PORTLAND -- They say necessity is the mother of invention. In this case, it's the reason behind a growing organization for mothers.

It's called Mamapreneurs Inc. -- short for "mom-entrepreneur."

Two years ago, when Portland mother and business owner Marlynn Schotland needed help balancing kids and career, she had nowhere to go. So she founded Mamapreneurs Inc. "Our goal really is to help each other in both business and life."

And it's taking off. In two years, the organization has ballooned to almost 200 members.

Members may attend monthly business meetings and online forums. They network everything from professional contacts to play dates. Schotland says this is the only mom-business group of its kind in the nation that meets both online and face-to-face.

The big benefit according to members, the sanity-saving tips on how to juggle it all.

Robyn Taylor Barbon, co-owner of Folklore Media in Portland, has been a member for two years. She says "it brings together women who all do the same thing (own businesses) and who are trying to figure out that balance."

Another member, Krista Colvin of Organize In Style, says "as moms and business owners we may have this idea of what it looks like, and the reality is, it looks like half of that." She adds, "I think you can do it all, you just can't do it all in one day."

Emma Easley Darden, a photographer with Reversed Lens Photography, gives a specific example. "Honestly, for me, it's giant white boards. I write down what's going on in our life, we have lists of clients needs, but we have another with, say, (my daughter) Sophie's music class," she said.

Schotland admits she's constantly learning from mamapreneur members. "One important thing I like to stress, is that there is a different 'method of madness' for each person."

For her, it's being flexible. She's able to bring her two young children to work with her twice a week. She also has a lot of help from her husband.

"So many moms want that magic bullet." While there is no "magic bullet" that fulfils every family's needs, her members are willing to share what works for them.