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Theta Mom®

Redefining Motherhood

Mommy Did THAT

I recently attended a great event in NYC last week. Actually, it was held at the Faculty House of my very own alma mater, Columbia University. It’s been nearly 10 years since I earned my graduate degree so you can imagine how I felt as I stepped foot on campus after all this time.

When I attended back in the late 90’s, life was rather simple. I was living in an adorable apartment and working full-time. I had a great circle of friends and went out a lot. A lot. Attending school right in NYC made single life for a young woman very fun. Very fun.

[photo credit: Columbia University]

I had a great career and I was on track to continue moving up that ladder all the while REALLY enjoying my life in my early 20’s.

I did what I wanted – all the time.

Even though I only had to cook for myself, I ended up eating out with friends a lot. Laundry was a cinch and getting myself ready in the morning was easy since all I had to do was worry about myself. I paid my rent, had a few bucks to spare and simply enjoyed life in the big city. Now, stepping foot back on that same campus last week brought back some emotions because my life has changed so much since I was there.

I fell in love.

I got married.

I bought my first home.

I gave birth to two children.

A marriage, a mortgage and parenthood – life certainly took a different turn than the path I was originally on. I had big city dreams and worked my butt off toward a career I thought I really wanted. I networked, researched and earned that degree to bring me to the next level. But that career that I thought I SO wanted didn’t seem quite as important to me anymore once I became a mother.

Needless to say, laundry quickly became a big task and I was now feeding a family of four. My mortgage was much higher than my rent and I was suddenly responsible for the lives of two other human beings in addition to a husband. It became hard for me to get out with my friends as often as I would like and I still can’t drop everything for a quick manicure.

I have a picture of my father and I from my graduation day and it sits on my nightstand as a reflection of one of the happiest days of my life – because I chased a dream. My parents ALWAYS taught me to dream big and now, as a mother myself somehow, it makes me even prouder. I am still paying tons of student loans but I wouldn’t change a thing because that experience helped to shape the person I am today. You see, attending an Ivy League institution was on my list of dreams and it’s one of those things that I can tell my kids with a smile, “Mommy did THAT.”

Stepping foot back on that campus last week brought me back to a life I once lived – but I left with a new respect and appreciation for the life I have now. I realized how far I’ve come, how proud I am of what I’ve accomplished thus far, and also walked away with a new found sense of the amazing gift I’ve been given: to share this experience with my own kids one day.

Just as my parents had done for me.

Is there a dream you chased and accomplished in your life that makes you so proud? Do you have a “Mommy did THAT” story that you can’t wait to share with your own kids?

Juice in the City is Hiring: Job Opportunity for Moms

Juice in the City is a mom-founded daily deals company that aims to bring moms what they really want: great deals. Each day, Juice in the City features an incredible deal on the most fun activities for moms in their local area. In doing so, Juice in the City supports local businesses, communities, as well as moms returning to the workforce. The team of moms who identify, source, and write about the deals each day as presented on the site are the Local Business Consultants, better known as LBC’s. These “power moms” are the local influencers who frequent the businesses that are featured on JITC so they certainly know what makes a great deal!

Are you currently at home, perhaps raising your children and want to make some money while still having the flexibility of performing the work when it fits your schedule? Do you need a job in which you can set your own hours – between naptimes, snack time, play dates and doctor appointments? Well, read on Theta Moms! I’m sharing an amazing job opportunity for you!!

Juice in the City is currently accepting Local Business Consulting Applications (and you do NOT need specific sales experience to apply). You also don’t have to be a mom to apply, but what makes this site different than some of its competitors is that Juice in the City targets moms rather than young singles so the deals are more appealing to the majority of its audience.

Some quick facts about Juice in the City and why YOU should absolutely apply to be a LBC:

  • Becoming a Local Business Consultant is the perfect job for full-time moms because of the flexible schedule; moms have the ability to earn income and still be home with their children. In addition, approaching small businesses in the local community (many of which they already know well and have grown to love) makes it a rewarding experience. It’s a total win/win.
  • Juice in the City is a mom-founded company and the sales force is comprised of all moms. Therefore, the deals are focused on things that mothers and children like which makes this a great daily deals site!
  • Juice in the City is growing at such a rapid rate expecting to have thousands of Local Business Consultants by the year 2012. So if you don’t see your city listed right now, you should still submit an application because of the fast rate at which this company is expanding!!!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to share this business opportunity with YOU! I know the majority of my readers are stay-at-home moms, many of whom are always on the lookout to bring in some extra income while they can still be full-time moms. I can tell you that Juice in the City has some big plans and this thing is surely taking off – so apply now to be considered and start earning money as a Local Business Consultant. And don’t forget to subscribe to Juice in the City to receive the daily deals!

Theta Mom® abides by word of mouth marketing standards and believes in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. Juice in the City is a proud sponsor of Theta Mom and I was compensated for this post. However, all opinions expressed are purely my own and the content of this post was not influenced in any way.

A Few Quick Blog Updates

Today, I am guest posting over at The Truth about Motherhood. I am talking about none other than the sisterhood of motherhood and sharing my own truth. Would love for you to check it out!

As a side note, you must come back for tomorrow’s post since I will be dishing all the deets about an awesome PAID opportunity for some of you at home mamas, so get ready!

Can you say FABULOUS? I’m very excited to have the chance to help spread the word about this great opportunity which I know many of you would be a great fit!

In addition, I wanted to let you know that I will be launching another new and exciting “project” very, very soon. Each one of you who have supported me through this entire journey – whether you are a subscriber, a new community member, a reader who comments or one of my favorite tweets knows that this bloggy gig takes so much dedication and hard work, so when something totally fabulous comes to fruition…there’s no better way than to share it with you right here on the blog.

I absolutely cannot wait to spill the beans with you!!!

Trading Cradles

Trading Cradles is a free marketplace for parents to buy and sell gently used items as their little ones grows. This company is run and owned by a team of six, many of them mothers themselves. The executive team at Trading Cradles, like many other parents, recognized how much money is spent on baby and toddler items and how quickly these items are no longer needed. Therefore, they decided to design a site and create a space that would offer other parents an opportunity to buy and sell their items in a local area, giving parents a safe “place” to properly buy and sell.

The team developed this concept based on three ideas: Make it Easy (No registration is necessary to place an easy 250 character limit ad) Make it Free (There is no charge to list an ad or purchase a product from an existing ad) Keep it Safe (The parental team approves every ad before it is listed). These three pillars are what make this site so successful.

Initially, I knew the premise of the site sounded very similar to that of a Craig’s List and other similar sites but after checking out all that Trading Cradles has to offer, what sets them apart from other sites is that the team MUST approve each ad before it is listed, so any kind of spam or “fake” ad doesn’t get through. This enables the site to become a safe place to buy and sell, especially since you can target your local market, searching in a city nearest to you. What I also love is that Trading Cradles is dedicated to buying and selling ONLY children’s items, so it’s a specific market that fills a very specific need. You won’t have to browse through coffee makers and couch pillows to find what you are looking for – baby and children items!

Buying and selling baby and children’s items has never been so easy! Once you click on the city nearest to you, you can begin shopping immediately!                     

There are tons of items to choose from at affordable prices to meet your needs. It’s a total win/win for both the buyer and seller and Trading Cradles is the place that brings the two together! For more information and a full FAQ sheet that may answer any question you may have about the process, be sure to visit the FAQ page. You can also watch a short video that clearly explains how this site works on the How It Works page.

To stay updated on the latest deals and information, be sure to also follow Trading Cradles on Twitter, Facebook and the Blog.

Theta Mom® abides by word of mouth marketing standards and believes in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. Trading Cradles is a proud sponsor of Theta Mom and I was compensated for this post. However, all opinions expressed are purely my own and the content of this post was not influenced in any way.

Featured TMC Blogger: Mommy to Two Boys

TMC welcomes Jean, author of the blog Mommy to Two Boys. Jean has been one of those bloggers that has been around since this community’s inception and has seen my blog go through some major growth and change – and through it all, she’s one of those readers that is still with me. In fact, she’ll be the first to tell you that I inspire her but the truth is, she is an inspiration to me and so many others…I don’t think she even knows just how far her reach really is. She is a total Theta Mom in every sense, an amazing woman and mother, one that I am so honored to feature today. Here is how she describes her journey in her own words:

“Three courses away from my Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration, a year away from becoming an elementary school administrator, I gave birth to my first son.  He was diagnosed with Autism very early and my life took a turn I never imagined. 

I am now a stay at home mom so he can receive the best care including therapies and medical appointments. My career quickly, and unexpectedly, evolved into part time tutor, freelance writer, and blogger.

Through Mommy to Two Boys, I created an active community for parents of special needs and neuro-typical children, since I have experience as a mother of both.  After my son’s diagnosis I instantly became an Autism guru and advocate, and wanted to share my experiences, knowledge, and stories with everyone.  I express and receive advice, encouragement, comfort and understanding.  My candid, supportive and guiding voice inspires parents, ensuring them they are not alone.  Every day is a learning experience for parents, especially when dealing with special needs.  I enjoy sharing our frustrations, disappointments, obstacles, celebrations, and love. 

I have learned so much from my son that I truly believe it was meant to be; he was a gift I never realized I needed.  And most of the time you will find a good laugh, because we can’t take this parenting gig too seriously!”

Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter! New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members!

*To be considered as a Featured TMC Blogger, be sure to comment on this week’s feature! Have a great weekend ladies!