I remember saying after my 11 lb son was born that I was a Yummy Mummy and that the little bulge around my middle was only that pesty post-partum baby fat that I’d be dropping soon enough…in time.

I ran with that little tale of  self delusion for about 15 years, long after I’d stopped running after my son in the market and just about until his 16th birthday last month!

The truth is this Yummy Mummy has a saggy tummy that I can no longer wear as a badge of honor or testament to my heroic child bearing years.  Yes my son was 11 lbs. but I need to get over it and lose this body appendage growing around my middle.

Here’s one EASY tummy exercise I thought I’d share so others can join me in being finally rid of this baby fat (now that the kids are off to college!):

The Smart Crunch

• Lie on the floor with your knees bent and the bottom of your feet flat on the ground.
• Place your hands alongside your belly button.  Press two fingers from each hand firmly into your abdomen.
• Gently begin to draw your lower abdomen down towards the floor, raise your chest and hold your breath.
• When you feel your muscles tighten stop drawing in your stomach.  The muscles underneath your fingers should feel firm.
• Hold this position for 15 seconds breathing normally the entire time.
• Do 10 repetitions.

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I like her video primarily because she breaks down very nicely the process of goal setting (e.g., making it measurable and ensuring it is part of your plan “you have to know where you’re going or you most definitely won’t get there”). She also zeros in one of the goals many women aren’t too aggressive about - making money!

Watch with your notepad in hand.

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President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are in their mid 40’s, the Bidens (especially Joe) are little beyond that age but close enough. Take a look at the picture of the Obamas and the Bidens used in this post.  Don’t they remind you of your senior year?  You know that year in high school when it seemed that everyone was looking up at you and your peers as  a group and as individuals who were suppose to know the lay of the land.

Now think back a few decades…When we were in our 20’s (or late teens) we looked at the men and women running our companies, our communities and our country, and I know many of us thought of them in sort of abstract terms. We didn’t feel we really knew them (remember Regan?) but for the most part we accepted their leadership because we either respected their experience or we had more pressing things to do as young adults.

Now that the people in power and in leadership positions in our communities and our country are essentially our age, I know I feel a little shaken…in a good way. Those of us born in the late 50’s through the 1960’s are certainly not youngins’. We know a thing or two, we’ve made it through corporate America (bruises and layoffs not withstanding), raised kids and started businesses in record numbers. In fact sometimes I wonder about our younger years. We were far more conformist in our attitudes during our youth than our wilder predecessors (hard-core baby-boomers).

But that little fact doesn’t seem to bother us as much as one might think. We were educated by those baby-boomers and indoctrinated to believe that they were the chosen generation. I remember in grade 7 and 8 learning about Woodstock, the Kennedy’s and how much young people of that era really helped to shape our world…for the better.

My teacher was the spitting image of John Denver, played folk guitar and tried his best to persuade us to choose 60’s rock over the head-banger rock music of the late 70’s.

It’s no wonder we didn’t have that fight in us in our college years…we became a generation taken up with navel gazing  trying to find our own personalities and make a living in the “me” generation of the 80’s. All I can say is thank God the 80’s are behind us and that we’ve grown into the more thoughtful, sensitive, “green loving” adults we are today. And not a moment too soon either.

Our kids, those militant Millennials eating into our retirement money with their college tuition fees and computer expenses, aren’t too thrilled about the way we’ve managed the world up to this point.  There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re going to make us accountable for our promises and our actions. Our work is cut out for us, but I know we’re ready.

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Of course the troubled economy is another reason people are planning for self-employment. Since long-term employment isn’t guaranteed anymore, many career gurus suggest it makes good sense to assess your abilities as a business owner when thinking about a career change and ensuring a source of income for yourself and our family.

Once your kids are teens, leave for college or move out on their own, you’ve got the gift of time to spend researching and starting that business you’ve always dreamed of.  If you’re employed, that little extra time that you may find in your day can be directed towards doing the research and planning that forms the foundation of any potentially successful business.

Starting a business while you’re employed is one of the best ways to transition to self-employment especially if you’re not interested in securing major financing for your business and plan to bank roll your start-up yourself.

If there is anything you’ve learned after raising children is that experience is one of the best teachers.  Look at your rich experience as a mother, an employee, a colleague, community volunteer, hobbyist, gardener–all those activities through the years that served to fill up your life.  You’ve got skills and gifts that can be the basis of a great business.  Think about how you can move that self-employment goal from the realm of dreams to reality.

It’s a new year and time’s ticking so make your move and remember you don’t have to venture out into the world of  entrepreneurship alone.  Look  into joining a business mentorship group.  I recommend Mom Masterminds as I’m a member there and find it to be one of the most resource packed private membership groups around for women focused on running successful online businesses.

If you’re looking for some inspriation and ideas for starting a new business try visiting the popular website  ShowMomTheMoney.com. This is a site created by seasoned small business coach for women, Nicole Dean and you’ll find yourself enjoying the valuable resources, guides and tips that are there.

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Of course being Cosmopolitan, your horoscope was also guaranteed to have something in it about love and hot romance which was just the ticket for us back then when we were dreamy (and perky) 17 year olds.

Fast forward a few decades and my girlfriends and I are still looking for that inspirational outlook for the new year.  Sure we’re a little less perky and Cosmopolitan doesn’t quite do it for us anymore (and I don’t want to do half the things they suggest we do!), but we still need that new year carrot to kick start our year.

Now that many of us are moms of kids who are off to college, or will be in a few years, we’re looking for a different kind of inspiration.  For me it breaks down this way:

I’ve raised children that give me joy (on the days they’re not driving me insane), I’ve developed a deep love for the fellow on the couch watching the Rose Bowl game (and that took some effort after the honeymoon glow subsided) and I’ve found the career and business that give me satisfaction.

I’m now entering another phase of life.  I want to recapture some of the sizzle of previous years, without losing my sense of comfort. But let me speak in even plainer terms.  I want to lose weight, get back my energy and stop looking like someone’s soccer mom who’s had too many coffee and donuts.

Now that my 40’s are the new 30’s I’m feeling pretty excited about this period in my life.  I know this knocking back the decades game is all a gimmick but I’m actually inspired by that line of thinking!

The truth is we have a lot of living to do after the kids have grown and if we don’t acknowledge that, we’ll be missing out.  Being a mentor to our young adults, starting that business that we always wanted, being of service to those in need and finally seeing those places we always wanted to visit will take energy and resources that we have to cultivate.

So the planner in me is taking control this year and being purposeful about grabbing hold of those things in life that make me smile, think and take action!

The picture in this post is a beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  Every time I visit Jamaica I come back rejuvinated and so inspired.  Some days that picture could just as easily be my backyard! What are the places, people or events that inspire you?

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I couldn’t believe it when my daughter asked if I had 15-minutes to waste on Sunday evening.

She had just created a 15-minute flash video with music and special effects layered over original artwork and photographs all created by her.

The fact that she asked if I had 15-minutes “to waste” I know was my daughter’s way of saying that she wasn’t sure if I was going to be bored by this, knowing full well that we are STARVING for any opportunity to view and discuss her art.

Since going off to college we literally live by the phone waiting for her call with any news of advances or challenges beaten during her first year of college.

I have to admit that sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get her to elaborate on her art work. Much like the days when I had to ask her if there was anything in her knapsack for me to read or sign. The only difference now is she’s 10 years older!

Needless to say I was happy to be given 15-mintues to view this video that she had been working on for a good portion of the day. But what I found really gratifying was that we were spending good, quality time going through the frames of her short film and ewwing and awwing at the way she had manipulated the impages with Photoshop and movie-maker. These were sweet moments.

I am seeing glimpses of a young woman emerging from my teen every day…slowly, but surely. She’s still got some work to do regarding adjusting to the college routine, but she’s making progress and it’s good to know that she’s able to discuss her work and her passion more with me now than she ever has in the past.

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In addition to becoming the beach region of choice for those visiting Mexico, Cancun is also home to many important Mayan ruins.

Tulum is the ancient Mayan city overlooking the blue-green waters of the Caribbean, with an exceptional beach,, and a truly fascinating history Tulum is a day trip that is a must for many Cancun visitors.

Tulum is one of the most visited of all Mayan ruins, and it’s also the only major Mayan ruin to be found along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline on the “Riviera Maya”.

To read more about Tulum, the Mayan ruins and the hotels of the Mayan Riveria click here.

The picture below was taken by a traveller to Tulum. Time to call your travel agent.

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I’m now having a heart to heart with my expanding waist and not feeling very good about it. I know better, but I figure I’ll be so disgruntled with my new “look” that I’ll start exercising and walking at the first dawn of the new year.

Well maybe not at the FIRST dawn of the New Year as I may be going to bed not too long before that first dawn..but at that second dawn - watch out!

I’m not alone. I’m sure there are many people eating too much of the good food taking residence in our kitchens right about now. I was amused today when I read that there’s a method to our collective eating madness.

Professor Patrick O’Donnell of Glasgow University’s psychology department states that the whole point of Christmas is to make us feel better.

“Humans evolved in a tropical environment and spread out to cooler areas, where the long winter nights, cold and reduced vitamin D and serotonin levels all made for a negative experience,” he says. “So midwinter feasts developed to boost individual and group morale.”

Of course the birth of Christ is why we gather but it would seem that, according to the professor, the extent of our festivities has been influenced by our need to bring light and joy into each other’s lives at this cold time
of year.

Without a doubt a good dinner and conversation with friends and family can do so much to pull us out of our own difficult circumstances, whatever they may be, for at least a little while. That’s a wonderful thing to happen to those who may need that “breather” to gain some perspective on their current set of challenges or particular personal “funk.”

So with that I say let’s not fret that much about the expanding waist line. We know it’s not good for our bodies and that’s why come January we’ve got a new obsession - g-e-t-t-i-n-g i-n t-o s-h-a-p-e!

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I’d love to know as I’m still new at this.  I know I’m excited about the pending return of my daughter. But I also know that I’m planning way too much for the short time that she will be with us.

When she came home for Thanksgiving recently I packed so much into her 4 days home that I think she hardly had time to just relax and talk with us.

On top of that I found myself falling into old routines.  For instance, I didn’t want her to sleep in because, well we have so much to do! So I was on her case about getting to bed early.

Can I really enforce early bed-time hours when she goes to sleep at 7 a.m. in her dorm?

Case in point: at a recent Anime conference she attended on campus she explained how they stayed at the conference until 3 a.m. playing something called DDR (don’t ask or maybe Google it) then they went to someone’s dorm to watch movies till 5 a.m.  Then they went and made something to eat in the dorm kitchen before going to bed at 7 a.m.!

Okay so given the flexibility of her college life, what kind of routines I can logically enforce when she returns home?  How about this:  all spare time must be spent with me. Does that seem unreasonable?  The last time she came home I lost a whole day and a half to her girlfriends.  That left me with 2 and half days, half of which she spent sleeping.

Well we’re picking her up in a couple days and I’m trying to put together a list of bribes to ensure that this mom gets time with her first born.  Off to Blockbuster to get some videos with Johnny Depp, then to the market to get ingredients for her favorite cookies (she loves to bake) and then the piece de resistance: a new Doors CD that she can listen to her hearts content (she’s a retro girl).

Wish me luck!

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I wish we met more often but that’s the reality of our lives. We’re busy with kids, businesses, jobs, family and our current circle of friends and obligations.  So you better believe I treasure that once a year meeting.

It’s usually over lunch or dinner. Last year we met at my house. In previous years we met at restaurants. Regardless of where we meet the discussion is at least 3 hours.

Between talk of husbands, divorces, our kids (well only one of these two old GF’s has children), in-laws, the aging process, our careers, our dreams and what we’re going to have for dessert, 3 hours is hardly enough.

But we make do because it’s not what’s said that counts but the fact that we’re with one another.  When you’re with old friends it’s about being with someone familiar. It’s spending hours with someone who is so in sync with your humor, your HISTORY, your desires that you can both speak at once and know exactly what the other person said (this drives my husband nuts).

Last year my sweet friend A went on a once in a lifetime trip to Africa with her partner. She visited countries I haven’t even pronounced yet alone seen. She brought over her MAC and we sat at the dining room table, looking at her pictures on screen hours after dinner had ended. It was like I was in that exotic looking bed and breakfast in Tanzania with her or waking up at dawn to join her on that early morning safari in Kenya.

I hope she knows how much I appreciated that evening. With anyone else I would have been entertained but with it being “her” trip I felt I was there…not just because of her pictures but because she was with me sharing all the little moments she knew I’d enjoy.

Next week I’ll be meeting with my other “best girlfriend” and I can’t wait! M and I speak even faster than I do with A.  She’s been with me through the happy and sad times of college and our early 20’s - when a break up felt like the Apocalypse and love was like drowning.

I might be a bit melodramatic with my words, but really that’s how it felt…back then.  Compared to my 20’s this period I’m in now–these 40+ years–are so mellow.  Yes there are challenges and even sadness at times as real life hits, but the strength of the relationships I have today, the spirit of my children and their successes and life’s overall ups and downs is so much more gratifying…at least that’s how it feels at this stage.

When M and I meet next week, we’ll probably focus on that mellow stuff, at least for a while, then for old time sake we’ll likely speed talk our way through the absurdity and joy of married life, motherhood, and sagging boobs!

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