Are Freelancing Websites Worth the Time and Effort? Getting Jobs from Freelance Websites.

Freelancing is a very brave choice for a work at home mom, but also can be a great and rewarding thing as well.  Working on your own terms, being home for your children and having that flexibility is something that we all dream of, right?  Often the choice to work from home and freelance would be one that is very carefully made; especially if one is moving from a full-time job to being a freelancer.  In that case, the transition would be done very slowly, often including working your full-time job in addition to freelancing for the first few months to even a year. However this transition is very worth it since statistics state that freelancers make 45% more over traditional workers.  The most common hourly rate for a freelancer is within the $20-$60 an hour range, depending on your industry.  In fact, some even get $80-$100+ per hour!

Something that I have frequently seen is a lot of freelancers considering using freelance "bidding" websites such as O-Desk or Elance to get clients.  After all, building up your client base and actually having clients to work for is definitely the hardest part of having your own business.  It's definitely the most exhausting and the one thing that causes business owners the most anxiety.  Trust me, I know first hand.

These websites are options but they also aren't options at the same time.  Now, what do I mean by that?  I say that only because they have just as many cons, if not more, than they do pros.

Freelance sites are run on a bidding & short proposal system.  Simply put, when you find a job you like, you enter your hourly rate (or full-project rate depending on what the project calls for) and write a short description (or proposal) or what you can do for the client and how you can benefit them.  Sounds simple, right?  Well, it is simple to bid for jobs that you are interested in, but very difficult to actually get a freelance project from the site.  This is mostly because there is so much competition.  Not only competition from other qualified freelancers but also competition from the overseas freelancers who work for just pennies.  The majority of these freelancers are individuals from overseas and underprivileged countries who post their services for anywhere from $0.88 to $3.00 an hour.  (Yes, I have seen $0.88.)  So let's put it this way -- if you're selling your services for a carefully calculated and qualified rate of $20 - $30 an hour and someone else is selling theirs for $4 an hour, who do you think is going to get the project?

Now, in this case  one would say that is definitely mixed up.  That the rate would equal the quality of work and they're "getting what they are paying for", which is true.  However people who need a quick project done without concentrating on quality would probably choose the person for working for less.  It's frustrating for us freelancers and a very sad fact, but most people are very concerned with price over quality of work.  Most of the clients don't take the time to read the proposals, no matter how compelling and professional they are, and they don't take the time to understand that the larger price tag includes experience.  It includes individuals with certifications, specialty schooling in their area of expertise, various tests and exams and extensive software training.  Qualified freelancers have a fully-stocked home office and have all of the programs up and running to assist their clients.  Now isn't that a professional that a client would want to help them out?

On the other hand, those websites are great for someone starting out.  A brand new freelancer with no client base may have to lower their rate starting out to get these jobs, but to a reasonable rate not to a rate that's below poverty level!  It is a good place to get clients and start building up a client base who will end up trusting you and possibly referring your services.  These websites are also a great way to gain multiple income streams while working at home, if you're able to handle it.  

I've used these websites before and while I have gotten some clients, I also feel like I sold myself short and under priced myself.  I ended up taking projects for 55% less than my normal hourly rate and it was even a rate that was $3 under what I was making in my full time job. (This is an example of what not to do!)  I find the process of weeding through the jobs posted to find just what you're looking for and writing a proposal that usually doesn't even get read is very tiring,  The time one puts into searching those sites could be better used marketing their own site and their own services via the internet and social media. 

From experience, I think your time (and money) would be best spent on creating your own website and looking for some local smaller clients for your first clients.  You still may have to lower your rate, but not to a rate that would cheat you out of what you deserve.  When you contact your prospective clients yourself (via e-mail, mailer or phone) you can sell yourself better.  You are able to attach info-graphics, media kits, examples of your work and so on.  Either way you market yourself, it will take time to build your client base and business to one that has a sustainable and steady income.  It's hard, but it is very possible.  

Have you used any freelancing sites?  Have you found success on any?

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Goals and Aspirations Now vs. Pre Mom

My life completely changed once I had my first daughter in October of 2005.  Before becoming a mom I was very selfish and not concerned with the value of money at all.  I would go on shopping sprees with any money I brought in from work, I wasn't concerned with saving any of my money and I only cared about myself and my appearance.  I lived for primping myself up to be more attractive to men and my life revolved around finding a boyfriend so that I could fit in. 

I was 19 years old and in college when I got pregnant with my oldest daughter.  Among spending money on clothing, concerts, going out with my friends and going out with my fiance, I now had another concern; being pregnant.  It wasn't easy.  I spent many days trying to figure out how I would continue to lead the normal life of a 19/20 year old while pregnant and also while having a newborn.  One night I realized that I couldn't, I would just have to completely change the way I thought about myself, money and my free time. It seemed so challenging for me to think about having to change my ways.  It only felt challenging to me until she was born.

My oldest was born prematurely on October 5th, 2005.  She was 5 weeks early and was put immediately into the NICU for medical reasons and was there for nearly two months.  Once that happened everything changed in my life.  I was 100% devoted to my daughter and did everything I could to figure out ways to solve questions the doctors had about her and her health.  My life now revolved around this little (well, she was 8lbs 7oz) baby that was now mine.  

Goals and aspirations definitely changed from pre-mommy to post-mommy.  While I used to want to be an artist and figure skater, I had to put those dreams on hold while I tried my best to make a good living for myself and my girls.   I used to have goals of making new friends whenever I could and finding a boyfriend, I had to live for myself and my girls and not live for finding someone to be with long term.  I left it up to fate and not to my cruising dating websites or bars for a soul mate.  My priorities also changed in finding someone to date.  Instead of them being cute, having a car, having money and being independent; my main priority was to find someone who would treat my girls as their own and someone who would love me and my kids unconditionally.  

Your life, priorities, goals and aspirations completely do a turn once you become a parent.  You live for your kids and live for making their lives better; not your own.  

How have your priorities and goals changed since becoming a parent?

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Best iPhone 6 Apps for 2014 for Moms & Work At Home Moms

A month ago I decided to take the plunge and get the coveted iPhone 6.  It took a lot of thinking and re-working my budget but since AT&T Next really makes it easy to get a new phone within your budget, I decided it would work for me.  I decided upon the iPhone 6 instead of the iPhone 6 Plus. Why?  I really don't know.  Occasionally I do regret getting the iPhone 6 and wish I had gotten the 6 Plus, but I think there are times when we all want what we don't have! :)  Long story short, I love my phone and am extremely happy that I got it! 

I realized that the last Favorite Apps post I did was a very long time ago and my favorites have changed and morphed into new ones since then.  That being said, I figured that I would write up a new post with my favorite iPhone 6 apps of 2014. 

TweetBot - I've actually written about tweet bot in two other favorite apps posts back in 2013 and 2012 and I actually still do use the app.  Currently, I have the app in my Social Media folder because I do yo-yo between the native Twitter app and TweetBot, but I really do prefer TweetBot because of how great it looks, how quick it is and how you can easily switch between Twitter accounts.  The native Twitter app is a little roundabout in terms of switching between accounts.  It does cost $2.99, but I feel the minimal cost is completely worth the product you get!

Evernote - I also wrote about Evernote in the previous two posts I did as well.  This app is always going to be a favorite of mine because it literally stores your entire life.  I call this my life in an app and use it to store the novel that I am writing, coupons that I want to use, documents that I scan in and want to keep safe, work documents (business plans, contracts, media kit, etc...), I scan and keep my kids artwork in there from school, I do project and event planning and so much more.  This app keeps everything safe that I need and want.  The best part is that I can easily go into the app and search for anything that I'm looking for since everything you post is searchable.  You can keep voice notes, video notes, picture notes, text notes and even e-mail anything you need to save directly into the app to categorize at a later time.

Cal - In the past I have used Cozi and Agenda as my calendar replacements but I grew tired of those and found flaws that I couldn't let go of in time.  I found Cal which is a great calendar app.  It has a great interface, is very aesthetically pleasing, and you can sync  your Cal app with Any.Do so you can see your to-do list within your calendar app and plan your day to get more done! It also lets you know, in between tasks & events, how much time you have free.  I think this is just a terrific app for planning and a great calendar replacement. 

Timehop - Still one of my favorite apps.  I open it first thing every morning to see what I was up to every year prior on that exact day.  It's so interesting to see how far I've come from 5 years ago and to reminisce on what happened on that day in the past.  Since I've lost a tremendous amount of weight, I also enjoy looking back on the app when I have old pictures that I posted on that exact day to see how far I've come with my weight loss.  This app is a must-have in my opinion!

Misfit - NOTE: You cannot use Misfit unless you have one of their neat little wearable activity trackers.  I currently have a Misfit Flash so that's why I use this app!  I love Misfit because it gives you an accurate interpretation of how active you were during the day, how many calories you burnt with exercise, how many everyday steps you took and how much & how well you slept that night.  I purchased a Misfit Flash on Black Friday and never take this thing off.  I'm obsessed with checking my sleep patterns, how many steps I took, etc...  If you are considering getting an inexpensive activity tracker, I suggest checking out Misfit and if you get a Misfit, go ahead and download their app! :)

My Fitness Pal - Ever since I set out on my journey to lose weight in January, My Fitness Pal has been the biggest help to me.  It's a place where you can track your weight, exercise, goals and also a community where you can lean on others for support, ask questions, etc...  I don't think I could have lost 80 pounds without the help of My Fitness Pal!  If you are thinking about losing weight or need some help losing weight, I definitely suggest downloading this app.  

Things - In the past 7 years that I have had an iPhone, I've been through a large number of different To Do List apps.  I may have used the majority of the ones in the app store but I just recently downloaded Things and really like it.  You can create projects to categorize tasks under, you can schedule tasks for certain days, you can see what's overdue, current and what is a priority and the "app flag" shows you how many tasks you have to do for that day.  Now most people don't care about the app flag but I mention that because I hate app flags and want every single one of them gone so I work harder to complete the tasks for that specific day so I don't have to look at that ugly red flag. 

Spotify - There are so many apps just like this but I love Spotify the most.  I used to use Rdio but I got tired of it and didn't like how it was laid out.  Spotify has a great dark background with bright text, you can follow your friends and listen to their play lists, discover new music, search and listen to almost any song that you want to hear and you can listen offline with their premium subscription.  Sure it costs $9.99 a month but students only pay $5.99 a month and it is very much worth the cost.  This app has almost taken over the need for the native Music app on my phone.

Inrix Traffic - Since I work (almost) an hour away I need to know the traffic every single morning.  Something I loved about my Android was that I would get notifications every morning, 20 minutes before I would leave, telling me the traffic on my way to work.  I was upset that the iPhone didn't offer that until I found this app!  This app shows you the traffic, suggests alternate routes, shows you the local traffic cameras on your route and NOTIFIES YOU EVERY MORNING!  So now I know when to leave, if I should leave earlier, if I could wait a little longer to leave, etc...  And I do have to say, this is the most accurate traffic app that I have ever used.

Polyvore - I just recently downloaded this app and I've been obsessed with putting together outfits with this app.  They give you a white background and tons of clothing item options to create your own "look".  This is my favorite thing to do when I have nothing else to do! :)

VSCO Cam - This is really the only photo editing app that I use even though I have a million and one apps downloaded.  I love the filters on this app and the ability to download even more apps from their in-app purchases!  You can edit almost anything with this app including contrast, brightness, warmth, filters, etc...  This app is the only app you really need for photo editing and the only one that I currently use! 

What are your favorite apps?

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They Grow Up So Quickly! Olivia's 7th Birthday Party.

Time flies when you're having fun.  My daughter's birthday is actually on December 21st but after years of having trouble getting kids to come to her party, so close to Christmas, we pushed her party up a few weeks this year. Finally, we were able to have almost everyone that she invited come to her party! 

A brand new Chuck E Cheese just opened up two weeks ago about 10 minutes from our house, so we jumped to book the party there. It's actually really funny because that same place is where I had MANY parties as a child. Except back then it was Discovery Zone. (does anyone remember Discovery Zone?) 

Her party had a Frozen theme (duh, frozen is life. Doesn't everyone know that?) but I had such a hard time finding any frozen cakes. I usually make my kids' cakes but between her being sick last week, work and just hectic life, I didn't have the time to. I ran to Walmart this morning and found this perfect purple, blue and pink cake and picked up some smaller Frozen figures which worked perfectly on top of the cake. Voila! Frozen themed cake. (How great am I? Go on! You can say it!)

The party ended up being perfect. The girls had so much fun, got tons of tickets to turn in for prizes and my little princess was the happiest kid on the planet. 

My girls are very close and my 9 year olds friends are also my 6 (and a half) year olds friends, so we invited three of their mutual 9 year old friends as well. My youngest and her 1st grade friends felt so cool because they were hanging out with third graders. It was adorable!  The older kids had fun too but they, of course, thought Chuck E was corny! 

After the party, we heard that Geoffrey the Giraffe was at Toys r Us and that they were doing a free ornament decorating activity. Well, Toys r Us was right next door so we went to see what was up! We walked in and Geoffrey was right there in the front and my girls were super excited to meet him! My youngest said, "Wow, you're so tall!" She was absolutely enthralled with the man in the giraffe costume! 

Side note: When my 9 year old was just a month old, she was asked to be in a babies r Us fashion show in New York. Well, I have a picture of her with Geoffrey at a month old, screaming her head off. I told her that I was going to find that picture and put that one and the current one side by side, just for my own memories! But I digress...

I can't believe that my baby is going to be 7 years old in two weeks. It really blows my mind to think how fast these 7 years have flown by. No matter how old she gets, she's always going to be my little baby girl! No doubt about that!

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A different me, ten years later. Speaking out about bullying -- Don't give up hope!

Ten years ago I was an 19 year old about to graduate high school, very unsure of herself or her future.  I was extremely concerned about my popularity, fitting in, friends and college.  Up until the middle of my Senior year, I had no idea what I wanted to do for college or where I wanted to go.  I had absolutely no faith in myself and felt that I was fat, ugly and would never amount to anything.  I didn't realize, at that time, that was my depression talking and not my actual self.  I had a very morphed image of who I was and who I would become.  I wish I could go back and tell my 19 year old self some things because now that I am older, I realize how foolish I was back then. 

Popularity doesn't matter, it's not going to last forever.

Very few of the friends you have in High School will even stay with you past college.  People change and head in different directions.

Those are two of the most important things that I wish I would have realized back then.  It would have made the last year of High School a hell of a lot easier and would have made me not put as much pressure on myself.  Dwelling on my depression was not a good idea.

Now, as a 29 year old, I'm happy with myself but know that I could make improvements.  I feel better about who I am and where I am heading with my life.  I'm still depressed, every once in a while, but I know how to get myself out of that funk and know how to function better than I did back then. 

I am friends with two people that I went to High School with and believe it or not, I wasn't great friends with them back then.  With age, usually, comes maturity and you realize that what you thought of someone in High School is completely different than what you think of them now as an adult. Of course, this isn't true in all cases.  Some people that I went to High School with are just as immature as they were back then; if not more immature now. However, a lot of us have kids or are married and have responsibilities and realize that the bullying and immaturity they had in High School wasn't worth it.  I have gotten some apologies from those that I was bullied by and while I didn't need an apology, I surely did appreciate it.

My life also took a completely different path as I now have two children and didn't think I would have had kids as young as I did.  I couldn't be happier that I have my girls because they are my life.  They make my life complete.  They have also taught me what it is to be an adult, how amazing it feels like to give to others instead of being selfish and taught me unconditional love and patience.  It was amazing how the second I had my oldest everything changed.  I wasn't buying anything for myself anymore but loved buying everything for her. (Maybe too much!)  I learned that seeing my kids happy was the most important thing in the world and while they don't know how much they've taught me and wouldn't understand it now, they've taught me more than I could have ever taught myself.

My mother told me, ten years ago, that life would be different as I got older but I never wanted to believe her.  After all, how would life get better as I got older?  I would have more responsibilities, bills to pay, a house to keep going and so on... But she was right.  Even though I have responsibilities, a full time job, a family to support and bills to pay, I don't complain (too much) about any of it.  I'm not too keen on paying bills but I do feel proud that even though I struggle, I am able to pay the bills and support my family.  It's not easy, but life isn't easy; it's a continuous circle of learning and you surely do learn new things everyday.

I know that no bullied or isolated teenager things that things will get better, but they do.  They get better as long as you have a positive outlook and believe that things will get better.  When you're in High School this is easier said than done, sure, I know that first hand but it's true.  As long as you work to put aside the nasty comments that you hear about yourself and feel confident in yourself, you will get through it.  It's definitely something you have to learn and something that I wish I had learned early on, but you can do it if you just believe in yourself.

Kids and teenagers are getting bullied every single day and I cringe when I hear about young people committing suicide or considering committing suicide because they feel hopeless and depressed from things that others say.  It makes me cringe because I've been there and I realize that could have been me if I had given into my depression but I chose to try to fight against the bullies.  Not physically but emotionally.  I'm lucky that I had a great family and two friends that I could always complain to.  They helped tremendously in keeping me going on even when I felt like there was no hope for me.  I just wish more bullied kids or teenagers had the nerve to speak up and tell someone what they're feeling or what they're going through.  I'm sure that if they didn't keep it inside they would have an amazing support system to help them rather than take tragic measures into their own hands.

One day I would love to speak up against bullying in some way, shape or form.  It's something that is very important to me and something that I feel is important to me.  I would love to help others who are going through what I went through because now that I am older, I know methods that I could have utilized to stop the bullying or to put that behind me rather than dwelling on it and listening to it.  I would love to have be a voice in other's lives when they don't feel like there's one and I would love to be someone that others can lean on when they have no one else.

I just want everyone that is being bullied to know that there is hope and I wish I could have told myself that ten years ago, but I can't go back in time and change what happened to me or how I felt.  All I can do is hopefully help another generation who cannot help themselves.

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If it Wasn't for Bad Luck, I Wouldn't Have Any at All.

I'm very stressed out today.  Why, you might ask?  Because I can be stressed out, that's why.  

Actually, I think everyone is stressed out around the Holiday season -- which is funny because isn't it the season to sit back and relax?  Unfortunately, when you're a single mom working full-time with a 6 year old's birthday coming up right before Christmas and two family get together's that you're hosting...things get even more stressful.

My youngest was due on Christmas Day but because my OB/GYN was due on the exact same day that I was, she chose to induce me on December 21. 2007.  Since my daughter was born so close to Christmas I need to throw Olivia a party for her friends (usually a few weeks before her birthday), a birthday party for mine & her father's side of the family and I also host Christmas at my house as well.  That's a hell of a lot of money and way too many parties in such a close span of time, but I wouldn't change it for the world no matter how stressful it is.  

As I sit here, I'm thinking about everything I need to do for this weekend, which is her friend's party at Chuck-E-Cheese.  Since I live paycheck to paycheck until my second job starts up in January, everything is done very last minute.  So yes, I have to run out tonight and get a cake, order balloons, grab some decorations and get goody bag items as well.  All 48 hours before the party, which is absolutely lovely.  Not only am I thinking about what I have to do for this weekend but I am also planning the menu for her family party (On Dec 21st) and trying to figure out what activities I am going to have for the 6 kids that will be there. 

I also have to plan when we are going to get Santa pictures done for the girls, when we are going to get Christmas card pictures done and that damn elf...I have to keep thinking up creative ideas of where to put the damn thing.  That's pretty stressful in itself; especially when I'm going to bed at midnight!  I'm usually dragging myself back out of bed, unwillingly, to go put the elves out.  

Want to hear the best part? The icing on the freaking cake? My daughter, who's Birthday party is on Saturday, got sent home from school today with a 102 fever.  Of course, never fails.  Why would things actually go smoothly?  Ironically, she's taking after me.  As a child I always got sick, without fail, right before my birthday and right before a major holiday that we were hosting.  That was the two times out of the year that I actually would get sick.  I had pretty shitty timing and it seems like my daughter is following right in my footsteps.  Of all the traits she could have gotten from me, THAT'S the one she chooses to get!  I'm just kidding -- mostly -- but when it rains, it pours in my family.  If it wasn't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any at all.

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I sound just like my mom; Things I swore I would never do as a parent.

I remember my mom telling me when I was a child, one day you will understand what it's like to be a parent & you will sound like me too.  

I didn't believe her.

Actually, I laughed at her and may have rolled my eyes...

Years later, as a mother, I completely understand what she was saying to me.  There are times where I take a minute and think, wow, I am just like my mother...and it scares me!  It scares me because I swore I would be a great single mother just like her but I also swore I wouldn't do certain things that I ended up doing anyway.  

1. Use electronics as my babysitter

When I was pregnant with my oldest I swore to myself that I would never use electronics as my babysitter.  I told myself that I would make time to spend as much time with my daughter as humanly possible and I did achieve this for the first few years of her life.  When she got older and I actually got a job outside of the house, I found that it was impossible to be with her at every second of the day.  My mom would babysit her while I was at work and she would turn the TV on for my daughter when she had to get some work done...and I ended up doing the same.

It's so hard, as a working mother, to come home from work, make dinner and clean the house while also entertaining my kids.  I had to depend on the TV, computer, their ipods, etc... when I'm trying to get the essential things done.  I know some parents are going to think that I'm horrible for it, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

2. Yelling at my kids
Sometimes I say that my mom doesn't know how to communicate by speech, she only knows how to yell.  Though that's a joke, she did yell a lot at me when I was a kid.  I understand now that she was a single mother who tried to do everything for me and sometimes I was not grateful for all she did for me.  I completely understand that!  When I had my kids, I promised myself that I would never yell at them...I was wrong. 

"Clean your room!"
"Do your homework!"
"Get your leg off your sisters lap!"
"Don't touch that, it's not yours!"

I find myself losing patience so often that I feel horrible about yelling at my kids.  Though I know every parent does at some point in time...especially when they have kids who deliberately disobey or who don't listen to a word that their parents say. *cough*mykids*cough*

3. Say things that my mother said to me
Although my mother was a great single mother who did everything possible for me, I still said I wouldn't become her.  I told myself that I would never say anything that she said;

"Stop it or I will turn this car around right now."
"If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?"
"Eat your food, there are kids starving in the world!"
"Clean your room or I'll get trash bags and clean it for you!"

Stuff like that...but there's more I can't remember right now.  Sometimes I just stop and say to myself, "Did I just say what my mother used to say to me?"  It's shocking how natural those words seem now that I'm a mother versus how unnatural they seemed beforehand. 

4. Get my kids something at the store just to shut them up
If you've ever been to a grocery store with your kids, you completely know what I'm saying!  There are times that I can't stand hearing my kids beg for this and that.  Most of the time I don't give in (when it's higher priced things they don't need)  but if it's a candy bar or a bottle of soda most of the time I will tell my kids to shut up and just throw it in the cart.  It stops them from annoying me...for a few minutes...

Though I did swear to myself that I would never give in to my kids just because I didn't want to spoil them like I was spoiled as a kid. 

5. Let them have junk food
I remember when I would say that I would never let my kids have junk food because I didn't want them to be unhealthy or have weight problems like I did.  Well, I learned to choose my battles in life.  When they were younger I would say no to junk food and really tried to have them eat healthy but it just became impossible as time went on.  I do limit junk food and make healthy lunches and dinners for them, but sometimes for breakfast you have to pop in frozen waffles or give them sugary cereals. If you're pressed for time, there's nothing else that you can do!

6. Leave their room a mess and close the door
Never have I been a super organized person but honestly I've never been a completely messy person either.  For the first few years I would clean their room when it got messy and then as they got older I had them clean it.  I would literally be on them like white on rice until it was cleaned.  Eventually, I realized just how much effort and time that took and started telling them & asking them to clean their rooms.  Occasionally they did and occasionally I walked into a room that looks like a hurricane hit it. I would get angry and frustrated until I realized that no one goes to the second floor and no one really cares except me.  Sure I would love to have a house that's spotless and looks like it's never been lived in but that is theoretically impossible with the two crazies I have living in my house.  I've learned that when they don't listen to me and clean, just shut the door and walk past.  Unless they are having friends over, no one is going to see it anyway.  Once again -- pick your battles.

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Wordless Wednesday and the Holiday Spirit

I was going to leave this as just a normal Wordless Wednesday post but I decided to add some words because I just love the Holidays and I absolutely love Holiday decorating/decorations. :)  This is our second Christmas in our home and Holiday decorating in this house is just amazing.  The reason we moved here is because of the cabin-like vibe that the house gave.  The wooden planked ceilings, the warm colors and the stone entry way/wood flooring really makes it feel cozy and more unique than other homes that are in the area.  It is especially cozy around the Holidays when everything is decorated, lit and the glow from the Christmas lights are warm but also bright. 

White lights, though they're beautiful, are not my "cup of tea" for the tree, but I absolutely love them for the (faux) fireplace and for decorating other areas.  Mostly because I feel like the white lights are very classy and they really make the tree pop.  The only other part of my house that has the colored lights are the exterior (of course) and the banister -- because I love the colored glow that shines upstairs at night from the colored banister lights! 

Our pesky & trouble-making elves are also back; Elfie and Sofia.  They've been making their appearance each day in silly places that my children absolutely love.  This morning they showed up hanging from the very wreath that is hanging over our faux fireplace!  My girls searched and searched until they finally figured out that the crazy elves were hiding in plain sight! 

This is definitely my favorite time of the year and I am definitely in the Holiday spirit!  Well, this ended up being more of a wordful wednesday than a wordless one! 

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Staying Organized & Getting Things Done: My Modified Bullet Journal Method of Organizing

Meet my new organizational method: The Bullet Journal.  I've posted about how I keep myself organized in the past on this blog but I started to get slightly overwhelmed with all of the methods I had and making sure that my actual planner was the same as my iPhone calender and that the iPhone calendar was synced with my computer & iPad.  I also had a separate notebook for to-do lists, shopping lists, wishlists, planning lists, blog posts, YouTube video lists, etc... Those methods worked for me for quite a while but I started to feel like I needed to just simplify my planning methods.  After searching and deciding that the majority of the good planners cost way too much, I went searching for other methods of planning that maybe I could utilize.  I came across the Bullet Journal Planning Method and fell in love.

I started my first Bullet Journal in September in a very old leather bound journal that I found in my book case and tried it to see if I liked it.  Well, I loved it.  I loved that you could customize your journal/planner to exactly how you want it, you could decorate it however way you wanted, you could write just about anything in it and you can clearly see all of your events, tasks, priority tasks,etc... without worrying that you will forget something or won't get something done.  

The photo above is of my brand new Bullet Journal that I am starting for Dec 2014 and going forward.  I used a plain composition book with graphing paper that I purchased from Walmart and decorated the front with scrap embellishments, washi tape and scrapbook paper.  I also added a "strap" to help close my book that I made out of polka dot elastic and a pen loop that I made out of washi tape.  Yes, I do have a Frozen pen -- so what?

The wonderful thing about a bullet journal is that you have a key and an index to help identify certain things.  The key is made out of a few symbols that symbolize a task, completed, in progress, cancelled, migrated or moved, e-mails, phone calls, events, appointments, notes, etc...  You could really make a symbol for anything you want that you find you put on your to-do list frequently.  My key is also my Dashboard for  some sticky notes that I have.  I have some post it flags and my totally awesome Olaf sticky notes that I got at Target.  On the opposite side of my key/dashboard is a folder that I made out of an old handmade greeting card and some washi tape.  This folder holds my extra monthly calendars that I still have to input into my journal and some stickers that I'm currently using frequently.  

My index isn't that creative and decorative but it does the job.  I can put everything that I need to find quickly into my index and be able to turn to that page without searching through.  I do have special pages within my December pages such as Gift Ideas, Olivia's Birthday Party Ideas, Dec to-do & shopping list, etc...  I didn't put those specifically in my Index but in the future I may put them under the month's category...I'm easily able to find it now but once I get further into the book I may not be able to find special month-related things as quickly.  My Index will be evolving throughout the journal.  

If you go specifically by the Bullet Journal Guide that the founder created, you're not supposed to have a full monthly calendar within the journal.  You can watch the original video for the explanation of what I mean and what they substitute it with.  However, the original method just didn't work for me because I enjoy seeing the entire month on one page.  I found printables that were small enough to fit in my book and leave me room on the bottom for any notes about the month, tasks or future planning that I would need to migrate over to other months. I use a color coding method for my calendar so I can find things quickly.  Color coding is something that I have used on every calendar/planner I've had and it's what works best for me.

On the opposite page is my running to-do list for December.  These are just tasks and things that don't have to be done on a specific day, but need to be done (if possible) in December.  Since I completely forgot to include a running December shopping list, I affixed a page to the edge of the to-do list with Washi tape.  This page folds in and out of the journal and includes the Dec. running shopping list.

Next I have my weekly to-do pages which is like a normal "Week on Two Pages" format in a traditional planner.  I'm still playing with how I want these weekly pages laid out, but this is the way that I did it for this week.  In my old bullet journal I did write the entire week down (measuring out equal spaces) for Mon-Sun but I found myself running out of space on certain days or having too much wasted space on other days.  My new method is every day I write down what I need to do for the current day and around 8-9pm I will start writing down things I need to do on the following day.  This just prevents me from getting frustrated if I don't have enough space! :)  I'm currently also playing around with a highlighting method for these pages.  It looked slightly cluttered when I just had everything written in there so I decided to highlight the tasks according to my color code. I may or may not keep this method or I may switch to colored pens for this.  I'm not quite sure yet but we will see.

Then I have some other pages such as a Fios Channel Listing so I can flip to that page when I don't know a channel number, I also have a Blog & YouTube planning spread so I know what I still have to post, I also have a Wishlist page just for my own amusement.  Things from this page may eventually be purchased and some may never be purchased! (Like my desire for a way-too-expensive Louis Vuitton Never-full bag!)

Honestly, there's just so much you can do with the Bullet Journal and I'm extremely glad that I found this method of planning.  It's a great way to stay organized and one that I've been absolutely loving since September! I wish I could afford a full sized Moleskine for my journal but a Walmart composition book will do just fine until I can save up the money once I finish this notebook.  :)  

Do any of you use the Bullet Journal? What do you think of it?  Do you have any questions about the Bullet Journal or my method of a modified Bullet Journal? Just ask below and I will get back to you! Do you have any suggestions? They're always welcome too!

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Where in the world have I been?

I know I have been MIA for almost a year and I have actually been getting some e-mails and messages asking if I am doing well or where I've been for almost a year.  The truth is, I just needed a break.  

As you all know, I was working as an office manager for a tax office last year during the tax season and things just got too hectic with that and with my daughter being a competitive dancer.  Her schedule was absolutely insane and we had to travel the state; a lot.  I didn't have any time to sit down, draw up a plan, make a schedule and be consistent and I didn't want to just throw out one or two posts if I couldn't be consistent.  I didn't just want to dangle a carrot in front of you and hope you keep waiting until I came back for another post.  I figured that I would just take a break for the tax and competition season and come back afterward with a great plan and hundreds of posts to schedule.  

Life doesn't go as planned and after tax/competition season was over I was depressed.  I was severely depressed, couldn't get a job after tax season was over, bills were piling up, life was just getting hopeless and all I did was cry, look for jobs, do my best to take care of my kids and cry some more.  It was horrible and I knew that posting my drama, depression and crap wasn't going to make anyone happy.  As much as I wanted to post, I decided that for myself, my family and my sanity I needed to disconnect and not worry about posting anything while I was trying to find a job.  

It took much longer than I had hoped but over the summer I finally found a job!  While it's not the job that fits my qualifications or was in the field I had previously been in, it was a job nonetheless and I enjoyed it.  It challenged me, it made me feel like I was a part of something again and best of all I had a steady income and could get caught up on all of my bills.  That's where I am at now.  :)  Most of my bills are caught up again, I'm starting to put money back into savings and I finally feel much better about myself and my life.  

I also wanted to announce that...I lost EIGHTY POUNDS since I last posted.  Yes, yes, I lost 70% of the weight I wanted to lose and I feel wonderful about myself.  I'm planning on writing about my diet journey in another post.  It's been a crazy ride but I'm finally back and ready to get serious about blogging.  I finished a business plan, promotional plan, my blogging goals and I am in a pretty decent place right now.

Thank you guys for staying with me through this crazy ride.  You all mean the world to me and all of the positive thoughts and sentiments that were sent to me really made me feel better.  Hugs to you all!

Stay tuned... :)

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