From the category archives:

Family Time

Christmas PLR: 10 Days of Guest Posts Bundle

by BlondieWrites on December 8, 2009

A few minutes ago, I received notice of a special Christmas PLR article package, designed to give bloggers a break during the busy Christmas season. Bloggers can take time from their blogs during the holidays and not lose readers from not posting as usual.

If you need Christmas content for your blog, this is it. But hurry, there are only 60 copies available! And to make it even sweeter, you can take 25% off with this coupon:

Coupon code: holiday
Expires: Dec 15, 2009

Here’s what you’ll get with this 10 Christmas PLR blog posts package bundle:

Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas
Last-Minute Gift Ideas
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
Ideas for More Family Togetherness on Christmas
What to Do with Christmas Dinner Leftovers
Returning Gifts & Sore Feelings
Staying in at New Years: Fun Ideas for All
What’s Your Resolution and Sticking with It
A New Year…A New Outlook
Holiday Hangover…Time to Get Back to It

Click here to get your package now, and don’t forget to put the coupon code in to get the 25% off.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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HUGE Coloring Sheets Collection on CD

by BlondieWrites on November 11, 2009

HUGE Coloring Sheets Collection on CD

HUGE Coloring Sheets Collection on CD … Printables (Great for Christmas, Homeschooling, Etc!)

Printable Kid Activities… Printable Sheets, HUGE! Over 6,000 Pages! Makes a Wonderful Gift Too!

This fantastic collection has 6,800 printable coloring pages on CD! Great for homeschool, church, just having fun, those rainy days, traveling, etc. Kids love to color and with this huge collection of pages, they won’t get bored or run out of pages. Print them off and use them again and again, child after child, year after year! A great investment and for only $15.97, it’s one fantastic frugal deal! We are even throwing in FREE shipping! That’s 6,800 pages to print and color, all on CD, nicely sorted to find what you want!

Great idea for Christmas, homeschool, teachers, rainy day activities, and just plain good fun!

Get yours here:

http://tinyurl.com/5aytjt

CD is mailed within two business days of order.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Free Halloween PLR Articles Content

by BlondieWrites on October 15, 2009

Free Halloween PLR Articles Content

Are you wanting Halloween content for your blog or website? Right now, if you hurry, you can get some brand new free PLR articles content from Mom PLR by clicking here.

After you get your free Halloween PLR articles, you have the option to purchase more PLR content that can be very useful for your readers, and easy for you to supply to them. A 21 page PLR report and 10 PLR articles are available to readers who grab the free PLR Halloween articles.

You need to hurry though, they are not leaving this special deal up for long! Go here now and get your free PLR content.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Balancing Homeschooling and Working at Home

by BlondieWrites on October 13, 2009

A common reason for moms to homeschool their children and work from home is that the at-home lifestyle appeals to them. It sounds like an ideal situation – you’re home, the kids are at home, and everyone’s happy.

But juggling a home business with homeschooling usually doesn’t look as peaceful as it might sound. In fact, this is a more likely scenario:

You’ve planned to do a math lesson with your children at 9 am. Since you have a few minutes of peace while the kids are finishing breakfast, you decide to fit in a quick email check.

There’s an email from a prospective client, who wants a proposal from you right away, for a juicy contract. There’s still 20 minutes before you had planned to start your school day, so you start to reply.

Well, one thing leads to another… the computer is slower than usual, someone spills a bowl of cereal in the kitchen, the cat decides to throw up on the couch, and by the time your email is sent, it’s an hour later.

Still, not bad, you tell yourself, and you settle down with the kids to begin their lesson.

Halfway through the first page of math problems, you hear a new email coming in. Thinking it might be about the email you just sent, you tell the kids, “I’ll be right back.”

Now he wants to talk to you over the phone. Can you call him as soon as you get this email? You pick up the phone and start dialing.

In the next room, the kids are frustrated with the math problems and starting to throw pencils and erasers at each other. While the phone’s ringing, you call out to them to quiet down and just read a book instead.

Your call is answered, but it’s a little hard to hear the reply over the fighting that has ensued. Your children have suddenly decided they have to read the very same book, at the same time. Their arguing has gotten the dog riled up, and now he’s barking too.

You mumble something about needing to call back later, apologize, and hang up the phone. By the time you get the dog outside, the kids calmed down enough to focus on their lesson, it’s time for lunch and you need a nap.

There are a few steps you can do to be sure your days don’t end up looking like this.

Schedule time for work and time for school. When it’s time for school, give your kids 100% of your attention. Then when it’s time for you to work, give 100% of your attention to your business. Problems arise when you try to multi-task because you’re won’t be able to give proper attention to either your kids or your business.

Teach your children how to work independently. There will be times when you won’t be available for your kids because of your business. So, it’s important to give your kids opportunities to learn to work independently. If you have a phone call that goes long, or if you are busy with an important project, the school day won’t automatically fall apart. Even young children can work independently for a short time.

Enlist the help of other homeschooling parents. See if you can work out a childcare exchange, for times when you need the kids out of the house. Then you can return the favor when they need help.

Be flexible. No matter how well you plan your day, always expect the unexpected. Organize your day as best as you can, but be willing to change your schedule at a moment’s notice.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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How to Get a Medical Scooter at Low Cost or No Cost

by BlondieWrites on October 11, 2009

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Popularity: 2% [?]

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Creating a Contingency Plan for WAHM Businesses

by BlondieWrites on October 10, 2009

The last question that anyone wants to think about is “What would happen to my home business if I was to be seriously injured or if I die? Who would tie up the loose ends?”

It can be difficult to think about these things, but just as it is important to leave a will and/or final personal wishes for your family, it is important to leave information regarding your business. If you become seriously ill, are injured in an accident, or in the event of your death, then you owe it to your customers, clients, or business associates to make sure that things are taken care of in a timely and professional manner. They are the ones that helped you make your business what it is; without them you would not have one. Making sure they are taken care of is extremely important.

Below is a checklist of what types of information you will need to document, along with tips and suggestions for the person you leave in charge.

Make a list of all website names, links, hosts (with contact information), plus usernames and passwords for these accounts. You may also want to leave instructions for accessing any of your website files on your hard drive, how to make changes and how to publish those files.

Make a list of all email addresses detailing which address belongs to which site, along with usernames and passwords for those accounts.

Leave the link to and username/password for your PayPal or any other “merchant” or payment processing accounts. Also if you have a separate business checking account, leave the account numbers, and any online username and passwords to access the account. If you have debit cards associated with those accounts, make a list of the card numbers that go with each account, along with a description of the card(s). For example if you have a PayPal account with a blue MasterCard debit card and a bank account with a red colored VISA, then you could list something like;
PayPal, Blue MasterCard, Card Number 1234567812345678
Bank Account at First Federal Bank, Red VISA, Card Number 0987654309876543

Leave instructions for accessing your online store account (if you have one) and retrieving any and all pending orders, plus instructions for filling or refunding those orders, i.e. where to find products, order products, or how you want the money refunded. Leave your preferences such as refunds via money order, business check, PayPal, etc.

If you sell on EBay, Half.com, Amazon (or any other “auction” type site), make sure to list usernames/passwords for the account(s), and leave instructions for retrieving any pending auctions or shipments. In the case of Half.com or Amazon, be sure to give detailed information on deleting your inventory.

Make a list of current affiliates, clients, contacts, advertisers, etc. with which you are doing business along with all contact information. A database program such as MS Access would be perfect for this.

Make a list of groups or message boards in which you participate and usernames and passwords for those accounts. Leave instructions on whether or not you want a message posted on these groups or message boards letting others know what has happened to you and when you will be returning to the group.

Make lists of names, addresses, phone numbers of all of your wholesale suppliers, drop shippers, or companies for which you are a representative, etc. along with names and email address or phone number of any particular contact with those companies.

Finally, sit down and type out all of the information that you would like to have in the email that you want sent out, the info to type on the homepage of your website, and the info you want to have posted in your groups. This should include any information on when you will be returning (if you know) or in the event that you will not be returning, final words, wishes, etc.

Go over all of this information with the person you wish to leave in charge. Choose someone that would be able to handle the responsibility professionally as well as emotionally in the event of your death. It would probably be unwise to leave this responsibility to your husband, your mother, or a grown child because this would likely be the last thing they will want to think about. If you can count on a good friend or business associate to do these things for you then it would be better. If you are personally familiar with your web site host, one of your affiliates, your business suppliers, etc. then leave some of the information with them and ask them to take care of it. For example, if your web host is a friend, leave instructions with them on the type of information that needs to be posted on the home page of your site, and whether you want all the pages taken down, etc. If you are personal friends with the owner of any groups of which you are a member, then leave information with them for posting a message on the group on your behalf.

It is important that ANY business have some type of contingency plan in place in the event of an emergency. Remember if YOU were the associate or customer of a business that suddenly closed (and it happens all the time), and you were left hanging, how happy would that make YOU? Use this same consideration when making your own contingency plan. It is not only the professional thing to do, it is the ETHICAL thing to do as well.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Kandi Traxel is a WAHM and the owner of Shop With a Mom www.shopwithamom.com and Simply Melt Away www.simplymeltaway.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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Working at Home With Toddlers

by BlondieWrites on October 5, 2009

1. Work Schedule
The most important thing I have found is setting a schedule and sticking to it. Your toddler will learn your schedule, grow to appreciate it and keep you to it! I always get up at least 2 hours before my son to work in quiet. I devote 1 hour to my son when he wakes up for bathroom duties, breakfast and quality time and 1 full hour for lunch and quality time which he needs and appreciates. Working while he naps in the afternoon is more great quiet time. Set a quitting time and stick to it. My son is so used to the schedule, if I am running a little late, he lets me know. No he can’t tell time, it’s the old biological clock kicking in.

2. Organizing Your Work Load
Buy an eraser board and list all the things that have to be done in your business in categories starting with daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually duties. Add on new one time projects you want to get involved in as you discover them. First thing every morning write out the days “To Do List“. Draw from the eraser board and prioritize keeping in mind how much time different tasks take. Follow the list and cross off things as they are accomplished. Following the list keeps you focused and saves you time because every time you complete one task, you don’t have to re-access all tasks to figurine out what should be done next.

3. Talking To Your Toddler About Work
Your toddler does not want you to work. He wants you to play and give him 100% of your attention all day, every day. Unfortunately that is not possible when you are running a business. I find talking to your toddler like he is an adult works best. I’m not saying you should try to teach your toddler algebra. What I mean is speak calmly, clearly, firmly, to the point and with respect to your child. The same way you would speak to any adult or expect to be spoken to. Children understand approximately 1500 words more than they verbalize and they will listen and learn more if you don’t sound irritated or speak “baby talk” to them. For example: When lunch hour is up and my son doesn’t want me to go back to work, I explain, “If Mommy doesn’t work at home we wouldn’t get to spend lunch hour together at all because Mommy would have to go to an office building everyday and you would have to go to a babysitter‘s everyday. Please allow Mommy to go back to work now so I can continue to have lunch hour with you every day. Thank you for being such a good boy for Mommy.” I’ll never forget when my son was 2 /12 years old and we were in the check-out line at the grocery store. My son and I were talking and during our conversation he said please and thank you. The woman in line behind us said, “I can’t believe your son says please and thank you on his own at his age!” I said, “Why wouldn’t he? I always say please and thank you to him.” Children learn from example and repeat what they see and hear!

4. Teach Your Toddler To Respect Your Work Area
You must have a designated work area that is mostly but not completely off limits to your child. You must have a designated play area that is child safe, within hearing and if possible seeing distance of one another. Through out the day, one ear and if possible one eye must be on your child while you work. Communicate with your child while you work and instill the off limit rules at the same time. For example: When my child sings a song, I sign along with him. If he comes over to my work area he can stand close but not touch my papers or computer. If he does touch, I calmly and firmly say, “I love singing with you but please do not touch Mommy’s work papers.” When he removes his hand say thank you!

5. Entertaining Your Toddler While You Work
Your toddler’s designated play area must have plenty of age appropriate books and toys. However, I have learned not to allow him access to all of them at once. Your child will become bored of all of them quickly and come to you for entertainment. Rotate the toys and books from a place he can not access to his designated play area every month. Have a selection of inexpensive children’s DVDs or Video tapes and teach your toddler how to work the machine. It only took 2 1/2 days for my 3 year old to learn how to put in, play and change a DVD by himself. I didn’t teach him how to work the TV controls so he couldn’t watch shows that are not suitable. If you are interacting with your child while he watches his shows, don‘t worry, the TV is not being a babysitter!

6. Playing Work With Mommy
Sometimes your toddler will just have to be involved with Mommy and her work. Create a toddler work area that is very similar to yours. I bought an inexpensive child table and chairs, gave him an old telephone and calculator I no longer use and bought a very inexpensive children’s learning PC. I give him the unused back side of discarded work papers and color pens and pencils. When he just will not play on his own, I give him tasks to complete. For example I say, “Call Grandma on the phone and tell her how many orders we had this morning.” The phone isn’t really hooked up but he has to use his imagination to keep the conversation going and he is entertained for a while.

7.When Your Toddler is a Little Sick or Cranky
Every child wants extra time and attention when they feel a little sick or cranky. Unfortunately, most work at home Mom’s just can‘t take the day off it is not an emergency. I found a little trick that works the best for me and my son. I comfort him on my lap while I work. Sounds impossible to do but it’s not. Yes, the work goes a little slower but my son gets the extra love and attention he needs and the best part is gets bored within 20 minutes and goes off on his own to find something more interesting to do while I finish the work that has to be done!

8. Other Interruptions
What do you do about snack time, the telephone and the door bell. Set a 10 minute time limit and stick to it. Your toddler will get used to this limit just like all the other schedule limits. If you receive a phone call or the door bell rings with an unexpected visitor and your 10 minutes is up, you have to calmly, firmly and politely explain that you work from home and have work that needs to get done today. Say thank you for calling or visiting and say it was wonderful talking to them and end the call or show the visitor to the door. Invite them to call or visit after work hours.

8. End The Work Day Right!
Select something that your toddler can do that symbolizes the end of your work day and the start of your evening with him! I allow my son to turn off the computer monitor. This is the only time he is allowed to touch my computer. It is special task that makes him feel grown up, important and in charge for a few seconds. It has become a fun and meaningful ritual for both of us!

9. What About The House Work?
Throw a load of laundry in the washer at breakfast time and throw it in the dryer at lunch time. Only 2 minutes each time and a chore is done! Major household chores will have to be done after your business work is done. If you make cleaning house a fun game that your child participates in, he won’t even realize that 100% of your attention is not on him and won’t resent the time it takes you to do it My son sings the “Clean-up, Clean-up” song and turned one of his push toys with the long handle and pop balls into his vacuum cleaner. Use dinner cooking time to teach him the names of all the appliances, what they do, hot from cold, etc.

10. When Do You Rest?
I have only found one answer to that question that works. Learn to go to bed as early as your toddler does. If you are really exhausted, take a short nap in the afternoon when your toddler does.

As you can see working from home with a toddler is challenging but if you prepare yourself properly and keep a positive outlook it will also be a lot of fun!

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Elaine Stephen is a work at home Christian Mom and the Sole Proprietor of the Inspirational Gift Gallery storesonline.com/site/inspirationalgift an online store that sells affordable gifts that express God’s word, Christ’s sacrifice and inspire Christian love, comfort and joy. Elaine also enjoys writing for her Inspirational Christian Stories, Poems, Gifts blog. Come be inspired or submit your own inspirational writings at inspirationalgifts.blogspot.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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