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MillennialHousewife

Mom’s Guide to Searching for Work

Day 3-8:51 pm: Remember how I told you that our money situation was tight and I had to find a job ASAP? Well, despite everything in my being telling me not to, I started searching for jobs. Yuck! Nobody, and I mean NOBODY likes searching for jobs.

You have to scroll through hundreds of job description, dissect what the company actually is looking for, try to figure out if it works for your family, and then, if it checks all of your hundred boxes of what you want, you have to apply for it. But, you have to customize your resume, write a new cover letter, and answer their essay questions all while standing on your head. OK, maybe not the last part. It is a PAIN! I know, because I’m doing it. But, I’m here to save you some time and energy (and maybe several headaches). You’re welcome.

So, here is a short guide I put together about searching for work.

As you know, I am looking for a job with flexible work hours and work from home opportunities so that I can be present with my toddler while she’s home. It’s important that I am able to have time to do my job while still being a good mom. It’s not just important, it’s mandatory. So, I’m looking for that “diamond in the rough” job that will give me that harmony I desire.

Here are a few things to do before you begin your search:

  • Write down all of your skills and education and figure out what industry you want to be in. Education? Marketing? Sales?
  • Identify mandatory requirements that you want the job to have. Those are things like: Part-Time vs. Full-Time, location, work from home, and hours.
  • Take a look at your family budget. How much money do you have to make each month to get by? How much money would you like to make? Once you determine that, you can calculate how many hours you need to work to make that money. It looks something like this:

(Hourly wage x Numbers of Hours worked each week) x 4 = Amount earned each month (before taxes)

for example: ($25 hr x 20 hrs per week)  = $500 per week x 4 = $2000 per month

  • Put them all together and what have you got? The right job.

So, now you have figured out what type of job to look for. But where do you find it?

I’ve been looking a few places online. Some are paid services, but mostly it’s free. Here are my favorites for the best work from home jobs.

  • FlexJobs– This is a paid search engine. It costs about $15/month. But, it has a ton of part time and work from home jobs from major companies. I like this site (despite having to pay for it), because it gives me a clear understanding of what I am applying for.
  • Real Ways to Earn Money Online– Yes, That’s the name of the website. It’s a really great resource for work from home jobs and it’s FREE.
  • Hire My Mom– This website is also paid, so I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard a lot of good things. Especially if you are looking for Virtual Assistant or Freelance jobs. Check it out!

Ok, good luck on your job search! I’m off to do mine!

 

Declutter for a Fresh Start

Day 2-10:59 pm: The holidays have been wonderful. I love having the tree up in the living room and keeping the glittering lights on at night. But, alas, the holidays are behind us once again and that beautiful tree in the living room was beginning to feel a little….well….tight. We don’t have the largest living room and with the addition of a ton of new toys, it felt even smaller. So, it was time to declutter.

Decluttering allows me to feel like we have a fresh start.

So, as we took down the tree and put away the ornaments and holiday decorations, we reflected on the good times we had over the holiday and started thinking of all the exciting possibilities the new year brings. It felt so good once that tree was out of the living room and I felt like we had so much space back! My toddler was no longer tripping on toys or stepping on pine needles. We moved the play table back in front of the window and opened up our entryway. It was so nice.

Have you taken the time to declutter and put away the holidays?

I know for a lot of people they like to leave the decorations up and hold on to the feeling of the holidays for as long as they can. That used to be me. But, this year I was really looking forward to having my space back again. I think it’s really important to close one chapter before beginning a new and exciting one. Putting the holiday decorations away was my way of doing that.

I feel a sense of freedom and renewal. It signals to me that it’s time to get to work on my goals and resolutions. And, I think it’s important to have a clean space where you can work and live. This allows your mind to be clear and your focus improves.

Here are some easy steps you can do today to declutter and organize your home after the holidays:

Take down the tree

I know, we all love the tree. It smells good, it casts a beautiful glow on the room, and all those ornaments bring back nostalgic memories. But let’s get real, the pine needles poke into your feet when you are walking, the tree is seriously drying out, and you have no room for anything around it. It’s time to take it down, and trust me, you will feel so much better when you do!

Put away the holiday decorations

I love my little snowmen, and the elves, and since my family celebrates Hanukkah too, the menorah. Give them a little kiss, put them in a box, and look at your room. You will be amazed at how much space you have! The room will instantly feel bigger and less cluttered. And, if it’s looking a little bare, you can always put up some soft white winter decorations. Just something new to bring in the new year.

Put away the old toys

I’m not talking about your child’s favorite stuffed teddy, but any toys that you think they are bored with you should do one of three things: store, re-gift, or donate. I like to do the rotating toys method where you put some toys in boxes and leave others out. Then when they start to get bored with those toys, bring out the stored toys and switch them out. They will seem brand new to your kid and they will have a whole “new” set of toys to play with. And, you won’t have a million toys everywhere in your house. Win-win!

After you do all of this, you will be ready for a new adventure. This was the first step I have taken towards my Journey to Harmony and already I’m feeling better and more motivated! I know you can do it too!

Ok, my toddler is up so I need to go! Best of luck!

Confessions of a Millennial Housewife

Day 1-10:29 pm: It’s the start of a brand new year. Everyone is talking about their resolutions, their goals, and their dreams. I think this is a wonderful time to start fresh and embrace a new and better you. It is a time to become a Millennial Housewife.

Which is why I am revamping my blog.

It’s true I’ve only just started. But after taking a look at several other blogs I realized something. Everyone is claiming to be an “expert” in their niche. They know how to cook, or they started their own business, or they know the best way to get your kid to potty train. They are all sharing their advice with you. Which is great, and I enjoy reading them.

When I started my blog I wanted to feel like an “expert” in something. I wanted to be the expert Millennial Housewife. Then I quickly realized I felt like a fraud. I didn’t actually feel like an “expert” in anything.

And I want to be truthful to you, my readers.

So, I decided to try something new. I am not going to blog about “been there done that” stuff. I’m going to blog about my journey. Because we all have a journey. Nobody magically wakes up one morning and is an expert in something. I think it’s only fair that I bring you along for the ride.

I’ve decided to call this my Journey to Harmony

I believe that we all are trying to find harmony, but sometimes it is referred to as “balance”. But as a mom, a wife, and an aspiring mompreneur, I feel there is no such thing as balance. Balance means giving equal attention to each thing. But it doesn’t work that way. Some days your kid needs extra attention. Some days you may need a little more me time. And that’s ok. We all just need to find a way for all our roles to work in harmony with one another. And that means something different for everybody.

I don’t know about you, but currently I don’t feel very harmonious. Some things have been put before others and I need to figure out how to make them all work in harmony.

So I’m about to come clean about a few things and explain what I plan to do about it.

Money

Yes, there’s that word. It’s a word that causes a lot of stress and anxiety for many people, including myself. Money has become a huge elephant in the room for my family.

After teaching, I decided I wanted to be a stay at home mom. But, we didn’t exactly budget for one income, then we leased a car and bought a house. So you can imagine how our bank accounts may have gotten smaller and smaller. We started putting more and more on credit cards and now here we are, in a lot of debt.

We can no longer afford to have me be a full time stay at home mom. I need to find a job, which to be honest, sucks.

I’m going to be sharing my journey of how we are going to get out of this debt.

Job

So, I am looking for a job that allows me to work part time, or work from home. I’m looking for that magic “diamond in the rough” where I can be present with raising my toddler and also bring in some decent money to help support my family. I’ve been doing a lot of research. Reading a lot of blogs. Searching through a lot of jobs. Usually I look at any job and gag. The thought of not being home with my little one churns my stomach. But, then I remember that if I can bring in a little extra income each month, that she will be able to continue ballet, or I can buy all organic food, or we can take a family vacation. These are all things that will only make our tiny little world better. So, I keep searching.
I’m going to share my journey of how I will find and manage a part time or work from home job.

Mompreneur

But, I think I may have found the “diamond in the rough”. So many moms are becoming “mompreneurs” and starting their own at home businesses. This allows them to work when they want, and be with their kids when they want. They can run the business and bring in money while their kids nap, or are at school. MAGICAL! So many moms have said they have found harmony by starting their own businesses and they feel successful and happy about where they are. That’s what I want.

The thing is, they put in a lot of hard work to get where they are. And, it doesn’t happen overnight. My family needs money now, so I’ll still have to find another job, while I’m building up my business. Yikes! But, I can do it. So can you.

I’m going to share my journey of how I will become a mompreneur.

Feeling Better

Another aspect I want to focus on is feeling better about my body. Do you know what I mean? I want to eat better, and actually exercise. Not just say I’m going to exercise, but actually do it! What’s great is that my toddler is really into yoga (I’ve only done it a few times with her in our living room but she really took to it!), and she is always saying, “Mommy, let’s exercise.” so really, how can I say no to that! So this new year, I’m going to exercise more. Really. Really.

I’m going to share my jouney of how I am going to physically feel better and stronger.

These are all things I think are very familiar to a Millennial Housewife. These are all things people struggle with day in and day out. So why shouldn’t we go on this journey together? It’ll only make us stronger, wiser, and better people. It’ll make us better moms, and wives, and it can only make the world a better place.

I’m so excited to start my Journey to Harmony and I want you to get excited too! Come join my private Facebook Group where we can all share the progress of our journeys and offer support to one another along the way. Because the road will not be easy. It’s not going to be paved in gold. And if we can be there to support each other, it’ll make it just a little bit brighter. Then we can all get there together.

Wishing you all the best on your Journey to Harmony.

 

Easy, Cheap, and Beautiful DIY Holiday Gifts

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small percentage, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping keep Millennial Housewife up and running!

DIY gifts are all the rage. More and more Millennials are choosing to make gifts from the heart instead of shopping at crowded and expensive department stores. Making your own gifts is personal, heartfelt, and the receiver feels the love that was put into it. Also, it can save you a lot of money. That is why I chose to make all of my gifts this year. But DIY isn’t always easy, I should know! I am not good at DIY!

Are you like me? Does the thought of DIY make you think you have to spend hours and hours surrounded by crafts that never will get completed?

Making presents this year is more of a necessity for me and my family. We don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend on expensive gifts. While I wish I could give people the world, we just can’t. And, I have a feeling a lot of Millennial Housewives are in the same boat. And, since we are also busy watching the kids, cleaning the house, cooking the food, and side-hustling, we don’t have much extra time to spare.

If I’m going to make my presents this year, I have to find something that is easy, cheap, and beautiful. I absolutely can NOT spend a ton of money on supplies, I have a toddler so I can NOT spend a lot of time, and I will NOT give somebody a cheap, thrown together macaroni necklace. Nope. So I’ve scoured Pinterest for the best easy, cheap, and beautiful DIY holiday gifts that even a craft-phobic person like myself can do.

1. Monogrammed Mug

 

This adorable mug gift comes from tinselbox.com. I absolutely love this website for amazing DIY holiday ideas! They even have a great holiday subscription box they will send to your door each month. I’ll post more about them later but check out this mug! It’s definitely easy, cheap, and beautiful!

All you need is a white mug, a letter sticker (for the person’s first or last name), and an oil-based sharpie!

First, clean the mug and make sure it’s dry. Put the sticker on the mug, and put dots around it or decorate how you like. Then peel the sticker off and bake it at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Voila! For a twist, try it with a black mug and a white sharpie! Ooooh!

And, if you want to go the extra mile, put something in it like a plant, coffee, or a Starbucks gift certificate.

Check out the directions and more great ideas here.

2. Tea Cup Bird Feeder

Beautiful DIY Holiday Gifts-2

Ok, I love anything to do with tea, and I have a feeling you know a few tea lovers yourself. Or perhaps bird lovers? Maybe both! So give them the gift of this adorable teacup bird feeder from asyouwishpottery.com. This is the easiest and cutest gift you can make.

All you need is E6000 glue, a tea cup (I’d look at a local antique store), scissors, and twine.

Glue the teacup on its side to the plate. Let it dry overnight. Then cut some twine and tie the twine around the handle. Add some bird feed and that’s it!

Check out the video here.

3. Melted Snowmen Hot Chocolate

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Something else I love, hot chocolate! This adorable gift is perfect for the chocolate lover you know and it’s so simple to make!

You need powdered hot chocolate, large marshmallows, sharpies, and a 1/2 pint mason jar.

Wash and dry the mason jar thoroughly. Fill the mason jar half way with the powdered hot chocolate, then add 3-4 marshmallows on top. Close up the mason jar and draw a cute snowman face on the outside of the mason jar with the sharpies. You can put a gift tag on top too!

Thanks growingupgabel.com for the inspiration!

4. Chalk Board Serving Tray

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This beautiful chalkboard serving tray comes curtesy of shanty-2-chic.com. It’s so easy to do and costs so little. You may have to make a trip to your local Home Depot, though, but I know you can do it!

You need a 2×12 framing board (have your local hardware store cut it to be 24″ long), wood stain (color of your choice), chalkboard spray paint, painters tape, power screwdriver, and 2 handles (they should come with screws but double check).

First, go to the hardware store and have them cut your board to be around 24″. Then apply the stain using gloves and a rag. After the stain dries, apply the painters tape to the edges. Then spray the chalkboard paint onto the uncovered area. After that dries, remove the tape and place the handles on either side. Screw them in with a power screwdriver. That’s it!

Here’s an easy to follow video tutorial.

5. Christmas Tea Tree

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Once again I have found an amazing gift for a tea lover. Thirstyfortea.com has come up with this cute gift that is so easy, even I can do it!

You’ll need a styrofoam cone, individually wrapped tea bags, glue gun with glue sticks, small paper mache boxes or some kind of short, round cylinder to use as the “stump”, wooden star, rice (for weighing down the tree).

First you want to place a small line of glue on the top of the tea bag, then place it on the bottom of the styrofoam cone until it sticks. Repeat this all around the bottom, then work your way up the top. Then glue the top of the paper mache box to the very bottom of the styrofoam cone. Fill the box with rice for more stability, then glue it to the top, creating the “stump” of the tree. Use the hot glue to place the star on top and you have yourself a Christmas tree!

For step-by-step instructions go here.

(Psst….maybe you can give this with the teacup bird feeder!)

So, when you have a few extra minutes to make your gifts, make sure you take the time to think about the person you are making it for, and really put love into it. I promise it will show. I want you to find a quiet spot, light a candle, put on some relaxing music, brew a cup of tea, and use the time to get into your work. Then you will truly be able to create your best work and enjoy doing it too.

Or, if you’d like to include your kids, I’ve found it best to get all the materials together first and make sure you do it in small increments. Kids sometimes don’t want to sit and make 10 handprints, they have better things to do like writing upon the wall! Give them a little to do each day and they will find as much joy in it as the person you are gifting it to.

So, enjoy making these beautiful DIY holiday gifts!

What are some of your favorite DIY gifts? Have you tried any of these? Let me know if the comments below or join our private Facebook Group here and let us know!