Jennifer Beals...more than Flash

"When I turned 40 I wanted to do something I really loved- so I went to Patagonia and galloped a horse at full speed across the Pampas."     ~ Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963)

See, it's not just me or the few of us that have blogs, it really is something about turning 40 that makes you want to breathe in life.  To start doing those things you really love.  Jennifer rode horses in South America (nice).  My list is to the right.  

It's never too early or too late to begin living your dreams and living your life.  So, what are you going to do?

5 simple yet powerful words

faith.  love.  fearless.  beauty.  simplicity.If my life has taught me anything, it has taught me that I need direction, focus and organization. Starting at the beginning with the basic definition of who I am through a few words may seem silly or simplistic, but for me it was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders.  

Those 5 simple, yet powerful, words are the words that define who I am and who I am striving to be. I have chosen them to direct my thoughts and to help me with the direction of my life.  I no longer have to wonder, search or continually redefine...I can just grow.  Now anything that doesn't fit in these categories...to the curb they go!  

Faith – Joyce Meyers laid the foundation by giving me these words: “I don’t know what God is going to do or when he is going to do it, but since God is good I know it is going to be good.”

Love – Remembering if you want love you must be love.  Grumpy people need not apply.  

Fearless – To live like I did when I was in the 6th grade again. Without the fear of failure, embarrassment, anxiety, danger or pain.

Beauty – Aesthetics are important to me… shape, form, color, texture, sound. For me life is not lived unless beauty is involved.

Simplicity – Less is more. Downsizing. De-cluttering. Organizing. Double Duty. ‘Nuff said.

Now, it’s your turn. What are the words that define you? If you haven’t thought about it give it a try and let me know what you come up with. It just may change your direction for 2009 or may change your life!

BTW:  This is the 1st check off on my Rocking 40 List!  

My Rocking 40 List

It’s almost the end of 2008 (thank goodness) and 6 months to the big 4-0! I never thought I would be 40…damn time for moving on!

Since the 30’s are a period I would like to think of as hard knocks, I’m going to call the 40’s as my period of life rocks. To begin rocking, I have put together a list of things (look to the right and down) I plan on accomplishing during my 40th year.  I know most people try to accomplish this stuff by their 40th, but since I’m halfway there and adding in the economy, I just got an extra year (until my 41st birthday).  My blog, my rules.  

I’ll check in from time to time to let you know of my progress.  If you have any advice or suggestions, feel free to drop me a line.  In the meantime…join in, create your own list and let me know.  I’ll link to you (if you are crazy enough to have a blog) and stalk your progress.  

This is our time!  Don’t sit back and watch life happen.  Do all of those things you have always been dreaming of doing.  Life is way too short and I’m tired of writing bah humbug posts anyway!

The Finishing Touch

Beauty can be painful is a phrase I often remember when I make my bi-weekly trip to have my lip waxed.  As I’ve gotten older the trips have become more frequent.  I remember laughing at my grandmother as she plucked the hairs on her lip and chin…now, not so funny.  Even with waxing trips I still have a need for in between plucking or an increase to my waxing budget.  Karma or age?  You choose.  

Since I’m looking for every place where I can save a few dollars, I thought why not look here also.  I’ve stopped going to the salon as often, I do my own manicures and pedicures now, but it is mandatory that I get this here lip waxed.  I do pluck but have you ever plucked the entire top of your lip in lieu of waxing? OUCH!  $#@!  Beauty can be painful, there has to be a better way.  

The Finishing Touch $9.99

I let the little hairs grow out a couple of extra days because I wanted to make sure I could see the little suckers (don’t worry, no dates on those days).  I must be honest, I was a little skeptical about The Finishing Touch, but I tried it anyway.  I kind of felt like my brother shaving his moustache, so ladies do this in private.   In the end my lip was just as soft as if I had waxed minus the OUCH.  The downside is (because this isn’t a wax) the hair will probably grow back twice as fast (imagine that) so I plan to continue waxing, but this will help cut down my budget just a tad and will eliminate the OUCH factor.

Bottom Line: I thought The Finishing Touch was a great buy.  Has anyone else tried The Finishing Touch and have any comments?

bah humbug, with love.

Well, another Christmas is here.  As much as I want to be happy I have the case of bah humbugs.  I just want this day to be over!  I want tomorrow to be here.  The economy stinks.  Jobs are scarce.  Let's not talk about my IRA (I won't even open the envelope now).  My house is lonely and wayyyy to quiet.  I want kid noise.  I thought my adoption would be completed by now and it isn't.  I'm tired of spending Christmas alone, I would love a house full of kids (maybe not house full 2 or 3) and a man to spend it with.  I mean someone I actually love and want to be with.  At 39.6 I'm ready (I've been ready to settle down).  So, to all my blog friends (and new readers) don't you have any cute, single, sane, and financially stable male friends you can hook me up with?  I'm determined by next December to have at least one little pitter patter in my house and a man to share it with (no, I don't have to be married by then, but he can have dinner with us and buy me gifts!).  

OK...enough of my B@#& fest!  I hope you have or had a wonderful day.  

Bah humbug, with love!

Tami

P.S.

Merry Christmas!  :-) 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!  Enjoy your last minute shopping and please watch what is in Santa's milk tonight! :-)

Are Your Stockings Hung?

I've been sick with the flu for two days, but with only 2 more days until Christmas I thought everyone could use a little humor.  So, if you haven't put up your tree or hung those stockings with care yet...shame on you.  However, with this little comic, I'm sure you'll never be able to look at Christmas stockings the same again.  

I Heart Coconuts

Coconuts where have you been all of my life?  I ignored you I know.  You weren’t sexy enough for me, so I thought.  Yes, I read you were full of antioxidants and that you do a body good. Okay, you told me that you would keep my hair and skin silky, soft and smooth.  Yes, I know my family back in the Dominican Republic respect and adore you.  You know how we do when we move to America. But, I had no idea…

On a normal day my skin is a dry as an alligator’s tail but add winter to that and it is not a pretty sight.  No kidding.  It was always dry but as I’ve gotten older and I received my early gift (that’s what we are going to call my early menopause from now on) boy oh boy… I’m always looking for a cure all for this skin. I finally gave in and tried an inexpensive jar of coconut oil from Whole Foods. My only words are I Heart Coconuts! 

I have only been using my new found dry skin cure all for a week, but I can totally see a difference in my skin.  Using it twice a day, my skin is wayyyyyy soft, no longer dry, scaly and ashy.  When I take a shower I don’t feel super dry any more, I feel like the antioxidants from the coconuts are still in my skin…that’s a nice feeling.

I also use the coconut oil on my hair overnight before I wash as a pre-conditioning treatment. It makes a difference in how my curls feel and fall.  It helps take the frizz out.  I sometimes use what’s left as a moisturizer for my face, the verdict is still out on that one, but it can’t hurt.  Remember, antioxidants and we like that word!

I’m getting rid of all of that cutesy, smelly stuff in my cabinet that doesn't help with my dry skin.   It just takes up too much space.  If I want to smell better than a coconut I’ll put on perfume…right now smelling like a coconut and being soft works for me.  

So, this is my formal apology to Mr. Coconut for all my years of neglect. I’m sorry, you are so sexy and do a body good…I heart you!

Does anyone else have a love affair with coconut oil? I know I can’t be the only one.

Something To Talk About

Do whatever makes you happy, even the snowwomen have figured that out.  People will talk no matter what.  So give them something to talk about and make yourself happy in the process.  

I used to have people talking all the time about what I was doing.  I thought it was hilarious, but I've been pretty quiet lately.  Time to stir stuff up again.  I'm bored.  Does this blog count as being quiet, I'm not sure?

What are you going to do this year to make yourself happy?  A new set of snow cones?  A new car?  An expensive purse?  A trip?  As Bonnie Raitt says "Let's Give Them Something To Talk About."

Have a Great Weekend!

Dara Torres: Age Is Just A Number

"...If I can inspire both women and men in anything it would be that age is just a number, not a death sentence. Wake up every morning with a plan and a dream. If you do, like me, dreams do still come true in your 40s and beyond."  ~Dara Torres (born April 15, 1967)

Dara Torres ROCKS!  

Olympian.  Mother.  Body of Life.  Model.  Motivational Speaker.  41.  Body of Life...oh, I said that already (gotta get one of them!).  I don't know about you but just looking at her has inspired me to carry my tush into the gym today.  

Dara wakes up every morning with a plan and a dream.  Her dream was (dare I say still is) the Olympics and it came true even when no one thought it would.  

What is your dream?  I'm working on mine.  I'm working on lots of things...stay tuned.  I hope you're going to plan with me.  

The Jig Is Up!?

Yesterday I had a new magazine in my mailbox. It was More, the magazine for women over 40. Funny, I didn’t think twice about subscribing to it online but when I opened my mailbox I got this funny feeling.  I looked around to see who was looking.  Then I immediately thought, oh man, the mailman is no longer going to think I’m his age, he’s going to know I’m 40.  THE JIG IS UP!  I immediately got paranoid and frantic at the same time.  

More 40 (pun intended) realities set in.  No one ever thinks I’m anywhere near 40 and I actually like telling people I’m 39 because I look damn good (modest I’m not, but we have to hold on to whatever we can at this age ya' know) but I seriously felt a little blindsided by More yesterday.  It was not on my own terms.  Who now knew that I didn’t tell?  I wonder if my neighbor saw the mailman putting the magazine in my box?  I can always say it was delivered to the wrong house!  Okay, okay… it's all silly I know, but whoever said everything that happens in the mind of a woman turning 40 is rational?  

Does anyone who has turned 40 already have any funny and irrational stories for the rest of us about how you felt about turning 40?  

A Reality Check

This weekend I went to my mother’s 60th birthday party.  I had a great time with my mother and family. All weekend we laughed, joked and did as family does…talked about each other. It is always funny (and a tad bit scary) to me that I can now “hang” with my mother and her friends because I’m of age. I still remember the days when they couldn’t have certain conversations because kids (me) were in the room. Now, they have all kinds of conversations, but the ones I enjoy most (not really) are the ones where they talk about all of their ailments.

Friday night about 9 of us were playing Tripoly (a very fun card game) and the conversation went something like this:

My #3 and #4 bone in my spine bother me

It’s #2 and #3 in mine

Oh, it’s #4 and #5 in mine

My finger jumps for no reason
I just think my back went out
I can’t see the print…can I borrow someone’s glasses
I’m hot, open up the sliding doors
Whew…I thought it was just me…I’m hot too

At this point I started looking at all of them and I just busted out laughing. They said you just wait. Aging is no fun! And we can’t wait for you to start having your own private summers because you will see. I laughed again and said yeah, yeah...I’m fighting all of that stuff and as far as menopause…Did you forget, I’ve been in menopause since I was 35 thanks to the fertility doctor that jacked me up?

Ah…premature menopause…lovely! But thanks the drugs I take EVERYDAY I don’t have the hot flashes and some of the other side effects they try to scare you about and trust me I was petrified about them! But I’m all good…mostly, extra dry skin and slow a@# metabolism aside. 

So, while my mother and her friends have their private summers…I pop a pill. Most of you reading this haven’t started the big M yet so I’ll be schooling you on it but my first word of wisdom is: You are what you think you are!  I don't really know what the big hoopla is all about.  Life is no different for me except I take a pill and I don't buy tampons monthly...now that is great!  Life is Good!  

  

Shake That Christmas Present

Happy Friday!  

In celebration of the Holidays, I thought this would bring a smile (and laughter) to your faces.  You don't have to be 40 to enjoy this video...no age discrimination today!  :-) A big THANKS to Rozette for sending me this video.  

Have a weekend and stay out of trouble!  Nah, just have fun!  

Tweet Tweet

I’m going out of town for my mother’s 60th birthday party on Saturday.  Since I’m a blogging Diva now (that’s what I tell myself at least) I had to get more technology to stay in touch with you all.  I’m now on Twitter!  What you don’t get from me in the blogs you can always get from me in a Tweet.  Check link at the side or find me on Twitter @ Middle Rageously.  So, come on Tweet with me.  

Tello What?

I’ve been exercising since I was 21. Boy those were the days. My metabolism was jumping! I could eat a whole pizza, chicken wings, a quart of ice cream, chips, dessert and not gain a pound. Then to add insult to injury I worked out and wore a size four; I had beautifully sculptured thighs, arms and I even had a butt (non-existent now)…sighhhh the memories.

Fast-forward to now, I look at a slice of pizza and gain a pound. Meals consist of a vegetable, a protein and a carb (if I’m feeling particularly adventurous)! Am I still working out? Yes, but it is so much easier to stay at home, on the couch, with TiVo than go to the gym. I know, no pain, no gain…and I know I’m staving off nasty little diseases like diabetes, but I still don’t enjoy it as much as I did when I was 22. I think it is just the repetitive nature of the gym that I don’t enjoy which is why I am going to start going to some other activities, but the real reason I workout is to protect my vanity (just keeping it real). Exercising slows the aging clock!

Yup! Get off that couch. Dump your kids at the Kids Club and start working out. Did I hear you say you don’t believe me? Read what I found out in More magazine below:

Researchers at King’s College London recruited over 2,400 British twins, quizzed them about their fitness habits, and examined their white blood cells to find the length of the telomere, the branches at the tip of each chromosome that allow cell replication. Telomere length is a telltale sign of a cell’s age. Each time a cell divides, its telomeres get shorter, so the longer you’ve lived, the shorter your telomere- and the more likely you are to develop wrinkles, sagging skin, and increased vulnerability to disease.

Additional proof that it’s all down hill, BUT what researchers also found out was you can hasten or delay the process simply by your lifestyle. Smoking, drugs, and eating a whole pizza in a sitting = hasten. Exercise = delay.  

Those from the sample group that exercised the most (only 3 hrs. a week) had longer telomeres than those who exercised the least (only 16 minutes a week). Sidebar: who exercises for 16 minutes a week? Isn’t that just cleaning the house, walking the dog or going out to lunch? Now, here’s the kicker…those who were the most active had telomeres the same length as those of sedentary people 10 years younger! Ohhhhhhhh that’s where 40 is the new 30 or 20 comes from! So, this doesn’t really apply to everyone. It only works if you are active. I wonder if I can get my telomeres down to like age 10. D%$! I guess that means I have to go to the gym now! No pain, no gain! So, if you aren’t active stop saying your 10 years younger because you have old telomeres!

Are you exercising to save your telomeres?  Don’t lie!  Find an activity and get working!  Aim for at least 3 hours a week!  Let me know how you are doing.

Meg's Back

I feel like I got myself back.  I may have never have even had myself - but I do now.   

~Meg Ryan  (In Style, Oct. 2008)

I hear you Meg.  I'm not quite sure I ever had myself either, but I think I found her or at least I see glimpses of her.  Now I'm going to make her shine and I have the whole blogosphere to hold me accountable.  Gotta love that!  

Have you found yourself yet?  If not, what's holding you back?  If so, what was your turning point?  Any words of encouragement for others that are on a journey to finding themselves?  

Flirting With Forty

I have to tell you,  I am the stereotypical woman when it comes to TV– I adore the Lifetime channel. It never let’s me down. On any given day I can get my dose of man hating, family loving, super woman, crazy woman, baby mama drama, laughter, tears and more. And this past weekend they upped the ante by showing 40 year olds have it going on. 

Flirting with Forty is this decade’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back.  Starring Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley (you know the boy toy from Lipstick Jungle), this was a cute movie indeed. It was more than about finding love again; it was about finding yourself, which I can totally appreciate.  I was one of those women who was not sure about the younger man and older woman thing, mainly because society said it wasn’t the norm. I was used to the older man and the younger woman but thank goodness for changing times.  BTW...thank goodness for hair dye, green tea, sunscreen, Spanx, Le Mystere bras, teeth whitening, Pilates, and yes ladies even Botox (I haven’t done it but…if needed...I’m just saying).  Finally, thank goodness for it now being acceptable for women to date whatever age they want AND YES, I’ve even embraced it but that’s another story for another day. ☺

So, ladies if you haven’t seen Flirting With Forty yet try to catch it (tonight or tomorrow), then see if you can catch a little excitement in your life. Maybe it’s in a younger man, a career change, a vacation, a new hobby or that hot little dress you never thought you would wear, but just don’t sit there let’s embrace life.  In the movie Heather became too comfortable with her sweatshirts and threw them away in favor of bikinis (ok, I know we all can’t wear bikinis but it’s symbolism).  For me I’ve become too comfortable with sitting in my house not socializing and being in my own world.  I’m giving it up for remembering that I was a social person and for doing more social things.  I’ll keep you posted on how this goes, but they say the first step is to admit you have a problem.  I have a problem!  Now, your turn.

What have you become too comfortable with? Throw it away in favor of something else.

Welcome

Thanks for coming to my new blog.  For some of you this may be your first encounter with me. And for others you may have come to know and love me (or not!!!) via my adoption blog, but either way…I’m glad you came and WELCOME to Middle Rageously.  

You are probably asking yourself.   What is Tami up to now?  Yea, I ask myself that everyday! Here’s the deal.  I turn 40 in 6 months.  Yes, I’m a Gemini and that explains my ADHD or should I say my extreme creativity.  So, instead of being sad about the big 4-0, trying to lie about it, or avoiding it all together, I’ve decided to embrace it.  After all, they say 40 is the new 30, 20, 10 or whatever the heck it is today.   I just know one thing, I’m glad my 30's are almost over! 

While many of you may feel differently, how do I say this nicely…there is no other way than to just say it… My 30's SUCKED!   Life simply wasn’t what I thought it would be in my 30's.  My how quickly a decade passes.  I’m determined not to let another one go to waste!  Because I believe in research, I looked for other blogs and resources that celebrated the 40's, but I was hard pressed to find any that represented my life.  No one looked like my friends or me. Meaning, we don’t look 40, act 40 (whatever that is) and are not giving up simply because we have hit some predetermined mileage or middle age.  So, since I couldn’t find what I was looking for I decided to create it.

Middle Rageously is that place where we are proving life is better now than it was in our 20's and 30's.   It’s where we are finally living for ourselves and without fear of failure or of standing in judgment of other people.  We are living amazing outrageous lives that are not dependent on our age because we defy all odds.   Remember aging gracefully?  We hear that and laugh (or cringe).  We don’t want to age gracefully…we want to be outrageous, kick aging in the a$@ and continue to live our lives, better than we ever have before because we finally know who we are and aren’t afraid to say it, show it or be it.  Here at Middle Rageously you will find:  

• Insights about our new position in life (Say it loud, say it proud!)
• Beauty (my gray was cute at 15, acceptable at 25, UH NO at 40)
• Health (I hear an apple a day keeps the doctors away and a cup of green tea will keep those wrinkles at bay)
• Fashion (No frou-frou or Talbots here)
• Gossip (what our sisters in LaLa land are doing to make us proud…or not so much)
• Inspiration to keep you going (okay, maybe this is for me but you can read too)
• Family (I’ve learned to ignore mine better)
• Exercise (workout to save your metabolism, I beg you)

...And, much, much more.  If you have suggestions, see topics or articles that you would like my unique spin on send me an email. If you would like to be a guest blogger send me an email. Anyone who knows me knows I love to get other people involved…just call me a giver. ☺