Mompreneur: Rhea Brown
Company: The Cocktail Cafe
Website: http://www.thecocktailcafe.com

The Cocktail Cafe provides a mix of mom talk with a splash of style. Recognizing there were few resources for moms that address “their” needs, Rhea took her interest in fashion, family and writing to create an online community of sassy, stylish moms looking to find balance, happiness, and little fun along the way. Cocktail moms everywhere log onto The Cocktail Cafe for its fresh and unique take on parenting, fashion for moms, news and reviews of the hottest boutiques and mom bloggers.

What inspired you start your business?
After getting married and immediately starting a family, I instantly became a stay at home mom. Being the first one to get married, I felt so out of place amongst some of my longest and dearest friends. I felt so alone and sufered from postpartum depression.

I started to The Cocktail Cafe from my own personal struggles and victories. I wanted to create a place that moms can come in, vent, laugh, think, share, but most of all, my blog celebrates the woman behind, motherhood, marriage and business.

Unlike any other mommy site out there, at The Cocktail Cafe, its ok to let it out over a cocktail and be U.

How long has your business been in business?
I have been blogging for over a year now but this is my 2nd attempt at blogging for myself

What did you do in your past work life?
I am a Marketing, Web and Business Development Consultant.

What is your ideal workday like?
Get up at 7, hit the bathroom and stand/sleep under the shower, hoping my husband comes to save me from missing work altogether. Out the shower, dressed, makeup, curl hair. 7:45am, cook breakfast for the eldest b/f buss arrives at 8:30. Wake the 2 little ones up and get them ready for lessons and stretching. 9:00-9:15am, out the house and at work by 10:00 latest.

Working, blogging, reading, twittering, daydreaming, writing.

What have been some of your major successes and challenges?
Having 3 beautiful children after enduring full time bedrest. No cocktails allowed… geeeess.

Starting this blog is my second major success.

What have been some of your major challenges?
keeping positive that women/mother will understand me. That my words represent who I am as a woman first. Making it clear that I am a mommy with a potty mouth and that’s OK by me. Don’t change my outlook on life, or my beliefs. Im like “Sista Odell” from Steve Harvey’s stand up routine. I like 2 curse… heeeheee.

Blame it on the cocktail

On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
The wonderful comments that I get, the email messages, and the awesome kick ass moms that I’ve met and connected with thanks to twitter.

Do you have a motivational quote?
Oh yes and I use it at the end of every post, email and message that I send to people now.

“remember 2 make time 4 U, and have a cocktail on me”.

and sometimes I use

“why not go out on the limb; isn’t that where the fruit is?”

If there was one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be?
Follow your heart and ignore your mind. stay true to who you are and never apologize for being you. and finally, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. (i think that was Einstein’s quote though)

What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
blaming is on twitter. “can’t talk right now… twittering” , “can’t do the dishes honey… twittering” , “can’t have sex right now honey, twittering… k?”

Seriously though, you may want to check out my article on the site about “A Minute 2 Myself: Lessons in Growing Older”. In it I offer 4 of my constant reminders but here is the first one:

1.) Although I have a million different commitments pulling at my sleeves, I must learn to find comfort with the idea that sometimes one of them will get the short end of the stick. The kids will always be a top priority and but so is my husband, business and social life. I will try to define “having it all” in my own terms.

Do you have a favorite business tool and/or resource?
Twitter… Oh yeah! and twittermoms.com is ok 2.

I also like blogtalkradio and will be launching my first show on December 3rd. Hope 2 see you there Bizzie Mommy. I C that you have crossed out the “make time for me” on your to do list.

We’ve gotta change that now don’t we. The Show is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thecocktailcafe.

What is next for your business?
My radio show

Your two cents sales pitch?
Every mom deserves a break, her own happy hour if you will. The Cocktail Cafe is “a mix of mom talk with a splash of style”: Its motherhood uncensored, shaken not stirred. Won’ t you join me ? Cocktail’s on me.

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