by The Happy WAHM
For 2018, I’m going to get my Excel mojo back.
My first project?
A printable meal planner!
This planner will help Moms like me who are barely surviving in the kitchen. It has always been a struggle for me to come up with a decision on what meal to prepare, every single day. I thought that if there is already a list of meals that I can just refer to, it would be easier to make a decision on what to prepare for the day.
Add to that the fact that I’m not a cook.
Oh, I can cook adobo, sinigang, tinola, spaghetti, and other similar stuff, but I’m not really that great. And I don’t have that many recipes in my arsenal, so I rely on just the usual stuff. And the occasional pa-chambs. 🙂
Here’s a clue… I don’t eat, much less cook, food I can’t pronounce.
And can I just mention that my kids LOVE my spaghetti?
But having so short a list of recipes makes it really hard to plan for a week. And that affects the grocery shopping, which we do once a week, sometimes even every other week.
For moms/homemakers like me, coming up with a decision on what’s for lunch or what’s for dinner sucks up a lot of time already. And add to that, the heartache when you finally decide on a meal and find out that you don’t have the necessary ingredients in your pantry.
This meal planner will save me the time and the heartache.
The first thing I did was make a list of all the meals I know how to prepare. Then I asked members of my WAHM community to contribute their own. I created four worksheets to represent breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, and desserts. And once I had a decent number of meals to cover a week without a repeat, I went ahead and used the wonderful functions of Excel to create my printable meal plan.
So here’s how to use this…
Those highlighted cells are clickable. When you click on the cell, a dropdown arrow will appear. When you click on the dropdown arrow, a list of meals will appear, and you just need to click on what suits your fancy for the time of day.
Look…
And I’m all for keeping it real. Please take note that there’s a No Cooking option. So there will days that we’ll just call for home delivery, or feast on leftovers, or eat out.
Once I have completed our meals for the week, I can print the file, and create the grocery list.
Once Week 1 has been printed, I can simply clear the cells and start all over for the next week.
I’m actually just channeling Mark Zuckerberg here. I’m thinking about how much time he saves just by NOT having to decide what to wear every single day. This printable meal planner? I betcha it will save me at the very least an hour per week. An hour that I can utilize to do something else. Like crochet.
So yeah, I was truly inspired.
But if you’re a busy VA like me, and say your rate is $25 per hour, this planner has a $100 value to you, per month.
Me, I’m just happy to have that one hour of crochet time. Or paper quilling time.
Want me to create something like this for you? You know how to reach me!
Do you, have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave a reply below, or post them on my Facebook Page.
by The Happy WAHM
The content of this post was originally published as a Note on Facebook and has been updated to reflect present time.
Ever wonder why we have creative children?
They have at least one creative parent, that’s why!
And that one parent is me! Like mother, like daughters.
Yup! I’m claiming it! Right here, right now. Before I end my day.
But you need proof, right?
Let’s start with my younger daughter.
She draws really well. Just like I do.
This is an apple. I drew this using watercolor.
And this is Bea’s drawing of an apple, in oil pastel. (I put a watermark on it when I shared on Facebook to protect the work of my child.)
You see the resemblance?
You do, right?
Here’s another one. My drawing of a banana. Still using watercolor.
And here is Bea’s banana in oil pastel.
See? We really are very creative!
Here’s another. My drawing of a carrot.
Bea does not have a drawing of a carrot, but she has an orange. And they’re the same color, so we can still compare, okay?
So you agree that she takes after me, yes?
Okay. Now that we have settled that, let’s get on how my eldest daughter takes after me.
I came across an album of photos posted by my daughter’s friend on Facebook.
She doesn’t mind posing in front of the camera.
And she’s really pretty, if I may say so myself.
She’s a natural. And she registers well on camera.
Just like her mom.
Yup!
She takes after me. I used to model, you know.
And I do register well on camera, too. Like when I modeled for Caronia. Or was it Bobbie?
Okay. So I do my own mani and pedi. And my nails are far from spectacular. But I have saved lots of money over the years. 🙂
Or when I modeled my crocheted slippers.
I also posed for Bend Accessories.
So I’m thinking, maybe Isabel can model for a clothing line.
Oh, wait! She has modeled for Crafted Crafts!
Hardly a clothing line, but baby steps, okay? She’s wearing a crocheted poncho in the photo, and the yarn is her own mix. Yeah, our girls help me come up with color combinations for our yarn shop. 🙂
So now you know why we have pretty, creative daughters.
Like mother, like daughters.
Do you, have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave a reply below, or post them on my Facebook Page.
by The Happy WAHM
For the first time since I became a WAHM, I had a day off!
I mean, an official one. An I-don’t-have-to-bring-a-laptop-with-me kind of day. An it’s-okay-to-not-have-internet-connection-where-I’m-going kind of day. An I-don’t-have-to-check-my-email kind of day.
It was awesome!
So I went to the city to meet up with my friend, Celia, who’s the creative head and the powerhouse behind Brownroots Creatives and is now busy managing her co-working space, Brownroots Coworking.
Uhmmm… I actually checked my work email before leaving the house. Responded to some messages both from my email and Slack, and had my mobile data and powerbank with me just in case I need to respond to some urgent messages. How awesome is it that I can actually work using my phone, right?
But I’m digressing.
I’m supposed to be talking about Brownroots and why I had to see Celia.
Who is Celia and what is Brownroots?
I met Celia at one of my workshops. It was the second and final run of my VA Success Blueprint workshop.
What? Two runs only? But why?
I’ve turned the workshop module to a one-on-one coaching module, that’s why. I get to see results better on one-on-one coaching than in classroom workshops, and I really have this need to see my coachees succeed in transitioning from corporate to WAHMing.
Digressing again, sorry.
So my event coordinator got Brownroots Creatives to sponsor the bags that we gave away to the participants. On top of the bags, she also raffled off some really cool t-shirts. I loved the bags! They were of canvas material and had my logo printed on them. And the shirts were actually their flagship product for Brownroots Creatives’ business-in-a-box. Their tagline? “Let your shirt do the talking.”
I had a couple shirt made for me and my husband.
Mine says: My husband has an awesome wife.
His says: My wife has an awesome husband.
I wear mine when I go out.
Husband wears his to sleep.
So much for having a couple shirt!
Digressing… again!
As a major sponsor, we gave her two free seats to the workshop. She brought her son who does graphic design, plays the guitar, sings and sounds awesome, and writes his own songs when he’s not doing covers.
And so we met. And we hit it off, right from the get-go.
Celia is a former OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). She had a really bad experience abroad. Like going to prison kind of bad. She was innocent, of course. And when finally her case was resolved, she came back home to the Philippines and vowed to start another chapter in her life, stronger and better. I met her at the time that she was just starting out with the business. Her work abroad was in advertising, and she’s a graphic designer. It made sense for her to start a business in the creative niche.
Why Brownroots?
She says it’s her statement of being Pinoy. She’s proud of her brown-skinned race. As we should all be.
I like her branding. It delivers a message. It’s easy to recall. It draws empathy.
She learned of my story through this blog, before we personally met. How I succeeded in starting a career from home. My story resonated with her, and we both have this strong desire to build a community of empowered women. And while I focus on inspiring women to go after their dreams and be financially independent through this blog and social media, Celia untiringly goes to events and connects with people in person. And when I say connect, I mean she really connects. The we-can-be-friends-forever kind of connect.
After taking a break from doing classroom workshops on virtual assistance, I created a new module called Hobbies to Business, teaching people how to earn from doing something that they love. I did two classroom workshops for this module and then turned it into an online course, as well. Celia stuck with me, supporting me all the way. I super love this woman! And from what I gather, the feeling is definitely mutual.
Sometime last year, we talked about having my girls’ artworks printed on t-shirts and mugs and selling them. I’m teaching my kids entrepreneurship, which is also what Celia is doing with hers. The plan was that I would send her the graphics and Brownroots Creatives would print them and ship them.
But my husband and I have also been looking for an income stream that will not be dependent on both our skills as virtual assistants. What if he or I get sick? What happens if I can no longer be a VA, or he no longer loves what he’s doing?
We need a fallback, and we need to establish something while there is no need for it yet. We need something that we can hire other people to do when we can no longer do it personally. And we need something that our children will also enjoy doing.
So we agreed on making a go for the printing business. Our daughters will be our in-house designers, and our son will operate the press.
Celia was very supportive when I told her about it. Aside from her printing business, she also provides starter packages to those who want to get into the printing business. So she sent me the list of her packages and left me to think about how I want to get started. But my VA work did not give me much time to pursue getting the business off the ground.
So on my first official day off, I went to meet with Celia as my first step in making our plan become a reality. We’re ready to invest in the complete package, the whole nine yards, and Brownroots Creatives is my supplier of choice. I spent the afternoon with her teaching me how to navigate the design software and how to operate the press. It was fun! I can imagine the kids having a blast with that weeding thing on the vinyl.
And to top it off, Celia also had two of her friends at the coworking space while I was there, and they are very interested in learning how to become VAs, so we ended up planning a small, intimate workshop for a group of no more than ten people, soon.
I also love her coworking space, by the way.
Here’s a couple of my takeaways…
I am so looking forward to adding this new piece in my WAHMing life, and I’m hoping that I’ll have your support, too!
Oh, and by the way, today is my second day off. So I found time to write this post. Yesterday was supposed to be the day that we’re going to put up our Christmas tree. But I had to prioritize seeing Celia.
I had an early start this morning. While the kids were preparing to leave for taekwondo training, I changed the curtains. Ironed them, too! Like I don’t really mind the fold creases on curtains, but I was feeling pretty domestic so I went ahead and ironed out the fold creases before putting them up. Then I took down our 16-year old tree from storage and set it up. It’s still bare at this time. I left the decorating to the kids.
Okay, my time’s up! Come and visit again!
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Please leave a reply below, or post them on my Facebook Page.
by The Happy WAHM
I became a WAHM because I had to.
I was forced to leave my corporate career to care for our premature son. The plan was I would take care of our son for two years until he is given a clean bill of health by the neurologist. But barely a month into WAHMing, I knew I would never go back to corporate. I was like a fish in a bowl that was thrown into the sea.
Today, family, friends, and acquaintances ask me random questions like…
So you’re a VA? What is that?
What does a VA do?
Can I be a VA like you?
Can you help me become a VA?
Nobody asked me WHY.
Why I do what I do. Why am I so happy doing what I do.
I have conducted a number of workshops on how to become a Virtual Assistant, how to become a WAHM, how to stay sane while WAHMing, and in my last classroom workshop, I shared my VA Success Blueprint. In all these workshops, I ask this question…
Why?
Why do you want to work from home?
And I have received answers like…
I’m tired of commuting to and from work.
I want to earn in dollars, too.
I want to be present for my child’s milestones.
I want to own my time.
These are all good reasons. And the answer to your BIG why will play a big part in determining what niche best fits you. You need a driving motivator to help you develop skills and abilities that will fulfill your BIG why. You are going to design and build your business around your reasons for wanting to become a WAHM. Or a VA. Or a graphic designer. Or even a product-based business. Whatever niche you plan to be in, your motivator will help you develop a long-term and profitable business.
As a long-term WAHM and VA, I’ve been in enough fora and online courses to gather people’s top motivators for becoming a WAHM.
Flexibility
Having the power in your hands to make time for both work and family. You can make time for yoga (or Zumba), take up a hobby (crochet, anyone?), attend a parent-teacher conference (unless you are also homeschooling like us), and still be productive at work.
Independence
Not having a boss look over your shoulder anytime. Having the freedom to be creative on how you approach work. Being able to create systems and processes that work for you so you are more productive and happier with your work.
Mobility
Being able to work anywhere. Work at home, in a cafe, in a hospital lobby, I’ve done all these. Geez, I even brought my work one time in the cemetery, on All Saints’ Day. Migrate to another country in a heartbeat, and bring your job with you.
Earning Potential
The more skills you have, the more opportunities you have for earning more. The harder you work, the more you are rewarded. This does not happen in employment where your salary is fixed. And even your annual salary increases have caps.
Lifestyle
Choose when to work, where to work, and how hard you have to work. Be a part-time soccer mom while still maintaining a full-time status with your client.
Family
Being a hands-on parent. Being present for each and every one of your child’s milestones. Or maybe you want to homeschool your kids. Or be your parents’ caregiver.
Health Challenge
When you cannot commute to and from work every day, or have limited time and mobility to work outside the home. (I used to have blind transcriptionists.)
All these motivators are good to start with.
Sustaining a WAHM life, living it long-term, is another matter. And that’s why you need to have a strong and solid conviction on why you want to be a WAHM.
Let me share with you an example.
About four years into WAHMing, I had a former officemate approach me, asking to help her become a virtual assistant. She was my staff in my corporate life. I worked with her side by side for years, so I knew she could be a VA. So I trained her. Our agreement was that I would find her a client when she’s ready. And I did.
On the day that I signed the contract for her, she quit. She said it’s not for her. So she went back to employment. And to this day, she’s still working outside her home.
Yes, she wanted to become a WAHM. But maybe the life of a WAHM is something that she’s not ready for. Her reason for wanting to become a WAHM was not strong enough for her to weather it out.
You may want to become a WAHM for a wide variety of reasons, but there should always be that one great reason that will keep you going each and every day. Because believe me, it’s not a walk in the park. And it’s not for everyone.
And so I ask you, have you determined your BIG why? Do you have the skills to support your passion? And is your passion supportive of your skills?
If you answered YES to the questions above, then you are ready to become a WAHM.
Do you have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave a reply below, or post them on my Facebook Page.
by The Happy WAHM
I’ve gone ahead and did it!
I created a Facebook Group that I can connect to my Page and this blog.
Been wanting to do this for a long time now, but have been dilly dallying because I’m afraid of the responsibility of managing a group. But it has to be done.
My dream is to build a community of people whose views on family, creativity and success resonate with mine. I need a platform where I can speak to people directly and encourage them to interact. I have a story to tell, and I want to encourage people to tell me theirs, too.
But here’s the thing.
I don’t need want a big community. The goal here is not to have a thousand members. The goal is to be able to interact with people and for all of us to be comfortable with each other. Comfortable enough to ask for help. Comfortable enough to be real.
And I really want to help others find their footing on this thing called WAHM-ing. That’s hard to do in a big community. I can spread myself so thin that I might not be able to help at all. So I’m going to build my tribe slowly. And be as real as I can be. My audience will find me.
This is my happiness project. And I hope you’ll join me.
Do you have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave a reply below, or post them at my Facebook Page.
by The Happy WAHM
Starting my week with an attitude of gratitude.
Friday night last week could be considered one of the worst times I’ve had to endure. We’ve been traumatized by Typhoon Glenda, we’ve been burglarized, I’ve been scared when I had that accident in the bathroom, and now this fiasco with Camella Homes.
Still, I just want to focus on feeling gratitude.
I’m not a religious person. I rarely go to church or attend service. What I am is prayerful. I say a prayer of thanks for every little thing. When I wake up each morning with my husband beside me and our children nearby, I say a prayer of thanks for the gift of a new day with them. When my daughter in college responds to a text message promptly, I say a prayer of thanks knowing that she’s safe. When I see my mother preparing snacks for me and the kids, I say a prayer of thanks for her long life and her tenacious approach about her health.
I’m also a person who tries to find the good in a bad situation.
When there is an unannounced power interruption, I focus on appreciating the time I can spend doing housechores or chilling with the kids instead of working at my computer.
When my husband lost his employment (in the guise of being given an early retirement), I focused on being happy that he gets to work at home with me and be with the kids more.
When Glenda happened, I was grateful that we stayed dry while the storm raged outside. When we were burglarized, I was grateful no one in the family was hurt.
Now that we are in the middle of another storm, figuratively, I’m again trying to focus on the blessings brought about by the trials.
For the past months, I have been experiencing that minty feeling at the back of my throat. It was only last week that I thought of Googling it. This article is helping me identify my symptoms now. Because I don’t have the symptoms for GERD, I’m now trying to rule out anxiety. However, with the recent problem with Camella, I don’t think I will do very good on this. So I’m really hoping that Camella will offer a resolution soonest. 🙂
A month ago, I was going to a client meeting in Manila. On the trip from Ibaan to Lipa, I lost my left peripheral vision. Like it was really dark on the left side, and I had to move my head sideways to see what could normally be seen peripherally. I was thinking, if this persists, I will have to cancel my trip. Take the van from Lipa back to Ibaan. I started taking deep breaths while flexing my fingers open and close. The vision cleared before we reached SM Lipa, so I went on to the meeting.
But on Thursday night, it happened again. My vision just started to blur on the lower part, like when staring at my monitor, the desk in front of me was blurred. I didn’t tell anyone about it. I just shut down my PC and went to bed. I was thinking that my eyes were just tired.
I was feeling better when I woke up Friday morning, but by mid-day, I was again experiencing blurred vision. Like there was a haze in front of me. Imagine being on the road on a really hot day, and you stare at the hood of your car? You’ll see a haze, like the heat in the air forming some shapes? That’s what I was experiencing. So again, I lied down, closed my eyes and rested, with the decision that I was going to see my ophthalmologist the next day.
And I did.
But what my ophthalmologist told me worries me now. He said: “If it was your eyes, it would not have resolved that fast. It would have persisted.” And my eye tests were good. In fact, my myopia is gone. Although my astigmatism is a bit higher. Pressure on my eyes are the same as they were in 2013.
So what could be my problem?
“You might have had a mild stroke and you didn’t know it.”
Wow!
My sedentary life is causing me to lose circulation, my brain is being deprived of oxygen, causing to impair my vision.
That’s my assessment. Not the doctor’s. But I know I’m right.
And I’m thankful that I get to write about it. I’m a survivor.
Now back to gratitude…
All the things I mentioned above are the cakes.
Here’s the icing…
On Saturday morning, I received an email from the founder of Feedspot.com, congratulating me for making it the Top 60 Work From Home Blogs and Websites.
“Making it” is the operative word, because the search is for Top 60, and they only listed 52, and I’m number 49. So yes, good of me to make it. And very grateful!
I mean, I’m not even blogging regularly. So maybe if I did, then I would have fared better? I’ll never know now. But this fuels me to blog more frequently.
I think I’m the only one from the Philippines in the list. Mostly are from the US and I saw some from Australia, Canada, the UK and Kenya . Cool!
The email asked me to put a badge on my site, just for bragging, you know. 🙂 And I’ll do that soon, when I have more time, but for now, I’m just putting it here within the post, with gratitude.
Now, if only they will send a real medal in the mail… But that’s already asking too much. 🙂
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