Last week I offered to babysit and today was the day.

I don’t know what in the world possessed me. Just this past Thursday I met one month old Munchk’n for the first time and he was sleeping soundly. He opened his eyes once or twice and looked around the room and then went back to sleep. That was pretty much it. That and the fact that he’s so gosh darn cute!

So I offered to babysit. I don’t mind having Munchk’n keep me company in my home office while I work on a few projects, blog, send some emails. Easy enough because he sleeps.

Wrong.

Munchk’n, according to Mommy, didn’t sleep very well last night and arrived at my home this AM, a tad bit cranky.

He only wanted me to hold him, so that’s what I did. The entire morning. And no, he didn’t sleep. I also discovered one-handed typing isn’t for me.

Clearly, cranky babes and biz don’t mix.

Just so you know.

But he’s still gosh darn cute! #cheekpinch

Have you tried the babes & biz c**ktail? Share some stories!

Do you ever find yourself with either a manageable or unmanageable list of things to do? Why can’t you just get this stuff done and mark it off the list? I know why… you’re either too busy or too lazy. It doesn’t matter which, however, because they both have the same effect on your life– stuff doesn’t get done!

How do you prevent busy-ness and laziness from getting in the way of life? It’s important to plan ahead, create an organizational system that works for you, and just get off your butt and do it. Sometimes all you need is a 5 minute time slot.

If your business is looking into a getting a credit card, be sure to shop around for bonus perks such as free air miles or hotel stays. If you’re going to spend the money, you might as well take advantage of benefits.

Continental Airlines Small Business Credit Card- $85/year

• 2×1 BusinessFirst tickets when you purchase with the card
• Earn Twice the Miles when you shop at certain stores
• Bag fees automatically waved for cardholders
• 2 presidents club passes per year.
• 20,000 bonus miles after your first purchase.
• 1 mile for every $1 charged on card
• Double the miles for purchasing from Continental.com with your card
• …and many more benefits

For a full listing of credit cards with benefits, check out this great site. The user comments at the bottom are also very insightful.

The key is to select the business credit card which will offer your company the most rewards whether it’s money back, free gass, airline miles, or hotel stays.

Remember to be savvy when researching credit cards and never forget to always pay off your card, not a minute late!

Ok, that’s it! With more and more businesses jumping on the Twitter bandwagon because they think they should or someone told them to do it, I need to jump in (once again) with my two cents.

In business…

Twitter should be used to:

1. Let your customers know what’s up in your life/business.
2. Be an online resource & wealth of information.
3. Engage.

Twitter should NOT be used to:

1. Direct market your products and/or services.
2. Come up with new spamming techniques.
3. Have a one-way conversation with yourself (see the other #3).

Get it? Got it? Good. It’s not difficult, really. If you do get it, you can follow me on Twitter.

We’re inundated with people bringing their businesses to social media.

If you want to market your services or products on social media sites, remember this: FIRST, SELL YOURSELF.

People who hang out on social media sites want to actually know you and don’t appreciate hard sales pitches. If they wanted direct marketing, they’d be somewhere else.

People will do business with you because they know you and like you, just as in ‘real life’ networking situations.

Remember to take the time to genuinely know people online if you want to succeed. Otherwise, your marketing efforts could be in vain.

Every Diva Mogul needs a mentor, so don’t even think about starting a business without one!

Some say you should have a mentor for every aspect of your life, but I wouldn’t go that far. I’d back it up and say every gal should have a mentor for the most important aspects of her life, like business.

Whether you’re a happy cubicle cowgirl or a cutting edge solopreneur, finding the right mentor can play an important and instrumental part in your career growth.

My favorite networking group, the Women’s Global Network, recently launched a fantastic mentor/mentee program. The results? Check out this video:

http://www.vimeo.com/3931067

Video by Jessie Van Gundel

I’m a hot mess this week. Business is heating up and I’ve once again found myself neglecting everything else in life to ride the wave.

> The Gym? Oh yes, I do have a membership. I forgot!

>Clean clothes? If I want to be seen and sniffed in public, I better get washing (yep, I work from home).

>Food? With every meal out, the waist goes out.

>The house? Lucky for me, I live in a culture where people call before they come a knockin’.

>The hubby? He’s hinting…

If I don’t shape up and take time for ME, this Diva Mogul just might find herself joining in on the Operation Muffin Top(ple) Madness at Twolia.

I must take drastic measures to save myself before it’s too late…

My advice: No matter how busy you are, take time each day to live a healthy, harmonious lifestyle. You’ll ride the wave of sleek longevity.

Now I’m off to take my own advice!

Speaking of muffin tops, check out this celebrity stylist tip about buying pants your size… (Muffin top prevention advice available at 2:02)

http://www.vimeo.com/3589999

What do you get when you mix 5 eager entrepreneur-minded women with dinner and a bottle of wine? The Diva Mogul Crew.

Tonight I’m off to hang with my Diva Mogul Crew.

Once a month we rotate hosting duties for an evening of learning, collaboration, networking, great conversation, and the occasional piece of juicy gossip. The host supplies the main course while the rest of us bring apps, side dishes, desserts, and vino.

We’re all powerhouse entrepreneurs, so we get the trials and tribulations of owning a business. Chances are, someone else in the group has ‘been there, done that’ and has a few words of wisdom. We toast to success (small and large), learn from experience, and introduce the other Diva Moguls to the many people we know.

Allow me to introduce my Diva Mogul Crew: An athletic financial guru, an insanely savvy CPA, a sassy stylist with A-list Hollywood connections (and free swag!), an unstoppable realtor (Queen) who is thriving in the current housing market, and of course MOI.

My confession: I used to be addicted to email, but now I dread the thought of logging on, reading the message, and (deep breath) responding.

How can this be possible when I, at one time in the not so distant past, loved the advent and ease of use offered by email?

Here are a few not-so-educated-guesses as to why I cringe at the institution of email these days:

• Twitter can along and swept me off my feet. Now, I have an urge to send emails in 140 characters.

• After networking with so many people, I get so much email on a daily basis, I just don’t have time to read it all. Forwards? Delete. Newsletters? Delete.  “Send this letter to 10 friends and you’ll be…” BLACKLISTED BY ME. Reply to all? Grrr…

• Facebook has become email. Many of my closest friends and business contacts are on the site, which has become the new email. Not only do I get to send them a private message, but a also get a glimpse into what their dog ate for dinner. Fun.

Your thoughts on email?

The Simple Mango Margarita

Congratulations, you’ve made it through another week at work! If you’re like Debralee from Help in a Handbag, you’ve been wanting Friday since Wednesday. TGIF!

In case you missed Cinco de Mayo earlier this week due to business obligations, there’s still time to gather family, friends, and a select few (cool) coworkers to celebrate. I have the perfect stress reducing drink picked out for you this Friday…

Today’s TGIF drink is the Simple Mango Margarita.

Shopping List:

• Mango (frozen or fresh)
• Tequila
• Triple Sec
• Sour Mix
• Limes
• Ice

Mindlessly Easy Directions:

Combine these ingredients in a blender:

• 6 ounces of Tequila
• 2 ounces of Triple Sec
• 6 ounces sour mix
• 1 ¼ cups of cubed mango

BLEND!

• Add ice
• Squeeze the juice from 1-2 limes in the blender for zest

BLEND!

>>>Serve in the coolest glasses you own and ENJOY<<<