So I learned a few things today -
1) Do not put your purse under the seat of the grocery cart when your kids are with you, so when they spill their water bottles, it only goes in your cart - not your purse.
2) Only give your kids water bottles with the sports tops so when they spill, they don't dump in your purse.
3) Bring your kids cups with you at the grocery store, so you don't have to worry about what water bottles are available for purchase.
4) Go to the grocery store without your kids.

I am PRO-fesh-a-nal

So, today is/was Friday - I wasn't expecting to "work" since it's Friday I had the kids all day. I received an e-mail last night from a client I had been working with saying they were ready to proceed. All I needed to do was "pop-in" and have the client sign a quick agreement and be on my way... simple, I can take my 3-yr-old (90% potty-trained) twins, right?
We went into the restaurant, to the counter to order since it's one my kids favorite places, and was going to find a booth to sit and wait for the manager....
So I ordered, and paid, just as my son started crying (not a big cry, like an "oh no" cry) - looking down I saw the puddle growing at his feet... drat....
I let the girl at the counter know what happened - apologized and snuck back to the car to change the boy's clothes..
AT LEAST I ran into the manager after this happened and didn't have to go into details why we were just walking in but our food was waiting for us at the counter.
I guess that is just one of the glories of being a "work-at-home" mom - thanks for doing business with me, and by the way, do you have a mop?

Other joys...
1) Kept an appointment even though I had my daughter w/me - fortunately she slept the whole time, I am sure it was a tad distracting!
2) Hung up as soon as someone answered b/c my kids started screaming at that exact moment. (after quietly watching TV together.. thinking I could sneak a quick call in...)
3) Had COUNTLESS conversations interrupted by crazy toddler talk - needing a banana cookie, apple juice in my monster cup, more white raisins, help with going potty... etc.

I complain, but really the biggest joy is getting to do it all. Really. I love the fact I can stay at home with my kids while I work... It's nuts 90% of the time, but in the end I hope it will all be worth it. I hope I hope.

Supporting Local Businesses

What a day! Last night our garage door stopped working, just stopped! There was no way to open it manually, so I was panicked - we are stranded at home! Lots of plans for Thursday (MDO most importantly).
10:00pm Wednesday night - I called a local carpenter that has done some work for us (Cornerstone Carpenters) GREAT local company - left him a message on the work phone. I didn't know if he could help, but I was hoping that he could at least come by or refer someone to come over and see what they could do.
7:45 am Thursday morning, Joel Cornerstone calls - asks me questions about what is going on and tries to help me over the phone. Figured out it was a problem that needed professional help (the garage door, not me :), gave me the number of a company he recommends.
8:10 am, Crown Overhead Door answers the phone, - "We'll have someone there within the hour"
8:45 am, Ivan shows up, assess the situation, quotes a price, says "I'll have you all fixed up within the hour"
9:20 am, me and the kids are loaded up and on our way to MDO!

I cannot say enough good things about either of these companies - Fast, friendly, professional - and I was not expecting to be able to leave the house today, much less at 9:20 in the morning!

I appreciate the customer service of Cornerstone Carpenters, even though garage doors are not on his list of services, he helped anyway!
Crown Overhead Door was there and gone in less time than they promised - reasonably priced and had me on my way!

Glad to know there are companies out there that run their business this way - I now have both their numbers in my phone if I ever need them again!

First Day on the Blog...

Through much consideration and research (not like it's a big deal!) I have started a blog. I am going to adapt and change and grow...

My family has motivated me to start-up an online marketing website for the community. It keeps me busy and hectic, but it is tons of fun learning about small business and marketing. I have also met several amazing people, all willing to help in their way. The main thing I've learned that has helped is to keep it all personal. People like doing business with people, not businesses. If they don't like you, they won't buy, no matter what the product is. Fortunately for me, I'm likable :))

Me 5 years ago - boohoo, look at me, married, no kids, a job - boohooo
Me 3 years ago - whoohoo look at me, married, 2 kids, no job
Me now - oh boy, look at me, married, 2 TODDLERS, at home business, zero sleep!

Sometimes I wish for my old problems back, but really, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love my husband, my kids, my family and friends that have still hung around through all of my neglect :) I'm a total mess, but that's me -