Well Hello There...

This isn't where I work normally.  But it is a perk of working from wherever I want. Really, I just didn't want you to see my messy desk.

Hello.

My name is Cheryl.

And I'm just a girl... blogging in front of the world... asking you to like me.

Ok ok ok.  Girl might be a stretch.  I'm a 30-something (because middle-aged just sounds so scary!) mother of two, wife to a very patient man, and #girlboss.  I'm a work-at-home mom who's run my own online search marketing consulting business for the past eight years.

Growing up, I always imagined I would be the woman in stiletto heels and a power suit going to work early and coming home late.  I did everything I thought I was supposed to, to get to that goal. Got good grades, graduated from high school and then college with a business degree. And now, 15-years after graduating with that very expensive degree, I spend the majority of my days shoe-less and in yoga pants sitting in front of my computer.  Some days, I even shower. I know you other work-at-home moms know what I'm talking about.

How did I get to work from home and be my own boss?  Well, after working for other people for seven years, I realized that what I did for them was valuable.  I was valuable.  I ventured out on my own, convincing my then boss to be my first client. It was risky, but it worked.  I was recently married, I knew kids were soon on the horizon and thought if I was going to make the jump, it better be sooner than later.

So why Making Pennies? I first heard the phrase "making pennies" while dropping off my first child at daycare years ago. One of the older kids was wailing, begging his mommy not to leave him.  The mom calmly said, "Honey, mommy has to make the pennies" and it just resonated with me.  From that point on, when my girls ask why mommy is always working at her computer I let them know that mommy is making pennies.  They're old enough now to understand that pennies equals money equals fun.

Why am I blogging?  Well, that's a good question.  Working from home has its benefits and its drawbacks.  I've been lucky to be able to see my girls grow up and do the everyday things they might take for granted because they just don't know any better.  Being an only child of two accountants, I never imagined myself in this role.  I know how blessed I am to share this time with my kids.  But that doesn't mean its always easy.  I've lost a bit of that social connection that comes from working in an office.  Talking to adults regularly (other than my husband) about news, gossip, The Bachelor!  What I've realized these past eight years is that social media has become my new office water cooler.

So again, why am I blogging?  Well, I guess it's the same reason why you're reading.  Just giving myself another outlet to share, laugh and learn.