My name is and I live in the best kept secret on the planet, a little town called Navarre.  Our beaches are white as snow!  I am married and have a 2-year-old daughter.  My background was a court reporter doing criminal trials and hearings for 12 years before I started a home-based business.

When I am not working, I love to spend time with my family, do digital scrapbooking, study health and nutrition, and visit the beach or a local state park.  I don't watch much TV but I do like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.  My goal is to one day do some ball room dancing with my husband.

1. What business do you and/or your family run? 

I have a home-based business with a company called Arbonne International. We are a 29-year-old health and wellness company that has products for everyone, from the basket to the casket☺  All of our products are botanically-based, and our motto is pure, safe, and beneficial. We are known for our pure swiss skin care but also have a detox spa line, a weight loss line, a sun line with anti-aging, a baby line with no nut oils, makeup, nutritionals, aromatherapy, natural progesterone creams, and a line just for young individuals called FYI that’s really fun for the teenagers. My website is www.desirableskin.com

2. What made you decide to work from home?  

The realization of needing a plan B in our lives and also wanting to be a stay-at-home mom.  My husband had a knee injury and was out of work for four months (no pay!) and we were living off of my income, something we were totally unprepared for, all of this occurring at the same time we were contemplating starting a family. We were presented with the Arbonne opportunity, which gave me the means to start building this business alongside my current job until our daughter arrived. My plan B ultimately became my Plan A!

3. What kind of support have you gotten from your community? 

Most of my support has come from my family, team members, and loyal clientele over the past three years.  I also started networking with other home-based businesses in my community, and it has been one of the best things I’ve ever done as far as growing my business. 

 
4. What sort of things does being self-employed allow you to do, for example, being involved in your child's life, school projects...etc?  

First of all, sleep in (LOL)!  Being self-employed and home with my daughter has been the greatest choice I’ve ever made in my life.  It has allowed me to see my daughter’s “firsts” and be her first teacher while she’s growing up.  Nobody else counts the eyelashes like a mom!   People are always commenting on how happy my daughter is, and I believe a big part of that is being around the house with her and including her in my day.  I also enjoy having the flexibility to choose when I want to work and being my own boss.

5. How do you feel your children see you as an entrepreneur?  What things are they learning by watching you work? 

Well, my daughter is only two, but she is quite the entrepreneur already. She is very involved in my day-to-day serving of others while I build my Arbonne business. She is learning how to put samples together for customers and unpacking new products as daddy brings them to the door (he’s our UPS man!) She also travels a lot with me to appointments, which is a huge plus when you can’t get child care! 

   
6. How is being a self-employed parent difficult?  What sort of things (if any) would make your job easier?  

Making and taking phone calls with a toddler has been the most challenging. Thank God for naps! The day can get away from me before I know it, so I have found that scheduling my day in advance the night before I get a lot more accomplished.   

 
7. What would you most like for consumers to know about you and the business that you run? 
I am looking to teach and train others who would like to be home also and have more choices in their life. Arbonne has low start-up costs, no minimum orders, no stocking, and can be built alongside your current job. There are 7 avenues of income with our company: Retail profit, bonuses, Mercedes Benz Cash Bonus Program, overrides, life insurance benefits, travel opportunities, and campaign and incentive programs. We do have an 85% retention rate with our products and you will feel a difference in your skin in just 3 days!  You can be a preferred client with us for $29 and shop at a 20-80% discount.

 
8. What are you most proud of as a parent? 

Being there to meet the emotional needs of my daughter.

9. Do you have any advice for other parents who are running their own businesses or want to?  

Look for the endless opportunites that await us every time we go out our front door.  If you’re looking for a home-based business, I would start by looking at a well-established Network Marketing Company first that gives you the ability to leverage your time so you are working smarter and not harder. Look for a company that offers consumable products that people will buy no matter what. Every day use = Repeat Sales!

10. What was your favorite childhood toy? 

Not any one in particular, just any kind of horse I could get my hands on!  Finally got a real one when I was old enough to ride.