Soup's On!

This will be categorized under the "Domestic Decisions" tab when I figure out how to create tabs for this thing. 

I often cook without a clear plan or recipe.  Fortunately, most of the time it turns out very good and sometimes it turns out to be fantastic.  This is one of the non-recipes that turned out to be fantastic.

When I hit a homer, my husband always asks me to write down the recipe, so I can recreate it.  And I always agree, but usually move on to the next thing in life and forget to do it.  Many times, when I try to recreate something, it never quite tastes the same because I don't remember the nuances of what I did.  But when I made this soup a few months ago and Cinderella, my husband, and I loved it so much, I took my husband's advice and wrote it down.  I added it to the "notes" section on my iPhone and am so glad I did because now I can share it with you.  Mind you, I didn't measure so some ingredient amounts are approximations, but its soup, not a cake, so it should work out for everyone.  


Zucchini Soup

@30minutes total preparation time

1 small zucchini, small dice
1/2 sweet pepper (red, yellow, orange), small dice
1 medium onion, small dice
1 small carrot (long carrot, not the bunnyloves), small dice
2 tbsp olive oil
Saute all veggies above in the olive oil until softened
Next, add 2 large finely chopped garlic cloves, let soften
Add salt, pepper and Greek Seasoning....just go with sensible amounts

**A note:  you MUST try Greek Seasoning.  You'll find it with all the other small jars of dried spices and I use it all the time.  Its delightful.

After veggies and garlic are softened, add V-8 low sodium tomato juice.  For this I don't know the measurement I used.  I simply drained a little less than half of the large plastic bottle that was in my fridge....If I had to guess @2-2 1/2 cups.
Add 1 can (soup can size) chicken stock + 1/2 can of water
Add 1 large thinly sliced zucchini.  I cut my zucchini in half, lengthwise and then cut across, creating half moon slices.
1 can rinsed and drained chickpeas
Let simmer, adjust seasoning and enjoy!

All The Single Ladies Part Deux

I feel comfortable enough to share with you that I'm typing this in a black leotard and black pumps, ala Beyonce's video.  But enough about Honey B and back to me......

I knew I wanted a partner for life and I knew I wanted to start a family.  Those two things were dating deal breakers for me.  If the fella didn't want those things, it was time to move on...Funny aside, I dated two men, practically back to back, that shared with me about three to four months in to the relationship that they weren't really sure if they wanted to get married or have children.  Ironically, both of them shared this with me while dining out and I distinctly remember having the strong urge to leap over the restaurant table and throttle them while crying, "Why did you waste my f'ing time!"  Except I didn't imagine saying "f'ing".  I didn't react in this manner, however. I tried to remain aloof and unaffected, but I think they both saw right through me.  I think they both strategically chose to disclose this in a public place.  Both were testing my reaction, I'm sure.  I'm sure I was oozing "I-want-to-get-married and fertilize-my-eggs" vibes.  At the time, I really liked them both.   One of them I liked for mainly one key reason....one exceptionally large key reason (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)  But seriously, looking back, they both would have made terrible partners for me.  And in an ironic twist,  I found out one of them was recently married after fathering a child. Both of them drove motorcycles, by the way...and I don't like motorcycles, never have.

Anyhow, once I decided to find someone silly enough to take on my big bag of bullshit, which had gotten even larger due to my messy engagement break up, I signed up for a few online dating providers and I stopped smoking.  I didn't stop smoking just to improve my dating life, but reason I did stop was because I didn't want to date a smoker.  The hypocrisy couldn't be overlooked. 

Mind you, this was before e-Harmony was cool and the cutesy Match commercials.  This was when it was still a little taboo and you were still considered a little bit of a relationship leper when you admitted you were trolling the internet for someone half-well adjusted who might just buy you a friggin cup of coffee.  Long story long, it turned out to be frustrating, anxiety provoking, self confidence-shaking, and significant expenditure of lip gloss, but the experience provided some of the funniest stories of my life.  I vow to share with you some stories of the bozos I met while online dating. Priceless stuff my darlings.  Suffice it to say there are a lot of wing nuts charading as bachelors out there ladies. 

And this brings me to my well-buried point; offering more advice for single ladies who want to find a man. And I am talking about dialing in the gals who are serious about finding a man for a monogamous, long term relationship and/or marriage.  Mind you, if you are a committed bachelorette, I absolutely commend you and I occasionally fantasize about having your life. There's something to be said for renting and not buying.  But right now,  we're focused on finding some prime male real estate and taking on the 30 year mortgage.

Here's what absolutely blows my mind, as I've mentioned in my previous post, selecting a life partner is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your life.  Hands down.  Yet, there are people who leave their meeting a partner completely up to fate (insert raspberry noise) and who do not employ a process for their selection.  Now, you've probably figured out that I'm not a romantic person.  Its just not part of my DNA. I believe in intention and process.  So, let's revisit our process and offer some specifics.

1) Know your resume; know thyself

When you're looking for a job, you have to know your resume backwards and forwards.  Same here.  Get clear on what you will bring to a relationship. Ask yourself why someone would want to spend time with you.  Make a list and continually add to it.  This will build confidence.  My friend Kathy used to always say to me, "You're the catch!" when I was whining or literally crying after a date or someone didn't call when he said he would.  You ARE the catch and until you believe that at a cellular level, you'll need to fake it.  So, write your list about why you're so badass, look at yourself in the mirror and say, "HELLLLLLOOOO HOT STUFF!!" 

Also, list the most significant relationships you've been in.  It could be one or up to four...don't go beyond four.  Next, list the four best things about the relationship and the four worst.  Write about how you met and write about why it ended.  WRITE this. Don't just think about it.  Look for parallels, repeating themes. Guaranteed self discovery...patterns you are repeating, types of characteristics you are attracting, flattering and unflattering characteristics/behaviors you exhibit in relationships.  You'll learn something new about yourself, guaranteed.
*If you've yet to have a significant relationship, write about a relationship you've imagined.  Not a perfect one, but a real one. Write about your imagined highs and lows and imagine it ended...How did that happen?  It may feel silly, but just do it.  This is your relationship resume.  Keep it and refer back to it.

2) Get clear on your requirements; what do you have to have?

This is the intention part.  The more clear you are about what you want and the more you intend it internally and externally, the more likely it will materialize. Don't feel ashamed about wanting what you want.  If you want a boyfriend, you want a boyfriend.  It doesn't mean you're a desperate.  IT MEANS YOU'RE HUMAN....you want companionship, someone to share the ups and down with, you want to get laid (gasp!).  

So, list what you are not willing to negotiate and do not feel guilty about any of it.  Its the rest of your life.....We're not selecting a badminton partner at a picnic here kids.  Do yourself a big fat favor here ladies: DATE/MARRY SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER NOT HARDER.  If you always have that theme running in the background, you will never go wrong.

Here's a sample list (this is not mine, btw):

nonsmoker
earns at least 75k annually
has to want at least 2 kids
has to be willing to relocate to Los Angeles for my career
cannot be allergic to my dog
can only be a moderate drinker
has to be Jewish
has to be accepting of my gay friends and family members

Listen, I'm not here to judge your have to haves, I'm just here to respect them.  If you don't want to be with someone who already has kids (or whatever the have to have is) DO NOT let anyone talk you in to being okay with it.  If you change your mind, great, but do it for your own reasons and on your own terms not because your Aunt Painintheass convinced you you'll never find a man at age 35 unless you bargain down.  I call bullshit. 

Spoiler alert:  I didn't want to marry someone who already had kids and I married a man who was over 40 and didn't have any kids and more importantly, wanted them as much as I did.  Its okay to not be willing to negotiate some things.  Just know the longer the list, the longer the search. 

3) Identify what is negotiable

Okay, now list the nice to haves.  The stuff you're a little more flexible on.

Sample list (again, not mine)

would love it if he:

is artistic
loved to watch The Notebook as much as I do (good luck sister)
practices yoga like I do
likes to snow shoe and ski like I do
owns every Celine Dion CD (I'm cracking myself up over here)
earns above 100k
has parents who are still married
has a large family and was closely tied to immediate and extended

4) Create a diverse search plan; don't rely on one channel

Okay, now that we know ourselves, what we're bringing to the party and are clear on what we want, we have to get off our asses and go get it.  Back to the job search analogy, you don't just look at Careerbuilder to find your next job right?...You look at several job boards, you network..you tell everyone you know you're looking for a new job, you peruse company websites' career pages, you attend industry conferences, trade shows, work with recruiters, etc.  Same thing here.  List various ways and venues in which you can meet potential partners.

Sample list (this is somewhat mine)

sign up for one online dating service
sign up for another online dating service
attend speed dating functions
tell your friends you want to find someone and allow yourself to be set up
go out with friends and introduce yourself/flirt with men....restaurants, bars, ballgames, concerts.  Any public place has potential
join a personalized matchmaking/dating service
attend church socials
 
5) Start interviewing/dating

This is where you execute the plan above.  Dating is like interviewing, but should be less pressuresome.  Remember, you are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you.  Now, kick up your heels and put yourself out there. And its okay to have reservations about online dating or going to the speed dating function, but do it anyhow.  It so important.  To steal the best advertising tag line in history, Just Do It.  Lean on your friend when you're feeling unsure.  Have a couple friends wait for you at the bar while you're doing the speed dating thing.  Afterward, have a drink and a laugh about the experience.  Call a friend right before and after your first blind date, or meeting the guy you've emailing on Match.com.

6) Compare and Contrast; Chose the best option

At least in the beginning, its a game of numbers.  If you're really approaching like a job search and you're executing your multi-channel plan, then you'll have different opportunities at different stages in your pipeline.   Meaning, there may be some people you've dated 2 or 3 times and you're going on a first date with someone new tomorrow.  I kept a dating journal and I found it immensely helpful.  Record the major attributes and vitals of your dates and maybe use a basic scoring system.  Just give the date a 1-10 score.   When its time to narrow the field you'll find these notes useful.  You'll also find it to be amusing reading material in the future.

7) Close the deal; accept the offer

This is a lot easier than it may seem.  Simply identify one or a few people who warrant your energy and time, based on meeting all your have to have requirements, at a minimum.  If they don't, you are wasting your time, and theirs, for that matter.  And if you date a while and don't find anyone who meets all your have to have criteria and you're feeling a weary, once again lean on your homies and take a little break.  You're not going to miss out.  He's out there.....Just make sure he doesn't own a motorcycle ;)

All The Singles Ladies

I'm a Recruiter and part of what I do is help people search and land the perfect-fit job.  This process closely mirrors the search for a partner, girl/boyfriend, husband, wife, etc.  Or, at least I think the two processes should mirror one another. 

Here's the deal folks, most people I know are methodical and thorough in evaluating a career move.  They give the move a lot of thought,  have clear requirements, and have some level of self-awareness, as far as their strengths/weaknesses and what they bring to the party for an employer.  On the other hand, these very same people often approach dating and partner choosing as if they were spending a drunken night in Vegas at the craps tables....and they've never played craps before.  But what the hell, they've got a good buzz going, their up $50 and they're willing to see what the night brings.  Don't get me wrong, that's a super fun night, but not the way we identify someone with whom we want to spend the rest of our lives (or next few years).

Now for a little more self disclosure from your sponsor:  I was engaged once before the engagement that lead to my marriage.  I'm not going in to the first engagement and its demise now.  Its Sunday afternoon.  Drilling down on that relationship is more of  a Friday night, bottle of red wine-type of post.  But I bring up my first engagement because in doing a post-mortem analysis,  I realized that if I approached the beginning of the relationship like I would a job search, the relationship wouldn't have progressed too much....Let's just say I probably would have graciously disengaged after the 2nd or 3rd round interview. 

You don't just immediately sign an employment contract with any company that shows interest in your resume, right?  However,  if I'm being completely honest with myself, a large part of the reason I ended up with the fellow is because he showed such a big interest in me.  He pursued me and I was flattered.  So, I didn't do a thorough evaluation of the overall opportunity.  Him being crazy about me was good enough, at least in the beginning.  And after the whole thing ended a few years later and I bounced back from the heartbreak,  I made a DECISION.  And this decision was perhaps one of the most significant ones of my life.  I stuck to it like Elmer's.  I decided I was going to find myself a man.  Specifically, a husband.  So,  I created and executed a man search.

Its a double duty process which can be used for a both a job and a man/woman search.

Here's the breakdown and we'll dive in to specifics of each step in future posts. 

1) Know your resume; know thyself
2) Get clear on your requirements; nice to haves/have to haves
3) Identify what is negotiable
4) Create a diverse search plan; don't rely on one channel
5) Start interviewing
6) Chose the best option
7) Close the deal; accept the offer

Micromanage THIS!

One of my friends had a boss who on her first day with her new company tried to convince her to use a mouse with her laptop versus her touch pad because that's the way he did it.  He sort of made a big deal of it and she politely explained that the touch pad works well for her, that she had used it for a few years.  Fortunately, he didn't press the issue further, but it was a major red flag.  Can you guess what happened in the ensuing months on the job?  Yep, SERIOUS micromanagement. 

Wikipedia (god I love Wikipedia) describes micromanagement as "a management style where a manager closely observes or controls the work of his or her subordinates or employees."  Sound familiar? Hopefully, it just sounds familiar because you've heard others' woeful tales.  Although in reality I think a lot of us have dealt with a micromanager at one time or another. 

It would be funny if micromanager just meant very small manager.  Someone sitting atop your laptop screen watching your every move and critiquing the way you sipped your coffee.  If that were the case, I might like one of my very own, just for the novelty.  And if he happened to sprain his ankle because I jostled him off my screen, so be it.  Occupational hazard shortstuff; live with it.

Now that I think of it, I've actually had a very short micromanager before, but he was only around for a short time (snort).  He was quite the trifecta; short (major Napoleon complex), a micromanager, and outwardly chauvinistic....this little gnome didn't even try to hide it.  He ended up being terminated....given a very tiny pink slip and shown the door. Smell ya later troll.  Don't trip over that acorn in the parking lot on the way out to your sardine can mobile.

Anyhootananny, here's what I think we should do with our micromanagers.  I think of it as a decision tree with two main branches.  I think how you deal with a micromanager is directly related to your overall satisfaction with your position.  Meaning, if you like your job more than you dislike it, then we need to figure out a way to fix (not the right word, but let's use it for now) your manager.   You'll want to invest the mental energy is tweaking things because you want to stick around.  You love your company, your role, your colleagues, your commute, your workplace, the culture, the subsidized yoga class, massages, whatever it is,  but the only one thing that you don't like is your m&m (micromanager); its worth the effort.  If you're in the middle, you have to pick a branch and decide if you like it more than you dislike it, or the opposite. On the other end of the spectrum, if the m&m is just another turd on the shit pile that is your work life, then ignore it as much as you can.  Don't try to fix it because you are looking for a job and his/her micromanagement can be worked around until your burning rubber out of the parking lot.  Another option to add to the mix, is to stay with the same company and end up in a different role with a different manager, who does not micromanage. 

So, there are some shades of gray on the decision tree, but you need to pick a branch.  Are we staying or are we going?....and I would define going as "Are you going to have the same boss 12 months from now?"  If you are sticking around then we have a project on our hands.  If we're going, then IGNORE.....Have you ever seen the movie Office Space?.....Feel free to gut a fish in your cubicle or beat the hell out of the copier...I draw the line at suggesting you embezzle.

So, let's deal with the easy branch on our decision tree.  We're going.  We will not be in the same role one year from now.  We begin networking, working with a recruiter, updating our resume and marketing ourselves to companies that interest us.  Most importantly, when the m&m starts his/her bullshit, it goes in one ear and out the other.  A lot of nodding and smiling. "That's great input"; "Good idea!"  Yes, I'll try that"...You get the idea.

Next, the tough branch. We're staying, so we need to figure out how to fix it.  To do this I think its imperative to understand the drivers behind the micromanagement.  In my experience, m&ms flare up because they are desperate. You've heard the saying shit rolls down hill?  Middle managers are the biggest offenders because of this.  They get hit and pass it down the line.  Particularly sales managers whose success is quantifiable.   Therefore, the best way to redirect your m&m's energy is to subtly and gradually reassure them that you want them to look good and succeed.  You're a team player.  Your investment in your own success is naturally an investment in theirs.  You are self-motivated.  You assess your own performance and want to excel.  Now, if you aren't intrinsically motivated to do a good job, that's another blog.  I don't get it, but you have to fake it.  The best thing to do is to anticipate their micromanagement b.s. and beat them to the punch.  Identify the main themes around the micromanagement and be proactive.  For example, if your m&m harps on planning and time management, then put together a strategic plan for the upcoming year, half year , or quarter and run it by them for approval.  Also, get to work 10 minutes before them and stay until they leave.  NEVER be late to a meeting or conference call and politely let them off the hook when they are. Beat deadlines consistently. Turn in a project a week early and make sure its noticed.  Then, let THEIR words follow your actions.  "I really appreciate your input on my planning and time management skills over the past few months and have worked at improving in these areas.  I hope you've noticed"  Get him/her to list the things you've done.  Let them hear themselves tell you you're a success in these areas.  If they say it, then they are much more likely to believe it.  Your actions + Their words = Freedom. 

Nothing worth having comes easy.  You're going to have to work and be creative to release yourself from the shackles of micromanagement.  And its possible that the m&m has no idea how bad he/she is.  You may just find that's there's a great manager under there.

I'd love to hear your m&m tales and how you've dealt with them.

Until next time...

Dinner Time Crunch

So, I'm aware my posts may seem a bit schizophrenic.  I've done an intro, a bit about one's life purpose and now, not to be outdone, I'm going to talk turkey.  Not turkey, turkey, but close; dinner time tricks. 

No, my name isn't Cybil and I'm not trying to be Deepak Chopra AND Martha Stewart....I'm just undecided, remember? 

Actually, the way I envision this thing rolling is with various tabs or sections.  One about career, one about relationships, one about all things domestic, which will probably be mostly about cooking because its my favorite domestic activity.  And maybe a tab for haikus.  My bestie and I love to text haikus to one another. 5-7-5, that's how we roll, baby!  We're really, really cool as you've probably guessed.....but I digress.  So, for now at least, consider this the "domestics" tab.

My husband travels for work occasionally.  And sometimes he's gone for a few weeks.  So, its just me and Cinderella, womano-a-womano.  And as such, I've come up with some quick, but nutritious dinners.  A lot of my quickies are built around maximizing left overs.  One of my favorites is quesadillas. 

Here's what you need for Quickie Quesadillas:

one non-stick skillet
tortillas
any medley of veggies you'd like
left over chicken or pork
any shredded cheese you like
salsa; optional
one hungry fairy princess

I buy the smaller (I'm guessing 5-6'' in diameter) tortillas.  At my local grocery I find whole grain tortillas that have flax, which are really delicious.....and I'm not just saying they are delicious because they are wholesome and I'm trying to talk myself in to thinking they are yummy because I think I should like them.  They are actually very yummy.  One thing to know about me: I can't talk myself in to eating things that are suppose to be healthy or low calorie/fat because I think I should like them.  I've had the same jar of low fat in my fridge for at least six months.  Its absolutely awful.  Same thing for low fat cream cheese.  No thank you mam. If I'm in the mood for pulverized chalk on a bagel, I'll bust in to Cinderella's side walk chalk and skip counting the calories. barf. 

So back to the main event.  The first thing I do is prep my veggies to be added to the quesadilla. I like to use broccoli (fresh or frozen), onion, sweet pepper (red, orange, yellow) and carrot, but you can really do whatever you want.  I cut the broccoli in small florets.  Otherwise, the quesadilla will be overstuffed and difficult to manage.  I steam the broccoli in a covered and vented microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for a couple of minutes, with just a bit of water.  While those are going, do a quick saute on the onions and peppers.  I spray a non-stick skillet with Pam and add @1/2(ish) tablespoon of olive oil. . More precisely, one glug...I don't measure anything darlings.  I use medium heat throughout the entire process.  When the onion and peppers are softened, remove them from the pan and lay your bottom tortilla in the same skillet. Add one layer of shredded cheese.  I use mild cheddar or colby jack a lot.  Then add shredded or strips of left over chicken or pork.  This is a great way to ensure you don't waste any of the grocery rotisserie chicken you bought a couple of days ago.  Or, the pork tenderloin you made last night.  Top that with your melange of veggies.  This is when I use a carrot peeler to scrape strips of raw carrot on to the top of the veggies.  I love the crunch and sweetness they add.  If you're feeling wild, add a little salsa at this point.  Next, a little more cheese on top of the veggies.  The cheese melts and holds your top tortilla in place.  When your bottom layer of cheese is melted and the bottom tortilla is beginning to brown a bit, flip it over.  If you're using the small tortillas, a large spatula will do the trick.  Or, get crazy and try to flip it in the air like the chefs on The Food Network do.  Why the hell not, right?  Same deal on the other side; cheese melted and tortilla browned a bit.  Voila!  Dinner is served within 15 minutes.  No kidding kids. 

Now for my final trick.  Cut any left over quesadilla (you can always just make an extra like I do) in to cute little triangles and put in a container to be packed in tomorrow's school lunch.  Add an apple and a yogurt to that in the morning and lunch is served.

Enjoy my lovelies.

Leave No Stone Unturned

So the other day I was reading about an exercise that helps you identify your true purpose in life.  Not your next job, or even career choice.  It was about identifying something more encompassing than a good 401k match and stock options. It was about pinpointing your soul's desire.  The exercise suggested you take a blank piece of paper or computer screen, empty your head, no TV, radio, other people around, and start writing the first thing that comes to your head.  And continue to write even if you repeat words or get blocked for a few minutes.  The point was to just stick with it until you hit on something significant.  It could take up to an hour to arrive at your true purpose and you would know it when you write something that makes you cry.   

So, I did it.  I didn't do it more than 15 minutes because I started to nod off.  It was late.  And I didn't cry when I typed any of the phrases.  So, technically, I didn't carry out the exercise as inteneded, but I wanted to share what I typed.  The only change I made is my daughter's name.  I changed it to "Cinderella" because she claims to be Cinderella, daily.  And I'm not ready to share her name.

I recommend everyone try this, and try to stick with it longer than I did.  Please share any major revelations. I'd love to hear about them.  Some may think this sort of thing is corny, but I think there's something to be said for removing the mental clutter and expressing whatever sufaces.  I admire people who can do this.

Here's my list:

What is my true purpose in life?

To write

To parent

To succeed

To coach

To help

To work

To struggle

To dance

 To express myself

To keep trying

To persist

To learn to trust myself

To not 2^nd guess myself

To forge ahead

To buy shoes

To be a great friend

To take care of my mom

To be a good daughter

To be Cinderella’s mommy

To seek approval

To STOP seeking approval

To lead

To follow

To take a risk

To push forward

To sleep more

To build good memories

To lead

To speak to an audience

To share myself

To keep trying

To be unsure

To be okay with being unsure

To remain hopeful

To hug

To show love

To be loved

To learn to quiet my mind

To be contemplative

To know God

To trust God

To be lead

To open my soul

To explore

To travel

To make a home

To comfort

To create

To paint rooms

Fill them with furniture

Create beauty in my home life

To remain engaged

To cook

To nourish my family

To be okay with nothing

To build wealth

To grow something

To nurture life

To breastfeed

To help Cinderella grow

Life Lessons from a 40 year old gal who has yet to decide her major

Life lessons. That's pretty lofty. Perhaps I should have aimed lower. Nonetheless, here we are. The three of us.  I hope the two of you who will read this will take away at least one practical tip, dare I say a life lesson.

I suppose there are a few things you should know about me right from the gittyup.  I'm a 40 year old woman, from the Midwest, transplanted to the East Coast, married, one child, full-time employment (we'll drill down on that dry well later), and I abuse commas and semicolons.  You're just gonna have to get used to it; I love the little suckers. Oh!...and I think most would categorize me as sarcastic.  As I write that word (sarcastic), it made me realize how little I use my sarcasm out loud in my daily world. I think I'm more sarcastic when I write and certainly very sarcastic in my head. I don't use sarcasm in my professional setting and it's not that useful in parenting and maintaining a healthy marriage. So, it may be more accurate to say I aspire to be more outwardly sarcastic....look at me, aiming high again. 

So here's the deal.  You could say I'm a late bloomer, at least when it comes to major adult-life rites of passage.  I got married when I was 35 and had a child when I was a couple weeks shy of turning 37.  By most standards, or at least the Midwestern standards with which I am most closely acquainted, that's showing up a little late to the party. 

And I'm tragically late when it comes to declaring a major.  No kidding, my major was officially "undecided" when I entered the venerable Ohio University in 1988.  (I'm gripping my keyboard at the moment in an attempt not to launch on an OU pride tangent, which I will resist, but buckle your seatbelts for a trip down Bobcat memory lane in the not-too-distant future.) Before or during the beginning of my sophomore year, however, I declared "advertising" in the school of journalism my major.  And I'm glad I did.  Mainly because I don't believe in regrets and can't think of anything else that would have suited my innate interests and inclinations better.  BUT! I'm not working as an advertising executive, media planner, creative director, etc. And during my senior year I decided I wanted to be a therapist (do I hear stifled giggles out there?)...Anyhoot, I ended up earning an MA Psychology and guess what!!?  I'm not a therapist either. Sometimes I wonder if I should have gone all the way....it was the damn research and statistics, unavoidable. Not to mention the cost. Geezlouweez

And it's not really about declaring a major because I suppose I've declared a few in my 16 years of full-time work experience.  It's really more about sticking to and "living" that major. It's a major decision (pun fully intended)

I can't help but think of Oprah's advice to discover what you love to do and just do it, and the success and money will come.  Easier said than done Miss O, but I must say I've had some good times trying to figure it out...And that's where you and this come in.  It just struck me that I should come up with a mission statement of sorts for this blog, but informally and right now, I'm going to try to share some of myself.  Mainly my identity as a woman with an evolving career; someone seeking a profession or vocation to be passionate about; my identity as a working mom, a wife, a daughter and a friend.  My identity has shifted significantly since becoming a mother and, as corny as it sounds, I think I'm a path to rediscovering myself.  What I'm really hoping is that I'll figure out how to offer some REAL value to anyone who finds their way to this.  That's going to be the challenge. Delivering the goods......But, the good news is that that's one thing I consistently like; new challenges. Because every time you switch your major, you've introduced a new challenge...So, game on.....