Olioboard. It’s like Pinterest with an interactive moodboard and an opp to shop for whatever you want, right then and there.

And I’m in love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s pretty well-curated now, but I’m excited to see where Olioboard goes once it gets more products and more momentum.

So far, it’s totally dangerous.

You can see all the products in a given mood board, click through to them for details, descriptions and retailers.

I’ll even flag your item if a product s new or on sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s part play, part creative and at least one part shopping since I’m totally buying this Union Jack (holla!) mirror.

Now…

 

Lately, in my quest for a little more balance, I’ve become acutely aware of how much time I spend tied to my desk all day. It’s not unusual (enter: Tom Jones) for me to sit there, locked into email and writing and editing and… before I know it, it’s been 5 hours and I haven’t even stopped to pee.

That got me to thinking… everyone needs little breaks throughout the day. Whether you’re tied to a desk or spend your days chasing your kids, we all have those moments where we need a major mommy time out!

I wrote about this recently at allParenting.

My favorite tip?

Back away from the desk

If you work at a desk all day, make sure you try and move every 20 minutes. You don’t have to leave your office. Just stand up, stretch and step away from the computer… if even for a minute. Keeping mobile not only helps with circulation, it also helps clear your mind for a minute so you can get some perspective and refocus.

For more tips, you can read the full article I wrote here!

While I’m not huge fan of all the initialism that comes with blogging (DH, DS, DD, D to the double E. OK, I totally made that last one up), I happen to fall not-so-neatly under one of those categories: WAHM or Work at Home Mom.

Before the Mom part came into play, I’d operated from a home office for years. For the past 10 years I’ve worked (mostly in my PJs) from home. A PR firm that I worked for was testing out the virtual model while they hunted for office space, and we all loved it so much we stayed virtual. When I started my own agency six years ago, it just made sense to stay that way.

THE GOOD: The overhead’s low, the hours are flexible and frankly, if you’re disciplined enough, you can be a lot more productive.

THE BAD: The flip side to being really productive is becoming a total workaholic. When you have a home office, it’s extremely difficult to punch your time card at 5 p.m. and “leave it at the office.”

Apparently multitasking is a bad thing. Recent research suggest it makes us less productive and more stressed.

When you have a home office and two kids, it’s virtually impossible not to try and do 5 things at once. After all, you have two hands, 12 emails, two conference calls, two mouths to feed, a deadline to meet and of course…you absolutely have to go pee, STAT, because your post-baby bladder is never on your schedule.

It seems like even when I try to focus on one thing at a time, inevitably five other things are vying for my attention. Here’s what I’m doing to try and stay focused and kick the multitasking habit. Hopefully these tips will help you, too.

• DITCH THE PHONE. When I’m with family, out to dinner, trying to spend quality time with my kids, etc., I ditch my phone. iPhones are distracting. There are emails, tweets, Facebook messages, Words With Friends, all begging me to pay attention (look at me! look at me!), when I really should be focused on the people around me. Because ditching my phone is easier said than done, I often hand it to my husband when we sit down so he can hold it hostage.
• MAKE A LIST, PRIORITIZE AND DON’T DEVIATE. I’ve become a list cop, slapping my own wrist when I break the rules. When I sit down to my desk, I make a list, in priority order, and I do everything in my power to knock out each thing in order. When I get pulled into another task– I put that on the list and go back to it, so I can stay on course. Staying on course also often involves ignoring my phone, sometimes my email. Email = a distraction trap. Check it before you start on your list and after you’ve finished the first task, then again after you knock out the next task.
• MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS. Skype, IM and chatting might seem like they can be productive, but they just don’t work for me. I find them distracting, so I don’t have them running unless I need to for a meeting. Also on that list–Facebook and Twitter. Let’s just make that the Internet in general. If I need to write, focus on budgets, etc., I’ll close my browser and not look back. Once that bad boy is open it’s like Pandora’s box. If all else fails, I turn off my monitor.
• SCHEDULE REGULAR MEETINGS. Instead of impromptu calls and emails that disrupt the list and my schedule, I try and schedule calls/meetings with people who need a lot of my time, so we can knock out several things in one slot of time.

It’s a work in progress, but so far I’m seeing a difference in how much more I can get done in the work day so I can have more time for the most important things on my list at night . . . like mastering the cake pop with my three year old!

 

I’ve had a home office for about 10 years now. This was awesome when it was just me in a two bedroom place with an office all to myself. A sanctuary, if you will. OK, maybe it was more stressful than a sanctuary, but it was all mine.

Enter 2011. Now add a husband and two boys, a three bedroom house and a home office that I currently share with a changing table and a Diaper Genie. That is, until my newborn is old enough to take over the third bedroom altogether.

I’ve started window shopping for a four bedroom home and plotting out my plan to reclaim a proper home office. After all, I’m in here sometimes 12 hours in a day and I need some organization, some modern design, some bold, cool, colors to keep me sane as I type away in my little four-walled work box.

Right now I’m leaning toward charcoal, white, blues, green . . . maybe I’ll live on the edge and throw in a few hints of a bold pink. I’m craving a major home office overhaul and with the help of Pinterest, I might just find the perfect mix!

Here are just a few ideas. If you like these ideas or need some inspiration for your home office, follow me on Pinterest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In all of the back and forth behind the scenes planning a live TV or radio interview, it might feel like you could write a novel with all of the info that’s been shared.

But no matter how much info you’ve given a producer, you have to remember that you (or your client) won’t be the only person they’re talking to that day.

A solid tip sheet can save you for a number of reasons:

1. Use the tip sheet to provide key facts (dates, times, locations, etc.) . . . anything critical that should be communicated in the course of the interview. Remember, these producers/bookers might deal with several interview subjects in the course of one show. Their world doesn’t revolve around the fact that your circus is in town or your client’s hosting a book signing. If you want them to get the details straight: write them down.

2. The tip sheet is the perfect way to reinforce key messages. I can’t tell you how many times an interviewer reads straight from my tip sheet on a live remote shot, during live radio sports or on live morning news.  They don’t have the time to memorize everything about you and they appreciate having quick, easy background in-hand. Instead of, “So tell me about your film festival,” with the right info literally at their fingertips, that same question could sound like, “I understand San Diego Film Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend.  Besides the signature Actor’s Ball, the celebrity sightings, what else can people expect to see at the Pacific Gaslamp Theater?”

3. Everyone looks good. A tip sheet helps the interviewer better prepare for a segment and gives them quick, easy info to reference on the spot. It helps the producer look like a rock star by prepping the interviewer and the interviewee knows exactly what info has been shared and what’s likely to come up during the interview.

Every tip sheet is different, but here are some key things you don’t want to miss:

1. Single page, minimum 14pt font, use bullets and spacing to keep it clean, simple and easy to read from a quick glance.

2. Include all critical info: names of people involved, dates, locations, websites, ticket prices, etc.

3. Key messages: a few succinct key messages that position your client, product, event, service (etc.) exactly how you’d say it if you could write the news yourself.

Make sure the tip sheet is emailed in advance so everyone has a chance to review it, but always bring an extra copy or two.

I’ve had several interviews where a producer and anchor didn’t get a chance to brief and the anchor runs up to my client right before a segment to get a quick download. If you have a tip sheet on hand, you’ll be their best friend.

Bottom line: be over prepared.

 

 

And they’re right.

I checked out their annual “Most Stressful Jobs” report and there was my life at #2: PR Exec. Right behind #1: Commercial Airline Pilot.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not surprised by this. I live and breathe it, my family and friends have known this for years and Live.Mom.Work. might not have been born if the demands of my career didn’t force me to try and find balance between my 12-hour-a-day job running my PR firm and my 24-hour-a-day job of momma & wife.

There’s still a certain little “told you so” moment that taps my inner 5 year old looking for validation to see PR up there on a list where I expect to see air traffic controllers and NASA technicians.

Back to work . . .