Juggling Your Schedule

We're all busy and now with the holidays it's about to get busier. My system for getting things done has got to be simple and convenient or I won't stick to it.

Here are four easy tips to help manage your time.

Write it Down:
The older I get and the busier I get, the more I forget. I keep a small spiral notebook with me and I keep it simple. Having scraps of paper here and there gets lost, so this keep everything in one spot. Because if I don't write it down when I think of it...I'll forget. Plus it feels good to cross off those to-do's. I keep sections: "HBG" (HollyByGollie), "Grocery Shopping", "Notes", "Ideas", "Everything Else". It travels with me in my purse, to my day job and sits on my beading table so I can jot down what supplies I need to reorder.  If it can wait, put it at the bottom of the list.


Cooking:
The Crock-Pot is my best friend. It is probably one of the best investments I've made in my kitchen. I'm up at 4:30 during the week and before I leave for my day job, that night's dinner goes into the crock-pot. There are thousands of recipes on the internet. When it comes to my lunch, I eat the same thing each day... pretty much. On Monday I take my lunch for the entire week in a lunch sack. I bring a bag or two of salad, tomatoes, avocados, dressing and a bag of frozen precooked chicken I keep in the office fridge/freezer. I assemble my salad each day and I don't have to scramble each morning to figure out what I'm going take for lunch. I also keep a few cans of soup and crackers at the office.

Cleaning:
I hate cleaning, who doesn't? My house is not spotless or well organized. We have busy lives and I do the best I can. But I like the house to look at least half way decent. I've discovered it's easier to clean as I go rather than doing it all on Saturday. I keep a small refillable spray bottle full of Windex Multipurpose cleaner. Each morning when I'm done in the bathroom I spray down the counter and sink and wipe it down with the washcloth I used earlier then throw it in the hamper. I also keep a bottle in the kitchen. Speaking of the kitchen, if there are dishes in the sink I will wash whatever I have time to do before I leave for work and finish up later. Every little bit helps.

Email:
Some experts say only check email twice a day, morning and afternoon. That doesn't work for me. Email is my primary communication. However, things that can wait but do need to be addressed I mark with a red star (depending on your email program) or mark as "unread".  Stop saving those emails that you won't use within the next two weeks: Offers, updates, etc. Experts will also tell you to save emails you want to read for a later date. I find if I haven't read it within two weeks, I'm probably not going to.

These are just four areas of our lives, there are many many more, but this is a good start.

Tips to Protect Yourself Online

During this time of year we do a lot of online shopping. Below are some tips to keep you safe.

Change your password every three months. Use upper and lower case letters, 
symbols, sentences and/or numbers. Example: ILoveToTravel%5236.  Never use the same password for all of your websites that require one.   

Are you giving them your password?: A lot of us use online banking, instead of typing in your user name and password on the bank's log-in page (or any website for that matter) first type them in a Word document then cut and paste them into your user/password field. There are viruses that can now recognize key strokes.  If you receive an email from your bank with a link. DO NOT click on the link, rather open up a new tab in your browser and type in your bank's URL.

Email Recovery: Many web-based email programs (Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) offer a recovery option. This is a secondary email or your cell phone. If someone were to hack your account and change the password, an email will be sent to your secondary email account or cell phone altering you of the change. Or, if you simply forget your password you can use this option. You can find this in your account settings of your email program. 

Links within an Email: You'll receive an email from someone you know and it will have a link. Usually the email will look odd, either it will have only a link and nothing else, or some type of sales pitch. If in doubt, don't click on it. Call your friend to make sure. And also worth mentioning, especially if you receive an email from someone you do not know, never, never click on the link.

Online Purchases: Never use your debit card to make purchases online, always use your credit card.

Phishing Scams: Beware of phishing emails, which appear to come from your bank, school, or other legitimate business, but are fraudulent and might contain harmful links or attempt to get you to divulge personal information. Do not click links within the email. Go directly to the site and research the problem. If you determine it is fraud, notify the site.

California Warrior Princess

I came across an interesting article online about a young woman who ditched her cushy California lifestyle to spend one month in the African bush to become a warrior. Feeling like there must be more to life than her BMW and designer clothes, she set off for an adventure.  As I read through this story about her bathing in rivers with cows and buffalo and her blistered hands from practicing her spear-hunting skills with real (male) tribal warriors, I rooted for her and thought "wow, I would never have the courage to take on such a challenge... but Yay for her!"

At the advice of a friend she embark upon a tough humanitarian mission to Kenya, where she’d assist in building a health clinic in a Kenyan game reserve. While there, she met a local chief from the Maasai tribe who told her about brave Maasai warriors. When she asked if women could be warriors she was told “women aren't strong enough or brave enough to do it.” And that's where the story begins. You can read the entire original article here. 

Some of the comments that other readers left were less than positive: One reader posted, "whenever she wants to upgrade her warrior skills, she can stroll though Central Park after dark." Another reader commented "if she is a warrior princess why did she come back to the states?"  "Only a ploy to sell her book".  (Yes, she wrote a book about her experience, how could she not?!)

I think their missing the point, or am I too gullible? I found the story interesting and inspiring, even if she did only do this for a month. (ONLY a month, Ha! I wouldn't make it to nightfall on my first day). It's more adventurous than anything I've ever done. What do you think?

Attitude Adjustment

Let’s face it; we can all use a good ole’ Attitude Adjustment every now-and-then.

Flat tire, boss needs you to work this weekend, its 6:30 pm and you still need to hit the grocery store. Grrr.  Sometimes I get wrapped up in the daily demands on my time and energy and forget all that is good in my life. Since I can’t run away to a tropical Island, at least not today, I go for an attitude adjustment.

I keep a very small lime green leather notebook in my purse that I call my “Attitude Adjustment”.  On days like this I jot down in my “Attitude Adjustment” the first two or three things that come to mind that I’m grateful for.  My list usually includes simple things like: I’m grateful for my husband who will greet me with a smile and a kiss, a job that will pay for those groceries, and that I have a car to drive.​​

It reminds me that my problems and complaints are trivial in the grand scheme of things. Turning on the nightly news can be very sobering too.  

The Land of Enchantment

Recently, we went camping in the mountains of New Mexico. They call it "The Land of Enchantment". 

See why they call it The Land of Enchantment? Beautiful.

 Motorcycle nuts

 Nutty Dogs

Love this gnarly dead tree

NEW! Beaded Id Badge Holders

New in my shop are these beaded ID Badge holders/Lanyards. This is a new line and I will be adding more in the coming weeks.

Hollywood and HollyByGollie

On March 1, HollyByGollie beaded handbag charms will be featured in VIP gift bags at the "Illusions" World Premiere Musical in Hollywood, California.

A variety of red beaded charms were created in celebration of the Bulgarian Liberation Holiday. The star of the musical, Irina Maleeva, was born in Bulgaria and has had an extensive career in film, television and theater. 

It's a big thrill for us to have been invited to participate!

New Product!

New and in my shop now, are these pretty beaded sun-catchers. Hang in your window to capture the light and brighten a room. More colors to come...

A Red Carpet Affair

We are excited to announce that HollyByGollie beaded handbag charms will be included in the gift bags of VIP attendees at the "A Red Carpet Affair" event on February 24, 2013 in San Diego, California.

“A Red Carpet Affair” is an unsanctioned Oscar^TM  Party celebrating Hollywood's best films of the year.  The event benefits PATH, an organization dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities end homelessness throughout South California as well as the Junior League of San Diego with its focus on assisting transition-age foster youth.

Thank you Junior League of San Diego for allowing us to participate in your first annual event!

A small sample of what will be included in the gift bags!

Packaged and ready to go!