Lifestyle And Dreams Over 40

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: MUST HAVE FOR EVERY TRIP One of my favourite things to do in this world (outside of spending time with my family) is traveling. Most of us would have to admit that we do occasionally forget to pack an item that we really need. This can certainly be frustrating, even though there are many products that we may be able to buy once we reach our intended destination. There are, of course, some travel essentials that are really irreplaceable. When we're at home, we almost take it had granted that we have pretty much everything that we need. Things are often different when we are traveling. We need to remember to pack all of the holiday essentials. So, how good are you at packing? In my own experience, I've noticed that most people do remember to pack their really vital travel documents. It's relatively rare that people do forget about things like passports and airline tickets. It tends to be some of the other essentials that are most frequently forgo...

WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE? I have become intimately familiar with the "daily grind" and the adjoining morning rituals many working people have. Does any of this sound familiar: 7:00am alarm blast wakes you, pull yourself out of bed, half asleep jump in the shower, dress, (get kids ready, if you have kids) leave house for work by 7:45am, on the way eat half a bacon, egg and cheese, some coffee, get to work by 8:30am, say your morning pleasantries to friends, check some emails and ESPN (guys) or Page Six (girls) and jump right in and start the day once the caffeine kicks in around 9am. The majority of people I have encountered over the years have had morning routines similar to this, and the purpose of this article is to tell you how much better it can be. It is important to realize that what you do in the morning sets the sets the tone for the rest of your day, and habituating an effective morning custom can do wonders for your life. By following these simple steps, yo...

As you're reading this, I am having surgery to repair a torn ligament in my thumb. It's been 30+ years since I've had any surgeries. How do we prepare for the unexpected in our lives? Especially as we get older, the unexpected medical issues can happen at any time.  Here are 5 tips on how to deal with the unexpected be it a medical issue, job loss, or a broken appliance. Understand that the unexpected happens. We know we can't plan for everything and the unexpected will happen, eventually, and we can't change that. We can change how we react to the unexpected. Our mindset can change an event from stressful to being prepared and calm. Have savings set aside.  Knowing the unexpected is a part of life, having three months savings set aside for just such an event can make a difference on how we handle this stress of the unexpected. It can change a negative into a manageable event.  Whether it's a job loss or a broken appliance, you will be prepared. Run t...

Please welcome our guest blogger today, Cas from Clutterbug ! I'm sure you've seen all of her wonderful organizing and decluttering videos on YouTube and she has graciously accepted an invitation to talk with us! Please enjoy and feel free to leave a comment! Minimalism and decluttering is a huge trend right now, and why wouldn’t it be? Who doesn’t want an organized and clutter-free home? I know I sure do! Unfortunately, a lot of people think that heading to the store to stock up on plastic storage containers is all they need to do in order to organize their home and banish the clutter.  Truth time -  Buying plastic bins with the intent of reducing clutter is a lot like borrowing money to get out of debt – it’s a short-term, band aid solution. So, how do you really get organized (and stay organized for good)? The process of organizing your home doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming or difficult, but there are some important steps you need to take in order ...

Good Monday everyone! I thought I'd check in and see if you are enjoying reading "The Gifts Of Imperfection", by Brené Brown.  I have been busier than a cranberry merchant, so I haven't finished it yet, but I am loving it and highlighting quotes as I go. It is definitely a book for everyone, no matter where you are in your life. "People may call what happens at midlife 'a crisis', but it's not. It's an unraveling--a time when you feel a desperate pull to live the life you want to live, not the one you're 'supposed' to live. The unraveling is a time when you are challenged by the universe to let go of who you think you are supposed to be and to embrace who you are." -preface xii and xiii. This one sentence is moving to me. I read it over and over again...This is how I've been feeling, but unable to put in the correct words. As my kids have grown, my "supposed" to is almost over. I am filled with an almost breath ...

I'm home waiting for the snowstorm to hit and thought it'd be a good time to start the book club. I've wanted to start a book club for a while now, and thought it'd be a great way to get to know some of you and share our thoughts on specific books. The book I thought we'd start with is "The Gifts Of Imperfection" by Brené Brown. This is about embracing who you really are, not who you think you should be or who the media tells us we should be. How many of us have become lost in trying to be perfect or trying to be the person that our boss or spouse or kids or society thinks we should be, that we've lost sight of the person we really are and like?  After my divorce, I felt like this. Trying to remember who I used to be, when I liked myself, and wondering how to get back to being that person. Or sometimes, in midlife, we find ourselves with more time on our hands, as the kids need us less or we retire or we are no longer married, and we have ti...

An eye-opener  for me- I don't  have to wait for retirement to try new things! I know, shocking huh? I have been making a list, for years, of new things I wanted to try-when I retired. Why was I waiting? Why are you waiting? Are there new things you've been wanting to try and you haven't, thinking you'll have more time later? Your later is now! A New Language!  Have you been wanting to learn a new language? Why wait? I have been wanting to learn Italian for years and recently started lessons online. Free! Duolingo is an online app that is free and sets you up with daily 5 minute lessons. Who doesn't have 5 minutes?!! Lessons start at the beginning and lets you go at your own pace. My daughter has been using this app for 2 years to learn French. You can set notifications to get an email, once a day, to remind you it's time for your lesson. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo HandLettering!  Since most of us are using a planner an...