Sometimes we just need a little technology to lift our spirits. Baby boomers are hip to the latest in technology. They like to get their information fast whether they sit at their computers or via their cellphones.  And today they have endless choices especially in hand held devices. Facebook the popular Internet site to stay connected to friends is extremely popular with boomers. Motivation keeps baby boomers young too. Maybe its losing weight. Boomers like to buy home fitness equipment or drop a dollar or two on late night infomercial plugs. They like to set specific goals like lowering golf scores. And there are plenty of high tech golf products designed to make lowering scores a selling point. Baby boomers buy products with their eyes. Just look at all those sexy car ads in magazines. There is nothing like the look of a beautiful photo of a brand new car especially one that is well designed. Competition keeps baby boomers young too. The excitement of challenges and new ventures. Staying young for baby boomers isn’t hard these days. There is just too much distraction to think of growing old.

When it comes to sports apparel companies that make it a mission to use as much recycled materials as possible in the clothing line are starting to see consumers beat a path to their door. Let’s face it, taking a page from the fashion industry – in America today “green” is the new black. This eco-friendly industry can be seen in the health and fitness business. Yoga a popular discipline enjoyed for its mind body relationship leads the way in fitness products made of “green” material. From yoga mats to yoga bags to yoga clothing like t-shirts, recycled material is finding its way into consumer hands in a good way. And it’s not only yoga devotees are buying into it. Consumers who enjoy health and fitness products in general that may have different workout routines in professional athletics to amateur sports are using “green” materials too.

I’m not sure about the Olympic athletes using this type of clothing for the 2010 games, but I would suspect within four years competing countries will have their athletes wear eco-friendly outfits. And let’s hope the United States leads the way.

Get a load of the very hip fashion Olympian snowboarders are sporting. This denim and plaid number is the perfect look for these cool cats who just seem to revel in having fun even if a gold medal wasn’t at stake. Anybody who flies down the side of a snow mountain and engages the half pike with intentions of twisting and flipping many times and sticking the landing has to be highly skilled and daredevil too boot. Yet these young kids are doing it with ease. It’s like snowboarding is oxygen to them.

These fashionable outfits seem seamless. The snowboarders can go from the slope to the after parties without a wardrobe change. The outfits are street wear. Unlike the snowboarders men’s skating goes for the glam in fashion. Very theatrical and over the top. But that’s how its always been so I expect to see that. Showboating versus showmanship. This year’s 2010 Olympic games I’ll take the show boaters any day.

Why all the attention of chocolate when it comes to Valentine’s Day? Isn’t chocolate great any day of the year? To me at least it is so I have decided to boycott buying any heart-shaped chocolates or even decorated boxes of chocolate that may contain many varieties but instead will settle on the classic dark chocolate bar. That’s right I’m thinking healthy. I know dark chocolate that contains at least 65% cocoa will have some health benefits for me. This way I can lessen the guilt if I indulged myself if I so choose. Now there is the organic chocolate bar to consider. Not sure if it is any more healthier for me or if I’m saving the planet and stuff like that but I do like the packaging some of these chocolate manufacturers have come up with. Seeing endangered species on the wrapper makes a good argument to buy the bar, but I won’t settle for that trick. I am after quality of taste. That alone will keep me coming back for seconds. A second chocolate bar that is.

If you are carrying your yoga mat under your arms to your yoga class there is a better way to do it and you’ll be glad to make the change. Yoga mat bags have in recent years become more stylish and functional. You can buy the messenger bag that will carry your bag securely strapped to the bottom. When you’re not going to a yoga class the bag functions and a general tote bag. Yoga mat bags come in different shapes, sizes, and colors so it becomes the yoga fashion accessory of today. If you prefer solid colors over floral designs, or a backpack style over the over the shoulder style there are stylish and functional bags out there. So stop juggling personal items and exposed mats under your arms and protect the one true yoga investment in a safe and convenient way.

It seems like every lifestyle magazine these days has a section devoted to lifestyle testimonials.  People like to hear what other people do to change for the better. Diet and fitness is a popular topic from celebrities to next door neighbors all spilling the beans about their latest conquests. We learn about their food habits, their workout routines, their favorite piece of exercise equipment and their diet cheats. All this right out as an open confession. Celebs want you to think they are a like normal people. I’m starting to get that warm and cuddling feeling. Celebs have publicists, they get pampered and in no way they are like the rest of us. Yet I still enjoy reading the latest gossip about them. And that said, I’d have to throw in the testimonial read in there as well.

Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic here, but if you are looking for a great fitness exercise for 2010 and you haven’t tried yoga well maybe it’s time you start. Yoga has come a long way from the days of being “too earthy crunching” Remember earth shoes and tie-dye tees? Today you will find all kinds of people, shapes, backgrounds and vocations making it their point to stay in physical shape practicing this ancient discipline. Retail fitness stores are taking notice as well. More and more space is being offered to yoga supplies and accessories. So what are you waiting for?

Does anyone mail hand written personal letters anymore? The way technology has developed people are spending more time writing emails than the hand written letter. Let’s hope that the mailed letter will not end up like the eight track player. Maybe it’s because postage has gone up dramatically over the years? C’mon $.044 cents! Maybe long hand written letters are too arduous to tackle? Text speak with short cut techniques is faster that is for sure. Or is it that we just don’t know how to say things more than a sentence or two? With email so much part of our lives as well as hand held cell phones that are hooked up to web service, people are so much more connected.

Love letters once mailed by postage are now showing up in a person’s email box. I hate the thought that someday my kids would look at a hand written letter and ask – what is it daddy? That’s why I make it a point my kids hand write a personal thank you note to those who were nice to buy them birthday gifts. And it is so much more appreciated by those generous folks who want to keep the hand written letter alive too.

Have you noticed the variety of apps out in the marketplace?  Yes there are thousands of them and growing each and every day all with their unique graphic look. So is the iPhone app art worthy of  a mention? I think so. Before the app explosion there were the few classic iconic graphics so highly recognizable such as Apple’s iTunes or search engine browsers like Safari, Firefox and I.E. Now with so many apps to choice from unless one has overwhelming popularity, these new graphic apps won’t find the immediate recognition those previously mention have. Not to worry. There will be a time when the public sees an array of application graphics out from cellphones and computers.  I wonder how long it will be before some artist mounts a show appropriating these graphics into his artwork. It’s coming. From a personal standpoint, I like to see the apps stacked resembling pixels and made into portraits. Chuck Close are you listening?

Every year moms are stuck on what costumes would be either worth making or buying for their children. It gets especially difficult because the child is apt to change his mind many times before he gets out the door on Halloween night. So what is a mother to do? Make the decision for him. Little children have it easy. They can be kitty cats, witches, ballet dancers or whatever and whatever they choose they all look adorable. This year one of the favorites just might be Max from the “Where The Wild Things Are”. Making the costume is quite easy for the mom. It is as non-frills as burning cork and rubbing it over the little’s one face making him a hobo for the night. But if your love one wants to be a princess it will be hard to convince her out of it. After all it’s her fashion statement.