I just heard from my mom that the Northeast has been hit by a heat wave and they’re now experiencing the same weather that I’ve got down here in Florida! Well, I can definitely empathize because last week, our central air unit broke down! Just imagine 3 whole days and nights of 90-100+ degree weather without any sort of air conditioning. Thank goodness for ceiling fans!

Did you know that a ceiling fan uses only a tenth of the energy used to power an AC but can make a room feel up to 10 degrees cooler? According to Florida Power and Light, ceiling fans throughout a home can reduce energy bills by up to 40%. Talk about a win-win situation! Going green and saving moolah!

You may say that 10 degrees does not seem like a lot, but let me assure you that E and I definitely felt the difference! We were lucky that our house came with ceiling fans in most of the rooms, but we never had them in our apartments in NYC. Luckily, no matter where you are, ceiling fans are fairly inexpensive to buy and pretty easy to install yourself! 

A simple internet search will give you a ton of info, but here are two particularly useful links with tips on what to look for when buying a fan and how to install it:

Lowes - Tips and Instructions
This Old House - Instructions with better pictures

And while I’m sure no one is thinking about heating our homes in June (at least not in the U.S.), but we are all definitely conscious about rising energy costs, so keep in mind that a ceiling fan is also great investment for the winter months. Just reverse the direction of the fan, and it will push warm air downwards to the rest of the room!

I can't believe it's Friday already -- the week went by so fast! I guess that's what happens when you're having fun!

This week, I started going to our community gym so that I can get in shape for the summer (though seriously, it felt like summer here a long time ago!). We also have a great pool that I really want to jump into... except I can't seem to find my bathing suit. It's in one of the hundreds of unpacked boxes still sitting in my living room :( I also have to go get a kickboard since there's no lifeguard, and I only know how to swim as far as I can hold my breath -- not very far.  Eugene suggested I get floaties, but they're for babies! Humph! But I digress...

In my ever-increasing effort to be green, I walked to the gym even though I had the car. It just like the good old days in the city... except it's a little harder to be a walker in Florida.

First off, the sidewalks just randomly end! And our streets are super narrow, I keep forgetting that they're two way streets, so I have to walk with the cars.

Secondly, and most importantly, it's FREAKING HOT! Like 95 degrees and 100% humidity HOT! I'm pretty careful when it comes to the sun, so I always put on sunscreen -- even if I'm not going out... I swear I've been getting tan just sitting indoors in my office by the window! So when I have to walk outside for more than 2 blocks, I now carry an umbrella. No, not one of those cute parasols, but one of those cheap $3 black umbrellas. Needless to say, I get a lot of funny looks when cars drive by.

This weekend, my goal is to find get a cute umbrella... maybe one from the Museum store that has a beautiful Impressionist painting on it. I've seen some Renoir ones and I just LOVE Renoir! (Note to self, must go visit the Met when I'm back in NY again.)

Regardless of how cute my umbrella is, I know I'm going to get lots stares as I'm walking out in the sun with it... it's already crazy enough that I'm walking in Florida, but to also have an umbrella open... that's just too much! Oddly enough, I'd totally fit right in if I did that in Taiwan! Maybe I'll start a new trend here in Florida! eh... probably not, but if you're reading this, you should join my movement and we'll all be less wrinkley in 20 years than those non-umbrella carriers!! =)   

On this past trip back to NYC, I had a serious heart-to-heart with my good girlfriend, A. We talked about our goals and what makes us happy. I've thought about many times before, but discovered more about myself as by discussing it out loud with A.

If you talked to me a few years ago, I would have had a very different definition of happiness. It would not have included having kids or being my own boss. At the time, I was content with 'working for the man' and just enjoying life with E. Without kids, we could still go on our travel adventures, go out to eat every day without thinking about finances or babysitters, and have friends over for poker nights without dealing with bedtimes and such. It seemed like a great version of happiness.

Somehow, as I got older, I started to think about children more. I'm not sure if it was my biological clock ticking or the fact that I worked at Scholastic and was surrounded by mothers, expecting mothers, and tons of kids's stuff. Either way, the idea of having kids now seemed like it would be kinda fun.

Around the same time, a new and exciting entrepreneurial spirit started to grow inside of me. Yeah, it's nice to work for someone else and not have to worry about hiring, firing, accounting, etc. but there was something really intriguing about working on something was entirely your own. Something that you created and had complete control over.

In 2006, I started a handmade greeting card company and was up all hours of the night working on new designs, logos, a website... and it didn't feel like work at all. It was something that I was passionate about and enjoyed doing. At first, I made custom-designed cards for friends and family to celebrate their birthdays, new babies, weddings, promotions, etc. Then I started selling my cards in a small shop in the L.E.S.

Fast forward to the present, and I now live in Florida with E. My handmade greeting card business was put on hold when we were wedding planning and then moving, and now it has morphed into a new business. I loved making cards because I saw the delight and joy it brought to each recipient. I still love to make cards, so I am developing a line of designs that I can print so that more people can enjoy them. I have also expanded my product line to include a wider spectrum of wellness. It's great combination because my cards promote personal wellness, while my other products help people to achieve physical and environmental wellness!  

Before I moved to Florida, I had thought about looking for a regular 9 to 5 job. Then, I thought about how I'd like to have kids in the near future and how I'd like to be able to stay home with them -- to watch them grow, to teach them, and of course to play with them! Spending 8 hours away from my kids each day to work in an office (plus commuting time!) was just not going to fly.

I'm now working hard to build my business, but I'm happy because it gives me the flexibility to still travel home to NY because I can work remotely and set my own hours. I also know that when I do have kids, I'll be able to be there for them. It will still be a juggling act to balance a business with kids, but at least it's doable. (I heard about a woman who I used to work with that had to quit her job because they would not allow flexible work hours for her to be with her children!)

In addition to flexibility, another huge plus for my business is that I'm helping to make the world a safer and healthier place for future generations. I know that I will be providing my family with a safe environment and take great pride in knowing that I'm helping others do the same.