Work at Home Moms Talk Radio

Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio is getting a makeover this summer with new owner Melissa Smallwood at the helm.  Any work-at-home mom will want to make this a go-to resource, as it brings practical ideas for challenges we all face including organization, meal planning, budgeting, frugal and debt-free living, and summer entertainment for the children.  Melisssa comes with a passion for organizing, and a professional background in marketing and healthcare.  I had the honor of conducting an interview with Melissa and here is how our chat went. 

Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio has been a top go-to resource for moms for awhile.  What fresh perspectives and new ideas are you going to bring?

I am so excited about taking over the site.  We have a lot of dedicated readers and listeners to the FWAHM show.  I want to retain their interest but also focus on some different aspects of being a WAHM (and mom in general).  We are going to interview a WAHM once per week (ladies on the calendar include experts on affiliate marketing, meal planning, summer activities to do with your kids, the CEO of nannies4hire.com, etc).  The other day of the week we are focusing on practical ways to make being a WAHM “work”.  On today’s show for instance, we talked about organizing paper and home offices.  I am a really interactive person so I ask the readers, newsletter subscribers and my twitter and FB friends what they want to hear about.  That guides me as well.  I believe in living as good stewards of our resources so I am also excited to share frugal living, budgeting, meal planning and debt free living with the readers as well.

Can you tell us a little about the other contributors and their niches?

Cathy Bendzunas is my co-host for the show.  She brings a seasoned WAHM perspective to the show as she runs a polymer clay studio out of her home.  She has been supportive and informative during the change and we banter back and forth well on the radio show.  There is another lady that contributes recipes to the site.  Other than that, going with the fresh perspective you mentioned, I am looking for new contributors and co-hosts for the show.  I have received some applications and have put out some requests of my own. If anyone is interested in contributing I would love for them to contact me! We will see who joins the team soon.

What exciting things should we watch for on the website and in the podcasts over the summer?

The website is getting a redesign to fit more with my personality and Living Life by Design brand.  I am going to be posting articles written by our guests on the show, as well as articles that take our “tip” shows to the next level.  Not everyone has time to listen to a podcast or the desire to get their information that way so I will be sending out a more regular newsletter, a getting to know you series with my subscribers and listeners and some great contests and giveaways!

Could you tell us about your family and how you came to be a WAHM?

I am a mama to three boys.  Jared (my athletic, chick magnet, texting addicted, clothes horse) is 13, Matthew (my snuggly, Star Wars loving, game boy addicted, geeky one) is 11 and my bonus son, Jason (my taller than me, artistic, music blaring, special needs guy) is 16.  I also have three canine children, including my sweet mini schnauzer, Chloe.  My hubby, Mike, is very supportive of my WAH endeavors.  I have always been an entrepreneur at heart and valued staying at home with my kids.  When my youngest went to kindergarten I entered corporate America. I worked in health care/marketing.  While successful I wasn’t happy.  In January 2007 I started my professional organizing business.  After my diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in January 2008 I began to focus on working from home through virtual organizing services rather than a local clientele based business.  That prayerful decision was certainly the right one and I have been enjoying (almost) every moment of being a WAHM.

You are also the owner of Organized Life by Design, and help clients cut through the clutter of life to create order.  What are some common challenges clients face, and how can you help them?

This is a great question but I want to address one thing before I answer it.  I bought Frugal WAHM Talk Radio with the intention of merging it with the rest of my Living Life by Design brand, which now includes Organized Life by Design, Healthy Life by Design and the main Living Life by Design site.  As soon as the site re-design is finished you will be able to access the organizing site and health site from the Frugal WAHM site. We did that for easy navigation.  Now, on to the second part of your question: Clients often come to me looking for that ever elusive work/life balance that is so difficult to achieve (if not impossible).  Through coaching I help them prioritize, create routines and cut through the clutter of what I call “time wasters”.  Another set of clients comes for expert advice on how to get a certain area of their home/environment organized.  I offer virtual organizing services, which include an individualized plan with email, Skype and phone support to assist the client to implement the plan as well as a maintenance plan for keeping the space organized in the future.  I also have a Ning site where readers/clients can post lifestyle questions and receive answers based on our mission statement : To provide practical knowledge and Godly principles that women can apply to everyday life.

Thanks, Melissa, for taking the time to chat with me! You can catch up with Melissa on Twitter @multitaskingme.