July 21st, 2009

Planning Mayhem

I had this big idea that maybe I’d get some really good posts up on my blog this week, you know to make sure any fellow BlogHers who check it out (pre- or post-conference) would see me as interesting or deep-thinking or whatever. Ha ha on me. Instead I spent the past weekend and this week in total mayhem mode.

First, DH got a call about FINALLY going back to his regular work, sort of. Same employer, same job title, different location. He’s in the Northwest Territories!! As you can see from my handy Google Map, that’s not exactly close to our home near Edmonton, Alberta.

So there went my children’s caregiver during BlogHer, since it was going to be daddy-time for them. Thank goodness for my stepmother, she stepped in and offered to take all the boys. After a few discussions back and forth, my sister actually is going to take the baby, but my dad and stepmom will take the older two. Children solved. Dog still presented an issue but with some bribery my sis is now taking him too. Yes, it’s a little sad that I feel the need to bribe someone to watch my lazy old dog who just sleeps all the time. Whatever, I’m over it.

New caregivers means new plans all around though – instead of my DH dropping me and BFF off at the airport, I was going to drive us to the airport. Wednesday night (flight is EARLY Thurs) I’ll be driving the hour to my parents to drop off older two. My sis will come here later Wed to stay with baby/dog.

And of course I still have work to finish in the midst of the arrangements, not to mention a house that is not at all clean, as DH had wanted to “prove” how he could do everything and was going to get things ship-shape while I was in Chicago. Now I’m stuck trying to make it at least presentable before I leave, especially with my sis staying here a couple of nights (she’s a little bit of a clean-freak, especially compared to my laissez-faire cleaning style). I got a new client today (yay!!) which should be nothing but good, but is one extra straw on the camel’s back, ya know? No worries though, everything will get done, I will get on that plane come Thursday and hopefully my cranky mood of the past few days will disappear with the miles!

June 29th, 2009

Working on the Weekend

I started working with a new client this weekend. It was interesting, as I’m often busy on weekends and don’t always answer my business line then, but this Saturday I was around home with no real plans and so I answered when the phone rang. It was a client who had some urgent work and was glad to find a virtual assistant who was actually available on the weekend. It was definitely good timing!

It can be very hard to make yourself work on the weekends, when the kids are happily running around the house wanting you to join in, or the farmer’s market calls your name. Or scrabble – good thing I got in some scrabble last weekend, lol! It’s so important to grab good opportunities when they come your way though – you never know when things are going to align just right and you’ll move your business another step forward. So I keep telling my lovely sister who finally has finished her esthetics program and is ready to get going with doing esthetics from home. She did my nails a few days ago and they look so pretty, but she needs to work on her business attitude. Always a reason for not wanting to start just yet.

Anyway, not my concern is it. What can I say, I’m a bit of an overly-involved sister sometimes. Growing up we joked that I was the mom of the family (my mom is not so much of the “grown-up” unfortunately). But sis is a grown up and has to do things her way – and I have enough mothering to do with my three wild boys!

I didn’t just work this weekend. In fact I also attended a baby shower and read a couple of good books. Books are such a nice break from the busy parts of my week, and with the cable turned off I’ve been reading more than ever! In fact tomorrow I’m planning to get a post up about my latest review book, Dune Road by Jane Green. Oh and if, like me, you’ve turned back to young adult fiction ever since the Twilight Phenomenon, can I recommend the Night World series by L.J. Smith or books by Scott Westerfeld (The Uglies, The Pretties, etc) – I am so glad I’ve started reading YA novels again, they are a perfect break from my life!

Ok, really must go to bed. Not only did I work this weekend, but late last night and I just finished another urgent project. My eyes are tired and my back is wondering when I’m going to stop sitting at the table with my laptop and actually use my home office!!

December 26th, 2008

Time to Rev Back Up

Well the holidays are flying by and now that Christmas is over I find myself completely invigorated and refreshed and ready to plan for 2009. I’ll have a detailed post soon sharing some of my goals and thoughts about being a work at home mom over the coming year, but right now I just had to say how great it was to take a little break!

I have been working a little over the past few days and I signed a really exciting new client which should push my monthly income into a much more comfortable place! This is a big milestone, since I’ll now be making very similar to what I did as a full-time, in house legal assistant, well at least what I took home after paying daycare, parking, union dues and such. Not even considering the cost of professional work clothes, birthday lunches, co-worker gifts etc! So I’m feeling very proud of my fledgling VA business and really, really excited about the coming year and all the possibilities that are unfolding.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are making your plans for the new year!