{FROM THE ARCHIVES} Work/Life Balance My List

Hey Y'all:

I am a working mom. I love and appreciate stay at home moms but working

outside the home is a choice that I made out of necessity and desire. Necessity because my husband owns his own business without health benefits and desire because I always wanted to be a part of corporate America and didn't want to give that up when I became a mom...

With this choice there is a constant struggle to find the balance between work and life (life for me is my family and everything outside of my 9-6). So here is MrsDeveter's list on making this journey worth living.

1. Know when to say NO! This goes for work and home... you have to know when enough is too much! You have to be able to tell your boss "no I can't stay late today but I can come in a little earlier tomorrow to finish this project ." No at home can happen when family members are asking you to do things that you just don't want or have time to do. Saying no is big on my list and I think I've pretty much mastered it.

2. Realize your role. My friend and I always use the line "stay in your lane." Sometimes it's difficult at home and work to only do the things that you are responsible for. At home if your job is to take out the trash ... take out the trash. Don't sweep the floor, do the dishes and forget to take out the trash. You have to complete the work that is assigned to your hands. If you stay in your lane you won't be exhausted at the end of the day. This goes for home and work. If your job is to make copies and hand them out... do just that... don't read the copy and point out all the errors to the person who asked you to make the copies. That is their job.... STAY IN YOUR LANE!

3. Take a time out . This is really important to me. Even at work I take about 15 mins outside of my (unpaid) lunch to give myself a break. If you are a stay at home parent you need to do the same thing. When the other parent makes their appearance or when your little one finally takes a nap, you need to give yourself a time out! Spring is upon us, take a walk around the block, go to the gym , read a chapter in that novel you started six months ago; do something for YOU. Having time for yourself helps you  take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. It gives you balance.

4. Recognize you can't do it all. Sometimes even the things that are assigned to you can be too much. Recognize that you are human and you can't do it all and you certainly can't be all things to all people. Realize and vocalize your limits and don't feel bad about it.

5. Have fun. The best balance in work/life is enjoying whatever you do. Whether it is working or taking care of your family. Enjoy it and give it your all. Apply items 1-4 and then fun and you have a very good balance in your life. The scale won't always be even but make sure that a portion of fun is always included.

What is the one thing you do to make sure you have balance in your life?

Until next time...
MUAH!

Epic Fail... my 2010 "list"

Hey Y'all:

Hope you are enjoying the final days of 2010. I was thinking about where I was this time last year and figured I'd look at that list I created at the beginning of the year. My lofty list of 10 things I planned to accomplish this year... I shared it here and I'm sad to say many of them have gone undone and will carry over into 2011.

Here was my list of 5 business and 5 personal goals:

1. Blog notoriety. I want to Blow up! Not like KABOOM but you know what I mean, I want to be known in the blogosphere and turn a profit so Mrs. Deveter can really go on a journey!
   
2. Become an Associated Content Provider
3. Get to writing my first children's book
4. Incorporate my side business (Bee & Bee Creations)
5. Become a notary (something I've wanted to do for a while)
   
6. Get Life Insurance. I did a whole post on it now I really need to get to it. I want my family to be well taken care of if something should happen to me. You know, for the "If's in life."
7. Take a Mother Daughter vacation with my Mom and Leah.
8. Go back to Curves! No more excuses
9. Potty train the twins
10. Plan my wedding vow renewal.

I completed ONE thing on this list and truth be told I didn't even do it. Item #9 is done, signed, sealed and delivered and my mom did it! She potty trained the twins this summer.

I know a few more people in the blogging world but I'm no further today then I was when I posted this list on 1/4/10. I haven't visited the Associated Content site since I signed up, haven't jotted down a thing for my first book, I can't help a soul with a notary stamp, and if the "if's" in life happened today I would be up a creek without a paddle. My mother daughter trip is still in my thoughts but no chance of that happening within the next 30 days. Curves is no where in my future and the wedding vow renewal has been pushed back 6 years for our 20th wedding anniversary!

I've always been a 'list' person.

I love them... in theory they help me. They make me feel like I've fully thought out my plans and listed them in the order I would like them completed. For as long as I've been creating these lists or set these goals for the year I've always only been able to check off one or two items. Is it me? I mean really why can't I make things happen?
Oh I know... lots of living gets in the way. I may not have completed this 'published' list but I've done so many awesome things this past year that I feel accomplished and poised to succeed!

So what I didn't complete all of these items; they are still top of mind and will happen in time. I'm just going to continue living (and making lists) knowing that one day I'll look back and see that I've accomplished everything I've had in mind.

Until next time...
MUAH!

3 of my favorite lists:

1. Reasons Why I love Being a Mommy
2. Reasons Why I love the Internet
3. Reasons Why I love Being Married
   

Work/Life Balance My List

Hey Y'all:

I am a working mom. I love and appreciate stay at home moms but working outside the home is a choice that I made out of necessity and desire. Necessity because my husband owns his own business without health benefits and desire because I always wanted to be a part of corporate America and didn't want to give that up when I became a mom...

With this choice there is a constant struggle to find the balance between work and life (life for me is my family and everything outside of my 9-6). So here is MrsDeveter's list on making this journey worth living.

1. Know when to say NO! This goes for work and home... you have to know when enough is too much! You have to be able to tell your boss "no I can't stay late today but I can come in a little earlier tomorrow to finish this project ." No at home can happen when family members are asking you to do things that you just don't want or have time to do. Saying no is big on my list and I think I've pretty much mastered it.

2. Realize your role. My friend and I always use the line "stay in your lane." Sometimes it's difficult at home and work to only do the things that you are responsible for. At home if your job is to take out the trash ... take out the trash. Don't sweep the floor, do the dishes and forget to take out the trash. You have to complete the work that is assigned to your hands. If you stay in your lane you won't be exhausted at the end of the day. This goes for home and work. If your job is to make copies and hand them out... do just that... don't read the copy and point out all the errors to the person who asked you to make the copies. That is their job.... STAY IN YOUR LANE!

3. Take a time out . This is really important to me. Even I work I take about 15 mins outside of my (unpaid) lunch to give myself a break. If you are a stay at home parent you need to do the same thing. When the other parent makes their appearance or when your little one finally takes a nap, you need to give yourself a time out! Spring is upon us, take a walk around the block, go to the gym something, read a chapter in that novel you started six months ago do something for YOU. Having time for yourself helps to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. It gives you balance.

4. Recognize you can't do it all. Sometimes even the things that are assigned to you can be too much. Recognize that you are human and you can't do it all and you certainly can't be all things to all people. Realize and vocalize your limits and don't feel bad about it.

5. Have fun. The best balance in work/life is enjoying whatever you do. Whether it is working or taking care of your family. Enjoy it and give it your all. Apply items 1-4 and then fun and you have a very good balance in your life. The scale won't always be even but make sure that a portion of fun is always included.

What is the one thing you do to make sure you have balance in your life?

Until next time...

MUAH!

A holiday getting to know you!

Hey Y'all:

My Sista friend Mrs. Cooper posted this little holiday getting to know you and I figured I'd share too!

What 5 items are top on your holiday wish list this year?

• Rest and relaxation (noting happening)
  
• A gift card from Bath & Body Works
  
• Money (what girl doesn't want some long green?)
  
• Some new Gospel CD's
  
• I'd love a laptop (I think I want a mini something or other)
  

What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

• A little tray from notes from my sister Nicole. I kept that thing for YEARS. Not sure where it is now.
  

What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (I always get the refrigerated kind)
  

What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

• A china tea set from my uncle who was in the army. I think he was in Germany .
  

What items are top on your kids wish list this year?

• My kids don't have a list yet... I think if they did it would be EVERYTHING on Nick Jr.
  

What is your favorite holiday food?

• Don't really have one. I think I'm going to make some spare ribs this year though.
  

What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

• Nothing
  

What is your favorite holiday movie?

• Charlie Brown Christmas
  

Favorite holiday song?

• Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus & Lucy from Charlie Brown Christmas
  
• Kirk Franklin & The Family - Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

Favorite holiday pastime?

• Chilling with the family

Feel free to share yours.

Until next time...
MUAH!