My son Kyle says some of the funniest things.... sometimes funnier than those "What she said" jokes people make. He has no idea the comments are borderline inappropriate but all to often my husband and I are stopped in our tracks and snicker under our breath. Here's the latest:
Yesterday Kyle shared his favorite part of the day with us (something we do each night at dinner). "When I got in line after library time I said 'Boys will do anything to make women happy' and everyone including my teacher laughed!"
There may be some truth to that son.
Today in the car the kids were discussing why money is important. Amberly said to buy food and clothes. Kyle said something to the effect of "You don't need clothes to live. If you're naked you're just embarrassed."
My boys would be totally comfortable at a nudist colony I think.
At the beginning of the school year when my Kindergartener was going through his sight words he was sounding out one in particular that made us totally snicker... it was wrong... oh so wrong. Tell me we're not the only parents who can't help but to become juvenille when listening to what our children say.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Leading Moms in Businss. Could this be the Year?
I first entered Startup Nation's Leading Moms in Business in 2010. 200 mom owned businesses recieve the distinction of being a winner. I placed 151 if memory serves me. I entered again in 2011 and jumped all the way to 49. I was pretty pleased to be in the top 50. I thought I'd really have a chance so I entered a third year and saw how much stiffer the competition gets the higher you strive to reach. I placed 39.
With soooo much more support and a really compelling case to win I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I really didn't think I'd even enter this year. But, Startup Nation took notice of my consistency and social media sharing about the contest and asking shamelessly for votes and has interviewed me in the past and again this year asked for my response as to how this annual competition has helped my business. To be honest I can measure the bottom line to see if it has directly helped my business, but I do know it has indirectly helped as it has sharpened my sense for marketing myself and taking the fear out of self promotion that all small business owners need to do to thrive. So, I've entered for the 4th year in a row. Here's my official entry where I make my case as to why I should be considered a Leading Mom in Business. It's a little on the long side, but I wanted to tell my story of what compelled me to go into business for myself in hopes that someone who's reading it will be inspired and think, "Look at all the roadblocks she had to work through. If she can do it, I can do it too." So, I hope it goes without saying, I'd like you to vote for me and vote daily!
Sign4Baby helps parents discover what their baby is thinking through the beauty of baby sign language. In the programs offered we focus on the "how to" effectively teach a baby to sign, what vocabulary to start with, and share important tools which incorporates one of the important tenets of Attachment Parenting, boundary. Before having children I knew I would sign with them, but not because it was the new, hip thing to do, but because my mom is deaf and I wanted my children to be able to communicate with Grandma. When my daughter signed and said a 4 word sentence at 10 months old, I realized I never wondered what she was thinking, as she was constantly signing about her observations and thoughts and curiosities. Thus, the tagline... Discover what your baby is thinking.
Founded in late 2007 shortly after the birth of my second baby. I was to return to my full time job when he was just 2 months old, not taking a bottle and I was battling PPD. My husband made the case that if I were leaving the kids to go to a job that was fulfilling I would not be so miserable because my attention would be on the job instead of thinking about whether my son was taking the bottle in my absense. I doubt my husband thought I was crazy enough to start a business with 2 children under the age of 2, but that's exactly what I did! I share this because I believe that every dark cloud leads to a sunny day.
I started off with a parent focused workshop. Based on popular demand, I expanded to baby & me interactive classes in May 2008. Again by client request, I added the playgroup component later the same year. Then began building a Facebook community in 2009. It was in 2009 that I nearly threw in the towel when challenged by a tough economy and struggling to balance the mom/business hats after welcoming our 3rd baby. There was a hiatus of about 2 months. What happened next surprised me. My existing client base would hear nothing of Sign4Baby closing its doors. Some of my first clients were having their second babies and assembled a class without my having to market it. What started off as one class a week on my schedule quickly became two classes a week and then three and then four by the end of 2010. Moms were becoming familiar with my work and word of mouth referrals were starting to build.
Top 10 Reasons I'm a Leading Mom in Business:
10. Doubled my gross revenue over the previous year with 3 key strategies:
One: Utilizing innovative new technology, Square credit card reader.
Two: Creating a Graduate Perks Card for clients to keep coming back to practice for a best value price.
Three: Increasing the number of Free programs I offer in the community to increase my exposure.
9. Adding the component of Special Events as a way to both celebrate with my students and give back to the community. Our first ever Signing Mrs Claus was a huge success, a sold out event! We raised enough money to afford 7 families a scholarship to take the Sign, Play & Learn class. Plus it was sooooo much fun to play Mrs. Claus!
8. Creating strong, long-term relationships with key sponsors to both add value as a resource and provide benefits for clients. This has proven to be a win-win-win all around. Whether it's samples of our favorite baby food products in class or a surprise gift certificate with early registration for baby sitting - moms enjoy getting a taste of what's available, brands gain exposure that is more tangible than an ad because of the in real life connection, and I am remembered as the resource that brought them together.
7. Started a blog series, Baby Sign Language 101, sharing both tips and anecdotal stories to engage both clients and prospects who want to know more.
6. Following the Golden Rule applies in business and blogging, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I remember to help others first before asking for help.
5. Learning that asking for help is not a bad thing! Somehow BOMs (Businss Owner Moms) get a bad rap for thinking we can do it all and it takes a village in both raising children and running a business. I finally got commited to having house cleaning service on a regular basis because that area was always falling off my plate.
4. Allowing our best clients to be our biggest cheerleaders. I had an idea to have Graduate t-shirts for the babies upon completion of the 12 week course nearly 2 years ago and finally did it and everyone loves them! I just don't think it gets better than having a mom or dad proudly put my branded t-shirt on their child and announce to everyone how awesome their experience has been.
3. Look fear in the eyes and go for it! In school I had a fear of public speaking; sweaty palms, my face would turn bright red, an uncontrollable quiver in my voice, all of it. Yet somehow this passion of knowing I needed to share this beautiful gift of signing with babies pushed me to overcome that obstacle and speak and perform in front of live audiences with as many as 9 classes a week and 18 story times a month - over 50 times a month. If I can do it, anyone can.
2. Finally expanding! ^^^ That above is a pretty busy schedule for ONE person! I've just added our first Signing Story Time Leader and have several responses to the announcement that Sign4Baby is hiring. It is exciting to have the opportunity to not only expand, but give others the chance to shine!
1. Taking it online! Sign4Baby's first webinar is going live in April and by mid April will have online class modules for purchase so anyone near or far can Discover what their baby is thinking. Exciting things are happening!
With soooo much more support and a really compelling case to win I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I really didn't think I'd even enter this year. But, Startup Nation took notice of my consistency and social media sharing about the contest and asking shamelessly for votes and has interviewed me in the past and again this year asked for my response as to how this annual competition has helped my business. To be honest I can measure the bottom line to see if it has directly helped my business, but I do know it has indirectly helped as it has sharpened my sense for marketing myself and taking the fear out of self promotion that all small business owners need to do to thrive. So, I've entered for the 4th year in a row. Here's my official entry where I make my case as to why I should be considered a Leading Mom in Business. It's a little on the long side, but I wanted to tell my story of what compelled me to go into business for myself in hopes that someone who's reading it will be inspired and think, "Look at all the roadblocks she had to work through. If she can do it, I can do it too." So, I hope it goes without saying, I'd like you to vote for me and vote daily!
Sign4Baby helps parents discover what their baby is thinking through the beauty of baby sign language. In the programs offered we focus on the "how to" effectively teach a baby to sign, what vocabulary to start with, and share important tools which incorporates one of the important tenets of Attachment Parenting, boundary. Before having children I knew I would sign with them, but not because it was the new, hip thing to do, but because my mom is deaf and I wanted my children to be able to communicate with Grandma. When my daughter signed and said a 4 word sentence at 10 months old, I realized I never wondered what she was thinking, as she was constantly signing about her observations and thoughts and curiosities. Thus, the tagline... Discover what your baby is thinking.
Founded in late 2007 shortly after the birth of my second baby. I was to return to my full time job when he was just 2 months old, not taking a bottle and I was battling PPD. My husband made the case that if I were leaving the kids to go to a job that was fulfilling I would not be so miserable because my attention would be on the job instead of thinking about whether my son was taking the bottle in my absense. I doubt my husband thought I was crazy enough to start a business with 2 children under the age of 2, but that's exactly what I did! I share this because I believe that every dark cloud leads to a sunny day.
I started off with a parent focused workshop. Based on popular demand, I expanded to baby & me interactive classes in May 2008. Again by client request, I added the playgroup component later the same year. Then began building a Facebook community in 2009. It was in 2009 that I nearly threw in the towel when challenged by a tough economy and struggling to balance the mom/business hats after welcoming our 3rd baby. There was a hiatus of about 2 months. What happened next surprised me. My existing client base would hear nothing of Sign4Baby closing its doors. Some of my first clients were having their second babies and assembled a class without my having to market it. What started off as one class a week on my schedule quickly became two classes a week and then three and then four by the end of 2010. Moms were becoming familiar with my work and word of mouth referrals were starting to build.
Top 10 Reasons I'm a Leading Mom in Business:
10. Doubled my gross revenue over the previous year with 3 key strategies:
One: Utilizing innovative new technology, Square credit card reader.
Two: Creating a Graduate Perks Card for clients to keep coming back to practice for a best value price.
Three: Increasing the number of Free programs I offer in the community to increase my exposure.
9. Adding the component of Special Events as a way to both celebrate with my students and give back to the community. Our first ever Signing Mrs Claus was a huge success, a sold out event! We raised enough money to afford 7 families a scholarship to take the Sign, Play & Learn class. Plus it was sooooo much fun to play Mrs. Claus!
8. Creating strong, long-term relationships with key sponsors to both add value as a resource and provide benefits for clients. This has proven to be a win-win-win all around. Whether it's samples of our favorite baby food products in class or a surprise gift certificate with early registration for baby sitting - moms enjoy getting a taste of what's available, brands gain exposure that is more tangible than an ad because of the in real life connection, and I am remembered as the resource that brought them together.
7. Started a blog series, Baby Sign Language 101, sharing both tips and anecdotal stories to engage both clients and prospects who want to know more.
6. Following the Golden Rule applies in business and blogging, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I remember to help others first before asking for help.
5. Learning that asking for help is not a bad thing! Somehow BOMs (Businss Owner Moms) get a bad rap for thinking we can do it all and it takes a village in both raising children and running a business. I finally got commited to having house cleaning service on a regular basis because that area was always falling off my plate.
4. Allowing our best clients to be our biggest cheerleaders. I had an idea to have Graduate t-shirts for the babies upon completion of the 12 week course nearly 2 years ago and finally did it and everyone loves them! I just don't think it gets better than having a mom or dad proudly put my branded t-shirt on their child and announce to everyone how awesome their experience has been.
3. Look fear in the eyes and go for it! In school I had a fear of public speaking; sweaty palms, my face would turn bright red, an uncontrollable quiver in my voice, all of it. Yet somehow this passion of knowing I needed to share this beautiful gift of signing with babies pushed me to overcome that obstacle and speak and perform in front of live audiences with as many as 9 classes a week and 18 story times a month - over 50 times a month. If I can do it, anyone can.
2. Finally expanding! ^^^ That above is a pretty busy schedule for ONE person! I've just added our first Signing Story Time Leader and have several responses to the announcement that Sign4Baby is hiring. It is exciting to have the opportunity to not only expand, but give others the chance to shine!
1. Taking it online! Sign4Baby's first webinar is going live in April and by mid April will have online class modules for purchase so anyone near or far can Discover what their baby is thinking. Exciting things are happening!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Get in the mood for music and food
I'm so excited about the upcoming Moms Night Out. I LOVE Humphreys - they have great food, an awesome ambiance, and a calendar full of events! I hope to run into many of you on the 28th!
Get in the mood for music and food!
Sometimes all moms need is a night away from home, surrounded by
friends, music, savory food and delicious wine to make sure we truly
appreciate the family we have. And what better way to reinvigorate than
by enjoying a night out at one of San Diego’s finest family-owned
restaurants and entertainment venues, Humphreys Restaurant.Guests will enjoy a variety of delicious treats from mom-preneurs, including Mary Pitman who owns and operates Mary’s Free-Range Chickens, and Kim Wascher of Flight Winery.
Let’s face it — all moms work hard for our family. … Let’s celebrate together!
When: Thursday, February 28
7-9 pm
Where:Humphreys Restaurant
2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106
619.224.3577
Cost: $30 presale, $35 at the door
$25 Early bird registration through January 31
$25 Early bird registration through January 31
Ticket includes:
- Complimentary parking at Humphreys Hotel and Humphreys Restaurant, just tell them you’re with SD Mom’s Night Out. Open parking also available across the street.Entrance to an exclusive evening for San Diego moms at Humphreys Restaurant
- Complimentary wine provided throughout the evening provided by Flight Winery
- Delicious comfort food provided throughout the evening.
- Delectable chocolate truffles and Humphreys Restaurant’s signature brittle, created by Helen Coyne, also a mother!
- Entertaining cooking demo from locally-renowned chef to the stars, Paul Murphy
- Access to discounted drinks and dancing in the Humphreys Backstage Live Lounge featuring popular ‘80s cover band, the PopRx.
- Special discounted food and beverage menu for moms who want to stay after
- First 50 moms will receive a swag bag
- Opportunity to win superb prizes
- A fabulous night to relax, mix and mingle with San Diego moms focused on food, friends and fun!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Beyonce Half Time Show. Did she Reveal too much?
I love Beyonce. I even enjoyed the SuperBowl Half Time show. But, I couldn't help looking over at my 7 year old daughter watching alongside us and thinking "I wish she wasn't watching this." The Super Bowl is supposed to be family friendly, right? The Hyundai Santa Fe commercial was totally family centric. The Go Pro commercial with the cute baby was cute and fun.
There's an interview I recall Beyonce giving way back when about not having to reveal too much and being mindful about keeping some mystery. Perhaps she wasn't revealing her midriff or a ton of cleavage, but she did do a sorta strip tease and I just can't help but to think she and her dancers were dressed like dominatrices. Not something I felt comfortable having my daughter sit and watch at this age, but I am not one to have the kids leave the room in regards to television programming.
Not wanting to complain I didn't mention it to hubby... but he brought it up and said it was a little too risque for a family program.
So, while I liked the performance, it was just not appropriate for all audiences in my opinion. Guess I should have come to expect that from the Super Bowl Half Time show though.
There's an interview I recall Beyonce giving way back when about not having to reveal too much and being mindful about keeping some mystery. Perhaps she wasn't revealing her midriff or a ton of cleavage, but she did do a sorta strip tease and I just can't help but to think she and her dancers were dressed like dominatrices. Not something I felt comfortable having my daughter sit and watch at this age, but I am not one to have the kids leave the room in regards to television programming.
Not wanting to complain I didn't mention it to hubby... but he brought it up and said it was a little too risque for a family program.
So, while I liked the performance, it was just not appropriate for all audiences in my opinion. Guess I should have come to expect that from the Super Bowl Half Time show though.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Windows Keep Opening
You've heard the saying, "Where one door closes, another one opens." I like to think of the variation about the WINDOW opening because of the ability to look through the window in the first place where we might actually see what is out there. Apparently Alexander Grahm Bell coined the phrase and online I was able to find the full quote:
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. – Alexander Graham Bell
And then upon researching it online I learn some attribute the phrase to Helen Keller - am amazing woman. Apparently she was friends with Bell, so perhaps it was a quote that came out of conversation between two great minds.
Anyway, I've been thinking about how my path changes and so many times the opportunities that present themselves are not the ones I've been chasing. Recently though a door closed and I was remorseful and bitter and couldn't shift my thinking for over a week. It seems though that the universe saw something better for me to open up my eyes to and handsomely rewarded me and my efforts over the past two years.
Sharing the exact situation of what door closed and which window opened is less important than the lesson of having faith that it will and to be aware of it when it happens.
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. – Alexander Graham Bell
And then upon researching it online I learn some attribute the phrase to Helen Keller - am amazing woman. Apparently she was friends with Bell, so perhaps it was a quote that came out of conversation between two great minds.
Anyway, I've been thinking about how my path changes and so many times the opportunities that present themselves are not the ones I've been chasing. Recently though a door closed and I was remorseful and bitter and couldn't shift my thinking for over a week. It seems though that the universe saw something better for me to open up my eyes to and handsomely rewarded me and my efforts over the past two years.
Photo credit JLMphoto on flickr
Sharing the exact situation of what door closed and which window opened is less important than the lesson of having faith that it will and to be aware of it when it happens.
Friday, January 4, 2013
2013 Bucket List
Creating a Bucket List seems appropriate being it's my birthday! I'll likely keep adding to this as time goes on since trying to think of everythinig I've ever wanted to do and putting it down would be a huge task. Plus this is meant to be just for this year.
It is nice to have a place to check into once in awhile where I have gathered my thoughts on things I want to do. I heard on the news the other day that people who keep a food diary will lose twice as much weight as those who do not while trying to get fit or lose weight. I suppose the same idea can be applied here; if the ideas just float around in my head they have less chance of ever having me get to them.
1. Go to a Zumba class.
2. Go to Vegas - see my sister and do some crazy late night gambling.
3. Do this vinegar foot soak
4. Make my own green smoothies 3 times a week. Since I signed up for The 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge, it should be totally doable.
5. Have a yard sale - garage sale - something like that - but if I don't at least I've got the handy Relay App to fallback on.
6. Get a massage EVERY SINGLE MONTH. In 2012 I got a facial every single month and will keep up with that. So nice to have time scheduled to take care of ME.
7. Try 10 new restaurants. This will be part of my strategy for keeping up with the bi-weekly date nights. If we map out which places we want to try we will be more likely to get around to all 10.
8. Go to a Tony Robbins event. Pretty easy since I was already invited to goin March with a group via my awesome chiropractor at Good Vibrations!
9. Take a surfing lesson. Totally inspired by Travel Mamas, Colleen Lanin and her very first surf lesson.
Which item on your Bucket List is the most important one to you?
It is nice to have a place to check into once in awhile where I have gathered my thoughts on things I want to do. I heard on the news the other day that people who keep a food diary will lose twice as much weight as those who do not while trying to get fit or lose weight. I suppose the same idea can be applied here; if the ideas just float around in my head they have less chance of ever having me get to them.
1. Go to a Zumba class.
2. Go to Vegas - see my sister and do some crazy late night gambling.
3. Do this vinegar foot soak
4. Make my own green smoothies 3 times a week. Since I signed up for The 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge, it should be totally doable.
5. Have a yard sale - garage sale - something like that - but if I don't at least I've got the handy Relay App to fallback on.
6. Get a massage EVERY SINGLE MONTH. In 2012 I got a facial every single month and will keep up with that. So nice to have time scheduled to take care of ME.
7. Try 10 new restaurants. This will be part of my strategy for keeping up with the bi-weekly date nights. If we map out which places we want to try we will be more likely to get around to all 10.
8. Go to a Tony Robbins event. Pretty easy since I was already invited to goin March with a group via my awesome chiropractor at Good Vibrations!
9. Take a surfing lesson. Totally inspired by Travel Mamas, Colleen Lanin and her very first surf lesson.
Which item on your Bucket List is the most important one to you?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
I know the loving my body part is weird
This year I created a short list of New Year's Resolutions. I have to admit that even though the phrase aligns exactly with what the goal is it felt weird to see it written as "Loving my body" instead of what we typically do in our society "lose weight" "go to the gym" "start a diet" or all the myriad of other ways we try to shape our physical image.
My friend Rachel Rainbolt, author of Sage Parenting, and I were discussing health and wellness and she sent me an article which I've since lost, but it talked about thinking of your body as being powerful. That's a good way to go after what you want instead of having the dread of going to the gym.
My chiropracter Dr. Joe Merlo at Good Vibrations Chiropractic has been teaching me about awareness and made a really clear message about taking care of our health because we only get one body in this lifetime.
And Anthony Robbins had a great video message that I couldn't even articulate the message if I had to, but you know everything that comes from him gets you to think of things in a new way and it wasn't about motivation but it did just that for me. A post from his Facebook page this past Monday rounds it out pretty well "By changing your focus, you instantly change the quality of your life. Remember: We get what we focus on. What you focus determines how you'll feel!"
I've been focusing on the things I want, instead of the things I don't want and the shift has been making an impact. For example, I tried to eliminate caffeine in 2012 on 3 seperate occassions. This year my focus is to drink more water, and thus by shifting my focus to increasing my intake of water that is the picture that comes up in my mind instead of building a strong visual and repeating message around caffeine. Besides, it wasn't really caffeine that was the problem. It was the abundance of calories in those sugary drinks I grab at Starbucks that just happen to be caffeinated. All those extra calories are adding up! I am not burning them off with a nursling any longer and I don't have kids to carry any more and haven't replaced those calorie expenditures with any other activity. It is all becoming more clear to me why it didn't work in 2012. So, I shifted my goal setting to the bigger picture, loving my body. That will outline the different things I can do to actually LOVE my body. Just as when I tell my kids, "It is because I love you and am doing a good job taking care of you that I give you so many fruits and veggies."
What's going to keep you on the path for acheiving your 2013 New Year's Resolutions?
My friend Rachel Rainbolt, author of Sage Parenting, and I were discussing health and wellness and she sent me an article which I've since lost, but it talked about thinking of your body as being powerful. That's a good way to go after what you want instead of having the dread of going to the gym.
My chiropracter Dr. Joe Merlo at Good Vibrations Chiropractic has been teaching me about awareness and made a really clear message about taking care of our health because we only get one body in this lifetime.
And Anthony Robbins had a great video message that I couldn't even articulate the message if I had to, but you know everything that comes from him gets you to think of things in a new way and it wasn't about motivation but it did just that for me. A post from his Facebook page this past Monday rounds it out pretty well "By changing your focus, you instantly change the quality of your life. Remember: We get what we focus on. What you focus determines how you'll feel!"
I've been focusing on the things I want, instead of the things I don't want and the shift has been making an impact. For example, I tried to eliminate caffeine in 2012 on 3 seperate occassions. This year my focus is to drink more water, and thus by shifting my focus to increasing my intake of water that is the picture that comes up in my mind instead of building a strong visual and repeating message around caffeine. Besides, it wasn't really caffeine that was the problem. It was the abundance of calories in those sugary drinks I grab at Starbucks that just happen to be caffeinated. All those extra calories are adding up! I am not burning them off with a nursling any longer and I don't have kids to carry any more and haven't replaced those calorie expenditures with any other activity. It is all becoming more clear to me why it didn't work in 2012. So, I shifted my goal setting to the bigger picture, loving my body. That will outline the different things I can do to actually LOVE my body. Just as when I tell my kids, "It is because I love you and am doing a good job taking care of you that I give you so many fruits and veggies."
What's going to keep you on the path for acheiving your 2013 New Year's Resolutions?
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