Spring Cleaning the Office

Yep that time again, start with your desktop, both on your office desk and your computer's desktop!

Need Help Clearing Desk?

Anytime is time for clearing off your desk. If your stack of "things to do" is about to topple over, you need an Office Nanny to come over and fix it. I'm just an email away....

Life is an Adventure!

2011 Spring Travel

Travel Tip: Don't wait on 'HOLD' with a portable phone while booking flights.

I've never used air mile points to book flights before. Have you? What a test in patience! I waited forty minutes on the portable phone for someone to answer. As soon as the service rep finally came on, my phone died. Ha. Is this a message? Am I supposed to go on holidays? Yes, but not that flight I was about to book. Ah, the ways of spirit are endless---my inner guides are protecting me.

Where to go on my holidays? Greece or Italy? Couldn't make up my mind, so I'm going to both. Visiting Greece again after 15 years came as a total surprise to me. So I will go to visit my friend Perry in Greece and give the country my tourist dollars--they can use them, or so I'm told. And then off to Italy for a friend's 50th birthday at a villa. 21 days of travel. 

Stay tuned, I'll be blogging about it here: http://olderwiserladies.blogspot.com/

~MJM ;O)
Author of "12 Golden Keys for a New World" at www.12GoldenKeys.com

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

My sister in Ontario gives Bowen treatments and LifeCleanse sessions to people in her area from Port Perry to Peterborough, and all around. I thought you might be interested in her latest blog:

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Can you answer this?  If you can’t, that is WONDERFUL!

Because that means we can start from the beginning. 

If you can, that is FABULOUS!

Because that means, we can start from your goal. 

All things come to those who DREAM of a better way, for themselves, for their family, friends, their environment, home, work, goals and our hearts. 

All things come, because we create a goal, we can visualize, and we look to it each

and every day, we walk towards it, step by sometimes tiny step.

We seek out JOY

and we feed this JOY to ourselves daily.

We accept ourselves for the BRILLIANT person that we are.

We are grateful, for our ‘mistakes’ for they are simply lessons

in this WONDERFUL ADVENTURE

we call Life.

We have GREAT Love for ourselves and all things

because it is in our nature to do so.

We simply must find our own way to express our Love.

This is essential to our WELL-BEING, and our true HAPPINESS.

If you’re ready, at your own pace,

I can help you change your life

So that this book you are writing, with your life,

will better reflect your inner wisdom, greater health, energy,

and FLOW.

—Anastasia

Call or e-mail your LifeCleanse Health Coach and Bowen Therapist today!

Call: 705-878-3363

E-mail:  bowenbodybalance@gmail.com

www.lifecleanse.ca/Finding_JOY.html

Smiling is Good For U

More than Just a Smile

http://www.outthere4u.com/blog/

Everyone loves the quote “laughter is the best medicine”.  In fact, smiling can boost your mood and even your immune system. Keep reading for more fascinating facts about our smiles.

1. Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood: Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile.
2. It boosts your immune system: Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.
3. Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.
4. Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.
5. It’s easier to smile than to frown: Scientists have discovered that your body has to work harder and use more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
6. It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.
7. We still smile at work: While we smile less at work than we do at home, 30% of subjects in a research study smiled five to 20 times a day, and 28% smiled over 20 times per day at the office.
8. Smiles use from 5 to 53 facial muscles: Just smiling can require your body to use up to 53 muscles, but some smiles only use 5 muscle movements.
9. Babies are born with the ability to smile: Babies learn a lot of behaviours and sounds from watching the people around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability, since even blind babies smile.
10. Smiling helps you get promoted: Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion.
11. Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression: People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression.
12. Women smile more than men: Generally, women smile more than men, but when they participate in similar work or social roles, they smile the same amount. This finding leads scientists to believe that gender roles are quite flexible. Boy babies, though, do smile less than girl babies, who also make more eye contact.
13. Smiles are more attractive than makeup: A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup.
14. There are 19 different types of smiles: UC-San Francisco researcher identified 19 types of smiles and put them into two categories: polite “social” smiles which engage fewer muscles, and sincere “felt” smiles that use more muscles on both sides of the face.
15. Babies start smiling as newborns: Most doctors believe that real smiles occur when babies are awake at the age of four-to-six weeks, but babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they’re born.

Information sourced from www.NursingSchools.net , a website dedicated to proper care giving, healthy living and nursing student resources.

KIND ACTS

WORLD KINDNESS CONCERT

The 10^th annual World Kindness Concert in Vancouver is on November 14 & 15, 2010 at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Venables Street. It is a musical celebration that opens hearts and touches soul. The concert features talented local artists from a variety of ages and cultures. Last year the raffle brought in over $4,700 to the non-profit Kindness Foundation. To find out more, go to: www.kindnessfoundation.com. The Kindness Foundation was originally developed for schools and youth groups to raise awareness for how kind acts can create positive global change, and to address bullying in schools.

This year Blue Heron Productions has donated a bundle of books with a music CD including, M. J. Milne’s 12 Golden Keys for a New World (www.12GoldenKeys.com); Jeane Manning’s Breakthrough Power (www.jeanemanning.com); and Rae Armour’s Next Move CD (www.raearmourmusic.com). We hope you win this wonderful prize. Enjoy the show!
. . .

Also, Rae Armour, Jeane Manning, and M. J. Milne have added their special Book 'n Cd Bundle to the Silent Auction at the Fashion Show Fundraiser for the Canadian Diabetes Association. November 7^th at Hycroft Manor, 16^th & Granville 2pm – 6pm.  

Ivan Sayers from the Costume Society to host “Ain't She Sweet” Fashion Show. Entertaining historical dialogue of the 20’s and 30’s era. Silent Auction, refreshments of food and wine served. Proceeds to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Tickets $50.00. E-mail: aintshesweet00@gmail.com

[Photo by Zara]

Visit the OWL™ Blog

Are you an OWL™ = an Older Wiser Lady?

. . .wwwhooo loves to travel but is a little skittish about traveling alone? Well, here's a blog dedicated to sharing travel information for ladies age 40-to-80-plus. 

Hop aboard, the world is waiting for you!

Visit: OWL - Older Wiser Ladies

Happy travels! ~ from the Grrls at OWL™

[Owl drawing by Judy Rossouw, www.judyrossouw.com]

Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events for M. J. Milne

 

September 24, 2010 / Friday – Alma’s Salon ~ Talk & Book-Signing. Private audience.

September 26, 2010 / Sunday – WOTS - Join author M. J. Milne at The Word on the Street SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 at LIBRARY SQUARE (West Georgia & Homer/Hamilton Streets, downtown Vancouver) from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Blue Heron Productions will be at Village Table # V-26 around the exterior of the Vancouver Public Library with M. J. Milne’s new book “12 Golden Keys for a New World.”

October 24, 2010 / Sunday – Vickers Tree Radio Show, Talk + Q&A + Live Chat at 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; www.blogtalkradio.com/vickers_tree

March 3rd, 2011 / Thursday – Talk & Book-Signing 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.at Banyen Books, 3608 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC; Toll-free: (800) 663-8442. www.banyen.com/events.htm

*M. J. Milne will talk about the twelve strategies to create your world, your way. The 12 GOLDEN KEYS are a powerful toolbox for tackling the challenges of a world in transition and a catalyst to reignite your spiritual quest. By practicing key exercises, you can co-create and change your life, reclaim contentment to live abundantly as Spirit intended, and take your place within the "New Earth" consciousness. These 12 Keys are for people of all spiritual paths.

Sign up for free e-Letters: www.12GoldenKeys.com

"12 Golden Keys for a New World" is available through Ingram and Quanta Distributing, plus these independent booksellers:

• Banyen Books, 3608 West 4th Ave., Vancouver

• Utopia Books, 1826 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver

• Whitby’s Books, 14833 Marine Drive, White Rock

• Reflections Bookstore, 1111D Austin Ave., Coquitlam

Author Signing @ WOTS

Hi there! ~ Join author M. J. Milne at The Word on the Street SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 at LIBRARY SQUARE (West Georgia & Homer/Hamilton Streets, downtown Vancouver) from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Blue Heron Productions will be at Village Table # V-26 around the exterior of the Vancouver Public Library with M. J. Milne’s new book “12 Golden Keys for a New World.” Along with a few story contributors! A perfect opportunity to have your book signed! Plus Jeane Manning’s book “Breakthrough Power.” WOTS is a wonderful festival and it’s all FREE. See you rain or shine at table V-26.

Books also available at these independent booksellers:

• Banyen Books, 3608 West 4th Ave., Vancouver

• Utopia Books, 1826 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver

• Whitby’s Books, 14833 Marine Drive, White Rock

• Reflections Bookstore, 1111D Austin Ave., Coquitlam

12KEYS book is available at the website. And Amazon.com

Endorsements for MJ's Book

What People Are Saying About M. J. Milne's

12 GOLDEN KEYS FOR A NEW WORLD

  

"Your book is on the night stand next to my bed, and I've been taking a little bit of it into the dream state with me each night. Very fun indeed! Much love to you". —FRANK, WA

  

"You did a truly incredible job on that book, it is excellent, we really LOVE it! It is so professional and well written it keeps you reading on and on." —AMP, Ontario

  

"I have started to read your book, it is just great! I am learning more about you every day." —MANON, BC

  

"I loved Anastasia's dog story in your book. I am still reading and it is an amazing piece of work you have done." —DENISE, North Vancouver, BC

  

"Your book is a beauty! . . . It is remarkable to me, the outreach you have, in so many directions, and that is the great gift. The spiritual message is so deep and clear, to touch people, depending on their needs. I thank you so much for getting that book out to the public." —ANNE MARIE, USA

  

"Bless you and thank you. Looks amazing." —RAYMOND AARON

  

"CONGRATULATIONS MJ. Way to follow your dreams!" ~Brock Tully, author & cyclist 

. . . . .

12 Golden Keys for a New World: Unlocking the Door to Conscious Freedom—Change Your Life, Change Your Planet (Blue Heron Productions, 2010; ISBN 978-0-9739654-1-4), 312 pages, 6-inch x 9-inch paperback. Order the book at: www.12GoldenKeys.com

. . . .

Vivre en équilibre dans un monde en mutation - To live in balance in a world in change.

WEEKLY BACKUP OF DATA?

HAVE YOU BACKED UP YOUR COMPUTER FILES THIS WEEK?

You can backup files onto CDs, DVDs, or a USB Flash Drive. When you buy a USB Flash Drive from London Drugs or Staples, insert it into your computer’s USB port (the port looks like a small rectangle), and the Flash Drive program should either search for a “driver” or it will open automatically. Be patient the first few times. A little dialogue box will open, basically asking what you want to do: choose something that says “Open files…” or whatever, then you can choose what files to drag an’ drop into the Flash Drive. Or you can do it this way…see the two versions below…

• Top Producer must have a way to backup its files: Click on “File”, then look for the word “Backup.” But first go to ”Help” and do a search. (I’d have also to do a search to see how-to, probably under “backing up your files”)

• MS Outlook also has a way to backup files: Click on “File” then “Import and Export” – the Wizard opens. Then choose “Export to a file” (top one) then click on “Common separated vales” for Windows, and it will export it into an Excel sheet for you. Choose what you want, e.g. “Contacts” or “Inbox”. Keep clicking “Next.” Then it will ask you where you want to save it by “Browse.” Here you can save to a drive by clicking on the appropriate drive under the basic C-Drive (such as A, B, D, E, etc.). Next. And then Finish.

FOR WINDOWS VISTA: Here’s a good website if you have Windows Vista: The Back Up Files wizard backs up the most common file types.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Back-up-and-restore-frequently-asked-questions

Hope that helps a little bit,

Kind regards,

“MJ”

~Your Office Nanny

http://officenanny.blogspot.com/

CLUTTERED DESK, CLUTTERED MIND?

Cluttered desk, cluttered mind, or not!

Not too long ago, there was a popular expression “a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.” Or is it? It can also mean that “a cluttered desk is a sign of genius” and “a messy desk is only a sign of a messy desk.”

Many people see nothing wrong with piles of paper covering the desktop, even spilling on to the chair seats and office floor. I’m somewhere in the middle. When my desk, chairs, and tabletops are of full of paper, it means I’m in the middle of something important, or else I’m utilizing my creative potential and am writing. This is a good thing. But when I proceed to the next round of creativity without clearing off my clutter---that’s a problem!

What works for you?

The key is to work in a manner that allows you to be most effective. Almost everyone needs to get rid of some of the clutter. Here are a few ways to make your desk less cluttered and more efficient:

1) Keep, toss, or move. Find three containers. Label the smallest "keep." Label the largest "toss." Have another container labeled "move." The really vital stuff will go into your keep container to be sorted later. Anything that you want to take home from the office or give away goes into the move container. Everything else goes into the toss container. (Ideally your toss container will be two parts. One part will be trash to be disposed of. The other will be paper products, which can be recycled.)

2) Start with the oldest. You can tell by looking at them which pile is the oldest. Usually it is farthest from your chair. It will be the easiest to throw away items from this pile.

3) Evaluate each piece only once. Look at each item in the pile. Decide which container it will go into. You can't set it back on your desk for later, you have to decide now. Put everything into one of the three containers. There is no other option.

4) Ask yourself this... The first question is "do I have this somewhere else, or can I get it from someone?" If you have a copy in email, or in a report, or on the desk of the person who prepared the market analysis, etc., you don't need to keep a copy. Toss it. Then ask "why do I need this?" If the answer is a) to take action on it, b) to do something with it when I get more information from someone, or c) to refer to as I do other work, put it into the keep pile. (After you get rid of the clutter you will re-sort your keep pile by those three categories, so feel free to separate them now. It will save time later.) If your answer was anything else, toss that item.

5) Be ruthless. Be brave.  As you progress through each pile, getting closer and close to the things that just arrived, be ruthless in your decisions. Take no prisoners. If you really don't need it, toss it. And be brave. Don't hang on to something just because you might need it someday. (An old friend of mine used to keep stacks of newspapers in case she reads them one day; her entire house towered with stacks of newspapers and she never did read them. Mind you, she also had thirty-six stray cats! Hmmm. . .)

Hope that helps in your spring cleaning, which is anytime of the year!

MJM

Your Office Nanny to the Rescue!

Info on New Release

Here's a quick site for some quick info on my new book release coming in late 2009 or early 2010.

Website: http://12goldenkeys.shawwebspace.ca/

New Clients Everywhere!

Who knew a little office nanny would be so buzzy? Seems everyone wants my serivces. Probably because I turn up for work on time, I don't spill coffee on the computer keyboard, I don't eat lunch at the reception desk, and I actually care about people! I'm the direct opposite of my cat.

PS - No, that's not a cat in my pocket, that's Yoshi. Do you like my purple socks? They say older womyn shud wear purple--okay, so I tried.

What's the Office Nanny Been Up To?

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST

Well, it's been a busy year. I'm mostly working at a real estate company and writing my non-fiction book. Now I have some time to take on new clients, in case you're interested. Please contact me for a quick fill-in at the office!

Here's some info on my new book:

The awakened heart is like a butterfly: if you capture a butterfly inside a jar, it forgets how to fly; but once you release it, after a few moments, it’s no longer afraid to try. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Learn secret ways to live your life with purpose, passion, and conscious freedom by reading my new book on 12 Golden Keys.

Within the year, the 12 Golden Keys will be in paperback, approximately 330 pages. It offers 12 Keys to unlock a secret path to living consciously.

The non-fiction book also includes inspiring stories by Canadians who live life creatively and who are spiritually-based; plus many international storytellers, for example, a travel writer from the U.S., a missionary from Ecuador, and an Austrian film producer who filmed an ancient ceremony of Mayan Elders. One of the things they are in agreement with is that life is about keeping the heart open, and also, living life with a community spirit. This book will hopefully guide the reader to see the world with a new perspective—from a higher vantage point.

“MJM’s book is an important practical guide with a valuable message about how the power of soul can influence and transform your life. I consider this path of the 12 Keys to be a universal spiritual practice, a journey into healing the mind, body, and spirit.” --James Twyman, Peace Troubadour, New York Times bestselling author

Holidays!!!

Hello,

Sorry I haven't kept up on the blog---I've been so buzzy working for YOU! Hopping from office to office, or house/dog-sitting, and everything inbetween. Ihope you're having a great year!

The Office Nanny is taking a month off and going to Italy! She will be gone from September 22nd to end of October 2008. If you need anything please email me at mjmbiz (at) hotmail.com

Ciao bella!

MJM
The Office Nanny

Office Nanny Tip

When you're a Guerrilla Marketer you know that business cards are your ally and you know how to use them to your best advantage. Guerrilla Marketers know this about business cards:

• They understand that business cards are mini-brochures & an important marketing weapon
• They print their cards in full colour and use both sides of the cards or design folding cards that open and list all the benefits of working with them
• They create and design their card to gain credibility and to sell & ties in with all there other marketing efforts
• They list all their contact information, name, phone number, cell number, fax number, email address and web address
• They always hand out two cards and encourage people to pass them on & ask others to distribute their cards to the right people
• They enclose their cards whenever they pay their bills or send correspondence
• They always get a card when they give a card.

* ~ * ~ *
THE OFFICE NANNY
In-Office or Off-Site
~ M. J. Milne ~
Mobile: 604-612-2238
mjm(at)hotmail.com
www.officenanny.blogspot.com

Need a Break?

Ever feel like Yoda the cat?

Time to call the Office Nanny!
Tel: 604-612-2238
mjmbiz(at)hotmail.com

Need an Office Nanny? - Here I am!

THE OFFICE NANNY
In-Office or Off-Site
Assorted Assignments
mjmbiz(at)hotmail.ca

Why Do You Need A Mature Office Nanny?

• Your desk is about to collapse from stacks of paper, files & unread letters.
• Half your employees have the dreaded flu.
• You never have time to enjoy life.
• Your Receptionist ran off to marry 'Dr. McDreamy' and you need a fill-in ASAP!
• Your dog crosses his legs until you get home from work - so you need a dog Nanny.
• Your office/shop/home needs an organized, de-cluttering facelift.
• Your hundreds of E-mail messages need deleting or filing.
• Your database hasn't been updated & weeded for a year.
• Your cleaners are on holidays and the trash is growing tentacles.
• …and other miscellaneous but just as important reasons why you need an Office Nanny :)