Katja Presnal is the owner and founder of Skimbaco® lifestyle brand and blogs with the main blog SkimbacoLifestyle.com and she inspires women to live life to the fullest. Katja is also an Addy Award winning Social Media Strategist and she has done social media marketing strategy for clients like Colgate, ConAgra, Abbott and Hershey and she is a respected Speaker in corporate events and social media conferences like Blog World Expo. She has been featured in NY Times, Forbes, Glamour, Women’s Daily and several other national and international publications.

Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?

It hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure, especially last year when I worked fulltime for a social media agency and grew my own blog network often resulting in 70-80 hour workweeks and not spending time with my family at all. I realized though that the time children are young will go so fast that I wanted to remain my own boss and create more flexible work week in a way that I was able to spend more time with children. We travel a lot, and move often, but we are a very traditional family in everyday grind. We eat dinner home together every night and we don’t have individual hobbies outside home, we do everything on our free time together as a family and that has helped to create a career and be a present mom.

Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?

Humor!! When you are able to bring in humor to tough situations and when raising children, half of your battle is already done. It works in most situations. Another thing is honesty – your children will never learn to trust you, or you will not be able to trust them if there isn’t honesty. It also means keeping your word every time.

Battling stress? Any advice?

I probably sound like a horrible parent if I say I drink wine to unwind.. But part of it is cooking a big family dinner, and gathering around the table and talking, eating and enjoying a glass of wine, it’s my way of relaxing.  Another one is traveling and getting out of your everyday grind and letting your brain take a break.

Tools or products you can’t live without?

Pretty much everything Apple makes and an espresso machine.

Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?

Carpe the shit out of diem. It’s the philosophy of Skimbaco lifestyle: living life to the fullest in every moment you live regardless where you are or what you have. If you are in Colorado go skiing, if you are in New York City go to see a Broadway show, if you are in Cape Cod, go see whales, or castle hopping if you are in Germany.  You are the key holder to your own happiness, make it happen!

Favorite resources, books, or website?

I consume internet like it was the last supper, and have a new favorite website every week. Meaning that there is just too much to pick a few, but for recipes I trust GoodLifeEats.com and for lifestyle topics ChampagneLiving.net always inspires me.  My favorite magazine is the Fast Company, and I get most inspiration from Coastal Living magazine.

Any fabulous projects you have coming up? (C’mon… spill!)

I am partnering with Everywhere PR agency http://beeverywhere.tv/ for a new venture, and can’t wait to kick start it and announce more details. In addition I am launching Insider Society http://insidersociety.com/ soon, a blogger amplification program and a resource for consumers to find insider information about fashion, travel, interior design, automotive and entertaining.  I’m very excited about both of these, and can’t wait to take social media industry forward with them.

Connect with her:

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/katjapresnal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skimbaco
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/skimbaco
Websites or blogs:  Skimbaco Lifestyle, Skimbaco Travel, Skimbaco Home, Skimbaco Food

Tags: advice, katja presnal, skimbaco, working mom, working mom tips

Sarah Pinnix, mom of three girls, has been blogging since 2007 at Real Life . In 2008, she founded High Country Mom Squad ,  a northwest NC online magazine for moms. After a few years of private social media marketing consulting, she transitioned to working outside the home, as Social Media Marketing Specialist at international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse.

 Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?

 I think it will always be a learning process for me. Our family is always going through some sort of transition, whether it be changing jobs, starting kindergarten, extra-curricular activities, or myriad other scenarios.  The key has been to keep the communication lines open with my husband, and constantly re-evaluate how we do things, what’s working, and what we need to change. If I look at it as a constantly developing process, I can avoid going out of my mind.

 Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?

 Hmmm… maybe just one. And it is that each child requires a different approach.  Really helpful, right? Learning your child love language (Book: The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman), can help you meet their needs the way they can receive best. I have a story about how using my daughters love language to change the way I brush her hair miraculously made it hurt less.  It’s the little things.

Battling stress? Any advice?

 Lists.  When I’m really stressed, I make a list of everything that’s stressing me.  If I can do something about an item, I plan the action I will take.  If I can’t do anything about it, I accept that fact and move on.  Oh, also… get your hormones checked, and consider medication. (Only half-kidding) 

 Tools or products you can’t live without?

 I admit I’ve only done it for this month, but I am in love with www.OnceaMonthMom.com.  Cooking one day per month, I have enough meals to feed my family before 7 PM every night! She provides the menu, shopping list, recipes, and instructions, and you just have to give over 8-10 hours of your life.  But now, I come home from work knowing that dinner is a “reheat” away. 

 Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?

 My favorite Scripture is Jeremiah 29: 11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

 Favorite resources, books, or website? 

 Since I’ve recently started working outside the home, I’ve found a lot of resources on www.BlueSuitMom.com. My all time favorite resource, though is Twitter. It seems that someone will have a solution for just about every problem I have.

 What have you been up to lately?

I recently vlogged my first time doing Once a Month Cooking on Facebook , and I plan to upload quick videos on my blog to chronicle my going to work at the office. If you have any advice, or you just want to laugh at my inadequacies, come on over!

 Connect with her:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/reallifesarah
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reallifeblog
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/reallifesarah
Websites and blogs: http://www.reallifeblog.net, http://www.highcountrymomsquad.com

 

Tags: profile success, quote, sarah pinnix, tools, working mom spotlight

Stacey aka “Justice Fergie” is a former Communications major, technology attorney, wife  and mother of three spunky children, ages 7, 5, and 3.  She began her blogging career in 2006, writing at Mamalaw with two co-bloggers about work-life balance, parenting, and pop culture.  In 2009 she launched FOODe, where she showcases her love of food and social media.

A rising social media personality, Justice Fergie has served as a 2009 National Spokesblogger for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women: BetterU campaign, a 2010 Essence Fierce & Fabulous Awards Media Correspondent for Buick GMC, and is currently a 2011 Blog Ambassador for ConAgra Foods, and an Advisor for Media Bistro’s Social Media Marketing Bootcamp.  Justice Fergie also is an accomplished public speaker, presenting at conferences and events nationally.

She is co-founder of The Social Niche, a company devoted to celebrating diversity in social media.  TSN is a trailblazer in the social media sphere, creating the Be Blogalicious online community for multicultural women bloggers and hosting the yearly Blogalicious Weekend conferences.

Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?

This question made me laugh.  Let’s just say I am still learning!  I’ve developed certain strategies that help, like planning meals in advance for the week (and posting them on my What’s for Dinner section of my site); using my Google and kitchen wall calendars religiously; modifying my work schedule to make it more flexible; and leaning on others for help, whether it be my husband (always my husband!) or a nanny or a house cleaner.  Blogging has also played an enormous role in helping me to share, vent, and establish a support system.

I get asked so often what my “secret” is that I decided to write a book about how I manage it all – it’s called It’s All An Illusion.  Look for it soon!

Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?

Yes. I’ve learned to not take things so seriously.  Of course it’s important for them to eat their veggies and do well in school, but it’s equally as important not to get too caught up in following “the rules” perfectly. You’ll miss out on life along the way!

Battling stress? Any advice?

I’m always battling stress!  My advice to make sure that you “steal” moments for yourself wherever you can.  It doesn’t have to be something major like a trip to Jamaica (though that would be fabulous), but it can be something as simple as grabbing a chai tea latte from Panera and getting your nails done, or doing yoga to center yourself.  In fact, taking a mental health day is Mamalaw No. 3!  I also love to cook and I find that throwing myself into trying out a new recipe or whipping up a tasty meal for my family is one of my best methods of de-stressing.

I recently found that I was so busy being busy that life was passing me by.  That’s why I revamped JusticeFergie.com early this year to make it “Life IS the Party” – I want to encourage people (and myself!) to celebrate every day.

Tools or products you can’t live without?

• My Droid smartphone. For realz.
• My MacBook Pro.
• Google Calendar. Who am I kidding? Google. Period.
• My Joy of Cooking cookbook.
• Lip balm.
• Ice cream.

Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?

My motto is “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”  Not literally of course, I do sleep, but I’ll always opt for an activity over a nap – I love living!

Favorite resources, books, or website?

My favorite resources are blogs! There’s so much great information out there.

Southern Living and Good Housekeeping (shhh!) magazines.

I love books and am an avid reader.  I’m currently reading The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel.  The new Sweet Valley High novel, Sweet Valley Confidential…Ten Year Later by Francine Pascal is up next.

So what is next for you? (Because, you have all of that free time, right?)

In addition to launching a series of lifestyle adventures designed to help people take time out to enjoy life, I am also planning a retreat for working moms for the spring of 2012.  We’re going to spend an entire day focusing on the unique challenges facing working moms and bringing in some of the best experts to help us recharge and reorganize our busy lives.  Stay tuned for details!

Connect with Stacey:

Twitter:  JusticeFergie
Facebook: Justice Fergie
YouTube: Be Blogalicious
Websites or blogs: Life IS the Party; Be Blogalicious
Other: About.me Profile

Tags: advice for working moms, be blogalicious, stacey ferguson, working mom spotlight

I’m kicking off a new weekly spotlight series at Hip As I Wanna Be called the “Working Mom Spotlight.” Each week I’ll introduce you to some of the most amazing and fascinating working women across the country.

Our first woman in the spotlight is Amy Lupold Bair…

Amy Lupold Bair, blogger, social media marketer, and mom, is the founder of Resourceful Mommy Media.  In 2008, Amy burst onto the social media scene inventing the Twitter Party – a hashtagged social event with panelists and a conversational theme catering to the needs of clients ranging from e-commerce start-ups to nationally recognized trusted brands.  Developing from her own successful relationships with public relations firms and companies, Amy developed a network for fellow bloggers in early 2009.  The Global Influence Network has grown to include nearly 1500 social media savvy bloggers.

A former English teacher and a writer at heart, Amy continues to blog on her personal site, ResourcefulMommy.com. You can hear more of what Amy has to say at LifetimeMoms.com where Amy is a Parenting Channel leader. If you would like just a small dose of Amy, she is always available in 140 characters or less at @ResourcefulMom on Twitter.

Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?

I’m still trying to figure that out!  This will be the first year that both of my kids are in elementary school, so I’m hoping that I will be able to a better job of compartmentalizing work time and family time.  Over the last three years that I’ve been working from home I’ve had to juggle throughout the day and also work late into the night and through weekends.  I’m looking forward to keeping more typical work hours and focusing 100% on my family during family time.

Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?

My all time favorite parenting advice is from Maria Shriver.  Rather than asking, “Okay?” at the end of an instruction to your child, say “Understand?”  The first one asks for approval while the second just asks for comprehension.

Battling stress? Any advice?

Find time for laughter, even if it’s just taking 10 minutes to watch a couple ridiculous YouTube videos or chatting with a friend on Skype.  Sometimes I just call my husband in the middle of the day at work to tell him something ridiculous knowing it will make him laugh.  Laughter makes everything else tolerable.

Tools or products you can’t live without?

Twitter.  Addicted to my very core.

Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?

I have Philippians 4:13 hanging in my office – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Favorite resources, books, or website?

To be honest, I turn to social media to find most of the information I need.  Even if the people on Facebook or Twitter don’t know the right answer, they certainly know how to link me to it.

Connect with her:

Twitter: @ResourcefulMom
Facebook: http://facebook.com/resourcefulmommy
Websites: Resourceful Mommy, Resourceful Mommy Media, Global Influence Network

On Friday afternoon I got a pretty exciting opportunity… to chat with Heidi Klum.

Yeah, that Heidi Klum.

(The above pic is me on a conference call with her. Heh.)

The supermodel has teamed up with AOL to launch HeidiKlum.aol.com, a new lifestyle site offering a wide range of coverage targeted at women -  news, opinions about fashion, beauty, parenting, fitness, nutrition, relationships, lifestyle trends, entertaining, etc.

She won’t be doing it alone, however.  She is bringing in her real life team of experts. Said Heidi, “People can hear it from the horses mouths and from the people who have been helping me for the past 10 years.”

Smart gal. (Hey, she never claimed to have all of the answers herself.)

As I listened to her talk, I realized that she is, indeed, a wonderful example for modern women, working hard at balancing motherhood and her career while making time to nurture her own self. (Not to mention maintaining a great sense of humor.)

Personally, I liked hearing her talk about how she juggles her busy lifestyle. Take heart working moms out there – she is in the same boat as the rest of us, getting up early in the morning to work before the family is awake. She is no stranger to rising before the sun.

As for her family? She makes it a priority to spend every day with them and pays particular attention to one-on-one time with each of her children.

FASHION – HEIDI STYLE

I admit to being a little intimidated (okay, A LOT INTIMIDATED) by the whole high fashion scene, not to mention the empire this supermodel has built for herself in that industry. (Project Runway, anyone?) But fashionistas will be delighted that a staple on the new site features Heidi in a unique  “look of the day.” (Plus info on what she has paired together to create it.)

Surprisingly, she has a much more rational fashion outlook than I expected, “It is my real life. Sometimes I wear jeans from Gap and sometimes from a high-end designer. That is what the modern woman of today is. She is eclectic and shows that style doesn’t necessarily have to be how expensive something is, instead it is what looks good on you.”

HEIDI TALKS RUNNING

And lo and behold, the conversation even turned to running. (Go figure, right?) Ironically, beginning June 20th she will launch an eight week running campaign encouraging site visitors to run with her EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

(Every day, I thought? I’ve never done that. Truth be told, I’ve never even contemplated that. Now, of course, my brain is hatching a plan… Could I? Should I? Every SINGLE day? Hmmm…. I might be joining her.)

Her campaign got me thinking, is a marathon perhaps in her foreseeable future?

“Probably not. No. That seems AWFULLY long. Not any time soon.  I’ll just accumulate all of the miles.. ONE day at a time.”

Maybe one day I’ll convince her to run the New York Marathon with me. For now though,  I’ll settle for her virtually offering me a lesson or two in style…

• Visit her new site: www.heidiklum.aol.com
• Chat with her on Twitter: @heidiklum

Tags: aol, Blog, fashion tips, Heidi Klum, lifestyle website, project runway, Running