Another working moms site, "Working Moms Against Guilt" honored us with a "Thinking Blogger" award saying: "With 11 working moms blogging collectively, you're bound to discover some thought-provoking ideas, products, websites, and thoughts. Work It features lots of different voices and updates often with entries that make us think. Plus, I love the Coffee Break entries!"
Elizabeth at "Career and Kids" says: "I enjoy the “Coffee Break” links...there’s often content of interest to all working parents...and..Keep up the good work!"
Writer Sandi Shelton recently blogged about us, too! She said, "A website for working moms, called Work It, linked to my blog, which made me so happy because their stuff is so funny and so necessary out there in the world."
Today's Link: Hot Coupon World
Why: I love a good bargain on groceries and household products! Hot Coupon World has message board where people share sales and coupon match ups for a ton of different stores. They also have printable coupons, rebates and other money saving deals. This site has quickly become a favorite of mine and has helped me save money on groceries!
By Sara B
We’ve got a team building event coming up at work that would require us to travel to another state since that is where the main office is. If I chose to go along with the rest of my teammates, I’d have to be apart from my daughter and husband for three days.
I’m a new mom and the thought of leaving my almost nine month old daughter is scary for me. She doesn’t even sleep through the night yet – well, that is a story for another time! Anyway, I discussed this upcoming travel with my manager and he felt that it would be OK if I chose not to attend. He said the team would understand and it was up to me. I really have a great manager and I appreciate his flexibility.
I do worry that by not attending this, it will make me look bad at work. On one hand I do feel like I have a valid excuse, I’m a new mom and I’m still nursing my daughter. This is only a team building event and not some important critical business activity.
On the other hand I realize that I am missing out on the face to face interaction with my teammates from another state who I haven’t seen in over a year. I worry that by not attending it will make me stand out and I won’t look like a team player.
I’m really torn. I know I could just travel and pump while away from my daughter. I worry about how I’d miss her. I’d feel bad leaving my husband and I know the baby would miss me and notice that I am not around. She is going through some major separation anxiety right now. I’m not quite sure what I am going to do, but I want to make a decision soon. That way my team can be informed on the situation.
Has anyone gone on a business trip for work while having an infant? How did it go?
Today's Link: Monthly.Info
Why: Back when I was trying to get pregnant with my first child, I was constantly tracking my monthly cycle. This was kept on my monthly calendar, with scribbles and notes along the side. And now for those of us who use the computer at any point in the day, you can log onto Monthly.Info and keep track of your cycle. Each time you start your period, you add the date to your account, and it will use your history to predict the next time your cycle will start. Not only is it good for tracking when your next cycle will be, it keeps a history in case you ever need it.
by Jenny
I’m crying uncle! I have to call in reinforcements. I can’t keep up. I have two children who have taken over my life and the things I own in my life — such as my house.
I try. I really do. I pick up, I put away, I wipe down, I wash, I pick up, I put away, I fold, I pick up, I put away. And on and on. Right?
Before you have kids, you only have one or two people’s crap to clean up. One person being you and the other your lovable, thoughtful and wonderful husband who can’t seem to figure out that the dishes don’t wash themselves.
That was the case for me anyway. I kept up with my housecleaning for the most part. There was the one time I went on strike just to show my husband what I did that he didn’t notice. How I vacuumed, swept, dusted, did laundry, cleaned bathrooms, cooked, did dishes and so much more. Not begrudgingly because I was doing it for me, too. But sometimes you just want to make sure you’re appreciated.
The strike was highly effective. My work is highly appreciated and now all I have to do is remind him of the days of the strike, and there is no argument about what needs to get done.
But it’s now too much for both of us. With two kids, busy jobs and a desire for some semblance of a social life, we just don’t have the time to keep up with the cleaning like we need to. And we now have two more people’s things to pick up and put away and clean and wash and so on.
So I’ve called in a maid.
I hope she can help. I’m hoping she can give me back my weekends or the one day I have with my girls by myself. I would much rather lay around all day and read books with them, play in the backyard, teach my 3-year-old how to write her letters, than clean up my bathroom and vacuum.
Who wouldn’t? OK, sometimes I do enjoy the escape. But not enough to keep it up!
How do you keep your house clean? Or do you?
by Amy S.
I love trying new drinks. And I'm a fan of cranberry. This is a good start for trying out the new Ocean Spray Cranenergy™ drink. Cranergy™ is made from cranberry juice, enhanced with natural energizers like green tea extract and B vitamins. Both cranberry juice and green tea extract contain high levels of antioxidants.
I loved the taste - particularly the Raspberry Cranberry Lift flavor. It's a great option for an on-the-go morning, particularly because it's lower in calories than a sticky sweet coffee drink. Made with Splenda® brand sweetener, Cranergy™ has only 35 calories per eight-ounce serving.
It's a healthier alternative, but I can't say for sure that it gave me much of an energy hit. Keep in mind, I am used to drinking at least two caffeinated drinks a day - so I'm no rooky in that department. So maybe I wouldn't make this my first choice for an afternoon energy burst - but I would enjoy it guilt-free anytime of the day because it tastes good - and a little green tea and B vitamins probably never hurt anyone!
Today's Link: Amazon Filler Item Finder
Why: I shop online frequently, and one of my go-to sites is Amazon.com. They often have free shipper savings on qualifying items over $25. The quandry sometimes is when you have an item that costs $19.99, do you just pay for shipping at that point or try and find something for the difference? Amazon Filler Item Finder is the solution. Type in the dollar amount of what you need to make the free shipping happen, and it will list out all the items at that price.
By Natalie B.
Did your mom work when you were growing up? Mine did. And I always told myself it never really bothered me because my mom worked all my life (still does). But now that I’m a mother, I’m beginning to rethink that. I mean, I did notice that she never was at my soccer games. She never worked the Book and Art Fair, she never volunteered to serve lunch with the rest of my friend’s moms and she certainly never picked me up after school. Come to think of it… I didn’t especially like going to the “before school club” and loathed the “after school club” even more. So I wonder if I’m making the same mistakes. You can’t help but wonder.
I remember a time when my mom received what must have been a “phone tree” call from another classmate’s mom asking her if she would participate in a bake sale. My mom’s response, “I’m not that kind of a mom, sorry” and hung up the phone. She actually said that!
Growing up I never ever thought there was an alternative to working because that was the way I was brought up. Lessons on women and independence ran rampant through our house during the teenage years. Was this right? Was this helpful? I don’t know. And now here I am, a working mom with two young (toddlers!) daughters.
This has to be the single most perplexing question a I ask myself: “Am I missing out on my children’s lives and will they hate me for it?” I don’t hate my mom; on the contrary I couldn’t love her more. However, I do wish she would have made more time for those soccer games. Hmm, I’ll have to remember that if and when my girls take up sports.
How do you still make time for your children's soccer games and other special events while working? Do you think it's easier to balance the role of working mom than it was for our parent's generation?
by Amy S.
Cell phones are the lifeline of the working mom. We may not use our cell phones to send videos of dancing cats (like my 21-year-old niece sent me last week), but we use they for practically everything else. So when I got word of a free new program designed to send just about anything from my desktop to my cell phone - I was on it.
SimplyMobile Mom is software you install on a personal computer that lets you easily send content to your phone. (You can also share content with others by adding them to your network.) The premise is simple - take lists, to-dos, photos, even blogs with you by adding them to your SimplyMobile Mom software on your desktop and then "sending" the items to your phone. Most of the interface involves SMS texting, so a good text plan is a must. I still pay by the text message, so I didn't want a ton of text notifications. Although you don't have to use the text version - there's a web version for those with smart phones - it seems pretty important to have a good text plan, because even the web version relies on texts to send the web links to your phone.
There are lots of good ways to use this service - an on-the-go grocery list you can update from home or work and have sent to your phone, connect to your email account, send photos to your phone and lots more. It's a great way to make a basic cell phone "act" more like a smart phone.
For those with a smart phone it may provide an easier way to "sync" content from computer to phone. As a smart phone user, I really like the idea because it would allow me to share content across multiple computers without having to use Active Sync. But based on the few hours I spent with the software, I'm not sure it can really "take the place" of syncing data. It can definitely enhance it.
The set-up is pretty easy - the program is downloaded to a PC and several text messages sent to your cell phone. The interface isn't quite as friendly as I'd hoped - I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy but still had to watch several online tutorials on how to use the service. In addition, keep in mind that this software is still in Beta testing - so it's not without its quirks. For one thing, the grammar snob in me noticed a few typos along the way! It also bugs me that when you're in the program, it can "disappear" when you're using it and you have to double-click it again to make it "reappear" for use.
Now is a great time to register with SimplyMobile Mom - they're offering a contest for all who register with the site to win an 8gb Apple iPhone and 2-years of service from AT&T. The contest ends May 19th.
Today's Links: Build a Rainwater Collector or Buy a Rainwater Collector
Why: It's an easy way to recycle your rainwater for use on your garden or yard. And if you aren't handy, there are many options - from a "butt" to a column - find them via Treehugger.
Today's Link: Ecomom Alliance
Why: "Because on of nature's strongest forces is a network of mothers."
Advertising space is available to those who would like to reach savvy working moms who are often the household decision makers on large and small purchases alike. Email amiefletch@yahoo.com to get details on ad rates.
