Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Coming Soon!

Coming soon, the next evolution!

2012 is a revolutionary year for me, lots of changes. Family dynamic, home, lifestyle. Possibly job.  All the biggies are there.

Looking forward to it.

Keep up with me here as I move forward. I haven't decided yet if I'm keeping this blog open and revamping it, or if I will launch an entirely new site. But a new launch IS coming. 02-12-2012. It's the next cute kitschy number and works as a timeframe, so I'm using it!

Look out world, here comes a new me!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Why is that?

I'm on a health kick. Or - ANOTHER - health kick, I should say. Working out daily, eating well, the whole kit and kaboodle.

So I have to wonder, why is it whenever you (at least whenever I) eat a very healthy meal, I always CRAVE, painfully crave sweets after....

BBQ Chicken, organic whole wheat mushroom couscous, and grilled corn on the corn with shallots. Delicious. Five minutes later I'm craving a Key Lime pie. Big time craving. Like knock over the corner store to have that pie.

And I don't even like pie.

Every time... that sweet tooth tries to derail my efforts. Fortunately I only had no fat lemon sorbet. Not quite Key Lime pie, but it curbed the sweet tooth.

What do you use to tackle your sweet tooth?

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Social Media question ....

I posed this question to a Social Media Consultant friend of mine today and wondered what the general public thinks of the same question (I don't have his answer yet, but know what my opinion of each of these is)

If you no longer want someone to view all the posts on your Facebook wall (especially those posted by other users), how are the following levels of action typically perceived?

1) Customization regarding what that user can/can't see
2) Friend removal (un-friend them)
3) Block the user all together

Or aren't we that advanced in Social Media yet to have defined what these mean to us socially?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I pick up things in strange places

I network. Infrequently, but I do it (or try to do it) I'm terrible at it.

Many of my networking situations are in events and venues where everyone has an end goal - make a sale, find a job, get that next big contact or contract, meet a guy/girl. I typically don't have the same end goal(s).

I work from home. My socialization these days involves mom + kid dates. I love them, but need more. My attendance at networking events is strictly to keep my toe in the water. Plus it always was and always will be WHO you know, rather than WHAT you know so I'd better know some people, just in case...

So anyway, my networking attendance if becoming forced. Awkward.

I had business cards made up (on a recommendation). They have my name, my Twitter account a few ways to reach me, mostly electronic. People desperately grasp for a title, my job, a role when they meet me.

What do you do?
Why are you here?

I struggle with answers. I'm not there to promote a product or my company. I'm not really there to promote me. I have no agenda. It's odd to most people.

Add to that my 'job' is a catch all. Literally. I don't have a career or even a job, per se. Every day is different than the one before. I could be an office clerk or a purchasing agent and tomorrow I'm managing a portion of a client's technology implementation. My spectrum is large and diverse.

And I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I'm not even sure yet that I want to grow up.

And I'm not really looking for a new job, but I'm not closed off to one either. But it needs the flexibility that I have now.   Work from home, six weeks vacation, ability to use my lunch hours to volunteer at the school or for the Cub Scouts. ...

And I'd really rather work for myself or with a small group starting a business for my next gig. I'm kind of tired of toiling for "the man."

So it's a challenge.

I guess that's why when I read this article from BNET today (http://bit.ly/ppSG7x), it really struck a nerve (in a good way). I'm going to have to keep this in mind next week when I go to my next networking event.

Monday, July 18, 2011

on the road to tomorrow ...

On the road to tomorrow I am working on saving more money. It's amazing to me how many things are so simple (and cheap) to make yet we don't anymore. We opt to purchase 'ready made' at ten times the price. Ready made full of sugar and chemicals and additives.

Today I made yogurt for the first time. After months of putting off buying a yogurt maker ($50) I found a recipe using the crock pot. Ten hours later, I have yogurt. It's runny, more like kefir. But I like kefir so I'm fine with that. It's in the fridge now, we'll see how it sets up. And I have some of the batch in a strainer with paper towel to see if that helps thicken.

No colorings. No sugar. Just yummy goodness

on the hunt for more ways to save cash. ...

Sunday, July 17, 2011

frugality

As I prepare for a major life change, which will include a move and less available finances, I'm spending inordinate amounts of time searching the web for information - DIY, recipes, etc. Anything that will allow me to spend less money as well as provide teaching opportunities to my young son. 


Just this week we've found two bread recipes we like (my son previously would eat only one type of bread - the price of which went from $2.50 a loaf to $4.69 a loaf in the past month). 


Today I'm going to purchase supplies for homemade yogurt in a crock pot. (organic milk and yogurt starter) I've been researching this choice for awhile now, but after paying $10 yesterday for yogurt that will last us four days, I've finally decided to move forward with the plan. 


My goals? spend less money (and time) shopping. Spend more time with my son. Be as local and sustainable as possible. I'm joining the game a little late compared to many of my friends, but that allows me the opportunity to learn from them (and skip potentially costly mistakes they made).


The irony? As I search the web for DIY tips, I find NUMEROUS books. Volumes - written by other frugal people. And I have to wonder, how many people have BOUGHT these books (rather than trade or borrow from the library). Each of the people whose books I found truly interesting have sold enough books that they have left their former employers (mostly corporate curmudgeons). 


I find it interesting that people buy these books whose lesson is to inform people how to not waste money - essentially saying 'here's a book to tell you that you were stupid to waste your money buying this book.' 


Of course, the books do provide many many tips that will save enough money to 'repay' yourself for buying the book, but a small amount of research would also show that most of the good authors also have free blogs - that contain all of the information contained in their books. 


....

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Summer Breezes

Summer is a bundle of contradictions...

we love the sun, but hate the sun burn (or worse) that comes with it. We love the warmth, but not the heat. I could go on, but my train of thought tonight was to revel in how delightful summer breezes feel when they blow like a kiss across sunburned skin. The fiery tingling is both painful and pleasant at the same time. A feeling you wish for in the winter when the snow is nipping at your heels. Despite the irritation and the thick balm, I'm enjoying the sensation.

(But I'll wear sunscreen tomorrow)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Buddhist Story that touches me every time I read it

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She
hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always
there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see
the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend. He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'


The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected
that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'


Today, before you say an unkind word

- Think of someone who can't speak.

Today, before you complain about the taste of your food

- Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Today, before you complain about your husband or wife

- Think of someone who's crying out for a companion.

Today, before you complain about the distance you drive

- Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

Today, when you are tired and complain about your job

- Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
Be thankful for the gifts you have even when you are having difficulty recognizing them as gifts.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Famous quotes applicable to daily life (this post is a day late)

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."


--Martin Luther King, Jr