I have finally risen fro…

I have finally risen from my turkey-induced coma and was curious to know if anyone else ate oneself into oblivion? Nonetheless, it was a nice respite from work…that I am sure you will all agree. I spent Thanksgiving Day, before our family feast, with my husband and kids at the Salvation Army. The obvious notion was to show my children, the son who longs for the iPhone 4s in particular, how they can impact the lives of the less fortunate. My family helped to separate non-perishables so that they could be easily identified and accessed for those to take home. We put out desserts, set the tables (more than 100 seats) and finally served food to the amazing families yearning for a Thanksgiving Day meal. We were thanked by many that day but, the real thanks goes to the children, mothers, and men, who touched our lives by allowing us to improve theirs. And the next time I eat myself into oblivion, I will regretfully do so knowing that I could have fed a village with the amount of food consumed.

Back to work on Monday to read yet another amazing post from our Career Coach, Dorothy Tannahill-Moran:
-What to do When the Boss takes Credit for your Work?

And, another hard-hitting piece by Jill Starishevsky, who prosecutes child abuse and sex crimes in New York City:
-Talking to Kids About Sexual Abuse

Both pieces are topical and timely so make sure to take a moment to read and to post some of your own expertise as well!

Best,
Bradi
Co-Founder and Mother
Work/Life Advocate
MyWorkButterfly.com
Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms
Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

Taking Halloween Bids!

Before October marks its end with a bevy of costumes and a sugar rush to boot, I urge you to consider hanging out with two unbelievably talented (and oh so cool) Butterfly moms, Danielle Monaro and Siggy Flicker:

 

Help to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure by bidding on 2-Tickets to a sold-out Jingle Ball in NYC (featuring LADY GAGA and PITBULL, to name a few), lunch with Z100 co-host, Danielle Monaro and Z100 studio tour included!

 

And/Or…

 

Bid to raise money for VH1 Save the Music Foundation and enjoy a 45-minute phone consultation with Siggy Flicker, Love/Life Coach, STAR of VH1’s new hit reality show, “Why am I Still Single?”  The winner will also receive a “Turbo Twins Makeover” from the show’s Twin Beauty Experts, Jen and Jamie Dunn!

 

Next…

 

Enjoy the latest posts from Butterfly’s savvy social community:

 

*Here Come the Bride-zilla, that is!

*The Homeless Housewife

*Seniors and Technology

*Inspire Others Professionally and Win Cash!

*Getting Fired: Avoiding it and Protecting Yourself when You are Fac…

 

And finally, before you carve (or attempt to carve) those pumpkins…

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Don’t miss, 9 Child Safety Tips!

 

Best,

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

MyWorkButterfly.com

Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms

Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

Jerseylicious, Bloggerlicious, it’s Octoberlicious!

Happy Blogtober!  I asked you to blog and blog you did. AND, since I am a woman of my word…. Here are some wonderful new blogs written by a few extraordinary Butterflies:

1. It’s Not Fair, by Julie Cole, mother of SIX. Read about Julie’s stellar performance in “showing” her kids what IS and IS NOT fair.
2. A Radical Way to Organize School Lunches by Evelyn Cucchiara, mother of three. Revealed- a step-by-step guide to school lunches made easy!
3. Scraped Knees and Broken Hearts by Cheryl  Shireman, mother of  three and grandmother of one.  A MUST-READ piece about a mother/daughter journey in lessons of love.

 

October boasts more than inspiring and resourceful Butterfly blogs – October is the month to meet Gayle Giocomo, Gatsby Salon Owner, star of Jerseylicious, single mother and, oh so young looking, grandmother.  Get to know Gayle in our face-to-face video interview showcased on Butterfly’s homepage. Learn how this Jersey mom proved to herself, after losing her husband Daniel to a sudden heart attack, that she has was it takes to persevere as a successful single mother and business owner.

 

Ahh, October, also a time to embrace the season of Fall (not in a literal sense) and National Breast Cancer Awareness month- “Celebrating 25 Years of Awareness, Education and Empowerment.”  It’s a time to wish those who observe Yom Kippur – an easy fast, those who have off- a nice Columbus Day and to all Halloween goers- a spooktacular Halloween!

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

MyWorkButterfly.com

Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms

Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

9/11… in Memory

As you are well aware, the 10^th anniversary of the attacks on America took place this past September 11^th.  Like most, I sat idol and watched the children, no older than my own, read their daddy’s names aloud, and proud, in memory. When tragedy strikes, one often remembers the exact moment and location, or even the smell of the brand new carpet that one was sitting upon.  I remember kneeling down to fold the laundry on my cool basement floor in front of the television – my son Jack had just drifted off for his morning nap. I was all of two footie-pajamas in before my hands transferred from the precious little clothes I was folding to cover my gaping mouth.  While Jack continued to sleep peacefully upstairs, I watched in horror as the events of 9/11 unfolded before my very eyes.

I am so deeply sorry to all of the wives, children, and parents, whose men (and women) did not return home that night- like mine did from some 50 blocks away.  I cannot begin to imagine the devastation that all of the victims and their families endured. I would be lying if I said I could.  Although, this past Sunday, as I watched the memorial of 9/11, this time from a new house, with my 11-year old son Jack by my side, I saw faces of hope rather than faces of fear.  I witnessed an inner-strength- one that rebuilds, remarries and some day, remembers with peace.

A blog was posted to Butterfly on September 11, 2011, at 4:19pm by Ira Mitchell-Kirk, mother of three.  It is a posting depicting a work of art that denotes a journey, Ira’s journey.  Stare at it for a moment- you will see this inner-strength blowing in the leaves and may be reminded that, life is an unpredictable journey.  Life is truly a gift.

In Love and Warmth,
Bradi
Co-Founder and Mother
Work/Life Advocate
MyWorkButterfly.com
Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms
Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

Irene is a B!tch!

Irene is a b!tch! There, I said it.  This awful being caused the cancellation of our family flight home from the west coast and delayed my recent blog posts!  She also caused the upheaval of so many friends and family as we took in un-housed guests of our own.  Such community damage tends to bring out the best in people with grand gestures of kindness and a willingness to help.  I do hope those of you who were affected leaned on your network of friends and family to get you through this difficult time, the same way we lean on one another at Butterfly.

With Irene behind us, and the anniversary of the catastrophic date of 9/11 ahead, perhaps we enter into a new school year and a new season with a sliver of renewed hope.  Catherine McCord, Founder of Weelicious.com, admits that her life changed when the towers came down on September 11th.  Catherine decided at that moment that it was time to move away from modeling and acting to pursue her real passion- culinary school! Sometimes it takes a disaster for one to re-evaluate a journey and to know that we go through different stages in life, with different careers.  Catherine went to culinary school at night and argues that moms can do it all.  With two children and as the Founder of Weelicious, Catherine is joyfully serving up, “fast, fresh, delicious recipes for the entire family.” Watch Butterfly’s video interview with Catherine McCord here.

Irene is a b!tch, and the memory of 9/11 is still painfully heart-wrenching.  But, use Catherine as an inspiration that something wonderful can grow from something so horrific.

To you and your family, warm wishes in the wake of 9/11 and a speedy recovery to all of Irene’s victims.

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

MyWorkButterfly.com

Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms

Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

Informational Interviews. Worth it or No?

When I graduated from Ithaca College, like many, I did not have a clear vision of what I wanted to do.  I remember my mother driving me into New York City, and then waiting in the car, so that I could go on a few “informational interviews.”  I don’t recall being nervous but I do recall the hideous bone-colored suit and matching shoes that I adorned.  The beauty of these “sit-downs” came from the exploratory information that was both gained and shared.  I was able to learn more about the business and the interviewee, hopefully looking passed my beige get-up, learned more about me.  There is TREMENDOUS value in Informational Interviewing.  According to Butterfly’s Career EXPERT, Dorothy Tannahill-Moran:

“Informational interviewing is essential in today’s competitive job market.  It can help you get in front of the big decision makers long before they know they need to hire you – and then when the moment is right – they remember YOU!”

So… Join Dorothy and us for an interview with Brent Peterson, CEO of Interview Angel (www.interviewangel.com). Brent Peterson will provide you with insights on informational interviewing that you won’t want to miss!

In this FREE teleseminar you will discover:

•   What is informational interviewing and what makes it so important to us all?
•   How is it different than interviewing and why do you need to know the difference?
•   How do you land an informational interview in an open, honest way?
•   How do you prepare for an informational interview, so you leave a powerful impression?
•   And much more!

Take action and register for FREE: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1866507775/li

 

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Time: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern

Access: All you need to participate is a phone.  Register and you will be sent the call-in number and access code via email prior to the call.  Also, enrolled participants will receive a FREE MP3 downloadable recording of this session following the seminar.

*Career Studios are owned and operated by Chris Perry & Dorothy Tannahill-Moran

 

Enjoy,

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

MyWorkButterfly.com

Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms

Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

 

Are you living the dream?

Did you ever thumb through a magazine and become engrossed in an editorial feature about so and so following their dreams? About how this one or that one uprooted their family to sell hats in the majestic Virgin Islands, make and sell jewelry along the sunny gold coast of Australia?  We immerse ourselves in these features and think, “I wish I could” or “Some day that will be me.” These men, women, parents and children are living out their dreams.

I met a family this past weekend where the wife, originally from Miami, and the husband, originally from Connecticut, currently reside with their young son in Jerusalem.  They collectively own an online kitchen hardware supply company – something that can be done from anywhere in the world.  They chose Jerusalem… for work and for life.

If the opportunity presented itself would you take it? Do you envision working in a vacation destination, spending days at the beach and nights running your own quaint bakery?  Could you imagine the crowds lined up at the door for s’mores or chocolate fondue night? The smile on your face, while your family pitched in and where customers felt more like friends?  The opportunity is in fact here for you! Now is your chance to own Café Bacio. This upscale lite fare and dessert locale is nestled in Long Beach Island, along the Jersey Shore. For inquires and details, leave a post for Butterfly member, Nancy Harrison. Buy it, live it and fulfill your dream.

We continue to celebrate our 100K Twitter family and encourage them to join our Butterfly family. Please help us shout out (or at least tweet).
To enter, simply RT:
#100kNetworkMoms & Register (free) on MyWorkButterfly.com by 7/30/11 to win a KINDLE-celebrating 100K followers! (Network is what we do!)

Take a chance!

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

MyWorkButterfly.com

Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms

Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

Free to Be!

I celebrated America’s 235^th birthday yesterday- ahh, Independence Day!  Amidst the spectacular fireworks display, I looked around me and saw all ethnic groups, all religions, all getting along.  Freedom at its finest.

Personally, I feel a sense of freedom that is unfamiliar and unlike any other I’ve felt in the past eleven years. I am uncomfortable at times as I begin to embrace this new concept of timelessness… You see, my kids are away at summer camp.  Although this new found freedom of mine will be short-lived, I’ve promised myself that I will not spend my days worrying if they’re putting on sunscreen and clean clothes for that matter, if their tiny fingernails have been cut or if they miss my kiss as the bunk lights are turned down for the night. I digress. I promise myself that I will put me and my needs and my old sense of adventure back into action.

Allow July 4^th to help you find inner freedom, to conger up images of your own sense of timelessness and then take action.  I imagine my current state to be similar to that of an “empty nester.” (Although, mine is temporary, I realize).  I urge one of you to start an Empty Nester’s group and in the meantime, reach out to “empty nester” Butterfly moms, who may or may not be wrestling with their own newfound freedom:

Dawn Fulcer

Mary Lou Kweselait

Nanci Sklar

Danielle

Rosemary Nickel

Promise me this: you won’t wait until your kids go to overnight camp or off to college to figure out what you want to be, or do, when you grow up.  Butterfly, and empowering moms, is my freedom and I hope a bit of yours too.

Warmly,

Bradi

Co-Founder and Mother

Work/Life Advocate

www.myworkbutterfly.com

Summer Lovin’

Summer congers up images of sand, surf, swimming, sailing and perhaps the thought of, some serious sweating.   Summer is a season that I most enjoy (except when I have to work inside on the most magnificent of days) and Summer is the name of a woman I so admire.  I had the great pleasure of interviewing Summer Sanders, U.S. Olympic swimmer, Celebrity Apprentice contestant, TV Personality and mom of two. Call it ironic but, Summer won gold medals in the 200-meter BUTTERFLY- clearly we were destined to meet.

During MyWorkButterfly’s interview, Summer revealed how hard it was to leave her son and daughter for one month while working and helping to raise money as an Ambassador for her much adored not-for-profit, Right to Play.  “Right to Play improves the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.”  How’s that for mentoring her children?

Use Summer to inspire your own wishes and dreams, know that your children will love you if your work or passion should lead you away temporarily.  Get rid of the guilt and hook up with Summer and follow your dreams of parenting and productivity.

Become inspired too by the wonderful blogs from fellow Butterfly moms:
Music to Job Search by, by Carol Camerino
Following Through, by Julie Cole
Child Safety Tips, by Jill Starishevsky

Inspirationally yours,
Bradi
Co-Founder and Mother
Work/Life Advocate
MyWorkButterfly.com
Follow us on Twitter @Butterflymoms
Fan us on Facebook (Nicole Richie is a Fan!)

What Happened to Being Serviced?!

I need to get something off my chest!  I have been in the service industry, in one form or another, since I graduated college in 1993. My goal throughout the years has been to ALWAYS make the client happy, to make good on my word, to apologize for any wrongdoings and to create the best possible experience for someone.

In the past two days I have been shocked by the unbelievably poor service that I have received from two different vendors. Here are my stories – please let me know if you agree with my disappointment:

1. A sweet woman working at the nail salon in my town inadvertently drops my cell phone – it smashes to the ground. It is working but cracked! Recognizing that it was an accident, I pay for my service and even tip the pedicurist.  The nail establishment offers to pay to fix my phone- how nice! (I thought) Verizon informs me immediately after that I need a new phone. I buy one and bring the receipt to the nail salon – they adhere to their word (at first) and cut me a check for the new phone. NEXT DAY- I get a call from “the owner” of E NAIL who informs me that they CANCELLED THE CHECK!!! He offers to fix the phone for me and suggests that I hand it over to him to do so. NOT!  Am I crazy? YELL, YELL, and he agrees to issue me a new check for a MUCH LESSER amount (less than half!!) of the original check. Now I’m out $260 dollars (the difference in new phone cost and 2nd check). And, I have to find a NEW nail place!!

2. After agreeing to use a Kitchen Designer, I paid a visit to the showroom to finalize plans with a $500 deposit in hand.  I gladly handed over my deposit for the time spent drafting the plans, knowing that it would go towards the overall project. Somewhere in the middle of our meeting I learned that Paramount Kitchens does not typically do INSET cabinets (which I stated I wanted from the get-go). And that, if I wanted INSET they were going to charge me an additional 8K! The wonderful designer, who came highly recommended, somehow had no recollection of the fact that I wanted INSET cabinets. In the end, I decided to go with a less expensive designer who does INSET, without the redick up-charge. Naturally, I called the first designer back to say THANK YOU for your time and for the designs but obviously there was a HUGE misunderstanding. I amicably asked for HALF of my deposit back, knowing full well she put a lot of time into the drawings. SHE SAID NO! A few words back and forth and she hung up saying, “I’ll think about it!”

Am I crazy to higher expectations of these two companies?  I am flabbergasted over these two, back-to-back, incidences! Would you be?

Bradi Nathan

Co-Founder

MyWorkButterfly.com