Blackberry addicted
I was recently given a book to review call The Blackberry Diaries by Kathy Buckworth, but before I tell you about the book let me tell you about me and my little friend.
So when I got my Blackberry I had no idea what I was in for. I mean afterall, I was just getting a new phone, or so I thought. My Husband thought I should “upgrade” and get something with more features like internet access(who uses a phone for the internet?), camera (I already have a camera!) , texting capability (who am I going to text?) and the list goes on. I wanted a phone that could make and receieve phone calls, after all what did I NEED all of that other stuff for?
Fast forward ……I am texting like crazy, I didn’t know that so many of my girlfriends did this! How exciting to send a quick message or “status update” and still be able to carry on another activity! As for the internet access…who knew that you could Shop On line from your phone!I can also visit my daughters school website and check for homework(very rare, but at least I know I CAN do this), checking email is a breeze now and quite addicting I must say! The camera feature that I thought I would NEVER use has come in handy. Lets see, I recently delivered my 3rd baby and no one had a camera…I whip out the handy dandy Blackberry with Built In Camera and immediatly have pictures of my bundle of joy and whats even more impressive is that I could share the pictures immediatly with my cool phone! I can also can update myFacebook status and Tweet with my little friend….what can I say L .O.V.E….it wasn’t love at first site but something that grew on me over time…
About the book….Wonderful and Hilarious, there are so many things that I’ve thought and wanted to say out loud and couldn’t. Kathy says the things you wish you could say but are afraid to. Kathy compares the Blackberry with a child and has even gone so far to name hers. He is with her everywhere, important meetings, hockey games and even in the bathroom(yes, mine goes there too!).Her wish for this book was to make people laugh and that it does..from having definitions for the Blackberry owner as well as for the Toddler owner(ie parent) to comparing getting her blackberry for Christmas to the birth of a child, she describes parenthood and working from home (as many of us do) in an honest and gritty way. The book is written as a blog, a year long journey while getting to know her Blackberry “Seamus” and dealing with her day to day life with her family as well as her career. You have to read the September 30th entry “Stay at Home Dad” which she says is a threat to all caring mothers, which gives details on how to make a SAHD feel like he is in the Corporate World by giving him business cards, a project list, weekly project meetings etc…just a glimpse into how men and women are wired a little differently. While reading this book , I laughed to myself, I laughed out loud, I laughed so hard I almost pee’d my pants, I laughed and got teery eyed but most of all I LAUGHED!! Thanks Kathy for a wonderful book and for letting me know that I’m not the only one addicted to my Blackberry who is still nameless….I’ve gotta run, that little light is flashing, I’ve got new email to read…
So you want to work at home
Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes:
* Detailed information on types of businesses to start
* Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business
* Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes
* Help for developing your Website
* Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more
About the Authors
JILL HART is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Jill has published many articles and is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I ll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed. She holds a bachelor s degree in human development and family studies. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ .
DIANA ENNEN has been a leader and mentor in the work-at-home industry since starting her business, Virtual Word Publishing, in 1985. She is the author of many books, including Virtual Assistant the Series; Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and Words from Home: Start, Run, and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. She resides in Margate, Florida, with her husband and their three children.
Below is an interview with the authors of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom – Jill & Diana.
If you have questions they are happy to answer your questions anytime. Leave a comment below or email Jill@cwahm.com or Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
How long have you been working at home?
Jill Hart – I’ve been working at home since 2000. I had to go back to work full-time for a brief period in 2003 when my husband got out of the Air Force. At that point I got even more serious about making my business work and I’ve been home full-time since then.
Diana Ennen – I’ve been working at home since 1985, when my son was born. He’s now graduated college and already working towards his own career. I absolutely love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
What types of businesses do you operate?
Jill Hart – I run Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com, a website full of free resources, job listings and information about home businesses. I also write articles and books (yes, more books to come!) and am a blogger for sites like Time/Warner’s Christian Momlogic.com and a member of the Guideposts blogger team
Diana Ennen– I’m the President of Virtual Word Publishing. I’m a virtual assistant and specialize in marketing & publicity. I’ve also written numerous books on how to start a VA business and offer PR and VA Coaching.
Tell us about your book? How do you think it can benefit those who want to start a business?
Jill Hart – The book has been such a “God thing.” He orchestrated the entire sequence of events – from putting Diana and I together as co-authors to bringing us to the right publisher. The book is a hands-on practical guide for anyone who wants to build a business from home. We cover topics ranging from how to select the right type of business for you, to how to get started, to how to market and grow your business.
Diana Ennen – I think one of the best features of our book is that it’s not only informative, but motivational as well. You’ll feel like friends are helping you on your journey to success. Also, we discuss numerous types of businesses to start and provide proven methods to achieve success. We also often hear how starting a business can be so overwhelming. That’s why we pay special attention to all the how tos. We feel very confident our book will help, not only those starting a business, but those already in business wanting to expand it.
What types of businesses are featured in your book?
Jill Hart – We have such a great range of contributors – everything from direct sales companies like Southern Living at Home and Avon to unique product-driven businesses like BSM Media and GrillCharms. These woman are amazing and give readers a great insight into how they’ve grown their businesses in very different ways.
Diana Ennen – We cover everything from direct sales companies to specialized areas such as medical transcription and virtual assisting. Also, Jill shares detailed information on starting a community based membership site. We think you’ll get a lot of helpful tips too from such work-at-home powerhouses as Maria Bailey and Lesley Spencer Pyle.
Do you have any tips for success for Christian entrepreneurs that you’d like to share?
Jill Hart – I think my favorite tip – shared with me by one of our contributors, Tammy Degenhart, almost ten years ago is that working together benefits everyone. She told me, “Jill, what you give to others God brings back tenfold” and I’ve seen that hold true time and time again. It may not be in financial gains and it may not look like what we expected but God is so faithful in that when we work together there is no competition – it’s a win-win situation.
Diana Ennen – Do what you believe in and use your own skills and prior experience to find the business that’s just right for you. Research/Research/Research. The more you research, the better your business. Continue to market and be out there. So many once they find a few clients stop marketing. You need to get out there continually. You then become the go to person when someone needs services or products that you offer.
What are some of the challenges that you see with those starting or operating a business?
Jill Hart – In my experience, I’ve talked with many women who get frustrated because success doesn’t come easily or quickly. Working from home may sound easy, but in reality it can actually be just as hard as working outside the home. There are many unique challenges, especially when working at home while raising children. If women don’t prepare themselves, they can become discouraged and disheartened.
Diana Ennen– One of the major challenges I see is losing belief in yourself that you can do it. That’s why I think a faith-based book will be so beneficial. Even when times get tough, you can rely on your faith to forge ahead.
With the economy, do you believe it’s still a good time to start a business? Why?
Jill Hart – I think it’s a better time than ever. The internet is so much more widely used than it was even nine years ago when I began my website. If people do their research and find a company that fits them as well as their budget this can be a great time to break into the work-at-home field.
Diana Ennen – Absolutely. In fact, I think there’s never been a better time. You might have to work a little harder, but it absolutely can be done. Plus, there are so many businesses who need us more than ever because of the economy. For example, with virtual assistants because businesses are downsizing they are seeking the help of a VA to help on an as needed basis.
Your book is written from a Christian perspective? Tell us a little about that and how you feel that makes it so unique?
Jill Hart – My faith is central to who I am and therefore central to my business. I began Christian Work at Home Moms because I wanted women to have a safe place where they could discuss not only business things, but also talk about an area that doesn’t get talked about a lot in business circles – how our faith affects our businesses. The book is written in a way that doesn’t hit anyone over the head with our faith, but it’s true to who we are and talks about things from the vantage point that we see life – through the lens of our faith.
Diana Ennen – There are so many books out there today on starting a business. However, few have the Christian mom in mind. We provide a lot of scriptures and examples of how you can use your faith to help you. Our hope is that not only will your business thrive, but it might just give a little boost to your faith as well.
Learn more about the book at Beacon Hill Press or SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com.
PeaPod
So after years of trekking to the grocery store, I decided to try Peapod grocery delivery service. I tried them not out of being lazy but out of need! I have 2 girls ages 6 and 4 and am currently 8 months pregnant…so you see what I mean?
The ordering process was quite simple, I went online and signed up for an account and then walked down each “virtual” isle of food. There are specials and sale items as well as local items which I love! I was able to get some local Chicago favorites…Maggiano’s and Carson’s ribs to name a couple. Upon completing my order and checking out, I was given a $20 credit as a first time user and also I chose a delivery time for the next time that gave me $2 off. They give you a 5 to 6 hour window for delivery but you can check the day of your delivery for a definite time. The morning of my delivery I was given from 6:08pm to 8:08 pm, my driver arrived at 6:30. He asked if I’d like the groceries in the kitchen, went over my receipt and said he’d see me soon. They do take coupons , you give them to the driver and they will be deducted before they process your payment. I ordered a variety of items just to try it out. I did make the mistake of not looking at the size of the coffee creamer and Pirates Booty that I ordered, I received 2 tiny bottles of creamer and 6 individual bags of Pirates Booty instead of one large bag. I will be more careful the next time when ordering. The Market Day meats I ordered, were frozen upon arrival as described and the fruit I ordered was better than I could’ve gotten at our local grocery store. They even gave you a choice of ordering yellow or green bananas.
Overall, I LOVE Peapod and will be ordering again in a week or so, it was so nice to grocery shop in the comfort of my home . Definitely a thumbs UP! Oh and the delivery charge is $6.95….
Saving the Environment
I have so much to Blog about but thought that I would start with this important post. With EARTH day last week, my girls came home so excited to do somethings to help our environment. Now, keep in mind, that my husband calls me his “hippy chic” because I recycle so many items every week that we now have 5 recycle bins, I use only natural household cleaners and do my best to be conscious of the environment. I am no way doing all that I could, I am a beginniner..in the 1st stages of what I know my potential is.
So here are the 1st couple of changes that we are making in our house:
1. planting a garden instead of planting flowers this year. We will give extra vegetables to a local shelter
2. stop receiving catalogues in the mail. These end up being recycled or in a land fill and are in everyone’s mailbox everyday! You can stop these catalogues by going to one place for them all. www.catalogchoice.org is the one place stop. You have to create an account and can use multiple names at one address, you have the option of choosing to stop your catalogues all together, receive them a few times a year or on holidays only. It keeps track of the choices you have made and lets you know when the companies have accepted your request. It’s simple, easy, and will really help the environment!
These are our projects for now, very simple but if each person does something simple, we will make a huge impact on our environment.
Miss Jessie’s Hair Products
Ok, my girls have curly hair, VERY curly Hair and I searched high and low for products that would moisturize and de-frizz their hair. After finding a hairdresser that had the “same” hair as us, she led us to these wonderful products by “Miss Jessies”! We haven’t used anything else…and won’t. Their products make my girls hair manageable, frizz free, and makes them PROUD to have curly hair! A big thank you to Everyone at Miss Jessie’s for creating awesome products!
Here is a little about their site and their products!! AWESOME!!!!
ABOUT MISS JESSIE’S
In 1997 sisters Titi and Miko opened Miss Jessie’s Salon to respond to the demand for expertise in natural hair and naturally curly hair. Their experience with curls started over 20 years ago. Born to a Japanese mother and African-American father Titi and Miko had a head full of hair that was multi textured. “Back then our parents were attending school so this left little time to care for our hair” lamented Titi.
At that time going to a Japanese salon was not an option. Salons that catered to Black hair were more interested in taming what they thought was unruly hair. This usually meant relaxer straight styling or greasy hot combing. Visits to salons that catered to straight hair was always an adventure as they watched the stylists eyes bulge with fear due to their lack of experience with varied hair textures. ” So , if we wanted to look cute on picture day we had to do it ourselves!” They have been doing hair ever since.
The Salon soon became the go-to place for natural and naturally curly hair attracting clients nationwide. In 2004 Miss Jessie’s Products were introduced consisting of styling cremes, moisturizers and deep conditioning treatments. From the very beginning it was always about listening to our customers, understanding their issues with their natural and naturally curly hair and finally offering the Miss Jessie’s product line that helps our customers overcome the issues that they traditionally face.
With the introduction of Curly PuddingTM, Curly ButtercremeTM, Curly Meringue®, Baby ButtercremeTM, Unscented Curly PuddingTM and now Rapid Recovery Treatment®, Miss Jessie’s products soon garnered a cult following and continues to be a market innovator in the natural hair and naturally curly hair segment.
www.missjessies.com