Workerette

Saying Goodbye - Such Sweet Sorrow!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:33:45 -0700

Well, Workerettes, I just have to share the news with you all. I've given my notice to the wonderful (truly fantastic, actually!) editorial team here at Know More Media and I'll be riding off into the cyber-sunset soon. I know that you've probably seen how quiet things have been lately on my part, and I should share why: we've learned where we'll be moving this fall and it will take me out of the country - not where I had thought we'd be going. With that comes legal issues to be resolved with visitation for my daughter, implications for working at home that still have to be investigated, and the usual gamut of "normal" moving issues. Add in passports - oh yes, I'm sure some of you know how fun those are to try to get situated - finding a new home for the dog, and more, and you'll understand the perfect storm of stress I'm dealing with. *chuckle* I have truly enjoyed writing here at Workerette and I've had a wonderful time getting to know those of you who have taken the time to leave comments or email me feedback. I won't be totally disappearing, of course. Those of you who read Seasons at Home, The Griffon, or Notes from the Homestead will see me making my usual appearances. You can still find me blogging, just not quite as frequently, while I try to keep things going and get all these new issues resolved. For the most part I'll be turning more toward family issues and less toward work. Not exactly the decision some corporate-focused Workerettes would make, I'm sure, but in this season of my life it's more than overdue.

Please take a moment to leave a comment with a link to your own blog or website. I'd like to be able to visit you loyal Workerette readers, and I'm sure others will want to pop by your sites as well. I'll still rely on the expert advice dispensed by my fellow KMM authors, and I'm sure you will too!

Until we meet again - happy trails to you!

Menu Plan Monday: 16 June 2008

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:52:26 -0700

Every Workerette knows how important it is to plan ahead and try to streamline things like grocery shopping, meal preparation, and kitchen storage in order to (hopefully!) add a few more minutes to the day.

Hopefully with Menu Plan Monday you'll be able to get some ideas for things to put on your own future menus - or maybe you'll become inspired to streamline things around your own house with menu plans.

Chemistry at Home (No, Not THAT Chemistry)

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:51:24 -0700

I recently received an email from Laura Stevens over at The Rosen Group asking me to review a new text available for homeschool families called the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments. Unfortunately this book is well above my kids' schooling level, but I wanted to pass along the info for those of you who may have high school or middle-school aged students who could use a leg up on chemistry labs. I know when I was in high school something like this would have been a real help to me!

Read on for the press release about this interesting-sounding new book; be sure to let me know if you and your teen(s) give it a shot. I'd love to know what you think of it!

Building Birthing Centers, One Dollar at a Time

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:11:34 -0700

I received an activism alert from Mothering magazine today that really caught my eye. The headline was "one million mothers raising one million dollars - one dollar at a time". Sounds interesting, doesn't it? It became more intriguing when I read the actual blurb, which explained the concept: one thousand women donating one dollar and passing along the information to all of the women they know, who do the same....well, you can see where that all leads. But it's not a chain letter or a pyramid scheme, it's a campaign to raise a million dollars and build a birth center. Here's the basic info I read:

Menu Plan Monday: 9 June 2008

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:00:58 -0700

Remember, this isn't just for work-at-home moms like me! You can be single with no kids, retired with your spouse, or working nights with both your kids and your parents to care for - planning ahead for your personal situation with a little bit of wiggle room for longer than expected shifts, school events, and business travel still puts you ahead of the game!

That said, here's what's on our plan for this week - quite a busy week, actually!

Slow Cooking Thursday: 5 June 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:31:55 -0700

Whether you're a Workerette juggling a job outside the home, an at-home mom, a work-at-home mom or all of the above *yikes!*, you've probably wondered if a slow cooker would be useful for you. I'm personally learning that the answer is a resounding YES!

Even if you aren't a mom (or perhaps, are a gramma or great-gramma), planning ahead can only be a good thing. It makes the budget a little less likely to break, the days a little more efficient, and with recipes like the ones these ladies are sharing, it can make dinner healthier and/or tastier!

In honor of Brownies (which hits right in the middle of my day and seems to really throw a wrench in the works), I thought I'd share this casserole recipe I found in Taste of Home cookbook. I've adapted it a little bit because we don't care for regular onion or garlic; I prefer to substitute powders instead. Here goes:

Bold Moves = Big Rewards

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:10:46 -0700

Over the past few days I've had cause to go through my file drawers and start sorting things out. During my most recent "dig-fest", I spotted some magazines I'd meant to discuss with you gals. Better late than never, right?

One article that caught my eye was "Get Hired", in the Feb/Mar 2008 issue of Working Mother magazine. This well-written piece gives the reader some great ideas for heading back to work, making a career change, or snagging that promotion.

Michelle Roberts hits the nail on the head with several points, including the reminder that moms returning to the workforce have assets that, while hard to define at first glance, translate superbly in a work setting. Being able to multitask, show compassion, an ability to manage (both people and your time), being dependable, and having a strong work ethic are important to employers, no matter where you got the training. In my personal experience, as a manager I'd much rather have someone who is dependable and trustworthy who needs to be trained for the specific tasks a job requires, than to have someone who's done the job for years but can't be counted on to keep certain business matters confidential or show up on time.

Head on over to the archived article at Working Mother and let me know what point you think is most useful for a woman (mother or not) returning to work after some time off, or looking to change fields. My vote is for "amp up your ego". Even after reading a multitude of articles and books explaining how women will undercut themselves in the workplace and socially, by deferring to others or being overly demure about their own talents and opinions, I realized I was still doing it myself while corresponding with others in a certain circle. The worst part is, these people don't even know me - so why on earth would I lower their expectations of me by prefacing my thoughts with "I'm sure there are others here with more wisdom on the matter" or "This is my opinion but I'm sure someone else can tell you more."

DUH. Old habits die hard, eh?

Menu Plan Monday: 2 June 2008

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:32:16 -0700

That said, here's what is on the white board for our family this week:

Surfin' Sunday: Blog Posts Worth Reading

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:52:42 -0700

Okay, so technically today is Saturday - but for some of my readers it's Sunday already. So we'll go with that concept, okay?

Since it's the end of the month, I thought I'd share a nice big list of posts worth reading. I'd like to do 31 since there were 31 days in May, but I don't think we need to go that far, do you?

I'd sure like to know what blog posts enthralled, enraged, or enlightened you this month. Share, share!

For now, here's what gave me insight, chuckle, or a spike in the ol' blood pressure during the month of May:

Super Savings Saturday: My Target Triple-Dip

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:24:15 -0700

As you Workerettes know, I sure do love it when I can scout out a good deal. With the economy the way it is lately more folks are finally starting to get on the bandwagon of frugal living - and it never hurts to have an example or two to get you started on scoping out the groovy sales and coupons. That's why I decided to post my Super Savings Saturday picture here on Workerette.com instead of on my other blog, where I normally participate.

Here's the rundown of a purchase I made a few weeks back (yes, I'm only just getting a chance to share):

"Let's Do Lunch!" - Influential Women in Business Conferences

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:05:32 -0700

Let the countdown begin! PINK magazine's fourth annual conference series will begin this fall. The kids will head back to school and so will the grown-ups; and what lessons we can learn! Conferences will take place in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C. starting September 24th, 2008.

Here's the deal, direct from PINK's website:

Donate to Dress for Success While Traveling!

Sat, 31 May 2008 16:53:04 -0700

Did you know that you can help the Dress for Success program the next time you travel for business (or pleasure)? I didn't either, until I spotted an ad in PINK magazine from Kimpton hotels and restaurants. Each time you make a reservation, if you use the booking code "DFS", a portion of your room rate will be donated to the Dress for Success organization.

In case you're not already familiar with DFS, here's the skinny: Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing them with professional attire, career development tools, and a support network to get - and keep - them going in the job market. The most visible program from DFS, of course, is their system of providing a suit to a woman during the interview process. But what a lot of folks don't realize is that the help doesn't just stop there! Get over and visit their site and see how you can help, or how to make an appointment with a DFS location if you need their services. And keep their sponsors in mind as well; there are a variety of ways to help support a worthy women's organization like Dress for Success.

NAWBO 2008 Women's Business Conference

Sat, 31 May 2008 16:38:54 -0700

It's that time of year again, Workerettes! Time for the NAWBO Women's Business Conference. Get ready to get yer networking on, gals.

The conference will take place June 12 - 14 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (reason enough to go just for that!) in Phoenix, AZ. The theme is "Together: Rising". The focus is on women business owners who are creating "a rising tide of entrepreneurship" and defining "new standards of ownership and prosperity" while "changing the social, political, and economic landscape forever."

Sounds like a pretty big set of shoes to fill, doesn't it? Read on for the agenda highlights:

Breastfeeding Police Woman a "Hero" in China

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:57:56 -0700

Mothers the world over are probably happily sharing this story about a Chinese police woman, a new mom herself, who is breastfeeding several other babies whose mothers are unable to nurse after the earthquake in China, as well as some orphaned infants.

Yes, grab yer Kleenex, mommies. Because this gal is giving of herself, and not because of her orders as a civil servant. She's taken a step as one person to help others in need. No money involved, no payback expected. She's offering up life-giving nourishment to the most helpless of any society: children.

One blogger asks the question: "is it okay for women to breast feed someone Else's [sic] baby?" I'm going to have to go with HECK YEAH! Obviously if someone has health issues such as a communicable disease you'd hope they wouldn't even offer - but when it comes down to it, if the poop hit the prop and my choice was to let my son starve or let him nurse at another woman's breast, I'd hand him over to a "sister" mother in a heartbeat, hopefully with grace and gratefulness.

Which reminds me - those of you who are breastfeeding moms may not realize this, but there are milk banks out there that will thankfully accept donations after a screening process. If you are nursing, please consider donating to such an organization (after doing your due diligence and running the idea past your own doctor/midwife and pediatrician, of course). All too many women think, "I'm just one person; what can I do to help?"

This young woman has shown us at least one very simple way.

Myanmar Complains About Receiving Aid?

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:30:47 -0700

I have to admit, my jaw literally dropped when I read the headline "Myanmar blasts aid donors for not giving more" on my news page this morning. Apparently the government-run newspaper Myanma Ahlin has informed residents of the cyclone-thrashed country that the world isn't helping enough. In the same piece, the paper claims that the residents of the Irriwaddy delta can survive on their own without, as they call it, "bars of chocolate". Hmm, would those be the energy bars that were sent by HOW MANY organizations? Last I checked I buy very similar products for my own family emergency kit - and frankly, if I'm glad to have 'em, I'm pretty sure the refugees in Myanmar and the earthquake-shaken folk in China would be more than happy to chow down on them as well.

While I don't begrudge the people of Myanmar or China a single mouthful or dollar of aid, I'm utterly shocked and frankly, more than pissed off, about a government griping they haven't been given enough aid...and then spouting off about how they don't need it anyway.

This is the same country that we're getting reports of soldiers victimizing citizens and volunteers afraid to go help due to backlash and ill treatment. Meanwhile, the Chinese appear to be making things work as well as they can, as aftershocks still drive scared people into the streets and destroy more homes. And let's not even get started on the flooding issues there. When I was growing up, my grandmother would have called this "looking a gift horse in the mouth".

If Sharon Stone thinks China's tragic situation is karma (and yes, I noticed she apologized once she got her foot back out of her mouth), then I really wonder what she thinks of the Myanmar situation! Maybe she can offer to help Myanmar instead. It would seem taking folks' money and then saying it's not good enough might be right up her alley....

Photo credit: Picture taken May 19, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer (MYANMAR)