December 3rd, 2009

Christmas Equals Busy

I love the holiday season – it’s a great time to focus on family and enjoy some of the biggest benefits of my work at home life. I can do a little baking every week, I can get my shopping done when the mall is slightly less insane and then I can work half the night! Oh wait – that part isn’t so fun, but I can’t complain too much – I’m grateful for the work I have. I just wish BabyBoy wouldn’t have his worst sleep in ages on the night I stayed up way too late finishing a project!

So the best way to keep a handle on all the crazy during this busy season is to make a list – or three or four! I love lists, they keep me on track. I have work to-do lists, personal to-do lists, Christmas shopping lists, dinner menu lists, baking lists. Today’s top priority is trying to set my baking list in stone, so I can buy some supplies and get going.

I have annual baking traditions and I also enjoy trying a new recipe or two each year. So far, this is what’s on my agenda, but I’m definitely open for suggestions if anyone has a favorite they think we should try.

1. Whipped Shortbread (hubby’s favorite)
2. Butter Tarts (my grandma always made these!)
3. Gingerbread cookies (for the boys to decorate)
4. Nanaimo squares (maybe)
5. Date squares

I usually make fudge and/or truffles too, but not sure if I’m going to this year.  Chocolate is my biggest weakness and I really want to keep my calorie intake reasonable.

Close to the actual holiday I’ll also make a couple of pies to serve as dessert, and I may make this beautiful angel food cake recipe from the most recent Cooking Light magazine.

Good thing we have lots of people invited for dinner – got a lot of sugar happening!!!

Laurie

April 17th, 2009

Busy Week Over

It seemed like a totally crazy week this week – I think I put in my most billable hours ever (not that that is that many, lol) and spent time trying to stay a little on top of housework and the kiddos.  The weather went from snow to sun to rain and it’s kind of annoying, but not truly awful so I’ll try not to complain.

I received a couple of interesting looking books to review and I have to decide exactly how I’m going to handle product reviews on my blog (these are unpaid, but not at all the same as reviewing a book I chose and paid for). I’m thinking of setting it up as a sub-page or sub-domain maybe? Any hints?

I have plenty of work still for the weekend and next week and a couple of events at 7yo’s school next week (family lunch one day, parent-teacher interview and the pie social!) Plus tonight I actually am doing something fun – I’m on a Twitter panel for a site-warming party for Virtual Assistant Hub!! How fun, and it’s all about being a virtual assistant so obviously right up my alley. If you’re interested check it out around 9pm est/6pst on Twitter – hashtag #VAHub. Oh and don’t forget to sign the Mr. Linky at Resourceful Mommy to qualify to win some cool prizes!

p.s. and so cool, noticed the photo credit for the sitewarming post at Resourceful Mommy is by mastermaq – one of my #yeg twitter peeps!!

Ok, off to take a quick break from my laptop before the party – hope to see you there!

Laurie, Mobile Mommy

January 24th, 2009

WAHM Weekly

I’m planning to make this a regular feature on my blog – a weekly post following up with some of my favorite work at home mom bloggers. I have trouble blogging regularly (the VA business is keeping me busy, not to mention those three little boys I love so much!) but I always find time to read other bloggers – might as well blog about them too!

So here’s my first WAHM Weekly post. January is almost over (thank goodness – only another couple of months of winter here in Alberta, lol) and my favorite WAHM bloggers have been busy, busy, busy getting 2009 off to a great start.

Lorna and Tamara over at Freelance Parent made a big decision – they are going to have an out-of-home office now to help them as they grow their awesome freelance writing business! Of course they are still WAHMs though, right?! I’m sure they won’t get all their work done at the new office – but I bet it’ll be nice to have a place to escape to sometimes!

Kelly from WAHM 2.0 was a speaker at the wonderful Totally B.A.D. at Totally Her on Tuesday. I enjoyed Kelly’s chat about podcasting and definitely am going to have to look at adding podcasting to my repertoire sometime this year!

Jessica Smith blogged about her new endeavor where she will be a Rodan + Fields consultant. Sounds like a good product and skipping the home parties is a great option for some moms, especially if you really care about the product! Reminds me I was thinking about doing some research into Epicure (super yummy spices and other food products that you sell as a consultant)!

Alyssa wrote about how unsettled she’s being feeling, even though it’s clear she’s got a lot on her plate, she feels she needs to do more. Us TypeA type moms often feel this way I think – I know I do. But really, how much can anyone expect of themselves? Aim high but don’t be unhappy if you can’t get it all done!!

Addison had a very interesting post about Telecommuting Isolation. Personally, I think I’m pretty lucky most of the time. I enjoy the quiet of working from home (well, as quiet as working at home with little ones underfeet can be, lol!) and don’t really miss having co-workers. Probably related to the horribly negative environment of my last job. I loved the work and certain colleagues but there were a select few who worked to make it as miserable as possible for everyone. Plus I’m lucky now that I have a great husband to share my day with and my best friend is usually available for a phone chat during the day if I need some “grown-up” talk!

Hope you enjoyed the first WAHM Weekly and if you are a WAHM with a blog please leave me a comment so that I can make sure to include you in the future! I love my WAHM peeps!