This last week was horribly busy and it’s all my fault. If the dictionary had the term “Yes Woman” in it, I’d be pictured looking fried, worn and well…jacked up. I have a tendency to take on new projects or responsibilities, often with a smile and a “glad to help” attitude. When I’m in the [...]

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Working moms face tough choices when it comes to deciding whether to continue with their ambitious, pre-children career track full-time. Despite strides made to “break the glass ceiling” and offer women equal opportunities for advancement, there’s no question that taking time off for family reasons puts a kink in a normally smooth running, corporate career [...]

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Have you ever wondered why you’re always busy, but at the end of the day, feel like you haven’t accomplished much? I used to struggle with that feeling everyday, that is, until I discovered and learned how to practically apply the Pareto Principle (more commonly known as the 80/20 rule).
The 80/20 Rule Defined
The 80/20 rule, [...]

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Twice a year, I sit down to do a bit of strategic planning and it’s not work-related, it’s work/life-related. In my years as an HR professional, turned business owner, I’ve discovered that the principles of good business often translate into practical principles for a good life. So, every February and August, I sit down to [...]

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Family dinner is one of those minimum requirements in my work/life, so we do our best to sit together for dinner most days of the week. A few days ago, I prepared shredded chicken taco salad. As we set the table I muttered under my breath, “Darn…forgot to make the Mexican rice.” My seven-year-old daughter [...]

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“To tell you the truth…” happens to be one of those nuances in people’s speech that drives me absolutely crazy. Of course, the implication is that everything that preceded that disclaimer, was false. But, yesterday I realized that even though I avoid saying, “To tell you the truth,” or its equally distasteful companion, “To be [...]

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As if I don’t already have enough to keep me busy, I’m preparing to take the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification exam in December. Today, I refreshed my knowledge of the FMLA, or Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which most every working mom should know about.
You may understand FMLA as a [...]

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Lately, my home feels like a battleground as my three children - 7, 5 and nearly 3 - engage in non-stop verbal, and sometimes physical, disputes over just about everything. Most of it is initiated by my clever little boy, who attempts to leverage his position in the family as “the baby” to his advantage. [...]

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With the girls back in school, it’s just me and ‘Lil Man until we figure out an alternative child care situation. His regular caregiver is out on medical leave longer than anticipated, so we can either wait (until November) or find someone new. At this moment, it feels better to just keep him home with [...]

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I wrote this post for another blog in June, while I was on my mini-vacation to Chicago. I meant to share it with you here, but time got away from me, so here it is now…
Every mother knows the feeling of guilt. In fact, I think we learn this feeling far before having children.
I’m in [...]

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