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An Open Letter to Moronic Fashion Designers for Children

Dear MFDC:

I love to go shopping for my daughter but it is becoming more of a hassle than it is worth. People who know me think that I am overly-protective of my daughter. In fact, sometimes, I think that I may be too, but then I go clothes shopping for her and realize that there is no such thing as being too protective. I am a parent and protecting my child is what I should be doing. But I am feel like I am figthing against corporate giants who want me to fail.

I did not think that I had would have to sayl this to adults, but my daughter is 30 months (2 years 6 months). She does not need a two-piece bathing suit. She does not need a thong, or a tube top, or really short skirts. She does not need high heels, or wedges, or flip flops. She does not need pants that say “Juicy” or “Apple Bottom” or anything for that matter.

She is a child.

She needs clothes that do not sexualize her.

She needs to develop a strong sense of self before her self-esteem is challenged through thoughtless marketing and idiotic objectifications.

She needs to be a child.

And you should be ashamed.

 

Thank you,

An Irate Parent

It Think It’s Time For A Friend Purge

I’m stressed. I’m stressed and feeling rather down and under-appreciated and definitely not respected. See, I don’t have a lot of friends. I have kept my circle small because there has always been drama when I was surrounded by too many. However, the ones that I have are dropping the ball lately. They are treating me like crap and it is finally starting to take its toll.

I am designing a web page for a , um, friend- have been for almost 6 months now. I’m not kidding. Completed sites normally take me about 2-4 weeks, but this one has been in progress for 6 months now. It’s not that I have been procrastinating. I have been working pretty much every day for more the 5 hours a day. Well, that is until recently. See, the friend is not paying me. The friend is not paying me at all. And despite my Virgo tendencies to want everything to be perfect, somewhere in mid August I realized that this person is a taker. I realized that this person is not worth the stress. And while I am not going to stop (I’ve put too much work in this), I just don’t care anymore. The site will not function well because this person does not respect my expertise in a field that I have been learning for the last 10 years. This person does not want to compromise and, so, I will do what is wanted despite what I know is best. In addition, this site is for a business and while I am busting my ass to get this site up and running, I know that the owner is not willing to do what it takes to get the business going. I know that it will never be successful. And so… Continue reading

I’m a WHAM (Emphasis on the “Work”)

When we decided that it was worth it- me giving the web design business a real shot- we also decided that it would behoove us if I did not work outside of the home. After all, it was way too expensive to pay for child-care and my hubby understood that I was not happy under the circumstances.

The plan was as follows:

(1) I would work part-time (1 day a week) outside of the home at my current place of employment just to ensure a steady income on my part.

(2) I would bust my butt to build my business.

It was a simple plan, right? But hubby and I recently had a little spat about the roles that we would now play. Specifically, th “you’re home now so you do the housework,” comment sent this Mom on the Rise down a war-path.

After I managed to keep from ripping my hubby’s heart out, I decided to explain the difference between a WAHM and a SAHM.

“Let’s get this straight. A SAHM does not find ways to bring money into the house. She works with what the family has and takes care of the domestic duties. A WAHM cannot do both alone. She cannot focus on bringing money in AND take care of all the household duties. It’s unfair to assume that would be the way things will work. We are both working Parents and we are both responsible for the housework. If you want me to do it all, that is fine- I will be a SAHM, but don’t look to me to being in any extra money- that is all on you.”

It did not sit to well with him, at least I don’t think it did. But what I know is that WAHM cannot and should not… Continue reading

When Bartering Pisses on You

I have been trying to get my business of the ground for a while now. Back in February, when I first realized that I could actually make money designing web sites, I offered my services to anyone who even appeared to need one. An acquaintance is also self-employed and in a field that was very useful to me. He needed a website; I needed his services (and get your mind out of the gutter- I’m a married woman). We decided to exchange services. However, I seemed to have gotten the short end of the stick.

His services are only necessary every six months and do not cost nearly as much as I would charge for a web design. Once he completes his services, I cannot go back and request changes. It is a done deal. And it only takes on day. Web Design, on the other hand, can be a very long and tedious process. And it’s hard to set limits when most people don’t understand the process.

So, the first site that I did was good. Despite the fact that I did not agree with some of the choices he made for the site, I complied because the customer is always right. There were some other minor issues in that he did not get information to me in the alloted timeframe (very bad) and he is somewhat of a know-it-all. But, alas we got things done and I was more than happy to add this job to my portfolio.

Over the course of this time I used his services twice. The first time I was very satisfied. The second time, he kind of pushed me into a direction that I was not 100% comfortable with, but I went with it and was satisfied. The the third time never happened… Continue reading

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