What do you find to be the most helpful tool to keep you organized?  Me?  The tool that works for me is Microsoft Outlook Calendar.  I put reminders in there for me to get certain projects started, completed or items ordered.  However, I did run into a snafu...my computer died and I lost the data there. 

I have since started using my cell phone calendar instead, since my cell phone is with me constantly.  I do worry about losing my phone, and then losing all the data stored in there. 

Anyone use an online calendar program?  I'd be seriously interested in one that would e-mail me what I need to do...then I wouldn't have to worry about losing my data if my computer died or I lost my phone.  Maybe there is already something like that and I just need to google it? 

What do you use to keep organized?  I'm always open to hearing better ways to do what I need to do.

I've been reading a lot of business blogs.  Some of my favorites are Spin Sucks and All Business because they break it down and make it simple for those of us who don't know nuthin but no business planning!  Yeah, what the heck was I thinking trying to start a business when I have no idea how to run a business...sure, I can decorate a cookie, but that doesn't mean I will be successful as a business...but I digress...

All Business suggests that as we get to the close of this year we look back at our business over the year and list what worked and what didn't and use that list to help us plan and change the business in the new year.  This sort of reminds me of New Year's Resolutions...but this year I really need to change the things that didn't work for my business...and what was that?  ME!  Procrastinating...I need to stop doing that....really, really need to stop doing that.

To help me prevent procrastinating I have decided that I'm just going to work on the habit...it takes 21 days to change a habit, so hopefully by the end of January procrastination will no longer be a word you will see in my blog! 

Okay Nike...I get it...I gotta "just do it."

One of the biggest hurdles I have encountered in growing my business is trying to combat procrastination. I admit it, I'm a big procrastinator. I have read that the only way to fight procrastination is the infamous Nike motto "Just do it."

I agree with what I have read, that the biggest reason I procrastinate is because I think the task at hand is going to be hard. Usually, once I start I do find that it isn't nearly as difficult as I had made it seem in my head. And in most cases, once I get started I get lost in the enjoyment of what I'm doing, it's just getting started that is the hardest part.

What do you do to avoid procrastinating?

When I first started decorating cookies, let's face it, I sucked! I think back to some of those first experiments in the kitchen...baked too long, so they were hard, the icing too runny so it slid over the edges and onto the counter...and my kids will tell you, they didn't even taste good!

I started looking on the internet for information on how to perfect the art. What I found is most people wanted me to pay them for what they knew. At that time I didn't have the money or the desire to give up my money for information.

I did eventually find wonderful giving women that were more than happy to share what they knew and I want to be like that...isn't it said, what you give away will come back to you tenfold? So, I plan to share here what I have learned from having my little cookie business. Oh, my joke about my cookie business... so, I started my cookie business because I wanted to make a little extra money doing what made me happy...be careful what you wish for, because all I make is a little extra money.

A little about me. I have a full-time job working for a medical transcription service. I get to work from home and raise my children. Three years ago I started my cookie business. It has grown each year. My goal is to get it to where I spend more time baking and decorating that I do working!

Join me as a chronical the day in a life of a busy woman...mother, wife, employee, cookie decorator. I will share what I know and hopefully learn some too!

On Tuesday December 1, 2009, Riley turned 8 months old. Neva also had a date with a judge to receive a decision on who would be granted custodial rights. We are so excited to announce that the judge confirmed custody was already Neva's. With a written judgement from the court Neva no longer has to worry about Riley's father taking the baby without permission or keeping him against her will. The court required a planned visitation agreement be set for that day.

Things have settled down now that there are no doubts who has custody and what the visitation schedule is. Neva would not have had such a stress-free successful day without the wonderful help of the many kind people that extended monetary assistance, legal guidance and paralegal services. Our thanks go out to all of you!