Sometimes being a home-based professional and a parent can leave you feeling stuck in the middle of two worlds, the world of the stay-at-home parent and the world of the working parent. It is sometimes an uncomfortable spot, yes, but it is also an enviable position. One of the great things about being a work-at-home parent (besides being home with the kids) is that you are able to understand and empathize with both working parents and stay-at-home parents because your life contains elements of each. You can relate to your friend that works in an office when she talks about … Continue reading →

Staying motivated while working from home can be a struggle for some. Just the comfort of being at home, the pull of doing other things or the beckoning of the bed can be enough to make it difficult to stay motivated. I find it a struggle every-so-often, especially if I was up late the night before. While technically I could sleep in later since I work from home, I choose not to. That’s because I believe in sticking to a schedule. I would rather finish my work earlier in the day if I can. No matter how you “feel,” just … Continue reading →

I have to admit that getting back to work yesterday wasn’t easy. I was able to rearrange my workload last week so that I could not only enjoy having Thanksgiving off but the day after as well. Those were two really glorious days because it has been literally months since I have enjoyed an entire day off during the week. Because I have a variety of freelancing jobs, it is usually not possible to take off any one day during the week. Well, the reality is that it is possible but it takes some work to make it work. Somehow … Continue reading →

One of my favorite shows to watch is “Cake Boss.” If you haven’t seen the show it’s about a guy named Buddy who runs a bakery in New Jersey. He creates the most beautiful and extraordinary cakes you have ever seen. He is passionate about baking. He is doing what he loves. Even when he gets time off from work, he still ends up working. Recently his family took a trip to Rome. It was supposed to be his chance to unwind and relax. Instead, he found himself baking. He obviously found it difficult to take time off from what … Continue reading →

As you plan your holiday shopping this year, you may want to see how many of your gifts and other holiday purchases you can buy from home-based workers. You may think that you will only be able to purchase a gift or two from people in your local area, but I would encourage you to expand your search and look around online to see what you can find. While you may not be able to find someone who makes or sells everything that you need right in your community, there are so many home-based workers that sell all kinds of … Continue reading →

Prior to having children I worked in a downtown office. It was fun to get dressed for work. I enjoyed coordinating my outfits and shoes. I loved finding fun accessories. In fact, I enjoyed this so much that one time my husband actually created a pie graph showing the amount of money I spent at one particular clothing store. Yes, he was trying to give me a hint. But don’t get me wrong, he enjoyed seeing me dress up. Fast forward a few years and I became a stay-at-home mom to two small children and then eventually we had our … Continue reading →

It is hard to believe that it is November already. This time of year brings to mind thoughts of celebrations with family and friends. Since I used to work outside of the home, this time of year also brings to mind thoughts of office holiday parties. While I never worked anywhere where we went off site to have lavish parties, I did attend a few nice workplace holiday gatherings. Those of us that work from home do not have to miss out on the holiday fun. It is important that we “get out” regularly during every time of year, to … Continue reading →

This month, Startup Nation announced the winners of its “Leading Moms in Business” competition. The competition is in its second year, and it aims to recognize the outstanding entrepreneurial efforts of women who are raising a family and running a business at the same time. Congratulations to all of the winners – it is amazing what a diverse array of businesses they have created. What is also amazing (but not at all surprising) is how popular these Moms in Business are within their communities. The winners were selected by popular vote, and a total of 709,000 votes were received. Who … Continue reading →

Do you ever have one of those days where you just don’t feel like working? When you work outside of the home you can quickly pass over that feeling. You really don’t have a choice. But when you do work inside the home, it can be a little more challenging. Really, any occasion is a good occasion to not work. There are days when the sun is shining and the temperature is just perfect. I would much rather be sitting out on my deck reading a good book. There are days when it is cold and rainy. I would much … Continue reading →

You know the feeling. It is a while after lunch and you are sitting at your desk, working. All of a sudden, you realize that you are tired. Not just a little tired, either. The kind of tired where all that you can do is think about how tired you are, and how much you would like to go to sleep right then and there. You are experiencing the afternoon slump, and you are not alone. What causes the afternoon slump? Afternoon tiredness is a natural part of our circadian rhythms, those daily cycles that are biologically hard-wired into our … Continue reading →