As I write this I realize I have been around home-based businesses my entire life. My mother had an in-home daycare and my father had a side construction business. I remember being around the daycare kids as I grew up helping my mother. I would help by putting the stamps on the mail when paying bills and as I got older getting the shopping done when I could drive. As for my father, I would help him load tools or materials and when the job was done, help with the cleanup.  Home-based family businesses are great in the sense that it involves the whole family. I know all too well…

We all lead busy lives, some busier than others. Life would be easy if everything went smoothly from day to day, but we know too well that sometimes life interrupts our best-laid plans. Those interruptions can be getting a flat tire, a household family member getting sick, or weather (ex. rain)–the list is endless. How we handle those interruptions, that’s what matters. Here are a few things to do when life interruptions happen: Pray. Ask God to help you roll with the punches.  Change your perspective. Instead of being upset, think of it as an opportunity. (Ex. Getting a flat tire and having to wait gives us extra time. Time…

If you ask my sisters to tell any stories about our family camping trips when we were kids, there is usually some reference to me laying in the tent or pop-up camper breathing out of my mouth with puffy eyes and a nose so stuffed nothing could get through. My eyes watered so badly, it looked like I was crying the entire weekend, and, quite honestly, I felt like it most of the time. I have suffered from hayfever and allergies most of my life. I’m allergic or sensitive to dust, molds, pollens, chemicals, wheat, and dairy, just to name a few. Due to my chemical sensitivities, I am also…

How often have you logged onto your social media accounts and encountered conflict lately? Do you avoid certain topics at work or social gatherings to avoid conflict? When was the last time you ‘went along to get along’? Think of the last meeting you went to ready to do battle with a colleague. To some degree, we have all experienced at least one of these scenarios or maybe all of them. Conflict is just part of life. As much as it is true that conflict is part of life, most people I have encountered don’t like it or at least don’t view it as a positive and enjoyable part of…

I’ll be honest. I resisted automating routines for a long time. My resistance stemmed more from my need to control than a lack of trust that they work or that I will be charged for things I don’t want or need. Now, after automating much of my personal and work life, I realize that I have gained more control; Control of my time, and some financial control. There are a million ways to automate your life: calendars, apps, online services, automatic reordering, etc. Here are three of my favorites that have saved me time, money, and a lot of headaches! Subscribe and Save. I use subscribe and save for a…

Daily accounting…what a burden? Or, what a salvation? Running a home-based business has many challenges since most days you wear all the hats! You’re the manager, the marketing director, the CEO, the hourly worker, the vision, and of course the accountant. Some home businesses do hire out for some of the above duties, but most find them cost-prohibitive. Accounting is one area that a person does not want to fall behind on. Missing several days or a couple of weeks of sending invoices and entering debits and credits can create a financial hardship. I strive to take 5 to 15 minutes each day to do daily accounting tasks. This includes…

Last year our parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Neither of them wanted a large party or celebration and instead asked that we have an intimate family gathering where everyone could get together and just be with one another. As a group, the four sisters decided to try out what we hoped would turn into a new family tradition—family camp. Family camp consisted of renting a nearby summer camp complete with an eating and gathering lodge, bathhouse, separate cabins for each family, and lake access. The camp, while dated, had everything we needed, including working AC in all the buildings! The first year was such a success, we went back…