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Meet Featured Sister Maureen Anderson

April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERAIf you’ve ever been interested in homesteading and sustainable living practices, take a minute to visit Hearthside Farm and Tasha’s Own Goat’s Milk Soap. Maureen Anderson and her family live and work on their rural farm in Virginia where they not only provide for their family (including her eight children) but also produce goods and services to meet the needs of a growing community. I’ve had the privilege of receiving some of the fragrant and clean Tasha’s Own soaps and enjoying fresh vegetables from her farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program. My children have learned about farm life while exploring Hearthside Farm with Maureen’s daughter Mairin. It truly is a special place – where hard work and strong values produce a simple life filled with many blessings. You can learn more about Maureen and her family farm by watching this video: 

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Meet Featured Sister Maureen Anderson

Business Name: Tasha’s Own Goat’s Milk Soap

Business Description: All-natural soap made from our own goats’ milk and farm grown herbs. Homesteading classes, sustainable living programs and camps for children.

Maureen’s Story: 

Our family began raising goats to meet our daughter’s dairy needs as she was allergic to cow’s milk. A friend suggested that we try making soap. It was so fun and easy and we felt good knowing every ingredient that was going onto our skin. Several shop owners expressed an interest in our product and local papers wanted to write about our farm, our family, and our philosophy. More businesses expressed interest in carrying the soap and we were so successful at craft and art shows that we decided to turn it into a full time venture. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured Member, Inspiration, Motherhood

Ten Weird Things I Love About Being a Mompreneur

February 14, 2013 by 5 Comments

Work from HomeWhenever I ask women what they love about being a mom entrepreneur or working from home, I always get the same response: the flexibility to set my own schedule so I can spend more time with my family. Flexibility is the overwhelmingly popular benefit of owning a home-based business as a mom. But beyond that, what else is so wonderful? What are the other surprises and joys that come from running a business and raising children under the same roof? Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Ten Weird Things I Love About Being a Mompreneur

1. Saying yes. When you run a business and raise a family at the same time, there are lot of things you have to say no to, but there are also some things that you get to say yes to. Like stopping by the school to drop off a forgotten item, taking a day trip with the kids, visiting a friend in the hospital or volunteering as a Girl Scout leader. If I worked full time in a J-O-B, those things would be out of the question.

2. Soaking up some quiet. If you’re a homeschooling mom or your children are still babies, you may not appreciate this…but I treasure the quiet in my home from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm every day. I don’t turn on the TV or radio at all. I don’t even answer the phone unless I have to. I just bask in the calm between the storms that bookend our daily lives as a busy family. And yes – I get a whole lot of work done, too!

3.  The office infirmary. With three active kids in elementary and middle school, we’re exposed to a lot of germs around here. When one of them is run down with a bug, it doesn’t set my world in a tailspin. I can administer Saltines and chicken soup in between writing blog posts and doing radio interviews. Easy peezy.

4. Yoga pants. Enough said.

5. My own cooking. Now, I’m not the best chef on the planet, but I do take the time to prepare healthy and delicious meals for myself and my family. I pack four lunches a day and I love the fact that I don’t have to pack one for myself. I can just go the fridge and grab something homemade for lunch. Of course, I still make time for lunch with friends and colleagues on occasion because I love going out to eat. But on a daily basis, I get to eat in my own kitchen. And I have more time to prepare healthy dinners too. I kinda love that. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Motherhood Tagged With: , ,

Interview and Book Giveaway With Author Sarah Reinhard

November 19, 2012 by 2 Comments

Today, we’re excited to bring to you a fellow contributor to CatholicMom.com, inspirational blogger and speaker Sarah Reinhard, who recently released A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy. When I learned Sarah was writing a book for expectant mothers, I knew I wanted to share it with you! Sarah graciously offered to visit us here at the International Christian Mompreneur Network. So grab a cup of tea and read the behind-the-scenes story of how one woman came to write a book about walking with Mary through pregnancy. (Oh, and keep reading to the end for a chance to win a copy of her book – for yourself or a friend!)

Q: How did you come to write this book and what gave you the courage and confidence to share personal details and experiences on pregnancy?

A: This book was actually not my idea. It was the brainchild of a brilliant editor at Ave Maria Press, Kristi McDonald. Pregnancy is about the last thing I would have wanted to write about, for a number of reasons. I accepted the project, though. I can’t say I was inspired, though I was curious. There did seem to be a place for a book like this, a gap in what was available to Catholic women. 

My goal wasn’t to provide a Catholic version of What to Expect when You’re Expecting, but rather to provide another voice to guide Catholic women through pregnancy and to offer a unique perspective.

I didn’t write this book because I care a crazy amount about pregnancy, because I long to get pregnant again, or because I want to counsel women at one end or another of that spectrum.  I wrote it, in the end, because I’ve been the young mom (and still am in so many ways). It’s because I have needed to hear things, and I have, thanks to many of the women who share so generously of their time, their writing, and their wisdom.

Through all of this, Mary is involved, and that’s really where the heart of the project remains for me. As I struggled with feeling like the most ill-equipped person to write this book, it was the image of the Blessed Mother that was my encouragement. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christian, Motherhood
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