On Saturday we leave for our annual beach week. Last year I broke down why I love this vacation so much and you can read that here. This pre-vacation week of physical preparation has included replacing lost swimsuits, waiting on the porch to make sure the beach house t-shirts arrive on time, and stocking up on spray sunscreen before it gets pulled from the shelves. I've also been by studying my vocab words for Bananagrams, mentally preparing for living with 20+ other people, and coming to … [Read more...] about step away from the blog
work and career
tips for parents: managing summer while staying halfway sane
I spent the first few days of summer vacation threatening to send my kids to camp. There was so much attitude. Is this all there is to eat? Why do we have to go to the pool? I'm hot. It's hot. I'm hot. There's nothing to do. Sound familiar? What I realized quickly was that this attitude was just as much me as it was them. We had a sit down. I explained to them the approach for summer we had decided to take. I called it The Freedom Approach. No camp or scheduled activities means freedom for … [Read more...] about tips for parents: managing summer while staying halfway sane
i am a writer
I was in a webinar earlier this week about building your audience. And the first step to becoming a writer is to own your identity as a writer (Thanks Jeff Goins!). For over the past year, I have been writing nearly every day. I've written over 136 blog posts, thousands and thousands of words strung together in various degrees of success, and as of last Thursday, I can officially say I've completed a draft of a book that will be published this fall. But I don't call myself a writer. I haven't … [Read more...] about i am a writer
new ventures
I've been hinting around for the past few weeks, maybe months, that there is a new project brewing around here. The first I already spilled the beans on - I am writing a non-fiction book about relocating with kids. The second goes hand-in-hand, and it's all about getting that book (and some others) out into the world. Like any new venture, there's been a ton of research (probably too much), a fair amount of doubt (trying to keep that in check is a part-time job on its own), and a lot of staring … [Read more...] about new ventures
having it all – yes, that includes career angst
I was sitting in a hotel room in Florida when they confronted me. It wasn't a fashion intervention or a cult deprogramming. But I did have a problem. It was brought to my attention that I've been unnecessarily down on myself about my career especially in writing about it here on my blog. And it made me realize that yes, I've had some career angst, but it's not because I'm not proud of what I've accomplished or feel bad about my choices. In fact, I think one would be hard pressed to find … [Read more...] about having it all – yes, that includes career angst
from sunday blah’s to monday a-ha’s
The last couple of Sunday's I've had an intense case of The Sunday Blah's. By 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon I've found myself in a funk of the worst proportions. A downward spiral of crabbiness that I couldn't seem to shake. It's not the looming week that sets me off. I actually love Monday's. I love the back to school and back to work industry of a Monday morning. Routines and systems in place. Monday's make me feel like anything is possible. No dangling carrots are needed. Now Wednesday … [Read more...] about from sunday blah’s to monday a-ha’s
you just might learn something
I took some time over the last few days to reflect on my one year anniversary of blogging as more than just a day or a milestone or an excuse to buy flowers (which I did). And by taking that time to dig a little deeper, I was reminded of a few things, lessons, that I have learned along the way. Maybe they apply to something that's on your mind, a challenge you're trying to work through or a puzzle you're trying to figure out. Lesson #1 - I don't want to be a blogger. When I first … [Read more...] about you just might learn something
do you work outside the home?
Do you work outside the home? This seems to be the latest politically correct way to ask another woman, especially a mother, about her life. I hear it on the playground and at school functions and at parties and events. As someone who recently relocated and is still meeting new people and acclimating to a new area, I've spent the last year trying to connect with other women about their lives and fumbling through explaining my own situation on a pretty regular basis. When this … [Read more...] about do you work outside the home?