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I'm learning that it is better to take years and truly learn your craft then to dive in a only half know what you're doing.

I was reading a thread over on a haircare forum and the posters were really outing a lot of small business, WAHM companies for not being knowledgeable about their craft. I was embarrassed for the companies!

Since I have been researching a lot myself and looking up ingredients and beneficial oils and whatnot, I have learned a lot. I too have noticed how a lot of small businesses may not truly be educated about what they sell.

• Soap making- I keep reading some companies say you need to preserve bar soap! This is soap making 101, you don't need to preserve bar soap, liquid soap maybe but not bar soap! How can I have confidence buying from you if you don't even know the basics?

• Natural Hair- I instantly get turned off by people marketing shea butter, jojoba oil, and the like as moisturizers. This again is haircare 101 knowledge. Very few oils penetrate the hair shaft and, most other oils are sealants. A quick google search will lead you to this knowledge.

I hope small businesses step their game up and start putting their best foot forward because as customers get informed, we are going to start reading the fine print. When you are selling products and marketing them as "high end" you need to have "high end" knowledge to back that up.

We all like making money but, we have to be fair, honest and trustworthy. Know your stuff so you won't be embarrassed later on...

Currently, I am a SAHM (stay at home mommy) and I just can't seem to rest until I change that to WAHM (work at home mommy). For the first few years of my marriage I was a SAHW-wife but, I was always trying to find some business to start. I have always been this way, I think. I hated school once I hit high school, I never wanted to go to college, I hate 9-5 schedules but, I love working.

I love creating and crafting. I love making things with my hands (maybe it's a left handed thing?) and right now, me sitting at home with no business is killing me softly. I love to draw, make jewelry, mix up stuff and do computer stuff.Yeah, I like to do....stuff.

If I could build a huge business I would be a haircare/skincare, soap, jewelry, accessory making business woman!

I find that I have the most joy when I am knee deep in some type of hobby. I have so much craft supplies, it's crazy! My friends are always shocked when I tell them I know about making this or that.

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I know this post is kind of all over the place. I'm trying to convince myself to get back into building a business and I'm also trying to tell myself to chill out. I'm giving myself 4 months to research and get my plan together before I jump into anything.

Ugh...I feel like I will either sink or swim and I am too nervous to even try to swim...

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Sure, I may not feed my child Frosted Flakes for breakfast but, I don't have the right to tell another mother not too. That's not my child.

As mothers, we can get very passionate about the decisions we have made for our families. Knowing that we have chosen these things because we see them as beneficial, we feel like everyone should choose them too. The truth is, they don't have too. No one has to do what we do and we have to accept that.

I had to accept this fact as well. For example, I breastfed my daughter, I saw so many pros to breastfeeding and I never thought anyone would disagree with the decision. I figured all mothers should breastfeed their children. Breast is best and people who didn't were usually ill-informed or lazy. (I know right...) I learned things are not so black and white. Yes, I still believe breast is best and breast milk trumps formula but, I have also learned that every mother has a right to choose what she wants to feed her baby. I chose what was best for me and my child and I would hate for someone else to tell me otherwise or try and take that right away from me.

We live and we learn.

I have learned that when I focus on my own family and doing what is best for us, I am not concerned with sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Some things are just none of my business. I'm not the parent of anyone else child except my own and I will be held accountable for her and her only. Realizing this, felt so freeing. I felt a peace come over me, seriously. I'm no longer looking for a debate. I don't care. As long as they aren't breaking the law of the land, there isn't much I can do.

It's about respect. We, as parents have to respect what other people choose to do with their children. No, I may not like the choices they make but, I do need to respect them and act accordingly.  In doing this, I am teaching my daughter as well. I am teaching her that we may not like everything we see and hear but, that doesn't give us the right to put others down or belittle them. We have to be concerned with ourselves and what's going on in our own backyard.

I was kind of sad when I saw women (mothers) confessing to spending too much time on the computer debating and actually neglecting their children because of it. I had to look at myself, I didn't want that to be me. I only have one opportunity to raise my child right. I will never get this opportunity again, and neither will you.

I get to update my "Green List" because I will be trying mama cloth in a few weeks. I have already ordered and received my pads, I am just waiting on "The Aunt" to come back. I placed my order with Gem Cloth.

Aren't these pads gorgeous?!

Customer Service: Nice. She answered my questions within 24hrs. and went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable with my purchase.

Delivery: Quick. I ordered them on a Saturday night and received them on that following Wednesday.

Packaging: Nice. Everything was tied together with a cute bow.

Was it as described? Yes. The product I received looked as it was described on her website.

I have not used the pads yet but, I have washed and dried them and they looked and felt exactly like they did when she sent them to me. No shrinking and the colors didn't bleed.

*Make sure you read her site in it's entirety. Start here

*She uses fleece on the outside of the pad (the backing, the part that touches the underwear) and that fleece may or may not match your actual pad colors. This is something I did not know and was shocked to see when I got my pads but, after I contacted her she explained why it was like that.

Her prices are very reasonable and she has great feedback. I can't wait to try these pads out; I am sure I will be ordering more. I ordered out of the clearance section and I received 6 pads (3 heavy 3 regular) for $25 shipping included in pricing. 

You should try out some cloth menstrual pads- "Mama Cloth" when you can. It saves you money and they are so soft!!

Being a stay at home mother is a hard job, when you're doing it half right. (meaning you actually clean your house and take care of your children) But, one subject that isn't touched on often is the SAHM/WAHM burnout. SAHM/WAHM burnout is when a mother takes on too much; too many playdates, too many chores, and doesn't take any time for herself.

Contrary to popular belief among moms, it is possible to try to do too much. Everyone doesn't have the same stamina (?) lemme think of another word.... values (?) whatever the word is, what I'm trying to say is we all can't do what everyone else is doing. We all can't have 3 children and be sane, we all can't have a 5 bedroom house and keep every room spick and span. We  have to know our limits (yes, that's the word!).

You have to figure out what you can handle as a mother and wife. For some moms being a stay at home mom is enough to keep them busy and occupied and they don't need to start a business or volunteer lots of time outside of the home.

Get where this is going?

I find that a lot of mothers get depressed or burnout when they think they can "do it all" only to find out that they can't. We aren't superwomen! We aren't supermommies (I hate that term!)! We spend so much time comparing what we do with what others do and seeing if it measures up; stop it! Don't compare yourself to others! 

"Marsha does Bible study, playdates and hosts parties!"

So? Does that mean you should try to do all that too? No! Do what you can and make sure you're doing THAT to the best of your ability. If all you do is clean the house, cook, and take care of little Sprout; great! Do that with all your might, that's a lot of work too!!

I was reading on Opinionated Mamas (great blog) and they were discussing whether or not it was important to dress "nice" when you leave the house.

Here is a snippet of her opinion:
"On facebook the other day I saw a post and it really bothered me...it was a post from a woman, about being in public and seeing another woman in her pajamas and slippers at the post office. The woman who posted wondered how woman can let themselves go out in public like that, and not fix themselves up before leaving the house. Saying that women should be women and look good when they go out.

Really? What does it matter? I am not the type of person to judge people. So I guess that is why it bothered me so much. Maybe the woman was having a bad day and didnt feel like getting dressed, maybe she had a loss in the family and was upset and when women get upset we don't feel like being pretty. There are so many different things that could have kept her in her pajamas, maybe she was having a lazy day. "

My opinion on this:

Being a mother doesn't mean I don't need to practice basic hygiene. I find that some moms (I have been guilty of this too) get into a rut and think it's okay not to shower for days and not fix our hair. That's not okay. If you don't have enough time in your day to even take a 15 minute shower and put on some clean clothes, you may need to re-arrange your day. I'm sorry but, if I had to choose between writing a blog post and washing my rump, I am going to wash my rump.

Being that I have a daughter, I want to teach her as well that taking of yourself is important. You need to shower, brush your teeth, wash your face and comb your hair every day. And I am not talking about doing this for others, I am talking about doing it for yourself. I feel so much better with clean clothes on and a fresh rump. Don't you?

Now, everyone is going to have different opinions on what "dressed up" is but, to me, a clean t-shirt, some pants and sneakers is a nice outfit to wear out and about. As long as the clothes are clean and wrinkle free (don't iron? throw them in the dryer for a few minutes).

Now, I do agree that house slippers do not belong in the post office... a pair of flip flops would have been a  better choice. I am not a fan of pajamas out of the house because it just shows that you haven't showered yet or freshened up.

What do you think?