We are unlocking a new level of parenting this school year: no babysitters.

Our goals are simple but making the decision to have them home alone has been a challenge. How do you know when kids are ready? 

I'm sharing some insights into our tiered approach to fostering this new level of independence in our girls. It's been put to the test for short periods of time and met with some learnings on both sides. A few nights out alone with no paid sitter are just around the corner.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a  small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

If you have school-aged kids, your summer is winding down and the new school year is just around the corner. Today I'm going to share five things I love to make back-t-school prep just a little easier.  This is my favorite things list of the top products and tools I've grown to appreciate most at this stage of my parenting journey. Some save money, some save time and some just straight-up save my sanity. 

Tune in to hear my list and then share yours. Drop your must-have products, services and hacks for back-to-school time on social media to let more moms know what's working for you.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

Hosting the grand opening and ribbon-cutting event for my retail space felt like a major milestone. My store has been open for just over a month and getting to this point was both easier and more difficult than I anticipated.

In this episode, I share the three major items I needed to cross off the to-do list prior to opening the doors for the first time.  From the design of the physical space to the design of an email marketing system, get some behind-the-scenes details on what came together and what didn't.

Its lessons in retail entrepreneurship from a rookie business owner.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

I used to think the idea of reframing was a bunch of garbage. Turns out, I wasn't focused on reframing the right things.

This is your quick pep talk on one way to turn a "Have to" into a "Get to" and have it actually make you feel better.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

Ok, maybe not at attack but a definitely a vent session from a working parent tasked with organizing the summer calendar. Why is it so hard?

Many working adults don't get a summer break. And one big challenge is understanding the options available for summer care and summer activities for kids. I'm a fairly organized individual and I find it highly frustrating to coordinate schedules and opt-in to the right camps and activities when we need them.

Tune in to hear my personal experiences as the summer coordinator of our house. I also share my plea to camp programs and providers to take some of these issues into consideration. If you want my money, you need to get it together and help a momma out.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

If there was a book called rest for dummies, I would buy it.  

There is a lot to be said about this "plugged-in" and "hustle" culture we are living in. There are a lot of distractions in this digital world, and always something (or someone) needing attention. 

Part of my own personal development journey over the last few years has been focused on mindset. On identifying areas where I am unconsciously preventing myself from reaching a goal or even just blocking myself from moving forward in a particular area. Rest is one of those areas. I've come a long way but I can trace this resistance to the idea of rest back to a few myths I've been led to believe. 

Tune in as I bust some common myths about the idea of rest and why it needs to be a higher priority than many of us give.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

Fact: We are the first generation of parents to navigate school lockdown drills with our children.

School safety is a heavy topic and one that's hard to know how to talk about or who to talk about it with.  Since my oldest daughter's kindergarten experience, my focus has been on how to support my children through their fears of these lockdown drills.

I'm sharing my experience and how we have shifted our mindset with the intent to prepare, not scare. Plus four action items you can do today to feel more secure in your role as a supportive parent.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a small business owner and marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

Family photography is an art, but commercial and brand photography is for storytelling. This episode will give you a peek behind the curtain of brand photography. Kassady Gibson is the owner of Focus Creative where she has worked with over 300 brands to build out not just their photography but their growth strategy with high-quality visual content that tells a story. Kassady shares a lot of great tips from knowing when to hire a photographer to what to do with the photos when you get them.

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

• Update your photos every 6 months to keep your look fresh across all of the platforms
• Build your brand story with your photographer
• Take art direction and feedback from the photographer, allow them space to let their vision come to life for you
• The highest levels of engagement will come when you have a plan for the content
• Don't be afraid of tools like canva and later for your content creation and planning

Follow Kassady @FocusFairhope and visit Focus Creative online to pick up her free download to help you get started with brand photography.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers and local business owner herself.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

I have one word for this month: frazzled.

The end of the school year, extracurriculars ramp up, and work projects all come to head every May. Motherhood always has a lot to manage but there are some times of the year that are more mentally draining than others.

If you are feeling the same, for whatever reason at the moment, this episode is the quick 5-minute pep talk you need. It's your reminder that you are doing a great job even when you feel like you are falling behind or failing or your house is a disaster. 

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers and a small business owner.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber

Sales is more than a transaction, its a process in which you serve as a guide for the customer. Amanda is the host of the Imperfectly Ambitious podcast and creator of that same community built to help women in all areas of business do things differently. 

Amanda and I talk about the sales mindset and how to sell is to be of service at the end of the day. Selling is about people and emotions and she really shares a lot of great insights into the human behavior of buying and selling. 

A few great takeaways from this episode:

• Understanding people is a critical component of being great at sales
• Detach from the outcome, a no doesnt speak to you as a person
• Success will come wen you believe in the transformation
• Purchase decisions are driven by emotions so speak to them often
• Create, don't wait for an opportunity to take the next step

Follow Amanda on Instagram @ImperfectlyAmbitious or click here for her home online.

For more information about this episode and the partners mentioned in it, visit erinkraebber.com/podcast.

Erin Kraebber is a marketing strategist for local businesses and service providers and a small business owner herself.

Find Erin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinKraebberBrandSolutions/

Find Erin on Instagram: @erin_kraebber