Our Favourite Sites For Awesome WAHMs!
There are a ton of really neat sites and communities out there, geared toward those that work the hardest — the kick butt work at home moms! Today I wanted to share a list of just a few which might be helpful to you fine ladies! Take care.
- WAHM.com is an informative online magazine for work at home mamas. The site is full of great articles about getting started as a WAHM, business opportunity listings and an active forum for chatting with others. Tons of advice and resources, especially for those new to the WAHM lifestyle.
- 5 Minutes For Mom isn’t necessarily WAHM specific, but it filled to the bring with great articles from seasoned pros and beginners alike. Definitely work a visit.
- WAHM Canada is, quite obviously, a great site specifically for Canadian WAHMs (like me!)
- Bizymoms is all about connecting moms and building community, especially within local circles. Great stuff!
Do you have a favourite WAHMish site? Do you chat with other WAHMs on forums?
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Giveaway Heads Up: From So Fawned & UPrinting
Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday! Today I just wanted to point you all toward a little giveaway going on over at my personal blog, So Fawned. The kind folks at UPrinting are giving away 100 postcards to one lucky winner — perfect for promoting your mama run business!
Click here to visit the post and enter — contest ends tonight at midnight!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Nicole Balch’s Lovely Home Office Renos
It’s time!
A while back, you may remember me chatting about the office renovations of one Ms. Nicole Balch of Making It Lovely. Well, her gorgeous space has gone through a whirlwind of transformations, and it’s fabulous — as we knew it would be!
Take a look & be sure to visit her blog for more inspiration!
Such a wonderful look! Just think about how much work you could get done in a fresh and fantastic space like that one! And again, I ADORE the little spot, the table & chairs, which bring her children into the room. Lovely indeed!
Have you taken on any home renovations lately? What would you dream home office look like?
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Featured Mom: Silly Mama Quilts
Good morning to all you lovely Mom Made That! readers! Today I’m really excited to bring you a little interview with the incredibly talented Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts. It’s not hard to fall in love with her eye-catching designs and attention to detail. Be sure to browse through her Etsy shop (and blog!) to take a look at her colourful pieces. I’d certainly be thrilled to cozy up with one of her beautiful quilts!
01. Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a Mom to three kids at home – 11, 9, 7 and a 24 year old daugther who is married and just graduated with her Masters and working! I am also apart of Amanda of the Quilted Fish’s design team. Amanda is a fabric designer for Riley Blake fabrics. I get to design new projects that are debuted on Amanda’s blog – tons of fun!!
02. What lead you to creating your own business?
I think is covered well in the intro piece I have attached.
03. Describe a typical day in the life of YOU!
During the school year, after my kiddos are off to school, I head out on a morning bike ride to help process my day, come home to chores and errands before heading into the studio to work. In the afternoons I monitor the kids’ activities and then take care of dinner, homework and such things.
04. What is your best piece of advice for fellow WAHMs?
Find a balance in your life that you can live with. I have quickly come to the conclusion that if I don’t take care of me, no one else will. I have learned to take a stand for things I need – a bike ride for sanity, time in the studio to work and or create for example.
05. The best part of being a WAHM? The worst?
The best part is my availablity for my kids and hubby which can also be the worst. I do love being able to work around their schedules without answering to a boss about how many sick days, vacation time and such.
06. Favourite blog? Music? Book? Movie?
I have several favorite blogs I follow – mostly related to fabric designers, design team members and quilters. My favorite music is just about anything Contemporary Christian, movie – Return to Me, Sleepless in Seattle.
07. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope to be doing what I am doing now plus maybe more designing.
Don’t forget to visit her shop & blog. You can also catch her on Twitter by following @scrapquiltqueen!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Babble Announces Their Top 50 Etsy Moms of 2011!
We’re all ADDICTED to Etsy right? I know I can’t get through a day without browsing through for some neato handmade one-of-a-kind, or vintage wares. And I’m always SO impressed with the personality that many sellers put into their shops. I really enjoy buying from a REAL person — someone with a story to tell, a goal, a bit of magic to offer the world!
Just recently, Babble unveiled their picks for the Top 50 Etsy Moms of 2011 — a phenomenal list filled with more talent that I can fathom!
Check out their full list for some serious shopping inspiration. It’s never to early to start thinking about Christmas! And while you’re at it, you won’t want to miss the latest listings from Mom Made That!
Who would YOU pick for the Top Etsy Mom of 2011? Are you an Etsy Mom too?
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Finding Balance With Joanna Goddard & Friends
Sometimes it can feel like a bit of a race, this working mama game. Are we doing it right? Are we good enough? Are we getting enough done? I think we all have images in our mind about how our lives should look: work, baby, partner, family, money, home, etc. but maybe we don’t know how to get there. And maybe (more like definitely!) we’re not the only ones!
In reality, the way our lives function ends up being nothing like the lives we have in mind — but that doesn’t make it any better or worse! If it feels good do it — right? And if it works for you — do it too! All of us mamas have a different way of going about our routines… and sometimes, when we’re struggling with finding balance or a schedule that meshes inside and out, it can be helpful to take a peek into the lives of others so that we may adapt the things we think may benefits us in our own unique way.
Joanna & her son Toby
Recently, one of my favourite bloggers — Joanna via A Cup Of Jo — shared a series of fantastic posts from herself and other working mothers, featuring the day-to-day-details of how they balance work, family, marriage and everything in between. I’m loving the honestly that’s coming through in these posts and in the comments too. It’s so NICE to see how other mamas are doing it — not to compare ourselves, or put ourselves down, but to seek inspiration when we’ve lost our own, and to see how differently we all go about it!
From Joanna’s first post in the series:
“When I looked around, other moms seemed to have it down. Walking down the streets of the West Village, Toby and I would pass countless picture-perfect moms with crisp white shirts, pretty makeup and blown-dried hair (!). How were they doing it? Was I the only new mom who was floundering? I couldn’t believe that I was, but no one else seemed to be batting a mascara-ed eyelash. I desperately wanted to be a fly on the wall and see how people really managed their time with work + baby + marriage + life.
Finally, one evening at the playground, I asked a fellow new mother, a freelance graphic designer, about her specific work schedule. To my great surprise, we ended up having a hilarious talk about the ups and downs of finding balance (she admitted to getting four hours of a sleep a night and working on her Blackberry while breastfeeding). I walked home with a huge smile on my face. I wasn’t alone! In fact, maybe we were all secretly in the same boat.”
Read through the entire My Balance series — you won’t regret it!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Have You Mastered The Key To WAHM Success?
Alright, we all know it’s not that simple — there’s no ONE thing we can do to ensure the success of our respective businesses. However! There’s certainly one key point that, when incorporated into our daily lives, is sure to keep us motivated and on the right path.
That key? Get things done early!
One of my favourite blogs for working mom success – Simple Mom, which I’ve mentioned here before — recently published a post about this very topic and it’s been on my brain for days.
“Whenever possible, get it — whatever it may be — done early and eliminate the stress and frustration of being pulled in a million directions,” writes Mandi Ehman of Life…Your Way.
I find myself nodding away as I scroll through her article. How many of us have felt this last-minute insane confusion when we’ve let our priorities get out of hand? How about those late night and earlier mornings spend guzzling coffee with the hopes of accomplishing more than we can possibly accomplish in any given amount of time?
Hop on over to Simple Mom for some fabulous tips for getting things done early in your home life, business life and how to get started if you’ve fallen behind. A wonderful resource for all working mamas — you’ll want to bookmark this one for sure!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Featured Mom: SmartSeat Dining Covers
Today we’re chatting with Becky — the brilliant mom behind SmartSeat Dining Covers. This take-charge mama loves being able to spend more time with her family as she builds her successful home biz! Way to go, Becky!
01. Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful boys, ages 6 and 8. Last year, I also became an accidental entrepreneur (I certainly didn’t set out to run my own business!) My family and I live outside of Boston in Newton, MA.
02. What lead you to creating your own business?
We purchased a new dining room set a couple of years ago. I wanted waterproof seat covers to protect my new upholstered dining room chairs from my two messy boys, but I couldn’t find anything that I liked. The only waterproof covers on the market were made from plastic or vinyl, which my kids refuse to sit on. I also didn’t want a full slip cover that would completely change the look of my chair. The SmartSeat was my solution to the problem — a seat cover that is waterproof, comfortable, and attractive. After getting positive feedback on my design from friends and family, my husband encouraged me to look into what it would take to have my covers manufactured. One thing led to another and I now run my company with the help of my husband and our third partner, who is a very close friend of our family and also a dad of two kids.
03. Describe a typical day in the life of YOU!
I usually get an early start to the day (around 5:30) so that I can check email and get the lay of the land before the craziness begins. It also is the only way that I can quietly enjoy my morning coffee! Then I pack lunches and get the kids ready for school. We are out the door by 7:30. On the way home from school drop off, I swing by the post office to deliver any packages that are ready to go out to customers.
The rest of the day is a mix of emails, SEO time on facebook and twitter, processing orders, and, if I am lucky, a little bit of me time (either to exercise or meet up with a friend). Around 3:00, I put my mom-hat back on, pick the boys up from school, and taxi them around to their various activities, help with homework, and make sure that dinner gets served. We try to sit down for dinner together every night, although sometimes that means eating together on a soccer field before a game or practice! Around 8:00, my boys head off to bed and my work day resumes.
04. What is your best piece of advice for fellow WAHMs?
I think that it is so important to cut yourself some slack. It is hard to be a working parent! There are definitely good days and bad days. But most days fall somewhere in between. I try not to dwell on the bad moments. I just pick myself up and keep moving forward!
05. The best part of being a WAHM? The worst?
The best part of being a WAHM is that I can contribute to my family’s financial well-being and still have the flexibility of being there for my kids before and after school. I love that I am the one who gets to walk them into school every day and the one who gets the big hug at pick up time. I also feel quite lucky to spend so much of my day with my boys.
The worst part of being a WAHM is that there sometimes just aren’t enough hours in the day. But I think that is a problem for all working parents, not just those who are WAHM.
06. Favourite blog? Music? Book? Movie?
Oh, I don’t know where to begin! I’m a big fan of romantic comedies. I read when I can — I think that my last favorite book was probably The Help or Water for Elephants. And blog? I come across too many good ones these days to choose only one favorite!
07. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I would love to continue doing what I am doing now, but on a larger scale. I would love to see my product in retail stores. And maybe if I’m lucky, we’ll even have a second or third product in our line.
Visit the SmartSeat website, check out their Facebook page and be sure to catch up on all their latest news by following @smartseatcover on Twitter!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Studio Tour: Mel’s Creative Corner
Meet Mel, of Needle & Nest Design!
This crafty mom-of-one, just happens to be a dear from of mine, who recently shared a mini-tour of her home studio where all of her creations come to life! She’s an avid sewer, crafter and painter — a seriously talented mama!
Here are a few snapshots of her space:
“Welcome to my teeny tiny make-shift studio as it stands currently. When we bought this house last summer, the dream was for me to make the attached garage into a big, bright airy studio. But the chill of winter with no insulation out there, and the tumbleweeds blowing through our wallet… forced me (and most of my crafting/painting gear) into here… the back end of our bedroom!”
“The real key to working in a smaller area is – be organized. My main attempt at that goal is to stash lots of colour coded fabrics into those big clear salad containers – try it out!”
What a perfect little spot to sit and be inspired — not hard with the beautiful vibe she’s created, and the glorious works of art which surround her, including this lovely birch number, painted by a friend.
You can see more of Mel’s work at her delightful blog, Needle & Nest!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
Featured Mom: MLE Jewelry
Hello! Today we’re chatting with Melissa Estrada of MLE Jewelry, who’s spur of the moment decision three years ago landed her a fun new side-gig as the creator of some seriously lovely jewelry.
01. Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Melissa and I am 31 years old. I am an elementary school teacher in San Diego, California. Also, I am the single mother of my adorable 15-month old boy who keeps me very busy. I love making modern jewelry, but unfortunately I do not have a lot of spare time. Whenever my son naps or during the night, that is the time when I can create my jewelry.
02. What lead you to creating your own business?
About three years ago, I was at a trolley station and saw a pamphlet for jewelry classes. I thought to myself, “why not?” I decided to take some jewelry classes and all of a sudden, I had a lot of jewelry items. Then, I decided to sell my handmade jewelry at private parties. One day, someone told me about Etsy and that is how I decided to open up my little shop there.
03. Describe a typical day in the life of YOU!
A typical day in my life is going to work, returning home to my son, having dinner, putting my son to sleep, make some jewelry and going to bed. On the weekend, I only have time for my son!
04. What is your best piece of advice for fellow WAHMs?
The best advise I could give to other woman just opening a shop like mine on Etsy is to be patient and not to give up! I am barely starting making sales, but I am not giving up. I am trying to market my shop a little more and hopefully with time, more people will know about it.
05. The best part of being a WAHM? The worst?
I am not a WAHM, but I would love to stay at home and spend more time with my son.
06. Favourite music? Book? Movie?
I like classical music, pop, alternative music and enjoy reading fiction books. I love going to the movies, although it has been awhile now since I have not had an opportunity of enjoying a good movie in a long time 
07. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself in five years hopefully having more sales in my Etsy shop ( www.mlejewelry.etsy.com ) and enjoying life with my son 
Shop online at MLE Jewelry!
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Désirée Fawn is a blogger/doula from Ontario where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, Gretchen.
She blogs at So Fawned.
Follow @sofawned on Twitter!
