Simplify My Life with an HP Mini and Windows 7

Mom Bloggers Club is hosting a wonderful sweepstakes on their site. It's called the "Simplify My Life" Sweepstakes, and the winners will each receive their very own HP Mini 110 with Windows 7 Starter. To enter, you must be a member of the Mom Bloggers Club, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of the US or Canada to enter. Deadline for entries is January 20, 2010 at midnight ET.

Here is my story (Points in red describe how I would simplify my life):

"What to wear?," I say out loud with an accompanying sigh. I am standing in front of my closet, which for the most part has tons of outfit options, but the choice of colors is slim to none.

"Black skirt. Black blouse. Black tights. Ooohhh...red pumps! That ought to do the trick."
(I keep up with the latest trends by visiting all the style websites)

I'm feeling rather accomplished today. Besides hitting the snooze button only once, I have managed to get through my morning rituals without interruption. I am the only person up, and I owe it all to a 2-hour delay at my son's school. For once, the treacherous weather conditions are on my side.
(Able to check the computer for updated information about delays and closings)

Normally, my entire family (all 3 of us) wake at the same time. We have to cleverly schedule shower time, teeth-brushing time, beauty-prepping time (that would be me), and can't-I-just-chill-on-the-porcelain-for-a-bit time. This makes for a very interesting morning. After all, life without chaos is boring, but it would sure be nice to send chaos a "you're uninvited" invite for a few days out of the week...especially on Monday.
(I like to send electronic invitations when I am hosting an event.)

With the added time, I dare to try a new omelet recipe. I am trying to eliminate my visits to a fast food joint on the way to work. I figure I could loosen my wallet and tighten my belt if I stopped eating out so much. Now, I just have to execute the recipe correctly or the entire family will be making a trip to the emergency room to cure food poisoning.
(There are great recipes to find and print online.)

In no time the omelet is done. I wake my son so that he can hit the shower, and strive to beat the bus to the driveway instead of it being the other way around. As he wastes time takes a shower, I am fumbling under the couch to find his missing soccer cleat and sorting through the laundry basket to find a matching pair of socks. With my luck, I won't find either.

I yell, "Wait, is there even soccer practice today?"
(I can check my email when the coaches send out a schedule)

No one answers as my thoughts compete with the halting brakes of the school bus passing through the neighborhood. The morning has revisited a familiar place...tardiness. The clock is still ticking, and I am nowhere near ready. I completely forgot I was scheduled to visit company head quarter's today, and there is a reported 5-mile back-up on the highway I would use to make it there.
(Google Maps is my savior. I use it all the time when I am lost or need to take a detour)

Panic sets in, and I begin calling on God for the most frivolous things:

"Dear God, please don't let my tights have a hole in them."
"I pray the accident has cleared before I leave for work."
"Oh my God, where is my cellphone?!"
"Jesus Kaden, can you move any faster than that?"
"Oh Dear Lord, where are my car keys? They were in my purse last night."
(Several websites provide words of wisdom, meditation, and spiritual guidance when you are feeling stressed)

With minutes to spare, I plant a kiss on Kaden's forehead, scoot him out the door as the bus pulls up, then return to my bedroom to get dressed for work. And then it finally hits me...

Lying there on the bed are my clothes. All black. All simple. Just right. My red pumps are peeking just slightly from under the bed. In a very organized fashion, I put on each piece of clothing - the tights, the blouse, the skirt, the pumps. A quick glance in the mirror solidifies my thoughts.

Simplicity comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Whether it be an all-black ensemble, or a mini computer, it all depends on how you accessorize your life that makes you stand-out. Like my red shoes, the HP Mini 110 with Windows 7 would be the 'umph' to my technological wardrobe. It would bring together my world and make me get noticed. Even though the world is full of a variety of laptops (regular laptop/black outfits), it is the accessory (HP Mini with Windows 7/red pumps) that makes one stand-out in the crowd.

I could easily "Simplify My Life" with an HP Mini and Windows 7. Heck, let's start with a cute purse to carry the HP mini. A girl has to find a way to be fashionable and functional, right?!

WANNA WIN?!

Leave a comment on THIS post. Mom Bloggers Club will randomly give away three (3) HP Mini 110-1100 by Studio Tord Boontje PCs to readers who leave a comment on entrants' sweepstakes posts. Reader winners will be randomly drawn using Random.org and will be based on the order in which bloggers enter the sweepstakes and post on Twitter. Winners will be announced on Friday, January 29, 2010.

By participating in the promotion, I certify that no intellectual property rights were violated, with the exception of verbatim inclusion of the provided messaging, photos, or video. All content is owned by me.