Happy Friday and happy March! If we can make it through the winter portion of this month, we will be rewarded with the lovely spring-like weather we all long for before we greet April, so let’s all celebrate today and be thankful! I’m thankful for so very many things right now- the fact that my family has not been adversely affected by the flooding rains we’ve been getting.

I’m thankful for my ability to work at home as a blogger and as an Avon Representative!  That’s why today showing love to both my challenging, yet rewarding work at home jobs by sharing Avon’s The End of Winter giveaway with you. Lastly, I’m thankful for you- YES, you! Thank you for being part of my community!  Now to the giveaway. 

Today is a special day the world over where women are honored and celebrated as the smart, capable, beautiful humans we are! This year one of the focal points of today is a pledge for parity and I wholeheartedly join in this pledge! 

Parity: The state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay. #PledgeforParity

About International Women’s Day: 

March 8^th is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Women- today is our day!  I ask you- What does equality look like to you? Does it mean fair pay? Does it mean a fairer dispersal of chores and child rearing with your spouse? Does it mean more free time to just be still and replenish your soul?

I invite you to visit International Women's Day and learn how you can take the pledge and connect with others in your community and around the world!

For me, today is about being content with myself as a women, wife, mother, friend and wage earner.  The latter is the hardest and most complex for me as a work at home Mom. I don’t have a pay check waiting for me at the end of the week unless I hustle each and every day.  This is a lifestyle choice that I’m happy with most days, but as 2015 came to a close, I felt the need to change a few things to take better care of myself. Something we women should do more of!

A big reason for this change or pivot as I like to call it is due to the evolution of blogging-digital influencer industry. It has evolved over the last two years.  It has gotten far more competitive, not just for paid assignments, but for readers! The stress of bigger, faster, prettier can weigh on you. 

That’s why at the beginning of this year I added a second income stream to my portfolio; Avon.  I knew that if I wanted to be content in 2016, I needed to pivot. Not quit the blogging industry, but change how I worked within it and Avon affords me that. I can stop fretting when things are slow in the blogging industry because I have a second income stream I can work.

So today, I also honor all the direct sale trailblazers who came before me and helped build Avon into the 130 year old business it is today! From the very beginning in 1886, Avon has been about empowering women.  

Avon’s Chief Executive Officer Sheri McCoy said something very powerful and topical for today: 

“We believe that a world with more empowered women will create a better, more beautiful world for everyone.“

I want to help continue to break down barriers, I want my daughters to see me as successful business woman on my own terms, I want to do my part to make this world a more beautiful place for everyone, so I’ll continue to write here from my unique point of view, which is almost always positive!  I’ll be sharing my Avon journey here as well. It’s a part of My WAHM Plan now because I think it is important to show other women that working and earning at home is a possible!

I wish all women a very happy day today! Remember to value yourself, your time and your talents today and everyday!

Please share in comments: Have you had a woman impact your life in a positive way recently? How did you thank her? And, what does equality look like to you?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Markerly, however all opinions are my own.

We are just three days away from finishing up the first month of 2014 and if one of your goals for this year is to monetize your blog and increase your blogging income then joining Markerly blogging network may be a perfect solution for you. 

 I know what some of you may be thinking: you’ve joined several blogging networks, spent lots of time filling out their applications and adding your stats in their network only to never hear anything else from them after receiving the initial welcome email. 

Markerly is different.  Unlike those other networks, I was sent opportunities to apply for within the first 48 hours of joining. Yes- within 48 hours!  Markerly really does work with bloggers of all sizes. Finally, I found a network that cares about the quality of my work and my readers engagement, not just my stats. As a matter of fact, they are sponsoring this very post, so if they are happy to work with my up and coming blog, they will have opportunities for you to. Does this sound good to you? Then take a look at some of Markerly’s other features:

About Markerly: 

      

I’m a member of several Influencer marketing networks and I have never been paid within 48 hours of my post going live. Ever! That is a huge plus for me as a blogger and brand influencer. I want to work with a company that recognizes my efforts and pays me quickly for them.

In my opinion Markerly is one of the best blogging network to find sponsored content opportunities and get paid to work with awesome brands. I invite you to learn more about Markerly and if you like what you see and feel you would be a good match then join Markerly’s blogging network .

Giveaway:

We watch the evening news, hoping the bad weather will be close enough to warrant the happily awaited call from the school district announcing school closings. But, bedtime comes and the call still hasn’t come in, so the girls put on their PJ’s inside out and hang a sock on their bedroom door in an effort to bring on their heartfelt desire for snow!

The sleet starts tinkling off the roof and deck by 11pm- but still no call. The children are nestled all snug in their beds with visions of snow balls dancing in their heads- but the snow didn’t come. Just rain, sleet then ice.

At 5am, we get the school call that my husband and I knew had to come because we saw the icy sheen on our road before we finally fell asleep.

We turned off the alarms and snuggle down for some precious, indulgent sleep-in time. Secure in the knowledge that as small business owners, we only answer to ourselves if we don’t make it into work on time.

We are blessed in that way- and we know it. I still remember clearly working for a boss who didn’t care how treacherous the commute – if he could make it in, we were all supposed to make it in. Ditto, my husband’s boss, who had a big 4 wheel Jeep that could have made it through any type of weather.

As we watched the news this morning and saw all the wrecks from people spinning on ice not just here, but all across our great Nation- I stopped and said a prayer for all the Moms and Dads who had to be out in this mess for their job.  Our wee bit of ice is rapidly melting in the sun, but I know by the evening commute- some of our country roads will be slippery again.

I pray and think “But for the Grace of God go I.” I know that could easily be me out there, along with my husband- slipping and sliding and worrying our way to a job we have to get to if we want to eat.

I pray for everyone’s safety.

As I look over at my beloved children- safe and warm with me, while I hear my husband working in his shop, I tear up a little- overcome with my Blessings. 

Getting the call that schools are closed are no big deal here for us, we welcome them! But I know, for some families they are a hardship. I feel sorry for each and every one of them and vow again- not take this moment or my life for granted.

This post- although very heartfelt- is part of my job. Is there a guaranteed paycheck waiting for me on Friday? No. 

But- I wouldn’t trade being home safe and warm for a paycheck- unless I had too. And then I would hope somebody would pray for my safe return home too.

I bid your safe travels and warmth and happiness on your return home today and if you are blessed like me to be at home- stop a moment and take it all in. Capture the moment and enjoy!

Please tell me in comments what winter weather do you have today!