women over 40

Romanticize Your Life

In Inspiring & Encouraging • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 20, 2024 • Leave a Comment

I am taken with the notion of romanticizing your life. Influencers offer us glimpses into romanticized living, and I think that’s why we’re drawn to them, even as opulent and out of reach as it might seem. We love soft, glowing candles illuminating patterned textiles...

New Business – Lavender Lane Creative

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 17, 2024 • Leave a Comment

I prayed a lot about my new venture. In case you missed it, I rolled it out yesterday. It’s called Lavender Lane Creative, and I am anxious and excited. I have been home, officially, for a few days shy of 2 months, and here I...

Opening A New Business

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 16, 2024 • Leave a Comment

So here I am, the big preacher of “if you’re scared, do it scared” doing something scared. Yep, I just put out the word that I am starting a new venture, Lavender Lane Creative, in a couple of weeks. Scary. I won’t tell you I’m...

Something To Look Forward To = Deliverance

In Inspiring & Encouraging • by Amanda Herring, Writer, June 19, 2024 • Leave a Comment

I remember how it felt to move to Phoenix – adventurous, intrepid, liberating! I was only 24 and had been married for almost a year. We had seven days to make the decision about moving, sight unseen, to a city with a population of more...

Make the Decision. Evolve.

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, June 17, 2024 • Leave a Comment

I came up with a list of what I wanted out of “retirement” from dance studio ownership, and here I am doing things on my list: leisurely drinking coffee and reading about wine at 11:00 am on a Monday. Yes. Among other things, leisurely drinking...

Things I Learned Today

In Things I Learned Today • by Amanda Herring, Writer, June 12, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Today, I learned that retirement brings about unanticipated emotions. I faced reality on a number of fronts, and they were all hard. The emotions are a little hard to untangle, and I might need to call upon some of my industry...

Things I Learned Today

In Things I Learned Today • by Amanda Herring, Writer, June 10, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Monday, June 10, 2024 I learned that I need to check on what we have in the fridge and in the pantry before I buy groceries. We have 4 unopened jars of pickles, at least 3 bottles of Caesar dressing, and enough chicken stock to...

Nesting

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, April 7, 2024 • Leave a Comment

I am an over-preparer. I’m the one who packs too many outfits for a weekend trip, not to mention two too many pairs of shoes. At any given outdoor event, I have sunscreen, insect repellent, a battery-powered fan (and extra batteries), and even a clean...

The Evolution: One Month In

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, April 7, 2024 • Leave a Comment

The Evolution has begun, and I am one month in…without a post. I suck at this, but I’m learning. Let’s catch up first, then I’ll share the struggle… I spent the first week of March traveling, which was glorious. My son, Blake, and I made...

Cooking is my love language.

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, February 18, 2024 • Leave a Comment

One of the things I am looking most forward to as I create the life I want to live is cooking. Cooking is one of my love languages. If I cook for you, I love you! The funny thing is that, in my old life,...