Magnolia’s Blog

My Work Here is Done

This will be my last blog post for the Estroven Good Sleep Challenge this summer. It doesn’t seem like three months have gone by, but they have. Life happens when you’re busy making plans, right? 

I don’t know about you, but 2012, in general, is going to go down as a banner year in my life. I’ve been mourning the death of a parent, navigating a divorce, I have launched a new business, I’m in graduate school, and I’ve had a breakdown in a relationship with one of my adult children. I’ve had my challenges. But, I do not share that with you to seek pity. If anything, I hope it will inspire you.

The Attitude of Gratitude Part II

I don’t want to come off as some sort of menopause Pollyanna with all of my gratitude posts.  You know, always chirping that you just “be positive!”  I don’t know about you, but emotionally buoyant people annoy the absolute “H” out of me.  I’m just cynical enough to believe that underneath all of that “happy” is somebody who is likely hiding a whole lot of pain. 

Children, Menopause, and a Mother’s Heart

It was back to school for my newly minted teen daughter this week. After one very busy summer, she packed it in and headed back to the classrooms for her last year of middle school.  It’s hard to believe that my “baby” will soon be a high school student, and yes, I’m going to say it: where did all the years go?

It seems like a just few days ago she was sleeping next to me in my bed, hanging out with me during the evenings, and calling me on my cell phone if I was out of her sight for more than half an hour.  Now we’re all about her friends, make-up, clothes, school activities, and yes, hormones.

Menopause: It’s the Real Happy Ending

It’s finally starting to cool off in the Midwest.  We’ve been enjoying high 60 and low 70 degree temperatures for about a week or so now – and none too soon if you ask me.  After approximately one year of unseasonably warm temperatures which began last fall, I’m personally hoping for one very crisp autumn, followed by a heavy-snow- laden winter.

Keeping it Real with Estroven Nighttime

Regular sleep has returned since I returned from BlogHer 2012. With all of the excitement and hub-bub of the conference, and just by virtue of the fact I was right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, it was hard not to be excited and pumped up during the days that I was there. While I certainly slept—with the exception of one night –there is no question, my 55 year old body absorbed the shocking change of routine, which left me feeling fatigued.

Estroven Nighttime for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
(It really works)

During the worst of my perimenopause years (about 10 years ago, now) hot flashes and night sweats were a couple of my more memorable symptoms.  Well, and the mood swings.  At the time, I didn’t know exactly what caused them; I just knew I had them to beat the band.

Along the way, however, I read that soy could help with hot flashes, so I commenced to drinking vanilla soy milk twice a day, and I can say without hesitation it worked.  How do I know?  I stopped drinking it for a couple of weeks and sure enough, the hot flashes and night sweats came back with a vengeance. 

Menopause, Money, and You

If you’re middle-aged and have ever entertained the notion that you are “too old” to blog, learn something new, or even begin a new career path, let me put your mind at ease. You’re not.

Home Sweet Home after BlogHer 2012

BlogHer 2012 was an experience I will be remembering for a very long time. Since I’ve never been to a blogging conference, and certainly not one hosted right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, I don’t have anything to compare it to. So, my initial impressions, along with my post-BlogHer hangover (not that kind) have left me feeling, well, dizzy.

Sleeping in the City that Never Sleeps

So here I am: right smack in the middle of Manhattan in a high rise hotel. There is something electric about New York City. If someone says there isn’t, they haven’t been here.

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

I woke up this morning with an old Peter, Paul and Mary song rolling around in my head …”I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again… ”  I know I always show my age when I talk about these old songs (Joni Mitchell, Peter, Paul and Mary), but what can I say?  Those were my years.