Jan
06
2009
In watching Monday’s “Oprah” I realized that I have been neglecting myself. She talked about her weight gain over the last year or so and attributed it to, not eating too much, but not taking time for herself. I can relate. I’m sure you can relate also.
Moms of all kinds put ourselves last. We keep those spare hours for our kids and our families, leaving little to no time for ourselves.I’m guilty of this. I’ve been meaning to get a much deserved pedicure, but keep putting it off. After work is not an option because I need to make it home for dinner and time with my son before he goes to bed. Saturday is often filled with family outings or necessary errands. Sunday gets filled with church, house cleaning, grocery store and other things that I neglected earlier in the week. Besides, by the time Sunday comes around the last thing I want to do is leave the house. And, for what? To get my toenails painted. I can do that myself, I say.
This is a plan to fail.
Make Time For You
On yesterday’s show, Oprah showed us her new calendar this year and how it is different than last year. She has meetings all day long with people and she’d schedule in time for herself only if there was a block of time left — most days there wasn’t. This year, she is putting herself on the calendar first. It’s about balance, she says.
We all need to do the same. So, I say take a moment now and pencil pen in that time for you. Is it a pedicure? Time alone to go shopping? Time at a tea shop with some friends sans kids? A night away at a hotel (oh, this is a good one) — just you a bubble bath and a book? Whatever it is, be sure to put you first.
Sep
25
2008
I’m looking for ways to share money-saving tips with readers (and for myself). I ran across an article on CBSnews.com about shopping in your own closet.
I’ve always heard that we wear only 20 percent of the clothes we own. The other 80 percent stay in the deep depths of the closet, in bins waiting for a particular season, stay on hangers waiting for us to loose that 10 pounds we’ve been trying to drop for 20 years. Only that favorite 20 percent gets worn regularly.
According to the CBS article:
Most of us already own 40 to 50 percent of the clothes we’ll need for the season so, “It’s just about going back into your closet and finding what you have, familiarizing yourself again with your closet and your wardrobe.”
… with the average person spending $300 to $1,000 a year on new clothes, shopping your closet can save you a bundle.”
How about going through your closet this season and getting rid of stuff you wouldn’t ever wear again. Be honest. Give the good things to charity. Other clothes, just throw away or make rags of. Make room so you can see all your clothes and get more use out of ALL of them.
Aug
06
2008
Another great segment from Tory Johnson on “Good Morning America” this morning. Johnson has a new book, “Will Work From Home.” In it, she highlights the five best businesses that allow people (not just women) to work from home. Everything from the uber-chic Etsy.com to hourly service-industry positions.
What I love most about Johnson is how she is so inspiring. She makes you believe in yourself and your dreams. I haven’t read the book, but think it will help many women define their futures.
Related:
Apr
17
2008
I’m taking a Master’s class about Executive Leadership and my assignment last week was to put together a presentation about an executive leader in the entertainment business. Lots of names came to mind, but I chose Paula Deen because she represents what I call an “overnight entrepreneur.” And, she’s a mom.
Paula Deen is an original mompreneuer. She’s enjoying success today because of a lot of hard work in order to take care of her sons. Here’s why Paula is an inspiration to women and moms.
- Devastation Leads to Action
After 20 years of marriage, Paula Deen was faced with a devastating divorce, and the need to find a way to make a living to support her two young sons and teenage brother. All she’d know to this point in her life is how to cook and care for people, but she needed skills — and fast. Money was tight; she only had $200 and no business skills. This didn’t stop Paula from digging down deep to survive with the only thing she knew; cooking. (source: Paula’s Story.)
- Overcoming Obstacles
She had no money, no formal education, and a disease that kept her indoors. (source: Paula’s Story.) A New York Times article quotes Paula on her agoraphobia:
Some days I could get to the supermarket, but I could never go too far inside,” Ms. Deen said. “I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door.”
- Believing In Herself
Paula believed in herself and self-published her first cookbook. Since that time she has had multiple cookbooks published along with a new memoir and is the Editor-in-Chief of a magazine.
- Taking the Good With the Bad
- Take Control of Your Life
- Do What You Love
Paula sums it up great on her Web site:
But, you know what, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t of taken the good with the bad, embraced both the heartache and joy, and taken control of my life when I thought it could not have gotten worse.”
Related:
Feb
22
2008
Normally we hear the sad stories about a child drowning when we are reminded of the need for all parents to learn CPR. Typically it’s a tragic story, one that you can’t bear to watch so you change the channel on the TV or turn the page in the newspaper. We ignore things that are hard to watch.
My mom told me about a positive story and it just warms my heart. A two-year-old boy was SAVED by his sister and his mother, who performed CPR. Without the CPR her child wouldn’t have been revived.
The full story can be read here.
Related:
