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Published by Ideapress Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Monica Nassif didn’t just build a brand—she bottled a legacy.
I Bottled My Mother is the gritty, hilarious, heartfelt origin story behind Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, the cult-favorite cleaning line inspired by Monica’s real-life mom, Thelma Meyer: a whip-smart, no-nonsense Midwesterner who raised nine children with little more than elbow grease, common sense, and a garden full of geraniums.
Part startup manual, part memoir, this is the candid story of how one woman turned domestic skills into corporate strategy, and a small soap company into a household name. From a chaotic Iowa childhood to a career in brand building and product development, Monica brings us inside the messy business of entrepreneurship—one that began on her kitchen floor and grew into a national retail presence with shelves in Target, Whole Foods, and beyond.
Told in short, sharp chapters with warmth and wit, this is a story about motherhood, business, and the power of building something honest, authentic, and good. For anyone who’s ever asked: “How do I make my way in the world using what I already have?”—this book is your bottle of encouragement.
I Bottled My Mother is the gritty, hilarious, heartfelt origin story behind Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, the cult-favorite cleaning line inspired by Monica’s real-life mom, Thelma Meyer: a whip-smart, no-nonsense Midwesterner who raised nine children with little more than elbow grease, common sense, and a garden full of geraniums.
Part startup manual, part memoir, this is the candid story of how one woman turned domestic skills into corporate strategy, and a small soap company into a household name. From a chaotic Iowa childhood to a career in brand building and product development, Monica brings us inside the messy business of entrepreneurship—one that began on her kitchen floor and grew into a national retail presence with shelves in Target, Whole Foods, and beyond.
Told in short, sharp chapters with warmth and wit, this is a story about motherhood, business, and the power of building something honest, authentic, and good. For anyone who’s ever asked: “How do I make my way in the world using what I already have?”—this book is your bottle of encouragement.
Product Details
- Publisher: Ideapress Publishing (April 28, 2026)
- Length: 216 pages
- ISBN13: 9781646872930
Raves and Reviews
“A thoughtful…account of an entrepreneur’s life and business philosophy. Customers of the Mrs. Meyer’s brand will find her backstory to be particularly compelling.”
– KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Monica Nassif built Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day the same way her mother raised nine kids in Iowa—with grit, grace, and not a hint of pretense. This book is about business, yes—but it’s really about resilience, love, and the kind of work that leaves your hands dirty and your heart full.”
– GUY RAZ , Creator and Host, How I Built This
“I Bottled My Mother is a masterclass in building brand value from human truth. Monica Nassif reminds us that authenticity cannot be engineered; it must be lived. For founders, brand leaders, and investors seeking businesses that endure, this memoir offers a powerful lesson: the strongest brands are rooted in purpose, memory, and care. This story reveals why some brands matter more than others and how some founders succeed more than others. I am truly grateful that Monica gifted us both Mrs. Meyer’s, in more rooms in my household than any other brand, and this riveting and edifying book.”
– JONATHAN MILDENHALL , Chief Marketing Officer, Rocket Companies
“Practical life lessons and advice for any aspiring entrepreneur to assess themselves, dream big, and begin taking action. Monica makes her path to extraordinary success seem straightforward and within reach for all of us. She was always the mostpopular speaker in our MBA classes.”
– JOHN STAVIG, Managing Director, Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Minnesota
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