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A HUMOROUS LOOK AT YOUR EVER CHANGING BODY DURING PREGNANCY AND BIRTH 

No matter what stage of pregnancy you are currently in, you need to realize that your body simply doesn’t belong to you any more, or at least for the time being. An expecting mom may look at the changes in her body with wonderment, amusement, or horror. Luckily, not every expectant mother gets every single possible change that may come with having a baby. That would be one miserable woman indeed.

Every woman is blessedly different, though, and your body’s reaction to expecting a baby depends on several different factors including genetic predisposition, current health status, and environmental factors.  Then we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD
You’re glowing! Pregnancy hormones coupled with the vast nutrients contained in prenatal vitamins normally taken to assist a healthy pregnancy can result in shinier and thicker hair, stronger fingernails, and for some women a nice complexion.

There are some women who take to pregnancy so beautifully that they have a certain glow about them, almost like an aura of motherly content. Now of course there are countless jokes that could be inserted here about how that motherly glow will likely vanish with the first real painful contraction of baby birth, but for now it’s best for women to just enjoy their pregnant radiance.

When your belly bump starts to show and it is obvious that you are pregnant you will be surprised how many people come to your aid. Strangers will open doors for you, passengers give up their seats on the bus, and everyone is just more willing to be helpful to a woman having a baby.

This is to your advantage because everyone sees your condition, while you may not be the kind of person who is willing to slow down and listen to your body, with everyone around you cautioning you to take it easy you may have to actually listen.

THE BAD
Are you feeling like a stuffed sausage? For some women, the act of swelling and bloating is simply par for the course when expecting a baby. After all, it isn’t only just your stomach which is going to get bigger.

Expecting fundamentally changes your body whether you like it or not, and it’s not uncommon for women to actually go up a shoe size from bloating and swelling during pregnancy. Don’t be shocked if a year or so after the pregnancy and birth you look at a picture of your pregnant self and don’t even recognize the swollen face in the photo.

While promoting a healthy pregnancy, drinking plenty of water, ironically, can help keep the swelling at bay because it helps to flush everything out of your system. Be advised though, that any rapid swelling is something that needs to be checked by your doctor because it can be a sign of problems. If your doctor finds no problem and the swelling continues, just rest assure that even if your ankles disappear while you are expecting baby, they will more than likely magically reappear quickly after you give birth. It’s amazing how quickly the body can recover after the baby birth.

Your internal workings may slow down when you’re expecting a baby, and this includes your digestive system. Add to this the fact that prenatal vitamins have a ton of iron in them to stave off anemia issues, and you’re bound to be…well…bound.

Sometimes being an expectant mother can bring with it a double whammy, constipation and hemorrhoids.  This really makes bowel movements uncomfortable. So not only do you have problems mustering up the need to ‘go’ but the act thereof can be incredibly painful. Luckily doctors can prescribe stool softeners, and hemorrhoid wipes, which most often do a good job of cooling the pain after a bowel movement.

Acid reflux is common with an expectant mother in late stages of pregnancy since the baby is pressing up on the digestive system, making it difficult for everything to run smoothly.

How do you know if you have acid reflux? If you have burps that feel sort of like a small bit of stomach acid has invaded your throat, then it’s likely you’re having this problem. Sometimes it can be so bad that when expecting a baby, women will abruptly awaken from a deep sleep, coughing and gasping for air accompanied by the disgusting feeling of having thrown up a little in their throat. There are some medications, which are safe to use for acid reflux during pregnancy, but many times it can be easily controlled with dietary changes.

You will quickly realize which foods result in grief, and you can either avoid them all together or simply eat them early in the day long before laying down to go to sleep.  Some common culprits include tomato sauce, coffee, and citrus fruits. If acid reflux becomes a real problem then talk to your doctor; there is no reason to suffer if you don’t have to. Acid reflux is another ailment that seems to magically disappear once the baby is born, so just know that you won’t be burping up spaghetti sauce for the rest of your life.

Do you feel a bit wobbly? Even before your belly starts to expand you may find that your balance feels a little off. This is truly the time to put away your heels and trade them in for some sensible shoes because your balance is going to disappoint you time and again during pregnancy. When you begin to show, and when you can no longer see your feet, you are really going to need to pay attention to what you’re doing and take care to not fall down stairs or trip on rugged terrain. Remind yourself daily that you are in a delicate state, and act accordingly.

THE UGLY
Is that a roadmap on your belly? Not all expecting women get stretch marks on their pregnant bellies, but there are a good amount of women who do. Really, there is only so much your poor skin can take before it starts forming stretch marks, and the average pregnant belly gets pretty darn big.

You’ll notice stretch marks at first, as red marks, which look a lot, like scratches. They’ll get longer and more defined the bigger your belly gets. Even after the baby is born and the belly begins to return back to its normal size your stretch marks will remain. They’ll start to fade eventually, and instead of being a blazing red color they will instead look a more silvery color.  So they’ll never really go away naturally, but they won’t be nearly as pronounced as they once were.

Are there ways to avoid getting stretch marks when expecting a baby? There are many creams and lotions on the market which purport to prevent stretch marks but nothing has ever been proven. If you wind up with stretch marks try to see them as an earned badge and consider purchasing a one-piece bathing suit next summer instead of a bikini.

Are those craters on your face? If you thought acne breakouts were reserved for puberty and certain times of the month then you’ll be disappointed to find out that many women will break out with acne pretty regularly while expecting a baby. Chalk this one up to hormones. If the acne bothers you then be sure to check with your doctor before employing an acne remedy. Some acne medicine is simply not appropriate for an expectant mother to use.

What are those veins on my legs? While you’re pregnant you can see your veins through your skin easier, so this can result in all sorts of interesting bluish patterns emerging just below your skin. Some pregnant women also have problems with varicose veins that are not only unsightly but also painful in some instances. Staying off your feet and not gaining too much weight can help you avoid varicose veins, and as far as being able to see your veins easier that will go away shortly after having the baby, if not before then.

Sure, expecting a baby can feel downright miserable at times, but there are other times when you will find yourself patting your belly and smiling to yourself about how amazing you feel. If you begin to feel overwhelmed with the changes to your body then remind yourself that you are busy growing life, and if this means you need to be uncomfortable for a while then so be it.

Many of the discomforts of pregnancy magically dissolve the moment you have the baby…it’s one of the gifts of baby birth. Just remember to cut yourself some slack; too often in today’s society, especially with everyday pressures, an expecting mom are sometimes expected to virtually ignore their condition and continue on with their daily tasks without getting the rest they need and deserve, thus putting undue strain on a healthy pregnancy.

Take a little pregnancy advice, Rest up now, because after the baby comes it’s a whole new ballgame.

Following these pregnancy tips will help you nurture a healthy pregnancy.   If you have any other pregnancy questions or need further pregnancy advice, we have compiled a great new 57 page pregnancy guide full of information, tips and facts covering every possible subject and answering every possible question from the time you find out you are expecting to the baby birth and right through to getting ready to plan for the next little one.

If you would like to read more from our So You’re having a baby – The guide to pregnancy, visit our full informational page at www.womenslifestylepublications.com/parenting/having-a-baby/

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Inspire a New Resolve for Balance, Energy & Focus in Your Life at Womens Lifestyle Publications

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

Our seventh and last post of our seven week mini course discusses how to avoid the Super-mom Syndrome while working at home. Have a look at our previous posts to get the complete 7 week mini-course.

This week we discuss: WORK AT HOME MOMS, AVOIDING THE SUPER-MOM SYNDROME

Many women in today’s society are concerned about their abilities to be a great mom. As any mother knows, it is tough to not compare yourself to others, and while one mom may be a fantastic caregiver, she will almost always find fault with her parenting styles and/or abilities.

She begins to feel stress about her duties as “mom,” “wife,” and “housekeeper.” The pressure to be the so-called “super mom” builds even more when she is a work at home parent, and adds “employee” to the list.

Working at home while raising children has become wildly popular with today’s families, as costs for childcare and commuting to work skyrocket. With more and more moms, and dads, entering the work at home field, the dynamics of the family as we know it are changing.

You might think the pressure to be a “super mom” would be less for those able to spend time at home with the children, but there are other things to take into consideration. For one, moms that work at home are probably still be viewed as the main caregiver, housekeeper, and organizer.

When spouses and other family members fail to contribute to the household, moms often take the burden of doing it all, often without complaint, because they feel the need to be that “super mom.”

This can be a dangerous trap for moms to fall into. While the family has clean laundry, an impeccably cleaned kitchen, a nice meal to come home to and money in the bank account, mom herself is falling apart. The key to keeping it together is keeping it in perspective. Moms who work at home may earn less than they did in the corporate world, but they have schedules that are more flexible and get to spend more time with their family.

To avoid overwork as a result of wanting to become a mom who does it all, it is important for mothers to remember what is important to them. Why was the decision made to work at home instead of in a traditional office?

Often the answers involve children, money, and flexibility. Getting raise her children, saving money on childcare, and having the flexibility for when children are sick are key ingredients in the work at home mom’s life. The best “super mom” is the mom who takes care of herself as much as she does her family. It is impossible to have the energy and patience to deal with young children, a messy house, or an unmotivated spouse if mom gets minimal sleep, or leaves little time to eat healthy and relax from the everyday stresses that come with parenting.

In addition, giving too much to others, becoming a “people pleaser,” is a sure way to enter a cycle in which moms give so much they eventually withdraw all help and resent those whom she actually bent over backwards to help previously.

When moms can learn to take care of themselves with the energy that they give to their families, they will be in the right frame of mind to prioritize the needs within the family dynamic. She can be the best mom for her family, while avoiding the trap and pitfalls of becoming a “super mom.”

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. This was the last part of our 7 week mini course , get the complete 7 week series earlier in this blog.

If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you, follow this link:

www.womenslifestylepublications.com/business/work-at-home/

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Inspire a New Resolve for Balance, Energy & Focus in Your Life at Womens Lifestyle Publications. Taking care of your Health and Wealth has never been more important and simpler.

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

Our sixth post and second to last of our seven week mini course discusses how to keep our kids occupied and entertained when we need to work at home. So, grab the RSS feed from this blog not to miss the complete mini course. Have a look at our previous posts too.

This week we discuss: KEEPING THE KIDS OCCUPIED WHEN YOU ARE WORKING

Being a work at home parent isn’t easy, but there are many rewards. First (and foremost) is the time you get to spend with your children. Granted you are working, but you are still raising your children by being there for them during your workday.

However, as wonderful as it is being a work at home parent, it’s not as easy as some may think. There are constant interruptions to deal with, the sounds of children fighting, or the disruptions caused by loud horseplay.

While some may begin why they decided to work from home when they have to begin dealing with these challenges, there are a few simple ways to keep sane and productive. Following are a few suggestions for helping your children stay occupied while you try to make your clients happy:

Give them some entertainment. What sort of entertainment your child will prefer varies greatly depending on their age and their ability to remain focused on one task. Some good choices include movies, video games, educational television, coloring books and other self-sufficient art projects. Playing board games or cards with siblings work well, and if they’re old enough, let them run around outside in the yard or ride their bike up and down the street.

Make compromises with your children. While bribes are not the answer, offering to provide your child with rewards for good behavior while you’re working is a good idea. Studies show children will respond better if you use positive reinforcement instead of threatening a consequence should they act up.

In other words, it is better for the parent to offer a trip to the ice cream store after dinner instead of threatening to take away toys and/or other things special to the child.

Establish a time for peaceful activities. Schedule a time of the day when the television and radio are off and when playtime means finding a quiet activity. Make it a routine occurrence. Draw the blinds and eliminate any distractions.

Examples of peaceful activities include reading, writing, playing with puzzles, coloring, or just playing quietly. Quiet toys such as building blocks are great for “quiet time.” A nap may even be in order. Take advantage of community resources. Many are hesitant to use help when it comes to taking care of their children, but community programs are there for a reason. Enroll your child in a fun summer camp or in a sports program. Girls Scouts, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club are good ideas as well.

There are certain work at home jobs and careers that are quite impossible to work if there are small children at home. Such jobs include telemarketing, telephone customer service, and certain art disciplines since as painting.

In addition, depending on your child’s age, or your personal ability to deal with distractions, you may have a hard time being accurate with detail-oriented jobs such as bookkeeping, writing, and proofreading. In these cases, finding an in-home sitter, parent’s helper, or outside daycare may be the best option for you or your kids.

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. Join us again soon for our last part of our 7 week mini course next week.

If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you, follow this link:

www.womenslifestylepublications.com/business/work-at-home/

Want to earn some $$$, why not affiliate with us? Be part of the International Digital Publishing Network Today! Get 50% of every sale made when you become an affiliate member.

Inspire a New Resolve for Balance, Energy & Focus in Your Life at Womens Lifestyle Publications

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

Our Fifth post of our seven week mini course discusses how we can combine Parenting while working at home. So, grab the RSS feed from this blog not to miss the complete mini course. Have a look at our previous posts too.

This week we discuss: PARENTING WHILE WORKING AT HOME

One of most important aspects of parenting is properly bonding with your child. Many work at home parents stress this to family and friends when the decision is made to raise their children instead of maintaining a job outside the home.

Studies have shown that children are most impressionable between birth and three years of age, and that by age three, they have learned whether they can trust others, including their parents. The bond that is created during this time is the foundation for all other relationships that will be forged during a child’s life.

However, there can be some serious consequences for both parent and child when they are each constantly surrounded by the other. These should be taken into consideration when deciding if working at home is for you.

While these situations may be rare, they do happen. The can also be avoided with some creativity on the part of the work at home parent. Here is a short list of things that can result from spending too much time with your children, and how both mom and child can prevent them:

For the child:

Being spoiled: Children surrounded by only one parent (and no peers) may become accustomed to wanting only that parent around. Making sure your child spends ample time during the evening and on weekends with children and the parent not working at home. This will help ensure that the child’s develops a healthy concept of relationships and sharing.

Lack of social skills: Some work at home parents mistakenly don’t take time to expose their children to outside activities such as play groups. Scheduling a day off, or a few hours each week, and exposing your child to other children and adults will help them learn to interact with others before they reach school age. At age 3, it may be appropriate to enroll the child in preschool, to ensure a well-rounded social and learning environment to meet the child’s growing needs.

For parents:

Loss of feeling of “self”: It’s very easy for those who parent full-time to feel like they don’t know themselves anymore. A parent may believe he or she is defined only as a parent, spouse, student, employee, housekeeper, or handyman. It is important for everyone to maintain their identity by remembering to indulge in their needs on occasion. A night out with friends, or a hobby performed away from home could make one feel like a full person again.

Sadness or depression: Lack of adult contact and the struggle to manage both work and home life at the same time may lead some into a deep sadness. This is more apparent with those who infrequently leave the house, or work all day in their pajamas.

There are, of course, some for whom spending the day in p.j.’s is a dream come true! Dressing up and spending some time out of doors goes a long way toward feeling like a functioning part of society. These are serious aspects to consider for the work at home parent, and while most parents don’t run into these problems, it is important to educate others about the risks of them occurring

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. Join us again soon for the 6th and second last of our 7 week mini course next week.

If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you, follow this link:

http://www.womenslifestylepublications.com/business/work-at-home/

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

The fourth post of our seven week mini course discusses how we need to deal with setting boundaries between our business hours and those around us. So, grab the RSS feed from this blog not to miss the complete mini course. Have a look at our previous post too.

This week we discuss: BOUNDARY SETTING

Those who have never worked at home aren’t always aware of the work that is involved in being self-employed. Some may have even known a business owner (or two) who lazily sat home, reading the news and drinking coffee all day while their employees did most of the work at an office or warehouse.

Unfortunately, this creates a negative image for those who consider themselves self-employed. Those who work at home cannot always be compared to business owners, who most likely do delegate a good portion of their work. Rather, work at home individuals are often the owner and the employees, the planner and the executioner. In other words, many do all of the work required to make their businesses run.

Because many people do not realize this, friends and family of those working at home may often interrupt their workday with phone calls and unexpected visits that business owners just do not have time to deal with. While your loved ones may have good intentions in their desire to communicate with you during work hours, here are a few tips to educate your friends and family about your need for boundaries:

1. Make a good sign to hang on your door. If you work primarily on the phone where a doorbell ringing might set the dogs off barking, this should help things a little. Print a note politely telling visitors you are unavailable during certain working hours. Mention that packages may be left at the door without ringing the bell. Laminate it, and hang it up when you begin your workday.

2. Turn off the telephone ringer (if possible) or use Caller I.D. Screening your calls and only answering the business-related ones are a good way to cut back on annoying and frivolous phone calls. When your friends and family ask why you did not take their call, simply reply that you were working, and only taking calls from client. After a few times of this happening, they should begin to get the point.

3. Don’t let others talk you into doing errands or favors for them. Learn to say no without offering to help another time. Be firm. Many who work at home get phone calls from friends or other parents asking them to do a favor, run an errand, or transport their children for them. Politely inform them that you are working, and that the only breaks you get throughout the day are to drop off and pick up your children from school.

4. Create a “set” schedule. If you work some hours one day and others another, it will be hard for your loved ones to know the best time to get in touch. Set your schedule and make sure everyone knows it. Put it on the back of your business cards and hand them out at your next family function.

Whether your friends and family are crossing boundaries because they aren’t aware of their existence, or because they don’t truly believe in their necessity, following the above suggestions will help you educate them about your needs. Hopefully, they will recognize your desires, sense your seriousness about needing boundaries, and be fully willing to comply.

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. Join us again soon for the 3^rd last of our 7 week mini course next week.

If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you, follow this link:

http://www.womenslifestylepublications.com/business/work-at-home/

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

The third post of our seven week mini course discusses how to deal with our family’s expectation in regards to us working from home. So, grab the RSS feed from this blog not to miss the complete mini course. Have a look at our previous post too.

This week we discuss: DEALING WITH FAMILY EXPECTATIONS

When both parents work outside the home, the details of taking care of the family and household are usually taken care of equally. The healthiest relationship consists of two partners who agree to split up duties; each taking in consideration what the other does for a living while away at work.

However, most families do not have such agreements in force, but rather they push and pull on each other to get things done when it apparent they have been neglected. Alternatively, mothers may take on the role of house keeper and caretaker without question, drawing on the traditional “wife and mother” roles passed on from grandmothers. In some modern families, dad may play the traditional nurturing role.

However, what happens when the caretaker works from home? Many spouses of work at home parents may not realize the energy that is involved in essentially working two jobs at the same time. While one may be working while at home during the day, the other is not there to see the benefits that come out of the work that was done.

Unfortunately, many spouses have a hard time realizing that their work at home counterparts accomplish more during the day than most in the corporate world do. Therefore, their expectations of what should be done at home, in the evening and on weekends, may not change. Even worse, the expectations could grow.

Here are some ways to help your spouse recognize the work you do, and allow your role of work at home mom morph from the traditional role of wife and mother to something that matches the new dynamics in your family’s household.

1. Display your professionalism – Get up early, shower, and be dressed for work when your spouse leaves for work. Develop a working schedule and adhere to it to show that you are serious about what you do.

2. Create a separate office space, make business cards, and otherwise treat yourself as a self-employed individual.

3. Involve your spouse in your work – Whenever possible, share with your spouse how your day went, any new projects you are involved in, and even offer to let them help now and then. This will help your spouse understand the concept that you actually provide a service or product to others, and make a living doing so.

4. Share the wealth and rewards – Nothing shows a spouse how hard you’ve been working than a share of the profits. While most income earned may be funneled directly into a joint account used for bills, set aside a small sum each month to use as “play” money.

5. Go on a special date, buy something special, or save up your money and take a small vacation. When a spouse is finally able to recognize what is accomplished throughout the day, and see the rewards that are associated with that, they are more likely to be open to a redistribution of the family’s responsibilities.

Not only will this make day-to-day life easier for the person working at home, but also it will bring a new appreciation from family members for the work that is done in support of the family.

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. Join us again for the 4^th post of our 7 week mini course next week.

If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you, follow this link:

Guide to Working at Home

Do you ever feel that you do not have enough cash at the end of the month to pay bills, buy necessities of life? Are you barely making a dent in your credit card debt balance, no matter how hard you try?

Here is a reality check for all of us: if we choose to spend it, it is gone for good. We cannot spend it on anything else. Are you perhaps worried about a nest egg for your golden years or savings for early retirement? Then you have arrived at a source that can provide some prudent tips on how to start, finish, implement, stick to, revise and refine a family budget.

A good place to start is to monitor these expenses.

Take stock of your fiscal situation. Start with assessing where exactly you are in your financial life and circumstance. Most of us think we know, but we really do not.

That is, until we take the time to actually list, study and analyze the situation. Figure out what your financial worth is, look at all financial goals, and set a timeline for reaching them. Does this sound like an action plan? Where do you start?

A good suggestion is your bank statements, tax return and recent current credit report – a financial asset statement if you will -and an overview of the current situation.

The premise is simple: you can not get to arrive where you want to be if you do not know where you are today, what it will take to get where you need to be and how to get there.

A well thought out, planned and realistic budget will serve as a roadmap to get you there. It is a financial tool facilitating your financial dreams, goals and aspirations, making them become a reality. Budgeting will enable you to actually reach your financial targets and set goals.

Here are twelve good reasons to get you started:

1. Family budgets are used as a baseline, analysis-tool and roadmap. It is a useful tool and guide. It tells you whether you are headed in the direction you want to be headed in financially. It helps you to move from spending to saving and good fiscal balance, management and responsibility. You may have goals and dreams, but if you do not set up guidelines for reaching them and you do not measure your progress, you may end up going so far in the wrong direction you can never make it back. Can you imagine the government or a major corporation operating without a budget? No, and neither should you.

2. It is often described and justified as an empowering enabler. A budget lets you control your money instead of your money controlling you.

3. A budget is a realistic estimate and true reflection of current circumstance and means, a type of financial situation-analysis that will tell you if you are living within your means. Before the widespread use of credit cards, you could tell if you were living within your means because you had money left over after paying all your bills.

4. A budget can help you meet your savings goals. It includes a mechanism for setting aside money for savings and investments.

5. Following a realistic budget frees up spare cash so you can use your money on the things that really matter to you instead of frittering it away on things you do not even remember buying.

6. A budget helps your entire family focus on common goals. It is unifying families in mutual purpose and effort, working together towards a successful outcome and reward.

7. A budget helps you prepare for emergencies or large or unanticipated expenses that might otherwise knock you for a loop financially.

8. A budget can improve your marriage. A good budget is not just a spending plan; it is a communication tool. Done right, a budget can bring the two of you closer together as you identify and work towards common goals and reduce arguments about money.

9. A budget reveals areas where you are spending too much money, so you can refocus on your most important goals.

10. A budget can keep you out of debt or help you get out of debt.

11. A budget actually creates extra money for you to do use on things that matter to you.

12. A budget helps you sleep better at night because you do not lie awake worrying about how you are going to make ends meet.

Nevertheless, despite all these wonderful reasons quoted above, people are still hesitant to commit to family budgeting as standard practice in their households. We might again want to probe a little deeper still and ask why?

In our follow-up post we will discuss the TOP THREE CAUSES OF BUDGET FAILURE. If you would like to read more about Budgeting and how to setup a family budget follow this link: How to Setup a Family Budget

The idea of working at home is attractive, but the reality can be challenging. Fortunately, most of the challenges one faces can be managed with a little effort and forethought.

This, the second post of our seven week mini course discusses how we can keep getting sufficient adult contact while working from the confines of our homes. So, grab the RSS feed from this blog not to miss the complete mini course.

This week we discuss: GETTING SUFFICIENT ADULT CONTACT

Most people receive a large daily dose of social interaction at their jobs, while in school, or otherwise during the course of the day. Those who work at home (and especially those who have children), on the other hand, especially those who work entirely on the computer or that work online, may lack the daily contact needed on a regular basis. Some may find themselves making frequent, but unnecessary, trips to the mall, bank, or grocery store just for some interactions with adults.

While it may be hard to meet new people when working at home, there are some ways to help get the social calendar filled. Other than pursuing personal hobbies and interests outside of work, there are some ways to get some social interaction during the course of your working hours.

Here are a few tips to avoid the castaway feelings that can begin to surface when contact with the outside world is limited:

1. Network locally: Joining a local Chamber of Commerce will open the doors to new relationships that can be enjoyed both personally and professionally. If you can’t afford to join, you can meet others at free career fairs or local workshops.

It doesn’t matter if you network with other work at home moms or not; however, building a network primarily with other work at home moms and dads will give you contact with others who understand the challenges you face on a daily basis.

2. Network online: There are a many online groups and forums that moms can join for support, mentoring, or just casual conversation. Over time, the friendships you make online can become strong enough to substitute a lack of personal relationships in your hometown. In some larger metro areas, member of online groups may even decide to meet in person and have regular get-togethers.

3. Schedule “out of office” meetings: Everyone needs a break now and then from their work. Hire a sitter if your children are still young enough to be home during the day. Make an “appointment” with a friend or other family member to meet for lunch once or twice a week. Have these meetings during your normal working hours so you feel as if you are really getting a break. This is also a good way to spend more time with your spouse, in the event that’s whom you decide to have lunch with.

4. Simulate company: In some instances, if leaving the house is not an option, you can create artificial company. This sounds off-the-wall, but chances are you already do it. Turn on the television, watch the news, listen to the radio, or wear a hands-free headset and make telephone calls while working.

You can also use an internet personal messenger to communicate instantly with local and long-distance friends and family. Some even play online music and have the ability to make PC-to-PC calls.

Those who work at home can now enjoy a social life that consists of more than little drooling people with baby bottles and spit up. There will also be no more need to bombard spouses when they get home, talking incessantly in an attempt to make up for a day with no understandable human dialogue.

Use these few tips and start to enjoy a more well rounded work at home career and lifestyle today. Join us again for the 3^rd post of our 7 week mini course next week. If you would like to read more about Working at Home and how we can assist you go to www.womenslifestylepublications.com/business/work-at-home/.

Opportunity, Money, Flexibility, Family & Interests – You CAN have it all.

There are many people that have made a conscious decision to stop working for someone else and start their own business. They did so after serious consideration of what they want out of life and then pursued their dreams and goals.

Every year, thousands escape the rat race. They shed jobs that limit their potential and satisfaction. They find fulfilment in their work and unprecedented financial rewards.

No more commutes. No more annoying supervisors. No more dead end jobs.

They operate their own businesses from the comfort of their own home.

Would you like to join them?

Somewhere along the line, many of us developed a mental image of our future and how things were supposed to work out. We would go to school, get a good job, work until our hair turned gray, and retire. It seemed simple and natural.

But we have discovered that long-held plan was far less than picture perfect. It came with limitations on our individuality, creativity, earning potential and personal fulfilment an of course that fact that retrenchment and job losses are currently the news on all fronts. 

In the past few months unemployment has risen extensively and will continue do to so because of the global financial mess that the world is in, forcing more people to reinvent themself to adapt to the changing times. We either have to start applying for other jobs and hopefully get something to keep us going or maybe we are not even that fortunate.  

For some, including myself for that matter, have had to make certain decisions based on the fact that we had either been retrenched, told our contracts had expired or have been told in no uncertain terms “our duties would no longer be required”.  What do we do then?  Millions across the world are currently facing these prospects.

Re: April 03, 2009

• In March, job losses were large and widespread across the major industry sectors.
• In the US Unemployment rate rose from 8.1 to 8.5 percent.
• Payroll employment has decreased by 3.3 million over the past 5 months in the US alone.
• The rest of the world doesn’t show any better pictures of figures for that matter.

However, as the cliché goes: “With adversity comes opportunity.”

We learned that jobs provide a pay check but take so much more from us. We work our hardest to succeed within the workforce, but find ourselves at the mercy of others and forces we can never hope to control.

We begin to realize that no matter how hard we work in our traditional job, no matter how many times we take on extra assignments, come in early or stay late that our chance for real success will always be limited.

Unfortunately, we spent so long assuming this was the way things were "supposed to be" that it is hard to envision a real alternative. So, we try to grit our teeth and "tough it out" in hopes that some miracle will happen and things will get better.

Back to the salt mines. Another day, another dollar.

It’s the daily grind. It’s punching the clock. It’s a supervisor you can barely tolerate getting on your case even though you are clearly five times smarter than she’ll ever be. It’s middle management bungles. It’s upper management cold-heartedness. It’s a loud factory floor or a tiny slate gray cubicle. Forty hours per week, plus overtime. Occasional weekends.

If you are a good boy or girl, that hourly wage will inch up just fast enough to almost keep up with inflation every year and some day you may even join the ranks of salaried management and longer hours dealing with even more annoying people. It’s described as everything from a hassle to a prison. It’s a job and you might be tempted to get rid of it. That’s probably why you are reading this ebook.

Unfortunately, along with all of the agony, the job also brings with it money. If you’re lucky, it might bring a lot of money, health benefits and even a shot at retiring without starving to death. 

Jobs mean money. Money, whether it’s the root of all evil or not, makes the world go ‘round and ‘round. Thus, the inmates refuse to attempt to escape. In some workplace version of the Stockholm syndrome, the hostage employees begin to trust and rely upon their oppressive boss overlords even though they recognize that the guys upstairs don’t have their best interests in mind.

Even in this modern twenty-first century economy where people change jobs like disposable lighters—use it for awhile, then get rid of it—many spend their idle hours dreaming of a comfortable work prison. Some place they can tolerate long enough to make it to age sixty-five with some benefits. They don’t even want to grin and bear it for several decades. They just want to bear it. That alone would be enough. That is hard.

There are some people who are willing to make a break for it. They visualize a future that doesn’t consist of years of abuse capped off with little more than a stooped back and a gold-plated retirement watch. When they daydream, they think about running their own show. They imagine not just making a living, but actually living. They don’t want a new office or to work for the company across town. They want to own their own future and they want to sweeten the deal by working at home.

Others are already at home and are looking for work. Instead of trying to find a gig on the bus route, they may be ready to do their own thing. Others may just be looking for a way to add a few bucks to the family coffer every week while being able to spend quality time at home parenting. Instead of forking over their slave wages for day care, they decide they can be both a parent and a provider at the same time by effectively operating a work at home business.

How many hours will we spend commuting? How many managers and supervisors will come and go before we tire of the corporate politics? How many benefit cuts and undersized bonuses will we endure? Are we going to wait in anticipation to be told that our services are no longer required?

The answer to those questions is up to you. There is an alternative.

Thousands have found a way out. They have pushed down the walls of their cubicles, thrown down their aprons, taken off their name tags, ripped up the company dress code and found a solution to the dullness and limitations of the workforce.

They operate their own businesses and they do it from the comfort of their own homes.

Working at home is an absolutely outstanding way to escape being a mere employee and to transform your life while improving your financial well-being.

We have compiled a great guide to help you decide, start and maintain a better lifestyle, working at home. This is not another tiny manual stuffed with bogus work at home opportunities!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Guide to Working at Home reveals…

	Advantages of working at home!
	Personality traits of successful home workers
	The challenges of running a home business
	An honest discussion about money and funding
	Advice on balancing family & home business
	How to decide if you are ready to be your own boss

AND MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

It isn't some sort of scam business plan that guarantees you millions and delivers pennies. I am excited about this ebook because it does something different. Instead of focusing on the information you already have, it gives you something new. It gives you a perspective. It helps you to understand what it means to operate your own home business and how to successfully prepare yourself to make your own way.

This is not a collection of unrelated tips that may or may not apply to your home business. It is a far superior alternative.

You'll learn critical information that will help you to go from being another disgruntled employee to being the owner of your own home business.

A Woman's Guide to Working at Home Successfully provides you with a much-needed perspective and analysis of what it means to be your own boss and to run your own home business.

This eBook has been written for anyone who may be ready to escape the daily work ritual.

No more morning commutes with other wage-zombies. No more spilt gas station cappuccinos in the car. No more keeping your fingers crossed for a promotion. If that sounds good to you, keep reading. We are going to examine the attraction and benefits of running your own home business. We are also going to honestly approach some of the challenges of escaping the traditional work force and how you can deal with them. We are going to cover some of the many work at home options available and discuss where to find new ones.

We’ll talk about avoiding the scores of work at home scams and will spend some time discussing some of the unique challenges faced by those who are working with home and dealing with kids at the same time.

Here’s Just A Sample Of The Topics You'll Find Covered Inside this Instant Download Digital eBook "A Woman's Guide to Working at Home Successfully"

• Why work at home?
• Challenges of working at home
• Risk and insecurity
• Is working at home right for you?
• Can you afford it?
• Plan B
• Do you really want it?
• Choosing a business
• Working from behind the keyboard
• Affiliate marketing
• Ebay and auctions
• Adsense and contextual advertising
• Providing a service
• Making working at home really work
• Parenting while working at home

The topics listed above should give you a good idea of what to expect from A Woman's Guide to Working at Home Successfully. But don't think for a split-second that's all it offers.

If you have ever wanted to toss your name tag like a ninja’s shuriken right into the head or chest of a dimwitted middle manager, this is your ebook. If you’d like to redefine casual Friday to mean actually putting on pants, this is your resource. This is a handy guide to working at home that won’t pull any punches or sell any bogus dreams. You can consider it a letter of warning or a carefully-crafted escape plan. It may be both.

Of course, the whole issue of working from home is incredibly expansive and we don’t profess to cover every single nook and cranny of the matter within these pages. We do, however, think this is a valuable resource that will help you decide whether or not working from home will work for you and, if so, can help you in deciding how to stop being a clock-puncher and to become your own boss.

It's time you gave yourself an edge.

Get A Woman's Guide to Working at Home Successfully for only $11.00, consider it a small investment in a big and better future.

Credit cards were not a common buying method for our parents and earlier generations. Yet, since the early 1990s, credit card debt has increased significantly. Even people as old as 80-plus are suffering from the risk of potential bankruptcy and other losses due to their lack of advice or knowledge on how to manage their credit cards more efficiently.

Often people over 50 do not own a computer or are unable to navigate the Internet to locate valuable information. Even if you don't own a computer, you may be able to use a computer at your local library. Contact your local community college and inquire about its adult education program for seniors. Ask about classes on Internet navigation and computer literacy skills.

Set-up fees are made when a new credit card is purchased. This fee is for all the work that goes into setting up your card.

Credit limit increase fees are paid for increasing the amount of credit that's on your card. So if you had a card for $2,000, and you ask for $1,000 more, you'll be charged a credit limit increase fee to get more money on your card.

Cash advance fees are used for setting up a cash advance. It could be a percentage of the cash advance, or just a flat fee.

Other fees include things such as customer service and looking into your account. Some credit card companies even charge you fees for using your card over the phone.

Interest rates for credit cards are fees you pay in addition to paying back the money you originally spent on the credit card. The card collects interest over time, and you pay this back inside your other payments. Really the only way to avoid or lower interest rates would be to pay your monthly bill, in full, on time each month.

There are usually three ways that credit card interest rates are calculated. The first is known as the previous balance method, the next is the average daily balance method, and the last is known as the adjusted balance method.

The first method (previous balance) is calculated by the finance charge based on the amount of last month's payments.

The second method (average daily balance) is calculated by the daily balance on every day of your pay period, subtracting received (made) payments, divided by the number of days in your pay period. If you make your payment earlier, this method of calculating interest rates will not be as high.

The final method is the adjusted balance method. This payment is determined by subtracting all the payments you made during your current payment from the last balance you paid on your last pay period.

Credit card interest rates can be determined by several other factors. For starters, the more your card is worth, that is, the more money that's on your card, the higher your interest rate is likely to be. Also, the amount of time you keep your card and the amount of time it takes to pay your monthly balance can have a role in your interest rate as well. Annual fees on credit cards can also determine how high your interest rate will be. Other random fees can influence the amount of your interest rates, too.

Some credit card companies have no interest rate, but most of them do. If a credit card company has no interest rate, this usually means that your other fees, such as annual fees and late payment fees will be higher, so the company is pretty much making up for the money they would have lost with no interest rate in the first place.