.S.  These experiences have and continue to enhance her unique vision and approach to design as she continues to focus on the details of cultural and spatial living.

Settling in Maine, Tracy founded her design firm Urban Dwellings in 2005.  She now focuses her skill and expertise on reinventing space with 21^st century flair; designing interiors that are uniquely proportioned, individually stylized, and dedicated to celebrating all aspects of lifestyles. 

"Myinspiration has always been through unique travel experiences and the manypeople that have influence my education both formally and informally.  Theactual conception of Urban Dwellings was born upon a trip to Quebec city.  Howlivable and comfortable the city and its people were. The intimacy that isharbored and nurtured within small scale dwellings both public and private,inspired me.  It was during a time when the baby boomers were downsizing,society was starting to shun the sheet rock McMansion, and less was really more. Shortly thereafter in the light of war time, and economic down turn since thedepression, Urban Dwellings continued to work within mantra to reach goals bothpersonal and financial."To find out more about Tracy and her business, please visit: www.urban-dwell.com