Tuesday's Tips

Communicating Effectively in the Workplace

1) Communicate in person as opposed to electronically whenever possible. I try to avoid emailing, instant messaging, etc. when the conversation consists of more than three correspondences and/or questions. Once a conversation reaches a point where there are multiple questions being asked, I walk away from my computer and continue the conversation in person. The sad part is, most of the time that person that I'm communicating with is merely steps away. I've noticed this a lot in the corporate sector. Electronic communication is taking away from good old-fashioned face-to-face dialogue.

2) Mind Your Own Business- This tip is self-explanatory. There's nothing worse than the office gossip. If it doesn't directly concern you, if your job is not in jeopardy, leave it alone.....

3) Proofread- Before submitting any written documentation (emails, letters, memos, etc.) make sure you proof your work. I never submit anything in writing without allowing someone else to look over it as well. BTW- I have a undergraduate & graduate degrees in Communications & Professional & Technical Writing. You're never too good or smart to be corrected

4) Greet the people you work with- Saying good morning upon your arrival and goodbye upon your departure is just the right thing to do. You don't have to carry on a full-fledged conversation (unless you have that type of relationship). Being nice goes a long way.

5) Smile when you speak- I received the nicest compliment from an older gentleman in the grocery store recently. I was shopping and didn't even realize I had a smile on my face. He looked at me and said, "It's so nice to see someone smiling. You just don't see that anymore!" You never know who's looking at you and who may need to see that smile, especially at work.

Until next time... Thank you for stopping by

Monday, September 26

Home Alone

Well, I survived my first weekend of being a deer widow. I must say, I really enjoyed the alone time. I'm so thankful that my husband is back home and can pick up where he left off w/my sons. After seeing my family off bright and early on Saturday, I decided to invite my mom to brunch. We hit up a spot in downtown that I've fallen in love with, At the Corner Diner.

This was my first time eating there. My mom had been raving about their menu and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was very laid back and the staff was extremely friendly.

My mom had the P.C. BLT. I almost wished I had ordered it....

I chose the Sampler of the South. It was as good as it looks!

Excuse the glare (the waiter did the best he could!) I am so blessed to have my mom in my life. I've experienced a lot of close friends that have lost their parents in the past year. I do not take it for granted that I have both of my parents close to me and they are healthy and doing well.

Next up, we decided to indulge in a little college football. #mymomisafootballjunkietoo We ventured on to War Memorial Stadium to support the UAPB Golden Lions against the Jackson State Tigers. It was a good game, even though our team lost. On the bright side, the half-time performance was great!

Speaking of college football.... This about sums up my feelings about the game. I turned the t.v. off at the beginning of the third quarter and decided to be pleasantly surprised when I awoke on Sunday morning. Obviously that didn't happen.

I still had a great weekend and I'm looking forward to more home alone weekends.

Until next time, thank you for stopping by....

Hunting Season

Friday, September 23, 2016

Friday Favorites- Hunting Season

Hello Friends,

This weekend starts the beginning of an exciting time in my home! It's the official start of bow hunting season.  If you had told me that I would marry a man that hunted, fished, in the military AND a preacher, I would have laughed in your face! God had a much bigger and better plan than I could ever have imagined.

Meet my God-fearing, handsome and hardworking hubby. Andre is definitely a man's man. That's one of the many things I love about him. He has instilled the love of the outdoors in my boys in a day and time where most kids would rather be playing video games. Don't get me wrong, they would spend all day playing Madden 2016 on the X-Box 360 if I let them. #Ihateallvideogames

This is what I think about hunting.... However, I promised my husband and boys that I would take one for the team and go with them this year on at least one hunt. The weather is still pretty hot, so I definitely won't be going anytime soon!

This was taken the year my oldest son, Seth got his first buck T#thattonguelooksgross! I'm so excited for them to pick up where they left off a year ago. This time last year, my husband was deployed overseas... (insert my sad face)

Fast forward 12 months later... (insert my happy face)

The boys trying out new rifles at Gander Mountain. I told them to put their game faces on!

So, what do I plan on doing while I'm home alone?

Watching lots of football. I'm hoping the hogs will pull out a big win over the Aggies! #WPS I also hope my weekend includes a nap and catching up on a couple of books I've been reading. I'm really enjoying this one by Tim Tebow. As the mother of two sons that play sports, I've enjoyed reading about his childhood, the influence of his parents in his athletic career and his walk as a Christian. It's an easy read and I hope to have it finished by the weekend.

Until next time, thank you for stopping by....

Tuesday's Tips

Professionalism in the Workplace

Hello Friends,

I've decided to start a new series! Every Tuesday, I'll share helpful tips that I've learned in various stages of life as a wife, mother and professional.  Let's face it, I've made my fair share of mistakes but I do believe I can offer someone some helpful advice. At the least, if anyone has made the same mistakes, you'll know you're not alone.

Today's tips are targeted towards moms, like myself, that work outside of the home. I have a total of over 25 years of experience in the workplace. This experience includes working in corporate America, education (all levels, elementary, middle, high school and college) and the non-profit sector. Suffice it to say, I've seen a lot in my years.....


1. Make wise use of your time- This tip can really be applied to all concepts of life and not just work. One of my pet peeves is being late.  Showing up late to work, meetings, conferences etc. is unprofessional. I understand things come up, but it should not be habitual. Arriving to events early speaks volumes. It shows that you respect, not only the time of your colleagues but yours as well. Don't take two weeks to respond to an email/phone call. Nobody's that busy....

2. Pay attention to how you treat people- Your co-workers, employees etc. pay attention to how they see and/or hear you talk, interact, and respond to others.

3. Find your passion & pursue it- I wish I had grasped this concept a lot sooner in life. We are all called to fulfill a purpose. You may very well be doing exactly what you're supposed to be. If not, Start praying and figure it out!

4. Give advance notice if/when you decide to resign from your current position- DON'T BURN BRIDGES!! You always want to maintain your integrity.

Our children grow up so fast.... I want to be the best example I can to my boys. It's important to me that they see me pursue my own dreams and goals.

#wheredidmybabiesgo?

Until next time, thank you for stopping by....

Friday Favorites

Friday, September 16 2016

Hello blogging world! I've finally decided to stop procrastinating and get this blog going. For my very first blog, I've decided to link up to these blogs that I've followed for a very long time and join the party. Thank you ladies for the inspiration and motivation.

First up....

Football Season! I am an absolute, die-hard football fan. It has been so exciting to take this journey with my oldest son. it's a new season in more ways than one. He's at a new school that he absolutely loves and is being coached by a group of amazing man. We are all excited about this season. Didn't hurt that the Razorbacks pulled out a HUGE win over TCU on Saturday (yes, I was one of the people that changed the channel mid-way!) It's always special when our family/friends come to support. #ilovemyvillage

Fall Ball. I'll be the first to admit that I had to completely tutor myself in the game of baseball. Spencer is back on the mound again after breaking his ankle in March. He is a tough little guy with a huge heart. #ilovehim

Family. I got a rare opportunity to travel to my mom's hometown by myself and celebrate our family's August birthdays. It's always good to re-connect. The older I get, I'm appreciating how short life can really be. We had a good time.

Grandparents Day. I feel truly blessed that my boys have a strong bond with my parents. This past week grandparents were celebrated nationally. My father (grand-daddy) and mom (granny) took time out of their day to have lunch w/Spencer. 

I'm really excited for this journey as I pursue my passion of writing. I look forward to connecting you to my world. Have a great weekend friends.