BusyBodyBook Blog

My family keeps growing. But this is VERY special.

I am the youngest of three with two older  brothers. When Iwas just 14  my family began to sprout. With my first niece Michelle I fell immediately and forever in love with babies.   Her brother Philip followed about three years later and Melissa and Jeffrey came a few years after that. The Goldner family kept expanding. Over the past 12 years I've become great-aunt to Francie, Payton and Eliza, then two years ago, Ariel was born and, just a few weeks ago, Talia.

When I married in 1987 my new family grew  to include my dear friend and sister-in-law Joyce, my niece Jill and nephew Greg. My own son Jake came along when I was 40. (Need I say that he was VERY special to us, the Goldner-Lasofsky clan.)

Over these years Jill has been one of the most important people in my life. Though for several years different in life's passage and then for some years so many miles aways Jill became my friend. It's been a relationship I have grown to cherish for its honesty, integrity and just plain love. Through Jill and her fabulous husband Mike the family tree continued to grow so that  I became great-aunt to their 12 year-old Julia and 9 year-old Emily. And just last week we welcomed their newest addition, Alexandra Joy. Named for Jill's mom, my sister-in-law and dearest friend Joyce, who was taken from us just a little over a year ago, Alex is now one more VERY special child in our family.

              

                     Jill and Alexandra Joy    

  

              Julia, Emily and Alexandra Joy

Even with tears of great sadness for our loss of Jill's mom this very new life will now bring a renewed spirit for us all. Indeed we have always had so much to be thankful for and now Alexandra  Joy gives us yet another reason to love life and honor our family forever.

I love you Jill. And Joyce. And the family we have created.

 

WANTED: A simple summer.

I remember my last few days of school vividly.

  

We all spent the last week looking for (or paying for) lost library or text books, removing decorations, artwork, or A+ compositions from the bulletin boards. Vibrating and vibrant voices from soon-to-be vacant classrooms replaced the more normal school year buzz. Classrooms smelled fresh again though I'm not sure exactly why. Though windows were wide open there was rarely a breeze that broke up 90+ degree heat to cool our young sweat.

  

On the last day we ran home without a care for what was in our report card.

  

Summer vacation. It felt like we waited a lifetime for it to arrive.
And it seemed like it lasted a lifetime. 

  

Not too long ago a friend of mine shared that for him, as soon as he swallows his last bite of his one and only, yearly hot dog on July 4th, the summer's over - and it's Labor Day.

  

In a way, I understand what he means. And I'm not certain it's an age thing - my 19 year old expressed a similar sentiment. Summer's just not as luxurious. We're just not as carefree and before you know it, it's back to school season.

  

So what to do? How about this.

  For today, this week, your vacation.... forget about your ToDos. Really.

What's to lose? It's summertime!    

 

 

 

So WHAT about the clock!? 

 

Let the kids choose of a few things they would like to give up doing for a day, a week, a month, over the summer. Your off the clock - put aside some of your stuff too. Leave the beds unmade and your hair unwashed for a day or three. Let the kids stay up late, sleep in, and kick their clothes under the bed.
Eat last night's leftovers for breakfast. SIMPLIFY. Try it.

S   L   O   W down.   

Have a wonderful. L O N G and blissful summer! Happy July 4th.

  

NYC through the Eyes and Nose of an 18 Year Old... and a Baby Boomer.

Twice a year my oldest, dearest friend visits the Big Apple with her daughter with a fist full of Broadway tickets. Ali, now eighteen and soon to be studying theater in North Carolina, can't see enough of (sometimes two and three times) whatever show is out.

Ali can't get enough of NY and one day plans on living in the city (or with me!) There isn't a corner or busy street that doesn't thrill her. Whether it's the craziness of Times Square, eating at Wo Hop and then browing through the cheap jewelry and smelly fish stalls in Chinatown or a more peaceful walk through Union Square, NYU's Greenwich Village or Chelsea - by foot, subway or cab she is intent on one day and forever breathing New York's air.

Yesterday was the day we spent trekking wherever and everywhere. We took in a show, ate at Carmine's in the theater district and then walked miles to satisfy Ali's hunger for the city.

I (truly struggle to) remember my own 10+ years living and working in and absolutely loving up New York. My studio apartment on 15th St. &  Third Ave. was the size of a peapod but it was home to me and my two cats. I walked to work, traveled every inch of the city and met friends at all hours, dated, ate in the then trendiest of restaurants, ever-toting a shopping bag with my latest purchase.  My calendar was scheduled and packed full with everything NY!

Yesterday all I could see for miles were myriads of young and hip, oblivious to the rank smells and crowds of NY.   For Ali too, NYC is heaven-scented. Yesteryear I felt the same way.

What happened to me? It must be an age thing. Or maybe I'm just a jaded NYer. Last night I couldn't wait to climb on the next Mid-town direct train back to the burbs of South Orange, NJ and knit for the 1/2 hour trip back home. 

Geez, I'm getting old but seeing NY through Ali's eyes will always be my pleasure - and she'll have a home with me if and whenever she decides that she wants to take the train into the city - from my home in the burbs it's only a 27 minute commute, Ali!

One year later...

Jake's going to the prom. Again.

His Columbia High School girlfriend Dana flagged his car with an invitation a few weeks ago when he got home after his first year at Univ. of Mo. Jake made his own way to the tuxedo rental and florist. What a difference one year makes!

 
Are they gorgeous or what!

I can't believe this is my baby. Ninteen years just flew by - and it's been the best years of my life. I have always been such a proud momma. Jake oozes goodness. Lucky me to have such a fabulous son and human being in my life. 

FC Organizational Products (formerly Franklin Covey Co.) & BusyBodyBook Organizers

                    
      The 5 - Column BBB 2012 Calendar Year       The BBB 7 - Column Wall Calendar

It was an outstanding first year for BusyBodyBook on Franklin Covey's (FC Organizational Products) online store. So much so that they are going to carry our 2012 "RED LICORICE" and "BLUEBERRY" Calendar Year editions as well as the BBB Aug '11 - Dec '12 Wall Calendar and GRID Pad!

 

Academic vs The Calendar Year Perspectives

 

   Aug '11 - Aug '12 Academic              Jan - Dec 2012 Calendar Year

 Which edition do you prefer?

This mom SHOULD now move over to the Calendar Year BusyBodyBook. It's been almost a year since I've had to keep track of Jake's activities and even though I have PLENTY of my own activities to fill that empy column he once occupied I can see now that it's handier for me to convert to the BBB that runs through December. For me what that means is toting around two BBBs for a couple of months. Yet another life transition that I've been avoiding. (We really should be creating a BusyBodyBook binder edition!!! Maybe next season.)

My columns do change seasonally. That's the real beauty of BBB's Weekly GRID. You're never married to the column headings. Now that all 2011/2012 editions are delivering I can take my "PRODUCTION" schedule off and replace it with "DESIGN" for next season (LOL!).  "MARKETING" is a forever column as is my "PERSONAL" column, "FOLLOW UP" (phone calls, ...), and "OTHER", really a TODO (B'days, Anniversaries, reminders like pick up dry cleaning, dentist,  vet, bill pay,...).

What do you name your columns? 

 

 

Work.

I'm enchanted with the bees whose only interest is in working the flowers - worker bees, I assume. But I just saw what's probably the Queen. I'm hardly the the naturalist - I just watch and savor nature. So. Is the Queen Boss watching over her workers? Or, is she just enjoying the harvest?

So many of us are both the workers and the Queen. Training, overseeing,  ... are we enjoying the reaping the rewards? An entrepreneur struggles with it all. If we're not thrilled with the ride it's not enough to just do the work or just collect at the end.  

I hope you find joy, as I do in the work and making IT work! That's the harvest.

BBB's are on the way! Now I have a question.

So.... the new editions for '11/'12 are truckin' down the road to the warehouse and orders ship out this week! YAY!

 

Now I have a question. What's a 50-something lady to do about the severe lack of attractive, fashionable clothing lines without having to spend designer bucks??? or lookin like a 30-something wanna-be. (Wish I could!)

I'm giving away some BusyBodyBook Organizers

It was time and it was a rain drenched Saturday. I absolutely had to tackle the storage room in my office to make room for office copies of new 2012 BusyBodyBook editions reserved for some local sales, PR requests for reviews and giveaways,  and sometimes, like now, my own giveaway. 

As I spring cleaned I found a bunch of the 2011 BBBs and Wall Calendars and rather than have them laying around for another few months I figured that there were probably some lots 0f future customers who would love to have a free copy. So,  for some fun, on Monday some future customers received an email inviting them to win what's left in my own inventory -

                                                        

                                     10 - 2011 FALL                       10 - 2011 WINTER  

                                              

                                   5 - Aug '11 - Dec '11 BBB WALL CALENDARS    
 
 The caveat was their willingness to purchase a new 2012 BBB - and be one of the first 15. Not a bad deal. Practically a 2fer when you consider that the shipping & handling is on us too!

So, the winners of the BBB Race are...

Carol Vincent

Raina Yi

Kris Beauregard

Lisa Slayton

Michelle Thomas

Suzanne Goeden

Karen Glass

Leanne Palmerston

Camille Ryckman

Kristy Dadmun

Kathi Hirsh

Meg Broderick

Shauna Lee

Theresa M.

Amy Robinson

Congratulations ladies! Your free BBB will arrive in your mailbox VERY soon!

Thank you everyone and all that entered our giveaway (and helped me with my spring cleaning!)

 

 

 

Ahhh, sweet spring!

Toodooloo winter, HELLOOOO spring - and none too soon. The sounds of shovels scraping the pavement and snowblowers, well, blowing, gave way this morning to the "sweet hum" of the leaf blowers clearing out the yards of winter debris. 

 But, before the noise, my favorite sound are birds that have already begun to announce morning.

I've been eyeing the rhododendron waiting for their plump buds to deliver some color to the garden. I may be a great fan of black & white apparel but when it comes to spring I can't wait until the first pinks and yellows of the season pop. The brutal winter - I've high hopes for the well-enough hydrated ground to grow green again against a  clear blue sky backdrop. 

Oh well - enough of my AM reverie.

Gotta get a laundry in, showered, dressed and to work.

The phone's ringing already.

And I'm avoiding looking at the tax returns that popped up in my email box last night from my accountant.

No news yet about the revised website from my webmaster. But it's coming soon! Just some tweaking.

Ahhh,  a sweet  hour of procrastination - can't live without it!

Embracing Busyness

I've been absent for awhile - at least here. I've had to prioritize - y' all know what that means -  many balls to juggle, a lot on my plate, too little time, ... but I'm back to say that "our" new BusyBodyBook collection will soon be available but more, to promise a weekly update on the goings on in my small biz, my truly hectic life, and what makes me tick - or not.

What you might not know is that this girl wannabe girl but mature woman, alone  manages the company About Your Time - in addition to another part time career in marketing. While the word "owner" may imply that I  employ and delegate to my minions, the truth is that I am the minions. While I oversee my fabulous designer Rick Miller, BBB's meticulous printer and conscientious webmaster (all life saver),  it is I who wear the many hats of entrepreneur - every day, almost every night, weekend and holiday, if necessary.

Always the people person, I am also many different people or, more aptly described, the personnel (lest you think I am schizophrenic) of  my company. The "we", "our" and "us" which I often speak or write of  is actually me, myself and I.

Please do not take this as either whining or boasting. Although I do give myself  lots of credit for resilience, I am "merely" passionate and dedicated and somewhat of a workaholic. In other words, I love what I do and also what I offer to others (and myself) to maintain some semblance of sanity in this sometimes unwieldy life of ours.

To say the least, my columns are full even with Jake away at college now. I now spend more time with my other very loving family members and friends, read classics on my pet Kindle, get to the movies more, and watch endless and more often, soporific episodes of "Law and Order." Now that the weather promises to improve so will my morning walks with my best friend, my cousin. All this, and more, I love and embrace, along with my work.

So, I am aptly proclaiming that the newest 2012 collection of BusyBodyBook organizers to be about "embracing busyness. "  After all, who am I to say what your priorities SHOULD be or how you SHOULD be spending your time? All I do wish for is that we all take a good look at what we do with our time, find our passions and be able to refine our balance. In other words, I truly hope you do what you do best because you LOVE doing it. And mostly, that you genuinely feel great about what you do - most of the time!