Always Busy Fitness Tips

As Always Busy Women, we often think we don’t have time to fit in a workout. Here are some quick tips that will help you squeeze fitness into your already busy schedule!

-Wear a pedometer. Keep track of your every move, and I bet you will be surprised at how much moving around you do. Park the furthest away, take the steps and avoid taking any short-cuts. Just by keeping track of your moves will help you realize how much exercise your are getting into your day without even trying.

-Put hand weights at your desk. Sitting at our desks all day long isn’t the best for us. Try taking 5 minute breaks throughout the day. Stand up, grab your hand weights and do a couple of reps. Not only will this help you feel better, but it will help you regain energy and allow you to refocus on your work.

-Find a work out partner. Find a friend or associate at work and make a pact. Walk at lunch or take a quick walk on your break. Keep each other accountable.

-How about a walking meeting. Instead of sitting at a conference table or in a coffee shop at a meeting how about suggesting a walk. We can all walk and talk, plus you will get that naturally rejuvenation from being outside and might even inspire some new ideas.

-Play with your kids. Take your kids, your friend’s kids or your niece or nephew to the park and run around with them. Kids have a never ending supply of energy, so let that rub off on you!

January Pretty In Pink Spotlight

Angela Harrington began sewing when her Grandmother bought her a machine in the 6th grade. In 2007, Angela created Sew Diva 1 while balancing being a wife and mother of two toddlers and two teens.


Sew Diva provides Custom made products for Residential and Commercial (Home, Offices, Boutiques, Restaurants, Salons, etc.) Interior projects. Products include Draperies, Shades, Blinds, Shutters, Woven Woods, Sunscreens, Upholstered Cushions, Bar Stools, Ottomans and Headboards. Also, Bedding, Duvets, Shams, Dusters, Pillows and more! There are 1,000’s of Designer quality fabrics to select.


Angela’s background in Fashion is the reason for a Wedding division. She gladly accepts requests for Alterations (basic tailoring for men, women, bridal & clothing boutiques). She also offers an amazing line of body shaping & orthopedic under garments for men and women.


Sew Diva custom makes Ring Bearer and Quinceanera ceremony pillows to coordinate with event colors and theme which can also be ordered by Event Planners or wholesale to the trade. Some pillows are currently showcased and sold at Thee Wedding Warehouse Boutique in Goodyear, AZ.


There are 100’s of Bridal & Event Fabrics available for dresses and décor for wedding chapels, sanctuaries, gazebos, tables, chairs, etc.


Angela loves sharing her God given talents. She designs and creates unique products tailored to her client’s style during free one-on-one consultations at her design showroom or client’s location. She works with a team of industry professionals to help meet the demand for her services & products. Her goal is to inspire others to be creative and step out on faith to pursue life long dreams, enjoy life and bless others in the process! Never let weeds grow around your dreams.

Visit Angela's website at www.sewdiva1.com.

Plan of Action

Have you made a Plan of Action for 2009? By writing down your goals, prioritizing them and then listing the action steps to take to achieve your goals will ensure that you spend your Always Busy time on items that are most important to you! Here are some suggestions that can help with your Plan of Action.

Grab a piece of paper, your journal or your notebook right now and take 5 minutes to focus on what your Business Goals, Financial Goals, Education & Personal Growth Goals, Health & Fitness Goals and Home & Relationship Goals are. Now next to each goal write down the action step(s) to take to accomplish your goal. Keep this list with you at all times and review as much as possible. This is also a great list to use for your weekly planning and you can plug your actions steps right into your weekly schedule. Have fun with this and remember how fabulous you are!

Another fabulous lady right here in the Valley, Elizabeth Hartigan with Sterling Expectations shared some great tools that she found as she was planning her goals this year on her blog. Check them out at http://sterlingexpectations.blogspot.com/.

Make this year, your best year ever! You deserve it!

Girlfriend's Biz Alliance Launching!

Join the woman only networking group that will inspire, empower and help you grab a hold of your dreams and make them a reality!

The Girlfriend's Biz Alliance is a unique group of woman business owners working together to help each other succeed! Secure your exclusive spot today and take advantage of some great savings that will have your checking account thanking you all year!

We have a NW Valley Chapter that will be meeting every other Tuesday at 9am and a SW Valley Chapter meeting every other Wednesday at 3pm. Grab a hold as we impact the West Valley!

Join now and take advantage of the huge savings!

Sapphire Membership - SAVE $50.00

Join the Girlfriend's Biz Alliance as a Sapphire Member for only $99.00 for the year (normally $149.00)!

Enjoy all these benefits all year long as well as be part of an fabulous and exclusive networking group!

· Website Business Directory One Year Listing - Contact info with logo, website, email, phone, tagline, address with google mapping, coupon, and up to 5 photo's listed on www.alwaysbusywomen.com. ($100.00 Value)
· Girlfriend's Biz Alliance Certificate Banner Button to place on your website, email and in marketing material to promote the Girlfriend's Biz Alliance.
· Girlfriend's Biz Alliance Bling Tee· 20% discount on all advertising in Always Busy Women's Guide
· Access to Webinars, Seminars and Training to help you grow and succeed in your business.
· Priority Registration for Boutique and Expo Events· Discounted Vendor and Sponsor opportunities at Boutique and Expo Events
· Be rewarded every time your recruit a member! Each member who recruits a new member earns $10.00 cash reward.

Ruby Membership - SAVE $100.00

Join the Girlfriend's Biz Alliance as a Ruby Member for only $249.00 for the year (normally $349.00)!

Enjoy all the benefits of the Sapphire membership plus these benefits all year long as well as be part of an fabulous and exclusive networking group!

· All Sapphire Benefits plus
· Basic Directory Listing in the Always Busy Women's Print Guide -All Year (400.00 Value)
· No charge to list VIP Card Discounts in Publication
· Free Entry into Always Busy Women Social Events 2 to 4 each year
· Free to include Marketing Materials in ABW Social Event Swag Bags

*Membership Form and Payment in Full must be received by Friday, December 19th to take advantage of these one time offer.

For more infomation or to request a membership form, please email intheknow@alwaysbusywomen.com.

Go For It!

I get asked all the time, how did you come up with the idea for Always Busy Women? So, I thought this week I would share how Always Busy Women came to be.

Last fall as I was running my community website here in Surprise, I came across a women’s conference that was happening in Glendale. So, I signed myself up and headed on over there in October of 2007.

At the time, I remember feeling nervous about going. I was nervous to go by myself and walk into a big room of women and sit at a table with a bunch of ladies I didn't know. I made it there and got myself seated and met some women who were also trying to grow their business. My goal was to learn from the wonderful women speaking that day and to hopefully take what I learned and use it to help grow my online community website. While I sat there intently listening to each gal get up and talk about the path of struggles and successes, I was inspired! I was inspired to go for it, really go for it! It was then that I envisioned a business that would celebrate, encourage, connect and support women in their individual and business lives.

Before I even left the conference, I had already jotted down several thoughts and ideas on my new business I was going to start. I couldn't wait to get home and lay out my ideas on paper. The moment I walked in I went straight to my office and started bubble mapping. I had a name and basic idea all put together before I went to bed that night.

From there, it took me several months of researching, planning and deciding what the best approach would be. It wasn’t until April of 2008, 6 months later, that I officially launched Always Busy Women. Exactly 6 months after that I have my first issue of A Girlfriends Guide for Always Busy Women in hand . My feelings at the moment are almost unexplainable. I am excited, scared, tired, crazed, determined and still full of so many ideas.

My venture over the last year has been nothing but ups and downs as many start-ups are. I started my venture by approaching a business associate at the time to come along for the ride and be a partner of Always Busy Women. We both learned quickly that a partnership wasn’t going to work and I continued forward and my partner went her own way. I have to admit at first I wondered how in the world I would do it all on my own. The thing was at the time, I didn’t really have time to think about it. I had an event a week later and I just needed to move forward and keep going. “Moving Forward” a great motto when in business… no matter what, you just have to keep moving forward. It has been a truly trying experience at times, wanting to give up and take the easy route of someone else telling me what to do, but my determination to succeed always kicks in and I move forward.

The lessons I have learned over the past year are tremendous and have been a blessing! I hope to use this blog as a way to share my experience as I move forward and try to grow my business, to share cool things I find on the way and a way to show that it is OK to be real. Let’s tell it like it really is! It’s not easy and yes we all think of giving up, but it is the focus and determination that keeps us moving forward, no matter what gets in our way.

To All My Girlfriends… I say Go For It!

Just Wing It

This past weekend I was sitting and thinking about starting a blog on the ups and downs of growing a business, being a wife and mother, and all the other fun things that come along with that.

So, in true fashion of yours truly… I am jumping right in with both feet and just going to wing it! Seriously, if I can inspire, help, encourage or support just one girlfriend out there with my ramblings then my deed is done.

For those of you who don’t know me, I like to think of myself as a simple gal, but in all honesty are any of us really that simple? Not so much. I am your typical family on paper… married with two kids and three dogs. OK, so three dogs might not be typical, but I love them. With that said, what is typical anymore these days anyway?

I am an entrepreneur at heart. I love, love, love thinking of new business ideas, learning about other people’s businesses and jumping in with both feet. For only being 33 years old, I have had my fair share of business ventures from a gift basket business, errand service, virtual assistant, online community website, some direct sales business ventures and of course now Always Busy Women. Each venture has taught me something important and prepared me for the next stage of my life. I am self taught in most that I do and I love to continually be learning something new, even if it is the hard way.

Each day is truly a journey for each of us and I look forward to sharing with you in my next blurb on how Always Busy Women came to be.

Best wishes for a super fantastic week! Go get’em girls!

Always Busy Networking & Magazine Launch

Mark your Calendars Ladies! Come find out what Always Busy Women is all about! We are so excited to share with you the first issue of Always Busy Women! Come out and meet other savvy business women just like you! Share your business and meet other always busy women in business.Join us at Cecilia Guerrero Agency, our lovely sponsor this month for some delicious sweets and meet other Always Busy Women.

Join us for this fantastic Free event, sponsored by Cecilia Guerrero Agency and enjoy some snack and delicious sweets.
DATE: Wednesday, October 22

TIME: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

LOCATION: Cecilia Guerrero Agency 13943 N 91st Avenue, Ste B-103Peoria, AZ 85381

RSVP is Required
intheknow@alwaysbusywomen.com

Join Always Busy Women on MeetUp
http://www.meetup.com/alwaysbusywomen/