Virtual Management Systems

Announcing the opening of my new company, Virtual Management Systems. Dave just finished my site this week-end and it is ready for review. Be gentle. No, no, tell me like it is. I mean let me have it, but with a delicate touch.

We are still doing some tweaking: my face won't be on every page and I need to add a blog to it. That being said, I'm anxious to hear your thoughts both good and bad. Please leave a comment with the following in mind.

1) What is the feel of the site? Does it look professional? Is there too much text?

2) Can you tell what a Virtual Assistant is?

3) Is it clear how I can help your business?

4) And most importantly, would you contact me if you needed help?

And, GO!

Say Bye-Bye to Bottles

And just like that, the bottles are gone. January 27, I asked everyone in the internet world how to ween a child from a bottle. I got a lot of great advice from all of you. Here is what I did.

Step One
I went out and bought a bunch of different sippy cups; different brands, different colors, different spouts. My intent was to find one that she was comfortable holding and drinking water out of.

Step Two
I did nothing. While I promoted her continuing to drink water out of cups, I really stopped trying to get her to drink milk out of the cups. I didn't even think of it. I didn't even threaten it.

Step Three
I watched her garner interest in sippy cups when she was around other kids. She would see them drinking out of their cups and she would try and steal their cups for a drink of the precious liquid inside.

Step Four
Then today, I really felt like she was ready. So when I knew she was super hungry for milk, I made a big ado about how we had to put all of her bottles in a bag and give them to babies. "Babies NEED your bottles", I told her. "But you are a big girl who drinks out of a cup." This was more for me as I don't think it had any affect on her drinking out of a cup. I then gave her a cup of milk and she sucked it down. Success!!! ::cheers of glee::

Our next issue is attempting to switch from two naps to one a day. More on that later.

No Fear

If the sun is out, Hadley wants to be outside. She will sit and play in the mulch for an hour while her Dad is out raking, watering the compost, filling the bird bath or doing poop patrol. Then she needs to be dragged inside for stupid things like eating and nap time. She usually won't go without a fight though. This week-end, she found her outdoor house and LOVED it.

I am really going to try my best not to pass on any phobias to her. But seriously this thing is a breeding ground for wasps and spiders. Ew. But for her, it's a fairy tale cottage and like totally the funnest thing ever.

The Best $2.50 I Ever Spent

Hadley loves balloons. Pointing to them at the grocery store is one of her greatest joys in life. So at the St. Patty's Day parade in Denver, how could I deny her a balloon?

Hours of fun.

At last you are mine.

Gratuitous Toddler Shot

Guest Blogger Anyone?

I am looking to add a few guest bloggers to the mix in the next few weeks as it appears that starting a company, looking for a job, and running after a toddler equals less time for me. If you are interested in writing a guest post for the Beehive make a comment or shoot me an email.

There is only one rule. I'm a Project Manager, of course there is a rule. tsk tsk. I would prefer that the post be relevant to this blog. Luckily we talk about almost everything including parenting, pregnancy, raising kids, cooking, cleaning, art, music, restaurants, crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, pooping blah blah.

In the meantime, I'm working on the Dysfunctional Housewife, aka Cynthia to cook something up for us.

Virtual Assistants are the new Pink

Outsourcing has been going on for over 20 years. But in today's age, the new flashy term is Virtual Assistant. People all over the world are able to stay at home and work remotely for companies. I've been letting my mind open up with an entrepreneurial spirit lately and began to consider starting my own virtual business. It started when my friend and colleague Lydia that I've worked with for over 15 years said to me: "We need to start our own Virtual Marketing Business". Then I read in Fast Company that the whole world is going to start doing Google searches about how to work from home. I thought, I could write a blog on how to work from home. Needed: PJs, coffee mug, baby in lap, oh and a computer. Ready: Set: WORK.

In a flash, I went to GoDaddy trying to find a Domain Name. Here's what we came up with: Virtual Management Systems. Professional, descriptive, everything I'm looking for in a serious company. I wonder how many other companies created their names with what they could find on GoDaddy? On a sidenote, I also own PurlPrincess for my knitting blog someday!

David is working on my website a little every night. I need to start whip cracking him, or offering back rubs, or coffee, or something. I have two clients/projects, my friend Jeff and another that I found on HireMyMom. In the meantime, you can catch me on Twitter here.

Angel Face vs. Grumpy Old Man

Hadley really loves bath time. When I yell out the words "Bath Time" Gibson stops in his tracks before running under the bed, and Hadley starts pounding her chest like Celion Dion and demanding her ducks. Her ducks live under the bathroom sink and only come out during bathtime. Well bathtime and extreme playing emergencies. I now have to be careful when I utter those words because she thinks she's going to be stripped naked in 2.2 seconds and the fun is going begin on the double. I love this picture of her post bath because it makes me think of lying on a cloud of soft toilet paper rolls in heaven.


This picture is my new favorite because it makes it look like we don't own a brush. But she had just woken up from a nap and was completely into cheesing it up for the camera.


And finally, this picture is a reminder of how I need to remember that when I dress her, at any minute a Paparazzi can sneak up out of nowhere. Get it? PAPA - razzi hehe. Wearing red and light blue is not perhaps the best choice I could have made for her that day. But when you look like a grumpy old man it kind of takes away the focus of what you are wearing.

Neutrogena Makeup

Growing up, my mother never wore makeup. Mom considered herself dressed up if she had lipstick on. When it came time for puberty and I was ready to don my war paint, I had to look to my BFF Joy to learn how to put on makeup. Joy also did my makeup for prom, and even on my wedding day, she helped me put on my eyeliner because my hands were so shaky. When I was finally allowed to wear makeup in the 80's, I carefully chose my first eyeshadow quad in the colors of eggplant and gray. You know, real natural looking, like a bruise. I have come a little way since then, but my idea of makeup is still pretty simplistic and always includes under eye bag hider and lip gloss. So having me teach you how to put on makeup would be like the Dalai Lama giving a seminar on how to fight wars.

That said, Neutrogena just sent me some new makeup to try out (through a BzzAgent campaign I am working on) and I thought I would do some before and afters for effect. Here is what my package included:

Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit SPF20
Nourishing Eye Quad
Nourishing Eyeliner
Healthy Volume Mascara

I've always thought Neutrogena had great face cleansers and moisterizing products, but was not even aware they had a makeup line. What I really like about the Neutrogena makeup is that they are really reasonable priced. The mascara is only $8.99, compared to $16-$20 for Benefit or Lancome. The eyeshadow palette is only $9.99 and it includes a base, highlighter, crease and accent color. It is also marked for people like myself who need a paint by numbers outline of how to apply eyeshadow.


After seeing these pictures, what I really wish Neutrogena would create is a magic wand to erase my crows feet. Gawd, how long have I had those? Since that, like winning lotto, is a pipe dream, I will have to settle for their concealer kit (which included a base and powder), because it did a nice job of giving me an even skin tone. I also like the natural look and don't feel like I am overly made-up. As for the mascara, it went on really well, no clumping, though I'm not sure I believe their marketing about 400% fuller lashes. Compared to other products I have, it did not make my lashes fuller. And by the end of the day, it was completely under my eyes.

I wish I had a bunch of fancy giveaways, but all I've got are several coupons for Neutrogena makeup for $1.50-$3.00 off these new products. If you see something you like, comment on this post and I'll send you one in the mail.