by The Happy WAHM
She’s been my friend for eons, and she’s ancient. She’s 16 years my senior. But ours is a friendship that defies age and absence. In fact, if there is ever truth in the idiom that absence makes the heart grow fonder, then we are the living proofs of it.
We became friends in 1994. At that time I was just starting a career in my hometown. My hometown, her turf. See, I left the place after high school, and she chose the time I was away to establish her medical practice there. By the time I came back, she’s already the number one family doctor in the province. And I was almost a stranger.
We were introduced by a common friend, another ancient one that I may write about next time, and we hit it right off from the get-go. She was amused by the way I dressed for comfort, and in the process I created my own fashion. I would ride the bike to the office, wearing long skirts and boots. I would dress my hair with scarves, and I would wear dangling earrings made of bamboo, or shells, or horsehair. I loved the ethnic look. I still do. The same way she does.
What I really admired about her was the way she ran her household. They were a couple of doctors, but they never had a househelp. She did everything. She had help from Uncle Sam (I call him that, or Doc Sam), who was at that time the only anestheseologist within a five-hour drive radius, and the kids, of course. I saw her as superwoman. Doing laundry, cooking, keeping house, maintaining a garden, and as if housechores were not enough, she also made her own quilts, and decorated her house with her framed cross-stitch projects. She had this curtain in her clinic made of flour sacks, but you would never think of it as that, coz she had it lined with a fabric with cross stitches on it. She is just the most creative science person I’ve ever had the major luck of being friends with. And you should see her trellis.
We had fun for 3 years. Then I had to leave again. Work brought me back, and work took me away again. And then I got married, had kids, and here I am, a WAHM, in another province, and she’s still busy with her medical practice in my hometown. I see her once a year, when I have to go there and pay real property taxes. And the sweet part is that, we just always pick up where we left off. Each time we get together, our time apart just fades away. We sometimes talk on the phone, or send e-mails. I miss her. She’s been a great influence. I sew my own curtains, too. By hand.
by The Happy WAHM
Not me!
Some other blogger with a much active blog has been given the coveted storage showcase.
So, my poor self will just go ahead and continue with my organizing plans and hopefully, by year-end, I’d have thrown away or given away most of the unused stuff in our cabinets and drawers, and have saved enough to execute my renovating plans.
by The Happy WAHM
This is my official entry to the Howards Storage World + Dainty Mom Wow Your Wardrobe Contest.
Do I deserve to win Php10,000 worth of wardrobe showcase from Howards Storage World?
I think I do! But it’s not for me to decide, right? So here I am writing my pitch on why.
At this point, I really need all the help I can get. I need to get organized, from the bedrooms to the kitchen to our homeschool to my home office. The wardrobe will be a wonderful place to start, so I’m begging you! Let me get my hands on that wardrobe organizing package!
Housekeeping has never been my strongest suit. It amazes me how some people do it. I watch Martha and I am in awe of how easy she makes things look neat. And then I got to thinking… maybe it’s the tools, the gadgets, the things that are available to her that make organizing a breeze.
I have not heard of Howards before, but when I finally did, it was love at first visit. And to myself I say, so here’s how Martha does it. With things like these, I’d be organized in a heartbeat, too!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Howards Storage World from the day I came across the Dainty Mom’s contest announcement on Facebook. In fact, the site is displayed on another tab even now as I write this post. I’m literally drooling over all those wonderful must-have products, beginning with the Elfa! I’ve been dreaming of an open wardrobe for so long, I just don’t know how to get started with it. I want flexibility, I want space, I want accessibility, and all that can be realized with the Elfa shelving. I’m not sure if I can even afford it at this time, but I can plan, right?
And speaking of plans, we do have plans of doing some home improvements in the coming months. The place we call home is really rather small. No fixed cabinets in the bedrooms yet, coz as I’ve said earlier, I want flexibility. The easy-build type of shelving has been suggested by my mother before, we just never had the time to shop around for what to use. The idea that we can adjust the materials just as our need for space change holds the greatest appeal. Last June, it dawned on me that my firstborn will be a teenager soon, and I want to have the small room she shares with her little sister more organized. I want to create a space they can share but at the same time allow them to be separate and each be responsible for their respective things and stuff. I’m sure those space bags will do wonders to make their cramped space a little more roomy, while those drawer organizers will create separate big sis and little sis spaces. And because they are still growing, the lengths of their dresses are still changing. A shelving that can be easily reconfigured to suit their need for space is the best way to get started.
And so here I am writing this post, taking advantage of an opportunity to get my hands on some amazing products that can give me a jumpstart on my quest for a little home organization. And if by God’s grace I get picked, I can assure you that I will be sharing with you the good news. And not only that, I may even get you updated on my home organizing project with those flexible shelving solutions that I have set my heart on.
Stay tuned!
by The Happy WAHM
You have a business and you have the necessary permits to operate. What you need next are customers. You may feel disappointed at how long it could take for people to come to you. And it’s not going to help if you will just patiently wait and do nothing. You have to organize a marketing plan that best suits your type of business. You also have to consider your budget for such marketing plan.
Here are some ways you can promote your business:
Business Cards: These are things that you can create yourself. Attach them to all your correspondences, distribute them to everyone you know, give them extra to share with everyone they know, post them on community bulletin boards. There are a lot of ways you can distribute your cards, just remember to make them look professional. They will create the initial impression a prospective client will have on you.
Send Announcements: You can do this via e-mail (send an e-mail to everyone in your address book) or to specific people who belong to your target market. If you are opening a bookkeeping service, send announcements to small businesses in your community.
Press Release: This is different from an advertisement. A press release should come in the form of a news item. Some ideas for a press release are articles to announce a grand opening, introduction of a new product or service, a milestone like reaching the 100th customer, etc.
Network: Join organizations online or offline to exchange information and referrals. Develop relationships with people in your target market and let them know how you can help.
Community Service: Joining in community activities make for a great press release. It will also make people choose your service over competitors if you are with them in serving the community. Some may even refer you to their social networks.
Write An Article: Getting yourself published in a traditional newspaper or magazine can take long, but there are websites who will gladly publish your work for free publicity. Just try to create a unique content and distribute them widely.
Seminars: If you are confident about your field, you can consider offering a course related to your business. Say you are getting into a soap making business; you can coordinate with your local community education center to set up a workshop in soap making. This will create a positive impression that you are an expert in your field.
Create A Cyber Presence: Majority of home business owners now are taking advantage of technology. Websites, blogs, e-mails, forums or discussion groups can get information out about your products or services in no time. And the best thing about it is the minimal cost involved.
Great Customer Service: Aim to meet, if not exceed, your client’s expectations. Don’t offer more than you can deliver. Be upfront about your limitations. Use feedback surveys to know how your customers feel about your products or services, and use them to further improve your business.
by The Happy WAHM
Your home business’ start up cost will depend on what business you’re starting and what are the logistics you need. If it is a hobby that you’re turning into a business, then chances are, you already have materials to get you started, so you will only need to add a little bit more for packaging (if it’s a tangible product you are selling) and the cost of securing the necessary licenses and permits. Understand that a business will not be a lifestyle-sustaining venture overnight. It takes about 6 months to a year before you can start to make a profit, or at least recoup your investment.
There are ways you can raise your needed capital, and support the business until it starts to earn.
Take on a part-time job: Consider taking on a part-time job while working on your new venture for the rest of your time.
Turn your employer into a client: This offers a great advantage to your employer, as they already know how you perform and they will continue to have your productivity, minus the benefits that they have been giving you. Just make sure that you will not be competing for your employer’s clients, as this puts your integrity in question.
Live on a single salary: If you are married and both of you are working, start to budget and live on a single salary for a period of time. That will help you build a nest egg you can take from for the business’ capitalization.
Use your savings: If you don’t have one yet, start saving now. If you already have one, consider using it to finance your venture.
Borrow from family or friends: This can go two ways… Either your friends or family are not supportive of you, in which case you can forget about asking them for a loan, or they will just be as excited as you with your venture and will be enthusiastic about helping you achieve your goal.
Credit: This is not something that I will personally recommend, but if you think you have an achievable business plan, then by all means, go for it. Just factor in the high interest rates you will incur in your financial plan so you know how to use your credit wisely.
Loan: There are banks and institutions that offer loans for small business start ups, but there are requirements that you need to comply with. Your business plan will come in handy if you intend to take out a loan to finance your venture.
Investors: You can consider taking in capitalists, just make sure that you have everything covered. Consult a professional about this because your investors will become part owners of your business, so it is important that you are legally protected.
Before you even consider putting up money for your business, be sure that you have a business plan that includes all the financial aspects of starting and running a business.
