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Tag Archives: New Zealand

Destination : disaster zone in Boomerlifetoday

14 Saturday Jun 2014

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accomodation, Ballantynes, Christchurch, destinations, disaster zone, Earthquake, Fiddlesticks, Heritage hotel, New Zealand, Re:START mall, Rebuild Tour, Red Zone Tour, Travel, vacation, weekend get-away

Heritage Hotel - Christchurch

Heritage Hotel – Christchurch

Recently, Mr. Boomerlifetoday and I travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand for a weekend away.  You may think it odd to visit an earthquake-ravaged city for a get-a-way, but we lived there in the late 80s and wanted to see what it looked like post-quake, before the re-building begins. Three years ago, we had watched the news reports showing the destruction, but nothing prepared us for what we saw recently.  The CBD is now populated by one vacant, weedy lot after another where hotels, shops, restaurants and homes once flourished.  Desolate and largely deserted it’s hard to imagine it ever recovering to its former glory. Gone are the 60,000 office workers, tourists and residents, who made this such a vibrant downtown core.

We stayed right on Cathedral Square in the only remaining intact heritage building there (its owners spent millions reinforcing it pre-quake, so it survived), aptly named the Heritage Hotel.  We chose it deliberately because we wanted to support businesses, which remained in the CBD. It’s a beautiful old building and our 2 storey room was spacious, bright and very comfortable. We shopped at the iconic Ballantynes department store because they too, opted to stay. We visited the innovative Re:START Mall of shops, cafes, banks and a post office made from shipping containers. We ate at Fiddlesticks just a few blocks away because they moved to a central city location after the quake and the food is fantastic!  Our table next to the fireplace was particularly cosy on the damp and cool night we were there.

There is still lots to do in the city – we took the 90 minute Re-build Tour, which was very interesting!  There is also a 3 hour Red Zone Tour and a one hour interactive program, Quake City, where you can re-build Christchurch using Lego, experience what an earthquake feels like, etc. We made extensive use of the bus system to cover much of Christchurch so we could see firsthand some of the more badly affected residential neighbourhoods like Sumner.  While the red-zoned houses (those deemed uninhabitable) have been largely removed, there are still spots where containers are stacked up along the roadside to prevent any earth, rock or God forbid! houses from falling on to the road.

Talking to locals we realized how battle-weary and frustrated many of them are after 3 years of wrangling with property assessors, insurance companies and the local, regional and federal governments. Everyone was just so completely unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude because apparently no one knew that Christchurch was on a fault line!

There is not a lot many of us can do to help Christchurch, except to visit and spend tourist dollars and we urge you to do just that.  Cantabrians need you to bring their much loved city back to life – it isn’t fixed!  We’d highly recommend a visit – eat, drink, shop and enjoy this, the second largest city in New Zealand.

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclosure: Mention of accommodation, restaurants and shops in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by companies in New Zealand or abroad.

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Multicultural Auckland in Boomer Life Today

02 Monday Jun 2014

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Auckland, Chinese cuisine, Chinese restaurants, East Auckland, ethnic cuisine, ethnic diversity, ethnic restaurants, Indian cuisine, Indian restaurants, Japanese cuisine, Japanese restaurants, New Zealand, sushi, sushi restaurants, Vietnamese cuisine, Vietnamese restaurants

 

zap4

According to the latest census, Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city is home to over 50 nationalities and I for one am glad.  I’ve met so many interesting people from all over the world – South Africa, India, Fiji, France, Australia, Italy, Holland, Malaysia, Indonesia, England, Iraq, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the list goes on.  Immigrants bring a wealth of talent, skills, stories, hopes and of dreams with them. It is this diversity, which has made Auckland what it is today – a cosmopolitan, international destination.

Those not new to this blog will know how much of a foodie I am so this week, I thought it fitting to provide a list of our favourite ethnic restaurants in Auckland.

Arabic 

Shefco 46 Stoddart Rd Mt Roskill

It’s hard to find good authentic Arabic food in Auckland, but the baklava from Shefco in Mt Roskill is fantastic! I haven’t tried anything else from there yet, but am encouraged to try more.

Casablanca  Sylvia Park Mall, Mt Wellington

I’ve only tried the Anatolian Bride’s soup here and it was delicious. Not strictly speaking Arabic because there are lots of Turkish dishes too, but I’d go back to try some other selections.

Chinese

Star Seafood Restaurant  345 Chapel Rd Dannemora

Chinese dishes with lots of fantastic vegetables, meat and seafood.  Large and busy dine-in area or takeaway.  Very popular with Asian locals, so come early. Good value – delicious food!

Grand Park Restaurant  Gate B, Alexander Park Raceway, Epsom

Friends of ours love this restaurant for Dim Sum/Yum Char.  We’ve yet to try it, but trust their recommendation. Very busy dining experience, but worth the wait apparently.

Indian 

Masala  Bucklands Beach

Mr. Boomerlifetoday loves this restaurant – great value, especially their lunch specials.  Can’t beat the location, right on the waterfront!  I haven’t been yet, but trust Mr. Boomerlifetoday’s review.

Dum Mast   44 Fortunes Rd Pakuranga

Dum Mast prides themselves on providing low-fat Indian fare without sacrificing taste and they succeed!  They are located in a strip mall, but don’t let that put you off.  Service is fast and friendly and they have weekly specials M-W $10 mains (excl seafood).

Japanese

Sushi Sora North Park

I am just beginning to explore Japanese cuisine, but in my limited experience Sushi Sora has an interesting selection – quite different from the choices available at the sushi franchises. Staff are very pleasant. Priced higher than the chains, it’s definitely worth paying a little extra.

Umi Sushi and Umiya Japanese Cuisine  Atrium on Elliot Foodcourt, CBD

Another great find, with a vast array of choices.  Offers sushi and other Japanese delicacies – never fails to satisfy!

Thai

Zap 4   Commerce St, CBD (pictured above)

Fantastic Thai food at great prices – most mains $12-15.00 – serving size is generous.  Table service is fast.  We were there last week before going to a doco at the International Documentary Film Festival and it was busy with a steady stream of takeout and dine-in orders.  I had the Prawn Tom Yum Soup – yummie! Can do most dishes for vegetarians.

Turkish    Park Rd Grafton

Cafe Karadeniz

Very authentic – looks just like a place you’d find in Istanbul.  There are lots of Turkish kebab outlets in the city, but this is worth going a bit further afield for.  If you are visting someone in Auckland Hospital, this cafe is within walking distance and a nice change from the offerings in the hospital’s cafes. Has outdoor seating too so is dog-friendly.

Vietnamese

Hansan   Mt Wellington

We’ve only been to the one in Mt Wellington in the east of the city and it was really good.  It has moved recently because of road/train station construction and its new digs are very nice.  We tried the Steamboat – really nice. Very busy with fast service. Prices good too!

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

 Disclosure: Mention of businesses in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by persons or companies in New Zealand or abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

Give Mom the gift of style in Boomer Life Today

08 Thursday May 2014

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50+, 60+, Asia, Australia, baby boom generation, boomers, Canada, clothing manufacturers, England, Europe, Fashion, New Zealand, style, United States, wardrobe, women over 50, women over 60

iStock_000022076242_Small

Recently I watched the British television program 10 years younger.  It selects people in need of an update and through surgery, facial treatments, dental work, hairstyle makeovers, wardrobe updates and makeup changes, each person is transformed – much like the US show Extreme Makeover, except not so extreme.  Over the years, I’ve read books and magazines on the subject, attended a style workshop (and blogged about it!) and have made subtle changes as a result.  But none of these resources have suggested who in the marketplace sells stylish and fashionable age-appropriate clothing and shoes; where to find flattering hair styles, great hair products & competent stylists to accommodate the changes you’re noticing in your hair; which companies produce the BEST skin care products/treatments for your skin; what fitness centres/regimes offer exercise with the most gain without pain, damage or strain to joints and muscles.  I suppose the reason has been because television programs, books and magazines are trying to appeal to a worldwide audience and figure that there isn’t much point in promoting their country’s companies to a global audience.  Or is it that there are few manufacturers who really consider the boomer population when developing styles for the fashion, hair, skin/hair care and makeup industries?  From the research I’ve done – I believe that it is largely the latter, but it is changing. 

Mary Portas is a UK designer who has taken the bold step to target boomer age women with her line.  Touch or click here to view her line available at House of Fraser (ships internationally). Elegance is an European label, which I know and like. They have a presence in the UK, Europe and Asia, but sadly international shipping is not available unless you have a forwarding service.  But the next time you travel, I’d recommend checking them out.

And, you’ve no doubt read in our blog how much I like Chico’s, Kasper and Talbots in the US! I also like Jones New York and for casual wear, L. L. Bean , Land’s End  and NYDJ (Not your daughter’s jeans and not just jeans either). A quick search of the web suggests JJill , Ann Taylor, Dana Buchanen (at Kohl’s) and Liz Claiborne (at JC Penney) and especially for those with curves, Lane Bryant. Most of these retailers offer plus sizes and ship internationally. I’ve had personal experience with all retailers except JJill, Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor and Dana Buchanen and really like their products, customer service and return policies.

On my last trip to Canada, I purchased Second Yoga Jeans made in Quebec.  They are sooooo comfortable and stylish!  Another company, Alison Sheri who advertises in Good Times magazine look to have nice clothes, but I have no personal experience with them. Neither companies ship internationally yet.  Other less expensive lines include TanJay and Jessica available through Sears Canada.

Downunder, Blue Illusion is my pick – they’re even featuring a 60+ model in some of their campaigns. They also sell many accessories with a decidedly French influence, which I also love. In New Zealand, Verge is a homegrown favourite – I especially like their factory sales!

I’m encouraged by the fact that there are increasingly more companies with styles that suit women over 50.  If you know of other companies out there, please let us know…..

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclosure:  Companies and television programming mentioned in this Boomer Life Today blog post did not solicit or pay for inclusion.

Moving on in Boomer Life Today

15 Saturday Feb 2014

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aged, aging parents, baby boom generation, boomers, downsizing, heirlooms, long term care facilities, New Zealand, nursing homes, possessions

Tunisian carpets

My father-in-law has moved into a nursing home and his 2 bedroom bungalow, which was home for the last 5 years, has been sold.  This past weekend, we emptied it in preparation for its next occupants.

While this clear-out wasn’t on the scale of his move from the family home, it was somehow more significant because all his possessions were dispersed except for a few photos, a television, dvd player, some personal effects and a small selection of clothing.  Favourite decorative pieces, furniture, tools, china – all passed to family, charities or set aside to sell.  I know it’s just “stuff” and we aren’t supposed to become attached to things, but it must be difficult to part with loved objects, some of which have been part of daily life for, in his case, almost 93 years.

It made me sad to think that this is what will become of all the wonderful things we have accumulated in our travels.  Will the next owner appreciate the hours spent drinking tea and haggling in a shop in Tunisia before “closing the deal” on our stunning handmade carpets?  Or, realize the delight in finding an outlet for that beautiful blue and white mosaic tableware in Fez?

I came away with a renewed appreciation of the resilience of older family members.  I’m not sure I could see my belongings disappear so abruptly, my neighbours become just “people that I used to know” and my independence vanish within a day of entering a nursing home.  Surely there is a better option for these last years of our lives……..

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Happy New Year at Boomer Life Today!

30 Thursday Jan 2014

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Asia, chinese lanterns, Chinese New Year, Holiday, New Zealand, Year of the horse

Chinese lanterns

Chinese lanterns

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year for those in our part of the world. It’s the year of the horse. So happy new year to all our Asian readers!

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Island time in Boomer Life Today

23 Thursday Jan 2014

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artisan products, Barrel Room Gallery, dog friendly accommodation, Dragon Fired Artisan Wood Fired Food, gun emplacements, hiking, Humble Pie Butchery, Leisure, New Zealand, Oneroa, Ostend, Poderi Crisci, Rangihoua olive oil, Ringawera bakery, Rocky Bay, Te Whau, tramping, Travel, Waiheke Fruit & Veg, Waiheke Island, Waiheke Island Cheese Company, Waiheke Island herb spread, Waiheke Saturday market, walking tracks, Zoe Leeb-du Toit

Waiheke view

Waiheke view

Although New Zealand is an island, its larger centres don’t offer that “island time” experience.  Our remedy? Spend the weekend just off the coast of Auckland on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

This past weekend, Mr. Boomerlifetoday and I headed there – a return visit for him, a first for me.  As soon as we left the ferry, I knew we were in for a great time because the first sign said “Slow down, you’re here” and how right they were.  Waiheke is magical – you can do a lot or a little and never feel rushed.

Since it was my first visit, I wanted to see as much of the island as possible, so our first stop was the Saturday market in Ostend.  It’s wasn’t what I expected – less farm produce and more flea market.  However, among the stalls selling secondhand goods were some selling splendid artisan products (the best French pastries I’ve tasted since my arrival in New Zealand), beautiful chunky costume jewellery, aromatic essential oils, and much more.

Gun emplacements

Gun emplacements

Next on our itinerary, a drive through stunning countryside to visit the WWII gun emplacements.  New Zealand feared being invaded by the Japanese in WWII, so they had these built as well as tunnels for equipment and munitions. History not your thing? Go anyway – the views are amazing!

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Time for lunch and where better than one of Waiheke Island’s many wineries.  We chose Poderi Crisci, famous for it’s pinot grigio, olive oil and lemon digestif. Lunch in their restaurant was a relaxed al fresco affair  and the food was absolutely delicious.

Restaurant terrace- Poderi Crisci

Restaurant terrace- Poderi Crisci

Alas, it was time to return to Oneroa (the main centre) and check into our accommodation. We stayed in one of Waiheke’s dog friendly places, so our wheaton terrier could come too. After check in, we headed to a nearby beach for an evening stroll (dog friendly after 6:00 pm).

Track through native bush

Track through native bush

Day 2 we explored more of the countryside by car and then headed out on one of Waiheke’s many walking tracks.  We chose the track which follows the coast between Rocky Bay and Te Whau – absolutely stunning! The track wound its way through native bush and fields, down to secluded beaches and up along the cliff tops.  It didn’t require a high level of fitness and took just 2 hours round trip.  Even dogs were allowed, which isn’t the case with some of the other tracks on the island. To end the day we explored the Church Bay area of the island with its magnificent estates and wineries. Our day ended at Dragon Fired Artisan Wood Fired Food – delicious!

Church Bay area with one of the beautiful homes there in the distance

Church Bay area with one of the beautiful homes there in the distance

Day 3 and the weather began to deteriorate, but in the morning we took ourselves on an artisan food tour to Waiheke Fruit & Veg for Putiki Cheese from the Waiheke Island Cheese Company, Waiheke Island Herb Spread, and some oil from award winning Rangihoua Estate. From there we, headed to Ringawera bakery for their famous ciabatta and lavash.  When we arrived, a photographer from Cuisine magazine was doing a photo shoot for their next issue – Ringawera’s herb lavash has been nominated for an award. We stayed for coffee and a chat before heading back into Oneroa. Once back in town, we stopped at Humble Pie Butchery for their sausages and pork pies (sadly the latter were sold out).

Since Waiheke is a haven for artists and craftsmen, it seemed only fitting to spend the afternoon visiting some of Waiheke’s galleries and artists’ studios.  There are so many talented people on the island, but my favourite artist has to be Zoe Leeb-du Toit.  She has a very unique style, best described as quilting with paints. I urge you to visit her Barrel Room Gallery at 52A Korora Rd, Oneroa. You won’t regret it!

Zoe Leeb-du Toit

Zoe with one of her paintings

Having spent a very enjoyable long weekend it was time to make our way to the ferry for our return trip to the mainland.  But, we hope to return some day – I’ve definitely been bitten with Waiheke fever!

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclosure: Mention of places, products or people in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by companies/persons in New Zealand or abroad.

Country drives in Boomer Life Today

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

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autumn colours, Bettie Monroe, Cambridge, Canada, Cath Kidston, country drives, elderberries, Equine Stars Walk of Fame, MyStyle NZ, New Zealand, Ontario, Panach French Bakery, picturesque towns, puffball, Simply Divine, tourism, Travel, trilliums, Wright's Booksellers

Trilliums – harbingers of spring in Ontario, Canada

When I was young, drives in the countryside were a frequent occurrence.  My Dad knew great places to go and fantastic places to stop. In spring, he’d take us to see the first trilliums of the year (trilliums grow wild and are Ontario, Canada’s provincial flower) in summer, the best and most accessible elderberry bushes (the berries make delicious pies and wine!) in early autumn, the woods where we might find puffball (an edible fungi which can grow to football size) and mid-fall the best autumn colours. He also knew where the most picturesque villages and small towns were and inevitably, where you could buy the largest ice cream cones!

This past weekend, Mr. Boomerlifetoday and I revived the tradition and headed out into the countryside here in New Zealand. The scenery was beautiful as we made our way along country roads where cows, horses and sheep grazed on pastures of green grass and buttercups. Along the roadside, Queen Anne’s Lace was in full bloom. It always amazes me that the same wild flowers which populate the landscape in Canada, also grow here in New Zealand!

Cambridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria St in Cambridge, New Zealand

We even ended up in the quaint, small town of Cambridge (Cambridge, Canada is next to my hometown of Guelph in Ontario).  We had passed through Cambridge before, but this time we stopped and walked around.  It’s lovely!  I especially liked the fact that it still has a large, independent bookstore (Wright’s), a beautiful looking kitchen store (Simply Divine, although sadly it had closed just minutes before we found it), a lovely boutique featuring New Zealand-designer, Bettie Monroe‘s collection of vintage-inspired clothing, MyStyle NZ stockist of Cath Kidston products, and of course, some very cute cafes like Panache French Bakery (pictured here).

Photo: A little bit of French in Cambridge!

Cambridge has maintained and restored many of its downtown buildings instead of replacing them with more modern architecture and in some places they have laid brick sidewalks, which really adds to the atmosphere. This is horse country and where else to have an Equine Stars Walk of Fame than the sidewalks of this pretty town – mosaics of champion horses bred in the area, decorate main street sidewalks.

On our way home, we even stopped for ice cream cones in Pokeno, home of the largest cones we have found so far in New Zealand.  There are two shops side by side (Johnson’s and Pokeno Takeaways).  They both serve up huge scoops of delicious flavours like boysenberry, apricot, and passion fruit (just some of our favourites).

What a beautiful way to while away a lazy summer afternoon!

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclosure: Mention of businesses in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by persons/companies in New Zealand or abroad.

Ups and downs in Boomer Life Today

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

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Auckland, Auckland Festival of Quilts, baby boomer, bathroom makeover, bathroom remodelling, bathroom renovation, boomers, Cirque de Soleil, Dunkley's Craft Show, health, Leisure, lifestyle, Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, New Zealand, Sustainable Living Festival, Taste of Auckland, under floor heating

Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil Tickets

I haven’t posted anything for quite a long time and I wish I could say it was because we’ve been away on a fabulous trip, but, unfortunately not.  I’ve had the flu, despite having the flu shot.  Then I got a cold.  As I was recovering from that, one of my colleagues died suddenly – a shock for everyone.  Since then the remaining staff, with the support of our organization have been working very hard to keep our department going.  Those who read my blog regularly will know that my department was under review for 6 months.  After the review was completed, our manager resigned and then our colleague passed away – it has been quite a turbulent year at work.

And it’s not smooth sailing on the home front either. Renovation of our bathrooms has begun, however, there have been quite a few hiccups. The worst one – the under floor heating installers came and laid the wiring and screed for the heating system before the plumbers had completed their work and surprise, surprise, the plumbers drilled into the under floor heating system and cut two of the wires.  Grrrrrh…. The under floor heating company has just repaired the wires, not replaced the floor – they say that replacement is not necessary. But we’re concerned because the parent company in the UK says in their literature that they “cannot warranty the repair or guarantee the proper function of the heating system following a repair”. The company has put nothing in writing and have not tested the system to see if it works. We are seeking legal advice – not exactly what we thought we’d be doing on a project-managed bathroom reno, but we feel we’ve been left with little choice. If anyone has any experience with this, we’d appreciate hearing from you.

However, it’s not been all doom and gloom! A couple of weekend’s ago, Mr. Boomer Life Today and I attended one of Cirque de Soleil’s Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour shows at Vector Arena in Auckland.  It amazes me to see what the human body is capable of – breath-taking!  This outing was the last of my year-long birthday celebrations and what a finale it was.  I’ve also been out to a Dunkley’s Craft show, Auckland’s Festival of Quilts exhibition, the Sustainable Living Festival and Taste of Auckland – all here in Auckland within the last month.  It’s been a busy time and as we approach the “silly season”, as Christmas and New Years is referred to here, it will no doubt get even busier. I’ve already made some new Christmas decorations thanks to a workshop at my quilting club and am working on my Secret Santa gift for one of my fellow quilters. Just 37 days to go…..

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclaimer: Mention of events in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by companies in New Zealand or abroad.

Mindfulness : finding peace in Boomer Life Today

15 Saturday Jun 2013

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Buddhism, creativity, Eckhart Tolle, Google, innovation, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Kathryn McEwen, Meditation, mindfulness, New Zealand, peace, Power of Now, spirituality, stress, Thich Nhat Hanh, Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

meditation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These past six months have been very difficult because my department has been under review.  To help me cope with the stress, I enrolled in mindfulness classes offered by my employer, a large healthcare organization, here in New Zealand.

Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining, as much as possible, a calm awareness of your body, feelings and mind.  It involves guided meditation and activities that encourage you to be totally present in the moment.  My course consisted of one two-hour session per week for 4 weeks, although, normally courses run over an 8 week period and include a silent retreat.  However, in this short time, I have noticed decreased physical and emotional stress levels, reduced chronic pain, enhanced sleep quality and increased gastrointestinal comfort. It has also increased my ability to think more creatively and I understand that large corporations, such as Google, use it to spark innovation in the workplace.

I am really very grateful to the facilitators of the course and our organization for making it available and I hope to take more classes and perhaps attend a silent retreat.

To learn more about mindfulness, here are a few books, which you may find interesting.

Kabat-Zinn, Jon . Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

McEwen, Kathryn. Building Resilience At Work

Thich Nhat Hanh. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

Tolle, Eckhart. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Oh, and I found out on Friday that I have not been made redundant 🙂

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Partners

Disclosure: Mention of products in this Boomer Life Today blog post was not solicited or paid for by companies or individuals in New Zealand or abroad.

Boomer Life Today : Following up …

25 Saturday May 2013

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Antler, baby boom generation, boomers, Canada, Environmental Working Group, Good Grips, health, Hon code, La Roche-Posay, Luggage, Nature Organics, New Zealand, Skin Deep database, Skincare

This week, I’d like to follow up on some past blog posts.

Health is at hand Parts I and II

HONcode

Those who have followed our blog from the beginning may recall our posts titled Health is at hand Parts I and II.  I have just completed an online course through the National Library of Medicine in the US and want to provide you with an update.  Previously, I recommended using the HON code as a way of determining reliable consumer health information. However, it seems that there have been some sites featuring the code, which are providing inaccurate information. Although, they have been asked to remove the code, compliance is voluntary.  Also, some others in my course had reservations about WebMD because it is commercial site funded by pharmaceutical companies, so a word of caution is in order there too.

Form follows function in the kitchen

In Form follows function, I took a look at different kinds of jar openers and while we were in Canada over Christmas, I bought the newest version of the Good Grips jar opener (see above).  It takes little effort to use and fits all jar/bottle lid sizes.

A miracle minefield

La Roche Posay Substiane [+] Eyes  15ml/0.5oz

In A Miracle Minefield, I talked about the different skincare regimes recommended in the medical literature and promised to let you know which products I purchased.  For a day moisturizer, I have been using Nature Organics’ River Veda Rejuvenate Day Star SPF 30 UVA and UVB cream. I have sensitive skin and this New Zealand cream is effective and gentle.  At night, I use La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Dermatological Treatment for my face and La Roche-Posay Substiane+ Fundamental Replenishing Anti-Aging Care for my eyes.  La Roche-Posay products are made in France and are available in Shopper’s Drug Marts in Ontario, Canada and through nz.strawberrynet.com in New Zealand.  I would highly recommend their products – not only are they effective, but they also score well in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.  If you don’t know about this database, click or touch here.

Too much baggage

Airstream Large Suitcase

In Too Much Baggage, I was contemplating a new piece of lightweight  luggage.  While on our US holiday last year, I bought Antler’s Airstream Large Suitcase and am very pleased with it. It’s lightweight, turns on a dime and has a 10 year guarantee. To learn more, click or touch here.

Is there a product that has really improved your life?  Let us know…

Until next time,

Your Boomer Life Today Partners

Disclosure: Products mentioned in this Boomer Life Today blog post were not solicited or paid for by companies in New Zealand or abroad.

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