LeaveittoLaynie

I recently spent time at a client's home who needed help clearing the junk out of her house.  She was frozen in her ability to make a decision on what to keep and what to give away.  I spent hours over the Winter break going though her basement, main floor and bedrooms.  Once the clutter was cleared out and what she loved was organized, she almost had a skip in her step.  She felt both physically and emotionally lighter.

I often take one day a week to go through my own (and family’s...

My daughter often complains about a particular friend who doesn't reciprocate the kind of energy to their friendship that she is giving. A friend complains about a similar thing in one of her friendships.  We all experienced these kind of relationships in our lives, whether in a romantic, business or simply a friend. Often they make us feel empty and exhausted inside.

When both my daughter and friend confide in me about their frustrations, I simply have the same advice.  They need to ...

I remember scratching my head and feeling anxious.  How did these moms know to sign their child up so early for ACTs?  How did they know to get all those forms filled out for camp and how did they find them? Where do you go to find certain items? I needed a “Professional Mom”!

This Professional parent, typically a mom in my experience, is one that has travelled the winding  and curving road of childhood requirements a few years before you.  They are a wealth of information on wher...

Growing up my mother was constantly taking classes.  Her passion was textile artistry, many would have deemed her an expert. To her, she was always hungry to learn more, never satisfied with knowing what she already knew.

As a child, school was fun for me. However, history was not my strong suit.  Now, reading Historical fiction novels, I am learning history in a form of a story, not just dry dates and events.  Too bad our educational system doesn’t teach history like that, taking a...

As a Virtual Office Service provider and having several businesses and non-profits, I have been on the internet and have had a smart phone for many years.  Along the way, I have learned about virtual real estate that many of us have but may not use effectively.  Let me help you break it down so you get as much bang for your virtual buck.

Signatures

That space at the bottom of your emails or when you send a text from your phone is prime virtual real estate.  This is a great area to pla...

In my early years of working, I was intimidated to ask for a raise.  Women in the work place, at least in my experience, are afraid to rock the boat and feel comfortable keeping the status quo, unlike many male counter parts.  Jennifer Lawrence recently blogged about t...

I was thinking about my children the other day and who they are.  Their essence hasn’t changed from when we first brought them home.  When my daughter was about 6 months old, she would practice bringing her hands together while lying on her baby blanket over and over again. She practiced her walking along the couch until she was confident enough to take her first tentative steps.  Anything she attacks, she does with vengeance and practice.  Today, she studies really hard, this being...

Doing business or being friends with people of all different backgrounds is one of the freedoms we as Americans enjoy.  Learning from each other whether sitting by someone different in the classroom or workplace gives us invaluable insight on how others practice their heritage and traditions. Surrounding ourselves with various cultures helps make our lives richer.

However, when celebration or tragedy strikes, I feel at a loss.  How different cultures practice these life passages can b...

At the inception of my new career, someone asked me what I charged? I had no idea what to answer. I thought of what I was paid doing similar work for employers I had worked for, always feeling I should be paid more. So why did I quote the hourly wage I had been making when I was never satisfied?

My brother told me I should ask for more? We went back and forth, coming to a rate I was comfortable with. Why was I so nervous thinking people wouldn't pay this higher rate? As women, especia...