Showing posts with label The Next Stage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Next Stage. Show all posts

Friday, August 6, 2010

Turning the Page, Part 2

Okay, it's taken me exactly one month to turn the second page. And no, my new site is not finished. (My fault solely -- it's taken me some time to get my vision together but we are on our way!) I was also waiting on some announcements which I can now make. So let's start there.

In my previous Turning the Page post, I alluded to an exciting opportunity. Well, now I can tell you that if you aren't sick of me yet, you can find me over at Doctorsmiths.com. I am writing as a Premium Parent for them and my first post goes up today. I am amongst some amazing bloggy ladies so I hope that you will check us out.



I am also now an affiliate for eShakti. You may have noticed my pretty banner on the left. I was lucky enough to review a dress of theirs a few months ago and I loved it so much that I agreed to be affiliated with them. They make beautiful dresses that can be customized and I have personally worn my dress several times and I am complimented EVERY time. So check them out, as well.

And for the record, in the case of both eShakti and Dr. Smith's, I am only working with them because I use and believe in their products. I am truly excited by both opportunities!

Now there are many a thank you outstanding. First off, (and she has no idea that I am doing this) -- I owe an ENORMOUS thank you to Unknown Mami. She is not unknown to me so I can attest to her brilliance and beauty in person. Think that she is lovely and funny on-line, triple that plus one and you've got her. She has been a constant source of support and friendship to me as a blogger and I would not know many of you had she not introduced me. I love her on-line and in real life. No way I could turn this page without her.

Next to the way overdue awards. I am terrible with awards. Not because I don't care but because I do. I am so honored that you shared a little love that I toss and turn on forwarding them properly. So I start a post that day and then I stop as I ponder what fabulous blog to award. I love so many of you guys so I keep this detailed list of who I have already awarded and when I did and then I look through those I haven't and I agonize. So I put it off. And then time starts to pass. and the guilt starts. And then more time passes and then I am embarrassed and UGH!!! So to those of you who have been gracious enough to pass them on, please forgive my lack of graciousness. As this moment inside my head has demonstrated, I mean well. But I am biting the bullet and acknowledging all of you. This may take a while.

Doreen over at They Say Everyone Has a Story, This is Mine gave me the Versatile Blogger award. Now I must share 7 things about myself that you may not know. I'm not sure if I have left anything to mystery, but we'll see.


1) My eyes change colors -- the center of my eye is dark blue and they are surrounded by an amber color which causes them to look green at times, light brown at times, and dark blue at times (especially when I cry)
2) I love old TV shows -- Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Maude, etc.
3) I have three fake teeth -- when I was 16, I had a terrible car accident in which I smacked my face into a steering wheel. I smashed all the bone under my nose and knocked out the top front three teeth. Since then I have worn a bridge.
4) My daughter is named after a David Sylvian song.
5) I watch way too much TV though I am seriously considering cancelling cable to break free of the bondage of my addiction
6) I love carbs -- not the complex kind, but the very, very simple kind -- like brand, new soft white bread. I can't stand healthy bread. I don't want to work that hard. Sorry, healthy friends!
7) I have read "The Secret Garden" at least twenty times, including several times as an adult

Now I must bestow this honor onto 15 newly discovered blogs and they must share 7 things about them selves and pass it on. These are a mix of very different blogs -- some Mommies, some artists, and some giveaways. All are great.


1) Tracie from From Tracie
2) Mum in Flip Flops from MuminFlipFlops
3) Lemony Renee from Of Lemons and Honey
4) Templeton's Fury from Circling the Cuckoo's Nest
5) Leiah from A Southern Belle Trying Not to Rust
6) Ericka from Alabaster Cow
7) mathet zin from Myanmar (Burma) -- a beautiful love letter to a country
8) Michele Chastain from Fake It Til You Make It
9) Jane from Adoption of Jane
10) E.L.M.Dyck from Let Me Think -- she also gave me an award as you will see below
11) Dana Chabino from Daily Paintings -- Abstract - Impressionist Painter -- gorgeous artwork shared (almost) daily
12) Connie from The Young and the Relentless
13) Bridget from Readaholic
14) Kelly from Kelly's Lucky You
15) Jeanette Huston from Mommy Blessings in Small Bundles -- Giveaways and Reviews

A fabulous man around town and a globe trotter, as well, Subu.PS over at Passion for Road Trips and E.L.M.Dyck from Let Me Thinkgave me the Beautiful Blogger Award.

Share 7 things you find to be beautiful around you.

1) My husband -- enough said
2) My son's crooked smile
3) My daughter's chocolate eyes
4) The sun coming up through my window
5) My growing grapevine
6) Steam coming off of a cup of coffee brought to me by my husband
7) The sound of my children's laughter

Nominate 7 bloggers or more.


1) Doreen from They Say Everyone Has a Story, This is Mine -- I would have listed her above but she was kind enough to pass that award to me, so here is my opportunity to spotlight her
2) Living Our Dash
3) Alicia from A Beautiful Mess
4) Anastasia from Sweet Butter Bliss
5) Aging Mommy from Aging Mommy -- she is a gift giver, as well; see below
6) Holly from 504 Main
7) Francesca and Kacey from Mayhem and Moxie

And in my embarassment of riches, The Improbable Housewife and Aging Mommy gave me the Honest Scrap Award.


As I was supposed to tell ten things about me, I will simply add three to the seven above. Because really, I'm not sure you can stand to know much more!

8) I think that if the choice was between Heaven and Mint Chocolate Ice Cream, it would be a very hard decision
9) Though I don't share them here, I have very strong political views which are very often in opposition to most people I am related. I am something of a black sheep.
10) I am a serial hobbyist -- by this I mean, I pick up hobbies, get completely obsessed with them and then allow them to gather dust amongst other lost pastimes. This happened a little with blogging. I was visiting 50-60 blogs a day until my family cried "Uncle". I then ran out of steam and blogging lost a little luster. I think I have found a happy balance now, however. I still love visiting and blogging but I have to remember sunshine, sleep, and oh yeah -- my kids!!! :-)

And I will round out the group to ten more beloved blogs:
8) Confessions of a Fitness Instructor
9) Serena and Brandon's Playhouse
10) Shelley's swag


Finally, my good friend, Andrea over at Good Girl Gone Redneck gave me this award.


Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Well, after this time away, I definitely see myself living at the ocean. I just feel more alive there. And seeing my children and how comfortable they are in the water has inspired me. In fact, I have really spent the last week visualizing how I can get myself and my family living seaside all the time. (I'll be writing more on that soon.) So I see myself there. I also see myself writing professionally and hopefully performing on-stage at least once a year. Also, frighteningly, in ten years I will be the parent to two teenagers -- one of them driving. ARGH! So I see myself even more sleep deprived. But all in all, I see myself living my vision board! Here's hoping!

There are probably a million other thank yous owed. I have made the greatest friends through this blog. Mostly, I want to say thanks for sticking around this year and especially this summer. It has been a crazy one. I'm looking forward to school starting and life resuming some routine. Then I should be able to get back to my passion -- reading and writing. Blogs, that is.


Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Day 313 or Turning the Page, Part One

Well, settle in folks because this is going to be a long one.

So it is my birthday -- yay, yay, yay! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the much beloved author of the award-winning blog "38 and Growing" has turned 39. (I know, obnoxious, huh? After years of reading about people I knew written up by publicists, I thought that I would be my own publicist. LOL) Anyreality, it is my day. And I am celebrating. And who knows how to celebrate better than the Beatles?

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.

I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance

You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Now I promised you a party. And to start this party, I have a winner to announce. The winner of the $40 CSN gift card is... (Insert drum roll here.)

Debbie from Suburb Sanity. Yay, Debbie. Sometimes it works out great to be the first commenter!

And there is more to celebrate than my birthday. You guys really came through on my Heifer challenge! Here's how the math broke down...

18 Comments = $18.00
(The Amazing) Erin of Mother Load's Donation = $50.00
My Donation Match = $50.00
(My REALLY amazing) Son's Donation = $2.00 -- Yes, he donated two of his own dollars. So proud. SOOOOO Proud!

TOTAL: $120.00 which buys a goat, And here is what Heifer International has to say about the wonders a goat can do.

Goat
Goats Are Great for Families

The gift of a dairy goat represents a lasting, meaningful way for you to help a little boy or girl on the other side of the world.

Goats can thrive in extreme climates and on poor, dry land by eating grass and leaves. The gift of a dairy goat can supply a family with up to several quarts of nutritious milk a day - a ton of milk a year. Extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. Families learn to use goat manure to fertilize gardens.

Goats often have two or three kids a year making it easy for Heifer recipients to pass on the gift of a goat to another family in need. This great investment allows our partners to lift themselves out of poverty by starting small dairies that earn money for food, health care and education.

So pretty darn awesome, right?

And over the past year, I have had so much to celebrate. This may not be the Oscars but here is my moment on the stage to say thanks. Thanks to everyone who has been along for the ride. Whether you stopped by once or once a day, you made the journey all the better. Thanks to everyone who has supported me, showered me with awards, listened to me whine (yes, I said whine, I know I have on occasion), given my tears a shoulder, and my wins a "Whoo-Hoo!".

Thanks to CSN for allowing me to give away some fun stuff and thanks to eShakti for a beautiful dress to play with. Well there are so many thank yous that I will have to have a page two to turn. Many awards to acknowledge (some new, some HORRIBLY overdue!)

Remember those two men that I bragged on for Father's day? Look what they conspired together to get me for this birthday...


So light. So cute.

Only 3 Strawberry Shortcakes tall.



My husband said it was a perfect blogging laptop. How much do I love these guys??? Another huge thank you there!

I have so many blessings, my plate is full. I am going to San Antonio tomorrow for an exciting opportunity brought to me by blogging. It's still a secret now but I can't wait to share it. I am now an eShakti affiliate, as well. So many great things that 38 and Growing has brought me. But best of all is you -- my blogging friends. So much more to say. Much more to come. But here's what you have all been waiting for...

My new in real life friend and long time blogging inspiration Lee over at Headaches, Hormones & Hot Flashes, is going to help me make a proper blog so I am currently under construction, but I wanted to share the name of my new blog -- A Star in My Own Universe. It's a nod to my past career aspirations and the fact that I spin in my own orbit (We have already established that I am a little weird. It's okay, I know this about myself!). So stick with me a little while longer here while I get it all straight over there.
Whew! That was a long one with more to come. But the clock just clicked my birthday away so I'm letting the keys rest. See you on the next page.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Day 303 or The Sun is Setting -- FINALLY

My husband is home! Yay! He is just returned from a place of eternal sunshine -- he has been in the Arctic circle during Summer Solstice. He has not seen a sun set in two weeks. When he arrived, it was around 7:00 p.m. so it was still bright. After kissing me hello, he looked up at the sky and said "The sun will go down, right?" Yes, dear. The sun will go down.

This made me think. The last 14 days have felt like one elongated day for my sweetheart. I often wish I had a few more hours in the day but I do relish my nights (as short and interrupted as they may be!). We need the sun to set on the day to have it rise on the next. Same goes in life. The sun sets on one stage of our life for it to rise on the next. When kids graduate from high school, it's a commencement. A beginning. While it clearly marks an ending, an accomplishment, it is also the start of the next stage of life.

And now as the sun sets on this stage of my life (and on this blog), I look to the sun rising on the next. I am not sure what that stage will offer but I feel more ready to meet it than I have in a long time. So as the sun sets for the first time for my husband, I will share a little wisdom from good, old Elton. Right now, however, I think my husband would take some issue with him -- LOL!

I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life

Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light

Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me

I can't find, oh the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal

Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me