THE FAMILY JOURNEY: Squirrel Invasion

This weekend we had a visit from a squirrel.  He came in and decided he didn’t want to leave.  Of course we didn’t want the uninvited guest.  We tried to drown him by placing a bucket of water underneath the hole he created in our ceiling.  However he outwitted us and came down without dropping into the water.

We cornered him in the kitchen and thought if we opened the side door, he’d run out.  Oh no, not this crazy squirrel, he runs into the front room and hides behind the bookcase.  We finally get him back in the kitchen.  We open the kitchen door and the side door, thinking this time we got him, he’ll run outside.  The kids and I are ready to get him out.  We get him to run and we think he’s run out the side door.  We go outside and there’s a squirrel in the front tree.  We think it’s him.  We cheer, yeah! Thinking we got him out the house.

Two hours later, my daughter, says, “I think the squirrel is still here.” Sure enough he’s behind the bookcase again.  By this time the hubby is up and he’s ready to get the squirrel OUT.  This time we get out the leaf blower and we open the side and back door and we’re ready.  I get the squirrel to run toward the kitchen, but this time he hides in the hallway, refusing to move.

The kids close off the front room with a blanket and I poke at the squirrel with a stick to get him moving.  The hubby uses the leaf blower to blow him toward the side door and finally we’re able to get the crazy squirrel out of our house.  You’d thought we’d won the super bowl the way were yelling and cheering.

We’re praying that’s the last squirrel we have to deal with in our home.

Have you ever been invaded by an outside animal?

THE FAMILY JOURNEY: Meal Planning

I’m not great at meal planning.  It is probably one of the things I hate doing as a mom.  Not because I don’t like to cook, but because I have four picky eaters and it’s hard to try something new with them.

I like trying out new things, unfortunately I live with four other people who aren’t into new.  They want the same thing, which drives me crazy.

This week I’m taking a meal planning challenge.  You can join me if you like.

What are you going to Eat & Meal Planning Calendar Kathi Lipp

www.kathilipp.com

Here’s My menu for this week.

Monday – Spaghetti

Tuesday – Crock Pot barbeque chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans

Wednesday – Taco

Thursday – breakfast food

Friday – Tilapia, fried potatoes, corn

Do you plan your menu for the week or month?  Can you offer me some tips for picky eaters?

THE BUSINESS JOURNEY - Vision

January is usually the month new businesses get started.  I thought I shared a few tips with those interested in starting their own business.

When I started SORMAG I honestly didn’t think of it as a business.  It was my way to say thanks to the many authors I enjoyed.  I thought it would be something fun to do for a little while.  I never dreamed it would grow into something wonderful or that I could make money from it.

So I’ll begin with my first tip:

VISION

Before you began your business, have a vision for what you want, what you want to achieve and what you want to do with your business.

This is very important because if you plan on being in this for the long haul you need to know where you’re going.

As I admitted before I didn’t have a clue where I wanted to take SORMAG, I just winged it.  Something I don’t think anyone should do going in.  Its hard not knowing where you want to go or what you want to do with your business if you don’t have a vision.

I highly recommend you dream big.  Imagine the wildest and make it happen.  I’m learning to let my imagination flow because I want only the best for SORMAG.

Here a few links to help you with your vision statement:

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/businessplanning/a/writevision.htm

http://internetindependence.com/your-vision

Are you thinking about starting a business this year?  Do you have a business, tell us about it?

P.S.  I wanted to share a link to a conference I've been attending this week.  Some excellent advice about driving your business.  It ends Monday, but there is still time to check out what you missed - www.SolopreneurSurvivalSummit.com.

Me Journey - Reading goals for 2012

Since I received my kindle last year, I’ve downloaded tons of books but I haven’t had a chance to read them.

This year I want to make a dent in those books.

Last year I started a Kindle Bookclub.  We pick a different book to read on the kindle.  This year I moved the books up to two because some of the members love to read, so two books are nothing to them.

I would like to read two fiction books a month and one non fiction.  Most of the non-fiction will probably be writing related.

I’m sure if possible I’ll read more but that’s the goal I’m working with this year.

What’s your reading goal for the year?

Natural Hair Journey - Know What Type Of Hair You Have

My first mistake was thinking I would get a curly look like the curl I use to wear in the 80/90s.  I wanted those Shirley temple curls flowing down my back.  If I’d thought back to when my mother use to press and curl my hair, there was never any Shirley Temple curls to begin with.  Why did it take me two years to realize this.  OK I wanted to live in lala with my curly Qs in hair.

Learning the type of hair I have really made me understand it more.  I’m a type 4 which means for me to get the curls I want I have to manipulate my hair.  I have to twist/braid it or pin it to get waves or curls.

I’m ok with that because I now know I will never have the Shirley Temple look naturally but I can achieve it with rods and a long wait und the hair dryer.

Four years later I’m still learning my hair, but I’m not fighting it like I use to.  Now I listen to what my hair needs.  It tells me when its too dry. My scalp is super itchy.  It tells me when it needs moisture it looks dull. 

I still have my bad hair good hair days.  I know with hair you will always have those days.  However I’m learning to deal more with the bad hair days.  Those are the days I rock those cute earrings, so I can feel cute with my ugly hair.

Do you know your hair type?  Here's a link if you don't.

The Writing Journey - Is It Ever Finished

On one my writing groups the question was asked When do you know when it is finished?

I have to admit, this was my problem for years. I didn’t know when the manuscript was finished.  I’d re-edit and re-edit.

I learned that my fear of rejection kept me from sending it out, so I never could find out if it was finished or if it was on its way to finish.

Now I’m moving forward and giving myself deadlines, which helped me a lot.  I’ve wrote other books instead of just working on one book for years.  I didn’t want to be a one book writer.

I’ve learned that the book is never finished, there is always room for improvement, however you have to let go.  Let someone else read it, take in their suggestions and then send it out.

When do you know your book is finished?

The Writing Journey – FINISHED MY GOAL

I completed my 2011 writing goal January 6^th.   I wanted to finish editing my manuscript so I could send it to a beta reader.  My goal for December was to finish the read thru.  A week later I was done and pleased with the story.  I saw few things I wanted to correct, but over all I thought it turned out to be a good story.  Here’s hoping the reader feels the same way.

Natural Hair Journey - Stick To Your Budget

If you’re thinking about going natural because you think it’s inexpensive, think again.

When I started this journey, I figured I would drop the stylist bill off my monthly budget.  NOT.  I still go to a stylist every now and then. 

I was like everyone else when I started this journey, a product junkie trying to figure out what works in my hair and what didn’t.

I was trying every product my friends or natural websites suggested.  I went from the most expensive to the least expensive.  I had stuff I used one time because it made my hair hard.  I don’t like the hard hair.

I paid for stuff that promised wavy curls and all I got was goopy hair.  I know I came off a few hundreds before I realized that I needed to listen to my hair and not what others said.

This year I've decided to share more about my natural hair journey in hope I can ease your pain if you're trying this new path and hopefully be an encourager in your journey.

My advice for anyone going natural before you start trying every product, listen to your hair. 

1. Know what type of hair you have.

2. Know what you want your hair to do.

3. Know what your hair looks like happy.

Each Monday I will talk about my journey.  Stop by and share with me.


Did you stick to your budget or go overboard like me?