Some people love the idea of lounging around and doing nothing all week and don’t even think about bringing work with them. I on the other hand, think lounging is good in theory but when I try to do it all day everyday I get antsy and have to do something productive.

When I went on vacation recently I had a mini panic attack when I thought of my poor inbox all alone and neglected for a week and a half. Sure, I was on vacation but that didn’t mean that I was going to be able to kick my email habit at the click of a mouse!

Here are a few things that helped me have a great time lounging and stay semi connected to the outside world at the same time.

Check your email once a day.
Once a day is plenty when you’re on vacation. You’re not going to be able to get away completely if you’re addicted to your email like me but I found that just checking it once in the morning was enough to keep me happy and not jonesing for an email fix all day.

If you can, set up a time one day to do a little work.
This is a vacation first and work time second so only plan on taking one day to do any work that you would like to get done. I decided to do some blogging because it was a nice quiet time to get some dedicated time in without having Aerith running around in the background. I ended up not getting everything done that I wanted but it was ok because I got enough done that I was ok to spend some time on me.

Pick a comfy spot to work.

Look at this set up! Umm classy anyone?!

Not too shabby huh! This was in the lobby of the hotel and it really set the stage to get some work done but really made it a lot easier to put it away and enjoy my time.

Ask your spouse for help.
My husband and I prearranged that he would take a day to go exploring and I would try to get some blogging and reviewing done durning the day but at night it was all us time. For us it was perfect because we each got to do what we wanted and then got to spend some much needed time together as well. He got to ride indoor go karts and I got in some relaxing business time!

Remember that the world will go on without you!
Yes, you are taking some much needed time off but that doesn’t mean that your business with crumble to the ground if you can’t make the time to work on your vacation! Your vacation should be about you and any extra time you can put towards work is icing on the cake.

This is your vacation so plan it the way you want…even if it includes a little work and people look at you crazy as you type on your keybord in the lobby of a fancy hotel!

You Are Inspiring by beautifulphotography

I spoke with one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met yesterday. My call was supposed to be for 30 minutes and ended up being 2 hours! Here’s just one jaw dropper…

Her: “Then I flew out to Hawaii to see Elvis’s Comeback Special because my brother used to fly Elvis’s orchestra around.”

Me: “OMG that’s amazing!”

Her: “Yup, and you can even see me when the camera pans the audience.”

Me: “OMG that’s so cool!”

One exciting thing right after another!

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It really got me thinking about some of the things I’ve done in my life and what I want to learn in the future. So here are my 8 things that I have learned, are learning and want to learn someday!

Learned:

1. How to crochet and knit.

2. Taught myself to create websites using HTML. Back in high school I was pretty awesome and even got my picture in the paper for having a website!

3. To sing and dance and perform in musicals! Best time of my life.

Learning:

4. How to be a great mother.

5. How to fit in “me” time so that I don’t get overwhelmed!

6. Patience. I’m working on enjoying the ride and not just looking for the end result.

(Want To) Learn:

7. PHP coding. I know very nerdy, but I get so frustrated when I want to mess with some code and I have no idea what is going on!

8. How to sew. I know I did back in the day with my grandma but I’d love to be able to womp up some fun stuff for my daughter!

This post is part of the 8 Things Thursday series over at Magpie Girl

Ok so I know I promised a new podcast today but that’s just not in the cards. This past week was pretty ridiculous here at the bat cave; snow, sick dog, sick baby, visits and did I mention snow?!

Snowmageddon

I am no fan of the white stuff outside right now. We didn’t get pummeled as hard as a lot of people but we still had around 8-10 inches on the ground at one point. Now today we have another 5-10 inches expected and I am just waiting until spring comes because this winter is taking forever to go away!!

Birthdays

February is a big month for birthdays; my mom, my husband’s mom, my friend Wendy and my friend Ann all have birthday within days of each other. This year my mom and my brother came down to visit with us for my mom’s birthday so while Edison and Josh played WOW all day, we went all out on the girly day! We got pedicures and went shopping and she even got a second set of holes pierced in her ears!! She’s so hip and modern now! We had a lot of fun but because of the impending doom (aka more snow) she and my brother had to leave early this morning. *insert sky camera shot of me cursing Snow, Wrath of Kahn style.*

New and Exciting News

I have some exciting new things in the works for the next month or so! I’ve decide on a new name, signed on a graphic designer to do my new logo and will start to include some fun new packages! I know you’re excited to hear the new name but you’re going to have to hold your horses for just a little while. Once I get everything straightened out and set up I’m planning a whole re branding extravaganza that you are all invited to, so look for that in a few weeks!

Well I am off to take care of a sick little baby and hopefully get some more copy written for my new projects! I hope everyone has a great Monday and I will work on getting a podcast out this week. Better late than never!

Aerith Marilyn,

You are my reason for living and the most important person in my life. I know you will grow up to be a beautiful, wonderful, creative, independent woman… but just don’t do it too quickly! Thank you for your morning smiles and your silly giggles that make my heart melt!

Josh,

You are my soul mate and my best friend and I don’t know what I would have done without you this past year! We have a baby! Isn’t that crazy?! You are an amazing father and husband and thank you for always being there for me. Now go do the dishes! hehe

Family,

This is for my nuclear family as well as certain extended family and in-laws. I LOVE YOU!! Thank you so much for loving me and dealing with me when I was complaining about  #1 and #2 up there (ahem)! Thank you also for believing that I can do anything I put my mind to and encouraging me and my business. I wish we all lived closer so that we could all see each other all the time but Dad hasn’t invented the transporter so we’re just waiting on him now. : )

Friends,

You all are amazing. There were so many times this year when I found out who my true friends were and I appreciate each and every one of you so much. Wendy, Ann, Tiffany, Missy and Nora you have been especially wonderful this year and I appreciate you all so much. : ) *Sends out hugs to all of her friends!!*

Right Click Office Services,
(I guess this is kind of like saying thank you to myself since I run this show but whatever…)

I am so thankful that I was able to start my own business this year! Right Click Office Services was a dream I didn’t even know I had until I started making it a reality and it has changed my life! I have met so many awesome people and learned so many amazing things this year because of my VA business!

To all my clients and business friends,

THANK YOU!! Thank you for taking a chance and working with a noob like me! I am truly grateful for your faith in me and my abilities this year. I always thought I was kick ass but knowing that others think so too is just so encouraging!! Shout outs go to Cristina, Rebecca, Nora, Michelle, Nancy, Vickie, Catherine and  Marjorie!!

When I Grow Up Coach,

You are amazing and wonderful as a person and as a coach so you get your own thank you! You have truly helped me see how I can make my business and my life in general what I have always wanted! Thank you for being amazing and hopefully you’ll let me help you out at some point…. ; ) Please check out Michelle’s blog (and website ) because she is the kind of writer who will change your life for the better every time you read it!

Social Media (Twitter, Facebook),

Umm I kind of love you! Social media was pretty cool before I started my business but now that I can use tools like Twitter and Facebook to build my business it’s so much more amazing! I had Facebook for years before but Twitter was new to the arsenal this year. Oh how I love Tweeting about my love of music, books and random knowledge while still Tweeting about my business! Plus, I can imagine that people like Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day and Barack Obama actually care what I say to them! : )

Blip.fm and Pandora,

I love finding new music and these two sites make that hobby far too easy!! I love being able to randomly listen to “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night” by Cory Hart right after I thought to listen to “Push It” by Garbage. Or maybe I’ll decide to listen to some Dave Matthews Band or some Our Lady Peace on Pandora and end up finding Oren Lavie or Stars. I LOVE IT! Plus, it makes random music night with Josh and/or Katie so much easier.
So thank you Blip and Pandora for giving me endless amounts of fun and enjoyment throughout the day now!

THANK YOU!!!!

This post was created as part of a global groundswell of gratitude called TweetsGiving. The celebration, created by US nonprofit EpicChange, is an experiment in social innovation that seeks to change the world through the power of gratitude. I hope you’ll visit the TweetsGiving site to learn more, and to bring your grateful heart to the party by sharing your gratitude, and giving in honor of that for which you’re most thankful.