E-commerce Coaching Sessions!

I added a link for those of you who would be interested in signing up for an ecommerce group coaching session, through BasicsofEcommerce.com. There are still openings available for the next one - date TBA.

The idea is to hold informal monthly sessions for entrepreneurs to get together and discuss ecommerce, learning from each other as we go along. These are free meetings and, rest assured, it's not one of those where the coordinator tries to sell you something (don't we all hate those?).

So, if this sounds like something you or someone you know would be interested in checking out...click the link to your right!

Things To Be Thankful For

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!

My family isn't one of those families that goes in turn stating what we're thankful for. Sure we may discuss it but it's never made into a big deal; however, we had plenty to be thankful for this year.

I got a call from my sister a few days ago and she came down to stay a bit. She's still here, actually, and it's been a great visit...we haven't seen her in about a year. My niece was with a friend of hers this year so we didn't get to see her, but we got lots of phone calls and I'm planning to bring her down as soon as we can (Christmas vaca?). I'm hoping she moves back home, but she may stay where she is and go to nursing school (it's her dream-she used to be a STNA and found it very rewarding).

There was something else to be thankful for and even though the situation itself wasn't good, it opened the door wide open for improving it. It's just one of those things, you know what they say "when one door closes..." Hopefully it will work itself out.

What are you thankful for?

New Meds and Old Technologies

Well, the good news is that I don't need surgery...and there's a new med for my condition that I never knew about before, a 6-mo round of treatment. The bad news is that we're still waiting to see if my insurance will cover it...if not, well, they can cover my surgery in a year or two, cause I'll need one eventually without this medication. They can decide :/

Some how, earlier, we had gotten on a conversation about records and I was like 'my kid's generation probably doesn't even know what those are'. So, my 6 year old asks...and I had trouble explaining because, well...it takes me forever and a day to explain anything due to my OCD nature of trying to get every last detail in, LOL

I've been pretty nostalgic lately, looking back on my 'glory days' (a.k.a. 'no responsibility, life is one big party'). Don't get me wrong...I love where I am in life now (stress and all) and where I'm going, but part of me really misses the 'good ole days' and some of my old friends. It almost feels like I'm absorbing some deeper part of the lessons from that time in my life...more of a moving on than a looking back, really.

Have any of you gone through this and do you think it's a side effect of getting older? I did just turn 29 and even though I think 30's a great age, it makes sense to call that a possibility.

If I don't make it back on before then, I hope everybody has a great Thanksgiving and enjoys the time with their friends and families!

The Doctor Dash

That's what it feels like anyway...going to so many appointments. Just this week, I had one office call to tell me that, despite my biopsy coming back OK, that I'm still high-risk for cancer and they'll need to keep monitoring me, took my youngest for his H1N1 shot and I got a new prescription at today's appointment. To top it off, I have my ultrasound Monday to help determine if I'll need surgery and in three weeks, I go back so they can tell how my new meds are treating me.

Whew! Man, I'm tellin' ya! The good news is that this medication should help in managing my bi-polar and (social) anxiety disorders. It's been 13 years since I've taken anything for them, much less seen a doctor, so fingers crossed. I've been way too stressed (and moody) for a while now and it's wrecking total havoc...something's gotta give here and one way or another, it's gotta be me, LOL

If it really does help me cope better with the day to day and stay healthy...maybe the doctor dash isn't such a bad dance after all. I'll tell you this...it's becoming great motivation to get back into shape and eat better!

Resources and Help for Ecom-preneurs

It's not typical for me to bring up any specifics of my work. However, I'm making an exception this time because this website is such a great resource for budding and seasoned 'ecom-preneurs' alike. I had to pass it on to those of you who either are selling online, or would like to be.

Basics of Ecommerce has a lot of useful information on how to get started and draw customers to your site, all the way up to how to retain those valuable customers you've earned. There are interactive features, also, as your opinion is always treated as something important and welcome. The site is still building and fleshing out...and is quickly becoming one of the best resource sites for ecommerce enterprise.

Once there, you'll meet Steve, the man whose experience and vision is bringing it all to you. I'll be there too, as his assistant and also as a fellow entrepreneur. As a community, we'll learn and offer support as we grow our businesses to their peak potential!

General Maintenence

You may have noticed the changes, or not. I removed nearly all of the ads, so I can be choosier about them later (IF I add more at all). I kept the content, minus the Followers widget, which I really wanted to keep but it wasn't showing up at all. I'll check it occasionally and if it starts showing up again, I'll add it back!

I want the focus of my blog to be about the content and not feature a slew of ads. It's my goal to be more active (as time allows) in providing better posts than rants about how busy I've been these last few months. I assume you're all as tired of it as I am by now.

I decided it was time to perform some maintenence on myself also. My biopsy came back fine, but now they want to see what else could be causing my symptoms, so I'm going back for an ultrasound Thanksgiving week. From there, it's possible more tests or even surgery will be in order...bleh!

I'm convinced that the chronic abdominal pain and lethargy is from not properly taking care of myself (only 1-2 small 'convenience food' meals and 10+ hours on the computer daily, lack of exercise, yada yada). Even now, I'm lucky to work in 5-min. stretch/cardio combos once or twice a week, which sometimes wears me out. Sad when you consider all the dancing, walking and 2-hour workouts from my past!

To make a change in the right direction, I started a 7-day detox system to clean out the toxins I'm sure have gotten stuck in my system over the last year...I'm on Day 3 and I'm already noticing the change in my moods, energy level, pain and mental focus! I chose one with dandelion in it to help my liver do it's thing. I've also decreased my caffine intake in favor of more tea/juice and switched to organic convenience foods (yes, I read the labels beforehand) till I find the time for a thorough meal plan.

Working in more exercise is slower going but on the horizon (cut me some slack-I hit a 20 minute stint last week!). A great side effect is that my boyfriend says he'll try it if it works for me (minus the diet change and exercise, though). I'm hoping to ease him into the meal plan I create or sneak in healthier foods and get him at least stretching.

Who knows, maybe now I'll find the energy to use my new sewing machine and revamp that closet full of 'skinny' clothes into a new wardrobe I can fit into!...or maybe some cloth toys and throw pillows?