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Kick Up Your Heels...Before You're Too Short To Wear Them: How to Live a Long, Healthy, Juicy Life
For the last 20 years, Loretta LaRoche has been delighting readers, audiences, and PBS television viewers with her wacky and wise insights about life, love, and the insanity of the modern world. Now, in her most deeply personal book yet, Loretta addresses the most exciting challenge that we all face—one that she now finds herself facing every How do we age well? And can humor, dignity, honesty, wisdom, and other virtues ease the path? Our society is youth Beauty products, special exercises, designer vitamins, plastic surgery, and certain medications are promoted as /P>With her trademark humor and practical wisdom, Loretta tackles how to live a long, healthy, juicy life—using herself and many of her friends and mentors as metaphors. Filled with practical advice, lifestyle skills, wisdom, and spirituality, Kick Up Your Heels . . . is a mental health spa that will inspire you and your family to live with joy, harmony, and peace while you still have the time!
- GenresHumorNonfictionSelf Help
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Loretta LaRoche
22 books18 followersLoretta is an internationally recognized stress-management consultant. She is well-known for her outrageous one-woman shows that have sold out nationwide venues, including Boston Symphony Hall, The Hanover Theatre, Emerson Majestic, and Berkley Performing Arts Center. With over 35 years of experience, Loretta has toured with The Power Within, sharing the stage with great leaders like Arianna Huffington, Former President Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, and Tony Robbins.
Loretta's media presence is equally impressive, with seven one-woman television specials airing on PBS stations nationwide. Her work has garnered recognition, earning her nominations for local and prime-time Emmy Awards. Loretta has also made notable appearances on major news networks such as CNN, ABC, NBC, and FOX affiliates, further solidifying her credibility and reach.
Loretta's expertise lies in improving the health of organizations by alleviating stress through humor, leaving audiences happy and optimistic. Using her wit, she helps people learn how to take stress and turn it into strength. Advocating fun, optimism, and resiliency, Loretta is the go-to consultant for stress management and improving overall well-being.
Loretta's media presence is equally impressive, with seven one-woman television specials airing on PBS stations nationwide. Her work has garnered recognition, earning her nominations for local and prime-time Emmy Awards. Loretta has also made notable appearances on major news networks such as CNN, ABC, NBC, and FOX affiliates, further solidifying her credibility and reach.
Loretta's expertise lies in improving the health of organizations by alleviating stress through humor, leaving audiences happy and optimistic. Using her wit, she helps people learn how to take stress and turn it into strength. Advocating fun, optimism, and resiliency, Loretta is the go-to consultant for stress management and improving overall well-being.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 1, 2024
I'm a fan of Loretta LaRoche's comedy and I enjoyed reading this book. Although many of the references are quite dated now, she offers great advice for us as we age.
interesting quotes:
"I believe that staying in touch with exuberance is an absolutely necessary part of aging...There's no more permanent or certain characteristic of a vigorous mind than an unquenchable curiosity." (p. 71)
"My mantra has become: Don't practice misery when it's not happening." (p. 137)
"Deep meaningful live is being able to give to another without losing your essential self." (p. 168)
Recipe:
"Caponata
Ingredients
Olive oil, extra virgin please!
3 large eggplants, cut into 1" cubes
1 large onion, minced
3 cups tomato sauce (homemade, if possible)
1/2 cup capers, rinse well
1 cup thinly sliced celery hearts, including a handful of chopped leaves (the leaves have a lot of flavor)
3 or 4 anchovy fillets, minced (if you hate them, leave them out)
About 1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
About 1 tbsp sugar, salt, and ground pepper
Heat a half inch of olive oil in a large frying pan, and fry the eggplant in batches until it's golden brown on all sides. Add more oil to the pan as needed. Drain the fried eggplant on paper towels.
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or pot, heat another 1/2 cup of olive oil and sauté the onion for give minutes, stirring often. Add the remaining ingredients and the the drained eggplant; combine gently but thoroughly and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasoning. The caponata should have a pleasant sweet-and-sour flavor.
Transfer the caponata to a large bowl and let it cool. Serve at room temperature. Eat it on some delicious Italian bread or by itself. Share it with friends and family. You'll feel juicy and joyful after enjoying this fabulous dish!" (pp. 32-33)
interesting quotes:
"I believe that staying in touch with exuberance is an absolutely necessary part of aging...There's no more permanent or certain characteristic of a vigorous mind than an unquenchable curiosity." (p. 71)
"My mantra has become: Don't practice misery when it's not happening." (p. 137)
"Deep meaningful live is being able to give to another without losing your essential self." (p. 168)
Recipe:
"Caponata
Ingredients
Olive oil, extra virgin please!
3 large eggplants, cut into 1" cubes
1 large onion, minced
3 cups tomato sauce (homemade, if possible)
1/2 cup capers, rinse well
1 cup thinly sliced celery hearts, including a handful of chopped leaves (the leaves have a lot of flavor)
3 or 4 anchovy fillets, minced (if you hate them, leave them out)
About 1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
About 1 tbsp sugar, salt, and ground pepper
Heat a half inch of olive oil in a large frying pan, and fry the eggplant in batches until it's golden brown on all sides. Add more oil to the pan as needed. Drain the fried eggplant on paper towels.
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or pot, heat another 1/2 cup of olive oil and sauté the onion for give minutes, stirring often. Add the remaining ingredients and the the drained eggplant; combine gently but thoroughly and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasoning. The caponata should have a pleasant sweet-and-sour flavor.
Transfer the caponata to a large bowl and let it cool. Serve at room temperature. Eat it on some delicious Italian bread or by itself. Share it with friends and family. You'll feel juicy and joyful after enjoying this fabulous dish!" (pp. 32-33)
May 24, 2025
Fun lighthearted book on aging while remaining upbeat, creative, and joyful.
April 14, 2008
Loretta Laroche is a motivation speaker and I mostly listen to her via audhiobook, however a friend lended me this book which is one of her newer ones. It didnt hit home like some of her other subjects since it was on aging and I am just not there emotionally yet but as always Loretta gave some great things to ponder for any age!
Below is something to keep in mind throughout any age!
"You can choose to take all your experiences and channel them into a reality show based on frear and aniety, or you can think of all difficulties as opportunities for creating something new"
"Negativity is like a big black hole wigh slippery sides. Once you fall in, it takes a lot of effort to crawl back up. There are so many people who like the security of darkness, so if your down there, you'll have lots of company. However, when you decide to come back into the light, they wont help because their stuck in the quagmire of goo at the bottom, and they want you there with them, too. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!"
I read this and I thought, WOW, she must know what I have been going through lately. I have encountered one negative person and attitude after another and of course the daily news is anything but encouraging. It is easy like she said to let them take you in but a few chapters after this she goes further tosay,
"It takes less energy to feel good than it does to feel bad."
That is so true, when I or other people focus on the negative it is very draining! Anyway, there are alot of other great things in this book but that stood out just due to some people and thoughts I have encountered lately.
She is a great speaker and I encourage everyone to get her audiobooks and let her speak to you. You will get something out of it, I assure you. Her delivery is hilarious and very enjoyable and a great way to start or end your day.
Below is something to keep in mind throughout any age!
"You can choose to take all your experiences and channel them into a reality show based on frear and aniety, or you can think of all difficulties as opportunities for creating something new"
"Negativity is like a big black hole wigh slippery sides. Once you fall in, it takes a lot of effort to crawl back up. There are so many people who like the security of darkness, so if your down there, you'll have lots of company. However, when you decide to come back into the light, they wont help because their stuck in the quagmire of goo at the bottom, and they want you there with them, too. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!"
I read this and I thought, WOW, she must know what I have been going through lately. I have encountered one negative person and attitude after another and of course the daily news is anything but encouraging. It is easy like she said to let them take you in but a few chapters after this she goes further tosay,
"It takes less energy to feel good than it does to feel bad."
That is so true, when I or other people focus on the negative it is very draining! Anyway, there are alot of other great things in this book but that stood out just due to some people and thoughts I have encountered lately.
She is a great speaker and I encourage everyone to get her audiobooks and let her speak to you. You will get something out of it, I assure you. Her delivery is hilarious and very enjoyable and a great way to start or end your day.
April 8, 2016
This was a interesting, quick, funny read about pretty much enjoying life and taking care of yourself. She talks about how people need to stop listening to the media and dieting and learn to love yourself for who you are. Has what she calls 'Juciy Tidbits' in each chapter which are info about ways to enjoy life and Ways to Wither which give you a list of ways to not be happy. Obviously that's not something you want to follow.
January 23, 2011
I just picked this one back up last night. I read it a few years back. New year and need to try new things this year. It's a good motivational book and light hearted read. Really more to kick you in the butt for no excuses to live your best life. Aging is natural for everyone. Why not make it the best. The old saying: "Life is not a dress rehersal and you only get to live it once".
September 14, 2014
At first I wasn't sure if I liked this book, because it just felt like someone listing things that she thinks are cool or important. But then, as she got deeper into the more personal aspects of aging, I found things that truly resonated with me. I have found much food for thought and inspiration in this book as I just begin this journey into aging.
Currently reading
October 6, 2008I loved the first one so much I wanted more...so far so good.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews