I recognize that I’m slightly behind the times. By that, I mean that I’m four weeks past the unveiling of numerous new gadgets for 2013 (a la the Consumer Electronics Show). Undoubtedly, all of the following is now obsolete. But, in the interest of knowledge, I’m intent on still presenting it to you.

It is the HAPIfork which reeled me in and, quite frankly, that’s all I needed to further explore this brave new world. Before I present a sampling of products, I must confess that I’m not certain whether I’m giddy with excitement, or just plain scared about it all.

HAPIfork

In keeping with my promise to feature trends of the future (remember: as Midlife Mothers, we must know about it all), here are the following wonder-items:

–          Trakdot – a small battery-powered tracker that you place in your luggage. Lose your luggage and you can find its location on a Smartphone app.

–          Parrot’s Flower Power – a sensor which you place in the soil of your potted plant. This beams data, including amount of fertilizer, PH levels, humidity and temperature to an app on your Smartphone.

–          Eton’s Rukus solar – a solar-powered music-blasting wireless sound system ($149)

–          Yota Phone – an LCD screen on the front; an e-ink screen on the back. Similar to what you’d find on some Amazon Kindles.

–          Samsung’s Wi-Fi Enabled Refrigerator – this year, Samsung added an app to the LCD display (right above the ice dispenser) so that you can note your grocery list. Also has recipe app, radio, news and weather and Twitter. ($3700)

–          TV with curved glass displays […]

Regarding motherhood and her involvement in the show, “Nurse Jackie,” via the New York Times (2/17/13) – actress and midlife mother (with two young children) Edie Falco, 49 –

“Well, I can’t speak for every mom, but…,” she said with a slightly sheepish grin. “I mean, parenthood is not a hobby. Your life is basically sucked from you.”

http://perriemenopudge.com

Dear Reader: Seeking Midlife Mothers – I want to feature stories about you!  I’ve recently stumbled on a host of gorgeous (facebook) photos – reflecting the wonderful amalgam of new older mother-family units. I will be posting them to reflect who we are and what we’re made of. If interested, please drop me a quick line at midlifemothers@gmail. I look forward to hearing from you!

National initiative to prevent one million heart attacks & strokes over five years. Led by CDC & CMS, with federal agencies & private-sector partners.  Go to: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/ or http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth

www.perrimenopudge.com

Vision

Even when it seems that a pile of laundry is blocking your view, hold on to your vision. See it unfolding in a way you can’t quite define. Bigger, bolder, brighter than your own imagination. Smaller, warmer, cozier. How does your vision grow? Into a tidy home with a well-tended herb garden? Into a life of service to humanity? Into a greater love than you’ve ever known? While a goal emerges from the mind, your vision takes root in your heart. It calls to you with a commanding voice, bits and pieces presenting themselves in arrangements that at first may seem unlikely. How does it feel to step into your vision? What do you smell? Taste? Hear? Stay with your vision even if it seems to grow dim. You can never turn your back on that which only you were meant to see.

http://www.rachelsnyder.wordpress.com

Dear Reader: In keeping with my promise to continue presenting trends of the future, here are 20 business/economic trends. What distinguishes Midlife Mothers from others is our passionate and fervent desire to remain current, viable and healthy as our children age. (Code for: we aim to stay around as long as possible!) If not painfully and clearly apparent is that our children’s world and their experiences will not replicate the world which we grew up in.  Here are 20 business trends which will shape the country during the coming century:

• 1)      The End of the Big Box Retailer
• 2)      Aging of America
• 3)      Mobile Revolution
• 4)      Weakening of the Infrastructure
• 5)      Rise of Student Loan Debt
• 6)      U.S. Energy Boom
• 7)      Car Culture on the Decline
• 8)      Partisan Divide
• 9)      New Healthcare Mandate
• 10)   Pension Crisis
• 11)   High Frequency Trade Domination
• 12)   Housing Market Recovers
• 13)  U.S. Manufacturing Roars Back
• 14)  Less Profitable Banking Sector
• 15)  Agriculture and Climate Change
• 16)  End of the Post Office
• 17)  The Importance of American Cities
• 18)  Immigrants Driving Product Innovation
• 19)  Military Spending Under Pressure
• 20)  Pharma Patent Cliff

Information courtesy of Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-20-2012-9?op=1

Dear Reader:   Please note that my midlife mother’s essay will air on NPR – RI’s “This I Believe” tomorrow, January 2^nd,  at 6:35 and 8:35 a.m. and 5:44 p.m. on 88.1 FM (RI) and can also be heard at http://www.ripr.org/listen-live.html or www.shoutcast.com (insert RIPR in the search window).

Read on…

Welcome to 2013! If your 2012 was anything like mine, I honestly could not wait for it to be over.  While always seeking the best in everything, on so many levels I felt tested by professional, personal, interpersonal, spiritual and atmospheric experiences. So many tragedies seemed to befall so many of us that at various points, I could not find enough steady ground to hold on to.

So, with the new year at hand, I want to wish all of you sustained health, happiness, prosperity (in whatever way you determine this) and my very best to you in achieving whatever dream(s) you aspire to.

On the midlife mother front, my art gallery show NURTURE: Stories of New Midlife Mothers (www.midlifemothers.org) is now traveling North America; MotheringintheMiddle.com continues to gain subscribers and a bevy of fantastically polished writers.  This past week, I was accepted as a Huffington Post contributor. I’m so excited and passionate about it all!

Aspiring to include every midlife mother voice I can find this year, I would like to hear from you!  We will begin offering our readers the opportunity to also be a guest bloggers.   Do you have a story to tell? An essay or commentary to share? Perhaps you are an “expert” who intersects with midlife mothers? If so, please contact midlifemothers@gmail.com. We hope to feature you […]

Happy Holidays, Midlife Mothers!

May your heart always be filled with

Love, Joy and Peace

Wishing you a remarkable 2013

May we live in a world that truly knows PEACE and LOVE.

Much love to all of you – Beverley Golden