Back to School Green

By Leslie-Ann O’Brien, http://www.theawarenest.com

Although some kids may not look forward to the first day of school, most kids delight in finding ways to protect and care for the planet and its inhabitants.  With a little inspiration, most children become more Eco-Friendly than your average adult in a very short time.   Why not combine the back to school ritual with some “Earth-Friendly” education and dialogue to start the year off Green?   

While preparing for that first day, consider some Eco-Friendly back-to-school staples.  These give children the chance participate in the preservation of resources to benefit the Earth.  A good place to start is with paper products such as loose leaf and notebooks.  For maximum “Earth-Friendliness”, select paper products with the highest Post-Consumer Recycled Content.  This is least taxing on the environment as less  trees are used to create it.  You can take a moment to explain to your children why this is so important.  Once kids make the connection, they will naturally seek out other ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.  And, they won’t hesitate to remind us to do the same!

 For Earth-Friendly paper products and notebooks check out: EcoPaper. For older kids who wish  to be more "Eco-Chic", try Eco-Jot for 100% Recycled notebooks and a donation of school workbooks to children in need with every purchase.  For some very unique and beautiful pencils to go you’re your notebook,  try TreeSmart Pencils made from recycled newspapers. Your children will be happy to learn that recycling just a 2 foot stack of newspapers saves one 20 foot pine tree. If they can convert both figures to the metric system on the spot, consider an immediate organic treat!

Lunch time is also a great time to Go Green and to make a tremendous impact in improving the Earth. Re-usable lunch supplies (which are also healthy options made from safe materials) are essential and will encourage children to reuse items at lunch as well as other times during the day.  Green lunch options can also be quite ingenious and fun.  The site call “ReUseIt” has almost everything your children will need to lunch Green and in style.  Reusies offers an alternative to plastic sandwich bags -- each “Reusie” can potentially eliminate hundreds of plastic bags. 

For young adults, textbooks are an expensive item that are not easily recycled or reused.  Most schools require students to use the most current edition published each year.  Instead of purchasing textbooks that will eventually become clutter in your garage or home, consider renting textbooks from  Chegg.   Rental costs are significantly lower than textbook purchase prices and a tree is donated for each textbook that is rented.   And, your college kids can tweet about it with the satisfaction of knowing they are helping others save money and the Go Green.

Numerous other Green options are available.  Shop online to save gas, time and energy and to find the perfect Back-to-School Green options for your children.   Kids will enjoy learning how their choice of school gear can help make a specific and tangible difference in the World.   If your family wants to do more, visit Green Fundraising and Eco-Label Fundraising.  These and other sites can provide ideas, information and programs to help raise funds for environmental initiatives and your school.

How She Did It? Mom Corps Helped Aarti Vakharia Find Flexibility

Name:  Aarti Vakharia - Boston, MA

Family: 1 daughter (3 ½ years old) and currently expecting a second child

Education: George Washington University:  B.S.  Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business: MBA

After college, I started working in consulting for Charles River Associates International (CRAI) in their Washington, DC and Boston offices.  At CRAI, I worked on consulting engagements across a number of industries, including:  pharmaceutical, energy, financial, government, chemicals, and media. 

After working there for almost five years, I decided to attend business school at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  While at Booth, I focused on my attention on Finance, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship.   After my first year of business school, I interned at American Express in the OPEN Small Business Cards division’s Finance group.  Upon graduating from Booth, I took a year off and spent it with my newborn daughter.  After my year off, I joined a digital marketing agency in Boston called Digitas.  I primarily worked with online marketing strategies that included websites, micro sites, and email campaigns. 

Thereafter, I joined The Princeton Review (TPR) as Director of Strategy in their largest division, Test Prep.  After six months, I was promoted to Assistance Vice President of Product Management for High School products, TPR’s largest revenue grossing set of products.  I worked on product management and marketing for the SAT and ACT product lines as well as other college entrance exams such as SAT Subject tests.  I also worked with our COO/CFO on strategic planning for the company in addition to my daily responsibilities and was then promoted to Vice President of Strategic, Technology Initiatives.  In this new role, I was leading a company-wide transformation project that affected TPR’s organization, processes, and technology.  I worked on a number of initiatives that included:  process reengineering, instructor compensation, organizational design, change management, and introducing new technologies affecting our operations, product management, marketing, product development (content), and finance groups. 

Why you turned to Mom Corps?

Upon graduating from business school and having a young child who was less than one year old, I realized the importance of finding a position that would allow me some flexibility but also provide me with a challenging career opportunity.  My husband was in his medical residency at the time, and I knew that I would require a very flexible work situation since he was working very long hours.  In my job search after business school, I submitted my resume on the Mom Corps website and was contacted by one of Mom Corps recruiters, Nadia McKay, for the Director of Strategy position at The Princeton Review.  Nadia was extremely helpful throughout the recruiting process, and I really felt like she was my advocate.  The full-time position was going to allow me better hours so I could pick up my daughter from day care and would limit travel.  I didn’t have a guarantee that I could work from home one day a week but I was allowed the flexibility to work from home as needed.  It was a very demanding position that reported directly to the President of the division but I was able to manage it because I was able to complete my work in the evenings and on weekends and wasn’t forced to work long hours in the office. 

Do you still hold that position?  Have you moved on to another role?  Have you stepped back out of the workforce?

I just left the position to move abroad for a position that my husband recently accepted.  I will likely step out of the workforce for the next 6 to 9 months as we make this transition abroad with a newborn baby.

Please summarize how having a flexible job through Mom Corps affected/improved your overall work/life balance and your professional and/or family life?

I am very grateful to the Mom Corp for placing me in the Director of Strategy position at The Princeton Review.  From that initial placement, I was then promoted two times where I was still afforded some flexibility in my subsequent positions.  

The Working Mom's Back-to-School Balancing Act

Talk to any working mom about her kids going back to school, and you'll quickly see a frazzled look in her eyes (and perhaps a few gray hairs start sprouting!)

She's thinking of all those additional balls she has to start juggling. Carpools, bus schedules (or worse, cash-strapped schools cutting bus service), sports practices and games, parent-teacher conferences, volunteering at school, before- and after-school care, homework help -- the list goes on and on!

Working full-time, or even part-time, becomes a whole new minefield when you have children in school. Being uber-organized, working in a flexible job and having a great sense of humor help -- a lot. And of course, it's nice to know you're not alone.

We liked this post by Tela from Working Moms Against Guilt, whose son is starting preschool at a "real school" (instead of a more flexible daycare environment). The work-school tug is just beginning for her. More seasoned working moms of school-age kids will appreciate this WalletPop post from Ann Brenoff, 5 things working parents wished teachers knew. If you're wondering how the heck you'll be able to stay involved in your child's classroom, Divine Caroline's Laura Roe Stevens shares her tips for working moms who want to volunteer at school.

It's times like this that many moms start seriously considering how they can find more flexible work. Mom Corps might be able to help. Take a look at these available flexible work arrangements and apply for the ones that work for you!

What about you? How do you cope with all the extra responsibilities during the school year?

Meet Mom Corps' Franchise Owners - Katie Leary, Twin Cities

Name:  Katie Leary

Education: 1994 College of St. Benedict, BA Communications and Spanish

Professional Experience: Corporate and Agency recruiting and managing experience totaling about 15 years

What specifically drew you to Mom Corps? Ability to work for myself but be challenged in doing so and owning my own business

What industries do you feel have the most potential for flexibility in the Twin Cities area? Small to mid size firms and large firms that have truly embraced the concept of the flexible work force. Industry wise, in Minnesota we are seeing growth in healthcare and manufacturing.

What’s your favorite Twin Cities activity to do with your family? Take a trip to a lake cabin where we are away from the technology that pulls us away from each other.

What’s your go-to stress reliever after a hard day on the new job? A super intense aerobics class.

New Conference for Women Business Owners

Ladies, are you ready to add some new tools to your business toolkit? Consider attending the Diva Toolbox International Conference for Women in Business.

The conference will be held September 15-17, 2010, in Wakefield, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Hundreds of women business owners from across the globe are planning to attend. Attendees will discover innovative and effective ways to market to women in the new B2W (business to women) market . 

"This conference was specifically created to help attendees move their businesses forward and see a return on their investment before they leave," said Janet Powers, founder of The Diva Toolbox™ women's business community.  "Many women business owners attend conferences that are fun and interesting, and frankly overwhelming. They walk away more confused than before they came. Attendees will do everything from get help on their social media platforms to learn how to write an article and turn it into a press release, create their vision boards and so much more."
 
This is the first year for the conference and it will feature daily workshops where women will work on their businesses and hear keynote speakers.  
 
Keynote speakers include:

• Lisa Johnson Mandell, AOL Jobs Specialist and author of Career Comeback
• Katharin S. Dyer, Chief Talent & Transformation Officer, VivaKi, Executive Board of CARE
• Mary Cantando, Growth Expert, The Woman's Advantage.
• Lisa Reynolds, Red Plum's Mom Saver-in-Chief

Workshop leaders include:

• Maureen Campaiola:  www.daretobephenomenal.com
• Julie Murphy Casserly:  www.JulieMurphyCasserly.com
• Liz Copeland:  www.truecouragecoaching.com
• Kathy Garland:  www.kathygarland.com
• Barb Girson:  www.MySalesTactics.com
• Meredith Liepelt:  www.richlifemarketing.com
• Linda Wisler Luft:  www.fireballcoaching.com
• Susan Luongo:  www.stellartech.net
• Cindy W. Morrison:  www.CindyWMorrison.com
• Kerri Salls:  www.breakthroughenterprise.com
• Katrina Sawa:  www.jumpstartyourmarketing.com

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to CARE in support of their work to empower women and children around the world. 

Visit the conference website to get details and register.

Thinking of Hiring a Nanny? Get Tips from a Pro

By Carolin Soldo

These days, many mothers are finding the help they need by hiring a nanny. As a working mom, you need to keep your job, your status as a good mother, wife or partner, and you need to stay healthy to maintain your sanity -- so that you can be available for everyone else. A nanny can make your life easier by assisting with childcare as well as household chores.

Benefits a nanny can offer a working mom

• Entertaining children: TV be gone! Nannies can take the children outside to play, go to play dates, the park, and the library. Nannies can play creative and educational games with the children and ensure that the children get naps and home-cooked meals. 
• Household chores: This can include laundry, picking up after the kids, and standard housekeeping/tidiness.
• Allowing your kids to stay home with a nanny provides a lot of one-on-one attention and opens up a bit of freedom for you as a parent. Instead of rushing to pick your child up from daycare and get dinner on the table, you can return home to a child that has already been fed and bathed. Also, having a child in daycare can sometimes expose him/her to more colds and/or other sicknesses that come with being around a lot of children.
• Errands: many working mothers utilize the nanny's time spent with the kids to free up their own time to get errands done without the kids in tow. This way, many things can get done more quickly
• Yet another benefit of a nanny is that she already has a relationship with your children. If you need her and she happens to be available, asking her to work an extra day of the week is usually much easier than finding a baby sitter whom the children may not know.

Before you begin your nanny search

Before you begin your search for a nanny you need to have a good idea of what you are looking for in the perfect candidate. You will want to include these details in your nanny or babysitter work agreement later on.

• Are you looking for full time or part time care? Do you prefer a nanny that lives with you or outside the home?
• What duties will you require of your nanny? Will she provide just childcare or will she also provide housekeeping assistance?
• How much can you afford to pay your nanny? Are you willing to provide vacation time and other benefits?
• What experience and qualities are you looking for in a nanny? Think about whether you would be willing to sacrifice schooling for somebody that seems very warm and nurturing for example.
• What type of skills and experience do you require? Should your nanny be CPR certified and have an early childhood education background?
• Additionally, you may want to consider the perfect candidate's life circumstances. Does the nanny or babysitter have children, how old are they, is he/she single or married and settled down in the area, etc.
• You may also want to consider the nanny's or babysitter's gender, age, and cultural background.

Being aware of these details in advance will help you narrow down your nanny or babysitter search to find the best candidate a lot faster.

Where to look for a nanny

If you’re not lucky enough to have a family member to call on, how do you find someone you trust enough to care for your most precious possession?  Finding the right person to care for your children can be a daunting job because you’re looking for someone who will become an integral part of your family.

You should start by speaking with friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances, particularly older parents, who may have recommendations on a nanny who is worthy of watching your children. These are people you trust, right? So start with them. You can also check bulletin boards at your local community center or grocery, or look for listings in your school newsletters and the local paper.

If your local search doesn’t yield any results, the internet is a great resource with online nanny services like NannyPro.com. NannyPro.com offers families a hassle-free way to find a caregiver that matches their needs by posting profiles of local caregivers for parents to review. All profiles are pre-screened and usually display photos of the caregivers and list their ages, location, education, and more. And they tell parents about the caregiver’s childcare experience and salary requirements. Interested parents can follow up with the caregivers by phone or e-mail, check references, and even run background checks right through NannyPro.com.

How do I know the nanny is qualified?

Nannies do not have to undergo any licensing procedures. However, there are many things you can and should do to properly screen your nanny and test her childcare skills and knowledge.

• NannyPro.com offers each nanny and babysitter the International Nanny Association Basic Skills Assessment to test the caregiver's childcare skills and knowledge.
• Additionally, First aid and CPR training is something highly qualified nannies should be capable of.
• Coursework in childhood development are also pluses.
• Lastly, you should always review the candidate’s background check and check on live references before making your hiring decision. 

Carolin Soldo is a working mom of two young boys. She is passionate about business and family and creating a balance between both. After struggling to find a quality nanny for her own family, Carolin decided to launch www.NannyPro.com, a premier online matchmaker for families seeking nannies and babysitters. Carolin is an expert in the childcare field and helping families find the care they need. Carolin has a background in Market Research and Business Management and holds an MBA from the University at Buffalo.

Confessions of a Working Mom: I Don’t Really Miss My Kid

“Aren’t days like this hard for you?” the woman from my writing club asks me as I’m driving her home. 

“What do you mean?” I respond as I take a left turn.

“Working all day and then coming to our writing group at night and not seeing your son.”

“Nope,” I say. But as soon as it’s out of my mouth, I regret it. The correct, socially acceptable answer, would be, “of course, I miss him every moment I’m away from him.” But the truth is that, when I’m away working or writing, I don’t.

Before I had my son three years ago, I used to dream about throwing the towel in my day job at a university and finding some financial solution that would allow me to stay at home, take care of him, and pursue my writing career. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with every job I’d ever been in – loved the creativity, the relationships, and the feeling that I was making a difference, but hated the hours, energy, and pieces of my soul that my job took from me. Having a son would surely fulfill my desire to be productive and contribute, but save me from slavery to my e-mail account and strategic plan.

But as my prenatal class teacher told me, “everything you think now about parenting is purely philosophical.” While I appreciated every moment of the year-long maternity leave I took and I reveled in the long, quiet days watching my son grow and develop, I started feeling like something was missing around nine months in. That something was me.

So, I went back to school one night a week to chip away at my master’s degree. I started writing about motherhood. I agonized over going back to work, but managed to reduce my workweek and find good care for my son. At that point, every moment away from my son ached like an ulcer in my heart. But I came back from each separation feeling just a little bit more like me, with the renewed energy to continue the juggling act of motherhood.

Don’t get me wrong. There were days during the initial transition to daycare when his cries as I left made me ready to quit my job. But those days were rare, the norm being a quick hug goodbye before running to see his “girlfriend” and the toy bus. There were events I’ve resentfully missed because I had a paper to write, but was mollified by the fact my son was cared for by his grandparents and they took pictures of their adventures. There are nights when I give up sleep so I can write because it’s the only time I have to be creative, but I gladly suffer for the results.

Because what I have come to accept is that the triad of family, work, and writing is what I need to be the best at all three. I’ve discovered that when I’m the sole parent of my son for more than a weekend my patience plummets, that when I work overtime my grumpy self emerges, and that when I don’t write I am too easily overwhelmed. But when I manage the magical balance of all three, I truly feel like supermom.  

However, my choices do come with a guilt that gnaws at me.

When I was sharing this guilt with a fellow “working mom”, she posed this question: “Is your son being loved right now?”

I thought of his daycare teacher who he idolizes and of his daddy who would be picking him up, and nodded.

“Well, that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

I sighed in relief.

So, when I do feel the pull of guilt, I ask myself that question. Since the answer is always yes, I do my best not to miss him. Of course, when I see other little ones at my workplace, pass by a construction site I know he would love, or hear that he has asked for me, I long for him deeply. But while I’m away, I find it important to stay present where I am so my time away is worth it.

While I know other mothers may judge, criticize or label me, I also know that different combinations work for different women. In the end, we’re really all just trying to do what we think is best, and this is it right now for me.

This article was originally posted on Hybrid Mom, and is reposted here with the publisher's permission.

Taking Our Bodies Back: How to Break Free from the Comparison Trap

By Kristen Moeller

Author of Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie: How to Stop Waiting and Start Living Your Life

Summer is officially here. (For those of us in hotter climates, it seems like it will never end!) For many women, that means bathing suit anxiety. That means more focus on those "troubling" body parts. That means a last minute purchase of a gym membership that you won't use.

This summer, disrupt the ordinary, draw a line in the sand and set your own standards for body image and perfection. What if you looked back on this summer as the year you accepted yourself and your body the way it is right now?

Practice these 6 Principles this summer and take the pledge to free yourself once and for all from the Comparison Trap.

1. Be nice to you. You have heard it before and I am going to say it again now -- be nice to you! If you talked to your friends in the negative way you talk to yourself, you wouldn't have any friends! Many of us begin the day by looking in the mirror and noting what is "wrong" with us -- we think, "I look tired", "my hair needs to be cut", "I look bloated, I shouldn't have eaten that last night…" Most of the time, we are not celebrating our beauty and wonder. We could all learn something from the video of a little girl named Jessica who stands on her bathroom counter and loudly and proudly proclaims what she likes into the mirror. For almost a minute, she enthusiastically lists the things she likes: "I like my hair! I like my pajamas! I like my house!" And she ends with "I can do anything good, yeah, yeah!" If you haven't seen it, it is well worth the watch.

2. Comparison is more dangerous than a dead end street in a bad neighborhood. Anything you don't like about yourself is, by definition, in comparison to something else. We only "know" what the perfect lips, breasts, nose or thighs are because we have a false standard to compare to. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance yet most fashion models are thinner than those women (meaning us). We may never stop comparing, but we can practice awareness of it. Keep track of all the ways, times and places you compare yourself and come up short. The more you bring it to the surface, the less power it has over you.

3. Don't wait: Now is the time to make peace with that troubling body part (or parts). As we age, gravity will affect us -- all of us that is. Skin will sag and wrinkle and if we are blessed to live a long life, it will continue to do so. Five or ten years from now, you will look back on pictures of yourself and wonder what you complained about. Why not accept yourself right now? And yes, this takes practice. Be willing to do whatever it takes -- whether it is simply observing your thoughts; actively changing the negative thought to a positive one; or practicing affirmations. Take it up a notch and pick a body part that you can accept and sing your praises to it. Like the arch of your foot? Write an ode to it. How about appreciating the strength of your legs? Compose a poem. Be silly, have fun, play. Just do what it takes to shift your focus to appreciation. Even the most hyper-critical of us can find something to be proud of.

4. Remember -- diet is still "die" with a "t". Instead of going on yet another diet, take the time to educate yourself about healthy eating. Invest in a good nutritionist -- do a thorough inventory of your eating and exercise habits. If you find you need professional intervention, take action now! Don't wait! Help is out there. Visit the National Eating Disorder Association's website: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information.

5. Practice conscious consumption. Want to know why these unrealistic standards of perfection continue? The answer lies with us.  Societal pressures do exist, but who makes up the society? We do. Who keeps buying the fashion magazines, watching the TV shows? We do. Who keeps falling for the myth that there is something wrong with us? We do. Peer pressure and negative influences exist, but who needs to be responsible for this? We do. If we still choose to view, buy or read the media yet continually feel less than, we need to be responsible for that. We are the ones who keep comparing ourselves. The media can only impact us if we let it. We need to develop a critical eye and practice conscious consumption. Then one day, if we all truly love and accept ourselves the way we are, the media will change too.

6. Take a stand! Get involved, start a movement, make a difference! Don't tolerate criticism in yourself or others. Say something about it when your friends complain about their bodies. Definitely say something when you hear others make derogatory comments about others' bodies! We dislike the standards that exist, yet we fall into another trap of keeping those standards in place when we negatively remark on a Hollywood star having (gasp!) cellulite. The next time you see cellulite on a star, celebrate! Write a powerful letter to the media outlet that criticized them. Be an advocate for change.

Let's draw the line in the sand this summer and make the pledge to break free from the Comparison Trap. We can set our own standards for body image and perfection. We can embrace all of us -- our scars, wrinkles, droops, muscle, beauty and wonder.

Now, I ask you, what are you waiting for?

© 2010 Kristen Moeller, author of Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie: How to Stop Waiting and Start Living Your Life

Kristen Moeller, MS, is the bestselling author of Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie: How to Stop Waiting and Start Living Your Life. As a coach, speaker, and radio show host, Kristen delights in "disrupting the ordinary" and inspiring others to do the same. She first discovered her passion for personal development in 1989 after recovering from an eating disorder and addiction

Kristen is also the founder of the Chick-a-go Foundation -- a not-for-profit that provides "pay it forward" scholarships for life altering training programs reaching people who otherwise cannot afford such opportunities.

When she is not actively making a difference in the world, she thrives in the beauty of Colorado and enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, riding her horse or just spending time reading or relaxing in her magical, solar-powered house on the side of a mountain with two large dogs, an ornery cat and her best friend and husband of 15 years.

For more information please visit www.waitingforjack.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Working Mother Magazine's Interview with Mom Corps CEO

Be sure to grab your copy of the August/September issue of Working Mother magazine out of the mail pile or off the newsstand. Along with its usual fare of tips and advice for working moms, this issue features our own Allison O'Kelly!

In the Entrepreneur Mom column, Allison shares her story of starting Mom Corps five years ago. "Barely back from maternity leave, I couldn’t seem to clock in eight straight hours at the office," she told Working Mother. "I didn’t want to be the employee who kept being called out, but I also had to be there for my son—who, as it turns out, has a dairy allergy."

Sound familiar? She goes on to talk about how she left her executive job, started consulting from home, and soon found she had more work than she could handle -- from employers who wanted to work with talented professionals like Allison. Mom Corps was born.

Click over to Working Mother to read the whole story, along with Allison's top lessons for entrepreneur moms who go the franchising route.

New NBC Show Features Mom Corps, Maid Brigade Helping Mom Find Job

NBC’s new reality series, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, aired its second of six series shows on August 3, featuring a struggling couple on the verge of foreclosure and divorce after investing their life savings in a start up company that never got off the ground.  Faced with extreme financial challenges and personal stress, Tony Robbins invited the couple to be part of his show and coached them into getting their life back on track, including finding new jobs for the couple. 

Through a series of challenges, Ron and Marie Stegner regained their confidence and, after eight years at home, Marie was able to find a flexible job with Maid Brigade as a Consumer Health Advocate, thanks to help from Allison O’Kelly, CEO and Founder of Mom Corps. Today, the Stegners have recharged their lives, and Marie is helping contribute to her family finances while balancing work, home life and her three children.

“Going back to work after you have been out of the workforce for some time can seem daunting for so many people,” says Mom Corps CEO Allison O'Kelly. "And the recession hasn’t made it any easier, putting extra pressure on at-home moms like Marie Stegner to help contribute financially. As a national staffing company that finds challenging jobs for professionals looking for alternative work schedules, Mom Corps provides candidates like Marie expert resume advice and the tools they need to regain confidence in themselves and find meaningful work.”

Last year, Mom Corps joined forces with Maid Brigade, a national cleaning company and pioneer of the green house cleaning movement, to help its members achieve a better sense of balance while juggling career, family and household management. When Breakthrough called Mom Corps, O’Kelly immediately reached out to Maid Brigade, knowing the new Consumer Health Advocate position they were creating would be a great fit for Stegner, who was already one of their candidates. Stegner’s previous professional experience included working as a licensed practical nurse and corporate health and wellness manager.

“When we interviewed Marie, her previous work and at-home mom experience lined up beautifully with our job description,” says Cloud Conrad, Vice President of Brand Strategies at Maid Brigade. “We hired Marie to educate families on the impact of common household chemicals on our health and the environment and advocate for increased awareness and the use of green cleaning alternatives. Today, Marie is flourishing in her virtual job and has exceeded our expectations. She blogs for Maid Brigade daily, writes articles, creates educational videos, and appears at local events – all geared toward helping busy women lead healthier lives and create healthier homes.”

For other professionals out there who need to go back to work or recharge their careers, Mom Corps finds challenging work arrangements for those who are looking for alternative work schedules. Headquartered in Atlanta and with 12 new franchises opened in major metropolitan markets around the country, Mom Corps is growing, despite the recession. As more and more companies are using part-time, contractual and interim employees to meet their fluctuating business needs, Mom Corps provides companies with on-demand access to over 50,000 experienced candidates, not available through traditional employment channels. Studies show that professionals who have flexibility in their jobs are more productive, creative, loyal and happy with their lives.

Maid Brigade facilitates work/life balance for working women by giving them back what is arguably their most precious commodity – time. For more than 25 years, the cleaning company has provided reliable, consistent housecleaning services that help maintain a clean and healthy indoor environment.

With more than 400 service areas located in 38 states, Maid Brigade is the first national house cleaning service to develop its own green cleaning system, patterned on Green Seal’s standard for the commercial cleaning industry wherever applicable. Maid Brigade’s consumer advocacy web site, GreenCleanCertified.com contains numerous articles and videos, and even an interactive quiz on green living. 

DVR Alert: Mom Corps to Be Featured on New NBC Show

Have you seen the new NBC show Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, which premiered last Tuesday at 8 p.m.? This inspirational series is hosted by Tony Robbins and his team of experts, who help participants and their families overcome complex challenges and personal obstacles, and turn their lives around.

This week, Mom Corps will be part of the expert Breakthrough team that helps turn someone's life around! Tune in to NBC TONIGHT, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central) to see Mom Corps' CEO Allison O'Kelly assist a woman in need of getting back to work. We're excited to see how everything turns out!