We've Moved

Since PARENTise has gone live, we've moved our blog over to the new site. Come and visit us at PARENTise! See you over there!!

We're Live

Wow! Today is the day! PARENTise finally went live. It took 2 years of thinking about it, months of detail work, what feels like years of stress, and then euphoria last night.

Today, I'm focused on getting the site out there and letting people know about it. But I'm scared. People could like it or not. So, after all this time working on it, it's a waiting game to see what happens with it.

Wish me luck!

P.S. Come for a visit and look around. Let me know what you think! www.parentise.com

Business Plan Review

This past week I had a business plan review with the local Small Business Development Center. My reviewer has a lot of experience with developing businesses, and he now has a part time gig helping entrepreneurs.

I was excited to get a chance to have a professional review my business plan, but since I don't have any experience with creating a business I wasn't sure what to expect from a discussion with a professional entrpreneur.

He went through my business plan with a fine toothed comb and tore most of it apart. He talked about critical assumptions, financial backing and the work that I needed to put into the plan to make it viable.

But he didn't really discuss the strength of the business idea or the long term planning. He didn't seem to have a real grasp on Web 2.0 marketing and creating a website that doesn't sell a product.

I feel like I got a lot of really good information, but that a lot of what he had to offer wasn't specific for the type of business I'm trying to set up. I recommend having a business plan review, but I'd suggest connecting with someone who has experience with your type of business or function.

Surprise!

This weekend was fantastic. My darling husband threw me a surprise birthday party with all of my closest friends and family. It was a true SURPRISE which was fantastic. It was also my first ever surprise birthday party! I have had surprise showers, which were awesome, but this was the first time it was just for me - just because something was happening to/for me!

I don't normally like surprises, but he did a great job. He set it up at our favorite restaurant, got a ton of our wedding flowers, got our friends and family to attend, and he even had a paper invitation!!! (applause for him inserted here!)

It was a big birthday and it made me do a bit of a life review. I was thinking about where I am today compared to where I thought I was going to be and where I am going to be in 10 years.

Things aren't perfect, but when I take a look at the big things - I think I've done pretty good so far, graduated from college and grad school, married to a fabulous man, 2 gorgeous baby girls, a good job at a leading organization, fantastic friends, good relationships with family, and days away from launching my first website (crossed fingers).

In ten years I have no idea where I'll be, but I hope I'll look back and be as happy with where I've been as I am today.

Next Steps

This was a pretty good week for the website. I had a call with our new lawyer on Monday, and by Friday, we had our Privacy Policy developed. Score! I was also able to secure a writer for a weekly article, and have another writer in the works.

In between all of that, I had a lot of fun with the babies, celebrated our anniversary with the hubby, ordered invitations for the Baptism and birthday party and did announcements for baby girl. Plus, we're getting ready for an incredibly busy weekend!

Oh yeah and did I mention I ran a few times! I'm getting better!

The Incident in the Grocery Store

I have been ultra productive during my maternity leave. I have done a lot of dishes, a lot of laundry and a lot of cleaning, but today was the first time that I went to the grocery store in the morning.

I got there at 9:10am and was done by 9:30am - I only needed a few things - and I thought I was moving fast, but then...when I was headed for the cash register to check out - this little old woman - javascript:void(0)she must have been 75 or older - ran right past me and snagged my spot in line!

I'm serious - she didn't knock me over or anything, but she did literally run past me to get into line first - I was flabbergasted...then I started laughing...and laughing...people would have thought I was crazy - but it was 9 in the morning and there wasn't anyone in the store!

Live Date

So, we pushed back the live date by 30 days to the first of October. I am pretty sad about that on one level, but super psyched on the other.

I really wanted to go-live, but I didn't want to go-live with a subpar product. So, we made the decision to wait. When we do go-live the site will be ready for it, adn we'll have made it into something that we can be really proud of - instead of thinking about the things that we could have would have or should have made better or changed.

I am ready. I have got a marketing plan in my head and am in the process of getting it onto paper. I am learning about SEO and PR...I am making headway in so many areas - I am really excited.

So, less than 30 days and counting! Wish us luck!