Happy Spring.....Goodbye Winter!

Is it true? Could it possible be??? The winter is over!! No more snow, slush, cold and shoveling!! Spring is here and it couldn't have come soon enough.

Much of the nation was pummled this winter, and here on the east coast it was especially brutal. Those of us who are in education know that a heavy snow signals a "snow day." Kids love it, and I must admit, as a teacher I, too, enjoy the occasional day off in the middle of the winter. However, this year's blasts blessed us with 5 snow days! Now they must be made up; so what would have been a spring break for many is turning into a spring weekend instead. Never mind though...the weather forcast is simply glorious and I am thrilled. As I write this post, I am sitting out on my deck, enjoying the spring breeze.

As far as my business, Lunar Radiance, is concerned, spring also is the signal for an introduction of new wicking sleepwear. This year I have one new addition and new colors to refresh some favorite wicking nightgowns and wicking pajamas.

WHAT IS NEW? The Morgan wicking tank nightgown (pictured right)coming in passion pink and heather blue, it is absolutely perfect for those warm, summer nights that are just around the corner. Click Here to check it out! Say "nightie, night" to night sweats!

Two of our longtime favorties, the Colleen wicking capri set and the Dee Dee wicking nightshirt have been released in two fresh colors--sweet heather blue and passion pink! You won't want to miss those either!

It's almost time for those barbecues and family reunions. Looking for a great invitation that is reasonably priced and will knock your guests socks off? Check these out! So easy to personalize they look like you spent a fortune. All you need to do is type in your information and you are done! SIMPLE-FUN-ADORABLE!

Floral Family Reunion Party Invitations by NightSweatsDiva
4th of July Party Invitations by NightSweatsDiva

Happy Black Friday! Wicking Sleepwear on Sale!

THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER!

Black Friday is here and so is an awesome chance to scoop up your favorite wicking pajamas, wicking nightgowns and wicking pillow cases at a discount!

10% OFF ALL ORDERS OVER $39.99

Just enter promo code Holiday09 at checkout!

Wicking sleepwear makes the perfect gift for yourself or someone else who suffers from night sweats due to menopause, peri-menopause, cancer treatments or medications. Whoever receives one of our soft, comfy nightgowns or pj sets will be one happy lady! Sale is on through Cyber Monday, but quantities are limited. Treat your favorite baby boomer woman.

Say "Nightie, Night" to Night Sweats!

One Week and Counting

Keep your eyes peeled and check back here for details on Lunar Radiance's Black Friday Special Discount. All of our fabulous wicking pajamas and wicking nightgowns will be discounted just in time for the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Have you seen our newest nightgown? Our soft, ruffle wicking nightgown is made of the finest wicking fabric that you have come to know and love. Click Here to read more...and it's only $44.99!!

This will be the perfect opportunity to let your family or friends say "Nightie, night" to night sweats in comfort and style! They will love you for it!!

World Menopause Day Means $5 Off Wicking Sleepwear!

HAPPY WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY LADIES!!! World Menopause Day is not a new event. It was started way back in 1984, though it is still relatively unheard of. Started by the International Menopause Society and the World Health Organization, World Menopause Day's original purpose was to bring increased awareness to menopause.

Menopause changes a woman’s quality of life and more importantly puts her at increased risk for osteoporosis, breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Let's not forget hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, depression, sleep problems, itchiness and a host of other symptoms that were once thought to be only "in the head" of the transitional woman. It is important to understand the risk factors associated with these conditions and how these conditions can be treated.

This once undiscussed topic has now come into focus and is open for discussion for more and more women with each other, and their physicians as well. Just Google "menopause" and you will find an abundance of websites and information.

In honor of World Menopause Day, Lunar Radiance is offering $5.00 off all wicking sleepwear purchases of $20.00 or more. We are doing our part to help you say "Nightie, night" to night sweats!!

Potpourri

I am always reading about baby boomers, menopause, night sweats and generally all information that pertains to those of us who are living in this transitional period. I came across a plethora of articles, but these three stood out because they resonated with me since I had actually engaged in conversations about these topics this week.

First up deals with depression and menopause. Did you know that the risk for major depression more than doubles while women are going through menopause and afterward? Have you been wondering if it's "just you?" Click here to read more.

Boomers around the country are talking retirement around the water cooler. The baby boomers have three important questions before them: Have they had enough? Do they have enough? Will they have enough to do? What about you? Click here to read more.

I'd like to say I saved the best for last.....NOT! However, I couldn't pass it by. Women who add more fat to their bodies as they approach menopause will have a harder time with hot flashes and night sweats. (thank heavens for wicking sleepwear!) Research is showing that these weight gains, which are often common during menopause, may actually contribute to a worsening of symptoms. Click here to read more.

Do you have a topic or blog of interest that you think is worth sharing? Let me know!

Fall Is Upon Us

The heat of the summer is over and fall is upon us. I, for one, am thrilled. Maybe a little cooler weather will take some of the heat out of those hot flashes!! Speaking of hot flashes...within the next two weeks, Lunar Radiance will be revealing new wicking sleepwear to fight those night sweats....always love that. In the meantime, it's time to turn to some fall festivities that are upon us and prepare!

Halloween is always a fun time to dress up, decorate and send entertaining greeting cards. Over at my Zazzle store, NightSweatsDiva, I have been busy creating many new greeting cards, Halloween postage stamps, trick or treat bags, tee shirts and so much more. Below are just a few samples, but there is so much that I can't fit everything here. The best part.....You Can Personalize almost everything and have you never have to leave your house!!

Teachers, baby boomer grandparents, moms and dads need to pay a visit, and check back often because new additions are being made every day.

Personalized Halloween Tote Bag by NightSweatsDiva

Halloween Novelty Mug by NightSweatsDiva

Halloween Postage Stamps by NightSweatsDiva

Halloween Stickers by NightSweatsDiva

Halloween Party Invitation by NightSweatsDiva

P.S......Have a bride to be in your family? Have her click here. She will love, love, love it!

Is Social Media For You?

As a 51 year old woman, I am rather slow to pick up on the social media craze. However, because of my wicking sleepwear business, Lunar Radiance, I have been somewhat forced to take a close look and jump in. I must admit, I have been rather slow at it, but little by little I am starting to enjoy it.

While I do have a Facebook page, my favorite form of social media is Twitter. It is free and rather simple. Sign up, select your twitter user name and you are set to go. Take some time to fill out your profile, and play with the different settings and backgrounds to find one that you like. You can even upload your own image for a more customized background.

Next, you will want to find some people to follow who have the same interests. Maybe you are Twittering for business or you have a hobby. Click on "find people" and type your topic in the box that asks "Who are you looking for?" For example, I am always interested in internet marketing, so that's what I searched. What you will find is a list of people who share the same interest. Read their profile, and if you want, start to follow them. Try to pick Tweeps who have currently been active. Usually after you start following them, they will follow you back. You can accept or reject requests to be followed. Take a look at who is following the Tweeps you have selected and start following them too. That's how it becomes viral! It really is quite fun, and doesn't take much time.

Each time you login to your Twitter account, you will see what your "Tweeps" have been Twittering about. I follow Women's Health Magazine. Today one of their tweets was a link to an article about customizing your own workout. I checked it out and found it helpful since I am always looking for ways to slim down my thighs and keep my workouts fresh! Here is the link http://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/customize-your-workout/index.html

Don't be fearful! It is quite fun, but it can be addictive! Check it out and when you do, I hope you follow me on Twitter! Click on the link below to follow me!

New Wicking Sleepwear Products at Lunar Radiance

Our two newest products are here and they are made of soft, cool, naturally wicking bamboo!

** Bamboo is a fabric which is incredibly soft and comfortable.
** Bamboo is naturally anti-microbial helping to control odors and hypoallergenic.
** Bamboo provides superior natural wicking capabilities.
** Bamboo is environmentally friendly; it is the fastest growing plant in the world and is an easily renewable resource.

These two new products offer style and comfort at a reasonable price!

Wicking Capri PJ's $52.99 - CLICK HERE

Wicking Nightgown $39.99 - CLICK HERE

Say "Nightie, night" to nightsweats with our wicking sleepwear!

How Do You Beat the Heat?

Summer is here and the temperature is heating up across the country. In my neck of the woods we are just happy to see the sunshine after a long period of rain every day. Temps are expected to skyrocket at the end of this week.

When it heats up outside, I look for ways to stay cool on the inside. I love to experiment with summertime drinks. Sometimes they are of the alcoholic type, but most often I choose the "virgin version." Alcohol tends to make a girl feel warm, and heaven knows, menopausal women don't need any more causes for hot flashes and night sweats.

So here is a new recipe that was shared with me today, and it sounds totally DE-LI-CIOUS. Just thought I would pass it along....

Fresh Mint and Ginger and Lemonade

Yield: Makes 4 servings
This distinctive fat-free drink is a great change of pace from coffee or tea.

Ingredients
1/2 cup (packed) chopped fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup chopped fresh ginger
1/3 cup honey
2 cups boiling water
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups (about) cold water
Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon slices

Just mix together, pour over the ice and garnish with some fresh mint leaves and lemon slices! Yum.

Don't forget to wear your favorite wicking nightgown or PJ set to help keep you cool and dry on those steam nights as well. Click Here to visit Lunar Radiance to pick up some of our newest styles. Pictured is our wicking nightshirt by CoolSets. Also available in red passion - $46.50

DO YOU HAVE A GREAT SUMMERTIME LIBATION RECIPE TO SHARE? Don't keep it to yourself! Share please! I would be more than happy to post them.

Mother's Day Coupon from Lunar Radiance

What is Your Stimulus Plan?

Wow!! The Dow was up 377 points today! Yipee!! Does that mean anything to you? Are you like the millions of people who watch the Dow daily and cringe with fear and worry every time it drops just a bit more? Are you like me and most of my baby boomer friends who don't even want to open their next statements because what has transpired over the last few months may mean that their plans for retirement may need to be, well... retired for a little while?

I think that each of us has taken a different attitude about the current financial status in which we currently find ourselves. One friend of mine immediately withdrew all of her family's investments/retirement money and put it into a plain, old savings account.

Another friend and her husband have decided to truly stimulate the economy by buying a new car and renovating their kitchen. They have excellent credit, and very stable jobs. They had been wanting to make these changes and with their retirement just a few years off, they figured now would be the time.

I, and many of my colleagues and friends, left my money where it was never dreaming that the market would hit 6000. I spoke with my investment broker last week and he confirmed what I suspected.....I would take a major bath if I pulled out now, so I just need to ride it out. He believes that we should see a turn around beginning around the end of April/beginning of May. For all of our sakes, I hope he is right.

I am fortunate to have a career that is recession/depression proof, teaching. So I am not worried about losing my job. However, I do have another college tuition to take care of and worry about student loan money drying up.

I have a son who will be graduating from college this year with a marketing degree....oh heavens....I think he will be inhabiting his freshly painted room again as he looks for a job. I do worry about his future.

There is no doubt about it, my wicking sleepwear business, Lunar Radiance has been a bit slower than it was this time last year, but by no means is it ready to float belly up...so that is good news.

Almost everyone is impacted in some shape or form, and has a financial issue they are stressing over, but is there a mentally healthy way to approach these times without losing our minds? Obviously worrying does nothing to solve the problems, so what do we do?

How do you plan on making your way through these difficult financial times? What's working for you? What is your personal stimulus plan?

Where Has the Time Gone??

Wow...I must be getting old, but time is definitely passing more quickly. It has been close to a month since my last post, but in my defense, I have been busy.

Thankfully, my Christmas season at Lunar Radiance was good. Everyone in retail experienced a bit of a downturn, but I guess those old night sweats don't understand economics and my business was able to hold steady. Post Christmas I have been managing minimal returns and preparing for the nasty tax season. Honestly, that is the worst part of being in business for me....paperwork.

My children were home for Christmas, which I loved and there was a lot of hustle....boyfriends, girlfriends and friends were in and out. It was awesome. Tomorrow my daughter returns to school which makes me sad, and my son has been back for two weeks. I will be back to the empty nest.

However...I always find a way to keep myself busy. I have started working feverishly, allowing my creative juices to flow by creating greeting cards and gifts which are sold through two pods over at Zazzle and my newest a Greeting Card Universe.

Do you love Valentine's Day or have a bride in your house? Then visit my newest Zazzle pod Be My Valentine. It's a love fest over there!!! There you will find a wide variety of Valentine cards and gifts designed by little old me! Brides can't be ignored when we talk about love. If you have a newly engaged person in your life, then you know all about save the date cards, will you be my bridesmaid cards and other wedding accessories. Plus.....lots of adorable custom postage!!!

My first Zazzle pod NightSweatsDiva has a large selection of cards, gifts and custom postage for the baby boomers in our midst! Specific birthdays and momentus occasions particular to baby boomer women are given special attention!

My newest endeavor, Lunar Radiance's Card Store, over at Greeting Card Universe is in early stages of development, but the card collection is rapidly expanding. Here you will find greeting cards, only, but for all occasions.

So.....I guess that is why I haven't blogged in a while....ha ha. I have been having tons of fun doing my creating, while managing my wicking sleepwear business and of course teaching as well. We baby boomer women are pros at multi-tasking aren't we?

PS.....still NOT smoking!!! It's been over 4 months!!

Sleepwear for Plus Sizes

Brrrr..........it is cold here in New Jersey this fine Saturday morning, but I like it! Since my hot flashes are a pretty regular happening these days, I don't really mind. It is a bit of a welcome relief. Plus, this is just one more signal that the winter and holiday season is upon us and I love it. Next week, my daughter will be home from college for her winter break and then I will be able to decorate my house for the holidays. I made her a promise that I would wait since she has certain decorations she likes to take care of.

Anyway......my good friends over at Wicking J Sleepwear introduced their fall/winter line of wicking sleepwear a couple of weeks ago. Of course their products are of excellent quality or else I wouldn't carry them at Lunar Radiance, but I wanted to mention that they have expanded their plus sizes! Because there was such demand for more plus, Wicking J. had added 4X, 5X and 6X to their inventory and I have added it to mine!

Both the Chelsea Wicking Pajamas and the Abigail Wicking Nightgown both come in a full range of sizes. So if you or someone you knows is in need of some relief from those nasty night sweats, but has been unable to find sleepwear because they are a plus size lady, please pass this information along to them. They will love you for it!

Have a great weekend!

Black Friday Sale on Wicking Sleepwear at Lunar Radiance!

We couldn't resist joining in on the Black Friday frenzy as we begin the holiday season. So....for today only, all wicking nightgowns, wicking pajamas and World's Softest Spa Socks will automatically be marked down 10% at checkout.

With the recent addition of two new wicking nightgowns, one new wicking pajama set and let's not forget The World's Softest Spa socks, today is a great day to pick up a holiday gift for a special baby boomer friend or family member who suffers from night sweats due to menopause, perimenopause, medication side effects, or cancer. There is a style for every woman's taste. Heck....maybe you just want a pair for yourself!

Click Here to See More!

Have You Zazzled?

Are you a shopper? Are you an artist? How about someone who has a bit of creativity and likes to mix it with the computer? Pay a visit to Zazzle.

It is a marketplace with a host of greeting cards with matching postage, specialty Keds, posters, aprons, mugs and the list goes on and on. It is a pretty interesting place to visit for both shoppers and creators. It is similar to Cafe Press.

As an extension to my wicking sleepwear business, Lunar Radiance, I thought I would dabble over at Zazzle with a focus on Baby Boomer Divas. It's never too soon to start looking for a unique little something that's not too expensive for someone special.

So....grab a cup of coffee, CLICK HERE, and take a trip to Zazzle! Here is an example of a birthday card perfect for a boomer lady's birthday or a mug after a boomer girl's heart! These are a couple of my creations!

Divas Love Shoes Mug by NightSweatsDiva

Sophisticated Diva Birthday Card by NightSweatsDiva

Online Shopping in a Bad Economy

I love shopping on line! Obviously, since I have my own internet retail business selling wicking pajamas and wicking nightgowns, I am not afraid to fill my cart, pull out my card and click "complete transaction" on everything from tablewear to underwear.

Shopping online is cost effective, secure and easy. Even when it may be time to tighten our belts a bit, we still need to buy items. Women will continue to have night sweats and holiday shopping will still need to get done. So, why not look for the most cost and time efficient way to do so?

• I love being able to take my time and browse a "store" at my leisure no matter what the time day or night.
• I like having the ability to get answers to my questions regarding returns, colors, sizes etc. simply by "clicking" a link. I don't need to trudge through a store looking for someone to help me. If worse comes to worse, I just call the toll free number listed to have my question answered.
• My time is valuable, so shopping conveniently for me is a blessing, and given the cost of gas, I am all about saving money by not using my car to drive all over town.
• Prices are competitive online. Internet retailers know that it is EASY to do a price comparison. So in a bad economy when everyone is looking for a deal, you have a great opportunity to find one!
• Most reputable sites have testimonials from customers that give the shopper an idea of whether the product is all it supposed to be. Read them! I rarely stop fellow shoppers in a store to get their opinion, but I will always read a testimonial. I can pretty much insure that my hard earned money is being well spent. Isn't that something we all want?
• Hard to find items often can be found online. Wicking sleepwear is not easy to find in stores, but readily available on the internet. I recently found a certain type of briefcase for my husband on line that I was struggling to find in the real world.....reasonably priced too!

This past weekend, I was a bit of an internet shopping fiend. I went QVC wild. I watched the presentations, then jumped on my computer to order. I read the testimonials and picked up a couple of great deals. (All done while I was in my pajamas!)

Congratulations to October's Birthday Club Winner

Congratulations go out to this month's birthday girl, Meg R. from Florida.

Meg is a busy nurse practitioner from Florida who will be celebrating her 55th birthday on October 25th. She is a long time sufferer of night sweats due to an early hysterectomy, but she found her relief about a year ago when she purchased her first pair of wicking pajamas from Lunar Radiance.

What does Meg have to say about her sleepwear from Lunar Radiance?

"I was greatly impressed at how comfortable the PJ's were, soft, moveable against the sheets, and how comfortable I was. I can say I really didn't fully realize how uncomfortable I was until wearing your PJ's. It just seemed to balance my temperature."

"My initial expectation was that the material would be very flimsy and thin, but I was wrong. It is very comfortable to lounge in and you do not feel like you need a robe to 'cover up'. The repeated washings just make it more comfortable. These are certainly worth the price. It's part of how I take care of me ~ I'm worth it!"

So, What Product Did She Pick?

Meg decided that she would like to receive her 50% discount on one of our older styles, The Rochelle. Because it is a discontinued style, I asked her to select another item that would receive the 10% discount for this month. She picked one of her original favorites, The Colleen.

Our regular price, which is already discounted off of the msrp is $52.99, but in honor of Meg, The Colleen will be on sale for $47.70 for the month of October! Just click on the picture above to check it out.

You won't want to miss out on such a great value. So jump on it while supplies last. The Colleen is available in pink and sage green!

CLICK HERE to learn more about Lunar Radiance's birthday club. It's free and you don't have to buy a thing!

Baby Boomer Women...Celebrate Your Birthdays!

I love celebrating my birthday and want to celebrate yours! Look to the left and sign up to receive the free newsletter from Lunar Radiance. During the speedy sign up, make sure to include your birthday.

Then, each month, one person who is celebrating their birthday that month, will be randomly selected to receive 50% off one pair of wicking pajamas of their choice or 50% off their choice of a wicking nightgown. It gets better! In honor of that person's birthday, the item they have chosen will be discounted 10% for the entire month for everyone to enjoy!

So jump on board our monthly birthday party and enjoy great savings on your favorite wicking sleepwear so you can say "Nightie, night" to night sweats!

Sunday Morning News Just for Us - Baby Boomer's That Is!

OK......I know it's not the morning, but my day got away from me today. However, my little fingers have been clicking the keys and searching the internet for the latest news and stories of interest, so here goes.....

• Is it a myth that menopause puts a damper on libido? True, woman suffer from a host of uncomfortable symptoms including hotflashes and night sweats, but a recent survey dispels this myth and eases women's concerns regarding hormonal changes and changes in their sex life. Click here to read more and you can be the judge.
• Osteoporosis, which means porous bone, is a natural process that accelerates during menopause due to the decrease in the production of estrogen. It is often referred to as the silent disease because we can't see it nor feel its effects unless it is brought to our attention because of a broken bone. According to an article in the Times-Picayune, "almost 80 percent of the 661 people (older than 45) recently surveyed by the National Osteoporosis Foundation said they didn't think that the disease was a risk factor for broken bones, and 60 percent of women and 90 percent of men had not discussed their osteoporosis risk with their doctors." Click here to read more.....
• This week's topic at my other blog, Not Fit to Pick is the relationship between mothers and daughters. Although Not Fit to Pick usually deals with romantic relationships, this week's topic is inspired by my reflections after sending my last child, my daughter off to her freshman year in college. Click here to read more......
• Taking care of aging parents is something that many of my friends are dealing with right now. If you find yourself in this position, you will want to check out the Baby Boomers Retirement Club. This organization provides solutions for boomers caring for aging parents including online forums, senior care service locators, a senior and over 55 community search, and free pharmacy prescription cards. Click here to read more....
• Job hunting baby boomers face new challenges and they need to step up to the challenge. Bob Moos, from the Dallas Morning News takes a look at what boomers need to do to "brush up on modern ways to find work, interview and even update their image." Click here to read more....
• Lunar Radiance has introduced a new wicking nightgown to their wicking sleepwear line to help you fight those nasty night sweats! You can "Slumber in Sleeveless," pictured above, with this newest nightgown made by Wildbleu. Sale price is $45.99.

Have a great week everyone.

Pajama Lady Appears on Growing Bolder Radio

Last week, I had the pleasure of being a guest on Growing Bolder radio (CLICK HERE to listen to my interview) to talk about my wicking sleepwear company, Lunar Radiance. For those of you who haven't heard about Growing Bolder, a leading website catering to the issues of baby boomers, here is how they describe themselves.

• "Unlike other sites, we're not here to convince you that the best is yet to come. You already know that. We're here to tell the stories of those who are leading by example. We believe that's all the convincing anyone will need. Unlike other active lifestyle communities, you don't have to be 50+ to hang with us. What fun is that? We're building an intergenerational community that's a reflection of the society we envision -- one of inclusion. That's why our site is not about age. It's about attitude; an attitude that's as powerful at 20 as it is at 60. So plug in. Get connected. In our community, you have the power."

Growing Bolder has forums, blogs, radio, tv and so much more. It is like one stop shopping for baby boomers. I was thrilled to be asked to interview with them and I totally enjoyed it! Pay a visit to their site....you won't be disappointed.