INTRODUCING: MOTHERPRENEURS! Who?

After immigrating to Canada, my 7th country of choice to live in, I hit premenopausal midlife crises! Oh bummer!
If you are a man reading this you may have no clue what I am talking about! 
If you are a woman you may have a clue!

You may want to pour yourself a coffee, this is going to be good...

The bad news?
For approximately one full year I drove The Best Man of All (aka husband) crazy!!! 
The  good news?
I am back, stronger, better and more focused than ever!
What happened?
Thanks to hormonal overload I wrote a book. 
Yes, a real one! Not "I am contributing a chapter to a book"...kinda writing.
It's called "My Strawberry Lounge Story" How I got over my Fears, dumped my xcuses and Started the business of my Dreams, The Motherpreneur Way!
Why?
Because I always wanted to! It's a great book, full of tips, inspiration and super helpful if you want to start your own coffee shop business. 

Premenopausal midlife crises lets your brain go into overdrive. It makes you come up with silly ideas and fancy words, like
starting your own You Tube Channel 'cause you always wanted to host an entertainment show on TV- (and you need to start somewhere)
or coming up with terms like 
MOTHERPRENEUR 
and a tag line that reads,
Kiss Your Excuses Goodbye!

And why am I telling you all this?
It's a female trait, I like to share, to talk.
I wanted you to know,
being confused once in a while is OK!
No knowing which direction to take is OK!
Being lost is OK!
It can happen to all of us, regardless of who we are, where we live or how old we are!

What's next?
The future looks
Fancy? Totally! 
Creative? You bet!
Ready for action? Each and every day!
The mission: To inspire, empower and entertain! 

As i said, thanks to my adventure into menopausal overdrive I gave birth to the term The Motherpreneur!

So, what is a Motherpreneur exactly?

Motherpreneurs are

          happy, independent thinking women!

We know it's possible to combine motherhood with our personal, big,fat or small dreams!Most of us are still working on it, but we are well on our way!We are a piece of art, we are our own experiment!We know how to love, to laugh, to hug, to cry, to be brave, to take a step back and always moving forward!

We are not holding ourselves back!

We dance' cause nobody is watching (ha, everybody is checking their phones)!

We make a splash if,  and whenever we want to!

We don't need a facelift - we don't need botox!We don't need fancy clothes ' cause our heart is beautiful and with our smile, energy and contagious positive attitude we are always well dressed- if not over dressed! We come in all different shapes, forms and sizes! Each of us is unique and special (like the rest of the world)! We are uniquely equipped with our own special gift (like the rest of the world)!We are daughters, sisters, mothers, aunties, grandmas, wives, girl-friend, lovers, neighbours, role models! We worked hard finding out who we are and what we want!Motherpreneurs are YES girls!We know the difference between a YES that leads to more fun and opportunities in our life and a YES that causes stress, more work and being taking advantage off! Motherpreneurs are emotional stable women!We love to help and support each other but we don't follow blindly a call that promises happiness, fulfillment, riches!We are our own inspiration!We set an example to our children!We are more than just mothers!We are an inspiration!To ourselves, to our family and to the world!At the end of the day we know we need to walk the road alone- and we are strong in the knowledge we are not alone!

We are all in this journey together!

Welcome to planet Motherpreneur!

Are you a Motherpreneur?

Not a mother, don't stress!

You can be all of the above without having to have children! 

Did I forget something? Please shoot- I am honoured to add your suggestions!

BECOME your own INSPIRATION during ADVENTURE DAY

You have decided to change your life! 

You found your passion! 

You found your purpose! 

You know what you want! 

You worked hard on finding out what that is! 

You feel inspired to start! But then - self doubt sets in!

You set the intention to follow your heart. But then…is this really realistic? 

This isn’t the person you really are — or the person you want to be. 

Living with dreams, desires, making excuses why not to! 

You are capable of more.

You can change your life, one baby step at a time- or with a huge bang! The choice is yours! You can get through the little voices in your  head! 

As a human being you can become unstoppable! We can follow our small, or big fat dreams!

Adventure Day can help!

What is it?

ADVENTURE DAY is a day for women and men who say things like

 “I am ready to make a change, I just need a bit more motivation” or

 I know I can do this (whatever it is you are planning on doing), but I want to feel totally and utterly excited about it!

I want more than just visualizing my outcome! Oh.....I don't know what I want! I just want something different than just writing down my goals, intentions and plans of action!" 

ADVENTURE DAY 

is also for the  person who doesn't care about all the above! It is for the person who is looking for a fun, adventurous, interactive day out away from the same-old-same-old, in the company of the great outdoors and new friends!

When is it?

Sunday, August 30, 2015!

9.30 - 4.30pm in Maple Ridge at Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Center!

What does the day include?
 A mini workshop on how to kiss our excuses goodbye with the most logical, actionable steps- ever!

A picnic lunch by the lake!

Three to four activities (depending on our group size) that make you realize "Gosh, these excuses I come up with are totally irrelevant!"

My book:

 "The Strawberry Lounge Story, How I got over my Fears, Dumped m Excuses and started the Business of my Dreams, the Motherpreneur Way!"

Access to the private grounds of Loon Lake!

Facilitation by the best adventure and personal development company in The Lower Mainland, Pinnacle Pursuits. 

Pinnacle Pursuits owner, Jono Wilcocks, is my partner in adventure during the day! Not only is he highly experienced, he is super fun too! 

Why have I created ADVENTURE DAY?

After immigrating to six different countries, travelling the world, written my book and pursuit my life dreams more than three times by now (fitness instructor on two continents, three countries, coffee shop owner and now web show presenter of Motherpreneur TV), I've identified  common excuses that stop people from living their small, or big fat dreams!. Even if they want to. Very badly.

Here are the most common ones

1.  I am holding on to what I have and what I know! It feels safe!

2. This is only a wonderful dream! This is too big and too far away. I have no clue where to start!

3. I am so afraid to fail, to embarrass myself!

What activities are we going to do?

We have several options, like the low and high ropes course, canoeing, rapelling or board breaking! Let us surprise you! 

What should I bring?

Apart from an open mind to experience something new and exciting-

a water bottle

proper outdoor shoes with a good grip,

sun lotion,

sun hat,

pen and paper,

your towel and your bathing suit (the water is crystal clear, refreshing and feels ohh so good! Don't worry, this isn't part of our day. Going swimming is totally up to you)!

                        

How much?

$160.00 per ticket!

I hope you can join us!

      "I totally appreciated your special offer but that day was worth the full price!" Suzanne S.

Read more about it over here!

Please get your ticket here!

ADVENTUROUS MOTHERPRENEURS during ADVENTURE DAY!

On planet Google information arrives at the push of a button!
In our over saturated world of (wannabe-) experts we get information, advice, tips, how-to, step-by-step programs stuffed into our brain cells at every hour of the day!
YES, we know how to do stuff!
Yes, we read your manual, we paid to attend this seminar, your workshop, your weekend retreat!
YES, your 300 page how-to book , your 6 series DVD set is sitting in our cupboard, read til page 18 or unopened!
YES, we are willing to sit through yet another networking event, collecting more and more biz cards!

Now, there is a huge difference between knowing WHAT to do and actually DOING IT!
In order to take action, to jump out of our own shadow, we need to be fired up! We need to know we CAN DO THIS! We need to believe in ourselves!

And this is why I created ADVENTURE DAY- Where You Become Your Own Inspiration!

I want to share with other women how it actually feels like to
do the impossible!

To ask and rely on help and support!

To experience how it feels like not to reach the top- and (perhaps) feel embarrassed about it!
Btw, has anybody ever died of embarrassment?
I just googled it- and nope, no recorded cases of "Death by Embarrassment" came up!
You may die of laughing too much;
stepping on your beard, breaking your neck,
having non-stop sex for 12 hours with 2 women!
But by embarrassment? Nope, no recorded cases found!

For our first ever Adventure Day Saturday June 27, in partnership with Jono Willcocks, owner of Pinnacle Pursuits

I chose The High Ropes course!
Btw, please check out Jono's link! This man is amazing with a capital A! Not only is he fun, he knows his stuff and most importantly, he kept his cool around us pre-menopausal (or younger) women! Jono knows what to say, when and why- aka, he made us all feel safe!!!!!

Let's get back on tack!
Why did I chose the high ropes?
 I wanted us to experience the Leap of Faith, one of the most powerful experiences in the world of personal development!
Why?
Creating joyful memories is what life is all about, isn't it? Memories keep us going when the going gets tough!
Our first Adventure Day had to end with a BANG! With a huge one!
I wanted everybody to experience to let go, to take the leap into the unknown and experiencing, WoW, this isn't as bad as I imagined it!

The High Rope course let's us experience all different kind of excuses, ranging from
I can't do this.
This is too high! I can never reach it!
I am afraid of heights!
Nobody is there to help me!

I am afraid to embarrass myself!
I don't have any experience!

And guess what, at the end of day we all experienced:
YES I CAN!
We all Kissed Our Excuses Goodbye!

There is nothing, absolutely nothing better than going to bed with this amazing feeling of accomplishment! Knowing you pushed your physical and mental boundaries!
You stepped out of your own personal comfort zone!
You looked fear in the eyes and made friends with her!
You shooshed your inner demon talk! You leaped out of your "Who am I to attempt this..."talk!
Wow, this is what Adventure Day is all about!

I hope you will join us for the next one!

Get your ticket here!

How Interior Design Could Save Your Marriage

THE IMPORTANCE OF A GREAT PAINT JOB - 
and other great stuff from DUHITA SPECK, interior designer!

Ha, I knew it:  it's in our genes!
We women love, want + need to paint, decorate or re-arrange our home every so often! 
As always, it's the small stuff that makes our life and home extraordinary!
  
Yes, it is in our genes alright. I just never new why.
Why does my mom go all cookoo over a new bed spread whilst my father couldn't care less?
Why is it my dad can fall asleep everywhere and my mom needs to make it all cosy first? She (and I as a matter of fact) can't get comfortable until her resting area is all neat, clean and tidy.

Well, I had the good fortune to find out with my guest Duhita Speck, professional organiser, home stager + interiors designer.

 

 

 

Believe it or not, we chatted for over an hour! For the sake of time I had to cut out so many juicy bits!

Here are some of them:

 

The most organised room for a mother should be her kitchen!

For an entrepreneur it should be his / her office.

Education is priceless!

However, just because you have an education doesn't mean you will be successful!

 If you don't have an eye, a natural talent or the personality to go along with your education you can stay put.

 

 

 

Choosing an interior decorator is very tricky because it's very personal!

The designer needs to be in tune with you and your psychology!.

Here is a check list to find our perfect match:

 

Contact at least three prospects.

Have a chat with each and everyone on the phone first.

How engaging is the designer?

 Does he / she asks lots of questions, wants to know about you, what you really want and why?  

 

If yes, invite your favourite 'voice' into your home for a consultation!

 

And from then onwards it will be: "Happy designing or re-designing!"

 

 

If you want to get in touch with Duhita, please go to

www.spectaculardesigns.com, click here

 

Now I would love to hear from you:

 

Could you please share with me if you have a set of spring / winter cutlery set?

 How often do you re-decorate your home?

 And most importantly, how do you do it?

 

Once again, Happy decorating from me to you!

Don't let your husband talk you out of it- now you know why it is important to us!!!

 

 

 

 

A GLIMPSE OF MY FUTURE

When I was 24, I had my first 'real' glimpse of my future! I saw this:

and made it my goal to one day own a coffee lounge on a Caribbean Island.
What can I say, my dream came true! I had to tweak the above picture to see my vision happening (minus the beach, the water and the palm trees)- nevertheless, I operated my coffee lounge in the exotic location of Bussum in Holland-  I felt so excited, uplifted and motivated by my experience that I even wrote a book about it!

Yesterday, at the wrong end of 40, (that's how Jackie Collins would describe me) I had a glimpse of my 'other 'future- this one is definitely not a dream. This one is going to happen, sooner or later - and this 'bitch' is going to hit regardless of where I will be living!  There will be no escaping from it, the only question is , how hard, how sweaty and how uncomfortable will it be when it arrives?  THE MENOPAUSE!
And no, when I saw my future yesterday I wasn't motivated, inspired or excited about to prospect of writing a book about it.

During my Tuesday networking event in Mission I sat across Tracey.
The temperature in the coffee bar was just fine, not too cold, not too warm. All of a sudden Tracey pulled up her long hair and started fanning herself. As I was just making eye contact with my vis-a vis Randy, I only wondered why she was fanning herself. She kept on fanning, all red in her face by now- Like a good sport, with a smile on her face, she explained herself:  these flashes are merciless, they arrive without warning, stay as long as they want to and disappear again.

To me this sounds like a cruel joke of nature! If certain religions want us to believe that God created Man and Woman, he must have been tipsy when he created Eve- or at least didn't think his project through properly. Why does HE want to inconvenience us over and over again? We are the ones who carry and deliver the future!
We should have eternal beauty and wisdom- not stretch marks, wrinkly skin, over elasticated tummies or fat thighs.

Thank you Tracey though for the glimpse into my future! I know full well I am not getting any younger- but the menopause?  I just called my mom to find out when her flashes begun: With 55! Hurrah, I bought myself a few more years. In this instance I want to believe the old saying like mother, like daughter!

BATHROOM TALK

Gentlemen, does the following scene looks familiar? You, your wife (or girl-friend) and a few other couples are sitting in a restaurant. At one point your wife excuses herself to use the washroom! This is the secret code for all the other ladies to get up, grab their bags and follow your wife into the sacred chamber - never to be seen again!



Have you ever wandered why it takes us so long to return? Ever wandered what's going on behind closed doors? (for educational purposes only,- no kinky stuff please).

I have a good idea what we are doing in there. Just this afternoon I read an article about the popularity of washrooms in restaurants and bars - and apart from the occassional drug user, it's all harmless stuff!

Guys, let me be your fly on the wall in a female washroom:

As soon as we enter a bathroom, we women turn them into our social network lounges! Have you noticed, we love to chat! We chat waiting in line for a vacant cubicle, we chat when we are inside the cubicle. We might even chat to the stranger in the space next to us. If needed, we exchange toiletpaper through the gap with the woman on the other side of the wall.

The one thing we don't do, we don't poop- in plain men talk it means, fart! We rather explode than letting it rip!

When we leave our stall we gossip, apply a new layer of lipstick, add more powder to the face, comb our hair, chat some more! We wash and dry our hands long and thoroughly. By the end of our visit we have made a few more friends!

I asked Dominic what he does when he goes to the bathroom. He looks at me, raises his eyebrow and said:"Nothing!" ( he thinks: dumb question, what do you expect me to do?)  Literally, he walks in, does his business, washes his hands (???) and walks out. Now I get it, that's why there is never a queue in front of the WC for men -  you unsocial creatures you!

See ya tomorrow for day 6 of my 22 day challenge!

WHEN It's HARD to be a WOMAN

On day three of my 22 - day challenge I want to enlighten and delighten you about the most frustrating 'thing' we women face on a more or less regular basis!

If you think I am referring to                                                                                              Our daily shower-shave-make-up routine,  Finding yet another excuse not to have sex ("I don't feel like it" is a statement, - not an excuse), - Getting our period whilst out and about, wearing white pants, - Getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and realizing: Dad has forgotten to show us how to change one of these, or Learning that getting pregnant is easier than raising children, please think again!

All these above are slight inconveniences - they come with the territory of being a woman! No, what I am refering to is the agonizing, time consuming quest to shop for the perfect dress!

Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the fruitless outcome of wandering through the mall, visiting one shop after the other, trying on countless items and still come home empty handed. You have the vision in your head, you have the money, and still can't find what you came for.

[caption id="attachment_702" align="alignnone" width="225"] My fashionable Self at the beginning of my quest C.Waschko[/caption]

I've done the mall walk many times over, this time I went to Value Village instead- at least their dresses won't shrink or fade anymore!

[caption id="attachment_698" align="alignnone" width="300"] A fun shop for all of us who like a good challenge! C. Waschko[/caption]

At my age (younger than Madonna, older than Nicole Kidman) I prefer to shop for something that suits me rather than what is in fashion.  My body type (taller than, but less trim and muscular than Madonna, more toned than Nicole) calls for a dress that ends above the knee. If you have short legs, anything below the knee makes them look even shorter.

[caption id="attachment_699" align="alignnone" width="225"] This one is too long, the wrong pattern.    C.Waschko[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_700" align="alignnone" width="225"] This one is too short, need a tan first                               C. Waschko[/caption]

I love sleeveless outfits - then I notice my upper arms are more flabby than "normal" these days. Ok, no sleeveless for me today. Something low cut is pretty cool too- but only if you can fill out the cleavage bit! Here again, this one comes off the list. I like a slim cut, not a tight fit! The difference between figure hugging and tight is choosing between looking like a pro or a sausage - here we go again, we are back to sausages!

[caption id="attachment_701" align="alignnone" width="225"] Nice one... for somebody else! C.Waschko[/caption]

What about colours or patterns?  This is another, all too serious matter altogether. As a matter of fact I know, green, brown or lilac doesn't suit me, vertical stripes make us look fat. One of my favourite colours is blue- the problem is, I own way too many shades of blue already!

How difficult is it to find a good fitting, half sleeve, knee length dress with a round neck? Very! I couldn't find it at Value Village either!

Dear husbands, boy-friends or partners of sorts, do you see how difficult it is for a woman to find the perfect something? (not you, the dress)!

The next time your respected spouse comes home with her new outfit please give her a hug, pay her a compliment and don't look at the price tag! Most likely she went through hell finding what she came home with!

I will see ya' tomorrow!

ROLLER DERBY ANYBODY?

The message on my phone read:

"Hey crazy ladies, who wants to roller derby? Just saw an mssg. that they are looking for newbies and having an open house tonight. Just think about the outfits."



The last sentence was all I needed to know to sell this outing to me.

As far as I remember, Teutons don't do roller derby- we watch that spectacle on TV, if at all. Mind you, the last time I checked was 25 year ago, a thing or two might have changed since then.



Our Ridge crew left with high expectations for the introduction night ahead. Our husbands had even higher ones. They already pictured themselves, beer can in hand, cheering on sweaty, gorgeous, fighting women (their wives)! Nothing better than a good derby fight on rollerblades to put the man in a good mood!



We wanted to see busty Amazon women in fancy, shiny, flimsy outfit! We wanted a fantasy come true, - the one where normal women escape motherhood and turn into sexy, rolling vixen! We expected 'butch', we experienced a heartfelt welcome.

Round and round we went on our borrowed equipment- the last time I stood on these babies was 37 years ago- nowadays I skate on inliners. Yes, I go with the times.



At the end of the evening we chickened out- and not because we got dizzy going around or got bored rolling around in circles. We watched the scrimmage and knew straight away, this is not for us. The team was pushing, falling, overtaking each other, taking the corners on squeaky wheels. They sure looked competent, forceful and seemed to have fun. The girls knew what they were doing, they already put in long hours of practice!



All of us decided we don't want to get hurt, therefore we are out of the picture! We are wimps, with a capital W. We see ourselves as head of our family- any broken bones on our body and this whole, fine oiled institution called family will stop functioning- or so we think.

In our own world we are tough, macho mothers, protecting castle, kids and dogs. If you make us roll around on these devices our facade will crumble. We are vulnerable, no thank you. We prefer to keep the illusion alive. And yes, call us sissies!



We decided to find a good old-fashioned roller disco somewhere around here, with disco ball and funky tunes. Here we will go around in circles again, but without the fear of getting slammed against the wall!