Smarty Mom: Sarah Rowe

This Smarty Momination came in from our most fabulous Smarty Photographer, Brooke Brown! I ditto everything Brooke says below about Sarah. She is a hoot, the kind of person you want to be besties with the very first time you meet her!

Sarah Rowe is one of those fun people you just want to be around. You want her bright smile and awesome laugh next to you at the ball field, the playground, and the pool. Our sons are great friends and Noah lights up when he sees Sarah as much as I do. Everybody.loves.Sarah!

What makes Sarah even more incredible is her amazing business, Charlotte Yard Cards. Every time my guys have a birthday, Charlotte Yard Cards decks out our lawn to shout the big news. The boys get so excited to see their cards (except maybe my hub whose card this year included 20 cows for his “holy cow 40th!” bday, haha). And, Sarah arrives super late or crazy early to make sure the surprise is perfect. Sarah’s custom signs are the best — check out her website and see for yourself!

Sarah’s Smarty Mom Stats

Mom of: Kate (9) & Ian (6)
Married to: Michael for 11 years
Years in Charlotte: 19
Hood: Governor’s Square/South Park
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Occupation: Owner/Operator of Charlotte Yard Card and Literacy Tutor with CMS

Tell us about Charlotte Yard Cards and how you got started?

When my oldest was turning 3, I wanted something to put out in the yard to let everyone know about her big day. (After all, a child’s birthday celebration is also a celebration that as a parent you too have made it through another year of stages and phases.). All I found was a place that rented old faded flamingos for $12 each AND I would have to drive all the way across town to pick them up myself. Of course I did it and looking back on it now it was a bit pathetic (I think one was missing an eye) but it was the best I could do at the time. Since then I’ve thought and over-thought about great sign ideas to put up for all the special occasions in life. Not just for little kids but big kids too.

I started talking to a few friends about possibly starting a business and had some very positive feedback. I have to say that without a few “cheerleaders” (great Smarty Mom’s themselves – Brooke and Michelle.) I don’t think I would have had the nerve to go ahead and start Charlotte Yard Card. I am having a blast with it now. Currently, I have about 100 non-faded (two eyed) pink flamingos in my attic along with about 40 crows, cows, clowns, candles, a soccer player, a football player, basketballs, flowers and will continue to add more based on my clientele’s need. For each of my kids’ birthdays I get busy cutting the signs out of plywood and secretly painting them so that they can “appear” in our yard on the morning of their special day.

There are a lot of early, early mornings for me since the element of surprise is what makes it a great memory, but I love to hear and see pictures of the smiling faces.

Where can our Smarty audience get hooked up with your biz and cost?

My web address is charlotteyardcard.com. Average cost of a sign rental is $75. It includes delivery, set up and pick up 3 days later.

I am always interested in hearing creative ideas for new signs so feel free to email me at charlotteyardcard@gmail.com

What is your vision with CLT Yard Cards?

According to my husband, it is a complete success and he has now retired!! For me it is lots of customers who say they loved being surprised with a great sign.

Now for the funny stuff…who is your celebrity crush?

I really want to say John McEnroe but I know I’ll be teased so I’ll say John Corbett. Great, now I feel guilty that I’m cheating on McEnroe.

What is your favorite piece of kids gear?

Goldfish. They can stop the tears, be used as rewards, keep the kids entertained, you can make up stories about the goldfish or count them and in a pinch one or two can always be found in between the seats in the car.

If you wrote a parenting manual, the title would be…

“Do As I Say Not As I Do!”

First thing that pops into your head when I say “mom”?

FUN. My mom can always come up with something fun to do. When I was little she would say that if I was bored it was my own fault.

Behavioral trait you hope your children don’t inherit from you?

I get grouchy without enough sleep and when I say enough sleep I mean an extraordinary amount of sleep. 9 hours a night is a must for me to function and be nice to everyone.

Funniest thing your kids have ever said?

One day when Ian asked me to take him to McDonald’s for lunch and I said, “no” he replied, “Well, you just lost some of your mommy bestness!”.

Favorite kids movie?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Household appliance you could not live without?

coffee maker

Favorite CSP article?

“Whoa, how did that happen so fast?” by Cheryl Perry

Guilty pleasure?

Teen Mom tv show