Motherhood Incorporated

• 30Jun

  STRESSED! as a Work At Home Mother By Kelli Shand

  Kelli's Story 2 Comments

  by Kelli Shand

  Our Milk Money.com

  Since becoming…. a new business owner, a mother to 2 young boys and 
  pregnant again, finding a way to de-stress has become top priority. 
  The old ways of de-stressing no longer apply. Pregnancy no longer 
  allows me to have a nice glass of wine, or a cold margarita at the end 
  of a hectic day, no long hot baths, or relaxing in the steam room. 
  Yes, going for a massage is good- but I can’t afford weekly sessions. 
  So, I have been on a search for the perfect fix, and what do you know, 
  I’ve found it!

  I was a bit apprehensive at first. I was by far the youngest and even 
  with my big belly, the thinnest. When I entered the pool, all 15 
  ladies stopped and stared. I new I had entered into a close knit 
  group, and did not feel entirely welcome. The first few classes, no 
  one talked to me, they carried on with their mermaids and flutter 
  kicks with no regard to my presence. But by the second week, when they 
  knew I was committed, I finally gained acceptance and my de-stressing 
  had begun. I had found the perfect fix. Water Aerobics! There is 
  something about exercise combined with water that lifts the spirit 
  while toning the body. It was relaxation and vigor all at the same time.

  Four days a week, I take an hour break from work and head to class. 
  Afterward, I feel invigorated and ready to take on anything that comes 
  my way. I highly recommend water aerobics to all of you busy mothers. 
  I’m pretty sure I’ll stick with it, even when I am able to enjoy that 
  glass of wine.

  Tags: Kelli Shand, motherhood incorporated, Our Milk Money, Relaxation, Stress

• 30Jun

  Motherhood Fur-ever

  Karen's Story No Comments

  As all of my blogs mention, I have been the proud mother of the coolest person in the world for approximately seven months now.  I’ve also mentioned my fur kids in passing.  Now, however, it is time for the spotlight to turn.

  I have three fur kids-aka dogs in layman terms-and I am their mother.  I’ve been a fur mom for approximately five years now, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.  These babies have been my life and focus for years before my ever-so-fabulous daughter came along, and I am always amazed at the reactions I receive when I display my emotion for my dogs.

  The interesting flip of the coin is that nearly everyone seems to understand how important my non-furry daughter is.  The general public expects the gushing, the immense kissing and hugging, and the overall pride I take in my two-legged daughter.  When I mention the other three, however, shock seems to settle in.  I have apparently failed my position as a mother to a human by not instantly relegating my dogs to “pet” status, soon to be downgraded to “animal” status.  Umm . . . what?

  My dogs were my children long before my daughter, and although this in no way takes away from the love and joy I feel for my baby girl, this does not mean my dogs have been or will be subjugated.   I have yet to find many people who truly understand my feelings on this subject although I frequently achieve reluctant acceptance in my audience.  Until, of course, my schedule comes up in conversation.  Example:

   Audience: How nice that you can work while your daughter is napping.

  Me: Well, yes, but it’s rare that all of my kids are napping at the same time.

  Audience: What do you mean?!?!?

  Me: The dogs need attention too.

  Audience: Don’t be ridiculous.  Throw them a bone; they’ll be fine.

  Me: Can I do that for my daughter too?

  And so the story goes.  I admit that my dogs no longer receive the same level of love and attention as before my baby was born, but fur kids are kids, and this is their forever home.  By choice and by default, that makes me their mom, fur-ever and ever.

  *I understand that not everyone feels as I do.  However, just as every parent must make their own choices in education, religion, and displinee for their child, so must every parent make their own choices regarding their furry friends.  This is my choice.

• 30Jun

  My Summer Hibernation – By Nicole Perkins

  Nicole's Story, Uncategorized 1 Comment

  By Nicole Perkins

  I know, I know, I’m talking about the heat again, but it is killing me this year!

  Temperatures regularly reach ridiculous levels like today – 114 degrees. And that’s just what it said on my hometown paper’s website. We all know the actuality is always more severe in real life, although I wouldn’t know today, I didn’t leave the AC!

  It’s a strange paradox, my life – I grew up in Alaska, craving the warmth, heck, just craving the sunlight. But now, in Arizona, I shun it, hide from it, burrow deep inside my home with the blinds closed to keep any excess heat out, like a vampire. When people in other parts of the country are out enjoying barbecues and cute little outdoor treks with their family, I truly do hibernate in the summer.

  So here I am, at the height of the heat doing nothing but gaining weight because ice cream is the only thing that sounds appetizing. I am not that old, and am in decent shape, but every time I step foot outside, my body starts throbbing and my toes swell up like little sausages tucked in for nice nap beneath my sandals. I swear I gained three pounds of water weight this week just trying to stay hydrated!

                                 

  But enough complaining! I had to go out last night for a couple hours and shoot an air guitar competition and I actually came up with a couple things I kind of like about our summers here while I was getting ready.

  1. Forget makeup. What’s the point – your face is shiny 10 seconds out the door, as is everyone else’s, so I just quit everything except mascara and lip gloss. It saves so much time getting ready!

  2. Same goes for the hair. Who needs more heat blowing in their face when you’re hair is dry 5 minutes after you walk out of the house -and then wet again from sweat in another 5. It’s futile to fight it. Air dry and ponytails – loves it!!

  3. Summer clothes. Trying to wear anything with sleeves will immediately show pits, and shorts that are the slightest bit restraining and you end up with swass (sweaty a**). I live in dresses, tanks and skirts, and have recently discovered that a lot of my really long skirts, make really great dresses – just hike them up over the girls – too easy!

  4. The food – light and cold. While ideally I should be losing weight from all the salads, the ice cream keeps catching up with me. But dairy’s still nutritious, right?

  5. Hanging out with my kids. No school, no obligations, and no expectations because everyone else is hiding out too, or has escaped to cooler climates. We are really having fun painting, playing Barbies, reading and eating ice cream – oh wait, the ice cream again.

  Now if only I can effectively explain to my daughter why her brother doesn’t have to wear a shirt, but she does.

  Tags: Arizona, Nicole Perkins, summer

• 28Jun

  Taking on a Friend’s Baby by Jennifer France-Talvitie

  Children, Jennifer's Story, Working from Home 1 Comment

  Recently, a friend that my husband works with asked if I’d be interested in watching her 8 month old during the day. She knows that I stay home with my 8 month-old and figured it was worth a try.

  When my husband told me of this proposition, my first response was no. The idea of someone else’s child being my responsibility and under my care made me a bit nervous. I don’t doubt my abilities. I feel I am a good mom to my little one and watch out not only for his safety but also for his intellectual and spiritual growth. But another mother’s pride and joy made me pause. After this initial reaction, I got to thinking about it. There are three essential pros to taking on her child.

  #1 – Being around another child will be beneficial to Zander. It will provide him with a playmate. Someone to learn to share with; the stimuli of another child. This will also prepare him for a sibling which we hope to add in the not so distant future.

  #2 – It will allow me to make some much needed income. My husband and I are so happy that I get to stay home with our boy. However, it has been a financial strain and this would help alleviate some of that.

  #3 – I get to continue being with my son everyday! To be able to work from home is key for me and my family. I can continue to do blog writing for Motherhood Incorporated. I can continue to do periodic course testing for another company I work for (this is very infrequent). I can do this all while being home with my son and earing a little for getting the privilege of watching our friend’s son.

  I begin this new adventure on July 14th. We’re going to give it a one week trial period. I will keep you all posted on how it goes as the journey progresses. If any of you out there have done this very thing, I’d love to hear from you.

• 27Jun

  To the Nuthouse and Back by Ally Loprete

  Ally's Story No Comments

   by Ally LoPrete, Our Milk Money.com

  Yes, I was there. I was horribly embarrassed at first, but I’ve now come to appreciate the experience as one of my most favorite journeys. After all, when we OWN our experiences as things that make us who we are, what is there to be ashamed about?What brought me there was a breakdown resulting from extreme exhaustion. I’d simply forgotten to take care of myself.  I had not slept since 2007. I had lost a pregnancy, I wasn’t eating, my son and my husband were being neglected, and there was no end in sight.I certainly did not mean to end up in the hospital. I’d succeeded in launching Ourmilkmoney.com, become a leader to more than 2500 businesses nationwide, and the promise of our impending growth was exceptional. As a new mother, I was raising a very demanding 2 year old, running a household and teaching musical theater 2 nights a week. I’d put these things in motion and sent them spinning so fast that I was unable to keep up with the pace. I hadn’t learned to set limits or manage my time, so it makes perfect sense that every corner of my life was deteriorating.In the hospital I did not have access to the internet or digital communication which turned out to be the best medicine. This forced my life to slow down… something I had not been able to do by myself. I had no choice but to rest, heal, and create some new boundaries for myself so that this would never happen again.I met several other patients who at first, I’ll admit, frightened me. I felt that I had nothing in common with them, and perhaps they picked up on this because on that first day when I arrived, several of them asked me “How are you crazy?” as if they weren’t sure I was crazy enough to be accepted into their club. Great. I thought. I am not even accepted IN HERE. I answered the question each time with a joke, “Being Crazy is part of my charm.”  It got a laugh almost every time. I began to feel like the female version of R.P. McMurphy. I also decided in that moment to spend the next 72 hours laughing at the absurdity of the situation, healing, resting and learning how to never end up in here again.I learned a lot. Infect, I might dare say that the experience was life changing. I learned that everyone is a little crazy, and everyone is a little sane. I actually began to make friends with some of the other patients, and I learned more about how they had ended up in a place like this. Some of them had come from such disturbing lives, it was no wonder they needed help. I had always appreciated my life and my family, but this experience taught me to VALUE it, in a way that I had not been doing. Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned was the actual physical and mental damage I had done to myself, my family, and my company. I had taken on too much and worked a ridiculous number of hours – close to 120 hours a week – for no pay. I worked every minute that I could during the day, and when my  entire family was sleeping peacefully at night, I took advantage of the quiet time to work, staying up until the next morning several times a week.  I didn’t know how to say “no” and agreed to just about everything anyone ever asked of me. A friend wanted to have a bake sale and of course, I agreed to bake…AND market AND shop. Anyone needed a ride to the airport? Sure, ask Ally, she’ll always say yes. It was hard for me to take a step back from this, because wanting to please others has always been a weakness of mine. But in the hospital, I learned how to give from a different part of myself without disturbing my “reserves”. I learned the importance of scheduling in the basics of living a healthy lifestyle: eating, sleeping and playing. The results were astounding. I gained control and became more productive. It seems so simple and yet when I ran out of time these are the things I tended to skimp on the most. It was no wonder I became sick. My machine was literally breaking down.  I learned the importance of taking time to do a peaceful activity for myself, such as meditating, making a piece of jewelry or doing some watercolor. I spent most of my time at the hospital reading, journaling and painting. This replenished me, cleared out my mind and helped me to empower myself. Now I schedule in 5 minutes each morning to meditate, and 2 hours a week to watercolor.Yes, I am grateful for my visit to “the nuthouse.” It woke me up. It taught me that without health and happiness, we simply cannot give to the things in our lives that we are ultimately living for. It taught me to laugh again, and that I can choose to laugh my way through anything at all. My experience at the nuthouse was a gift, and so I felt it necessary to leave a gift of my own. Before leaving the premise, I taped up a watercolor painting of the beach in the rec-room for all to see. It read, ” So what if we are crazy?  It’s part of our charm.”

  Tags: Ally Loprete, motherhood incorporated, Our Milk Money

• 27Jun

  The Outsource Revolution

  Shannon's Story, Working from Home No Comments

  What do you love to do?  If you’re smart you’ve already begun to make money doing what you are passionate about.  Even so there are probably times when you find that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of the things you need to do as well as all of the things you want to do.  When that happens it’s time to let the “Outsource Revolution” remake your life.

   

  What do you really hate doing?  What are you really not good at?  Don’t be shy – there is no shame here.  You can’t be great at everything.  Are you bad at housekeeping?  Who cares? You have other talents.  But it’s time to stop beating yourself up about being a lousy housekeeper and outsource it!  As a rotten housekeeper you could spend 8 hours in a week cleaning your house and still not get it done right.  Why not pay someone to do it and instead of wasting your time cleaning you can focus your energies on the things you are passionate about. 

   

  I guarantee you that you can generate considerably more money doing what you are passionate about than the cost of paying someone to get your house in tip top condition.  Imagine how you will feel at the end of the week, your house will be clean and you will have generated more income doing what you love.  This is the outsource revolution.

   

  What are you ready to outsource?

  Tags: Outsourcing, Shannon Penrod

• 26Jun

  El Mito Más Grande del Trabajo en el Hogar/ Refutado … Por Elisa Garcia

  Elisa's Story, En Espanol No Comments

  

  Mito: Si usted trabaja en su hogar, usted tiene todo el tiempo en el mundo.

  Hecho: Si usted trabaja en su hogar, su tiempo es su el propio hasta que sus clientes exijan de otra manera. Entonces, impactantemente, usted tiene apremios apenas como todos.

  Evidencia:

  Jackie programó la nueva instalación del plato basado en los satélites este último fin de semana.  En la mañana de lunes, como una pareja buena y cariñosa, ella recolectó todas nuestras cajas de la televisión por cable de Comcast y telecontroles y alambres y las lió cuidadosamente en mi coche. “Puede usted funciona éstos por el centro de servicio y les da vuelta adentro?” ella pidió. “No quisiera que nos cargaran para otro día.”

  Pocos minutos más tarde ella entró en la cocina con su blusa verde y favorita.  Movía de un tirón simultáneamente los huevos, jugo de colada, y shooing un perro entusiasta con mi pie. “Usted piensa que esta camisa esta muy arrugada?” ella pidió acentuado. Por supuesto dije que no era. “Quise realmente usar el negro,” Jackie continua, “pero es sucio. ¿Usted le piensa puede lanzar quizá en una carga de la ropa oscura hoy? Y cerciórese de utilizar las suspensiones derechas.  Esto colgaba en la clase incorrecta.” Nomas suspiré y acabo de sacudo mi cabeza, pulpa anaranjada y los pedacitos de la tortilla de huevos en mis pantalones.

  Después de aclarar los platos, de vestir Alina, de caer del correo, de llamar al doctor, de estrallar por el almacén, de volver los cables, de subrayar, y de poner Alina abajo para una siesta, finalmente abrí una sesión a la computadora.  Ése es cuando noté una tarjeta de visita del agente de seguro en mi escritorio junto a nuestro último análisis del fideicomiso de la hipoteca.  Llame por favor el agente para una cotización hoy, dijo la nota de post-it manuscrita de acompañamiento adornada con una cara de sonrisa.  Y llama a Wells Fargo también, por favor, Jackie había escrito.

  Grité prácticamente hasta que recordara que Alina era (agradecidamente) dormida. ¿Jackie no sabía que hacía frente a un plazo de la audición de la voz superpuesta, un capítulo corrige, y seis postes del blog? ¿Ella no sabía que también necesité prepararme para una videoconferencia Y cerciorarse de Alina era alimentada, feliz, limpia, y estimulado intelectual? Por supuesto ella hizo.  Pero, como mucha gente desconocedora con los intrincaciones del trabajo en el hogar, ella acaba de asumir mi horario autoimpuesto permitido naturalmente para la flexibilidad infinita. ¡Y ella vive conmigo!

  Flash de noticias: El trabajo en el hogar trabaja solamente si usted puede trabajar realmente.  Lanzar una carga en la arandela mientras que usted escribe (o diseñe o registre o venda o pinte o lo que) no es realmente ninguna gran cosa.  Lanzando una carga en la arandela, clasificando suspensiones, las diligencias corrientes, cocinando la cena, tendiendo a un niño, y escribiendo la copia sólida de las propiedades inmobiliarias antes de un plazo del 5:00 están al lado de imposible. 

  Realizo que, como bendicen a las madres del trabajo en el hogar, nosotros más allá de creencia para tener la oportunidad de combinar negocio y a la familia.  Acaricio mi flexibilidad inherente y la tecnología que produce esta mezcla, y disfruto con el hecho de que puedo programar las citas del doctor y los playdates y los entrenamientos sin preocuparme.  Pero junto con las gratificaciones viene, bien, el trabajo.  Y para continuar permaneciendo casero y haciendo el dinero, necesito tanta hora de trabajo como la muchacha en el cubículo de la oficina.  Necesito que otros respetan mi tiempo tanto como yo les respeto … para realizar que no hay tiempo para el negocio personal durante las horas de oficina.  No me atrevo llamada mi trabajo fuera de los amigos caseros ocioso para charlar en el 2:00 el días laborables, y cuento con iguales a cambio.

  Más adelante que noche elaboré mi propia nota de post-it (adornada con la cara de sonrisa) y puesto le al parabrisas de Jackie.  Era nuestra lista de la tienda de comestibles.

  Por Elisa Garcia

  Tags: madres que trabajan al hogar, mitos de trabajar en hogar, trabajando en hogar

• 26Jun

  The Biggest Work at Home Myth/ Debunked … by Elisa Garcia

  Being a Mom, Elisa's Story, Household, Working from Home 1 Comment

  

  Myth: As a work at home mom, you have all the time in the world.

  Fact:  As a work at home mom, your time is your own– until your clients demand otherwise.  Then, shockingly, you have constraints just like everybody else. 

  Evidence:

  Jackie scheduled the new satellite dish installation this past weekend.  On Monday morning, good and loving partner that she is, she gathered all of our Comcast Cable TV boxes and remotes and wires and bundled them up neatly in my car.  “Can you run these by the service center and turn them in?” she asked.  “I don’t want us to be charged for another day.”

  A few minutes later she entered the kitchen wearing her favorite green top.  I was simultaneously flipping eggs, pouring juice, and shooing a zealous dog with my foot.  “Do you think this shirt is too wrinkled?” she asked pointedly.  Of course I said it was not.  “I really wanted to wear the black one, ” continued Jackie, “but it’s dirty.  Do you think you can maybe throw in a load of dark clothes today? And make sure to use the right hangers.  This was hanging on the wrong kind.”  I just sighed and shook my head, orange pulp and omelet bits running down my sweats.

  After rinsing the dishes, dressing Alina, dropping off the mail, calling the doctor, dashing by the store, returning the cables, driving home, and putting Alina down for a nap, I finally logged on to the computer.  That’s when I noticed an insurance agent’s business card on my desk alongside our latest mortgage escrow analysis.  Please call the agent for a quote today, said the accompanying handwritten post-it note adorned with a smiley-face.  And call Wells Fargo too, please, Jackie had written.

  I practically screamed until I remembered Alina was (thankfully) sleeping.  Didn’t Jackie know that I was facing a voiceover audition deadline, a chapter edit, and six blog posts? Didn’t she know that I also needed to prepare for a video conference AND make sure Alina was fed, happy, clean, and intellectually stimulated?

  Of course she did.  But, like many people unfamiliar with work at home intricacies, she just assumed my self-imposed schedule naturally allowed for infinite flexibility.  And she lives with me!

  News flash: Working at home only works if you can actually work.  Throwing a load in the washer while you write (or design or record or sell or paint or whatever) is really no big deal.  Throwing a load in the washer, sorting hangers, running errands, cooking dinner, tending to a toddler, and writing solid real estate copy before a 5:00 deadline is next to impossible.  

  I realize that, as work at home mothers, we are blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to combine business and family.  I cherish my inherent flexibility and the technology that affords this blend, and I relish the fact that I can schedule doctor appointments and playdates and workouts worry-free.  But along with the perks comes, well, work.  And in order to continue staying home and making money, I need as much work time as the girl in the office cubicle.  I need others to respect my time as much as I respect theirs … to realize that there is no time for personal business during office hours.  I don’t dare call my work outside the home friends to idly chat at 2:00 on weekdays, and I expect the same in return.

   Later that night I drafted my own post-it note (adorned with smiley-face) and affixed it to Jackie’s windshield.  It was our grocery list. 

  by Elisa Garcia

  Tags: work at home moms, work at home myths, work at home time constraints, working at home

• 26Jun

  Childcare and the Working Mom

  Being a Mom, Children, Julia's Story, Working Away from Home 1 Comment

  By: Julia Rodriguez 

  Yes, I still have to drive to work every morning and leave my daugher with a babysitter. Not only does the price of babysitting give me a headache but the way that some of these facilities are caring for children too. I know that if I want my daughter to be taken care of a certain way I should stay home and do it myself and I am working on that thanks to www.motherhoodincorporated.com.  But if  parents are paying someone to take care of their children they should do a good job at it and realize that they are not only earning their money but also molding the minds of the next generation.  It frustrates me to find that a lot of these home based centers think that by just placing the child in front of the TV all day is good. Not for me. I want my daughter to interact, learn and experiment with new things.  I have searched and searched and found few people who really do care about the development of a child.

  As I researched to find the ideal daycare for my child I was upset to find that every facility interview I went to were pretty much the same. Child arrives, child eats, child watched TV, child sleeps and so on until you pick them up. No reading, no story time nothing that stimulates their brain.  This was upsetting to me. I was reading my city’s newspaper and found a Head Start program for children 0-4 years old. BINGO!  I enrolled her in this free program and pay a sitter to stay with her for the five hours she is there.  My daughter loves it and I feel less guilty leaving her when I go to work.  Not only does she get to play, but they also do art activities, dance, field trips and more. Its perfect. 

  Don’t  get me wrong I am pretty sure that their are some great centers out there you just have to find time and do the research. I am just so happy that I can go to work and know that my daughter is having a good time.

  Tags: childcare, Children, Working Mom

• 26Jun

  Spring Cleaning for the Summer by Sonia Nunez, Motherhood Incorporated

  Household, Organization, Sonia's Story, Tips and Tricks No Comments

   by sonia nunez

  Ah yes, spring cleaning. To some who love to clean, it can be their second Christmas. To everyone else, it’s a dreaded chore.

  Spring cleaning is something that doesn’t necessarily need to be done in the springtime, or even just the spring. However, there are certain cleaning chores that should be addressed at least annually, and it’s usually good to do many of these during a time of year when you can open windows for fresh air, and do some outdoor chores as well.

  We’ve listed some here to consider; a good suggestion is to read through this material while considering your own home, and making an actual list of the chores you want to accomplish during your spring cleaning. If necessary, break up this chore over the course of two days or two weekends so you don’t get overwhelmed.

  Mattress and box springs. Your mattress and especially your box springs can collect dust and dirt. Use a vacuum cleaner hose and attachment and run them over both items.Refrigerator coils and underside. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then, using your brush attachment, vacuum the dust from every crevice you can find. Detach the vent from the front and vacuum there, too. While the fridge is pulled out, clean the floor underneath it.

  Air vents. Your air vents collect a lot of dust over the course of a year. Unscrew them from the wall or floor and vacuum when you can.Laundry room floor. Move your washer and dryer out from the wall and clean around and underneath. Wipe down both appliances.

  www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  Tags: Cleaning, House Cleaning, motherhood incorporated, Spring Cleaning

• 26Jun

  Surviving the Summer Heat – By Nicole Perkins

  Children, Nicole's Story, Tips and Tricks No Comments

  By Nicole Perkins

  I live in Arizona and let me tell you – HOT does not even begin to describe what I am living through right now. I got into my truck yesterday, a truck that had been in the garage all day, and the temperature read 121* – IN THE SHADE!

  Although I grew up in Alaska for the first 13 years of my life (talk about one extreme to another!), I’m pretty much acclimated to this heat by now, but my poor kids are constantly sweaty and red-faced. So here are a couple ideas that I’ve developed to keep them cool during these brutal summer months that seem to make it a little more bearable.

  1. ALWAYS bring water. We fill up our water bottles everytime we leave the house. I know, it’s another step before you get out the door, but it’s so important for you and your kids to stay extra hydrated in the summer months. They say that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so be prepared!

  2. Keep a spray bottle in your purse. Those cars get ridiculously hot in the sun which means those car seats are smoldering too. I keep a spray bottle with me to cool them off before we get in – and the kids love getting a splash as well. Evian also has cute little aerosol water misters if you want to be fancy.

  3. Keep your car cool. Find shade when you park, even if it means a few extra steps. It takes your car a lot longer to cool down than it does to walk a little further in a parking lot. And when you turn on your air conditioning, crack the windows and let it blow some of that hot air out for a second. Another trick if your car is really hot, drive through a car wash – the water and shade cools your car fast if it’s been sitting in the sun for a while.

  4. Frozen teethers make great ice packs! My kids don’t need them for their teeth anymore, but if you keep them in the freezer, they are great for keeping snacks from melting and if the kids are really hot, they love to rub them on their faces.

  5. Sunblock is essential. If you’re out, even for a minute, that sun can do a number on their innocent skin so always keep at least a stick of it in your bag. Don’t forget the tips of their ears, toes and scalp too!

  These are just a couple of our daily tricks, and if you have any summer heat survival tips, please feel free to share them in the comments section. And please remember to watch your kids around water – it only takes a second!

  

  Tags: keeping kids cool, Nicole Perkins, summer heat survival

• 25Jun

  Take a Break and do a Fun/Accurate Personality Test by Nicole Ocean

  Blogging, Husbands, Imaginations Everything, NicoleO's Story, Personal Growth, Working from Home 2 Comments

  I wanted to share with you something that I found to be very fun and enlightening. I took an online test a few days ago that was put together by a famous organization called, “Myer’s Briggs.” You may have heard of them and their fairly accurate and fun personality test that they offer. I remember first learning about this test while going to college and loved how the results of the test helped reveal a side of myself that I needed to know more about. 

  It ends up that I was categorized as an, “ISFJ,” which translated means that I am, “Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging,” type of person. I was able to read a very in depth analysis about the positive and negative points within my personality. Boy, if I had only known about this test when I was younger, think of the trouble I could have saved myself!!! (I bet we all think this way from time to time about things that happened in our past though, so I guess it is part of living and learning. We’ve simply got to experience things in order to learn from them)

  On a fun note, I had my boyfriend, Robert take the test. I would highly recommend to all of you to have your significant other take this test and then read up on the results of their personality category or classification. This exercise can take years of headache and confusion about understanding the tendencies of your loved ones personality traits. You can take your own personality test by going a free website that is at: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htmI hope that you enjoy the results of your test and wish you hours of fun from learning more about yourself and your loved ones! 

  

  By: Nicole Ocean of nicolesdreams eBookswww.nicoleocean.comwww.motherhoodincorporated.com

  Tags: BPO Trainer, Broker Price Opinion, eBook author, motherhood incorporated, Nicole Ocean, nicolesdreams eBooks, Real Estate, Realtor

• 25Jun

  Do I Really Need a Blog?

  Blogging No Comments

  Realtors ask me all the time, “Do I really need to have a Blog?” I always envision the realtor in 1983 who said, “Do I really need a cell phone?” or the realtor in 1990 who said, “Do I really need to have a computer?” or the realtor in 1997 who said, “Do I really need to have a website?”   It’s easier to see in hindsight how important each of these innovations has proved to be in the business of real estate.  Can you imagine doing business with out a cell phone in today’s market?  Of course not, it is a valuable tool that saves you time and money.  It helps you to close a deal in a quicker more efficient way than how business was performed before the cell phone age. 

  Blogs are also an efficient tool that can save you time and money, and they can be instrumental in helping you to attract new clients.

  Blogs perform three major functions for realtors if they are done correctly.  Blogs can:

  1. Raise your name and your business ranking on Google and other search engines.
  2. Position you as an expert in your area of interest.
  3. Provide prospective clients with the ability to “interview” you on a 24/7 basis.

  The next generation of home buyers and sellers rely on the internet as their number one tool for research about subjects ranging from bubble gum to real estate.  If you aren’t harnessing this tool to direct traffic to your door you are literally missing out on one of the greatest business revolutions of our lifetime.  Don’t miss out on this incredibly power and inexpensive tool.  Blog!  It does a business good.

    

  Tags: Blog Marketing for Realtors, Blogging, Blogging for Realtors, Internet Marketing, motherhood incorporated, Shannon Penrod

• 25Jun

  When Does the “New” Part End? by Karen Williams

  Being a Mom, Karen's Story No Comments

  Okay, I have been mother to the coolest person in the world for almost seven months.  Six months, three weeks, and one day to be exact.  Approximately 1, 248 hours.  More than 74, 880 minutes.  I am her primary caregiver.  I feed her, change her, comfort her, play with her, teach her, take her to and from daycare, and then I start all over again.  Don’t get me wrong, my husband is very helpful, but when the crying starts, I’m the first one on the scene.

  As we’ve traipsed through these joyous days of watching my little baby become the amazing person she is, we’ve dealt with the NICU, four allergic reactions, two colds, and one flu (how many of you were expecting a partridge in a pear tree?).  We’ve experienced, rolling, crawling, three teeth, lots of talking, and one word.  Add in experiencing all of this in the presence of three dogs who “only want to help,” and you’ve got yourself a busy household.

  Accompanying all of this is a myriad of helpful-minded people with advice, suggestions, and even a handful of reprimands.  I actually welcome all of this.  I am in the bittersweet position of living far away from almost everyone, so I can hear the advice and suggestions, learn from it, but not necessarily follow it.  I have one aunt in particular who almost always knows of something knew they’ve discovered that will poison a baby that I really should rid my household and the greater Dallas area of immediately, but she comes with the saving grace of being very funny and admitting her own neuroses.

   My mother and grandmother also come with their own little barrel of advice, but luckily there was another baby born in my family only five years ago, so they’ve learned a trick or two.  Lesson Number One: Always precede your suggestion with, “Do you want me to tell you what I did in that situation?”  That and about a thousand miles of interstate between us makes for a harmonious relationship.*

  We’ve also got daycare teachers, innocent-minded friends, random ladies in the grocery store, other parents at daycare, and older women at church who are all busy paving that road with their good intentions of help.  Help, of course, coming in the verbal form of advice.  I take all of this, I use some of it, and the rest I offer to my husband as the funny part of our “What did you do today” conversation.  (Really, who puts pepper in a baby’s bottle to help with sinus problems?)

  So here is my question to other mothers and women at large: when am I no longer new?  Okay, so I haven’t had a second baby, and my daughter is only almost seven months old.  For the moment, I understand that I’m still new.  But when does that stop?  When does advice begin coming to me through the happy-dappy filter of being an intermediate parent?  More importantly, when will people stop writing off my preferences for my baby as the overbearing insecurities of a “new” parent? 

  Yes, I really do want my daughter to wear a onesie AND pajamas to bed.  No, that won’t change for a while.  No, I won’t let my daughter come to your house.  Yes, it is because you smoke indoors.  Yes, I really do insist on having the fire department install the carseat base every.single.time.  Yes, I am going to go so far as to say that a 6’2″ man weighing in at over 250 lbs. whose job entails lifting large, heavy things including other people from burning buildings on a regular basis is likely to be significantly stronger than me. 

  Sorry, folks, I’m overprotective by nature.  It’s in my genes.  I’m twenty-five years old and the days of my mother offering to hold my hand in the parking lot have yet to come to an end. 

   I’m just saying.

  *This is where I would like to note that I do miss my mother all the time, and I do feel badly that she does not get to spend more time with her favorite (read: only) grandbaby.  She really is an excellent granny, and we would probably get along very well if we lived closer together.   Hi Mom!

• 24Jun

  Educate and Communicate not Intimidate by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Sonia's Story 1 Comment

   by Sandra Beck

  This weekend I was the featured speaker at a meeting of top professionals in  Southern California.  I don’t mean to disrespect the members in any way, but their computer and technical skills were far from superior. I watched their eyes glaze over as two of the presenters used  a difficult to follow – yet impressive speech on a technology that no one was familiar with nor understood.  The end result at the break was the agents were frustrated and sadly, many thought they were too “dumb” to understand.  This was a classic case of speaking to impress not to make yourself understood.

  When it was my time for the program and my content for the day was very technical about building a business on the Internet I chose my words carefully and simply. I slowed down my presentation watching the faces looking for signs of comprehension and the relief I saw on these faces was palpable.

  Did I finish my presentation no, I ran out of time.  Did people understand yes, and they felt good!

  Did they want me back — absolutely!
  So not only will I profit from doing this once but twice ….moreover, the people who listened understood me and felt confident asking questions. I am going back and I will repeat some content and take this group another step forward. I know that some of them will go home and try to “get on the Internet” and “join a group.”  For some of them, I could see this opened up a whole new world.

  Many of us comfortably use terms like RSS Feed, Social Networking and joining on-line groups like it is second nature. This leaves some of our friends and colleagues out in the cold and makes what we do seem impossible.

  So the next time you are presenting an idea, or you are just chatting with moms in the park – keep it simple and help them find sites like these online without the brag and boast.  We all had to begin our Internet journey at one time or another …and what makes these sites great is the varied and interesting people who join them.

  www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  www.sandrabeck.com

  Tags: Communication, motherhood incorporated, Sandra Beck

• 20Jun

  One in four Internet users is involved in social networking by Tia Peterson/All American Admin

  Marketing Your Own Company, Tia's Story 1 Comment

  In a recent technology news article cited in a blog, it was quoted that one out of every four online users is engaged in social networking.

  Additionally,

  - Among the 30 and over working-age population, one out of eight uses social networking sites to conduct business.

  I’ve been part of the social networking community for years, so… my prediction? It’s only a matter of time before it becomes one out of every four who are among the 30+ working age population who will use social networking sites to conduct business.

  What does that mean for you? It means, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. If you’re going to conduct business online, conduct it successfully by doing what many other e-marketers have already discovered. Find a social network that’s right for you and go to town!

  Cheers,

  Tia

  All American Admin

  Tags: online business, social network, social networking, technology news

• 20Jun

  Swimmimg Summer Fun by Jennifer France-Talvitie

  Children, Jennifer's Story, Tips and Tricks No Comments

  My 8 month-old just went swimming for the first time. What fun we had!! I knew it would be a smash knowing how much he loves the bathtub.

  Our new friends from our local Moms Club invited us over to her pool. Today in LA it’s 100 degrees….flippin hot! So, we jumped at the chance of cooling off and hanging out with our new friends.

  

  We ended up walking to her condo complex. It took about 25 minutes. Crap, it was a hot walk. I had my little guy hold an ice cold water bottle in his hands so as to keep him cool under his stroller canopy. That worked well. By the time we got there we were both ready to get in.

  Zander kicked around and smiled for up to 40 minutes. I brought along a device called the Baby Spring Float from Swim Ways. He sits in the middle and it has a sun shade over the top of it. I highly recommend it. You can get it at Target for $14.99.

  

  I wasn’t sure how he’d take to being slowly put under water. He took to it like a champ! He didn’t seem a bit bothered by it. I only did it one and a half times (up to his nose, the first time).

  As we walked home from our new adventure a sense of summer fun came over me. Today is officially summer. Happy summer to you all!!!

• 20Jun

  10 Things to Do With a Grocery Store Chicken – by Nicole Perkins

  Cooking, Food, Nicole's Story, Quick Meals No Comments

  By Nicole Perkins

  In this era of rising food and gas prices, we as mothers are forced to find ways to cut corners. We compensate by clipping coupons, drinking cheaper wine, buying in bulk, riding our bikes more - all for the sake, these days, of just maintaining. Our wages certainly aren’t rising!

  But once in a while, that pre-cooked chicken at the grocery store calls to me. I know it’s not the most cost effective, but no thawing, seasoning, cooking – it’s too hard to resist sometimes. Just separate and serve (and our dog loves the skin!). So here are some quick and easy meals – and you can usually get a couple out of it. And remember, these are just the building blocks, your own seasonings and additions will make these meals a hit every time – especially when time is the last thing you have!

   1. First and foremost – burritos. A package of tortillas, some cheese, a can of fat-free black beans, and some salsa make this one of my favorite stand-bys. For extra flair, mix the chicken with a green chile sauce and let it warm up with the chicken first. Buy an avocado, some lettuce and/or tomato, sour cream, and you have a meal that the kids love to assemble and eat too! Or try it cold and call it a wrap.

  2. Pasta. Any whole wheat pasta with your favorite sauce, tossed with some chicken is such an easy go-to dinner. I’m a fan of the purees too, so I usually throw in some butternut squash or carrot puree too – no one even knows! You can also bake it, with tons of cheese mixed in and then warmed at 350 for 10-15 mins.

  3. Rice Mush. I know, it’s not pretty, but for some reason this is what my family has termed this quickie. When you have your water boiling (add extra 1/2 cup), toss in the rice with a can of Cream of Chicken, a can of french-style green beans and the chicken – delicious. I’ve also made this with quick-cooking barley and it is just as good – just use a fresh veggie like bell pepper.

  4. Meat and Potatoes. Nothing makes my husband happier than a heaping pike of chicken and potatoes – whether it’s mashed, baked or packaged au gratin. For a veggie, I’ll chop up some carrots or cukes to dip in Ranch and everyone’s happy and healthy.

  5. Chicken Pitas. Grab some pita pockets, feta and a sauce like tzatziki (cucumber based – Trader Joe’s has a good one) or thousand island dressing. Add some lettuce, bell pepper or red onion – whatever your kids will eat – I find enough sauce will get my kids past almost anything!

  6. English Muffin Pizzas. I must give my mother-in-law credit for this. English muffins aren’t that cheap, but sometimes my store has buy-one-get-one deals. You can do the regular tomato-based sauce with the chicken and cheese, or try a jar of alfredo, some olive oil or pesto too. Either way, the kids love sprinkling the cheese and that they get mini pizzas.

  7. Elephant Chicken – because elephants like peanuts. Brown rice, steamed broccoli or bell pepper, chicken and a jar of peanut sauce from the Asian foods aisle is soo yummy! Toss in some unsalted peanuts for crunch and extra protein. Try experimenting with other flavors too, like teriyaki and hoisin.

  8. Salads. Obviously there are a thousand variations, but it’s worth mentioning. It’s hot out and there’s nothing better than a cold dinner. Watch the sales and pick up an assortment of dressing, as well as different nuts, fruits (dried cranberries, mandarins, apples), specialty cheeses – those sort of things that make a salad unique and can be kept on hand for a while. It’s so easy with pre-cooked chicken – just toss and serve. Try lettuce wraps too. Grated carrots, diced celery, a can of water chestnuts or bamboo shoots, some chow mein crunchies and a ginger dressing are just a few fillers.

  9. Sandwiches. Another obvious one, but for some reason, the kids just think it’s hysterical when we have sammies (as they call them) for dinner instead of lunch. You usually have everything you need for it at home anyhow, but there’s something about fresh chicken that makes it special. Try making a simple chicken salad with relish and mayo or melt-style such as chicken parmesan with mozzerella, a dab of tomato sauce and a loaf of crusty bread.

  10. Soups. I know I know, obvious, but it’s a great one pot deal – I love it! Just choose your theme and run with it. Two to three cans of chicken broth will feed a family of four well and all you need to do is add what you’ve got. Some suggested ingredients are canned tomatoes, beans (kidney, black, cannellini), frozen veggie medley, potatoes, pasta, even rice (just be sure to compensate with some more water). The key is to bring all to a boil and then simmer for at least 20 minutes to let all the flavors meld together. Keep garnishes ready too – paremsan, scallions, sour cream, or bacon bits.

  Happy experimenting!

  Tags: chicken, Nicole Perkins, Quick Meals

• 19Jun

  Office Chair by Sonia Nunez, Motherhood Incorporated

  Home Office, Sonia's Story, Tips and Tricks No Comments

  If you’re going to be spending hours and hours in your office, invest in the right furniture as well. Kitchen chairs don’t typically offer a lot of back support and can cause fatigue after just an hour or so.

  Look for an office chair that is fully adjustable – height, back, armrest, everything. A good position for someone else is not going to automatically work for you. Getting a chair on wheels is also good, since you probably need to get up from your desk several times per day.

  I really like this chair. It’s my favorite color too!  Much better than the kitchen chair I sit on now.

  If you need to do work at your desk other than just be at the computer – taking order over the phone, writing things out, and so on – you need a desk that’s big enough to accommodate. A small computer cart won’t be enough.

  We hope you find this information helpful!

  www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  Tags: Chair, motherhood incorporated, Office Chair

• 19Jun

  Can We Talk?

  Health&Fitness, Shannon's Story 1 Comment

  Alright, I apologize in advance if this is too much information but I am perimenopausal and I really wish someone had warned me about all the hormonal fluctuations my body is currently going through. 

  I have heard of hot flashes, I had them when I was pregnant, so I thought I knew what to expect.  No one warned me that later on it would feel like some one taking two hot bricks and trying to squeeze my brain out of the top of my head by smooshing the sides of my face together.  I couldn’t imagine what was wrong with me.

  My mother says, “It’s a hot flash.” 

  I reject it out of hand, “Hot flashes only happen to middle aged women.” 

  To which my mother replies, “You’re 45!  How old are you planning to live?  If you live to 90, guess what? You’re middle aged.” 

  Gasp!  She’s right! I still threatened to put her into a retirement home if she ever says it again!

  I decided to take a trip to the health food store and get some vitamens.  It can’t hurt, right?  The helpful lady at the store says to me, without my even asking, “At your age you need some hormonal support.”  Excuse me? 

  So not only do I feel like my head is going to reach boiling point and pop off of my body, but apparently it is apparent to the naked eye that I am one hormone away from a literal melt down.  Fabulous.

  She takes me over to the counter where she retrieves a little jar and she whispers that this is the answer to all of my problems.  How does she even know what all of my problems are?  I look at her skeptically but I take the jar and look at it.  It is an all natural progesterone cream. 

  She tells me her life changed when she went on it.  Really?  She asked her husband if he noticed a difference when she was on it.  He said he noticed that she no longer cries when she watches commercials for telephone services.  Now I start to sweat.

  She asks me, “Do you cry a lot over things you see on TV?”  I tell her I have cried twice today over Tim Russert’s death.  She nods and pushes the cream towards me. 

  “You don’t understand,” I tell her, “I really liked Tim Russert.” 

  She nods with patience and sympathy. “My husband also says I don’t overreact to all the little things any more.”  I can feel the sweat running off my head now. 

  I laugh, “Don’t tell my husband or he’ll tell me to stick my whole head in the jar.”  I think this is hilarious.  The woman just stares at me she is looking at me with open pity now.

  I grab the information sheet, promise to do some research and I step quickly out of the shop and into the second half of my life.  Maybe the feeling of heat and squeesing pressure on my head is some twisted metaphor for rebirthing into this second half.  I don’t know, all I know is I’m ready for the labor to be over!

  Tags: hormones, hot flashes, perimenopause, progerterone cream, Shannon Penrod, Tim Russert

• 19Jun

  Supervivencia En Un Sueldo/ Mi Historia Por Elisa Garcia

  Elisa's Story, En Espanol No Comments

  Antes de que comenzara a trabajar de hogar, era el sostén económico primario para una familia de tres personas que incluyó mi pareja y a su hijo ahora adulto.  Como procesadora del préstamo de hipoteca para varias compañías nacionales, gané un sueldo bastante alto sobre el curso de mi carrera de diez años.  Mis ganancias bajas más escala de la prima complementaron la renta del ayudante administrativo de mi pareja muy, muy bien por siete años, hasta el punto de pudiéramos comprar un nuevo hogar, viajan muy bien espontáneamente, y financian completamente la prueba de la fertilidad y el concepto intrauterino de la inseminación de nuestra hija.  De hecho, éramos *casi* un hogar con renta del seis-dígito… bueno para dos mujeres de la clase obrera que nunca acabaron la universidad, verdad?

  Rápido adelante al año ocho.  El hijo crecido ahora vive sin embargo con nosotros solamente por horas, pero todavía tenemos la hipoteca y la nota del coche y las cuentas de la tarjeta de crédito y todos los biles además de nuestra hija encantadora de dos años y más un perro y un gato rescatados… y nosotros lo están haciendo solamente mismos en menos de $50.000.00 anualmente. ¿Cómo?

  Sacrificio. Simplemente. Sacrificio. Ya se van los tres, cuatro, a veces cinco comidas semanal del restaurante.  Ahora, Mamá lo planea el desayuno, el almuerzo, y los menús de la cena que incorporan ingredientes fundamentos y versátiles.  El alimento que pierde es equivalente a pecado en nuestro hogar.  Ahora, mi solamente rotura de cocinar es viernes. Y tengo un archivo de la cupón que mantenga con la organización y la precisión extremas. Usted pensaría que juntaba las piezas de una tableta antropológica!

  Ya se va la guardería excelente de mi hija Alina.  Ahora, Mamá escribe y contesta los emails del cliente en el amanecer o durante la siesta diario que rápidamente se esta disminuciando.

  Ya se va mi guardarropa.  Una parte superior enorme a mi funcionamiento del hogar es la pérdida de treinta libras adicionales (o de un Alina!); porque afirmo no más con la tensión que proviene el trabajo en un campo de mí detesto, estoy mascando no más en mi escritorio por ocho horas por día.  Ahora, soy bañeras de limpieza activas, escaleras vaccuuming, estantes que sacan el polvo, y muebles móviles.  Y aunque la pérdida de peso era maravillosa y necesitada desesperadamente, tengo no más cualesquiera pantalones o shorts o falda que cabido correctamente.  Todo cede de modo que mire a menudo como estoy emulando a mi hijastro.  No soy.  Es apenas que los únicos pantalones que permanecen para arriba sucede ser suda… y los he usado, también.

  Ya se van los viajes espontáneos… pero para ser justos, ellos hicieron bastante mucha parada después de que llegara Alina.  Y con precios de la gasolina tan arriba, estamos ahorrando mucho dinero en mi hasta ahora horrendamente largo conmutamos.

  Y, oh sí, hay un montón de otras áreas en donde hemos tenido que escatimar y excepto y eliminar en conjunto; la lista es apenas demasiado larga entrar aquí.  Y, agradecidamente, he ganado un poco dinero aquí y allí la cortesía de los agentes inmobiliarios locales que creen que mi maestría de la hipoteca y de la escritura es una mezcla ideal para su negocio. Vendí una historia para la publicación este otoño… bueno para una mujer de la clase obrera que universidad nunca acabada y comenzado solamente seriamente a escribir este invierno, verdad? 

  Así pues, encapsular: para llevar chino rápido contra descansos frecuentes del niño; guardería exclusiva contra días exclusivos de la hija; ropa adaptada de moda contra castoffs hechos andrajos, rasgados, y recorrido espontáneo contra trabajo suburbano…. Hmmmm …..

  ¿Digno de él? Cada pequeño pedacito.

  Por Elisa Garcia

  Tags: sobreviviendo en una renta, supervivencia en un sueldo, trabajando en hogar

• 19Jun

  Surviving on a Single Income/ My Story by Elisa Garcia

  Being a Mom, Elisa's Story, Household, Working from Home 3 Comments

  

  Before I began working from home, I was the primary breadwinner for a three-person family that included my partner and her now adult son.  As a mortgage loan processor for several national companies, I earned a fairly high salary over the course of my ten year career.  My base earnings plus bonus scale complemented my partner’s administrative assistant income very, very well for seven years, to the extent that we were able to purchase a new home, travel spontaneously, and fully fund fertility testing and the intrauterine insemination conception of our daughter.  In fact, we were *almost* a six-digit household … not bad for two working class women who never finished college.

  Fast forward to year eight.  Though the grown son now lives with us only part-time, we still have the mortgage and car note and credit card and utility bills to contend with in addition to our lovely two-year-old plus a rescued dog and cat … and we’re doing it ourselves on less than $50,000.00 annually.  How?

  Sacrifice.  Simply.  Sacrifice.  Gone are the three, four, sometimes five-night-a-week restaurant meals.  Mama now plans breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that incorporate versatile basics.  Wasting food is tantamount to sin in our home.  Now, my only cooking break is Friday.  And I have a coupon file that I maintain with the utmost organization and precision.  You’d think I was piecing an anthropological tablet the way I rank and file coupon clippings.

  Gone is my daughter Alina’s excellent daycare.  Mama must now write and answer client e-mails at dawn or during rapidly diminishing naptimes … and take up Grandma and Grandpa’s babysitting offers as they come.

  Gone is my wardrobe.  A huge, huge upside to my working from home is the loss of thirty extra pounds (or one Alina!); because I no longer contend with the stress that stems from working in a field I loathe, I’m no longer munching at my desk for eight hours a day.  Now, I’m active scrubbing bathtubs, vaccuuming stairs, dusting shelves, and moving furniture.  And though the weight loss was wonderful and desperately needed, I no longer have any pants or shorts or skirts that fit properly.  Everything sags so that I often look like I’m emulating my stepson.  I’m not.  It’s just that the only pants that stay up happen to be sweats … and I’ve worn them out, too. 

  Gone are the spontaneous daytrips … though, to be fair, they did pretty much stall after Alina arrived.  But with gas prices so high, we are saving money on my hitherto horrendously long commute. 

   And, oh yes, there are plenty of other areas wherein we’ve had to scrimp and save and eliminate altogether.  The list is just too long to enter here.  And, thankfully, I have earned a little dinero here and there courtesy of local realtors who find my mortgage and writing expertise an ideal blend for their business needs.  I sold a story for publication this fall … not bad for a working class woman who never finished college and only seriously started writing this winter.

   So, to encapsulate: fast Chinese takeout vs. frequent child time-outs;  exclusive daycare vs. exclusive daughter days; trendy tailored clothing vs. tattered, torn castoffs, and spontaneous travel vs. suburban toil ….  Hmmmm …..

  Worth it? Every little bit.

  by Elisa Garcia

  Tags: can I stay home?, financial sacrifices of working at home, single income, work at home

• 18Jun

  Late night makeovers and StumbleUpon.com by Tia Peterson/All American Admin

  Marketing Your Own Company, Tia's Story, Virtual Assistants No Comments

  I think it’s so funny that Sandra just recently posted about getting a lovely long night of sleep, because it’s after midnight at the moment (on the East Coast) and I’m still awake, day-dreaming of sleep…

  I just gave my company website a quick makeover. Not in terms of design or personality, but in content. I was finally able to streamline what I do into something I can “talk about at parties” (that was a nod to Jack Nicholson’s monologue in A Few Good Men…)

  Seriously, though, I was able to spend some time while my son is down for (half) the night refining and describing my service offering in a way that finally makes sense. Being a virtual assistant is a wonderous and mysterious thing: people love what you do while at the same time not quite understanding what you do, no matter how many times you explain it.

  On a totally different note, I want to brag that I was the first to “discover” Motherhood Incorporated and the Mother Incoporated blog on StumbleUpon. If you don’t know what StumbleUpon is, you should find out soon.

  The main reason is that you should at least look to see whether someone has already discovered your site (it makes you feel good) and secondly you should know whether you’re getting thumbs ups or thumbs down – because your approval isn’t warranted with StumbleUpon. Your website could be getting rated and you wouldn’t be the wiser unless you are part of the StumbleUpon community.

  It’s really a website ratings tool – people involved in StumbleUpon spend time “stumbling” websites that are presented to them based on a set of preferences. Then, we give the site a thumbs up or thumbs down. The more thumbs up a site is given, the more it is presented, thereby increasing the daily hits to that site exponentially.

  If that kind of thing strikes your fancy, I say give it a try. I like it so far, but I caution against spending too much time “stumbling” – it’s very addictive!

  Ciao,

  Tia

  All American Admin

  Tags: All American Admin, StumbleUpon, StumbleUpon.com, Virtual Assistant

• 18Jun

  Sleep by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Being a Mom, Sandra's Story No Comments

   by sandra beck

  Yesterday, something rare happened.

  My husband took my older son to Chicago for a visit with his family.  Our family friend Anna took my younger son to the zoo with her family and kept him for an overnight.   I found myself for the first time in years home alone in my own house.

  I didn’t know what to do at first.  I could have cleaned the kitchen. I could have organized my office.  I was thinking about going to see a movie. By 8:30 pm I was at a loss without my bedtime routine of bath, songs, reading and snuggling.   I realized I hadn’t watched TV that wasn’t recorded or on a DVD in so long that I was befuddled by the new shows airing on channels I didn’t even know I had.

  I wandered about my house listening to the silence. No crying. No yelling. No laughing. No sounds of anything.  It was so quiet my ears hurt. For almost an hour I wandered around. I watered the wilting plant and then I sat quietly on the couch. I don’t know what happened…maybe I was abducted by aliens.  I woke up and it was daylight and 8:30 again. This time in the morning!

  I slept without waking for 12 hours straight. My body was warm and rested — a very unfamilier feeling! No toddler pee breaks. No sippy cups of milk. No bottles to refill. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I slowed down.  Once I slowed down I crashed.

  I was reading online about how when people sit down and fall asleep almost immediately upon being still…they have a sleep disorder, or narcolepsy or are sleep deprived.  Sleep deprived with two rambunctions boys 4 and under doesn’t cut.  Sleep deprived indicated that there is sleep to be had, but being withhelp…mine should read sleep impossible or sleep denied…or only fools at this stage in their life and career think they can sleep!

  I hadn’t realized how running Motherhood Incorporated out of my home and raising two kids could drain me.  To be honest, I missed my kids. I missed their happy sounds and I even missed their dive bombs off the couch. I missed them messing in my office and leaving crayon artwork on my desk. 

  But, I really really really enjoyed sleeping.  I hadn’t slept that deeply or that soundly in years.  Now I just have to figure out how to do that again…hopefully it won’t be another 6 years!

  www.motherhoodincorporated.com

  Tags: sleeping, Working Mom

• 17Jun

  Breaking Up the Routine by Tia Peterson/All American Admin

  Tia's Story, Working from Home No Comments

  I’m working from Panera Bread today rather than from home, at least for a few hours, and already my thoughts are different than usual. My mood is lighter, almost carefree, and I’ve “found” some time to do some extra-curricular social networking while I was here. Funny how that works.

  There’s something about seeing new faces, hearing new conversations and physically being in a new space that causes our mind to expand into all sorts of new ideas and thoughts.

  Working from home can either be ultimately exhilarating or downright suffocating, depending on the amount of space, noise, and distraction you’re exposed to, or just according to your own boredom level. I become bored with myself quickly and so from time to time, I like to change it up.

  Don’t be afraid to break up the routine every now and then – and be true to yourself. Working from home has its ups and downs and just like all things, you are not required to love it 100% of the time! Find a local co-working place (like Office Nomads – www.officenomads.com) or do what I do and make it excuse to buy high-priced bagels and coffee and just get out for an hour or two…and see what new ideas come your way.

  Tia

  http://www.allamericanadmin.com 

  Tags: office nomads, social networking, Working from Home

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