A work at home career as a direct sales consultant for one of the many fine companies is hard work.  It takes time to build a business, build a downline, and an income.  But there are tools available that can help you get ahead quickly, and make wise decisions.

I want to let you all know about a great resource, Party Plan Divas.  The Party Plan Divas is a community that helps direct sales consultants from all companies, all over the world.  The Party Plan Coach, Lynsey Jones, has developed a system to help any one in direct sales business work their business in just 30 minutes a day.

Lynsey has taken great care in developing her coaching program and forum.  The resources available on the membership site are numerous.  As a former consultant for a few direct sales companies, I can truly say this is an invaluable resource.  I wish I knew about the Party Plan Divas when I needed the help and support!

There are many wonderful components to the Party Plan Divas program.  First, there are daily tips that can be sent to your email on how to build your business.  Some of the tips have been advertising options, customer prospecting ideas and yellow page directory suggestions.  The newsletter is chock full of helpful tips to help any one grow their business.

And I have to mention now, is that the most impressive thing about the resources provided by the Party Plan Diva, is that it can be applied to any direct sales business.  There is a paid membership option that is very reasonably priced.  The resources available as part of the membership program is huge.  Anything you ever needed or wanted to know about building a business is in there.

The topics covered are for the beginning direct sales consultant, to the experienced.  There’s a special section called Getting Started that details how you can start your direct sales business, how to get organized, what should be in your home office, and how to start marketing your new business.  But that’s just the beginning.  There are even scripts to help you get started and get comfortable with your presentations for selling, booking parties and recruiting.

Then, there are ideas for booking parties, how to have a successful party, customer service, party games, recruiting ideas, goal setting, time management and leadership success.  There are also the templates, a huge library of forms and tools to use in your business to collect customer data, organize party information and advertise your business.  The templates are even categorized by business type like skin care, candles and home decor, scrapbooking, etc.

Like I mentioned before, I wish I had known about this community when I was in direct sales.  This would have been a great resource for me to learn how to build my business and network with other direct sales consultants.  My upline did not stay in the business too long after I joined.  And before she left the company, she moved and I never really heard from her again.  Now, ultimately, it was my responsiblity to work my business to be successful.  But when I was just starting out, I needed more support.  I needed someone to brainstorm with.  I needed someone to share their success stories and challenges.  I wanted someone to show me programs that worked so I could try them for my business.  The Party Plan Divas does that – for any one in any direct sales business.

Why do I keep mentioning that the program is for everyone?  Because it’s one of the few communities I have seen that is not company specific.  As a matter of fact, I have no idea what company Lynsey represents.  That shows true passion and dedication to help direct sales consultants.  Not to mention the fact that you know that someone is not going to try to recruit you and invite you to change companies.

As it has been mentioned several times, any work at home career is hard work.  No matter what you choose to do, you own your own business and need to work at it every day.  Having a support system and resources is critical to your success.  If you are in direct sales, you need to check out the Party Plan Divas!

As a special bonus, Lynsey has offered to giveaway a FREE one year membership to the Party Plan Divas – that’s a $49 value!

Here’s how to enter:

NOTE:  Please come back here and leave a comment each time you enter.  Every action is a separate entry for more chances to win!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Party Plan Divas and sign up for the FREE newsletter.  (REMEMBER to leave a comment here to let me know you did this. )

1. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect – 1 entry
2. Follow @PartyPlanDivas on Twitter www.twitter.com/partyplandivas- 1 entry
3. Follow me, @ivettemuller01 on Twitter www.twitter.com/ivettemuller01 – 1 entry
4. Become a fan of the Party Plan Divas on Facebook www.facebook.com/PartyPlanDivasInc - 2 entries
5. Tweet about this giveaway – 1 entry per tweet (limit of one tweet per hour) “Enter to win a one year membership to the Party Plan Divas Membership Program http://bit.ly/PPDgiveaway“

Contest ends Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at midnight EST.  Winner will be chosen at via http://www.random.org/.  Make sure you enter your email address on each entry so we can contact you if you are the winner!

GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure:  I was given a two week trial to review the Party Plan Divas membership program and review the templates available for this review.  This did not influence my opinion.  As a former direct sales consultant, this is my honest opinion of the resource.

My Digital Studio is a new software program from Stampin’ Up!  that allows you to create digital scrapbooks, cards, calendars and more.  While digital software is nothing new, there is so much more to the SU! My Digital Studio (MDS)!

First of all, if you are not familiar with Stampin’ Up!, it is a rubber stamp, home decor and paper crafting direct sales company.  Stampin’ Up! has exclusive artwork for all their images, that you won’t find anywhere else.  They are consistently on the cutting edge of rubber stamping trends, techniques and products.  In case you couldn’t tell, I LOVE STAMPIN’ UP!  I used to be a demonstrator for almost 10 years.  I can’t tell you  how much I miss rubber stamping – one of my favorite all time crafts.  However, I don’t have much time right now with my two baby girls.

And that is what intrigued me to their MDS software.  I was very interested in the MDS software for two main reasons.  One, is that it would give me a way to start my girls’ scrapbook quickly, before I forget about the pictures and the memories.  Secondly, it was a way for me to still be creative when I had a chance, and there was no  supplies to take out and put away.  No messy kitchen table is a good thing.  (One of these days I will have to post a picture of my craft room.  Tons of goodies and craft supplies, but very messy.)

The My Digital Software far exceeded my expectations.  While I am very familiar with Stampin’ Up’s! quality and exclusive artwork, the digital software was more than that.  Sure, there are the main things that SU! is known for, great pattern paper, exclusive color palette, etc.  But the software has the ability to add elements from a punch, embellishments like brads, of course text in many different fonts, and…stamps!

Yes, you read that correctly, you can stamp digitally with this software.  It’s like the best of both worlds for me!  I love to stamp, but I am also OC about it (an obsessive compulsive perfectionist!)  When I would work on cards or any project, it has to be just right, perfectly lined up, trimmed, you get the picture.  I know, the beauty of a handmade card is the imperfection, but I couldn’t get there for myself.  I loved it when other people would create these beautiful works of art, and create patterned paper with their stamps.  But I personally could never get there.  I think I lack the “random” gene that allows for that kind of creativity!

Anyway, I keep digressing from this amazing software.  There are templates and sample cards and scrapbook page layouts, but you can totally create your own.  Once you’ve created your masterpiece, you can save it (even in JPEG and PDF format) and print it.  You have a few options for printing:  print at home on your personal printer, print through an online printing facility or print through SU!’s exclusive print partner.

This software has so many capabilities, I think I may have to blog about some of my creations as I go along.  I created a simple Thank You card in less than 5 minutes.  I started my oldest daughter’s scrapbook and finished 6 pages within about an hour.  The software is VERY easy to use, and you can create masterpieces in minutes.  I think this software is great for everyone, but especially for busy, creative people.

There are a couple of special things about this software from Stampin’ UP! that I have to mention.  First, once you purchase the software, you have the license to use it on 2 personal computers.  This is a big deal to me because I have a desktop and a laptop.  All other software I have purchased thus far, requires a separate copy (license) for each computer.  I think this is a huge benefit from SU!  I think part of their reasoning for this was for situations like mine where people have a desktop computer and a laptap.  I can imagine taking my laptop to a scrapbooking party some day!  The other special thing is that Stampin’ UP! has offered their demonstrators to participate in a My Digital Software certification process.  This certification establishes some demonstrators apart in their knowledge and ability to help others use the software.  Stampin’ UP! will be releasing additional downloads for purchase to expand the software possiblities.

I’d like to thank Stella MacKay for providing this software for me to try in exchange for an honest review.  You can purchase this software and all other Stampin’ Up! merchandise directly from her.  She has a wonderful new blog at www.stellarstamps.com where she posts ideas, specials, samples and more!  Stella is a certified My Digital Studio demonstrator, and the #15 demonstrator of the year in 2009!  Besides being the #15 demonstrator of the year, she also attended a cruise to the Bahamas.  All of this is a testament to Stella’s hard work and dedication to customer service with her Stampin’ Up! business.  If you have been looking for a work at home opportunity, you should talk to Stella about the Stampin’ Up! opportunity.  As you can see by Stella’s accomplishments, she would be a great mentor to have!

And, as a special offer to my readers, Stella is offering FREE SHIPPING on any order of $69.95 or more!  Just mention coupon code: WB01 for your discount.  Contact Stella directly through her blog at www.stellarstamps.com . Expires February 15, 2010. 

This is a great gift to give yourself or someone you love  — just in time for the holidays!

As I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I will be posting my review of some of the tools and services on the Start, Run and Grow Your Business Plus software by Palo Alto Software.

This week, I created a logo for my new business.  It was very easy to use, and had categories to choose from to help narrow down the choices.  The logos are clean and simple, which I liked very much.  There were enough choices for me, because the more choices I get, the more confused I get!  The logo creation is free, and you get a web-read version included in the software.  If you want a print quality version for business cards, letterhead, custom cards, etc., there is a nominal fee.  I really liked this feature to get me started on my business website because I don’ t have a lot of time to get it done, and I am doing it myself, but I want it to look nice.

I also tried the press release builder templates.  Now, I tried this with a little skepticism because I actually write press releases for clients, and it is one of the services I offer.  So I tried this template to see how it compared to what I would write.  And, I have to admit that the template worked pretty well.  I had to play with it a little to make it flow the way I wanted it to.  But, for someone who is just starting their business, and needs to keep expenses down, this is a great option.  One of the other things I really liked about it was that the way it was formatted is very similar to a lot of the online press release sites.  So, it is easy to copy and paste to distribute.

So far, I have not seen any reason why someone just starting their business would not want to purchase this software. The price is less than $30 and has a ton of resources. Even if you used just one thing, the software would pay for itself.

A few weeks ago I responded to a tweet from John Jantsch, creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system and Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coach Network.  The tweet included a link to John’s blog, where he offered 5 people the chance to get a copy of the software, Start, Run and Grow Your Business from Palo Alto Software.

And guess what?  I got a copy!

I just received my copy of the software in the mail yesterday, and WOW!  I can’t wait to get started.  The software is full of helpful business tools.  Just a few highlights of the software:

• John’s contribution: videos, 7 steps to marketing success and information on how to use Twitter for your business
• Website domain ($35 value)
• Bookkeeping software
• Presentation templates
• Company logo
• Time-tracking software
• Project management software
• Legal forms and guides
• Sales contact database
• Exclusive discounts and extras to help grow your business

The list of tools in this software are too many to mention here, but I have included my affiliate link to Amazon.com so that you can check it out for yourself.

But one thing I want you to see immediately is the price of the software – it’s only $39.99 for a new copy on Amazon.com.  Even the regular price of $59.95 is a great deal.  But at just under $40, you practically get that investment back with the website domain name which is included and a $35 value!

I will be taking the time to go through this software and I will blog about my experience with some of the features.

But, if you have been thinking about starting a business and don’t know where to start, this would be a VERY good place!

Before I tell you about the Original Moby Wrap, I must admit that I was not excited about trying another baby carrier.

I had received 2 baby carriers as gifts when I had my first daughter and I didn’t like either of them.  The Infantino SlingRider was like an elastic banana.  The sound from the hook and loop safety strap startled my daughter every time I tried to put her in or take her out.  But more disturbing was the way it closed up and completely covered her when she was in it.  I was very concerned about her ability to breathe, and it bothered me that I couldn’t see her when I looked down.  I tried this twice and gave up.

The other one was the Infantino Euro Rider which was difficult to use from the beginning.  You had to put it on like a shirt, then lift the baby over your head and slide her in the pouch.  First of all, not easy to do with a newborn that cannot support their head yet.  Secondly, I could not  move the baby once she fell asleep.

So needless to say, I was already frustrated with the idea of baby carriers.  But, then it became a necessity with the birth of my second daughter.  With the girls only 13 months apart, I now have an active toddler and a newborn who wanted to be held.  My need peaked when my husband had to go out of town for work, and I was home alone with my girls for 4 whole days.

I saw the Original Moby Wrap on a mom at the doctor’s office when I went in for my check up.  She raved about it, and told me where she got it.  I promptly went to the store where they showed me how to use it.  (I must admit this wrap is a little intimidating at first.  It’s basically a VERY long piece of cotton fabric.  But, it is the most versatile baby carrier I have ever seen!)

Through a series of wraps, you create a customized carrier for you and your child.  They demonstrated several different variations with a doll they had.  But, I still wasn’t convinced it would work with my baby.  So I went home, got my daughter and went back to the store! (Yes, I was so impressed, I made a second trip!)  Once I had the wrap on, they showed me how to put my daughter in the wrap.  She was crying and squirming around, so it was a little difficult.  But, once she was in, she immediately calmed down and fell asleep!!

Having this wrap allows me so much freedom, I am sorry I didn’t have this with my first daughter!  I can now carry my newborn all around the house, play with my toddler, talk on the phone, work on the computer and even start dinner!  My hands are totally free!  I can actually visualize myself running small errands with both girls!

It is a little tricky to get the initial wrapping technique down.  For me, the most difficult part is keeping it taut to ensure a snug fit.  But, it just takes a few days to become a pro!  The wrap comes with a booklet that shows all the steps in full detail and color photos.  Plus, you can visit the website www.babyslingdemonstrations.com to see a video of the wrapping techniques.  I have this bookmarked as a favorite!

Here’s a list of reasons why I love this wrap:

1. My daughter loves it!
2. It’s made of soft, luxurious cotton
3. It can be used for preemies, up to 35 lbs.
4. It’s comfy and gives great back support
5. One size fits most (even the Dads can use it!)

Now, I must specify that I initially purchased the Original Moby Wrap in black, which retails for $39.95 with authorized dealers and the website http://www.mobywrap.com.  I chose black so that it would go with any outfit and would be good year round.  In hindsight though, I should have chosen a lighter fabric.  It would be cooler and easier to conceal stains and lint.

I have subsequently purchased the Moby D Wrap which retails for $69.95.  It is more expensive because it has a decorative panel in the middle, and it is made to be tied on your side.  Since one side is longer than the other, there is really only one way to tie it and the knot will always be on the right side.  Also, it doesn’t seem to fit as generously as the Original Moby Wrap which I miss.  In my opinion, the decorative panel and design is not worth the additional $30.  I would have preferred to purchase 2 Original Moby Wraps in different colors for that price!

I hope that this review is helpful to anyone who is looking for a wrap to purchase for themselves or as a gift.  I highly recommend the Original Moby Wrap to every mom I meet!

One last note about the Moby Wrap…

Even though it can be used for children up to 35 lbs. you should use your comfort as a guide.  If it’s not comfortable to wear because of the weight of your child, then try a different wrap technique to redistribute the weight.  I tried to put my 15 month old daughter in the wrap and was not successful.  She only weighs 22 lbs. but since she is mobile, she doesn’t want to be carried around that much.  I also think that since she was never carried in the wrap, she’s not used to it and doesn’t like it.  If you are purchasing this for an older child, I would consider their mobility as a factor.

There are quite a few time tracking tools out on the market, but the one that I have found is the easiest to use is Paymo Biz.  Paymo Biz is absolutely FREE for anyone to use.  Even if you have  small company with 3 employees or less, it’s still free.  You can send up to 3 invoices per month with this service, and if you need more invoices, its only $9.99 per month for unlimited invoices.  Very reasonable, very affordable.  (Please visit the website http://www.paymo.biz for more information and pricing.)

The thing I like most about Paymo Biz is how easy it is to use.  You set up a new client, project and task list and “PRESTO”, you are done.  Once you set up a new client, you save your options and all your clients and projects are available in a drop down menu in the widget.  The little widget is really cool too.  Once you download it to your desktop, you just click on it to when you start working, and when you stop.  If you are interrupted, its so easy to “punch in and out”.

If you do any kind of work that requires you to track your time, you need to try Paymo Biz.  Its easy to use and gives you detailed reports of your time, projects and clients.   It also helps you get paid more accurately since you are tracking your time to the minute.

To try Paymo Biz, go to http://www.paymo.biz

I received the book, “So You Want to be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business” by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen , as a gift from Diana.  I met her on Twitter and was bummed I didn’t win a contest giveaway where this book was a prize.  She VERY graciously offered to send me a copy to review for my website!

First off, I got this book in the mail on Friday, 10/2/09 and I finished reading it by Sunday, 10/4/09.  No small task with two baby girls under the age of 2.  However, I honestly found the book very easy to read, and filled with great resources and advice for anyone who is thinking of starting a home-based business.  I just wish I read this book 18 months ago when I started my new career! (The book just came out this year, so that wouldn’t have been possible.)

Anyway, I digress…

One of the the things that I really liked and appreciated about this book is how clear it is about setting realistic expectations.  That is one of the things I continue to struggle with as a Work at Home Mom (WAHM).  I have spent countless hours on the internet doing research about working from home, and I never really found a website, blog, person, etc. that gave a good description of what it’s like to work from home.  Truth be told, it’s one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog so that I share my experiences with others in hope that it would help someone, anyone, make the transition easier.

Being a WAHM is the most difficult, yet rewarding thing I have ever done.  And, the most important “job” I’ll ever have is raising my girls.  But its a lot of hard work, late nights and constant balancing act between work and home.

This book, “So You Want to be a Work at Home Mom” explains some real life scenarios of working at home with your kids.  The distractions, the benefits of flexibility, and the pitfalls of poor time management. They even included a sample daily, weekly and monthly to-do list to help readers stay on track!

Just as important though, is a list of home-based business opportunities  that you can research to see what’s right for you.  There is no one size fits all when it comes to a home-based business.  With the internet, you can find a job doing just about anything – you just need to identify what you love to do.

The book is also chock full of real business resources such as marketing and public relations advice, a list of websites to help with your marketing endeavors, and tips to help you get started on the right path.  It’s so much easier to start a business on the right foot, with the right tools and systems, rather than trying to go back and change things later.  This is critical when it comes to bookkeeping!

All in all, I think this is a must read book for anyone who is considering starting a home-based business.  It will give you real world examples of being a WAHM.

If you would like to get your copy of “So You Want to be a Work at Home Mom, you can purchase it at Amazon.com.

About the Authors
Diana Ennen has been a leader and mentor in the work at home industry since starting her business in 1985. She is the author of many books including Words from Home: Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. Please visit her website www.virtualwordpublishing.com for more information.

Jill Hart is an author, and owner of Christian Work at Home, Inc. She runs the very prestigious website www.cwahm.com. CWAHM.com is designed to help moms (and dads) find and request information regarding work at home (telecommuting) jobs, home businesses, and other information of special interest to Christian parents who desire to work from home.

Again, a very special thank you to Diana Ennen for sending me a copy of this book. I greatly appreciate it!