With items starting around .79 cents, it wasn't hard for mom to fill our stockings on a budget.
Barbie has been a long time advertiser on Mommy Perks...gosh, for as long as I can recall! From Pampered Chef to 
What 
Today I am reviewing one of my favorite clients: 
Mommy Perks is proud to feature 
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How did your company start and WHY?
The why is simple - when I had first begun the business, I was a single mom and I wanted hours that are more flexible so I could be home when I needed or wanted to. I actually started working in this industry when I became pregnant. I worked from my house conducting interviews. After my daughter was born, I continued working at home conducting research. As my daughter grew older, it became more difficult to work from home so I started working part time for a research company located in an area mall. After my separation and divorce, I went to work full time. Each day I loved the industry more and more. The only issue I had was that working full time gave me no flexibility with the things I wanted to do at home and with my daughter. Being a single mom I also needed more job security than I was given.
I was lucky enough to have someone come through my office and see my talents , and, having worked with me, also become willing to invest in me. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do this. It was very important to my self-esteem and important to show my children that with hard work and a little luck, you can accomplish big things.
What words of advice can you offer to other moms in business?
Having loving children helps a great deal. You should also have a strong support system. In my case, it was my husband who I married just 10 months after I started my business. He took care of most of the home chores so that I could concentrate on running and expanding my business.
Are you giving anything away today? If so, what is it?
Yes! We are providing one lucky winner with a goody bag of promotional items – including a gym-style bag, a reusable shopping bag, a key chain, two bendable Frisbees, and several hyper-color pens!
Your contact info:
Barbara Bridge or Michelle Finzel
President
Maryland Marketing Source, Inc.
9936 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD 21133
410-922-6600
This blog post is a part of the Mommy Perks Entrepreneur’s Gift Guide, 2009.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, I encourage you to take a moment to shop and think: “What matters most to you?” (*Scroll to the bottom to see my personal list of what matters most…)
When the holidays roll around, what calls your heart? The change of seasons? The falling leaves? Baking with your kids? Parties? Family game night? Caroling? Prayer and worship? Meditation and reflection? Arts and crafts? Volunteering at a soup kitchen?
It would be my opinion that all of these things can be practiced and participated in year round. Our family and kids need us year round. Soup kitchens need volunteers year round. We can benefit from game night year round. Prayer and worship can also be participated in year round. Parties may not be year round but offering to host a family for dinner can be a year round activity.
Caroling? Okay. Maybe not.
You get my point, though. What matters most this holiday season really…matters all year round.
I encourage you to consider the things that matter most to you during the holidays. Make a commitment to participate in those things even after the holiday season has passed. The holidays are a great time to introduce your kids to the wonderful world of family and community time.
The rest of the year is a great time to keep it going 
*My personal list of what matters most during the holidays:
- Taking time to enjoy the change of seasons
- Going for walks and engaging with nature
- Reminding myself daily of the things I have to be thankful for
- Encouraging others
- Being patient with others when I know they are stressed by the holidays (trying to remain empathetic of rude behavior, etc)
- Praying for our family, friends and for those in need
- Attending church every Sunday (doesn’t happen but it matters to me!)
- Being open to the people God places in my life that need help; keeping my heart open so I SEE and HEAR them (and don’t walk past them with a desensitized heart)
- Remembering that what money we have does not ultimately belong to us, anyway. It’s given to us so we can take care of our own needs but to also give some away.
- Baking and cooking by myself and with my kids
- Making crafts with my kids
- Buying unique and special gifts for those on our list
- Supporting small businesses and hand-made items
- Singing carols, hymns and holiday songs (year round if my husband would let me)
- Dancing around the living room with my kids
- Picking out a live Christmas tree and smelling it daily
- Decorating the tree as a family while Christmas music plays
- Reminiscing over the ornaments that get placed on the tree
- Giving each child at least one ornament every year, to add to their collection
- Drinking hot chocolate and apple cider
- Snuggling on the couch with a fire going in the wood stove
- Donating clothing and toys to our local thrift shop
- Dropping change into every Salvation Army tin I see
- Putting together a box for Operation Christmas Child
- Volunteering with the town charity group, helping children and seniors in need
- Giving my children memories and traditions to hold on to…and to take with them
[...] #3: What is important to you and your family? Keep that a priority at all [...]