How Hard Will I Have to Work to Make My Business a Success?

One of the concerns most busy moms have is “Do I have enough time to start a business that actually makes money?”

This is a valid question, and one you should fully explore before getting started.

As with most things in life and business, there is no set answer to this question other than, “It depends.”

Which is good news for those of us who already have a full time job of raising a family and would immediately be disqualified from being small business owners if we needed 40+ hours a week to be successful.

Perceptions of the Entrepreneur’s Life

There are two perceptions that people have of entrepreneurs that can really color our decision of whether to start our own business.

The first is that the entrepreneur’s lifestyle is glamorous and carefree.

Under this version, we see ourselves sitting on the beach with our laptop, putting in an hour or two of work, then shutting down to play in the sand with our kids the rest of the day as the money rolls into our bank account.

The second view has the entrepreneur as stressed and constantly hustling for business.

There’s a saying entrepreneurs like to put out there, only half-joking, that I’d rather work 80 hours a week for myself than 40 hours a week for someone else.

Under this definitely less pleasant version of being a business owner, we see ourselves wearing every hat there is in our business and working before the kids get up, while they’re playing at the park, while they nap, and after they go to bed.

So where’s the reality?

Does it take 10 hours a week to be an entrepreneur, or 80?

Not surprisingly, the answer depends, and likely lies somewhere in between these two numbers for most of us.

What the Studies Say

If you were to Google the question before deciding whether you have the time it takes, you’d likely get a little depressed. 

(But just like you shouldn’t self-diagnose your medical conditions on Google, nor should you base your business decisions on it!)

A New York Enterprise poll reveled that most small business owners worked at least 50 hours a week, with 25% claiming to work more than 60 hours a week.

A Gallup poll reported that 62% of small business owners work 50 hours a week or more, with the average being 52 hours a week. Fifty-seven percent reported working six days a week, or more.

A third study revealed similar results, with 49% of small business owners reporting they work 50 hours a week, or more, while 33% work 40-49 hours a week.

What’s a Mom to Do?

With these kinds of numbers popping up consistently in the published studies, it seems virtually impossible for one to be a mom and a small business owner. 

Obviously, this isn’t the case, as thousands and thousands of moms around the world can attest to!

So, why do the numbers lie?

None of the published studies give any insight into what type of business the respondents are running, what they do during all those hours, how long they’ve been in business, or what their profit is.

For moms, we just have to be picky on what kind of business we start and how we run our business.

There are basically three boxes to check if you’re a stay at home mom looking for a side business to that of raising your kids.

First, the business you start should be online, so you can work at home and for the most part, make your own hours.

Second, you need to have a business mentor who can help you cut out the waste and focus on doing the activities in your business that make money.

A business consultant involved in the New York Enterprise poll stated she was able to quantify that entrepreneurs spend 20% of their time on low value work. 

For starters, an experienced mentor can decrease your work hours by 20% just by cutting out the low value work and focusing on what brings in the money and delivers good service.

Third, you need a business that you can grow at your own pace.

This simply means that the fixed costs of doing business can’t be so high that you’re forced to take on 100 new clients a month just to pay your expenses.

Fortunately, most online businesses meet this third box that needs checking.

But How Many Hours DO You Need?

Realistically, to get the momentum you need to start getting clients through your virtual door and have a consistent income, you’ll need an average of 2-3 hours a day, or 10-15 hours a week. (Moms never plan for more than a five day workweek!)

You’ll need time to set your business up, for ongoing training to become better, time to market your product or service, time for administrative duties and dealing with prospective customers, and time to actually deliver your product or service.

Will you grow slower if you spend 10 hours a week than if you spend 20? Naturally, yes.

But who cares? You’ll still grow.

And yes, things do get easier the longer you’re in business.

How Do I Get Started?

At Kids Party Characters, owner Cheryl Jacobs is as enthusiastic and dedicated to helping moms as she is to making sure children experience the party of their dreams.

Cheryl is an experienced business owner, a serial entrepreneur, and a mom who once faced the dilemma of how to put food on the table.

She’s turned her success into a mentorship program for other moms and struggling entrepreneurs by offering memberships to her KidsPartyCharacters.com business.

With membership, you get an exclusive territory in which to book parties, the right to use our 200+ costumes, access to our casting director and acting coach, and the business training and support that is crucial to a new entrepreneur’s success from Cheryl and the whole team at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

In addition to the mentorship, one of the great benefits of a Kids Party Characters business is that it's already set up for you, making the number of hours you have to put in to make your business successful even less.

If you’re ready to explore the possibility of having your own business, hop on the phone with Cheryl for a no-pressure chat where she can answer all your questions, ease your fears, and tell you exactly how to get started. You can schedule your call right here.

Want to see more about what having your own Kids Party Character business is all about? Connect with us on Facebook for daily updates.

Unique Birthday Traditions From Around the World

It’s your birthday! 

Bring out the balloons, colorfully wrapped gifts, ice cream and cake heavily laden with buttercream frosting.

It’s the one day of the year that even “healthy” eaters will skip checking the ingredient list and fat and sugar content in the spirit of celebrating another year of life. 

Even conscious shoppers will spend $6 or more on a birthday card for their friends and loved ones.

And even the meanest of parents will venture into Chuck E. Cheese’s or the trampoline park for two hours of complete chaos surrounded by hundreds of overstimulated children.

In America, birthday traditions are well, pretty traditional.

Birthdays in many other countries are celebrated in some unique ways and with some interesting twists.

Just for fun, let’s look at traditions that are a part of birthday celebrations in 10 other countries. You might get a few new ideas for your next special day.

China - In China they skip the sugary cake and instead eat a plate of long noodles symbolizing longevity. 

Under the tradition, you slurp in as many noodles as you can without taking a bite, until your mouth is full and you can slurp no more. 

When a baby is born in China, he is considered one year old. 

On his second birthday, the child is placed on the floor surrounded by objects. Custom has it that the first object the child touches will determine what she does with her life.

Russia - Children in Russia look forward to school on their birthday, as tradition dictates that the student bring everyone candy on her special day.

The clothesline birthday tradition is a unique way of doing party favors in Russia.

Mom hangs a clothesline and clips small gifts along it. The children play games and pluck their party favors from the clothesline.

A birthday pie is more common than a cake, and the birthday card holds special importance. Cards come filled with heartfelt messages.

Apparently, merely writing “Happy Birthday” on a card would be seen as inconsiderate. 

Throughout the year, it is common practice for parents to confiscates toys and other items from children who misbehave.

Legend has it that ghosts wrap up some of these items and return them to children who can show good behavior throughout the rest of the year. So a Russian child’s birthday gifts may be a mix of new and returned items.

Germany -  Germans share the American traditions of candles, cake, and presents, but have an added bonus of requiring no homework or chores from the birthday girl or boy. 

The most interesting birthday tradition comes for men over 30, however.

If you are still single at this “old” age, you sweep the city hall stairs while your friends throw garbage at you.

This serves as public notification of your availability, and may be a way of showing potential mates how good you are at cleaning!

Ecuador - In Ecuador you celebrate your birthday on day the saint you were named after was born, rather than on your actual birthday.

For whatever it’s worth, it is still custom to give someone a card on the true day they were born.

Vietnam - It’s one big party in Vietnam, where everyone celebrates their birthday on the same day. 

That’s right, the entire country is engaged in celebrating their birthday on a day called Tet, which also signifies the beginning of the new year and usually happens in January or February.

Kids do get money from their parents on this day, which might take a little sting out of the absence of having your own special day.

Holland - Much like the U.S. celebrates certain landmark years such as 16 and 21, in Holland special emphasis is placed on the Crown Years, which occur at ages 5, 10, 15, 20, and 21.

On these birthdays you get big gifts, along with lemonade and hot chocolate.

Jamaica - Although the origin is not clear, it’s a well-established tradition to throw flour on birthday boys and girls of all ages in Jamaica. 

This can happen by ambush or as part of an organized party.

And for those who are really into a good time, the celebrant is covered in water before the flour throwing begins.

Canada - In many parts of Canada, tradition is to ambush the birthday child and smear butter on her nose to ward off bad luck.

The theory is the butter makes her too slippery for bad luck to be able to attach itself to her throughout the coming year.

India - On your first birthday in India, you celebrate by having your head shaved over a special fire to symbolize cleansing and renewal of the soul.

Fortunately, as you get older and are more able to remember your birthday, while the celebrations retain a ritual element, they also include singing happy birthday, and everyone participating in feeding the birthday boy cake.

Switzerland - In a tradition that takes the cake (so to speak) when it come to weirdness, Swedish parents hire an evil clown to follow and torment the child the week before her birthday. 

Apparently, the purpose is to build excitement and most kids love it.

The clown ends his duties by putting a pie in the birthday child’s face for good luck.

The Kids Party Characters Tradition

Maybe this look at how other countries celebrate birthdays has given you some ideas for family traditions you’d like to start (or avoid!) when it comes to celebrating.

One tradition that will delight kids of all ages is choosing their favorite character to invite as their special guest at their party each year.

With over 200 characters to choose from at KidsPartyCharacters.com, your child will never outgrow our selection.

At KidsPartyCharacters.com we have packages for everyone, including extras like cotton candy, face painting, and balloon twisting.

Get started planning your child’s next party today by visiting us at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

And be sure to join us on Facebook for party ideas and inspirations, and daily updates on all that’s going on with KidsPartyCharacters.com

How to Make Your New Business Successful Through Referrals

One of the biggest fears people have in starting a new business is that they won’t know how to get customers.

This is obviously a legitimate fear since without customers, you have no business!

And even though most of us are very passionate about our business and the product or service it provides, that doesn’t mean we like selling.

In fact, most people hate to sell, and it either keeps them from starting a business, or keeps the business they have from being as successful as it could be.

While there are a plethora of ways to generate new clients for your business, the easiest way, and one that requires no selling, is through referrals.

Why do referrals result in new clients almost effortlessly?

Because 92% of people make buying decisions based on advice from their friends and family.

Obviously then, if you can get people to refer you, your business just got a whole lot easier, and more profitable.

Without further delay then, let’s look at five ways you can get more referrals in your business.

1. Be Awesome 

The most effortless, and effective, way to get referrals is to provide an experience with your product or service that’s so great it gets people talking.

So basically, do your job and do it well, and you’ll be on the tip of your current client’s tongue when someone she knows needs what you offer.

Even better than this, do something that makes your customer share her experience with others even when they don’t ask.

Fact is, people are much more likely to call up their friends and talk about bad experiences they’ve had with a business than they are to talk about the good ones.

This makes some sense, after all, we do expect to get good service when we pay for something.

But if you’ll go beyond what the customer expects, and what others in your market provide, this will give your customer a reason to mention the extraordinary experience, and it will stick in the minds of those she shares it with.

Brainstorm some kind of unadvertised bonus you could offer that would leave your client saying this: “I hired her to do X, but she also gave me Y and Z, which was so helpful.”

2. Offer Incentives

You can have a standing offer that you mention to all customers, such as, “I offer a $10 Amazon gift card when you refer someone to me, so please be sure to tell your friends to mention your name when they contact me.”

You can also hand out discount cards that you make available only to past customers. The cards give the new customer a discount on your service and have a place for the past customer’s name so you’ll know where the referral came from.

For example, you hand or send your customer 3-4 cards after they’ve purchased from you and say, “Here are some coupons that provide your friends a 10% discount for giving me a try. Write your name in the space on the card and I’ll give you 20% off your next purchase for any referrals you send me.”

You can also offer something like a gift card here if the chances of them purchasing again from you in the near future aren’t big enough to offer a lot of motivation.

3. Social Media

Invite your customers to connect with you on social media. Some will do it naturally, but you’ll get a much bigger following if you ask people to join you there.

Make sure links to your social media sites are prominently displayed on your website, in your emails, on your printed materials, however you are connecting with your customers.

If your customers are seeing your business and your offers on social media, they can really effortlessly share them with friends, since everyone’s connected with everyone on at least one social media platform.

Occasionally, but not always, within your posts you can ask your connections to share with their friends and family who might need you.

You can even combine this with the last strategy and offer an incentive to share by providing a reward if it results in new business for you.

4. Keep In Touch

Staying at the top of your customer’s mind is important. If they can’t remember your name or how to find you, they’re much less likely to refer you to people!

When you’re talking on the phone to a friend and she asks if you know a good plumber, and you respond, “I had this great one last year but I can’t remember his name, let me see if I can find it for you,” the chances of that plumber ever getting the referral are slim.

People are busy and they don’t have time to wade back through their emails or papers looking for a receipt with your name and contact information on it.

The best way for you to keep in touch with past customers is to put them on an email list. 

You can then send them a weekly newsletter, periodic business updates, and notices about specials, sales, and new products.

For details on how to get this up and running, check out our blog post: This Tool Can Make Your Online Business Easy.

Even if your customers don’t read every email you send them (they probably won’t), they will remember your name and be able to quickly pull you up with a search of their email inbox.

5. Testimonials

A great way to get indirect referrals from people who might not otherwise have a lot of occasions to recommend you is through getting client testimonials.

A testimonial from a client is like a referral to the world.

After you’ve provided your product or service and have created yet another happy customer, ask her if she’d be willing to share a few words about how she liked working with you.

Tell her you’ll use it to help others evaluate whether to work with you.

A long-time or super-engaged client may even be willing to provide a video testimonial.

Whatever form it’s in, you can use testimonials everywhere — in all of your marketing materials, your emails, on social media, and when prospective clients ask if you have any references.

Although it’s not as powerful as a personal recommendation from someone you know, new clients are reassured when they hear stories from others who have had great experiences working with you.

Have a Referral-Friendly Business

Some businesses simply lend themselves to referrals more than others.

One of the many advantages of a Kids Party Characters business is that referrals happen automatically. 

Depending on the child’s age, many parents are in attendance at the party and see that Kids Party Characters provides just the experience their child would want on his birthday.

At the very least, they’re picking up their child from the party and will hear his excited chatter all the way home.

One of the unique things we do at KidsPartyCharacters.com is to provide each child with a treat bag containing our business card, meaning your new client doesn’t even have to call the party host for the referral.

In addition, repeat business is common in your KidsPartyCharacters.com business, and there’s no easier sale than having a satisfied customer return to you year after year.

If you’re a busy mom who’d love to start a business, or an entrepreneur looking for a second income stream, a KidsPartyCharacters.com membership may be the perfect opportunity for you.

With membership you get an exclusive territory in which to book parties, access to our collection of over 200 costumes, connection with our casting director and acting coach, and ongoing training and mentoring with Kids Party Characters owner Cheryl Jacobs.

Want to learn more? Or maybe you’re ready to get started today?

Schedule a friendly, no-pressure chat with Cheryl right here and she’ll answer all your questions and help you decide if Kids Party Characters is the right opportunity for your life.

Be sure to connect with us on Facebook for daily updates on how fun and rewarding a KidsPartyCharacters.com business can be.

3 Ways to Make Your Small Business Stand Out

If you’re not a little scared when you start your business, you’re doing something wrong.

It’s a fact that most business fail before they ever really get off the ground. 

From the very beginning you’re walking into something that requires you to beat the odds, odds that are heavily stacked against you.

Unfortunately, many people never take the leap into their dream business because of this fear of failure.

Having the scale tipped against you shouldn’t stop you from taking the plunge into entrepreneurship.

Instead, you just need to go into business preparing yourself against failure from day one.

To do this, start by asking yourself, “What can I do to make my business stand out?”

Business is becoming more competitive and people are living increasingly hurried lives. 

Imagine all your potential customers running quickly past you and your competitors, and think about what you can do to make them stop in front of you as opposed to anyone else.

While it’s essential to the long-term success of your business that you offer a quality product or service, being good at what you do isn’t going to get people in the door initially. 

Everyone claims to be the best. Your prospect probably has a history of being let down by someone who made that claim in the past.

So what’s the right approach?

Well, it’s limited only by your imagination and is something that should always be top of mind in your business.

To get you started, here are three proven ways that will get potential customers to notice you over the competition.

Share Your Stories

Most businesses are just going to be focusing on how to get the sale.

They may communicate a lot with their audience, but when they do, it’s just about bombarding them with how great their product or service is and encouraging people to buy, buy, buy.

Your audience is numb to this.

The old saying that people buy from those they know, like, and trust is more true today than it ever has been.

And the process goes in exactly that order — they get to know you, decide they like you, and come to trust you enough to buy from you.

Approach your potential customers as new friends.

You’ll need an email list so you can share with them regularly, then you’ll need to send them an email once a week, or more frequently, and simply share what’s going on in your life with them.

You decide how personal you want to get, and it will likely feel a little weird at first, telling stories about your life to strangers who are business connections and not friends.

But seeing a picture of your family vacation in their email is going to be something they see only from you, so it will catch their attention and they’ll start to actually look at the emails you send because people are interested in stories.

So yes, share your baby’s first step, your child's first day of school picture, and your frustration that the vacuum  broke an hour before important company was to arrive.

Become someone your prospect can relate to as a person, and you’ll stand out to her.

But, and this is an important but, don’t forget to sell in these emails too. 

No one’s going to seek you out and ask you if you’ve got anything they could buy. 

Talk about your product or service too, sometimes more than others, and invite them to call you, go to your website, wherever you want to send them. 

Always make an offer to do business with them after you’ve shared a story.

Share Your Profits

This may be a little scary when you’re new to your business, but it’ll be easier if you build it in from the beginning.

Pick a charity that’s important to you, and donate a portion of your profits there.

As part of your story, always share that you proudly support this charity.

This doesn’t have to be a big deal, just include it somewhere on your website, and reference it with one sentence in your emails.

No one does this, so it’s not hard to get people to remember you for it.

At times you can include in your emails updates on new things the charity is doing, or exactly what the charity supports.

You can also share how much you’ve been able to donate this year and set goal amounts you share with your audience.

You can even create a low cost webinar or e-book as a special event and donate 100% of your profits to the charity.

People will love you for this, a deserving charity will benefit, and you’ll feel good about what you’re doing.

There’s no way to go wrong here.

Show up in the Mailbox

And I don’t mean the email box.

This one can get a little more expensive, but you can use it in a limited way at first and increase it as you see the results it gives and your profits start to increase.

Start by sending your best prospects, or best customers you’re looking for repeat business from, something in the mail.

Address it by hand so that it doesn’t get lost in a pile of junk mail.

And if you really want to do it right, make it what is called “lumpy mail,” that is something that doesn’t just lay flat like a letter.

You’ll have to get creative here, but you can send anything from a pencil or some other small promotional product, to a usb drive with samples of your work, to a larger item if you’re really trying to get the attention of a potentially big client.

As an extreme example, one company that sells products designed for lumpy mail offers a plastic foot you can send someone with a humorous note about how you’re really trying to get your foot in their door.

If nothing else, you’ll be remembered, and that’s what it’s all about.

This one will require a little thought on your part,  but don’t underestimate the value of it.

Spend some time with Google gathering ideas and searching for inexpensive lumpy mail products you can include. 

Use a clever idea or story to tie the “lump” into the offer you're making in the letter you send, but there doesn’t have to be a strong connection here. The connection is made when they receive the lumpy mail.

After you send your “lump” follow up with an email, phone call, or another letter if they don’t take the action you’ve asked them to in your initial letter.

Whatever you do, don’t discount this as something your business isn’t ready for.

You may only start by choosing 10 of your best prospects to put your time and money into with this method.

That’s okay, everyone started small.

This method works, so if you want to grow big, start wherever you can with it.

Ask For Help

Of course the best way to guarantee the success of your new business is to start with a proven business model and work with an experienced mentor.

KidsPartyCharacters.com owner Cheryl Jacobs has decided to offer new entrepreneurs, and those looking for another income stream, both of these things through a membership to KidsPartyCharacters.com.

With membership you’ll get an exclusive territory in which to book parties, the right to use our 200+ costumes, access to our casting director and acting coach, and training and support from Cheryl and the team at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

Cheryl is a serial entrepreneur with a history of knowing how to make businesses stand out and grow from zero to six figures.

Cheryl loves to give back by cutting down the learning curve she went through and helping others get started in business. 

If you’ve been wanting your own business and are scared to start, or just aren’t sure how to get started, set up a no pressure chat with Cheryl right here and she’ll answer all your questions and help you take the first steps in turning that dream into a reality.

Want to see more about how fun and rewarding a children’s entertainment business is? Connect with us on Facebook for daily updates on all the happenings at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

7 Foods That Will Boost Your Family’s Brain Power

Most people believe they’re stuck with the brain they’re born with.

And that trying to change your brain would be about as easy as trying to change your natural eye color or the length of your toes.

Fortunately, science has universally proven that our brains are not static, but rather can be changed by what we think, do, and eat.

Today we’re going to talk about seven foods you can incorporate into your family’s diet to give your brain an advantage whether you’re a toddler, senior citizen, or anywhere in-between.

The good news is, many of these foods are things you won’t have trouble selling to your kids, and can even include as snacks throughout the day.

When it comes to making healthy food choices, the earlier you can get your kids in the habit of reaching for the right foods, the easier it will be for them to make good choices throughout their life.

We often think of brain health as something we only have to focus on as we get older and the risk of dementia or other illnesses that make us “lose our mind” increase.

But in today’s competitive world, where our children have increasingly high expectations at early ages, it’s never too soon to start giving them the extra edge these brain-friendly foods provide.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries, and other dark colored fruits like strawberries and raspberries, are high in antioxidants and are something children of all ages love.

Look to blueberries and other dark fruits to satisfy your child’s craving for something sweet instead of offering sugary, processed foods.

Another big bonus of blueberries is your kids can serve themselves, which makes for a great between meals snack.

Studies have shown that blueberries can improve short-term memory and motor skills. The gallic acid found in blueberries also safeguards the brain against degeneration and stress.

2. Avocados 

One of the great things about avocados is they can be on the list of your baby’s first foods due to their smooth texture and high content of good fats.

While most kids are avocado fans, they’re also easy to slip into a smoothie for the less enthusiastic eater.

Avocados are known to help with cognitive functioning, especially in the ares of memory and concentration, two big ones for kids of all ages. 

They can also aid in improving problem-solving skills, another area of cognitive functioning where we could all use a boost.

As we get older, avocados help prevent blood clots in the brain that cause strokes.

3. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of those cure-all foods that helps with just about any problem your body might have.

The nice thing about coconut oil is you can use it to replace vegetable oil and other less-healthy oils in just about any recipe, meaning your family gets the health benefits without even knowing they’re make a healthy food choice.

Your brain needs the healthy dietary fats found in coconut oil to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, thereby lowering the risks of depression, and of dementia and Alzheimer’s as we age.

And although it doesn’t appear to be backed by scientific research - yet anyway - there is a growing amount of anecdotal evidence that coconut oil can help combat anxiety and ADHD. 

With all of its scientifically-known advantages, it certainly can’t hurt to focus on increasing your child’s coconut oil intake if he battles either of these common conditions.

4. Dark Chocolate

Hold up before you start passing out the Hershey bars, we’re talking about a very specific chocolate that will improve your brain health.

Dark chocolate is rich in flavonols, which have good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, meaning an increase in cognitive abilities such as processing new information, and staying focused.

Antioxidants also provide energy (which may or may not be a positive for your kids!) and help fight brain disease.

For maximum effect, look for dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.

5. Broccoli 

Broccoli gets a bad rap with a lot of kids, but if you’ll introduce it early and be a good role model by eating it yourself, you’ll be surprised by how many kids like broccoli.

But, don’t force it if it’s not your child’s thing.

Just encourage him to try it at different stages of his life and in different recipes. Taste buds do change as your child grows up.

Broccoli is important enough to be included on a list of things you should try to get your child to eat because it’s one of the best brain foods out there for a solid memory due to its high levels of vitamin K and choline.

It’s also a great snack for those constantly hungry kids because its high fiber content means they’ll fill up quickly when eating it.

For us adults, broccoli has been shown to benefit “crystallized intelligence,” which basically means it helps the knowledge and skills that you’ve developed throughout life stick with you even as you age.

6. Walnuts

Other nuts like almonds, and seeds from pumpkin or sunflowers are also good here, but walnuts seem to take the grand prize when it comes to brain health.

High in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, walnuts will aid with mental alertness and focus, and can boost your mood.

As we age, the vitamin E also provides a barrier to Alzheimer’s and helps maintain your brain’s health. 

And again, walnuts and other nuts are a good “mom’s busy, grab something from the pantry” snack that require no effort on your part, yet provide a healthy choice for your child.

7. Eggs

Eggs are a nice option for kids because they can be fixed so many different ways, and added to a smoothie if need be.

The really beneficial part of the egg is the yoke, so be sure not to skip that part as some kids tend to do with hard boiled eggs.

The protein and high choline levels in eggs have been shown to improve memory and concentration in kids, which is a huge benefit in our distraction-laden society.

An interesting fact about eggs related to your brain health is that they help with bethane, which is a chemical that produces hormones responsible for our happiness.

Eggs may also help raise your good cholesterol levels like coconut oil does, which can help with the happiness factor since low cholesterol is linked to depression.

Bonus Tip: One of the best things you can do for your brain is drink lots of water. Find our why by taking a look back on the blog at Why Water Should be Your Child's Best Friend This Summer.

Healthy Brain Party Planning

If you’ll look back on this list you can easily see how many of these foods can be incorporated into your child’s next party.

Bowls of blueberries and other dark fruits are popular with kids, as are avocado slices, or even guacamole dip served with chips.

Nuts are another easy party snack, and putting broccoli on a vegetable tray with a side of dip will get you several takers among the kids and their parents.

Add another boost to your child’s brain by kickstarting some of those happy hormones that are bound to be in high gear when her favorite character from KidsPartyCharacters.com shows up.

With over 200 characters to choose from, your child will have a hard time picking her favorite to put on a show as her special party guest.

KidsPartyCharacters.com specializes in creating party memories that last a lifetime. 

Find the package that’s right for you and start planning your child’s next fun and healthy party today at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

Also join us on Facebook for daily updates on all the magic we create at children’s parties, and other tips for fun and healthy family living.

5 Steps to a Party Mother Nature Will Love

When you think about children’s birthday parties, one of the memories you likely have is stuffing large black trash bags full of trash — paper plates, cups, wrapping paper, party decorations — more trash is created at a three hour party than the average family amasses in a week.

The good news is, with some informed planning and no extra effort you can throw a party that leaves behind little to zero footprint.

Let’s take a look at some simple ways to plan and pull off your child’s next party that will leave Mother Nature smiling and teach your child and her guests some valuable lessons about sustainable living.

1. Invitations

We’ve talked before about invitations and the option of using electronic invites, which naturally eliminates any waste and has a huge convenience factor.

But if you or your child prefer an invite your guest can hold in his hand, there are several fun and creative options there too.

Instead of running out to your local party store, look around the house to see what you already have that could be turned into an invitation. 

Let your kids get creative and create their own invites from items that are headed to recycle or should be headed there because no one’s using them.

When possible, hand deliver the invitations. 

This gives you even more room for creative construction out of cardboard or other materials that may not travel through the mail so easily.

If you want to go a more traditional route, consider using biodegradable, seed-infused paper for your invitations. That way your guests can plant their invitations and watch them grow after the party.

Seed paper invitations leave behind no waste and are a lot of fun, making it hard to go wrong with this option.

Whatever you decide, use the invitation to set the tone for the party, letting your guests know that part of the fun this year will be in seeing how eco-friendly you can all make this party.

2. Decorations

Balloons are fun, but they make an appearance at every party.

How about encouraging something new and different this year? 

Again, look to what you have on hand to create more personalized decorations the whole family can be a part of. 

The decorations are pretty irrelevant to your child in the end, she just wants to play with her friends and get her hands on some cake.

A hand-written banner on recycled paper, coupled with a few strings of lights you can reuse again and again, will do the trick here.

Consider using a fun print bed sheet for the tablecloth (which could double as a gift), or use an old sheet that kids can write on and create a unique memory of the party.

3. Food Service

This can account for the bulk of the trash as kids use multiple plates, cups, forks and spoons throughout the party.

Consider purchasing a set of plastic, reusable party ware and write each child’s name on her cup.

Pull out the reusable cloth napkins you have at home, or will have after you purchase them for the party! 

There is also a wide variety of compostable and eco-friendly party ware available with just a quick google search.

The coordinating character sets of paper products that are sold at party stores obviously have a popular appeal with kids, but again, they don’t really care what they’re drinking out of or eating on.

And, choosing an environmentally friendly alternative is a great way to educate your child and have her feel good about making a better choice.

As for the food itself, avoid juice boxes and other single-serving options.

Mix up a pitcher of lemonade, and offer a pitcher of water. Do full size cartons of juice if you must have juice, and just go with your reusable cups.

You can also make a conscious effort to have a lot of finger foods that the guests can just pick up and pop in their mouths, avoiding the need for more than your one reusable plate that can serve as both a food and cake plate.

4. Gifts

When you initially share your excitement about having a Mother Nature-friendly party with your guests, stress that this applies to the gifts too.

Strongly consider forbidding gifts altogether. 

Your child might initially rebel against this idea, but agreeing to provide her with the gift or experience she really wants should ease the pain a little here.

If you do go with gifts, ask that they be wrapped in something other than traditional wrapping paper.

Challenge your guests to come up with something they already have around the house to wrap the gift in, or urge them to pull something out of their recycle container and use it as a gift box or wrapping.

Another unique option is to use Echoage, which allows your guests to just go online and donate money in lieu of bringing a gift. 

Half the money (or whatever portion you choose) then goes to a charity selected by your child, and the other half is put towards a group gift, which means your child can get a larger gift, like a new bike, by pooling everyone’s money together.

The advantages here are the ease and automation of allowing your guests to send money to a charity your child is interested in, the avoidance of a bunch of cheap plastic toys at the party, and the fact that your child can get a gift he really wants by pooling all of the guests’ money gifts.

5. Goody Bags

Just say no to the bag full of cheap plastic trinkets that break or get lost the first day you have them. Instead choose one of the options we discussed here in 5 Party Favor Ideas Your Guests Will Thank You For.

Also, remember that when you book your party with KidsPartyCharacters.com, we include a simple gift bag for each child to take home.

The Ultimate Goal For Your Party is FUN

Your child may initially balk at some of these non-traditional suggestions you make.

Try to mitigate this by sharing stories with her about the importance of being environmentally responsible, and focus on the fun things she’s going to do at her party.

Truth is, none of the things you’ll do to make her party Mother Nature-friendly will interfere one bit with the fun that happens, a fact she’ll likely admit at the end of the day.

And of course, to guarantee that your child and her guests are all smiles, book your next party through KidsPartyCharacters.com, where she’ll have over 200 of her favorite characters to choose from as her special party guest.

At KidsPartyCharacters.com we have packages that include all the extras kids love, such as cotton candy and face painting. We also use professional actors for our characters, who put on a show that will fill your child’s party full of lifelong memories.

Need ideas and inspiration for your next party? Join us on Facebook for daily updates and an inside look at the magic we create and excitement we bring to children’s parties. 

Why Being Bored is Good for Your Child

There’s a troubling activity happening with regularity in our schools, and it’s starting in the elementary schools.

Across the county, school-sponsored meetings about dealing with your child’s anxiety are becoming  a common occurrence. 

The impetus behind such meetings is the fact that an increasing number of our kids are reporting feeling anxious, stressed out, and depressed.

The carefree days of childhood are, for many, being replaced with emotions that are suppose to show themselves as side effects of adulting.

The causes of all the stress and anxiety our children are facing are varied and complex.

But much of it comes down to the fact that the world just moves too fast, and the amount of pressure and expectations we place on our children to keep up is causing them to experience overwhelm and making them feel inadequate.

As parents, we play a huge role in helping our children eliminate persistent feelings of stress and anxiety. 

Today we’ll look at five things we can do to help restore "happy and carefree" as our child’s primary emotions.

Stop Over-Scheduling

Over-Scheduling is usually the result of a misguided effort to be a good mom.

We want our child to experience every opportunity she can in life so we fill her day (and night) with activities that will aid her learning and give her more life experiences.

When kids are young, they often feel like they want to do everything, so we sign them up for music and soccer and basketball and art because we don’t want to deprive them of pursuing their dreams and having a full childhood.

The problem is, their days become filled with expectations from the time they wake up until the time they go to bed.

Do well in school, get to your after school activity and do well there (mom’s paying a lot of money for that you know), come home and successfully complete your homework, eat a good dinner, and get to bed on time so you won’t be tired when you have to get up and do it all again tomorrow.

Another reason we over-schedule is so we won’t have to try to navigate the common “I’m bored” refrain that creeps in especially once school is out.

In reality, “I’m bored” is something you should wish upon your child every day.

It’s these times when her creativity is put to the test and she’ll come up with some of the best things to do. 

Being bored ignites your child’s creativity and imagination, and at the same time gives her a chance to just take a breath and notice a unique cloud in the sky, a pretty flower, or a new tree to climb.

Being bored also sets the stage for your child to discover what she really enjoys and what she’s good at.

Maybe she’ll go paint a picture, write a song, make up a dance, or a hundred other things that could launch her into a life-long hobby or even career.

One of the best ways to reduce your child’s anxiety is to reduce the number of things written on the calendar. 

It may feel at first as if you’re depriving your child, but it’s actually the best gift you can give her.

Praise Effort, Not Results

This is especially true in sports, but really applies to everything your child does. 

Rather than telling him he did a good job, and offering extra praise when he “wins,” praise the effort he puts in.

Things like “I can tell you worked really hard on that picture,” and “You really hustled after the ball today,” let your child know that he’s good enough in whatever he does.

When you only praise the formal victories, it puts too much pressure on your child to always “win,” whatever that looks like, and takes the joy out of participating in the activity for fun, and just enjoying the process rather than the outcome.

You may still be bitter that your team lost the little league softball championships, but resist the urge to expect your child to bring it home for you with her team.

Schedule Down Time

In other words, force your child to be bored, for all the reasons we talked about above. 

Don’t just wait for these lulls in life to happen, because they don’t happen naturally anymore. 

We have to schedule “do nothing” the same as we schedule voice lessons.

Your child will discover what she likes to do during these times.

And what she does may vary depending on her mood, the weather, what else is happening that day.

You can help your child by suggesting some nice down time activities like going on a walk, listening to music, meditating, or doing some yoga. 

Be a Good Role Model

When we look at how stressed out and over-scheduled our own lives are, it’s no wonder our kids have become such a mess.

It’s harder as adults because we have more responsibilities, but really, we owe it to our children and to ourselves to model a simpler life for them.

Let them see you practicing self care and taking breaks where you do nothing.

Don’t be afraid to put your needs before theirs at times, and let them know you love them, but you need to make sure you’re feeling happy and relaxed too.

Show them that it’s okay to have ice cream for dinner once in awhile, because some days are too hectic for cooking and just call for treating yourself to something special.

Talk to Your Children

We often give our children too much space.

This happens because we’re busy, and/or because we want to be the cool parent who doesn’t smother her child.

From the time they can talk, we should be checking in with how our children are.

This doesn’t have to be in the form of “How are you?” because too often the answer will be “fine.”

But if you’ll express an interest in what they’re doing and how they’re feeling from the time they are very young, sharing with you will just be a habit for your kids.

Not to say they won’t go through times when they hate you or have nothing to say to you, but if talking to you about things of substance is a daily thing for them, they’ll be much more likely to turn to you when there’s trouble.

Go in their room, notice how they dress, know who they’re texting with all night . . . pay close attention so you can spot changes that are the early warning signs of depression or that something in their life is going in the wrong direction.

Getting Back to Kids Being Kids

Resist the temptation to think you don’t have to worry about these things yet because your child is still young. 

Remember, it’s a trend for grade school children to be reporting feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression.

Make a conscious effort to ensure that when your child looks back, he’ll use words like happy, carefree, and fun to describe his childhood.

The five things we’ve talked about today will go a long ways towards creating such memories for your child.

And of course, a KidsPartyCharacters.com party is a memory every child deserves to have, and one that will last a lifetime for her and her guests.

When it’s time to plan your child’s next party, head to KidsPartyCharacters.com and check out the 200 plus characters we have waiting to put on a show at your house, along with all the extras kids love like cotton candy, face painting, and balloon twisting.

Learn more about the magic we create at children’s parties by connecting with us on Facebook for daily updates.

Could a Franchise Be Your Perfect First Business?

When you imagine starting your own business, a franchise opportunity likely doesn’t even enter your mind.

When we think of franchise, big names like McDonald’s or Subway usually come to mind.

As a stay at home mom, this is not the kind of business that interests us, and is certainly not the kind we can afford.

But a franchise business provides some tremendous advantages to the new entrepreneur.

Before discounting it as a possible business model, let’s look at some of the realities of franchising and the unique franchising opportunity available with Kids Party Characters.

The Costs of Traditional Franchising

New entrepreneurs are usually closed out of the franchise market from step one. 

The initial investment for a single franchise averages between $20,000 and $35,000. Fees can be as low as $10,000, or as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Whatever the exact number, even the low end of the range is enough to make most of us quickly turn in another direction.

The initial investment of course is just the beginning of the costs associated with franchising. There are ongoing franchising fees, royalties on your gross sales, mandatory marketing fees that can range from 1-4% of your revenue, and often requirements that you purchase specific products and services through the franchise, which may not be offered at competitive rates.

With all of the outlay, many franchisers feel lucky if they’re turning a profit after being in business for three years.

Home Based Business Franchising

As working from home becomes more popular, so has the increase in home-based business franchises. 

Most franchises that advertise as being home-based businesses, don’t require an actual brick and mortar store.

The most popular services provided through home-based franchising are in the areas of education and tutoring, senior and in-home care, financial and marketing consulting, cleaning services, and other home services such as lawn care, decorating, and home improvement services.

One of the draws of a home based business is lower start-up costs, but this does not hold true when it comes to franchising fees.

The average franchising fee is still in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, with very few offerings as low as $5,000-$10,000, and several in the $50,000 plus range.

The Advantage of Franchising

How can franchises get away with charging such huge start-up (and ongoing) fees?

Let’s say I decide as a stay at home mom, that I’d like to open my own tutoring business.

I can start by spending a couple hundred dollars getting a website for my newly-founded “Mary’s Tutoring Services” and a couple hundred more on some local and online advertising.

Or I can hook up with one of the well-known tutoring services and pay a franchise fee ranging from $15,000 to over $100,000 depending on which company I choose.

Why would I ever choose even $15,000 over what I can do on my own for about $500?

Because of what the franchise can give me that I can’t get or don’t have on my own.

The big advantage is simply having a household name. 

When you eat at McDonald’s you know what you’re going to get. At Mike’s Hometown Deli, you’re taking your chances the first time you walk in the door.

In addition to name recognition, the franchise has a proven marketing plan, all the materials you need to run your business, and proven results.

In the case of our new tutoring business, you don’t have to come up with all the curriculum and convince people you know what you’re doing.

It’s all provided for you, along with a fancy company website and lots of personal testimonials from students whose academic careers have been saved by your new company.

In short, franchises provide all of the things that small independent businesses struggle to create, often resulting in failure for the “little gal,” with a dream business but without deep pockets.

Because the franchise provides you with a “done for you” business, and takes much of the risk of failure away, it can demand the high fees because those who can afford them see the value in paying them.

What’s a Mom To Do?

So we’re back to the stay at home mom who wants to start her own business. 

And it’s pretty clear that despite how much easier the franchise experience would make her new business journey, it doesn’t seem very realistic. 

This unfortunate position new entrepreneurs are put in, especially stay at home moms, got Kids Party Characters owner Cheryl Jacobs thinking about how she could give back some of the success she’s found as an entrepreneur.

Cheryl was once a struggling young mom who needed to feed her kids. And she knows how hard it can be to start a successful business and get into profit quickly.

Her passion to mentor other aspiring entrepreneurs led Cheryl to create a unique franchise opportunity by offering memberships to KidsPartyCharacters.com.

Cheryl cut out the expensive franchising fee and settled on a low, affordable cost, a ridiculously low yearly renewal fee, and no requirement that you invest in any additional marketing or product purchases through KidsPartyCharacters.com.

In fact, with membership you get the right to use all of the 200 plus costumes we have at Kids Party Characters.

In addition, your membership includes an exclusive territory in which to book parties, access to our casting director and acting coach, and initial business training as well as ongoing support from Cheryl and the entire team at KidsPartyCharacters.com

Cheryl has done exactly what the big name franchisers do for a fraction of the cost.

Your KidsPartyCharacters.com membership hands you the keys to your own version of an already established, successful business.

Want more information? Schedule a free, no-pressure call with Cheryl right here and she’ll answer all your questions and walk you through exactly how to get started.

You can also learn more about how fun and rewarding your children’s entertainment business will be by visiting KidsPartyCharacters.com and by joining us on Facebook for daily updates.

How to Get Your Spouse’s Support for Your Business

When you make the decision to start your own business, you’re filled with excitement about the possibilities. 

About pursuing your passions and dreams. 

About having the money for those long-anticipated extras, or perhaps just being able to comfortably cover the basics.

Your spouse, on the other hand, may not share any of your excitement.

This is especially true if he isn’t entrepreneurial and is working hard at his 9 to 5 so all the family financial obligations can be met.

In his view, you already have a “business,” and it involves keeping the house running smoothly and taking care of the kids.

This is not a sexist or chauvinistic view, being a stay a home mom really is one of the toughest and most time-consuming jobs out there.

When you start your business, you’re going to have enough going on without creating extra tension in the family, so it’s important to get on the same page with your spouse in the beginning, or to at least make sure the two of you are reading from the same book!

Fortunately, you can do this by just taking a little extra time and focusing on communication (the key to most things when it comes to relationships).

Here are the steps you’ll want to take with your spouse before starting your business.

If you already have a business and it’s creating some family tension, now would be a good time to push the reset button and jump into these steps from where you are in your business.

Be Realistic, or Even Pessimistic, About the Finances

One of the leading sources of stress in relationships is finances. 

Figuring out finances on your own can be stressful enough. 

Add in another person whose views and priorities aren’t identical to yours and it can be a recipe for divorce if you aren’t proactive about making a plan together.

Here’s how it often goes when you’re starting a business.

You bring the idea to your spouse, full of excitement and optimism.

You present the best case scenario details to him because it’d be silly to go into a business imagining you might fail.

You begin to work hard on your new business, but no money is coming in.

Your spouse starts to question what’s going on here, as the business is certainly taking your time, and even some of the money he’s bringing in, but he’s seeing none of the return on investment you so excitedly talked about in the beginning.

When he brings the issue up to you, you urge him to just give it time, but you can’t tell him exactly how much time. This isn’t like a job where you’re paid on a schedule.

He starts to feel like this whole thing is a huge time and money suck, and you start to feel anxious from the pressure to show him the money.

Things go downhill from there.

To avoid this scenario, have a financial planning meeting about your business to begin with.

Actually schedule a time to sit down and lay out expectations.

Fill your spouse in on the start up costs, the ongoing monthly costs, and the possibility of extra costs that might be incurred along the way.

Make clear to your spouse that this isn’t a get rich quick thing. You may not be profitable your first few months.

Lay out your income goals for him, but warn him that these are “goals” and the timetable for meeting them has to be flexible.

Make a deal with him that if after a certain number of months things appear to be “failing,” you’ll sit down together and have another financial meeting.

It’s important that he understand that he’ll have to give you a little space when it comes to finances. It’s also important that you understand how much space he’s willing to give you before he turns against your business.

Make a Plan for How You’ll Deal With Your Existing Responsibilities

Those who are transitioning from the corporate world to owning their own business have it easier than you do.

Once their business reaches a certain level of profit, they simply quit their corporate job.

You won’t be quitting your job as stay at home mom.

Rather, you’ll be transitioning into work at home mom, which basically means you’ll have two jobs!

The goal of course is to make this a good thing, and not a burden on you or the family.

What will likely happen if you don’t figure out how you’ll handle this dual role, looks something like this.

You start to throw yourself into your new business with all the excitement and drive it deserves.

You’re spending all your free time on your business baby, and things start to slack a little around the house.

Your spouse begins to become resentful of your business, stirring up the same feelings as if you were cheating on him. 

He may be very vocal about his resentment and the number of times you’ve had carry out for dinner this week, or the fact that he’s gone to bed without you for 10 straight days now. 

Or even worse, in his effort to be supportive of you, he may keep all the resentment in and try to wait it out, thinking things will get better after this business gets off the ground.

But, his resentment will inevitably start to show in different ways, and if his dissatisfaction drags on too long, it will all come out in one ugly explosion.

The longer you let his resentment go on, the harder it will be to deal with and correct.

Not surprisingly, a little planning and communication will do wonders in avoiding the resentment.

Again, you’ll want to sit down and have a family planning meeting around your business.

Talk to him about the hours you intend to work, and make sure he understands that it will take more of your time in the beginning, and that “the beginning” may last longer than he wants it to.

Talk about the family responsibilities that he and the kids may have to take on to help support your new business.

Let your family help choose which things they’d like to take over, so that no one feels too put upon or gets stuck with cleaning the toilet every week.

Make a plan to check in with each other often, to make any adjustments that need to be made, and handle any resentment that's starting to build. 

Your spouse may not love these changes, but if he understands the importance to you of what you’re doing, and sees that you will be able to hire that housekeeper soon, he’s more likely to be supportive of you and hang in there.

Finally, schedule one-on-one time with your spouse. A 30 minute block each day, a date night once a week, whatever the two of you need to make sure you keep him a priority, and he knows it.

Make it All Easier With a Mentor

While finances and time are the biggest obstacles to gaining your spouse’s support for your new venture, anything that jumps up as an issue once you transition from stay at home mom to work at home mom, can be solved with communication and a mutual desire to make the other person happy.

The best way to make sure you start a business that will actually succeed, and to cut out the initial hassles that cause the spousal dissatisfaction, is to have the help of a business mentor.

Kids Party Characters owner Cheryl Jacobs is a serial entrepreneur and is well aware of all the roadblocks that can make starting a successful business so hard.

Her desire to help as many entrepreneurs as possible avoid the downsides to business ownership led her to create a membership opportunity with KidsPartyCharacters.com.

Membership gives you the advantage of starting with an already successful business. 

Benefits include having an exclusive territory in which to book parties, the right to use our 200 plus costumes, access to our casting director and acting coach, and personal business mentoring and training from Cheryl and the team at KidsPartyCharacters.com.

If the idea of starting with a proven business and receiving personal mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur appeals to you, set up a no-pressure call with Cheryl right here at KidsPartyCharacters.com and she’ll answer all your questions and walk you through whether this is the right opportunity for your life.

To see how fun and rewarding it is to have your own children’s entertainment business, connect with us on Facebook for daily updates.