To me she will always be, at least on the screen, Bob Newhart’s receptionist, secretary, and Girl Friday.  Marica Wallace was one of the best reasons to turn on the original Bob Newhart Show, back in an era when sit-coms actually made you laugh.  But Marcia is much more than that; she is a breast cancer survivor and a woman who redefined herself after being widowed.  She also lives on the stronger side of a nervous breakdown, and knows all about being a “menopausal” mom.  She has conquered a weight problem and a hard childhood.  In short, Marcia Wallace is a survivor, and she is going to be online July 11th to talk about her life.

The Spirited Woman Circle is conducting a series of interviews with women that have brought the best, and worst, of their experiences to bear in creating their lives.  Along with Marcia, over a series of weeks, Rochelle Krich, Fannie Flagg, and The Saucy Sisters will be interviewed through a telephone interview that you can listen in on. 

Rochelle Krich is the author of 14 novels, including Where’s Mommy Now? which was adapted to a television movie, Perfect Alibi.  Fanny Flagg is an actress, author, broadway star… and generally famous redhead.  I especially love her creation, Fried Green Tomatoes - if you haven’t read it, do.  You will love it.  And get the movie too because it is marvelous.  The Saucy Sisters are known for their lectures and books on wine - including, and maybe especially, their newest idea, the wine diet. 

Each of these teleseminars are $15.00 each but if you buy all four, you pay only $55.00.  You can pay with a major credit card or through PayPal so it is accessible to all.  It is a great investment for the woman looking for motivation and hearing about success “against all odds.”  We can succeed if we have the motivation, proper tools, and role models to get us there.  The Spirited Woman has gone out of their way to bring us seminars that will bring much of that valuable information to you.

Spirited Woman Circle Teleseminars

The Spirited Woman

Plus-size women have had an unpleasant history of finding clothes that are acceptable.  Acceptable, meaning in this case, high fashion, stylish, with a good fit, and a reasonable price.  Why should anyone over a size 14 have to wear matronly, dumpy-looking clothes made out of polyester?  Is a plus-size woman’s money any less green?  And yes, anything over a size 14 is now considered plus-size.  Nowhere has this been a bigger problem than in lingerie.  Even if the suit or slacks, jeans and shirt, or hoisery and shoes were right, chances were that was on underneath was wrong. 

Those days are gone.  Lane Bryant has seen to it and it is no surprise that they are the retailer who has taken this step and brought women’s lingerie to plus-size women in a classy, elegant, and/or playful way.  Their new store, Cacique, is devoted to the plus-size women and lingerie that is nothing less than gorgeous.  They carry anything you could want, and if there isn’t a store near you, you can shop online. 

And guess what?  The Web site was put together by people who were thinking!  The models aren’t size six anorexic girls.  These are real plus-size models and they prove, by these photographs, that plus-size is just as sexy and elegant, as any other size.

Now… go shopping - you know you want to! 

Cacique Online

Press Release

I am not a snob. Liz Claiborne I want you to know that. Liz Claiborne  Now, having clarified that, Liz Claiborne I want to talk to you about this fabulous Web site I found.  Well, Liz Claiborne I didn’t just find it.  I went looking Liz Claiborne for it.  So it wasn’t a real discovery Liz Claiborne in the terms of, “Wow, look what I found!”  It was a coming home Liz Claiborne to a place I just feel good about. It is the Internet home Liz Claiborne of my favorite designer. Can you guess who it is?

Liz Claiborne!! 

Now I probably shouldn’t play favorites so much, but these are just the facts!  I have this most glorious sweater set and it happens to be Liz’s.  Well, it’s mine now, but you know what I mean.  And I have a weakness for her fragrance “Spark.”  And what she has done with that orange jacket and cargo skirt on her front page right now?  I love it.  Liz has class.  Lots and lots of it.  Check out her site and sign up for the newsletter - she may end up being your favorite designer too!

Liz Claiborne Official Web Site

Have you seen “Fried Green Tomatoes?”  I love that movie.  It is the story of several different women at different stages of their lives and in different periods of time.  The main focus of the primary story is the main character, a woman going through the change, as she redefines herself, becomes more assertive, and finds meaning within the life she is leaving.  Much of her struggle, pre-HRT treatment, comes from feeling old.  Kathy Bates plays this character to the hilt.  I love her.  She is so funny in this movie and says without uttering a word at times, an entire message to women who are 50-something.

Much of the point of the Kathy Bates character is coming to a peace, and not just a peace, but to a total joy with the idea of being menopausal, post-menopausal, or at least 50-something.  She fears her husband has lost interest in her, she worries that she has nothing left to contribute, and she struggles with her loss of self-image. 

Through the stories of another woman, who is more like 80-something (played magnificently by the late Jessica Tandy) she finds that what she has to offer is still fresh, alive, and although not young, a whole lot better than anything youth has ever offered. 

Do we need to be young to offer something to the world?  To our families?  To our friends?  And what is young anyway!  There is something about knowing your feet are solidly planted on the ground.  About having security and knowing what your life is all about.  There is something about not being 30-something and still trying to figure out who you are.

My favorite quote from the movie?  It occurs in the scene where Evelyn (Kathy Bates) is becoming a whole lot more sure of herself and how she plays into the world around her.  She is faced with a couple of slim-hipped, hot looking, smart mouthing 20-somethings in a minor dispute over a parking place.  They zip in around her land yacht and steal the place away with their little snazzy VW bug.

Evelyn Couch: Hey! I was waiting for that spot!
Girl #1: Face it, lady, we’re younger and faster!
Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times (deliberately and quite forcefully, I might add)
Girl #1 (Screaming frantically): What are you *doing*?
Girl #2(Screaming equally forcefully and frantically): Are you *crazy*?
Evelyn Couch: Face it, girls, I’m older and I have more insurance.

When someone tries to make you feel like you are substandard or have nothing to contribute; or when they try to convince you that you aren’t in the running anymore and too old to play the game, remember you can afford to lose.  You’ve paid your dues.  You bought your coverage.  “Face it girls.  I’m older and have more insurance.”