Home with Mom

#1 Set a major goal, but follow a path. The path has mini goals that go in many directions. When you learn to succeed at mini goals, you will be motivated to challenge grand goals.

#2 Finish what you start. A half finished project is of no use to anyone. Quitting is a habit. Develop the habit of finishing self-motivated projects.

#3 Socialize with others of similar interest. Mutual support is motivating. We will develop the attitudes of our five best friends. If they are losers, we will be a loser. If they are winners, we will be a winner. To be a cowboy we must associate with cowboys.

#4 Learn how to learn. Dependency on others for knowledge supports the habit of procrastination. Man has the ability to learn without instructors. In fact, when we learn the art of self-education we will find, if not create, opportunity to find success beyond our wildest dreams.

#5 Harmonize natural talent with interest that motivates. Natural talent creates motivation, motivation creates persistence and persistence gets the job done.

#6 Increase knowledge of subjects that inspires. The more we know about a subject, the more we want to learn about it. A self-propelled upward spiral develops.

#7 Take risk. Failure and bouncing back are elements of motivation. Failure is a learning tool. No one has ever succeeded at anything worthwhile without a string of failures.

Courtsey of Elements of Motivation

As mentioned at the birth of this blog, I wanted to invite others to be “guest writers” of sorts, who could contribute however they (or I in this case) chose. Below is an amazing contribution from a lady on my team who has found this wonderful passage and has agreed to let me share it here as well. Take some time now to read, then reflect on the true message of the words below!
Blessings.

“Life is about choices. Despite circumstances that happen, the outcome and the life we live is a direct result of the choices we make. I believe that regardless of the hard times, the painful times and the good times, that it’s the decisions we make and the attitudes that we foster that determine our quality of life. I refuse to let the pain of my past, the struggles of my present or the trials of my future mandate the quality of life I will have. My quality of life comes from a choice to live. My quality of life comes from the choice to forgive. My quality of life comes from the choice to move on. My quality of life comes from the choice to enjoy the little things. My quality of life comes from the choice to continually grow. My quality of life comes from not being held back by ANYTHING. I will not look back at my life with regrets. I will not lay on my death bed and say, “If only I had …”. I will LIVE! I will LOVE! I will LEARN! And above all I will CHOOSE! I will choose to put aside petty differences. I will choose to put aside my fears. I will choose to let God transform my mind and my heart. I will choose to be the bigger person. I will choose to put aside laziness. I will choose to live with integrity. I will choose to be the person I want to be. I WILL CHOOSE.

I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. “Max Lucado~

This is the test of our character: choices.
The way we choose determines the life we will live.

Make it a great day!

–Courtesy of Robi Warwick

All of us at one time or another feel like in our lives we have “fallen” and have no hope of being able to get back up. Maybe your marriage isn’t how you envisioned it to be. Maybe you feel like you have no real purpose in life or that you have nothing to offer. Maybe you’ve lived a life where everything just becomes so very overwhelming that the joy and peace has simply disappeared. When live throws us the tough situations, most react with “I can’t do this” or “What an impossible situation”. Well, I’m here to tell you, nothing is impossible and there isn’t any situation you can’t handle, with help. But don’t just take my word for it.

One of my favorite motivational speakers is Nick Vujicic. This man is hope personified. His faith has given him REAL peace, hope, and joy, and let me tell you, after hearing him speak and his story, I dare you to look at that pile of laundry in your bathroom or the lack of communication in your marriage, or even your unruly children and say “I can’t do this”. YOU CAN do this, with faith and God’s help, absolutely NOTHING is impossible!

One of my online persona’s is “Crochetcrazy” but I don’t often blog about my crochet exploits. So I thought I would start with a post about the latest project.

Being a “work from home mom” affords me a little extra time (and by little I do mean minuscule) however, the time is there now to indulge daily in one of my passions, Crochet. I’ve decided to sell my crocheted wares at our local market here in town, and last Saturday was my first kick at the selling-hand-made-goods can. It was, in my opinion, a success. Though the market is new and slow to get off the ground, it appears that people just can not resist yarny goodness! So, I will return to said market again next Saturday to continue my exploits in to the world of small-town vending. And best of all? All these dishcloths are environmentally friendly!! Yes, they are made from 100% cotton and will last much, much longer than any store bought, mass produced, chemically filled dishcloths! Yippiee!!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a few pictures of the most delicious crocheted items

This one, my husband tells me, looks like a deli tray.. yes.. a deli tray of fantastic bath scrubbers and dishcloths!

This would be the dishcloth set up.. doesn’t it look totally delicious?!?

And finally, these little beauties were the hot ticket of the day! Dish/Pot scrubbers!

As many of you know, I am a work from home mom. Some times in the past I have questioned my decision to quit working outside the home and be home full-time. However, I can now say that it was absolutely the right decision.

You see, 4 weeks ago, my father had open heart surgery and a supposed 4 to 7 day hospital stay turned into 3 very long weeks due to some serious, unforeseeable complications. My mother was having a difficult time with the entire process and because I work from home (or anywhere there is internet and a telephone) I was able to be with her all day every day; to drive the 30 minute commute to and from the hospital; to spend the day with her and dad at the hospital and to spend the night with her to be a support when Dad had a bad day and we waited for the dreaded middle-of-the- night phone call (which thankfully never came). I was able to still work my business, if I chose, or to let it be for the time being and focus on the immediate situation with my dad.

Often times you hear women say that the decision to work from home is to spend more quality time with their children, and indeed that is typically the primary reason for doing so, however, situations will always arise where the traditional “job” will not afford you the time off that is needed to deal with urgent family situations.

I can honestly say, I will never question my decision to work from home with this business ever again! The ability to be with my parents full-time for 3 weeks and not have the added worry about loosing my “job” because of time missed, was the most freeing experience I’ve ever had.

In my first post , I mentioned I would try to have some guest writers contribute their writings if they were willing. The following post is written by my fantastic sister-in-law, Dilovely. She wrote this for her blog and I felt it was so poignant, that I just had to share with my readers (how ever few they may be).

Did you wake up tired? Was it a bit too warm so your eyes were puffy and didn’t want to open? Did lack of sleep (or some other factor) make you feel like you couldn’t pour cereal, let alone care for a baby, clean house, look presentable, write a blog post, face work on Monday, or generally function?

NO PROBLEM!

Here’s what to do:

1. Have a decent breakfast (or whatever meal you want to call it). Something with nutrition in it, and not too much sugar.
2. Allow yourself a certain amount of bitchiness. You’ve probably earned it… just try to let most of it out on inanimate objects.
3. Wear a nice colour. Especially if it doesn’t suit your mood.
4. Hold a baby. Doesn’t matter whose. If there’s more than one available, try them all.
5. If possible, attend a wedding shower – especially one with lots of lovely folks and a clothesline-full of gorgeous panties for the bride-to-be – who cries as soon as she enters the room.
6. Talk to an old friend whose voice you haven’t heard in far too long.
7. Find a baby and a wash tub. Put the naked baby in the wash tub with water in it, on the grass, and observe.
8. Have a glass of wine with someone you love, preferably outdoors. Preferably at a gigantic picnic table.
9. Look at Nature doing its thing, like maybe a sunset. Ideally, find an Evening Primrose at dusk and watch it pop open before your eyes… you cannot fail to be moved. Crazy Nature.

Every day I try to find one quote that really speaks to my spirit and soul. Some times it’s a bible verse, some times a quirky little tidbit that makes me giggle and yet others, like the one below, are profound, nakedly honest and moving. If you have started a journey of “quote finding” as I have, than you definitely want to put this one at the top of your list!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Nelson Mandela

A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes is a rare beasts. Author David Tanis is a chef who will entice you with great skill with his simple, seasonal menus and recipes. Tanis’s book is about pleasure. The undeniable pleasure of eating and creating wonderful dishes A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes illustrates how easy it is to maintain a sustainable kitchen simply.

David Tanis is a lucky man. For half of the year he is the chef at Chez Panisse, the renowned California restaurant founded by Alice Waters and a group of friends in 1971. For the remainder of the year Tanis can found in Paris. Yes Paris! Here he spends his time cooking at home for a small group of friends dining club known as Aux Chien Lunatiques. In this diminutive centuries old apartment with an ill equipped galley kitchen, David proves that attention to detail and respect for food enables anyone to cook with even the barest essentials.

With twenty four menus divided into four seasons providing you with 6 menus for each season and accompanied by elegant yet homely photographs, Tanis’s book has you right where he wants you to be – at home. Within this cookbook you will not find recipes that take days to prepare. Rather imagine simple elegant prepartions that will allow you the luxury of lingering with friends and family over the dinner table without being rushed out or your seats. Enjoy the inherent tastes of each ingredient such as the clean crispness of raw fennel and exquisite olive oil that whets your appetite for authentic spaghetti alio e olio. To finish this simply wonderful autumn menu experience Italy’s famous Parmigiano Reggiano and a pear ripened to perfection. What more could you ask for?

Tanis will transport you to the exact moment and location of inspiration. Each of his menus are prefaced with a story about the ingredients, who he ate with or why he was there or how he found it. Menu fourteen: in Catalonia. First time eating anchovy sandwiches alone in a bar in Barcelona after sitting in the rafters for a performance of the Maurice Bejart Ballet. In Menu twenty two Feeling Italian part III tells us how his stylish great Aunt Sally, a sophisticate from Cleveland who “gloried in an elegance many women in our town of Dayton lacked” was renowned for her spaghetti soirees. Aunt Sally would invite hoards of guests who had to wait while she cooked one pound of pasta at a time in one pot. Tanis promised her he would never cook more than one pound of pasta at a time and he proclaims that he never did. “Though Aunt Sally gave me a cooking lesson I never forgot, I cannot remember her cooking for me” concludes Tanis!

A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes is charming and disarming in its simplicity but don’t be fooled. This is the work of an artist. Don’t be tempted to elaborate but do emulate. Take your time. Learn about the food you cook and eat. Cook with simply charming inspiration. You and those you cook for will be deliciously delighted.

Article Source: http://www.articlemotron.com

My Comfort Zone
Unknown

I used to have a comfort zone
where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork
were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone,
afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.

Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

I am not a “Celebrity booster”. Very rarely will I comment on an actor, singer, or politician’s talents. I do, however, have a firm belief that regardless of a person’s profession or status, they are, at the end of the day, just people like you and me.
In my travels for self-improvement, self-realization, a friend passed this video on to me.  Will Smith has a unique view on the world and the ability of the human spirit that you rarely hear from someone at his level of celebrity. So, take a few minutes, and watch. There are some fantastic points for anyone looking to move past their current situation and on to success with what ever goals they may have in mind.

So without further ado: