This is a serious issue especially our younger generation. This is not a typical topic for this blog but I feel it is important. Together we can combat and overcome such a hateful situation.
How to Prevent Cyberbullying | eHow.com
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I am back!
We returned from vacation on Sunday and boy oh boy was that a long, but wonderful, trip. I can certainly see us doing that one again. Next time though we will add an extra day so that in the middle we have a break.
My rest didn't last long. I came back to 2 sick sister-in-laws who needed help with the kids so off I went. In fact I am still helping take care of the kids. I wanted to take at least 1 day off before I was back into my routine of babysitting but as you can tell that didn't work out as planned. After today I have to get some cleaning and organizing of my house done. Lots and lots going on right now.
This next 3 weeks will be very stressful. Something I am not looking forward to. Can't say much about it now but will very soon. With a little faith and tequila we will all come through this just fine.
My rest didn't last long. I came back to 2 sick sister-in-laws who needed help with the kids so off I went. In fact I am still helping take care of the kids. I wanted to take at least 1 day off before I was back into my routine of babysitting but as you can tell that didn't work out as planned. After today I have to get some cleaning and organizing of my house done. Lots and lots going on right now.
This next 3 weeks will be very stressful. Something I am not looking forward to. Can't say much about it now but will very soon. With a little faith and tequila we will all come through this just fine.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Unintentional Hiatus
I took an unintentional hiatus from this blog and a few other things to gather myself and prepare for the sale of my business. No matter how professional I tried to look at it, all I could see was I was selling something that was so dear to me.
I had hoped a nice Christmas vacation to Disneyland with my family would clear my head and bring me home ready to take on the world with my newest venture, Party Gals. It didn't really. All I could see was how many changes were made to the business I sold (I didn't seek them out, I seen them advertised by other wahms) and it truly bothered me. As an artist who dabbled in advertising art in college while earning my degree in animation some things I just see as amateur with cutsie graphics and no real professional presence. I do however see the care taken in marketing.
Today I seen yet another marketing piece with amateur graphics and taking away the essence of the business. I know, I know. But when you put so much into it and you should be looking at it as a business deal and just move on, I just can't seem to do so.
My days have revolved around taking care of my niece and nephew but the days have been split and erratic that sometimes I don't even have much time with my own family. I think some people do forget that and it does make it hard trying to explain that. I have taken steps to begin to keep those days less random so I can spend more time with my family.
With spending so little time with my family I don't seem to find time to cook for them. Either its take out or they have dinner ready by the time I get home. It was really nice to cook them dinner last night and doing so again tonight. It is the little things you take for granted or simply forget the pleasure it does bring to you.
We are leaving again for another vacation in less than a week. It was an unexpected trip that came after a very nice windfall from a remaining held sum from my car accident settlement. We decided to go during the spring and celebrate my son's 17th birthday at Disneyland. We will also be celebrating my husbands birthday with a belated gift of NASCAR. We decided to go with the Budwiser Block Party pack so everyone could go to the pits have a truly memorable first NASCAR race experience. My husband is all about racing so this is especially exciting for him. We order the Southern California City Pass so we will have 3 days in Disneyland, 1 day in Universal Studios, 1 day at Seaworld, and 1 day at the Wild Animal park. We got a great deal on www.getawaytoday.com for these. We arrive a day early which allows us to rest after a 12 hour drive and even visit with some family (we are from CA so lots of family still there).
When we return we have a lot of changes coming our way and will be a lot of hustle. It will be a blessing to go away to relax and come back with a fresh outlook.
Coming back will also open up new life for this blog and give opportunities to new postings as I find new passion in my Party Gals and Baby Bottom Bakes business.
While trying to redirect my thoughts I started a blog about my Disney adventures in and out of the disney parks. Disney is in my life daily. Without trying I have something disney on me at all times. My current purse is mickey, my keys have mickey and minnie keychains, I am often seen wearing a mickey shirt in some way, and I have my mickey necklace I wear from time to time, and my watch that I can never seem to lose (not that I want to). Disney has always brought me great pleasure. Also Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse were my inspirations for going to college and getting my animation degree.
For 3 years I did it all. Upwards of 18 hour days. I think the idea of selling part of that gave way to allowing me to see what was really important to me and also show me I can't do it all. I see so many WAHMs talk about doing it all and taking on more than 2 businesses. I think 2 is tough when done right. Trying to do more, the right way, is nearly impossible if you want to have any personal time or family time. Some will disagree but if we are bring honest about it, something is sacrificed every single time.
No more unannounced, or unintentional, hiatuses.
I had hoped a nice Christmas vacation to Disneyland with my family would clear my head and bring me home ready to take on the world with my newest venture, Party Gals. It didn't really. All I could see was how many changes were made to the business I sold (I didn't seek them out, I seen them advertised by other wahms) and it truly bothered me. As an artist who dabbled in advertising art in college while earning my degree in animation some things I just see as amateur with cutsie graphics and no real professional presence. I do however see the care taken in marketing.
Today I seen yet another marketing piece with amateur graphics and taking away the essence of the business. I know, I know. But when you put so much into it and you should be looking at it as a business deal and just move on, I just can't seem to do so.
My days have revolved around taking care of my niece and nephew but the days have been split and erratic that sometimes I don't even have much time with my own family. I think some people do forget that and it does make it hard trying to explain that. I have taken steps to begin to keep those days less random so I can spend more time with my family.
With spending so little time with my family I don't seem to find time to cook for them. Either its take out or they have dinner ready by the time I get home. It was really nice to cook them dinner last night and doing so again tonight. It is the little things you take for granted or simply forget the pleasure it does bring to you.
We are leaving again for another vacation in less than a week. It was an unexpected trip that came after a very nice windfall from a remaining held sum from my car accident settlement. We decided to go during the spring and celebrate my son's 17th birthday at Disneyland. We will also be celebrating my husbands birthday with a belated gift of NASCAR. We decided to go with the Budwiser Block Party pack so everyone could go to the pits have a truly memorable first NASCAR race experience. My husband is all about racing so this is especially exciting for him. We order the Southern California City Pass so we will have 3 days in Disneyland, 1 day in Universal Studios, 1 day at Seaworld, and 1 day at the Wild Animal park. We got a great deal on www.getawaytoday.com for these. We arrive a day early which allows us to rest after a 12 hour drive and even visit with some family (we are from CA so lots of family still there).
When we return we have a lot of changes coming our way and will be a lot of hustle. It will be a blessing to go away to relax and come back with a fresh outlook.
Coming back will also open up new life for this blog and give opportunities to new postings as I find new passion in my Party Gals and Baby Bottom Bakes business.
While trying to redirect my thoughts I started a blog about my Disney adventures in and out of the disney parks. Disney is in my life daily. Without trying I have something disney on me at all times. My current purse is mickey, my keys have mickey and minnie keychains, I am often seen wearing a mickey shirt in some way, and I have my mickey necklace I wear from time to time, and my watch that I can never seem to lose (not that I want to). Disney has always brought me great pleasure. Also Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse were my inspirations for going to college and getting my animation degree.
For 3 years I did it all. Upwards of 18 hour days. I think the idea of selling part of that gave way to allowing me to see what was really important to me and also show me I can't do it all. I see so many WAHMs talk about doing it all and taking on more than 2 businesses. I think 2 is tough when done right. Trying to do more, the right way, is nearly impossible if you want to have any personal time or family time. Some will disagree but if we are bring honest about it, something is sacrificed every single time.
No more unannounced, or unintentional, hiatuses.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Side Banners
From time to time I like to share other blogs or businesses in my side column. Being I do not do a banner exchange I clear out banners every 6 months and start new. This keeps things fresh and brings in new and exciting sites for you to view. If you would like your banner shown in the side bar, please comment with your banner link (I am unable to host images for this blog at this time) and url link.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Life as I know it
Going from a full-time-plus WAHM to a part-time WAHM running 3 businesses (Party Gals, Teaporia, and Baby Bottom Bakes), 1 of which I own, has made major changes in my life. I closed my purse business recently. It was terribly sad but with the constant troubles I ran into I lost my passion for it. I hope to one day reopen as I regain the passion.
I refocused on Party Gals, a romance company. For years I had tossed the idea around about joining a company such as this. I kept putting it off because I was unsure of how my family would accept my venture. When I was close to closing my purse business I began looking around for a new direction in a completely different market. This is when I sat down with my family and asked how they would actually feel with knowing others new my business. The support was incredible so I jumped at the chance.
Teaporia is a company I have represented for a couple years now and love it. I have always kept this as a very part-time business by choice. Its a fabulous company with great products. I used this company to help boost my other businesses such as a purse tea party and now days naughty tea parties.
My personally owned Baby Bottom Bakes started from a hobby of many years as more and more requested my diaper cakes and other goodies. I opened my website several months ago more as an informational point but soon to take on orders for shipping. I am very particular about my cakes so I want them to be perfect through shipping. They will do just fine as they ship but still nervous. I do however have other items shipping which has become a fun adventure. Being it is only me I am staying small as business builds and eventually will take on a small staff that can create these handmade gifts to order.
When I am not working I am usually babysitting my niece or nephew. My niece is 15 months currently and my nephew (also my godson) is 10 months. My baby is 16 so its nice to have baby time. Its even more special that I can be so involved in my nieces and nephew's lives.
My son is the typical teenage who is trying to be as independent as possible. That makes mom a very uncool person to be around unless of course he needs money, he is sick, or he wants mom time and we head out to starbucks. My husband not only works his full-time job but he also is in college full-time and plays race car driver on the weekends. That doesn't give us much time together as a family but we do manage to come together every sunday at my mothers for family day.
In 4 weeks we will be in CA for a Christmas vacation with Mickey Mouse. In all the years I lived in Socal I never once visited the magic kingdom during any of the holidays. Last year was my 1st visit during Halloween and it was so fun seeing the park with new eyes. We also visited Universal Studios on Halloween at their Halloween Horror Nights. That was amazing! One of the best times I have ever had! We opted for the RIP tour. If you get a chance, try the tour. This year both parks will be fully decked out for the jingle holidays. I love Dr Suess so the idea of playing in whoville is very exciting. I am very excited to see Disneyland yet again with new eyes. Plus for the 1st time in about 10yrs I will be celebrating my birthday and we will be at Disneyland the day of. All of us kids have been cursed with a birthday within about a week of Christmas so to have it all to myself without the combo gifts is a very pleasant idea. We are going with several family members so this is just so exciting. We go to Disneyland so often its become like home. Still fun each time we go but to have the added excitement of something new always brings something fresh to the vacation.
Even with all that is coming I am still looking forward to the 2 of the 3 sit-down family dinners we share each year. Its special and many of my memories of youth have come from these special dinners. The smell of turkey throughout the house, football game on the tv, and the chatter of family masked with the laughs and screams of the kids is always a delightful time.
I will be one of those nuts shopping on Black Friday so wave in my direction if you are out there too!
Cherish those memories and share them for years to come. I wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
I refocused on Party Gals, a romance company. For years I had tossed the idea around about joining a company such as this. I kept putting it off because I was unsure of how my family would accept my venture. When I was close to closing my purse business I began looking around for a new direction in a completely different market. This is when I sat down with my family and asked how they would actually feel with knowing others new my business. The support was incredible so I jumped at the chance.
Teaporia is a company I have represented for a couple years now and love it. I have always kept this as a very part-time business by choice. Its a fabulous company with great products. I used this company to help boost my other businesses such as a purse tea party and now days naughty tea parties.
My personally owned Baby Bottom Bakes started from a hobby of many years as more and more requested my diaper cakes and other goodies. I opened my website several months ago more as an informational point but soon to take on orders for shipping. I am very particular about my cakes so I want them to be perfect through shipping. They will do just fine as they ship but still nervous. I do however have other items shipping which has become a fun adventure. Being it is only me I am staying small as business builds and eventually will take on a small staff that can create these handmade gifts to order.
When I am not working I am usually babysitting my niece or nephew. My niece is 15 months currently and my nephew (also my godson) is 10 months. My baby is 16 so its nice to have baby time. Its even more special that I can be so involved in my nieces and nephew's lives.
My son is the typical teenage who is trying to be as independent as possible. That makes mom a very uncool person to be around unless of course he needs money, he is sick, or he wants mom time and we head out to starbucks. My husband not only works his full-time job but he also is in college full-time and plays race car driver on the weekends. That doesn't give us much time together as a family but we do manage to come together every sunday at my mothers for family day.
In 4 weeks we will be in CA for a Christmas vacation with Mickey Mouse. In all the years I lived in Socal I never once visited the magic kingdom during any of the holidays. Last year was my 1st visit during Halloween and it was so fun seeing the park with new eyes. We also visited Universal Studios on Halloween at their Halloween Horror Nights. That was amazing! One of the best times I have ever had! We opted for the RIP tour. If you get a chance, try the tour. This year both parks will be fully decked out for the jingle holidays. I love Dr Suess so the idea of playing in whoville is very exciting. I am very excited to see Disneyland yet again with new eyes. Plus for the 1st time in about 10yrs I will be celebrating my birthday and we will be at Disneyland the day of. All of us kids have been cursed with a birthday within about a week of Christmas so to have it all to myself without the combo gifts is a very pleasant idea. We are going with several family members so this is just so exciting. We go to Disneyland so often its become like home. Still fun each time we go but to have the added excitement of something new always brings something fresh to the vacation.
Even with all that is coming I am still looking forward to the 2 of the 3 sit-down family dinners we share each year. Its special and many of my memories of youth have come from these special dinners. The smell of turkey throughout the house, football game on the tv, and the chatter of family masked with the laughs and screams of the kids is always a delightful time.
I will be one of those nuts shopping on Black Friday so wave in my direction if you are out there too!
Cherish those memories and share them for years to come. I wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Coffee Shop Deals
Coffee Shop Deals is a site that will allow you to shop from all different types of businesses. I am a work at home Mom and I strongly believe in supporting others that work from home as well. I started this site as a place to promote all my businesses and decided as things evolve and change to use it also to feature a few other businesses from the amazing people I have met online over the past 2 years. So I will be changing things over the next week or so and you will see new things added here as well. I hope you will enjoy the changes I have decided to make and hope that you will continue to support all of us as we try to make better lives for our families .
Welcome to Coffee Shop Deals. We have opened our doors!!
This blog has been moved over from Bailey's Bargain Bin and has had a complete Makeover!! We are changing things up and making it more organized and easier to navigate.With the help of Tara Todd from A Creation Of Miracles you will notice a few other things that will be added over the next week or two.
Here we completely and fully support the Work From Home Industry as well as striving to bring you the best deals, recipes, shopping experience and more. You can find all kinds of great things here and more to come as the days go by. This will also be another hosting blog of our Holiday Gift Guide Tour!!
So in honor of our Grand Opening we have a few different things going on:
The first being a featured post special!!! If you would like to feature your business on this blog we will do a featured post for you for just $5!!! Your post will stay in the appropriate Category for the life of this blog. All you have to do is send us an email by clicking here and put "Featured Post" in the subject line. We will return your email within 24 hours (usually sooner) and let you know where to send payment and what we need from you.
The second is a giveaway!!! What a great way to kick off our blog by hosting a giveaway. This will be a Gift Basket full of Goodies including items from Kat's Coffees & More and Andy's Home Made Fudge!! You will get some great mixes and some homemade fudge!! What a great treat!!!
Come on over and link up and enter to win!! Hope to see you there http://coffeeshopdeals.com
Come on over and link up and enter to win!! Hope to see you there http://coffeeshopdeals.com
Monday, September 6, 2010
New Changes
This past week I made the decision to close my purse business. It was tough but after a few days absorbing my decision I think it was the best decision. I do have the ability and desire to reopen this at a later date but focus on a retail location supplemented with a website. It will be of course a brand new start including a brand new name.
I have not given up all my business ventures. I have recently joined Party Gals (a romance company) and very pleased with the products, customer service, least amount of limitations in building a business I see fit including adjusting my hostess rewards to go above and beyond what the company offers. I really love the warranty. I can offer my customers up to a 90 day warranty. I have not found another company that can offer the same.
I also have my tea business through Teaporia (http://teatimewithliv.com) and I also have my diaper cake business at Baby Bottom Bakes (http://babybottombakes.com). So while I have ended one venture I still have 3 others going strong and in a direction I am happy with.
I have not given up all my business ventures. I have recently joined Party Gals (a romance company) and very pleased with the products, customer service, least amount of limitations in building a business I see fit including adjusting my hostess rewards to go above and beyond what the company offers. I really love the warranty. I can offer my customers up to a 90 day warranty. I have not found another company that can offer the same.
I also have my tea business through Teaporia (http://teatimewithliv.com) and I also have my diaper cake business at Baby Bottom Bakes (http://babybottombakes.com). So while I have ended one venture I still have 3 others going strong and in a direction I am happy with.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Share it
With school here we all have ways to manage the home, family, school, and work. Some need some advice or new tricks. Here is your opportunity to share your tips and tricks.
Throughout September we will have tips and tricks for Home, Family, School, and Work
Home Sept 1 - Sept 7
May include but not limited to: Organizing, cleaning, recipes
Family Sept 8 - Sept 14
May include but not limited to: Crafts, family outing ideas, game night
School Sept 15 - Sept 21
May include but not limited to: Homework, staying focused, staying organized
Work Sept 22 - Sept 28
May include but not limited to: Schedule, time management, staying organized
Submit your tips to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "LOAWAHM Share It [TOPIC]" in subject line.
This will also be shared on http://livswahmblog.blogspot.com
Include your name, tips, topic (home, family, school, work) and short bio to include your business info. Keep bio to 2-3 sentences.
Throughout September we will have tips and tricks for Home, Family, School, and Work
Home Sept 1 - Sept 7
May include but not limited to: Organizing, cleaning, recipes
Family Sept 8 - Sept 14
May include but not limited to: Crafts, family outing ideas, game night
School Sept 15 - Sept 21
May include but not limited to: Homework, staying focused, staying organized
Work Sept 22 - Sept 28
May include but not limited to: Schedule, time management, staying organized
Submit your tips to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "LOAWAHM Share It [TOPIC]" in subject line.
This will also be shared on http://livswahmblog.blogspot.com
Include your name, tips, topic (home, family, school, work) and short bio to include your business info. Keep bio to 2-3 sentences.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I can't help it!
I am not typically a jealous person but when I feel cheated I am. I don't care if it is petty to others or even being selfish. It is how I feel and nothing will change that.
In April I was to accompany both brothers, their wives, and their children for a trip to Disneyland. Life happens and things kept getting pushed back leaving us without the time so trip was canceled. It sucked but it happens. So we decide December is a must do for us all and right around our birthdays. The trip will be special on so many levels -
* Elizabeth's and Chase's first Disneyland trip
* Mine and Dan's first trip with Emma to Disneyland
* Our first trip all together (all 3 of us kids and our families)
* The first time in many years I have celebrated my birthday (the last day of the trip will be my birthday)
* Captain EO reopened after Michael Jacksons death so this will be the first time we will all see it since it closed but we get to take out families to enjoy it
* The first Christmas we have ever spent at Disneyland despite living an hour away for 17yrs
Why I no longer feel it is special
* Elizabeth went this week instead on a last minute trip. No matter how someone candy coats it you will never relive a first time so don't try to make it better
* They are all going to see Captain EO
* It has become a week long birthday celebration for everyone going which is absolutely ridiculous
* Chase will have his first time at Disneyland nearly a week before we arrive in CA
* Anthony and Nikki will not be there for my birthday but I will celebrate Anthony's (this is due to work scheduling)
* They are having a special belated birthday celebration for the girls
Things would have been different if things were planned out this way instead of a last minute trip. To go I would have had to have my own car and my own hotel room. Whether intended or not I would have become the nanny and spent a lot of time waiting for everyone else to get off the big rides. Plus I would have missed Phillips first day of school. May be the 11th grade but still the first day of the 11th grade. Not a lot of fun.
It doesn't help that not long before this was Elizabeth's first birthday. I did all I could to spend a little time with her at the zoo (where her birthday party was held) and all I got was 2 minutes to hold her while she got cleaned up. I even tried to kiss her bye and she was pulled away from me while doing so. Every time I got close to her someone was pulling her or preventing her from seeing me. It starts to feel personal after awhile.
I just feel like I am getting sloppy seconds and nobody cares how I feel. If they are so determined that I do not get those firsts them maybe they should come right out and say it. At least I know where I stood and can learn to accept it.
These special moments are very special to me and I just want to be part of them. I don't need to take them over. Just be part of it. Is it really too much to ask? Apparently so.
In April I was to accompany both brothers, their wives, and their children for a trip to Disneyland. Life happens and things kept getting pushed back leaving us without the time so trip was canceled. It sucked but it happens. So we decide December is a must do for us all and right around our birthdays. The trip will be special on so many levels -
* Elizabeth's and Chase's first Disneyland trip
* Mine and Dan's first trip with Emma to Disneyland
* Our first trip all together (all 3 of us kids and our families)
* The first time in many years I have celebrated my birthday (the last day of the trip will be my birthday)
* Captain EO reopened after Michael Jacksons death so this will be the first time we will all see it since it closed but we get to take out families to enjoy it
* The first Christmas we have ever spent at Disneyland despite living an hour away for 17yrs
Why I no longer feel it is special
* Elizabeth went this week instead on a last minute trip. No matter how someone candy coats it you will never relive a first time so don't try to make it better
* They are all going to see Captain EO
* It has become a week long birthday celebration for everyone going which is absolutely ridiculous
* Chase will have his first time at Disneyland nearly a week before we arrive in CA
* Anthony and Nikki will not be there for my birthday but I will celebrate Anthony's (this is due to work scheduling)
* They are having a special belated birthday celebration for the girls
Things would have been different if things were planned out this way instead of a last minute trip. To go I would have had to have my own car and my own hotel room. Whether intended or not I would have become the nanny and spent a lot of time waiting for everyone else to get off the big rides. Plus I would have missed Phillips first day of school. May be the 11th grade but still the first day of the 11th grade. Not a lot of fun.
It doesn't help that not long before this was Elizabeth's first birthday. I did all I could to spend a little time with her at the zoo (where her birthday party was held) and all I got was 2 minutes to hold her while she got cleaned up. I even tried to kiss her bye and she was pulled away from me while doing so. Every time I got close to her someone was pulling her or preventing her from seeing me. It starts to feel personal after awhile.
I just feel like I am getting sloppy seconds and nobody cares how I feel. If they are so determined that I do not get those firsts them maybe they should come right out and say it. At least I know where I stood and can learn to accept it.
These special moments are very special to me and I just want to be part of them. I don't need to take them over. Just be part of it. Is it really too much to ask? Apparently so.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Ramen Noodle Pouch
Ingredients
* 2 packages Ramen noodles
* 1/2 cup dried mushrooms, chopped
* 20 large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
* 1/2 cup sliced scallions (green onions)
* 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 quart vegetable broth
* 1/2 cup mirin or sake
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 4 teaspoons sesame oil
* 4 (18-inch) squares aluminum foil
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Divide ramen noodles evenly in center of each of the 4 pieces of aluminum foil. Stack the following ingredients on top of noodles, in this order: mushrooms, shrimp, onions, scallions, red pepper flakes, and salt. Pull sides and corners of pouch up to form a small basket shape leaving an opening at the top to pour in liquid.
In small bowl, combine vegetable broth, mirin, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Distribute liquid evenly among packs. Press foil together, leaving a small opening to allow steam to escape. Place on cookie sheet and bake in oven for 15 minutes. Serve immediately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
