Secret To Getting Kids To Respect Your WAHM Office Time

Disciplining yourself when working from home is difficult enough without the added responsibility of caring for young children.  Add into the equation distraction from neighbors, routine household chores and extra-sensory stimulation (read, just your day-to-day usual household excessive decibel level noise) and you get the picture.  The most challenging of the above is how to deal with getting your progeny to respect your office time.  Here’s a few secrets:

1. Establish a Work Schedule. Often it helps to establish a schedule that works well for you and your family.  Before you begin your workday, first spend quality time with the kids.  They’ll be more willing to entertain themselves for awhile after they feel they were listened to and their immediate needs were met.

2.  Choose Your Work Location Carefully. If you have the option, exercise care in where you choose to set up your office space.  Choose an area you can close the door if your children will need to be under supervision.  If that’s not a workable option, use a screen to set up a designated work area to signify that the area is your “private space.”

3.  Establish Boundaries. Hold a family conference to let them know that this is your job and that is how Mom or Grandmom makes money.  Explain that it isn’t a hobby, and that they need to understand that this is how you make money for their clothing, food, toys, gifts and keeping the utilities on.  Your spouse or significant other must also be understanding in order to offer support in keeping the kiddos occupied when they’re home and you’re working.

4.  Dress for Success. Maintaining a professional demeanor and attitude while you’re working is important and your children will notice the difference.  They’ll be able to recognize the “working mommy” versus the “at-home mommy” mode.  Be consistent and eliminate confusion by avoiding chatting on the telephone in a conversational tone that they’ll recognize as your “at-home” mommy voice when you’ve told them you’re working.  Oftentimes it helps to dress up in casual office attire when planning your work-at-home schedule.

5. Create A Signal System. If a responsible sitter or adult is home to watch the kids, it always helps to develop a signal system to let others know you’re working.  One possibility is to hang a cute sign clock with movable hands on your closed door or screened-in area set to the time when you’ll be available again.  Have the kids make one for you!

6.  Eliminate Distractions. Background noise such as workers or animals can frequently become a distraction or source of procrastination and can easily be remedied by using a noise-canceling headset.  Using this will also signal to the kids to respect your privacy and need for quiet time.

7.  Keep The Kids Occupied. As a Grandmom I know full well that children have short attention spans so in order to let them know you have to work, head the kids off at the pass.  Set up a project for them to do so you can be busy together.  They can work independently while you work at home on your blog post, virtual assistant project or ecommerce site.  Keeping the kids occupied will allow you to catch up on writing more articles for e-How.

Undoubtedly it’s sometimes hard to get any work accomplished at home with the kids under foot, but it can be done.  Remember, pay attention to them first while explaining to them in their own language that everyone has a “job” and theirs is to let you do your “job.”

Photo Credit: Mom & Kids StockXpert

Related Reading:

5 Ways to Manage Your Time While Working at Home Online

Learn How To Recognize Your Procrastination Triggers When Working At Home

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Grow Your Own: Gardening For Food and Fun & Giveaway

Garden Tips

Land today is becoming increasingly scare and gardens that once were used to grow beautiful flowers and vegetables are now being tilled to grow food. Families are spending what little time and energy they have to become frugal, save money and spend quality time together.

There are many ways to use gardens. Flower gardens can be created to enhance the curb appeal of homes. Textures and varieties of plants such as fuzzy, speckled and colored plants exist on the planet to be adored and admired. Hummingbirds and butterflies are welcoming to wildlife by fragrant flower gardens.

People create gardens for different purposes. You don’t need several acres to create a vegetable garden. A small plot of land big enough to grow food for your entire family can be done in a relatively compact space. Fresh plucked green beans or heads of lettuce grown by your own hands taste so much fresher from a garden!

Home gardening is a healthy alternative to store-bought produce since the nutrients are still intact as the vegetables haven’t been processed. Once you bite into them you can taste the difference. Besides being healthier, you’ll be frugal and save money! Carrots, squash, tomatoes and radishes will be one less thing to add to your already lengthy grocery list.

Fruit can be expensive to buy in a grocery store and should be another gardening option to consider. Pop in the garden whenever you get a craving for something sweet and pick a ripe, juicy watermelon or cantaloupe. You’ll be able to taste the sweetness as it was intended to be enjoyed! Use as a healthy alternative to candy, cookies or cakes for yourself or the kids.

Involve the whole family in your gardening efforts. I still can remember our home grown garden in summer deep at the end of my backyard. Show the kids how to plant seeds, clear weeds and tell if fruits and vegetables are ripe. Let them carry a little watering can. Pick a fresh apple or pear right from your own tree. Take the little ones out every day or to pick from the garden. Toddlers love pulling food from the garden. Moomette loves clogs & helping out with her small garden tools!

Remember there’s alternatives even if you don’t have a lot of land to stake a garden. Many towns and cities are now making community garden plots available. Container gardens and large planters accommodate a fairly good variety of fruits and vegetables. It’s now possible to grow tomatoes upside down in a container and it’s done all the time in urban areas where green space is limited!

Hit up a local tag sale or garage sale and find a variety of old or vintage cups and attractive ceramic pots to create fruit and vegetable planter container gardens.

To avoid sward fruit getting root-bound plant in larger pots.

If you enjoy cooking look for recipes that feature fresh looking herbs, such as fennel, and grow your own in small pots set on your windowsill. Let the kids go around and pluck the ripe ones when it’s time to harvest. Use an organic pesticide treatment to ensure your food is chemical-free and safe to eat.

The good earth can save families a lot of money and encourage frugal spending habits. Plan ahead and plant seed pots early as seedlings still grow tasty vegetables and beautiful flowers and are less expensive than bulbs. Use the bountiful fruits from your harvest to make creative gift baskets!

Investigate creating a root cellar like many had in the olden days. It’s even possible to have one if you’re a city dweller. Fruits and veggies can be canned and set aside for the colder winter months and then be prepared for later eating.

Teaching your children to garden is an invaluable hobby and life skill!

Moomette’s Mama Mentor is hosting a Giveaway! For a chance to win one New, sealed Martha’s Spring Gardening DVD! Over 6 hours of Martha Stewart’s best garden tips on 2 discs!

Main Rule: (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
Just visit my new blog, Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes and leave a comment about which recipe you liked best and which types of recipes you’d like to to have me add quickly!

Now for extra entries (each task will get you 1 extra entry):

~One Extra Entry: Subscribe to my blog through my Feedblitz link (on the top of my left column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment)

~One Extra Entry: Add my banner button to your sidebar or add me to your blogroll, and come back here and leave the link (I will be checking)

~One Extra Entry: Blog about the contest on your blog linking to my blog and the site

~One Extra Entry: Favorite Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment (the link is on my left column if you scroll down) or both.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow Me on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.

~One Extra Entry: Tweet about this contest, and come back to this post and leave the URL link to the Tweet so I can check.

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until May12 at approximately 11:00 pm.

Winners are chosen by Random.Org, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

*Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

*Include your email if it’s not enabled.
*Open to USA and Canada Only
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Recession-Proof Your Small Biz: Guest Post

Meet My Friend, Maricris

Awhile back on a WAHM forum that’s now gone by the wayside, I met Vicki, who wrote a blog, “Simply Vicki.” We became friends, but due to personal circumstances, Vicki terminated her blog, along with her Internet access.

Vicki had started a Meme called “Meet My Friend Mondays.” I was given the honor of being  featured in it, but the permalink no longer exists.  I really miss reading and commenting on Vicki’s blog, as well as daily banter on Twitter.  To honor our friendship, I’d like to steal borrow Vicki’s Meme, and use it to introduce Guest Posters here.  Hat Tip to Lady Java  Creations for creating the wonderful Meme banner!

I have been inviting bloggers and writers to share their ideas and experiences with my readers who are interested in Working from Home.

If you have a WAHM topic of interest that you’d like to share and be a Guest Blogger on Moomettesgram’s Musings, please contact me (see Contact tab above).

Today I’d like to introduce you to my friend Maricris, one of my Twitter friends/followers. Maricris is always there to give a cheery hello, answer questions, or offer support. Follow her on Twitter at @maricrisg

Recession-Proof your Small Biz

If you have a business especially if it’s small, and you’re grumbling, whining and reeling due to the effect of the unstable economy, Be still { wish I can do just that but,} you’re not alone! Like numerous small biz owners across the globe, like you and me, future seem rather hazy. To me, Bleak is an an overrated description because in spite of the dwindling economy, I still see hope… If you know where to look!

Golden Flower Creations was established middle of Last year with a notable hope of making a profit out my creations. I create unique pieces of Jewelry with contemporary and varying styles but more so, a fusion of Asian designs as part of my tribute to my Asian Heritage. I’m also considered the wreath lady. I was initially popular with my high-quality, unique wreaths which is competitively priced in comparison to Michael’s or Garden Ridge. People loved it! The demand was there. It was enough to fuel the reason to turn it into a profitable business. Though the profitable side is still a work in progress, it surely has brought some useful money in. Not even a year old yet, GFC has already proven it’s worth.

But just like a baby, it needs a lot of nurturing, a lot of caring and a lot of sacrifices {like losing sleep} and team work to make it a success! The downside of being small in this current economy proves daunting. There was a point wherein I was afraid of spending money to even stock up on my inventory. It was a battle between, saving the money for “rainy days” ahead or stocking up on materials for my online store which has no guarantee will sell. There was a time wherein the world seemed to have stood still. There was a long pause in sales. People were afraid to spend their money which in turn results in NO SALES. Items in my online store were either collecting dust or flies were just hovering around it like spoiled food. It was a dilemma!

Surely like life, owning a business is a gamble. You lose some, you win some. I chose to win some but with great caution on how I use my lucky cards especially nowadays. I only spend on items when I REALLY NEED THEM or is guarantee it will sell or will help my business.

Here are some of my Business Survival 101 that cost nothing to do but some legwork:

1- Blog : If you don’t have one, create one! Blogging is one of the best tools to get the word out about your work and what you do. It is so powerful, most big companies now, blogs!

2- Twitter: 140 Characters can go a long way in free adverstising. Come follow me @maricrisg
3- Facebook: Create a biz page and get more people to find your business.
4- Craft Shows: Small or big, they are the best money generating income for any products you sell. Face to Face marketing always works better than online.

5- Recession-price your items: Selling your creations below it’s material worth is not the key here but selling it affordable enough {without devaluing the worth of your time creating it, is the trick}. Entice buyers with the impulse-buy phenomena!

There is no instant solutions to success but with patience and diligence, we’ll reach our goals no matter how long it takes. And For as long as we put our minds into it. Best of luck to all small business owners like Cindi and me. Let’s all strive for success!

And if you’re ever in Charlotte NC by Providence, GFC is participating in Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Arts and Craft show on May 2nd from 10am-3pm. Come say HI and support the cause. Also, if you ever want customized jewelry or wreaths, let me know.

Bio: Maricris is a working mom and the voice behind Zen Ventures which chronicles her journey in life and the designer/owner of Golden Flower Creations, and who also shares her views as a Writer/Mom blogger for Working Mother Magazine as a working mom.

Disclaimer: Guest Post opinions are strictly those of the author.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Random Tuesday Thoughts and More

I remember the Swine Flu scare epidemic clearly from 1976. Our town was dispensing the vaccine for free at our local high school. I was a newlywed (2-years) and my DH and I stood in line that took forever to get through. All the local townspeople and our friends were there. We got the vaccination. We were never so sick in our entire lives. I was out of work at least one week, maybe longer. Never again will I get the Swine Flu vaccine. Now you’re hearing all kinds of things about Guillain-Barre syndrome caused by it and more. I’ll NEVER get it if it’s offered and take my chances.

Nothing beats Blistex for dry or chapped lips if you live in a climate that has weather like New England. I used it all winter when the weather was freezing. Now it’s April and we’re having a tropical heat wave. The last 2 days have broken records going back to 1915. It’s been in the 90’s.

How do cats know to tell time? I don’t need an alarm clock with The Cat. He’s always outside my bedroom door whining in the morning, especially if I sleep in.

Speaking of pets, why does The Cat and The Granddog think that the other’s food is better than what I serve them? When The Granddog is over, he eats the cat food, and the cat eats the dog food.

It never fails, I always remember to look for my cell phone when I’ve locked the house, am in the car, which I just started and then have to turn the car off & go back into the house where I’ll find it on the battery charger, right where I left it.

Have a Happy Tuesday! Head over to the Un-Mom for more Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Dream Team: Mommy Bloggers and PR Reps

Read the latest on the new Pitch Bloggers website for Reviewers & PR Reps:

Recently there has been quite a bit of press about the ethical implications of Mommy Bloggers doing product reviews.  I believe in transparency and  have always had a Disclosure Policy on all of my blogs.Pitch Bloggers ~ Ethical Standards for Mommy Reviewers | Moomettesgram’s Musings, Apr 2009

You should read the whole article.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Pitch Bloggers ~ Ethical Standards and Mommy Reviewers

Recently there has been quite a bit of press about the FTC and ethical implications of Mommy Bloggers doing product reviews.  I believe in transparency and  have always had a Disclosure Policy on all of my blogs.

Fortunately, Trisha over at Mom Dot has developed Pitch Bloggers, a partnership between moms who do product reviews, host giveaways and contests and the PR Advertising Representatives for companies looking to promote products.

Pitch Bloggers is a comprehensive resource to help PR and marketing professionals connect with mom bloggers and get up to speed on best practices for implementing blogger outreach campaigns.

There’s a lot of advice out there from PR pros about how to pitch mom bloggers and there’s an equal number of bloggers doling out advice about how to pitch them. But often these well-meaning groups lack something critical: a true, stand-in-my-shoes understanding of how the other half works.

Our dynamic team is made up of moms, seasoned PR professionals and long time, experienced bloggers. We provide the ideal combination of expertise and experience to help you effectively engage with bloggers.

In order to be considered as a Pitch Blogger member, mom product reviewers must fill out an application and sign and agree to an Ethics Agreement.

All those accepted will proudly display the banner showing that they meet the Ethical Blogger Professional Standards.

Whether you’re a mommy blogger trying to work at home and break into product reviews, or a PR  advertising rep for a company looking to have your product reviewed, check out Pitch Bloggers today!

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Contests and Giveaways Roundup 4/26/09

Here’s a listing of the latest Contests & Giveaways from my friends around the blogosphere! Please visit their websites for details, rules and ending times.

Would you like to have your contest listed?  Just add your Contest or Giveaway to the Mr. Linky listing!

Displaying my blog banner is always appreciated. If you are a frequent contributor, please display my blog banner to help promote my site and your Contests and Giveaways.  You may also subscribe to my Newsletter for updates.

Entries Must be in the following format:

• Short Title

• Direct Link to Contest/Giveaway

• Ending Date

All entries will be deleted that don’t follow this format. Contests/Giveaways that have ended will be removed each Sunday evening.

I also am available for Product Reviews and offer affordable Advertising rates. Please contact me for info.

Listings are offered here as a courtesy, Family-Friendly only.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Mother’s Day is May 10 – Spot a Mom with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM

Mother’s Day is May 10th this year, and what Mother doesn’t enjoy flowers!  I know as a Grandmom I do, and I like to enjoy them while I’m still above ground!

1-800-FLOWERS.COM has launched a new movement for Mother’s Day called Spot a Mom.

The Spot A Mom movement celebrates all the unique types of Moms in the world. No two moms are the same, so 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has created a fun digital guide that you  can use to find the different types of moms and what kind of floral arrangements best suit their personality and lifestyle.

Check it out at the Spot a Mom website.  Spotlight a Mom and she could win a Beaches Resort Luxury Included Family Vacation!

Visit their Facebook page and become a fan, you will receive a promo code for 15% off all Mother’s Day floral arrangements from the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM website (which I encourage you to share with your family!)

You can also follow 1-800-FLOWERS.COM on Twitter at www.twitter.com/1800flowers

1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s lifestyle expert, Julie Mulligan, also has her own blog, where she’ll be discussing flower trends and tips, and featuring different moms in the blogosphere and what flowers would match best with their personality.

Whether it’s for your own mom, Grandmom, favorite aunt, daughter, sister, stepmom, mother-in-law, or someone who’s been like a mom to you, do something nice for them!

Visit: 1-800-FLOWERS.com

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Turn Your Talents And Food Related Ideas Into A WAHM Job | Moomettesgram’s Musings

Ideas and Tips for Starting a WAHM Business:

Whether you’re a young mom off-ramping from corporate America to stay home and take care of the kids, or a Baby Boomer in the job market for a second career like myself, here’s the big question:  What should you do? I’ve been preparing for almost 2 years for this day which is why I got a head-start working at home online.  It takes time and soul-searching to see what kind of work best fits your lifestyle and what level of income you’d like to maintain.Turn Your Talents And Food Related Ideas Into A WAHM Job | Moomettesgram’s Musings, Apr 2009

You should read the whole article.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Family FotoFun Friday

Meme’s are always a fun way to meet new bloggers and add a little life to the party! Hope your Friday ends on a good note and enjoy your weekend! Hat tip to DianaRambles & Sited & Blogged!

Be sure to stop by my new recipe blog & say hello!

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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