. . .is in the Renaissance of her life.
She is a wife, a mother, and a perpetual student of singing, dance, piano, and loves the written word. Writings include songs, poems, and
stories...with idea for a book or two as well!

I started to go through menopause in my late thirties. This resulted in me slowing gaining a bit of weight. Although I workout 4-6 days a week, I as not losing any weight. I decided to visit a nutritionist who adjusted my healthy vegetarian diet. 

A simple addition of healthy fats, and portion control of carbohydrates (especially starches) is apparently crucial for women starting in their 30's. 

I will be sharing all of these helpful things on my EmbraceYourChild.com web site EmbraceYourChild is a site to help women to be happier. My main focus is learning to embrace your inner child, which is a great stress reliever for stress-filled lives, and helps you mentally and physically as well.

Everything we can do to support and encourage each other to be the healthiest, happiest women that we can be as we age, is a GOOD thing!

The nutritionist guaranteed that I would lose 15 lbs within three months of implementing this simple dietary fix. I didn't believe her, but she was almost perfect in her guess. At the 12 week mark, I had lost 14 lbs.

NOTE: I eat several small meals a day which consists of high fiber, TONS of green veggies and non-meat protein. I also exercise 4-6 days a week with "killer cardiovascular exercise" at 60-90 minutes at the appropriate heart rate. (I wear a pulse watch and strap to monitor to my pulse with every exercise routine to make sure I'm staying in my target heart rate while I exercise). If you don't know your target heart rate for exercise and you are healthy, search the internet for specifics, but generally speaking:

Fat burning heart rate is 60-70% of your maximum heart rate

Cardiovascular workout is 70-80% of your maximum heart rate.

Good luck and email me if you have any questions. My email is dancinsmileywoman at yahoo dot com (I spell out my email to prevent spam). 

This is my pile of pointe shoes AKA pointe shoe bouquet! :D

I'm back into ballet after more than twenty years away. Although I have a balance disorder, I restarted ballet in my early 40's. After about 18 months, I was back en pointe again.

Now, I'm closer to 50 years old than I am to 40 years old!!!!

The Story of a Ballet Late Re-starter....

Maria AKA

I got back into ballet because it has always been my passion to express myself through some form of performing arts. As a kid I wrote songs, stories, poems, was a gymnast, played the guitar, and did a bit of ballet. I grew up poor without financial or family support... I was an "A" student and was told that I must have a SERIOUS career and I wouldn't be allowed to go to New York City and be a starving artist.

Me at 19 years old, in 1979. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture).

I moved to Washington, DC at 18 and spent the next 20 years working on a medical journal. I then was a business consultant until I put myself through college graduating with an honors degree in Psychology just in time for my 44th birthday!

I remarried in 2002, after falling in love for the first time. My new husband is my best friend and nurtures and believes in my dreams. Therefore, I've been encouraged for the first time in my life to pursue my artistic side for the sheer joy of personal expression. I sing, dance, and am learning to play the piano. We also have a banjo and mandolin in the family, which I've been eyeing with interest. We have six children between us...all grown up, and seven grandchildren (at last count).

My street shoe size is 8.5 US. I also have medium arches, somewhat tapered feet, narrow heels, wide metatarsals. and a second toe that is longer than the first. My biggest challenge to demi-pointe (not pointe) is that I have developed a neuroma in both feet (which will eventually require surgery), I'm also starting to get bunions for the first time in my life! 

I have many pairs of pointe shoes, but my Gaynor Minden's are by far my favorite! My GMs are size 9 sleeks with a number 4 box and a sleek heel. I also have Gamba97s which I haven't worn in more than 25 years, and I'm very happy to have found them again! I alternate between my GMs and my paste shoes because there is nothing like dancing in a traditional shoe!

I'm also a member of an international Dance site called Dance.net 

It's a wonderful supportive place to make friends, ask questions, get answers, and share about all dance forms.

Visit my other sites: