Hello!

[Arianna]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to see if everyone has managed to survive the summer?

It's been very quiet on here lately and I hope it's a good sign that we're all just very busy.

I'm busyish - having further health problems which means I'm working mainly half days at the moment as it's just too hard for me to type and sit at the computer.

Over the past few months I have obtained my Level II Computerised Bookkeeping Certification and my Level III Computer Bookkeeping Certification. Working my Sage Certification Level II (and Level III when II is finished), then I will be doing a Payroll course.

I started attending a Networking Group every other Friday and I'm really enjoying it. I have to do a presentation at the end of the month though and I'm already freaking out about it as I do not like talking in front of crowds!

Delicate Dreams is doing well. Slowly growing which I'm pleased about - would love it to grow even more, but one step at a time. :D I'm hoping to introduce more jewellery into the children's range as one of our suppliers has just released a children's range which I am loving!

Umm that's about it really I think.

Arianna

[lajlaj]

Congratulations on your book keeping qualifications.

Hope you overcome your health problems soon.

Things here are same old, same old really. Absolutely nothing much to report, still doing the same things each day yada yada yada!!

[friendlybaby]

Hello! First week of the boys being back at school so time to catch up on my bookkeeping and get ready for the next VAT return on time (well actually I'm hoping to be ready as early as possible since they'll be paying me!). Things ticking along - had our busiest ever day a few days ago which was great, but then we've already had a really quiet day since then so very up and down.

Well done on your new qualifications!

[Mary Poppins]

Congratulations on your qualifications Arianna.

Not much different for me, working hard. We are working on a project that has been rumbling on for the past few years but it now looks like an end is finally in sight.

[elkatie]

Well done the the qualifications :happy72: But hope your feeling better soon.

August has been the busiest ever month for us, so very hard work with 3 kids at home, 2 are back and little L starts nursery on Tuesday so then mornings will be child free so I shouldnt have any excuses for getting behind with anything.

Glad to hear from everyone else and that its all going well.:kisshands:

[Katiequiggle]

Well I've done nothing. I've more or less taken a year off since my HA. I've been in the shed and made stuff and I've sent items off that have been brought from the website and I've done a couple of demo's at exhibitions and had an open studio (crikey that sounds like loads) but until I've recovered from my op in Nov I'm not actively advertising or doing much. I've taken a back seat on most things at the moment (church too) as I feel I was doing too much causing too much stress etc.

Hope everyones had a great summer. xxx

[Leapsterrific]

My children are now both at school and I finished my Psychology MSc, so at the moment the business has my full-time attention.

I'm busy adding products, setting up some new contacts for new ranges etc etc. I'm also going to sell used/pre-loved Sylvanian Families on my website. That bit is great fun as every item needs checked and photographed (and played with by the kids and me :-) though time consuming. I've also got some new blog ideas to get up and running (an writing for). I'm also trying to get the house in order and all those jobs we kept putting off done, then I'll be sorting the accounts and hopefully doing some voluntary work.

I am missing 'human' contact during the day though. I see plenty of delivery people and the buys at the Post Office but few other people, I'm hoping the forum becomes a little busier as nice to have people in similar situations to chat to. The networking group sounds really interesting, who runs that?

[Arianna]

My children are now both at school and I finished my Psychology MSc, so at the moment the business has my full-time attention.

I'm busy adding products, setting up some new contacts for new ranges etc etc. I'm also going to sell used/pre-loved Sylvanian Families on my website. That bit is great fun as every item needs checked and photographed (and played with by the kids and me :-) though time consuming. I've also got some new blog ideas to get up and running (an writing for). I'm also trying to get the house in order and all those jobs we kept putting off done, then I'll be sorting the accounts and hopefully doing some voluntary work.

I am missing 'human' contact during the day though. I see plenty of delivery people and the buys at the Post Office but few other people, I'm hoping the forum becomes a little busier as nice to have people in similar situations to chat to. The networking group sounds really interesting, who runs that?

Ah yes human contact - not something you get much of when you work from home, unless it's the people at the post office or the delivery people. :laugh:

I go to a networking group run by Shout Network - they cover Preston and Blackpool - but there are lots of networking groups out there.

Arianna

[Arianna]

Congratulations on your book keeping qualifications.

Hope you overcome your health problems soon.

Things here are same old, same old really. Absolutely nothing much to report, still doing the same things each day yada yada yada!!

Thanks hun.

You're always a busy bee. Hope all is okay though!

Arianna

[Arianna]

Hello! First week of the boys being back at school so time to catch up on my bookkeeping and get ready for the next VAT return on time (well actually I'm hoping to be ready as early as possible since they'll be paying me!). Things ticking along - had our busiest ever day a few days ago which was great, but then we've already had a really quiet day since then so very up and down.

Well done on your new qualifications!

I'm finding things are very up and down as well. I think a lot of people are.

Hope you managed to get your accounts done. :D

Arianna

[Arianna]

Congratulations on your qualifications Arianna.

Not much different for me, working hard. We are working on a project that has been rumbling on for the past few years but it now looks like an end is finally in sight.

Thank you!

Oooh the project sounds exciting - can't wait to see what it is!

Arianna

[Arianna]

Well done the the qualifications :happy72: But hope your feeling better soon.

August has been the busiest ever month for us, so very hard work with 3 kids at home, 2 are back and little L starts nursery on Tuesday so then mornings will be child free so I shouldnt have any excuses for getting behind with anything.

Glad to hear from everyone else and that its all going well.:kisshands:

Thanks hun! I'm hoping I'm feeling better soon as well because frankly I've had quite enough.

Congrats on having a busy month! I have a hard time working when Eithne is at home with me, so can't even imagine how hard it is with 3!

Arianna

[Arianna]

Well I've done nothing. I've more or less taken a year off since my HA. I've been in the shed and made stuff and I've sent items off that have been brought from the website and I've done a couple of demo's at exhibitions and had an open studio (crikey that sounds like loads) but until I've recovered from my op in Nov I'm not actively advertising or doing much. I've taken a back seat on most things at the moment (church too) as I feel I was doing too much causing too much stress etc.

Hope everyones had a great summer. xxx

Try and make sure you take it easy Kate. I hope everything goes well!

Arianna

[moomum]

Congratulations Arianna, I don't know how you do it!
Summer was ok, I just squashed my working hours into times when his dad had him.
I spent a lot of time reading time management books so I have lots of good ideas (that I'll compile into an article when I get my head around it). I'm focussing on getting some actual time off instead of working 24 hours a day - it's tricky with design because I find I think about a project all the time so I don't get any actual time off. I'm trialling internet free days, stopped my email notifications, don't check my email after 7pm or before 9am...........

[Arianna]

Congratulations Arianna, I don't know how you do it!
Summer was ok, I just squashed my working hours into times when his dad had him.
I spent a lot of time reading time management books so I have lots of good ideas (that I'll compile into an article when I get my head around it). I'm focussing on getting some actual time off instead of working 24 hours a day - it's tricky with design because I find I think about a project all the time so I don't get any actual time off. I'm trialling internet free days, stopped my email notifications, don't check my email after 7pm or before 9am...........


I think it's sheer stubborness! :laugh: I am putting a lot of stuff down in my day planner and I'm sticking to doing it on that day. If something happens and I can't do it that day, but can work on something else, I just shift it around. I do of course deal with most stuff that comes in as and when it does, but making sure I put big jobs in my day planner has really helped.

Well done to you for switching off! I really wish I could learn to do that! I have struggled to do that from day one though. I used to switch off on Monday nights but with my hands and feet the way they are I can't go to Zumba now so I don't take a break really. I would be very interested in reading your article when you get it sorted.

Arianna

[moomum]

Thanks' Arianna - I read a few very good books - The Power of Less, Hamlets Blackberry and Eat that Frog which have helped a lot!