Christmas Traditions

A few days ago I got very concerned with Christmas traditions. Cade is old enough to be totally in love with Santa and Rudolph now and I wanted to make sure this Christmas - and subsequent ones - was totally awesome for him. Ross' schedule throws in the monkey wrench of date inconsistency year after year and that was throwing me off. When would Santa come? How would we explain the ever-moving date? What could be consistent, even if the date moved?

I stressed sufficiently but eventually was distracted by something else. Like in the moment needs of caring for a family.

Today is Christmas Eve and what our tradition could be, should be, will be dawned on me. Since Ross is off for 48 hours, whenever it happens, our Christmas tradition is going to be just that. 48 hours of Christmas awesomeness.

It "came to me" because really, that's what we're trying to do this year. Ross is off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (jackpot!) and I really wanted to make the most of it. So we're spreading the fun out over both days. And while it is really awesome to have Christmas Eve and Day this year, I realized we can always celebrate for two full days. Every year. So that is what we'll be doing.

This year that meant Christmas music and stockings this morning. Stockings, for us we've decided, are from family. No Santa involved and they are done just the four (Mom, Dad, Cade & Lexi) of us. That's our own little private slice of holiday time. So at 8 a.m. today we busted into our stockings.

Aquarium trains for his train set, complete with water and toy fish and they light up!

Now we're laying low. Everyone is in pajamas; Cade is watching a Thomas Christmas movie, Ross is napping and I am drinking really delicious special Christmas wine. When Cade's movie is over, he and I will decorate gingerbread-man cookies for Santa and early this evening, we'll go to church with Nana and Grandpa Jack.

Tomorrow my parents will arrive, and after naptime, we'll have the big family Christmas party with tree presents and dinner.

It's all the normal things of Christmas, but I'm really enjoying stretching them out across two days instead of cramming everything into one. It also means we can do EVERYTHING: movies, stockings, tree presents, big dinner, and church. Literally all of the Christmas things.

In 20 years, when Cade is in college and everyone is talking about their Christmas traditions, I hope he'll say "we had Christmas weekend. It always lasted two days." Maybe he'll say "we did stockings just us" or "we had surf-n-turf for dinner," some of the little more traditional traditions we're slowly establishing. But if his story is we celebrated and had the best time ever for two days, I'll feel like I've done my mommy job on the Christmas front.

DC Surprise

Even though I've been to DC on business several times over the past however many years, it's been a good long while since I did anything touristy. Usually I work and grab a meal with Ben & Anna. But this time, since Anna's travel conflicted with mine, they were out of the picture. But I did get a nice change of pace with a visit to everyone's favorite White House.

It was my co-worker's first time to DC so we took an after dinner walk to bring her face-to-face with one of our country's favorite icons. She was not disappointed (and neither was I!),

Elevate has been launched...or birthed

For the past 3-4 months, I've been working on the launch of Abila Elevate. And now it is launched! Or...birthed. Because that feels way more accurate. It was a 4ish month pregnancy, a 5 day labor and now my baby is here. Like any expecting parent, I was focused on the birth (err launch), but as any veteran parent knows, that's just the start.

I say that in a little bit of jest. But if you would have seen the surprised look on my face this week after launch when I realized I had other, non-launch related work to do...yeah, it was kinda like bringing home a new baby. Surprise!

Anyways, woohoo! Launch complete!

GFD Promotion Ceremony

Thursday was a big day for our family! Georgetown FD held their promotion ceremony and we all attended! I am so proud of Ross for his promotion to driver and so happy we could have our family there (to celebrate him of course...but also to help with Cade...). Enjoy these pics!

First McDonald's trip before the ceremony 

Badge pinning!

Family pic (thanks photographer Nancy!)

Austin Moms Blog!

Since I'm not busy enough, back in August I connected with the editor of the Austin Moms Blog and last month signed up as a regular contributor. Woohoo! I'm actually really excited to have an "official" blog with lots of readers that is more lifestyle and consumer than tech and B2B.

So far I've contributed a guest post, an intro post and as of today my first regular post!

You can read it here: http://citymomsblog.com/austin/2014/10/15/is-working-from-home-for-you-6-questions-to-ask-yourself/

We are never, ever getting back together

We are never ever ever getting back together,
We are never ever ever getting back together,
You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me
But we are never ever ever ever getting back together

Like, ever...

Ah Taylor Swift, I think you were talking about a boy (the Kennedy boy maybe?) but I am talking about American Airlines.

Supposedly I was going to DC today for my first working mom biz trip. Margeaux was taking Cade to preschool so I could catch my early flight; Nancy was on tap to pick him up and have a slumber party; Ross was scheduled for all-day daddy duty when he got home from shift tomorrow.

Well, I only made it as far as DFW. And then I hung out there FOREVER.

I caught my 8:35a flight from AUS to DFW (Thanks Margeaux!). Quick change of terminals and stop in ladies' room and I was ready for my 10:25a flight to DC. Or 11a flight. Whatevs. But when I got on my slightly delayed flight we were told that some external thing-a-majigger that starts the plane wasn't working so we were getting a new one. 15 minute delay. NBD.

Turns out that thing-a-majigger was not the broken thing-a-majigger. It was a valve actually on the plane. Let's see if one is nearby for quick replacement. Psych! Not so much. De-plane everyone because to do the fix it's gonna be an hour with no AC and it's Dallas so it is 95 out. Try again at noon.

So I went to town on the free DFW wifi and scored some Starbucks. Life could be worse.

When the delay was pushed to 1p, I decided I was skipping out on the company dinner tonight. I wasn't capable of putting my best foot forward or wining and dining anyone. Instead I was gonna sulk with Anna and Ben. But seeing them was a silver lining so I could forgive AA for the delays. It meant Delta time!

Then the delay was 1:20. And because this plane had to be taken full on outta commission, then it was 1:40. Then 2p. OK 2p take off still meant 6p arrival. Plenty of time to grab dinner with my favorite Virginians.

At 2:20p I'm watching the safety video for the third time that day when the pilot says "Some days are just unbelievable..." As in "this is your second airplane of the day but guess what - it doesn't work either!"

Literally 2 minutes after that announcement, before I figured out what the hell I was gonna do, my VP texts me "If you want to go back to Austin that is fine." Sweeter words were never texted.

I rang that flight attendant bell before I even responded. (Thank you boss and boss' boss for being reasonable, compassionate people. Really, it means a lot to me. This is why I was eager to work for you.)

At 2:40p I de-planed my third plane of the day. I asked American if I could get a flight home or if I should rent a car (it's only 3 hours after all). (My VP suggested hitch hiking as the most cost effective route...j/k of course.)  The nice agent told me she could get me on a 4:10p to Austin because duh, it's Sept 11 and nobody but me is flying today. (Shot of confidence!) Ugh well 4:10 wasn't bad if it was on time which American was not doing awesome with lately. Nothing earlier?

There's a 3:10 but they'll close the gate at 2:55p for that and it is already 2:43p. LADY I have all my luggage, I'm wearing flats and I am MOTIVATED. "Well I don't want them to slam the door in your face" and then do what - book me on the 4:10p?! Give me a damn chance! I'll make that sprint.

And sprint I did. Across the entire A terminal, into the sky-tram-whatever-they-call-it, past old ladies (sorry if I knocked you down), through ALL of terminal C with a laptop bag banging my left hip and large purse thudding my right ribs. I had leg cramps and couldn't breathe, by dammit, I made it to C39 at 2:53p. I boarded the plane sweating and panting and barely knowing my name.

We took off by 3:15p. Of course I was in the back of the plane (don't give a sh*t) which meant we had the most slope at take-off...and my iphone rolled out of my overstuffed purse. Awesome. So as soon as the seatbelt sign was off, I was down on all fours in my pencil skirt in the aisle looking under chairs for my phone. Bless the lady two rows back with a big purse that stopped the phone sliding. About that time the pilot tells us we've been redirected toward Abilene because of weather that we need to go around and it will DOUBLE our flight time.

Then I ordered wine.

Thankfully as I poured my wine we got clearance to take a shorter route that only put us 10 minutes behind schedule. Things were finally looking up.

I landed at 4:15p, darted out of the airport, back to my car and sped up 130 to preschool to grab my little boy. After re-installing his carseat (which Margeaux had left there for Nancy), I went into his classroom and found him not there. WTF. Thankfully I was informed that he was just enjoying third recess with the toddler class he's graduating to this month. Cool beans. Except when I got to the playground he wanted nothing to do with me. Couldn't I see he was playing with new friends on a new playground?? Besides I promised him a slumber party with Nana and I was NOT Nana. After three attempts and bribery of a movie and junk food, he obliged and came home with me.

Finally back home we ended our (my) crazy day blissfully with Brittany and Kenneth. The kids ate real food for dinner and the moms had wine and guacamole. Then we all watched "An American Tail" movie featuring Fievel. We ended with this sweet scene of the boys reading together on the couch.

Ah being home with them makes it all worth it. Look how sweet!

PS My American Airlines voucher from Boston travel plan changes has been sold to a sorority sister. Because American Airlines, we are never, ever getting back together.

When you work from home...

A sales director at work asked me to join his weekly team meeting today. They are based on the east coast so it meant dialing in at 8a. I told him I would be happy to join but would be taking the call from home since I couldn't feasibly make preschool dropoff and get to work by 8a. No big deal, everyone had a chuckle about Curious George being on in the background.

Per the plan, I spoke for 10-15 minutes, introducing myself, giving a sneak peek into some of my marketing plans. I figured 15 minutes was what Cade would give me so we were doing great. Then though we launched into Q&A. The team had great questions and I took the time to answer them; Cade was still happily playing and watching cartoons. Win-win-win.

But then I saw It: the baby poop face.

Giggle to myself, "he's so funny when he makes that face." Continue with phone call. Oh how blissfully ignorant I was.

Next thing I know: exploding diaper! Poop out the top! Meanwhile, the team is still asking questions about marketing plans. At this point Cade starts crying, because, duh, he's sitting in his own exploding poop.

When, mercifully, the director said "thank you for joining us Cheryl. You can stay on the call if you - " I didn't let him finish his sentence before "Thank you! I need to run. Toddler situation. Bye y'all!" Because literally, there was a shitstorm happening. Shit had hit the floor.

I'm not even sure I had hung up the phone before I started yelling "Ross! Ross! I need you. NOW."

Knock knock. Who's there? Opportunity.

Also, when opportunity knocks, you celebrate with a
(outlet mall) shopping spree, champagne and ($6) roses.

When opportunity comes a-knockin, you answer. And so I did.

I've been very happy living in self-employment land. Like any job, it isn't perfect (that's why they call it a job), but I really dig cutting out at 3p most days and noon on most Fridays. I dig the lack of expense reports, the uber-responsive IT department and the down-the-stairs commute. So needless to say, it would take a seriously sweet full-time job to put all that on hiatus.

Like most good opportunities, it started with a margarita and ended with a dinner date with my husband. Somewhere in the middle came a whirlwind interview, job offer and acceptance. To cut to the chase: I start as a Marketing Campaign Manager at Abila on August 4.

What makes Abila (Uh-bill-a) and this particular job so sweet I'd leave the land of yoga pants and short days you ask? Well, a lot of things.

First, I know my bosses already and I like them. Not only that, they are smart and I can learn a lot from working with they day in and day out.

Second, it focuses on a part of marketing I've only recently become acquainted with: lead generation. I've dipped my toe in that this year with a couple of my clients and I'm really geeky for it. Going right along with smart bosses, being down in the lead gen weeds day in and day out will be the best way to really sharpen that skill set.

Third, it's back in nonprofit world! You know how much I love nonprofit world.

Fourth and finally, it's a good logistical match. Only 15 minutes from home, health insurance (because it's not if the wee baby breaks a leg, it's when), family-friendly company, good vacay and potential for flexible scheduling (which lends itself nicely to yoga pants).

The odds of finding all four of those is practically unheard of so I did what any smart working mama would do: I jumped on it.

Big change for our family? Yup. Good change for our family? Totally. Excellent big picture decision? Absolutely.

PR is not all martinis and manicures

A girlfriend posted this article to Facebook today and it could not be more accurate.

Having had my hand in the PR cookie jar in all my jobs, I can tell you, there aren't nearly as many martinis, manicures, happy hours or other fluff as most people think. There's a lot more prepping executives, writing and rewriting, calendar balancing, position statement creation, crisis communication planning and other non-alcoholic activities involved.

So why martinis and manicures the first thing that often comes to mind? I especially like this paragraph and its contribution to the explanation

On a New York Observer list of fictional publicists in pop culture, every notable character since the mid-'80s is a woman — typically sharp-tongued but not supersmart. Think Jennifer Saunders on Absolutely Fabulous, or Debi Mazar on Entourage. One of the most popular sketches on Comedy Central’s Kroll Show is "PubLIZity," a reality-TV parody starring Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate as vapid pseudo-professionals in neon heels. Even when they’re portrayed as savvy, like Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones, PR people are never intellectual heavy-hitters. They are the working world’s sorority girls: salad-eating, prosecco-ordering up-talkers, manicured to the hilt.

TV shows aren't where it ends though. The number of chick-lit books featuring women PR, advertising or other communication pros living in London, NYC, and LA and hopping between social and work events with no discernible differences doesn't help either. They are always being woo-ed by mega-watt smiles from millionaire men (sometimes married) and sneaking off to the coffee shop to gossip with their girlfriend co-workers. While my career has definitely included some coffee shops, the flirting millionaires have been notably few.

Even in college, the number of peers in the COM who told me they wanted to do food, beverage, fashion and entertainment PR kinda killed me. I mean, yes, I want to get paid to peddle wine too. But there are only so many jobs in those arenas. Much less glitzy fields like investor relations, nonprofit (my fav), tech (my other fav), education, energy, and health are where the bulk of the jobs are.

I suppose this whole soapbox is to say two things

1. The marketing and PR department at your company is not fueled by martinis. They are most likely sharp, talented individuals who could write a whole newspaper's worth of content before most of their non-marketing peers could spell their names.
2. If you are considering a career in marketing or PR, remember, most of the jobs are not glitzy but they can be rewardingly geeky.

Quickest IT Turnaround Ever

Around 11 I was working from a client's office between meetings when my laptop died. Just on the spot died. Plugged in and everything. Restart, die. Restart, die. Restart, die. I didn't even make it to the login screen.

Thirty minutes later, turn on, die.

Enter frantic texts/calls to Ross "my laptop is dead. I need a new one ASAP."

By 12:27p we were on the phone and I was explaining the Laptop Death of 2014. Then after telling him what I needed in a laptop ("I dunno; fast, not heavy") and my budget ("whatever it costs; I need it now") it was decided that he was the more qualified laptop purchaser.

And purchase he did. When I returned from my afternoon meetings at 3:15p, there was a new laptop waiting in my office, most of the set-up already complete. I have a brand spankin' new HP Envy, complete with touchscreen.

I've had some good IT guys in my previous gigs but this takes the cake. It only required a 10 minute phone call and 4 text messages and I had a new laptop within three hours. No requisition forms, expense reports or other paperwork required. This officially makes Ross the best IT guy I've ever had.

Now consider, on top of acting as Chief Technology Officer for Cheryl Black Consulting, he also wore hats as Home Facilities Director (bought a new ceiling fan), Chief Automotive Officer, Head Chef and Dad, he's had a damn productive day. Soon he'll have to return to his role as Firefighter/Life Saver, which is important and all but I really love and appreciate all the hats he wore for our family today. He's the best!

Slow Spring

This month is a bit slow for me with work. I started the year with four clients but two were temporary projects and as of March, both were finished. Together that's about 35-40% of the work I started with this year.

Now I don't say this as a bad thing. Yes, at some point I may need to do a little business development (do you need a marketing consultant?) but right now I am actually enjoying having a little less work on my plate.

I've been able to take care of a lot of personal errands and obligations. The eye doctor (still have both eyes), the dentist (still have all my teeth), hair cut, cleaning out closets, catching up on my accounting (gulp, which I hadn't done other than invoice related items since December).

My favorite thing though that I probably wouldn't be able to do otherwise is helping a friend market his new business. It feels great to have a tiny role in the success I am confident he will have. It's like my version of helping someone move or paint their house. I'm enjoying the hell out of it.

2014 Kick Off

I usually don't blog about work, especially now that I'm doing the self-employed thing. Client confidentiality and all that. And while I'm not going go break any confidentiality, I am gonna blog about work a bit.

Being the first full business week of 2014 it is BUSY. Good busy. I have kick off calls, meetings, brainstorms, docs, emails, etc coming out of my ears! And I am so lucky to have a full client roster of great people and good companies with whom to do it all.

2014 is looking like marketing-geek-apalooza and I am totally jazzed!

WFH and PJs

Around 12:30p today Ross and I had this conversation

Ross: Not even getting out of your PJs today huh?
Me: Yes! I will! For my meeting!

Geesh, pajamas is a large part of why I work from home. And really, it is creating less laundry. Because I have a baby. And he spits up and drools on me. I would be just plain silly to put on work clothes while I'm in mommy-mode. I don't think Cade or Lexi mind my lime green tank top, tie-dye looking pants and red plaid slippers one bit.

At the Office

Just a normal day at the office when you co-worker is 8 months old.

The Amazing Failure of Women's Career Advice

This article in Forbes is great. Almost two years old and still wildly relevant. Here are my favorite snippets.

“We’re putting a lot on younger women,” said Sallie Krawcheck, former president of global wealth & investing for Merrill Lynch at a recentForbesWoman panel discussion. “[Telling them that] In order to be successful you need to ask for more money in this way, you need to raise your hand in that way, you need to do things that you weren’t brought up to do or are not comfortable doing. By the way, you need to join this woman’s network and go into that mentoring program… And what’s happened is [that] we’re not necessarily bringing women forward as much as we’re just making them busier.”

 ...

So are we asking women to do too much? Considering the fact that even “doing it all” doesn’t seem to be helping, that just might be the case. “By the way,” Krawcheck added. “You’re already doing three times the childcare and two times the housework so you’re already busier [than your husband]. And then you’ve got to go to the mentoring programs?”

Seriously though: what gives?

 ...

It’s all based on viewing women against the masculine paradigm, which has long been considered the “right way” to live and work. When women do things differently, well, Duffy says it’s viewed as deficient, or the “wrong way.”

Just as good: the comments. Some faves:

With both men AND woman focused on creating balance, it will become more socially acceptable for men to take on traditional female caregiving responsibilities freeing up more time for women to focus on career. In a utopian world, both men and women would spend equal amounts of time at work and at “life” (for lack of a better term).

and

This is a complicated problem. As a manager, one of the things I have noticed is the amount of time women spend highlighting their private lives in a work environment. A woman who has to be late to a meeting, leave early, or take a day off will tend to provide a reason (I have to take my daughter to the doctor, I am meeting a friend for lunch, I’ve got to pick up a prescription before they close, etc.). The men simply say, I’ll be out tomorrow, I’ll be 5 minutes late to our 2pm, I’m leaving at 4, etc., and leave it at that.

In other words, I hear women take the focus off their work selves and onto their private selves more frequently. This, accompanied with the excuses/explanations can change the perception people have of them as professionals. In my experience men do this less, which leaves only the “work personae” for people to consider.

Right or wrong, our communication styles might be part puzzle.

Hubby/Daddy for the win!

I'm churning out tons of work today and my fabulous hubby is working just as hard. He's taking care of the Cade-man (and from all the giggling I hear, doing a great job of it) and he even delivered a working-lunch to my office for me. Including Four Cheese Cheez-its, my new snack-food obsession.

Best hubby/daddy ever.

#SelfEmployedProblems

On days where my meetings and Cade pick-up time leave an awkward period, I often work at the Starbucks near Erin's house instead of driving home in between. Today was such a day.

And it was the worst Starbucks experience I have ever had.*

Which is saying something since as a dedicated customer I'm there at least twice per week.

I go into Starbucks, order my standard drink and fire up my laptop. The internet takes forever to connect but whatever, no biggie. But then it won't stay connected. And it keeps trying to connect to the free Kinkos internet but that signal isn't very strong. So now my internet is just flip flopping, taking forever to load and basically not letting me get anything done. Super awesome.

Magnified awesome by the group of three teenagers, complete with sparkley iPhone cases (I've got nothing sparkley iPhone cases but it really emphasized the teen in these teenagers), and they proceed to gab. Suzie's boyfriend this, Jason's cousin that, Ms. Teacher whatever, gab gab gab. I know, coffee shops are a space for chatting with friends. I do it too. But Lordy, it is not conducive to trying to work.

And then the kicker. Some guy brings his tween and baby sons into Starbucks and sits on the other side of me. AND THEN UNWRAPS THEIR McDONALD'S LUNCH. In Starbucks! Greasy cheeseburger and french fry smells assaulted my nose. Mixed with coffee. Ugh. And then the baby, a Cade-aged baby, starts to cry. Baby-Daddy rocks the car seat once and then gives up and goes back to his fat-laced burger.

That was when I decided if I was not going to work and was going to listen to a crying baby, it might as well be my own crying baby.

Please oh please when school starts let my Starbucks go back to being a perfect little satellite office.

*I realize "the worst Starbucks experience" is a pretty yuppie complaint in life. In fact it is probably one of the best complaints one can have, right behind "too much many" or "too many vacation days." So yeah...I know.

Day 3

I've had exactly 3 business days of self employment and I AM LOVING IT. Friday and yesterday were even kind of crazy because Ross was at work and still, loved it.

Not to sound too yoga-and-granola but I feel like there is so much more balance in my life. So far, hopping between work and baby and puppy and house and husband is going well. I feel like my house is in order more, my time with Cade is more quality and everything is just less rushed overall. Yes, even less rushed in my Great Across Austin adventures yesterday (Round Rock to Cedar Park to downtown to Cedar Park to Round Rock).

An added bonus - while I was working this morning and Ross was caring for Cade, the Cade-man finally rolled over for his dad. I got to hear Ross exclaim in excitement and tell Cade how amazing he is. There is absolutely no better soundtrack to the workday.

Breakfast is now less rushed and includes rice cereal

We like not being rushed but the verdict is still out on the cereal

Update 7:17p
I've made the bed 2 days in a row and tonight I cleaned up after dinner and pureed leftover vegetables so Cade will have home-made baby food. Ross wants to know where his regular wife has gone. I don't know but I think the new girl is alright.

Leap of Faith: Self Employment

As of Friday, I'll be entirely self-employed!

Since probably the beginning of our marriage, Ross and I have talked about me working as an independent contractor once we had kiddos. When Cade arrived in March we started talking about it more seriously. And when I started thinking about the logistics of working out-of-the-house, 45-hours-per-week motherhood, I started to act seriously.

After months of discussion and prep, I'm ready to take the leap. I turned in my 2 weeks notice at Blackbaud on July 1 and my last day will be this Thursday. After that, I'm officially on my own.

I set up an LLC and am now the sole member of Cheryl Black Consulting LLC. I purchased a domain, whipped together a very simple website, subscribed to Google's business applications, got a professional headshot and set up a biz bank account. I'm frighteningly official.

Now I'm in the thick of business development. Emails, coffee dates, lunch dates, phone calls, LinkedIn updates and messages. Posting on my personal blog making sure everyone I know knows.

What exactly am I doing? A smorgasbord of marketing communication activities. Social media marketing of course, but also copy writing and editing, event marketing, public relations, project management and a bit of fundraising.

So tell everyone you know! Tell them only nice things about me and then to contact me. Because baby, my shingle's hung and I'm in business.

In the books

Day one of working motherhood is officially in the history books!

Here's what I was greeted by in my cube today



And as good as that is, it's what greeted me at home that I liked best



(Actually what I came home to was a napping babe, dinner on the table, clean house and one rockstar of a husband. It was pretty damn amazing. And it was followed shortly by some lovely baby snuggling and playing. Per-fec-tion.)