I can't believe your baby is nearly here, Ashley! I'm sure you'll find a good balance.

Ashley, great to have a post-baby plan! Get it sorted now — you'll be too distracted and guilt-laden to do it later. Trust me!

My two thoughts so far are to have someone come in for a few hours a day to watch the kiddo while I work, or let a friend do the babysitting while she's a stay-at-home-mom (if she's willing). And I need to make enough to pay for those services to make it worthwhile.

Paula, sounds like you have a new Christmas photo opportunity. 🙂

Cathy – I was as shocked as anyone to realize that shy little Paula actually LIKED public speaking (to groups of <50 anyway). Two of my presentations were to college students, another was a writing workshop for the public library. The schools didn't pay (unless you count a $10 Starbucks gift card as payment), but the library paid a decent stipend.

My weekend was spent with outdoor work. Record high temps in the 60s all weekend – today it's supposed to push 70 – when our normal high is probably in the low 40s this time of year. Saturday I patched some gouges and chips in the square porch pillars (they'd been covered with aluminum siding), hung the Christmas lights and took Doggie Lily on a long walk. Several neighbors stopped to say how good the house is looking!

Sunday I painted the brown porch rails and all six (!) pillars with primer tinted to match the new siding. (The color is really similar to the green here on Lori's blog page, perhaps a tad darker but a similar soothing gray-green. I didn't get all of the high parts, but covered enough of the brown so the house should look okay from the street for the winter. We have a few trim pieces to put back on the porch next spring, so the real painting will happen then. I was out painting until the sun started to set, and was cleaning up with illumination courtesy of my Christmas lights.

A neighbor said it looks like a new house, and thanks to the soft gold lights in my window boxes, she added "It looks so Currier and Ives." Love it!

Two presentations come to mind:

"Everything you've ever wanted to know about deductibles, but were afraid to ask."

"Ten Step Guide to Market Penetration"

You could reach out to blogging conferences, writer's workshops, etc.

Or health care forums, workshops, etc.

I want to figure out what "hook" to use to develop public speaking gigs. I miss that from my corporate days. I love PowerPoint, I love presenting, but what would bring that possibility to reality?

I thought it might be using my healthcare/employee benefits background, but I think that's more safe than something that would sustain me long-term.

I love making the complex simple. And on the personal side, I love promoting acceptance and recognition of our uniqueness.

I want to make it a goal for 2013 to position myself to get back to public speaking. I know it's not something that happens overnight. I need brainstorming on how to find the right hook. Thanks.