I had a weird dream last night…

I dreamt my husband and I went to a home that was in a rural area. He knew the owner and wanted to show me their home and property. I have no idea who the person was, male or female, or how my husband knew them.

Of course I have no further details because that’s how dreams are!

What I do remember very clearly is that something in the back of the house caught my eye… As I walked back there, the yard sloped down into this separately fenced area with scattered trees.

I then observed 2 gorillas slowly walking around, doing what gorillas do, in the fenced area. That makes no sense, right?

All of a sudden I saw my husband run past me and jump into the fenced area WHERE THE GORILLAS WERE!!!! I began screaming for him to stop but then realized what he was doing. He was running to save our dog, Moji, who had somehow gotten out of our car, and into the fenced-in area with the gorillas. (Mind you, Moji wasn’t in my dream until this...

For many Americans, this weekend after Thanksgiving is the kickoff to Christmas, with the roll out of holiday decorations and the putting up of the tree.

I know a few folks started earlier this year because we can all agree it’s been a rather unusual year where nothing is normal, but I decided to stick to my normal plan, with one exception...

I’m on my own!!!

My husband, who usually does the heavy lifting and dragging of the artificial tree parts and tubs of decorations from the garage, is out of commission recovering from hernia surgery - likely a result of Christmases past!

So today I feel amazingly accomplished because I did a man’s job!!! And it was not easy!

I’m ecstatic that I didn’t get injured and I think I burned quite a few calories in the process. What a workout!!!

I’ve decided to reward myself with some spiked eggnog while I admire the completion of Phase 1 of my project!

Phase 2, which is my usual annual job of ornament placement...

Today I'm sharing a secret!!!

Want to know what I love to do in my spare time, that I’m kinda embarrassed to admit… I watch REALITY SHOWS!!!! 

For me, it’s more like a psychology project. I LOVE watching people… for 2 main reasons: 1) to watch what lights them up & 2) to watch them interact with others.

I’m REALLY INTO the competition reality show like The Voice, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Survivor, The Amazing Race & Big Brother!!!

I don't watch the Housewives series... Nah! I think that's all fake. They just get drunk & mean and that's not interesting to me.

I love it most, when they get lost in a performance. You feel something inside, like they reached down into your heart & tugged at it. (My husband doesn't get this, but if you're like me, you KNOW what I mean!)

I believe every single person has a passion - even if they don't know what it is, it's inside of them waiting to be tapped. And that passion connects at...

I want to share WHY I decided to get a puppy at 61 years of age...

Some may think that is too old to take on a puppy. Some may have thoughts that a new puppy could outlive them. Some may think that having a puppy is hard work. Some may think having a puppy is too restrictive.

Well, I tend to look for the pros and not the cons in every situation. Maybe It's the optimist in me... Or maybe it's my ability to always believe in the positive potential in my choices.

You've probably heard that what you focus on expands... Well, that mindset has served me very well in life!

After my 15 1/2 year old Chihuahua passed in January, I began thinking about getting another dog. And to be honest, I had to talk my husband into it. He was not ready to jump right back into parenthood.

But I KNEW a puppy would bring lots of extra love and laughter to our home. And who doesn't want more of THAT?

Of course work comes along with it, but the amount of laughter my husband and I have shared in this very difficult...

I've found my 2nd half, the backside of life as they say, to be the upside, not the downslide we tend to dread when we are younger.

And for that reason, it's my passion to help others get excited about this phase... to have hope and excitement for the adventures to come, whatever they may be! 

So I put together a free workshop called Midlife MOJOO Mastery to teach women how to uplevel their 2nd half and I love seeing all of the AHA moments from the women who are participating... 

Here are a few from the 1st of 3 trainings:

"Eureka - Never underestimate someone's capacity for growth - The 2nd half is the best part of life. Thanks Laurie!"

"I don’t know how I ran across you.... but I feel The universe had a hand in it. I just made a post the other day how I have devoted the last 29 years (well still am) to being a mom. That my twins graduated and I’m a somewhat empty nester. I have a daughter with special needs who is at home for now till she goes back to college. But...

Most people believe that when you reach a certain age, it’s too late to find the purpose for why you are here… and that, by midlife, you certainly can’t start from scratch and earn a living fulfilling that purpose.

Unfortunately most people spend their whole lives doing the only job they think they can do, whether it’s what their parents told them to do, what their parents did, or what they are good at, but it’s not what they love. It’s not what fills them with passion. Then they get to midlife and are unfulfilled, but they feel it’s too late to make any changes for reasons like: “I'm too old!” “I’m too busy!” or “It will take too much money!”

I totally get it! It’s so easy to sit inside our little comfort zones and keep doing what we’ve always done! I did that myself, until, at age 55, I stumbled upon something else that lit me up inside!

Click here to watch the full video.

Thinking menopause is the main reason for the sad shape you are in is one of the worst midlife mindsets you can have. I know this because I used to have that mindset! 

So many women think that way because when we are struggling with weight gain or lack of energy, we need an excuse. And that mindset is compounded when we get around like-minded peers who buy into this belief, which further validates to us that menopause is the culprit!!!

But will an excuse get you to a better mindset and ultimately the solution you need? Not at all! 

Whether your excuse is time, money, OR menopause, none of them will help you get into those old size 8 jeans folded at the bottom of your drawer or give you the energy you need to go on all of the fun rides with your grandchildren at Disney World. 

Is every menopausal woman out of shape and overweight? Heck no!!! I can name several who look amazing: Jane Fonda at 80, Sandra Bullock at 54, Christie Brinkley at 64, Diane Keaton at 72, and Kim...