Author Archives: Sara Berthiaume

Are You Looking for a Fun Home Based Business?

If you are looking for a home – based business opportunity that will make you a very popular person in your community this summer, consider buying an ice cream truck. There’s just something about ice cream that brings out the kid in everyone. Kids run down the street in a stampede so that they can line up to buy a sweet treat. I have even seen adults running at full speed and jumping over fences to catch up with the ice cream truck. Well, actually, that was me. I just love ice cream that much. The first thing that you … Continue reading →

Can You Drink Coffee During Pregnancy?

Have you noticed that when you are pregnant, the whole world seems to be watching you eat? Not only that, but everyone feels free to comment on what they see you eating. It can be downright infuriating because no matter what it is – healthy, unhealthy, large or small, the general idea behind all of the comments is that you are doing this whole pregnancy eating thing wrong. Unfortunately for pregnant women, everyone in society has his or her own idea about what pregnant women should and should not be eating. There are a few things that truly are unsafe … Continue reading →

To Preschool or Not to Preschool That is the Question

Did you know that many preschools begin accepting students when they are two and a half years old? It may seem like just yesterday that your little one said his first words and took his first steps. Could it really be time for preschool already? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. Deciding when a child is ready for preschool is not a simple task. There are some questions that you can ask yourself to assess whether now is a good time to send your child to preschool. For example, ask yourself whether your child is fairly independent, meaning that she … Continue reading →

Tips For Bidding on Freelance Projects

When you are just starting out as a freelancer, it can be hard to know which projects to bid on. Most freelance writing jobs are advertised by clients who are willing to pay what they say that they will pay for work which meets their expectations. Unfortunately, there are some clients who do not play fair. I know, because I have encountered a couple of them. The best defense against unscrupulous buyers is to be very selective about which projects you bid on. Here are a few tips that you can use while you are deciding which projects you would … Continue reading →

Have You Considered a Home Birth?

During my second pregnancy, my husband and I decided that we wanted a different prenatal care and birth experience than we had with our first son, who was born in the birthing center of our local hospital. We found a pair of wonderful home – birth midwives, and we worked with them throughout the pregnancy until I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and my care had to be transferred to a hospital. Even though we did not get to have the home birth that we had wanted, the care that we received up until the transfer to the hospital was much … Continue reading →

Why The Outdoors is Great for Toddlers

Did you know that your backyard (or just about any other outdoor location) is one of the most intellectually stimulating environments that you can spend time in with your toddler? There are things outside that encourage the development of toddlers in every way, and yet many toddlers spend very little time outdoors. Part of the reason for this is that toddlers must be closely supervised while they are outdoors because of their tendencies to put everything in their mouths and to climb whatever they can find to climb on. Providing constant supervision takes time, and for busy parents it can … Continue reading →

Tips for Working on Vacation

One of the benefits of owning and operating your own business is that you can often take your work with you when you go out of town for a vacation. The flip side of this is that taking along the supplies (folders of papers and your computer) to do the work does not necessarily guarantee that you will get much work done. Based upon the past few years of my experience as a home – based professional, I have come to believe that the general rule regarding getting work done on vacation is “When planning your vacation, decide how much … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Treat Yourself During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a very intense experience, from the constant cravings and mood swings to the physical changes in your body and the often uncomfortable symptoms like morning sickness, heartburn (oh, the heartburn), and water retention. You are working hard to grow a healthy baby, so why not take some time each day to relax and pamper yourself. There are many ways that you can build something special “just for you” into your day. Here are a few ideas. If your feet are tired, sore, and swollen, a warm soak followed by some rich and creamy foot lotion can help … Continue reading →

It Costs Nothing To Think About The Possibilities

Sometimes, a lack of available funds can prevent would – be home based professionals from even looking into the possibility of working from home. It is definitely important to be realistic about what it will cost to open up a home – based business, but it never hurts to do your research and see whether there is something that you can do which does mesh with your current budget. For example, my freelance writing business cost me next to nothing to start because I used a computer that I already had, our existing internet service, and a free account on … Continue reading →

Yes, There Will Be Bad Days

As the parent of a small child, you may have already noticed that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try to plan, prepare, or otherwise rise to the occasion, there will be days that are simply awful. Sometimes, you can tell that a day is not going to go well as soon as your little ones wake up. Other times, all of the signs of a bad day in the making are there early in the day but you put on your rose colored glasses and try to power your way through it with every ounce … Continue reading →