How to Clean a Mattress

How to Clean a Mattress - Organic Spills: Vomit

(If this is urgent - jump to Step 7...)

1. Gently turf child out of bed - requires careful manoeuvres to minimise splash or spread of vomit. (Optional) - If you have bunk beds, move sleeping child no.2 safely out of the way of dripping spew.

2. Strip bed and temporarily place in bath along with drenched soft toys.

3. Position child in your bed, with bucket.

4. Rinse sheets under shower, hoping all chunks are small enough to fit down the plug hole.

5. Shove sheets into washing machine before asking Google 'how to get vomit out of mattress'.

6. Be thankful for eZine Articles.

7. Gather lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda (cos after all, most super WAHMs will actually have this stuff...lucky for me, my recent training as Domestic Goddess meant I 'did' have these ingredients ;-)

8. 'Dab' liquid with dry towel, don't rub since this apparently makes it worse. Apply 50/50 lemon juice and cold water to affected area, then sprinkle bicarb of soda on it to soak up remaining moisture and help prevent that fragrant dried vomit smell...bleurgh.

9. Repeat steps 1-8 on your own bed, as child pukes up in there as well for good measure.

9. Leave on as long as possible by everyone sleeping downstairs, before vacuuming off.

10. Enjoy the feeling of relief because you had the foresight to install leather sofas and laminate flooring, as spills just 'wipe clean away', although spatter potential IS high so use vinyl silk emulsion on your walls too.

(Optional...)

- Be grateful you work from home and don't have to drag yourself into work after being up most of the night ;)

- Start work while DD1 sleeps it off on the sofa.

...to be continued

Off Duty and Doing Divali

Off duty today - kids with their dad - so have almost a whole day to myself and not be 'on call'.

Typical Saturday routine is a lie in till 9am, tidy up, clean house, clean out pets, then work while waiting for the washing machine to finish.

You may think "all she does is work"...but I enjoy it, and when you enjoy it, it's not like 'work' is it? Most SBI-ers can't wait to get working on their sites in their spare time...I am lucky that I can do it full-time.

Anyway, I had a pretty productive day - blogged on each site, made a couple of new pages, did a bit of creative stuff and tested out some online goodies that will form the basis for future pages on Work at Home Toolkit, or at least blog posts.

Girls were brought back an hour early, so we started on some homework. DD1 isn't a great fan of homework but we sat on "mummy's computer" and made use of the net, which seemed to do the trick.

They are 'doing Divali' and she had to tell the story of Rama and Sita in words and pictures. Once we had explored some traditional Indian illustrations, she went from not remembering anything (cos she didn't want to do it) to telling me the whole tale...oh really?...well write it all down dearest ;-) We ended up with a wonderful 4 page story book, and I learned about Divali from her too!

The picture up there is of 'Hanuman' the monkey king/warrior...I think he looks a bit scary tbh! Though he does have nice eyes lol. Notice his hand gesture? DD1 said he's saying "hey babe, how ya doin"...hmmm, don't think so chuck, but it was funny all the same!

...And the Moral of the Story is...

What we did together gave me material for 'this' blog post AND for the Kids TV blog...see how the whole "using what you already know!" thing works? ;-)

DD2 has just woken up...so time for me to say goodnight x

Total Commission Due...

WOW!...I just finished writing a blog post about how the bad state of the economy is good for those wanting to boost or start an ebay home business.

I included a link to an audio file that explains it nicely, so I logged into my affiliate account with Worldwide Brandse. I figured I'd check my traffic stats while I was there and got a wonderful surprise!

"Total Commission Due: $62.25"

I had to look twice...was this really MY stats page?

I hadn't even set up my payment details properly! Luckily the payout threshold is $75 so I haven't lost any of that commission.

I love it when I get nice surprises like this, for things I don't really promote all that much :-)

If you're interested, they offer 25% commission and you can find out more about their affiliate program here.

Depression Sucks the Life Out of You

I'm not entirely comfortable talking about this because of the negativity and lack of understanding about a person's ability to 'snap out of it' - even from me, before I started with it! - but it is probably the main reason I am an internet-based WAHM...

I am constantly amazed at the difference from day to day - somewhere between going to sleep and waking up your brain decides that "today you're gonna be non-functional my dear!"

The past few days have been like wading through mud for me, yet today...fine! In fact, raring to go again and bemused at why on earth I felt so crappy the last couple of days.

This is what I call 'physical' depression, because it just 'happens'...it's just there when I wake up. I feel so very, very different inside, physically different.

All the positive thinking in the world doesn't seem to let me 'snap out of it' so I've come to realise that maybe I just have to let it ride and it will go of it's own accord, eventually. It's when it takes 'too long' that it becomes a problem.

WAHM life suits me for this very reason - it allows me to have these unpredictable ups and downs. Yeah I don't work as much, but I don't have to stress about time off work or not being able to concentrate on my job etc.

Get a Six Pack with YouTube

Me and the kids cracked up at this - stomach muscles ache a treat! We defy you not to laugh!...

A Perfect WAHM Moment - Part II

DD1 wakes up with bad cough and feeling hot, but is still terrorising her little sister and looking very un-poorly behaviour wise. Dilema - should I administer Calpol and send her to school as she is 'ok in herself'...or keep her off because she does sound quite bad...but knowing it's just for 'a cough'... The deciding factor was the 'feeling hot'...I would give Calpol and see how she went.

As it turned out, she had to take the day off anyway. She had an optician's appointment as she's been doing funny things with her eyes and saying they hurt. Optician put some drops in her eyes which mean her sight will be blurry for 24hrs. Turns out she is a tad long sighted and is getting glasses for 3 months - she's delighted! She's been wanting glasses for ages, so I had wondered if this was all a ploy to get them, but no.

Anyway, point being...had I been working, I would have had to a) warn them I'd be in late this morning and then b) ring them to say I wasn't actually coming in at all...and I would have felt bad, especially as I would have already had a day off this week due to the Migraine I had.

Luckily I'm a WAHM.

I 'had' wanted to get cracking on an application for Editor on a women's site...but it had to wait. I had started to do it last night, but DD2 didn't stay in bed so I had to abandon it. Still, I figured if it's a US based site they won't get the app until later in the UK day anyway, due to time differences, so no worries hopefully.

Well, it's Friday, my one-night-a-week-off...and so far, I'm not doing anything exciting boo hoo.

Laters x

A Perfect WAHM Moment

Having lost a day yesterday I was raring to go today. Plan was to tidy up and then get down to work.

One hour after taking DD1 to the childminder, there's a knock on the door - DD1 didn't want to go to the supermarket (can't blame her!) and wanted to be with me...fine.

I will admit I felt a bit 'oh no!' because I had been looking forward to getting cracking, but THIS is what I'm a Wahm for...to be here for my kids if/when I'm needed, so not a problem.

Instead of working I had a pleasant morning with my daughter, cooking lunch and taking her to school.

I often get asked why do I still have a childminder if I'm a 'work at home mum' ... and I used to feel guilty about it. The simple answer is, I am a 'work' at home mum. I work. Plus, the kids love going there.

A lot of the time, the whole point of being a Wahm is that you're a stay at home mum looking after your children...and many, if not most, Wahms 'do' have their kids at home, and they work with i. If that's you, you have my total respect because I couldn't do it! I can't get on the computer for a start...my kids are both very PC savvy and I soon get pushed off! I'm looking forward to One Laptop Per Child coming to the UK ;-)

Also, I tend to harp on a bit, about how working from home IS work just like if you were going into the office or wherever...where you wouldn't expect your kids to be either.

As you can see, I still have issues LOL. I know, at the end of the day, they like being with all the other kids at the childminder (when not at school obviously) and it frees me up to do a day's work or get the house sorted. Some people might sneer, but it works for us.

Right, only got 1.5 hours to get something done now and then taking them to swimming lessons...

I love it...oh the flexibility!!!

:-)

Blogged with Flock

Laid Out

Had a horrible migraine and nausea all day. Super Childminder took my kids to school AND brought them back, house is a total state and I'm feeling pants, but I guess the stress of the past few weeks had to catch up with me sooner or later. I'm surprised it wasn't sooner to be honest...

I've been able to actually 'feel' the stress (as a dull ache) in my shoulders and back for ages now. Thankfully though, I wasn't laid out until I'd got the important stuff dealt with.

Yesterday I'd driven over to Bradford to get the mortgage transfer documents signed by my Ex, then back over here to deliver it safely to my Solicitor...so at least that's done and all in their hands now. Now my Trustees in Bankruptcy should 'call off the dogs', as my Solicitor put it, and my new mortgage will go through finally!

I've lived here on a joint mortgage for nearly 10 years, but now I'm taking it just in my name, it feels different...like this really IS (or will be) 'my' house - I have lots of plans too, but all in good time.

While I was in town, I paid in some affiliate cheques that were in US Dollars - first time ever, as I don't DO 'going to the bank' anymore. I had 3 cheques and the fee for cashing them is going to be a minimum of £15 per cheque! The max charge is £60. Ridiculous. Thank goodness SBI! is starting electronic payments.

Time for a cuppa and start the evening shift...

Opera in the Dark

DD2 likes to sing. A lot. It's a 24hr opera in our house.

At 4am this morning we were all awake after a family trip to the bathroom and DD2 thinking it was time to get up, and of course...singing. Not sure when we all drifted back off to sleep...

...but consequently, a sleep-deprived mother* hits the wrong button on the alarm, and we were up late for school, with 30 minutes to get everyone ready.

Luckily...

• I work from home...no additional stress over me being late for work!
  
  
• ...therefore, I had it in me to act the goat to encourage co-operation
  
  
• ...therefore, being daft and making them laugh meant no sock/tickling tantrums
  
  

So at least both kids were dressed, hair done and breakfasted without any tantrums, or me stressing over getting ready for work. The final detail was to draft in my life-saving childminder and that meant DD2 got to school on time. Phew!

Because I'm home, I then had a leisurely pace to get myself, the house and lunches sorted and taken up to school...and an unexpected appointment with my Solicitor was absolutely fine to fit in.

I love being a WAHM :-)

*sleep deprived because I chose to work until nearly 2am - which wouldn't normally be a problem - but unexpected opera in the dark just pushed the level of deprivation to beyond 'do-able'...

How Picasa Helps You Lose Weight

Spent the morning out in the woods with the kids, being told "well take a photo of it then!" every two minutes...

When we got back, I checked out Argos.co.uk for kids digital cameras...I'd seen previously seen some at about £60 but then I saw the Bratz Digital Still Camera for just £29!! ...Bratz ones! Bonus!

Did well with Adsense last month, so reserved a couple, jumped in the car and avoided the queues by using one of my favourite precision shopping tactics - those handy machines that you pay at: I love it, you're in and out in no time...order online, go down, pay the machine, get your order and get out!

We spent the afternoon playing candid camera but it was a good laugh importing the pictures into Picasa, and seeing what they'd captured. DD2 even had a go at editing her pictures with 'special effects'...most impressed I was. She's gonna be great on the PC, and it's going to be fun using these pictures...reckon digital scrapbooking might be our next thing.

However, the moral of this story is...

If you're gonna buy your kids a digital camera, be prepared to dig out the old Slimming World books and rebounder because even Picasa isn't THAT good :-)

P.S. If you 'do' download Picasa, and then use the 'post to blog' feature...there is no 'Undo' command if you should, say, accidentally delete most of said blog. Just a heads up *sigh*

My Pony

this is my pony.


she is called Amelia.


Her age is 91

FreeRice - Play for Charity

As per my previous post about Ed Dale twittering...he's alerted me to the 'Free Rice' site - you play a game, improve your vocabulary and earn grains of rice which is distributed through the United Nations World Food Programme.

Thinking eh? How? Ugh?

This is how it works...

FreeRice: FAQ: "When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people."

Right up my street, and I learned that 'doff' means 'remove' - mental note to use it more lol

Check it out - there's even a nifty bowl that shows how much rice you're accumulating...

To Twitter or Not to Twitter?

After my marathon session yesterday while the girls were away, I woke up today worrying about the Twitter widget I put on here...should I do it or not, do I really want people knowing my personal stuff when I'm trying to build credibility as a Web-Wahm?

What is my aim?

To show I'm real, just like you guys.

I'm facing the same daily hassles with work, life and the kids that you do, but this is how it affects someone who works from home - and many times, it's less hassle because I'm here and not having to work within the constraints of a job at set times.

What about branding, credibility?

If I'm sharing my daily ups and downs, does this affect my 'branding' as someone who is capable of helping you guys out and someone worthy of you listening to? Should I stop the Twittering and just portray a more distant, serious business face to get more credibility?

...there's an internet guy/guru/celebrity called Ed Dale who Twitters about everything! But, this shows him as a real, down to earth person...but he also has the respect of many, many people because it's clear he knows what he's talking about when it comes to internet marketing.

He is willing to be open about himself and show a personal side. Therefore, you trust him, and you like him.

There are other guys who do this, a little, within the confines of their private forums, and some who portray the suited big-business approach which I don't go for at all.

I like Ed Dale, don't always like his ideas, but I like HIM...and that is mostly because of how laid back and open he is. He is normal. He is a successful online business man, but he has done it by being 'him' and being normal.

Isn't that what I'm wanting to show?

Hmmm...

Warning! Keyword Research and Undesirable Niches

Keyword research without an 'adult filter' can really open your eyes.

I've been driven to post this wee rant after working on the revamp of my Kids TV site.

I am taking the angle of using the internet to enhance 'mother daughter' time, quality time, doing stuff together and bonding using the internet.

Now, I'm used to getting keywords back like 'Lazytown Stephanie n*de' or even the pathetic 'Dora the Explorer p*rn' (geeeeeez!) but today I really got mad - the phrases that came back made me sick.

It's a good job I'm not easily offended because reading through the list to find the ones I wanted (about mother-daughter bonding) was not a pleasant task - I never even knew there was a market for that kind of thing!

Dark Side of the Net?

It's temping to see this as the 'dark side of the net'...BUT, these keywords do not indicate websites distributing this perverted filth...they represent what people are searching for - which for me is the worst part of it!

So the moral of the story is...

If you are doing keyword research around anything to do with kids (even cartoon characters for crying out loud!)...then brace yourself!

These were just keywords, but if you ever come across any content that concerns you, report it via the Internet Watch Foundation. That link is for the UK, but there is a dropdown menu for all other countries.

Be careful out there ;)

P.S. One thing I've learned is that many adult sites are keen to be seen acting responsibly - providing links to all the parent filters, credit card protected logins and such like...it's little crappy sites that just throw up this garbage that won't give a damn who stumbles across it.

Web-Wahm Loves Free Software - Prevent RSI and Eye Strain

At 11am I started work on my Kids TV site - I just quickly had to swap out some advertising code that wasn't pulling in the right type of ads.

Now I haven't bothered with this site because I'm thinking of selling it, but thought I might as well take advantage of the Christmas run-up and tart it up a bit.

So I started to think the design needed revamping, what colours? Perhaps pink, since it's mostly about stuff my girls are into...girls stuff...hmmm new site concept rather than kids tv ... keyword research ...

...and at some point I managed to completely go off track and didn't get back to revamping that site (although I was still working on other sites lol)

The moral of the story is...

When you're on a roll, it's too easy to spend hours online without realising it - your eyes get tired and your wrists can hurt from the mouse/typing...so I recently installed 'Workrave' - a free program that reminds you to take breaks.

It actually gets pretty annoying, and you find yourself clicking off the reminders, but it KNOWS and keeps coming back at you!

So, in my working day I get these regular 10 minute breaks in which to do some quick housework, get fresh air, drink lots of tea and get some of my 5 fruit n veg a day...