Asadah Kirkland had a stroke in December of 2008, putting her in a position where her daughter had to be watched by others while she lay in the hospital.  Being in this condition caused Asadah to re-evaluate her purpose and look at the legacy she had NOT established for her daughter.

Following a conversation regarding about how her daughter was being raised, her health condition, and her expertise as an educator, she decided, “It’s time to write a book.”  Ms. Kirkland started writing “Beating Black Kids” in March of 2009. The book debuted in July of 2009 and today it has a fan club on Face Book of over 1200 people and national and international sales, not even a year later.

The road has come with challenges though.  One would think NO ONE could possibly condone hitting children.  Asadah says, “Well, I have been faced with people who are adamantly against my views and believe that children MUST be beat sometimes to be properly disciplined.  These people even use the bible in their defense and refuse to look at how they can do a better job at parenting.  I have been said to be “going against God” with my words, because even God condones hitting children to make them act right.  Handling this problem is why the book fills a void.  Confronting this level of opposition, from some of the same people I work to enlighten, can be mentally and spiritually taxing, but the work has to be done.”

In spite of some of the negative feedback, the book seems to be having positive effects on the families it’s touched.  One woman actually expressed that she has become a better mom and a better wife since reading “Beating Black Kids.”  Her husband told her that she’s much more pleasant to be around and not as nagging.  And another father told Asadah that instead of a “Because I said so” dad, he has become a, “Let me hear what you have to say” dad.  “Those are the effects I go for,” says Kirkland.

Mymompreneur: What would you do differently if you could start over?
Asadah: If I had to start over I’d like to be able to offer the public a hardcover book so it would last longer, but money was an issue.  It was more important to have a quality product that got the message out. Making a big impact with what was inside was more important.

Mymompreneur: How do you achieve work life balance?
Asadah: I balance working two jobs and being a new author just fine.  I don’t overdo it and only do work I like, so I never feel burnt out.  I work from 9am to 6pm everyday and I am an author for about two or three hours when I get home.

Mymompreneur: What advice would you share with other Mompreneurs?
Asadah: My advice to all the other Mompreneurs out there is to keep the legacy you want to leave your children in the forefront.  That’s what I do.  I measure my success by my daughter’s happiness and that continues to be a goal that shapes the business decisions I make.

Get your copy of “Beating Black Kids”  today http://www.beatingblackkids.com/homepage.html

Andrea, a former thumb sucker knows what doesn’t work. “I used to suck the thumb polish off or wash it off in the sink when my mom wasn’t looking. I had no idea of all the chemicals in it. I also would hide my thumb sucking because I was so ashamed.”

Andrea’s grandmother was the inspiration for the thumb puppets. She crafted a simple thumb puppet to encourage her granddaughter to let go of a nasty habit, and Andrea stopped in a just one week. Proud of her accomplishment Andrea took buddy everywhere.

After researching several options for preventing thumb sucking Andrea realized there were only uncomfortable or unhealthy solutions. In addition to the Thumbuddy Andrea took her solution one step further and wrote the illustrated, inspiring children’s books which accompany the thumb puppet. It took 2 years to complete the project after having many trials and errors but Andrea persevered through trial and error.

Thumbuddy to Love™ is a storybook and thumb puppet available in 2 different characters, Fireman Fred for boys and Ballerina Sue for girls. The storybook is read often by parents to teach children to stop sucking their thumbs or fingers. The thumb puppet is worn anytime, including bed time. Each book comes with a weekly success calendar and stickers. Thumbuddy to Love™ is meant for 3- to 6-year olds and we encourage you to introduce Thumbuddy at an early age to help stop thumb sucking. The packaging that it comes in can be re-used to put collectables in such as crayons.

One of the biggest challenges is being a mom first and letting go of some the minor details of the business when I get busy. It is all about balance.

I also had challenges and people not believing in me. They thought I was crazy to leave real estate. But when I took my first sample into a dentist, he called me back and said it worked on his first patient. This year, I won a Mom’s Choice Award for my innovative product! Also, more and more dentists are starting to endorse it. Even pediatricians are using it as a tool to help their patients break the thumb sucking habit. I am proud to be helping little thumb suckers and showing parents that there is a better way to stop thumb sucking.

Mymompreneur: What has been your biggest business challenge as a mompreneur?
Andrea: My biggest challenge is getting the marketing in place. It still is a challenge. Since I know there are so many moms out there that have kids that suck their thumbs or fingers and need advice and a tool to help break the thumb sucking habit. I just don’t have the time to blog but am always trying to reach moms through some sort of media. It takes a lot of time and effort when there are so many other aspects of the business that need to be done.

Mymompreneur: What are you most proud of?
Andrea: My Thumbuddy To Love books and product. And of course my son, Charlie.
Mymompreneur: What would you change or do differently if you could start over?
Andrea: Nothing…although I am coming out with a hard back version for Ballerina Sue and Fireman Fred.
Mymompreneur: How do you find work life balance as a mompreneur?
Andrea: I try to make lists and get everything done before my son gets home from school. It is hard but I can always pick up where I left off after he goes to bed. I also try to exercise every day so that I stay balanced and stress free!
Mymompreneur: What advice would you share with other mompreneurs or women interested in working for themselves?
Andrea: Make sure you want to do it and see it through. When there is a strong will to do a dream, you will get help along the way form friends, family and business associates.

Rehearsing your “elevator speech” is a great way to make an impact in 1 minute or less. You make a great impression and draw the listener in. If you’ve done your homework and delivered a great message then hopefully they will ask for more. Here are some great tips to help you develop your one-minute presentation that says who you are, what you do, and why anyone should care about your business, product or services.

1. Think about what you want your audience to remember most. Are you the only one in your area to carry exclusive products? Have you won awards for services? Have you been featured in the media? Do you have any celebrities endorsing you or your products?

Example: Mymompreneur has been featured in Inland Vally Family Magazine as one of the best networking groups to join for Women Entrepreneurs

2. Define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). This is what makes you stand out above the rest. If you’re an MLM you need to state what makes YOU unique. The products and services that you sell for Mary Kay, Silpada, or Juice Plus will have their own USP so make it personal.

Example: I love to celebrate the “Diva” by having lots of fun and giving you the ultimate in personalized attention and service.

3. What make you an expert? If you’re selling a dietary supplement are you a health and wellness expert? If you’re selling cosmetics, are you also an esthetician?

Example: I sell Juice plus because I’ve been a medical practitioner for over 25 years and I wouldn’t recommend anything else to my patients.

4. What benefits can you offer this person? If you know what the need of the person is, tie that into your description. What can you do for them?

Example: I have full stock of all of my catalog items so you will never have to wait for your order.

When you’re developing your elevator speech it’s important to avoid certain tactics.

Don’t ask people to “do you a favor”. In the end, it’s not about you, it’s about your customer and the value you bring to the table.

Don’t use Jargon. Industry terms are great for addressing a room full of colleges but your customers may not know what the heck you’re talking about.

Avoid pricing. If you do a good job of drawing your potential client in, you will loose them with pricing if they are not completely convinced that they want to do business with you.

Don’t use excuses. Working with children at home, being short staffed, or being a brand new business may provide great anecdotes under different circumstances, but they will not work to your favor as a “punch line” when you’re looking for new business.

Guilt- a Mother’s Middle Name

By Sexy Mom Expert, Allana Pratt

If you take time for your self, are you afraid you’ll seem selfish or let down your family? If you don’t get everything done, are you afraid life will become chaos & fall apart? If you become the sexiest creature your husband has ever seen, are you afraid you’ll threaten your friends, your marriage? I was afraid of all these things and more. In fact I still am afraid, but I’ve decided to be sexy, sensual and satisfied anyways.

I got pregnant the week after my mom died. All at once I was angry, sad and elated. My marriage was rocky and we were renovating the house. I gave birth on my side, clinging to my girlfriend, my back to my husband. He quit his job the next day. I lost it. I would cry and scream hysterically then put on a happy face with friends. I was sleep deprived, overwhelmed and had lost all faith. One day I looked into my newborn eyes and felt like a failure. He looked back with unconditional love, as if to remind me that deep inside there was a joyful peaceful mom to inspire him. That day I stopped living the lie. I ended my marriage.

Single motherhood triggered many fears and I battled old victim patterns of wanting to be saved, of not trusting men, of being addicted to people pleasing or being a controlling bitch to get my way. I had trouble finding my sanity let alone 36 minutes for a pedicure. No one taught me that I am a precious ecosystem that needs nurturing. No one taught me to feel feelings and let them guide me versus indulge in them and be a drama queen. No one taught me how to surrender and trust my intuition, trust the universe, spirit, angels guiding my every move.

It felt like jumping off a cliff into the unknown as learned by trial and error how to have boundaries, how to create time for me. Slowly I began to re discover my girl friends, my fashion, my faith, my dreams. I forgave myself and made amends with the father. I took dance movement and erotic dance classes, I performed the Dangerous Beauty monologue in an acting class, I went to church and signed up for match.com. Like a seed that is growing but we can’t see it until it peaks through the soil, one day I woke up all of a sudden I trusted the universe. I felt beautiful again, but from the inside out. Now I dance on the coffee table with my son. Now I have energy and openness to be ravished by my man. Now I don’t feel envy or competition with other women anymore because I love myself for exactly who I am right now. What a journey. I learned that there’s really no where to go but back home to myself. There’s really nothing to do but be me.

Surrender. All is well. Life is good. And so it is.

Allana Pratt, a Relationship coach for the past 15 yrs. and a Sexy Mom Expert, knows it’s time for women to get over the guilt, fill up their tanks first, give themselves permission for pleasure because when mama’s happy, everybody’s happy! For the secrets to attracting all the love, attention and success you deserve, go to www.AllanaPratt.com!

Do you have a blog, but you want to know how to take it to the next level?

If so, the Mymompreneur.com Blogger Boot Camp may be for you!

Presented by blogger, web developer, and consultant Holly Suso, Blogger Boot Camp takes beginning bloggers through the process of creating a strong foundation for a strategic, sustainable blog.

From figuring out whether blogging is right for you and making technical decisions to planning your content and growing your readership, New Blogger Boot Camp is a high-energy, step-by-step guide to carving out your place online.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Aspiring and brand-new bloggers who want to start off on the right foot and create the foundation for a strong blog and long-term blogging success.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
At the end of the 8 weeks, students will have all the tools and information they need to get a new blog off the ground and, if they completed all of the assignments, may even have their own blog up and running already.
Intro to Blogging

- WHY to blog: What’s in it for you?
- WHO should blog: How do you know if you’re a blogger at heart?
- HOW to blog: Should you strike out on your own or join a network?

The Technical Side of Blogging

- FREE vs. PAID: How and where should you host your blog?
- PLATFORMS: Blogger, WordPress, TypePad… Picking the right platform for you
- DESIGN ON A DIME: Creating a great-looking blog without breaking the bank

Getting Started Blogging

- GOALS: What are they and how can you measure them?
- SETUP: What needs to happen to get your site up and running?
- PLANNING: Strategy, content, and editorial calendars

Santa Monica, CA (March 1, 2010) – Dr. Nushin Shir, owner of Artistic Center for Dentistry, is celebrating the grand opening of her dental practice in Santa Monica, CA by offering a month-long special from April 1st – 30th. One hundred and twenty new patients will receive free comprehensive dental exams that will include basic teeth cleaning services and limited check up x-rays. Additional treatments will be offered at 25% off their published rate.

“In these tough economic times where many families are hurting, the charitable contribution to nonprofits and their important missions has fallen significantly,” Dr. Shir says. “This is an ideal time to repay the support I have received from the community and to give back to one of the most important causes in Santa Monica, Heal the Bay. Amongst the great Karmas to be performed, charity is the greatest.”

The Artistic Center for Dentistry has partnered with Heal the Bay to promote the importance of making Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean, while fostering a global value shift towards a sustainable and secure future. The center itself subscribes to this philosophy and is doing its part to minimize its carbon footprint. The Center is a chartless and therefore paperless office, thus helping to save trees. The office reduces its waste by eliminating the use of plastic products. The Center’s choice to use digital x-rays eliminates the hazardous chemicals that are used in their development from contaminating the waterways and also eliminates unnecessary radiation to its patients. The heavy equipment used is both dry and oil-less and therefore does not wastefully deplete water supplies. Oil-less machinery reduces the waste production of non-biodegradable materials that contaminate the oceans.

“Support from third parties, such as Artistic Center for Dentistry, are key to promoting greater awareness, broadening our member base, and generating funds to support our research, education, community action and advocacy,” said Natalie Burdick, Heal the Bay’s constituent development manager. “We are excited to be able partner with Dr. Shir on a health program that offers free dental exams to members of our local community.”

“We are committed to improving the local environment in our community to create a cleaner, safe place to live and work. We understand the importance of making environmentally responsible decisions for a sustainable future,” Dr. Shir says.

About Artistic Center for Dentistry:
Our mission is to create naturally beautiful smiles and enhance our patients overall well being by using the latest dental technologies in a stress-free, Zen environment. Artistic Center for Dentistry offers all aspects of general and cosmetic dental services including power teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, crown & bridges, tooth restoration, root canal therapy, orthodontics and more. We use digital x-rays with lowest radiation for patients’ safety. The center also offers a range of beauty and relaxation treatments that can bookend a patient’s dental experience such as massage, foot reflexology, hand and facial treatments, Botox and Dermal Fillers (Juvedern™). We employ the latest in green technologies to help minimize our carbon footprint.

Highly trained in complex and cosmetic dental procedures, owner and lead dentist, Dr. Nushin Shir, has served many well-known celebrities in addition to owning and managing several successful dental practices in Los Angeles County since 1993. She is a sought after dental expert in the field of dentistry and has been interviewed by USA Today, Who’s Who, and included in Time-Warner’s cable section on health in the areas of preventative and cosmetic dentistry.

Artistic Center for Dentistry is located at 1531 6th St., Ste. 100, Santa Monica, CA. To see a full list of services or to book your appointment please visit, http://theartisticdentistry.com or call 310-393-2300. You can also email info@theartisticdentistry.com.

Lauren Feder, M.D. is a nationally recognized physician who specializes in primary care medicine, pediatrics and homeopathy.  Known for her holistically minded approach and combining the ‘best of both worlds,’ Dr. Feder is a frequent lecturer for parents and professionals and has been seen nationally on various health-oriented television and radio programs including most recently Oprah and Friends interviewed by Dr. Mehmet Oz.   She is the author of Natural Baby and Childcare and The Parents’ Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations, and is in private practice in Los Angeles.

Lauren was raised by her parents, Ellie Davis a devoted stay-at-home mother and the late Dr. Robert J. Feder a renowned ear, nose and throat surgeon and voice specialist.  During her teen years she underwent two thyroid surgeries and was placed on daily medicine.  While doing her residency in Los Angeles a decade later, Lauren consulted with  a holistic practitioner and was able to discontinue her thyroid medication altogether. The results astounded her, and led her on a path of discovery in the field of holistic healing and homeopathy for herself and her patients.   Lauren is married to chiropractor, Dr. René Haarpaintner. They have two sons who were born at home with midwives.

Where: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mymompreneur
Dial In: (347) 637-1545

As soon as I walk into the kitchen my mother looks at me the all-knowing motherly look that says “Uh, huh, you’ve over done it again,” and I just say “Yes, I know.” Without scolding me for working too much, too long, or to hard (like she usually does) she says “I’ll call Massage Envy and get you an appointment for a massage.” Gratefully I accept her help and collapse on the sofa waiting for the jolt of caffeine from my morning coffee to kick in.

My empathetic 4 year old comes to my aid to give mommy a healing kiss on the forehead. “Mommy you don’t feel well?” I respond, “No, I have a headache.” To which he responds with more kisses and hugs and says “I love you mom.” Yes, it’s good to be that loved.

My poor son wants mommy to spend some time with him and play dinosaurs. Painfully I join him in his imaginary world of T-Rex’s and Diplodocus’s and sing the Dino A, B, C, song from “Dino Train.” Our dino game is followed by a train parade and piano practice.

Finally I go to my massage appointment where the healing hands of my therapist accusingly do their work while she shakes her head and asses the knots in my neck. Penetrating fingers knead the muscles that are pinching my nerves and causing the migraine. Grateful that my body is relenting to the deep tissue massage that feels a little like torture, I relax into my bed and try to snooze for the remainder of my hour of alone time.

Back at the house my son is having a “good boy day” and I take some pain meds and climb in bed alongside him at nap time. As I drift off to sleep I try to push the thoughts returning emails, upgrading plugins, and writing code and returning phone calls. It will all be there when I wake, but now it’s time to snuggle with my little guy and go to sleep.

Savannah Ross, founder of Rich Mom, was a self-employed makeup artist and mom entrepreneur working part time. Her husband is a school teacher. Together they had a mortgage, an RRSP and a car payment. Although Savannah and her husband could not understand how their friends could afford boats, vacations and designer clothes, they managed somehow to pay our bills each month and thought they were financially intelligent and responsible. Having both been divorced and leaving with nothing, they were quite proud that they were doing as well as they were after being a couple for just 3 years and already having 2 kids together.

Suddenly life changed. Just before Christmas, a devastating house fire the family of four living in a hotel room. Just a week after the holidays, Savannah’s six-month-old niece died unexpectedly. Now, as if that was not enough to deal with, she got the worse news of her lives. Savannah was told that her baby boy was dying. She lived in the hospital with him for seven weeks and watched him endure tests and painful procedures that gave no answers.

The loss of  income, the medical bills and recovering from the fire was just the beginning of Savannah’s financial downfall. Just as she was struggling to figure out how to get by, the teachers union went on strike. Now instead of just worrying about their growing debt, Savannah and her husband were wondering how they were going to eat. They felt like they were under attack, getting it from all sides. The intense stress had the Ross family heading straight for a divorce, and claiming bankruptcy seemed like their only option. Savannah prayed desperately for a way out from under this mess. She called a realtor and told him that she needed to sell her house immediately so that she could pay off some of her debt. He listed the house and recommended she and her husband read a book. “We had no money to buy a book; but we were out of options at this point” says Savannah. “My husband went to a used bookstore and bought the book that changed our lives forever.”

Savannah and her husband taught themselves the principals of investing in the Real Estate market. The Ross family is now living a life they never dreamed possible. Savannah and her husband own millions of dollars worth of real estate and have started property development in Brazil, one of the 4 future economic super countries in the world.

“Rich Mom” Savannah Ross has created a system where she shares the techniques and tools that she has learned to gain financial freedom. She is now a stay at home mom caring for a beautiful 4-year old with special needs and a smart little six-year-old entrepreneur. Savannah says, “It is amazing what can happen when you change your mindset and educate yourself. My hope is that you will choose to get educated so that you can also make a difference in your life and the lives of others around the world.”

Mymompreneur: What has been your biggest business challenge as a mompreneur?
Savannah: Juggling business and family. Running a successful business from home where two young children run wild can certainly be a challenges. Balancing Hockey, Soccer, Dentist Appointments, Meals, Bath time and homework along witht he many other responsibilities of a home can make it a challenge to work around. You can never spend enough time with your family. It takes effort to fit in the time needed to support a thriving business.

Mymompreneur: What are you most proud of?
Savannah: I am prowd that I am focused on making a positive impact on the lives of others. Helping my students find freedom, building homes for the needy,feeding and clothing families in third world nations or building character in my own children. I am blessed to have had the opportunities to make a positive difference in so many lives.

Mymompreneur: Would you change or do differently if you could start over?
Savannah: If I could start over I would have began earlier. We have all heard the saying “Dig the well before you need the water” yet for many of us we don’t change our course in life until circumstances force us to. I would have encountered much less stress had I began investing in real estate earlier in life.

Mymompreneur: How do you find work life balance as a mompreneur?
Savannah: The key is understanding leverage. Once you understand that there are many tasks within your day that someone else can do, you gain time within your day. That extra time gained by delegating simpler tasks to others can be spent enjoying time with your family.

Mymompreneur: What advice would you share with other mompreneurs or women interested in working for themselves?
Savannah: You owe it to yourself and others to be the success that you were born to be. Just do it. Also, instead of deciding what carreer you want that might pay the bills, use a vehicle to crete great wealth and spend yout time, money and enrgy following your true passion. This is the key to happiness.

By Sexy Mom Expert, Allana Pratt

Adorn Yourself to Feel Like a Goddess- How would you dress if you were meeting the Divine today? This reminds you that you are a luscious Goddess (who happens to drive carpool) Beautiful clothes can put you in the mood, dissolves neediness and enhances self confidence…in all your glory and gorgeousness, watch him be attracted to your radiance.

Dance for Yourself: Once the kids are at school or in bed, let go of stress, move your hips wider than you normally do, Breathe into all tight or anxious areas, forehead, shoulders, stomach, even your “Perma- Kegal” (if you’re like me)…then dance for him! This way you won’t need his attention to feel beautiful which creates the space for him to shower you with attention.

Feed Him by Hand…being sexy is really about living life sensually, taking time to be present to all your senses… feed him by hand, choose exotic savory exquisite smelling foods or simply make his favorite meal…also be an example of sensuality by eating a chocolate covered strawberry in a way that would embarrass his friends…(Watch Dangerous Beauty again for the asparagus reminder!)

Allana Pratt, a Relationship coach for the past 15 yrs. and a Sexy Mom Expert, knows it’s time for women to get over the guilt, fill up their tanks first, give themselves permission for pleasure because when mama’s happy, everybody’s happy! For the secrets to attracting all the love, attention and success you deserve, go to www.AllanaPratt.com!