I came across some of the loveliest passages yesterday that really just spoke to me. The phrases came from a book  called Dance While You Can by Lance Wubbel.

I cannot tell you how many people I speak to who complain about hectic scheduling, unattainable job demands, sparse time with their loved ones and even smaller amounts of time spent on their faith and self-renewal.  Although these passages were not intended in this way, I believe they read more like a pledge to one’s self.  What do YOU think?

I will not stand to the side and allow the music in my heart to fade away and die.

I will slow down. I will put limits on my commitments and work and make certain that those whom I love remain first in my life.

I will quiet my soul… silence the noise in my head and heart and ask myself what I really want out of life.

I will make the necessary changes in my life to ensure that I am truly living consistently with what  I know to be in my heart and what I say I believe in.

I will remember that money is only material, that titles and positions mean little but that who I am is what really matters.

I will not allow the pressures that bear down upon our lives to get wedged between us and keep us apart.

A few precious words that really say it all.  I don’t know about you, but I could really use this reminder from time to time.

I’ve been called out.

Taken to task.

Challenged, even.

I have this terrific friend, well, we’ll just call her Lori.  Oh heck. Her name IS Lori. (I’m so not protecting her identity!) So anyway, this terrific friend is an inspiration.  She is in the process of successfully taking her life back.  She has lost a ton of weight. She recently rocked a major community challenge competition and every time I talk to her she seems to be either going TO or returning FROM some sort of horrifying sounding fitness class at the gym.

She has become my mentor… AND my nemesis.

Now she is my partner.

She totally challenged me (in a manner of speaking) to start taking back some control in my life, in regards to my health.  You see, my habits have been poor lately.  As my job gets more and more stressful, I have been taking less and less care of myself.  Junk food, late nights, self-destructive habits.  Too much sugar, too much caffeine, to much fast food. Every cliche in the book.  The perfect picture of a take care of everybody but yourself mother.  Anyone else been there?

So we’ve join forces and committed to beginning a weight loss program. (Weight Watchers) So serious am I that I even told Lori MY REAL WEIGHT.  I know, right?  Now THAT is trust.

So why am I telling you this?  Because, no doubt, it will affect my blog.  As I re-learn about nutrition and apply these principals to my hectic life, I will be sharing them with you.  And hopefully you will benefit from MY stupidity.  Hehe!

ONE LAST THING: In an effort to curb my most ridiculous cravings – sweets – I am giving them up COMPLETELY for the next couple of weeks.  Yeah, I know… Halloween.  But sometimes you just have to give it up cold turkey to make a difference.  Sugar is definitely my biggest addiction.

As a working mom of two young boys, well, I don’t EXACTLY get out much.  You won’t find me travelling to far away and exotic destinations and sipping wine on a veranda.

Notsomuch.

Except this past weekend I DID get away. On a girlie weekend, no less!  I know, right? Small miracle.

My BBF (Best Bloggy Friend, duh!) Mary, from Pajamas and Coffee, and I traveled to the Eastern Shore in Maryland to begin exploring various towns as part of Maryland Life Magazine’s Eat. Drink. Buy Art. program.

I’m gonna stop right here for a moment and state the obvious: You already know that I am a over-stressed mom who doesn’t get out much. If you read PJ&C then you are probably deducing that the two of us together might be an interesting combination…. and you would be right.  We had a BLAST!

We stopped in Snow Hill, MD first and visited with the most wonderful people.  Truly they were so welcoming!  We began as tourists and honestly ended up more like friends with the shop owners.  Take a looky at these photos. (While you are there become a “fan”of Hip As I Wanna Be!) How can you not fall in love with this town? Not to mention the fact that we were given a spur of the moment tour of Mary’s favorite house on the Eastern Shore – the Governor’s House. (She was in heaven!)

From there we traveled to Berlin, MD and lo and behold discovered a fiddler’s convention.  A WHAT?  Yes, a fiddler’s convention.  I had no idea either.

But I soon learned that it was a BIG DEAL in Berlin. Being a country music fan from way back when I lived in Nashville, of course I enjoyed the music.  Not only that, but during the course of our stay we ended up meeting some stellar folks in that town.  I’m not giving away all of our secret adventures (although Mary might) but l will say that because of this convention we ended up with a surrogate husband named Bill. We met him after being asked to photograph him and three of his lady friends lounging in bed together watching the golf channel. (Don’t ask.) From there our relationship evolved. ‘Nuff said.

I could devote an entire post dedicated to our hotel stay.  We spent the night at the Atlantic Hotel. It was beyond lovely.  And dinner?  Phenomenal.  Drinks? Mmmmm…. Truly the most unique place I have ever stayed in my life.  I couldn’t find one thing I disliked about this hotel. Not that I was trying. Oh, except for a couple of creepy historic pictures running down the hallway. They really might wanna ditch the angry chick with the haunted eyes. And, um, androgynous ringlet kid. The stuff of nightmares, people. Just a thought.

All kidding aside, I was able to relax and really enjoy myself this weekend.  That is a rarity for me these days.  I think it was a combination of the company – Mary, the lovely towns and their extremely (!) pleasant residents.  (Not to mention the shopping!) It was such joy to be able to explore these areas and appreciate their uniqueness.

And as fate would have it, I found a new quote in one of the shops along the way -  “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Just perfect!

And one last picture, especially for Mary. Trust me… some things you just can’t explain.

If you have read my blog more than once you already know that I am a sucker for books. Specifically self-help books.  So when I was given the opportunity to review one – I jumped on it.  Hey, I’m lookin’ for my MOJO, remember?

The book is called Stop Praying. Now, right off the bat I didn’t know what to expect because I am a faith-filled gal.  Turns out it is not anti-God just more directed at motivating readers “who are fed up with a normal, go nowhere life.”  Okay, then. I’m in.

It uses five daily disciplines to spur you into action for a 21 day commitment, complete with journal for writing activities.

I must say that one particular chapter struck me.  It was the chapter on Choice Awareness. (Wince) I’d never thought about choices the way they were presented in the book before: “Every day we are subconsciously making hundreds of mini choices….by mini choices I mean things like tossing something towards the trash, missing by a little bit and walking on.” The author goes on to give examples of stopping your three mile run at 2.5 because you are “close” or having “just one” brownie because you skipped breakfast, ect…  The point being made is that by choosing the easy way out, not finishing and not taking the high road, you dismiss the little decisions as “unimportant” and consequently you are not living up to your potential. Basically arguing that our subconscious KNOWS and RECORDS these little moments.  Thus killing your self-confidence.

Fascinating and unnerving at the same time.  I’ve found myself way more conscious of these “mini-choices.”  So I’m committing to the 21 day journaling exercize.  I’m hoping that it will create a greater awareness and intention in my life.

AND BONUS: Two lucky folks will receive a free book copy and tote bag!  Just visit this site and enter the promo code “hip” … IT IS THAT SIMPLE!

I AM IN PANIC MODE.

I just saw a picture that someone took of me when I wasn’t “posing” or “sucking in” or “standing up tall” and all I have to say is:  HOW DID I GET TO THIS PLACE? I didn’t even recognize that woman.  She looked tired and stressed and heavy. She looks… (gulp) middle aged.

Ever have a moment like this?  Can you even relate?

Last summer I was in a BIKINI. (True.) Thanks to eating clean and following the Body For Life principals I lost tons of weight and was in a bikini for the first time since I was 16.  My brother actually told me that he was worrying that I was loosing too much weight.  Let me repeat that: LOOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT. I had to laugh. In all my life no one ever said that to me. Ha!

And now.  Well, now I am working full time plus freelancing plus suffering from a running injury while raising two little men and taking care of a house, a husband, one dog, four fish and one bearded dragon.  Not to mention writing a blog, dealing with social schedules, sports leagues and trying desperately to keep in touch with my friends.

Talk about loosing your mojo.  Now, granted, I have been working slowly but surely towards regaining my “hip factor.”  (As my girlfriend calls it.) I’ve been focusing on expanding my horizons and experiencing new places and taking mini-adventures.  I’ve also been running again, albeit sporadically.

I guess I just needed something to spur me into action. WELL NO LONGER.

Look out people.

I look at that picture and only one thought comes to mind, “Oh, HELL no!”