Listen and learn...the truth always comes back around!

This video has circled around the blogosphere quite a bit. But in case you have not seen it, I highly recommend. It is very creative.

It is a palindrome, which reads the same backwards as forward. This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video. Make sure you read as well as listen…forward and backward.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant. Take a minute and watch it.

The Mom Entrepreneur's Top Picks for 2009

This blog post marks our 2nd annual Top Picks list. If you missed 2008's list, check it out here...>

Every year, we receive dozens of products to review. We do not review them all due to lack of time, but all products we receive are eligible for The Mom Entrepreneur’s annual favorites list. The only criteria is that the products fit some need for a woman who is either a mom and/or an entrepreneur.

The Mom Entrepreneur's 10 Top Picks Count Down for 2009:

10. Scentsy* - I received a beautiful Scentsy Warmer as a gift from a member of The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group. It is a ceramic holder with a light inside that melts a fragrance bar, which sits inside a warming dish. Mine was from their autumn line and the dish was shaped like a leaf. It is very decorative and the scents I received, Cinnamon Vanilla, Poinsettia Pine and Pumpkin Spice, all smell wonderful. I prefer this over a candle since it is safer, and when the fragrance bar is used up, you do not have to throw a glass jar away.

9. Coco-Zen - As a mom entrepreneur, I rely on chocolate to get me through the day. It is a much better day when the chocolate is really good. That is why I choose Coco-Zen. All of their treats are made from organic and Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate. My favorite is the Chocolate Chai Spice followed by the Dark Chocolate.

8. My Storytime Friends*- Last Christmas, I received a stuffed bear packaged in a colorful box, which included a 32-page hardcover storybook, and a unique code for lifetime membership and online access to free stories, downloads, activities and more for children ages 3-8. The company has combined the things children love - books, animals and fun - and packaged them in such a way that encourages children to explore, learn and interact. All of the books include key messages of empowerment over adversity, attaining dreams, and aspiring for the future. Messages that children of all ages should hear over and over again. These stories come to life with cheerful characters, rich illustrations, and realistic dialogue that families can enjoy together. A book and a bear might seem like a common gift to give, but what really excited me about this product was the lifetime membership to mystorytimefriends.com. That is why I choose them for this list.

7. Lilypad LunchMates* - I am always looking for new ways to be more environmentally sensitive. My goal is to teach my kids these valuable lessons so that they will carry them into adulthood. That is why I love Lilypad LunchMates - they made switching from paper to cloth napkins easy. Lilypad LunchMates is a set of 5 reusable cloth napkins that come in fun colors and patterns. The company uses repurposed fabric to keep it from going in the landfill. That means they are not purchasing "styles" to sell, rather they are using the fabric that they liberated from the cutting facility as well as their excess fabric that would typically just get tossed. Their napkins are 100% cotton and handmade in the USA. They are also durable and hold up to multiple washings.

6. Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up (affiliate link)* - This bestselling guide takes you across town and around the globe to 500 of the most exciting places on earth. It comes complete with hotel information, age recommendations, websites and more. It is comprehensive and easy to use. You can search by country, state, or alphabetically. This book makes it easy to plan family vacations and to be assured the destination is one that all will enjoy.

5. Mosquito 86* - Every summer I worry about the many pests that invade our yard and home. Wasps build nests under the eaves of our house, swinging chair and in the ground. Ants of all sizes invite their relatives to move into our house for the season, and mosquitoes are highly abundant no matter how many bats we try to attract to our bat boxes. This past summer, we had days upon days of endless rain. Soggy weather is an open invitation for ants to move in to a home, and puddles are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. I was invited to test the Mosquito 86TM Pest Eradication System, a professional-grade mosquito elimination system that is EPA approved and safe around humans and pets. The system worked extremely well for us and that is why they our on our Top Picks list.

4. Dinner Games - Last Christmas, I purchased the Gather 'Round Dinner Game and Classic Style from Families with Purpose. Their dinner games are quick, simple, and fun. To play, families just sit down to dinner, pick a card, and read it aloud. My boys, ages 5 and 9 get so excited to play these games, and look forward to family dinners. More importantly, they are more apt to finish their food because we have found a way to make it fun!

3. HP Color LaserJet CM2320nf MFP* - You can click the link I embedded to learn all about this printer and get a full list of specs. What really matters though is that this printer is the first and last printer you will ever need. It was the easiest printer my husband has ever had to set up (his words). The printer, which includes copying, faxing and scanning capabilities as well, is very intuitive. It asks you questions during the setup process of its different functions that makes it easy to understand and use. This is perfect for us work-at-home moms who may have limited space and need to have a reliable printer that can perform many functions.

2. GoPicnic* - This product is a mom's dream. GoPicnic creates the highest quality, best tasting ready-to-eat meals that are exceptionally convenient and require no refrigeration or special preparation – you can truly enjoy them anytime, anywhere! A GoPicnic meal is ready to eat right from the box, just grab a drink and enjoy one of their delicious, nutritious meals. They come in many varieties, including full meals, kids meals, and quick snackboxes. This was perfect for baseball games, soccer games, trips to the beach or park, etc. when you may be in a hurry, have not gone grocery shopping in awhile, or need something that will last if you are sitting out in the sun all day. Not only did my kids love the taste and selection, but so did my husband and I. They also offer gluten-free, kosher, halal and many other health conscious choices.

1. Citizen's Bank - Last year, I was faced with the challenge of having to switch banks. I was very disappointed with the customer service I was receiving from my current bank at the time. I asked friends and vendors for recommendations, and the popular choice was Citizen's Bank. Among the many perks I received was a free personal checking account for setting up a business checking account (which was also free), $.10 back for each online transaction I conduct (Green$ense program), a credit card that pays me back every time I purchase gas, and much more. I was also very pleased with their customer service, and their genuine willingness to help me get my business setup with their bank. That is why Citizen's Bank IS my #1 Top Pick for 2009!

What was your Top Pick for 2009?

*(The products listed above marked with an * were sent to me at no charge. That being said, I am under no obligation to write a good review or to write any review about these products, and what I’m writing here are my own opinions based on my personal use of the products.)

More Tips for Balancing the Supermom Act - part 3

This post is part three in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. If you missed part one, click here...>, and for part 2, click here...>

Lucinda Cross is the author of Corporate Mom Dropouts. Recently, she gave a teleseminar on Balancing the Supermom Act for The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group. This event had a record sign up. Seems this is a very hot topic amongst mom entrepreneurs!

If you were not able to attend the live event, you can download the podcast at this link...>

This week, Lucinda shares her last two tips with us for Balancing the Supermom Act:

• Stay focused, and don’t get sidetracked: There are only 24 hours in a day. There is also a price to pay for spending too much time on one activity, which can limit your ability to do other things. It is important to focus on the fact that success is equal to results, not effort. Avoid spending time on an activity that is personally satisfying, but not driving the results you want.
• Just say NO: You will cure some of your frustration and burn out by just giving simple answers without elaborating why YES or why NO. Try it for one week without using the words "Maybe", "I might", or "I will see what I can do". This helps avoid the pressure of feeling obligated or frustrated to commit to someone. Learn to make quick decisions and say "Yes" or "No" instead. Don't elaborate or give extensive reasons for your decision. A simple "No, I can’t do that at this time" is enough. In the end, you will feel emotionally free without having to fit in yet another activity, conversation or event you were not that interested in anyhow.

I am very grateful to Lucinda for taking the time to offer us valuable tips over the three blog posts we have written, and for the live teleseminar she gave.

For more information about Lucinda or Corporate Mom Dropouts, visit www.corporatemomdropouts.com/. You can also learn more by watching her recent ABC News video.

The Mom Entrepreneur's Top 11 Blog Posts of 2009

Wow 2009...what a great year! I had a lot to say this year and many of you had a lot to say back. I thought it would be fun to count down the Top 11 Blog Post of 2009 based on comments and feedback from readers.

I also learned a lot about what you like and what you want to hear more about in 2010.

And here they are...

11. March 31st - Am I losing my mind? (7 comments)

10. August 6th - Mom Entrepreneurs are only human (7 comments)

9. October 9th - Work-at-home moms do you feel isolated? (8 comments)

8. October 27th - What does your fortune say? (10 comments)

7. August 17th - The Mom Entrepreneur Named Top Blog (11 comments)

6. April 15th - Mom bloggers be aware - new regulations coming for product endorsements (12 comments)

5. July 31st - Mom entrepreneurs: It's all about the attitude - get yours adjusted (12 comments)

4. September 21st - Of all the things I've lost...I miss my mind the most (15 comments)

3. July 9th - Are you truly putting your family first before your business? (18 comments)

2. September 1st - Is this a typical day for a mom entrepreneur? (26 comments)

1. April 29th - Vote for your favorite mom entrepreneur company introduction (102 comments)

My favorite posts are #5, #3 and #2. Which one is your favorite?

Thanks so much to everyone for reading The Mom Entrepreneur Blog and for sharing your thoughts, ideas and emotions. You have been so supportive and I appreciate it very much!

I have lots more to tell you in 2010 so stay tuned!

Free Teleseminar: Balancing the Supermom Act on 12/8 at 1:00pm EST

WHAT:
Balancing the Supermom Act: Tips and techniques for getting more done, spending more time with family and achieving more.

WHO:
Presented by Lucinda Cross of Corporate Mom DropOuts

WHEN:
Tuesday, December 8th from 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

COST:
FREE Sign up now: Limited to first 100 people

REGISTER HERE...>

Supermoms are often identified as those women who do it all, they run a business; take care of kids, the husband, the house, the laundry, the car, everything and everyone in between.

Balancing the Supermom act starts with taking off some of the weight we carry and directing our energy to get more done without burn out. There’s no perfect balance so we sometimes feel pulled in too many directions and we end up putting out fires and not taking care of ourselves or making the necessary steps inspired by our vision or our passion to succeed. In the end, we spread ourselves so thin, we become disillusioned about what matters most.

After interviewing over 200 moms, Lucinda has come up with some of the most interesting ways Supermoms can fly and create a life that operates the way you want it. Unlike the Marvel characters Superwoman, Cat woman, Batgirl, etc we have a bigger job to play and the roles we play are several.

If you want more for your life & from your business, this teleseminar is for YOU!

During this presentation, Lucinda will show you how to:

• find peace and balance in your life by being true to yourself
• how to create a focus calendar
• apply the “Supermom” principles and techniques to your business
• use energy management vs. time management
• delegate for success

Who will benefit from this teleseminar?

• Moms who do everything themselves
• Moms who won't seek needed assistance
• Moms who refuse to delegate assignments
• Moms who are overwhelmed juggling family and business
• Moms who are experiencing "Burn Out" or “Melt Down”

Three participants will win the Corporate Mom Dropouts Book and Journal at the end of the teleseminar.

REGISTER HERE...>

About the presenter:
Lucinda Cross is a speaker, author and mom. Now founder of Corporate Mom Dropouts, blog, radio show and book.

For several years, she has made it her life’s mission to uplift, inspire and change people’s lives. She likes to call herself a catalyst for motivation, passion and high energy and has worked with small business owners supporting them to work ON their business and not in their business. She also works with women who are interested in learning how to work from home, and take charge and create the life they love.

Her life has been filled with wonderful experiences – from being a single mother, to a Mompreneur as well as sharing her gifts as a marketing strategist, mentor and writer. She uses this wisdom and insight to motivate moms to create a better life, a better community and a better business.

For more information, visit www.corporatemomdropouts.com.

More Tips for Balancing the Supermom Act - part 2

This post is part two in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. If you missed part one, click here...>

Last week, we learned about Lucinda Cross and her new book Corporate Mom Dropouts. This week, Lucinda talks more about the book and the mom entrepreneurs who are featured.

TME: Can you explain how Corporate Mom Dropouts was written to represent the birthing process?
Lucinda: The book took nine months to write and the stories in the book bring you from conception of an idea to the full term birth of a business. Each story starts with an idea and then takes the reader through the growing process. It ends with their success of attaining a business model they love, the time with their family and a profitable lifestyle.

TME: There are several interviews with mom entrepreneurs featured in the book. Can you tell us about these women?
Lucinda: I interviewed over 200 mom entrepreneurs for the book, and the women featured in Corporate Mom Dropouts were hand picked based on their stories about the raw truth. These women provided me with the inspiration and comfort I wanted reflected in the book. Each of these women is living purpose driven lives and they love what they do and who they serve.

TME: How can people order the book?
Lucinda: People can order the book by visiting our site or at Amazon.com.

On December 8th from 1:00 - 2:00pm EST, The Mom Entrepreneur will host Lucinda for a teleseminar entitled Balancing the Supermom Act: tips and techniques for getting more done, spending more time with family and achieving more.

This is a FREE event for moms who do everything themselves, won't seek needed assistance, refuse to delegate assignments, are overwhelmed juggling family and business, and who are experiencing "Burn Out" or “Melt Down”.

To learn more and to register, click here...>

This week, Lucinda offers us more tips for balancing the Supermom Act.

1. Get–and stay–organized: There are so many tools and gadgets that are useful for us as moms to make business at home run a lot smoother. Here are some tools that I use that I know you can enjoy and add to your Get-and stay-organized list.

• Vitalist.com - Helps you to get things done and stay organized. It's easy to use and most of all free. The free version does everything you need.
• A habit list - Your habit list keeps your action list from becoming overwhelmed by the every-day things and helps you to separate your to do list as well.
• Remember the Milk - Handles lists and tasks very well, including repetitive tasks. It has a plug-in for Google Calendar for one-stop organizing.
• Google Calendar - Along with Gmail and Google Reader, this application allows you to keep your life easily organized, intuitively, with no hassle and share your calendar with your network or team.
• Backpack - Great list-maker, perfect for to-do lists and other types of lists. Backpack can be accessed from anywhere: home, work, Mac, PC, mobile.
• The trash bag - Clean this bad boy out on a regular basis - not the actual trash but many of us use our desk space as a trash can. Please reduce this bad habit by tossing anything that’s not absolutely needed and you won’t have a need to organize. Free yourself!
• Don’t forget me when you leave rack - It’s for unloading your stuff as you come in, so it stays organized, and so you don’t forget it as you leave the house. You can personalize the rack and include the kids section or partner section that will hold things that you don’t want to forget such as mail, keys, sunglasses, cell phones, library books and more.

2. Delegate: You do not need to do everything yourself. Identify activities that only you can do effectively, and those that could be done by someone else. What are you spending most of your time doing. Are you putting out fires all day or coming up with creative ideas that can generate cash flow? You also want to examine whether you are using technology effectively to reduce the time you spend on low value tasks.

3. Schedule a mommy day: This is also known as a “Take Your Mom to Play Day” this is not considered me time, this is just time that your child or kids schedule a day that they want to hang with you by themselves. Therefore, since I have two kids, my daughter chose Friday nights to do something together and my son chose Wednesday for me to watch wrestling with him. This not only helps me unwind but I get to know each of my kids likes and dislikes without them battling each other for attention. It works and it keeps them busy.

Stay tuned for more tips on Balancing the Supermom Act next week and for details on a great giveaway from Lucinda at Corporate Mom Dropouts.

For more information about Lucinda or Corporate Mom Dropouts, visit www.corporatemomdropouts.com.

5 Tips for Balancing the Supermom Act - part 1

This post is part one in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. I know that this is a topic all mom entrepreneurs can relate to.

Lucinda Cross is a speaker, mom and the founder of Corporate Mom Dropouts. She also runs a blog, hosts a radio show and is the author of the book Corporate Mom Dropouts, which was released in August.

TME: What is the concept behind Corporate Mom Dropouts?

Lucinda: The concept is to become a successful mom in business and have the flexibility to create a profitable business that fits your lifestyle as a mother, wife and woman.

TME: How will this book help moms make the transition from the corporate world to running their own business?

Lucinda: It provides real time stories with expert advice from women who have started and are now highly successful. This is not a step by step guide to transitioning but a book of life that will inspire women and moms to step into their greatness with confidence.

On December 8th from 1:00 - 2:00pm EST, The Mom Entrepreneur will host Lucinda for a teleseminar entitled Balancing the Supermom Act: tips and techniques for getting more done, spending more time with family and achieving more.

This is a FREE event for moms who do everything themselves, won't seek needed assistance, refuse to delegate assignments, are overwhelmed juggling family and business, and who are experiencing "Burn Out" or “Melt Down”.

Yes, I am talking about YOU and ME. To learn more and to register, click here...>

After interviewing over 200 moms, Lucinda has come up with some of the most interesting ways Supermoms can fly and create a life that operates the way they want it to.

5 Tips for Balancing the Supermom Act - By Lucinda Cross

1. Identify where you want to be: The most important thing is to know what you want and where you want to be. Think about the end result. If you have a clear identified target of desire to succeed, you can walk that path with confidence. But you must know where you want to be and what does that vision look like. (Create a vision board.)
   
2. Work your super star pitch: Know that you have 20 seconds to make a wow impression, but first things first. Always mention: who you are, what you do, and what type of industry your in. Add in some personality so that the person your talking to feels your passion. Be able to describe who you are and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator.
   
3. Develop a clear strategy: Strategy is one of the steps in the planning process and success cycle. The sequence in creating a clear strategy is having a Vision, Mission, and Goals. Take a look at your business model and write down what worked and what did not work. Then list the things you have not tried and combine that list with your "this worked" list. Begin to craft an execution strategy plan and be deliberate in your actions.
   
4. Refuse to lower your standards: Many times we lower and drop the value of our personal and professional goals and values in exchange for something or a project that requires more commitment or more sacrifice for less value. Understand your value and refuse to lower your standards if it is not a win-win situation.
   
5. Realize your purpose and understand that its not about you: You are in business to service others, this is not about you and how you feel, its about creating that ultimate experience for your clients and prospects. What is your purpose and how is it fulfilling the needs of others? How does your product or service make others feel? What problem is it really solving besides for example (saving them time, creating a brand, marketing their service or etc...)?

Stay tuned for more tips on Balancing the Supermom Act next week and for details on a great giveaway from Lucinda at Corporate Mom Dropouts.

For more information about Lucinda or Corporate Mom Dropouts, visit www.corporatemomdropouts.com/.

Lucinda will also be appearing live on ABC News on Friday, 11/13 at 9:30am EST. To watch, please visit: http://abcnews.go.com/abcnewsnow/.

Of all the things I've lost...I miss my mind the most

I have lost many things over the past few years, including clients, money, my cat, a favorite sweater, etc. But of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

I miss the ability to remember my kid's proper names. Instead I switch their names or call them by the dog's name.

When I go into our cellar to get something, I forget why I am there...stop and think...give up and go back upstairs. Get to the top of the stairs, curse because I just remembered what I needed and then go back down stairs to get it. And who said moms don't get exercise!

Today, I took a big box of books with me to the post office to mail to a former client. I needed to first stop at my other office to get bubble wrap. I took the box of books and the tape gun but forgot the address. That means I get to do it all again tomorrow.

My desk and computer screen is lined with yellow sticky notes:

"pick up the dog today"

"kids get off the bus"

"call client at 1:00pm"

"car needs oil change"

"reschedule haircut"

"close savings account"

The last reminder on this list, "close savings account" was a note for this morning. However, I forgot to look at my reminder notes, and now I get to try again to do that task tomorrow as well.

I make lists, set reminders in my Outlook, ask my husband and kids to remind me about certain things...but nothing seems to work.

I stare at my computer screen trying to remember what I am working on. Occasionally I forget words in sentences and have to find a way to describe to the person I am speaking to what it is I am trying to say. This is very frustrating when you are trying to sound intelligent in front of a client.

Balancing motherhood and being an entrepreneur can be stressful, but in my opinion it is a good stress. The consensus among brain researchers and psychologists is that a little stress can be helpful in certain situations, but that too much can do harm to memory and other basic mental functions.

Fortunately, reducing stress or better managing it can improve your memory. Daniel Pendick, author of the article "Memory Loss and the Brain" suggests the following tips for reducing and coping with stress.

• Relax: Make time throughout the day for a few minutes of meditation, quiet time, prayer, or even staring out the window; take a hot bath or go to a movie.
• Exercise: It relieves tension and provides a "time out" from stressful situations.
• Sleep: Get enough of it. It gives your stressed-out body time to replenish itself.
• Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant. Reduce or eliminate caffeine by cutting back on coffee, tea, caffeinated soda, and chocolate.
• Multi-tasking: Avoid "multi-tasking," or trying to do more than one thing at a time, like eating or talking while driving.
• Organize: Get organized, set your priorities, and simplify your life. At work, delegate tasks to others or let some things go.
• Socialize: Socialize with family and friends. Limit time spent with negative people or in stressful situations.
• Seek help: If you feel that your stress is out of control, speak to a therapist or ask your doctor whether anti-anxiety medications might help you as you learn how to manage stress better.

Mom entrepreneurs - do you feel you are losing your mind? What other stress relieving techniques and tips would you suggest?

Is this a typical day for a mom entrepreneur?

What my husband did today:

• woke up
• took the dog out
• fed the dog
• went to work
• came home
• ate
• fed the dog
• went to dog training class (dog did not go due to recent surgery)
• picked up a few grocery items - including beer
• watched TV
• went to bed

What I did today:

• woke up
• got kids up
• checked email
• fed kids breakfast (I did not have time to eat)
• fed cats
• took dog out (she is recuperating from her spay surgery)
• dropped off older son at school
• picked up mail
• worked at home while youngest son watched TV
• took dog out
• worked while son played
• had a client tell me they wanted to end their campaign 3 months early - today
• took dog out
• fed my son lunch
• fed the dog lunch
• finally ate my breakfast
• worked while son played
• took the dog out
• took youngest son to dentist appointment
• picked up older son at school
• took both kids home and fed a snack
• took dog out
• went back to work and made some phone calls
• started making supper - dog pulled pizza off counter and started eating
• fed kids
• fed husband dog slobbered pizza
• went back to work while kids watched movie
• filled out multiple pages of forms from school (first day paperwork)
• wrote multiple checks for hot lunch and Kindergarten cafe
• wrote this blog post
• read youngest a story - put him to bed
• took dog out
• fed cats
• went back to work while oldest watched TV
• put oldest son to bed
• went back to work
• ate a comfort snack
• went to bed around 10:30pm to watch the news

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Mom entrepreneurs, is this a typical day? What other fun tasks were part of your day?

Get ready for Kindergarten with Little Hands Learning Company

In late April, The Mom Entrepreneur ran a contest to find the best mom entrepreneur company written introduction. Members of our Online Support Group competed for a gift package valued at $150.

With 101 readers casting their votes, Traci Geiser, owner of Little Hands Learning Company, received more than 50% of the votes (58 votes total). Her winning entry was very creative according to feedback from voters.

Here is her company introduction:

A B C D E
Preschool and K our specialty!

F G H I J
Hands-on learning is our way!

K L M N O
For busy families on the go!

P Q R S T
Children love it, you will see!

U V W X Y
Play and learn and time will fly!

Z Z Z Z Z
Little Hands Learning Company!

My youngest son is starting Kindergarten in the fall, so I caught up with Traci to learn more about what Little Hands Learning Company is all about.

What types of products do you offer?
Our Play and Learn Activity Kits are created for children 2-5 years old. Each kit is based on a quality children's book with a variety of math and literacy activities, an art project and child friendly recipe all based on the theme of the book.

We also have darling infant kits which include 2 books and 2 toys based on the age and development of babies. These contain a parent guide with activities using the toys and books in the kit to help baby master developmental milestones.

Our newest product is the "Are We There Yet?" Travel Busy Bag. It contains an assortment of reusable activities chosen specifically for keeping children 3-7 busy while traveling in the car, airplane, hotel or restaurant. We have received rave reviews from travelin' mamas who have used our kits this summer!

How do you help children learn?
I was an early childhood educator and teacher trainer for 20 years. I am also the author of 22 early childhood teacher resource books that were all based on learning standards for the early childhood years.

Our products are based on early learning standards (basically, a set of skills children need to learn at a particular age) and the series of kits provides children with everything they need to know for kindergarten.

Our mission is to make learning playful and fun so children don't even know they are learning. Every kit is unique and provides a wide variety of games and hands-on activities that are designed specifically to help young children master basic early childhood skills and build a foundation for learning in elementary school.

What makes your activity kits different from other products?
Most parents turn to workbooks and flashcards to help prepare their children for school. Many young children do not have the fine motor control to write inside the small dotted lines contained in most workbooks. Flashcards and workbooks usually don't hold the attention of young children, leaving parents frustrated and children with a bad taste in their mouth about learning.

Our products are designed for the way young children learn best, through hands-on and playful activities. Our kits include a variety of manipulatives that are used by early childhood educators such as felt sets, counting bears, tangrams, and letter tiles that provide hands-on learning opportunities for children.

What advice would you give parents to help their young children get ready for Kindergarten?
Read to your child every day, re-read favorites, and go to the library and explore the many wonderful books that are available. Ask your librarian for recommendations.

As for working on specific skills, try to make learning into a game whenever possible. Rather than using flashcards to teach letter names, take the magnetic letters off of your fridge, put them in a pot and make a simple fishing pole out of a ruler, string and paper clip and let your child fish for and identify letters.

Allow your child to count small crackers, cereal or other snack items into an egg carton with the numbers 1-12 written in each cup for fun counting practice. Have your child write letters, numbers, shapes and her name in shaving cream, finger paint or chocolate pudding.

Cover the bottom of a cake pan with salt or sugar and allow your child to write with her finger for textured writing experiences. Your child will have plenty of pencil and paper tasks when she gets to Kindergarten.

Focus on hands-on, multi sensory and most importantly FUN actives for early learning.

Since we're all over scheduled these days, can you please provide some advice about the benefits of just playing with children (as opposed to schlepping them to a million activities, lessons, etc)?
Sadly, many children in our society don't know how to play or entertain themselves because they are given so little time to do just that. Play is children's work and if you are not giving your child free time and allowing them to learn through play, they are missing an important component of their early childhood education.

Children build vocabulary and language skills, foster imagination and countless other skills through exploring and experimenting with simple toys like blocks, dolls, cars and dress up clothes.

I limit my girls to one activity at a time, which is more than enough to give them a taste of a wide variety of activities without over scheduling them and stressing them (and me) out.

Do children benefit from having "down time" and just using their imagination?

There are many research studies that show how stressed young children are in our society. When asked, children prefer to spend one on one time with their parents and family playing games, reading, even just talking rather than participating in outside activities.

Children also have very few opportunities to be creative and use their imagination. The art projects we include in our kits are always open ended and allow children to be creative. For example, instead of including a head, tail, ears and body for creating a particular animal ”craft" style, we provide feathers, glitter glue, paper plates, animal print paper, pipe cleaners and wiggly eyes and let children create!

Providing props for imaginative play will also spark creativity. For example, empty food containers, a cash register and play money can set the scene for a grocery store. Cater to your child's interests by providing a few simple props and set her imagination and creativity free!

Thanks Traci for the great information. Visit www.lhlearning.com to learn how to play and have fun with your children and get them ready for Kindergarten in the fall!

Help a fellow mom entrepreneur gather information for her book

I am helping Danielle Botterell of Admiral Road Designs who is a member of The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group gather information for a book she is writing about being a mom entrepreneur. She needs more real experiences and insights from other mom entrepreneurs to tell the whole story.

With your help, she hopes to provide some great information and advice to the women who have not yet taken the leap into their own mom entrepreneurial ventures.

All of your responses in this survey are completely confidential. The only way they can contact you is if you choose to be contacted (indicate at the end of the survey).

To complete a 10-15 minute survey, please click here...>. Thanks for your help and support by contributing to this important project!

Are you truly putting family first before your business?

Many mom entrepreneurs struggle with this question daily. Of course we know family comes first, but it is not always easy to make sure your significant other and children know that.

I use to think my career came first. After I was married and before kids - that is what I told one friend. I still remember that day sitting on the beach with her...I can hear the words coming out of my mouth. It is painful to remember.

Ask any mom entrepreneur and they will tell you family comes first. And they will be sincere about it. Ask them if they are truly putting family first and most will say "no".

It took me eight years to figure out how to put family first. It was a very hard learning experience, filled with arguments with my husband, comments from disappointed kids and concerns from relatives who never saw me.

I honestly thought I was putting family first. It wasn't until April 2008 that officially I flipped the switch.

Here is how I make it work:

• I moved my office back home and took my son out of daycare.
• I no longer travel.
• I am very particular about the clients I work with - I take the time to learn more about them as a person - will my "family first" motto fit with their beliefs?
• I changed my work week to Monday - Thursday and spend Fridays with my youngest son who is not yet in school.
• I changed the message on my voice mail to say that I will be returning calls between 10:00am - 2:30pm, Mon - Thurs so clients clearly know when I will be in touch with them and when I am out.
• I told the occasional client who called me at home that it was not OK to do so anymore.
• I thank clients when I have to switch their phone conference or meeting because my children have a sporting event or field trip.
• I send weekly progress reports to clients about projects so they are clear about what has been accomplished on their account and if there are any unresolved issues.
• I purchased a Blackberry so I can monitor client emergencies via email when I am away from my home office.
• I only schedule evening phone conferences and Twitter parties after the kids are in bed.
• If I say I am going to spend the day with my kids, I stick to my promise.
• I clearly explain to my kids what my work and my play hours are.

This process has worked extremely well. I still have one client who tries to bend my "family first" motto. He waits and calls me on Friday and leaves an "urgent" message. He then leaves a message on my cell phone. I have been working with this for client many years so I know him very well. He is well aware I am off on Fridays. His call is promptly returned on Monday morning and he is fine. He is a family man so I would expect him to understand.

Your clients are extremely important, but NOT more important than family. By making sure clients know when you are available and when you will be in touch with them helps the transition from "work getting in the way" to "family first" a smoother one.

I would love to hear any additional tips or suggestions you have on how to truly put family first.

Has the advice given in this blog been useful?

I have been writing this blog since April of 2008. I have shared business advice, tips on how to balance being a mom and business owner, technology links, managing family schedules, product reviews, mom entrepreneur features and much, much more. I hope what I have offered has been useful as you grow and learn as a mom, mom entrepreneur or woman entrepreneur.

If yes, I would love it if you would offer a review of this blog on Amazon. We recently registered the blog with Amazon so that it could be downloaded into a Kindle. Any help you can offer with spreading the word about what we have to offer is much appreciated.

To complete a review on Amazon, please click here...>, then scroll down and click "create your own review". Many thanks for your continued support!

What would you do if you had a free evening?

A typical week at our home:

• Monday night - youngest son's soccer practice
• Tuesday night - oldest son's baseball practice
• Wednesday night - puppy training class and oldest son's baseball scrimmage
• Thursday night - oldest son's baseball practice
• Friday night - baseball tournament
• Saturday - baseball tournaments - double header
• Sunday - baseball tournament
• Monday - repeat the previous week's schedule for 6 more weeks

Hard to find time to grocery shop, cook and eat a decent meal or even breathe. We run in the door after a day at work and summer camp, change and run back out the door. For Thursday and Friday's baseball tournaments, we had to be at the field for 2:45pm. Don't these coaches know that parents work for a living?

Last night, Wednesday, the baseball scrimmage was cancelled. My husband took the puppy to training. I had to pinch myself. I was spending an evening at home. I was so excited that I cooked a turkey pot pie and blueberry muffins from scratch.

What would you do if you had a free evening?

My Top 10 List of "Must Haves" for Moms in Business

A few months ago, I was invited to speak at the local MOMS club meeting. They had several members who owned businesses and they wanted me to talk about tips and techniques for managing the balancing act.

As many mom entrepreneurs might agree, the balancing act can be a tricky one. I do feel however that there are certain strategies and resources you can put in place to make it a bit easier on yourself.

Here is my Top 10 list (in no particular order), which I shared with the group:

1. Passion - don't start a business unless you are passionate about it. It is not worth the hassle and heartache to become an entrepreneur, work at something you do not enjoy and then try to balance family on top of that.
2. Plan - have a plan before starting your business. Otherwise, both time and money will be wasted. As mom entrepreneurs, we don't have a lot of time, and in this economy who has money? If you have time to write a full business plan great. However, this is unrealistic for most. According to Mike Michalowizc, the three-sheet strategy is just as effective. This strategy consists of a prosperity plan (the vision for your business), quarterly plan (the path of your business) and the daily metrics (health measurement of your business). You can learn all about this effective strategy by listening to the The 3 Sheet Strategy To Dramatic Business Growth (Especially in A Down Economy) Podcast.
3. Cash Flow - you have to constantly be aware of what your cash is and is not doing for you. By keeping track of your payables and receivables and reviewing daily, you can make educated and informed decisions about the health of your business. To download a sample template, click here...>
4. Business Consultant - I highly recommend hiring a consultant who is knowledgeable about business growth. I made some critical mistakes in my business and finally realized what I did wrong once I hired a business consultant. Unfortunately, I hired her after the mistakes were made. I was very fortunate that my business did not fold all together. Hiring a consultant is a necessary business expense and one that you will see a huge return on investment (ROI) for. I work with Gail Zona of Next Step Business and recommend her services.
5. Get Connected Socially - it is critical to be connected socially. With the rate of people connecting online increasing exponentially, you are seriously hurting your business if you are not one of them. Networking online is not difficult or scary, but there is a process and a certain etiquette that must be followed in order to build online communities, relationships and ultimately transact business properly. You can learn how to do it the right way by listening to the How To Build Influence and Increase Your Profits Using Social Media Podcast with Scott Bradley of Networking Effectively.
6. Professional Support - in addition to hiring a business consultant, you should also have other professionals on your team. This includes a lawyer, accountant, HR professional and investment advisor. When I submitted my business plan to the bank, this was required information. Ask for referrals from friends and colleagues, and conduct interviews to locate the professionals that believe in your business vision. I also recommend connecting with hundreds of savvy mom entrepreneurs for networking and support through our Online Support Group.
7. Personal Support - as a mom entrepreneur, the personal support is just as important as the professional support. This may include a daycare provider, nanny, housekeeper, friend, family, etc. You cannot do it all yourself, but with help, you can manage. If you do not have friends or family nearby that can help out, then I recommend a service like Care4Hire, which can connect you with qualified help in your area.
8. Keep Up With Trends - The Mom Entrepreneur has been successful in its business growth goals because the industry trends indicate huge opportunity in the mom entrepreneur market especially in the U.S., Canada and U.K. You must always be aware if the need for your products and/or services is growing or declining with your target market(s). Not having this information at your finger tips can be detrimental to the success of your business. Some simple indicators you can tap into include Google Alerts and Google Trends.
9. Stay True to Yourself - remember that your health and well being is just as important as the health and well being of your family and business. If you do not take care of yourself, then how do you expect to grow a happy and successful family and business.
10. Keep the Faith - do not give up on your entrepreneurial pursuits or get discouraged. Growing a business and balancing a family is supposed to be tough. If it was not tough, we would not be challenged and easily become bored. Remember everything happens for a reason. Sometimes you have to search long and hard to find the reason or you may never understand why it happened. Just keep your head up and continue moving forward!

Do you have additional tips or techniques for managing the mom entrepreneur balancing act? Please share!

"Calgon take me away"

I have a feeling this is going to be a long day...

First, I overslept by 45 minutes. I couldn't sleep during the night because my mind was racing with a new business concept. I was up at 2:00am answering emails and creating an outline of ideas for the new business. Finally after two hours of clearing my head, I was able to go back to sleep.

Because I overslept, the kids overslept - since I did not wake them up on time. So you can see the domino effect that is occurring.

While running around the house trying to get the kids ready for school, I did not notice my puppy whining to go outside. So she decides to leave me a surprise on the dining room floor...a very large pile of poop. How can something that small produce something so big?

I clean up the poop, finish feeding the kids (no time for me to eat), get kids to brush their teeth and rush out the door.

Cat runs out the door, puppy runs after the cat, oldest son runs after the puppy who is chasing the cat around the yard. As son runs out, he locks the door behind him. I find emergency key, get the puppy in the house/crate, get the kids in the car and head off to school.

Run a bunch of errands. Good thing I had a yellow sticky note to remind me of what errands I had to do. Errands go smoothly.

Arrive back home, let puppy out to run...she finds a dead mouse that cat she chased left for her. She starts eating it, I extract dead mouse from mouth and throw in woods......

And this all took place by 9:30am. Calgon take me away!

Free Mother's Day book download - 48 hours only

Beginning May 8th--for 48 hours only--readers of this blog can download a free copy of the new, award winning book, The Mother’s Guide to Self Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life by Renee Trudeau, a nationally recognized career/life balance coach (a $20 value).

Featured extensively in national media and described as “The best book on balance,” by women’s health guru Dr. Joan Borysenko, author of Inner Peace for Busy Women, this book has helped thousands of women and can help you:

• reconnect with who you are and nurture yourself
  
• manage your energy and practice saying “no”
  
• tap into the Transformative Power of Self-Care
  

Wondering... why free?! This uplifting, beautifully illustrated/photographed book was born from Renee’s personal experience of creating/leading women’s self-renewal circles—called Personal Renewal Groups--for five years, after the birth of her son Jonah in 2002. She is passionate about how transformative self-care can be for women and was moved to share this message with women around the world. Want to learn more? You can read her blog, check out her recent newsletter or watch a video about the evolution of the book/groups.

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.

Am I losing my mind?

I had a phone interview yesterday with a writer from Parenting NH Magazine. The hardest question she asked me was: "What is your age?" I paused, did some calculations in my head (what year is it..., how old are my children...), then answered, "39 I think".

The top 30 things I am grateful for

On this beautiful first day of spring, I am reminded of many things that I am grateful for.

The economy is still troublesome. We have been affected by it in many ways, but it certainly has helped me focus on what is good around me and I remain optimistic and hopeful about the future.

I welcome the change. Change is very good and change is coming. I think you have to get on board and embrace change or you will be left far behind. So in addition to change, following is a list of more things I am grateful for.

My top 30 things I am grateful for list:

1. PTA bingo night with family - good cheap fun
2. a supportive husband who gives flowers just because
3. beautiful, healthy children
4. my parents who are always there
5. my older son who has the babysitter call me to see if he can watch a movie since he is grounded
6. a smart brother who supports my websites for very little or no money
7. a creative friend who is an amazing designer and developed The Mom Entrepreneur brand for barter
8. my supportive friends in The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group
9. readers of my blogs
10. coupons - I just rediscovered these; great savings
11. interviewers who are prepared
12. creative websites that offer solutions
13. a lenient landlord who waived a late fee on office rent - clients pay late, rent is late
14. mint Oreo cookies - taste really good crumbled on chocolate pudding
15. billmelater.com
16. my Blackberry
17. President Obama - he will do great things
18. caller ID - yes, I know the medical bill payment is late, stop calling me!
19. Craig's List - great for selling office furniture you no longer need
20. cats that sleep all day instead of chasing your cursor on the screen while you are trying to work
21. publicists who know what The Mom Entrepreneur is about when they pitch me - you know who you are:)
22. people who return my calls and emails instead of blowing me off - I try to reciprocate
23. auto responders letting me know someone is on vacation
24. email signatures - I like to know more about the person I am responding to
25. Joomla - love this platform
26. Twitbacks.com - so quick and easy
27. people who understand and respect the balancing act of a mom entrepreneur
28. friends who genuinely give and expect nothing in return
29. people who are not afraid to tell it like it is
30. clients who continually entrust me with their projects

Next time perhaps I will make a list of the top things I am not grateful for:)

What are you grateful for?