Hello again,

As you may have noticed, AfroMartha was down for a couple of weeks. There were some behind the scenes technical issues, but all is well now.

There have been a lot of changes in my life while I was away. Too many to go into details here…

During my bloggy sabbatical I found the passion and energy to complete a lot of projects around my home.

Remember these chairs?

Well, I turned them into these:

Well, the one on the left with the red frame. It had first given them the yellow frame as on the right, but they didn’t look right to me, so red it is! The fabric? A certain Target shower curtain!

The chairs now match my warm colorful room much better.

The biggest change in my life is that I have gone to work full-time for an Insurance company. Insurance is a field I worked in right out of college when I couldn’t secure a Design position. I did well at it and rather enjoyed it. I recently had the opportunity to go back into that field since Design wasn’t working out to well for me as a career.

While I do still enjoy my creativity, I did get burned out with trying to monetize it. I have come to the understanding that it’s something I enjoy doing for myself, not necessarily as a profession.

I have found that for me, the pressure to monetize usually sucks the joy out of doing what I truly enjoy.

So here I am…less free time, but with more creative freedom and passion.

checking in

eclectic home office design by vancouver media and blogs The Locker

 

Hi all,

I know I’m a little late with it, but I needed a break from thrifty tuesday. It will be back next week, with another fabulous re-do.

I’ve been adjusting to a new schedule. I recently started a part-time job with big orange.

I am very excited about the opportunity for a couple of reasons.

1. As a DIYer, it’s like a kid working in a candy store! I really enjoy going to work there because I love all that home improvement stuff. I’m seeing all kinds of products that I never even knew I needed! I cannot wait for spring so I can get some projects started, and get my garden going!

2. I love my schedule because it still frees up most of my day, and I can be around for my kids after school. My position is one of the few with fixed hours. I also don’t work on weekends. *yay*

3. I love the interaction with other people. Being at home and running your own business can get lonely sometimes, and it’ is easy to lose touch with the professional world. I’m enjoying getting to know different personalities and their quirks.

BUT… (and you knew there was one coming)

1. If I’m not careful I could spend all my money in there, thereby defeating the purpose. Plus, I was quite disappointed to find out that there is no employee discount. Phooey!

2. Ahh, my schedule. I have to wake up at 4am to be at work by 5 am. This means coffee. Lots of coffee. It also means I’m not around in the morning to get my kids ready for school. It also means I have to be in bed really early, like 9pm, or I will be no good the next day, coffee or not. A curious thing also happens. It turns out I don’t have as much ‘free’ time as I thought I would! That morning goes by quickly and then it’s time to pick up the kiddies, which means the beginning of the evening routine, etc.

3. “Office” politics. I have never enjoyed it. ‘Nuff said.

All in all, I do find that I’m enjoying myself. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Needless to say, I am a little off-kilter right now, but I’m adjusting. I will have to work hard to balance my part time job, my home and family responsibilities as well as AfroMartha blog and etsy. Bear with me ya’ll!

ps… the fact that I work for big orange does not mean I am obligated to endorse their products. Outside of being their wage-slave, I am not being paid to blog for them or push any of their products.

thrifty tuesday will be back next week…and a few things

eclectic home office design by vancouver media and blogs The Locker

 

Hi all,

I know I’m a little late with it, but I needed a break from thrifty tuesday. It will be back next week, with another fabulous re-do.

I’ve been adjusting to a new schedule. I recently started a part-time job with big orange.

I am very excited about the opportunity for a couple of reasons.

1. As a DIYer, it’s like a kid working in a candy store! I really enjoy going to work there because I love all that home improvement stuff. I’m seeing all kinds of products that I never even knew I needed! I cannot wait for spring so I can get some projects started, and get my garden going!

2. I love my schedule because it still frees up most of my day, and I can be around for my kids after school. My position is one of the few with fixed hours. I also don’t work on weekends. *yay*

3. I love the interaction with other people. Being at home and running your own business can get lonely sometimes, and it’ is easy to lose touch with the professional world. I’m enjoying getting to know different personalities and their quirks.

BUT… (and you knew there was one coming)

1. If I’m not careful I could spend all my money in there, thereby defeating the purpose. Plus, I was quite disappointed to find out that there is no employee discount. Phooey!

2. Ahh, my schedule. I have to wake up at 4am to be at work by 5 am. This means coffee. Lots of coffee. It also means I’m not around in the morning to get my kids ready for school. It also means I have to be in bed really early, like 9pm, or I will be no good the next day, coffee or not. A curious thing also happens. It turns out I don’t have as much ‘free’ time as I thought I would! That morning goes by quickly and then it’s time to pick up the kiddies, which means the beginning of the evening routine, etc.

3. “Office” politics. I have never enjoyed it. ‘Nuff said.

All in all, I do find that I’m enjoying myself. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Needless to say, I am a little off-kilter right now, but I’m adjusting. I will have to work hard to balance my part time job, my home and family responsibilities as well as AfroMartha blog and etsy. Bear with me ya’ll!

ps… the fact that I work for big orange does not mean I am obligated to endorse their products. Outside of being their wage-slave, I am not being paid to blog for them or push any of their products.