Co-founders Gone Wild: Crazy in Love or Just Plain Crazy?
So, if you are a fan of our podcast Storked-Up, you already know the story. For those of you who haven’t seen Storked-Up, it is our show about some of the most interesting products, people and happenings in the online marketplace for parents: StorkBrokers.com. So, let me bring you “uninitiated” up-to-date.
On Episode #2 my Co-Founder/Husband (Sterling) said he felt that sometimes I was not as excited or “Storked-Up” as he is about StorkBrokers. He was all like “I’m up till the wee hours of the morning working, while you retire to bed around 11pm and fill the room with snoring sounds”. He went on to ask where is the Robin to his Batman?…the Bonnie to his Clyde?
Let me just say, unlike Robin, I can wear the heck out of some tights. And mine are fishnets, which are far better than those lame, super tight, hot nylon stockings Robin wears! Now, I know “trash talk” when I hear it. But I let him do his “big talk” for the camera. :-)
After he was done, I told him that I was so Storked-Up, that I would get a tattoo with our company logo (which by the way is too cute—win-win for me)! And I dared him to get the logo tattoo! Here ‘s the end results:
Check out the Ankle :-)
Yep… on the bicep
We are etched for life. So, I guess that means we’re both crazy. Fortunately, the logo is our initials—SB = Sterling & Bridget. So, I guess you could say we’re also crazy in love, too. :-)
Check out the story behind our logo @ http://www.storkbrokers.com/about.aspx
Watch StorkedUp Epsiodes @http://www.storkbrokers.com/community/
xoxo,
B-
Kindle Giveaway Extended!
Extended for one day only! As requested, you have until 10am EST.. Friday (tomorrow) to vote for a chance to win the New Amazon Kindle! Watch “Storked-Up” Episode 2 —> http://bit.ly/mHKYP3 then go here to votehttp://on.fb.me/lHtyWL Good Luck!
You saw the dare on Storked up Episode #2! Now it’s time 2 cast your vote 2 win an Amazon Kindle! Who took the Dare? Go 2 Storkbrokers & click SHARE to see show :-) VOTE
So, how does this mompreneur thing work, again?
1. What is a Mompreneur? “Mompreneur” is a commonly-used term for those of us woman who start a businesses at home while also acting as full-time parents to our children. It involves a not-so-delicate, daily balance of focusing on making money, being creative, being a mom and having fun—and in a different order each day. Here is a quick glimpse. 2. Where am I suppose to be and when? Scheduling is everything in a mompreneur’s life. Google calender, iPhone calender, Outlook calendar, wall calendar, Aztec calendar or whatever, these are our best friends. Whenever something has to be done, it has to be scheduled and whenever something is scheduled, the “add attendee” field must always also have a name—we rely on our backups, i.e. a spouse, sitter, grandparent or neighbor—to ensure the show must go on. 3. Where we work. Our offices are family-friendly—often complete with smaller-sized desks or tables with crayons, paper, safety scissors and walls with stain-resistant paint. This is probably the most childproof spot in the house. 4. With whom do we work? Some of us work with our spouses—they are our partners in life and business—our life-line and support system. It’s a nice perk to have. 5. Resisting help is futile. While we like to believe we’re super-human (and of corse we are), we try to resist the urge of asking for help. But alas, in Star Trek terms, “resistance is futile” and, at some point some of us bite the bullet and hire someone to clean the house, or bring on a part-time assistant to help with admin tasks errands, maybe we even engage a babysitter or part-time nanny to take care of the children. Some of us develop a robust support network consisting of our spouse, friends, family or even other working moms. Admittedly, it sometime messes with our psyche as supermoms to have someone else do the traditional “mommy” work, but we know sometimes these things are necessary to achieve balance and safeguard our sanity. It’s this delegation that converts us from mere hard-working moms to smart-working moms. Be open to accept help and do not allow pride to be a stumbling block for growth. -Cheri Schultz Life as a Momprenuer is hectic and very challenging at times… Yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The way I see it, I have the best of both worlds! What more could I ask for more? P.S - I Love that my 4 year old daughter wants to be like me, right down to here glasses, which in case you can’t tell, don’t have lenses. hahahahaha!!! 
YAY!!! Our first PodCast: “Storked Up” Please Be Gentle, it’s our first time…LOL
The Ninja of Mother’s Day!
All week I have been feeling sorry for our 6 year old son, Hunter. Sorry in a funny way. This poor child has been sneaking around, counting his money from his piggy bank, whispering in his daddy’s ear, and suddenly running out of the room whenever I enter. He was on a MISSION: MOMMY’S MOTHER’S DAY GIFT!!! LOL!!!
More frequently, Hunter and my husband would start leaving the house together for “DUDE TIME” leaving behind my spy..Lake, our 4 year old daughter. They didn’t trust that she wouldn’t tell me what was going on…that was probably the right thing to do…LEAVE HER, LOL!! She loves me way too much, not to tell me what I wanted to know :-) I only hope she will continue this behavior when she is a teen.(not holding my breathe on that wish!) Sunday Morning was finally here! I awoke first for my “me” time , shortly after the rest of the gang was up and greeting me with HUGS and Mother’s Day Praises. It was a great morning! Hunter looked much more relaxed at this point, but then mommy changed the plan…YEP! I asked, if I could get my gifts later. Everyone was great with that, they gave me my cards and would save the rest for later.
We headed off to Church, Brunch, Piedmont Park, The Sweet Auburn Festival and finally home :-) It was a wonderful Mother’s Day and a Fabulous Family Fun Day!
Once home, I showered and came downstairs. I was greeting by beaming faces and my gifts :-) Yep, all I had “hinted” for was there. But the gift I wanted the most, the one that made me the happiest was staring me in the face… the gift of a loving husband and two adorable, caring children. What more could I possibly ask or hint for… then just that :-) Mission Complete & Successful: Mother’s Day 2011: AWESOME!
Great Start 2 Mother’s Day Weekend!
I got an email this afternoon around 3:00pm wishing me and 9 other AWESOME women “Happy Mother’s Day! The email went on to say, “the post is live and I hope you love it and will share it” cheers, Donna :
http://www.bnet.com/photos/10-innovative-mompreneurs-and-how-their-businesses-were-born/6229260?tag=fd-featureRoto;fd-featureRoto1
What a AWESOME Start to this Startup Mama’s Mother’s Day weekend! BNET is one FAVORITES. I have been a fan since business school (that’s been awhile…LOL) This is like a big deal to me :-)
Happy Mother’s Day!
xoxo
Spinning My Life Away
I have a new love at the gym…Spinning. I was totally hooked after the first class. It’s so intense, yet so good!
The Art of Spinning
Yesterday, long after class had ended, I was thinking about spin class and thought…spinning is a lot like life. You start slow, speed up, changes are thrown your way and, before you know it, you are cruising toward the end. Let’s examine this a bit further.
At the outset, you start peddling nice and easy. Then once you are moving along at a good, comfortable pace, you’re told to add some resistance, but not too much, so you feel as if you are headed up a small hill. Now you are breathing a little heavier, feeling things start to speed up. But you can handle it. Before you know it, you’re being told to stand up. And now you’re peddling faster and adding even more resistance.
As you approach the finish line, you hear “push yourself”, “center yourself” (meaning position your bottom just above the seat without touching it). You’re really feeling the burn. Your body is soaked in sweat. And you are working overtime to keep the beat. Music thumping, heart pumping…there is no doubt you’re alive!
Real Life
All that I have described is much like life—if not yours, definitely mine.
I start my day slow and in control. “Today I will be focused, organized, complete my tasks and “git ‘er done!” But then unexpected tasks, events, and just stuff pops up (i.e. added resistance) making the day more challenging, like going up an unexpected hill.
I want to stay at that comfortable, relaxed pace I set, but things change. It is in these challenging moments that I have to “center myself”. Like in spinning, being centered in life requires concentration, focus. But it certainly helps make things manageable.
This centeredness is critical, particularly when the sudden onslaught of challenges appears: someone needs this, someone needed that yesterday, this other thing had to be done hours ago, and there are still many things left to do. Business tasks, domestic tasks, “me” tasks…it all has to be done.
But as the challenges are overcome one by one, and I start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I feel the breeze of downhill speed. Ahh, the resistance is off and I’m moving at a rate of speed that is pure enjoyment.
I feel blessed that there are so many more enjoyable downhill moments in my life. Morning workouts, brainstorming sessions with the hubby over tea, hanging out with the kids after school, evening dinners with the family, hot showers before bed and cuddling with the hubby after the kids are asleep.
Nevertheless, like spinning, its those tough hill-like challenges in between that make us feel great and allows us to appreciate the life overall. This is why we love the challenges, any why, despite my sore bottom, I’m Spinning My Life Away!
And, speaking of spinning, in case “HE” is reading…LOL, my Mother’s Day Gift Request…
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!!
xoxo,
-B
P.S. - If you are a Spinner…I found this AWESOME seat cover @ REI for that Booty Burn :-)
http://www.rei.com/product/686433/serfas-hybrid-gel-saddle-pad
xoxo,
-B
