Featured Business:Snowsellberryhead Studios

If you are ready to get out of the house with your toddler or little one, you
are going to want to get in on this give away!!! Kirsty runs Snowsellberryhead
Studios and offers a variety of classes to help you get into shape, meet new
moms, or just have fun and get out of the house!

I took part of the Shop 'n Stroll class a few times with my first baby and was
excited for an excuse to get out of the house, at no cost to us, and meet other
moms! The group was supportive and friendly. Now with baby two around the
corner, I am looking to take part in Salsa Tots with my toddler and know my baby
will also enjoy the music and kids!!

The Inspiration

I fell in love with dancing when I was 16 years old and was supported, trained and mentored by a very generous woman that believed in me and she helped change the course of my life. This is also where my love of teaching began - I began to understand the unique role and strength of influence instructors have over their pupils. One day I knew I'd own a dance school where I could create an environment of warmth, fun and offer unique classes of the highest quality. After a wonderful birth experience, and becoming a mother, I began to hope my daughter would one day be inspired to pursue her dreams...but I also knew I could never ask that of her if I had not gone after my own. So I finally pieced together the years of dreams, passions and plans and opened Snowsellberryhead
Studios when Charlotte was a wee 7 months old! My husband and I knew that life
would never again change so drastically after having a child, why not throw a
business into the mix?!!

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom running your own
business?

There are so many rewards and challenges. Having the freedom to develop a
schedule that meets the needs of my family is a wonderful thing. However, I
think what is most rewarding is knowing that other women and their families are
finding a place where they feel welcome, understood and always leave with a
smile on their face. We have a high "fun factor" in our classes - after all, if
a parent is willing to bundle themselves and their children up in -40 weather,
it better be worth their while!! Also, the friendships formed and the
camaraderie in the postnatal classes has become a vital meeting place for new
mothers where they can receive the support they need when they step through the
threshold into the crazy world of parenting! Also, I personally HATE to
exercise, so dancing is the ultimate disguise that I happily wear and share with
others! Instructing these classes benefits me just as much as my clients!

What advice would you give to someone considering starting their own
business?

Support, support, support. Plan, plan, plan. While it seems dreamy and
wonderful to "be your own boss," the reality is that it ALL falls on your
shoulders. Every phone call, every email, every marketing plan, and in my case,
every single class I have to teach. There are times when I do not get to spend
the hours that I need with my daughter (and with another one on the way that
demand increases) and I have to be confident that the hours I spend away from my
children are justifiable and worthwhile. Every working parent struggles with
finding the balance. At times like this, having a supportive spouse, family and
friends are crucial. They cover the gaps when I have to disappear into the abyss
of my home office as well as cheer me on, because there are days I wonder...why
did I do this? Their encouragement and discerning wisdom as I rattle off
thoughts, feelings and frustrations swimming in my muddled head are often the
light at the end of the tunnel.

What's your motivation?

At this point in time, I cannot imagine doing anything else. So many of my
life experiences have led me to this place where I am confident that this is
100% the right career path for me...and my family. Because parenting is THE
hardest thing anyone will ever do, I make it my personal goal to offer classes
that provide and encouraging, supportive and FUN atmosphere. Laughter is key! On
a personal note, when I'm not exercising I find that my mood darkens and fatigue
often gets the best of me. Getting out of the house and burning off that baby
weight is good for my soul too - so I know there are other women who need it
just as much!

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

Still running, stronger than ever!! My dream is to have a studio space of our
very own, where I can invest in creating the ultimate dance space - and to me
that is a haven for women and children to experience friendship, fun and fitness
through dance & activity. My goal isn't to make a bunch of money, but to
provide for family while contributing to my community. It's also a dream to
build a small team of women to work alongside me. Not everyone wants to own a
business, but I think everyone wants to wake up and look forward to what their
day holds - and if I can provide the opportunity for other women to have that
experience, then my heart will be that much more full. I also have some very
exciting program expansion ideas and plans, but they are second in line to my
expanding waistline and growing family!

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a working mom {so
far}?

Because I work with so many wee children, there have been many nights I've
sadly sat with heart-breaking guilt wondering, "how could I put all this effort
into every one else's families instead of my own?" And then I learned this, the
value of saying no. It is a beautiful thing to have endless opportunity, but it
is even more beautiful to have the strength to say, "no thank you, I need this
time to be a healthy, strong mother and wife. My family's need must come first."
I have yet to meet with someone who chastised me for such a decision, and quite
frankly, I think I would be hard-pressed to find someone who would (and if they
did, I can't say I would even care)! Part of what makes me a great mom is taking
time for myself so I can be a strong, self-respecting woman, wife, friend and
professional business leader. I hope that in saying "no" to excessive busyness I
can inspire others to reflect on their own values and priorities. While it
seemed hard to me at first, the saying always came back to me, "who on their
deathbed says, boy, I sure wish I spent more time working..." I work hard to
help provide for my family while meeting a realistic set of goals that are
tailor-made to ensure I don't undervalue the things I profess to value most.