THANK YOU TO JENNESSA CONNOR FOR WRITING THIS UP FOR ME ON HER BLOG!!

-Finding your calling in life after you send the kids off to school!

Many women dream of having and bringing children up, and then one day they get to see that dream come true. A child is born, filling their lives with wonder and joy. But then what? Are women destined to fade as soon as their sons and daughters go off to school? Not a chance, says Vicki Bodwell, creator and owner of the Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.
In 1999 Bodwell realized that she can embrace her passion for design, combine it with business, and do something good for herself and other women all in one step: open her own company. Her downtown Manhattan loft served her as the launch pad by for a thriving business. “I faced a number of challenges,” said Bodwell, “I was the little guy in a field of giants.” But that did not stop Bodwell. “I knew I had to grow.”
Today, Bodwell’s company is getting ready to move into a bigger office, because the company has once again outgrown the headquarters. So much for being the “little guy” around. The Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. is no stranger to the pages of magazines, as well as television. The many editorial mentions have gained the hearts and trust of women nationwide. Bodwell credits this to her staff of dedicated and passionate women, who just like the motto of the company want to “Inspire Big Dreams.”
Bodwell says that she wants to “empower women” trough the work she does. And that’s what ends up happening: the interns she takes on start careers in various fields, while the artisans she works with see their business thrive.
If there is a legacy here it’s this: motherhood is just the beginning of a woman’s life. Bodwell proves that having a passion is really enough to make a dream come true, and do it all after your kids have grown right up.

Every newspaper headline for the last month has been predicting an economic recession, a market downturn, loss of jobs, downturn of the housing market, increased debt...

It's enough send any parent (or business owner!) into a tailspin.

I for one, try and focus on simplifying our kids life. I said this to my best friend who laughed and said, "Vicki, how much simpler can your life get?! You have no cell phone, no television, no Wii, no digital games...you can't go back to living the life of Little House on the Prairie!"

Of course, I know this. Yet, it feels that we live in constant need of more, new and improved. So maybe a recession could help us refocus on things of real value and cost nothing.

Like spending more time with our kids and having family dinners instead of going out to dinner, signing up for fewer after school activities, buying fewer and classic toys etc. For some reason this appeals to me.

What about you?