Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

- Abraham Lincoln

Remember

Thanks to the talented Persnickety Prints for today's inspiration. 

My 5 Top Homepage MUST-Haves!

In order for your website to be an effective marketing tool for your business, it must do 2 things:

1.  LOAD FAST and
2.  SELL.

Your website is not there just to dispense information.  You want it to be effective in persuading visitors to buy whatever it is you are selling, be it products or services.

So... here's a list of my TOP 5 Homepage Must-Haves!

1.  Contact Info.  Don't hide your contact info on its own special page somewhere in the deep abyss of your website.  If you want customers to reach you, you will have to make this info incredibly easy to access.

My best decision making advice in business.



Source



Yummy... Easy... Ice Box Cake!

I have four kids.  Life is BUSY.  I love food that is yummy... and easy.

This recipe is one of the easiest I know.  And it tastes SOOOOOO good!  I took this cake to a party recently, and all the kids were chanting: CAKE!  CAKE! CAKE!  So, it must be a winner!

Are you  ready??  This cake has only THREE ingredients:

EASY ICE BOX CAKE
2 Pints Heavy Whipping Cream
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Box of Chocolate Wafers (Nabisco)
PS... I can't find these at Walmart or Winco.  I usually have to go to one of those "fancy" grocery stores to get them!

Okay, whip up the whipping cream (add sugar as you normally would) until it is really thick.  I love my Kitchen Aid for this... it is done in no time!

Put about half a cup of the whipped cream on a plate and spread it out into a circle.  Place 5 or six cookies evenly on top of the cream.  Continue layering cream and cookies until you run out of ingredients.  And... that's it!!

Place your masterpiece in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  The cookies will get soft.  When you cut and serve it, you will have these beautiful black and white layers.  And it tastes SO good.  Like one big cookies and cream extravaganza!!

Make and enjoy!!  Your kids will thank you!!

Business Feature: Start At Home

1. Tell us about your business. What do you do? How long have you been in business?

I have the wonderful opportunity of running my Blog Start at Home, refinishing furniture remodeling our home and creating home decor.  I am a thrifty frugal mom that loves to shop garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores and a few antique stores here and there.  I love to find old furniture and gadgets I can bring back to life.  I have been refinishing furniture for just over a year and I am loving every minute of it!

2. What has been your biggest challenge in running your business? How have you overcome challenges?

My biggest challenge has been finding the right balance.  There are so many roles a mother plays and to add running a blog and business can be tricky at times.  I am sure this will always be a challenge, I don't have a clear cut answer of how to overcome this, as I haven't found the perfect solution for myself.  I just try to keep my priorities straight and make sure the things that are most important, my family, comes first!

3. What has been your proudest moment in business?

My proudest moment....hmmm....there have been a few but my favorite is probably when I sold my very first refinished table.  I never started out with the intensions of creating a small business.  We were remodeling our house and I tried refinishing a few of our pieces we didn't like so much anymore and I LOVED doing it, so naturally I started refinishing everything and before I knew it I had too many pieces.  I posted my first table for sale and to much of my surprise it sold in 20 minutes.  Orders started coming in people started asking me to refinish their pieces and well here we are!

4. What makes you stand out from other businesses that provide similar products or services?

I would have to say what stands out is my style.  With refinishing/repurposing everyone has a specific style or technic they like to use.  Customers who contact me have seen my work somewhere and have a similar style.

5. What tips can you share with other business owners who are juggling business and raising a family?

As I said earlier this is defiantly my greatest challenge.  The thing that has work the best for me is really making sure I am organized and my day is planned.  Someone once said, "time is the one thing we all wish we had more of and the one thing we waste the most of."  By structuring my day I feel I can maximize my time and set my priorities!  

Thank you Shauna for letting me take over your blog!  I have defiantly enjoyed my stay.  

Brooke 

startathome.blogspot.com

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