I am incredibly humbled and excited to announce that I have been selected as a 2012 Stiletto Woman in Business Award Finalist for Mom Entrepreneur of the Year, Social Media Influencer of the Year  and Blogger of the Year.

*Blink*

I know. Even typing that sentence is surreal.

Seeing my name listed among so many other incredible women, takes my breath away, to be sure. (You can view all of the finalists online here.)

In case you are unfamiliar, the SWIBA Awards (Stiletto Woman in Business Awards) are an initiative of Stiletto Woman Media which focuses on empowering women in business.

CEO Karlena Wallace had this to say, “The Stiletto Woman in Business Awards honors the monumental efforts of everyday women business owners, particularly those operating smaller entities that often go under the radar. These leaders redefine conventionalism and create their own success, all while changing lives.”

Wow.

Although I personally do not feel I deserve to be included in such a prestigious group, I do heartily applaud what this organization is all about.

Empowering, coaching and mentoring women is a passion of mine. (No matter what side of the fence I happen to be on at the time.)

My heartfelt appreciation (and shock) at becoming a finalist in the 2012 SWIBA Awards.

Tags: 2012 Finalist, Award, Stiletto Women in Business, SWIBA

Wow. The week really flew by!

I must confess that I slightly feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.

For starters, my baby turned 11 years old on Wednesday. It just boggles the mind, I tell you. Wasn’t he just a drooling mess in a onsie only yesterday? Sure seems like it to me…

In the midst of the birthday fun, it has also been a big week at the office with a couple of projects colliding into one small timeframe. (Isn’t that how it always happens?)

I tried to document my day yesterday but it was such a complete trainwreck that I think I fell short. At least I got a workout in. It had to happen at 4:30am but I am proud to say that it did indeed happen.

In any event, here is a bit of a recap of Thursday:

9:00am – Office

What a jam packed day! Multiple conference calls, projects and deadlines to juggle and only 1/2 of a day to do it in. I’m telling you what, I had a hard time breathing. Ever look at your schedule and just PANIC? That completely happened. (Obviously I survived in tact. I’m such a drama queen sometimes.)

2:30pm – ADDY Program Pictures

I probably should explain this one a bit, although I am tempted to just shoot it out to the Internets and let you all think I am nutso. I think I have mentioned before that I am co-chairing the ADDY Awards in my area for our chapter of the American Advertising Federation. The theme is CLUE (as in the game) and we’ve opted for a bit of retro glamour feel for the awards gala. It was requested of us to take some leadership photos in this style. My business partner Amy delved right into it and came up with these costumes. (She is the most creative person ever.) I can’t wait to see the final photos. They will be ridiculous and fun, I am sure!

6:00pm – Big Fish, Small Pond

Drew Ungvarsky, Owner and Creative Director of Grow Interactive  out of Norfolk, VA gave a fascinating talk about developing an internationally recognized, digital team in a small market. Grow works for some of the world’s premier brands and top advertising agencies including Sprint, Google, Toyota, Motorola, and Wendy’s. (To name a few!) He was a fascinating speaker and a really great guy to spend time with.

I got home around 10:15pm last night and collapsed. Can you blame me?

 

Tags: ADDY Awards, day in pictures, drew ungvarsky, grow interactive

 

Vera Sweeney is a native New Yorker and mother of two children. She is the founder of I’m Not Obsessed Media, which includes LadyAndTheBlog.com, ImNotObsessed.com and BabyRazzi.com. Collectively, these sites generate over 5 million pageviews a month. Her online destinations cover a broad range of topics including entertainment and pop culture news, fashion trends, beauty product reviews, step-by-step recipe breakdowns, travel tips and her personal parenting experiences.

Vera is also the co-founder, with partner Audrey McClelland, of Getting Gorgeous. This company is dedicated to offering fashion and beauty advice to moms.

 

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

Fortunately for me, I cheat. My husband stays home with me and together we manage our brand. So, between the two of us, our children are never without a parent. We take turns working and being with the kids. I have less guilt when I work because I know my children are just spending time with their father.

But I do keep “office hours”. I work from 7AM to 12PM every day – head down. At lunch, my son comes home from school and I try to limit my time at the desk. I do, however, constantly check my phone for breaking news / immediate requests. 

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

I’ve learned that all parents do the best that they can do. When you are young, it’s so easy to blame or to judge or to hate. But as you age, you realize that we are all just trying to get through this life one day at a time. I’ve learned it’s important to not put too many expectations on myself or on others.

Battling stress? Any advice?

Um… amitriptyline. No, in all honesty: reading ‘The Power of Now, Yoga twice a week, and at least an hour each night being completely unproductive.

Tools or products you can’t live without?

Well, how long do you have? Let’s see. My iPhone. Mascara. Nook. iTunes. Tinted Moisturizer. Skinny Jeans, my Mac, Facebook, Instagram, and… an unsweetened Black Tea Lemonade from Starbucks.

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

Everyone has their demons. We all have pasts that took turns for the worse and sometimes when it gets really quiet, it’s easy to sink back into those dark days. Whenever that happens, I whisper to  myself, “Just Look”.

I open my eyes wide and take in my current environment. It’s a way to remind myself where I am. I am here. Married. With Children. Happy. Safe. Loved.

“Just Look” is something I whisper to myself quite frequently. I even plan on getting it tattooed on my wrist. I just haven’t had the time.

Favorite resources, books, or website?

Websites: FoodGawker.com, Pinterest.com, Twitter.com, Google Trends, Polyvore.com

Books: The Hunger Games, The Black Dagger Brotherhood (a bit… raunchy as an FYI), again – The Power of Now, Thin Slicing, Blink, Memoirs of a Geisha. I could go on and on

What is on the horizon for you? Anything new and exciting?

I recently partnered up with Audrey McClelland, Denise Albert, Melissa Gerstein, Holly Pavlika, and Stephanie Winton Wolkoff to create ‘Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show’. We are presenting during NYFW at Lincoln Center on February 16^th. It’s the first show of its kind – highlight IN STORE fashion for moms. We are very, very exited.

 Connect with her:

Twitter:  @VeraSweeney
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/INOmommy
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/veryvera1
Websites:  http://imnotobsessed.com, http://ladyandtheblog.com, http:babyrazzi.com, http://gettinggorgeousevents.com

 

Tags: getting gorgeous, motherhood lessons, Vera Sweeney, working mom spotlight

I’m so guilty of this.

Guilty of talking, talking, talking through my problems instead of going to God with them.

I have a habit of thinking that I am not important enough for him to focus on.

So I try to conquer my issues alone.

And I fail.

What a great reminder…

Image via ISharePrintables.com

Tags: guilty of not praying enough, have you prayed about it?

I read an article today called “Out of the closet as a happy working mom.” In it the author, a fellow working mother, scandalously declares that she does NOT feeling guilty for going back to work.

She states, “It is great to be back. If that sounds insufficiently guilt-ridden, sorry. I’m happy to be back at work. No ambivalence, no self-flagellation. It’s great to earn a paycheck again. It’s magnificent to get coffee, use the bathroom by myself and be around grownups. Even meetings are fun, though that feeling will surely pass. So today I’m outing myself as a happy working mom, despite the pressure women with kids often feel to sound miserable and conflicted about the “choice” to work…. Work is fun. Even with the crazy plate-spinning necessary to hold down a full-time job, it’s fun. ”

I applaud her.

I’ve long been disgusted with the whole working mom vs. stay at home mom guilt trip. Every woman is different. Every situation is different. Judging is pointless.

Much to my own mother’s chagrin (another blog post all together), I have always been a working mother. As cliche as this may sound, I’ve just never had a choice.  As I guilt ridden young mother, I tried oddball schedules (magazine night shift, anyone?), made tough decisions and  major sacrifices and  to keep my family functioning well. Nonetheless, I’ve always held a job.

I’ve had many conversations over the years where I have worked hard to convince others, not to mention myself, that if I didn’t have to work… I wouldn’t.

Total malarkey.

It is how I am wired.

I may not need to work for money but I most definitely would end up finding a committee to run. Or a gala to chair or a blog or magazine to write for or SOMETHING.

But that is just me. My mind is never still. I’ve never been a talented homemaker. (Ask my husband, he will confirm. Oh boy will  he confirm.)

My calling to be in the working world most certainly does not make me a bad mother. My children are fed, clothed, loved and coddled. They are challenged and nurtured and attended to. And sometimes even spoiled. I love them dearly.

Do I feel guilty? Of course. All moms feel guilt, it comes with the territory.

Do I wince when others to judge me? Most certainly. (Don’t they have something more constructive to do with their time?)

Working moms in today’s society feel a tremendous amount of pressure. It goes without saying that if  we could all start trying to support each other in our choices, everyone would be better off.

Even our kids.

 

Tags: happy working mom, working mom guilt, working mother struggles