Location: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 55
Marital Status: Married
Education: MFA from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, BFA from Penn State

Where did you grow up?

The Philadelphia area. My dad was a chemical engineer and he traveled. I lived in Europe for a year; I had my seventh birthday in Venice. That was so, so cool. But my parents decided that I should have an American education, so mostly we stayed around Philadelphia.

You still live in Philadelphia today? And own a restaurant there?

Yes. It’s called Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It’s a neighborhood place; some of the waiters have been there for twenty years. We have an eclectic menu; really interesting appetizers, a lot of fresh fish and then classics like rack of lamb and filet mignon. We have a cream of mushroom soup that’s been on the menu since we started in 1973.

Does your husband own the restaurant with you?

Yes. His name is Weaver Lilley. We will be married 26 years this year. He started the restaurant with six other people. They were sitting around having a drink one night and said, “Let’s start a restaurant.” Everybody put in $2,000 and they started it on $14,000. Each person had a different job. I do the bookkeeping.

Do you have children?

I have two kids. One is 15 and he’s going to the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. My other son, Sam, is 21 and goes to Savannah College of Art and Design. My sons will tell me everything and anything. It’s nice to have that honesty. I also have two stepdaughters that are 41 and 43 now, and I’m very close with them.

Wow. You could be sisters with your stepdaughters.

Yeah, I’m exactly in between their age and Weaver’s age. He’s 65 now.

Tell me about your personal style.

Color is my thing. Not wild color, I like clean looks, not a lot of stuff. I like to have fun with what I wear but I’m usually more classic. I’m short, so I like to wear high heels. I almost never wear flats, except flip-flops in the summer.

Who influenced your style?

My mother. She had so much style and did it all on a shoestring. When we were in Europe she had all these great clothes, even though she was traveling out of suitcases for a year. I remember everything she wore… a beautiful black lace, V-neck, off the shoulder dress that had a fitted waist. In the 50s she wore these big skirts. I have a picture of her and my dad at the opera in Venice in one.

Who are your favorite designers?

Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten.

What are your favorite pieces?

I have a red shirt–like a bowling shirt. The fabric is so old and rayon-y, which is wonderful. It says ‘Harvey’ in on the front, and on the back it says ‘Coca Cola.’ I bought it in Paris for ten dollars, and I wear it every summer. I have to be careful now because it’s starting to fall apart. Also, I’ve been going through all my son’s old clothes, which I saved for my stepdaughter’s kids. I didn’t really want to give it all away so I started trying it on. I wear a little jean jacket that was his. It still says Sam L in it. It’s very touching.

Why do you like the store, Joan Shepp?

You can walk in and everybody is very friendly — they know you. You can wander around, you can sit down and chat or try stuff on. There’s no pressure. It’s like seeing your girlfriends.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Philly?

Porcini is my favorite, great food and two very funny brothers who own it.

What’s a great book you’ve read?

I love Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. I’ve probably read those five or six times. I also have read Modoc, which is a really wonderful book about this little boy and an elephant that were born on the same day and raised together. It’s a true story and it’s pretty awesome.

What’s your skincare routine?

Dove soap, La Mer face cream, and then I use a gel by Chantecaille Vital Essence. Neutrogena for sunscreen; you have to really watch the sun. I love to be out in it. I have all my moles checked every year, and I’ve had a lot removed.

Do you wear lipstick?

I wear a natural color if I wear anything and I use Aquaphor on my lips for moisture. It’s a great product. They use it for babies.

How do you rejuvenate?

We have a house at the beach on Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island. It’s my passion.

What is your exercise routine?

I do weights three days a week, and then I do aerobics. I also ride my bike everywhere.

 Do you have a secret favorite spot in Philly?

The Whispering Wall in Fairmont Park. It’s a big, curved wall–like a long bench–and it has big statues on the end. You have your kids sit at one end, and you sit at the other end, and you can talk and hear. It’s wonderful.

Do you have a passion project?

I love to draw. My mother used to draw notes on my lunch bag. So I drew notes on my boys’ lunch bags. Now that they’re older, I don’t have any more lunch bags to draw on. So, I helped a friend with illustrations for a book she published, and now I’m working with this other company doing drawings for their website.

Do you have any words of wisdom for other FOFs?

I try and communicate to my boys that everybody has their foibles and if there’s somebody who needs some help then you need to stick your hand out. Also put out your feelings… you can’t be insular and just do what you want.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 41
Marital Status: Married
Education: Degree in esthetics from Fresno State.

Kate Somerville is renowned for having transformed the skin of dozens of celebrities, male and female—a record which has earned her the title “guru of glow.”

But many people who know her by name probably don’t realize that Kate became a skin care professional for the most personal reason; growing up, she suffered from severe eczema, and felt, firsthand, the toll skin trouble can take on a person’s self-worth. Determined to help anyone who knew that kind of distress, Kate developed her own skin care methodology, combining the best of the dermatological and cosmetological worlds. We chatted with Kate about her childhood, her skin care doctrine, and why a better moniker for her might be the “czar of confidence.”

When did your interest in skin care begin?

Having battled a variety of skin concerns including psoriasis, eczema, and hives—and really struggling with my own complexion growing up, I always had a special affinity for skin care. When I was a child, my parents’ marital problems caused me emotional distress. It manifested itself as a severe rash which flared up without warning. I broke out with eczema from head to toe. So, I’ve long had a deep-seated desire to provide relief to other people who, like me, don’t always feel comfortable in their own skin. In my early 20s, I had a good friend who was a dermatologist. She and I would talk endlessly about my eczema and all of the effort I put into healing myself. She suggested that I get a degree in esthetics.

Why did you want to work for yourself? How did you accomplish it?

As far back as college, I knew I wanted to work side by side with doctors, to complement their services. This was unusual at the time, as most estheticians were facialists employed by spas. So I put together a business plan geared toward my way of thinking, and shortly after graduation I opened my own clinic inside a cosmetic surgeon’s office south of Cambria, in San Luis Obispo. I didn’t know anything about running a business and was scared to death! But I overcame my fear and just did it. In the beginning, I was like a sponge, absorbing all I could about skincare from the staff, and from observing surgeries. I was fascinated by what was possible.

You’ve said that you “developed a complete line of products to address the needs of real people.” What do you mean by real people and how does your line address them?

The truth is that many companies that create beauty products are really just marketing firms. They get formulas from a faraway lab and slap their labels on them. I truly believe this is what separates my brand, my products, and what my team and I do from all the rest of the stuff out there. My products don’t get on the shelves unless they can fill certain needs of my clients and been tested by real people at my clinic. We only create products that my clients can trust, and that I personally believe in.

How does skin affect confidence?

Having a skin issue can be like wearing a mask all the time—the face that the world sees simply isn’t you. I’ve witnessed how powerful changes in skin not only transforms faces, but change lives. It’s amazing to watch the physical changes in someone, and then feel, in your heart, his or her personal transformation. To see someone regain their confidence because their outer self better matches their inner self.

Cathi’s before and after photos illustrate how Kate’s skin treatments transform the skin.

What is a medi-skin clinic?

At my medi-skin clinic, we work with the doctors who prepare clients’ skin for surgery and laser treatments and then, help take care of them after their procedures. We create custom regimens for people whose skin can’t handle everyday products, and we monitor the transformation of their skin.

On your website, you present testimonials from several celebrities. How did they find you?

Not long after we opened on Melrose Place in Los Angeles, word spread throughout the entertainment industry that we could solve skin issues and be trusted. Within a year, we had a list of celebrity clients; we caught the attention of the media, and before I knew it, I was the “guru of glow.”

Is it tough at all to treat skin when so many fashion pictures are airbrushed and otherwise doctored? Do women get unrealistic expectations for what good skin looks like?

For my book Complexion Perfection, we had people from all walks of life volunteer for their own complexion transformation, each with his or her unique skin challenges. The one thing all of these clients had in common was that they weren’t satisfied with the present state of their skin, and they couldn’t figure out how to fix it. Why they were dissatisfied was less important. Transforming skin is what gives me my mojo, and I love a challenge.

How long do you typically work with a new client?

For clients with serious concerns, my clinicians and I spend anywhere from six months to a year working on their skin. The client comes in at least twice a week, and they stick to their product regimens at home. Thanks to my team at the clinic and to the clients’ desire and commitment, we’ve witnessed powerful transformations. If I can say one thing to those struggling with skin issues, it’s that you really can have beautiful skin. Sometimes it takes work, but it’s so very possible.

Can you tell us a few skin tips for our community—some things that most women might not do or might be doing in a less than ideal way?

It’s best to create a balanced and beautiful ecosystem for your skin. You should follow a daily skincare routine, consisting of five steps: cleanse, exfoliate, treat, hydrate/moisturize and protect. Hydration follows protection in the pyramid, and I love to talk about this topic. Sadly, despite its crucial importance, I find that so many of my clients are missing this step. They know to moisturize their skin and to drink water—both of which are important—but they aren’t hydrating their skin, which is something totally different. Hydration means getting water into the skin cells; moisturizing means locking it there by applying a cream or lotion on top of the hydrated skin. Both hydration and moisturization are truly necessary because more-hydrated cells are healthier cells; they look and function better. Regular monthly facials are also crucial, whether at a skin-care salon or at home, because they’re a way for you and your skin-care professional to keep tabs on changes in your skin health. The more you know about how your skin works, the better you can care for your skin. Most important, I want to stress that it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin, nor are you ever too old to gain benefits from the wonderful products and treatments available today. The whole gamut of treatments is still available to you.

Who inspires you?

Barbara Wells: She was my college boyfriend’s mother and remains the most inspirational woman I have ever known. She was loving and supportive and taught me that I didn’t have to live in chaos. I was in control of my life, and I had the power to change whatever it was I didn’t like. I could be whatever I wanted to be, have whatever I wanted to have and achieve whatever I wanted to achieve. After having battled cancer for ten years, she died from the disease when I was about 20. But her message continues to guide me, personally and professionally.

Do you have a secret favorite place in LA?

I am really obsessed with the Stephen Webster store on Rodeo Drive. His pieces perfectly combine an upscale, spiritual, and rock-and-roll vibe. It is difficult walking in there because I want everything! Every time I visit Mimi & Hy on Ventura in Studio City, I find the coolest, most original gifts. They have things you know you won’t find elsewhere. It’s run by sisters and has a cool family vibe. When I have the need for comfort food, I immediately go to my favorite restaurant, Al Dente in Studio City.

How do you rejuvenate?

I love to hike and bike in the canyons and rollerblade on the boardwalk.

Images courtesy of Kate Somerville

Location: Washington, DC
Age: 63
Marital Status: Married
Education: NYU

When she was 24, Barbara Graham lived with her boyfriend and their five-month-old son in a plywood shack atop a mountain in California. Today, she’s a successful writer, ensconced in a comfortable Colonial in Washington, D.C., with her wonderful husband. Barbara’s journey from hippie to hip grandmother—she’s a columnist for Grandparents.com and the author of The New York Times bestseller, Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother—is heartening and inspirational.

How old are you?

63.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I was born in Pittsburgh and moved to New York when I was nine. I went to NYU in 1965, because it was the only way I could think of to live in Greenwich Village and have my father pay for it. But I really just wanted to be an actress and explore the world, so I dropped out in my sophomore year. I was interested in sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, not school.

What did your father do?

He was a securities analyst in a brokerage house. Many members of his family worked on Wall Street, including Ben Graham, who was Warren Buffet’s mentor. My father was not in that league, though, and didn’t settle into his career until he was almost 50.

Your mother?

She was a bit of a narcissist who wanted me to be just like her. She was beautiful and stylish and kept the perfect home. We were like two landmasses that didn’t quite fit together. She died last year, at 95. In the end she came to understand and appreciate me—and vice-versa. I’m grateful for the rapprochement we achieved before she passed away.

So you were the avant-garde member of the family?

I was the black sheep. I did the opposite of everything my parents wanted me to do, which would have been to graduate college and marry a doctor. The new model for what women could do or be didn’t exist yet. This was six or seven years before feminism. It was sort of a black hole time in women’s consciousness and history. We still believed we needed a man for life to be meaningful. We weren’t worthy on our own.

What did you do after you left NYU?

I had one ridiculous clerical job after another. I worked in bookstores. My jobs didn’t last all that long—sometimes only until lunch on my first day. I also studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio.

Did your parents help support you?

Yes, they did, but they were not especially pleased when I hooked up with an artist/cowboy-type. Brian was the ultimate rebel.

Are you still married to him?

I never married him, but we pretended we got married for my parents’ benefit. My mother sent out a wedding announcement to her friends, then boxes from Tiffany and Georg Jensen start arriving daily at our tenement in Manhattan. I felt terribly guilty. Still, we ended up pawning the stuff and taking off for Europe.

We traveled around in a Volkswagen van. So I did the hippie thing, to the nth, nth, nth degree. I was the uber-60s child, seriously confused about who I was, but also reveling in the sense that anything was possible.

Any children with Brian?

Yes, I had a son, Clay, when I was 23. When he was born we were living on a dairy farm in British Columbia. By the time he was five months old, we’d moved to northern California and lived in a plywood shack that we built on top of a mountain. We had no plumbing, electricity, or money. We lived on welfare and odd jobs and every once in a while we’d go into a city and I would charge things to my mother’s Saks account.

Brian was your Svengali?

Originally, I shared his dream of “going back to the land.” I made a big deal of rejecting all the values my parents had tried to instill in me. I saw the light while we were living on the mountaintop, without running water or electricity. Our nearest neighbors were bears. Very hungry bears.

What did you do after your epiphany?

Clay’s father and I split when our son was two. We were living in the Silicon Valley then, before it was called that. I went back to school and also worked. When Clay was four, we moved to San Francisco and I studied theatre at San Francisco State. Later, I ran a theatre company in the city and became a theater critic for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. I wrote several plays that were produced in San Francisco and Off-Broadway in New York.

When did you start to write?

I started writing stories, plays and poems when I was a kid, but didn’t write much during the years I was off the grid.

What is Clay doing today?

He’s a phenomenally gifted photographer. He and his wife live in Paris with their two adorable daughters, ages two and five. I visit them as often as I can.

To what do you attribute your turnaround?

Going to therapy and learning what I stood for. Like many members of our 60s generation, Brian and I rebelled against conventional society, but we had little sense of what we really wanted as individuals. I’ve also practiced meditation for many years, and that’s helped enormously. And of course my writing career has brought me satisfaction and recognition. In some sense I think coming home to oneself is a lifelong process.

What’s the biggest difference between how our generation relates to our kids, compared to the way our parents’ generation related to us?

We’re the therapy generation. We talk to our kids. We share an intimacy that I certainly never had with my own parents. Our shared vocabulary includes the honest expression of feelings. But that can complicate matters when you become a grandparent, because the expectation is that the intimacy will continue. It does and it doesn’t. Clear boundaries are essential.

When did you remarry?

I met Hugh in 1982, when Clay was 10. We married in 1984. At the time we were both freelance writers living in San Francisco. Now he’s an editor and we live in Washington, D.C., where we moved in 1999.

You’ve become a successful writer.

I’ve written for many magazines, including Self, Vogue, O Magazine, and Glamour. I’ve written a lot about psychology and personal growth, as well as personal essays. After taking one self-help workshop too many in the 90s, I authored a humorous take on the subject. That book is called Women Who Run With The Poodles: Myths and Tips for Honoring Your Mood Swings.

Do you like Washington?

I like my life here, but I don’t feel as rooted here as I did in California and New York. On the plus side, I have lovely friends in DC, and live in a great house in a beautiful neighborhood near the National Cathedral.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Washington?

Palena has very, very good food. It’s mostly organic, well sourced and exquisitely prepared.

Who or what inspired you most in your life?

I had two really wonderful English teachers in high school who were incredibly supportive of my talents. Also countless books—I read constantly. Good therapists, wise friends, and spiritual teachers. My meditation practice has given me a a perspective on what really matters. I recently attended a seven-day silent retreat in California taught by Adyashanti. Life is much bigger than our egos or the stories we tell ourselves. It’s a great relief to begin to understand that.

What’s your biggest indulgence?

Ohhh… clothes, which is ironic, because that’s what my mother always wanted me to care about.

How do you define your style.

I’m kind of hip-chic, simple but not ultra-conventional.

Where do you like to shop?

Small boutiques in Paris, such as Les Ateliers de la Maille, which has really nice cashmere sweaters that are well priced. Also Cotelac in Paris. And I like Rabat in San Francisco, Pirjo in Bethesda. For a splurge, I adore clothes by Girbaud. And I love to comb flea markets for household stuff.

What’s your favorite perfume?

Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant.

What’s your favorite way to cleanse your face?

I’m always looking for the purest products for my hair and skin and I found this fabulous line of products Suki. There’s a somewhat abrasive cleanser, a moisturizing toner, a serum and more.

A favorite book?

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. The writing is magnificent and the book is profound, funny and tragic. I love her new book, Great House, too. Books are my best friends. My favorite book so far this year was The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer. It’s a powerful story set in Paris and Budapest before World War II that’s so beautifully told you find yourself hoping that what you know is going to happen to the characters won’t happen.

In Eye of My Heart, your wonderful new collections of essays, 27 writers reveal the hidden pleasures and perils of being a grandmother. What are your observations about being a grandparent?

Boomer women are redefining grandmotherhood, as we did with motherthood. The book gets the conversation going. Our grandmothers’ and mothers’ identities were mostly tied to being wives, mothers and homemakers, not to career. That’s a huge difference. My grandmother was always available to take care of me. Today, many grandparents live at great distances from their grandchildren, which presents another big challenge. And, with so much divorce and remarriage in recent decades, many families today have a bigger stable of grandparents than ever before. This also can make things a bit complicated.

You think you’ve dealt with all your stuff in therapy, and that you’re all grown up. Then you become a grandparent, which can trigger all sorts of old feelings. If you haven’t matured and mastered the art of letting go, grandparenthood can be challenging since you don’t really have a say in what happens with your grandchildren. This can be especially challenging for women who are used to speaking up in their professional lives. Becoming a grandparent is like going from being a member of the starting lineup on a baseball team to a player on the bench. It’s wondrous, but a little shock to the ego sometimes.

To learn more about Barbara Graham visit her website at http://barbaragrahamonline.com.

Location: Washington, DC
Age: 73
Marital Status: Single
Education: BA, Smith College

Thirty years ago, FOF Sophy Burnham was a successful writer with a loving husband, two beautiful daughters and the career she’d always wanted. She’d authored a best-selling book, The Art Scene, about corruption in the contemporary art world, and was writing for top publications including The New York Times Magazine, Esquire and Town & Country. “But every day I would look around and think, “Is this all there is?,” she remembers. “There was something very deeply missing.”

That’s when a “profound mystical experience” changed everything—her marriage, her career and her life’s focus. In 1990, A Book of Angels, her subsequent look at the “magical, mysterious, unexplainable” things that had happened in her own life, became a runaway bestseller, turning her into one of the foremost spiritual seekers and writers of our generation.

Here, she talks about the moment that changed her, and about her new book, The Art of Intuition, which she hopes will inspire every FOF woman to “desire to know and be more.”

Tell me about your life before A Book of Angels. Had you always been spiritual?

I grew up Episcopalian, but by my 40s, I didn’t identify with any religion. I was seeking for a number of years, but I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. I started meditating with an expert in Buddhist meditation then working with a Hindu guru. I did a lot of reading.

What changed?

Town & Country sent me on assignment to Peru. Everyone kept telling me I had to go to Machu Picchu. So I went, and, to make a long story short, I had a staggering mystical revelation and spiritual experience. When I came down from the mountain I could see light pouring off of all the trees, and people and grass and dogs. Light pouring off my hand and light everywhere. I felt I had seen the human soul.

Did you tell anyone?

For a long time, I couldn’t talk about it to anyone. I wrote down the experience as a record, but I didn’t know then that mystical experiences happen to people all the time. I’d never heard of that happening unless you were a saint—and I knew I wasn’t that!

So you pushed it under the rug?

I tried, but when I came back to Washington, DC, I was very different. I had healing power and I was very psychic and intuitive. And I knew my marriage was over. It was very frightening. We took about two exquisitely painful years to split up. But afterward, I could not write anything that did not have a spiritual dimension.

What happened with your marriage? Why was it over?

My marriage had been very strong—I was deeply in love with my husband, and he was deeply in love with me. We had two children. But there was something missing. Even these words that I’m using are words that I found afterwards. I would never have said, ‘yes, I want my marriage to split up.’ But I see now, many years later, that it was correct. It was good for me, because I needed that freedom to write things that I could not write if I was married. And it was good for him because he needed the support of a wife who shared his interests—and I no longer did.

Is that when you wrote A Book of Angels?

It was one of the books I wrote during that period. I wrote six books and couldn’t get any of them published. I thought, ‘I’m a failure; I can’t publish what anybody wants, and I don’t want to write what they want me to write.’ So I gave up writing. Of course, I discovered that I couldn’t get a normal job—I was totally unemployable.

Tell me about A Book of Angels—what’s it about? Why did you write it?

At that point I’d had so many experiences that I couldn’t explain—things that happened that didn’t make logical sense. I thought that I would just write down the stories without drawing any conclusions. And then I could turn them—like stones in my hand—and see what sense they made. Once I finished the book I thought, “woah, this book is about angels.”

Can you give me an example of one of the experiences?

The first story in the book concerns by daughter, Molly. When she was just a few weeks old, I put her on the bed and put pillows all around her so she wouldn’t fall while I went down the hall to work in my office. I was completely absorbed, typing away, when suddenly I thought, ‘Molly is falling off the bed!’ I raced down the hall and caught her in midair. I thought, ‘How could this be? What is protecting us?’

How did you eventually find a publisher?

As soon as I gave up on writing, suddenly success started coming to me. A small publisher found A Book of Angels and agreed to publish it. They printed just 5,000 copies, and there was no advertising budget or anything. But somehow people were finding it and buying ten and twelve copies at a time and giving it to their friends who gave it to their friends. It became a word-of-mouth bestseller, and the publisher could not keep it in print.

Why do you think it’s been so popular?

I got hundreds of letters from people saying they, too, had such experiences and never shared them with anyone, ‘Not even with my mother and not with my husband!’ They kept saying ‘Now I know I’m not crazy!’ I think the overarching message of all these experiences is the same: Don’t be afraid. We’re all taken care of and things are going according to a plan. All the stories are about being helped in times of trouble. It’s about how much we’re loved.

Tell me about your new book, The Art of Intuition.

If A Book of Angels is about a spiritual dimension that’s external to us, The Art of Intuition is about the flip side of the coin—what’s going on inside us. It’s about how we, as humans, are designations of divinity, and we have all of these abilities and power. I keep coming back to my understanding now of what Christ was saying: ‘Everything you’ve seen me do, you can do.’ And I’m sure that he taught his twelve disciples the secrets that we no longer have—the secrets we’re rediscovering now.

What do you say to people who doubt the existence of angels, intuition and God?

I myself have seen angels, but I still find myself, sometimes, in a doubting mood. Because doubting is a part of being human. But I can say, ‘here i am doubting’—without necessarily accepting that doubt as the truth. We are such complex beings. We have the gifts of logic and analysis and doubt. And on the other side, we have child-like acceptance and awe at the beauty and wonder of things. And we vacillate between these two points. When we’re in the awestruck mode, everything is perfect and we feel happy. When we are in the other mode, nothing is perfect and we are always striving.

What should we be doing to tap into our intuition?

Meditation is incredibly important. And prayer. And we have vastly wrong ideas about what it is to pray. It’s just thought and intention. One of the things that happens as you get older is you have the luxury of more time to explore these things. It used to be, people didn’t live past 45. They got married at 14 and were ancient by 22. In those periods where they did live longer, the wisdom of age was so mistrusted that older women were burned at the stake for being witches. We live in wonderful times that we can become spiritual women in our later years.

Is there an inevitable spiritual deepening that comes with being older?

I don’t think it’s inevitable at all. It takes effort and attention.

What do you want this latest book to do? What’s your wish?

That it touches the minds and hearts of people everywhere, and they are filled with potential and delight and healing and possibility. That it lifts us to our highest potential.

Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Age: 56
Marital Status: Married
Education: UCLA and The Strasberg Institute

The hard work paid off. Their company, Bagdasarian Productions, produces feature films, hit TV shows, specials, DVDs and albums featuring the lovable ‘munks. And Alvin, Simon and Theodore are still going strong; The Squeakquel, which Janice and Ross co-produced, opened Christmas ‘09, making over $440 million worldwide. This time around, Janice wrote and designed female chipmunks, The Chipettes, for the movie. “They’re kind, good girls. I’m not into the mean girl thing. They all have a heart and that was really important.” Sound familiar?

Where did you grow up?

The Culver City Housing Projects in Los Angeles–until age 11. It was a wonderful place, very diverse — there were kids all around. My parents were studying theatre and film at UCLA and my father used to bring the cameras home for the weekend. He would get the kids in our row in the project to do all the different filming jobs: Nacho would be the camera assistant, Ronnie would be the makeup, another person would be the costumer. We would make movies. As poor as we were, he always made sure we had season tickets to the music center. I saw Man of La Mancha, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady…all the classics.

When did you leave the house?

When I was 16, I raised enough money to send myself to Europe for four months; I went to London, Paris and Amsterdam by myself. I was very close to my family and I wanted to see how I would respond without them to rely on. In my family you were encouraged to challenge your fears.

It’s amazing that you did that alone at 16.

Yeah, I question my mother now.

Did you go to university?

I took theater, film and directing classes at UCLA Extension. I also got a scholarship at the Strasberg Institute. I was terribly shy and self-conscious in front of people so I thought acting would help. And I wasn’t one of those shy people who blossomed on stage. No, it was like pushing an elephant up the stairs.

Tell me about your husband.

I met him when I was 19 years old. He stalked me for many years. He knew that we were meant for one another. One day he came to my boyfriend’s house, and I said, ‘Please, Ross, this has to stop, you’re making my life miserable.’ And he said, ‘Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me and I will leave you alone.’ And so I looked him in the eye and said, ‘I don’t love you.’ And he said, ‘I don’t believe you.’ and continued to pursue me. And then one day I fell madly, head-over-heels in love. So he was right. We’ve been married for 30 years.

You’re still in love?

I’m so in love with him. When you find someone who wants you to be the best person you can be and who supports that and who respects you and likes you and listens to you, it just doesn’t get better.

When did his father create The Chipmunks?

In 1958. We started trying to bring them back around 1980.

How long did it take?

Several years. We went knocking door to door and everyone said no. Then a disc jockey played a Blondie song in the style of the Chipmunks and told everybody that it was Chipmunk Punk. And the phones lit up. The next day a record company found us and said, “Would you be interested in doing an album of Chipmunk Punk?” We said, “Sure.” It went platinum. Then all the doors started opening. We got a Christmas special and that did great, then we got the Saturday morning TV show.

Tell me about the first movie.

We produced Alvin & The Chipmunks three years ago for Fox. And it was very successful.

You’re so down to earth. How have you maintained that in the world you’re in?

Well, my parents were educated, generous people who gave everything away. I really have no patience for affectation or snobbery. I really don’t. Money has never defined me. I’d rather be poor and proud than successful and embarrassed. Ross and I have put our money into so many projects that we believe in, so there were many times when we were financially unstable. And I always thought, worst-case scenario I go back to the housing project. It was really important that my kids knew that we aren’t what we have ‘cause that can all go away.

Tell me about your style.

It has to be approachable and comfortable. The comment I get most on my house is that it’s warm. By the way, I’m more comfortable decorating a house than I am decorating myself.

In terms of your personal style, why do you like Wendy Foster’s store?

She is so warm and her store has a great ambiance. She has unique classic clothes that you can style to fit your personality. And I love the women that work there because they’re smart and they will not let you walk out the door with something that doesn’t fit.

A lot of women say their mother inspired their style. Was your mother into clothes?

It’s interesting. My mother is a beautiful woman, but she just never cared about clothes. When I was little and I thought of making money, all I wanted to do was buy my mom beautiful dresses with shoes to match. I always thought she just didn’t have the money, but when I got older, I realized she wasn’t interested.

What’s your signature accessory?

A Loree Rodkin gold chain with little hearts and I put my own charms on it too. Every charm has a meaning to me. I made one charm from an earring my sister-in-law wore. She passed away. I wear it almost everyday.

What’s your favorite restaurant in your area?

The Ivy. My husband and I are vegetarians and they have a great Caesar that you can get without anchovy. They have a great grilled vegetable salad.

Favorite wine?

Vodka.

Great answer. Your secret favorite spot in Santa Barbara?

My favorite spot is on our property, down by the guesthouse, which looks like a little Snow White cottage. I love sitting there listening to the tweet-tweet of the birds.

What about your exercise routine?

I have a Pilates bed in my house —  a reformer —  and I’m pretty disciplined about getting on it.

What about your biggest indulgence?

A massage here at my house with Melany Minors. She is fantastic.

What about favorite books or authors?

I loved The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. It’s historical, it’s romantic. I love going back in time. I love Pat Conroy. He wrote Prince of Tides. He’s a very poetic writer. I love Amy Tan, who wrote The Joy Luck Club. I connect with stories that have a strong female character. Like The Other Boleyn Girl. Again it brings you back in time, and it’s about issues that women had to deal with then. To me a great book is like a great friend, you can’t wait to get back to it.

Do you have a passion project?

A preschool show about emotional intelligence for kids. I’m editing it now. The shows deal with different issues: jealousy, lying, sibling rivalry… I put it out for a short while to get some reactions and people loved it.

Who or what inspires you?

People who work on themselves to be better parents, communicators or kinder people. My parents took the blueprint that was laid out for them on parenting and changed it. They said, ‘We’re not gonna do that.’ And people who get over horrible obstacles or tragedies in their lives and switch it up and make it better… that’s what inspires me.

Location: Beverly Hills, MI
Age: 64
Marital Status: Married
Education: M.A. in marriage and family counseling from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, B.A. in Psychology and English from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and J.D. from the District of Columbia School of Law

What is being a divorce court psychologist like?

We deal with couples all across the spectrum — wealthy, mentally ill, incarcerated, about to be incarcerated, have abuse allegations against them, everything. They are usually before the court fighting over custody and/or parenting time. The judge meets with them for two minutes and often doesn’t know what to do so she sends them to our clinic. We evaluate the situation and make a recommendation, or we counsel with the parties because they’re in high conflict and can’t resolve any of their own issues.

How do you know how to navigate the court system?

I went to law school in D.C., the District of Columbia School of Law. I wanted to understand the language, the dynamics, and the policies of a courtroom.

You moved to D.C. for law school?

My husband is in politics, and we moved to DC when he was Under Secretary of Labor for Clinton. We went at the last minute, and I’ve always worked so when we got there I thought, ‘What am I gonna do?! Oh, I’ll go to law school.’ Eventually we came back to Michigan and he ran for governor, but lost.

I’m sorry to hear, what does he do now?

He’s such a positive person. After going around to all the urban churches [while he was campaigning] he found that the biggest concern for those parents is school for their kids. So ten years ago he started a charter school. Now he has a middle school, high school, two elementary schools, and he’s starting two more. He also works for the Treasury Department; he provides low-interest loans to schools and community centers from the federal government to subsidize the building of public institutions like schools.

How was it being in Washington during the Clinton years?

Fun! We met a huge amount of interesting people who thought deeply about things and there were always interesting discussions. My husband is really smart but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re both that way.

How long have you been married?

Thirtytwo years. We grew up in Michigan. We both went to the same high school. I was married before him and that ended in divorce.

Are your children from your first marriage?

Yes, but my first husband ended up having so many issues and being so difficult that my husband ultimately adopted the kids. He has raised them. Julie was eight months when I was separated.

How would you describe your style?

More tailored but modern. I tend toward being minimalistic, like I never know what to do with a scarf. I’m more like Jil Sander. I buy Tahari and Theory for work.

Where do you buy your clothes?

I love Bergdorfs in New York. But typically I shop at Saks and Neimans. I go to London quite often to see my children so I’ll pick up something there.

Where do you get your hair cut?

Emile’s. First of all, I adore Rula [owner]. Emile’s is upscale but not pretentious. It’s a lot of fun to go there. It keeps me up-to-date on my style; it keeps me progressive. Rula decides what to do with my hair. I never look at magazines. It’s a lot of fun.

What are your favorite restaurants in London, D.C. or Michigan?

My favorite restaurant just outside of D.C. is Pines of Rome. It’s an Italian restaurant that serves huge amounts of food. It’s casual and everything is delicious without being too pretentious. In London we went to The Ivy, which of course everyone goes to, and we saw Kevin Spacey with his entourage there. We’ve done a few of the Gordon Ramsey restaurants that are fabulous. He’s a perfectionist.

What’s a great book that you’ve read?

I just read two fabulous books. Moloka’i by Alan Brennert was about a young girl’s struggle with leprosy and how they treated people in a leper colony on one of the islands off Hawaii. Another book, Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill, was about this woman who lived through slavery in the 1800s. I like to read about people in horrible situations that they triumph over. I always learn something.

What do you use to wash and moisturize?

I like Decleor cleanser and moisturizer. It smells good. It’s from Paris. I think they know what they’re doing there.

What about your secret favorite spot?

I love Emile’s because it’s complete relaxation. I usually start my day off there on Friday or Saturday. I also love to sit down in the cafeteria at one of my husband’s charter schools and take in everything that is happening to the kids. That makes me so happy. And I like the Eastern Market, an outdoor market that sells flowers and produce and has little delis in downtown Detroit. I love being surrounded by food and baked goods.

What is your exercise routine?

I do Zumba, which I love, twice a week. It’s a new exercise where you dance to Latin music. They’re [Zumba studios] springing up all over. I do weights once a week and I do aerobics.

What is your biggest indulgence?

A great pair of shoes. Gucci. Chanel.  I love Chanel.

Do you have any signature items?

My mom had a pinkie ring with a small diamond in it. I took the diamond out of her ring when she passed about four years ago, and I wear it as a necklace everyday. I made it into a single drop so that she’s close to my heart.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career?

My career always has crisis situations. The single most important thing I’ve learned is the crisis always passes. It takes you a long time to learn that but it always passes.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 68
Marital Status: Divorced
Education: University of Arizona in Tuscon, left to pursue folksinging

It sounds like a joke—why did the Emmy-award winning FOF leave her burgeoning career as a television writer to sing songs about waffles? “I’m 68,” says Tracy Newman. “I was 62 then and felt like I had to go back to what I really wanna do.”

What she really wanted to do was become a folksinger. In her teens, Tracy would sit “on the diving board of her family’s pool strumming for hours” and “began playing on street corners for money” according to her personal website.

But Tracy took a detour from music in the 70s, when she started doing improv and joined The Groundlings, a legendary troupe which counts many famous comedians among its alumni. There, she met her writing partner, Jonathan Stark; the two would go on to work on sitcoms including Cheers, The Nanny, Ellen, and According to Jim. In 1997, they won the Emmy and the prestigious Peabody Award for writing the groundbreaking ‘coming out’ episode of Ellen.

In 2005, Tracy left television writing to return to folksinging. It may seem like a funny career move, but Tracy Newman has the last laugh. This past spring her song “Waffle Boy” took first place in the Indie International contest and her album “A Place in the Sun” ranked number 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Pop Country chart.

Where did you grow up?

Los Angeles.

And you still live there?

Right.

You got your big TV break in your 40s. What did you do before then?

I was a singer-songwriter, but it was hard to make a living that way, so I did other odd jobs—nursery school teacher, dental assistant, taught guitar lessons. I never waitressed.

How did you learn music?

I just started playing guitar when I was 14.

How did you get into comedy?

In the 60s (I was in my early twenties), I went to New York for a few years. I used to hang out at The Original Improv [comedy club]. I was probably the only singer-songwriter who hung around, so I got to sing there. I sang Beatles songs and got to be around all these comics—people like Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor and Rodney Dangerfield. Some of them were already well-known, and some were just starting out. They were all so good and they all improvised. When I came back to L.A., I wanted to do something like that. So I discovered this class—a bunch of people that got together and improvised. It eventually became The Groundlings.

What was The Groundlings like in its infancy?

It wasn’t what it is today, with industry people attending every show. It was just a class. But still, so many people wanted to join and you had to wait to get in. It got so big that at one point, Lorne Michaels offered parts on (the newly-created) Saturday Night Live to a couple of people there and they turned it down!

How did you segue from The Groundlings to TV writing?

In The Groundlings, sketches would be developed through improvisation, and then we’d rewrite them. Some sketches and characters would be in the show every week, and some would last years. I found that I really enjoyed that part of it—rewriting and helping people develop characters. When I got married and had a child I realized had to find something that didn’t keep me away from the house so much and could bring in good money. I had watched some of the other Groundlings drift into writing. So when a friend asked me if I wanted to write a spec script, I agreed. And as soon as we started writing, I realized, “This is for me.”

What was the first writing gig you got?

We wrote a Murphy Brown spec, and from that Cheers [producers] hired us. My friend Jonathan Stark was my writing partner for around 15 years.

And from Cheers to Ellen?

We did Cheers, then Bob, which was Bob Newhart, then we did The Nanny and various other shows that didn’t make it. We ended up on Ellen and were there for five seasons. We were lucky enough to write the “coming out” episode. After that, we could do whatever we wanted. We did a show called Hiller and Diller starring Richard Lewis and Kevin Nealon and Eugene Levy. We got the chance to be in charge of the show, but not have the responsibility for creating it, in front of the critics. That was really fun, but it didn’t stay on the air for more than thirteen episodes.

But eventually you created According to Jim.

After Hiller and Diller, we worked on several pilots and other shows, and finally we created According to Jim, and they pulled us back in. That was very fortunate—it ran for eight seasons. I left in 2005 or so to go back to songwriting.

How is writing songs similar to writing television?

Writing is writing. The only difference is, instead of writing 22 minutes, now I’m writing four minutes. Instead of writing for TV, where you have all kinds of people looking over your shoulder, now I’m my own boss. And I’m a much tougher boss on myself than anybody was on me. I won’t sing anything where I don’t know there’s a payoff, that won’t reward people for listening.

Which comes first, the words or the music?

I think the words.

Are there particular themes you write about?

I tend towards writing funny songs. I like to call it irony. I try to tell the truth, whatever that is. I try to find the core of something that’s very honest, that maybe everyone has gone through, and to say it in a different way than what’s been done before. My lyrics are very visual. I have a song called Waffle Boy about a kid learning how to make waffles in a waffle house.

How’d you cook that up?

I was at a waffle house and I saw the interplay between two of the workers there. As I was watching them, I just started writing things down. I knew I was going to write a song someday about it, and it took about a year. It’s a pretty intricately-structured story.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I get up with the typical aches and pains of someone my age. Then a good half hour is devoted to making sure that I’m not gonna suffer for the rest of the day, which sometimes means stretching, sometimes means going for a walk. And then I’m at the computer, with my guitar.

How do you look at stuff you wrote years ago, when you were just starting to write music?

Some of it, I look at, and I can’t believe I was ever there, mentally. It’s so stupid. And some of it, I’m shocked. I’ll look at it and think, ‘Wow, this was so insightful.’ Or it will have a form to it that I’ve learned recently. Once you understand rewriting, you learn that nothing’s sacred. You can go back to something you wrote 30 years ago even, just the germ of an idea, and get back into it, and all of a sudden the day goes by, just working on it.

Did you ever have times of doubt, having left such a successful TV career to go back to music?

Yes, sometimes I thought, ‘What am I doing, leaving a successful television show?’ I was scared to get back into it. I had to practice guitar a lot; my chops were rusty. And then I realized, “I’m as good as I can be today, and I’m just gonna assume that’s good enough, and keep working at getting better.” It seemed more important that I was doing what I wanted to do.

What would you tell someone who is looking to change careers in middle age or older, in the way of encouragement?

My first TV staff writing job was when I was 46. I like to tell people that, because I think there are people in their thirties who think they’re never gonna get their career going. It’s too late, or they’re too old. Most of the time, you’re not too old. If I was worried about where this was going, I wouldn’t be able to do it. A lot of people use time as an excuse. The say, ‘I’m a single mom. I have three kids…’ But if you’re passionate about something, you will put some time into that.

Who inspires you?

James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell. People like that from the 60s. Jackson Browne in the 70s. I’ve definitely been in the singer-songwriter direction the entire time. I have my own style of playing based on Taylor and Dylan.

What is your favorite restaurant in L.A.?

The Counter. If I’m gonna go out and have a hamburger, which I’d rather eat than anything, I’ll go to The Counter. For sushi, California Roll & Sushi Fish in Larchmont (California).

Where is your favorite place to shop in L.A.?

The Grove. It’s Disneyland for adults.

Is there a doctor in L.A. you could recommend?

Jay Schapira. I love that guy. He sits and talks to me. A menschy, good guy.

What is your favorite secret place in L.A.?

My house. I make it as much like a vacation place as I can.

class=”question”Which current TV shows do you enjoy?

Big Love, Nurse Jackie, The Office.

Read any good books lately?

I just finished reading all the Twilight books. They’re terrible, but the story is so good.

How do you rejuvenate?

I try to take a nap every day.

Visit Tracy at www.tracynewman.com, and Tracy Newman & the Reinforcements on Facebook.

Location: New York, NY
Age: Over 50
Marital Status: Married
Education: Columbia University, Self-taught in pastry

At age thirteen, Dorie Greenspan burned down her parents’ kitchen. You could say she was just “warming up” to what would eventually be a wildly successful culinary career.

For nearly a decade after her cooktastrophe, Dorie wouldn’t dare step foot in a kitchen again. Now, over forty years since she’s returned to cooking, FOF Dorie Greenspan has credits on over 10 award-winning cookbooks, is a contributing editor to Bon Appétit and Parade magazines, and has two cookbooks of her own.

But perhaps the truest testament to how far she’s come is her cult fan following. Dorie has 66,000 (and counting) Twitter followers. Hundreds of devout Dorie enthusiasts get together twice each week (“Tuesdays with Dorie” and “French Fridays with Dorie”) to cook her modern, accessible French recipes and blog about them.

“Being a cookbook author takes a certain generosity,” says Dorie. “You’re sharing something so sacred with people—your recipes. And, you are also asking people to trust you to steer them right.”

Make no mistake, these days you can trust Dorie in your kitchen…

Are you French?

I’m not. The first time I went to Paris, I fell in love with the country, the people, the food, the way of life. I came home to my mother in Brooklyn, and said to her, ‘I love you madly, but you made this terrible mistake and had me in Brooklyn.’ I teasingly say I forgave her but spent the rest of my life making up for her poor judgment.

Do you live in Paris now?

Four months of the year. I have three kitchens; New York, Connecticut and Paris. I wrote Around my French Table after I bought a place in France.

You burnt down your parents’ kitchen as a child?

Yes. When I was 13 my friends and I decided to make French fries and it was disastrous. I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen after that, but I didn’t really have an interest in cooking again until many years later.

How did you finally get cooking again?

Once I got married as a college student, I started cooking and baking and loved it. I didn’t know it could be a career, so I went to graduate school for gerontology but never finished my dissertation. After our son was born, all I wanted to do was bake. I tried to bake professionally but I wasn’t very good at it. I was so slow. Everyone at the restaurant would be waiting upstairs for their cake and I was still frosting it. So then, in my thirties, I began writing about food.

Did you go to culinary or pastry school?

I never went to culinary school but I had great apprenticeships. I got to work with Julia Child, Pierre Hermé—a famous pastry chef in France—and Daniel Boulud.

Julia Child—that’s fantastic. What did you do with her?

I wrote Baking with Julia to accompany the PBS television series. She was a great friend, and I adored her. I love her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. That’s really how most of us over fifty learned about French food. That book is now 50 years old.

Is Around My French Table an updated version of Julia Child’s cook book?

Julia’s book will always be the bible. My book is a more modern and personal look at French food. It’s not Escoffier, it’s not Julia Child, it’s not a textbook. It’s a kitchen journal. Just as American food has changed, French food has changed. It’s lighter, it’s more diverse. In writing Around My French Table I had the chance to really give people a snapshot at what French food is like today.

You published quite a few successful books before Around my French Table, is that correct?

Up until this book, all my books were about pastry. This book is proof that during all those years when I was feeding my kids cookies and cakes, I was making them eat their dinner first.

Do you have a favorite recipe from your new book?

That’s not a fair question! I love ‘Marie-Hélène’s Apple Cake.’ She’s my editor for the Louis Vuitton Guide to New York and a great cook. She makes this cake I adore but doesn’t use a recipe. The French call it cooking ‘au pif’ or by instinct. I worked and worked to get the recipe right, just the way she wanted.

Where do you shop for your ingredients?

For Around My French Table I shopped in the supermarket as much as I could. I wanted all my readers, no matter where they live, to be able to replicate the recipes.

How difficult is cookbook writing?

Any kind of writing is hard work that takes passion, knowledge, patience and diligence. But, when you write a cookbook, you are also asking people to trust you to steer them right. People are going to go out, buy ingredients and plan dinners around your recipe. You don’t want them to be disappointed. This means writing recipes very carefully and testing them over and over and over again to make sure they’re going to work.

Do you have favorite cookbooks?

I must own thousands. Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Desserts was a wonderful inspiration for me. As I was learning to cook, I also adored all Simone Beck’s books and Richard Olney’s Simple French Food. As for new books, I like Amanda Hesser’s book The Essential New York Times Cookbook. It’s a masterpiece. Sarabeth Levine’s new book, Sarabeth’s Bakery is also so beautiful!

Do you have any favorite blogs?

I often read my friends’ blogs to see what what they’re cooking and I have my own blog. I love Paris Breakfasts. Carol Gillott is such a talented artist. I look at David Leibovitz’s blog about Paris. I follow Hungry for Paris by my friend Alexander Lobrano and I read Paris by Mouth to find out what’s happening on the Paris food scene. Oh, and I have a friend in Zurich who has a great blog called MyKugelhopf.

Do you have a favorite cooking app?

I love Martha Stewart’s cookie app. It’s beautiful, clean and easy to use.

Do you have a favorite French restaurant?

Any of Daniel Boulud’s restaurants. I adored working with him and loved his food. I think he’s found the most interesting way to stay French and be modern American at the same time.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a book about French pastry. My husband calls it ‘Around my French Oven’ but I don’t have a title for it yet. It’s going to be published by Houghton Mifflin who published my last two books. It will be the sweet version of Around My French Table. I’m also working on my app called Baking with Dorie. We just shot a ton of videos for it. What really excites me about it is it gives me another way to connect to and teach home bakers and home cooks. I also started a pop-up cookie boutique in New York with my son, Joshua. It’s called CookieBar.

How do you decide what to write about?

I’ve always written what I love, and I’ve been so lucky I’ve had editors and publishing houses that have allowed me to.

Location: New York, NY
Age: 53
Marital Status: Married
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from St. John’s University

Calling on people including makeup genius, Laura Geller, leading dermatologist, Dr. Patricia Wexler, and hair stylist, Frederic Fekkai, Barbara brings together their “high-priced advice” in her new book, “The Best Of Everything After 50.”

I don’t agree with everything (the book says not to get permanent makeup, but I did, and I love the way it looks), and some of it is what we’ve been hearing for years (have a little piece of dark chocolate every day), but there’s still lots to learn (your waist should measure less than half your height). The book is easy to read and follow and would make a great birthday gift for a friend about to be FOF or any woman who’s already part of the coolest club on the planet.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Georgia but my mother raised my sister and me in Brooklyn, where we lived with my grandparents. I come from a wonderful family, very tight knit. My mother worked as a secretary to support us and she’s been a terrific role model.

How old are you?

I’m 53.

Your major?

I was studying social anthropology at NYU graduate school and planned to work for a company like Pepsi, but got a job selling advertising for Paris Match and the magazine bug hit me. So I left graduate school and worked full time in magazines for a long time. I’ve always loved sharing information, bringing people together, having them engage.

Are you married? Kids?

This is my second marriage and we have 15-year-old and 12-year-old daughters. So I started a little late in life, for sure. I had my second child when I was 41.

What does your husband do?

He’s in commercial real estate.

How did you feel after so many years without children?

After I left publishing, I worked for The World Congress, which demanded more and more of me. I found it increasingly difficult to work and have a family and I said, something’s gotta give, I want something to change. I’d been working, working, working since I was 11 years old and I decided I’m gonna slow my pace. First I became a consultant from home and then I stopped working cold turkey, which was a huge thing for me since I thought I could do everything. But my children really needed me and I wanted more time for myself.

As I inched my way towards my fifties, I was starting to feel a little more physically tired and was going through menopause. I was on the Atkins Diet. It just wasn’t all working.

Is that why you decided to write a book?

Two years ago, I had the “aha” moment and thought that if I’m going to continue to live a vibrant, engaged life and not just be alive, I’ve got to really, really make sure I’m doing everything right.

That’s really what propelled me to start researching and going to the best of the best experts in beauty, health, finance, even sex, testing their programs, seeing how they worked and how I felt and what should be shared.

Should a woman younger than fifty read your book?

It’s never too late to start preparing to be FOF, especially when it comes to your health and your finances. There’s more to think about than your IRA. We think we’re invincible when we’re younger. I treated my forties like my twenties and thirties. I just worked, worked, worked. My hair was the same, my makeup was the same and my clothes were the same. Yes, I was gaining a little weight toward the end of my forties, but I wasn’t stopping to think about the next phase of my life.

How did you decide what advice to offer in your book?

I went to some amazing people, including Diane von Furstenberg, Dr. Doris Day, and Dr. Jennifer Mieres, one of the foremost women’s heart health experts in the country. I told them all I was putting myself in their hands. I followed their advice for two years, so I had plenty of time to assess what I should recommend.

I am like a curator. There’s an overwhelming amount of information out there, and much of it is conflicting. It seems like everyday there’s a new diet, a new vitamin, etc. I wanted the book to simplify our decisions.

OK, so tell us about your skin care routine.

It’s so simple. I exfoliate every morning with a little bit of white sugar, which I keep in a jar in my bathroom, in the shower, or the sink. I take a gentle washcloth and massage the sugar all over my face. Done, your face is exfoliated.

I also use a moisturizer with sunscreen and put a little sunscreen on top of that before I apply makeup.

Where do you buy your clothes?

I am not a shopper, but I worked with Ginny Hilfiger, Tommy’s sister, who was his chief designer for about 15 years and has her own line now. We went to Target and got some basics, then I learned what brands best fit my body, what length to wear my skirts and when to have my clothes tailored.

Did you take estrogen?

No, I was one of the lucky women who didn’t need it. When I was 47, I ran the marathon in six and a half hours. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I got my period for the last time the next day. Then I started getting some hot flashes and sleepless nights and really just not feeling well, a little grumpy, but it only lasted about six months for me. It was never severe enough for me to take hormones.

But I’m using a topical estrogen cream, called VagiFem, prescribed by Dr. Clarel Antoine, to combat symptoms like vaginal dryness.

A woman should discuss hormone therapy with her doctor if she has severe problems that affect the quality of her life. The best approach is to take very, very low dosages for a very short amount of time and as close to the onset of menopause as possible.

Do you have a favorite hairdresser?

Absolutely. It’s Lorraine Massey, the founder and owner of Devachan Salons in New York. She specializes in curly hair but she welcomes everyone. Her philosophy is to let your hair go free, find the buried treasure.

I dried my hair straight for decades and decades and decades, since the blow dryer came out, and it looked like road kill. When I turned fifty, I knew I had to figure out what my hair should be.

So Lorraine was recommended to me and we eyed each other suspiciously, she wondering if I could really change my style and me wondering if she could convince me to change. But I did. I gave up my blow dryer and got my hair cut in a way that let it be natural. It took six months to grow in and to get healthy again. I’ve never looked back.

Women are so tied up with their hair. When you’re FOF, don’t try to be thirty. Be who you are, embrace your age. And that’s true of your hair. Don’t try to turn it into something it’s not. Don’t work against it. Let it be free.

Have you had Botox?

I’ve tried it and I totally get it. The crow’s feet around my eyes look amazing. I chose not to do it again when it wore off, but I’ll never say never.

Some fillers are quite effective so you don’t have to have invasive plastic surgery. They’re really perfecting these procedures now.

Besides your book, how will you share what you’ve learned?

Through my website, www.bestofeverythingafter50.com. It’s completely tied into my book. I list all my experts. I also blog every couple of days.

Location: New York, NY
Age: 63
Marital Status: Married
Education: California State University in Hayward – B.A. in Fine Arts and Ethnic Studies

The fabric of FOF Karen Oliver’s life has been woven together with a string of unique experiences—some good, some challenging—a blend that has created an inspiring, energetic and fearless FOF.

Karen climbed the corporate ladder of beauty behemoth, L’Oreal, where she worked as a VP for the Helena Rubenstein cosmetics line. She has a film credit as co-producer on Glengarry Glen Ross, a major motion picture starring Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon. She’s also a licensed esthetician, launched her own prospering beauty P.R. company and… she designs and sews her own clothes.

But, she’s faced snags along the way. She and her husband did the “bicoastal shuffle” for years when she moved to New York to relaunch Helena Rubenstein cosmetics and he stayed behind in California. And then, when he became ‘very sick’ with cancer she cared for him until he was well again.

“Maybe the old hippie in me is coming out,” says Karen. “But, I just embrace the challenges that life throws at me, both the good and the bad. I give thanks for my many blessings everyday—a loving husband, family, friends, a job I love—I feel so rich!”

Where did you grow up?

The Bay Area, San Francisco…

Were you creative as a kid?

Oh yes. I bought myself a $30 sewing machine with my babysitting money when I was 13 and started to teach myself how to sew. I loved clothes, but my parents didn’t have a lot of money to buy them for me. Early on they contributed to my strong work ethic by telling me if I wanted a particular dress, “You better find a job.”

Did you?

Yes, I had many jobs. I was super-babysitter. I was very entrepreneurial and creative. I made books that I sold for $10 to the neighbors with coupons for 10 pieces of ironing, one car wash or a few hours of babysitting.

It’s like the precursor to Groupon!

Exactly. And I had carnivals in my backyard. I made booths and gave away junk as prizes and charged people to come in. Sometimes I taught ballet lessons in my garage to little kids for a quarter. When I was 16, my local recreation department paid me to teach crafts in the schools. I was always looking for a way to make a buck.

Where did you go to college?

I went to California State University in Hayward. Working my way through college, I would sew for people. I also worked as a life guard, sold Avon and Fuller hair brushes to surfer boys on the beach—I even made a few wedding gowns.

Did you take any sewing classes or are you self taught?

I’m self taught, but when I got older I took classes in areas I wanted to learn more about such as tailoring or pant-making.

Did you do anything with sewing after college?

My dream when I graduated was to own a boutique that sold fine European sportswear. I wanted it to be different—the ultimate in customer service. We’d serve coffee and it would be in a Victorian house in San Fransisco. I wanted to sell Erno Laszlo cosmetics there. I loved that you had to go through a consultation before purchasing that brand, I thought it would be perfect for my boutique.

Did you end up opening the boutique?

Well, I got up the guts to call the president of Erno Laszlo. I was fearless. I told him my dream and concept and he liked it. He hooked me up with the regional sales person for my area. She convinced me to take a job selling Erno Laszlo cosmetics at I. Magnin, a very upscale department store in San Fransisco. I was quite good at sales, and before I knew it, I was promoted to assistant department manager and then to assistant buyer. I was in my 20s, just a kid, and in charge of buying ‘little’ brands like Lancôme which no one had heard of at the time!

Fabulous! Then what did you do?

At that job, I’d meet with the sales reps for cosmetics companies. One day, Joe Augeri who was the president and regional sales rep for Lancôme (owned by L’Oreal) asked me to come work for them. I said, ‘I don’t know. My dream is to open a boutique.’ I was still stuck on the store thing! But, I ended up working for Lancôme for seven-and-a-half years. I worked on many different beauty brands under the L’Oreal umbrella including Borghese (owned by Revlon), Shiseido and Dior.

How did you end up in New York?

I was moved here in 1997 to launch Helena Rubinstein cosmetics. I was a vice president at L’Oreal by then.

Moving across the country must have been a hard decision…

Yes. I was doing the bicoastal shuffle with my husband. He stayed in our house in L.A. and I moved here. I was worried about accepting the job, but my husband was amazing about it. He said to me, “Karen if you don’t do this, you are going to regret it. This job was made for you. The rest of it will work out.”

How long have you been married?

32 years.

How did you meet?

At a health spa in Mexico—Rancho La Puerta.

Do you have plans to move back to Los Angeles?

I don’t know, we are still trying to figure that out as we grow up. Life changes, my husband got very sick, so we had to deal with that. Finding another place wasn’t a priority. He’s here in New York now. We had no intentions of living in a little apartment like this. Our whole home is still in storage. As I said, life changes.

What does your husband do?

He’s a film producer. Once, I worked on a movie with him called Glengarry Glen Ross with Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon. It was a wonderful experience but I don’t have a passion for film like he does. I have a passion for beauty.

So, what did you do for Helena Rubinstein in New York?

I had the experience they needed to relaunch the brand. I’m a licensed esthetician, have extensive retail experience and even have experience in construction which all came in handy when I took on building the Helena Rubinstein spa in SoHo. But eventually they decided to pull the plug on Helena Rubinstein in the U.S. and at that point, I considered going back to L.A.

That must have been hard. Did they offer you another position?

Yes they offered me a consulting position. I didn’t end up taking it. But, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of, that a company can hire you back three different times. I don’t have aspirations to go up the food chain and have titles and money. Working hard and giving people their money’s worth has always been my core.

Is that when you opened your own P.R. company?

For three and a half years I worked for my friend Regina’s P.R. company, RPR. At first, I wasn’t so sure about P.R. I told her, ‘I’m not one of those P.R. people, those booby-baby, ‘lets do lunch’ *kiss* *kiss* kind of people.’ And she said Karen, you’ve PR-ed every company you’ve worked with, you just didn’t know it. It was true. I’d go to parties and say ‘Oh my god, Dior has these new eye shadows that don’t crease, they’re amazing.” At RPR, I worked on Aveeno, a company that’s still near and dear to my heart. Then, I started my own company six years ago out of my apartment.

Who were your first clients?

Dr. Jeannette Graf is a dermatologist who we consulted for press initiatives with Aveeno. She wanted to build her name up before she published her first book, Stop Aging and Start Living, which became a best seller. I said, I’d try to help her and would work really hard. She’s still with me today. Now she’s probably one of the most-quoted dermatologists in the country.

What’s unique about your company?

We specialize in beauty and are very selective in choosing our clients, which now include leading upscale brands such as Avène, Dr. Graf, René Futerer, Glytone and Klorane. I turn people away because I set very high standards in determining which brands are the best fit. It’s part of getting older—and wiser. It’s not always about chasing the buck. My objective at this point of my life is to have fun and accomplish something great for people—and, of course, be happy!

What cleanser do you use?

I use all my clients products and that’s the truth. I cleanse with Mild Cream Wash by Glytone. It has a glycolic acid in it, which is exfoliating—and anti-aging—but it’s not drying.

What moisturizer do you use?

For me, less is more. My skin doesn’t like the heavy creams that are supposed to be for older people because I still break out. I like serums. I use the Avène Hydrance with SPF 25 during the day because it’s really light. At night, I use a light, anti-aging lotion, not a cream with a retinoid-type ingredient. My skin doesn’t like a lot because it still breaks out. I use a very light eye cream, and love the Avène Eluage.

Do you use a perfume?

I like the original Bulgari perfume and the classic fragrances from Guerlain. I have L’heure Bleue on, today.

What makeup do you use?

I pretty much use all drugstore makeup like L’Oreal lipsticks, Revlon lipsticks, $2 eye pencils. Isn’t it interesting that I come from prestige cosmetics? It’s not to say I don’t have some nice things mixed in, but I’m not brand driven. I’m hard pressed now to pay $40 for a lipstick these days. I’d rather put $40 in my IRA.

What’s your hair care routine?

All my hair products are either René Futerer or Klorane. They make wonderful shampoos and conditioners, all based on plants and flowers. I always wear my hair back in a chignon. I get it trimmed only once a year at Salon Ishi on 55th St. and Madison Ave. He’s amazing. Whenever I go for a trim though, he says I’m a bad advertisement for him because I always wear it up.

How do you describe your style?

Its eclectic. I go from wearing ethnic looking things to more classic, more Chanel-inspired with a twist. For me, It’s really about spicing things up with accessories.

What inspires your style?

Magazines and I go window shopping all the time. I also go to fabric stores regularly—gorgeous fabric totally inspires me. Or, I’ll buy something I like and copy it.

What’s your personal beauty philosophy?

I’m really a low-maintenance girl even my whole career has pretty much been in beauty. When it comes to aging, I’ve had no injections and I’ve never dyed my hair—I am definitely going the natural route. I’m really happy with getting older and my energy keeps me young. If you’re not happy inside, you are never going to be beautiful on the outside. It’s like icing on a cake. A simple pound cake is super yummy and delicious even without the icing.

{Love Karen’s clothes? Read more about her haute handmade style here.}