Search Results for: Mompreneur

Mompreneur Spotlight: Jillian Darlington of MomCo App

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about MomCo App.
JD: I was a stay-at-home mom when my son was born. I divorced my husband when my son was 2 and needed to find a way to support myself and my son so I purchased my favorite indoor playground. As Taylor entered elementary school, I decided to sell the indoor playground and invested the money into my new business venture, the MomCo app.

The MomCo app was truly inspired by my own life experiences. As a young mom, I worked tirelessly going to playdates and classes with my son just hoping to click with another cool mom to be friends with. After I got divorced, I downloaded the Tinder app. It made me think, “Why doesn’t something like this exist for moms to locate other moms that live close to them?” As the owner of indoor playground, I was always trying to find a way to advertise to my target demographic that was within my budget.

This is how the concept for the MomCo app was formed. It’s a GEO-location-based social networking app for moms to find friendship and support. Also, it’s the perfect platform for any business that caters to women and children to be able to list themselves so all the moms in their community can easily find them. The app is based on proximity, so the moms and businesses that are closest to you show up first. You can also plan playdates, get support through forums, save money through deals, find events in your area, learn about the best products for moms, and enter giveaways. It is truly a one-stop-shop app for moms.

The MomCo app solves issues for moms and small business owners. I came up with the concept in January 2014 and the official launch was in April 2015.

GG: How do you balance work and family?
I think work/life balance is a struggle for any working parent, but one thing that I love about owning my own business is the flexibility. Although I am extremely busy, it allows me to be able to spend time with my son and still be the type of mom that I want to be. I can go to school parties, sports events, birthday parties, etc. Being able to do these things are so important to me.

GG: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
I have a learned a lot along my entrepreneurial journey, but I have truly learned a lot by being a women entrepreneur in the tech industry in particular. You are the minority. I was pretty shocked at how you are treated, especially when it comes time to get funding. This industry is still dominated by men. I am hoping to change the perception of women in tech and teach young girls that they can go into this field.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Ashley Gartland Coaching

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Here at Gugu Guru, we love when moms support and encourage other moms; when we learned about Ashley Gartland Coaching, we knew we wanted to share it with all of the new and veteran mamas out there. Ashley is a life coach just for moms; her mission is to help all moms find their purpose and passion, while being a great mom and taking care of themselves, too!

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about life coaching for moms.

AG: The shorter version of my story is that I’d been working as a freelance food writer for about a decade but felt called to do something different. My career was great but I wanted something more. I’d always kept a list of “dream careers” hidden in my desk drawer and life coach was at the top. Shortly after I had my second daughter, I realized I could keep that list hidden and play the waiting game indefinitely. Or I could start exploring what it would look like and what it would take for me to pursue what I saw as my purpose beyond motherhood. So I did a lot of research and started working with a coach myself. Then I signed up for an intensive coach training to get certified and built the business I dreamed of as a life coach who helps moms find fulfillment beyond motherhood.

The moms I work with today absolutely love being moms but they also know they want something more for themselves. In either one-on-one coaching sessions or in my group program, Bold Mom, Balanced Life, I work with these moms to help them explore their passions and find their purpose beyond motherhood. Our goal is to create a balanced life that allows them to be the kind of mom they want to be and also be a bold woman making a difference in the world. That feels like a big goal at the start but as we work together these women learn that it is absolutely possible for them.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

AG: Any work-from-home mom will tell you that the lines between business and family often blur – and I’m ok with that because I think it’s important for my daughters to see me dedicating my energy to something I really believe in. But family will always be my foundation so I make sure it remains a priority by having some routines in place. For example, my day starts and ends reading and snuggling with my daughters and we always spend Friday nights together as a family eating pizza and watching movies. These simple rituals make sure that the balance never tips too far toward work – and I have similar routines I use to make sure I’m giving time and attention to my work and clients as well.

I also believe that balance should look different for everyone so the real key to balancing “it all” is figuring out what balance looks like to you first. For me, a balanced life includes time for family, time for my business and time for myself. I don’t give equally to all those parts all the time but I know they all have to exist in order for me to feel like I’m living a balanced life.

GG: What’s the best part of being an mompreneur?

AG: The freedom to set my own schedule and be the kind of present mom I always wanted to be is absolutely a benefit of being my own boss. But the best part of working as a life coach is that my daughters get to see me putting my energy into a career that I love. They see how much it lights me up to do meaningful work and help other women and I hope that leading by example in this way will inspire them to go after their dreams when they are grown too.

All photography credit to Hazel + Pine.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Jordan Reid of Ramshackle Glam

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This week’s Mompreneur Feature is: Jordan Reid from Ramshackle Glam – a lifestyle blogger and book author, Jordan covers all topics from parenting to travel to style. Her new book, Carrying On: Style, Beauty, Décor (and More) for the Nervous New Mom is the perfect companion for any new (or seasoned) mom out there.

GG: How and why did you start blogging and how did Ramshackle Glam begin? Tell us a little more about the concept behind Ramshackle Glam.

JR: In 2007, my career as an actress came to a standstill. I was working a day job I hated, and I fell into a deep depression: I was miserable, and disappointed in myself, and couldn’t see how I would feel differently at any point in the future. One night I was at a party and met a “professional blogger” (whatever that meant) who encouraged me to start my own blog. Despite the fact that I wasn’t exactly sure what a “blog” was, within a month I’d quit my job to write full-time. (This obviously isn’t especially sane or advisable; it’s just what I did both because I needed so badly for something in my life to change in a big way, and because, when I sat down and really thought about it, the idea of making a blog into a financially viable venture actually made sense to me.) I started Ramshackle Glam with an eye towards experimentation. When I started blogging I didn’t know how to cook, or how to entertain, or even really how to dress, but I wrote about all these things anyway. I was also newly married, with no kids, and living in a fourth-floor walkup in New York City. And so my readers have watched me try (and, very often, fail) over the years, as I’ve worked to learn how to do…well, all these things, plus become a parent (twice), buy a house (twice), and move from New York all the way across the country to the Bay Area.

Now I post daily about home décor, parenting, fashion, beauty, and entertaining, and make a living by conceptualizing and executing campaigns for various brands, mostly in the lifestyle, décor and fashion sphere. I recently opened an online shop called glam | camp with New York-based artist Erin Williams, where we sell things like coloring books for parents, the sweatshirts that we actually want to wear, and the coolest blanket on the planet (really). I’ve also written two books (Ramshackle Glam, in 2014, and Carrying On, published earlier this year), and have a third – co-written with Erin – coming out next year, which I’m really excited about. The site has turned into something I never saw coming, which is of course extremely exciting, but which also makes it extremely difficult to answer the question, “So…what, exactly, do you do for a living?” (I just say I’m a writer. Life is easier that way.)

GG: How do you balance work and family?

JR: This is something that I’ve been giving a lot of thought to lately. When I started out I was so anxious about figuring out how to make a living as a freelancer that I definitely did let my work and my life become almost one and the same – I was documenting everything, working on weekends and at night, and probably driving my husband nuts (although, to his enormous credit, he’s always been unfailingly encouraging). Lately, though, I’ve been trying to take a step back: to delineate clear, finite working hours, and to not let my work life overflow into my private time with my family. I have a team I rely on so I can use my time more efficiently, and so that I can delegate when necessary. Finding balance between work and family time isn’t something I always do perfectly, or even especially well, but I’m actively trying to get better at putting down the phone and the camera and the computer and being present during the moments when I can be. I have to say, though, I think guilt about finding this balance is something that plagues virtually every working mother, regardless of their circumstances (work from home, work from an office, have childcare, handle childcare themselves, whatever) – and while I certainly know where it comes from, I think it’s something that we’re way too hard on ourselves about. There are massive – and massively unfair – expectations placed on women today, and it’s up to us to support each other and acknowledge that it’s okay to love your work and love your family – and that “doing the best you can” is a pretty damn great thing to do.

GG: What’s the best part of being a “Mompreneur” and running your own business?

JR: Well, I’m writing down answers to this interview sitting on my bed with my laptop while my daughter eats lunch in the kitchen, and I have a feeling that in a few minutes she’s going to come running in and give me a big kiss and say “LAH DO MAMA” (that’s “love you, mama” in toddler-speak), so that’s definitely the best part: the fact that I can stop what I’m doing and go be with my kids for a minute whenever I want. But that also makes it difficult to focus, of course – and that guilt that I mentioned above happens a lot more when I’m working at home (as opposed to on set, which in many ways is much easier in this regard) and can hear my kids laughing (or crying) without me. I want to be with them all the time. I also want – and need – to work. It’s a constant internal struggle, but it’s also a balancing act I’m proud of being able to (mostly) handle. And really, I can’t emphasize enough how much I love what I do. Because it’s fun, of course, and because it lets me communicate with women all over the world and create products I believe in and tell stories…but also because I never know what’s coming. The next step is always a surprise. And that’s just so cool.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Wendy Colson of Boobie Bar

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This week’s Mompreneur Feature: Wendy Colson of Boobie Bar – a convenient herbal lactation bar with the “right” herbs in the “right” dose. It contains an entire daily dose of milk-making ingredients in a single bar – saving nursing mamas from having to pop pills or brew tea all day.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Boobie Bar.

From my direct experience as an IBCLC working with moms who struggled with low milk supply, I hand selected each milk-making ingredient known as a galactagogue. This patent-pending proprietary blend of herbs, the Boobie Blend™, is what sets our bars apart from any other lactation product currently on the market. I wanted to create something which could replace moms having to brew teas or pop 6-15 pills a day. Now you can get your entire daily dose of galactagogues (milk-making ingredients) in a convenient health food bar which you can take with you on the go.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

I found balance when I learned to let go. Before I became a mother, I was a planner extremist. I not only planned all three of my pregnancies, but even chose each one of my kid’s birthdays. Conflict arose after the birth of my first daughter because I was trying to be the same person, but with a newborn! It just wasn’t working. I began feeling a sense hopelessness if I couldn’t keep the house clean enough, prepare daily meals made from scratch, run simple errands in a timely manner, and check off my never ending “to do” list. My husband put no added pressure on me (He’s a saint). I was my worst enemy. I wish I could tell you I found balance with work and family soon after the my first daughter was born, but it wasn’t until the birth of my second daughter, 22 months later, when I realized I had to change my old ways of doing things or I was headed for a self-induced breakdown.

I took a much needed inventory of my life and decided that I needed to accept this was the new norm. I set new goals for myself each day which were now attainable. Taking a shower before 2pm became my new goal and on most days I actually reached it!

The changes I made to find more balance didn’t just stop at home. I decided after just two months of being back to work after maternity leave, I would be a happier mom and wife if I resigned from my hospital nursing position. I commuted an hour and half with two babies under the age of two which was insane. As they say, “When one door closes, another one opens”. My “retirement” lasted only nine months because I love what I do. I was offered a nursing job only three miles from home and job shared with another mom who didn’t want to work twelve hour shifts either. I chose work by its flexibility, not for its money. As my three babies got older, the more work I picked up. I started a private practice for lactation consultations the week my youngest went to kindergarten. For both my private-practice and at Boobie Bar I had to set boundaries with my hours. I make it a point to be home each day at 2 o’clock and cook and eat dinner with them. When they go to bed, I go back to work to make up the time.

GG: What’s the best part of being an mompreneur?

Most kids have a hard time explaining what their parents do at work. Whereas, my three daughters got to see their mom take an idea, use her education and evolve it into a product which benefits moms and babies everywhere. It’s the best feeling to be that kind of role model for my girls.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Kathy Boyanovich of Petite Vigogne

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This week’s Baby Product Mompreneur Feature: Kathy Boyanovich of Petite Vigogne. Petite Vigogne, (who we featured in our trend report on Central and South American Influence), sources the finest materials and partners with boutique factories to craft the highest quality bedding, handmade gifts and accessories in timeless, elegant designs.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Petite Vigogne.
I’ve been in the children’s business for over 10 years and was always passionate about sourcing luxurious fabrics for little ones. Their skin is so sensitive that they should only wear the finest materials available, especially when they are newborns. When my son was born, I wanted him to have the same quality bedding I did, but I couldn’t find it in the U.S. market, so I went to Peru, known for its long staple Pima cotton. Most high-end fashion brands manufacture in Peru. I found high quality linens and a fantastic factory with experience in luxurious baby bedding. When I saw the possibility was real, I decided to offer other parents in the U.S. the opportunity to provide their children with high quality baby bedding and accessories. Babies spend most of their day in bed, so I think they should be the ones with the better sheets at home! Petite Vigogne means little vicuña. Vicuña wool is the finest thread in the world and it’s original from Peru, so we thought the name represented well the concept of our brand.

GG: How do you balance work and family?
I think finding a balance in life after having a baby isn’t easy for a working or a stay-at-home parent. Your life changes and there is obviously less personal time, but the amazing thing is that the “family time” becomes your favorite time. I try to follow a routine, so when I’m with my family I don’t need to be looking at my emails all the time. When you have your own business you need to be available 24/7, but I think that a child deserves 100% attention and love, so keeping a structured day as much as possible is very important for me.

GG: What’s the best part of being a mompreneur?
I think the best part of being a mompreneur is to have the best of both the business and family worlds. I have the satisfaction and challenge of building a business, which is a dream I’ve always had, and, at the same time, I have the flexibility to organize my daily schedule so that I can be a mom every day and be present in my child’s life. The process has been incredibly difficult, as I continuously work many late hours, but his beautiful face when I put him to bed every night is invaluable. Being present in my child’s life when he needs me the most is my most rewarding achievement.

Our Favorite Black Owned Baby Businesses

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We are showcasing some of our favorite black owned baby companies. We teamed up with gorgeous mama, actress Jazmyn Simon, to chat about these brands and take a closer look at their amazing products. Want to see for yourself? Head to her Instagram and check it out, and read below for more info on these fantastic black owned businesses: @jazmynsimon

For Baby

Pretty Please Teethers: How gorgeous are these teethers and pacifier clips? They’d make a perfect baby shower gift! Plus, they offer more than just teethers from feeding items to bath toys to play toys. Follow on Instagram: @prettypleaseteethers

Stina & Mae: Stina & Mae makes amazing organic baby products, which include blankets, bibs, burps, newborn gift boxes, changing pads, and much more. At the inception, Stina & Mae has set out to create social impact at every level of the company. Their products are good for baby and the planet.

Darlyng & Co.: If you’re looking for simple everyday essentials for babies and toddlers, Darlyng & Co, a black owned business, is the place to go! Their ultimate goal is to simplify parenting through their unique product designs. Founded by Carl and Tara Darnley, Darlyng & Co creates baby essentials that are sure to simplify your life and bring much joy to your little one. One of our favorite products is their Alphabet Affirmation Cards for kids. Darlyng & Co has been featured on the Steve Harvey Show, Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine, Essence, Black Enterprise, and Marie Claire.

Partake Foods: Partake Foods was founded by a mom when she discovered her daughter had food allergies; she wanted to create a snack food that they could travel with, party with, and live every day with, which is safe for any child with food allergies. Partake Foods are free of the Top 9 Allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, fish, sesame and shellfish); as well as free of mustard, sulfite, and nightshade free. They are also certified gluten free and vegan – meaning they can truly be enjoyed by everyone together! Community and cookies? We’re down for that! You can see more about Partake Food in our foodie gift guide.

For Mom

The Stork Bag: If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a pregnant mama in your life, we’ve been fans of The Stork Bag for years and Jazmyn was thrilled to get her third trimester bag. The Stork Bag is not only a black owned business, but is your one stop shop for anything a mama might need in her pregnancy journey. You can select the subscription that works for you; The Stork Bag hand-picks trimester specific products to meet your trimester and postpartum needs. Simply tell The Stork Bag your due date and trimester dates and you’ll receive a perfectly curated Stork Bag every trimester! The Stork Bag provides three different tiers of product collections for each trimester, as well as specialty boxes such as the glam box and the foodie box. The Stork Bag was founded in 2014 by Ericka Perry and has been a phenomenal success since, sending Stork Bags to hundreds of mothers; you can learn more about The Stork Bag and Ericka Perry on our Momprenuer Spotlight, too.

Matrescence: Matrescence, by definition, is the process of becoming a mother. This transition requires lots of self-care, and that’s where Matrescence comes in. When it comes to self-care for moms, we love suggesting Matrescence. It is the ultimate gift for new moms, as it is a fantastic way to help women transition their skin and life from pre-pregnancy, to pregnancy, to post-partum life and skincare. We just wrote about their Rose Glow Mini Kit in our Self-Care Gift Guide, and Jazmyn has been a big fan of Matrescence for helping keep her skin bright, clear, and smooth. Their cleansers, brightening essences, and hydrating soufflé creams will make you feel luxurious and cared for, no matter where you are on your pregnancy journey. Conceived by a fellow mom and prenatal wellness expert, Matrescence’s botanical line will help you safely give birth to radiant, healthy skin and feel more confident and vibrant throughout pregnancy and motherhood.

Milky Mama: Created by Registered Nurse Krystal Nicole Duhaney, Milky Mama provides mamas with lactation support and products. When Krystal returned to work after her second child and began experiencing supply issues, she turned to homemade lactation cookies. After seeing great results and birthing a desire to help women in her shoes, Milky Mama was created. Today Milky Mama has a wide range of products from sweet treats to smoothies to supplements, but what’s more, is that Milky Mama has also fostered a community of lactation support through weekly Facebook chats and a support group.

Eu’genia Shea Butter: Founded by a mother and daughter, Eu’Genia Shea is family-run and dedicated to all-natural, premium shea butter moisturizers. We are fans of theirs for so many reasons, but especially because they are dedicated to fair wages and opportunities for their female workers in Ghana and they donate 15% of profits to an education fund. Shea butter is known for so many things, such as preventing stretch marks, hydrating skin, and making you feel luxurious and smooth.

Apparel

Twindollicious: Twindollicious, a black owned business, was founded by a twin mama in 2012 as a way to show off her twin daughters’ styles, and has evolved into a fun shop for girls, featuring accessories, clothing, and more. Jazmyn loves her mommy & me Any2CanBe Twindollicious & Co Charm Bracelet/Anklet to wear with her older daughter. Twindollicious has been featured on ABC, FOX, NY FAMILY, PARENTS.COM, and more. Twindollicious has a mission to inspire, motivate and support the creation of a healthy, happy and fun bonded lifestyle. They encourage friendship and love as well as sharing of commonalities through the inspiration of fashion and lifestyle stories. Their mission is to give back and spread their message in the friendliest way! They also offer beyond adorable clothing for little girls, that will help them feel strong, empowered, and playful! Founder, Natasha Danna is also a published author of several children’s books, also available on their website.

City Kidz: We are obsessed with the amazing boutique kids’ clothing from City Kidz! Their our collection is carefully curated, kid-tested and mom-approved. Follow on Instagram: @city.kidz

Yinibini Baby: We cannot get over the adorableness of the gender-neutral baby and toddler clothes from Yinibini Baby! Follow on Instagram: @yinibinibaby

Coco’Pie Clothing: Natural hair tees for kids? Count us in! Love these empowering shirts! Follow on Instagram: @cocopieclothing

Toys

Brown Toy Box: Culturally affirming toys, books, and activities that make STE[A]M accessible, representative and fun for Black children. Follow on Instagram: @browntoybox

HarperIman Dolls: The Gugu Guru team was swooning over these adorable dolls! There are so many to choose from, we couldn’t pick a fave. Now available at Target! Follow on Instagram: @harperimandolls

Just Like Me! Boxes: A book box subscription that empowers Black children by exposing them to books with characters that look just like them! The subscription is designed to grow with children over time. Follow on Instagram: @justlikemebox

More posts to check out:
Our Favorite Black Owned Baby Gear Businesses
Our Favorite Shark Tank Products for Baby
Matrescence Safe Pregnancy Skin Care Review

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10 Simple Work From Home Tips from Real WAHMs

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If you’ve found yourself suddenly working from home, as many of us are, whether pregnant, or with kids, we wanted to help you during the adjustment time by reaching out to some of our favorite work-from-home mom friends with their easy-to-follow tips and tricks!

“My number one tip for working from home with a baby is get yourself a Baby K’tan! Babies love to be close and snuggled, but mama’s still gotta work, so the Baby K’tan solves that WAHM issue. I love that they can be washed with your regular laundry and is seriously as comfortable as wearing a t-shirt. It’s my go-to gift for any new mom!”

– Olivia, Gugu Guru’s Social Media Manager

Baby K’tan is one of our top products for WAHMs, and we’re excited to tell you that all Baby K’tan baby carriers are 20% off through March 31, 2020!

“Working from home can be tricky if you need a large chunk of time uninterrupted. If you can organize some of your big tasks into steps you can do in 5-20 minute increments you will be a lot more productive and a lot less distracted when you’re interrupted that frequently.”

– Kaitlyn Pierce, founder of Pierce Social, and The Binka Bear

“Even if you’re working from home, you’ll need a good baby monitor. Evoz is a top-rated wireless network-based monitor that keeps you connected to your child via apps on iPhone, iPad or Android. Anywhere.”

– Monica Banks, founder of Gugu Guru

Click here to learn more about the Evoz Monitor and why it’s an essential baby product for working from home.

“Leave the mess until later. Try your best to forget about the dishes, to pretend the clean laundry is sitting unfolded, and to ignore the scraps of paper on the floor from craft time. I know it’s hard and annoying to look at, but if you keep going back to household tasks throughout the day, interrupting your workflow (while likely also being interrupted by tiny humans who need things!) you will never get anything done. Ask your kids to help clean while preparing dinner and then try your best to leave a power 20-minutes or half hour after bedtime to clean/tidy the rest. Don’t go longer than a half hour on a regular basis, because you deserve time to relax, too.”

– Colleen Temple, freelance editor + writer

“iPads and ice cream for all!”

– Megan Harper, Head of Marketing for Tiny Beans (and Gugu Guru Urban Mama!)

“Take an actual lunch break. People who work in offices get to to do it! You get to do it, too. Use the time to read an actual book (like, with actual pages) or talk to a friend. No screens, please!”

– Jordan Reid, blogger and author of The Big Fat Activity Book for Pregnant People

“Give yourself grace. This is NOT easy. Don’t compare yourself to other people right now (or ever).”

– Monica, My So Called IVF

“Babysitters! Even just a high school girl for 2 hours helps. Also, pay for the upgraded WiFi. And, don’t forget to get dressed every day – changing out of your pajamas into leggings counts!”

– Emily Ryan, founder of Westfield Creative

“I have found that often when my kids are bugging me, all they need are a few minutes of deep connection and true acknowledgment and then their anxiety lessons and they’ll go do their own thing and let me do mine.”

– Chelsea Long, Content Manager for Whole Mamas Club

“Meditation in the morning is key. Try to protect your morning, even if only 5-15 minutes, or whatever your reality is. I love the Journey Meditation app!”

– Ali Levine, celeb stylist and podcaster (check out her registry)

Interview with Surrogacy Journeys Founder Emily Westerfield

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Today we are so excited to sit down and chat with Emily Westerfield about her new company Surrogacy Journeys. As a mother of three and active gestational carrier, Emily Westerfield knows the ins and outs of surrogacy. If you’re considering hiring a surrogate to help you on your journey to grow your family, or you’re considering becoming a gestational carrier yourself, Surrogacy Journeys is a beyond valuable resource.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about Surrogacy Journeys.
EW: I decided to launch my business because there’s so many people out there who don’t fully understand how the Surrogacy process works. There’s so much that goes into this journey for both the Intended Parents and the carrier. Surrogacy Journeys does just that. SJ explains fully how the process works, what to expect, provides resources and even matches carriers and Intended Parents so they can begin to form a warm and close relationship to begin their journey.

GG: What’s one piece of advice or one tip you’d give someone who is considering working with a surrogate?
EW: From the moment you begin this journey you’ve already been through so much. Know that this is about you and it’s YOUR journey. You’re going to live on communication, trust and hope throughout the whole process so trust your gut and follow your heart.

GG: What’s one piece of advice or one tip you’d give someone who is considering becoming a carrier?
EW: Ensure you have support. Whether that be your spouse, family members, friends or a support group – you need others to rely on throughout this journey. You are doing a wonderful thing for someone else, but you also need to take care of yourself too.

GG: How do you balance work and family?
EW: Setting boundaries and batching time. As my children grow older and are getting more involved in extra-curricular activities, I am becoming more involved in extra-curricular activities too! 🙂 Ensuring I am honest and upfront about working hours and setting boundaries for both my clients and my family sets a clear understanding and level of respect as I tackle both. Also ensuring I am able to tackle all my to-dos during the day, I batch my time to work on particular items at particular times and focus on those without distraction or disruption.

What’s the best part of being a mompreneur?
EW: The best part of being a mompreneur is the flexibility. If there’s ever a school field trip, a doctor’s appointment or an early soccer game, I can always be a part of it. Our children are young for such a short period of time – I don’t want to miss a thing. By being able to set my own hours and build my business on my own time, I am able to hustle to help others in my business, but always be there for my kids when they need me. My kids are my “why”. They are the reason I work so incredibly hard to give them a life they so deserve.

About Emily Westerfield

As a mother of three and active gestational carrier, Emily Westerfield knows the ins and outs of surrogacy. Carrying for both singletons and multiples, she’s experienced in the processes, legality and emotion that surrogacy entails. Knowledgeable, resourceful and having helped numerous families (and counting) throughout their journeys, Emily’s ability to guide you through the options and process will make your journey less stressful and more manageable.

Great Mom Ideas: Binka Bear

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As any toddler mom or dad knows, it can be a really emotional struggle to take the pacifier or binky away when they no longer need it – but one mom decided to turn the struggle into a delightful story and accompanying bear – it’s no surprise that we’re fans of mompreneurs over here at Gugu Guru, so we’re thrilled to introduce you to Binka Bear! We absolutely love this idea, and especially because it really does start a family tradition about handing over the pacifier! Check out all the info below and if you like the idea, head to their Kickstarter and help make this mama’s dream a reality!

Finally, a No-Muss, No-Fuss- and Dare, We Say Magical- Way to Wean Your Child From Their Pacificers! Let Binka Bear replace your child’s favorite comfort item with a cuddly plush toy as they adventure along the journey of Binka Bear and the Magic of Willowspring, helping your child to lose the paci once and for all.

Step One: Prepare!

You’ve made the decision: it’s time for the pacifier TO GO! What now? Introduce Binka Bear and use the included Prep Guide to begin preparing your little one (and yourself) for losing the pacifier for good. The prep guide will include a couple of simple steps to make the process more effective before Binka Bear does his “magic”.

Step Two: Read the Story

Set special time aside to read “Binka Bear and The Magic of Willowspring” to help your child discover how Binka must wait for his magic to arrive- and how only your child can help make it happen by giving their beloved pacifiers to their new friend for permanent safekeeping near by, but out of their mouth!

Step Three: Give Pacifiers to Binka Bear

Watch as your child excitedly shares the magic with Binka Bear by sealing up to two pacifiers within his or her new best friend’s specially designed pouches located in each of his hands!

Shout Outs to the Originals

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Today we want to give recognition to some of the originals out there. Baby brand originals we mean. Like any other major industry, the baby industry has its fair share of knock-offs. Knock-offs can come from all different sources – sometimes they come from overseas, sometimes they come from industry giants who swipe and tweak a concept from a smaller brand or shop, and many times – believe it or not – small brands steal ideas from other small brands. While it seems almost impossible to squash this kind of idea theft in most instances, Gugu Guru did want to do our part to give a shout-out to some of our favorite innovators and originals today with the hopes that maybe you’ll consider supporting some of these brands when you shop in the future.

Ezpz is the the original all-in-one placemat + plate founded by Lindsey Laurain, a mom to three “wild and wonderful” boys who served as her inspiration. Lindsey created the ezpz Happy Mat because she was fed up with the messiness and clean-up time dedicated to each meal and needed a solution to make mealtime easier and less messy.

Founder Jamie Yetter breastfed all of her children and spent years searching for the perfect nursing cover-up. In 2012 (after the birth of her third daughter), she set out to come up with a solution. Covered Goods is the industry’s first four-in-one nursing cover—it can also be used as a car seat cover, shopping cart cover, or scarf.

The idea for Chewbeads began in 2009 shortly after the birth of founder Lisa Greenwald’s son. Like most babies, he loved to put everything in his mouth and necklaces were a favorite. Like most moms, Lisa didn’t feel comfortable letting him chew on them, with concern that they might break or have unwanted chemicals. As a veteran of the fashion industry, Lisa set out to create soft, non-toxic baby teether jewelry, which was colorful, chic and, above all else safe. Hence, Chewbeads!

Founder Jessica Rakos came up with the design of Bellifly during her pregnancy with her middle baby. Like so many moms-to-be, she found sleeping on her side to be uncomfortable once her belly started getting big enough to pull on her spine. Belly wedges just weren’t cutting it and traditional maternity pillows didn’t give her the belly support she was looking for… plus, she didn’t want to spend a fortune! Using her limited sewing skills, she constructed a version of a “perfect” pillow and Bellifly was born.

Amy Maurer Creel founded Smart Mom after her sister-in-law died suddenly of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Smart Mom LLC is a truly unique company staffed entirely by Moms. A safe alternative for fashion-loving moms available exclusively at buybuy BABY, Teething Bling by Smart Mom combines the functionality of a superior teether with accessory-fun style. The chic, 2″ x 2″ doughnut-shaped pendant is made of food-safe silicone.

Anyone who knows Gugu Guru, knows that we just LOVE the Fridababy Snot Snucker. Fridababy was founded by mompreneur extraordinaire, Chelsea Hirschhorn. When it comes to the innovation, design and development behind the brand’s line, Chelsea says she can tie each of Fridababy’s products to a very specific pain point that she has personally experienced navigating parenthood over the past years.

On a family vacation, founder Carla Schneider was desperate to soothe her newborn son, who would fuss whenever his pacifier went missing. In an aha moment, she took a hotel sewing kit and a plush toy and created what is now, 18 years later, an extremely successful invention called The WubbaNub.

Amy and Julie are the two ‘mumtrepreneurs’ who started Cheeky Chompers while on maternity leave with their first children. The Neckerchew was born after countless dropped, dirty and lost teethers. Not to mention a gaggle of dribbling babies! Sometimes the simplest ideas really are the best: if the teether won’t stay put, why not attach it to the baby?

Why do we encourage you to consider supporting the originals when possible?
Well, for one, in our industry many of the innovators are moms – a group that we generally like to support and lift up, seeing that Gugu Guru is also mom-founded.

Another big and arguably more important reason is safety – especially when it comes to poorly manufactured knock-offs. Our resident safety expert, Alison Jacobson AKA Safety Mom strongly suggests you don’t opt for a knock off just because of the price. “We all know how expensive it can be “gearing up” for a baby and, while it’s not necessary to purchase high-end items, it’s critical that you purchase items that meet the safety standards developed by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Now more than ever moms are shopping online and it’s tempting to shop the deals – but make sure you’re buying from a company that adheres to all U.S. testing requirements. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a great site to determine if a company is meeting all safety standards. Saving a few dollars is not worth the risk of your baby’s safety.”

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