She read about Jania Fox running a half marathon and Beth Armstrong doing the Ironman- but realized as much as she likes fitness- the desire to run anything more than 3 miles wasn’t creating that fire in her belly.  She wasn’t burning to start her own business or create a charitable organization.  Then she remembered a dream that had occupied her in the past but never quite got off the ground.  Lisa had written a children’s book when her daughter Lauren was just over a year old.  She sent it out to a few publishers- but when those publishers passed on the story she let the project die.

She decided to resurrect her old dream of getting her story published.  Let me start with the climax and work backward.  Her story was accepted for publishing and you can check it out by clicking this link: Cookie, By Lisa Woomer.  Not only did she write this charming story based on her experience as a mom of a picky eater, but she also illustrated her own story.

The plot of the story is a scenario that most mom’s are familiar with: no matter how hard we try to get our children to eat healthy, most kids would prefer a cookie to broccoli.  Some of us moms (I’m not naming names) don’t worry too much about the broccoli situation- assuming it will resolve itself someday.  Lisa, however, is a different kind of mom.  You know that mom who makes her own babyfood with organic fruits and veggies?  That is Lisa.  Not many moms I know purchased a vegan cake for their child’s first birthday either.

Lisa has always had a passion for health and fitness.  She worked as a step aerobics instructor to pay for part of her college tuition.  When she was a teacher she regularly brought her students healthy snacks to eat in class.   After getting married and having her first child she was committed to feeding her daughter only the healthiest food.  As luck would have it she had a picky eater on her hands.  Her daughter, Lauren, would squirm and pucker when she fed her delicacies such as homemade applesauce and sweet potatoes.  But, by the time Lauren turned one, she began to recognize some foods that she thoroughly enjoyed…much to Lisa’s dismay- it wasn’t homemade veggies.  Based on her experience with Lauren, the story of Cookie started to come together in Lisa’s mind.

Lisa wrote the story knowing that she wasn’t alone in her frustration over her picky eater.  Rather than be frustrated by the situation, Lisa decided to find the humor in it.  After writing her story, she attended a workshop on how to get a book published.  From that workshop, she learned some valuable information about formatting and presenting a story to publishers.   She sent her story out to a few big names and didn’t get the response she was looking for. At that time she tucked her story away and didn’t pursue it any further.

Since her initial efforts, the publishing world has changed dramatically due to the advances in online book sales.  Thankfully, she renewed her efforts and was successful this time around.  Now, her children will add their mom’s book to bookshelves to be passed down to their children too.   You can buy her book online and support her courage and persistence in seeing her dream through to fruition.  If you buy the book in the next two months, Lisa will donate the profits to Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.  At a minimum, you have to take a look at the book by clicking the link here:  Cookie, by Lisa Woomer.   

I want to share Keri’s story because I think we can all find something important from her experience.  Keri was and still is an incredibly positive and bubbly personality.  Her energy is contagious and she is always fun to talk to.  She met her husband, Jay, when she was in her late 20’s and they settled down got married just like most of us have done.  It took a while for the couple to conceive, but when they learned they were expecting a child they were ecstatic.  Keri says, “When you are pregnant and expecting your first baby, you never imagine that anything will be wrong with YOUR baby.  You have normal first-timer worries, but you still imagine your life with a healthy child.”

Labor and delivery were normal and the new family left the hospital full of joy and exhaustion.  Jack was a colicky baby.  Since this is a common occurance there were no red flags.  However, as Jack approached the 3-month mark, Keri became concerned with Jack’s “flat affect” in other words, no expression.  Keri had several friends with young children and she noticed that by the time their children reached 3-months they were becoming increasingly expressive.  She began to fear that something might be wrong with her son- but was reassured by her pediatrician that all children develop differently.  But, with each passing day, the pit in her stomach grew.  Her gut kept telling her that something might be wrong with Jack.

Six months after the birth of her precious son, she was in the market and stood in line behind a mom with a little girl who was engaging, babbling and interacting.  Outgoing as she is, Keri started chatting with the mom and asked the age of her daughter.  The woman replied that her daughter was 6 months.  Keri’s stomach sank.  She couldn’t believe the difference in their children.  Jack wasn’t rolling, grasping objects or engaging with others at six months.  At that point, she started on a mission to find out what was wrong with her son.

She scheduled appointments with her pediatrician (again) and a neurologist.  Both of whom observed that something wasn’t right, but were unable to diagnose her son with anything specific.  Keri suspected autism at this point, but both doctors told her it was entirely too early to diagnose autism.  She was referred to a specialist at Children’s Hospital in Orange County (CHOC).  She and her husband were frustrated and confused by the lack of diagnosis thus far, so they decided to make a 30-minute video of their son, trying to capture some of his behaviors that they found troubling.

In July of 2004 they headed to their scheduled appointment not sure what to expect, their son was just nine months at the time.  They met with a doctor who talked with them for about 15-20 minutes then said, “I know what is wrong with your son.”  On the edge of their seats, they waited to hear the diagnosis.  ”Your son is autistic.”   Confirming Keri and Jay’s suspicions, but delivering the news that no parent wants to hear.  Jack’s autism was so severe, that even at nine months experts were able to see the telltale signs.

From the day that Keri and her husband heard the news, they began taking action.  All evidence has shown that early intervention in autism can produce amazing results.  At the same time, Keri admits that she sucuumed to extreme sadness verging on depression.  ”It’s one of those things that you think you might wake up and find it was just a dream.”  Keri doesn’t want to come off as selfish but I think we can all agree, as parents, we have those dreams of watching our children of play soccer or heading off to the first day of kindergarten, graduating high school/college, getting married and having children.  Not to oversimplify…but I know that I look forward to all of those common milestones in my kid’s life.  Keri was not only faced with the reality that her dreams would look different from what she envisioned, but also the responsibility of caring for a special needs child for the rest of her life.  When we talked, this was a focus of our conversation- she doesn’t get to look forward to these milestones with Jack.  Each time she stops to think about it, she feels like she is back on the edge of that “pit of sadness”.  She wanted to drive home the point that her sadness is not like being “bummed out”.   She equates it more to a feeling that her perfect baby and dreams for that child have died.  At the same time, having an autistic son doesn’t stop Keri and Jay from living a happy life- they continue embrace each day and find reasons to smile and have fun.

Jack’s case of autism is unique.  Even with early intervention, progress has been slow.  He can’t use utensils, he isn’t potty trained and he is unable to communicate his needs.  The family has left no stone unturned including special diets, occupational therapy, speach therapists: you name it, they have tried it.  One of the many wonderful things about her son include the fact that he does show plenty of affection.  Keri is relieved that he is so loving because it makes parenting him much easier and completely rewarding.  As he has grown, caring for him had become more difficult.  Another concern that Keri has is when the day comes that Jack over powers her.  It is scary to think about how difficult her job will become.

After several months of consideration, Keri and her husband decided to have another child.  Their main concern was the odds of having a second child with autism.  They were given odds of 1 in 7 when they consulted a genetic counselor.  But they really wanted to experience having another child.  Sam in now 2 1/2 years old.  With each milestone that Sam meets Keri is amazed and relieved that he doesn’t share his big brothers diagnosis.  Needless to say, she is a very busy mom.

Keri continues to struggle with bouts of sadness- the question “Why me?” still pops into her head.  Two things have helped minimize her sadness: focusing on the present day and building a friendship with another mom in a similar situation as hers. As a matter of fact, having a good friend who also has a special needs child has made an amazing difference in Keri’s life. 

Parent’s of children with special needs deserve to be recognized and appreciated every day.  I can’t  imagine how much patience Keri and Jay need to muster to endlessly anticipate Jack’s needs.  They rarely get a break from his care and they are unable to travel as a family since Jack is over stimulated by anything new.  After talking to Keri, I have a greater appreciation for the work and energy that it takes to raise a special needs child.  Instead of complaining that my kids want to go to the park, play basketball or ride their bikes (again) maybe now I will smile and say, “All right, let’s go!” 

By following her gut, she saved her own life and that of her unborn child.  The attacks of September 11th had a dramatic impact on all Americans.  But, for those people who escaped death and witnessed tragedy first hand the impact was even more profound.  On that day, Denise lost her boss, several co-workers and even knew a passenger who was on board one of the planes that was hijacked.  When we talked about how this has affected her life, she said after September 11th she had two choices:   she could spend the rest of her life reliving the events of that day or she could embrace the fact that she escaped death and live each day to the fullest.    We are sitting here today talking because she chose to embrace life.

Before I knew any of Denise’s background, I admired her.  Bright, warm and beautiful are some of the adjectives that swirled in my head when I saw her around town.  I decided to interview Denise for this site, because she is a stay at work mom and I have not yet featured an Inspired Mom who works in corporate world.  Denise works at AON International where she is the Chair of the  Women’s International Network (WIN).  WIN provides a global community for working women seeking mentorship, professional and personal growth, workplace flexibility, and visibility.  In addition, Denise writes for Mommytrackd.com (under Newsflash see “hot topics”) and does a radio show on MomsTheWordShow.com.  She is an advocate for women on every level.  Whether you are a stay-at-work mom or a stay-at-home mom, keep reading, there is something here for everyone.

I asked Denise some of her secrets for keeping track of her various commitments while raising a family. Her advice follows below:  

First, you must have a calendar/scheduling system that works.  Keeping track of your obligations as well as scheduling time for yourself can all be managed if you have a calendar or appointment system that is effective.  Some of Denise’s top priorities include breakfast with her kids, picking them up at school twice a week, two trips to the gym every week (hopefully three), one night out with her husband and, of course, work.  Her scheduling system keeps her from over-committing and forgetting important tasks.  It also assures her that she can stay true to her priorities.

Don’t overcommit/over schedule yourself.  Denise recently wrote an article which discussed a problem that many of us encounter:  too much to do and not enough time to do it.  This situation can be improved if we selectively say “no” or “not now” to commitments which do not harmonize with the list of priorities we have for ourselves and our families.  Furthermore, you will be less stressed and less likely to cancel or flake on those people who are important to you.

Finally, don’t feel guilty about the decisions you make.  Take charge of your destiny and move through life with vigor and happiness.  Denise decided to leave her office on September 11th- that saved her life.  She decided to continue working after having children- and she is proud of her accomplishments.  She takes time to go to the gym- because her physical and mental health are just as important as her family.

When I commented that she seems to live with no regrets, she assured me that she has doubts about the choices she makes just like the rest of us.  But, having doubts is a normal part of progress making choices. By trusting your choices and focusing on why those decisions have made you better or stronger you are more likely to find peace.

No matter what you want to do in your life, think about starting today.  Tell your kids you love them, thank your husband for his support, let your friends know you care.  Figure out what is important and be committed to your goals.   Life is too precious to make excuses. 

That’s why we could all use a great calendar or planner to help family life run smoothly and eliminate the likelihood of getting the dreaded call from school that your child is sitting  in the office because you forgot to pick them up!  Laura Marusa, a mom of two kindergarten girls, had a hard time finding the right calendar to fit her needs.  As a result, she dreamed up the perfect calendar then created it using her own computer and design skills.   She named her creation My Life On Time.  

The calendars that Laura creates for her clients are personalized to fit their life and family.  No two calendars are the same.  She will add the names of your spouse and children to the weekly planner so you can keep track of their activities.  Then, she will include any important dates or recurring appointments so you don’t have to add those later.   Finally, she will customize the theme of the pages and even change the colors if you don’t like the choices she has offered.  To top it off, she offers fun additions to your planner, such as pendant watches, coordinating pens, and paper clips.  Check out her  site: www.mylifeontime.com

 Two years ago, Laura’s life was quite different from today.  She had one daughter age 4 and was working as an Executive Assistant in Denver, Colorado.  She and her husband decided to adopt a daughter from China.   Around that same time, her husband took a job in Houston, Texas.  As they were beginning the process of moving they were also on the way to China to pick up their 3 1/2 year old daughter.  Given all of the changes in the Marusa household, Laura decided to put her career on hold until her girls were settled in their new lives and new home.  It was during this time that Laura came up with her personalized calendar concept.

Even though Laura was extremely busy with life (common amongst most moms) she slowly began to explore how she could bring her vision to life.  She did most of her research on the internet.  She was able to  find the binders and accessories for her calendars from the comfort of her own home after her girls had gone to sleep.  Once she had most of the pieces in place, she started creating for friends and family- who gave her welcome and honest feedback.  Finally, her husband created a website for her, so she could extend her reach outside her immediate community.

Now that her girls are in Kindergarten, Laura is able to dedicate blocks of time to her business.  She uses her calendar to block out time for volunteering at school, time for her business and time for herself.  The most important ideas from my interview with Laura:

There is always time to pursue your dreams- it might be late at night or early in the morning, but if you REALLY want to do it you can.

Be motivated by the product you create, feedback you receive and the satisfaction of seeing your vision to reality.  The profit you receive will come as a result of these factors. 

Be willing to make changes to your plan and/or product as you begin your journey.  Your idea may not be a new product or idea…set yourself apart by offering a fresh and creative approach that inspire your clients!

One of my childhood friends (pictured with me on the left), Bryn Colvin, is fighting cancer for the second time in 20 years.  In 1987, at the age of 17,  she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease: cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.  When we were in high school together she bravely battled her cancer while the rest of worried about football games and prom dates.   About 6 months ago, I finally apoligized to Bryn for my lack of the support at the time.  I make no excuses- I just should have been a better supporter.  I don’t even remember asking her how she was feeling or if she was scared.

At the time, the treatment protocol for Hodgkins disease was chemotherapy and radiation.  It is the radiation portion of the treatment that has most likely caused cancer to resurface 20 years later in the form of breast cancer.  Bryn caught the breast cancer early.  She is a great advocate of self exams and has gone in for a mammogram every other year since she was told she was a greater risk for breast cancer than most- given her past exposure to radiation.  In July, Bryn felt a lump in her breast and went immediately for a mammogram.  She was lucky to catch her cancer early and doctors have no doubt that she will beat this cancer too; but, that doesn’t lessen the battle she is waging now.

If I were fighting cancer for the first time, I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to keep a positive attitude.  On the second go-round, I might get sucked into some self pity routine.  Bryn is having none of that.  She looks at this diagnosis as a reason to be thankful for all she has been blessed with: two gorgeous children and a husband who is both selfless and supportive.

In August Bryn opted for a double mastectomy.  Her recovery felt long because she was anxious to get back to her busy life with two kids.  However, she amazed many of her friends by taking a new teaching job and was back at school getting her classroom ready three weeks post op.  Now, even while she is receiving chemotherpy every other week for 16 weeks, she is still finding the energy to get to work and teach her class of 5th graders- thank goodness she doesn’t teach preschool!   Surprisingly, Bryn derives some of her positive attitude from having to go to work each day.  Once she is up and getting ready, she puts aside her worries and focuses on enriching her students.

Being a mom has made this round of cancer more difficult for Bryn.  Even with a network of friends to help and a husband who carries the world on his shoulders, kids still need their mom.  Nobody else can substitute for the real thing.  Bryn is the kind of mom who doesn’t want to miss a soccer or football game and enjoys being involved in her kids everyday life.  It is a hard balancing act when you are tired and nauseated from chemotherapy.

The last thing that Bryn and I talked about the other day is how she feels cancer has stripped of all her external beauty.  Her hair has fallen out and her body is scarred from surgery.  What she sees in the mirror is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome in the short run.  She knows that she will regain her outer beauty, but in the meantime, she has to rely on the inner beauty; which, takes a great deal of courage.

Ever since I have known Bryn, she has possessed more kindness, caring and compassion than many people I know: this is the beauty that shines through her soul.  I know that Bryn will beat breast cancer.  And she re-emerge stronger and more beautiful (both inside and out) than ever before.

Erin’s journey to success was hard fought and included some setbacks that might have have caused many-a- woman to throw in the towel.  The lesson to be learned from Erin is that sometimes disappointment is part of the actual journey on the road to success.

Being creative is part of Erin’s make-up.  Her career started designing t-shirt for Nike and she worked in the apparel industry for years.  In fact,  the clothing industry was where she experienced her first detour on the path to success.   Erin and her brother were designing their own clothing line in 2001.  They put in countless hours sketching, creating patterns, and choosing fabric.  They purchased high end fabric from France and had all of the pieces cut here in Los Angeles.  Orders had been placed by stores like Nordstrom and other high end botiques.  Erin was working from her bed since she was put on bed rest at the end of her pregnancy with her twins.  Just when she and her brother thought the hard part was over, the truck caring the cut fabric to be sewn in Mexico was stolen and never found.

While they were partially insured for their tangible losses, the loss of time and energy was immeasurable.  Erin, was on the verge of giving birth and idea of re-ordering fabric, buttons, zippers etc. was difficult to handle.  She and her brother thought about starting the process over; but, their decision was made for them as the heartbreaking events of September 11th caused the department stores to cancel their orders.

Now ask yourself what would you do in this situation:   you have just given birth to twins and lost countless hours and dollars on your initial effort to develop a clothing line.  If your answer is: give up on dreaming and focus on the babies; you are in the majority.  If your answer is: continue dreaming and start creating videos for children- you are just like Erin.  And, that is what she did.  She worked as a co-producer on videos called BABY TRAVELS.  While the entrepreneurial spirit was there, Erin and her partner decided that their experience in this arena was not enough to get the project finished.

Erin never gave up dreaming and her next project brings us up to date.  What started with stationery and notecards has turned into an amazing line up of products from ErinCondren.com.  Take a minute to click the link- then come back to read the rest of this story.

Erin started creating personalized note cards when her young twins were napping or sleeping at night. Initially she made them for gifts and special occasions.  So many friends asked about them that she decided to sell some of her designs at a holiday “shopping” party that one of her friends was hosting.  The orders started coming and Erin found herself staying awake all night just to fulfill the orders she had received.   She hired Dice Media to create a website and business really started to pick up.  After merging with a much larger, fine art printing company (macrofinearts.com) she can now focus on new designs and products. And, as I said in the title, remember the name because she has  lots of other ideas up her sleeve.  Her creations include everything from personalized wrapping paper to life planners.  Her products have appeared on Ellen DeGeneres show and in US magazine. I have a few of my own favorites 

The family calendar hangs in my kitchen- this is the first thing I would take with me in a fire (after my kids and husband of course).  It has inspiring phrases for each month, stickers to mark every occasion and it even has our family name!  The other product that I can’t live without is the gift labels.  Not only do they save you the time of buying a card for every occasion, they save you money (because cards aren’t cheap) and they dress up any gift.

If you are working on your own business, remember Erin’s refusal to give up on her entreprenuerial ideas.   So be inspired to take a chance, give it a try, throw caution into the wind.  Know that your mistakes are your own unique way of getting where you need to be.  And, remember that the story is never over.

Fearless, intelligent, determined are just a few adjectives that I would use to describe Ally Conley, the owner of Mani Pedi Cutie. With two children ages 3 and 6 she created an upscale nail salon that is both eco-friendly and child friendly. When you read her story, you will understand why I chose the adjectives above to describe her.

The concept of an eco-friendly, child friendly salon came to Ally when she had her first child. After being home for three months with her first child, the fog of motherhood lifted and she discovered she needed a pedicure for an event that her husband wanted her to attend. She had no babysitters in her rolodex (being a first time mom) and no family in the immediate vicinity. The idea of taking a 3-month old baby to a salon with the overwhelming odor of polish, acrylic and acetone didn’t seem like a great idea. That’s when the idea of a family friendly spa first came to her.

Six years later, Ally has taken her idea from concept to reality. When Ally and I sat down to talk I got an in-depth glimpse of what she went through to create her spa oasis. I wish there was time and space to share the entire story. The highlights of her journey from start to finish included writing a comprehensive business plan, obtaining financing, finding a location, gutting and rebuilding the location, hiring employees and finally, opening the doors! Her biggest challenge was creating a business dwelling that met the rigid standards of city planners. This also added tens of thousands onto her initial planned budget.

Imagine the disappointment that Ally felt on the day that she learned she would have to completely rebuild her restrooms. Just when she thought she had accounted for every unseen expense, another one would pop up. Ally didn’t let any of these obstacles deter her. She has a mantra that she repeats to herself, “ You have to jump into the deep end if you want to find the treasure.” She persevered and has created a spa where mothers and daughters can enjoy spa services together.

Ally was very honest with me. She said there are days when she feels like the sacrifices she and her family have made were greater than she expected. And, there are days when the rewards of following through with her goal exceed the sacrifice.

Grab your girlfriends, daughters and nieces and visit Mani Pedi Cutie to show your support for the incredible effort of this inspired mom. I guarantee, you will want to tell your friends about it too!  The phone number for appointments: 310-376-9988 or visit: www.manipedicutie.com

PS A great website that Ally wanted to share with all aspiring small business owners: www.sba.org

If you are brave enough to share your vision with others you might hear some popular and expected responses. Of all the moms that I have met and interviewed each one has had their critics. Statements such as, “it has already been done”, “how will you find the time” or “what happens if you fail?” Instead of allowing any doubts to stop your pursuit, use the criticism to refine your focus.

This week I interviewed two inspirational moms who own their own businesses (look for those interviews in August). One of the businesses is called Mani Pedi Cutie in Hermosa Beach. The place is darling and the owner, mother of two, Ally Conley heard every objection in the book before she courageously signed her lease and got to work building her dream. She made her spa different and special in so many ways, you really have to see it to understand.< Nonetheless, she had a hard time finding a lease because she couldn’t find a landlord to believe in her concept.  Her critics didn’t stop her, instead they forced her to refine her business plan and strengthen her pursuit of the perfect location.

Another inspiring businesswoman who defied the critics is Erin Condren. Erin started with personalized note cards and created an amazing product line from there. Her calendar is my godsend. If Erin was deterred by the fear of failure or the idea that stationery already exists she wouldn’t be living her dream. She created a line of products that is interesting, unique and practical. www.erincondren.com

When you read Erin and Ally’s stories next month be inspired to pursue your own dreams.Criticism has it’s place, but too often I hear of friends who change their plan based on one or two comments that aren’t in favor of their idea.

Another positive point about the critics: they make you appreciate your supporters even more. I surround myself with individuals who want me succeed as much as I want myself to succeed.

I challenge you to share a personal dream or goal with someone close to you. Saying it out loud creates a certain level of commitment. Another thought before I stop…if someone has a goal or dream that they share with you, try to provide some positive support. Everyone needs a little encouragement to get started on the path to fulfillment.

Friends for several years, Karis Jagger, Marnie Owens and Lee Michel began to research how best to execute their mission. Familiar with “Baby Buggy,” an established organization in New York that collects gently used baby gear and clothing and redistributes it to local charities, the friends decided to model their own organization with similar goals in Los Angeles. Thus, in 2006 Baby2Baby was born as a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished families with children ages 0-4 years.  Their inaugural drive was an appeal to local friends that resulted in three garages full of baby gear and clothing. After cleaning and taking inventory, they loaded the items into their own cars and drove them to three local organizations: Beyond Shelter, 1736 Family Crisis Center and St. Anne’s.

The amazing response they received from their community inspired these three moms to continue their crusade. They organized drives in several different local communities, expanded the network of agencies with which they were affiliated, and reached out  to established baby gear and clothing companies in pursuit of donations and support. The passion Karis, Marnie and Lee feel about their cause was contagious, and the support they began to receive was proof that their work filled such a vital need.

Eventually, they outgrew their home garages and rented dedicated space in Los Angeles where they clean, organize and store their donations.  Each month, representatives from the community agencies organize a pick up from Baby2Baby of the items they need, be it bassinettes, baby carriers or clothing.  Baby2Baby even takes care to sort clothing by gender and age and wrap a small collection of outfits in brown craft paper decorated with a Baby2Babys logo sticker, to add a personal touch.   They dedicate one full day per week and countless hours throughout each week to help Baby2Baby grow and thrive.

Karis, Marnie and Lee personify the concept of sensing a need and taking action to create a solution.  Henry Ford once said: “You can’t build a reputation on what you say you are going to do”.   So often we have great ideas but fail to bring them to life due to fear, lack of direction or limited resources.  To date, these three mothers have donated 6,500 items to those in need, all the while raising six young children between them.  When I interviewed Marnie for this article, she never mentioned the words: too busy, sacrifice or impossible.  On the contrary, she offered thanks and gratitude to the sponsors and volunteers who help them make their organization a success.

I hope each of you who reads this will visit Baby2Baby’s website:

www.baby2baby.org

If you would like to help out or donate to items to this worthy cause you can drop off on Mondays 10:30-1:00pm at 5522 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 90019

Also, these motivated moms could really use some help with drives, sorting and organizing.  If you have time to help, please contact Karis by emailing: karis@baby2baby.org

My interview with Beth is posted to the right if you want to read more.