Mama-press

Handmade to Wholesale?!

2013-04-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

This infographic, courtesy of Sourcing Handmade, LLC, lays out the bare basics in taking your handmade business to the next level. Check it out, and refer to their website for more resources.

Sourcing Handmade, LLC - 2013 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

2013-03-17T21:01:00.001-05:00

Vote for our friends at Sourcing Handmade, in this year's Startup Nation Leading Moms in Business Competition!

Sourcing Handmade, LLC - 2013 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Why Soda is Harmful

2013-01-25T10:42:00.004-06:00

I do not drink soda, nor will I ever. I stopped 3 years ago. My personal opinion is that it is a poison that wreaks havoc on our bodies. Not sure? Take a look at the infographic below, from a recent blog post by Robyn O'Brien on Prevention.com. Robyn is an author, analyst and inspired American who believes that together, we can restore the health of our country. Let me know what you think after reading this...(and remember, diet is not any better...studies have shown it's actually worse!).

Via: Term Life Insurance

Hobby vs. Business

2013-01-14T20:10:00.003-06:00

If you create handmade items and sell them, be it on Etsy, Facebook, or other online marketplaces, you have probably wondered if you are actually running a small "business," or if it really is "just" a hobby. Wonder no more.... I'd like to pass along this article by Sourcing Handmade, which provides 2 trustworthy links to articles on the subject.

Is Your Hobby a Business?

How to Run a Pinterest Contest

2012-11-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

The following is a guest post from Kelsey, the editor in chief for www.findananny.net. Her bio proceeds the article.

Pinterest is great for those at home businesses to promote and sell their products. Competitions on
Pinterest are a great way to get your name out there, without paying the big marketing bucks. Here are a
few things you need to know about pinning and winning:

Create your own board: The most common Pinterest competition is the ‘create a board of your own’.
Allow your pinners to create a board with as many pins to create the theme of the competition. Example,
if you own a small business that restores furniture; have them create a board of their perfect living room
furniture. Then pick your favorite pinners board to win whatever prize you want to give away.

First to pin, wins: The ‘first to pin, wins’ method is great for those small and fast giveaways. This
competition is meant to get your pinners involved and acting fast. Try having this competition once a
month and having it twice in one day to make sure that you connect to more pinners.

Tag it: Be sure that in your pinning competition to have the pinners tag the images. Using a hashtag that
states the competition and your company will get your name out there. Also have them tag you to notify
you. Tagging is a must!

Connect it: To get full exposure post your Pinterest competition on your other social media platforms,
your blog, Facebook and Twitter. Update, notify and answer pinners questions using your other social
media platforms. The more you use and do, the more exposure for you.

Longevity: For your big pinning competitions, timing is everything. Give your pinners enough time to
get it done but just enough urgency to get them to act quickly. Typically a week long competition is too
long, aim for a 3 day competition and announce the winner on the 4th or 5th day.

Collaborate: A great way to get your followers and fans active with different pin contests is to add them
to the board; this is called ‘collaborating’. This is easy-all you need to do is once you have created the
contest board click edit. You now have the option to email invite or to type in followers that you already
have, to join the board. This means whoever you invite and if they accept your request-will be able to pin
to that board for you and everyone else to see.

Pinterest almost popped up overnight and has spread like wildfire; there is not sign of it slowing down
just yet. Using Pinterest in your business is your best bet, especially for the smaller businesses. Use it to
your advantage and follow these tips to help you create the best Pinterest campaign.

Author Byline:

Kelsey is the editor in chief for www.findananny.net. She loves to write article and ideas that parents &
nannies would be interested in hearing. She helps society on giving information about nannies through
nanny services. She is a professional writer & loves writing on anything.

Feel free to comment with your pinterest page so we can share ideas, favorites, and follow each other!

Pack a Lunch to Save Money

2012-10-12T15:41:00.001-05:00

Given today's economic climate, I bet we all are trying to cut costs, save money, or live on a budget. This graphic quickly and easily demonstrates how much money one can save by packing a lunch instead of purchasing a lunch.

Sources and credit at bottom of infographic.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments section if this will persuade you to pack more, and purchase less.

6 Resources for your Small Business

2012-09-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of years I've found myself returning again and again to the same online resources. These are small biz, marketing, or social media related websites that consistently provide helpful information. So, I want to share them. Here they are:

Build a Little Biz: Aussie entrepreneur who offers tips, ideas, and inspiration for your little biz. She always posts great ideas on Facebook.
Best Mom Products: Site which conducts interviews with entrepreneurs willing to share their business stories. Have a great product, request an interview!
The Founding Moms: Jill offers a heaping dose of small business related information for even the newest entrepreneurs. Her newsletter is chock-full of online resources to grow your business.
Launch, Grow, Joy: Andreea provides tips to help you grow your product line, be it a mom-invented product or something you create by hand from home.
The Savvy Mompreneur: Roz offers helpful business and social media tips for aspiring small business owners, and a mompreneur business directory. Her clear and concise writing gives you the information you need quickly.
Sourcing Handmade: This boutique sourcing consultancy offers advice on their blog for anything from marketing your handmade products to taking the next step and getting them into independent retailers. Create handmade and sell from home, this is site is a must-visit.

If you suspect these resources may help you grow your small biz, check out their websites and sign up for their newsletters. If you don't like what you see, you can always unsubscribe! (By the way, I was not paid to give free press to these sites...I find them valuable and want to share the knowledge!)

2 Summer Craft Ideas for Children

2012-08-23T11:48:00.001-05:00

School may be in session, but that doesn't mean summer is over! Below is a guest post by Rob of Videojug, explaining 2 of his favorite summer craft ideas for kids.

Milk Carton Boats: This will only work if you use cardboard milk cartons; however, even if you have to buy a carton and quickly use the milk the expense will be well worth it. Cartons are often covered by a protective film, so an acrylic paint will be best for the job of covering up the milk brand. A selection of paints are available at many craft stores, so your children can paint their cartons and add any detail to the “ship,” such as a name or other details. Pierce a hole in the side of the carton and place a straw or a pipe cleaner into it. If you get the hole just right, you will be able to place it perfectly, although if you made it too big you can simply tape it to hold it still. Make a sail out of paper or card and allow your child to color it in however he wishes. Stick it to the mast and your ship is complete! It should, repeat should, float in the bath – try it!
Musical Instruments: You could make many musical instruments with recyclables or other things left lying around the house. The best ideas are often the most simple, and that is a principle we stuck to here. Get any old food cans together and ensure both ends are open. Before giving to your children, wrap paper around any sharp edges so there will be no nasty cuts received. Your children will need some additional paper, coloring pencils / pens / paints, elastic bands, and dried beans or lentils. The most basic idea will see your child make a colorful shaker toy by placing beans in the tin and sealing up both ends with paper and elastic bands. If you are able to get involved, then perhaps use some old plastic or another material stretched over one end and make yourself a small, homemade bongo drum instead.

The possibilities you have when it comes to homemade crafts are truly endless. Use our suggestions or come up with your own inspirational ideas to keep yourself and the kids busy the rest of the summer!

Rob works with Videojug, a service that is dedicated to providing users around the world a vast collection of "how-to" videos that are factual and fun.

Johnson & Johnson to Remove Toxic Chemicals by 2015

2012-08-16T09:53:00.000-05:00

There is possibly no more iconic name in American personal care products than Johnson & Johnson. You may know, they have been under a lot of pressure in recent years to remove toxic chemicals and known or suspected carcinogens from their personal care line. Without climbing into the hotbed of controversy over their willingness and ability to market products with suspect chemicals, we're happy to say they have just agreed to remove toxic chemicals from their products by 2015. Click here to read about the details of this agreement to remove cancer-causing ingredients from their products.

You've heard the saying "you are what you eat." It is true...truly. It's also true that your body absorbs what you put on your body. So, one can claim "you are what you wear." Here is a brief list of some commonly known toxic chemicals and/or known carcinogens that are frequently used in personal care products. Now, I'm not a scientist and most likely you are not either, but don't be overwhelmed. See this list as keywords that should ring a warning bell if you see them while reading the ingredient labels on the products you buy (you do read them, right?!):

Phthalates - think personal care products
Bisphenol A (BPA) - think baby bottles, plastic water bottles and containers, sippy cups, canned food (always rinse before cooking...this helps rinse away chemicals and unwanted sodium)
"Fragrance" - think perfume and any scented body products
Triclosan - think handsoap
Parabens - think personal care products
Formaldehyde - think personal care products
Petroleum based chemicals
Volatile organic compounds
Pesticides - think crop dusting your veggies to kill little buggers
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) - think the lining of a microwavable popcorn bag
Lead - think lipstick...yes, lipstick. Read this Feb. 2012 article entitled "Hundreds of Lipsticks Contaminated with Lead".

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a resource for keeping up to date on issues regarding cosmetic safety. They also have a link entitled "What's in Your Products" where you can click on common products and find the toxic details.

Environmental Working Group is a great resource for finding specific info. on specific products. For example, if you use Brand X Sensitive Skin Foaming Face Wash, you can type that into their search box, and find out if it has any red flag chemicals, as well as find out the safety rating EWG assigns to it. I used this before buying sunscreen this summer...I started by researching their Skin Deep sunscreen database.

My theory is we do not necessarily know our genetic make-up. We may be pre-disposed to various conditions based on our genes. Much of that is out of our control. We can control, however, the environmental exposures that can increase our risk of disease. Watch what you eat, be aware of the products you use, increase your health.

Where to Donate Gently Used Teddy Bears

2012-08-03T08:59:00.001-05:00

Do you have lots of gently used stuffed animals packed away? Maybe they're overflowing a closet, or stuffed into a plastic garbage bag? Ever wonder where to donate them? I found this great program called The Teddy Bear Brigade, which donates new and gently used teddy bears to children in need throughout the world. I recently donated a box to them. I chose this particular program because they focus on teddy bears. They don't sell them off and use the proceeds to pay their administrative costs. Your gently used stuffed animal will actually go to a child in need. Take a look at their website, their parent organization Gleaning for the World, and their "charity report card" on a website such as Charity Navigator, and decide if you would like to help. I had my kids hand pick stuffed animals to donate, and discussed with them how many children in the world have NO stuffed animals. For each one they chose, I asked them if they feel good that they will make another child very happy by giving him/her their first stuffed animal. What a great learning experience for them!

Let me know in the comments if you think you will provide to them, or please suggest some of your own favorite charities. Thank you!

How to Make a Pallet Garden

2012-07-22T20:55:00.002-05:00

Photo courtesy of lifeonthebalcony.com

The following is a guest post from Nancy Parker. Her complete bio proceeds the article.

If you have ever wanted a vertical garden, then this is the project for you. So easy to do and no
carpentry skills required! All you need is a pallet, some landscaping material, a staple gun, soil
and plants!

To make this fun, easy, and super convenient vertical garden, you need to find a pallet first. After
you have that, you can get started. Make sure the pallet is free of any rough spots or protruding
nails. Verify that the boards are tight and the wood is not rotting anywhere.

Now, lay out the pallet and cover the back, sides and bottom with the landscaping material. You
want two layers here. Secure firmly with staples, making sure that no dirt will be able to escape.
Make sure that the ENTIRE bottom is covered well, or you will end up with problems!

Now, flip the pallet over. It should not be standing up. Start with the top pocket, filling it tightly
with soil and plants. Make sure they are packed tightly so that nothing is loose enough to fall
out. Then dump the rest of the soil in the pallet. Start from the bottom and work your way up,
packing the plants in tight together so that there is no space left loose.

When you are done planting, DO NOT move the pallet. You have to let it sit for up to two
weeks, depending on the type of plants you chose. They have to have time to become firmly
rooted before you move the pallet into a vertical position.

Make sure that you water the plants well. Once the two weeks is up, stand up the pallet against a
sunny wall. Voila, you have a garden that takes up practically no space! Make sure to water the
bottom rows especially well, as they seem to get dry fastest.

It doesn’t matter what you plant here: herbs, flowers, anything that doesn’t require a lot of height
seems to work well in the pallet garden. Try this out and see how much you can grow in such a
small, convenient space!

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com

10 Ways to Use Pinterest for your Handmade Biz

2012-07-03T11:56:00.001-05:00

Pinterest is an online pinboard where people go to find inspiration. Recipes, crafts, projects, home decor, art, travel, education, books…you name it, it’s there. However, it’s not only valuable for the casual observer or hobbyist. It is extremely valuable for a small business when used properly. If you sell your handmade items via an online marketplace, your own website, or social media site, you should also have a Pinterest presence. It is by invitation only, so if you’re not on yet, request an invite (from the site itself or a friend already using it) and you can be on in a few days’ time. Then, follow this list to make your handmade business that much more pinteresting:

Create a Product Gallery. Make a pinboard for your products. You can pin directly from your website, or upload products from your computer. This is a great way to get free exposure. If your product gets re-pinned (similar to a re-tweet on Twitter), it is added to the re-pinner’s board and shared with her followers. This means more eyes on your product. You will receive credit for the pin, so anyone clicking on it will be directed to your online shop (just be sure to add a link url to the photo if you upload from your computer). Think of it as a free ad.
Show Happy Customers. Pin photos of customers happily wearing or using your products. Let them be a visual testimony to your product’s greatness. You can even give permission for others to pin to a community board. Be sure to include different types of poses and uses to show the versatility of your product, and only let other pinners pin if you trust them.
Connect with Influencers. Re-pin, like, and comment on pins from influencers in your industry. This can be bloggers, small biz experts, and valuable sites like Handmade Success and Sourcing Handmade. This will open the door to forming a relationship, and will create mutually beneficial re-pinning potential. You can also tag others using the @ symbol…another great way to create relationships.
Pin Other Interests. Don’t stop at pinning your products. Create boards for topics in which your target market may be interested. This can be recipes, projects, kids’ craft ideas… anything with which you think your target will identify. This will draw more people to your Pinterest page, creating more opportunities for people to find your handmade products. Try to keep it related to your market, and be sure not to pin anything that may be offensive (what is funny to some isn’t funny to all).
Pin Works in Progress. Show images of you in action, or before and after pictures of your product. Of course you don’t want to give away your secrets, but it will help to show you as an expert in your area.
Price your Products…with Caution. You can upload pins that also contain sales prices for your products. However, I advise using this with caution. If one is obviously using Pinterest as a sales method, it may turn off some people. Pinterest should be used for sharing information, photos, ideas, products, and inspiration, without blatantly asking for sales. Outright self-promotion is also against the Pinterest code of ethics.
Use Accurate Descriptions. Have a well written “about” section on your Pinterest profile, and include links to your website, Facebook, and Twitter. Be sure your profile and pin descriptions include pertinent keywords for SEO.
Organize your Boards. Organize your boards so the most relevant ones are in the first row. You do this by clicking the “re-arrange boards” icon in the center of the page, next to “edit profile.” You can also choose the board cover by hovering over the center of any given board. Be sure to use a pin that is an accurate and attractive portrayal of what the board contains.
Don’t Over-Pin. If you have thousands of pins, people may feel overwhelmed and jump off your page. If you love it, pin it. If it’s mediocre, don’t. People will appreciate your authenticity and value more if you don’t pin and re-pin everything.
Use Great Photos. Of course, you must pin high quality photos of your handmade products. If the photo isn’t high quality, no one will look twice at it. After all, Pinterest is all about photos, so make them good!

Feel free to comment below with your Pinterest link, and we will check you out!
(this article was originally posted on www.sourcinghandmade.com, '12).

Lilla Rose Hair Clip Review

2012-06-19T22:55:00.001-05:00

I was recently contacted by Jackie, a consultant with Lilla Rose. They are a company that creates "unique, functional, and well made hair jewelry." I received their flagship Flexi Hair Clip for review.

Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first. I typically wear my hair down, or in a ponytail when working out, gardening, cleaning, etc. I don't usually use any sort of hair decoration. Well, I received the medium Flexi Hair Clip, easily put it in my hair without any directions or tutorial, looked in the mirror, and I quite like it! Here's why:

It's simple to use. Simple saves time, so is a great benefit.
It's stylish. They come in multiple sizes, styles, and colors.
It fits. I chose the medium size for my length/thickness of hair. It holds in place well.
It adds a little something extra. Instead of dropping off my kids at school with the occasional hair clip thrown in my hair, I would totally use this. It gives the impression that I actually spent a little time getting ready at 8am, before coffee, just to drop off my son or daughter at school (you know what I mean, right?!).

The Flexi Hair Clip is great for casual wear or for a night out. I really think it's the perfect simple accessory for anyone's wardrobe. You can order online directly from Jackie by clicking here. Check out her website and let me know what you think by commenting below!

Tips for International Travel with Kids

2012-06-08T15:59:00.000-05:00

The following is a guest post by Carlina Yepinski, the primary researcher & writer for networkmonitoring.org. Her bio proceeds the article.

Traveling to the store with little ones in tow is hard enough. Traveling to another country? Seems impossible! Yet many parents around the world manage to do it everyday. These aren’t those superhuman, perfect parents who seem to be able to do it all. They are everyday folks who manage through proper planning (and a lot of patience).

If you thought that your dream vacation to France was out of the question at least until your kids turn 16 (and maybe not even then), consider these helpful tips for traveling internationally with kids. Wrangling excited toddlers and crying babies may not make for a dream vacation, but at least it will make for a memorable one.

Make Sure You are Travel Ready

You know that you need a passport to travel overseas, but you may think that your toddler or baby is exempt. However, all travelers must have a passport – even infants. You cannot use a birth certificate or other documentation when traveling with your children. They must have government-issued passports.

Passports for all members of your family must also be current, and must not expire for at least six months after the date of travel. If your passport expires a month after you’re set to return from that week in Italy, expect to be held up at the border – a nightmare situation that you don’t need when you have little ones in tow.

Finally, be sure to check the U.S. government’s travel recommendations for your destination. Some vaccines may be recommended depending on where you travel.

Create a “Travel Book”

When you are far from home, you don’t have immediate access to important phone numbers and other information. While this may have posed a minor inconvenience when you were a single traveler, it could pose a major problem and even a safety issue when you are traveling with children.

Compile all the information you need ahead of time and gather it into a planner or upload it to a data-sharing site like Dropbox. This should include:

Contact information for people to call in case of emergency
Phone numbers for your credit card companies, bank, and the U.S. embassy
Copies of your credit cards, bank cards, license, passport, birth certificates and other important documentation
Phone numbers, addresses, and websites for your hotel, car rental company, and all attractions

Include any information that you may need in case of an emergency, such as having your personal items stolen, getting lost, or getting sick.

Prepare for the Flight

International flights are grueling. No one likes to sit in one place for hours, eat bland food, or try to sleep sitting up. Imagine how that is compounded when you have small children aboard.

Do what you can to make the flight a little easier by preparing. Bring small toys and other items to keep your children occupied, and introduce them slowly so that their novelty does not wear off at 8 hours into a 17-hour flight. Make sure you have headphones on hand for the in-flight entertainment, and loosen the rules about TV time.

Pack snacks to carry on, or purchase them in the airport. Your little ones may get hungry while everyone else is sleeping, and you don’t want to be left without access to the snack tray. Choose snacks that are high in protein and low on sugar to keep mood and energy levels steady.

Bring gum or a bottle or pacifier to help little ears adjust to the change in pressure on takeoff and landing. If you are nursing, allow your baby to feed on-demand.

Adjust Your Expectations

While you may want to cram as much as you can into your short week abroad, you will have to adjust your expectations when you are traveling with young children or babies. They don’t operate on your schedule. They will get hungry at inconvenient times, want to sleep when you’re ready to go, and be full of energy when you’ve decided it’s time for some relaxation. Not to mention bathroom breaks and good old-fashioned tantrums.

Expect to do less on your trip when you’re traveling with children. Make a plan, but expect that there might be deviations. Adopt a flexible attitude, and you will enjoy your trip much more and may actually even get more done by avoiding battles of will.

Bring Everything You’ll Need

You never know what will happen on a trip. You might lose your bags. Someone may steal your wallet. Your flight might be delayed. Your hotel might get overbooked. You might not be able to find the staples you need at stores where the culture is different.

Plan for all this by bringing everything you think you’ll need – and as much of it as you can in a carry-on. Of course, you can’t bring every toy and every outfit and every blanket. What you can do is ensure that you have at least a few of the following to meet all your basic needs:

Diapers and wipes
Bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups
Clothes for all types of weather
Small toys
Loveys and other favorite items
Snacks
Important medicines

It is important to bring your staples in a carry-on so that you are sure to always have what you need when you need it.

The key to successful travel – whether you are traveling with children or not – is to plan, plan, plan. Make sure that you carefully consider each aspect of your trip and plan ahead for all eventualities. What will you do when your flight has been delayed and you have to sit on the tarmac for three hours? How will you handle a meltdown on a public street in the back country miles from your hotel where no one else speaks English? Where will your baby nap when you are stuck on the metro heading to your next destination?

Making sure you know the answer to these and other questions will ensure that you have a successful trip with your children that is memorable for the whole family.

Carlina Yepinski is the primary researcher and writer for networkmonitoring.org. Her most recent accomplishments includes graduating from Kentucky State with a degree in communications and computer science. Her current focus for the site involves multi monitor software as network manager.

Key to a Happy Life

2012-06-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

The following is a guest post by Emily Montez, Founder of Mamafusion. Be sure to visit her site after reading....

The Key to A Happy Life is…
Laughter. And dancing. These are the things I have learned over the past few months. I
took a bit of a hiatus. I stepped back from everything in my life and got a really clear look at
it all. Including all of those elephants I have been pretending weren’t there. Let me tell ya,
not so fun. But having them all cleared out has made a huge difference in every aspect of
my life. I am happier, healthier. I feel better about my body and my relationships and well,
my life. Because I know that I am whole. Nothing is holding me back.
The point to all of this, life gets serious. Things can go downhill fast, they don’t always
go the way we want them to. But as Robert Frost said, “In three words I can sum up
everything I know about life: It Goes On.” Even when things get hard, the world keeps
spinning, new days continue rising. You can fight it or flow with it, it will happen either
way.

The only thing left to do is change our perspective...
Personally, I have found it to be true
that laughter is the best medicine. And there is nothing like a daily happy dance to get the
laughter flowing. Smiling releases feel hormones in our brains. It is contagious to those
around us. People see our light, our inner beauty, through our smile. You find your light in
your smile.

Next time the world is heavy on your shoulders, shake it off with a happy dance. Dance
when you don’t feel like it. Dance when you think there isn’t a smile in you. And see how it
changes the way you look at the world. We get swamped in our own problems. Sometimes
we just have to shake the sillies out so we can find the bright side again.

Facebook Launches Promoted Posts

2012-05-25T21:13:00.002-05:00

The "rumors" seem to be true. Facebook appears to be launching their new Promoted Posts. In a nutshell, this new option for business pages enhances their Edgerank algorithm in that your status updates can realize a much higher reach...if you pay for it. Business Insider wraps it up pretty nicely. Read about it and let me know what you think. Will it help or hurt your little biz? Do you think you would use it?

Free Facebook Business Cards

2012-05-17T12:36:00.001-05:00

Got business cards? If not, you should jump on this. Moo.com is giving away 50 free Facebook business cards to the first 100,000 page admins who sign up at this link. Shipping is $5.50. Editing and enhancing options are very limited, but afterall, these are free, right? Comment below if you're jumping on this offer!

10 Kid-Friendly Garage Sale Tasks

2012-05-03T14:58:00.003-05:00

Spring is here, and that means it is garage sale season! A good way to break up this arduous task is to enlist the kids' help. Below are 10 kid-friendly garage sale tasks that will help you get ready in no-time (and teach them valuable lessons while you're at it):

Gather items to sell. Have your kids go through their toys and gather some together to sell. If they are hesitant to sell their old toys, persuade them by letting them keep the money from the sale, save it in their bank for college, use a small portion to buy a new toy, or donate some of the money to charity.
Clean the garage. Have the kids help clean the garage. They can gather their toys and bikes together so you can sweep, they can help throw out garbage, etc.
Make signs. Let the kids help you make garage sale signs. They can also help determine the best locations to place the signs.
Determine prices. Ask your kids what the price should be for their toys. They can even write the prices down and stick them onto the items.
Set-up. Let the kids help you organize the sale. They can categorize items and help determine the neatest and most logical way to display them.
Organize money. Let the kids accompany you to the bank to get change. Let them help separate singles, fives, quarters, dimes, nickles, and pennies.
Make change. Explain to the kids how you are making change for sales, or if they are old enough, let them do it themselves.
Choose a charity. Let the kids help choose a charity to which you can donate the items that don't sell.
Count the money. Have the kids help you count the money you make.
Split the proceeds. Based on your pre-determined method of using the proceeds, let the kids help you split it up. You can keep 1/3, donate 1/3, and use 1/3 to buy something new. If you have 2 kids, you can let each child keep 1/2 the proceeds. If the money is going into the family fund, let the kids help you count the money and explain to them how you will use it.

Organizing a garage sale is not fun, but you can make it fun by involving the kids. Have any other tips, comment with them below!

New Series: Etsy Shop Highlights

2012-04-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

Do you have an Etsy shop? If you do, and would like a little free "press" for your creations, please comment below, or send me an email. Each week we will highlight a different Etsy shop, similar to the highlight in our last post. These will be done on a first come, first served basis, so sign up! Can't wait to see your fabulous items!

Etsy Shop Highlight: Keepsakes by Katherine

2012-04-09T14:07:00.000-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to Keepsakes by Katherine, "where everyday is a special occasion." Katherine creates beautiful wedding bouquet charms, wedding supplies, jewelry, shabby chic decor, hair clips, hair pins, vintage and personalized gifts. With wedding season right around the corner, keep her in mind for any upcoming nuptials in your life (yourself, friends, family, co-workers, etc)! Her charming wedding bouquet charms can be seen by clicking her Etsy shop here. Katherine also has a blog featuring wedding tips, honeymoon checklist, make-up tricks, and testimonials on her products. Click here to take a look!

P.S. The Etsy Shop Highlight is going to be a regular addition to Mama-press. If you have an etsy shop and would like a similar feature written about you, email me at tracy @ mama-press (dot) com. It will be published on our blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and perhaps even pinterest! Check our Media Kit
page for stats.

7 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

2012-03-25T22:00:00.001-05:00

The following is a guest post by Jenny Ellis, a freelance writer
and regular contributor for aupair jobs.

In a world that is dominated by fast food restaurants on every corner and convenience foods in every grocery aisle it’s easy to get swept up in picking up food on the go and incorporating less than stellar eating habits. A lot of people are swayed by the higher price tags that tend to accompany the foods labeled “health foods” and opt for cheaper, processed options instead; however your family’s health is one of the most important things you can invest in. The good news is it is possible to eat healthy on a budget. All it takes is a little planning.

Grow your own herbs
Instead of relying on store-bought herbs that come in such large portions that they rarely get used before going bad, grow your own herbs. Being able to pick the right portion straight from the plant will save you from throwing out large quantities of pre-picked herbs, which is essentially the same as throwing away money. Not to mention you’ll have a certain satisfaction gained from growing them yourself.
Shop mid-week
A lot of grocery stores will mark down vegetable trays, various produce, dairy products, and even meats mid-week when people are less likely to shop because they need to get rid of last week’s shipments in preparation for the upcoming ones. This means you can snag some great deals on products you’d be buying anyways. Another benefit of going mid-week: the kids are usually in school so you don’t have prying hands grabbing every treat they see.
Plan your meals ahead of time
Going to the grocery store without meals planned out and a grocery list written is a recipe for disaster that almost always results in over-spending. When you go equipped with a list you’re much more likely to stick to it and use up everything you buy instead of throwing out fresh produce that you thought you’d use but ended up not. Sit down with the family once a week and get meal ideas from everyone so that you have a varied list that makes everyone happy.
Buy from a local farmer’s market
Not only will the produce and meats be fresher, but they’ll also probably be cheaper than their grocery store counterparts and healthier to boot since most produce at farmer’s markets are organic and free of preservatives. Plus you’ll be supporting local growers, something everyone can feel good about.
Incorporate meatless Monday’s
Meat is one of the pricier items at the grocery store, so if you can incorporate one day or more each week of vegetarian fare you’ll significantly slash your grocery bill. By including vegetarian meals rich in fruits and vegetables you’ll also be providing your family with healthier meals. You can create many vegetarian meals so rich with flavor that your family probably won’t even notice the absence of meat.
Don’t overbuy organics
Some people get hooked on the idea of buying organic and start buying anything and everything organic. In theory this is a great idea, but in reality it’s probably just tacking on extra dollars to your weekly spending. Stick to the “dirty dozen” of organics so that you get the most organic bang for your buck. For everything that doesn’t fall on the dirty dozen list just buy the regular versions – your health won’t suffer and your wallet will thank you.
Stick to seasonal eating....

Produce is cheapest when it’s in season, so eating produce following its seasonal schedule means that you’ll get a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and you’ll be able to purchase it at a lower cost. Having an ever-changing list of fruits and vegetables to eat also means that you’ll get to experiment frequently with new foods and dishes.

By limiting your restaurant meals and fast food you’ll not only be able to spend more time as a family cooking meals but they’ll also be much more of a treat. Eating healthy doesn’t have to equate to spending more money at the grocery store each week, it just means being smart about your choices.

Jenny Ellis is a freelance writer, and a regular contributor for aupair jobs. She welcomes your comments at: ellisjenny728 @ gmail.com.

Marketing Mix: P is for Place

2012-03-20T17:21:00.000-05:00

This is the final installment in my Marketing Mix Series: P is for Place. Place refers to where you will sell your product, as well as the distribution system used to get it there. For most products, the persons involved are the manufacturer, the wholesaler, and the retailer. The primary places (or methods) to sell your product are:

Brick-and-mortar shops. Retail business with store fronts...in other words, a physical structure (made with "brick and mortar"). You physically walk into this type of shop to buy products.
Online retailers. Businesses who operate solely from a website. There is no store front. Sometimes these businesses warehouse products and ship directly from their warehouse to the end consumer. However, they also may drop-ship items...which means they relay the order to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer ships the order to the end consumer. A benefit of this business model is the online retailer has much less overhead in that they do not need to own a warehouse, or buy lots of product inventory.
Distributors and wholesalers. A wholesaler buys product in bulk from a manufacturer for a discount. Sams' Club and Costco are great examples to which most of us can relate. They buy wholesale, then the consumer buys from them. A distributor buys goods from a wholesaler or manufacturer, then distributes them to retailers, or to smaller distributors. A distributor is akin to a middle man, helping to get the product from point A to point B.

Once you've perfected your product, you must determine in which venue you will sell your product. For moms creating handmade products from home, their typical options are online marketplaces (i.e. Etsy, Artfire, etc.), via a Facebook business page, via a personal website or blog, or through a brick-and-mortar shop. The online options are much easier to set-up on one's own. However, there are SEO (search engine optimization) and keyword strategies that must be taken into consideration. The brick-and-mortar option may seem more intimidating and stressful at the outset, as it would involve research, marketing, cold-calling, or emailing to potential shop buyers. Once you have evaluated your small business goals and your cost structure, if you consider trying to sell your items wholesale to brick-and-mortars, check out Sourcing Handmade to assist you in this process. Also, refer to my previous posts in this series P is for Promotion, P is for Price, P is for Product, and The 4 P's of Marketing.

I'd love to hear any advice, comments, or lessons you've learned while determining the right place to sell your product.

7 Big Don'ts of Disney World

2012-03-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

We just returned from Florida, including a few days' stay at Walt Disney World. It's a very magical place even for an adult...it is the "happiest place on earth," right? Yes...but not when the kids are crying during shows, terrified of fireworks, and asking "can we leave now?" I'm going to cut through all the tour book nonsense, and give it to you straight from a mom of 2 young kids.

Rides are scary. Many books assured us that certain rides are 100% suitable for young children, and are not frightening in the least. Really?! Tell this to my kids who were terrified of "It's a Bug's Life," making us leave during the show. Tell this to my 3 year old who was crying while on the Buzz Lightyear ride when it stopped midstream for 5 minutes due to a malfunction, with her facing Zurg with very loud laser beams shooting around her head. Tell this to little kids watching The Little Mermaid show, when big, scary octopus Ursula comes up threatening all the evil she can summon on Ariel. Key takeaway: if you think your child might be sensitive or frightened of any of the characters in the show, or any of the action, skip it!
Disney World is loud! From the resort buses taking you to the parks, to the fireworks, to the music in the restaurants, it is very loud. There is probably a psychological connection between loud, happy music, and the amount of money one is willing to spend on souvenirs. You can't really escape it, it's just how it is.
The food leaves much to be desired. The few nicer restaurants (those with a $$$, or even a $$ ranking in the guide books) have nice menus. Other than that, be prepared for hot dogs, chicken fingers, hamburgers, and french fries...and the fat, calories, and cholesterol that comes with them. The odd thing is...the hot dogs aren't even very good. I don't think the extensive walking done in the parks can offset the amount of calories consumed with this type of food. Oh, and if you're gluten free...be prepared for a bunch of Caesar salads, because there is not much else for you. Disney's next investment should be on some healthier food options.
Skip Hollywood Studios if your kids are <6. What?! I know, some people love it, but we spent a couple of hours there with our 3 and 5 year old, and it was a big waste of time. My son did get to see Lightening McQueen and Mater, but that was the only highlight. I highly recommend skipping this park unless your kids are really into the Disney TV shows and really want to meet those characters.
Do not rent a car. If you are staying on property, there is really no need to rent a car. The park transportation is great, so eliminate the parking fees and hassle of driving yourself, and bus it...or ferry it...or monorail it.
Do not trade pins you buy in the park. If you are into pin trading as we are, buy some pins off ebay for around 60 cents each, and trade those. I overheard a woman state she bought some pins in a shop to trade. No...that's not the way to go. However, the problem with buying off ebay is you may inadvertently buy scrapper pins...but that is a whole other post in itself...and I'll leave that to the professional pin traders.
Don't buy a big balloon your last day. We bought each of the kids one of those big, huge helium balloons our first day in the park. This was fine. Just be sure not to buy it on your last day because you cannot take it home on the airplane.

Disney World is a great place that everyone should visit at least once in her life. So, I'll end my list at 7, but feel free to add your own words of wisdom in the comments below. Thanks...and have a magical day!

Guest Post: 4 Things to Consider Before Buying a Pet

2012-03-05T11:38:00.001-06:00

The following is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at accredited online colleges. Her bio proceeds the article.
Are your kids begging for a pet?
As parents, we often try to think of different ways we can instill in our children the values that we want them to learn as they grow. Of course, some parents are content with merely extolling the virtues of different personality traits like responsibility and honesty, but the best way to teach a child anything is not by saying but by doing. In my personal experience raising kids, getting a pet for your child is one of the best ways to teach your child several different values. If you are considering getting your child a furry or feathered friend, here are a few things to think about:

Select a pet based on your child's maturity.

Different children mature at different rates, so it really depends what your child will be ready for in terms of a pet. It's important to understand that all pets deserve significant attention, but dogs tend to be considerably more time-consuming. If you feel your child is too young to handle taking an animal on walks, bathing it, and training it, then it's better to start off with a low-maintenance animal like a hamster.

Help your child restructure her schedule to make time for her new friend.

No matter what kind of pet you eventually decide on, your child will have to make time to care and attend to her new friend. Help your child figure out a new schedule that makes time for the pet. If the dog needs to go on daily walks, have you and your child wake up earlier to squeeze in half an hour before the school day starts. Conversely, you can schedule walks or play time later in the day. Just be sure that the pet becomes a priority for your child.

Make sure that your child spends plenty of time with a prospective pet before choosing one.

It's important, especially if we're talking about a dog or a cat, that your child's personality meshes well with the prospective pet. If your child is quiet and likes to spend time doing calm activities, then getting an energetic terrier would be a terrible idea. In the same way, if your child is active, consider getting your child a pet that can keep up with her energy. The best way to make sure that your pet and child will get along well is to spend time with each other before bringing the animal home. Most shelters, pet stores, and breeding kennels provide ample time for a potential owner to do this.

Monitor your child and her interactions with the new pet to avoid dangerous situations.

Even though one of the motivating factors of getting a pet for your child is to ostensibly teach her responsibility, you should know that, especially for young kids, you should supervise the time your child spends with its pet. Young children are often unaware of boundaries, and may inadvertently harm the pet, causing the animal to retaliate. For more information on kids and pets, check out this ASPCA webpage. Good luck!

Author Bio:
This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at accredited online colleges about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5@ gmail.com.

1099-K for Small Biz's and Online Sellers

2012-02-27T08:57:00.000-06:00

This guest post is written by Outright.com (the easiest way to manage your business finances online) and was originally published on Meylah.com. This is a must-read if you sell handmade products online!

What Exactly is Reported on the 1099-K?
The purpose of 1099-K is simply to report to the government income earned by U.S. Citizens via electronic means (i.e. PayPal, Amazon, eBay, credit cards, etc.). But, income is literally all that it tracks. If you’re wondering if the form tracks business expenses – it doesn’t. Or PayPal fees – nope, none of those. What about refunds and returns? Uh-uh. The figure found on your 1099-K simply reports how much in income you made through PayPal (or whatever electronic payment processor issued you the form). Because of this, the amount reported on your 1099-K might seem a little higher than you expected. But that’s okay. If you have kept track of all of your business expenses – fees, refunds, cost of goods sold, office supplies, advertising, etc. – then you won’t be hit with a huge tax bill. Just remember that it’s your job to show the government your expenses when filing your taxes.

Where do I Report the Amount from my 1099-K when doing My Taxes?

Another source of confusion is where to enter the figure found on the 1099-K into your taxes. For self-employed people and LLC’s, there is a specific form, the Schedule C, that’s used to report to the IRS. But the wording on this year’s Schedule C has some people thrown off. You do indeed use Schedule C for entering the information. And this year, there’s a dedicated line for the 1099-K...line 1a. But wait! The instructions next to it say to enter “0” for 2011 no matter what. So what gives, pal? The reasons are mysterious, and may serve just to get people ready for the 1099-K’s prolonged existence. But whatever the case, go ahead and mark down that “0” on line 1a. The line you want this year is line 1d, which lets you give total gross receipts for stuff like credit card transactions. But one caution: the IRS still receives your 1099-K this year. If the 1099-K shows you made $50,000 while you report a mere $20,000 in income, you are going to hear from the IRS with some very pointed questions. Once again, that’s why it’s so important to include ALL of your income on Schedule C line 1d but to then track your expenses. That’s really about it! But one more time, make sure you remember to track and record your own business expenses and deductions, as again the 1099-K doesn’t take ANY of that into account. But hopefully the mystery has been taken out of the process and you can put your taxes behind you soon and concentrate on selling once again.

Worried about that Schedule C? Create a free Outright.com account today and make tax time less taxing!

This guest post is written by Outright.com (the easiest way to manage your business finances online) and was originally published on Meylah.com.