Life for Dummies November 9, 2010

So, it’s been awhile…AGAIN…lots of changes kicking in the reinvention process!! 

Do you ever wish there were a manual for life?  Not just any manual but a personalized manual just for you.  It would tell you what to major in, who to marry, how many children to have and when to have them, where to work and live, etc.  You get the point.  Life for Dummies.  Because today, this very moment…

A life manual sent directly from God to each one of us would keep the insanely chaotic moments to a minimum.  Those moments where you’re not exactly sure which door to walk in and which door to close.  That would be most helpful, God, most helpful indeed!

It’s a Good Day…For a Tuesday February 9, 2010

There are those moments…those rare and occassional moments…were, as a mother, you say to yourself, “Maybe, just maybe, I did something right!”  I had one of those moments just this morning. 

About two weeks ago, my 16 year old daughter came up with the idea that we should blog together, so, voila, The Reinvented Me was born.  She also started a blog…Ashley’s Blogg…with two g’s.  I received a text message from her this morning telling me she had posted a new post.  WOW.  Can I just say WOW??  Ummm…yeah…I realize that my one and only reader is the writer of the post but let me just say…Go and read it!

I think…just maybe…some of the things I drove into my girls may have stuck. 

And on that note…I am loving The Fluent Self and my absolute favorites are The Very Personal Ads which she periodically does.  I so believe in the power of asking, putting out there the things you want.  It’s quite incredible.  However, The Fluent Self takes things a step further.  She also states her commitment.  What she  is willing to do to…give back if you will.  Just go read it…you’ll see what I mean.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I get bored easily.  I love reading blogs but I’ll usually click out after the first paragraph or so…hence my extremely short posts…but today, I want to post my own Very Personal Ad.  Yes, I’m facing my fears and posting it for all to see…or at least for my one reader to see…

What I Want:

I want to sell my house for no less than 1% under my asking price THIS month.

My Commitment:

I will talk about my house to people I come into contact with and ask them who they know.

I will continue to advertise in my chosen venues.

I will be open to new and fresh ideas about selling my house.

I will be absolutely grateful.

I’m Flying, Jack…er…Ashley February 8, 2010

As mentioned before, I was a stay at home mom for 20 years.  During that time, I tried EVERYTHING that would keep house keeping interesting, thorough, and to a minimum.  About 5 years ago, I stumbled upon a program that literally changed by life.  After entering the workforce and starting school, my house keeping has fallen by the wayside…needless to say, I’m in desperate need to pick this program back up again.  I won’t go into the details of this program, you just really need to check out the website.  However, I am committing…to my one loyal reader, to fly once again!  And although I don’t intend on being asked to grace the cover of Good Housekeeping, I do intend to make my home my sanctuary, my personal bed and breakfast, from this point forward.

Sometimes reinvention needs to be replaced with responsibility.  YUCK!  But it’s a must!  If you choose to join me, let me know.  Tell me what you like and don’t like about the program!  I need all the help I can get!

One Reader at a Time February 5, 2010

Thanks so much to my one and only reader, who is so awesome there are no words in the English language to explain it, for answering my question yesterday. Starting this afternoon I will be walking 3 miles a day. Secretly, I want to try running. For some reason it scares me.

Call it vanity…but I feel like everyone is watching, laughing, pointing…I think you get the idea now.  Yes, yes…even at forty something crazy thoughts plague our minds.  Sorry!

Side note:  I tried to post yesterday’s question as a poll but kept getting an error message.  Don’t you wish life had error messages sometimes!  Tuesday morning when I rolled out of bed, I would have seen:  Error 962.A59-7.  DO NOT GET OUT OF BED.  IF YOU PROCEED, YOU MAY LOOSE EVERYTHING…including that Grapefruit you’ll have for breakfast!  Anyway, if you know how to post a poll, I need some help!

A Little Random… February 4, 2010

So it’s been a few days. Sue me. However, I’ve been saving stories for you.

First, I found the most awesome post the other day on The Fluent Self.   Read it and tell me if you believe or don’t believe.   I’ll start the discussion by saying I’m a believer!  Have you read The Secret??  Ummm…yeah…

Secondly, I received my first grade for the semester.  The class…Economics, the grade…Outstanding!  Yes, indeed, I made a PERFECT score!  PHEW!  I have a test in Management on Saturday.  It’s crunch time!

And lastly, I went to the doctor Tuesday.  Now, I won’t go into numbers because most people hate that I’m petite.  However, there are certain numbers that…disturb me… because I am so petite.  That, coupled with the fact that since I was knee high to a grasshopper mom has always told me I was going to have to watch my weight after 40, I got FREAKED OUT!  So, I am on a mission to get healthy!

Question:  Should I:

• Do yoga once per week
• Join a gym and work out at lunch two times per week
• Walk three miles three times per week

I’ll let you decide!

Flying Solo February 1, 2010

Reinvention Must #1: Take a solo road trip.

I jumped in my truck and headed south for the week-end. The goal?? Visit with my 21 year old daughter. I left about 8:30 Saturday morning with a few necessities and a CD that has become my official road trip CD. Let me just say, there is no music quite like the music of the ’80’s and there is nothing quite like the looks you get when you are flying solo, singing yourself silly, and dancing like there’s no tomorrow. For any traffic jams I may have caused, I’m quite sorry!

About 2 hours into my NINETY SONG CD, it happened. I hit delirium mode to the B-52’s. Check out this blast from the past:

It was a party and the guest of honor was ME!

AND…not so much a reinvention must but a reinvention want…I acquired a Kindle.  C’mon. You know what I’m talking about.  The Amazon Kindle. 

After downloading a free copy of Pride and Prejudice, I entered the new generation of digital pleasure reading.  So far, I like it.  I didn’t think I would, but I did.  It is a highly recommended reinvention gadget if you like to read.  And since most reinvention adventures come with a budget, check out Craig’s list for a potential bargain.

The Student Within January 29, 2010

One of the many new endeavors this year…school. I have an undergraduate degree in business administration and have decided to go back to school in hot pursuit of the coveted MBA. Being the old geezer in the class sort of sucks! Now, granted, I’m enrolled in an online track so we don’t actually see each other but we have to participate via a message board. While other students are talking about the excitement of life post undergraduate degree, my posts tend to be…well…boring.

Background: I received my undergraduate degree in 1992. Yes, you heard me right NINETY TWO! Post undergraduate life consisted of raising three children with a man who wanted to “protect” me. I believe the ladies will know what I’m talking about. Gaining real world business experience…not so much! Maybe I ought to build a fictitious life for the sake of the grade…nah…not worth it.

On a side note: I asked for a raise today. No response. I’ll keep you posted. TGIF!

Reinvention at Forty Something January 28, 2010

Starting over at forty something…scary!  This blog will act as a journal of the random, fortuitous happenings as I begin the journey of re-invention.

Today’s revelation…the importance of H2O.  I realize I’m one of the lucky ones, but at 16, skin problems were for everyone else…not me!  As with most things in life, judge not lest you be judged.  At 41, I have the face of a teenager…I’m not talking about smooth, elastic skin.  I’m talking about ugly red blotches that for one reason or another, my nails crave to pick!  My thinking at the time is, “I have to get this off my face!”  Knowing full well, the more I pick, the bigger it will get and the longer it will stay!  During the sane moments that are few and far between, I have conducted experiments with the consumption of large amounts of water.  This solution really does work!  Co-workers will begin to talk about your many trips to the bathroom, so, as usual, there is a trade-off but for me, smooth, clear skin is much better.  I can put up with the bathroom rumors and most of them give me a good laugh anyway.  So, bottoms up…