Meet Tangela Walker-Craft. She is a mom, author, owns her own business, homeschools and is also a writer for Examiner. She has a wonderful story and some great advice for moms who want to work from home so they can stay home with their children. She has invented a product that every breastfeeding mom should have!

Tangela, tell us about yourself.

I am married to Ernest Craft III. We have been married for 18+ years (19 years in May). We have an eight year old daughter, Emari. I home school my daughter, run Simply Necessary, Incorporated, and write for Examiner.com.

I am the inventor of the patented GoPillow!, a multi-purpose baby pillow. I market and sell the GoPillow! through my company, Simply Necessary, Incorporated. Simply Necessary, Incorporated operates a website where the GoPillow! can be viewed and purchased.

I am the Tampa Bay/Lakeland Parenting Examiner for Examiner.com. I draw from my experience as a wife, mother, business owner and former Language Arts teacher for my articles. I provide tips for helping families enjoy life.

I have also written a children's book about hygiene with a strong emphasis on dental health that has been added to the American Dental Association Library Children's Collection in its unpublished form. The American Dental Association librarian was impressed enough with the book to add it to the ADA library. The ADA librarian was especially impressed with the illustrations for the book, which were done by my husband. View the children's book online by clicking the arrows on the extreme right and left of the small slide show pictures to enlarge the pages when you click here.

Tell us about your business.

Simply Necessary, Incorporated was founded because I was a breastfeeding mom that wanted a comfortable way to cradle my baby for an extended period of time. I started toying around with creating a solution to my problem.

I was watching a child product segment on a talk show (The View) when they plugged a website and explained that the company bought ideas from parent inventors. I emailed the site and asked for submission requirements and sent in my idea. The owner contacted me that same week. She loved the idea. After finding out that I as a stay at home mom trying to replace my teaching salary she asked me if I could come up with my own "start up funds". She then told me how to get the product made and how to market it myself. My mother had some money in savings and she agreed to loan me the money to market the product. She is now co-owner of the company. [We are still 100% self-financed].

The idea for adding the privacy blanket came later. It was added after I was caught in a crowded area during a rainstorm at Disney World in Orlando Florida. My husband took off his shirt and gave it to me so that I could nurse my daughter discreetly (I was very modest). We realized that a privacy blanket or cover would separate our pillow from any other nursing pillow on the market. The build-in blanket turned the pillow into a multi-purpose wonder! The GoPillow! solves several problems that mothers often run into when away from home with a baby or toddler.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

Getting national retailers to look at my product has been the biggest challenge so far. With almost no advertising budget the buzz about the GoPillow! is building - but slowly. National retailers only want to give products a chance when there is already a big demand for them. Even though it has endorsements from nurses, lactation consultants, travel experts, and moms all over the world. I still can't afford to pay for national advertising for the GoPillow!

What has come the easiest for you?

Being a spokesperson for the GoPillow! has been the easiest for me. I invented the product because I needed something like it and it didn't exist. So I know that the product is useful for moms and their kids. I am selling something that I would use. I believe in the GoPillow! so I can market it better than anyone else.

Where do you advertise...or do you?

Most of my advertising is online. Websites like Our Milk Money, Merchant Circle and other websites that promote small businesses have been my primary form of advertising. The GoPillow! has been featured in magazines, newspapers and newsletters. It has been reveiwed by dozens of bloggers and writers online and in print. I have product demonstration videos on YouTube that can be viewed by typing in GoPillow! in the YouTube search box. I am on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The GoPillow! has even been featured in several local news segments and a few nationally syndicated television segments.

What would you like to suggest to a mom who is interested in starting her own business?

Do your homework. Know your product or service better than anyone else. Be familiar with your competition and know why your product or service is better than anyone else's. Consult others that are already in business. Build a mutually beneficial network of business associates. Learn from others that are already doing well. Be willing to help others that have not made as much progress as you. Helping others is the best way to gain support for your business and personal ventures.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I have always had an entreprenuerial spirit and even started my own babysitting company at the age of 13. I always knew that true freedom could only come from working for yourself. I became passionate about health at a young age, and was raised in a very holistic environment. Nutrition and wellness have been two areas I have been studying for years. I was also always a natural performer and started acting and singing when I was a small child. I graduated from UCLA with a Political Science degree with an intent to go into politics to make a difference, but my acting bug bit again, and I decided to go after my dreams in Hollywood. Although I was a successful working actress and model, I still felt like I wanted to do more with my life. My goal has always been to touch and uplift a lot of people, and to make a positive impact in the world. When I got pregnant with my daughter Kayla, my world changed forever. I have been a vegetarian my whole life and when I was pregnant the doctor told me to start eating red meat because my iron and protein were dangerously low for the baby, my blood work was imbalanced and I was having some health challenges. That same week I was introduced to a company called Isagenix and I immediately got on their products. Within three weeks my blood work came back perfect and I felt amazing! From that moment on, I had a wonderful and healthy pregnancy. My daughter and I have been on Isagenix for over three years now. I became extremely passionate about sharing this information with others. It redirected my focus from the acting world, back into my true passion of health, wellness and helping others. One of my main goals in life is to inspire people to take charge of their health and to live to their full potential. If we don't have our health, we don't have anything. Our health is truly our number one wealth.

Isagenix International is a global health and wellness company. We have been in business for eight years, have cumulative sales of over 1 billion dollars, and have created 54 millionaires. It is a perfect home based business opportunity for anyone looking to improve their life in all areas. Our products address all the main health issues facing the world today such as toxicity, lack of nutrition, weight gain, low energy, stress, anti-aging and obesity. It is a super food and cleansing program that allows the body to go back into proper balance. These products are food, are essential to life, and everyone that eats, breathes or has skin needs them. We have leading technologies in the areas of cleansing, nutrition, and anti-aging. I have been able to grow a team of associates all over the nation and in Canada from the comfort of my home. I have touched thousands of lives all because I changed my own health. Our business opportunity allows people to work at whatever pace they are comfortable with, part-time, half-time or full-time. It has changed my life in so many ways, and I love seeing people rise to their true potential with their health and wealth. I also have a personal development company called Millionaire Intelligence that my partners and I started this year. Our mission with M.I. is to help people reclaim the American Dream and take charge of their financial future.

My biggest challenge has been scheduling my time. It can be difficult as a mom working from home to separate work time from family time. I do so many different things that sometimes I get overwhelmed. I have made mistakes along the way, and I have learned what works for me. The biggest thing I have learned is to set business hours. When I first started my business, I was taking calls at all hours of the day because I wasn't clear to my team or customers that I had business hours. Now, I have a set schedule that allows me to have my down time with my family and also my personal time to recharge.

The thing that has come the easiest for me is getting out there and sharing what I do. Because I am so passionate about these products and the business, it is easy for me to share with people. One of my mentors taught me to always put myself in the path of business, so since day one I have always gone out and networked, connected with other entrepreneurs and made myself visible. To be successful in any business, you have to be visible.

I do not advertise. Most of my business is done through word of mouth and referrals. I also use social media to connect with people all over the world. The beauty of network marketing is, that is how it works. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising in the world! If I help someone lose 50 pounds, they are going to promote my business better than any ad I could ever place. People become walking billboards when they go on these products. It is a very powerful thing!

I would suggest to any mom looking to start a business to do their research. Know what options you have a choose carefully. If you are looking into network marketing or direct sales, make sure you research the company. Look at things like how long they have been in business, what kind of leadership/training they offer, the uniqueness of the products and team support available. If you are starting your own company, look at what others are doing in the same field. Model yourself after those that are already successful. Use your creativity, but you don't always have to re-invent the wheel. Stay focused on your dream and never give up!

I am a stay-at-home mom with two young children - Claire age 2 and Liam age 6 month. We moved to Colorado Springs from Fort Collins five years ago after Nick, my husband, and I graduated from CSU. I enjoy hiking, volleyball, cooking, gardening and chocolate. I blog during naptime. My days zip by in a blur of diapers, snacks, picking up toys and the occasional temper tantrum. It may be exhausting, but I'm rewarded with the chance to watch them grown and learn.

I write a blog, Colorado Springs Giveaways, featuring a giveaway every day from a local business. I've had all kinds of prizes: restaurant gift certificates, tickets, beauty products, massages, clothing and accessories, home decor and services such as cleaning and personal training. Readers can enter to win for free everyday; they just need to check back the next day to see if they won. The businesses benefit from the local exposure.

I was surprised to find that it's a challenge for me to find new readers. I think that my blog may be the Springs' best kept secret. My loyal readers come back every day because their odds of winning a prize are huge!

Finding businesses to feature has been a piece of cake. My rates are reasonable and I am able to show them tangible results. A promotional giveaway on my site is an effective use of their advertising budget, and most businesses ask to be featured again in the future.

I have advertised on Facebook, Google and another local blog. However, I have found that social network sites are the best way to promote Colorado Springs Giveaways.

Even if your idea is relatively simple, I would recommend that you write out a business plan. Show it to your family and trusted friends to ask for advice. Take advantage of free resources for small businesses such as the Small Business Development Center located at UCCS. Most importantly, plan for how you will find the time to work on your business.

Many of us self-employed parents who blog dream of earning money from our blogs. There are many stories of bloggers earning the "big bucks" and we would like to be one of those 'stories'. You can earn money by blogging if you are dedicated to doing so.

According to Technorati, the average American blogger earns $6,000 per year. The top 1% earn $200,000 or more.

Blogging requires long hours and a lot of work. Make sure you pick a subject you are passionate about. For me, it's all about helping parents work from home so they can be home with their children. Find a subject that 'ignites your fire within'. You are less likely to get burned out and more likely to stick with it.

If you pick a topic like celebrity gossip, politics, photography or gadgets, the competition is fierce and it will be difficult to get yourself established. Select something else and remember...make sure you are passionate about it.

If you want to earn money from your blog there are several 'musts'

• your blog must be well-written


• your blog must not contain any spelling errors


• your blog must not contain any grammatical errors

Here are some of the best ways to earn money from your blog:

• Advertising. The most obvious way to make money from your blog is with advertising. Advertisers pay a few cents when an ad is clicked. They may pay a certain rate per 1,000 page views. The most popular advertising program is Google AdSense. It places ads within the context of your blog on your site. Regardless of the traffic level to your site, you can register for Google AdSense. There are other advertising methods, such as BidVertiser, AdBrite and AdGenta. If you are well known and have a large readership you can contact advertisers on your own. To make money from ads on your site, you need thousands of visitors each month.


• Affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are similar to advertising. You can place a button/banner ad or text ad on your site. You can also place hyperlinks within your posts. For affiliate links to pay, the person who clicks on them usually has to make a purchase...you then get a percentage of that purchase.


• Pay-per-post. Some companies will pay you to write about their products or services. You will need some blogging time under your belt before you can get involved in pay-per-post programs. Be cautious, though. Your readers are reading your blog because they are interested in what you have to say. If you are getting paid to write about a product, be sure you tell your readers that. Full disclosure is important and your readers will respect that.


• Sponsorship. You may be able to get a corporate sponsor. However, your site will then carry only the sponsor's branding and there will be less of our own 'personality' coming through.


• Employment. Many businesses have their own blogs. They use the blogs to stay in touch with their customers. You may find work by being a paid blogger for a company. This takes a lot of dedication. You have to show companies that you are worth hiring. This means you have to be well established and have posts with no errors. If you are really well known, businesses may come looking for you. More than likely, you will need to seek them out. Remember to treat this like any other job interview.

There are many ways you can earn money by blogging. It does take considerable time and dedication. Most bloggers earn a little bit to supplement their main source of income. If making a lot of money by blogging is your goal, dedicate yourself to the process and you will reap the rewards.

Julianne Alvarez-Wish is a military wife, mother, business owner, professional writer, blogger and legislative advocate. She is the Director of Communications for Our Milk Money, the Colorado State Leader for the National Association for Moms in Business, and the owner of Buy by Mom and the Buy by Mom blog. She is the Colorado Springs Stay at Home Mom Examiner for Examiner.com. She also blogs at A Wishful Thought. Her passion, purpose and goal is to help parents work from home so they can be home with their children.