Whether it’s disrupting the entertainment industry or traveling the world as a digital nomad, people generally want to make a name for themselves. Some people argue that as you age, reality hits and you’ll give up on your big dreams for a standard 9-to-5 job. However, the number of self-employed Americans says otherwise. Turbo notes that 33% of the American workforce is self-employed. This proves people are blocking out disbeliever noise and taking control of their income.  

Although taking control of your income is appealing to many, possessing the confidence and skill-set to start your own business is intimidating. And rightly so. Securing your first client or group of customers is challenging. It takes patience and persistence to be a freelancer or business owner. In the beginning stages you’ll likely experience long hours, multiple rejections and little return. This limits a large number of people from taking a serious attempt at their dream job. 

Ultimately, many people give up on their dreams because of money. Some believe that risking a steady revenue flow at a 9-to-5 job isn’t worth exploring the unknown.

If you’re a dreamer who sees the long-term rewards of self-employment, it’s important to stay informed on the expenses associated with reaching your career goals. Some of the costs to be aware of fall under creating a business entity, marketing, and equipment purchases. Furthermore, compiling savings for any unexpected circumstances, like in any other career. 

Don’t let finances diminish your dreams! Educate yourself and make informed decisions. Let’s look at a few fees associated with startups or side hustles to get you started.

Website Costs

Because we live in a digital world, the internet will be your best friend. You need to market your business to people, and creating a website will probably be your first step. While there are free versions of website-building software, it’s wise to purchase a domain name. The cost associated with this is about $60. Purchasing a domain name can increase the number of people who take your business seriously, which can lead to a first client. 

Registration Fees

A common registration free for someone who’s self-employed is registering as a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship is the most basic business from which one can operate. One of the most common fees connected to this is filing for a trade name. This is especially important if you operate under a name different from your actual, legal name. Budget at least $100 for registration.

Insurance

Insurance, everyone’s favorite topic! #jkjk While this expense tends to be more costly, the protection against unexpected damages and losses is valuable in the long run. A safe budget for insurance is $500. One easy way to allocate funds to insurance is by switching to a cheaper mobile phone. Identify what sacrifices you are willing to make in order to achieve your business goals. 

Office Equipment

Purchasing office equipment isn’t necessary for everyone. You might wait to buy office supplies until revenue cash flows are consistent, or work remotely in a group workspace. Equipment costs include anything from computers to office chairs. If you need to purchase a laptop and office chair, budget for about $1,300.

Taxes

Now the best for last: taxes. You should anticipate a self-employment tax of 15.3% on top of income taxes. Tax rates do vary, so it’s important to do further research specific to what state you reside in. A starting point for taxes is $2,000. Allocate 25% of all earnings to budget for this expense.

Now that you know of five expenses to budget for, you’re more prepared to start chasing your dreams! Turbo details more statistics on the unexpected costs of self-employment and money saving hacks in this post.

Start educating yourself on the realities that lie ahead and don’t let finances discourage you! 

From the maker of TurboTax, meet Turbo: the financial health profile that shows where you truly stand – beyond the credit score.

As someone who works/interns/creates content/does-all-the-things from home, I am in complete control of my schedule, which is great, but it does come with its own set of challenges. I’ve shared some of my top productivity hacks with you in the past, but thought I’d dedicate a post to my favorite apps for staying focused and productive throughout the day.

Todoist App (mobile, desktop, browser extension)

Todoist is pretty much the end-all, be-all of productivity apps. You can create to-do lists–or lists of any sort–and organize them by date, project, label, priority, or duration. Todoist allows you to set recurring tasks and receive notifications when it’s time to shift gears, making it ideal for freelancers, imo. You can make your own list templates, or use one of the templates the Todoist team has already put together. Create sublists or subtasks, add notes–including text, images, or files–and assign tasks when working with teams. Sync with your calendar, Slack, and a whole slew of other time-tracking and productivity apps for ninja-level productivity. Todoist awards "karma" when you check things off your lists, so you can visualize your productivity and feel great about yourself (and show the world how well put-together you are). You can organize your entire life with this app, no joke. I’ve been using the Premium version for a few months and have been so impressed!

I use Todoist all three ways–on mobile, on my desktop, and via the browser extension–and the integrations are, across the board, fantastic. The apps and extension are free to download, and there is a Basic version that you can use for free, but I definitely recommend upgrading to Premium if you want to take your productivity and organization to the next level.

Download Todoist here.

Forest App (mobile, browser extension)

The Forest app, in my opinion, is almost perfect. The app is essentially a site blocker–meant to keep you focused and on-task–and when used on mobile, Forest can block apps, as well. Of course if your work is heavily based on the internet, or if you work on your phone and need access to other apps, you can whitelist the sites or apps you want to be able to use. Make sure you whitelist them before you begin your work though, or you’ll have to sacrifice your precious tree. Yes, your tree. Let me explain. What sets Forest apart from other Pomodoro focus timer apps is that while you’re working, you can grow little virtual trees and shrubs to build a lush and beautiful… wait for it… forest of productivity. Now that may seem silly, and it is. But it gets better. You earn points for every batch of productive time you spend “on” the app, and when you reach a certain number of points, you can plant a real tree in a real forest. That’s right. Forest has partnered with Trees for the Future to turn your productivity into something even more meaningful than just getting ish done.

More cool features: You can label each productive batch with the client or project you’re working on, and you can listen to ambient sounds while you work if you use the mobile app. For some reason sounds aren’t available on the browser extension, though. Boo. Also, those points I mentioned? If you’re not interested in planting a real tree, you can use your points to buy additional ambient sounds or new trees/shrubs.

The app is $1.99 and worth every cent; the browser extension is free.

Download Forest here.

Noisli App (mobile, browser extension)

Noisli is the perfect companion to the Forest browser extension. I don’t have the Noisli app on my phone, but whenever I run the Forest extension on my computer, I run the Noisli extension alongside it, because I love me some ambient noise. Noisli a lot like Forest–it’s a Pomodoro focus timer that plays ambient sounds–but you can’t earn points or build forests (real or fake). You can, however, create your own ambient sounds from Noisli’s built-in collection of tracks. You can also type within the app, which is nice for creating drafts or journaling, but I find that feature sort of cumbersome, to be honest.

To get right down to it, I only use the Noisli Chrome extension, and I only use it because Forest’s browser extension doesn’t offer sounds. That’s why I said Noisli is the perfect companion to the Forest extension. It really just comes down to preference here, and whether you’d rather have your earbuds plugged into your computer or your phone. [shrug]

The mobile app is $1.99; the browser extension is free.

Download Noisli here.

Clockify App (mobile, desktop, browser extension)

Alright. Now we’re talking dolla bills. I’ve tried a few different time tracking apps to track billable hours [freelancers, unite!] but all-in-all, Clockify has to take the cake, here. There are a ton of integrations available (Including integrations with Todoist! Ding ding!), and as with Forest, you can organize each productive batch by client or project. What really sets Clockify apart though, is that while you’re focused, on task, and being productive, you can track that time, assign a billable rate, and then export timesheets to share with your clients, along with your invoice.

There are loads of features Clockify offers which I haven’t needed to use yet, like tracking private sessions, creating branded reports, running audits, setting alerts, and bulk editing. Some of the features and the way they’re presented seem like a bit much to me (unless you’re using Clockify to track your entire company’s hours and projects), and to be honest, the interface isn’t the most user-friendly I’ve ever experienced (I prefer the simplest, sleekest, most minimal UI/UX design). I use the free desktop app and the browser extension, and for my needs, the Basic version is just about right.

Download Clockify here.

Forest + Noisli + Clockify = The Perfect App. Each of them has elements I love but are also missing key features, individually.

If I could track billable hours and listen to ambient sounds on Forest’s browser extension – perfect. (Ambient sounds are only available on the mobile app.)
If I could track billable hours; grow a real tree; and have a simple, fun, interactive member experience on Noisli – perfect.
If I could listen to ambient sounds; grow a real tree; and have a simple, fun, interactive member experience on Clockify – perfect.

Alas, I’m left with having to rotate between the three apps, or use all three at once. They’re each lovely and beneficial in their own way, but are just short of perfect as stand-alone apps.

Kiwi for Gmail App (desktop only)

Kiwi brings Gmail and the whole Google Suite onto your desktop, which will save you one, two, three million clicks. Of course saving clicks translates to saving time. With the full version you can log in with up to six accounts, which is great for those of us who have more than one Gmail address we use for personal/business purposes. My only complaint with regards to Kiwi Gmail: there’s no Grammarly integration within the app. I had gotten used to Grammarly checking my emails, so reverting back to good ol’ DIY spell-and-grammar-checking took a minute to get used to, but, you know, #firstworldproblems.

The entire Google Suite is accessible with fewer clicks too, putting your Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides right at your fingertips, and yep, your Google Cal is at-the-ready, too.

Kiwi’s full version is free to download for a limited time, and when I reached out to the team to find out when the offer would expire, I didn’t get an answer. So to be safe, if I were you, I’d jump on the offer, like, yesterday.

Download Kiwi here.

Each app I’ve listed here has helped me immensely in the past few months, as I’ve begun work as a freelancer and have dipped my toes into remote work.

These apps would be just as useful to stay-at-home or work-at-home moms though, bloggers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, photographers and other creative business owners, teachers, virtual assistants, and… everyone.

Oh, and…this post isn’t sponsored. Although I did include some affiliate links, I was not paid to share any of these recommendations with you! That’s how you know they’re good.

What are some of your favorite apps for focus and productivity?

And, while we’re on the subject, what are some of your favorite mental health and concentration apps? I might have another blog post in the works…

Let’s be honest. We don’t always get as much reading in as we wish we could. But that’s fine; life happens.

Here’s my advice, to you and to myself: Create time to read, even on the busiest of days. Put it on your calendar. Set a reminder on your phone (I do this!). Choose to read while you’re waiting for the water to boil, or while dinner’s in the oven. Decide to read instead of scrolling on your phone during your lunch break, or while you’re on the bus or in a waiting room. The point is that you don’t have to commit hours at a time – just a few minutes here and there.

That said, I didn’t get a whole lot of reading done in May, because some other things took priority (including a bit of a career shift). But I’m happy to report that I’ve sufficiently made up for May’s lack of reading with a load of finished books in June, so I’m feeling pretty good about myself and all of my grand accomplishments. [Commence back-patting.]

Let me catch you up though, because there were some doozies…

What I Read in May

Reasons to Stay Alive

Matt Haig, 4/5 Stars

Reasons to Stay Alive was brilliant, and it could be a great help to anyone currently experiencing depression or anxiety, or mental illness on any level. It’s also one to read if you’re a bit uninformed and have loved ones, friends, or colleagues who are depressives or anxious people, to better learn how to love and support them.

The author says a few times in the book–and he’s right–that the experience of depression or anxiety or whatever-it-may-be is different for everyone. There’s not only one way it looks or feels.

As I read, I had some moments of oof, I remember that feeling, but I wasn’t really ready to remember that feeling, oh, we’re talking about that again, okay, here we go. At times it was hard to read because I felt like I was being dragged back through some hard stuff that I had already come out of, and I wasn’t ready to revisit it. Talking openly about mental health is important though, so it is a healthy read, but here’s your trigger warning.

The Enneagram of Parenting

Elizabeth Wagele, 4/5 Stars

The Enneagram of Parenting: The 9 Types of Children and How to Raise Them Successfully. What a mouthful! I think this is the first parenting book I’ve ever read. I found it interesting, and the stories the author shares about each type are very insightful.

I really appreciated the author’s approach to the book. It wasn’t instructional, like do this, not that, or you’re doing it all wrong, what a terrible parent you are. Wagele obviously took great care to be sensitive in that regard. The book was surprisingly relevant too, for one that was written over twenty years ago. Enneagram-enthusiast parents, put this one on your list.

What I Read in June

The Mars Room

Rachel Kushner, 3/5 Stars

This was the selection for the next Mistyping Podcast episode. I wasn’t expecting to be completely enthralled, but even with only average expectations, the story still fell short. Overall, I think the best word to describe the book is unmoving.

The Mars Room was an easy read, and sometimes it was interesting. It wasn’t awful. If you’re someone who can plow through a book even when it’s not gripping, then this one will make a good “filler book.” That is, there’s not a lot of substance, so it’d be a good one to read in between books of greater depth. #sorrynotsorry

Millenneagram

Hannah Paasch, 2/5 Stars

[groan. eye roll.]

Millenneagram: The Enneagram Guide for Discovering Your Truest, Baddest Self. [another eye roll.] If you want the most general idea of what the Enneagram is, I guess read this book. But actually, no, don’t. And especially do not take the Enneagram test the author’s stuck in the early pages. (If you must take an Enneagram test, take this test for $12, or this one for free.)

If you’re a five, you’ll be happy to know you’re the author’s favorite type. If you’re a six, you’re also the author’s favorite! In fact–congrats!–each type is the author’s favorite type!

Somehow though, every type–even with wings and subtypes taken into consideration–is made to sound annoying and high-maintenance. We’ve all got issues, of course, but the author seemed to find it necessary to describe the worst, struggling-est versions of ourselves, trying her best to make it sound relatable and relevant, but instead just making me want to throw the book into a fire and never interact with anyone, ever again (I’m a five, for reference).

Even though there was the occasional good line or punch to the gut, it was hard to navigate between the complete trucker-mouth writing style. I mean, I don’t get as offended by profanities as some people (for shame!), and I’ve been known to use choice words now and again [gasp!], but this was next level. The author was swearing just for the sake of swearing, as if she were trying to prove a point. Or, maybe there was a word quota she was trying to meet!? Not a paragraph went by without the mention of b****, f***, or another colorful word, not to mention the over-usage of boo and honey, and sweet baby ones, sweet baby twos, sweet baby threes, etc., which just makes me gag. This book is armchair psychology at its worst.

Besides poor language choice and missing the mark on what “writing with voice” actually means, there were some other offensive bits here and there. One in particular was a joke (?) which referenced a type eight possibly being shot at in traffic. That’s not funny.

Please do not read this book if you’re actually trying to use the Enneagram as a tool for growth or whatever.

Again, #sorrynotsorry. Only honest reviews, here.

A Feast for Crows

George R R Martin, 4/5 Stars

What a relief. A good book!

The fourth in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Feast for Crows focuses on only half of the series’ characters. I wondered where some of the characters were, and figured they’d show up at some point, but they never did. There was mention of them, but they weren’t really featured in the story. At the end of the book, Martin explains that the transcript or draft was too long for just one book, so instead of too-heavy editing and cuts, he split it into two books.

This means that books four and five of the series are technically Book Four Part One and Book Four Part Two. If you watched the series on television, it’s actually quite different at this point in the story, which is probably because of how in-depth Martin goes in books four and five, and I don’t really know how I feel about that. The show was incredible, no doubt, but the books (as usual) are better.

Rampage

Harold Schechter, 4/5 Stars

I started reading Bloodlands, a true crime collection by Harold Schechter, as filler – that is, easy reading to take a break after finishing A Feast for Crows. I was pleasantly surprised by how well put-together each of the Bloodlands stories are! The author clearly did his homework.

Rampage tells the true story of Howard Unruh, the “Father of Modern Mass Murder.” It’s a disturbing story, to say the least, but also really fascinating. (What goes on in some people’s minds!?) Basically, Unruh is mad at everyone for being mean to him, so he decides the best course of action is to go around shooting anyone who bothers him. Some questions are brought up about PTSD and gun control – it’s a really interesting read; even though it’s sad, it’s a thinker. Read it.

The Pirate

Harold Schechter, 3/5 Stars

Another story from the Bloodlands collection, The Pirate tells the true story of Albert W Hicks, a stand up guy who made a hobby of killing people and getting away with it. He joined the crew of a ship, they all sailed out to do some crabbing or whatever, then at night, Hicks murdered the crew on board and stole their stuff. He got rid of the bodies by throwing them into the sea, and the bodies were never recovered. No bodies equals no murder, right? So, he was tried as a pirate instead, and was found guilty.

The most exciting part is that some people thought his hanging was a conspiracy for some reason, and swore up and down about having seen Hicks–in a sort of Frankenstein fashion–after he’d supposedly died.

The Brick Slayer

Harold Schechter, 4/5 Stars

The Brick Slayer tells the true story of Robert Nixon, a teenager in Chicago who was found guilty of going around and bashing women’s heads with a brick. But was he guilty, really? There was quite a bit of debate on that. Nixon, an African American kid, was beaten and tortured by the officers who arrested him, and was convicted by an all-white jury. Racial tensions and disgusting slurs ran amuck, especially in the press.

The story ends by noting that once Nixon was arrested, the murders stopped, so maybe he did it, after all.

Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie

Harold Schechter, 4/5 Stars

Is it weird to say that this was fun to read? The book tells the true story of the Bender family, who happened to be neighbors to the Laura Ingalls Wilder bunch. The Bender family were a group of creeps though (think the Sawyer family of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre saga, maybe minus the cannibalism). Basically, the Benders set up their crappy little cabin as an inn and grocery store, and almost everyone who stopped there got bopped over the head and had their throats slit.

The family was sick, to put it simply, but at least they had something to bond over. Some versions of the story say the Benders got away in the end, but other versions say the two women–the mother and daughter–were found, but never convicted.

What I’m Reading Now

A Dance with Dragons

George R R Martin

Great so far!

Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Doug Calhoun, Clare Loughrige, Scott Loughrige

Also great so far!

What are you reading now?

ICYMI: The Mistyping Podcast (For Book Nerds and Enneagram Nuts)

Mistyping: Breaking the Rules of the Enneagram is a podcast for book nerds and Enneagram nuts. Using my knowledge of the Enneagram–which is enthusiastic at best–and my general book-nerdiness, I’m attempting to type fictional characters from my current reads. Listen here and check out the new blog.

Remote work has been steadily increasing, with 70% of people around the world working at least one day a week from home. Still, that’s another several days where you’re bound to a desk. Fortunately, a growing group of people known as digital nomads have begun bucking the trend, working anywhere, all the time.

What’s a Digital Nomad?

To put it simply, a digital nomad is any person that works remotely while traveling. It may look like these nomads are on an eternal vacation, but they are working. Many of them have blogs they run full-time, or work as writers, marketers, and so on.

This lifestyle might sound like a total pipedream, possible only for a small percentage of people. Surprisingly, 4.8 million Americans identify as digital nomads, working on the go. That number is likely to continue growing, especially with so many people working remotely. (And more joining their ranks!)

Becoming a Digital Nomad

Before you quit your job and run toward the nearest beach with a laptop, there are some things you need to do in preparation for your nomadic life, and some best practices to follow once on the move.

Cut Spending and Save

While you won’t have the usual living expenses that come with renting an apartment, you will have travel expenses, a higher restaurant bill (most likely), and some general living expenses.

In preparation for your nomad life, cut down where you can. If you don’t need those five extra streaming services, cut them. Do you really need unlimited data on your cell plan? Cut that down to a reasonable number. (Your phone settings has a data usage area that you can use to gauge how much you need.)

If you eat out a lot, cut back there as well. Groceries are almost always cheaper than fast food, so find some simple meals you enjoy and stick with them while you save up for your trip. Also, if you own a house, consider turning all or some of it into an Airbnb space to earn some extra cash while you’re gone. (Those mortgage payments will keep on coming regardless of if you’re there!)

Digitize Your Business

It’s likely you’re already plugged into numerous clouds, but just in case, make sure you have all your important documents uploaded in a secure place. If you do any kind of doc editing, start using a cloud-based service like the Google suite rather than a local one like Office.

If your job isn’t digital yet, talk to your manager about going remote. If they’re opposed to the idea, make sure you secure plenty of remote work ahead of time. You don’t want to wind up in another country without a job and no money to get back home.

Have a Nomad Crew

Many digital nomads travel on their own, but that doesn’t mean they’re alone. Join an online community for nomads, of which there are many. These can be a great way to network, meet up with other nomads, exchange tips, share destinations, and so on. Life on the road can get lonely, but the right community can change all of that.

Create a Budget

Even if you’re fortunate enough to have a full-time remote job, you’ll still want a tight budget when traveling abroad. You never know when unexpected expenses will arise, like having to fly back home for an emergency or replace a piece of broken tech. Sticking to a tight budget will ensure you always have some emergency money set aside.

Schedule EVERYTHING

Once you’ve started your digital nomad life, it can be easy to let time get away from you. While it may not sound like fun at first, scheduling everything will help you get the most out of your nomad lifestyle.

Plan out your work days, your off days for play, and everything in between. This can ensure you hit work deadlines and get the most out of your time in a new setting, rather than aimlessly wander until it’s time to move on.

Embracing Your Nomad Life

No two journeys are ever the same, but the above tips will help get you on the right path toward becoming a digital nomad. If you’re eager to get started, that’s totally understandable, but take your time. There’s no rush to start your life on the move, so do things properly and make sure you have plenty saved up for any unexpected expenses!

To further help you along on your journey, Bestow has created this infographic on becoming a digital nomad.

Bestow is a smarter approach to life insurance using big data and technology to bring simple and affordable coverage to everyone.

Of course, being flexible is obviously a necessary characteristic of a remote-worker, but if you don’t respect your own boundaries, things will get out of hand.

When you’re working remotely without a strategic plan in place, you risk spending more time working, and less time living the life of your dreams.

Here are some scheduling and productivity tips for the remote-worker or freelancer-to-be, so you can skip the headache and start strong right from the get-go.

9 Productivity Hacks

1. Use a block schedule. Break your days into chunks of time that are each dedicated to a different project or client. It helps to schedule these blocks in your Google calendar (or iCal or whatever it is you’re using) so you can set a reminder for yourself when it’s time to switch gears.

2. Manage your tasks like a boss with these free printable worksheets. They’ll help with your block schedule set-up, in fact.

   How to Use the Worksheets:
   First, dump your to-do list from your brain onto paper by placing each task into one of three categories: Very Important, Important, or Get It Done.
   Then, move each item from the Very Important category onto the next worksheet, where you’ll categorize each task by its frequency: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. Once you’ve moved the Very Important Tasks, do the same with the Important and Get It Done tasks.
   Finally, use the calendar worksheet to put together a block schedule based on the importance and frequency of your tasks. Tip: Use pencil.

3. Move your tasks into the Todoist app to take your productivity to the next level. You can sync the app with your calendar, and share projects with clients or team members, making this the ultimate app for freelancers.

4. Schedule breaks. Include at least one 10- or 15-minute break, and at least 30 minutes for lunch. And take your breaks away from your desk. Move to another room (the kitchen, for example, so you don’t forget to eat!).

5. Use the Forest app to help prevent mindless scrolling. Set a timer for how long you need to focus, select some ambient noise if that’s your thing, turn your screen off, and get to work. The app is sleek, simple, and will make you select a button that says “I give up” if you leave the app when you’re supposed to be working.

6. Keep a bottle of water and some healthy brain food at your desk to maintain energy levels. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, drink an 8oz glass of water for every cuppa. Some healthy snack ideas are a dried fruit-and-nut mix, fresh blueberries, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, oranges or clementines, and bananas.

7. Diffuse essential oils to help you focus. Some of my favorite oils for focus and energy are Peppermint, Rosemary, Citrus Fresh, Valor, En-R-Gee, and Clarity. Learn more about essential oils by clicking here.

8. Use the Fabulous app to build healthier lifestyle habits. Custom “journeys” and challenges will help with your productivity and so much more.

9. Keep your desk tidy. Read this article from Cleverism to learn how a messy or untidy desk can impact your productivity and creativity.

Finally, know your limits. I’ll say it again: without a strategic plan in place, you risk spending more time working, and less time living the life of your dreams.

You will need to say “no” to some things in order to set and respect your own boundaries.

As I said in this post, if you’re not prepared for the challenges of working remotely, the challenges will turn into great big hurdles.

But it is possible to work from home without losing your mind and isolating yourself from the rest of humanity.

Save this post to reference later, when you feel like you’re losing control of your to-do list. And download your free productivity worksheets now, so you can start managing your tasks like the boss you are!

There’s no doubt that hiring remote workers has its benefits. For example, remote workers don’t have to commute. They don’t spend precious company time getting caught up in water cooler gossip. They only bill you for hours they actually work. To help you get more mileage out of remote workers and make sure they have the right tools to stay on task, here is a list of the best time and task management apps for 2019 for remote workers.

But it’s not a fantasy. As a matter of fact, the Digital Nomad Life is as real as the office chair you’re sitting on.

As you sit there reading this article though, imagining how much easier life would be if you could work remotely, I’m here to tell you that it’s not as easy or as glamorous as it may seem.

I’m not a Digital Nomad in the nomadic sense of the term, but I’ve been working remotely, from home, since 2012. Yes, sometimes even from a fancy European café. And while I continue to swear up and down that I’ll never go back to a desk job, there actually are some perks to the 9-5.

So in case you feel like you’ve drawn the short straw, working for Desk Job America, Inc., consider these built-in advantages of your 9-5 before you quit your job for the Digital Nomad Life.

Some Advantages of a 9-5 Job:

1. There’s usually an existing action plan for each project; you know what to do, and when to do it.

2. You have set working hours every day, and are required by law to take breaks.

3. If you’re still in the middle of a project or task when your shift ends, you save your progress, and the work gets left at the office until tomorrow’s shift begins. In other words, there’s a very clear line separating your work from home life.

4. You’re not alone. It’s weird for me to write this because I prefer very much to work independently, but I do sometimes miss casual office banter. (While staying on task, of course!)

See? Things aren’t so bad for you, after all. [wink, wink]

Now let’s look at a remote-worker’s situation in comparison.

Some Challenges of Working from Home:

1. You must be able to prioritize and handle many projects and tasks, sometimes from more than one client at a time. If you’re not a time-management whiz, remote work isn’t for you.

2. You set your own hours, but they may change day-to-day depending on what else is going on in your life, and because your clients are probably in a completely different time-zone. You will forget to eat.

3. You’re not working in shifts. Even if you’re working on a block schedule (which I recommend), and have assigned specific chunks of time for each project, it is difficult to respect your own boundaries. You’re already working from home, so the separation between work and home life is hard to define. Your family and social life may suffer if you’re not intentional about defining your schedule.

4. You’re quite alone. There are work hubs and shared office spaces available for a price, if you need to work “with” people. But if you’re like me, and prefer to work at home, independently and without distraction, it will get lonely. (Insider Tip: Get yourself a couple of cats or dogs to keep you company.)

If you’re not prepared for the challenges of working remotely, the challenges will turn into great big hurdles.

But don’t lose hope. It is possible to have a remote job, or to work from home, or to become a full-fledged Digital Nomad, without losing your mind and isolating yourself from the rest of humanity.

In my next post I’m going to share some of my favorite productivity hacks to keep me on task with clearly-set boundaries, and I’ll show you how to create a comfortable work-and-life balance for yourself and your family.

Are you a remote worker, or freelancer, or a Digital Nomad? What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, that you never considered when you had a “normal” job?

I didn’t get quite as much reading in as I wanted to over the past month because I’ve started taking some online classes, I’m hosting a nerdy podcast now (more on that later), and because #momlife, but that’s okay. I think I can still reach my goal of reading 52 books in 2019.

In my bookish blog post for April, I mentioned two books that I was nearly finished with but hadn’t quite completed yet. I actually did end up finishing both of them before the post published, so they technically count as March reads, but I’ll give you my two cents on them here anyway, along with what I read in April.

March Reads Catch-Up

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, 5/5 stars. (Reread.)

One of my favorite stories of all time, and winner for Best Literary Couple (an award I just made up), this is a must-read, in my opinion. Moms of girls, get this book in your daughters’ hands as soon as possible – Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine your daughter needs in her life. And there is no fictional character more worthy of a crush than our dearest Mr Darcy (besides the 1992 cartoon Aladdin, says 8-year-old me). P&P averages 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin, 5/5 stars.

My, my, my, Mr Martin, you really outdid yourself with this one. A Storm of Swords (third in the A Song of Ice and Fire series) was so good the whole way through. The book is 1177 pages long and not a word is wasted. I almost enjoyed this one more than the first of the series… I’ll need to think on that, though. I’m not alone – A Storm of Swords averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

April Reads

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker, 5/5 stars.

This book was beautifully written, and really touching. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster, feeling sympathy then shame then anger then sadness then joy and around and around again. I kind of like having only a vague idea of a storyline before I begin reading (spoilers are for suckers), so a lot of the story took me completely by surprise, in the best of ways. I very highly recommend this one to fans of historical fiction, à la The Book Thief and All the Light We Cannot See. The Ragged Edge of Night averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, 4/5 stars.

Well. This one also took me by surprise. I could have sworn I’d read Northanger Abbey before, but I must have been skimming the first time, or was too immature to catch the style and understand the satirical elements. Either way, it was as if I were reading it for the first time, this time. I connected on such a level with the main character, Catherine, that I was “moved” to start the nerdiest podcast ever. (More on that below. ↴) Northanger Abbey isn’t the best of Jane Austen’s works (it was published posthumously, btw), but it’s a classic, to be sure. The book averages just about 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, 4/5 stars.

This book was really inspiring and engaging. If you’re a teacher or a parent, or really anyone who has any influence on children, please read this book. I’d also recommend it to people in management positions or leadership roles. If you have an analytical mind and are fascinated by cultural differences, and what really sets people apart, you’re going to find this book very interesting. Outliers averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

The World of Lore: Dreadful Places by Aaron Mahnke, 4/5 stars.

The third in Aaron Mahnke’s series of books based on his podcast, Lore, I found Dreadful Places to be the most enjoyable. I rated the other two books 4/5 as well, but if I could give partial stars I’d give this one a bit of an edge over the other two. Just a bit. These books took me back to my childhood days of staying up late and hiding under my covers to read Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by flashlight. Dreadful Places averages about 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Reading in May

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

The Possession of Mr Cave by Matt Haig

A Feast for Crows by George R R Martin

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig (I meant to get to this one in April but it didn’t happen)

The Mistyping Podcast (For Book Nerds and Enneagram Nuts)

It wasn’t my first time attempting to type fictional characters on the Enneagram, but for some reason as I read Northanger Abbey it occurred to me just how much fun I was having. (And you thought reading books couldn’t be any more fun than it already is!) In fact, it was so much fun that I decided to start a podcast dedicated to the idea of “mistyping” fictional characters on the Enneagram.

Mistyping: Breaking the Rules of the Enneagram is the podcast for book nerds and Enneagram nuts. I’m not going to try to schedule episodes or anything, but will just upload episodes as I go so it’s more natural and so I don’t feel forced to read at a pace that I’m not comfortable with. The first book, Northanger Abbey, was split into two episodes so I could process my theories midway, and then again at the end. Click here to listen.

Let’s make it a book club!

Thanks for hanging out with me here! Until next time… what’s on your to-read list?

There's a lot I still have yet to learn, but I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the things I've learned so far on this #plantmom journey, and to give you a little photo tour of my greenhouse. Um, I mean my apartment.

Before we begin, here's my disclaimer, and a story of hope for you, if you think you're a no-good-plant-murderer:

I started as a complete newb. I couldn't keep anything alive – not even the succulents and cacti that Instagram would have us all believe are the easiest living things to care for. First of all, I am here to tell you that that is a lie from the devil, and when you feel like a loser because you can't keep your succulent alive, you need to put your foot down and say "not today, Satan," because succulents are not immortal.

But after killing several succulents and cacti, and even a couple of leafy plants that in theory should have been easy enough to take care of, which my plant-expert-friend gave me, did I give up? NO. I did not give up. [Cue the motivational music.]

My friend didn't give up on me, either. She was sympathetic and encouraging, and the next time she came to visit she brought me another plant – what I believe to be Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) (how quaint. and ironic.). I showed her where I wanted to keep it – in my kitchen, near the sink – and she confirmed that it would be the perfect spot. She showed me how much water to give it (which was way more than I would have given it if left to my own devices), and told me to water it every week or so.

After some more encouragement and advice from my friend, I was even more determined to keep more plants alive, so went to a local nursery and picked up a small collection: my original #plantfam. That day, I brought home a Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), a Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia), a Wolverine Hosta (yes, for indoors!, because I know nothing), and a Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina). I also picked up a hot pink Bromeliad from a grocery store. I won't go into the order of the rest of the plants I've gotten since then, but I'll say this: except for the Bromeliad (because she lived her hot pink life, produced babies, then died a beautiful death), all the original clan are still alive and well, and are very near and dear to my heart.

Now as I said, there has been the occasional plant memorial service in the past year, because I'm still learning and sometimes buy the wrong plant, but I can say that I'm more-or-less a successful plant mom, at this point. So, how did I do it?

It's simple.

What I've Learned in My First Year as a Plant Mom

Things to Consider

What's the Sitch? Notice in the above paragraph, I said I "sometimes buy the wrong plant." What I mean is that I've gotten smarter about which plants will work in our home, whether it's because of how our apartment is situated, or because I know I don't have the ideal conditions for a particular plant to thrive. Also, we have two cats now, and a lot of plants don't do well with curious cats (and vice versa). I do a lot of speed-googling while I plant shop, and never buy unless I'm sure the plant is going to be okay in our home.

Where are Your Windows? We have two windows facing NW and three windows facing NE. The NW windows are killers; however, I can assume that most plants I buy will be more or less okay if I place them in the rooms with the NE-facing windows. Some of the plants like a bit of direct sunlight now and then, but most of them like indirect sunlight, which means the curtains are closed in the mornings until the sun has risen a bit higher. (We have a thin, cream-colored curtain that allows light in, but still blocks the sun, so that's the one I'm referring to. We don't live in a cave.)

Does Your Plant Need a Friend? This was something I learned by accident. Some leafier plants need quite a bit of humidity, and one way to increase humidity is to place a few plants together! Also consider the opposite (desert plants don't need a lot of friends/humidity), and consider the types of plants you're arranging together. One way to determine which plants will make good life partners is to notice what types of plants are placed together at the nursery you buy from. For instance, when I bought my Spider Plant, Wandering Jew, and Hosta, they were near each other at the nursery. They've been near each other ever since, and love life. Even when I propagate and plant new Spider Plants and Wandering Jews, I tend to place them together so they can grow up as buddies and pals.

Humidity is a Factor. Alright so I mentioned above that one way to increase humidity is to place plants together, but there are some other ways you can get more of a handle on the situation. Three other ways I increase humidity are to run a diffuser/humidifier pretty much all-the-live-long-day, to mist (most of) my plants about once a week, and I've even tried placing the more humid-loving plants near our bathroom door. Let's talk about it.

Diffusers/Humidifers. As for the diffusers/humidifiers, we actually have four of them in our home, because they're good for our health, as human beings. The one in our living room is the one that's usually going most often, which is where we spend most of our time as a family, and which happens to be the room with the most plants. I've tried experimenting to see if any of the plants grow more or less depending on which essential oils I choose to diffuse, but I haven't noticed a huge difference. They seem to love the diffuser/humidifier in general, and, like me, love all the oils. I will say that the two plants nearest the diffuser do seem to grow at a more rapid rate than any of the other plants in the room.

Misting. Some of the leafier, tropical plants need more attention, so I mist them about once a week (between waterings) with a DIY plant mist. Bugs tend to hate Peppermint and Citronella, and cats don't like citrus (we don't want our cats chewing on the plants), so I usually make a mixture using Peppermint, Citronella, and Orange or Lemon essential oils. I've also used Peppermint and Purification essential oils. So once you've chosen your essential oils, add the oils and some distilled water to a glass spray bottle, and mist your plants about once a week.

Misting Tips:

• Make sure the essential oils you're using are completely pure. If they contain even a trace of synthetics, this could damage your plant. If you're not sure, it's better to leave the essential oils out of it and mist with straight water. I only use Young Living's essential oils. Here's why.

• Don't use mineral water – the plants don't need added minerals because they're getting the minerals they need from their soil and from their waterings. Also, if you're misting their leaves, mineral water could leave spots. You can find distilled water pretty much anywhere. Look in the laundry detergent section or household cleaning section at your local store.

• Assuming you're using pure essential oils in your misting spray, be sure to use a glass or stainless steel spray bottle. Pure essential oils will erode synthetic materials (this is a good thing, they're doing their job); you don't want to be spraying traces of plastic onto your beautiful plants!

Placement. Bathrooms get pretty humid. Sometimes a bit too humid if they don't have proper ventilation (major eye roll at the people who designed and built our apartment building). That said, if a bathroom has proper ventilation and a decent amount of natural light, it can make a brilliant home for some plants. (Ferns, for example.) Since our bathroom gets zero natural light because it doesn't have a window, I've placed a couple of plants in the hallway so they can feel some of the humidity that bursts through the door after a shower or bath, and can get some light from the windows in our bedrooms, at the ends of the hallway.

To Water or Not to Water? I've read and heard from different sources that having a watering schedule is good and helpful, and that having a watering schedule is a bad idea, because you may tend to over-water. So, I do both. Let me explain… Every Monday, I check the soil of each of my plants. (That's the "schedule" part.) I use the Knuckle Test or Knuckle Method. Sounds weird, I know, but for the past year it's worked for me. All I do is I go around to each plant and stick my finger in the soil, up to my second knuckle. That's about an inch and a half deep. If the soil is dry, I give it a good watering, and if it's still damp, I leave it alone until the next week. (That's the "no schedule" part, kind of, because I leave it up to the plant. I don't give them water every week unless they need it.) And that's it! In my experience it's much better to under-water than it is to over-water, so waiting a week for the damp soil to dry out has been working fine. Of course, I've gotten to know my plants better and have been learning as I go, so there are some adjustments I make here and there on the watering front; there are some plants that are thirsty all the time, and some who are good with being ignored for long periods of time. So check the soil before you water, consider the type of plant it is, and always, when in doubt, ask the plant experts (often found on Google).

Consider Your Source. This is something else I learned by accident. I won't get too snooty because every shop is different, but be aware of where you're purchasing your plants from. As you shop, notice where the plants are placed in the nursery or store, check their soil, check under their leaves for spots/mites/other random "flaws," and consider where you are, for a second. Are you at a nursery or home store? Are you at a furniture or department store? A grocery store? Is there someone on staff there whose main job is to care for the plants that the store is selling? – does someone on staff have a clue about how to care for plants? This isn't to inflate your ego (or mine). Just think – what if you have a question about a plant as you shop, but can't Google it on the spot or want a real human to help you out… is there going to be someone there who you'll be able to trust to give you good advice? I've learned the hard way not to buy living things from certain stores. Unfortunately, one of the only ways to learn where not to shop from is by experience.

It's the Circle of Life. (And it moves us all.) Finally, remember that plants are living things. They live in cycles, like we humans do. They grow things, they lose things, they flourish, and they rest. They also die. For instance, when one of your plants has yellowing or browning leaves, it could mean a handful of different things. It doesn't always mean that it's "on its way out." Take the initiative to do a little research on the plant that seems troubled, and consider where you have it placed, how often you've been watering it, how much humidity it's exposed to, etc. Check for bugs. Inspect its soil every once in a while too, and decide whether you need to fertilize it. With a little extra care, you might be able to save the plant. Or, you might not. And that's okay, too.

A Note on Yellow/Brown Leaves. The good news is that the plant may be dropping leaves to make room for new growth (this lesson is brought to you by my Dumb Cane). So, when you have yellowing or browning leaves, don't cut them off right away. Some plants feed off of the nutrients of their dying leaves, so it may be best to leave the ugly leaves on the plant until they're nice and crispy (when you know all the life has been drained out of them). Again though, the trick is to determine why the leaf is browning in the first place – is it just the circle of life, or is the plant not feeling alright? If the browning leaf is sick in some way, it's best to cut it off ASAP so the sickness doesn't spread to the other, healthy leaves.

That concludes the list of what I've learned in my first year as a plant mom. There are way too many aspects of a plant's circle of life for me to cover here though, and of course there are many factors, I'm sure, that I haven't even considered yet, as new to this as I am. So the best advice I can give you, in the end, is to Google, Google, Google, research, research, research, and ask your resident plant expert (that's not me, fyi). It is in your power to learn all you can about the plants that you have to be the best plant parent you can be. And remember, each plant is unique in its own way, so not all "rules" will apply to every plant.

You can do this. If you want to be a plant mom, you can be a plant mom.

Now, for the photo tour of our home. Not pictured are my Monstera, who's out in the apartment stairwell; my Orchid, who's "resting" (is a pile of brambles); and the plants and flowers in our window box.

The Living Room

The Kitchen

The Bedroom and Hallway

Annnnd, that's the fam! I'm so happy with my little plant family – we've been through so much together.

I hope this post has been encouraging and even a little helpful, and if nothing else, that you were able to enjoy some planty eye-candy.

What plants are on your plant fam wish list?

I have always been an avid reader, but had never really set “reading goals” for myself until last year. I didn’t have any sort of tracking method until the latter part of the year though; I think I just barely fell short of my 2018 goal, but there’s no way to tell, really. So, I’m making it a little more official this year by putting my Goodreads account to use, and by manually tracking my completed books each month in my bullet journal. My goal is to read at least 52 books in 2019, and I thought now would be as good a time as any to catch you up on how that’s been going for me. My intention is to update you each month too, on my monthly reads (hence the clever title of this post, heh).

Before we look at the current month though, let me bring you up to speed.

Read in January

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, 3/5 stars.

I mean, it was okay. It was entertaining, so it served its purpose, I suppose. I'm in the minority though on this one – it averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

A Clash of Kings by George R R Martin, 4/5 stars.

My fifth star carries a lot of weight. If I wasn't so weird about my fifth star, this book would probably have gotten it. It's the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and it was intense, to say the least. It averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Vitality: The Young Living Lifestyle by Jen O'Sullivan, 4/5 stars.

For what this book is, it's written and put together really well. It's a perfect book for anyone who's interested in learning more about what essential oils can do for your body, and how they work in your systems. There are expert tips and advice throughout as well, and the author is one of the few "authorities" on the subject whom I actually trust. The book averages about 5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Read in February

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig, 5/5 stars. (Reread.)

I read this book out loud to our boys during the Christmas season of 2017 and again this past Christmas season (2018), but this time it took us until February 2019 to finish it. Oops. It's a charming, witty story with a lot of hidden life lessons thrown in. It's definitely worth the time and sore throat you'll get from reading aloud every year. It averages about 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Come Matter Here by Hannah Brencher, 3/5 stars.

Look. Listen. I am not typically a fan of books written by Christian women for Christian women. More often than not, I'm unable to connect or relate to the author's experience or story, and/or I feel like the author's voice is inauthentic; I don't appreciate fluff and "Christianese." This book started off really strong for me, and I was hopeful, but it lost its steam somewhere towards the middle and I was never able to get back into it. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars because I really respect the author and appreciated the vulnerability and truth in her writing, but it fell short for me overall. This is another one I'm in the minority on – it averages about 5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, 4/5 stars. (Reread.)

It's not my favorite Austen book, but it is so witty and such a pleasure to read, and I had fun trying to guess each character's Enneagram number as I read. Sense and Sensibility averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson, 3/5 stars.

This book was really cute, but not nearly as cute as its predecessor, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. which got an easy 5/5 stars from me. Jonas Jonasson’s writing style is bold, relevant, and a lot of fun, and he’s become one of my new favorite authors. The Accidental Adventures averages about 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 5/5 stars. (Reread.)

I think I might make The Alchemist a yearly read. This was my third time reading it, and it hasn’t failed to inspire me once. It’s so good. And I’m not the only one who thinks so – The Alchemist averages 4-5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor, 3/5 stars.

Yikes. I appreciated the writing style, and I enjoyed the suspense of each story as I read; I completely understand that the author was way ahead of her time and was incredibly bold to write how and what she wrote (especially as a woman (gasp!), and a Catholic woman in the bible belt of America in the ‘50s, no less), but you have to admit that the stories in this collection are not timeless, and for that reason I can’t give it more than 3 stars. Sorry. Maybe I’m not alone; this collection of short stories averages 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Read in March

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, 5/5 stars.

What. A. Treat. After rereading A Boy Called Christmas and loving it all over again, it hit me that Matt Haig doesn't only write children's books. I happened to find How to Stop Time at a local bookstore and bought it thinking it'd make a good airplane read. It was so good. It was witty, perceptive, and unlike anything I've ever read before. If you or someone you love struggles with anxiety, you'll appreciate the author's insights throughout the story. It's written brilliantly and has a sort of peace about it. How to Stop Time averages about 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils by Carolyn L Mein, 3/5 stars.

It was alright. For what the book is, it serves its purpose. I didn't expect to be blown away by this one, anyway. It was informative – I did learn quite a bit – but it was also very, very dated. Others have evidently been slightly more impressed – the book averages about 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon.

Since I’m usually reading at least two books at a time, some books take longer to read than others. I used to never read more than one book at a time, but I've found it to be so much more enjoyable now, especially if I'm reading a particularly long book and just can't wait to start another story. As long as I keep the genres different between the books I'm reading, and especially when I throw a non-fiction book in, I never mix up the storylines and haven't gotten confused or lost… yet.

So that being said, here's my lineup for April. Two of the books are nearly finished already, and I was really tempted to slip them onto the list for March, but I'm not here to lie. They'll be finished probably within the first couple of days of April, if I haven't finished them already by the time this post is published.

Reading in April

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)

A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

If you've read any of the books in my April lineup, let me know how many stars (out of 5) you'd rate them! I can tell you already that Pride and Prejudice is a 5-star book for me, and since I'm nearly finished with A Storm of Swords I can say with some confidence that it'll get 5 stars from me, too.

One last thing. Another fun habit I've started in my bullet journal is to log my favorite quotes from books I read. As I read in a "real" book, I'll just take a snapshot of quotes with my phone, and will then log the quotes into my journal later. And as I read on my Kindle,  I'll highlight the quotes I like, then log them later as well.

I only started logging quotes in March, so the journal isn't quite as full as it could be, but I think it will be a lot of fun to go back through the quotes later (and often), to sort of re-inspire myself.

What are you reading in April?

This isn't an ad or a sponsored post for the store; I just have a major retail-crush on Søstrene Grene and was so excited when I learned that it would be opening up just a few blocks from our building. If you're unfamiliar with it, Søstrene Grene is a hygge, diy, minimalist, aesthetics-junkie's dream store. Especially on a budget. (It's true. The prices are phenomenal.)

Anyway. 

I went into the store to pick up a few small things to send in care packages to some friends of mine. While I was browsing and trying on some reading glasses, I noticed that someone had left a kids' item in a random spot – either they'd changed their minds about buying it and didn't bother putting it back (yes, I've been guilty of this), or they'd set it down to look at something else and then forgot to pick it up again. Either way, there it was – a little cloth bag with a tic-tac-toe board on it, including six little animal-faced wooden discs.

I decided it would make a great stocking stuffer for our four-year-old, so added it to my stash. Then it hit me: this bag needed to be filled with things to keep my boys busy. When we're at a restaurant. When we're in a waiting room. When we're on a train, a plane, or when we're just bored at home. The bag was small, so I'd have to choose the items carefully. I walked back to the kids' section and it was almost too easy: 

A mini-pack of colored pencils. Should I get two? Nah, they can share. Check. Two mini coloring books. Check. Two blank notebooks. Oh, these are so cute. Check. And the bag itself is a game, so… oh wait, let's throw in some bandaids. Or should I find some stickers? No the bandaids are more functional. And we never have bandaids when we need them. Okay good, we're done. The bag is small; don't overdo it.

I grabbed a few other small items I needed to make up the care packages I was shopping for, and then I got outta there. Everything was so cheap. I made out like a bandit. (And I resisted picking out a cloth bag for myself at the register. I have a cloth bag addiction so fighting that urge was a big step for me. Thank you.)

When I got home and put it all together, I realized I was missing just one thing to make up the perfect busy bag/travel pouch for my boys – essential oils. We don't go anywhere without them anyway; now they'll just be living in a different spot in my mom bag. TummyGize, SniffleEase, and Lavender had already been hanging out in a cute little elephant pouch (surprise! from the same store!) that I always keep in my purse, so I just transferred it to the busy bag.

And, done.

I love to travel, but let's admit it, moms… traveling with young kids does take some of the fun out of the whole experience, on occasion. Now I'm actually excited for the next time we find ourselves twiddling our thumbs, begging for a new app on the iPad, or whining about how bored we are on a train ride… to France, maybe? Italy? (Just throwing some suggestions out there.) Or even for the next time we're stuck in a waiting room or are ever-so-impatiently awaiting a meal at a restaurant. Whatever it is, when the time comes, I'll be armed and ready with this cute little busy bag to shove in the boys' faces, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Voilà.

Then my husband and I will roll a little bit of Stress Away on ourselves (because obviously I bring that with me everywhere I go, too), we'll sit back, give each other smug, satisfied looks, and together we'll all ride off into the sunset.

(Veteran moms, don't you DARE burst my bubble.)

If you've got a busy bag for your kids, what sort of things do you keep in it? Do you switch the contents out often to keep things interesting? I'm thinking maybe a hot wheel or two, or a couple of mini dinosaur figures might make their way into our bag at some point.

Experienced oilers: what is the ONE OIL you cannot leave home without?

Share your ideas in the comments!

A little about me: I'm a lifestyle blogger over at Typically Jane where I talk about all things home, my love of fashion, life in the Pacific Northwest, and recipes. By day, I have the best job in the world, a Real Estate Broker, so I get to help awesome people buy or sell their homes. I live in beautiful Washington state (close to where Tawni is from, actually!) with my boyfriend Tom who I lovingly refer to as The Handsome Hunk, and our three rescue dogs. Between his work schedule in the Navy, a house full of dogs, and our active lifestyle, things are always a little crazy, but, that's also the way we like it! Date night is my favorite night of the week, I'm a sucker for a good dad joke, and if you're wondering more about our life, start here.

If you're around the blog, stop by and say hi! Or find me on Instagram, like all the dang time, where I religiously post little snippets of our lives like our trip to St. Augustine last week, or one of the many festivals we go to.

I'm so grateful to Tawni for sharing her love of essential oils on her blog. I was a little hesitant at first, because that's my nature. I need proof something works. But, I decided to give it a try and I haven't looked back. I drank the Kool-Aid y'all! Now I'm a big essential oil believer. I use them to rid my home of that dreaded dog smell, help us sleep, as part of my skincare routine, a healthier alternative to conventional cleaning products, and more!

I was perusing the Young Living blog and found their recipe section with ideas ranging from ice cream with lavender oil to soups with black pepper oil. How fun is that?! Previously, I had done a drop of lemon essential oil in my water, but nothing more than that. The idea of using these healthy oils in food totally opened up a new door for me. I immediately went to the drawing board and started thinking up what my first essential oil recipe would be. Since fall just began, it was a natural fit to come up with a quick and easy essential oil cider recipe!

Apple cider is phenomenal, but it takes hours to make it by scratch. It seems like everyone's lives are so much busier these days, and while I wish I had half a day to dedicate to making cider, that just isn't my life. I think a lot of people are in that same boat. I want all the comforts of a wonderful fall, full of homemade things, cozy moments, and warm memories. But, I need it all to fit into my crazy, hectic schedule. This quick and easy essential oil cider recipe takes 10 minutes or less. If you have a fancy induction cooktop that boils water in 90 seconds, it will literally take you 90 seconds. (Okay, that's a lie, it will be more like 98 seconds with time added for pouring and trying not to spill.) So without further ado, I bring you my quick and easy essential oil cider recipe!

Quick and Easy Essential Oil Cider

Makes 4-ish Servings (I'm into "ish" measurements)

Ingredients:

• 4-ish cups Unfiltered Apple Juice (like Simply Apple)

• 3 drops Young Living Orange Vitality Essential Oil

• 1 drop Young Living Cinnamon Bark Vitality Essential Oil

• 2 drops Young Living Clove Vitality Essential Oil

• 4 Cinnamon Sticks (optional)

Steps:

1. Add unfiltered apple juice to a small pot.

2. Put on high heat.

3. Add drops of essential oils.

4. Keep on heat until the cider just starts to bubble.

5. Take off heat.

6. Serve hot, and garnish with cinnamon sticks to make the cider especially fall-y.

And, that's all there is to it! Quick and easy essential oil cider! Enjoy!

Share your favorite cider recipe below!

I grew up in a generation that was told the sky is the limit, and while many argue that millennials are lazy and entitled, I just don't believe that.

But that stereotype still follows us (millennials) around, and when we don't end up with traditional 9-5 jobs, people tend to scoff and tell us that it's because we are too lazy to work, or think we are better than a traditional job.

For those of us who ditched the 9-5 to pursue our passions, it can be somewhat difficult to explain to your skeptical family and friends just what exactly you do all day long, and that no, we aren't "lazy" or "stuck up", but rather opportunists.

And that yes, what you do does count as a job (even if you just roll out of bed and work all day at your kitchen table in your PJs)!

For me, I'd usually start off by saying I did graphic and web design for clients (that was the easy part), but then would get into some weird and poorly constructed story of how my business also consists of blogging and online marketing and I'd usually leave the other person confused.

Then one day, I realized that the reason certain people weren't really taking my dreams seriously was because I wasn't able to put them into words and explain them. A 30-second elevator pitch describing my work wasn't going to be helpful to someone who has no idea why a blog is so important or why I decided to branch off into podcasting, or why having a carefully curated Instagram is so important for your business and your brand (and not just something you do for fun).

So let's take a look at some of the ways you can explain your non-traditional job.

Ask Questions

When someone asks what you do, take time to understand what they already know about your job and unearth things they don't understand. For me, I almost always need to ask if the other person is familiar with blogging and how beneficial it is for growing an email list, boosting your site's SEO and maintaining brand identity.

While a lot of my business is client-based (which can be easily explained) a lot of it is also my blog. Generally, the average person who doesn't blog isn't going to understand why I'd invest so much of my time crafting up freebies and blog posts, so being able to explain this to them in non-technical terms helps them understand bits and pieces of my business.

Relate Your Job to Their Job

Take aspects of their day-to-day work and compare it to what you do in an average day to point out the similarities. This can be especially helpful for those who look down upon you for not having an office job.

Keep in mind that some people have worked the same job their entire lives, and have a difficult time relating to your day. Being able to compare what you do with something they are familiar with helps them realize that what you are doing is actually work too.

Share Your Story

Stories are a lot easier to digest and are easier for people to stay engaged with. Use examples of past work or share a recent success in story form to help explain what it is that you do.

Sharing your story about your work will allow your audience to visualize what it is you do all day. If they are just following you on social media, chances are they only see the "fun" aspect of your job and may think the only thing you do all day is take photos of your latte.

Keep the Conversation Positive

While your friend or family member's comment on your choice may sound harsh to you ("I couldn't imagine just sitting home all day like that" or "aren't you worried you won't be able to pay your bills") try not to get defensive.

These comments can often come out of love, jealousy, or even a lack of understanding (although that can be hard for the person on the receiving end to understand).

Rather than respond defensively, put a positive spin on your response. Talk about your plan with your business and how prepared you to deal with any tough times that may arise.

Keep Your Head Up

Eventually, you are going to come across someone who is just too stubborn to understand your line of work. Often it can be out of jealousy or just being closed-minded. 

Don't let these people get you down. Remind yourself that your background and your journey is unique, and you are here because you are brilliant! And nobody can ever take that away from you.

Dana Nicole is a freelance designer with Dana Nicole Designs, where she helps clients brand their business, and provides online marketing solutions for small businesses and bloggers.

When she is not working, she can be found drinking some of her favourite tea, snuggling with her dog, or cheering her hockey-playing husband on at his games.

DIY Candle 

Not only are candles the perfect gift, they’re also inexpensive and easy to make!

What You'll Need: 
Fragrance or Essential Oils
Canning Jar
Soy Wax
Candle Wick
Sauce Pan
Measuring Cup

Directions:
Place one pound of soy wax into a measuring cup and place the cup in a sauce pan with roughly 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and allow wax to melt completely. While the wax is melting, place the wick in your container and wrap the end around a pencil, allowing it to rest on the edges. With the wax on the stove top, pour 1 oz of fragrance or 30-60 drops of essential oil into wax. Remove from heat and pour into container. Let set for approximately 24 hours before cutting the wick. Light and enjoy! 

Buy Yourself Flowers 

This step is not a necessity, however, I highly recommend heading to the grocery store (you’re probably getting wine anyway) and picking up some inexpensive blooms. Nothing brightens a room like a fresh bouquet so, treat yourself!

DIY Rose Milk Bath 

Soaking in a nice, warm bath is the height of relaxation in my book. I’m so happy with a traditional bubble bath but every once in a while, you should really #treatyoself and try a new type of bubble bath. Enter the rose milk bath!

What You'll Need:
1½ cups of Powdered Milk
½ cup Epsom Salt
Dried Rose Petals
Rose Essential Oil 

DIY Detox Water

Nothing says trip-to-the-spa like delicious detox water! There are so many delicious options, all with their own health benefits. My favorite is an old classic for me: lemon and strawberries. It tastes like strawberry lemonade without the added sugar.

What You'll Need:
1 quart of Water
1 Sliced Lemon
½ cup Sliced Strawberries
Optional: 5-10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil for Added Benefits

DIY Milk and Honey Mask 

While soaking in the tub, give your face the TLC it deserves. This DIY mask is incredibly easy and most people already have these items in their kitchen.

What You'll Need:
1/3 cup Plain Yogurt
2 tbs Oatmeal
1 tbs Organic Honey
¼ Banana, Mashed 

Directions:
Wash your face with your regular wash and remove all make up. Apply mask and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and pat dry. I follow up my weekly face masks with a night cream but that step is completely optional. 

At-Home Manicure

Skip the wait and price of a manicure at a salon and grab your favorite polish at home.

Pro Tip: Use coconut oil on your cuticles before trimming! It’ll soften your cuticles and hands and make for an even more beautiful manicure.

Erica is a New York transplant living in North Carolina. She loves to create and learn how to make new DIY projects, crafts, and all things relating to style. She is the mother of two rambunctious pups and one human. 

Blog // Instagram

Let's talk about you for a minute, and embrace and celebrate who you are.

I know you pour a lot of yourself into other people, causes, and responsibilities, and while it's incredibly rewarding to serve and love the way you do, it is okay to take a break, and it's okay to love yourself.

THREE REASONS TO CELEBRATE YOURSELF

You are Unique

There is absolutely no one like you! You have been specifically chosen to walk the path you're walking on, and there isn't anyone else that can do what you do the way you do it. 

You are Here

Congratulations, you showed up! Sometimes the best we can do is to just roll out of bed with yesterday's makeup on, throw our hair up into knot on the top of our head, and chug barrels of coffee all day long. Whether today is one of those days for you or not, you're here. You're in it; you're bringing all you've got to offer, and you're being yourself. And you know what? You being you is exactly what the world needs. 

You are Worthy

You are enough, you are loved, you are accepted, and you are so worthy. Please, please don't compare yourself to others and put yourself down, or wonder if what you're doing is worth it. You deserve to know the truth, which is that what you're doing is making a difference in the world, and you are just right.

THREE WAYS TO CELEBRATE YOURSELF

Take a Break

Seriously. I know it's hard to just STOP sometimes, but you need to stop sometimes. Give yourself ten minutes of quiet time before you start in the morning, schedule a ten minute cool-down period after work (or if you work at home with littles like I do, arrange some quiet downtime for you and your kids!), and allow yourself a day off every once in a while (that means unplugging, too)!

Take Care

Taking care of your body, mind, and soul is so important, but sadly, it's easy to neglect even the basics, sometimes. If you have to, add some self care practices to your task list each day to help you remember to care for yourself as you're taking care of those to-dos.

Some suggestions: Drink two liters of water a day. Eat a healthy snack. Take a break to read or just sit quietly and rest your mind. Meditate. Read a devotional. Say a prayer. Whatever you're doing today, be sure to take a few moments to care for yourself.

Treat Yourself

This is the fun one! We all love getting gifts (riiiight?), and sometimes it's necessary to go out of your way to treat yourself to a gift! Award yourself with a day at the spa. Buy some new nail polish and give yourself an at-home manicure. Treat yourself to a new top or to a new pair of cute socks or slippers. Get your hair cut by a professional (Bonus! Scalp massage!). Treat yourself to a stylish new watch! The possibilities are really endless here, so get creative! You deserve it!

CELEBRATE YOURSELF WITH A GIFT FROM JORD

I was so thrilled when JORD contacted me to help spread the word about their beautifully unique, wood timepieces. JORD are well-known for their men's watches, but did you know they have women's watches, too?

Once I learned JORD has a women's line, then saw how beautiful their women's watches are, my eyes turned into actual hearts. (#hearteyesirl) Now I have one, and am so impressed with the quality and design of my own JORD watch. It's surprisingly lightweight, and the wood is so smooth and soft – really, it's just an absolutely, incredibly classy piece. Personally, I've been having a ton of fun styling cozy winter outfits with my JORD watch, too! I chose the dark sandalwood strap with a slate clock face, and the watch makes such a fantastic addition to... well, to pretty much anything I pull from my closet. It's so versatile!

The best news for you though is that the incredibly generous people at JORD, Inc. have a gift for you! JORD is offering a gift code in the amount of $100 to one contest winner, and (!) even if you don't win the $100, you'll receive a $25 gift code just for entering!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST!

YOU COULD WIN A $100 GIFT CODE FROM JORD, INC.!

(contest has ended)

This is definitely a chance you don't want to pass up (I mean, did you see the women's collection!?)! And it of course costs you nothing to enter the contest! This could be Step One of celebrating and treating yourself today!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST!

YOU COULD WIN A $100 GIFT CODE FROM JORD, INC.!

(contest has ended)

Finally though, I want to leave you with this: You are one-of-a-kind. You are enough, just the way you are. And you are worthy. 

So what will you do to celebrate yourself today?