Losing it Fast!

Is there really such a thing as losing weight fast anyway? So many people have been on crash diets and have done all kinds of crazy things that it's amazing. I encourage everyone to do their homework (on top of their home work) to read reviews and research before spending money on the "latest fad". I recently read a apatrim review that was very helpful when I was considering changing diet pills. As of right now I'm taking nothing to see how much weight I gain but that's another story. The one thing that I've noticed so far is that my focus has been lost which I'm sure many people will not say. I tend to focus on things when I have lots of energy, so much to the point that I'm almost hyper. I've lost a lot of that due to a lot of things other than stopping the pills so that can also change the way I'm thinking. Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Balancing Act

No, this isn't another post about how to organize your life, this one is about how to lose belly fat! LOL I'm going out tomorrow and buying myself a big exercise ball to replace my desk chair for a while. Why? Not only can my core use a routine workout that has been neglected, my back has been really a pain and I think this would help strengthen my muscles. I know that they have been a successful experiment inside many offices and I don't think that mine is any different...except for the little booger of a child that I have running around (which you might think is enough to keep the weight off, LOL). I'll let you know what my findings are in a couple of weeks. :o)

Artisan Crafts

Being that it's summer time and street fairs are in full swing, it's a great time to check out what artists are up to. If you're into creating things this would be the time to find your niche. When I go to fairs I end up seeing tons of people that sell jewelry, paintings, and sculptures but each has a very distinct design that sets them apart.

I've noticed that raw materials are becoming huge again, which is really nice to add personality to you or your home. Lots of oxidized materials like copper are major design elements from earrings to sinks! Could you imagine having copper sinks? It's hard to picture unless you've seen them in place and once you have I'm sure you'll love the look! I know I want one now. LOL!

Speaking of Vacation...

I could REALLY use one! Hopefully before school gets started we can get away some where even if it's just for the night, anything would be wonderful!

I am dying to go to Disney World or Hawaii though. I haven't been to the first one and the second has been almost 15 years. I know the kids would LOVE Hawaii and being on the beach all the time. DH would get to go fish and I could shop. Ah, that would be more than ideal. Work has been crazy busy and I haven't had one moment of peace. Soon, hopefully soon...

Working During Vacation

One of the selling points that you always hear about working from home is how you can work from any where you want to, even while on vacation. Now really, do you want to work while you're on vacation? I'm sure a quick log in and out wouldn't be all that bad but I know that I wouldn't want to be trying to enjoy the beach at the Outer Banks rentals and know that I have a ton of stuff to do before I can go out. That just would kill the fun of it.

Separating yourself from work and home is way harder than people think it is and it takes time and practice. It's almost like someone training to be a psychologist and trying not to be a therapist while talking to their friends. Point blank, enjoy your time away!

You're Invited...

...and by that I mean, make them! There are lots of people that have taken up creating greeting cards but how many times have you actually heard of people being specific to invitations? So many of the ones out there are generalized and boring and you can only go so far with a print shop, wouldn't it be nice to have a creative mind behind your invites tailored to you? There would be no limit to how far you could go doing these types of things. It could be done specifically for each client or you could even have a bunch that would be semi general so that people could purchase your creations. If you love to scrapbook either in paper or digitally how fun would this be?! Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, or Halloween invitations...there are so many things that you could do and different ways to do them!

Where to Begin?

I'm finding another unbalance to my working at home...organization. Not just between family or house work but all around organization. I would really like to redo my office area but I can't seem to find the right time to uproot the place and do it. I finally have something I would like to do in mind but of course now I have to have my window redone since it's super old, clean, then paint and reorganize. It's such a mess. At the same time I have the kids, DH, and all sorts of other things to tend to. Sometimes I don't know how people do this stuff.

I still really want to get my crafting experiment underway but finding a way to fit that in with an overhaul is posing to be more than difficult. Obviously I can't be working on that and the office at the same time as there will be no where to work. *sigh* Hopefully next month things will get a whole lot easier.

Taking the Stress Out of Work

Whether you have children or not, stress related matters can definitely take a toll on your work at home. There are lots of people that work outside the home that end up bringing their work home with them and often the opposite is said for people that work from home. It can be hard to concentrate, retain focus, or even just become motivated.

One of the difficulties of being your own boss is that it is very possible that you cannot control all the factors that will bring you income. Independent contractors often find themselves waiting on their clients or others in order to be paid. This can be extremely frustrating if something that is depended upon to complete a project is being held up because of an outside source.

Too many times I myself have found that I seem to be running around with my head spinning as I'm trying to manage various tasks in a timely manner. I've had all sorts of complications that have pushed my patience to its limit. The best advise anyone has given me is to be realistic. Not just realistic in a legitimate form but to always be aware of my actual role and that things do happen even when you think you have it in control.

Letting stress get to the point that it can become an appetite suppressant is one of the worst things that you can do for yourself. Although it may be difficult, sticking to a routine, working the best you can, and keeping communication open (personal and professional) will all be a large part in ensuring sanity and maintaining stress levels.

Managing Weight From Your Desk

It wasn't until after I started working from home that weight management would become an issue. Sitting at a desk all day really puts a damper on one's metabolism doesn't it? I had always been under the wrong assumption that it wouldn't be as hard as working in an office because I would have the option to get up and do other things when needed...boy was that wrong.

After I had the second child I actually gained more weight by being at home than I ever have while I was working outside the home. So I ended up going on a mission to figure out what I could do to make things a little better. I started researching all the best weight loss pills, started an exercise regimen, and ate well but still that didn't fill the void of the constant motion that I had all these years at work.

Why didn't those thing work? Two words...discipline and balance. I never had the motivation to gt up and do the same thing each and every day, not to mention figure out what exercises would be most helpful for my situation. Recently I have lost 10lbs by eating right, making sure I stick to an exercise plan, and doing a lot of stretching. This all includes doing some yoga which is fantastic for increasing blood circulation which you lack while sitting all day. I know that for everyone the routine will differ but making sure "I don't stiffen up" has made a world of difference for me so far.

Quick Update

Well, I have some rather disappointing news...I haven't been able to place my orders for crafts yet. As it turned out, our bathroom faucet gave us a bit of a headache and we had to put the money towards a new one. It's looking that the project should resume next month and I will hopefully have something positive to say about the companies that I decide to try out. For now, at least our drip is gone. :o)