Ah, the school break! That magical time when the morning alarms snooze indefinitely, lunchboxes gather dust, and school uniforms take a well-deserved vacation in the back of the closet. As a parent, I've navigated this week-long hiatus with the skill of a seasoned explorer—but one who occasionally slips on a trail of empty fruit snacks packs or kick Body Armour bottles. (If I was lost, this would aid in my survival, right?)

Let's be real, the anticipation of a school break is similar to the build-up before a season finale of let's say Game of Thrones, 9-1-1, or The Gilded Age. You expect relaxation, bonding, and perhaps tackling that ever-growing list of "fun activities" that, let's face it, often turns out to be as mythical as a unicorn sighting. I mean, I try.

The Reality Sets set in
Act 1: The Illusion of Free Time

Day one kicks off with grand plans. We'll visit museums! We'll bike the Beltline! We'll eat at new restaurants! By lunchtime, we've barely managed to change out of pajamas, and our most significant achievement is a collaborative effort to take a field trip to Starbucks. Sidenote: Chai tea latte is heaven!

Act 2: The Tween Energy Conundrum

Here's the thing about having a tween at home, their energy levels are as predictable as a Wi-Fi signal with AT&T as a service provider. One moment, they're lounging like Queen Charlotte or King George, demanding snacks; the next, they're bouncing off the walls, fueled by a sudden, unexplainable burst of 'scientific' energy, called FUNK, derived from the yelling on Discord? I don't know! I just know there's no amount plug-ins powerful enough to outpower that Marvel smell! Anyhoo! Whew!

Act 3: Extracurricular Negotiations

It's extracurricular activities. Or as I like to call it, "How to Persuade Your Child to Do Anything Other Than Screen Time: A Parent's Guide." This week, our activities the "countdown til 12", activity by the dozens I thought, (now serving as a reminder of our ambition over stamina). He did respond "huh?" a dozen times, ate a dozen fruit snacks, and gulped orange juice from the jug in 12 seconds! Mission accomplished not impossible!

The Plot Twist

As the week winds down, a strange phenomenon occurs. Among the chaos, the mess, and the decibel levels of "he's targeting me!", I find myself not ready for it to end. It turns out, the constant company of my tween, with all the negotiations, the sharing of new shows he wants you to watch with him, (Hazbim Hotel? 😲), or even the eye stance, has become something I cherish deeply.

There's a peculiar beauty in the unstructured days, the spontaneous decisions, and yes, even in the heated debates the constant yelling (that someone is targeting "only" him). I've come to realize that these moments are brief, as precious and temporary as the artwork that barely hangs on our fridge.

The Curtain Call: Back to Reality

So, as we prepare for the return to early mornings, packed lunches, and the daily uniform hunt, I do it with a light heart and huge amount of cache in his browser history. School breaks, with all their chaos and unpredictability, have a way of highlighting the joy in the everyday, the humor in parenting, and the unbreakable bond that forms through shared experiences (and mutual survival).

To the return of school, I welcome with a mix of emotions. But fear not, for the ANOTHER break is just around the corner, ready to challenge our patience, fill our hearts, and perhaps, give us a new appreciation for the quiet that follows the storm.

Here's to surviving and thriving through the school breaks, finding humor in the chaos, and embracing the beautifully messy journey of parenthood. May your coffee be strong, your patience long, and your school breaks be just the right mix of adventure, relaxation, and funk (just in case I hadn't mentioned it before).

Mystery, Drama, Comedy

We've all been there—standing in front of a closet packed with clothes, shoes, and accessories, feeling like we have nothing to wear. Then comes the daunting task of moving or renovating, and suddenly, the thought of packing up that chaos is downright excruciating. It's moments like these that force us to confront the clutter, not just in our closets but in our lives. And just like our overstuffed wardrobes, our careers can sometimes feel just as cluttered and overwhelming. But what if I told you that changing careers doesn't have to be about packing up and moving on? Maybe it's more about purging what no longer serves you and making room for new opportunities. I like Marie Kondo and all, but 99% of my items sparks joy.

The Great Purge: Out with the Old
Just as we periodically need to declutter our living spaces, we must also assess our professional lives. It's easy to accumulate roles, responsibilities, and even entire careers that no longer fit who we are or who we aspire to be. The thought of diving into the unknown of a new career can seem as daunting as tackling that cluttered closet. But fear not! The first step is not to pack up your old self but to purge.

Begin by taking stock of your current career: what you love about it, what you loathe, and what you're merely tolerating. It's about identifying the pieces that no longer fit—the jobs that pinch and bind, the roles that are so last season, and the tasks that have faded and lost their color.

Embracing the New: Finding Your Fit
Once you've cleared out the old, it's time to embrace the new. Finding a new career is much like seeking out the perfect outfit. You want something that fits well, represents your personal style, and makes you feel confident and ready to take on the world. This is your chance to redefine your professional wardrobe and professional environment.

Think about what excites you, what drives you, and what you're passionate about. Consider the skills you have that are transferable and the gaps you might need to fill. Just as you might mix and match pieces to create the perfect look, you can combine your existing skills with new ones to carve out a career that's uniquely yours.

The Joy of Choice
One of the greatest joys of revamping your wardrobe is the plethora (I like that word) of choices available. The same goes for changing careers. The world is your online retail store, with a multitude of industries, roles, and opportunities out there. It's about finding the right fit for you, something that aligns with your values, goals, and lifestyle.

Remember, this process doesn't happen overnight. Just as you might try on several outfits before finding the perfect one, you may need to explore different career options before finding your fit. And that's okay! The journey is part of the process.

Conclusion: A New You
Just as the daunting task of packing can lead to the liberating process of purging and rediscovering your wardrobe, the thought of changing careers can be the catalyst for a profound personal and professional renovation. It's an opportunity to declutter, to reassess, and ultimately, to reinvent yourself.

So, take a deep breath and dive into the purge (sorry, I can't shake that word). Let go of the old, embrace the new, and step into a career that feels just right. After all, life is too short to wear an outfit—or a career—that doesn't make you feel like the best version of yourself, especially after a little weight gain.

As the winter break rolls in all chilly (and nonchilly some days), so does the challenge of juggling the dual roles of being a single mom and a dedicated accountant. The quiet that usually fills my work-from-home environment, when my 11-year-old son is off at school, will soon be replaced with the sounds of a LOUD clicking keyboard, the yelling & banter coming from he and his friends on Discord, and the constant search for snacks. While I adore the time with my son, this week presents a unique set of "outstanding items" in my personal and professional ledger.
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The world of accounting, with its deadlines and detail-oriented tasks, rarely aligns with the unpredictability of motherhood. It's a week where the transactions of my life seem to have some issues reconciling. Plans and work hours will shift and my multitasking skills will be put to the test. It's the time when I can plan for the unknown and expect the unexpected.

Despite the inevitable (or inEVANable, my son's name is Evan) chaos, this week also brings invaluable moments of connection and creativity. Between balancing the books in Quickbooks and spraying air fresher in my son's room (always stinky!), there's a beautiful mess of memories being made. It's a reminder that sometimes the best life lessons aren't found in perfect balance sheets, but in the imperfect, unplanned moments with my son.

So, to my fellow parents navigating similar challenges, let's embrace the outstanding items this winter break. Let's find joy in the juggle and remember that sometimes, the transactions that don't reconcile teach us the most about love, patience, and the beauty of the unexpected.

Here's to a week of unbalanced books and the balancing acts of memories.

Happy Winter Break!
#iexcel2reconcile

Venturing into the world of accounting clean-ups can often feel like being drafted for an impromptu science project—you're not sure if you should gear up with gloves and a microscope to examine the nitty-gritty details, or a telescope to keep a safe, observational distance from the chaos.

Imagine standing at the edge of the financial galaxy, floating into the abyss of unbalanced ledgers and misplaced decimal points. It's like trying to identify a new species under the microscope, only to realize it's just a crumb from your morning lemon loaf. Yes, the world of accounting clean-ups is a strange, planet, where "accounts receivable" might as well be alien life forms trying to communicate through the medium of numbers and spreadsheets.

Then there's the protective gear. Much like handling hazardous materials in a science lab, you feel the urge to wear protective gloves before diving into the hazardous waste of neglected accounts. "Safety first, reading glasses on" you whisper to yourself, not because you might spill acid, but because the sheer sight of the financial disarray might cause spontaneous hair loss or constant nail biting.

The telescope comes in handy, too. Sometimes, you need to step back—way back—to get a good look at the big picture. It's like observing a distant galaxy, swirling with the cosmic dust of transactions, invoices, and receipts. From afar, it's beautiful, in a chaotic sort of way. Up close, it's a hot mess that requires the precision of a seasoned astronomer—or in this case, an accountant with a penchant for cosmic order.

As you navigate this cosmic journey, you realize that accounting clean-ups, much like school science projects, are a blend of art, science, and a touch of madness. They require patience, a steady hand, and an unwavering belief that somewhere beneath the layers of financial debris lies a universe of balance and harmony.

So, the next time you embark on an accounting clean-up, remember: it's not just about crunching numbers. It's about exploring the vast unknown, armed with nothing but your wits, an excel spreadsheet, and perhaps a telescope to remind you that sometimes, you need to keep your distance to appreciate the beauty of the chaos. And maybe, just maybe, you'll discover a new financial galaxy—one that's orderly, balanced, and free of scone crumbs.

In a world where numbers reign supreme and calculators are mightier than swords, there lies an annual event that has every accountant and bookkeeper on the edge of their ergonomic office chairs—the Great 1099 and W2 Marathon. It's the time of the year when these unsung heroes of the financial world lace up their running shoes (read: power up their laptops) and embark on the most thrilling race of their lives.

The Starting Line
As January rolls around, the starting gun fires. Accountants and bookkeepers everywhere take their marks. Instead of water bottles, they're armed with coffee cups large enough to require two hands. The air is thick with anticipation and the faint smell of printer ink. They've trained all year for this, enduring grueling sessions of keyboard shortcuts and Excel macros. This is their Olympics.

The Course
​The course is not for the faint of heart. It starts in the treacherous lands of the Unsorted Receipt Mountains, winds through the Valley of Forgotten Deductions, and includes a steep climb up the Reconciliation Ridge. Along the way, participants must leap over the Pit of Paperwork Despair and dodge the dreaded Audit Auditors lurking in the bushes, ready to pounce on any discrepancy.

The Competitors
Let's not forget the participants, a motley crew of characters. There's the Old-School Accountant, who swears by his ledger books and a trusty calculator from 1987. Then there's the Tech-Savvy Bookkeeper, with three monitors and software subscriptions for software you've never heard of. And of course, the Rookie, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, still believing in the myth of "easy tax software."

Water Stations and Cheer Squads
Instead of water stations, there are caffeine checkpoints where racers can refuel with espresso shots strong enough to make your spreadsheet blur. Cheer squads along the way consist of HR personnel and small business owners, waving W2 and 1099 forms like pom-poms, chanting motivational slogans like, "You can reconcile it!"

The Finish Line
As they approach the finish line—April 15th looms like the final boss in a video game. The air is electric with the buzz of calculators and the last-minute filings. Crossing the finish line, our valiant accountants and bookkeepers are greeted not with medals, but with the ultimate prize: approval emails from the IRS and satisfied nods from clients.

The After-Party
Instead of an after-party filled with music and dancing, the celebration is more subdued. The heroes of our story are found asleep at their desks, surrounded by mountains of paperwork, dreaming of a world without tax amendments. They may not have run through the streets or crossed physical finish lines, but their marathon is a testament to their endurance, skill, and undying love for the thrill of the tax season.
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So, here's to the accountants and bookkeepers, the unsung heroes of the fiscal world. May your calculators be swift, your coffee strong, and your filings error-free. Until next year's marathon, rest well—you've earned it.