Today is a very special day.  Today I Complete Me (ICM) is launching our new monthly feature called ICM Woman of the Month.  This feature will be located here at ICM and I am so pleased that I will be able to bring to you various woman to talk about their Me.  ICM was created to let you know that you are not alone and this feature will allow you to see other women dealing with the same things.  So let us get started.

Our first Feature is Stephanie Elie from Bizzie Mommy.  Stephanie has become one of my wonderful blogging buddies and I truly appreciate her.  Here is what she has to say.

Name: Stephanie Elie

Business and/or Blog: Bizzie Mommy and LaLa Baby Boutique

Web address: www.lalababyboutique.com

Tell us a bit about your business?  Why did you start this business?  What inspired you?

I own an online baby boutique, LaLa Baby Boutique, and I am the editor of BizzieMommy.com. I decided to launch the store because when I was pregnant I couldn’t find stylish maternity clothes or unique baby gifts. I didn’t like shopping at the regular chain stores for baby clothes, because everything was the same. And while I was pregnant a lot of the maternity stores started closing or their clothes were just too expensive.

So I started LaLa Baby Boutique to help others find unique maternity wear and stylish baby clothes, because you shouldn’t have to lose your sense of style just because you are a parent.

Tell us a bit about your family life. Are you married? Do you have children? What is a typical day like for you?

I am married to a very supportive husband and we live in the San Fernando Valley in SoCal. I have an almost 4 year old daughter and a 17 month old dare-devil son. My husband and I both work outside of the home full-time so our typical day starts off with getting the kids ready for daycare and getting ourselves ready for work. I usually wake up first, check emails and comment on blogs then we are off to work.

After work, its the typical evening dinner, bath and bedtime. Once the kids are in bed we both get to work on our businesses until whenever.

Then the cycle just repeats the next day.

How do you maintain your ME in the midst of all that you do?

Maintaining “Me” has been a challenge, when my daughter was born I was immediately sucked into the mommy role and completely lost myself. However, when I started to build up my business and blogging I started to find myself again.

What are some of the special things that you do when taking time for yourself?

To be honest I haven’t taken that much time for myself lately. I have started to participate in more mommy groups and participating in more mommy events. For example I’m supposed to be going to the Mom’s Night Out event in LA on May 7.

I do plan on taking a photography course and an adult ballet class in the near future.

How do you find time in your busy schedule to make time for yourself?

Ha, I don’t really. That’s the problem.

In all that you do, do you feel complete?  What would make your life complete?

Right now, because I’m balancing a full-time job and two business and a family, my life is “full” but it’s not complete. I think once I am able to work solely on my business and can manage time better so I can spend the time I want to with my family, then I will feel complete.

What advice can you give to the readers here at ICM to help them remember to take care of their Me?

My favorite quote is, “just keep swimming.” I know corny right, but when I’m feeling a little lost or trapped I think of that and remember that my feelings are only temporary and the moment will pass.

Remember to take care of yourself and save, reserve a couple of minutes of the day for yourself even if that means not folding the laundry.

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