by The Happy WAHM
Working for a fitness coach for the past five years had me surrounded with information on every aspect of keeping a healthy lifestyle. We have everything from the food pyramid, to supplements, to just about every meal plan from paleo to vegan to vegetarian and even keto meal plans. But what can I say? Every meal plan that I work on contains something that is just not readily available in the Philippine market (or maybe just not where I’m based) or if it is, it is super expensive that it is not within the budget of a struggling WAHM with three kids, with one who is about to go to college. So I let all the information float around, and pick bits and pieces of them and apply what I can. We’ve already taken up juicing as part of our family diet around the second quarter of last year, and I consider it a big a step towards our goal as a family of taking care of our health a little bit better.
Cleansing is something I’ve been familiar with but have not really taken up since most of the ways I’ve encountered have not appealed to me. Some cleanse diets have combinations of food that I don’t even like, so why bother?
Working on the Juice Hut website late last year took me up close and personal to something that I felt I could consider doing, and love, even. So right after we launched, I decided that it would be good idea to go on a cleanse. I thought I’d try out the one-day cleanse first, and see how my body would react.
I followed the preparation written on the site. My mind was ready, so I was hopeful that my body would be ready, too. I’m a heavy rice eater, and I was a bit concerned about not having to eat any solids during the cleanse. So I really appreciate the guide given at the site about the preparation. Cutting out on carbs at least two days prior to the scheduled cleanse prepared my body for the no-solid day. My stomach was pre-conditioned.
Came cleanse day, and the whole family gathered to watch me drink on the very first bottle in the kit, which is the Lemon Detox. Yes, we are that kind of family, where everyone gets excited over everything, including, but not limited to, Mommy’s cleanse. Questions like, how does it taste? Is it good? What comes after that? Does your tummy ache?
And it was good! No tummy ache. With a little bit of spicy taste in it. I liked it. Not love. But I liked it. I can live with that.
The Cold Buster Orange was for breakfast. It’s a mix of orange, pineapple, carrot and cucumber. I’m all for orange and carrot, but apprehensive of the cucumber. I was expecting it to be bitter because of the cucumber. Surprisingly, it tasted good. So I listed it down as a possible favorite. 🙂
For lunch, I had a bottle of Revitalizing Red and a bottle of Fresh Start. The red blend has beets, carrots, apple and cucumber. Again, carrots and apple are familiar, as they are already part of our juicing regimen, but a little bit apprehensive of what taste the beets and cucumber would contribute to the mix. I have eaten beets in potato salads, but never had beet juice, and I’m not a big fan of cucumbers.
I was in for another surprise, as it tasted good. Another one to make it to the list of possible favorites.
The orange blend has apple, carrot and celery. A big thumbs up from hubby, as he says celery is good for my kidney. He’s been wanting to juice it, but our present juicer can’t handle vegetables. Love this one! Definitely a favorite!
Snack was Pure Almond Milk. This is, hands down, going to be a staple. Already thinking of hoarding a supply.
Dinner was apple, celery, lemon, orange, spinach and ginger. That’s a mouthful of blends, and knowing that it has spinach and ginger in it made me dilly-dally on drinking it.
A very small sip.
No, I don’t quite get the taste.
A bigger sip than the first.
Hmmmm… interesting.
“Marge, why don’t you just take it in big gulps to get it over and done with?”
Yeah, why not?
“It has spinach and ginger, Dad!”
“You’ll survive! Drink it!”
And so I did.
Not bad. Not bad at all. It’s not something I’m going to rave about, but it has good things in it, and I can live with it if I ever need to take it as part of a diet or something. Good enough.
I normally end my days at 12 midnight, but on busy days, I extend my working hours up to 2am. On my cleanse day, I was ready for bed as early as 10pm. After drinking the organic tea that came with the kit, I just felt that my body was ready to relax. The tea had a calming effect, and I started to feel sleepy earlier than usual.
This was me the next day. 
Suffice it to say that my one-day cleanse introduced me to new tastes, and inspired me to continue with our juicing protocol. I really feel lighter these days, getting my nutrients in liquid form. And I can bring a bottle with me anywhere!
For those of you who have the time to do your own juicing, go ahead and invest on a good juicer now. That’s our plan, too, since we have a fast juicer, and it’s not good with leafy vegetables. So this WAHM has to take on some extra projects for that dream Hurom Juicer
But if you are living the busy life but want to have your nutrient boost without the fuss, just go over JuiceHutManila.com and choose your combos. Or better yet, try out a cleanse, just like I did.
Oh, and when you do decide to try out a cleanse, think of getting some extra bottles for your family, too. Husband and kids were all too interested to find out what’s in the bottles that they just had to take a sip from my supply. 🙂
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by The Happy WAHM
We met one fine day at La Creperie in Robinson’s Galleria. She was referred to me by my partner, The Techie Mom, for domain and hosting service, and a possible WooCommerce set up. I’ve been working with WooCommerce for years already, and around the second quarter of 2014, I started to seriously think of offering it as a service outside of my VA gig as a new income stream. The first person to know of this plan was of course my partner.
So in July, I met Mia Sison. She told me her apprehensions about having an online store. She was selling her products through Instagram, and using Viber as the point of communication. She also was not sure as to what the process would be. She has gotten used to doing business through her phone, and she was worried that her customers might not welcome the change.
I was just going to buy her domain name for her, and set her up with a hosting account, which I did. Then I was supposed to just wait for her to get the site ready for me to install the cart. But she wanted to know how an online cart actually works, so in that first meeting, I discussed with her how the process would go, from the time that a customer lands on the site, what happens when they click on the ADD TO CART button, how she would get alerted of orders, how the customers would pay. I took note of her present process on deliveries and went on to explain how I would set up her cart to accommodate the present process.
As we continued to discuss her cart, she had questions about what else to put at the site, what would be on the menu, how customers would navigate, if she could connect her Instagram account with the site, could she put photos, could she put another product in a way that that product would not be a major item at the site, and I just felt that she needed help in setting up the website itself, not just the cart. So I offered to just manage the project for her. At no cost. I would just charge her for the cart set up, and I would take care of getting her a designer.
In truth, I was not even familiar with her products at that time. So my first request was for her to provide me with a list of her products, descriptions, etc. She said she has a product brochure, complete with cleansing instructions and all. And I said, great! Send that to me, please!
And she sent me this really colorful artwork!
And what do you know, the artist is not a stranger, but rather an admired online personality of mine.
Upon seeing the brochure, I instinctively knew who the best web designer to contact. And I was so grateful (still am) that she was available to take on the project that time because she’s the designer who gets full booking for months ahead. Or maybe because she loves me, too, that she took pity on me. #wishfulthinking
The old brochure became the basis of the web design, with Nica providing all the images and artwork, and Pat translating them to codes that made them come alive online.
The process was long, but it was a very fulfilling five months of working with the best of the best. I will continue to be in awe of Nica’s artistry, and will forever be Pat’s number one fan. Together, they created this online showcase of healthy goodness that I am so proud to have been a part of.
This is Juice Hut Manila.
As for me, it was by far the most challenging cart set up I’ve ever done. Variable products, variable purchase options, variable shipping. Without any extensions used. It was a dream project for someone who thrives on challenges.
But most importantly, I will forever treasure the relationship that was started with this project. This is what makes my WAHM life so fulfilling. The relationship that develops on a project and goes beyond its completion. Nothing beats getting to work on projects that you can be passionate about while working with people that you can be friends with.
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by The Happy WAHM
Me time.
I’ve been reading a lot about the importance of “me time”, not only for WAHMs, but for all moms and wives out there.
And I get to thinking, do I have a “me time”?
Let’s find out first what “me time” really means.
If “me time” is to be defined as the time that you spend pampering yourself in a spa, having your nails done, getting your hair styled in a salon, or going on a trip all by yourself (or with the husband), then I guess, yeah, I’m not having any “me time” at all!
But if “me time” is simply doing things that make you happy, doing things that mean a lot to you personally, then I am having loads of that!
You see, it’s all about perspective. I used to be envious of people who go out on a trip and have regular out-of-town vacations. But then again, I look back at the few times that my family went out of town, and realized that those times actually left me stressed and tired. Now, maybe that was due to the packing and unpacking for the kids, and taking care of all their needs while we were in an unfamiliar environment. So I tried to remember how I felt when I went out of town on my own, joining some friends for a vacation, and all I can recall is the loneliness of not being able to hug my kids every ten minutes. I would go to a new place and would wonder whether my kids would appreciate being there, too. Or I would be eating my meals and all I could think of was whether my kids were getting fed on time or have been bathed. I would just end up regretting leaving, instead of feeling refreshed.
So what do I do to recharge? How do I keep myself sane?
I just do things that make me truly happy. Like quietly watching my kids do their thing when they think I’m not watching. Giving myself a pedicure… oh yes! I do my nails myself, and have actually saved a lot of money in the process. 🙂 Lying in bed with a novel. Watching NCIS re-runs. Writing down my dreams and turning them into plans. Going through old photos and going back to the time they were taken. Quiet time upon waking up. Catching up with friends on the phone, or chatting with them on Facebook. Or catching up with cousins I have not seen for ages, like what I did last Friday.
While in the middle of motherhood and a negotiation for a project management gig, the ongoing development of my affiliate marketing site, writing an e-book, and the daily activities for the business that I manage online, I received an invitation to a cousin’s birthday celebration. It was an invitation I could have easily said no to, because attending would mean at least five hours of travel round trip, plus all the items on my work queue. And I know they would have understood why I could not come.
But it was a rare opportunity to catch up with all four of them at one go, as we all live in different parts of the country. In fact, two of the cousins live in a totally different time zone. So I just had to go.
And I’m so happy that I did.
It was really great seeing them again. Remembering how we climbed up their humongous guava tree when no adults were looking, playing house with the neighborhood kids atop the water tank, running after ducks and chicken around the compound, playing “step house”, “siato”, hide-and-seek, making candle balls on All Saints’ Day, caroling and “simbang-gabi” on Christmas break, making ice candy… Yes, it WAS awesome seeing them again.
Sharing here some photos of my fun time. And boy, did I have fun! First time to brave a photobooth, and I enjoyed it. Kudos to ZionEyes Enterprises for making my experience really special. Will be recommending their service to other WAHMs, that’s for sure.
And there goes my me time. I don’t really have to be away on an exotic vacation or spend so much money to say that I’m having time to myself. I can be clowning around with my kids at home (or in a photobooth at a cousin’s party, for that matter) and consider it my me time. As WebMD says: Me time is anything that lights you up or fascinates you.
For me, it’s just all about having a fantastic time, period.
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by The Happy WAHM
It’s two in two! Two sites in two weeks! Can’t get any better than this.
This site has been around since last year, but only during my goalsetting in November did I really get to internalize on its purpose. I bought the domain early in the year, wanting to use it as my ‘pay-it-forward’ kind of site. I wanted to create an online resource for WAHMs and WAHDs (or WAHM and WAHD wannabes) where they can either get ideas, or offer ideas. And then for a while, I decided to turn it into my coaching site, but later changed my mind again, because I felt that the coaching is a big part of what I do, hence it should be with MargeAberásturi.com.
So in December, I collaborated with Chasing Dreams on the design to get the site off hibernation. This site was actually our first, but as you well know by now, my personal biz site made it to launch date first. In terms of content, I was simply more ready with the business site.
This was the mock up of the logo.
And this is the final output. I requested for the Sketch Block font to make it identifiable with TheHappyWAHM.
Last night, hoping to make it two in two, I worked overtime to just put a couple of products in the shop and set up the directory pages.
The main focus of the site is to encourage entrepreneurship among women, and men, who stay home. I wish to have guest posts from anyone who’d like to share a hobby or an idea that has the potential of becoming a profitable business, just like the first post, How To Make Mango Puree. Incidentally, that was written by a man, so while the WAHM in the site title means work-at-home mom, it can also be easily referred to as work-at-home man.
I also have a page for partner sites, and these are the ones who responded to my call on Facebook last year, on who would want to get listed on my still-inactive site. And I’m so grateful to them, because they trusted me that much.
The Shop page is a showcase of my affiliate marketing stream. I’ve been doing affiliate marketing for two or three years, I guess, but it’s only now that I decided to have them in one place. Affiliate marketing is a good income stream, if you know how to do it right, and this is one of the topics that I will share in my February 28 VA Business Success Workshop. Since I’ve been asked to share my blueprint for my virtual assistance success, I find it important to share how to create other income streams out of the niche that I have chosen to pursue.
The site is still considered under construction, but I wanted to get it out there already. Everyday is a great day to get something started, so why not today?
I hope you will drop by, and again, if you have an idea and you don’t know what to do with it, let’s talk! I may be able to help you turn it into a profitable venture.
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by The Happy WAHM
January 4, 2014, I wrote about my new beginnings. It was my first entry for 2014.
January 4, 2015, I’m writing about another beginning. The official launch of my business site, MargeAberásturi.com.
I bought the domain name back in 2012, just to secure the name. My first [long-term] VA client was an internet marketer, so I know how it works. Research for a popular keyword, check domain availability, buy it and park for auction. Very profitable business, if I might add.
The question begs to be asked: So Marge, you think you’re so popular that someone might actually buy your domain and invest on it?
Of course… NOT! But I can dream, yeah?
Well, let’s just say that I always plan ahead. I knew the time will come that I will want need to have my name as a domain. I knew I would need to expand my business, and I knew I wanted the name behind TheHappyWAHM to be recognized, too.
And so I bought the domain, but never actually used it.
In 2013, I tinkered with it a bit. But my heart was really not into it. I had no immediate need for the site, no desire to further promote my services as a virtual assistant because I have enough projects anyway. Why rock the boat?
Then last year, my entrepreneurial spirit kicked into full gear, and I was able to put my business directions on paper. Seeing pages of where I want to go and how I want to grow inspired me to again entertain the idea of having a business site. I always tell attendees of my workshops that it is important to have an online presence, be it a blog or a static business site where you can showcase your services. An online resume. An online business card. See, what I know is not always what I do. Not out of hardheadedness, but only because I have to set my priorities. I need to attend to income-generating activities first.
But last year, having achieved my goal of having my home office built, I was able to sit down and do some serious planning. I guess that’s what comes with having a comfortable swivel chair. You get to feel like the boss that you are, and you get to have that fire in your stomach to go for something bigger than what you already have.
And so, I have one whole notebook – yes, all 50 leaves – filled up with tables and bullet points and narratives of what I have to achieve next.
First stop, my business site. It still needs a few more pages added, and some more tweaking of the content, but I have learned not to wait too long to start on something. It does not have to be perfect, just functional. Plus, I do have to attend to clients’ needs first, so I have make this a work-in-progress with my pockets of time.
For this awesome site, I credit Riz of ChasingDreams.net. Very intuitive to work with. It was like working with my partner, The Techie Mom. Those moments that she would send me a link to a design peg, and I would see just about the same design that I already have on my dummy site. Well, actually, her choices were prettier. But allow me to imagine that I have the same aesthetic taste as she does, okay?
And this logo, which is an off-shoot from what I had before…
Oh, don’t be confused! The one on the left is the official logo now, and the one on the right was born out of tinkering with… drum roll… Powerpoint! So now you know how artistically-gifted I am!
Wait, should this be the post where I tell you my 2015 goals, too?
Let’s see…
In bullets, and not necessarily in any order, they’re as follows.
- Finish three online courses (same goal as last year).
- Prepare the kids for PEPT.
- Learn something new. Don’t know what I want to learn this year yet. Maybe a foreign language, or coding, or both.
- Publish an e-book. Scary, but hey, if I have to set a goal, I might as well aim high.
Launch my business site.- Launch my affiliate marketing site. (My goal for this is January, but in case there are bumps, should be no later than the first quarter.)
- Connect with the [prospective] clients that I had to say no to last year.
- Write my holographic will.
- Get all our family documents in order.
- Exercise, exercise and exercise.
- More juicing. More veggies.
Take on another hobby. Make time for another hobby.- Read more.
- Market my e-commerce set up service and book at least one client per month. I need referrals, please!
- Fill my jar of blessings.
- Blog more.
- Exercise some more. Do I hear “standing desk?”
Well, there you go! That’s a long list. But I hope that I will be proud to write my 2015 year in review by December 31.
For now, please visit my office in cyber, and let me know your thoughts. All criticisms will be taken constructively, I promise!
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