Last Day to Enter to Win a $100 Shopping Spree at the Co-op Shop

Attention Shoppers: this holiday season, we will be awarding one lucky shopper a $100 shopping spree in The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop. All you have to do is SHOP at the Co-op Shop and SUBMIT copies of your receipts dated September 21, 2009 - November 30, 2009. You will automatically be entered for a chance to win! Every receipt submitted is equal to one entry into the drawing.

On December 1st, one winner will be chosen at random from all receipts submitted and awarded a $100 shopping spree in the Holiday Co-op Shop to be used by the end of 2009. Click here for OFFICIAL RULES.

Attention Advertisers: this holiday season, we will also be awarding three lucky advertisers a $100 shopping spree in The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop.

Winners will be chosen based on efforts to help promote the Holiday Co-op Shop. Advertisers will be given announcements, a press release, images and other promotional materials for helping to promote the Co-op Shop. Winners will be announced on December 1st and will be awarded a $100 shopping spree in the Holiday Co-op Shop to be used by the end of 2009. Click here for OFFICIAL RULES.

Please note: Advertisers who shop in the Co-op Shop are eligible to compete in both contests.

What does your fortune say?

Taped to the front of my computer screen are two fortunes...one from several years ago and one from my Chinese meal last week.

Some mom entrepreneurs write business plans (OK, I have one too), but have you ever let a message found inside a fortune cookie guide your business decisions?

Here are my fortunes:

• Many years ago - "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go where there is no path ...and leave a trail."
  
• Last week - "Your problem just became your stepping stone. Catch the moment." (For any of you who subscribe to our newsletter, you probably know what this is about!)

How do the cookies always know?

Shop The Back-to-School Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop and party with us on Twitter to celebrate!

The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop is celebrating back-to-school with special deals on items for the season.

Our Shop has something for everyone, including moms, kids, dads, and business professionals. To celebrate, we are holding our fifth Twitter party on Wednesday, August 19th from 9:30 pm - 10:30 pm EST.

We will be giving away some amazing prizes as well as sharing tips for balancing motherhood and running a company. Pour yourself a glass of wine, and chat the evening away with dozens of mom entrepreneurs.

Following is a list of the fantastic prizes you will have a chance to win:

• Three coaching sessions from City Career Strategies. Topics include interviewing, job search strategy, or performance strategies to improve your results. Valued at $250.
• Set of books: Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! & Let’s Get Ready For First Grade! from Cedar Valley Publishing. Valued at $40.
• Tahitian necklace and earring set from lia sophia. Valued at $108.
• 1 month membership from Care4Hire to their caregiver database. Valued at $29.99.
• Just Be t-shirt. Winner gets to pick tee of their choice from the website. Valued at $20 - $24.
• A Heaven Cent Album from Heaven's Pennies. Valued at $14.95.
• Boogie Back to School Gift Basket with stickers, coloring sheets, t-shirts and Boogie Wipes from Little Busy Bodies. Valued at $30.00.
• Copy of Corporate Mom Dropouts from Lucinda Cross and a 1-hour consultation. Valued at $250.00.
• Copy of Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom by Stephanie Nelson from The Mom Entrepreneur. Valued at $17.99.

Twitter party attendees will be asked simple quiz questions and will need to visit the Co-op Shop to find the answer. Tweet the answer and include the hashtag code #TMEcoop.

Winners will be determined by a sequence of random numbers, which will be generated using Random.org. Public recognition will be given to the winners in Twitter who will need to email their name, email address and phone number to traci@themomentrepreneur.com.

To attend the party, simply follow @TMECoopShop or visit tweetchat.com, enter the code #TMEcoop and follow the party's conversation. And don't forget to shop The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for back-to-school bargains.

Mom entrepreneurs are only human

I received a call from a woman today who saw our ad in the HARO. She wanted more information about our Holiday Co-op Shop program and our Online Support Group. I was not at my desk so she left a message.

I returned her call a few hours later...she was not there...I left a message.

She returned my call shortly after that. I have caller ID so I knew it was the same person. I answered...the connection sounded a bit muffled...

"Do you want your hot dog now or later..."

Well, it was lunch time and I was hungry, but I don't think she was talking to me.

"Hello?" I said.

{More muffled conversation...}

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

As I hung up, I started to laugh. That really made my day. It made me wonder if my phone has mysteriously called someone while I was at the drive thru window with my kids at McDonald's or getting a drink at Dunkin Donuts.

And as I sit here and sort through 25,222 emails in my InBox due to a big mistake I made with my email a year and a half ago, I remind myself that mom entrepreneurs are only human.

Shop The Summer Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop and party with us on Twitter to celebrate!

The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop is celebrating summer with a new line up of products and services for the season. If you are looking for variety and great bargains then you need to visit our newly redesigned shop.

This summer, the Co-op Shop features many products and services that are perfect for warm weather celebrations – Fourth of July, Family Reunion Month, American Adventures Month – as well as beach days, vacations & staycations, barbeques, swimming and other summertime activities. Our Shop has something for everyone, including moms, kids, dads, and business professionals

To celebrate, we are holding our fourth Twitter party on Tuesday, July 7th from 9:30 pm - 10:30 pm EST. We will be announcing our summer line up of offerings at the Co-op Shop, sharing tips for balancing motherhood and running a company, and giving away some amazing prizes.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, and chat the evening away with dozens of mom entrepreneurs.

Following is a list of the fantastic prizes you will have a chance to win:

• A Baby Dipper bowl and spoon set. Valued at $9.99.
• Ma Mi Skin Care Reawaken Cleanser and Nightshift Eye Serum gift set. Valued at $53.00.
• 1 month membership from Care4Hire to their caregiver database. Valued at $29.99.
• Copy of Turn Your Business Card Into Business by Reno Lovison from The Mom Entrepreneur. Valued at $17.95.
• 5 packages of gLovies from My Mom Knows Best as a giveaway. Valued at $24.95.
• A Heaven Cent Album from Heaven's Pennies. Valued at $14.95.
• Copy of Corporate Mom Dropouts from Lucinda Cross and a 1-hour consultation. Valued at $250.00.
• Copy of Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom by Stephanie Nelson from The Mom Entrepreneur. Valued at $17.99.

Twitter party attendees will be asked simple quiz questions and will need to visit the Co-op Shop to find the answer. Tweet the answer and include the hashtag code #TMEcoop.

Winners will be determined by a sequence of random numbers, which will be generated using Random.org. Public recognition will be given to the winners in Twitter who will need to email their name, email address and phone number to traci@themomentrepreneur.com.

To attend the party, simply follow @TMECoopShop or visit tweetchat.com, enter the code #TMEcoop and follow the party's conversation. And don't forget to shop The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for summer bargains.

Make sure you are also following the Co-op Shop on Twitter to be alerted about special offers and sales from now until the end of summer.

Reach over 200,000 people with your summer message

This summer, The Mom Entrepreneur will be running its popular Co-op Shop from June 1 - August 31. Registration is open to members of our online support group, and for the first time, non-members. In addition, we are offering feature placement on the landing page.

For more information and to sign up, click here...>

We have an aggressive promotional campaign planned for the three month period, including:

• Early June - press release announcement to media - focus on summer, beach days, July 4th, barbecuing and swimming - summer featured members will be mentioned in press release.*
• June 22nd - advertisement in the HARO (will reach approximately 100,000+ professionals, media, high-end consumers (email list has a 96% open rate)) with giveaway mentions for those who donated for the Easter promotion. We will focus on summer, beach days, July 4th, barbecuing and swimming for this promotion - summer featured members will be mentioned in ad.*
• July 14th - Twitter party celebration for summer. One hour of giveaways and contests promoting Co-op Shop members who would like to donate for the party.
• Late July - press release announcement to media - focus will be on Get Ready for Kindergarten Month, back-to-school, Labor Day and Ntl. Childhood Injury Prevention Week - early fall featured members will be mentioned in press release.**
• August 1 - August 15th - advertising on CouponDivas.com (receives 90,000 hits/month), newsletter promotions for early fall featured Co-op Shop members** (distributed to over 12,000 people - mostly women/moms). Focus will be on Get Ready for Kindergarten Month, back-to-school, Labor Day and Ntl. Childhood Injury Prevention Week.
• Early August - Twitter party celebration for back-to-school. One hour of giveaways and contests promoting Co-op Shop members who would like to donate for the party.

*Summer featured members - in addition to a regular listing for the full 3 months, you will receive a featured placement on the landing page with mention of offer if available (i.e. 15% off purchase) and company name (brief description) from June 1 - July 11, 2009. You will also be listed in the summer press release, company name mentioned in HARO ad, listing in one category (additional categories $10 each), 1st option to donate to Twitter party - $150.00 (only 3 spots available).

**Back-to-school featured members - in addition to a regular listing for the full 3 months, you will receive a featured placement on the landing page with mention of offer if available (i.e. 15% off purchase) and company name (brief description) from July 12 - August 31, 2009. You will also be listed in the back-to-school press release, company offer listed in one of two CouponDivas.com newsletters to members, listing in one category (additional categories $10 each), 1st option to donate to Twitter party - $125.00 (only 6 spots available).

For more information and to sign up, click here...>

Don't forget to party with us on Twitter tonight!

Shop for Mother's Day at The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop and party with us on Twitter to celebrate! Join The Mom Entrepreneur on Monday, May 4th from 10:00pm - 11:00pm EST for a Twitter party celebration. We will be announcing our Mother's Day line up of offerings at the Co-op Shop, sharing tips for balancing motherhood and running a company, and giving away some amazing prizes. Pour yourself a glass of wine, and chat the evening away with dozens of mom entrepreneurs. For complete details, click here…>

Shop for Mother's Day at The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop and party with us on Twitter to celebrate!

The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for Mother's Day has officially launched. If you are looking for variety and great bargains then you need to visit our newly redesigned shop.

This month’s Co-op Shop offers fashionable and athletic apparel, maternity clothes and products, jewelry, books, greeting cards and a guide to eco-friendly cleaning supplies. We’ve also expanded our roster of services, and our mom entrepreneur experts can advise on professional topics – such as marketing your business or job-hunting – as well as family-focused topics – including how to save money, get organized, streamline dinner preparation and become greener. We even have links to some great family-focused blogs.

To celebrate, we are holding our third Twitter party on Monday, May 4th from 10:00pm - 11:00pm EST. We will be announcing our Mother's Day line up of offerings at the Co-op Shop, sharing tips for balancing motherhood and running a company, and giving away some amazing prizes.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, and chat the evening away with dozens of mom entrepreneurs.

Following is a list of the fantastic prizes you will have a chance to win:

1. MotherTongues gift pack (consisting of a pair of Ubuntu socks, a labyrinth tote bag, and a family gift bag). Valued at $40.
2. Thermal Zipper Tote from Thirty-One Gifts. Valued at $12.50.
3. Rainbow 6-Pack of Dapper Snappers from Toddler Tech USA. Valued at $39.95.
4. Copy of Stop Second Guessing Yourself - The Toddler Years by Jen Singer. Valued at $14.95.
5. A Baby Dipper bowl and spoon set from Baby Dipper. Valued at $9.99.
6. $25 gift certificate to Little Jumping Beans.
7. Copy of Weight Loss Blueprints Secrets program from WeightLoss4Mom.com. Valued at $67.
8. Long sleeve t-shirt from Me Time. Winner picks design. Valued at $29.

Twitter party attendees will be asked simple quiz questions and will need to visit the Co-op Shop to find the answer. Tweet the answer and include the hashtag code #TMEcoop.

Winners will be determined by a sequence of random numbers, which will be generated using Random.org. Public recognition will be given to the winners in Twitter who will need to email their name, email address and phone number to traci@themomentrepreneur.com.

To follow the party, simply follow @TMECoopShop or visit tweetchat.com, enter the code #TMEcoop and follow the party's conversation.

And don't forget to shop The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for Mother's Day as well as every month in 2009.

Make sure you are also following the Co-op Shop on Twitter to be alerted about special offerings and sales from now until Mother's Day.

Our 1 year anniversary giveaway celebration

Wow! We are already celebrating our 1st Birthday. It has been a great year filled with learning, connecting and growing opportunities.

I have met so many amazing people along the way.

It is hard to believe that this company started because I was unable to network traditionally. I had moved back home to my office since my marketing and PR company had experienced a significant cash shortage. I did not want to layoff employees so I cut my own expenses and took my son out of daycare. Long story short...The Mom Entrepreneur was born (pun intended).

I love this job! It has been awhile since I have been able to feel passionate about my everyday work (other than raising kids, which I love).

I would love to hear thoughts from readers about your experiences with The Mom Entrepreneur over the past year. What is most memorable for you (i.e. favorite blog post, best tip or idea, a connection that occurred because of your association with us, etc.)? A reader will be chosen at random on Friday at 5pm EST from all who share a memory in the comment section. Winner chooses prize from list below.

To celebrate, we will be giving away dozens of prizes. I am not sure how long it will take us, but we will give them all away to our loyal readers. As a mom and an entrepreneur, I sometimes cannot tell how long it will take me to accomplish something. It may take us until the end of the month or end of the season to give our prizes away...but by golly, we will get it done.

List of prizes to be given away:

1. Two 4-packs of Mighty Miracle Mist from Helpful Hallies
2. Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters by Courtney E. Martin, donated by the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty
3. Obagi Condition & Enhance System
4. Johnny-Light toilet bowl nightlight
5. Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds from Now by Jessica Weiner, donated by the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty
6. Body Friendly Yoga Workout DVD from Kama Linden
7. eBay Rescue Problem Solver by Kevin Boyd
8. Two signed copies of The Hot Mommy Next Door by Alison M. Fadoul
9. Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties by Lisa Kothari
10. eBay Business at Your Fingertips by Kevin W. Boyd
11. Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom by Stephanie Nelson
12. A signed copy of Hurry Home by Leah McDermott
13. Turn Your Business Card Into Business by Reno Lovison
14. The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal by Renee Peterson Trudeau
15. Two Scrap Tunes (Happy Birthday and Alphabet Song)
16. Spot Me ID temporary tattoos, ID bracelets and ID lanyards
17. Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten! and Let's Get Ready for First Grade! from Cedar Valley Publishing
18. A signed copy of The Miracle of Me by Amy B. Pederson
19. Hubba Bubba a novel by Cindy Cody
20. Book and treat from the Lollipop Book Club
21. Accept No Mediocre Life by David Foster
22. Fly Me To The Moon 3D Movie (DVD) from Summit Entertainment
23. Finally Thin! by Kim Bensen
24. Succession Are You Ready? by Marshall Goldsmith
25. $50 shopping spree to Amon Maternity
26. Winter Warmth Swaddle from aden + anais
27. Thirty-minute makeover or head shot consultation and The Glam Plan ebook from Fabulous After 40
28. One month membership to Care4Hire.com.

Don't forget to party with us tonight on Twitter!

I hope you will join us tonight on Twitter from 9:00pm - 10:30pm EST for our second party to announce the spring line up of offerings at The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop.

For a listing of the fantastic prizes we will be giving away as well as how to participate, read our official invitation post from the other day.

Join us on March 31st at 9:00pm EST for our second Twitter party!

We are doing it again!

Our first Twitter party in January to launch The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop was a huge success. We gave out 27 prizes in two hours and introduced the awesome products and services our new Shop offers to over 75 party goers.

On Tuesday, March 31st from 9:00pm - 10:30pm EST, we will be hosting our second Twitter party to announce our spring line up of offerings at the Co-op Shop.

In addition, we will be sharing tips for balancing motherhood and running a company, and giving away some amazing prizes. Join me and dozens of mom entrepreneurs from our Online Support Group as we chat the evening away.

Following is a list of the fantastic prizes you will have a chance to win:

1. Free 1.5 hour phone Beyond Balance Exploration session for working moms with The Executive Moms Coach (valued at $275).
2. Free one-year subscription to The Dinner Spin (valued at $48). The Dinner Spin is your weekly menu planner. Each week you receive seven creative, yet convenient dinner ideas in your inbox. Choose the recipes you want to prepare; customize your grocery list and follow the clever tips outlined each week in the menu game plan.
3. Free t-shirt from Just Be Products. Winner's choice (valued at $15-$24). Show the world how you...Just Be.
4. Free download of the popular ebook PR in Your Pajamas: Practical Publicity for Time Strapped Mom Entrepreneurs (valued at $29). Learn why you don’t need a press release, how to put together a media pitch and a media list in just minutes, the questions you need to ask a reporter when they call you, and more PR tips that helped sell a mom business just 9 months after starting.
5. Gift certificate for one-month of service to care4hire.com (valued at $29.99). Care4hire.com is an online database for families and caregivers to search babysitters, housekeepers, tutors, elder/companion care, pet sitters and other miscellaneous services.
6. Free copy of The Power of Women United from Discover Birth, which hits shelves this month (valued at $34.97). This book explores the triumphs and tragedies of 22 amazing women who forged their own path to success. This extraordinary book will touch your heart as it helps you to find your true self and follow your dreams.
7. Free LaborKit (valued at $54.95), includes over 18 high-quality items to help prepare for birth and make labor more comfortable. Breastfeeding friendly. It’s everything you need for the big day.
8. Free Yoga Booty Ballet workout DVD from Team Beachbody (valued at $30). Yoga Booty Ballet is a dynamic fusion of yoga, booty sculpting, and dance that will make you feel strong, confident, and beautiful!
9. Free Super-Soft Clean Shopper from Babe Ease (valued at $34.99). Protect your baby from nasty shopping-cart germs with the tried-and-true Super-Soft Clean Shopper! Designed to cover the entire seating area of a shopping cart, this product is fluffy and comfy, and it comes complete with a matching drawstring tote, a safety strap, toy loops and pockets. It's also machine washable and dryer safe!
10. Free set of books - Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade! from Cedar Valley Publishing (valued at $40).
11. Free long sleeve t-shirt from Me Time (valued at $29). Winner picks design.
12. Free Personal Child Stories custom made book (valued at $30). All books are created for each unique child using personal photos and custom text; no two are alike. You choose the theme!
13. Free satineesnugs bear blanket from My Embroidered Gifts (valued at $19.95). Winner chooses name to have embroidered on blanket.
14. Two free product coupons good on any fast fixin items at fastfixin.com from Consumer Queen (valued at $7.99).
15. Free Boca Beth Beginner Backpack (valued at $49.99).

Twitter party attendees will be asked simple quiz questions and will need to visit the Co-op Shop to find the answer. Tweet the answer and include the hashtag code #TMEcoop.

Winners will be determined by a sequence of random numbers, which will be generated using Random.org. Public recognition will be given to the winners in Twitter who will need to email their name, email address and phone number to traci@themomentrepreneur.com.

To follow the party, simply follow me @TMECoopShop or visit tweetchat.com, enter the code #TMEcoop and follow the party's conversation.

And don't forget to shop The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for Easter, Earth Day and National Women's Nutrition Week as well as every month in 2009.

Make sure you are also following the Co-op Shop on Twitter to be alerted of special offerings and sales from now until Easter.

Win great prizes at our Twitter Party Tuesday night

If you are a member of Twitter then you have probably seen the reminders about The Mom Entrepreneur's Twitter Party to launch our new Co-op Shop.

Tuesday the 27th from 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm EST, we will be introducing the new Co-op Shop, offering tips for balancing motherhood and running a company, and giving away some amazing prizes. Join me and dozens of mom entrepreneurs from our Online Support Group as we chat the evening away.

Following is a list of the fantastic prizes you will have a chance to win:

1. $15 gift certificate to Navan Foods
2. A complete set up of a Facebook page for a business or organization, including photos, video, description, social media links, applications, contact info. and more from Step Ahead, Inc. ($300)
3. Box of 24 truffles and personalized card to send or keep from Cards 4 People ($35)
4. Long sleeve t-shirt from Me Time ($29)
5. $24 gift certificate to Yummy Spoonfuls
6. $20 gift certificate to Let's Go Strolling
7. One copy of Gratigories! card game from Gratitude Games ($16.99)
8. Second copy of Gratigories! card game from Gratitude Games ($16.99)
9. One Gratitude Games Pro Package from Gratitude Games ($29.99)
10. One Vision Your 2009, three-week, one-on-one Coaching Program with LaSara Firefox, MPNLP ($199)
11. Seat at the Vision Your 2009 teleclass, with LaSara Firefox, MPNLP ($19.99)
12. Another seat at the Vision Your 2009 teleclass, with LaSara Firefox, MPNLP ($19.99)
13. Six educational board books and CDs for infants and toddlers from Little Hands Learning Company ($23.95)
14. Playmat from Mimi & Maya - winner can choose color and personalization ($129)
15. A bath/body assortment of items from Pre de Provence, Pure Living and European Soaps from Old World Limited ($30)
16. Jerry Garcia tie, 100% silk from Old World Limited ($45)
17. Laundry mom t-shirt from LTDchix ($20)
18. $10 e-gift certificate from Coco-Zen
19. Product coupon good on any fast fixin item at fastfixin.com from Consumer Queen ($7.99)
20. 2nd product coupon good on any fast fixin item at fastfixin.com from Consumer Queen ($7.99)
21. 3rd product coupon good on any fast fixin item at fastfixin.com from Consumer Queen ($7.99)
22. Just Be t-shirt from Just Be Products ($24)
23. Set of books - Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade! from Cedar Valley Publishing ($40)
24. $25 gift certificate to restaurant.com from Coupon Divas
25. Box of Swan Chocolates from The Mom Entrepreneur ($9.95)
26. Harry and David Winter Tower from The Mom Entrepreneur ($19.95)
27. Set of acupressure wrist bands for the relief of nausea from Psi Bands ($15)

Twitter party attendees will be asked simple quiz questions and will need to visit the Co-op Shop to find the answer. Tweet the answer and include the code #TMEcoop. Winners will be determined by a sequence of random numbers, which has been generated using Random.org. Public recognition will be given to the winners in Twitter who will need to email their name, email address and phone number to traci@themomentrepreneur.com.

To follow our tweets, simply follow me @tracibisson or visit tweetchat.com, enter the code #TMEcoop and follow the party's conversation.

And don't forget to shop The Mom Entrepreneur Co-op Shop for Valentine's Day and every month in 2009.

Good Luck!

You are invited to a Twitter Party

On Tuesday, January 27th from 8:30 - 10:30pm EST, The Mom Entrepreneur will be hosting a Twitter party to officially launch its new Co-op Shop.

If you are a member of Twitter, please join us. Either follow me @tracibisson or visit http://www.tweetchat.com/ at the designated time and enter the code #TMEcoop.

We have lots of prizes and giveaways to offer, including chocolates, t-shirts, gift certificates, a playmat, educational board books, the set up of a Facebook page and much more. We will reveal all of the prizes and how to win in our Tuesday morning blog post.

Stay tuned!