Remember to Enjoy Your Journey!

This is a spotlight that many of you will definitely be able to relate to as you read. Jennifer is trying to remember to live in each precious moment of her busy schedule. She’s a talented journalist, a successful blogger, a wife, and most importantly a Mom. She’s trying to spend less time worrying about what comes next and more time remembering to enjoy her life’s journey. I know that’s advice that I constantly need to remind myself about, so I loved hearing what Jenn had to say.

Name: Jennifer

Business URL: http://babymakingmachine.com

Where are you from: Atlanta, Georgia

Where do you live now: Texas

HappyCrawlers (aka kid with age): Lil’ J, 11 months!

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream?

Jenn: My lifelong dream has changed so many times. My dream for the longest time was to become a television news reporter in Atlanta Georgia, maybe even work for CNN. But since having my daughter that’s all changed. I still have journalistic dreams but I’d like them to be as conducive for my family as possible. Which, in this industry, can be hard. Right now, by day, I’m a reporter and news anchor, and by night I’m a wannabe domestic diva. I’m a mom 24/7.

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Jenn: It’s been really hard to figure out the “new me” I had to come to realize that just because my goals change, doesn’t mean I’m less of a person or anything like that, I’m just different and have new interests. It’s been hardest to come to realize this and be happy with it.

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Jenn: I’d say don’t stress, don’t worry, just enjoy. I worry too much about “what’s next” but sometimes I think that can overshadow the here and now. It’s fun to just “be”.

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your professional life?

Jenn: I do segments featuring foster kids every week, and another featuring nonprofits. I get messages from time to time telling me how my story helped changed the life of a child because someone saw it and adopted the child. Or people saw the segment I did on a nonprofit and it inspired them to donate or make a difference in the community some way. It’s nice knowing that.

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Jenn: I don’t. Sometimes my work life gets a little more attention than my family life and vice versa. I think it’s impossible to have a perfect balance all of the time, so I try my best to make sure whatever is getting shorted isn’t getting shorted all the time.

HC: That’s GREAT advice.

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Jenn: My daughter, knowing that she will grow up to be a woman someday I want to be someone she can look up to, and admire. She makes me want to be a good mom, a hard worker, and to raise her to be the best she can be.

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Jenn: My mom is a great role model. She showed me you can be a great mom and work. My husband has also been a good role model to me. I admire how he can change my mood from negative to positive so easily. He’s perfect for me.

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Jenn: This is going to sound so silly, but I love Oprah. She has done so much and gone so far. I’d love to meet her some day.

HC: Bring us with you if you do. We love Oprah too!

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawler?

Jenn: I’m amazed at how she learns how things work so quickly. She takes my sunglasses and knows they go on her face. It’s amazing watching her learn these things. She also learned how to open the lid to my toilet and managed to throw my Blackberry in there in the three seconds I had turned around.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels! 

The Sweet Taste of Success

If you met Heather Waters, the owner and talent behind Couture Candy Buffets, you would never guess that she has a sweet tooth. She’s as tiny and cute as can be, but don’t be fooled she's also a talented, savvy businesswoman. She started her candy business as a way to combine her passions of design and entertaining. It’s this sweet business that is helping her taste the success she’s always hoped for both for her and her adorable family. We had a chance to talk with Heather and she has some great advice for busy, working mamas.

Name: Heather Waters            

Business Name: Couture Candy Buffets

Business URL: www.couturecandybuffetsinc.com

Where are you from: born in Canada, grew up in St. Pete & Clearwater, then Tampa, FL {USF}

Where do you live now: Melbourne, FL

HappyCrawlers (aka kids with ages): Emma {14 months}

HC: Tell us about how your business fulfills you and your dreams. 

Heather: I love design, entertaining, and making people smile.  Couture Candy Buffets allows me to do all of these things and be creative. 

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream.

Heather: My grandma was always hosting parties while growing up.  Needless to say, I was her lil’ helper.  I would help make menus, decorate, and help arrange the venue.  I loved it and still do to this day!  So, I have always wanted to do something with event planning industry. Couture Candy Buffets allows me to have the perfect balance of work and family. 

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Heather: Letting people know I exist.  I have had so many people tell me that they did a candy buffet for their wedding or special event and wish they would have known about me.

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Heather: Network.  The more people you can reach out to and talk with about your business, the more business you will get.  I also keep plenty of business cards on hand.

HC: Great tip!

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your professional life?

Heather: Creating candy buffets that turn events into unforgettable events.  People remember their candy buffets because they are fun and unique.    

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Heather: Having a smartphone has saved my life.  I am able to reply to e-mails ASAP, so I am no longer sitting at my computer checking e-mails at night.  I work on my displays at night when my daughter is sleeping.   It is also a blessing to have husband who is so supportive and helps me out. 

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Heather: Hands down, my family. 

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Heather: My grandmother.  She taught me about a strong work ethic, event planning, and baking.  She always had a job that she loved and said, “If you do what you love, then you never have to work”.  She also always told me to “aim high” and “never settle”.  Her knowledge, creativity, and passion definitely inspired me to create Couture Candy Buffets and make it into a successful business.   

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Heather: Amy Atlas.  She is one of the pioneers of the candy/dessert buffet trend.  Her displays are amazing.

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawlers?

Heather: Instead of crawling, my daughter Emma basically did this “boot scoot”. It cracked up the whole family. She would sit on her bottom and move her legs in and out while sitting up to get somewhere. It’s really a hit at parties too.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels! 

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Kristina Cross is making it all happen. She’s a wife, mother, student, blogger, and loyal Canucks fan. She wears all those hats on top of her full-time work schedule. She’s a busy lady with goals in mind and she knows she laying the groundwork today for a brighter tomorrow for her family. She does an amazing job of juggling her workload, but points out that she doesn’t do it alone. She’s not afraid to ask for help, which is one of her keys to success.

Name: Kristina Cross (aka Swank Mama)

Business URL: http://swankmama.blogspot.com/

Where are you from: Vancouver

Where do you live now: Vancouver!

HappyCrawlers (aka kids with ages):  Miss S (11 years) and Lil J (23 months)

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream?

Kristina: I’ve always wanted to be a dancer.  I was in competitive gymnastics for 5 years when I was younger and the dance aspect of it was my favourite.  I still wish I had pursued dance after I quit gymnastics.  I guess it’s never too late to take classes for fun!

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Kristina: Right now I am juggling motherhood and wife duties along with a full-time job and part-time schooling.  Luckily, I have a lot of support at home from my husband and mother-in-law but it is still difficult to please everyone and get everything done.  This is an obstacle I will have to overcome to pursue my dream of working from home and being able to set my own schedule, and spend more time with my kids.

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Kristina: Seek help!!  Don’t be ashamed to ask for help and don’t turn help down!  I think the most common feeling for a mother is to feel guilty that she can’t do it all herself.  We need to put aside society’s stereotypes and not be afraid to receive assistance when it is offered.

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your professional life?

Kristina:  That I am given the opportunity to expand my work skills educationally and increase my knowledge of work-related issues and leadership skills.

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Kristina: It’s hard work having two kids at home, working full-time, going to school part-time, finding time to keep the house clean (this almost always gets put on the back-burner), all while trying to maintain my sanity and have a relationship with my husband.  Thankfully, I have wonderful support at home – my husband is very hands-on and my mother-in-law is an absolute saint as she looks after Lil J while we are both at work.  My job also has an amazing work/life balance.

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Kristina: My kids.  Such a cliché answer but so true!

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Kristina: My dad and my mother-in-law.  My dad has a golden heart and never expects anything in return.  I can always count on him to be there and still spoil me (Daddy’s little girl!) as he did when I was younger.  My mother-in-law has an equally golden heart.  She retired and closed her hairdressing business when I went back to work so that she could look after Lil J during the day.  She also does everything out of the goodness of her heart and doesn’t expect anything in return.  We are so lucky to have her and I honestly don’t know what I would do without her!

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Kristina: Every mom in the world.  I don’t know how we do it but we do!

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawlers?

Kristina: Lil J and Miss S are best of friends even though they are over 9 years apart.  It’s so wonderful to see the sibling bond despite the age difference.  Even thought Lil J is only 2, he is very overprotective of his older sister and vise versa.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels!

People Centered Focus

Award winning wedding photographer Aaron Lockwood believes that personal relationships are the biggest benefit to growing your business. And, Lockwood has certainly mastered the art of treating each client like they are important. He does a great job of fostering relationships and “focusing” on what’s important to each individual client. The HappyCrawlers’ family has had the pleasure of knowing Aaron, his amazing wife and 3 adorable boys for years. They are truly a talented, generous and warm group of people. We had a chance to chat with Aaron about his talents and success as a professional photographer. Read how he continues to take his art to the next level. 
 

Name: Aaron Lockwood

Business: Aaron Lockwood Photography (www.aaronlockwoodphotography.com)

Where are you from: born in Canada and moved to Clearwater, FL in 1984

HappyCrawlers (aka kids): Ethan (7), Ephram (5), and Evan (2)

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream?

Aaron: I was interested in photography starting in middle school. I would probably say my Dad’s interest in photography is how I discovered photography. My dad taught photography in Canada, so he was always taking pictures. I never learned from him though.  

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Aaron: I would probably say that just getting our name out there and letting people know we were around. I did a lot of networking, print ads, bridal shows and word of mouth in the beginning. I have always been optimistic and I’ll make anything work, so my attitude helped. In hindsight if I knew everything that it takes to run my own business I don’t know if I’d have been as confident, but not knowing and being confident helped with starting the business and getting our name out there. I have to say I’m glad that I’m not starting out in this economy though.

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Aaron: Personal relationships are the biggest benefit to your business. I’ve always been pretty good at approaching people. I’m really easy-going and don’t get frustrated or stressed out.

HC: We’ve always been impressed with how you work under pressure. You are very easy-going and that’s great in busy situations like weddings.

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a photographer?

Aaron: The fact that I get to document milestones in people’s lives and that other generations will look back at the pictures we take for years to come. We play a part of special day (the wedding day) in couples’ lives.  

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Aaron: It’s really just a matter of keeping a disciplined schedule and sticking to it. It took me a long time to learn to do that though. I was working a ridiculous amount of hours when Ethan (oldest son) was little. I try not to work at home when the boys are awake now. When it’s family time, I try to keep to keep it family time.

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Aaron: I think it’s always nice to have break points in my schedule that I can look forward to. It’s important to keep some weekends free and not always be shooting a wedding. I work hard and then play hard. I don’t do too much sitting around even in my off time.

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Aaron: Definitely my Dad and also my photography teacher, Terry Alison, played a big role in my life. Terry taught me that it was viable to make photography my career. I picked portrait over commercial photography in order to work with people. I learned the love of portrait photography from Terry.

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Aaron: I don’t really look to others for inspiration because people disappoint you if you put them on pedestals. I’ve rubbed shoulders with famous people and I realize they are just people. They are just normal people.

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawlers?

Aaron: Not too long ago I was giving Evan (youngest son) a bath and he said the water was “too hot” and I said, “it’s not hot”. He said, “it’s hot”, I said, “not hot”. And he goes to me, “It’ hot to me”. He won that argument. He was standing and refused to sit in the bath. It was funny.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels!

Dreams Do Come True

Maureen Gibson has been living her dream for years. She caught the dance bug when she was just a little girl. Now, as an adult she’s sharing the love of dance with her young students. In addition to dancing though, Maureen also tries to be a good example for her little ones. We had the chance to chat with Maureen about how she stays motivated and her advice to others who want to make their dreams come true like she did.

Name: Maureen Gibson

Business: STEPS School of Dance and Performing Arts (www.stepsschoolofdance.com)

Where are you from: Wilkes-Barre, PA but moved to Dunedin, FL in 1986 with my sister

HappyCrawlers (aka kids): hundreds of little dancer children at STEPS

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream?

Maureen: I always wanted to be a ballerina. My husband giggles because when he would ask me what I did in school, I would tell him that I just went to ballet. That’s it. When I was 12, I went away for the summers to train with professional ballet schools. My senior year, I was with the Pennsylvania Ballet. I audition and was accepted to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in NYC. I went there right after high school.

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Maureen: I would say body shape issues because your body is your art. It’s your instrument, your canvas. And so many directors have so many opinions about your body. I would think that sometimes you are too tall or too short, you hair is wrong. That is probably the toughest obstacle and being firm in your belief to continue with your dreams is important. You don’t want to be negated by the directors.

HC: That is definitely a challenge, especially one that young girls can relate to.  

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Maureen: I would say to have a good support group and not be afraid to talk about it with your peers, director or teacher. Sometimes it is just as simple as a director looking for a girl who is 5 feet 2 inches because the male (counterpart) is 5 feet 4 inches. As long as you talk about it, then you can deal with it and understand it better.

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your business?

Maureen: I think seeing the children and how they grow not only through dance, but accomplishing other things in life. Even the little girl who isn’t musical and stumbles and just has the love of dance and gets on the beat. They are so proud of themselves. That’s what makes it worthwhile. Seeing all that.

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Maureen: I’ve been with my husband since 1987. My husband is very involved in the business and actually drives the van (STEPS offers free after school pick up). It’s a partnership. We enjoy working together. Sometimes he’s the unemotional businessman and I think like a dreamy, pink ballerina. For the most part we work well together though.

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Maureen: It’s funny because I guess it is what I’ve always wanted to do so those hard days are rare. The hardest part is when I don’t want to go to work and do the business end of number crunching and paperwork. I love the dancing part and seeing the happy kids. I think that the girls who have been with me for so long think of me like their mom and it’s so nice that they have the confidence to share with me. We are really like a family. I try to mentor them.

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Maureen: My role model would probably be my husband because he’s so steady. He’s a rock. He’s very black and white. It’s good or bad with him. There’s no wishy-washy. He’s dependable. That’s what you need.

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Maureen: I would say probably in the dance world that my role model is Suzanne Farrell. She was one of Mr. George Balanchine’s ballerinas. I’d love to sit down and talk to her and see what life was like under Mr. Balanchine. I want to see if she has the same emotional issues as all of us ballerinas.

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawlers?

Maureen: I probably have hundreds of stories about silly things my ballerinas have done. I know yesterday was funny because I walked into the studio wearing a sundress and the kids said they thought I looked dressed up so they wanted to know why. They said, “It’s only Tuesday so why are you wearing a dress?” They only ever see me in workout gear. They thought something was up because I was dressed in a sundress. It was cute.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels!