Homeworking and how to build up a website on a budget

Helen from Business Plus Baby has kindly hosted my post on 'How I became a homeworker'. Click here to read my story. The blog has many more stories of homeworking mothers, which is really inspirational.

Thanks Helen!

PS. I have finally published my article on how to build a website on a budget, click here to find out how you can do it! 

PPS. Boost your SEO factor by using these three top tips by Alison Rothwell, online marketing expert and founder of the SEO Training Club. 

Alison is a great communicator and very generous with her expertise. I highly recommend her club!

3 Killer Tips to Improve Your Google Page Rank

Improving your Google PageRank will of course have a knock on effect to your position within the natural search results. But don't make the mistake of concentrating solely on PageRank. Improving PageRank should be a part of a well-organized SEO strategy. 

1. Create a Google site map

Google has a great number of free tools you can use. So if you don't already have one, head on over to Google.com and create a free account, then follow the instructions to create a sitemap, it's actually quite simple. While your there take a look at some of the other free tools they offer.

2. Getting good back links

It's common knowledge that the more links you have, the better it is for your PageRank. But while it's common knowledge, it's not entirely correct. It's not so much the quantity of links you have, but the quality. All links should be from relevant sites, preferably with a high PageRank themselves. A good way of getting quality back links is to post in relevant forums. Answer any questions that may have been posted and include a link back to your site offering more information. DO NOT spam these websites with links though, or you'll be banned.

3. Always check your spelling

Goggle, sorry Google, doesn't like spelling mistakes. So always make sure your content and titles are spelled correctly. It was once common practice to optimise sites with misspelled words for popular search terms to try and fool the engines. Those days are over, if your site has misspelled words on it, your PageRank will be penalized accordingly. 

To receive Alison's weekly online marketing ezine to help you get higher search engine rankings to increase your online sales, visit www.seotrainingclub.com.

Exclusive Q&A with Emma Forbes

Emma Forbes, who has recently launched her very own lifestyle website Forbes Style (http://www.forbesstyle.com/)

 
I was looking for samples for a beauty feature I want to run on my blog, when I was offered the opportunity to feature a Q&A with celebrity mum-of-two Emma Forbes. I was allowed to pick the questions and as I've been following the recent controversy about weaning with great interest, I asked her opinions on this much-debated issue. Of course it was all a storm in a teacup as the study that sparked the controversy wasn't really advocating changes. As the NCT puts it: "The media furore surrounding the story was a surprise to the NCT. To start with, the article was not based on new research, but an opinion piece that raised questions and did not provide any new evidence, alter policy or recommendations."

Anyhow, here are Emma's replies to my request of a comment on the weaning controversy and/or to recall her own experiences, at a time when guidelines advocated earlier weaning. As this is a homeworking and parenting blog, I also asked if she had any recipes for time-strapped mums (and she should know since she has a lot of commitments!).

Emma on weaning "Weaning was very different then (14 years ago). I basically started Lily and Sam from three months onwards with a little rice put into the last feed at night... and then when it came to introducing solids, I used to make all my own purees! Their favourite was banana and avocado blended together (it may sound gross but it has the perfect consistency and is full of protein and filling, too). I loved experimenting with different mixes and used to freeze them in ice-cube trays to take out when needed.

Emma's quick recipes for busy mums

"My main time-saving method is one-pot cooking! This is perfect for time-strapped mothers as you shove it all in one pot and then bake in the oven. Here are a few recipes... 

Chicken casserole 

This is a foolproof, one-pot, crowd pleaser for any family! Serves 8

Ingredients:

• flour to season, salt and pepper
• 8 chicken breasts and 8 thighs, skinned  
• knob of butter
• a couple tbsp of olive oil
• one onion, finely chopped 
• one clove of garlic, chopped
• half a glass of white wine (optional)
• 2 pints of stock (made from vegetable bouillon or chicken stock cubes)
• 8 carrots, peeled and chopped
• a few potatoes, peeled and chopped
• one spring of rosemary
• 3 handfuls of pearl barley

Method:

1 Preheat the oven to a low heat. Lightly sprinkle some flour in a bowl and place the chicken in it, seasoned with salt and pepper. Stir the pieces to coat them.

2 In a large casserole pan, melt the butter with the olive oil and add the chicken. Add the onion and the garlic and cook until the chicken is browned all over and the onion is just translucent.

3 If you have any leftover white wine, add it to the casserole and let it bubble. Add the stock, the carrots, potatoes and rosemary.

4 Bake in the oven for around two hours (keep checking to see how it's cooking and adjust the heat if necessary). In the last 30 minutes, add the pearl barley. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Tip: Don’t worry about using precise quantities, experimenting is part of the fun, especially when using leftovers or whatever is handy.

Easy but healthy recipes for older babies and toddlers
Stir-fries are great… stir-fry chopped vegetables and shredded chicken with a little oil, add a squidge of lemon and some soy sauce, voila! Serve with boiled egg noodles – not only is this really easy for small children to eat and digest, it’s good for them too.

I do three-minute guides on www.forbesstyle.com/category/tv/, including how to  bake brownies with children, which is a fab activity for a rainy Sunday afternoon! 

As Emma signs off, I visit her new website, which covers a wide range of topics. Aside food, there are articles and inspiration on homes, fashion, parenting, travel, health and wellbeing. And if you need to vent on an issue close to you, there is a space for that too! I will certainly try her casserole recipe, after all Emma was a finalist on Celebrity Masterchef.

UPDATE, February 2015: Emma's website is now offline. It might have changed its address or being taken down. Do let me know what happened to it!

Coming up... and what I have been up to

I have some exciting posts in the pipeline, including an exclusive Q&A with a celebrity parent, some interesting products to review and more...

In the meantime, you can read what I have been up to professionally here. It's a good insight in what it means being a parent, a charity volunteer, digital copywriter and journalist all rolled into one!

Some of you are awaiting my 'masterclass' on building a budget (but SEO friendly) website, which is also in the pipeline. My credentials in this realm is that my website appears on page 1 on Google (web and UK) if using keywords in the search that relate to what I write about. All will be revealed in an online feature.

Fairytale cottage far away...

I found the house of my dream... and it's tiny! I love it so much and am looking forward to do up my old furniture in this elegant but shabby finish. It reminds me of the Gustavian, more than the Victorian style as Victorians loved colours...

Click the pretty icon below to see it...

Homeworkers don't switch off

Yes, I confess, I worked during the Christmas holidays. In my defence, last year it was much more hectic as I had to write the copy for a huge website by January 4th.

This year, I wanted to sort out some admin, work on my blogs and do some indexing. I managed to do a good chunk of what I had planned by getting up early and relying on my partner for childcare, although my daughter kept popping in with requests that Dada couldn't satisfy. She is a cunning little girl and a clever clog.

I had some time off for Xmas and Boxing Day, plus hours off here and there for shopping and some walks in Cambridge, which was less busy than usual. Of course the crowds returned when the sales started after Xmas.

It was quite nice to connect with other freelancers working during the festive season, we had brief chats through various forums, which made me feel less 'isolated'. Of course now everybody is talking about catching up with work after the holidays, but at least I don't have this problem and can ease myself into the full swing of things without moaning too much.

More sales... and what I purchased

Cup cakes made with my sales purchase, the brilliant mini cup cake maker from BHS (see link below)

So far I have bought pretty thermal underwear from M and S (link below), pretty socks from John Lewis (link below), a set of four wood/leather storage chests from TK Maxx, a pretty dress for my daughter at Primark, a pair of trousers from Next and various bits and pieces from Sainsbury's (link below). There are some great sales still about, below are all the links....

Bhs
Boden
Clarks
Debenhams
Dyson Cleaners & Spares
GLTC
John Lewis
Kaleidoscope: great sales..........
Marks and Spencer
Minibarratts
National Magazine Company:
discounts on magazine subscriptions
Next Bathrooms
OXFAM Online Shop
Play.com
Sainsbury's
Zavvi

December and January sales plus being a less than trendy mummy

Sales are starting in a few days, earlier online

Hello, it's the sales season again! I'm after winter clothing for next year and thermal underwear, hardly glamorous but I have plenty of unused trendy clothes already (bought for special occasions and job interviews). My pretty clothes are not very child-friendly - my little one has permanently sticky paws and loves wiping her button nose on my sleeve or trousers.

If anybody wants to offer me a Yummy Mummy Makeover... After changing clothes size due to having a child, I'm not that trendy, polished young professional anymore. I am a size 10 after having been 12-14 in the first baby years so it's not too bad, but not as toned as I used to be. If you want to know how I slimmed down naturally, read this.

"I suppose working from home doesn't require too many frills," she said while sitting in front of her screen wearing her PJs and a fleecy, shocking pink, huge robe purchased for the hospital bag.

Deals of the day - and up to January!

Sales are about to start, if not starting already online! So on top of the links you can see on the right side of this blog, here are a few great promotions...

Debenhams is offering up to 70% off on thousands of lines, the online sale starts  today and on Boxing day in the store. Sale ends on 5th January 2011.

Up to half price Women's Clothing

Up to half price Men's Clothing

Up to half price Kids/Children's Clothing

Up to half price Beauty and Fragrance

Up to half price furniture - plus take an extra 10% off

BHS' sale is launching on 24 December, but are offering 20% off all wedding lines when you spend £150 by using the code BHSBRIDE. Offer ends 5 January and is not valid on clearance items.
 
John Lewis's clearance sale starts at 5pm on Christmas Eve. Includes up to 50% for fashion items and is throughout the website first, later in store.

Sainsbury's sale highlights (click Sainsbury's if links below don't work, many products half price on the website!)

Sony Blu Ray Player, now £99.99

Navman UK SatNav, now £69.99

Tresemme Ceramic Styler, now £30

On the twelfth day of Christmas...

To win fab prizes every day, visit www.next.co.uk 

and click the banner Daily Xmas Giveaway

On the twelfth day of Christmas,

my true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree!

 This is the last day of the Christmas Challenge (sponsored by Next) and it's all about drummers! Click here to kit your young musician. Black Drummer Boy Jacket for girls, from £26 and Black Drummer Boy Jacket for boys, from £19. 

Happy Xmas everybody and thanks for 

following. I don't need to wish you a White Xmas as snow is falling as I type!

Beauty for busy mums

My moisturiser: I was sent this by a PR to review and have been using it ever since. I think it has been discontinued because they decided to change the ingredients so I will have to find another product to replace it.

Earlier this month, I attended another Twitter party organised by British Mummy Bloggers, using the hashtag 5minMax. The previous party was about half-term ideas to entertain children, but this was definitely all about 'me time'. 

There was an expert from Max Factor giving us tips, but what really struck me was that some of the most popular beauty items were unusual to say the least. I must confess that prior to pregnancy, I was much keener on makeup and beauty products. Aside my personal interest in looking good, I freelanced for women's magazines so I used to get lots of tips and freebies (or items for very little money as magazines have regular beauty sales). I still treasure one of my best buys, a Versace pastel eyeshadow duo for just 50p (the packaging was missing, somebody didn't recognise the logo and put it in the cheap area with the shop own brands). I know I should technically throw it away as makeup doesn't last that long and I might potentially get an eye infection, but cannot bring myself to. 

But back to the Twitter party! Unsurprisingly, it emerged that mums don't have time to beautify themselves on a daily basis. Those who worked outside the home still made an effort but mums like me who work from home didn't feel the pressure to 'put their face on'. It's a renowned fact that homeworkers go for the bare minimum, sometimes even working in their PJs. This is especially true on those mornings when your child is winey and you just manage to get them dressed, fed and watered.

At the Max Factor Twitter party I started with these two beauty tips:

• If you haven't got time for makeup, use tinted moisturiser and a slash of lipstick or lip gloss so you don't look washed out!
•  Any nipple cream left? Use on lips or under the eyes if you have dry, cracked skin. Honest! 

Both were quite popular and the second one was considered very amusing. I had to tweet a reply to the various comments:

• I am not weird! Nipple cream soothes chapped lips, noses, nappy rash and itchy stretch marks. 

Twitter imposes limits on characters but here is a site that confirms how versatile nipple cream is. I think there are many other baby products that can be used by mums, watch this space for a blog on this subject!

As the party went on, it emerged that tinted moisturiser is a must-have as mums don't have much time for applying makeup. Besides, applying foundation is such as messy business and it is not that great on mature skin.

More tweets from me were:

• Anybody tried the ice cube trick to fix makeup? Yes, I admit I was a teenager in the 80s when you heaped makeup with a trowel
• A tan (natural or artificial) is the best makeup.
  
  

So what are the other unexpected items? Vaseline was definitely a hit with most mummy bloggers, no wonder the company extended its product range! If you are a mum you are a captive buyer. Another unexpected item (aside the nipple cream) was Sudocrem, yes, the one you use for nappy rash! Apparently it's very good for chapped lips too. And last, but not least mascara! This was very popular. So if you are targeting mums, the essentials are mascara, tinted moisturiser, Vaseline and lipstick...

Xmas wishes, snow balls, snowmen, snow ice cream and British Mummy Bloggers' blogs

Happy Xmas to everybody!

Snowball fight

This is our winter wonderland - not as much snow as in other localities in the UK but we have the sub zero temperatures, BRRRR! This is the first time my little imp managed to make and throw a snowball, which hit my leg.

Then after the snowball mini fight, we built a family of snowmen: Daddy, Mummy and two little ones. They don't look that impressive but we had to scrape quite a bit of snow to make them as we haven't had a big snowfall yet.

Family of snowmen

How to make snow ice cream

Snow ice cream, looks more like slushy...

I got the recipe off the internet and modified the ingredients to make a small amount, for more recipes and even videos of how to make it, click here.  This recipe will make four generous cups of ice cream. You will need 125ml of milk, 60g of sugar, 1 teaspoon flavouring (the recipe said vanilla but you can add mint or any other essence you have), three cups of snow (better fluffy but you can make it with more compact snow).
 To make the ice cream, mix milk, flavouring and sugar in a bowl or jug, then slowly spoon in the snow, mixing carefully. Enjoy! My photo shows a slushy mixture as my snow was a bit compact but it was tasty. In Italy we have a simpler version of snow ice cream, just get the snow in a cup with a metal spoon, add lemon juice and sprinkle with sugar to your taste. It's just like a fluffy, lovely granita....