Boobba Baby Blog

Why Us?

2006-09-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

So, this week was FUN!!! I got off to a great start and by mid afternoon today, I was not only taking my three year old's hands out of crap I was swimming in some virtual feces, thanks to some hackers.

Fudge hackers they suck. Really, nice going guys especially the scum's who started doing here in the states!!! I can see where some of these other guy from overseas can hate America's government but for people right here in the US to partake in this crap, screw you. You should be tarred and feathered and sent overseas to join your buddies.

Why am I mad because although the original hackers were annoying they were kind enough to not delete files, they also pointed out a weakness with a system that many, many people were using. Problem fixed. Time to move on and instead of hoping it does not happen again lets find a way to not let it happen again.

By the way I have to give Stacey from Doodle Babies a huge THANK YOU! She has worked tremendously hard bringing everyone back online. She also worked incredibly quickly to get us a patch for the problem and a new version of the cart. She has always been nothing buy pleasant and extremely helpful.

THANKS Stacey for your hard work. Also, I heard through the grape vine that the owners of both Merchant Moms also beefed up there security and were working extremely hard to get their clients a revamped version loaded. I also heard Pie Cart is also working on the problem.

Now next week I don't know what I will do for fun so I better get to working on that forum I keep promising you all for boutique moms.

Okay, I'll blog 2you Later and hopefully launch soon!

making up for what we will never be

2006-09-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I was thinking about all those years I spent hating my hair because of how other girls always made fun of it. I spent about 20 years thinking how gross my hair was and how much I wished I had pretty brown hair like the other girls I went to school with. I spent years wishing it wasn't so jet black and curly, but what I wished for most was that I didn't have so much hair. Then when I had my first son and he was born bald I just about fell out my hospital bed when they gave him to me.

Could this be my son? This bald ass baby? As he became a toddler and his beautiful light brown curls started coming in and all the moms juts died when they saw his perfect hair, I would secretly giggle. The girl who was once called Medusa and Palm Tree head had the son with the perfect hair they all wanted for their daughters.

My husband and I have been talking lately about how children have a great way for making up for what "we" will never be. It is life's way of showing us the other side, the grass that we always thought was greener and the way to show us that our troubles did not go unrewarded but it could also be life's way of showing you what the dead grass looked like and learning some compassion for others.

I have a friend whom I adore who is very depressed right now. She in every way is a wonderful mom, wife, friend and person but she is going through some rough times now. I think she is a hoot and is incredibly easy to get along with but when she goes to her mom group she has a hard time making friends with the "it" gals. But my friend's little girl is a shining star that all the other little girls like. Her daughter has no trouble making friends, socializing and becoming the center of the play group. Someday, her child will be one of the "it" girls that the other girls want to be accepted by. So, my friend who has always been on the outside looking in will get to see through her daughter's eyes what it feels like to be part of that inner circle.

I much rather have been dog girl than to have one of my own children be the child called that. Not that my boys will not be ridiculed someday or that they won't go through their own pains, unfortunatley we all do. But it is just great when our children seem to be what we always wanted to be. It is also great knowing that when you have children that are looked up to because they are one of the "desirables" you can mold them into accepting all people even the "undesirables". That is something I as a once SUPER undesirable drill into my boys...have compassion for others!

For me almost being thirty is showing me that life is not about wanting to be something but capitalizing on what we are. I might never know what it feels like to have that perfect straight hair I can shampoo and go with. What I do have works for me and I have come to love it. I have other things that make me very happy to look in the mirror no matter what that physical image that reflects back is.

As far as my friend goes, she may never be part of that clique of moms sitting on the blanket at the park during the play group meetings. What she will always be is the mom who spends the play group time playing with her daughter and the other kids having the REAL fun. She will be the mom who does things for her children not because that is what the other moms are doing but because those things are what seem right for her kids. She is the mom who instead of spending her free time doing something for herself she does things for her children and for others.

So, to her who I relate to dearly in many ways kick those feelings you are having because sweetie you are more than one of the "it" girls. To me you are an inspiration, a friend that truly shares her life with me, a mom who does not pretend to be perfect and better yet, a person who never looks down on me for my own shortcomings. Your greatest reward will be that daughter who God gifted to you who will make up for those things you never got to experience.

Remember life has a funny way of rewarding people for their good and bad actions so...the bitches on the blanket that don't make room for you will someday get to experience their children being the ones on the outside looking in. But, luckily for their child maybe your daughter will be one of those desirable girls on the blanket and having learned from your pain, she will make room on the blanket for their child whom might not be a "desirable" no matter what the other girls think of her!

Blog 2u Later!

3rd Birthday Star

2006-09-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today, is my middle man's birthday! He is three finally! Seems like we have been in the terrible two's forever. Well, I hope he gets the potty training thing down soon. I hope his temper relaxes a bit must be hard being the monkey in the middle. I hope that his third year is so much better than the first two. As a two year old he accomplished so much. Even though he is accident prone he has great agility and balance. He is a wonderful climber and rides his bike almost without training wheels. His dad took them off once a couple of months ago and Dar did it for a little while but was not tall enough. His is our daredevil and punk rocker all in one. I know if any of my boys go through an all black, chains, hair dying and piercing stage the most likely to do it would be him. Most of all I hope I can be a better mom to him and give him all the individual attention he deserves. I love you Darrick Josef! Our little Dar Dar, Darlisimo, Darzan, Monster Truck and DarSucio!

Slacker Blogger!

2006-09-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

So, it is about 1am my time and this is the third time I have sat here making an attempt to write this blog. I have a great post in mind about a boutique owner who really inspires me so why can't I write? I have no clue but I think that my slacker blogger problem comes from the thousands of other things going on in my life. So, I am going to dig deep and try to find the motivation to to do that post tomorrow. Today, I have some questions for those of you out there reading this who are willing to answer? If you all would like to answer the questions as annonymous you can but I would love to get some feedback.

So, here come the questions...

Do you find it incredibly hard to balance being a mom and maintaining a sense of self?

I do that is why I am asking. I feel like I can no longer be greedy or put myself first. There are so many things I need to do for myself that will in turn provide for my children but I can't find the time to always do them in because I am taking care of the children! So, I work late into the morning hours to just be able to get anything done.

Next question...

How many of you out there do this too? Spend all day taking care of the kids, house and everything else and then do your work after they are all asleep?

Do you feel burnt out?

I do. I really am the type of person that likes to throw myself into things and do them at 100%. With having so much to do I feel like I have to constantly juggle and the juggling has me burnt out. I'd love to concentrate on one thing and not feel guilty for neglecting anything else.

Last question...

Do you ever feel like you are the only one who can't hang at this being a "SuperMom" bulls**t?

Pardon my French but it has to be bull because I have yet to meet one woman who truly is a SuperMom! I know plenty of inspiring, awesome, spectacular women but I have yet to meet a true SuperMom who is doing it all alone! So, why is it we are sold that picture everyday that we have to be able to just handle it all? Many of the moms I know who are running businesses from home either have all the kids in school or send their children to daycare at least half the day. The ones who are trying to run a business and take care of the children full time, at least the ones I talk to, are having a hard time balancing it all. We feel immense guilt and lots of frustration because something always seem to give. I just can't seem to manage getting all the things I want going. SO, yes I am airing out my frustration with myself here. Just want to know if anyone else feels the same way!

So, I am wondering if I should give up on some of my aspirations most of the time. I love my boys and want to homeschool them especially my eldest. It is so hard getting him motivated and keeping him going when I turn my back. I can't hold his hand for everything, not that he needs it, he just seems to want attention all the time. My middle son is having a terrible time potty training and seems to poop just after I sat him on the potty or when I am busy breastfeeding the baby. Then the baby wants to be attached to the breast all night and all day. I know they should always come first but I really want more for me. I want to start learning more, doing more and I especially want a career again but one I can do from home.

So, if you are a SuperMom and you read this and think that I am a complete fool let me know what the secret is. If you tell me that the secret is having your life straight before having kids then I am totally screwed because my life looks like Lombard St in San Francisco and I already have the three boys.

I promise to Blog 2you tomorrow!

You get more bees with honey!!!

2006-09-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, so English is not my first language so I always get all the sayings completly wrong. So, it might not be you get more bees with honey but that is how my Cuban brain interprets it! On with my point...

I started this blog as a tribute to all the great women I was meeting along the way as I grew my business. Women who are designers and shop owners that to me not only inspired me to keep going but made me realize that I was not the only one sticking it out for my dreams! My blogs were all formulated after having a few emails and/or phone calls with each of these gals. I loved how I could learn from these women and how great I felt after singing their praises to the world. But somewhere along the way my business began to grow sales began coming in and I became more pre-occupied with getting customers in to the site than letting things happen naturally. I stopped posting here and then after I saw some behavior in the boutique community I let this blog which was my personal retreat become sour. For this I greatly apologize to my readers. I should not have used this as a platform to voice those opinions! I am going to once again blog how I always intended.

I have taken time to reflect on the things that happened and realize that if it had not been for some of those very things I hated so much like 100 lists I would have never found so many friends in this community and they would not have found me. I want to extend a HUGE thank you to those gals that I have become friends with that are my biggest supporters and source of motivation. You all drive me to find my way, to re-open my site and to really make a committment to this industry. Susan, Jacky, Kristen, Taryn, Tara, Robin and Tabitha you all are great women that can count on me for whatever you need. Each of you has helped me solve a different piece of the puzzle. Each of you has shown me that we moms not only need to stick together but have to stand up for one another.

I am so glad that most of the women who read this blog are boutique owners. At first I wrote it so my own customers could get an inside look into some of the products and designers I carried or aspired to carry. Then I do not know how many of the boutique moms began to write me either to be featured or to tell me they liked reading the blog and I took time to write each back. I feel very fortunate to have found a base readership that has an interest in me continuing this blog. I have learned that this cyber world of boutique moms is tiny and in some great need of a place to speak candidly without censorship but also without negativity.

In the next couple of weeks my newest baby will be born and this one is for all of you boutique moms to help me pamper and raise. The site name will be realeased when it is ready but I hope you all join me there. We will have a forum to discuss everything business related plus mom issues that come with balancing our work, children and spouses. I hope that some of the real veterans in this game join us there such as Heather from Mom4Life and Wendy from DimplesandDandelions! I invite them because they seem to know how to succeed at business with class and leadership while still managing to be inspiring moms. I also welcome all ebay selling veterans out there that exemplify integrity and persistance.

I am setting up the site using a content management system that allows for blogs, password protected areas, ads and many other things. So, eventually this blog will move there. I will also open up the site to contain some new blogs. Ads as always will remain free as long as I run the site. I will never charge for ads. Ads will be on the homepage and in a banner rotation. So please come spam, come chat, come listen and make friends!

I hope to see all you Boutique Betties there and those of you Betties that just like to boutique shop!

Blog 2 you Later! This is one of my of the top of my head blogs written at 3:30 my time so excuse the typos!

Are You a HOT Mama?

2006-09-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

In my search for great baby products I came across a site that carried the best in baby products but also appealed to my inner "goddess"! I was so excited I could shop for my boys and get some cool things for myself too! As the mom of three boys the last place I want to schlep my boys too is a bath and body store since I can't even get them to sit still long enough at the Target for me to find a lipstick color I like. So, having a site like www.hotmamabeautyandstyle.com/ that allows me to get my girly and mommy shopping fixes all in one is heavenly!!!

I bet many of you might have already heard of www.hotmamabeautyandstyle.com/ though since the site is quickly gaining a fan base. I had the pleasure of getting to talk to the owner of the site by phone recently and I got the scoop on the hot mama behind the name, what started it all, her definition of what it means to be a true hotmama.

Tammy, came off as a funny, smart and very down to earth woman. At no time during our conversation did it seem like I was talking to a stranger. She quickly made me feel as if I had known her forever with her welcoming tone and infectious laugh. Tammy got her degree in Kinesiology and teaching credential which she used for 5 years as an elementary physical education specialist. I can totally see how she would be great with young children since she is so approachable. She loved her job and was devoted to children but when her first son Nicholas was born Tammy chose to stay at home with him and make him her priority. After his birth Tammy's husband gave her the moniker "Hot Mama"! One Christmas he decided to make that an official nickname by giving a license plate that stated, "Nicko's Hot Mama!". Tammy explained that she enjoyed sporting that around town since her definition of a hot mama is about more than just looks!

Tammy loves to try new cosmetics, body scrubs, lotions, if it is beauty related more than likely she'll try it. She even calls Sephora her "happy place"! She wanted to start a business but having no business background or sales experience she thought she better stick to something she knew well. A friend of Tammy's is a successful online boutique owner so Tammy got an inside scoop of what it takes. So, she figured that with hard work and finding her own niche she too could put a successful business plan together. Her resolution was to combine her two loves beauty and fashion. Learning new aspects of the retail industry lead her to expand her business to include her love of unique, quality baby products into her store.

What defines a hot mama? Well, in Tammy's own words "a Hot Mama is wild (spontaneous, takes risks), passionate (about life, Family, goals) and fun (laughs, plays, celebrates). A Hot Mama is About an attitude more than a look."

To her part of being a hot mama is also giving back and especially being able to reach out to other mothers who are in need. One of her greatest joys is being able to help at the Option House, a shelter for battered women and children, each Mother's Day. Tammy is involved with a group of church ladies that gives these moms a mothers day to remember. They pamper the women staying in the shelter with facials, foot baths, massages, manicures, they are gifted with plush robes and slippers and at the end of the evening there is a dinner. While the moms are being taken care of the kids make a gift for their moms and are treated to a pizza party. Tammy feels that the moms at the Option House are the Hottest of the Hot Mamas since they are making a real effort to improve the quality of life for their children and themselves, no matter how hard the obstacles ahead may be. Hot Mama Beauty and Style gives 10% if it's profits to the Option House in an effort to make the world a more passionate place!

Tammy, is the type of business owner that we all can be proud to support as customers and strive to be like as boutique owners. Please visit www.hotmamabeautyandstyle.com/ and enjoy browsing her many wonderful items for both baby and mom. And moms remember that an integral part of being a good mom is taking the time to pamper yourself too, so don't forget to pick up some products for yourselves. By the way not only is Tammy pounding the ground for hot new baby products that are top of the line but she is also coming out with her own brand of skin care products. Coming soon to www.hotmamabeautyandstyle.com/ is Tammy's own creation a refining cream!

Blog 2 You Later! Hopefully not as later as it has been lately? UH?

Campaign free google ranking!

2006-08-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from a very useful article about page rank and linking. To read the rest of the very detailed article please visit: http://www.iprcom.com/papers/pagerank/

This article leads me to the assumption that how I initially wanted to carry out this campaign may need very much re-thinking. We will be able to do something to get our rankings up thought because I will have a solution it just may take longer since the solution needs to be helpful and have a long lasting affect.

Here is what they write:

Give away something usefulwww.phpbb.com has a Toolbar PR of 8/10 (at the time of writing) and it has no big money or marketing behind it! How can this be? What the group has done is write a very useful bulletin board system that is becoming very popular on many websites. And at the bottom of every page, in every installation, is this HTML code: Powered by phpBB The administrator of each installation can remove that link, but most don’t because they want to return the favour… Can you imagine all those millions of pages giving a fraction of a vote to www.phpbb.com? Wow! Principle: Make it worth other people’s while to use your content or tools. If your give-away is good enough other site admins will gladly give you a link back. Principle: it’s probably better to get lots (perhaps thousands) of links from sites with small PR than to spend any time or money desperately trying to get just the one link from a high PR page.

Blog 2 you Later!

Good Morning Boutique Moms!

2006-08-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! I am so excited that so many of you have emailed me and Susan to let us know you will also take a stand against these places that are charging tons for text ads and against the top 100 lists that have resulted in zero sales for most of us. I'd like to take the time to address some of your questions, but my friend will be posting detailed answers later today. If she can't get to it I will try my best at putting all her great knowledge into words that I can understand and that you can also grasp. Also being new to this I am learning all about how search engines work and how linking is important but what is most important is how we write our content for our sites. She, understands the mechanics of this better and she will be giving us the abswers to the questions. Most of you are asking how this is going to work. Essentially this is should work like one huge link exchange, instead of each of us putting in 100+ new links into our site by hand one link at a time, we will be adding one page with keywords that point to the site associated to that keyword. Each of us will get at least one keyword or phrase on that page that will point to our site(s). So, please please guys don't go crazy adding my banners to your sites. NOT what I wanted. I am not trying to get press for my store or the blog. Wait until we get more people contacted and when we compile the list with keywords we will contact you again about what we need. Just keep tuned to the blog and our emails. I am sorry boys are going crazy I will continue later!

Let's beat them at their own game!!!

2006-08-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have gotten several emails about advertising on Top 100 sites or sites that specialize in boutique directories. Some of these solicitation proclaimed to be wonderful deals and they fell just short of saying they were doing me a huge service. What these solicitation should actually say how much they are trying to screw me out of my hard earned money that could be better spent on my own business or family. I am not mentioning who these greedy moms are but the "deal" was for a list of 100 words that were being sold for $50 each to the first bidder for one year. If 100 people really give this person $50 each she will bring in $5000 and for what? What is she really providing you? The possibility of maybe attracking traffic to your site?

I understand the mechanics behind this thinking. We all know how search engines rank us, that we need links, links connected to our keywords/phrases, we know it is hard work getting visitors just to our sites. We also know that converting visitors into window shoppers into buying customers is very hard. I have since I started my site tracked each and every visitor that comes to my site from a 100 list, ad blog, or web directory. Not one of these visitors has become a paying customer. I have also spoken to many moms who have also paid for these pricy ads and most of them have had the same results, nothing!

So, my proposal to all of you boutique owning moms is let's beat them at their own game! Instead of one or two lists where you have to pay $50 for just one key word how about 100 of these lists for free! There is no catch you only have to do a few things. I have a few moms who are willing to help me put together these lists because they too are fed up with expensive ads that result in nothing.

Okay, so what do you have to do? Send me your site name and up to five keywords you'd like to claim. We will work on a first come first served basis. That way it is fair and that is why I need five choices from you. If your keywords are taken I will contact you via email to see if you can come up with one not yet taken.

September 15th will be the cut off date for keyword submissions. Me and the other moms will make the HTML page and send it to you. You then have to upload it to your site but not part of your store. Into the Cpanel and we can even help you match your site look or you can use the template we design. If we get 100 boutique moms to get on board then we have at least 100 lists out there all on sites that are constantly being crawled and indexed by search engines. That is more than beating them at their own game!

I am a huge proponent of moms helping moms. That is why I am not into just one mom making 5 grand off other moms who are all trying to make do and make better lives for their children. We'd all like to have an extra 5 grand, believe me I would but for me my integrity and sleeping well at night is worth far more than that. The best way to shut down these operations like blogs that charge $85 dollars a month for a banner ad is to stop giving them our money and finding our own ways of helping one another. DON'T give anyone money for nothing!!! Don't exploit yourself! And don't buy crap ads on top 100 lists that are being auctioned on eBay!!!

So, if you are interested write me an email the email address is advertising@boobba-baby.com! This is and will remain free!!! Also, if you'd like to be part of a board of boutique moms I am creating contact me.

walking the tight rope or is it high wire???

2006-08-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I didn't plan on taking over a month off from blogging, but walking the tight rope I call my life requires me to be balanced. To stay balanced I have to constantly juggle it all to stay on course. I have found that if something is bogging me down it is best to throw it up and juggle it until I can find a proper balance again. Some days, I feel like I will never make it to that place I see in the distant, could that be a mirage that I see? Other days I feel very lucky to be there already looking over what I have accomplished feeling lucky that I have what I need and most of what I want. I am sure many of you can relate? Or am I really WEIRD??? I'm Weird!

So, I'm back and I hope to be able to bring you new posts daily again. Thanks to those that have subscribed to the blog via email I never thought there would be that many of you, but now that there are I better keep writing, uh? Well, for those of you that are readers that own stores or are designers please drop me an email if you would like to be featured. For those of you that are artists, designers, business women that want to be featured drop me a line, too. If you are a mom who has a story about parenting or know of a cause I should write about let me know. I am open to providing a voice to just about any woman who would like me to help them get the word out about something. I am really looking forward to writing more about and sharing Mommy stories. Thanks again for sticking with me! Blog 2 you Later!

No, no's are CACA!!!

2006-07-06T00:23:00.001-07:00

Three more No, no's not to use in your terms of sale:

No shipping to APO/FPO's in your terms of sale is a no, no! Jacky says that although many buyers are not affected personally buy the fact that you don't ship to APO/FPO's they may still be turned off by this term of sale. Most American's do believe in supporting our troops and they will be offended if you deny troops the simple pleasure of buying from you online or on eBay. She reasons that it is a very silly policy regardless because shipping to APO/FPO's costs no more than shipping within the US. Only difference is an extra 10 seconds it takes to fill out a form to ship to an APO/FPO.
Charging extra to ship to Alaska and Hawaii is a no, no! People who live in those areas know that shipping USPS to AK and HI will cost the exact same price as shipping to Washington, Maine, Florida or southern California. Since all these areas are USPS Zone 9 why should you charge extra for AK and HI when it costs you the same as several other states.
"I am not responsible for any packages once they leave my hands. I am not responsible if your item(s) are lost or damaged for your protection please purchase insurance." Jacky, says that this is the biggest No, No of them all and should never be used in terms of sale, especially on eBay. First if you are not selling on eBay but using PayPal according to Paypal the seller is responsible! Paypal's terms will override your terms of sale and PayPal will give the customer a refund. Selling on eBay will result in the same outcome. Most Mom's who run online boutiques and eBay stores do so to provide their families with another source of income and to give customers an alternative to Wal Mart/Target. Boutique Moms and eBay Mom's cannot leave their customers out in the cold if they want to pull business in and away from the department stores. Wal Mart and Target will always replace items if they go astray in the mail. Jacky's advice is to purchase insurance yourself out of your own pocket for big ticket items or large purchases. She says that replacing a lost package for someone might just turn what could have been a lost customer into a repeat customer!

I hope you have once again enjoyed reading more of Jacky's great advice for boutique and eBay sellers. Going through your policies and removing the no, no's you might have in them will do a world of good for your sales. Remember No, No's are CACA!

Please visit Jacky's online boutique www.RhinestoneFashions.com for the very best in boutique custom made onesies.

Stay tuned for more advice from Boobba Baby Blog's resident selling expert Jacky! Blog 2 you Later!

Big Dot of Happiness

2006-07-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves a good party but no one likes to really plan the party usually. For me party planning is a joy especially when it comes to planning baby showers! I love baby shower games, baby shower decorations, baby shower favors and I especially love diaper cakes, that are used as ceterpieces! Boobba Baby, will soon be expanding it's store services to include baby shower planning and catering with the help of a young hip chef named Jennifer Lee. Ms. Lee comes to us with a lot of experience doing trendy Palm Beach parties. In the last couple of months Jennifer and I have been working together on getting vendors to be able to fulfill all our baby shower party needs we hit the jackpot by finding www.BabyShowerStuff.com!

Baby Shower Stuff is a web site that has all one needs to plan the most spectacular and fun shower on the planet. They have baby shower invitations, games, favors, supplies, balloons, centerpieces, diaper cakes, gifts and even thank you cards. The prices are very reasonable and it really helps when you are planning a bigger shower and need extra supplies. Shipping is SUPER quick and offered at low cost. The best things about Baby Shower Stuff are their Big Dot of Happiness Original Games. If you haven't seen or played one of these fun baby shower games you haven't lived a full life yet.

The Big Dot of Happiness Original Baby Shower Games include Who Smells The Stinky Doo?"Scratch 'n Sniff", A "MAZE" ing Baby, IS IT TIME?, Is it time?--Did my water break?, The "Dirty Diaper", "My Water Broke" , Guess what the "SweetMess" is, Baby "Firsts" Unscramble, Baby Word Search Classic, and the Pacifier Necklace Game. Personally, I have had a blast playing the "Dirty Diaper", Guess what the "Sweet Mess" is, and "My Water Broke" games. What I love about the games that the Big Dot of Happiness has come up with is how great they are for breaking the ice at baby showers. A baby shower is a time when important people in our lives get together to celebrate the upcoming birht of a baby. These important people many times come from different aspects of our lives and may not know eachother or be acquinted. Baby showers become awkard if there isn't a way to get people everyone to interact. Having fun games for everyone to play is the best way to get everyone laughing then making it easier for them to mingle!

If you read the Boobba Baby Blog regularly then you know how big I am about promoting companies owned and operated by moms and yes this is another one of those fine companies! In 1999, Sherri Yukel was a stay at home mom who loved it but was still restless, so she sought out a hobby to keep her attention occupied. When she had a rare moment that she wasn’t busy started "tinkering" creating unique items for her children and friends who were having babies. Her hobby grew into a business concept that evolved into what is now a team of 16 “fanatics”. The "fanatics" and Sherri love helping their customers create pleasant memories celebrating life’s occasions! The companies believes in making everyday events into extraordinary events with extraordinary ease. Now that they have become the originator of the Big Dot Originals games and prodicts they have evolved to be more than just an "Event Party Company”!

If you have baby shower planning needs please visit Sherri and her elves, at www.BabyShowerStuff.com, who you can consider your year-round bunch who look for ANY excuse to help you seek some spunk without the funk! They also have several other party planning sites so run and check them out! Blog 2 you Later!

NO, NO's are a No, no!

2006-07-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

I spent the greater part of today talking on the phone with a lady who is just a wealth of information and incredibly fun to talk to. She made me crack up about a thousand times and I related to her on many personal levels. She gave me enlightening tips on how to make a business thrive and keep customers happy, which I will share with you here. The gal I am referring to is Jacky owner of Rhinestone Fashions. Jacky is a successful eBay power seller with 100% positive feedback and repeat customers galore! She is now diligently working on employing her eBay success techniques on her newest web site. Jacky, is a work at home mom of four children who supports her family solely on her eBay income quite the achievement. Her eBay success has allowed for her husband to also be a work at home parent. Now they both can turn all their energy towards their business and their children. I bet you want to know how they were able to do this. Well, when I asked Jacky about her formula for success the one thing that stood out the most from her advice was for all sellers to think like buyers. Some of you may have heard of doing this before but the way that Jacky states it was a new and refreshing way to put it.

She asked me if I liked being told no. Of course I said that I did not like being told no. She quickly replied that no one did. She told me that buyers don't want to hear, see or read any implications of the word no. She said especially on eBay where shoppers come into a listing in a good mood seeing a bunch of no can put them in a bad mood and turn them off to your listing. Jacky, keeps to the motto keep it simple. Her listings are simply descriptions and pictures of the products. What you don't want to do according to her is have a listing that is beaming with terms of sale. She says that for most buyers that is a put off because it implies mistrust. She then told me that no, no's are a no, no! She wasn't just simply referring to the use of the word no she was referring to anything that could be implied from any of your policies as a no!

"The word only=NO! If you tell a buyer you only take Pay Pal then you are saying NO to checks, money orders, credit cards and cashiers checks."

Jacky reminded me that money is money and you should give your customer the option of paying any way they want to or can. She said that if a seller would rather get payment through Pay Pal then instead state it as, "seller prefers Pay Pal" but to not do it in the description of the item. She said the best place for that is towards the bottom with the eBay info.

She says that just being flexible with your terms of sale, providing quality products and friendly service will not only make your listings attractive to your buyers but they will become repeat customers. Those repeat customers will then refer more business to you. She feels that Rhinestone Fashions has been mostly built on word of mouth. When she first started she was told that their was no way, that she'd never and that only a few people could manage to do well with what she planned on selling on eBay. Well, as you can tell no, no's to Jacky are a no, no. She didn't even listen to the nay sayers and did what she knows best work hard at proving that no is not in her vocabulary. She has become a success and is willing to help others learn how to be better business owners. The rhinestone onesies pictured in this post are part of her creations that you can check out at her web site http://www.rhinestonefashions.com/! Stay tuned for other posts where I will share more of Jacky's wisdoms with you! I figured we learn one implement it and then we can move on to the next one.

Thanks again Jacky for sharing your knowledge with me, taking the time to listen, sharing many stories with me and for making me laugh SO much today!

Hope you readers can use this information not only selling on eBay but in your web sites, too! Blog 2 you Later!

Born to Sell

2006-07-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

Some people are just born to sell especially if they love to create! My son has a playmate named Lazara who I think will make a great business woman someday. Any chance she gets she comes up with new ideas on what to make to sell. She makes flower arrangements from weeds (that actually look great), she sets up lemonade stands (wouldn't recommend drinking it) and she spends much of her day brainstorming new business models. Talking to Janille Hudson owner, designer and founder of Boosker Babies gave me real insight into the kind of woman Lazara will hopefully grow up to be.

Janille tells me that as a little girl she would fill her Radio Flyer wagon with rocks that she hand picked from her yard and go door to door selling them to her neighbors. She would also sell sand pictures from her front porch that she had made using sand from her sandbox and glue. Of course she also had lemonade stands, participated in school fundraisers and constantly came up with many new business ideas. Unfortunately, the "real world" got in the way of her big plans and she got a "real job". Owning her own business was a thought that she always entertained in the back of her head but she never really explored the possibility of it becoming a reality. Janille poured her energy into her work and managed to keep her mind content with being creative and hand making gifts for others every chance she could. She would make unique baby gifts for those that she loved rather than buying a present that anyone else could also buy. She made many bibs and burpers for family and friends. After making gifts here and there she realized that she could turn her love of creating baby items into a business. This is how Boosker Babies became a reality and Janille found herself living a childhood dream. Boosker Babies makes Bibs, Burpers, Blankets, and Bum Buddys all of which Janille, a new mom, finds to be essential baby items. When asked why these items in particular she explained to me that they were they ideal things for her to make since, all babies need Bibs & Burpers to keep clean, Blankets to stay warm and Bum Buddys to keep protected when being changed. She loves to keep up with trends in her designs as well as change the fabrics she uses frequently. Doing these provides her customers the assurance that their Boosker Babies purchases are fairly unique items. Janille decided to take a new approach when making products that is why all Boosker Babies items are reversible and made from 100% cotton and chenille fabrics.

To purchase a coordinating gift set or individual items from Boosker Babies which Janille promises to hand sew with love and particular attention to detail please click the picture above. Blog 2 you Later!

Happy Fourth, don't press the button!!!

2006-07-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

I thank Steve for making it easy to access this game.

Dancing to the beat of my own drum!

2006-07-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a little girl that loves to dance? Then I know the perfect place for you to shop for her and that place is http://www.lilliangraceboutique.com/. At Lillian Grace (aka Hathead Boutique) you will find tutus to fit just about any little girls taste. My personal favorite is the Posh & Pretty Tutu (shown below) is an extremely poofy tutu. Made of yards and yards of soft shimmer tulle and it is available in one color or many colors, making it a perfect gift! It also has a large satin bow and a tiny flower at the waist to add extra flavor. What made me fall in love with these tutus is the fact that they come with the option of adding music to them. I would have never thought of that! What a cool idea! I know that little girls love to twirl and dance giving them built in music makes all the more fun.

Speaking of fun the owner of Lillian Grace, Kim is one mom who truly knows how to have fun but still manages to run a successful business. When she isn't making beautiful tutus or adorable outfits you might find her out on a motor cross track cheering her twins on. Having fun at the beach with her daughter or just about finding any fun activity to keep her away from the housework. Good thing her hubby is great help! She would rather spend her time creating even if it means having to make another 250 tutus and recital costumes for Falls Church Rec Center's recitals again this year. Yes, I said 250 tutus! For the last three years she has been making their tutus and costumes. No, wonder she wants to get out and have some fun after making that many tutus! To check out Lillian Grace's wonderful line of tutus, clothing or hats please visit them at http://www.LillianGraceBoutique.com/! Kim will give 10% off to anyone who comes to her from the Boobba Baby Blog. Just mention Boobba Baby Blog when you place your order. Blog 2 you Later!

Top 100 Lists Mostly SUCK!

2006-07-03T07:11:00.000-07:00

Many of my readers, I am learning, are small business owning WAHM's. Since, I am also a small business owner and a WAHM; I thought I'd share some of my new learned tid bits with you all. So, today I will be doing much ranting and raving about BAD marketing ideas!!! My latest and greatest PET PEEVE has become Top 100 Lists. Not all top 100 lists are created equal, all are not bad, mostly all generate bad traffic, you shouldn't advertise on most and all (especially those on a homepage) will divert traffic away from your site. My breakdown of Top 100 Lists:

All Top 100 lists are not created equal!

Just so you know anyone can generate a Top 100 list, I even have my own. I got one started and paid to have the ads that come with it removed, I started contacting sites to join my list, and I really got into it until I took the time to think. So, before you go and sign yourself up for a bunch of these lists and fill your site chuck full of, unpleasing to the eye banners, THINK before you brand yourself! Not only can anyone generate a Top 100 List but they can put whatever banners and links they find on the net on their list. Hey, I want Oprah.com on my list, maybe HP, oh how about Martha Stewart.com and even Boobba-Baby.com (that's a really cool site with great stuff) must add them too. Yupe, so a list can go from 0-60 faster than my husband's 1979 Firebird! A list doesn't have to have approval from another site to add it to their list! You'll be able to tell if the person added most of the sites themselves if few have detailed site descriptions. Another clue is if when you click on a Top 100 site that is on their list it takes you to through the voting portal of the list.

Okay, ALL these lists aren't a bad idea!

Your right these lists can generate traffic to your site and they all aren't a bad idea. In fact, I am part of a couple of these lists and I advertise on some which generate REGULAR traffic to my site. I just don't really care for the ones that make you put their link on your homepage. I rather put it on a links page. If my customers care to see who I link with they know where to go! I shouldn't need to plaster my entire site with marketing for someone else unless I love that product or service. A Top 100 list isn't either a product or genuine service, what it happens to be in my opinion is a list of some of your competitors. Want to know which ones I personally like and think are a good idea? I'll give you links at the end of this post, as a Thank-you you can enter the list and vote for my site. Tricky, uh? No. I'm kidding about voting for my site, though! It is part of the game with these sites. This leads me to my next peeve with these sites.

Mostly ALL Top 100 Sites generate bad traffic!

No, I am not saying that all traffic that comes from these lists are bad some is actually from shoppers but most is from other business owners who like you are looking for traffic. Some is even coming from people doing research on becoming a business owner. Of course most of the traffic you will get then will not generate a sale! You have shop owners clicking on these links to see what other people are doing, to check out the competition and to get ideas on how to compete better. Does that sound like good traffic to you? Wait want to hear something even funnier? Most of these lists are just replete with web designer ads and these designers are usually towards the top of these lists! Why these web designers aren't dumb they are probably the smartest ones out there! Where do they put free ads for themselves? Where people who are in need of their services will be and will be magnetically drawn to them. I am telling you this because I for a fact know that mostly shop owners and shop owning hopefuls frequent these lists, making them a great place for web designers to advertise!

Reasons why You Shouldn't PAY to Advertise on Most!

While these ads that only cost a few dollars may seem like a good idea to get your name out there they really, usually aren't! Honestly, most of these sites aren't even Google ranked; few of them are getting enough daily hits for it to register in any search engines! So, you basically are paying for NOTHING! No one will see your $15 ad, wait I forgot your competition will. Where is your money going? More than likely to your competitor. Really these lists are started by other boutique owners aren't they? So, your hard earned cash just might be going to your competitor so they can spend it on REAL advertising! Don't get scammed people. When, I first started my boutique I was scammed. I soon noticed how quickly you could get a Top 100 list to fill up and people inquiring about advertising then I got angry about how scammed I got on the first few ads I had paid for. If the list is not ranked don't buy their ads! But if they are ranked then you might want to consider buying some ads or joining ones that generate constant traffic and adding only those links. Buying ads on popular ones will keep you from having to add their links to your site and diverting traffic away from your site, so that money might be worth it. If you have a low advertising budget and would like to better spend those dollars don't waste them on Top 100 ads what you should do then is join the list and keep yourself towards the top, by voting for yourself. Which now leads me to yet another pet peeve about these lists?

Number One on a Top 100 List does not equal a Top Site!!!

Until, I had my very own Top 100 list I didn't know that just because a site is number one on one of these lists it does not mean it is the most popular site among shoppers. Sites on the Top 100 lists can be weighted and most are to ensure unfair ranking. List owners can make their clicks to and from their sites be weighted higher than other sites. What you get is the 100 lists owner’s sites towards the top of the list. Another problem is that some of these lists allow for visitors from the same computer to vote as many times as they like in one day. I think this is another unfair practice. With those lists a site owner can sit and vote for themselves as much as they want and many do. I have noticed that these lists are at times carbon copies of one another. Not only are the same people joining them but these same people are becoming "maniacs" about voting for themselves. If you check some of the bogus lists out usually the same people towards the top in all of them!

All will divert traffic away from your site!

You don't want your customers leaving your site right? So, why give them a link to click and easily navigate away from your site, they might not even ever find you again. These top sites are usually a bad idea because they are essentially geared to drive traffic away from your since they encourage clicking and browsing. A customer might just keep clicking until they find one that is pleasing to their eye instead of staying and looking for quality in a site. If you want to join Top 100 sites for the possibility of getting some web traffic only join ones that do not require a link to them on your homepage. Keeping the Top 100 list off your Homepage or your entire site template will keep visitors on your site longer. Okay, so I promised you a list of Top 100 sites that are good here well honestly there aren't any when it comes to boutique sites!!! If you are looking for support groups or information on a particular subject like breast feeding then top sites are excellent clicking on one may take you to a corner of the net you would have never found before!!!Everyone please don't forget the Quintuplets I wrote about last week!!! If you can send them anything, especially diapers please do so! This family really needs help! They have six children who are so loved but finances are very strained. They have had so much help from their family and friends but that help can only go so far before it also becomes warn thin. To help them please visit http://www.5ontheway.com/default.htm!

Thanks for your support, Blog 2 you Later!

Do you have Monkey Toes?

2006-07-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

I personally have Piggy Toes, little short stubby piggy toes! My mother-in-law not only likes to remind me of the fact that I have piggy toes she also likes to laugh at my poor little toes! Poor Toes, they never hurt anyone. On the toes subject I have recently come to really enjoy saying, "Monkey Toes", it is such a cute expression and there are some really adorable shoes and socks that go with that expression. My sons flipped for these the minute they saw them! Most kids that see the Monkey Toes shoes really want a pair of their own to just adore and cherish! After talking to the Monkey Toes designer Jenny Chism I realized why these hand painted shoes have become such a huge hit among kids. My talk with Jenny focused on how she first came up with the idea for monkey toes, where she gets the idea for such cute new designs and the company’s mission. What I found out follows below. Owning a business was a long time dream for Jenny. Hand painting shoes with cute and fun animal themes began as a way of bringing her peace of mind during her morning routine of dressing her daughters. This peace of mind idea would launch her into the world of entrepreneurship since she figured other parents would also benefit from footwear that children would love to put on. So, she used what was a pet name for her daughter's long toes, "Monkey Toes", and made it a brand. When I asked Jenny how she comes up with the ideas for such cute designs she responded, "I come up with new characters based on my customer’s ideas! Sometimes new ideas just pop into my head, but most of the time customers tell me what their kids LOVE and we create them! We are getting ready to start sending out our new Wowie Cowie designs and shortly after we will have Silly Monkey's and Spunky Spiders. We are so excited to see what kids think!” Jenny, pictured above with her daughters, is also an inspiration to all Moms’s out there she balances being a business owner, designer and single mother very well. Her company is growing by leaps and bounds because she is in touch with what kids want. When asked how she manages to do it all she said that it was a carefully orchestrated combination of Red Bull, Chocolate, and Starbucks Soy Chai Lattes that keeps her on top of it all! Hmm, I must try that! Monkey Toes is very committed to keeping kids stylish while providing parents with peace of mind and ease in dressing routines. Check out the other great Monkey Toes styles at www.Boobba-Baby.com! New styles coming soon!

Someone even more obsessed than me!

2006-07-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have gotten a bit obsessed with this internet thing, blogging, starting boutique sites, and promoting Mom's! I also have a new LOVE for web design. I find myself browsing the sites of web designers and looking through their portfolios repeatedly! Believe me there are some great Mom web designers and some no so great ones out there. One really great designer that kept jumping out at me was Red Peach Designs. I would go to sites that just looked awesome and again and again they would be done by Red Peach Designs, quickly I added www.RedPeachDesigns.com to my favorites. In the process of ordering ads for my sites I got an order form back for completion and I learned that the owner of RedPeachDesigns.com was who had sold me the ad through one of several websites she owned. I went to each of the sites just loved them all!!! I was impressed by the quality of the sites and the products in each. So, I wondered does this mad woman own a top-notch web design business, a boutique site that carries fabulous baby/mommy items, a jewelry boutique site plus she makes the jewelry!!! How could this be possible? I had to find out because if she really did do all this my plans seemed minuscule next to her current accomplishments!!! Below you can read my questions and answer session with Danielle (who we shall refer to, for always and forever, as Wonder Woman): Q: I got to ask though do you really own all those websites and manage them? Wonder Woman Answers: Well, my primary business is the web design but I do own www.redpeachdesigns.com, www.emilyjuliette.com, www.sparklemama.com, www.topbabyboutiques.com, and www.clothdiapersites.com. Q: If you tell me something like that you have like 5 kids, home school, run all those sites and do still manage to keep your house clean I am going to VOMIT! How do you run 5 sites? Wonder Woman Answers: I don't do all the cleaning hubby helps with that. The topbabyboutiques.com and clothdiapersites.com sites basically run themselves (except for the advertising which I set up). I make the jewelry for sparkle mama and the hubby helps with the boutiques. To keep you from Spewing I won't mention the projects and sites I have in the works! ;) Q: So, with doing all this how do you manage to do such great quality work in all that you do? Wonder Woman Answers: It's hard with the two kids. It's funny to even say that because they are my inspiration. My son has autism and we decided I should stay home to be here with him every day to help him grow, learn and have the best chance at living a fulfilling life. In doing that I have learned how time manage and live a full life! That is why anything I do I pour my complete self into, I give more than 100% and I hope it shows in the quality of my work. Q: Wow! You are really amazing and all your work that I have seen is a testament to that. Do you ever think you are doing too much? Wonder Woman Answers: Yeah, I think I'm in over my head and I don't sleep a TON, especially with our whole family in one bed most nights, but the lack of sleep is worth the success and the positive encouragement from clients keeps me going. Q: So, is there anything else that you are passionate about other than complete and total Web Domination? Wonder Woman Answers: Well, I am not quite ready for web domination but give me some time. What I am really passionate about is Autism Awareness and Research. I have created a special Autism Bracelet

that I sell at www.sparklemama.com, 20% of the proceeds from all Autism Awareness Bracelet sales are donated to the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, CA. Q: So, you are Wonder Woman? Wonder Woman Answers: No, I am not Wonder Woman. I am just another mom who is really doing everything I can to make a difference. If that difference comes from creating a pretty bracelet someone loves, providing great mommy and baby products for sale, donating money and time to the cause of autism or creating a site that is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye then that makes me happy! Well, as you readers can see she is a Wonder Woman even if she won't take credit for it. I am very glad I got to know her because now I know that my aspirations are possible if I pour myself into my work and give it my all. I'd love for all of you to support her great works by visiting one or all of her sites; you can use the links below.
For Sparkle Mama Click Above

Blog 2 you later!

IF you think you have your hands full...

2006-06-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

For couples that struggle with infertility having just one baby is a huge blessing. Most families that have spent so much time trying and finally get a baby realize how truly lucky they are since at best success rate of most infertility treatments is very low. After getting a child to love, cherish and admire most of these couples want to try one more time to give their baby someone else to share the love with. Most of these couples are estatic when they finally find out that they are having another child. Now imagine if after struggling with infertility and conceiving your first and only child through a procedure you get pregnant again how much joy you must feel. Okay, you have that picture in your head right, happy parents with child hearing the news that they are going to get another baby? Okay, are you ready? Only catch is your not having one, your not having two more, no not three, not four more, how about FIVE! Yupe I said it FIVE!!! Then the doctors tell you that you should "selectively reduce" the number of babies being carried to term. It is a decision so personal and so difficult that unless we have been in those shoes it is not a call that most can TRULY say we'd be able to make. Courtnee and Mike Stevenson of Kitsap County, Washington were faced with this decision and although they knew it would be tough to raise five babies at a time, plus a toddler, they decided to carry all five babies to term. Doctors did not expect all five babies to turn out healthy, they stated one or a few would turn out with troubles but Courtnee the mom knew in her heart they'd be fine. She had to spend four months on bedrest three of which were spent in the hospital. Those three months in the hospital she felt seperated and isolated from her family. During that time she wrote in her journal, "My body and heart were meant to have these babies and I know that's why God blessed me with them. It's amazing that I can have such overwhelming love for something that I haven't seen or touched." As mom predicated, hoped and prayed the couple was blessed with five miracle babies who were all perfectly healthy. Yes, the babies went through some of the normal medical routines that all multiples do, the feeding tubes, the oxygen, the incubators, general stuff like that but in Courtnee's heart she knew they would be fine. I wonder how one Mom can really handle the blessing of five children being born at the same time.

Talking to Courtnee is beyond inspirational and if I thought I had my hands full with three boys then I need to rethink from Courtnee's stance. Five little babies who need holding, diaper changing, loving, feeding, burping, bathing, kissing and hugging, all at the same time plus a three year old who also needs many of the above. She told me that she was very tired but thanks the volunteers that are helping her. Her husband who is been out of work since December has taken on an equal share. Courtnee is glad that she and the babies have settled into a routine and she focuses on how each day she feels the next will be better. She tells me that she doesn't have a favorite among the five, she doesn't gravitate towards one more than another and she thinks it is sad when parents do favor one child over another. To her each of her babies and Lilli is truly special with their own personalities, attributes and look. I wonder how one Mom can really handle five infants plus a toddler knowing the help is dwindling. When the quints were born they got national coverage, talk shows showed interest and they even had a PR firm handling the media circuit for them. Interest has quickly fizzled and the initial help that was pledged is now not arriving. The family now faces hardship because of the financial implications that come with raising six children in a 900sq ft trailer and trying to get by when Daddy has been laid off since December. Keeping the babies in diapers and formula alone are significant tasks. Getting all the items one needs for five babies is an immense task and this family can not do it alone. They need diapers, clothes, dressers for the children and money to finish building a home their church has offered to build. They are in great need of any help that we can give. I know that if I help just a little and you help just a little then Courtnee will truly have a better tomorrow. Let's help change the world one Mommy at a time and help Courtnee provide for her Miracle Five plus Lilli!!! Yes, they have gotten some help but the help is stopping and many, many things are not covered. Thanks to Similac the family does get free formula but as the babies get bigger, gain weight and eat more they are going through their monthly allotments quicker. The end of the month is becoming crunch time for them. Similac has not let them down yet, but soon the babies will be eating more than the company will provide. Not one diaper company has come through to help them out with diaper donations, which to me is sad. I know those companies are making a killing off the rest of us and free diapers for five babies can't hurt their pockets that much. The construction of their home is at a stand still because right now is the busy time for construction companies and the family does not have enough money to pay to finish the project. They are managing to fit six children and a crew of volunteers and themselves into a small home but now that each day the children do more the Mommy wonders. She knows she will mangae the miracle of five plus Lilli when the five start crawling but she wonders if they will have enough room or if they'll have to learn how to crawl over eachother? Remember your donations are Tax Deductible! So, if you can find it in your heart to help in anyway read below. What they need: Diapers sizes 1-3 please!!! They go through at least 60 a day. Clothing donations sizes 12 months and up. Dressers for storage they only have two closets in their home. Cash to finish building a bigger home. How you can help: Use this link above it takes you to their Target.com registry. It is preferable if you send them a gift card since they are in such need of diapers. Gift cards can help them buy diapers, wipes, baby soap, shampoo and all sorts of consumable items they need daily for their children.

To send money to the family via your PayPal account please copy the families email address Courtnee-Mike@hotmail.com and click the logo above, you have to login to your account to do so.

To visit their website and be able to read their complete story and other ways you can help click here!

I hope you choose to help them! Blog 2 you Later!

Teacher turned Inventor...

2006-06-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Brandy Noveh, a mom from (my favorite place in the WHOLE world, Sonoma, California), has come up with another great product for breastfeeding Moms! Her new invention is called The Belly Hugger and it helps mothers who need to breastfeed in public do it more discretely. There are nursing covers out there but some babies can not handle being covered and if you try using a cover to feed them they'll fight you every step of the way. These babies will scream, fuss, and pull the covers from off. You'll get so much added attention that the whole point of breastfeeding discretely will be blown out of the water. This is where the Belly Hugger comes to the rescue! Instead of using a cover you can wear the Belly Hugger underneath your top of choice, when it comes time to feed baby you just discretely pull your top up place baby on breast and you remain fully covered. It actually is a very discrete way of nursing because it looks like mom is simply holding baby and your body is not exposed. It also gets my vote for quickness you don't have to reach in a diaper bag for a cover or take the time to adjust baby and cover! But if you are EXTRA modest you might want to use a cover and the belly hugger, hey I've been known to do this a time or two!

For more about the Mommy behind the Belly Hugger keep reading:

Brandy Noveh, the creator of The Belly Hugger, has always had a love for children, in fact before becoming a mommy she was a kindergarten teacher. The summer she was expecting her son what seemed like bad luck struck her family in the form of her being laid off from her teaching position. Knowing that her family could not survive on a single teacher's income, her husband is also a teacher, Brandy had to come up with a way to help her family financially. After months of becoming involved online with pregnancy and cloth diapering bulletin boards she realized that she wanted to share her new passion for cloth diapering and attachment parenting with others. Her first endeavor was Momma'sBirdNest.com and later she came up with The Belly Hugger. Her turn of bad luck seems to have been a turning point in her life. As much as she loved teaching she is glad that her new job of boutique owner lead her to inventing a product many Mom's can now use to make their attachment parenting choice of breastfeeding simpler.

Please feel free to use the banners below to reach either of Mrs. Noveh's sites!

Thanks for reading the Boobba Baby Blog! Blog 2 you Later!

Feeling Lucky

2006-06-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

As, I sit here breast feeding my youngest, having just put the middle one down for a nap and managing to get the oldest out the door to our play ground I am feeling lucky. Not because the house is calm or that I did the laundry, still haven't put it away though, I am feeling lucky because my children are healthy and haven't had anything happen to them. Looking at the Davinator who is now 10 months I think of how blessed I truly am. Yeah, Doug and I don't have much as far as material possessions and neither of us has attained the professional successes we once desired but we have everything we need. We have each other and we have three great boys who are, as of today, healthy. This is why I want to help others and turn this blog and my focus towards a new direction. Since starting my company I have really been happy and excited about life, frankly I have felt a bit empowered by the realizations that I can learn quickly and I can help others. Yes, I wanted to open an online boutique of all my favorite things, the trendiest things and all things baby & mom. Through doing this I have made friends with many other Mom's who either work in the home or in/out of the home. I have realized that making money is not my primary goal in life. It won't be what will make me happy or what will help me rest well at night. I have always desired to be a person who makes an impact! I feel that the best way for me to make that impact is by inspiring and helping others. In the future you will notice changes of the blog site and boutique site that will be related towards my higher goals. I know many of you have enjoyed reading my product reviews and how I feature the stories of designers/WAHM's, so do not fear those will not go away. I will just be adding more information on how you as a Mom can become an activist and help make this world better for all the children. I hope to bring enough causes to the table that eventually everyone will find something to feel positive about and stand behind. In a way the blog will become more of what blogs are meant to be a journal or soapbox for one to stand on & shout loudly until others are reached and a connection is made. Keep tuned and check back regularly for updates. thanks for sticking with me...Blog 2 you Later...Today...I promise!

CUT-SEW Mommy...

2006-06-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

When you see such a pretty dress the last thing you think about is a United States Marine, right? Yeah, me too! In all actuality that perfect and very sexy maternity dress is not only designed by a United States Marine but it is also hand-made by her! Yes, I know how unbelievable and it goes to show how versatile a woman can really be. Brenna the Mommy behind Mercedes Hill Maternity is a human paradox! How can the same woman who is tough and rigid enough to become a Marine and serve on Active Duty be the origin of things so feminine and free?

Brenna isn't the woman who she once thought she'd be and she isn't on a course she ever planned, but marriage and motherhood have a way of changing paths, don't they? As a little girl, she would purposely watch her mother sew. She sat by her mom in awe of her mother's great skill as a seamstress. Brenna at the age of five would sneak onto her mother's sewing machine trying to imitate what she had seen her mother do many times before. When her mother caught her she thought it would be better to teach the very young Brenna how to use the machine properly than to reprimand her for using it without permission. Her first designs were doll clothes that she even sold. Today, Brenna recalls how she quickly grasped the art of sewing but would only resort to it out of need. If she hadn't needed dresses for high school dances or if her mother had only bought her the designer clothes she really wanted she wouldn't have had continue sewing.

Brenna never intended or wanted to having sewing become her career, no way that was the last thing she wanted. She wanted to become a lawyer or business woman so she entered college with those aspirations. Soon a string of wonderful events would anchor her back in her roots. In 2003, she got married, she got called to active duty and she got pregnant and all that would get her sewing again. Yet again, she only sewed out of need because she just could not find the clothes she yearned to wear during her pregnancy. She wanted to be sexy to show off the beauty of her new form and wear materials that she loved. She made pieces for herself, she researched the maternity industry and she sold clothes on ebay. The pieces she made for herself got great reviews from family and friends. The research she did left her feeling that the maternity industry was just bare of the styles she was making. Her hypothesis was positive when she saw how much revenue she was bringing in from ebay. So her conclusion was to start Mercedes Hill Maternity while she was pregnant with her first daughter but she did not intend for it to be a career. She still had plans of becoming a lawyer and even began law school but after one semester she decided that it wasn't the right time to continue. Quitting enabled her to concentrate on being a mom and designing/sewing helped release her mommy stress.

What happened though was that since the the lines inception it doubled, so did her family, her goal became for the business to continue a steady growth rate until it becomes a household name. With new exposure in the form of her very own site www.MercedesHill.com and more bricks and mortar stores carrying her line she is now employing other seamstress WAHM's to help make the garments. She never thought that being a WAHM that designed and made maternity garments as a stress reliever and hobby would lead her to where it has. She loves what she is doing, she's glad that she quit law school, and she is delighted to have found her niche. She once thought she would be a savvy lawyer or cut-throat business woman but by the look of her designs I think she is better off being a CUT-SEW Mommy!

Straight from the Mommy's mouth (new blog feature!):

Q: Brenna, what makes buying from Mercedes Hill Maternity different than from the name brands my readers can find at the big department stores?

A: I am able to offer things like personal attention, custom inseams, custom requests, and high quality. I do not mass produce my items so you can expect exceptional quality and care!

To see more of her designs please visit her site www.MercedesHill.com!

Blog 2 you Later!

ps. those shoes on the model are too hot!!! Love the shoes!!!

I've been BANNED from...

2006-06-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

I've been banned from going to www.SheandIDesigns.com by my husband!!! He says that I have to stop going to their site and he asked me to make sure I cancel my newsletter membership, also. He says that I have an addiction that I need to admit. Oh, well so I have bought a few templates but they are all so pretty. The thing was that when I first was trying to put my site up I wasn't sure what I wanted and when I stumbled onto their site I loved their style of designs. I found one that was pretty but not perfect for me so I bought it to get started. A few days later they put out some more new ones and I bought another. Then two weeks later they put out some more and I bought another, then another, then another, and finally one last one. I told Doug that the problem isn't really with me it is with the gals at She and I Designs since they keep making templates that I LOVE. It isn't my fault I want them all. It's kind of like winter coats they can be so pretty but you can only wear one at a time and having to pick only one favorite is so hard and really isn't fair to a girl. I do think I found a favorite and I have fallen inlove. Now if they would only stop making templates that I like for sure I wouldn't have any more problems? I think I better listen to my husband and ban myself from their site, because those ladies have my tastes down pact. Since we are on the subject of She and I Designs I'd like to sing their praises. The company consists of two WAHM's that are delightful to work with. Melissa is based in Florida and Cindy in Pennsylvania, yet they still manage to work very efficiently together. Each handles a different aspect of the business but together they can do just about anything you might need for your site. The duo is very hardworking, honest and humble. I am very picky, fickle and difficult to work for yet, they have been nothing but patient with me and sweet to me. Their prices are very low compared to those of other companies providing the same services. Their quality and service is superior to any that I have seen or heard about. Melissa and Cindy design offer custom templates, one of a kind and limited edition templates for use with some of the industry's most versatile and user friendly shopping carts and hosting services. If your selling on ebay they have you covered with special ebay designs. If you do both sell on the web and on ebay you might want to look into buying a site bundle from them. They also can help upgrade your site to frameless if you are using a cart system that is framed for a very fair price. They recently updated two sites of people I know from framed to framless and the results were spectacular! You can see those here: http://www.abbabyboutique.com/store/Default.asp & http://www.sweet-pea-creations.com/store/Default.asp. My site has a whole new set of colors and is looking very spiffy (is that a word?) check it out at www.Boobba-Baby.com and soon they will be working with me on a flash entry for my site plus some product pages I want special made. Oh, I can't wait!!! No one tell my hubby!?! Please visit Melissa and Cindy's site if you need anything for your site. Contact them if you don't see exactly what you need listed among their products. I am sure they can not only make it happen for you but will do so at a great price plus they'll be so nice you'll want to pay them twice! Click on the link below to go to their site. If you don't want to take my word for it read their customer's comments!

Thanks for your continued inerest in my blog. Blog 2 you later!

What we don't know can hurt our children...

2006-06-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

When I wrote about Debbie Savage the other day I had no idea what kind of TRUE hardships Cambodian people had been facing for at least the last 30+ years. You know I consider myself pretty educated when it comes to current events and social issues, but no where in any of my studies or my readings had I ever come across the following facts:

The Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979, in which approximately 1.7 million people lost their lives (21% of the country's population)!*
As in Nazi Germany, and more recently in East Timor, Guatemala, Yugoslavia, and Rwanda, the Khmer Rouge regime headed by Pol Pot combined extremist ideology with ethnic animosity and a diabolical disregard for human life to produce repression, misery, and murder on a massive scale.*
A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war.*
It wasn't until 2003 that the UN stepped in and finally helped the people of Cambodia with elections, bringing the perpetrators of the genocide to justice, helping with documenting these atrocities and got things on the road towards progress.

Things in Cambodia in no way are normalized, many Cambodian families are still suffering and now Vietnamese refugees living in Cambodia are adding to the problems this young government faces.

How can I teach my sons to be good global citizens if I myself don't know the facts of things like these? How can I teach them tolerance and activism if I don't practice it myself 100% of the time. I told Debbie that I had assumed that she was Filipino and I am so glad that she told me she was Cambodian. It sparked my interest to learn more, to educate myself about how much I need to grow if I want to ever be an activist for human rights.

Did all of you know about Cambodia? I think it is funny that we American's always say, "Thank God we live in a free country. Thank God we were born Americans!", do we really think it could never happen here? It could, it may and it will if we don't learn about how those things came to being, evolved and perpetuated as norms in other parts of the world.

I welcome any posts from readers that know of atrocities happening in other parts of the world. Let's inform one another about what goes on out there in our world. Let's see if we can get ourselves and our government to really act on behalf of these people who really have no means to get themselves out of these terrible situations. What we don't know can hurt our children.

Thank you for reading my words. Blog 2 you later!

*this information is from Yale University's Cambodian Genocide Program to learn more please Click Here!