Focus Interview: Jo-Lynne at
Musings of a Housewife

Tuesday, January 20, 2009, by Leigh Anne & Sherra

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We will be interviewing women who inspire us, encourage us and renew our spirits. Women from diverse backgrounds…women just like you…women very different from you…women who share and teach so we can all learn something new. Their words may be just what you need to read today…

Leigh Anne says…

Both Sherra and I are in awe of Jo-Lynne and how she is able to run 4 blogs all at the same time! I used Jo-Lynne to give my family blog a face life. You can see her pretty work here. Jo-Lynne writes about it all – being a mom to her three children, reviewing fun new products, keeping you up to date on the latest beauty products and fashion and beautifying other people’s blogs! We are excited for you to meet Jo-Lynne, learn a little about her and how she is able to keep it all together and stay focused amidst the craziness of her life.

First, a few personal fun facts and questions…

I’m a mom of three living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I blog daily at Musings of a Housewife, where topics include everything from motherhood to fashion to recipes to reality TV to weekly giveaways. I also run a blog design business, DCR Design, and a beauty and fashion blog, Chic Critique. AND I have a review blog at Reviewsings.com. You can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/dcrmom. By the way, DCR are the initials of my children’s names. When I’m not online, which is an increasingly rare occurrence, I like to shop, read, watch TV, and spend time with my family. And I’ll never turn down a pedicure.

Favorite color:

Hm, that’s a tough one. To wear? Black. In accessories, deep red/cranberry. In techie gadgets, pink. I’m a bit of a girly-girl. :-

Favorite food you associate with Winter:

Soup! Beef stew, split pea soup, chili… those are a few of my favorite things to make when it’s cold outside.

Pet Peeve?

Oh there are so many. I can only name one? Let’s go with someone chewing obnoxiously in my ear. And my threshold for the obnoxious is LOW.

What is something that no one knows about you? (that you want to tell the whole internet world)

I don’t think there is anything that no one knows about me. I have a way of sharing way too much information about myself. I guess it might surprise some that I’m quite insecure. I think I hide it well.

One word that describes you:

Friendly

What’s your motto or mantra:

Tomorrow is another day!

What are the top three things you that are most important to you — the things you love to do and you are passionate about?

My husband, I love spending time with him. He still makes me laugh.
I love to go to the mall. Bonus points if I get to go alone.
And I love to blog. I couldn’t leave that out!

Word of the Month ~ Focus

Give us your definition of focus:

I guess I’d say focus is working with a specific goal in mind.

Certainly no one can be focused all the time, can they? What are some tips or techniques you use to stay focused?

Lists. I have to have lists. I usually have several going at once! I also love my Mom Agenda – a desktop calendar that has room for me to record my appointments, each of my kids’ activities, my dinner plans, and my blogging deadlines and reminders.

As a mother of young children and running a business out of your home how do you deal with the distractions of daily life that cause you to lose focus? (phone, email, etc.)

I wish I could say that I deal with it well all of the time, but I don’t. I get overwhelmed and snap at my kids all too often. Sometimes I just don’t answer the phone. Sometimes I send everyone to their rooms so I can work for a while in peace. But mostly I just try to do it all and hope that it all gets done somehow.

Being the beginning of a new year, people often set new goals or resolutions to help them get focused for the new year – did you set any you’d be willing to share with us?

I plan to re-evaluate my commitments. And I’d like to come up with some sort of schedule for my various tasks, I think that may help me be more efficient. If all else fails, I am willing to consider letting some things go. I really don’t want to be consumed by work to the detriment of my family, so I will prayerfully consider what I might let go if I am feeling overwhelmed after the holiday rush is over.

What is your favorite avoidance behavior – the things you enjoy doing when you are trying to avoid being focused?

Twitter! It will suck you in if you let it. The other thing I tend to do when I am avoiding being focused is get caught up in short, simple tasks that are really not necessary but somehow make me feel better. Maybe it’s because there is a sense of completion. Or instant gratification. I’m all about that. I think for me, the hardest part of accomplishing a task is getting started.

What is your best advice for women who are searching for more focus in their life?

Decide what you want, what it is you’re working towards. Have a goal. And then figure out how to meet that goal. Prioritize accordingly. If something you are doing isn’t helping achieve that goal, then drop it. You can’t be afraid to say no either.

Share a life lesson learned about focus something, perhaps that you know now that you didn’t know when you were 18?

“Do the next thing.” At a time in my life when I didn’t think I could put one foot in front of the other, a wise man said to me, “Just do the next thing.” I believe those were actually the wise words of Elizabeth Elliot, but that conversation was the first time I heard them. I have managed to regain my focus and accomplish my goals many times by practicing that very simple and yet very sage advice. When I get overwhelmed, I tend to shut down and not do anything productive, but by trying to focus on one small task at a time, I eventually get myself back on track and get the job(s) done. And sometimes I just have to take a break and come back to it later when I’m refreshed.

How do you make sure you focus on fun and not just work, work, work?!

That’s the thing. My work IS fun! I love it! I can’t get enough of it. But I know that I have to have balance between home and work and friends and God. So I have to remind myself that we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, and just walk away sometimes. The work will be there when I get back.

Do you have any favorite books on the topic of focus that have helped you?

Who has time to read books? I’m only half joking. I feel like my time is better spent making a list or organizing my desk or folding laundry or reading to my kids or doing something on my agenda. I guess you could say I’m a very naturally focused person.