Mompreneurship: How can I find the balance between being a mom and an entrepreneur?

How can I find the balance between being a mom and an entrepreneur?

I ask myself this question on a regular basis, and I could not find the answer! Between running Blessed Body Brand, Prosperity Legacy, LLC, PHP, and another opportunity that is just getting started, I was running out of ideas to keep my child and my ventures in balance! It was getting way out of hand! My son had barely any structure, he was going non-stop because I was going non-stop. In April, when i got my "new" car, I drove over 2,000 miles in less than 3 weeks. he was with me for just about every mile. By the time we got back home, we were both exhausted, but it wasn't until I connected with Soribel Martinez that I realized how much my efforts to build my business were interfering with my efforts as mom!!

I wasn't neglecting my son by any means. He was fed, bathed, hugged & kissed, and told many a bedtime story, but I wasn't talking to him as a person! During my first session with Soribel, she helped me to discover my actual parenting style and how I could become a more active parent. In our next session, we discussed some strategies to implement to begin the process of balancing my businesses with my most important relationship! I'll share a few with you.

1. Set a schedule and be CONSISTENT!
2. For every hour of work, spend at least 15 minutes interacting with him.
3. Create a vision board to help explain why mommy is working and give him his own job to do while I work.
4. Take better care of myself: relax in a hot tub, paint my nails, talk on the phone, read a book, etc. A cared for mommy is a caring/capable mommy.
5. Set clearly defined expectations, consequences, and rewards.

I immediately set to work putting these things into place, and although I am still working on being consistent, I can see such a marked improvement in my son's behavior! He loves doing his Morning 4, and he loves talking about our goals! His goals include a Thomas Train table, a big birthday party, and a trip to the GA Aquarium! I had no idea that he had so much input until I actually took the time to sit down with him and talk. Having a conversation with a three-year old is not always fun and giggles. He is such a well rounded individual that I can't help but to be amazed at the way he speaks and what he wants from life at such a young age!

Don't make the mistake of assuming that just because your child is young that they don't have an opinion and they just go with the flow. You will likely find that when you start to include them in the process, they are very receptive to helping and are full of ideas!! I am so excited to spend more time with Sori!! The next class is going to be June 6th, 2015. Sign up for Active Parenting Training for MOMS and learn how you can become a more active and balanced mompreneur!! I am so glad that I did!!!

~Shanta

Let's take Blessed Body Brand to the NEXT level!!

The campaign is still LIVE, and you can still contribute! Please help me fund my dreams and become a full-time entrepreneur!

BLESSED BODY BRAND IS OFFICIALLY ON ETSY!!!

Blessed Body Brand is officially a member of the Etsy community! You can now find your favorite soaps, body butters, and everything else on Etsy!! I decided to take the plunge into Etsy after several months of using the Soap Guild Website. While I have enjoyed my Soap Guild store, the shipping plug in has been very unhelpful! Being forced to ship with UPS was a huge drawback since it is much more expensive than shipping via USPS, and you guys spoke so I listened!!!

 Now when you place your order, you are charged $5.95 for shipping + $0.50 per item that you add to the order. This way you can place your order and pay for shipping altogether. No more separate invoices for shipping charges! I hope that these changes are what you all were looking for and as a thank you for your patience as I worked through these shipping issues, please use code WELCOME for 10% off of $20 or more! I can't wait to write this new chapter with you all!

~Shanta

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Available now! Only $25.

Exactly one week from today, people across America will be celebrating Mother's Day! For most people, this means a card, some candy, and a basket with a teddy bear in it. While this is a perfectly fine option, each of our mothers is unique. Sometimes you should think outside the basket for mom!

I am blessed to have an amazing mother who not only loves me, but is willing to help me push forward with all of my goals and dreams! Without her, I highly doubt that this business would be where it is today! From babysitting to product testing to brainstorming to letting me brood in the lab, she has been a great silent partner over the last 3+ years!

That alone makes me want to give her a unique, thoughtful gift. Whether you are buying a gift for your own mother or for a mother figure in your life, you should consider how much we give as mothers and try to capture a little bit of that love for your mother or mother figure. Feel free to give it back not just on mother's day but EVERY DAY! Moms deserve it!

This year we are celebrating Mother's Day with a special treat: Lavender Love Boxes. These boxes feature 3 handcrafted goodies for mom to pamper herself for weeks to come! It includes one Lavender & Bentonite soap, one Lavender Bath Salt (6 oz), and one Lavender Love Body Butter (5 oz). You can place your order online between now and May 6th for delivery by Mother's Day. This price includes shipping to one address!! Also anything else that you order with your basket will be shipped with no additional shipping charges! Give mom the gift of handmade, and never forget to show her that you love her!

~Shanta

Restaurant Review: Healthy Lifestyle Cuisine

Restaurant Review: Healthy Lifestyle Cuisine

First of all WOW!!!! This place is phenomenal! I went down to Ft. Lauderdale this week to meet with CEO Patrick Bet-David, and one of my business associates has family in the area. They own and operate a health conscious restaurant called Healthy Lifestyle Cuisine. I've been making great strides to eat a healthier diet. Having the information is useless without application! So, I made the decision to eat more fruits and veggies while on the road. I started off doing GREAT! I stopped at Publix and bought fruit and salad instead of eating Burger King (I didn't drive most of the trip, so I got to eat LOL), so I was very pleased when we started talking about visiting my associate's family business!

Her mother and sister are running the show down in Miami Gardens, and if you are in the area, IT IS WORTH THE VISIT!!!! I ordered a Sundried Tomato grilled Tilapia wrap. I had not looked at a menu since my phone was dead, so I didn't know what I ordered LOL I was beyond pleasantly surprised! That wrap was EVERYTHING I ever hoped for!! It was a Sundried Tomato wrap with sauteed peppers and onions with Italian dressing and they were not shy with the fillings!! It also came with a boiled egg and a pickle for $10. Everything was seasoned to perfection, and it was big enough to feed me AND my 3 year old!!! I wish I could have taken pictures, but my phone was dead :(

Later on, I tried a chicken sandwich wrap... EPIC & DELICIOUS!!!!! It was very light and filling! My mom had the fried Tilapia with steamed broccoli and corn, and we all talked about that food from the time we left until now as I write this blog!!!! If you're in the area, you really need to visit Healthy Lifestyle Cuisine!!

~Shanta

Healthy Lifestyle Cuisine
1806 NW 183 St.
Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Tips for healthy living

  As we go into May I'd like to talk more about health and natural living. I am not a health professional. I am just a person who has done research to see what works for me. I hope that you all find this blog helpful and that you will incorporate these tips into your daily routine. I have gathered 4 tips for you to help get you and keep you on track.

Tip #1 Drink Water!!! Water is so important for the body inside and out. Water helps the liver and kidneys flush out nasty toxins so the body can function properly. Water helps with digestion, it allows the bowels to move to keep us from getting constipated. Water can  improve your mood. Water can also help with weightloss and clearing up your skin, experts say to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces. DRINK UP!!!!!!!

Tip#2 Cook from scratch: I know some are probably wondering if they read this correctly, yes you did. Cooking from scratch can be helpful not only for your health but also for your budget I'd say that's a win win. When it comes to cooking from scratch I think it's much healthier for you. You know exactly what it is you are putting into your food, you don't have to worry about high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, MSG, Sodium nitrates etc. Avoid over processed foods as much as you can, you will be glad you did.

Tip #3 Don't skip breakfast: I am guilty for this, I know I know. Eating breakfast can jump start your metabolism, help with weight loss, and help with brain development. If you do not want to eat a big breakfast eat a piece of fruit, yogurt, or a small serving of oatmeal with blueberries. Eating a healthy breakfast helps boost your energy so if you are tired all the time you may want to make sure you are eating a nutritious breakfast. Eating breakfast everyday will provide you with the proper vitamin and nutrient intake your body needs to get through the day.

Tip #4 Sleep,Sleep,Sleep: Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and can benefit your heart, weight, mind, and much much more. In 2010 a study was done on women ages 50-79, it stated that more deaths occurred in women who got less than five hours or more than six and a half of sleep per night. Sleep affects the quality of life so let's strive to get more sleep. I know this may seem impossible to do especially if you have small children, a demanding job, or a hard time falling asleep  at night, but we must try to get the appropriate amount of sleep to be able to function and do these things. I'd like to try something this week, lets all try to go to bed an hour earlier to see how we feel. Can we do that? I KNOW we can!!!! 

This concludes our blog for tonight. Again I hope this was beneficial and I hope you all can incorporate these four tips into your daily routine. Thank you so much for reading. You all have a blessed night, and don't forget to eat your breakfast.

-Marquia Harmon

PRODUCTIVITY + HEALTH + PROGRESS

PRODUCTIVITY + HEALTH + PROGRESS

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I recently purchased a "new" car, and I've put quite a few miles on it! Not only are those miles on my car, they are also on my body! What happens when an individual does tremendous amounts of driving and spends hours in their car? Fatigue, exhaustion, and poor eating habits. My body is still recovering, but these are things that I must do in order to succeed in life & business. With this realization, I have challenged myself to do more, better!

Productivity is very important. With all of the driving and movement that I have been doing, there are other things that I did not get done! I didn't manage my time effectively and it caused me to be less productive over the last 27 days than I should have been (but family comes first!). Since I use Google for so much, I decided to start using the Google Calendar to help me stay on task. IT IS FANTASTIC!! I can map out  my day/week on Saturday evening before bed, and I receive notifications on my cell phone and my tablet. I get more done now that I have active alerts. I still love the Passion Planner for long-term goal setting, but I need something to alert me when it's time to shift activities.

Health is equally important for on-the-go entrepreneurs! I know that I need to have healthy eating options available! Most grocery stores sell individual fruit & yogurt or veggie trays and personal salads. No, you can't eat salad while driving, but there are also wraps in the deli that you can pick up. If you go to Publix, you can have a few made before you hit the road. Keep a cooler in your car with your treats. If you ride alone like I usually do, keep a smaller cooler on your passenger seat within reach for easy "snackcess!"

Don't try to defeat the road!!! When you feel your muscles getting stiff, pull off into a rest area and stretch. That five minutes of rejuvenation will save you a lot of physical pain and potential money when you finally arrive! Also, make sure that your vitamin B and Iron levels are within the normal range before your trip. Low iron along with poor eating habits, and lack of adequate rest was the cause of my extreme fatigue. I missed an epic symposium because I was unable to drive the 2 hours to get there. I actually checked myself into a Best Western and didn't wake up for about 4 hours (best sleep ever)!

PROGRESS: I recognize my shortcomings and how dangerous they have been for my body. I realize that I can not accomplish anything or raise my son if I am not here. It is very important to manage time effectively and take care of your body. I am mapping out my weekly/monthly schedule in Google Calender to ensure that I am able to do what I need to do, and I can reschedule anything that is not an immediate concern. Lets all be more productive and healthy from here on out!

~Shanta