Des Moines Mom Movers & Shakers is an annual series celebrating local moms who are thinking outside the box and making a difference in the community through the businesses they own, organizations they are involved in, and the work they do. Check out the rest of the series and read profiles from previous years here.
Hey, I am Erin Port. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart Scott for 20 years (how are we that old?) I am a bio and adoptive mom to 4. Solon (junior), Vera (freshman), Lucille (5th grade) and Quincy (3rd grade). My greatest joy is finding big and small adventures with my family, having family dinners, and laughing together everyday. I founded Simple Purposeful Living where I help busy women’s lives lighter by identifying friction points and frustrations and finding tiny tweaks to help. We don’t need a big solution usually, a tiny tweak usually does the trick.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of motherhood to be? Biggest joy?
These days the biggest challenge of motherhood is time is slipping thru my fingers. With our son leaving the nest in 2 years. I am trying to enjoy the big and small moments as they come, be present in the moment, and also juggle all the balls of life, work, and motherhood. I say all the time I am living in the “good ol’ days.” Yes, it can be full and wild but I love watching them grow into their potential, cheer them on, and guide them on their way. I love being their mom.
How did you start Simple Purposeful Living? What was your inspiration?
I always say I was an accidental entrepreneur. I got my Masters in educational leadership and took a stepping stone job into administration when I was pregnant with my oldest. I didn’t know I wanted to be a stay at home mom until I held him in my arms. I resigned after my contract was up that year. I love staying home but I missed having a little something for myself so during nap time I blogged every day. I blogged from 2009 – 2018 and realized people were making money off of blogging but they had a “niche.” I took a course to help me define it and realized what I really loved was simplification and intentionality.
Simple Purposeful Living was born in 2018 and I created my first product the meal planner that fall with no design background or e-commerce experience. We were adopting so I had no seed money and was making approximately 19 cents a month on my monetized google ads so we did a pre-order for the meal planner in November 2018. I found a local printer who would print on demand and well as the say we were off to the races.
In 2024 I started writing my first manuscript and in that process,I niched down even more and realized what I really loved was helping people start small with a tiny tweak. My first book Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life debuted in January 2026.
What’s the best part about being your own boss?
The flexibility it affords me to be the mom, wife, and friend I want to be. I have work to do but I can also attend silly string day at my kid’s school or drop everything and grab them when they are sick. I can take a week to work at the lake in the summer. To me, flexibility is worth a lot these days.
What’s the hardest part about running your own business?
The buck stops with me. I’ve realized it’s lonely by yourself, so I’ve invested in some support staff and hired a business coach to help guide me. I’ve learned you never get anywhere on your own and we all have weaknesses so surround yourself with people much smarter than you and you will stay in the game and get to serve much longer than by yourself burning out.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
Growth is not linear, and it’s often a slow burn. The slow growth gives you time to practice and hone your skill when no one is looking. Experimentation is also a really good thing. You don’t have to be perfect all the time at everything, allow yourself to be a beginner. Get help when you need it and remember to play the long game.
What do you love about raising a family in Des Moines?
Is there anywhere better? We live in a small town right outside of Des Moines and people know the car I drive. We wave at each other as we drive around town. We see people we know at the local ice cream shop and the school nurse is my neighbor. In today’s day and age where research says everyone is lonelier by the minute, living in a small town makes you feel known and seen. I can’t think of anywhere better to raise my kids. As Dorothy says, there is really no place like home. Although, I disagree it’s not Kansas but Iowa.
Quick Takes:
Favorite local restaurant: Destination Grill is a new favorite because their menu is primarily gluten-free and they have a rooftop deck. Give me a patio in the summer. We also love Wasabi because we can get Asian fusion food but with gluten-free soy sauce.
Describe yourself in 4 words: Visionary, Cheerleader, Empath, Old Soul (that’s 2 words sorry)
What’s the most random thing in your purse? I am a minimalist when it comes to my purse but I do have a few vacation stickers in my wallet I have yet to stick on my water bottle. I collect stickers as souvenirs on trips.
How/where do you relax? Give me a rom com book, a back deck or a lounger by the pool and I am a happy camper. I also love a good hike outside or being with my people around a good meal. Also, locking the bathroom door and getting ready in peace and quiet.
If your life had a hashtag, what would it be? #tweakyourwaytoalifeyoulove
Know a Des Moines mom we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with details and we will be in touch.
