Everything old is new again

Well...I took a leap and then I got cold feet. So many things I wanted to talk about. So many people I wanted to reach, but the nuts and bolts of "monetizing" a blog, and getting your fair share of the pie, took a toll on my creative juices. I was paralyzed by not "doing it right".
So much info about SEO and Adsense and affiliate marketing. I needed a break!

Well, I took it and now I am back home.

I really just want to share my heart; share what my Maker has given me to be, do and have that will enhance my Money Mind and live a better life.

A new Address

Hello Friends...
I have loved being here, but it is time for me to take this show on the road. I hope that you will visit me at the new home for the Money Minded Mommy.
There will be more to share and some fun, too.

See you soon.

Are you overwhelmed?

Have you ever arrived at home and not remembered the drive?
Or, found that you do not have enough time(or think you don't have enough time) to complete simple tasks?

Oh, Oh! Another major indicator...have you ever thought about just running away from home?

If any of these situations ring a bell, you may be an overwhelmed mom.

"Well, Blynsay, do tell. This is old news".

You're right! Not new, I remember coming home from school some days and wondering if this would be the day that my mother did not come home. When things got tough, she would murmur about walking away from home and not looking back.

This is not a new scenario, but these feelings and experiences are happening to more and more working, striving, capable moms and dads. More and more people are at the end of their ropes with no knots in sight.

I know you are thinking how terrible, you poor neglected thing. Well this is not a poor Me session and I am not looking for sympathy. This is something that needs to be said and this Money-minded Mommy is willing to say it!

We are overwhelmed! We have too much to do and too many stressors that drive us to believe that we are not, do not and cannot be ENOUGH! Is this something you may feel?

I know that I have felt this many times. For example, when the young King was tiny, I fretted daily about the things that I could not get done while taking care of a newborn baby. Nothing earth shattering, but I could not keep in immaculate home, a perfect manicure, and band-box fresh clothing while pursuing the care and feeding of another human being.

OK, this is shallow. And of course, good mothers do not think about having "roots" (you know what I mean), needing a fill-in and the inability to maneuver 3 1/2 " heels while toting a baby carrier, a briefcase and a full diaper bag. In the grand scheme of things, these inconveniences were just that, but they were things that were supremely important to me, pre-child.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, to be overwhelmed is to be overpowered in thought and feeling. When I read this, I had to stop and think. Thought and feeling. This is internal stuff! Could it be that the major stressors in my life, the things that I think are pulling me under are self-generated? Say it isn't so!

Yes it is!!
Our world is created within. For real, it's in the Bible (Proverbs 23:7), and other good books.

This meant that some (most, OK all) of these un-natural, un-realistic and just plain crazy demands were placed on me-by me!

Oh! This has to STOP!

Sorry for yelling, but is just occurred to me that I have been putting the screws to myself.

What am I trying to do?! Be perfect?!

Exactly, but the problem with this is that I am trying to seek perfection from an imperfect recipe. Everywhere I look I see it. Every woman I know (and have ever known) is pulled to and fro by good causes, work projects that you feel a need to give 120 percent to, the myth of the perfect child, or spouses and significant others, that although they are grown, we feel the need to nurture. A lot of unnecessary foolishness!

And if you complain people look at you crazy for they are in the club, and the pressure to join the club is enormous. I don't want to join the club; I want to live a good life, but who am I to think I can do something else.

Glad you asked! I'm reminded that I am Blynsay, a money-minded mommy who intends to live a prosperous life one her own terms. So to do that I have some things to remember, to take off the pressure.

1. Remember that it is my life and I pay the bill.
   If I live on someone else's terms, and according to their viewpoint, I still am responsible for the outcomes of my life. If I have to pay the bill; then I get to make the choice.
2. Remember to find my own level.
   That means that I need to take the time to assess the situation at hand and my ability to respond and then determine to do my best.
3. Remember that my best can change from day to day.
   Every day brings new challenges that effect "my best". I have to love myself enough my best to be 110 percent or 30 percent.
4. Remember to ask for help.
   I don't have to do it alone. I may need to run away from home, (to the mall for a latte or that pair of navy blue sling backs with the steel heels) and getting someone to watch the kids can be just what I need to help you carry on.
5. Remember that I sign my own report card.
   If I have to choose between the opinions of the world and my own heart's leading, my heart wins every time.

Woo, can I do it?! Well, I have to try, because I have not been able to post this for two weeks because I was trying to make it perfect! Trying to measure what I wanted to say by someone else's measuring stick.

Well these tips are going on the fridge,a nd the bathroom mirror and anywhere else I can see them so that I can begin to stop this madness and live. Live a quiet life; a life on my own terms.

Wish me luck.

OMG-Where has the time gone?!

It seems like just yesterday that I turned off my computer and sat down for a long, summer's nap. What happens when you lose track of time?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Well the Money Minded Mommy is back; live and in living color. No more stalling for just the perfect phrase or the well turned verse. I have post! I have to publish! I live to write.

Now what Mom n' M needs is feed back.

Give me your ear and your thoughts; I have no problem giving a plug to those who contribute.

Let's do it together.

Will see you again soon...Count on it!

Writer's Block?!

According to Webster, the definition for writer's block is a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.

That is what I've been experiencing for the last few weeks. I had planned a series of posts, recorded my thoughts and then...nothing. I couldn't
sit down to write. Something always came up. Family, work, illness, something.

A friend asked me why I had not posted, and being the forthright soul I am, I had to admit to her that I did not post because I was afraid.

You see a few years ago, I read a book that made a profound impact on my life. It was called Write it Down, Make it Happen: Knowing What you Want and Getting It. This book spoke to me about clarity and acknowledged goals, and how writing them down, announced to the Universe in no-uncertain terms. "I'm ready!"

Oh Boy!. My series of posts were about choice and change. I was certain that if I put the fingers to the keyboard I was headed down the track to live my own words.

Was I ready? Yeah...sort of.

Did I mean it? Most definitely.

But could I live it? I mean really, in the face of everyone. And I do mean everyone. This girl has told most of the free world that I am not a self-published writer,"so to speak" and invited them to read what goes on in my mind.

Would someone call me on my attempts? Would I have to defend my journey? Could I ?

Most assuredly.

Yes, I wanted someone to call me on my attempts, how better to share what I was learning and invite a fellow traveler to come along on the journey.

Yes, I could and would defend my journey, because there are lions, tigers and bears out there and in here (better known as doubt, fear and unbelief), and I needed to be aware so that I could/would make it through.

When I got through with this bit of soul searching I knew that the time was right. The dam was broken!

My new series and I are now a right fit, and I can bring it to the light with confidence. These new posts are not just theories to me, but truths that I recognize as I am living them every day.

What does this have to do with money and moving from poverty(mindedness) to a prosperity and wealth consciousness? At first, I didn't know. Maybe that is why I couldn't write about it. But continued thought and just looking on the inside has made some things very clear to me.

In a moment, you will see what I mean...

Where do you start? Start where you are!

We all say (at least I do) that when the perfect job or position, or family situation or weight happens we will make that change for the better. We will start on the journey to success. This was my fantasy but I did not get that perfect day, perfect situation, or perfect pair of navy blue pumps with the silver stiletto heels just made for stomping down doubts and fears…

OK… I had a moment, but I’m back.

To make a long story short, perfect did not show up. When I looked at my life there was long way just to get to acceptable let alone perfect. I looked at where I was and where I wanted to be and could not find any tools to bridge the gap. I was stuck.

Sometimes I sat down and sulked and complained about the injustices of life. Other times I built a ‘mansion’ where I was to burn up my energy that I should have been using on the journey and to conceal my abandoned hopes. I spent time and money and emotions in ways that did not serve me or anybody else.

Maybe you cannot relate…

You may not have the bits and pieces of past dreams cluttering up your mental cellar. I have enough for you if you need to borrow some. Ideas and projects abandoned after the initial excitement. It was great at first, but after awhile it all seemed too hard. I had to face this pile when I started this journey, and find a way to pass it just to get to the door.

Whoo! What a climb it is! I have to reach up and grab a place to hold on to, then step on something else and continue to ascend. It is hard at first. Not just the excursion but because I find that I have not allowed myself the chance to mourn my missteps and have not forgiven my self for being a quitter all those times. I feel terrible and slow the climb. This is consuming my thoughts. I look up and the top of the pile looms ahead of me and I wonder if I will ever be past it. As I let my mind wander again, I miss a step. I lose my grip and hit the wall and…Ouch! What a scratch I got! That smarts. I had better pay attention to what I am doing.

A light bulb moment! I knew right then that I needed to bring my focus and attention to the present. I needed to concentrate on the now. If I spent my time only dreaming about the great vacation or the pretty flowers for the yard and never bought a ticket or dug a clod of dirt, my dreams would stay just that—dreams alone. I thought this could be the same thing that was keeping stuck about my money and achievement.

Could that have been the problem all along? Maybe narrowing my focus could solve the problem; at least some of it. For example, I have a goal to be more money conscious and not have surprises that cause me to react with fear to the changes in my budget. That is the big goal. A little goal that might help me reach the big goal is to balance my checkbook. I mean really balance it; to the penny. To write down every penny spent so that I can really be aware of what I am spending. Remember we talked about this, awareness of a behavior or an action is the first step on the road to changing the behavior or action.

This is the easy part. Next, I have to face my failures and lovingly forgive myself. It is unreal how much easier it has been to beat me up for not doing the ‘right’ thing. I have been stuck in a groove of self-recrimination for a while and letting me off the hook feels good but kind of strange. I feel like I have to ‘pay’ for my wrong choices. Oh, guess what? I already have, and will keep on paying for them if I do not clear my heart of the guilt that I hold for not making the grade.

After I see where I am, and forgive myself for what I have or have not done in the past, I now have to decide where I am going next. Not just get the big picture but really map out the route. After I map out the preferred route, then I need to look at the lay of the land and whatever construction (life events) is going on in the area and prepare for an alternate route if the first does not work out. I may be on to something. This is the first real plan I have had in a long time.

Let’s review…

1. I have to become aware of where I am right now. Not just where I want to be. I have to start where I am. If I don’t start here, I will end here.

2. Let go of the guilt that what I did in the past did not work. No more calling myself names and hanging my head in shame. I will tell myself, “I love and forgive you. We learned a valuable lesson, let’s move on”.

3. Prepare for the next step of the journey; really prepare and set out with my eyes wide open so that I can see the detour signs and take the alternate route if I need to.

One last thing…Some of my broken dreams were abandoned too soon. I thought that I had made a mistake and in my shame and embarrassment, I let them go. I did not know that a delay in the program is not a denial. Look at nature; life ebbs and flows and there is a rhythm to follow. Nothing is in perpetual motion. We each have to find our own rhythm and follow it. Not the one set by your peers or family or the new going thing. We have to move at a pace that is real and true for each of us.

But, first you have to take that step. Walk with me; let’s see where the road leads.

Mommy's just want to have fun!

I have been agonizing over what I should write for the last few days. I was trying to write some great literary tome, I guess. NOT!!!
That is not who and what I am. I am just a simple girl learning simple but profound truths about money. This will be the story of my life and in that context, it has to to be like me.
I call this the story of my life because your relationship with money is a mirror of your life approach and life style.
I have a reactive money style. I probably should say had, because just becoming aware of a trait or behavior is the first step to changing it for the better. I am claiming my success, so I will speak of this in the past tense.
To help change how I react to money, I am taking a more lighthearted approach. Not frivolous or irresponsible, but an approach of joy in the abundance of life that God has given me.
To celebrate, I spent the afternoon playing.
OK, not really, but I had so much fun, that I felt like it was play.
I spent some of my time making a video for YouTube to let others know that I am here and invite them to share the journey.
Here is the video clip for your viewing enjoyment. Hope you like.



See...life does not have to be a chore or a bore to be successful. You can smile your way to a better life.

What are your money myths?

What beliefs do you hold about money?
Do you know if they are based in truth?
Could our views about money make all the difference whether we have any or not? I think that the secret feelings we have about money are very important. I found out that some of my beliefs were not all true.
Read on...

Last year I came upon an interesting book excerpt by Loral Langemeier, author of The Millionare Maker: Think, Act and Make Money the Way the Wealthy Do.

The article helped me to see that my money myths were hurting me more than I knew. I believed all kind of things like money comes to those who deserve it. Well, when I grew up, in a small Ohio town, I could think of no one else that deserved it more than my family. We went to church, helped those less fortunate, did all the right things, but our 'ship failed to come in'.
When I read and excerpt of this book, I found that there were quite a few things that I believed about money that were helping to hold me back.
I believed things like...

1. Money is scarce-weren't we told ”A penny saved is a penny earned,” “Don’t dip into savings,” or “We can’t afford it”. How many times did your Mom or Dad tell you "Money doesn't grow own trees!".
2. Money is evil, dirty, or bad.
3. Money comes monthly- how many times have we said that we had more month than money?
4. Money is not for me.
5. Money is a man thing.
6. Money is good medicine-I have had my share of 'retail therapy'
7. Money is always a menace
8. Money talk is taboo

How many of these statements rang true for you? One? Two? All? I held quite a few. Now, don't get me wrong. If these are beliefs that are working for you, great! But these believes show me that I may have some conditioning toward money that is hindering my success. Maybe a change in mindset could serve you and me much better.
Here are eight alternative beliefs that I am working to adopt into my life. I am going to-

1. Change “money is scarce” to “money is abundant” . This will help me support a courageous relationship to money.

2. Change “money is evil, dirty, or bad” to “money is good and acceptable” and create a hands-on relationship to money.

3. Change “money comes monthly” to “money comes from a range of sources” and create an opportunistic relationship to money.

4. Change “money is not for me” to “who better than me for money to come to” and create an empowered relationship to money.

5. Change “money is a man thing” to “I can and will know about and understand money,” and create a thoughtful relationship to money.

6. Change “money is good medicine” to “money is a tool to help make my life better” and create a respectful and concerned relationship to money.

7. Change “money is a menace” to “money is a solution” and create a positive relationship to money.

8. Change “money talk is taboo” to “money talk is vital” and create a knowledgeable relationship to money.

Whew! I see that I have a lot of work to do. Maybe we can help each other and heal our money relationships. We have nothing to lose but scarcity and lack. Let's start today.

$Free.99; Good things come when you least expect them!

I have had so many ideas come through my head in the last few days, and for every idea I had a corresponding question.

• What would I write about?
• How would I tell my friends and family about the blog?
• How could I make this a rewarding experience and translate my dreams into a workable reality?

Lots of questions! I took a few days off from writing, to get a handle on all of this. I mean, I always wanted to be a writer, but somehow life got in the way. Could I, at my age, learn to express myself in a way that others would want to read and to foster a discussion that would be valuable? What about money; my main topic source? Could I use this blog to generate some?

Well, I guess the Universe was listening and decided to send me some help...

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Gotta go to school now. See ya soon!

Can you Believe...?

I am so thrilled to be here...This is my first blog, though not my first collection of thoughts. I have scatterings of bits of thoughts and life questions scribbled on notebooks, cash register slips, etc. ; random sheets of snippets of the things that run through my head, stuffed in my wallet, on the fridge, tucked away safely so that I would not forget how I felt at those very moments,.
Finally a home.
I call myself the Money Minded Mommy. This is new for me, because I used to say the word money in hushed tones, glancing over my shoulder to see who was listening to make sure that I did not offend anyone. So scared of the word. Well, what you fear and loathe you repel. And I had little of it, let me tell you!!
That high ideal that living above the need for wealth and the trappings of it (cue orchestra) changed on 07/02/2003, when the 'Young Prince' entered my life.
Did you know that children neither eat nor wear high ideals? Wow, fancy that. That was the beginning of my re-education about money minded things.
I want to share them with you...
Stay tuned.