Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Paper Nook

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

Momtrepreneur Tacy:  Owner of Paper Nook

I'm Tacy, owner of Paper Nook. After 10 years in the corporate world as a Graphic Designer, I made a decision to stay at home to raise my children and start my own business. It sounded way easier in theory than it has been in practice, but spending my days with my three year old girl and one year old boy has been rewarding beyond words. I've worn many hats since graduating from Ohio University with a BS in Visual Communications (Info. Graphics/Page Design), such as Graphic Designer and Creative Director with well-known consumer brands. Transitioning from a professional career to a stay at home mom was a challenge! Over time, I discovered a void. I desperately needed a creative outlet at the end of the day or else I'd go crazy. The result? My third baby - Paper Nook.



The inspiration for Paper Nook came from my name. Tacy isn't common. At novelty shops, my name wasn't on the bicycle license plates or personalized cups, so I'm slightly obsessed with putting my kid's names on whatever I can. Paper Nook gives me the unique ability to personalize products for parents and their children—no matter how unique the name.

A typical day for me:


7am: Kids wake up and we eat breakfast

8am: Try to respond to emails while the kids play or are doing activities


12pm: Eat lunch and then my son goes down for a nap and I answer more emails or package up orders I completed from the night before


3pm: Snack time, errands and more playing the rest of the afternoon
6pm: Make dinner and hubby is home to help with the kids


7pm: Bath time and then bed time for the kids

8pm: The real work time begins


12pm: Bedtime!
I really try to only work 3 of 5 weekdays and only on Sundays, so that I can also have quality time with the hubby a couple week nights and weekends.

Being a SAHM is definitely a very hard job. Being a SAHM while also being a work-at-home-mom is even harder. I opened my Etsy store in June 2010, a month after my second child was born, and my business has grown organically via word-of-mouth. In the future, as my kids get older, I hope to spend more of my daytime hours growing my business, but I'm completely satisfied with my work and the time I get to spend with my children.

My advice to anyone who wants to work from home is make sure you have all the support in the world from your spouse. I couldn't do it without my husband. Secondly, find a healthy balance of time for your work, your family and yourself. It's not easy and it's a moving target that requires re-calibration from week to week.

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Check out all of Paper Nook's great products and become a fan today!

http://www.papernook.com/

http://www.papernook.etsy.com/

www.facebook.com/papernook

www.twitter.com/papernook

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TODAY'S PRIZE:  A $20 credit for any PaperNook product(s)!
 
Remember, one lucky winner will win ALL of the Momtrepreneur Week prizes!!! Check out each post for more details on what you can win. One comment per post allowed for multiple entries (posts on September 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 28th).

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner.

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Mommy Talk Show

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.



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Momtrepreneur Joyce: MommyTalkShow.com

The dream…

When I was working as a TV news reporter, one of my favorite things to do was interview an entrepreneur. They always seemed so passionate about running their business, selling their product or providing a service. Entrepreneurs had no “boss” to answer to and made their own schedules. The minute-to-minute deadlines of TV news were foreign to them. Entrepreneurs moved at their own pace or at least at the pace of their customers.

The reality…

Now that I am an entrepreneur, or momtrepreneur to be exact, I realize I may have idealized them a little too much. Running your own business is hard work. When you’re first starting out, you’re probably working alone. All decisions, good or bad, must be made by you.

The even bigger challenge as a mom running your own business is that you have a little person who is your real boss. Your children and their needs dictate when you can take conference calls, meetings or attend seminars. It’s a never-ending balancing act that I’m not sure any mom ever perfects.

Getting things done…

Thanks to technology, I get an incredible amount of work done while my 18 month old son A.J. is taking a nap or in bed for the night. Thanks to my Macbook Pro, I edit professional videos using iMovie software while I’m in bed watching TV. My tweets and Facebook posts can be scheduled thanks to Hootsuite or Tweetdeck. This way I have a round-the-clock social media presence for me and my clients, when what I’m really doing is playing at the park with my son, running an errand or taking a quick catnap.

When I really need to get things done, I tell my husband ahead of time that he’s “on-duty” and I leave the house so I can work at Starbucks or Panera Bread (where I’m writing this post). A.J. also attends a mother’s day out program once a week so I can rely on that dedicated four hour break. Thanks to a nearby co-work and play space, Bean Work Play Café in Decatur, I can work in a professional environment and A.J. plays nearby. There’s no long-term commitment. Just a membership fee and hourly child care.

Can you do it?

Watch this video to learn a little more about me, my parenting talk show and about an e-book designed to help moms find business ideas that you can win. Most importantly, I suggest a really simple business you can start ASAP. Once you hear it, you’ll think “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Connect with Emmy-award-winning Joyce!

http://mommytalkshow.com/

http://Facebook.com/MommyTalkShow

http://Twitter.com/MommyTalkShow

(And don't forget to enter HER e-book giveaway! After you enter for the Momtrepreneur Gift Pack here first!)
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Today's prize: A $15 Target gift card
so you can stock up on supplies to follow you entrepreneur dreams!

Remember, one lucky winner will win ALL of the Momtrepreneur Week prizes!!! One comment per post allowed for multiple entries (posts on September 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 28th).

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner.

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

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(Deadline to enter to win Joyce's e-book giveaway (visit her site for more info) is Saturday, October 8th at 9 p.m. EST.)

Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Ellabee Papier (and a big giveaway!)

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.


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Momtrepreneur Melissa: Owner of Ellabee Papier

Hello, I'm Melissa with Ellabee Papier and mommy to Ella, an energetic non-stop two year old. Ellabee Papier is my venture back into the world of working. The idea of starting my own business has always interested me. With the encouragement and support of friends and family, I became a mom-entrepreneur and Ellabee Papier came to fruition. I considered an Etsy store, but the start-up seemed daunting. Etsy's market is flooded with invitations and other paper merchandise just like mine and I wasn't sure I would get noticed. I decided to postpone the Etsy store and pursue word of mouth referrals and network with local vendors and so far, it is working. Between Ellabee and freelance print media design I stay quite busy.


Now for the fun part.

How do I manage being a stay-at-home mom turned work-at-home mom?

Most days I wish there were two of me. Ellabee Papier is still very new and I'm trying to figure it all out. I'm sure I jumped in prematurely (no official business plan or website) but I work better under pressure; at least that's what I keep telling myself. I read blogs and see "Super Moms" with multiple kids managing to do more. Not just a little more but lots more. How is that possible? Is it Inspirational? Yes! Am I Jealous? Of course I am! Will I be one of those moms? Fingers crossed.

How do I plan to get there? A comfortable chair and the television are my weaknesses. I am most productive at my desk. I try to limit my time on social media sites and I take advantage of naptime. I also work several evenings a week after Ella goes to bed. Is this working for me? It does most of the time, but occasionally I stress over deadlines. What am I learning along the way? To hopefully be a little less OCD and realize it's okay not to be a perfectionist. The most important lesson so far is not to procrastinate. I enjoy having time with Ella and being a mommy is my first priority. Too soon life will change and she will be off at school. Maybe then, I can be "Super Mom". One thing is certain, being a stay at home mom, work at home mom, or working mom makes no difference, raising a child is the hardest job of all.

You can view more of my work at http://www.facebook.com/EllabeePapier.

I would be happy to help create a memorable birthday party for your superstar!

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Prize #1 in the Momtrepreneur Week prize pack:
A custom name sign!
Designed to compliment your child's bedroom, be it whimsical, beautiful, or just plain fun!

To enter, simply leave a comment on one - or all - of the Momtrepreneur posts this week (I will have a new post every other day through 9/28). If you comment on each post this week, you get four entries! One tweet per day, with a link back to this post, also allowed as bonus. Just be sure to leave an extra comment saying "I tweeted!" with the link.

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner. 

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. 

Another year, another open doorway

Preschool open house chokes me up a little bit every year. Despite being with the same school since Amelia was three months old, despite being a total preschool pro, there is always at least one little thing that hurts just a bit.

We entered a familiar school building last night, but we passed all the familiar rooms. We waved hello at the familiar teachers, but kept on walking. This time, we turned a corner. We turned a corner away from the toddler room, away from the two-year-old rooms, and stepped instead towards the new three-year-old classroom. A classroom in which we learned about new things ahead: cooking lessons, show-and-tell, and even an introduction to Spanish language.

The smart mom in me is proud to have such a fantastic school and unique curriculum for my child.

The sensitive mom in me wants to know where my baby went.

Soon, Amelia will be helping me in the kitchen. Soon, Amelia will be teaching me basic words in a language I do not know. Soon, she will be grasping my hand as we hunt around the house for a show-and-tell item that begins with the letter of the week.

She only knows three kids in her class this time around. I hope she also brings home many stories of their adventures and laughter together as friends. Soon.

Change is difficult.

Even when we know it is for the best.

What she did for me

When I was a little girl, she was a teenager. When I was Cookie Monster for Halloween, she was a gorgeous princess in a blue and silver gown. When she went to the prom, she let me walk next door to peek at her grown-up and fabulous look. She was a babysitter, but also willing to be a friend.

Later, when my mind was guiding me to a possible career in advertising, I learned that she had already pursued - and grasped - that dream. Once again, she allowed me to look up to her and opened her calendar to schedule time for a tour.

I visited the big-city advertising agency on a Friday. I navigated the parking deck and strolled past a spraying fountain to enter the shiny building. In the elevator, I smoothed my skirt and picked at my hair. When I heard five dings, it was time to step out into the agency. The colorful lobby greeted me with cheer. I affixed my best grown-up look on my face and approached the desk. "Director of First Impressions," said the little placard. This place? Was even too cool to say "receptionist". I had stars in my eyes.

Soon, I was trailing behind my mentor as she pointed out various parts of the agency. She introduced me to agency friends. I should have seized the opportunity to ask questions, but I was mute with nerves. At one point, I noticed a little brown dog. A living, breating, fluffy animal. Sleeping under someone's desk. That is when I learned about Dog Friday. At this office, employees could actually bring their dogs to work! The working world was going to be so cool. I could not wait to venture out of Tennessee and into this big city to start my own fabulous life.

She has no idea what her guidance meant to me back then. We have both moved through varying careers. She left the ad agency world for good, I left once and came back. Not all agencies are funky and fun... in fact, some mimic the worst of sweatshops. But I still believe I made the correct choice for a career. I enjoy it and I am good at it.

I have her to thank for guiding me there.



Everyone remembers that first inspiration or mentor in their lives that made them want to be or do something in their lives, whether you actually followed through with it or not. Tell us about that inspiration/mentor. How did they affect or change your life!

The clingy kid

Alright people, I am ready to make a confession.

I do not like to play.

I get painfully bored playing preschool games. I do not enjoy sitting on the floor. I can only change the 3" tall princesses' clothes so many times before I have a pounding headache. Play-Doh? Just makes me antsy about the mess.

I do not like to play.
Gasp! What a horrible mom.

I guess I should say, I do not like to play, but I do it anyway.

I am a busy work-from-home mom. I work for an advertising agency. I also blog, tweet, take care of the house, do laundry, run errands, and cook meals. I also take time out each day to play with Amelia.

Granted, it may not be for long. 30-45 minutes of undivided attention from me makes her day. I find a way to stop what I am doing and let her take the reins. During this time, she directs our play. Sometimes, if my schedule looks clear, we go out to a playground or indoor play center. I encourage her to venture out, to have confidence playing alone. I will also find moments to join her. To interact. To cheer her on as she climbs a tower or chase her as she runs and giggles. I admit, I do not love it. But the joy on her face breaks down my walls and forces a smile. Those moments are priceless.

Eight or nine times out of ten, do you know what happens?

We meet "the clingy kid". A kid, usually much older than my own, whom is so enamored by a mom in the mix of kids, he/she becomes my shadow. Many times, this kid will approach and ask,
     "Will you play with me?"
A question posed not to 3-year-old Amelia, but to 33-year-old me. 

Here is another confession...

I completely avoid this kid.
Gasp! How terrible!

I do not want the responsibility of entertaining someone else's child. I generally answer with, "I need to watch my daughter today." And the clingy kid? Usually follows me for a few minutes (or more) before finally turning away.

Maybe this is wrong of me... but I don't. like. playing.

I do what I can - as happily as possible - for my own child, but entertaining one I've never met? Just goes a step too far. However, the clingy kid tugs at my heartstrings. I wonder, why is this little guy/girl craving attention? Do they get undivided attention at home? Are they crying out for parental involvement? Trust me, I am not that cool. Why ask to play with me?

Maybe they are simply lacking social skills? 

Why does this happen so often?

Do you know the clingy kid?

Fashion Show

The fashion stylings of a part-time working mama.

Class of 2014...

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To the graduating class of 2014,

Pick a career that will allow you to retire early.

Sincerely,

Burned out 30-something

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Working years are long. Stressful. Monotonous. I don't remember my father working the kind of hours most of us are subjected to these days. Somehow, in the past 10+ years, our society has turned rewarding careers into pressure cookers. More work, tighter deadlines, fewer employees. Low overhead. Save money.

I look backward; I long for the days without stress. Weekends were meant for staying out late. For dancing, flirting, movies, and  road trips. But now? Weekends mean projects, household chores, and desperate attempts to catch up on sleep (failed attempts... because a certain child doesn't sleep past "sun come up!").

Retirement? Sounds awesome! No deadlines. No rationing vacation days because you only get so many each year. Spending a month in a house by the ocean just because you can.

I'm a few weeks away from 33 years old, but I am really ready to slow down. Begging to slow down. Not as much for me, but for my husband. I want to see him carefree again. Loose. Calm.

I would also like to stop worrying that he'll have a stress-induced heart attack before age 40.

So, retirement? Wait right there. We trying to reach you as quickly as we can!

Photo credit: Bumper Sticker by Top Tees, available on Zazzle.com

(This post was inspired by fatigue. And Mama Kat's Writers' Workshop prompt: "Something students these days should know".)

Memory lane

I'm not a true participant in the 'Back To Blogging' event from the SITS Girls... I never really slowed my blogging over the summer. In fact, it picked up - thanks to meeting so many of you through your wonderful blogs and Twitter. With Amelia in school year-round and me working from home, my summer is pretty much exactly the same as my school year.

But I am really enjoying reading the challenges and responses around the blogosphere. Today's challenge was A Post You Wish More People Had Read.

Since my blog is only eight months old, I don't have a tremendous library to choose from. But also, I didn't know many of you a few months ago. So I'm posting more than one. Consider it a little get-to-know-you from me, BalancingMama.


I'm not a trained writer. I may not be as creative as some of my bloggy idols out there. But I write from my heart - and yeah, I like these. Perhaps you didn't get to see them originally:

Julie's Happy List - My first post for Mama Kat's Writing Workshop!

Leave it to... Someone Else - Why I'm glad I'm not a 1950s housewife.

We May Not Be Cool, But We're Moms - Ouch - I realized I'm just not cool anymore.

One Isn't The Only Lonely Number - Because staying at home isn't always as great as it sounds.


And this one: Breathless Moments. This post is actually one of my most-viewed posts (thanks to a SoyJoy/Scary Mommy contest link), but I cannot leave it off this list. I will forever remember this post as a reminder to capture the little things in life. And be thankful.

Serenity now!

The Serenity Now - a great Seinfeld episode.



Also something I feel like screaming to the world these days.

I'm eyeing that lonely little cave again. The cave I want to crawl into. Where I can sleep for 6 days. I can get up when I want to. I can do what I want to. I can move how I want to.

I'm coming to terms with a realization about myself.

I am fake.

I'm as real as can be on my blog (that's why I love it so much). But in real life, in day-to-day work my butt off life, I do what I "should" do. I do what looks the best.

I clean the house like a mad woman when people are coming over - even though in real life, I don't really care if there are a few crumbs on the floor. I fly through a work project until I make myself nauseous just so I can be finished FAST. I check my hair and face before playing outside in gazillion-degree temperatures, just in case I see someone. God forbid I ever look like a frazzled mom of a 2-year-old diva.

When do I do something just because I want to? When Amelia is around, she tells me where to sit, what to play, when to play, how to come down the stairs, what to fetch her for snack. I can't do anything MY way. I can't even pee without her close supervision. Maybe it's my fault for letting her dictate so many things. But I'm too tired to fight more tantrums when I really can wait to take my turn on the stairs. Or hold it on the potty until Amelia is settled on her stepstool to observe. These are little things, and I can do them. Just like I can do that extra favor for a friend. And take on that extra project at work. And drag myself to another play place because it makes Amelia happy.

But I'm ready for 2 minutes of ME. Me, me, me, me, me. I'm ready to take the "perfect mom" role and throw it out of a 10-story window. Why can't I just be flawed? Does anyone out there really care? No - I know they don't. I do this to myself.

Maybe tomorrow I'll keep my PJs on all day. Maybe I'll take a shower at noon. Maybe I'll take time for me.

Serenity now!!!!!! Serenity. Now.

Two very different days

Wow. Talk about a change.

Yesterday was a pretty rough day. I allowed several stresses to get the best of me. I lost all my patience and nearly all my hope. I spent the evening stuck in what felt like an out-of-body experience. I was just too worn out to really "be" there.

But I live with an incredible friend whom I can always talk to. My husband. Even when I could not muster up the strength to talk about it, he simply ran his fingers through my hair until I was able to give up my stress and fall asleep.

And sleep I did!

Nine hours of coma-like sleep. My body and mind were exhausted even more than I realized. Oh, how I needed that.

So today is another day. And it's been a great one! Amelia began her "big girl" school schedule. I went to the office and managed several moments of serious productivity. The time flew by. I swear this was the shortest day I've experienced since Amelia was born.

Steve was also thinking of his little girl today. He decided to leave work EARLY and join me to pick her up from school. He got to share in the joy of seeing that round little face light up. Amelia and I got to have some extra (and wonderful!) company for the afternoon. And to top it all off, he grilled a wonderful dinner for us! Pork chops with a semi-homemade honey BBQ sauce and grilled peppers & onions. With cupcakes for dessert (I picked them up to celebrate Amelia's first big girl school day).

Now we have full bellies, contented minds, and happy hearts.

Things always turn around, don't they?

Working 9 to 5 (or... 10 to 2)

The working mom is starting her comeback.

Today is Amelia's first day of extended stay school. She's going Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 to 4:00. This is our very first experience with a longer school/daycare day. And it will be my longest period of time in the office in about 2-1/2 years.

4 straight hours in the office - that can't be so bad. I can probably bet that I won't have to pick any screaming people off the floor and put them in timeout. I do not expect anyone to push, hit, scratch, or pull my hair. I'm pretty sure all my coworkers can get their own lunch and clean up after themselves. And I think they all know how to use the big kid potty.

This should be easy. If my brain is ready.

Who am I?

"So, tell me about yourself."

I thought this was an easy question to answer. I'm Amelia's mom. And Steve's wife. I work a little bit in the advertising industry. I'm efficient. I'm reliable. That's who I am.

So, imagine my surprise when I got completely & utterly stumped by a follow-up question recently:

"Of course you're Amelia's mom. And Steve's wife. But, who is Julie? Tell me about YOU."

Huh.
Ummmmm...
Well, let's see...

You know what? I'm not sure I know. I want to be all things to all people. I want to be viewed as a success in all my various facets of life. I am the person everyone thinks I should be. Or at least I try my hardest to be; there are likely several ways I do not measure up in many people's eyes. I am human.

I am thrilled to be Amelia's mom. And Steve's wife. I am blessed in a million different ways. But maybe, just maybe, I should try to find the Julie in me again. If for no other reason than to answer that question.

So, can you answer it? Who are YOU?