How long have you been web designing for?

Yzzy – I started in March 2000 with personal websites and word got around that my designs were kinda cool so it's gone from there. I have over the years studied various web design and business courses to 'arm' myself.

How old is your oldest shop and what do they sell and did you know they would be successful straight away?

Yzzy - The oldest store is... I guess Bumfluff Nappies. Christa was one of those WAHM's that I thought if she gives it her all she will be phenomenal..... and she is!

How many 'job titles' have you had and which is your fave?

Yzzy – Oh my goodness I've been working since I was 14 years old so I have had a few, Chamber Maid, Market stall 'helper' [slave], Crew Member, Floor Manager, Department Manager, Hair Stylist, SEN teacher, Police Officer and Director... the last two have been my most enjoyable but I'm not sure if that is because I am older and more confident or because the other jobs weren't that exciting!

What was your inspiration for the Mama Pack ?

Yzzy - I was upset for all the women pregnant and birthing who reported day in day out on our [old] forum at the lack of a natal pack with ethical natural products. I wanted to help work at home mothers promote their products and for ethical companies to spread their word. The Mama Pack came from that, what is it they say? Necessity is the mother of invention.... this was a need and I invented.

How has becoming Work at Home Parent affected your life? Are all the changes positive ones.

Yzzy – I am working for a cause I believe in and feel deep in my heart I am doing the best I can to educate everyone, help mothers back to work and help my planet. My house is messier than ever in my life, half of it is for the business so I guess that's a negative * laughs * I get to spend every day working next to the most amazing and wonderful husband a woman could have.... no childcare needed... Always someone at home for the children... ahh too many positives!

What are your top three tips for successfully working from home?

Yzzy -

1. BELIEVE in what you do and LOVE it. If you ever have to 'think' of something to say about your product then you aren't feeling the love and people will see that all over your face, your emails and your telephone conversations. If you aren't excited by it why should anyone else be?

2. Have an 'office' even if it's just a chest stuffed with your 'bits' have somewhere that has RULES attached to it or you may find little Fred using your 2008 accounts book as a ramp for his tractor and little Tina unwrapping your 'urgent delivery' while playing Santa! Have office hours... even if you deviate from them tell family and friends you work from x hours to z hours or you will be mistaken as unemployed by them and never get anything done or on the flip side you may find yourself working 100+ hours a week!

3. Step back and be critical... Every couple of months or so take a step back and view your business through the eyes of a critic. Be honest with yourself and decide what projects are working, what ones need a boost and more effort and which ones are dead and being dragged along by their hair.

Have you ever painted a famous landmark?

Yzzy – Ha ha ha!! Stacey you are funny... I AM a famous landmark ! ;)

What in your opinion is the single biggest hurdle you face being Work At Home Parents?

Yzzy - Addiction..... We have to remind each other to CLOCK OFF!! It's very very easy to sit down at 7am and find yourself wondering why you can't see your desk at 1am....

Would you encourage your children to be WAHM/WAHDs when they have their own children?

Yzzy – I encourage my children to aim for their dreams... if working from home was one then yes I'd be right behind them supporting them. Would I encourage them? Only if they didn't have a career they love to go back to after the birth.

Can you ever see yourselves rejoining the 'rat race'?

Yzzy – Oh gosh we talk about this often... in all honesty I would find it VERY hard but if needs must then I would...

Does Wahm and Mama Packs infringe on your personal life and if so how do you deal with this.

Yzzy – YES! It does.... I meet a Mother or Father and I ask what job they do... do they enjoy it... have they ever considered working from home. 95% of the people I have asked all say they wished they could think of something to do from home. I see a pregnant woman and I wonder if she knows about / needs a Mama Pack. I see a parent buying an unethical brand in the supermarket and I wonder if they know about.... oh well you get the idea... yes it does creep into my personal life but I love what I do... I believe in what I do and luckily my friends are tolerant of my preaching!

How do you find time to juggle family and business?

Yzzy - Easier than when I worked OUT of home... I'm here.. I work or stop when family needs me...

You always come up with amazing ideas, do you ever sleep?

Yzzy – Ha ha... Thank You ! I have an inventors mind me thinks... I have to admit though I am probably very unhealthy in as much as I sleep on average 2 to 5 hours a night.... I know I know.

What's next for the WAHM / MAMA empire?

Yzzy – I want EVERY Mother / Father without a job, to have access to starting their own wahmpire... I want EVERY Mother and Mother-to-be to have access to a Mama Pack, so they can learn about ethical, natural products and learn that pregnancy ISN'T an illness and pregnant women aren't 'owned' by the system... Every womans 'mantra' should be:

MY BODY, MY BABY, MY BIRTH, OUR LIFE!

How we achieve that is with the help of our community.... YOU PIP for a start... everyone... we are people not sheeple!

A few 'ethical' companies over recent years have sold out, will you if the right cheque is waved in front of you?

Yzzy – HELL NO!!!! OVER MY VERY DEAD BODY!!

If yes why? If not why not?

Yzzy – I've been very very rich.... I've been very very poor... I've never been very very without a planet... If mother earth sells out... I may consider it ;)

If you suddenly became as rich as a sheikh overnight, would you have any more Howell offspring?

Yzzy – Birthed by me? I think not... I'm getting ready for grannyhood now.

In the event of a fire, assuming all your children and pets and Rob were safe, what would you attempt to save?

Yzzy – The back up hard drive!!! Oh my goodness... I'm hyperventilating just thinking about it!!!

What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?

Yzzy – erm... I don't actually like it at all... IF I must consume any then REAL organic lemon sorbet..... But I will still shudder!! I prefer stinky cheese and crackers for afters.

Would you ever go to the Dragons Den?

Yzzy – No. I am scared of my baby being tattooed with something possibly connected to an unethical brand.

I LOVE some of the Dragons... I really do... but for now... they aren't my first stop.

Are you 100% ethical?

Yzzy – No way!! We aren't and I doubt we ever will be... our whole business works on the internet and shipping... HOW can we be 100% ethical using electric and gas? We do strive to make EVERYTHING we do as friendly to Mother Earth as we can..... In MY humble opinion... NO company is or ever will be 100% ethical.

What do your children think about your 'at home' business' ?

[answer pending ... I will let them answer :) ]