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Mamma Fairy

Features

Could Starting a Business Be the Best Career Path for You and Your Family?

family sitting at a computer

Pic Credit: Pexels

We’re living through some pretty unprecedented times. Just a couple of months ago, few people were aware that we’d end up engulfed by a worldwide pandemic, the kids would be off school, we’d be home from work and that we wouldn’t know when things will return to normal. But along with all the terrible things that are happening at the hands of coronavirus and Covid-19 at the moment, there are small positives that have got many of us rethinking the way we live our lives. Some of us are finally having time to reflect on our usual lifestyles. We don’t want to go back to rising at the crack of dawn, rushing the kids out of the house, commuting and spending the whole day behind our desks at work. We want more freedom. We want more flexibility. We want more of this time we’re getting with our little ones. Following this scenario, there’s a good chance that many of us are going to depart from the nine to five lifestyle and seek something else. Now, this can be daunting. You need to make money to support your family. But why not start a business of your own? This could be a great new lifestyle for you and your family!

The Perks

Let’s start by looking at the perks. To begin with, you become your own boss. You don’t have to answer to anybody else. You choose your own work schedule. If one of your little ones is unwell, you don’t have to grovel to take time off to care for them. If you want to book a holiday, you don’t have to request annual leave months in advance. You make your work life work for you and your kids. Then there are other benefits. You get to choose what area you specialise in. You can focus on products or services that matter to you or interest you. All in all, there’s a lot more potential for happiness and a good work-life balance here.

Getting Started

Here are just a few pieces of advice that can help you to get your business started off on the right foot.

Brand Yourself

You need a brand if you want to succeed. So, come up with a good company name and trademark it. Come up with a tagline. Trademark it. Come up with an aesthetic – colours, fonts, a general feel and attitude. This needs to appeal to your audience and tie in with what you’re selling.

Opt for Ecommerce

You can open a traditional brick and mortar store, sure. But all in all, Ecommerce is generally better for start ups. There are less costs involved. You don’t get tied into contracts on commercial premises. You can have a wider reach. Your business can operate around the clock. E Commerce is the way to go.

Know the Right Professionals to Collaborate With

You won’t be able to do absolutely everything yourself. So know the right professionals to collaborate with. Web designers and web developers will help to get your website set up properly. A graphic designer can come up with a logo for you. A product photographer can show your products in their best light. By utilising copywriting services they will create the written content for your web pages and blog. An IT agency can come up with a seamless IT strategy for business growth.

Know Your Market

You can have a great product idea. But you need to make sure that it has potential to sell before bringing it to life and investing a lot of money into it. This is where market research comes into play. Get to know who you’re targeting with your product. Talk to them. Conduct surveys. Hold group chats. Do a little product research with them. This will give you a good idea in regards to whether there’s demand there, how much people will pay for your product and whether there’s room for a profit margin.

Sure, this is a lot to think about and take on board. But when have we ever found ourselves with more time on our hands? Get started with your planning now and by the time this whole situation passes, you could be ready to get started on your new career path. You could be ready and raring to go to break onto the market and generate sales and profit soon enough. You’ll improve your own life and your family’s lives before you know it!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Living Arrows 15/52 Positive changes

Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

Another week into this strange new norm and we are all adapting pretty well. I have to say I am really proud of how well the kids are handling all of this. They are missing their grandparents and their friends so much but are doing really well. I think we can learn at lot from them.

Its funny I have begun to look at this as more of a slow down rather than lock down and ive had some time to reflect on a lot of things. One of the things that has come to the fore with all this is we have vowed to spend much more time outdoors as a family and secondly sustainable living. I suppose I never really realised until now how much unnecessary stuff we buy for ourselves and the kids. I have been totally wowed by the concept of the Reima kids 100% recyclable jacket, the kids can even register the jacket with Reima and they donate €10 to the charity supporting saving the oceans and you can also track your jacket to see where it ends up once recycled. Its genius. It really is the way forward and if we all make small changes like this it will make a big difference.

Another thing  I have been terrible at is buying take away coffees. My love of coffee hasn’t changed but I have realised taking my Keep Cup with me or bringing it out full with me is just perfect. Also shopping bags!! I did try to take them every week but now I make sure I do. Small steps can make such a big impact.

Its funny I think we will look back on this period of our lives and hopefully realise it has taught us so much about ourselves and the way we live.

Living Arrows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Features

Don’t Test Your Customers Patience In The Fast-Paced Online World

Convenience is one of the key features of buying online. Being able to purchase at a single click from the comfort of their own home, without having to deal with any clerks is very much a modern luxury. However, there are mistakes that a lot of eCommerce sites and online business owners make that can get in the way of that convenience and, thus, get in the way of your sales. Your customers are only so patient, and you need to make sure you don’t test that patience.

keyboard

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Not using responsive design

When you’re running a business, you need to pay attention to how your customers tend to shop and make the user experience much better suited to their habits. When it comes to online business, often this means ensuring that customers who use tablets and other mobile devices aren’t left behind. Investing in responsive design for your website could be the key to making sure that a significant portion of your customer base has the smooth journey they need.

Don’t let them get lost in the process

Consider every click it takes a customer to make their way from the product page to a successful purchase to be an additional barrier they have to get over. The more clicks, the greater the risk of shopping cart abandonment. In order to stop this from happening, you can cut down some of the steps, such as allowing them to sign out as guests. However, you can also use design tips like breadcrumb navigation so they at least see how close they’re getting to checking out, making them more likely to go the distance.

Make sure they can pay without issue

As mentioned, buying online is all about convenience. However, if the customer gets to the end of their journey and is at the checkout, only to find out you don’t accept their preferred method of payment, you can be assured it’s going to severely test their patience. Check out the credit card terminals and online POS services available here to make sure that you’re giving the customers the means that they need to pay. Otherwise, you could be sending them off to a competitor who will accept their money, instead.

Make sure the delivery process is tight

The shopping experience might go just fine for your customers, but what about what comes after it? You need to ensure that your product deliveries are timely but that, more importantly, you are able to accurately estimate the date of arrival. Outsourcing parts of your sales process to fulfillment companies that offer package tracking could help you gain cost-effective access to that kind of accuracy and transparency, ensuring customers don’t lose patience waiting for their products.

Your customer’s time should be considered a precious commodity. As such, you should try to keep the process of purchasing as quick and simple as possible or watch them go to competitors who will. For all the benefits of online shopping, there’s no doubt it has created a more fickle customer. However, appeasing that side of them is just the cost of the extra profit potential.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

My journey to a new smile

There are loads of phrases we see and hear when it comes to our smiles….”our smiles are the windows to our soul” or “smile and the world smiles with you” or my personal favourite “smile..its the prettiest thing you can wear“.

But you see for me for many and I mean many years I thought that this wasn’t the  case. I never smiled in photos, actually I deliberately avoided photos on nights out at events etc. On the rare occasion I did end up in a photo, I preferred to hide in the back and certainly never smiled showing my teeth. I always promised myself I would do something about it. They weren’t terrible. I just wasn’t happy with them and it didn’t matter what my friends and family said that was my opinion and that was that.

Last year I hit 35, a bit of a milestone in my own head and thought you know what.. im going to do this. So I began a treatment programme which used clear aligners. 

Thus beginning a journey I wanted to take for some time.  This is all done online, you take impressions of your teeth and they get sent off and a couple of weeks later your clear braces land in the door.  So so simple and efficient.

The name of the company I happened to work with is called Your Smile Direct, which is one of several new, online companies that  have made it possible to address minor teeth misalignments from home, without the dentist visits or big bills associated with  braces. Your Smile Direct has recently closed down, but there are other, similar options out there including SmileDirectClub and Straight Teeth Direct.

However in advance its important to have consultation with a dentist, do shop around as you may even be able to obtain a free dental consultation.

Following completion of the programme which took all in all about 8 months, I could not believe the different, each aligner change brought subtle but noticeable changes but it was only at the end when I saw the before and after pictures I realised just how far my teeth had come. But it wasn’t just my teeth. I lecture and I found my thoughts on my teeth really impacted on my confidence. I hid behind the podium, behind my hands or pages. Always aware and to be honest probably overly consumed by it. Now, its an entirely different story, I don’t mind getting into photos. I smile!! I actually truly smile.

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Mamma Musings

White Collar Crime – Prevention and Detection

computer

Pic Credit: Pixabay

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection.  According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation”. Typical white-collar crimes could include wage theft, fraud, bribery, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, labor racketeering, embezzlement, cybercrime, copyright infringement, money laundering, identity theft, and forgery.”

Investopedia goes a little further with its explanation  explaining that white-collar crime should not  consider only offenses undertaken by an individual to benefit themselves but crimes including large-scale fraud perpetrated by many throughout a corporate or government institution

Prevention and detection of white collar crime is critical for any business and never more so in the current climate.  Many of us have heard of the Enrons, Andersons and WorldCom, even Bernie Madoff. White collar crime grabs headlines. Its the scandal, the human interest, we want to know, we are curious to know more.

 

A couple of tips I have gleaned from my 20 years experience include:

  • Training is critical – educating your staff on what to look out for is paramount. You need staff buy in.
  • Whistle blowing hotline – facilitate staff who are willing to make protected disclosures

    scales of justice

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Empower your staff in a compliance/ regulatory role. They need to know they can follow through on action points
  • Goes with out saying get good legal advice such as a good  Tampa criminal lawyer
  • Be alert!!
  • You need to monitor employees – look for red flags such as  logs on outside of designated times, round sum payments, staff who wont take holidays etc
  • Familiarise yourself with the Fraud Triangle – knowledge is power
  • This sounds really simple but keep an inventory of equipment held on site and review it regularly. Especially for example if you keep expensive IT equipment on site. Don’t give the fraudster the opportunity.
  • Consult the experts! This is a minefield, if its outside of your area of expertise there are many people in this are who are experts and as the old adage says “prevention is better than cure”
  • Be aware of the growing area of cyber crime.

The psychology of a fraudster is baffling and perhaps I watch too much CSI and Law & Order but this area of the human brain fascinates me so much. The collective thinking about this is that the drive to commit white collar crime can be driven by greed and dishonestly. Some fraudsters even cite a jealousy of their boss for example if he/she  is earning more as a motivation to commit crime. There is much research in this area and if its something that interests you, take my word for it you can get totally engrossed in this stuff.   Rationalization forms a big part of the psyche of the typical white collar crime fraudster…such as “ah sure it was the companies money”, “nobody is getting hurt here”. I suppose being able to rationalize it in that way helps them sleep at night!!!

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors

Garden make over time

Pic Credit – Pixabay

I have written about our ongoing renovation project which is finally drawing to a close. The focus now is getting the outside space in good shape too. I love chilling in the garden, cup of coffee in one hand and newspaper or book in the other. I find there is something therapeutic about being outside. I have been pouring over garden trends to give an idea of whats hot for 2020.  Delighted to see growing your own veg is gaining in popularity, its something that really interests me. That and the move towards a more sustainable living can only be a good thing.

We are starting with pretty much a very blank canvas so things can only improve 🙂

Having built an extension we don’t have a huge amount of space left  therefore we need to be clever about what we do with the space we have.  Key for us both is a safe outside space for the kids to play too. I would love some new garden furniture, they want a playhouse or climbing frame! Given the space constraint one may have to give. I have totally fallen for the rattan furniture, I think there is something very elegant about it. They have totally fallen for a raised playhouse with a slide and climbing frame!

I have romantic notions of a garden in full bloom with an immaculate lawn! Actually truth be told what I would really love is a dock  right down to the lake at the front of our house. I know we are truly lucky to have such an amenity on our lands.  However my husband wants to pave it all to keep it low maintenance. I fear I may loose that battle. While I have no doubt we will have some planter beds my notions of dramatic  beds of colourful arrays of flowers will have to wait another while.

One thing we both agree on is lights for the garden, solar lights would be ideal as we have the early sun in the back of the house giving them plenty light for the evening.  I love sitting out at dusk with the lights on always makes me feel like im on holidays! If only!! Another item we both agree on is a bbq – while neither of us are at Michelin star quality we love to host and would love noting more the summer party out our newly renovated back garden.

The kids showed little interest (their own bedroom aside) in the interior renovations but they are very keen to get involved in the  planning and designing of the outside space. I think that is crucial for the success of any garden particularly on with as limited space as we have is to keep the needs of all of the users in mind and try to compromise.

Ill be sure to share some before and after pictures here when it is all done. When being the operative word!! Sorry Dada Fairy! If you have any inspiration do send it my way.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

 

Home & Interiors

Top Tips for moving house

We have moved house 3 times over the last 10 years each a different stage, before kids, with one kid and when pregnant with our second. While im no expert I can certainly share from a practical point of view what worked for us thus making a stressful process a little easier on all involved. Moving can be especially hard on kids. I have actually written about this before so if its relevant to you have a read here.

  • Planning – I know this may sound like im stating the obvious but planning really is key from the outset, line up the trades, the dates, the help etc.
    House for sale sign

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

    The aim is that it will flow as seamlessly as possible. Having been through this before as much as we all hope it goes smoothly it does take a huge effort to try to achieve this so don’t get disheartened if things do slip a little.

  • Removal Company – Unless you have access to a van or lots of help you will like us most probably need to assistance of a domestic removals company. The key here is to shop around, get personal recommendations if you can.  You want somebody who will pack and transport as quickly and as efficiently as is possible and if needs be work with your timetable which can often move.
  • Charity/ Dump/ Sell –  You need to be a little ruthless when packing up. If you haven’t wore it or used it in years what are the chances you will now? Lots of options to either donate good quality clothing, dump or even use site like ebay or local deal site to sell goods. This can sometimes even be a nice way to earn a little bit of extra cash for the house move.
  • Labels, labels, labels – I went a tad crazy with white labels and my sharpie, every box had labels, notes, instructions and priority rankings as I was never going to  have it all unpacked in a few hours! Slightly related also is a tip from my Dad to take a pic of the cabelling for TV’s etc as for the non techie like me, trying to piece that kind of thing back together wouldn’t be the easiest task. However bad the packing up the unpacking can be twice as bad!! If you can pack up as efficiently as possible room by room it will make the unpacking that bit less stressful hopefully.
  • Help! – Take all the help you can for either packing or unpacking or even making dinner until you get sorted. Particularly if moving any large furniture yourself.  And crucially don’t stress to have it all done in a day, likely not possible so my advice is to take your time and do it right. It will work out far better in the long run.

Ill be the first to admit moving is so stressful but hopefully with these simple tips it can make it a little easier.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control
Features

Graduation – A time to celebrate

graduation hat

Pic Credit: Pixabay

I have been involved in University lecturing in some guise since 2009. A question I get asked time and time again, is whether I still feel the same sense of pride when my latest crop of graduates leave for pastures new?  I can honestly say hand on heart I do and I think I always will. I have been there twice myself and as an undergraduate and as a post graduate and that sense of personal pride is immense.  It is not just a celebration for the graduate themselves but also their family and friends who will likely have been with them from the start, cheering and encouraging them every step of the way.  It really is a day to cherish and celebrate.

Some of the key takeaways that I have gleaned over the years are set out below.  But above all else its so important to enjoy the day and celebrate you, after all you put in the hard work and deserve the day to revel in the celebrations.

Some tips for your graduation

One of the things that I have seen grow in popularity over the years is the invites, from senior announcement cards to college graduation party invitations and to the oft forgotten but very important in my view – thank you notes.   Some of my favourites are below. Check out the clear see through ones. Love love love them.  Really fantastic service, with unlimited color combinations, custom samples, over 40 different envelope colours and a free address collection service.

Some more practical tips to share with your guests:

  • Know where the venue is before hand and check out the parking situation in advance especially if it may be limited

    graduation robes and hat

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Have your outfit picked in advance to save stress on the morning – comfy shoes!!! There could be a lot of standing.
  • Try to get a good nights sleep and eat a decent breakfast before hand
  • Take extra hair pins, make up etc as some can be long days, even a few snacks is no harm.
  • Be ready for lots of photos – smile and smile and smile some more!
  • Also be ready for lots of clapping!!
  • Don’t forget the graduation card for your friends. Mine remain treasured keepsakes of that day.
  • Don’t be late!! Give yourself plenty time to get to the venue, locate the hall and take your seat.

Above all else do enjoy, its a momentous day and you should be so proud. Enjoy the celebrations.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

Features

The best dog breeds for companionship

Most people get a dog because they want a companion. After all, dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend! Typically, most dogs live for quite a few years, which means an owner gets to spend many years with a pooch and create the ultimate bond. However, some dogs make for better companions than others. Of course, every dog is different and has different characteristics, you can read more about that on the Pupster Passion website, but there are some breeds that are considered the ultimate companion. 

Golden Retriever

dog walking

Pic Credit: Pixabay

This lovable pooch may just be the top contender for the best companion. The humble Golden Retriever has a charming tempered nature and loves being loved. This pup will happily cosy up next to you on a sofa or lay next to you in bed. Not to mention, they’ll often be around your feet craving your attention. Golden Retrievers are very easy going and are usually a calm dog. You can often spend a lot of pleasant time with one another. Plus, these pooches are eager to please, so they’ll be at your beck and call. That’s why these dogs make great service dogs too.

Poodles

The Poodle breed is incredibly intelligent, and they are known for being easily trained. However, they also have the added benefit of being a great companion too. They will listen to the commands of owners and love an owner unconditionally. There are three types of Poodle, standard, miniature, and toy, all of which offer the same loveable tendencies. These are the perfect companions for owners who don’t want a dog that malts or may be allergic to wired dog hair. However, they do require daily exercise, which may not be ideal for someone with minimal mobility. They’re also adorable too!

Spaniel

There are various breeds of spaniel, and they are mostly known for being an incredibly energic dog,  which is great for any owner who is fit and active as this pooch will undoubtedly be able to keep up! Although there are varieties, this breed is considered a loyal companion who will love you until their last breath. It’s no wonder these dogs have been used for centuries as working dogs and companions. The calmest Spaniel breed has to be the Clumber Spaniel, but this pooch is still very active. You can exercise with these dogs or enjoy gentle strolls; it’s up to you. 

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are often forgotten about when it comes to dogs that can provide companionship. However, they are a cute, lovable, and friendly breed. They require daily maintenance, such as brushing and trimming the fur, but that can only help develop a strong bond between pet and owner. This breed is also excellent with children, making it a great choice for a family pet. Everyone in the family can benefit from this companionship! This breed doesn’t require too much exercise per day, so it makes for an ideal companion for those who have busy schedules or may not be able to get out much. A small garden is all that is required. 

There are, of course, other great breeds for companionship, such as Terriers and German Shepherds. However, it all depends on what an owner wants and needs from their companion, as well as the care required for the dog. Some owners want a dog that will lounge around the house all day; others want a dog that will bounce around and have energy from sunrise to sunset. Before getting a dog, it’s important to note that you can keep up with their needs so that they can be as comfortable as possible and provide the ultimate companionship. 

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Polk Partners can be there for you in difficult times

looking at laptop

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Never in recent times has the world been facing such an unprecedented situation.  It is unheard of, job losses are high, ways of working have changed and we are facing a health crisis of unknown proportions. For most of us know we are turning to look at our finances in order to keep them in check as best as we can while the world faces this crisis. Financial difficulty is something we really dont need the added stress of right now.  But there are things we can do to help our situations. While some of us may like to borrow to assist with this current situation, some other may look to solutions which prioritize what a  clients need by offering a single monthly payment with low interest rates.

The last thing you want to do is become saddled with high interest bearing, repayable on demand credit cards.  Sites like Investopedia or Wikipedia can be useful if there are terms you don’t understand as often the financial world can be full of jargon which the average one of us might struggles to succinctly understand.  The fear of the unknown can be daunting and like most things in life knowledge is power.

Polk Partners

There are lots of organisations available who can help you in this regard, one that I am aware of is Polk Partners  who have a toll free number you can call if you do have any queries around high interest rate credit card debt. While doing some research for this article I was blown away by some of the statistics surrounding credit card debt in the USA – the average US consumer owns 3 credit card and county wide the total revolving debt stands at over a trillion. That is just mind blowing considering how expensive it is.  Which leads me to the average interest rate being around 16% – huge. In terms of the demographic, its those mostly in the 35-65 age category who has amassed the most credit card debt.

Some more tips

Some other things you can do to help your won debt situation include:

  • Switching cards – seeking out the best rates and moving your balance across
  • Switch to generic, shop brands for some items rather than the high end brands
  • Bring you keep cup for teas and coffees to avail of discounts or better still take your own from home
  • Review your utility providers – is there better value out there? Would switching save you money or even do you need all of them, eg some of the streaming services? Some provide very similar offering so maybe you don’t need all of them
  • I have written about this before, im a massive fan of the “loose change jar”. It is as it says we stick our odds and ends of loose change into a jar and then cash in for our spending more for holidays. Its simple but very effective. Its actually surprising how quickly it builds us.
  • Another thing that I do but probably not as much as I should is bring my lunch to work. I worked out I was spending an eye watering amount of money on lunches and vowed to cut that in half which I have done im delighted to say. There is room for improvement but my increased awareness has me making better decisions to save the extra cash to pay off loans or treat myself!!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post