The Darling CEO

Money, Business, and Life Tips for the Working Mom

Top Alexa Skills for Working Moms

Top Alexa Skills for Working Moms

Disclaimer: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. 
Updated September 18th, 2021 
Do you have a possession that you just couldn’t live without? Something that you just don’t know how you survived without it?  For me, that is my Amazon Alexa.
My entire family uses Alexa so much that she has become a bonafide member of our family. Welcome to the future, my friends.
PS. If you don’t know what Alexa is, Alexa is Amazon’s AI Virtual Assistant that is accessed in Amazon devices such as the Echo Plus, Echo, Echo Dot, and Amazon Fire Stick with Alexa Remote.
As a working mom, Alexa is certainly a lifesaver. Here are 10 Alexa skills for working moms that are guaranteed to simplify your life.

Bulletin Board

One of the top Alexa skills for working moms is the Bulletin Board feature.  Sticky notes? That is so 2017.  With the bulletin board feature, you can simply tell Alexa to leave a message for other members of your household.   Leave a note reminding your spouse to pick up your kids from swim lessons, leave a note for your kiddos to be good for their babysitter, whatever your heart desires.

Calendar

With the calendar feature, you can connect your supported calendar (i.w. Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.) to Alexa so she can act as your personal assistant.  Ask Alexa “what is next on my calendar?” or “what does my day look like tomorrow?” to get a rundown of your scheduled activities. While I  am packing lunches for the next day I  ask Alexa what is on the calendar the next day so I am always on top of things.

Flash Briefing

It is hard to stay up to date on current events as a working mom. My television is stuck on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood 99.999% of the time and my car playlist is filled with the Moana soundtrack or Kids Bop. Without Facebook and Alexa, I would literally have no idea what is going in the world (which is actually nice sometimes).  There are several news outlets that you can get briefings from such as NPR, CNN, and theSkimm.  I love being able to hear the news that I want to hear while I’m getting stuff done around the house.

Shopping List

As a working mom, my mind is always spinning and my attention span is non-existent on most days.   I have the best intention of writing things down on my shopping list but life happens.  The Amazon Echo is an amazing solution to this.  While running after your toddler,  you can quickly tell Alexa to add something to your shopping list. It then compiles these items and keeps a running list ewin the Alexa app.  When you are at the store you can just glance at your app and see what you need.  Easy- peasy.  What I love most about this app is that my entire family can use the shopping list so if my husband needs deodorant, he can easily add it to the list.  It has been much easier to manage our groceries with the Shopping List skill.

Ordering

Amazon couldn’t make it easier to shop with them if they tried. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years you don’t even have to physically order something they just get a sense that you need it and it arrives on your doorstep.  For now, you just have to tell Alexa to order something and she orders it for you.  Seriously.  That is all.  Me-  “Alexa, order me baby wipes.”. Boom.  Done.    It’s pretty amazing how simple Alexa makes it for working moms.

Blue Prints

Alexa actually gives you the ability to create a skill with the Blue Print feature.  I  have built a skill that anytime I  ask Alexa if it is bedtime, she responds “yes, time to go to bed kids”. And you know what, my kids listen to Alexa more than me.   I also built a skill to pick who has to take a bath first (because that is a thing to argue about apparently). I  ask Alexa “whose turn is it to take the bath first?” and Alexa will randomly choose one of my kids.  Argument closed.  There are so many potential applications with the ability to create your own skill.

Time Outs

Alexa will even put your kids in time-out.  Enable the Time-Out skill,  set the duration of the timeout, and Alexa does the rest. It allows you to set a timeout for up to 10 minutes. For the duration of the timeout, it will remind the guilty party every minute to remain quiet and will even praise them for a job well done. Your kiddos may even be more likely to whine and argue less about it. Sure, go ahead and argue with a robot. See where that gets you, kid.

Baby Stats

Baby Stats is an amazing skill for those with a baby.  Those silly paper logs are a thing of the past, track everything with the help of Alexa.  Baby Stats lets you track your due date, stool, wet, feedings, weight, pumpings, kick counts and sleep. You only need to track the stats you care about. There is the ability to add multiple devices so you can track the stats wherever you have an Alexa-enabled device. You also have the ability to view the stats via an online viewer. You have enough to worry about when you have a newborn, let Alexa take care of some of the load.  Can she cover the night waking sessions, too? No, darn.

What to Expect

Expecting?  You have to enable the What to Expect skill for Alexa.  What To Expect guides you through pregnancy day-by-day and week-by-week. Just ask Alexa What To Expect every day, and you’ll get exciting updates about your pregnancy or newborn, plus all-new, useful tips to feel prepared and in control – helping you achieve a happy, healthy pregnancy. All this without needing to read, leaving more time for Netflix or sleep. Alexa for the win!

Skills for Ordering Pizza

Another amazing Amazon skill for working moms?   The Domino’s and Pizza Hut skills which allow you to order pizza right from your Alexa device. You can order pizza while you are folding clothes or chasing down a naked toddler.  Again, what would I do without Alexa?
What Alexa skills for working moms do you use?   leave a comment below!

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7 Pretty & Functional Work Bags

7 Pretty & Functional Work Bags

Updated February 28, 2020
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I  earn a small commission if you use the links to make a purchase. 

If you are like me, you carry all of the things everywhere you go.  I am on the road most of my work day so I carry a lot of things around with me at all times.  It is hard to find a functional and stylish bag to lug everything I  need around.

Luckily, these work bags fit the bill. Not only will they keep you organized, but they will keep you stylish and fabulous.

ECOSUSI Ladies PU Leather Laptop Bag Briefcase Crossbody Messenger Bags Satchel Purse

This beautiful bag can be worn as a briefcase, handbag, cross-body, or shoulder bag. It has 1 larger compartment, a larger padded compartment for a laptop or tablet (fits up to 14″), and several smaller compartments.  This bag is perfect for fall!

CoolBell 15.6 Inch Laptop Tote Bag Women Handbag Nylon Briefcase Classic Shoulder Bag

This work bag is adorable and comes in several colors if pink is not your thing.   It includes a zippered pocket and a padded compartment for your laptop or tablet.  It also has plenty of room for other things such as your phone, planner, and papers.  I love that material is waterproof and scratch proof. This is a big plus for me because I can be a little hard on my work bags.  I just love the color and pattern, it provides such a feminine touch to your workday.

Cady 15 Inch Laptop Case, Faux Leather Travel Messenger Shoulder Bag

I LOVE hard shell laptop bags. I find that they provide more protection and are much easier to get your laptop and papers in and out. I    love this particular work bag because not only is functional and protects your items, but it adds a nice pop of color to your outfit.

 

Light Weight Water Resistant Laptop Tote

This laptop bag is waterproof which is perfect for those that may have to walk in the rain or snow to work.   It has multiple compartments and plenty of padding for your laptop or tablet which make it the perfect work bag.

Laptop Tote Bag,Women Business Laptop Bag Up to 15.6 Inch


This work bag is perfect for fall. It is simple and classic and provides enough space for all of your goods.  This bag has two larger compartments for your laptop and larger items.  It also has two zipper pockets for those smaller items.

 

Laptop Backpack 

Backpacks work amazing for work bags, especially when you have a lengthy walk or commute to the office.  This backpack allows you to store your laptop, water bottle, and even has an external USB charging port, all while keeping your hands available.  It also comes in different colors and patterns to suit your style.

Shoulder Messenger Bag

This messenger style laptop bag is beautiful and classy. It can hold your l4′ laptop, cords, mouse, and other accessories easily.  I love that you can easily attach a scarf to match your outfit to make this the perfect functional accessory.

 

what work bag do you use? WHat do you look for in a work bag? leave a comment below.

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Best pretty and functional work bags for working women. Stay organized and stylish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working Mom: 5 Tips for Easier Work Travel

 

Working Mom: 5 Tips for Easier Work Travel

 

When I was putting myself through college, I worked as a waitress at the airport. I remember watching the women business travelers and thinking of how fun and glamorous that life would be.  Well, I’m now that traveler, and I have to tell you it’s not that fun and it’s not that glamorous.  Traveling as a working mom can be a stressful, guilt-ridden, hot mess. It doesn’t have to be. Work travel can be an enjoyable experience and help you catch some “me” time and allowing your kids to form a tighter bond with your spouse.  Follow these tips to make work travel easier on everyone.

Preparation is Key

The moment you find out you have a travel commitment, start planning.  I have found that you really can’t prepare enough. I plan out every detail of who will be watching my kids, when, and where.  I try to always have a backup plan because, well you know, life.  Let your partner and family members know as early as possible so they can start planning as well.

Stock Up

I always make sure that I go to the store and get anything that my family could possibly need while I’m traveling for work.    I’m pretty sure my husband thinks that toilet paper and diapers appear out of thin air.  My confidence level is not high that he would know when to get said items or where to buy them.    While part of me wants to leave him high and dry so he can live a day in my life, I love my children (and him) so I just do it for them.   At the very least it provides me peace of mind so I can focus on my work while I’m gone and not if my house has adequate toilet paper.

Meal-Plan

I try to leave a very detailed meal plan while I’m gone to take the guesswork out of meal time. Sometimes they follow the plan, and sometimes they eat pizza and popcorn for three days straight.  Whatever makes them happy. At least I have that peace of mind I so desperately need when I’m away.  Before my trip,  I run to the grocery store and get any items that they may need while I am gone, including snacks.  I like to wash and portion out as much as I can so it easier for them to just grab whatever they need. I like to make it as easy as possible for my husband, it helps alleviate some of that dreaded guilt and stress. 

Stay Connected

I always look for ways to stay connected while I am gone.   Whether it be a little surprise I leave for them to find or notes that I leave for them in their lunchbox. Little things to helpTechnology makes it much easier to stay connected. I try to stay connected through sending pictures back and forth.  My son is really into trains so when I was taking the tram to my concourse, I made sure to snap a pic and send to him. It makes me feel that he is included in my adventures.  The highlight of my day is our nightly FaceTime sessions.  Although, I will admit my first Facetime session with my oldest was a disaster. It was my first time away from him so I was already feeling incredibly emotional. We get on FaceTime and he starts sobbing hysterically the moment he sees me. He was sobbing, I was sobbing, and my poor husband was trying to pick up the pieces. Hot mess.  Moral of the story is just doing what is best for you and your kids. If you or your kids aren’t ready for FaceTime, don’t FaceTime. You want to try to minimize any discomfort as much as possible for everyone’s sake.

Make it Fun

I’m not above providing positive reinforcement (ahem, bribery) for my children. In fact, this makes my working mom world go ’round.  We have started a tradition of bringing home a little toy/souvenir from each of my work trips. I typically just pick up something in the airport on the way home.   My kids love this and look forward to it every time.  I get to make my kids happy thus alleviating my mom guilt, they get a fun new thing.  Win-win!   I also try to get a souvenir that is specific to the area that I traveled, turning it into a teachable moment.    If you don’t want to buy your kids something (I get the whole “I can’t stand one more thing in my house” thing), plan a special outing when you get back so you all have something to look forward to.  A trip to the park, library, or family movie night would do the trick.
What tips do you have for work travel?   Leave a comment below!
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Work travel tips for busy working moms. Follow these tips to make work travel easier on everyone. #workingmom #momhacks

Must-Have Planner Accessories

Must-Have Planner Accessories

Updated March 2020
You may find this article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make purchases using these links. 

I love using a planner. It gives me a sense of calm and achievement putting my goals and thoughts onto paper.  I have tried using electronic methods from time to time but I guess I’m an old soul and I keep finding myself coming back to my paper planner.  Luckily, others have jumped aboard the paper planner trend so there are a ton of accessories and fun things to making planning easier and more stylish.   I’ve compiled a list of planner accessories that I just couldn’t live without. For more ideas check out our Planner & Bullet Journal Pinterest Board.

Fineliner Color Pen Set 

First things first, you need a good set of pens.  These pens are perfect, not too thick and not too thin. They don’t bleed as much as others I have used in the past.  I love the variety of colors and it allows you to color code your planner. I’m a visual person so this helps keep me organized and focused at a glance.

 

Erin Condren Lifeplanner

If you don’t already have a planner, this one from Erin Condren is the gold standard in paper planners.   Not only is it beautiful, but it has it all. It includes monthly, weekly, year at a glance, blank pages, lined pages, dotted page, etc.  My favorite part is that it includes a goal setting section.   I’m a firm believer that everyone should write their goals down and this planner allows you to easily do that.

 

Planner Sticker Value Pack

I’m not that artistic so stickers allow me to jazz up my planner without having to use my artistic skills. This sticker set has it all- quotes, appointments, to-do stickers, etc.   They also have sticker sets specifically for moms, students, fitness, etc. so if you need it I am sure they have it.    Stickers provide a way to stay super organized and have an adorable planner.

 

Bullet Journal Stencil Set  

Back to my artistic skills,   I do not have any.  I can barely draw a happy face. So needless to say, my planner would be a hotmess without planner accessories like stickers and this awesome stencil set.  This is the mack-daddy of stencil sets (smaller sets are available) that includes anything you you would need to spruce up your planner.  It includes shapes, doodles, borders, social media icons, etc.   This set also comes with a handy little carrying case.   This stencil set was a total gamechanger.

 

Habit Tracker Journal Stickers

I   love browsing Pinterest and seeing all of the beautiful page layout ideas. I    love the idea of having habit tracker and mood trackers. However, again I  will mention my lack of artistic ability.   These simple stickers allow you to insert a habit tracker into any bullet journal.  Super cute and easy!

Washi Tape Set 

Washi tape is a must for any paper planner addict. It provides an easy way to add a little spice to your planner without needing non-existent artistic skills.   You can pick up Washi tape almost anywhere these days.  I have even seen it at our local dollar store.  They have different patterns and designs and even seasonal washi tape.   Washi tape is a must-have planner accessory.

Hard Shell Pen Case 

I lose almost everything.  I have always been forgetful and I have finally accepted that this will never change.  Now, all of my focus is not losing my two little human beings that created.  Trying to keep up with my colored pens is low on my priority list. Luckily, this adorable little pen case helps me greatly. It keeps all of pens in one place and I can easily throw it in my briefcase or purse.   Problem solved.

 

Do you use a paper planner?  What are your must-have planner accessories?  WHat planner do you use?  leave a comment below.

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Must Have Planner accessories for the planner addict. Improve productivity and achieve your goals by using a planner. Erin Condren, bullet journal, habit tracker, planner accessories

 

 

 

Must Have Apps for Working Moms

Must Have Apps for Working Moms

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may result in a commission. 

As a working mom (and just a mom in general), I am in constant search of added convenience in my life. While being a millennial mommy has its disadvantages (i.e. judgy social media moms, internet trolls, etc.), it does have some incredible advantages in the way of technology.

We have an infinite amount of resources right at our fingertips to make our lives a little easier.

 Here are some of my favorite apps for working moms.

Starbucks App

Coffee is my friend.  That is why the Starbucks mobile app is one that I use almost daily. What I love best about the app is mobile ordering, which is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread.  With mobile ordering, you can simply place your order and then pick it up in the designated mobile order area.

No waiting in lines? Whaaat?!  I also love that you can customize your drinks however you like it and save it as a favorite.  You can also save your favorite drink order as a Siri shortcut for iPhone users.  They couldn’t make getting your morning coffee any easier.

Evernote

I am a huge Evernote fan. I use it for both work and home. You are able to store important documents, information, and pictures in one place.  I like to keep all of the families school, doctors, and sports info stored in Evernote so I always have access to it when I need it.  I love that it backs up the info so it is nice and safe in the cloud.   Evernote has saved me many times!

Cozi

Cozi is a perfect app for busy working moms. The family organizer app helps coordinate and communicate everyone’s schedules and activities, track grocery lists, manage to-do lists, plan ahead for dinner, and keep the whole family on the same page.

My husband travels a lot during the week so we barely see each other.  Before we started using Cozi, it was really hard to coordinate schedules. We would often forget to tell each other about important dates or events.  Now, I can just enter it into the family calendar and it will automatically send notifications to my husband and anyone else that is linked to your account. It’s perfect for grandparents, nannies, and caregivers as well!

Plus most of Cozi’s features are completely free! If you download one app, I would highly recommend that you give this one a try.

Try the Cozi Family Organizer today. It’s FREE!

Get the #1 family organizing app

Amazon App

Where would I be without Amazon Family? I try to buy as much as I can from Amazon because it is a working mom’s savior. Running out of diapers? After a few clicks,  diapers will be on your door step in two days.  Need a gift for a birthday party coming up this weekend? Voila, doorstep!

With Amazon Family, you get a 20% discount on diapers subscriptions and other essential baby/kid supplies.   I also love this app because you can easily comparison shop. While you are out shopping and find something you are interested in, you simply just take a picture of the barcode and Amazon will let you know their price for the item.   Easy-peasy.   Check out Amazon Family and get 30-Day Free Trial.

Artkive

With two kids in school, our house can quickly get overcome with school art projects.  The Artkive app lets you save, store, and share all of your child’s artwork within the app. Using your phone’s camera, you can snap a picture of the artwork, and tag it with your child’s name, age, the artwork’s name, and the date it was created.  You can even share the artwork with family and friends.  Such a fun, easy, and clutter-free way to store all of those cute art projects (plus it eliminates any mom guilt for tossing them out).

Waze

This app has saved me so much time since I downloaded it. Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app that is free to download and use. You can see where there are accidents, hazards, traffic backups, and even speed-traps!  Waze will even redirect you while you are driving if traffic becomes bad which is a huge help!

I love Waze for road trips. You can search for a particular restaurant or store (or anything for that matter) and it will find it along the route. If we are heading to Grandma’s house and need to grab a Starbucks, it will let you know which ones are the quickest and most convenient for your route.  Game changer.

I  know there are other navigation apps out there. However, I  have tested and compared Waze and several other navigation apps and Waze has been the most accurate and efficient every time.

YouTube Kids

Hey, a mom had to do what a mom has to do.  Sometimes when I need to get some stuff done around the house or have my kids behave for 10 minutes while I run into the grocery store, YouTube Kids is my go-to.  As all moms know, traditional YouTube can lead your sweet innocent child down some weird paths. One minute they are watching Paw Patrol videos and before you know it they are watching some strange demon cat cult. The answer to that is YouTube Kids. The content is geared towards kids and I have found there are fewer annoying ads.

what are your must have apps? What app could you not live without?   LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!

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Back to School Prep for Working Moms

Back to School Prep for Working Moms

Back to school time is upon us and moms around the world are rejoicing.  All except moms working outside of the home.   Back to school only adds to the chaos and kid-shuffling that is the working mother’s day.  Getting yourself ready for work, getting your kids ready for school, breakfast, school drop-off, commute to the office, work, school pick-up, extracurriculars, homework, dinner, bath, bedtime, repeat.   Sound familiar (and utterly exhausting)?  Yup.  But, don’t despair!  Here are some things that you can do now to help give you a head start on the upcoming school year.

Start Back to School Shopping, NOW!

Start back to school shopping as soon as you can. Make it easy for yourself by picking up school supplies and clothing items while you are out and about. Make a checklist of things your kids will need and keep this handy as you are going for your weekly Target run.   There are a ton of benefits for being an early-worm. For one, you will feel less stressed and frazzled those last few days of summer.   You will also score the best deals on the best supplies.  As you get closer to the start of school, supplies tend to get picked over and more expensive.   You will also have the luxury of spacing out these purchases over several weeks which is easier on the budget.

Meal-Planning

There are so many meal-planning resources out there. Seriously, just go to Pinterest and search for “meal-planning” and you will get thousands of pins on everything from on budget meal-planning to vegan all-natural super-food meal-planning.  So many meal-plans. It’s a good idea to plan out your meals for a few weeks in advance. This allows you to start stocking up on the non-perishable ingredients to help you avoid those last minute dashes to the store to pick up a missing ingredient.   Freezer meals are also something that you MUST do. Research and plan out at least 7-10 freezer meals and take a day and get them ready. These are lifesavers on those days where you just can’t find the time to cook. You simply take them out of the freezer and put them in your crock pot or instant pot. Crisis averted!

Stock Up on Must-Have Items

Now is a good time to stock up on non-perishable supplies/foods so you can save yourself some trips to the store. Stock up on things like toilet paper, paper towel, bottled water, snacks, garbage bags, etc.   There is nothing worse than running out of toilet paper and having to run to the store at 8 pm after you have been running around all day.  Amazon is AMAZING for ordering these items from the comfort of your own home!

Another lifesaver is the Amazon Dash Button. These little things of beauty were sent from above.   The Dash Button is a small wireless device about the size of a pack of gum that allows you to order common household supplies with the click of a button. You simply press the button and the device uses Wi-Fi to instantly order items you have pre-selected from Amazon. AH-MAZ-ING.  So let’s say you have a Dash Button for your laundry detergent in your laundry room. When you are throwing in a load of laundry you notice you are running low, you click the button, and VOILA, in two days you have laundry detergent on your front porch.  I don’t think Amazon could make life any easier for busy moms.

Organize Everything You Possibly Can

Spend some time organizing anything that you possibly can organize.   Make sure that everything has its place and your family knows where that place is (funny, I know!).  While I suggest organizing as much as you possibly can, there are some areas that are absolute musts.  The first of these areas is your pantry.  Having an uncluttered and organized pantry makes meal-planning and prep much easier.    The next area that you will want to get to is your kid’s closets.  Starting from kindergarten, your children can help get themselves ready. Spend some time before the school week preparing some outfits and each morning your kiddo can pick out which outfit they want to wear for that day. It’s a win-win, you save time and they feel more empowered.     The last must-organize area is your landing zone.   Your “landing zone’ is that space in your house where everyone seems to put their stuff (think shoes, backpacks, etc.) when they get home.  If you don’t have an official landing zone,  you should create one.  If you have a quasi-landing zone, organize it and make it official.  Having this space will hopefully eliminate unnecessary clutter throughout your home and prevent the missing shoe when you are late for work fiasco.

Re-evaluate Household Chores

The beginning of the school year is a great time to re-evaluate the household responsibilities.   Sit down and write out every family member and list the chores that they are responsible for and when they are to be completed.  If applicable, assign some additional chores to your family members.  Check out this article from SportsMomSurvivalGuide.com that details what chores are appropriate for each age group.  Giving your kids responsibilities not only takes some things off of your plate, but it helps develop their confidence and independence.  However, you WILL find yourself saying to yourself “it is easier to do this myself so I will just keep doing it.”  This is the trap that us moms fall into.  In fact, I swear kids take longer to do their chores initially secretly hoping that you will cave and just do it for them.   DO NOT FALL FOR IT.  Sit down with your kid and set very clear expectations (when, how, what happens if they are not home, etc.).  Once you discuss expectations show them how.   Have them watch you do it once,  do it together once, and then have them do it on their own.   This may seem time-consuming (and annoying) but just stick with it.   Your future self will thank you.

Develop a Family Schedule

Your schedule can be crazy as a working mom during the school year.  It is a great idea to set aside some time to develop a formal family schedule.  Figure out what will work best for your family. It could be an app, a fancy family command center, or a plain old calendar on your wall.  You know what will work best for your family.  Once you decide on a format, hold a family meeting and discuss all of your schedules and commitments.  Make sure you gather all of the school schedules, sports calendars, and your work calendar.   Talk through any conflict that you may have and discuss pick-up/drop-off responsibilities. If you have relatives that regularly help out, have them be a part of the meeting as well so you can coordinate their assistance at the same time.   This is also a great time to discuss family vacations for the year. When do you plan on going? When does everyone have a break? etc.   Once you are done commit to having a similar meeting each month to update the calendar and adjust as necessary. This 30-minute family meeting will save you hours of back and forth trying to coordinate your schedule.  As a nice bonus, it helps create a sense of teamwork and support in the family which is never a bad thing.

What are your tips for back to school prep?  What do you do to get you and your family ready?  We’d love to hear, drop a comment below! 

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Back to school prep for the working mom. Tasks that you can do now to make the school year easier and less stressful. For more tips visit www.DarlingCEO.com

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How to Find Time For Your Side Hustle

How to Find Time For Your Side Hustle

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

Anyone that starts a new side hustle has the same concern. How do you find time for your side hustle?

I have always been entrepreneurial and starting a business is so exciting and all consuming. When I start something, I tend to put my whole self into it. However, I’m also a mom of two. I’ve learned quickly that it is difficult to put your whole self into anything as a mother.  You are pulled in a million different directions which can leave you feeling defeated and ineffective.

Luckily, I have figured out a way that I can have both a successful career and be an engaged and present mother.

Here are four strategies that you can use to find time for your side hustle as a busy working mom

#1. The Parent Split-Shift

I’m a huge advocate for the “parent split-shift”.  If you haven’t heard of the parent split-shift before, it is essentially working during the day, taking off a bit early in the afternoon to spend time with your kids, and then plugging back into my side hustle when the kids go to bed.

This is how it works in my house-  I work until about 4 or 5 pm and then head home to spend some quality time with my kids. During this time I am able to be fully present and focus solely on them. Quality over quantity.  I am able to get dinner ready, take them to the park, give them their baths and put them to bed. Then after bed time, I am able to plug back in and get more accomplished.

The key to this strategy is making sure that you stop working at a reasonable hour both in the afternoon and evening.  Otherwise, you run the risk of burning out.

#2. Side Hustle Focus Day

I strongly believe you need to take action on your side hustle every day in order for it to be successful. If that is difficult to commit to, dedicate one day a week to your side hustle.  It could be a day during the week where you arrange childcare for your kids after school or you can pick a weekend day where your spouse can handle the kids for the day. Whatever works best for you and your family.

If you are able, try to keep your “side hustle day” consistent so you can and your family can plan for it accordingly.  Make sure that you have a to-do list for this day consisting of tasks that will bring the most value to your business. Start with the items that will bring you the most money and work only off of that list. This will ensure that you are maximizing productivity during this time.

#3. Side-Hustle Sprint

Another highly effective strategy for fitting in your side hustle is the side hustle sprint. If you just can’t seem to find a larger chunk of time, schedule your side hustle in 20-minute increments throughout the week.  If you are intentional and focused, you can accomplish a TON in a short amount of time.

At the beginning of the week, take a look at your schedule and identify times when you can schedule some side hustle time in.  It could be in the morning before the kids wake up, at nap-time, when your spouse gets home from work, or whenever you can find it!

Before your side hustle sprint, identify 1-2 items that you want to accomplish.  Be realistic with yourself, you don’t want to set yourself up to fail. For example, you likely won’t be able to write a complete blog post in 20 minutes. You can, however, write an outline and the intro.  If you can’t accomplish the whole task in 20 minutes, you can break up the task into several increments. In this example, you can spend your next sprint writing the body of the post.  Little blocks of time add up quickly! Block this time on your calendar and write down exactly what you should be doing during this time. 

#4. Side Hustle Vacation

I discovered this technique when I was in grad school.  When I would try to study for finals at home, I found that I was too distracted to really concentrate. I would sit down to study and then the next thing I knew, I was reorganizing the garage.  The weekend before finals each semester, I would book a hotel room for the weekend and basically hole up and study for 48 hours straight. It was amazingly productive.

I know it’s hard to get away from your home and family, however, try to do this for yourself from time to time. A side hustle vacation affords you the opportunity to get away from the day-to-day and truly focus on your side hustle. This is a great approach for things that really require your focus or things that you may have been putting off for a while.

While I miss my kids immensely during this time, I always come back feeling refreshed and accomplished and a much better mom!

With all of these strategies, it is important that you are being kind to yourself and carve out regular “me” time.  Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your relationship and health .  It’s the whole “put the oxygen mask on yourself before others” thing. Your cup has to be full before you can pour it for others.

You need to take care of your self before you can take care of others.

Tell us! what tips do you find time for your side hustle? Leave a comment below.

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How to Balance Work and Kids (Without Going Completely Insane)

How to Balance Work and Kids (Without Going Completely Insane)

I am a glutton for punishment. I have two adorable little kiddos, work a full-time (sometimes stressful & demanding) job, and I run a blog and consulting practice on the side.  Life is beautiful and a bit chaotic most days.

A while back I  started to really struggle with balancing all of the demands on my plate. I  felt like I  was always neglecting something. I  felt like I  could never fully be present in what I  was doing because there was always something else that demands my attention.  Sound familiar?

While I still struggle with this regularly, I’ve picked up some strategies along the way that have helped me balance work and kids more effectively.

Be Nice to Yourself

As women, we tend to put an incredible amount of pressure on ourselves.  The first step to balance work and kids is to have grace with yourself. You can’t do it all and no one expects you to.

When you find yourself stressing about something, stop and give yourself a quick reality check. Ask yourself what would happen if this doesn’t get done right now?  What is this load of laundry doesn’t get folded right this second?  Nothing.     What if I don’t volunteer to help organize the next bake sale at school?  Someone else will.

Get comfortable with the fact that you don’t have to do it all, all the time.

It Takes A Village

It really does take a village to raise children. I always thought that sounded cheesy until I had children of my own. Now, I understand that you need people around to help you.

Sometimes you need some time to work uninterrupted (or time to just recharge). Ask grandma to keep the kids overnight so you can catch up on some work (and sleep!). Set up a babysitting swap with a girlfriend or neighbor. You watch their kids one night and they can watch yours the next night.  Hire a local babysitter to watch the kids a couple of hours every week.

You should also try to get some help for your home, if possible.  Every successful woman I have ever spoken with has some form of household help. Literally, every single one of them. It could be a housekeeper, someone to run light errands for you, or just a cleaning service that comes a few times a year. Whatever you can afford to do. It will take some pressure off and ultimately allows you to spend more time with your family.

I have a cleaning service that comes every other Friday.  I find myself being a much better mom those weekends because I’m not stressing about housework. Try Amazon Home Services. They have services such as housecleaning, window washing, and handyman services. It is much more affordable than you think.

Whatever it is you are struggling with, try to find how you can enlist other people to support you.  Chances are there are friends and family that would love the opportunity to help you. 

Empower your Family

I tend to take everything on myself:  work, clean, cook, manage finances, plan trips, manage the household, etc.   I fail to include my family in these responsibilities and shame on me.

At work, I am a huge advocate of empowering employees by delegating them tasks and responsibilities. Why should my home be any different? Not only will handing off some responsibilities to your kids ease your workload, but it will help develop them into responsible and competent people.

Find age appropriate tasks, teach them how to do the tasks, provide them support as they are learning, and watch them flourish.

You do not need to do everything yourself.

Establish Routines

Routines are essential in helping you balance work and kids (for you and your kids).

I am an advocate for routines because they are liberating and reduce stress in your life. For example, brushing your teeth is a task that you have to do. Do you get stressed out every morning because you have to brush your teeth? Nope,  because it is a habit and part of our routine. Brushing your teeth requires no thought. You just do it.

Human beings thrive on routines.  Develop a morning routine, a home from school/work routine, a bedtime routine, and a prepping for the week routine on Sundays. In doing so, you can quickly go through the motions, get things done and clear your mind for more important things. Visualize the perfect routine,   write it down, communicate the routine to others, and then hold everyone accountable for it.   After a few weeks, it will be second nature and will be much less stressful for everyone involved.

Sundays are for Preparing

Every hour that you spend planning or prepping on Sunday can save your hours of execution and tons of additional stress.

Your plan should include some form of meal-planning.  On Sunday decide what your meals will be for the week and make sure that you have all of the ingredients that you will need on hand. Another thing that will really help save you time is to plan your and your family’s outfits for the week. Buy a hanging organizer and put everything that you need for the outfit in the organizer down to socks and underwear. That way all you need to do in the morning is grab it and put-on. I do this for myself and include accessories and shoes so I am not scrambling around looking for something that goes with the outfit. Any sporting events or activities? Prep all of the items that you will need and get them ready to go. Your Thursday self will thank you for all the work that you did on Sunday.

If you aren’t sure what to include in your Sunday routine, think about what takes up the most time or causes the most stress throughout the week.  Think about how you can try to eliminate some os this work/stress by planning ahead.

Set Goals

Goals are essential in helping you balance work and kids.

Each Sunday, set goals for the upcoming week. Set an overarching goal for the week-  what do you really want to accomplish? What woudl make you really excited to get done?   Next, break it down into realistic daily tasks that need to be done in order to accomplish that goal.

The key is being realistic.  You are just setting yourself up for failure if you try to cram too much into your week or accomplish too much. By picking one realistic goal, it allows you to meet that goal and be done.  Then you can relax and spend time with your family. Without goal setting, you will always feel that you have something else to do.

It is possible to balance work and kids, it just requires a bit of planning and patience. You got this!

What tips do you have to balance work and kids? What is your biggest struggle as a working mom? We would love to hear, drop a comment below.

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Office Supplies to Beautify Your Office

Office Supplies to Beautify Your Office

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Who says that your office has to be dull and boring?  Having an opportunity to personalize your work space can not only inspire creativity but it can also have a big impact on your productivity. When you have a chance to decorate and use office supplies to beautify your office, you feel more comfortable and connected to your workplace.  Hey, we spend hours at our office, we might as well enjoy the space!

Check out these gorgeous office supplies to beautify your office and add a little pizazz to your workday!

Notebook Set

I love notebooks. They are a great place to jot down your goals, to-do list, meeting notes, ideas, dreams, etc.   What is even better than having a place to store all of your thoughts, having a beautiful place to store these thoughts. I love that this set comes with three notebooks and is super affordable.

Accordion File

Accordion files are great to store important documents, forms, and notes.  This particular accordion file is sure to beautify your office and provide some organization.

File Folders

Back to organization, file folders are a great way to add some attention to detail to your office.  No need to tuck these into a filing cabinet, these file folders will look great sitting on your desk.

Gold and White Calculator

Sure, we all have calculators on our phones and computers, but it is very convenient to have one right on our desk.  Better yet, it’s a great way to beautify your office and add some personality.  This gold and white calculator is a nice size, is affordable, and is solar-powered so you will never have to worry about batteries.

Pretty Pens

Beautiful pens are a cheap and easy way to spruce up any office space.  This set of rose gold pens comes with 10 pens that you can easily stash in a pen holder to pretty up your desk.

Marble Pen Holder

Speaking of pen holders, this beautiful and simple pen holder is a must-add to beautify your office.

Paperclips & Holder

Matching the pen holder, this beautiful little paper clip holder would also be a perfect addition to your office decor.   Beautiful and functional!   

Desk Phone Stand

This beautiful phone stand is functional and pretty.  It’s a great way to keep your screen visible while you are busy typing away.  I  keep a charger at my desk and use this a charging station.

 

What are your must-have office supplies to beautify your office?  Where do you get your favorite office supplies?   I’d love to hear, drop a comment below!

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Pretty Office Decor: 6 Must-Have Items

You may find this article contains affiliate links. Purchases thru these links support the ongoing efforts DarlingCEO. 

I love pretty things. I especially love pretty things in my office. I’m just so inspired and motivated when I am able to look around and see beautiful things all around my office. Recently, I had the opportunity to move offices and I must say, I am totally into chic office decor right now. My old office was a very drab, very corporate setting. There was no color, no personality, and it was just so stuffy. I was so excited when I saw my new office for the first time. It too was very boring but I have more license to spruce it up a bit in my new building. I’ve been on a pretty office decor & supply shopping mission!

I’ve put together this list of pretty office decor to help inspire you to spruce up your own space. If you are going to be in your office for eight hours a day, you might as well enjoy the space!

Desktop organizer

I love this desktop organizer!  First of all, it is so pretty and spruces up my drab desk. Not only is it adorable, but It is also very functional.  It comes with a detachable phone stand/business card holder, includes a monthly and yearly calendar, has a pen holder, and a pocket for notes or receipts. I love sticking important info and inspirational quotes under the mat so they are always handy.

pretty coffee mug

I don’t know where I would be without my coffee.  I have two toddlers so the world without coffee is a very sad, sad,  tiring world. What is better than coffee?Coffee in a pretty mug. I just feel so Sex & the City-ish sitting there in my office with my chic cup of coffee tapping away at the keyboard. Nothing can stop me!   Bring it on day!

Inspirational art

I love quotes and inspirational sayings. Sometimes you just need a little pick me up to keep you going through a tough day. These desk cards are a cute complement to any office and will keep you inspired and motivated all week long. There are twelve different cards so you can rotate them depending on your mood/day.  I LOVE the gold stamping paired with the pretty colors. So fancy!   These are a perfect complement to your office decor.

wireless speaker

Silence creeps me out. I have to be listening to something all the time. This cute little Bluetooth speaker is amazing to listen to music, podcasts, or even conference calls. The rose gold color is perfect with my office decor. I also love that it is on the smaller side so it is perfect for a cubicle or smaller office as well.

cute office supplies

I am probably the biggest nerd I know. Some of my favorite memories growing up involved back to school shopping. I just loved going to the store to buy my new school supplies. Finding the perfect binder, smelling the fresh paper, getting everything nice and organized in your new backpack. The stuff that dreams are made of. Needless to say, that love for office supplies has not gone away. I’m an absolute sucker for a pretty stapler, just like this one. This set is super adorable and perfect to fit your office decor.  Pretty, yet functional!

Planner/organizer

I love this planner. Not only is it pretty, but it does an awesome job of helping you identify your goals, identify ways to achieve them, and hold you accountable.   Most people don’t write down what they want to achieve let alone how they plan on achieving it. Study after study shows that those that write down their goals are more likely to achieve them.   This planner includes a Life Set-Up Guide, commitment contract, yearly/quarterly goal plans, monthly and weekly planning pages, and relaxing coloring mandalas.   My favorite part is that 5% of this company’s profit goes to helping children in Tanzania.

 

Hopefully, this gets your office decorating juices flowing. Now get out there and start making your office beautiful!

For more inspiration, check out and follow our Office Supply Pinterest Board!  You can also check out Mobile Office Must-Haves: 5 Gadgets You Need!

Pretty Office Decor, 6 Must-Have Items, Make your office and cubicle pretty & functional.