Archive for February, 2008
February 12, 2008· Filed under Valentines
With Valentine’s Day being this week, I just couldn’t help myself – I had to make a new header for the site. It was a quick one to make – I just used a set of Photoshop Valentine’s brushes and changed up the CSS a bit to make it match. It won’t being staying long so feel the love while it lasts.
In other Valentine news, if you are looking for some last minute Valentine’s activity ideas for the kids check out:
I already got my Valentine’s present. My husband knows that the way to my heart is through technology and gadgets, so he bought me a Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator for my car since he knows I will be driving to various gymnastics meets over the next few months. That little gadget really got my heart going when I figured out that I can use my cell phone hands free through its Bluetooth capability – way cool.
And he will not be neglected. We have tickets to go see Larry the Cable Guy in concert this weekend. I am still working out baby sitting arrangements and deciding on whether to book a hotel and stay downtown or just come home after the show. Either way, it will be nice to get away for a few hours and reconnect, laugh, and have some fun.
How about you? Any plans for a LOVE-ly week?
February 11, 2008· Filed under Monday Motivation
Most Mondays I have my To-Do list written out, coffee on the go and I am ready to hit the week running. Today, that is not the case! I will be lucky if I make it out of my jammies today and get anything done. I have been fighting an upper respiratory virus since last Monday and it really took me down over the weekend – but I couldn’t slow down (long story, but it just wasn’t possible). The worst of it has to be over because I do feel a bit better today and my voice is slowly coming back. Add to that, my son is home sick today, and you start to get the picture.
No goals or lists for me today. I’m picking and choosing the tasks I have energy for and what ever I end up getting done is better than nothing.
As far as the week goes, I do have some goals:
- Put the finishing touches on a client site
- Finish writing SEO report for another client
- Update my blogs to the latest WordPress version
- Go through inbox and make sure there are no outstanding maintenance tasks
Looking for more Monday Motivation? Wendy at eMoms at Home is getting serious about getting things done and WAH(web)Mommy has already got her week planned out.
February 8, 2008· Filed under Casual Friday
Happy Friday! The one thing I really look forward to when I get up each morning is a really nice cup of coffee. For years and years I struggled to find the secret to a good cup of coffee – like you find at Starbucks or another good coffee shop. I failed miserably. A few years ago I asked for a Keurig Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System for Christmas, because with the Keurig, you make one PERFECT cup of coffee at a time. No rolling the dice as to whether the coffee will be too strong or too weak.
Keurig is not the only maker of single serving coffee makers. Braun’s Tassimo Hot Beverage System and Phillips Senseo Single Serve Pod Coffee Maker are other brands with their own twist on the single cup solution. I have never tried the Tassimo system, but I have a Keurig and a Senseo.
Keurig’s machine is about $199 and the K-cups that it uses are about $10 for a box of 25. I literally live off of the Newman’s Own Organics Extra Bold – I have yet to find a cup of coffee so good. We also discovered that they make hot chocolate K-cups, too, and the kids love it.
Senseo is made by Phillips and their coffee pods are made by Sarah Lee. The system is much more affordable at $70 and the coffee pods are available fo less than $20 for 72 pods. (I like the Senseo Douwe Egberts Coffee Pods). The Senseo system is easy to use and very easy to clean. If the Senseo system is something you’d like to try out, you can go to ShareSenseo.com, take a short survey and be registered for a chance to receive a Senseo system. If you are selected, you just pay a $15 shipping and handling fee. (You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 2-6 weeks if they are selected.)
I also have a handful of $20 off coupons for the Senseo machine. If you are interested, let me know in the comments and I will do a random draw of those interested.
So, let’s talk coffee today!! Do you drink coffee or do you prefer tea? Are you a home brew, Starbucks or other coffee brand kind of a person? And of course, we can talk about anything else while we are at it! How was your week?
PS – I have announced the winner of the Kipling giveaway from last week. It was lucky #1 – Gayla.Â
February 5, 2008· Filed under Productivity
Tonight at my daughter’s swim practice I saw a quote on one of the coach’s t-shirts that was just too good not to share!
Think about it – this quote is applicable to every aspect of life. Whether you are trying to grow your business, maintain balance in your day or trying to lose weight, you can not expect to attain your goals without some form of plan in place.
A common technique is to use the SMART system of goal setting:
Specific – Define your goals – the more specific, the better. A goal to grow your business is too ambiguous. A better goal would be something along the lines of achieving a certain income level each month, producing a specific product, or reaching a specific number of clients.
Measurable – Choose a goal that can be measured so that you can see you are making progress. Be careful that you are not falling victim to percieved productivity, however.
Attainable – Make sure your goals really are attainable in a reasonable amount of time. Success breeds success and it is much easier to gain momentum if you are taking your larger goals one small step at a time.
Realistic – Take time to really think about your goal and how plausible it really is. If your goal is not realistic you will end up being disappointed.
Trackable - Your goals will be easier to meet if you can tangibly track your progress. Keep a journal or post your acheivements where everyone can see them. It will make it easier to get to where you are going.
You don’t have to do it alone, either. Gather your support system, declare your intentions and go after your goals. Ed Mills of Evolving Times has a great post on the 6 Support Systems to Put into Place Before You Need Them.
Are you working on a goal, or just wishing something will happen?Â
February 4, 2008· Filed under Monday Motivation
It’s Monday, my favorite day of the week, the day I look forward to all weekend because everyone goes back to school and work and I can get stuff done. Unfortunately today, I just don’t feel the Monday love. I think it is because I feel like I am getting sick again – my throat hurt all night and I just want to crawl back into bed. I’ve taken two Motrin and brewed another cup of coffee – maybe in 20 minutes I will come back to life!
Since I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck today, I’m setting the bar very low for myself.
Today:
- Just get invoices finished – no big stress here, just tedium
This week:
- Start redesign for DollDiaries.com
- Re-evaluate and update affilate links (what is working, what is not, what could be)
- Get a bunch of reviews done
- Build up stock pile of future posts
That’s it, nothing major, but I have to put it out there for all to see or it won’t even get started.
How about you? What are your goals for today or the week? I have found that making my plan and holding myself accountable for it is the best way to start off my week. Join Wendy at eMoms at Home, WAH(web)Mommy, From the Park Bench and me by posting your own Monday Motivation post.
PS – I still have some great giveaways running (just in case you missed them).Â
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