When I first started working from home, I struggled with distraction. Every 20 minutes I’d find a dog to pet, dishes or clothes to wash, or something shiny to look at. My phone would buzz and I would check it, only to be on it for 15 more minutes, scrolling away when I should beContinueContinue reading “Distractions in the Forest”
Category Archives: Lifestyle
5 things they don’t tell you about working from home
Working from home is amazing, but like any other job, it has its own unique challenges. Before I started this journey a few months ago, all I wanted to do was spend more time at home. I loved my coworkers, but I was physically exhausted and mentally drained most of the time from working 50-60ContinueContinue reading “5 things they don’t tell you about working from home”
What I learned while working in a temporary restaurant
When I first learned that my husband and I were going to work on a food truck for a week, I was excited. I had visions of my husband and I working in a cute, little food truck, deep frying foods and handing out overpriced fountain drinks in large cups. Boy, was I wrong. FirstContinueContinue reading “What I learned while working in a temporary restaurant”
My journey to working remotely
When I first started my search for a remote job, it was out of desperation. I needed to find a new job (for reasons mentioned in this blog post). I applied to so many jobs. Full-time and part-time. In Michigan and outside of the state. I just wanted something. Anything. I had phone interviews galore,ContinueContinue reading “My journey to working remotely”
Goodbye from the Reference Desk
In the past two months, I have had to say goodbye to two part-time jobs in order to pursue one full-time job. Leaving both jobs was difficult. I’ll miss my coworkers and the job duties. But mostly, I’m sad to leave the library patrons. I’m going to miss patron A who calls my by firstContinueContinue reading “Goodbye from the Reference Desk”
The 80/20 balance lie
If I workout 6 days a week, I’ll get stronger. If I work 5 days a week, I’ll be able to pay the bills and maybe even get a promotion. If I write 5 days a week, I deserve to rest over the weekend and still get my book ready for a publisher soon. IfContinueContinue reading “The 80/20 balance lie”
A random hello from the Reference Desk
Hello. How are you today? I like your hair. It looks extra nice today. Hey. Are you okay? Do you need a hug? A random hello. A compliment. A smile. Genuine questions and concerns. A moment is brief, but it can create a lasting impression. Working in a library, I see a lot of differentContinueContinue reading “A random hello from the Reference Desk”
8 reasons why librarians are more than stereotypes
I’ve been working at a library for nearly two years now. When I started, I had zero experience in the library world and no clue about how much libraries do. So, to share a bit of knowledge I’ve learned on the job, here’s a list of reasons why librarians are more than stereotypes: 1. Librarians processContinueContinue reading “8 reasons why librarians are more than stereotypes”
Creating organization for creatives
Do you love lists or are you a visual person? I love lists. I have so many lists: a to-do list at job 1, another one at job 2, a meal plan list, a grocery list, a list of writing projects I’m working on and plan to work on, a random to-do list on myContinueContinue reading “Creating organization for creatives”
Accountability matters
When my alarm goes off and it’s dark outside, all I want to do it hit snooze. But I always think about my accountability partner. She’s probably working out right now because she’s amazing. I can’t let her down. We’re on this journey together. So I get up and, after walking my dogs, I changeContinueContinue reading “Accountability matters”
‘What if?’ insurance
We have car insurance and health insurance, but what about “What if?” insurance? What if your car breaks down? What if you’re laid off? What if you get seriously sick? What if your computer dies and the manuscript you’ve been working on for two years dies with it? What if you get in a carContinueContinue reading “‘What if?’ insurance”
A Coffee Date
I need to say a HUGE thank you! 500 of you have liked our blog enough to follow us on a weekly basis. That makes my heart so glad and we are honored. Thank you! As a blog we are going to try something new and I’d like to take a moment to chat aboutContinueContinue reading “A Coffee Date”
Budgeting matters in the creative life
My husband and I recently completed Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, so together, our financial budget matters. But so does our time budget. Your grandma’s birthday is this weekend? My best friends’s birthday is next weekend and I work all day. Why does money and time matter to the creative life? We need to budgetContinueContinue reading “Budgeting matters in the creative life”
Got goals? Learn from the pros!
Last week we discussed #goals. This week, we’ll talk about how to achieve those goals. Here’s a simple step-by-step process that takes a lot of time and effort: Step 1: Learn from the pros. Step 2: Do what the pros do. Step 3: Achieve goal. No matter what your goals is – writing a book,ContinueContinue reading “Got goals? Learn from the pros!”
Life #goals
Last week I shared a post about why we want to quit and talked about how important it is to flip the question and instead think about why we are doing whatever it is we’re doing in the first place. I talked about goals a bit and I want to develop the idea that goalsContinueContinue reading “Life #goals”
Get your creativity flowing again
When your creativity flows more like a slow trickle instead of a gushing waterfall, it’s time to rest. I could be poetic and say something like… Creativity is an ever-flowing waterfall. Whether it’s trickling or gushing, it’s always running. Until it stops… But I’m too tired for that right now. I’ve been working A LOTContinueContinue reading “Get your creativity flowing again”
Run with it – part 2
Long story short, run toward your goals instead of away from your failure. Literally and metaphorically.
Run with it – part 1
When you’re rejected or betrayed, or when you fail, you have the option to wallow or to run with it. Make the decision to run with it today to reach your goals.
Wedding advice for life and creativity
When life happens, sometimes your creative time lessons, and that’s okay. Spend that time to charge.
From Scratch & Other Inconveniences
It’s so easy to buy product off the shelves. You can easily pick up anything you need at the local super center. But this shift in premade product is newer than you may realize. Not too far in the past, in some living memories even, people made, mixed, and stitched there own goods. In 1933ContinueContinue reading “From Scratch & Other Inconveniences”
Holy Homesteading 