Melinda in Dayton is much more than who I am and where I live and work. It’s also the name I’ve given myself to delineate myself in my home-based business and the media I use to connect with my friends, fellow consultants and my clients. It’s long emblazoned my business cards and back car window and finally trickled down and ‘branded’ me.

The idea of the Melinda in Dayton blog blossomed when the direct selling company I work for launched its latest brand, Grace Adele. The line is innovative and could even help someone like me get it together. That’s not to say that I don’t know what looks great or what I like–quite the contrary. I can pick out and put together some wonderful components whether it be food, fashion or decor, but you wouldn’t know it by peeking in my closet or sitting in my living room. After meeting Grace Adele on August 1, though, I felt like this Garanimals (remember those?!) for women might just help me connect my inner fashionista with my outer not-so-fashionable self. And, let’s be honest…to be the put together person I really want to be, I need to have everything from my schedule to my attire to my physical condition to my health in line.

I decided it was time to take my show on the road (or on the web) and put my rear into gear–why not create a place to share and collect ideas where others could come to be inspired or encouraged. I’m always surprised at what a new handbag or a new pair of earrings can fix. Add with that a great book or a new paint color or an awesome recipe, and you have yourself a lifestyle game changer in the making! And, I have a new-to-me DSLR camera and without a reason to learn to use the darn thing (like adding amazing photos to a blog), I may never master it.

It could be a fun ride, so I hope you’ll call shotgun & jump on board!