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Sitterberry App: Never Get Left in a Lurch

2016/03 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

Fellow parents, how many times have you had to cancel plans because you couldn’t find a babysitter or your sitter canceled last minute? What if I told you that being left without a sitter was a thing of the past, as is scrambling to find cash to pay your sitter? Well, my friends, the Sitterberry app is helping parents and sitters everywhere!

The Sitterberry app allows parents to view their pool of babysitters' availability and easily book and pay sitters at the touch of a button.

My experience with sitters isn’t great. We live away from family and friends, so our network for finding good sitters is, well, nonexistent. I’m pretty laid back when it comes to parenting, but I have a difficult time trusting a complete stranger to watch my kiddo when I’m not around.

For about nine months before D. began nursery school, my solution to getting work done during the week was to hire a mother’s helper. I really just needed someone to occupy my little guy and make sure that he didn’t climb the bookshelves or draw on the walls while I worked in the next room. Using Care.com, I struggled to find anyone, and the mother’s helpers I did find and hire weren’t especially committed to the job. Womp-womp!

After speaking with Kathleen Malone, founder of the Sitterberry app, I discovered that I was going about things all wrong. Care.com findings show that it’s normal for families to go through 4-5 sitters per year. Here I was, throwing all of my eggs into one basket and then scrambling when my mother’s helpers left. My downfall? According to Malone, “it’s important to have 4-5 babystters on hand at any given time.”

What I was doing right, however, was using a service like Care.com to find and screen sitters, though word of mouth or recommendations from friends are close seconds. If you’re like me, living in an area with little to no connections, Malone suggests asking camp counselors, after school activity teachers or preschool teachers/teacher’s aids. In fact, the summer camp Malone’s children attend provides parents with a sheet of contact information for those camp counselors on staff who are also available for babysitting jobs. Genius!

So, how does the Sitterberry app fit into all of this? Once you have 4-5 sitters in your hopper, or 5+ if you’re really lucky good, it’s time to use Sitterberry so that you’re never left without a babysitter.

@Sitterberry helps parents book/pay babysitters at the touch of a button! Download FREE today!

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The Sitterberry app allows parents to add their pool of sitters within the app, and in turn, their sitters use Sitterberry to load their calendars of availability. Each sitter’s information is stored, allowing parents to check availability and request them at the touch of a button. No more phone tag, no more phone chains; all of your sitters in one place!

The Sitterberry app allows parents to view their pool of babysitters' availability and easily book and pay sitters at the touch of a button.

It gets better, my friends. You can pay your babysitter through the Sitterberry app, using Venmo. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself having forgotten to get cash (I never keep cash on hand) and uncomfortably asking my sitter if it was okay if I wrote her a check. Many, many times. With the Sitterberry app, you simply navigate to your sitter’s contact information and select “Pay”. The app will carry over the rate, so you need only enter the number of hours and tip to calculate your payment — brilliant!

As for me, I’m working on gathering together a pool of trusted sitters so that I’m able to use Sitterberry. Anyone have any leads on a great sitter in the Philadelphia area?

You can discover more about Sitterberry at sitterberryapp.com. To find out the latest news and information from Sitterberry, connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Download Sitterberry for free on iTunes today, and breathe new life into your social game!

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Filed Under: all, blog series, Editorial, featured WAHMs, Parenting, topics

Mason Dixon Children’s Goods Launch

2015/07 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

One more week of our countdown celebration! Six lucky winners so far and our last #mdgoeslive giveaway will be announced Monday! #masondixonmade #launchcountdown #kidsbrand #kidsfashion @bazaart

A photo posted by @masondixonmade on Jul 25, 2015 at 3:55pm PDT

If you’ve followed lo-wren for any length of time, you know my affinity towards work at home moms (WAHMs), small/family owned business, and local business. Two of my favorite cloth diaper brands, Buttons and Smart Bottoms, are run by husband and wife teams, in a scenario where starting a family gave birth to a business idea.

Cutting out derbys from a gorgeous Italian suede! #wecutbyhand #details #womenatwork #makers #womenentrepreneurs #mompreneurs #masondixonmade

A photo posted by @masondixonmade on Jul 20, 2015 at 11:11am PDT

I am excited to announce the launch of Mason Dixon, a boutique line of children’s goods handmade in Philadelphia! Mason Dixon is a husband and wife team, with Heather Holiday designing and her husband, Dusty Mears, assisting with production. Holiday left her graphic design career to found and launch Mason Dixon, which is truly a labor of love. Holiday and Mears work from a home studio and are parents to two young children.

https://instagram.com/p/5a0OfWObhV/

The shoes. The shoes! Classic in style, handcrafted, and with a mission to create heirloom quality goods, Mason Dixon shoes will be available for purchase on their website Saturday, August 1.

Responsibly produced, Mason Dixon will begin by offering two shoe styles: derby shoes (sizes 3-10) and soft-soled booties (sizes newborn-12 months). Mason Dixon shoes are made from soft suedes from Italy, Spain and Germany, featuring leather sourced as a by-product of food sources. Insoles are 100% vegetable tanned leather, breathable, eventually molding to the shape of the foot — perfect for early walkers! Shoe soles are made from 100% genuine plantation crepe petroleum-free rubber. Folks, these shoes are to die for! Beautifully crafted in timeless styles, Mason Dixon shoes easily transition from denim to dresses or slacks.

I am excited to announce the launch of Mason Dixon, a boutique line of children's goods handmade in Philadelphia!

Initially launching with their shoe line, Mason Dixon will be adding nursery items, such as handmade baby quilts, in the near future. To shop Mason Dixon, visit their website: masondixonmade.com. If you’re local, you can purchase Mason Dixon goods at Pucci Manuli in Ardmore, Pa & hatch in Ambler, Pa.

To find out the latest Mason Dixon news, visit them on social media, via Facebook or Instagram. Don’t forget to purchase your #cuteshoes when the site launches on August 1st!

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Filed Under: all, blog series, Editorial, featured WAHMs, Natural Living, products Tagged With: boutique shoes, handmade shoes, mason dixon made, mason dixon shoes

5 Fast Tips for Stressed Out Mothers

2015/04 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

Today’s blog is a guest post by Julie Bel Conner, owner of Happy Mommy Coaching. No stranger to the stresses of parenting, Julie offers 5 quick tips for stressed out mothers.

I have spent many years of motherhood in a fog of exhaustion, depression, anxiety and stress. Throughout my journey with my three boys I have learned tools that have given me a new perspective on life. I know that the struggle is real for millions of mothers out there and this is why I now work with moms to help them be their awesome selves as well as parents. It is truly a balancing act to find love for your children and family as well as love for yourself.

I am a Happy Mommy Coach, a yoga and meditation teacher, a Reiki practitioner and lover of all things good for the soul. My lifetime of depression and anxiety is what brought me to this place to help heal the mothers in this world and ensure we are loving life so that our children will too. I wholeheartedly stress stress relief.

5 Tips for Stressed Out Mothers

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: all, blog series, Editorial, featured WAHMs, guest posts, ideas, Natural Living, Parenting, topics Tagged With: happy mommy coach, julie bel conner, life coaching, parenting tips, stress management, stress relief, time management, yoga

SandCrate.com: Making Your Idea a Reality

2014/12 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

My featured WAHM series is just one of the ways I try to support work-at-home-moms, offering them the space to share about themselves and their business, while I promote them through social media. I’ve been there; trying to run a small business, while managing children and home, and it’s difficult! I’m thankful that my freelance writing and marketing business is a small endeavor, and (usually) able to be tackled during my son’s naps and bedtimes. But what about those WAHMs with big business ideas, a limited network and few connections? If this is you, SandCrate.com may be the perfect answer to your business-building endeavor.

SandCrate.com: networking for small business, creatives, and ideas people.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: blog series, featured WAHMs, reviews|sponsored, sponsored Tagged With: business ideas, business networking, creatives, SandCrate, small business, startups, WAHM

Featured WAHM: Turn Your Baby

2014/11 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

Guest Post Image

Did you know that nearly half of newborns develop a flat spot by their second month? Even if most cases are mild, doesn’t that seem unacceptable? I thought so, especially when so much focus is put on “Back to Sleep” which has made flat spots more prevalent. What makes this figure even more alarming is that flat spots can largely be prevented through simple techniques such as regularly rotating a newborn’s head each time he or she sleeps.

TurnBaby

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: blog series, Editorial, featured WAHMs Tagged With: flat head syndrome, IndieGogo, parenting, positional plagiocephaly, Turn Your Baby, WAHM, work at home mom

Project Pomona ECO Fit Shorts

2014/07 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

ProjectPomona3

If you’ve been hanging out in cloth diaper circles for any amount of time, you’re sure to have heard of Project Pomona.  Cloth diapering parents are lucky to have the inside scoop on Project Pomona’s amazing pants and shorts, but the truth is that their clothing is perfect for every type of diapered bum.  I bought Declan his first pair of Project Pomona jeans last fall and I love how great they fit his fluffy [and now non-fluffy] bum.  Because D’s so lean, we’ve not had many issues with pants [not fitting], but a couple of favorite pairs of Gap jeans did give him that strange “man belly” look (you know, the one where a man’s stomach looks like a woman’s in pants).  Enter Project Pomona.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Accessories, blog series, Cloth Diapering, featured WAHMs, General Topics, Natural Living, products, reviews|sponsored, sponsored Tagged With: baby clothing, cloth diaper accessories, cloth friendly shorts, potty training, toddler clothing

Featured WAHM – Sun Angels Sun Protection Sleeves

2014/07 By Lauren B. Stevens 1 Comment

Today’s featured WAHM, Stacy DeVreese, is the co-founder/owner of Sun Angels sun protection sleeves.  I worked with Sun Angels last summer, and absolutely love their no-mess sun protection gear; you can read my review HERE.

sunangels

Sun Angels was formed because sun protection is a big concern of mine. As a kid myself I spent too much time in the sun. I wanted to make sure my kids would understand that sun protection is important to their overall health and wellness. So from day one my kids have worn hats and sunscreen. But I found sunscreen to be so hard to get on a wiggly, squirmy toddler. I started brainstorming with my sister-in-law who was facing the same challenge with her two young boys.   Sun Angels was started with the goal of making sun protection easier. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: blog series, Editorial, featured WAHMs, Giveaways, giveaways, guest posts, ideas, Natural Living, products, sponsored, sun protection Tagged With: guest post, natural sunscreen, sun protection, sunwear, WAHM

Farmer George’s Busy Morning

2014/05 By Lauren B. Stevens 1 Comment

Reading is a very important part of my family’s daily life, and we take every opportunity we can to find new books [adventures] to explore.  I’ve tried to write about what children’s books we’re reading, in order to suggest some favorites, but I can never keep up!  Allow me to introduce one of Declan’s favorite books at the moment: Farmer George’s Busy Morning.

Clare Bickers, co-author of Farmer George’s Busy Morning, sent us a copy to review for you.  I love the premise behind this book; not only is Farmer George a fun, educational book that provides children with a behind-the-scenes look at farm life, but the profits from books sales are then reinvested into long and short term green projects: an example of social entrepreneurship.  Therefore, with each book purchase, you are enriching your own children’s lives through reading and education, supporting small business and entrepreneurship, and helping the reforestation effort; all of that in just one purchase!

FarmerGeorgeBusyMorning

So, what about the book itself?  From the moment I opened the package, Declan has been captivated by Farmer George’s bright colors, lovable characters, and farming duties.  Farmer George is a real person; his farm is real, and his lovable sidekicks Evie and Lilly are also real (Declan is taken with these Jack Russell pups).  Farmer George’s farm is in Western Australia, and features a varied collection of animals: cows, goats, sheep, alpacas, and…Jack Russell Terriers.

The vividly colored illustrations, varied farm animals, and heavy cardstock paper make this a perfect read for my almost two-year-old.  I love that Farmer George’s trusty companions, Evie and Lilly, make appearances throughout the book, as Declan is truly taken with them, always eager to see what antics or helpful things they’re up to next!  The end pages at the back of the book are a collage made from a collection of photos of the real Farmer George, Evie, Lilly, and farm animals; Declan likes to take his time looking at the photos each time we finish the story.

If you’re looking to add another title to your home library, or if you’re looking for a green cause to support, pick up a copy of Farmer George’s Busy Morning.  You can purchase a copy through Amazon HERE.  To find out the latest news from Farmer George, you can connect on Facebook and Twitter.

 Want to win a copy of your own?  FarmtimeStories.com is giving away (1) copy of Farmer George’s Busy Morning AND a $15 Amazon gift card to one lucky reader!  Click HERE to enter.

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Filed Under: blog series, featured WAHMs, products, reviews|sponsored, sponsored, what we're reading

6 Questions to Ask When Buying, Selling, and Trading Cloth Diapers

2014/05 By Lauren B. Stevens 43 Comments

I’m delighted to have Jennifer Hill, owner of Re-Diaper.com, guest post on the blog today.  A professional buyer, seller, and trader of cloth diapers, Jennifer offers some wonderful tips for entering into the wonderful cloth diaper B/S/T world.

The market for gently used cloth diapers is huge and only going to get bigger as far as I can tell.   There are multiple forums for you to choose from for your transactions:

  • ClothDiaperTrader.com
  • Diaperswappers.com
  • Spots Corner
  • Facebook B/S/T groups
  • Ebay
  • Craigslist

There are people looking to sell and/or trade cloth diapers for all sorts of reasons, and most of them are doing it with good intentions:

  • Their diapers aren’t fitting their little one properly
  • Their little one is having a sensitivity to the fabric
  • They purchased sized diapers and are ready to move up a size
  • They decided they hate stuffing pockets and are looking for alternatives
  • They went overboard and bought way too many diapers and just aren’t using them all
  • The list can go on and on

There are also some people out there with not so great intentions:

  • Scammers are just trying to make a quick buck or get a free diaper and don’t intend on sending you any diapers
  • Dishonest/unrealistic sellers will tell you what great condition their diapers are in… and then they arrive and they stink, have obvious flaws, or are delaminated
  • There are people out there trying to take advantage of HTF (hard to find) prints of certain brands and are willing to charge you an arm and a leg for that certain “special” diaper

6sforBSTclothdiapers.jpg

 

Be a Smart Shopper

Buying used cloth diapers can be a little scary, especially the first time. Here’s my advice for getting the best info you can before forking over your hard earned money for a used diaper. Most of this I’ve learned the hard way purchasing diapers for Re-Diaper, so I’m hoping you can learn from my mistakes.

What to ask:

Have you sold before? Do you have any feedback on Buy/Sell/Trade Forums?

This is a question I don’t need to bother with, as I have the advantage of paying for my inventory only after I’ve examined it. But feedback on a seller is a helpful way to avoid a scammer.

Did you purchase the diaper new or used?

I’ve had countless people receive hand me down diapers and try to sell them to me. They are usually honest when I ask this and will tell me they got it for free. Generally hand me downs are not in any shape to be paid for, so stay away.

How long/many times have you used the diaper?

This I’ve found to be a very helpful question. If someone is claiming to have diapers in EUC and they’ve been using them for over a year, they’re being unrealistic about the condition of their diapers. There are general guidelines for what to expect with conditions on my DeStash page: http://www.re-diaper.com/we-buy-gently-used-cloth-diapers.html

What is the condition of the elastic, aplix, snaps, PUL, etc.

People often don’t think to give the diaper a once over before determining it’s condition, this makes them actually think about it.

Is there any staining?

This is the question I have the most trouble with. Often “stain free” diapers arrive with shadow staining. If you don’t care, it’s not a huge deal, but I do deduct +/_ $1 for staining

Why are you getting rid of the diaper(s)?

The red flag you are looking for with this is laundry issues. If they’re having trouble washing them, you can expect stinky diapers to arrive. This is not a huge deal, but you should be paying accordingly, because you probably have some work ahead of you.

Honesty is the Best Policy

Selling diapers can be overwhelming as well. Sometimes it’s easiest to sell them locally, but often times the market is better online. Here’s my advice for selling diapers. Or… if you’re completely overwhelmed, shoot me an email at Jennifer@Re-Diaper.com and I can help you sort out what you have. Even if you don’t want to sell items to me, I can give you a starting point for pricing.

Be realistic

Think about the use you’ve already gotten out of the diaper before deciding on a price. If you’ve used the diaper more than a year, I won’t buy it… It’s no longer gently used, and you’ve gotten your money’s worth out of it. Price it accordingly and it will sell quickly.

Disclose EVERYTHING

If you’re charging good money for a diaper, be sure to disclose everything you notice, even if you think it doesn’t matter. What doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, might be a deal breaker to someone else. This is the best way to avoid an unhappy customer and the hassle of a returned diaper.

Consider shipping costs

Many diapers are priced PPD (postage paid), so this includes shipping costs. Do your homework on how much it will cost to ship (especially if you’re trying to sell a lot of diapers) so you’re not caught off guard at the Post Office if you’re priced your diapers PPD.

TRACK YOUR SHIPMENT

Make sure you get tracking and send it to the buyer to cover you in case they try to claim they never received their package. USPS is catching up to the private shipping companies and offers tracking on almost everything now for free or a nominal fee. It’s worth it.

Ready to begin buying, selling and trading your cloth diapers? Here are 7 Places to B|S|T Cloth Diapers.

Jennifer hill is the owner/operator of Re-Diaper.com, a retail site devoted entirely to buying, selling, and trading cloth diapers [with security and ease]; Re-Diaper.com encourages you to “Reduce, Reuse, and Re-Diaper for a Greener World!”  

re-diaper

Interested in winning an EUC bumGenius Oops diaper from Re-Diaper.com?  Click HERE to go to the giveaway page.

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Filed Under: Cloth Diapering, Editorial, featured WAHMs, General Topics, guest posts, ideas, Natural Living Tagged With: BST, buy, cloth diaper tips, cloth diapers, guest post, re-diaper.com, sell, trade, used cloth diapers

Featured WAHM: Re-Diaper.com

2014/05 By Lauren B. Stevens 84 Comments

WAHM250

 This week, I’m pleased to be featuring a two-part feature by Jennifer, from Re-Diaper.com.  This work-at-home-mom turned her passion for cloth diaper thrifting into a thriving business, helping other cloth diapering families build amazing stashes without breaking the bank.Re-diaper.com

 

First Time Cloth-Diapering Mom to Re-Diaper.com Owner

 

When I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I knew right away I would cloth diaper. I’ve been a dirt-loving tree hugger most of my life, so becoming a cloth-diapering crunchy mama was a natural progression. It also helps that my husband is… well… let’s just stay he’s “thrifty.” He was on board as soon as I showed him the math. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: blog series, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, featured WAHMs, General Topics, guest posts Tagged With: cloth diapers, guest post, WAHM

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Lauren B. Stevens is a former publishing rep-turned-writer, whose work can be found on ChildVantage, The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy and Care.com, among many other websites. When she's not chasing her precocious preschooler, Lauren pens hilarious and heartwarming stories about her life as a mother, ghostwrites blogs for businesses, and sometimes even finds the time to write a bit of creative non-fiction.
Look for Lauren's published essays in the books listed below:

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