Welcome to the Party!

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting the Ultimate Blog Party this week,
March 7 - 14, 2008!

Sorry guys… it’s officially a party for the ladies, but you’re welcome to participate here if you like!

So far there are well over 1,000 blogs participating. Pretty fun actually - I’ve been surfing around to lots of new blogs that I otherwise wouldn’t have found.

A Little Bit About Me

I’m a WAHM (Work at Home Mom)… Mommy to a sweetheart of a 2 year old daughter. Though of course she has her moments… she is TWO after all, lol.

I’m a web designer working full time for an internet and graphic design company, as well as running my own web design and development company, iDesign Studios. Yes, I’m a web designer on both jobs… so this is obviously something that I love to do!

As any WAH Mom or Dad knows, it can get very hectic working from home, especially with a toddler running around underfoot. Let alone with basically two jobs… plus being a Mom is a job of it’s own, so maybe I should say that I have three jobs?

Luckily, my husband and I have been able to setup our work schedules so that we’re able to take turns with our daughter at home. I actually only have to work with her for two hours a week. Surprisingly she’s “usually” pretty good during those two hours! Not always, of course - there have been quite the tantrum from time to time, lol - but overall I must say that I have it good! We really do have a great system in place!

More about me on my insanely long biography and resume pages…

You Might Recognize One of My Designs…

See that banner up there? I made that!

Rose at From the Park Bench (a GREAT resource for Moms!) pointed me to the 5 Minutes for Mom web site and suggested that I enter the UBP Design Contest. I’m so glad she did, because I won the contest!

Amazingly enough - I won by one, yes 1, vote! That was quite the surprise and I’m thrilled to have won! Thanks again to everyone who voted! I know I had a lot of friends, family and blog readers in my corner - so Thank You!

Pull Up a Chair and Get Comfy!

Now that you’re here, I hope that you’ll take a look at my web site and check out my blog for a bit longer. I actually just re-designed the main site as well as this blog - I launched the new site last Friday. The blog is still in it’s “soft launch” phase… still a few more tweaks to make before I call it official. I’m planning on putting on the finishing touches by the end of the month.

The main web site gives lots of information on my web design services, shows off my web design portfolio, as well as answers a lot of questions about working with me. Although many items are applicable to working with web designers in general, so you might want to take a look at the FAQ if you are planning on any web design work in the future.

As for the blog, it focuses a lot on:

• Blogging
• Business
• Marketing
• Productivity
• Web Design
• Work / Life Balance
• and occasionally iDesign Studios Company News

I’m all about link love, lol, and have featured lots of great web sites and blogs that I’ve come across on these topics. Basically anything that I’ve found to be helpful for myself and that I think would be helpful to other entrepreneurs - especially other work at home Mom’s and Dad’s.

On the fun side, I’ve also got a few sections section where I share recent stories about my daughter from time to time. I don’t get too personal (as in I don’t post pictures of my daughter, and I keep her name private, etc.) - just call me an over protective Mom, I guess, lol. But, I do share some cute stories that you might get a kick out of (yes, I’m biased, but still…) Anyway, I hope you’ll give those a read!

• Parenting
• Personal Notes

And Now for the Prizes!

YES! There are prizes! If your a female blogger - mom or not - head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to checkout the huge prize list! You might win one of them… and even if you don’t there are so many wonderful bloggers to meet!

There were so many to choose from, but my top three picks are:
(in order)

1. 59 — $25 Cash
   Provided by: Lori
2. 55 — $23 Cash
   Provided by: Kristin
3. 60 — $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
   Provided by: Judy
   
   If all of those are taken, some others that I also like are:
   (in this order)
4. 39 — $20 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
   Provided by: The Organized Knitting Club
5. 140 —$20 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
   Provided by: MommyDaddy Blog
6. 129 — $15 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
   Provided by: Mommy Cracked
7. 58 — Customized 6 Week Fitness Plan
   Provided By: Cindy Posey, Go Workout Mom
8. 124 — Rachel Rays 2,4,6,8 Cookbook
   Provided By: Kirstin at Loving Life
9. 88 — Ethan Allen’s Style Book
   Provided by: Southern Hospitality
10. 36 — Marketing for Entrepreneurs
    Provided by: Lis Garrett

Or anything of interest to a web designer, mom, or toddler (almost 3 year old) girl.

Come Say Hi!

If you found your way over here from 5 Minutes for Mom, or even if you didn’t and just want to join in on the fun… Please do make a comment below!

I’d love to know who is here and a little bit about you! I’d love to check out your web site or blog too, and would be happy to say “hey!” over on your site as well!

Thanks for visiting - I hope you enjoyed the party!