Featured Mom

Jamie - Love to Shop Mom

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:18:00 GMT

http://www.lovetoshopmom.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog.
Jamie: Love To Shop Mom is about my life as a stay at home mom, wife, shopping addict, and everything in between. I write reviews and host giveaways as often as I can, it's my passion, and the rest of the time I write about the funny and crazy things my toddler, Little Miss Diva in Training, does that makes my life as a mom interesting.

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Jamie: I actually stumbled into the blogging world by accident, I saw http://freebies4mom.com/ on a news program talking about her site and about how she gets freebies in the mail. At the time I had never even heard of a blog. I wrote down the website and made a mental note to check it out. like three weeks later I finally went to her site and got caught up in the world of freebies. A few days later I managed to land on another persons blog and learned about giveaways and thought WOW this is awesome. So I decided to start a blog and the goal was to eventually start reviews and giveaways. My plan was simple, start a blog about my life, I was struggling with the changes in my life at the time, I had recently gone from working to being a full time stay at home mom and the adjustment was not easy at all. So i just wrote about that for a while and with in six months was writting reviews. I have been blogging since Jan 2009 and can not believe that it has almost been 2 years.

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Jamie: I worked for a cosmetics company as a beauty consultant

Marketmommies: What is a "normal" day for you and your family ( if there is such a thing as a normal day :)
Jamie: A normal day for my family is Hubby goes to work and I stay home. I am a massive clean freak and recovering perfectionist so I can usually be found cleaning the house for the first 2 hours of the day while Miss Diva plays. This summer has been pretty relaxed and I have not forced us to keep a daily schedule, but starting next week I am going to attempt homeschooling. Miss Diva just turned 2 and I have decided its time to start a simple preschool program at home. So our days will be filled with art projects, lessons learning ABC's, numbers, singing songs, and just about anything else I can come up with. Most days it is just Miss Diva and I all day long by ourselves. The hubby works full time and goes to school at night full time, so we do not really see much of him until the weekend.

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a mommy blogger?
Jamie: Honestly it's been the friends I have made. At first I was hesitant to really put myself out there and let in people I did not know in real life. But the friends I have made through blogging and twitter are some of the best friends I have. I got to meet several of them in person in June at the EVO confernece and it was amazing!

Marketmommies: What advice do you have to offer moms who are just starting out in the world of blogging?
Jamie: To just be honest and truthful, and stay true to what you believe in. Don't try and over schedule yourself only accept projects, reviews, and other blog work that you know you can handle, it can be tempting to accept every offer that comes in, but it's ok to say no once in a while.

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blogs a year from now? 5 years from now?
Jamie: I hope to just be doing what I love still. Blogging is my passion and I am not in it to get rich or make tons of money. I love to write reviews and feel privlidged to host giveaways and hope that in a few years I am able to keep doing what I love

Marketmommies: Besides mommyhood and blogging, what is your passion?
Jamie: SHOPPING, hehhehe obviously, I am commited to my family, friends, church, and just being the best person I can be.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Jamie: I have been married to the love of my life for 2 and a half years and we have a 2 year old daughter we like to call Little Miss Diva in Training. My hubby is an ex marine who is covered head to toe in tattoos and most people think he is scary, but really he is a big softy. My toddler is a crazy wild child that somehow manages to amaze me, keep me on my toes, and make me laugh everyday

Anna and Selena - Annie & Isabel

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:03:00 GMT

http://www.annieandisabel.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Anna & Selena: Annie & Isabel is The Stylish Alternative to a Hospital Gown! We are sisters and registered nurses. Anna works in an Emergency Department and Selena works in an adult Intensive Care Unit. Our many years of working as nurses have made it clear to us that wearing a generic hospital gown is often a patient's number one complaint. We saw an opportunity, with our business, to improve the patient experience by designing gowns that are attractive, comfortable, and, most importantly, completely cover your "backside" and we coined our byline: When you look good, you feel better.

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
Anna & Selena: In our years at the bedside, we have placed the same old dingy, stained, thin gowns on our patients over and over. We feel embarrassed to present them with these gowns and have always said, if we were in the hospital we could NEVER wear them! We knew the history of that gown and all the hundreds of patients who had worn it and the harsh chemicals that were used to disinfect it.

When we had our last babies, and we ourselves were the patients wearing those gowns, we made a promise to ourselves to pursue our dream company. Through lots of research, trials and networking we have made our dream company a reality!!!

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Anna & Selena: We have honored several amazing women who have inspired us to become the women that we are today. The thought of wanting to honor them and, in some way, memorialize them, really helped inspire us and give our ideas a focus. You can read about them on our website under the section “Naming of our Gowns” as we have named each of our gowns after these amazing people.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
Anna & Selena: Neither of us had ever started a business before so the biggest learning curve was figuring out how to do it!! We had no idea going into this venture the amount of work starting a business would entail. We have been very thankful to have each other to figure it out and well as the ability to access so much information through the internet as that has been a huge help in figuring it all out. If we had to pick one thing that has been our biggest learning curve it would probably be the process of setting up our internet shop, dealing with web page experts and figuring out what would be the best way to market our product.

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
Anna & Selena: The pros are definitely doing something that you love and seeing your dreams realized. For us, it also gives us such great opportunities to spend time with each other which had been hard to eke out in our everyday lives. We really are the best of friends and feel so blessed that we can do this together.

The cons, so far, I guess is that it does add a whole new dimension to our already full schedules. The fact, however, that we are able to do something that we really want to do, cancels out, at least for now, the extra time that this business takes. Our spouses and all of our family have been so supportive and have been there for us when there are not enough hours in our day.

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Anna & Selena: We are working on that and we think we are doing well…..All of us are involved in this business. Selena’s husband makes stops at the manufacturer in San Francisco on his way home from work. Anna’s husband just built us an “ironing table” as we iron and inspect each gown ourselves. We babysit for each other to make time for each of us to take our husbands out on a “date night”. Our boys are enjoying their cousins more than ever as they are together more often. It is not always east to keep a balance but as we make our way in these first months we feel that we are doing a good job so far.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
Anna & Selena: One thing that we could say is that we have found that networking is a wonderful thing. We have found other mothers out there on blogs and those who are running their own little web shops and talking to them has been a great help for us. For any moms thinking about starting a business….if you have a product that you feel would be a success then get out there and go for it. Taking the step to start your business is scary but there really is a lot of support out in the community and on the internet to help make businesses successful. The time has never been better to start a business!

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
Anna & Selena: We love to watch peoples faces when we tell them we have SIX boys between us!!! We had our baby girl names picked out with every pregnancy… and then we were blessed with another sweet boy! We spend a lot of time together…

You will usually find our boys running around in the backyard while we are brainstorming on what we need to get done for Annie & Isabel.

Instead of Anna’s four boys and Selena’s two boys we think that our boys really think of themselves as six brothers and they will have all the life long benefits of the love of a big family.

In additions to our sweet boys we also both have wonderful husbands who have been great supports throughout this endeavor!!

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Anna & Selena: We would just like to again encourage others who might be wanting to start up their business to give it a try. Even if this business does not make it in the long run, we will know that we had a dream, we set our goals and we made it happen! The whole process has been so exciting for us that we will never forget this experience. One of our main goals was to brighten the lives of others and we hear stories back all the time that reinforces that dream and makes us realize that we already are a success. That feels so good We also want to thank Marketmommies for all the resources, support, and encouragement!!

Kim - My 7 Wonders

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:18:00 GMT

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Kim: My business, My 7 Wonders, is handmade clothing, accessories, burp clothes, blankets and soon-true old fashioned quilts.

http://www.my7wonders.com/facebook

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Kim: My business, My 7 Wonders, is handmade clothing, accessories, burp clothes, blankets and soon-true old fashioned quilts.

Marketmommies: How did you get started.
Kim: I started sewing for my children and had so many requests from friends to make things for their children. Then they would all tell me how I needed to start a business. I thought- I have 7 children under 7- are you crazy! Well, here we are. the more I thought about it, the more I realized, there are alot of moms who want boutique styles but their budgets, like mine, won't support that.

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Kim: I had several friends keep telling me that I should really pursue starting an online business, so after much prayer and with much trepidation, I took that step.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
Kim: It has been, and continues to be, knowing my limits and knowing when the answer needs to be No. I tend to take on more than I should and then get overwhelmed.

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business? Oh, there are many pros- I set my schedule, I am available for my children's activities, I am doing what I love and the list could go on. So far the only con is- I am having to become business minded and be very detail oriented which is a whole new ballgame for me.

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Kim: I made a commitment when I started, that I would not let my business take higher priority than my family, so I only work on my sewing when my children and hubby are involved in other things or are sleeping. Having 7 kids can be overwhelming in itself, and sewing is where I find sanity. So in a sense my business makes me a better mom and wife, because it recharges my batteries and restores a sense of mental clarity for me.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
Kim: I would say, do not just find something you CAN do, find something that you LOVE to do and build a business around that. Otherwise it will always just be a means of providing income and never a real passion, and thus you will struggle to grow a business that you just tolerate. Growth is easy when you are passionate about what you do.

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
Kim: I have a wonderful husband of nearly 16 years, and 7 wonderful, active and loud children. Katie Beth is my oldest and she just turned 7, Joshua will be 5 in November, Andrew will be 4 in October, Luke and Lauren turned 3 in August, and JonParker and AnnElise will be 2 in October. After 9 years of unexplainable infertility, God opened the flood gates and blessed beyond imagination :) Our house is always full of activity and much noise, but I wouldn't know what to do without it. Oh, and yes we are DONE!!!!! Although my husband would like more, this mom had to admit that she had reached her limit.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Kim: Thanks for he opportunity to be a featured mom:)

Gillian - Finding My Weigh

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:46:00 GMT

http://imfindingmyweigh.com/

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog.
Gillian: Finding My Weigh is a blog about my life - marriage, motherhood, and my journey to lose weight and get healthy. I always try to write with honesty and humour. I always achieve the honesty, but the humour might just be in my own mind.

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Gillian: I have been blogging since February 2010. I am currently on maternity leave and wanted to learn more about social media during my time off. I joined Twitter and found out a friend of mine had a blog. I love the idea of starting one and improving my writing, but had very little experience in the blogosphere. I've always been one to charge ahead without necessarily knowing all the facts, so I dove in head first and created Finding My Weigh. I haven't looked back since!

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Gillian: I am the marketing manager for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon region. As I mentioned above I am currently on maternity leave, but I return to work in October. I've worked blogging into my life as a mom, and when I go back to work I'll have to find a way to balance that too. Like I said…diving head first is kind of my specialty so I've naively convinced I can do it!

Marketmommies: What is a "normal" day for you and your family ( if there is such a thing as a normal day :)
Gillian: Get woken up by the little man beside our bed or the sounds of his imminent arrival, followed closely by the announcement that he's filled his shorts with what can only be described as a poop grenade. (I'm not kidding, this happens regularly enough to be considered part of a "normal" day.) My husband, Mr. Awesome, works from home most days, so while I've been on mat leave we've had a lot of amazing family time. I typically go to the gym right after breakfast and then come home to take over so he can actually get some work done. We're scheduled a bit by the little miss's naps right now because if she misses one it REALLY affects our nights. While she's napping we play with the little man's cars or train set, or his beloved farm puzzles. When the weather is good we play outside, planting, digging, splashing. Lunchtime is closely followed by a trip to a local petting farm to watch the milking demontration (it's ALL about farms right now), and then it's back home for the little miss's second nap. If the stars align and the gods are looking on me favourable that day, I'll throw on a movie and the little man will pass out on the couch for an hour or so. At three and a half, it's a blessed day when that happens, believe me! Dinner, bath, bed…but no bed for the little lady. She's a nightowl through and through, and no matter what we do she won't go to bed before 10pm. (This explains why almost all my blogging gets posted around 10:30pm.) Maybe one day we'll get some adult time again!

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a mommy blogger?
Gillian: The comments and online friendships I have developed with other bloggers. Parenthood is so overwhelming and it is a precious thing to have the support of people going through the same things you are. It's also a big relief to know you're not alone!

Marketmommies: What advice do you have to offer moms who are just starting out in the world of blogging?
Gillian: Write about your experiences. Write about your life. Write about stuff you would want to read about. If it's interesting to you, it will be interesting to someone else. And be honest. Honesty will connect you to your readers.

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blog a year from now? 5 years from now?
Gillian: A year from now I think my blog will be fairly close to what it is now as far as content goes, but hopefully posting more regularly. I also will likely incorporate a few more reviews, but just a few. I have started reviewing some things that I find interesting or really believe in, but I won't review things just to try and build followers. I want people to READ my blog, not just follow it for giveaways. I've known a few great bloggers that have done so many reviews and giveaways that I actually miss when they've posted a "real" post, and that's a shame. So as far as content goes, I will always try and write from experience. Even with reviews I try and share a personal story of why I chose that product, why it matters to me, etc.

And 5 years from now? It would be great one day to be making a little money through blogging, but I will be as picky with advertising as I am with reviews. I can't stand cluttered sites, blogs or anything else, so I'm trying to figure out the right layout to offer some advertising opportunities. Building the right relationships will take some time, so maybe five years from now I might have achieved that. The blogging and online world is ever changing so who KNOWS what it will look like in five years!

Marketmommies: Besides mommyhood and blogging, what is your passion?
Gillian: I am one of those ridiculously lucky people who truly likes their job. I LOVE marketing and PR. I used to work in theatre, but acting was a bit too unreliable a source of income, no matter how much I loved it. I swore that if I could ever find a career that gave me as big a rush as performing onstage, I would jump at it. I love the work I do at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, but I am also passionate about the cause I work for. Women's health is such an important thing and breast cancer affects one in nine (in Canada) women during their lifetime. I get so worked up when I hear about people ignoring changes in their bodies, not talking to their doctors, or doing things that are KNOWN to increase risk of developing cancers. It drives me crazy! Now you've got me all worked up. See? I told you I was passionate about it!

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Gillian: I am married to Mr. Awesome (a name he gave himself when I started writing) and we have two awesome kids. The little man is three and a half and the little miss is ten months old. The little man is giving us a run for our money with whining, time outs and potty training, but he's a great little guy and I love watching his personality develop. The little miss is growing so fast that she's getting hard to catch, and she is ALWAYS smiling. I think that smile will get us into trouble one day! They definitely keep us on our toes and it's a wonderful adventure. Go Team Awesome!

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Gillian: Please read my blog and bring on the comments!

Cameron - Ingenue Mom

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:45:00 GMT

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog,
Cameron: Ingenue Mom is the thoughts of a new, first time mom, who doesn't fit in any category, avoids labels & is learning that it's okay to make your own way. Post topics range from breastfeeding, cloth diapering & baby food making to general musings on everything new about life since becoming a mom.

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Cameron: I started blogging in January 2007 with a personal life blog that I used as an outlet to just put my thoughts & interests out there! I had a friend who had a blog & I loved following hers. It just seemed fun & a great way to meet new people! I started my mom blog when I found out I was pregnant in May 2009.

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Cameron: Before mommyhood & blogging, I was a college student & I worked in a property management company. I've done everything from being a personal assistant to working in Human Resources in the company. I also traveled with my husband's band for several months on tour in 2006.

Marketmommies: Tell us about a day in your life.
Cameron: A normal weekday has my husband at work & me & my daughter at home. We run errands & go to lunch, then make dinner as a family & hang out at home. Weekends are for spending time together as a family! My daughter is still taking 2 naps a day, so there's a lot of just eating & sleeping around our house right now!

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a Mommy Blogger?
Cameron: The most rewarding part of mommy blogging is definitely the relationships that you make. There are several women now that I would consider real friends who I can go to for advice who have already been there & share great tips! It just provides a great outlet for me, but also an endless source of other moms to ask questions & share great stories!

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms who are just starting their blog?
Cameron: Comment on other blogs!! Commenting & building community are the biggest things for blogging if you want to do it long term - especially in the mom blog niche. I try to leave sincere, thoughtful comments & visit back to actually build relationships with other bloggers.

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blog in 1 year from now? 5 years?
Cameron: I would love for my blog in the future to be a place that is known for thoughtful, respectful & sincere commentary on life as a mom. I want people to know that I will offer advice & experience based on what I know & what I care about, but that I will also always keep in mind the wide variety of perspectives & opinions that are out there as moms. Every child is different & every parent is, too. I would just love for my blog to be a place where people go for community & encouragement no matter what their parenting style. I don't think I'll ever be a top mom blog, but I do believe I could be a place that is known for thoughtful & sincere community.

Marketmommies: Besides your family, what is your passion?
Cameron: I have a passion for teaching. I am in school to become an elementary school teacher. I really have a passion for helping children reach their potential. I have a passion for reading that gets carried over into my teaching. I would love to teach Kindergarten & be one of the first real teachers a child has & really help build a foundation of positive experiences in school.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Cameron: My husband works in Property Management. He also loves music & used to be the vocalist in a band. We both love Jesus & try to live in a way that is authentic & striving for Christ in a world that has really twisted religion into something it was never intended to be. Our daughter, Isis, was born in January 2010 and she is absolutely the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. She has big beautiful blue eyes & the most infectious laugh!!

DuAnn - Paisley Popsicles

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:25:00 GMT

http://www.paisleypopsicles.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
DuAnn: Paisley Popsicles is a children’s boutique that strives on having the lowest prices on all your boutique needs. I try to price all of the items in my store under anything else I can find on the internet. I feel that all families should be able to afford to shop at boutiques and I hope that we can make that possible. Paisley Popsicles features new items on Monday and Wednesday each week with a new low price. Our items tend to go quickly, so get them quick!

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
DuAnn: Paisley Popsicles opened in July of 2010 after many trips to boutiques throughout the many states that we have lived in. I always fall in love with all the many items I see, but never the price. I love a good deal and they are hard to find while boutique shopping. Long story short, I opened Paisley Popsicles and hope to provide great deals for all your little ones.

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
DuAnn: My husband has encouraged me to do what I love since the first minute we met. We are a military family and move about every two years. It is hard to find a hobby and be able to stick to it. Paisley Popsicles is something that can move with us, on all the adventures to come, throughout our military career. It is also a fun way to pass the time between deployments.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
DuAnn: My biggest learning curve would be ADVERTISING! During the process of starting Paisley Popsicles, I never dreamed it would be this hard to get the word out about my children’s boutique. My fans are growing and I hope to find new ways to advertise quickly and on a new business budget!

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
DuAnn: A few of the biggest pros of owning my own business would have to be working from home, maintaining my own working hours, being home with my children, and buying all the FUN children’s items!

My biggest con would be that I find myself on the internet a lot more. I am always searching for new items, great deals, and ways/places to advertise. It is more time consuming that I thought it would be.

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
DuAnn: I have to schedule my time to balance my family and my business. My family works best on a schedule and so do I. Paisley Popsicles is a family business. The kids help me locate and package all the orders. We take all the packages to the post office together and they especially love sending packages ‘to the babies.’

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
DuAnn: If you have a dream, go for it! Be prepared for all the hard work that it will take to accomplish your dream. Surround yourself with people that will support you and help you grown your dream!

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
DuAnn: We are currently a family of four and stationed in Nebraska at Offutt Air Force Base. My husband is a Naval Officer who serves his country proudly. I have a four year old son who is starting Pre-K this year. My daughter is two years old and loves to model all of Paisley Popsicles newest items. You can find them both throughout my website! I have my degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
DuAnn: Paisley Popsicles is on Facebook and also Twitter. Please stop by and check us out! We will be receiving a lot of new items within the next few months, just in time for Christmas. If you join our mailing list, through my website, you will be the first to know about all the sales and new items! Also, ‘like’ us on Facebook for items of the day!

Stephanie - Southern MOMentum

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:54:00 GMT

http://www.southernmomentum.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog.
Stephanie: Southern MOMentum is a blog written by sleep-deprived, Gen X gals who started out as friends and became grounded together in a wonderfully, challenging journey called motherhood … some Southern by birth and others, transplants, who fell in love with front porch swings and sweet tea. We contribute our unique blend of witty, realistic approaches to life and are dedicated to sharing stories that shed light and laughs on surviving motherhood and what it means to “hit your stride.” We throw in some Hollywood gossip, product favs and a few dirty little secrets and there you have it … our yummy, 100% guilt-free recipe for what it means to be a Mom and still be YOU.

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Stephanie: I am somewhat new to the world of blogging. Last December, my blog partner, Anne, and I put up the first post and toasted to a journey and commitment to find ourselves and to, somewhere along the way, inspire someone else in the process. We did it because we were passionate about creating a place where we can share our insecurities and imperfections as a community of moms — without guilt and judgment. And there is nothing I love more, than to laugh at stories of when our children manage to drive us to the brink of insanity!

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Stephanie: I have actually been an Art Director for a plumbing magazine for the past 12 years! Hmmm, let’s see …. mommy madness stories OR urinal auger stories … it’s a toss-up!

Marketmommies: What is a "normal" day for you and your family (if there is such a thing as a normal day :)
Stephanie: Nothing normal around here with a husband named after “the man on the moon”, 2 crazy kids, a cat, a snail (I know. It’s weird), my full-time plumbing gig and my new blogging obsession! If I’m not at my desk, wishing “if only I had 10 more hours in the day”, I’m usually at the little league field with my 8-year-old son.

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a mommy blogger?
Stephanie: Hmm, I’m not sure where to start. I guess, first of all, it is the personal fulfillment I get from encouraging other moms to pick themselves up and out of the mommy dust and hit their stride in life! Not to mention the connections I have made with some amazing and hilarious women! My kids seem to get a kick out of it too. My son has a slight obsession with my daily visit statistics and my 5-year-old daughter makes it a priority to fill my office with momentum-related art! It’s pretty cool that they support me on this journey as well!

Marketmommies: What advice do you have to offer moms who are just starting out in the world of blogging?
Stephanie: Without sounding too cliché, I would say to stay true to yourself (yeah, I know this isn’t American Idol.) A blog is “personal” site and whether you do it to create a brand or as a “scrapbook”, of sorts, to record the journey of your family, it is important that you portray the real you and not be something that you are not.

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blogs a year from now? 5 years from now?
Stephanie: Have you ever heard of Oprah? … No? … How about Good Morning America? … Now, that would be a nice place to be 1 year from now! No, in all seriousness — although we’d love for Oprah to discover how passionate we are about providing some much needed sense of camaraderie among Moms, our #1 goal is to continue to develop our brand and increase our blogging community and readership. We have grand hopes that Southern MOMentum will become a popular networking platform (the go-to place for all things Mom) and at the same time provide an affordable avenue for women/mom-owned businesses to market their products and services.

Marketmommies: Besides mommyhood and blogging, what is your passion?
Stephanie: Is there anything else in life? Well, I guess you can’t count the Twilight series as a “passion” per se … but I would say my true passion is to simply live life to its fullest and appreciate and enjoy all the wonderful blessings in my life.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Stephanie: We are the typical “Midwest-turned-Southern” suburban family livin’ the mini-van dream! We enjoy traveling and now that the kids have managed to ditch the diapers & the naps, we do our best to sneak them away for the weekend to the beach. We are currently in the process of trying to recruit the family to the South, however, a 115 degree heat index isn’t really as appealing to the Baby Boomer Generation as we had hoped.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Stephanie: Oh … is the interview over already? Well, then, yes. Anne and I would just like to invite y’all to take a minute to put away your Supermom cape, ditch the judgmental friends and sneak on over to step into our world. We may not have all the answers but we guarantee a belly laugh or two along the way.

Melinda - Li'l Rokker Baby Gear

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:39:00 GMT

***Shop Li'L Rokker Baby Gear at***
lilrokker.etsy.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.

Melinda: I started Li'l Rokker Baby Gear to provide edgy baby items such as diaper bags and baby clothes to parents that were looking for something different than the 'typical' style of baby accessories. When my kids were babies I remember how excited I was to find a tiny little hoodie with skulls on it, and found it completely impossible to fins a diaper bag that I thought was really unique and non-cutesy. I want to give all parents like me, a place to go to find all the cool baby gear that no one else will have.

Marketmommies: How did you get started?

Melinda: I wanted to find a business that I could do while I stayed at home with my 4 and 6 year old. I always enjoyed sewing, and being able to express my creativity an this business combines the two. I abslutely love coming up with new design combos, items, and hunting for the coolest fabrics!

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?

Melinda: My little boy is a little rocker in training, he has a total rock style (and a drummer already too, he did his first drum lesson recital drumming to 'smoke on the water') He loves anything music related and always tells me that I'm doing a great job! He's very encouraging and let me know if something 'isn't rock enough'. :) My amazing husband is incredibly supportive, and always believes in anything I try. My whole family is what inspires me and encourages me :)

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?

Melinda: Trying to balance, time, materials, promotion etc. Predicting the populaity of a fabric and deciding on how much to purchase. Also splitting time between promoting my business and actually creating, both are super important but super time consuming, not sure if I have the balance yet!

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?

Melinda: The huge pro, is staying home and making my own hours. Secondly is having the one on one contact with my customers and hearing how excited they are about thier bag, bib, or shirt and that they found such unique stuff. I love being able to create things because I think they look great and having free rein to do whatever I want. The cons are not having a steady income, and not having a definite start and end to the business day, and I have had some unfortunate shipping expenses as well, bu all in all I love having my own business!

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?

Melinda: It is hard to resist the temptation to finish just 'one more item' when it's family time at the end of the day, but I get to be with the kids all day and If I am especially productive, I can let myself have some down time with my husband in the evening. I expect the balance will be tougher to find when I get even busier so I hope to have a plan in place now, maybe set 'day is done' times that are non negotiable, just like an out of the home job.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are
thinking of giving it a try?

Melinda: Just go for it! start small and make changes along the way. There are so many successfull moms out there that did the same thing. You can do it!

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family

Melinda: I have been married to my wonderful husband for 9 years and we have two beautiful children; Connor (6) and Ava (4) they are both such characters! We live in Morinville, Alberta (near Edmonton).

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Melinda: I am amazed at how many amazing businesses there are out there, run by moms! They are inspirations to me to keep going and growing and following my dream :)

Meghan - The Tucker's Take Tennessee

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:25:00 GMT

Marketmommies: You have a couple of different blogs... tell us about them.
Meghan: The Tuckers Take Tennessee www.thetuckerstaketennessee.com is my personal blog. I blog about parenting, my christian walk, post recipes, crafts, homeschooling ideas, I do lots of giveaways and reviews as well. Just about anything and everything is on there. I also am on twitter - @meghantucker

Hip Homeschool Moms www.facebook.com/hiphomeschoolmoms and Seeds Of Faith www.seedsoffaithwomen.com I co-founded with a dear friend of mine (www.thehomeschoolchick.com) Sue. Hip Homeschool Moms is a one stop place for anything and everything related to Homeschooling. Follow us on Twitter at @hiphmschoolmoms Seeds of Faith www.seedsoffaithwomen.com is a place we wanted to create for christian moms to hook up and unite. We have iFellowship on Wednesdays which is a christian mom link up. You can follow on twitter at @seedsofaith

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Meghan: I got started in the blogging world just by keeping notes and wanting to share pictures with family that is out of town and not around to see our kids as much. I then started looking more into blogging and found something I totally enjoy and am addicted to. :) I've been blogging almost 18 months now.

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Meghan: Before mommyhood, I was in college getting my education degree. I went to a private christian school in AR and got married to the love of my life.

Marketmommies: What is a "normal" day for you and your family ( if there is such a thing as a normal day :)
Meghan: Normal day consists of doing devotions in the morning with my kids, playing, blogging some, hanging out with friends/family, running errands, cooking dinner, and family time at night.

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a mommy blogger?
Meghan: Meeting TONS of new and amazing friends. I cannot believe the response and friendships I've made through blogging/twitter. I love each of my readers/followers and have loved the connection/relationship we've made.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have to offer moms who are just starting out in the world of blogging?
Meghan: Take it one step at a time. Don't get overwhelmed. Ask for a mentor (I love helping folks, so I'm willing to mentor, time willing) to help you start out, and network!

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blogs a year from now? 5 years from now?
Meghan: Gosh, I dont know. Can I answer that in a year from now? :) Hopefully reaching more people than it is now. I want to share my love for Christ, mommy-hood, parenting and being The Home Engineer through my blog. Hopefully everyone can see that.

Marketmommies: Besides mommyhood and blogging, what is your passion?
Meghan: International Adoption, Christ, Friends/Family.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Meghan: I'm married to my best friend, Joe. We've been married for 6.5 years. We have two amazing children, ages 4 and 19 months. We want more kids, Lord willing and would like to adopt from Rwanda in the next several years.

Megan - The Tucker's Take Tennessee

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:16:00 GMT

Marketmommies: You have a couple of different blogs... tell us about them.
Megan: The Tuckers Take Tennessee www.thetuckerstaketennessee.com is my personal blog. I blog about parenting, my christian walk, post recipes, crafts, homeschooling ideas, I do lots of giveaways and reviews as well. Just about anything and everything is on there. I also am on twitter - @meghantucker

Hip Homeschool Moms www.facebook.com/hiphomeschoolmoms and Seeds Of Faith www.seedsoffaithwomen.com I co-founded with a dear friend of mine (www.thehomeschoolchick.com) Sue. Hip Homeschool Moms is a one stop place for anything and everything related to Homeschooling. Follow us on Twitter at @hiphmschoolmoms Seeds of Faith www.seedsoffaithwomen.com is a place we wanted to create for christian moms to hook up and unite. We have iFellowship on Wednesdays which is a christian mom link up. You can follow on twitter at @seedsofaith

Marketmommies: How did you get started in the blogging world? How long have you been blogging?
Megan: I got started in the blogging world just by keeping notes and wanting to share pictures with family that is out of town and not around to see our kids as much. I then started looking more into blogging and found something I totally enjoy and am addicted to. :) I've been blogging almost 18 months now.

Marketmommies: What did you do before mommyhood/blogging?
Megan: Before mommyhood, I was in college getting my education degree. I went to a private christian school in AR and got married to the love of my life.

Marketmommies: What is a "normal" day for you and your family ( if there is such a thing as a normal day :)
Megan: Normal day consists of doing devotions in the morning with my kids, playing, blogging some, hanging out with friends/family, running errands, cooking dinner, and family time at night.

Marketmommies: What has been the most rewarding part of being a mommy blogger?
Megan: Meeting TONS of new and amazing friends. I cannot believe the response and friendships I've made through blogging/twitter. I love each of my readers/followers and have loved the connection/relationship we've made.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have to offer moms who are just starting out in the world of blogging?
Megan: Take it one step at a time. Don't get overwhelmed. Ask for a mentor (I love helping folks, so I'm willing to mentor, time willing) to help you start out, and network!

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blogs a year from now? 5 years from now?
Megan: Gosh, I dont know. Can I answer that in a year from now? :) Hopefully reaching more people than it is now. I want to share my love for Christ, mommy-hood, parenting and being The Home Engineer through my blog. Hopefully everyone can see that.

Marketmommies: Besides mommyhood and blogging, what is your passion?
Megan: International Adoption, Christ, Friends/Family.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Megan: I'm married to my best friend, Joe. We've been married for 6.5 years. We have two amazing children, ages 4 and 19 months. We want more kids, Lord willing and would like to adopt from Rwanda in the next several years.

Casi - cupcakeMAG

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:28:00 GMT

http://www.cupcakemag.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Casi: cupcakeMAG began two years ago showcasing New York, LA and Miami Fashion Week – it was your place for all things fashion where we would showcase exclusive designer interviews and backstage coverage. Once things got up and going cupcakeMAG really took off – we started covering not just fashion but beauty, celebrity interviews, etc. Then we realized we needed a place for Mommistastas to go – a place where we could not just cater to fashionistas but a one-stop blog for moms and their littles. That is when Sprinkles was born; Fashionable Treats for Chic Moms and Their Babes. Both of our blogs offer great product reviews of all the hottest must-have items, celebrity interviews and giveaways galore!

Marketmommes: How did you get started.
Casi: It began just by being a place for showcasing designers and collections each fashion season. We would go to New York in September and February – watch runway shows, interviews designers and voice our opinions to our readers. However, it blossomed into so much more very quickly.

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Casi: Ahhh! Good question and tough. My family is very supportive and very close. However, one person who really inspired me to go for it would be my Aunt lost her battle with cancer two years ago. Not only did she have an obsession with fashion (and shoes!) but she bought me my first heels as we jammed to Cyndi Lauper and Madonna after shopping. We would always go shopping together, watch QVC and do all those fun girly things – she even taught me how to apply mousse and take advantage of my full head of curls at 10 years old. It is memories like those that I will never forget and every time I sit front-row at a fashion show or have an interview with a celebrity I think how she would always tell me to go for your dream and how excited she would be seeing everything I have done in the fashion industry.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
Casi: You just have to stick with it. It’s mind over body. You can do anything you want to do; you just gotta put your mind to it. I would say the biggest learning curve is not giving up and learning how to do that. You always have to stay positive and don’t let anyone bring you down.

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
Casi: Well, I would say that there are definitely way more pros to having my own biz then cons. A matter of fact – I can’t even really think of any cons at the moment. But, you caught me on a good day J It is definitely amazing to be able to have your own work schedule and lucky for me I have five amazing writers that I have brought on the cupcakeMAG team. They are by far the pros of my business because I can pick and choose who I want to showcase on the blog and what I want to feature. However, it is nice to have others point of views as well and not just me writing. Having your own business is challenging for sure but at the end of the day it is more so rewarding than anything.

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Casi: Finding a balance can be really difficult. It can be hard sometimes, especially with a blackberry to shift from office to home because my mind is always working and I am constantly with a full inbox of emails. Having a schedule and amazing time management really helps. As long as you can draw the line between family and business you can manage it all – it is just about the finding your own balance.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
Casi: Like I said before, just stay positive, don’t give up, and follow your heart. If you know what you want then go for it! You don’t want to have any regrets in life and if you think you are going to look back and say, I sholda, coulda, woulda – then you better go for it because you may never have that chance again.

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
Casi: I have 3 little mini-fashionistas! Zoe is 7 going into the 2nd grade and just can’t wait to wear high-heels. She loves to read and wants to be a Marine Biologist but Model on the side. She has great plans to also one day have a farm. McKenzie is 3 and is my big ham in front of the camera. She is a little peanut (she was a preemie) with a BIG personality. McKenzie doesn’t leave the house without her oversized white sunglasses, jewelry, and purse. As for Kennadi – well, she is our angel. She was also a preemie but has severe problems at 11 weeks old and spent 3 weeks in the NICU. Thanks to God and everyone’s prayers she is still with us and as healthy as can be. She will be 6 months next week.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Casi: Stay tuned to cupcakeMAG & sprinkles for tons of exclusive celeb interviews, amazing giveaways and lots to come! And thank you to all of our avid readers – without your love, praise and support we wouldn’t be here today!

Kelly - Travel with the Magic

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:48:00 GMT

http://www.travelwiththemagic.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Kelly: Hi I am Kelly H Russo owner of Travel with the Magic. We are a FREE Disney Vacation Planning Travel Agency. We specialize in Disney Destinations and do not charge any fees for our services. We will book your vacation and then help with all the planning that needs to get done. The itinerary, the dining reservations, Air, transfers to and from the Airport and so much more.

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
Kelly: I had just had my second child and wanted to be at home with him. I decided to take my passion for Disney and become a planner. I have worked for two wonderful agencies and then last year decided to go out on my own. I wanted more control over the decision and my income.

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Kelly: My mother, she owns and operates her own business Bella Beads in New Hampshire.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
Kelly: Figuring out all the marketing and growing my brand. I got most of my business from word of mouth and would like to take it to the next level by getting more referrals thru my website. People always think a travel agent will cost them money and in this case that isn't true.

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
Kelly: When you first start you are working ALL the time but it’s a labor of love. I miss not doing other things but know in the end all the hard work will pay off.

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Kelly: This is still a struggle to be honest. I been getting some good advice about setting better limits and even keeping to my office hours

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
Kelly: You can do it! Take what you are passionate about and make a plan. Surround yourself with people who will support you and your success! Believe in yourself!

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
Kelly: I have been married over 12 years and my sons are 11 and 6 and we live in Massachusetts. My kids are active in football and my husband works in Technology.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Kelly: Thanks for the opportunity to be part of your community. I have met so many amazing WAHM’s in the last few months and it is inspiring to see so many making it happen!

Courtney - Secondary Chronicles

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:24:00 GMT

http://www.thesecondarychronicles.com/

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog.
Courtney: My Blog started out as a way for me to reach out me new people and blog about my life, especially the fact that we were struggling with Secondary Infertility. I needed a way to let out that frustration and see that I was not the only one. I started the blog in October 2009. Now I am 22 weeks pregnant with our second child (a son), so the Blog has gone more into my pregnancy now. It always has bits and pieces about My daughter and Husband and our family. We are a crazy bunch and love it. Life is crazy that's what makes it fun.

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
Courtney: I started doing Vlogs on YouTube in August 2009 and from there found out about blogging and I just jumped in. I've always been the one that had a Journal with me and wrote down EVERYTHING! So I figured I could do this, I wasn't so sure at first but I got more use to it and am slowly getting better (I hope :)). I am coming out of my writers block stage and have a lot of post in my head now and some already written out and ready for the right moment.

Marketmommies: Where do you see your blog in 1 year? In 5 years?
Courtney: I see my blog going far in the next year or so. I am more into it now and can't wait to expand it and get more into the blogging community, I see how amazing it can be for some and I already love how much it has helped me. I have big dreams and hopes for my little baby blog as it hits it's toddler years.

Marketmommies: What did you do before blogging?
Courtney: Before Blogging or Vlogging I just mostly got into forums and such to talk about things and get my opinion out and offer help. I got into my "funk" over the infertility and it slowed me down a little but I got out of it and am definitely headed the right way now :).

Marketmommies: What are your favorite blogs? Who do you draw Inspiration from?
Courtney: I LOVE Kate at Busted Plumbing. She is amazing and has the bet personality! http://www.bustedplumbing.com/ I also love Not Your Average Soccer Mom http://happily-at-home.blogspot.com/ , The Prissy Mommy Chronicles http://www.prissymommy.com/ , The Subfertile Frugalista http://subfertilefrugalista.blogspot.com/, These are the Days...... http://howryfamily.blogspot.com/ and also Jen at Baby Makin (g) Machine because she has always been helpful when I asked anything http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/. They all inspire me for one reason for another.

Marketmommies: Tell us about a day in your life.
Courtney: A day in the life of me can be really boring, well as boring as it can get when you're pregnant and have a 2 year old diva. Daddy usually goes to work and it's just Haleigh (my daughter) and mom time. She has gotten to where now she'll in our room and jump in bed with me. Most mornings we lay there and she talks to her little brother or we'll get out the doppler so she can hear his heartbeat (she thinks that's amazing). We then get up and eat breakfast and watch PBS or Nick Jr or whatever she may want that day (yep I let my 2 year old watch TV *gasp* lol). When it's not horribly hot and feeling like you're gonna die as soon as you walk outside we usually catch up with some friends at the park or meet up at an inside playground. We eat lunch (usually at home occasionally out with friends) then work on songs, practicing numbers, letters, or whatever else she wants to. Haleigh has her nap time around 3pm everyday (sometimes more easily than others). Then Daddy comes home and we hang out with Daddy. Some evenings I have school and I get to leave then and Daddy & Haleigh have their time. Other times we just get errands ran or hang out at the house or go visit family. We really don't have any set schedules and we let life take us day by day however it would like to take us. Either way we hit the sack, Haleigh around 8pm and Mommy & Daddy around 11pm then start the next day.

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Courtney: I am very blessed to have the amazing family that I have. I never thought I would be that "oh so cliche' High School Sweet Heart" but life leads you in funny directions sometimes. We met in High School our Freshman year in Chorus Class. We started dating the next year and never left each other's side. Our Senior year we started talking marriage and the next year we were married. Three months before the wedding we found out we were pregnant and the day before our wedding we found out we were having a daughter. Haleigh was born November of that year and was the best thing that had ever happened to us! She is so amazing and beautiful and smart! She amazes us more and more everyday. When she was 10 months old we decided we were going to start trying for another baby, we wanted them close together. That, however was not in the cards for s. A year passed and we still were not pregnant. Finally after 21 cycles trying we are pregnant! The baby is due 10 days after Haleigh's 3rd birthday and we couldn't be happier! In mid June we found out we are expecting a SON! Are family is crazy, but we love life and can't wait to welcome our son.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Courtney: I am really excited about being featured! Please feel free to ask me anything! Oh and I am also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MommaRoberts07 & I also Vlog on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/xxxMommaRobertsxxx

I'm all over the place :) sorta .

Melissa - Sippy Cup Mom

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:15:00 GMT

http://www.sippycupmom.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your blog:

Melissa: I started The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom as a place to share pictures and funny stories about my toddler. It has grown into a place where I can review products that I enjoy and also offer great giveaways to my readers, which I love! I might also talk about my love of books, Disney, recipes and great deals and freebies I find! Oh, and the occasional temper tantrum story! :-)

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
Melissa: . I started it with my goal just being to post some good deals I had been finding because lots of friends were asking me to share. I also wanted to keep family updated with stories and pictures of my son.

Marketmommies: What was your biggest learning curve in starting a blog?
Melissa: Getting people to read my blog! I wasn't sure at all how to get my name out there! I realized the best thing was to just start visiting other blogs!

Marketmommies: What role has social media played in your success?
Melissa: Twitter has been huge! I have connected with so many great people and companies on Twitter! I am still working on Facebook, but I gain about 100 followers a week on Twitter.

Marketmommies: Any tips on how moms should use social media to promote their blogs?
Melissa: Definitely Twitter! I always get disappointed when I find a blog I like doesn't tweet. I feel it is a great way to connect with people who read your blog!

Marketmommies: How do you balance your family life with the world of mommy blogging?
Melissa: I blog during nap time and after my son goes to sleep! My husband is great with my blogging too, he helps me think of posts and is always telling me different things to help with my blog!

Marketmommies: Tell us about your family.
Melissa: I have been with my husband for 8 years and married for 4! He is truly my other half, my best friend. I love spending time with him and my 2 year old son. They are my favorite people in the world! We love hanging out together and doing thing all over the city, like going to museums, parks and the Zoo. We are also a big Cardinals Baseball family!

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Melissa: When visiting other blog, don't be afraid to email the blogger and ask questions! I'm so grateful to other bloggers who have helped me out and I love when I get emails from other bloggers!

Kristy - Sweet Knees

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:24:00 GMT

http://www.sweetknee.com

Marketmommies: Tell us about your business.
Kristy: Sweet Knee was created to provide families with chemical-free, non-toxic skin care for baby made of certified organic ingredients. We believe in full disclosure on our labels so that you can make informed purchasing decisions for your specific needs. All of our products are multi-functional and so moms and dads tend to find uses for themselves. For example, our Bun Glaze is not only great as a diaper ointment, but works great on cuts, sunburn and insect bites to name a few. This way, one product takes the place of two or three traditional products.

We hand source our ingredients and seek out organically grown, sustainable, fair-trade ingredients. Our products are formulated and manufactured in boutique quantities, so that we are able to keep quality and credibility of our name.

Sweet Knee believes in giving back. We support breastfeeding and cloth diapering moms through corporate sponsorships and donations. We also believe in healthy homes and healthy air. So, we plant a tree for every gift bag purchased. A list of our donations and sponsorships can be found on our site.

Marketmommies: How did you get started?
Kristy: The impetus for Sweet Knee was when my son developed a chemical burn from the disposable diapers used on him at birth in the hospital. I tried over the counter diaper ointments from my health food co-op and from the regular drug store to no avail and was even prescribed a steroid cream by the pediatrician. I didn’t want to go that route, so I made my own at home remedy and his skin was healed within a day. That remedy later became our first product, Sweet Knee Bun Glaze.

Marketmommies: Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Kristy: My husband, Brent, is my biggest cheerleader. He encouraged me to share my products with our friends and family, and then to package and market them to others. He readily steps in to help out with shipping and behind the scenes chores. His face lights up when he sees me succeed and he is right there to pick me up when things are challenging. He is also a remarkable daddy to our son. That makes for a happy home, and a happy life, and a great partnership.

Marketmommies: What has been the biggest learning curve?
Kristy: Marketing has been the most foreign concept for me. However, as I learn more about social networking and the wonderful opportunity to engage with moms and dads, I’ve embraced this new role. I have also found a group of mompreneurs who have “been there and done that” and can help me along the way. I have a tremendous amount to learn in this area and I’m always looking for new motivation.

Marketmommies: What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
Kristy: I think your attitude is all that you have. I am able to draw on my talents and strengths and the end result is that a growing number of people enjoy my products. I don’t see a con to that. There are definitely times when I don’t know an answer, but I know how to seek out answers and then I’m smarter in the end. I want to be successful, so I surround myself with people who positively nurture my growth.

I want to be a great example for my son. I want him to see that work can be meaningful and fulfilling. So even if things don’t always go smoothly, I think about what I can do better or differently to get a better outcome next time. Children are sponges and I want mine to soak up something good!

Marketmommies: How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Kristy: I think balance is about the art of being in the moment for me. I try to be 100% at work when I’m wearing the Sweet Knee hat, and 100% with my family when work time is done. So, I schedule my routine work tasks that require the most time a month in advance; and take on the daily tasks of phone calls and customer orders around my sons sleep schedule. I also have family members who step in as needed, whether it is with child care or packaging orders for shipment.

Marketmommies: What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?Kristy: Believe in yourself, or no one else will. In my first grown-up job, my mentor told me to “find my bliss”. That is the best advice. You should be smiling while you work and the time should fly.

Also, don’t be afraid to go against the grain a little bit. There will be people who will say you can’t do it this way or that way. Trust yourself, and if you make a few mistakes, that is okay!

Marketmommies: Tell Us about your family.
Kristy: I live in North Myrtle Beach, SC with my husband Brent and our son Carson. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, growing a garden and hanging out with my two favorite guys. Brent owns his own business, custom designing clothing for men. He enjoys fishing and training Labrador Retrievers (including our two, Breaker and BoBo). Our son Carson is a curious, adventurous, creative little boy who enjoys walking across the street to the beach and playing in the surf, making noise, and getting dirty.

Marketmommies: Anything else you would like to add?
Kristy: Looking back on my life, I can see that there were pivotal people who brought me to where I am today, and I’d like to thank them for their knowledge.

I learned most everything I know about the medicinal and healing properties of plants from my hometown herbalist. She ran a healthy living store and taught me how to take care of myself by using flowers and herbs. This was the start of my education in holistic healing.

I learned about formulating products from my mother, who took me with her to cosmetic labs and even let me help with graphic design and packaging of her more traditional product lines.

After earning my M.Ed. in Special Education, I began teaching children with autism spectrum disorder. Later I became an autism program coordinator for a school system in NC. Those experiences with amazing children and their amazing parents taught me most of what I know about eliminating toxic chemicals from the home and embracing a natural lifestyle.