Diary of a Business Mom

Throw stuff out Organize it Put it away ..... Whatever you need to do. A cluttered house, clutters your mind and it's hard to relax. Do a little something every day.  This also applies to work. Take a look at your desk.   Do you have files everywhere?  Post it's?  Old family pictures?   Now go look at your managers desk (or the person that has the job you are working towards). Does it look the same?   Take 10 minutes to really look at the post its you have around your monitor. Do you still look at them? If not throw it out. If you still think you need them - combine to one sheet and post on your wall or add to OneNote. After a while your mind doesn't see/read them because they are so used to them.  Look at old family pictures... Can you take some home and update with a couple current ones? Can you create a calendar in Shutterfly or Walgreens to display monthly pictures there?  This would allow you to have less family pic...

This is so true. Write down your dream, sit and think of actions to get there and then write down the steps to complete the actions. I know it sounds daunting but if you never take action it will always be a dream!  My husband and I did this a year ago. We have a huge dream. But we wrote it out, wrote out the multiple steps we would need and then the smaller actions as well. We are actively working forwards this dream. It's now not even a dream, because I know we will get there!  Happy Monday 

These 3 simple words from a Disney movie can be so inspiring. This can apply to so many aspects of life....   Hard time at work.... Just keep swimming Raising teenagers.... Just keep swimming Health issues..... Just keep swimming Setback at work..... Just keep swimming Make a conscious decision every day to keep moving. If you don't like where you are going, change the coarse...but never stop swimming. Happy Monday!

April 15th is right around the corner; did you file your taxes yet?   The goal should always be to break even, but it's always nice to receive a return.  Want to make the return you receive grow even more..... invest in a high yield savings account !  We were first introduced to this concept about 9 months ago and didn't do it.  The person that told us about it was incredibly happy with the results they were getting.  It took convincing to get my husband on board, but when he did, he was sold.  Sometimes he has to be "sold" on an idea, so I had to do some research.  Below are the articles and facts I learned/read in the process. [Note: I am not a financial advisor, just someone that loves money.] WHAT IS A HIGH YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT? Savings account with higher interest then a traditional savings account.  Sometimes as much as 10x's higher!  It is often found at credit unions or traditional banks.  Traditional savings accounts typic...

I read a lot this month. We had a couple quiet weekends, and I took advantage of them by reading.  There were a few books I started and couldn't finish.  Life is too short to read a book you don't like.  But below are the ones I did finish.  I hope you find a few ones to add to your list. Temptations by Sherryl Woods My rating:  4.5/5  I loved it! Slight (very slight if I could finish the book) suspense in the book.  I thought it was a great story and I didn't want it to end. Back of book:   Callie Smith's quest for success far from her Iowa roots has caused a rift with her hardworking family. And with neither her Wall Street career nor her marriage going as planned, she starts to question the choices she's made. But when charismatic network president Jason Kane pursues her to save a failing soap opera, her life is soon full of more twists than a TV story line. Suddenly she gets to know a whole new side to her mother, and also has the opport...

Our minds are powerful.  Our outlook on the situation plays a part in our actions and the universe.  If we always think negative thoughts, negative things happen. We attract what we think. Thinking positively will attract the good in the world. It may not happen overnight but you will see a shift if you change your mindset. Be a glass half full person! Happy Monday

What a month! The weather has been crazy, snow and 60's!  I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind and stick to it!  But I think we are on the upswing and getting warming.  Bring on the sun and flip flops! Let's dive in! 1. WHAT AM I LOVING?      If you know me for a while you know I don't listen or watch the news.  However, I recently found Yodel on Yahoo! It's perfect for me. It's emailed to be every morning at 8:30 with the top few headlines and a few bullets underneath to summarize what I need to know.  It's the perfect quick read!  Check it out: Yodel What else I am loving is Girl Scout cookies!  They arrived and I loved watching her organize them all and bag them with people's names.  We are off to deliver this week!  Support your Girl Scouts whenever you can! If you needed more motivation.... here is wine paring with your Girl Scout cookies! 2.  WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO Miss Curly and I did an Easter craft!...

It's hard to get out of our own way sometimes. We worry, we have fear, we are embarrassed. But, if you can look past that and put on a brave face, the rewards are worth it.   We always think about what could go wrong, but if you shift your mindset to what could go right, it could be the inner motivation you need! Happy Monday!

HI!  If you are popping over for the link party , welcome!  I am a corporate Mom of 2 kiddos. This space of internet is where I share tips and tricks on how I work on balancing both aspects of my life, while still making time for fun!  Feel free to bookmark so you can check back every Monday and Wednesday. This month our "Let's Look" is grocery carts.  I almost skipped this month because I HATE grocery shopping.  This is a role my husband has thankfully taken on and he enjoys it.  I go so infrequently that I never know where anything is in the store.  I am the person people hate because I have to stop and read the signs above the aisle to see where I am going.  It is usually more expensive if I do have to go.  Since I don't go often, when I do, I notice new flavors, new products, etc!  I always come home with more than I had on my list.  So, it's a vicious cycle!   I didn't skip this post because I wanted to share somethin...

Pay it forward today in some small way and be the reason someone smiles. It will brighten your day as well  Happy Monday

People leave your team.  It happens.  The transition period can be awkward, but it can also be enlightening.  I have had a couple people leave since I have been in a management role.  I realized this week, that I had been missing out an opportunity to learn, grow and find gaps.  That the person walking out the door, could provide candid insight that would allow me to make a change that could help me keep more talent. My company host exit interviews but managers aren't involved.  Yes, I can understand why, but I have never received feedback good or bad once someone leaves.  This week I realized that there is no reason I can't ask the team member questions during the exit interview that I was required to conduct.  I created a quick document with the questions below.  I told the person a couple times that if they don't want to answer, they don't have to.  I think it's very important to preface this. A couple key things to rememb...

Welcome to March!  February seemed to last forever but fly at the same time.  We have been blessed with higher-than-normal temps here and it's been wonderful!  I slightly feel bad for people who like to ski or our neighbors with outdoor ice-skating rinks.  But we could still get a storm and winter isn't over.  It's just feels that way right now, and I am fine with that.  In February I read some great books!  As always, below are my ratings, comments and then the comments from the back of the book.  I hope there are few that you add to your hold list! Regretting You by Colleen Hoover My rating: 4.5 /5 I have read some great books by this author and there are also many that I can't get past the first couple chapters.  I know she is amazing, but I can't do all of her books.  This one I loved.  Great story and great characters! Back of book:    Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than...

So true right? As a leader at work you can't make everyone happy. We have to make decisions that are best for the company or for the entire team.  It's hard, but being consistent, confident and thoughtful on your response will get you far.  This is also true at home.  As a parent we have to be a leader in the house, set rules and guidelines and keep everyone healthy and alive. It is not always fun to tell the one you love no, but if it's not a good long term decision or something you believe in, we have to say no.  We survived when our parents say no, and so will they. 

I love this. This is a little plaque on my desk at work and I read it everyday. We know these things, but sometimes the reminder is important.  You got this! Have a great Monday!

Fundraising is a necessity if you are in a travel sport, dance, school or club.  Sometimes if feels like you are always asking your friends and family for money. I know that is how we feel sometimes.  After being in a travel organization for 4 years, here are a few ideas that have been successful to help us raise money.  The key is to only do 1-2 a year, per sport.  The goal is to raise the most money you can with the fewest fundraisers!  A profitable and creative fundraiser is always the goal! Here are fundraisers we have done ourselves of other local teams have had great success at. 1.  Football Squares This one very profitable, but it does seem that every Fall/Winter sports team does them.  Most teams do them for the Superbowl but don't forget you can do them for ANY football game. We did this fundraiser when the Bill's played on Thanksgiving in years past and right before Christmas.  Any other idea can be for rivalry games.  A game that w...