I travel a lot - both for work and pleasure. I was out of state, on average, twice a month in 2008. I didn't even go anywhere the last 4 months, between the end of my pregnancy and my maternity leave, and my travels still average to two trips per month.
My husband is no stranger to traveling, either. Both within the state and heading elsewhere, he's often driving or flying somewhere himself.
What I'm trying to say, here, is that we're both very much used to packing up and heading out.
On Friday, we're flying out (at 0-dark-30, by the way!) to Pennsylvania, where we'll visit with my mother for the next ten days. (An example from my travel schedule - we fly back to Texas on the 13th and I get on another plane to SJC for the day on the 14th.) We're good at packing; we're good at planning; we're great at traveling.
But preparing to take the kiddo away for 10 days is seriously wrecking my brain.
My first packing list included EVERY item of baby stuff that in my house.
Which is a lot.
Including stuff she's already outgrown.
Ok, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point!
My second packing list feels way too short, but still includes EVERY bottle we own, and enough toys and blankets to start an orphanage.
I'm not sure if it's the prospect of traveling with the baby that has me stressed, or if it's the fact that we're going to be gone for so darn long.
But I'm struggling, here!
How did you prepare for your kiddo's first big trip? I'd love to hear ideas from other moms!
Of Direct Deposit and Digital Cameras
in:
Life
Do you ever think that we've OVER-simplified the world?
I have two examples that are SUPER helpful and are great technological advances - but that I still complain about regularly.
#1: Direct Deposit
I love direct deposit because I hate running errands. Before direct deposit, I had to (a) wait for my paycheck to come in the mail (or get handed to be at work at one of my jobs) and then drive to the bank and then stand in line and then wait for the check to clear and THEN I'd get to spend my money. With direct deposit, the money is magically waiting for me on payday, and I can then spend it immediately.
YAY.
Crap.
Although it's lovely to have my money available immediately, not going to the bank means that I'm not filling out a deposit slip, which then means that I'm not filling out the little line asking how much money I want to receive in cash versus deposit.
Which, of course, means that I never have cash. Ever.
Argh! LOVE immediate money, HATE never having actual cold, hard cash.
Whereas it was once routine to go to the bank weekly, it's now a pain in the ass to even go to the ATM. We've over-simplified life!
#2: Digital Cameras
I was given my first digital camera about 4 years ago by my friend Stephanie. Before that, I'd used the same trusty 35mm for many years - in fact, it was my 16th birthday present from my father. It was a brilliant camera, terrific zoom lens, built like a tank (I drop stuff...a lot) and followed me to dozens of states and a handful of countries taking thousands of pictures.
Know what happened to those pictures, after they were shot?
Righto - they were developed.
Like at the pharmacy. Where they hand you actual pictures that you can put in albums, frames, or send to family and friends.
I'm now on my second digital camera. I bought it the weekend before my first baby shower, last summer. Great deal from the now defunct Circuit City. High-end camera. Works like a charm.
Know what it doesn't do?
Spit out film that I need to take to the pharmacy to get developed, so that I can then have shots to put in albums, frames, or send to family and friends.
Now, those thousands of pictures that I take (dude...I have a baby...we're constantly snapping shots) get transferred to my laptop, posted to Shutterfly if people hassle me enough, and only very, very randomly get turned into prints to send out or display.
Why is the drive to the pharmacy to get prints done now twice as long as it was when I used to drive there twice - once to drop off film and again to pick up the developed prints?
Over-simplification...how has it affected your life?
I have two examples that are SUPER helpful and are great technological advances - but that I still complain about regularly.
#1: Direct Deposit
I love direct deposit because I hate running errands. Before direct deposit, I had to (a) wait for my paycheck to come in the mail (or get handed to be at work at one of my jobs) and then drive to the bank and then stand in line and then wait for the check to clear and THEN I'd get to spend my money. With direct deposit, the money is magically waiting for me on payday, and I can then spend it immediately.
YAY.
Crap.
Although it's lovely to have my money available immediately, not going to the bank means that I'm not filling out a deposit slip, which then means that I'm not filling out the little line asking how much money I want to receive in cash versus deposit.
Which, of course, means that I never have cash. Ever.
Argh! LOVE immediate money, HATE never having actual cold, hard cash.
Whereas it was once routine to go to the bank weekly, it's now a pain in the ass to even go to the ATM. We've over-simplified life!
#2: Digital Cameras
I was given my first digital camera about 4 years ago by my friend Stephanie. Before that, I'd used the same trusty 35mm for many years - in fact, it was my 16th birthday present from my father. It was a brilliant camera, terrific zoom lens, built like a tank (I drop stuff...a lot) and followed me to dozens of states and a handful of countries taking thousands of pictures.
Know what happened to those pictures, after they were shot?
Righto - they were developed.
Like at the pharmacy. Where they hand you actual pictures that you can put in albums, frames, or send to family and friends.
I'm now on my second digital camera. I bought it the weekend before my first baby shower, last summer. Great deal from the now defunct Circuit City. High-end camera. Works like a charm.
Know what it doesn't do?
Spit out film that I need to take to the pharmacy to get developed, so that I can then have shots to put in albums, frames, or send to family and friends.
Now, those thousands of pictures that I take (dude...I have a baby...we're constantly snapping shots) get transferred to my laptop, posted to Shutterfly if people hassle me enough, and only very, very randomly get turned into prints to send out or display.
Why is the drive to the pharmacy to get prints done now twice as long as it was when I used to drive there twice - once to drop off film and again to pick up the developed prints?
Over-simplification...how has it affected your life?
Move Over, Bananas!
I *thought* we'd already found Spoiled Baby's favorite food - bananas. When she eats bananas, she smacks her lips and she patiently waits for the next spoonful of goodness. (This is as opposed to peas, which causes nasty faces, nasty looks, and nasty gagging.)
But today...oh, today! Today, we found her REAL favorite food!
PEARS!
Normally, the kiddo will have between 1/4 and 1/3 of a bottle of baby food in one sitting. We use 2nd foods, because the bigger bottles are a cheaper price per ounce...and we're only using bottled foods until we identify her likes/dislikes and then we'll begin making our own. She'll then follow up the 1/4 to 1/3 bottle of food with 3-5 ounces of milk.
Not today. No, sir! She ate the ENTIRE bottle of pears.
I originally portioned out 1/4 of the bottle. With the first mouthful, her eyes lit up. With the second, she fussed impatiently for the next spoonful. By the third, she was actively reaching for my hand, to get the spoon to her mouth faster.
When her original portion was done, I tried to start her on her bottle of milk. NO GO! Wouldn't even entertain the thought. The spoon was on the tray in front of her, and in one fluid motion, she knocked the bottle out of her way and leaned forward to grab for the spoon.
So I portioned out another 1/4 bottle. Gone. Another portion. Gone. Another portion - the remains of the bottle. You guessed it! Gone.
After that, she reluctantly took her bottle and polished off a few ounces. But she kept sending hopeful glances at the bowl and spoon all the while.
Move over, bananas! Spoiled Baby needs her PEARS!
But today...oh, today! Today, we found her REAL favorite food!
PEARS!
Normally, the kiddo will have between 1/4 and 1/3 of a bottle of baby food in one sitting. We use 2nd foods, because the bigger bottles are a cheaper price per ounce...and we're only using bottled foods until we identify her likes/dislikes and then we'll begin making our own. She'll then follow up the 1/4 to 1/3 bottle of food with 3-5 ounces of milk.
Not today. No, sir! She ate the ENTIRE bottle of pears.
I originally portioned out 1/4 of the bottle. With the first mouthful, her eyes lit up. With the second, she fussed impatiently for the next spoonful. By the third, she was actively reaching for my hand, to get the spoon to her mouth faster.
When her original portion was done, I tried to start her on her bottle of milk. NO GO! Wouldn't even entertain the thought. The spoon was on the tray in front of her, and in one fluid motion, she knocked the bottle out of her way and leaned forward to grab for the spoon.
So I portioned out another 1/4 bottle. Gone. Another portion. Gone. Another portion - the remains of the bottle. You guessed it! Gone.
After that, she reluctantly took her bottle and polished off a few ounces. But she kept sending hopeful glances at the bowl and spoon all the while.
Move over, bananas! Spoiled Baby needs her PEARS!
Let's PARTY!
in:
0 to Mom
,
Blog Business
THIS POST IS STICKY...SCROLL DOWN TO READ NEW CONTENT! MWAH!
I'm participating in the Ultimate Blog Party sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom, and I invite you to join in as well!
Running from March 20th until March 27th, it's a fabulous way to meet new bloggers, follow new Tweeters, win great prizes and just have a blast.
Here's a list of the prizes that most interest me - what ones are you hoping to win?
Welcome, fellow party-ers - I look forward to coming to see you!
I'm participating in the Ultimate Blog Party sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom, and I invite you to join in as well!
Running from March 20th until March 27th, it's a fabulous way to meet new bloggers, follow new Tweeters, win great prizes and just have a blast.
Here's a list of the prizes that most interest me - what ones are you hoping to win?
- #3 - $25 GC to Happy Panda
- #10 - Book - Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!
- #19 - $50 GC to Target (I love me some Target!)
- #41 - Photo jewelry
- #88 - Carraba's GC
- #98 - Internet Organizer and Toddler Cookbook
- #129 - ListPlanIt
- USC15 - Amazon GC
- USC 33 - Turbo Mom
- USC 66 - Madre Gear
Welcome, fellow party-ers - I look forward to coming to see you!
Freelancing 101
in:
Freelancing
I read a blog post somewhere in the blogosphere recently, posing the question of what qualified someone to tell others how to write or how to develop their freelancing career.
My answer to that query would be having both experience and success! And since I have both (15 years of paid writing; freelance income that equals or exceeds my full-time salary during weeks when I have the capacity to take on 20 or more hours of contract work), I thought I'd start to offer my 2 cents in an ongoing series.
Welcome to Freelancing 101.
So...you want to be a writer.
Maybe you think you're good at writing.
Maybe you believe all of those web sites that claim that ANYONE who can scratch their own a$$ can write for the internet.
Think again.
Seriously. Freelancing 101 isn't meant to discourage you, but the simple fact is that to be truly successful as a freelancer - whether writing, editing, or performing other creative services - you have to have some degree of talent.
Sure, you can crank out web content at a penny a word and if you write "prolifically," you'll have enough cash to pay your rent.
But do you really want to do that day in and day out?
Nope, didn't think so.
So with that in mind, here is your first lesson:
Get 5 blank sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper.
When you've got all of that done, come back for Freelancing 102, when we'll put those 5 sheets together to create your business plan!
My answer to that query would be having both experience and success! And since I have both (15 years of paid writing; freelance income that equals or exceeds my full-time salary during weeks when I have the capacity to take on 20 or more hours of contract work), I thought I'd start to offer my 2 cents in an ongoing series.
Welcome to Freelancing 101.
So...you want to be a writer.
Maybe you think you're good at writing.
Maybe you believe all of those web sites that claim that ANYONE who can scratch their own a$$ can write for the internet.
Think again.
Seriously. Freelancing 101 isn't meant to discourage you, but the simple fact is that to be truly successful as a freelancer - whether writing, editing, or performing other creative services - you have to have some degree of talent.
Sure, you can crank out web content at a penny a word and if you write "prolifically," you'll have enough cash to pay your rent.
But do you really want to do that day in and day out?
Nope, didn't think so.
So with that in mind, here is your first lesson:
Get 5 blank sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper.
- On sheet number 1, brainstorm your talents.
- On sheet number 2, brainstorm everything that you think might hinder your budding freelancing business.
- On sheet number 3, brainstorm the areas that you need to learn more about before you get started or as you're striving to learn more.
- On sheet number 4, brainstorm the time you have available to freelance and what you can do to properly schedule yourself.
- And on sheet number 5, brainstorm the money you hope to make on a weekly basis.
When you've got all of that done, come back for Freelancing 102, when we'll put those 5 sheets together to create your business plan!
READER RESPONSE TIME:
If you are already a freelancer, what steps did you initially take to get started?
