Gumdrops and Groanings

Crazy for Cuties

2012-01-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I love this company! I'm not a big citrus fruit eater. My mom told me that she ate a lot of oranges when she was pregnant with me. Maybe that's why? But my daughter loves oranges and tangerines. We began seeing tv commercials about Cuties easy to peel mandarins and my daughter would say "Mommy, let's get those". And before I could buy them myself, my mother bought some and gave them

The Best Day Ever!

2012-01-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

My daughter told me today was "the best day ever". I admit, it warmed my heart on such a frigid day. I thought my allergies were to blame for my stuffy nose the last few days. But today my nose was dripping like a faucet and I feel "under the weather" for sure. How come no one ever says "above the weather" when they feel great? But I digress... So the northeast got dumped with snow yesterday and

Forecast Calls for Easy Chicken Chili

2012-01-20T18:55:00.000-08:00

I've been cooking since I was about 10 years old. I can remember watching my parents cook and my father's mother (now 86 years old) and asking lots of questions. My mother taught me that granulated sugar takes the acidic bite out of tomato sauces. My father taught me how to make gravy from pan drippings. I learned later that I was making "rue". My grandmother taught me how to make squash

Kids in the kitchen: Stuffed Biscuit Cups

2012-01-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

Stuffed Biscuits Cups? I couldn't come up with a better name for this dish. I'm open to suggestions. This is a really easy recipe. And my budding chef (soon to be 4yo daughter) wants to help me cook every night. So I gave her the tasks of making the dough cups. What you need: a muffin tin non-stick cooking spray a canister of biscuit dough (or home made biscuit dough if you prefer) ground

New Year, New Website

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've been working on this for a few months off and on. I'm running a business 6 days a week, so I do what I can when I can. I liked my old site so I wasn't in a hurry to replace it. But I wanted a fresh look and easier navigation. Over the last two years, I have gotten better at explaining Gumdrop Swap's unique service and place in the children's resale industry. I believe the new site conveys

2011 Wrap Up!

2012-01-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

2011 was my 1st complete calendar year in the retail location. I met many new people, swappers, and learned lessons. We acquired a lot more merchandise last year which required some redecorating and buying of new fixtures to display merchandise. I scored a nice acrylic shelf and pose-able mannequin from the closing of Filene's/SYMS in Fairfield, CT. And created an arch with 3 vertical shelves

Did you buy Local for Small Business Saturday?

2011-11-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Maybe you saw the commercial before Thanksgiving with pleas from small business owners asking you to support us on Nov. 26? You're familiar with Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) and Cyber Monday (dubbed this before everyone got the internet at home and on their phone because internet sales would spike tremendously when workers returned to the office on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend).

Should a cell phone cost more than a wedding dress?

2011-11-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

Of course not! Doesn't that sound absurd? I confess that I watch reality tv shows featuring women shopping for wedding dresses and think to myself, "Why would anyone spend that much for a wedding dress they are going to wear once?" I will also confess that what I paid for my wedding dress 4 years ago was an unbelievable bargain! My dress shown here was on clearance at David's Bridal for $125 and

Santa Claus is coming to (down)town!

2011-11-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

You know the song! Well, this year avoid the long lines at the mega-malls and get your portrait with out without Santa in front of a beautiful winter wonderland backdrop. Photography and props by Connecticut Photography Plus. This photographer specializes in daycare portraits so Carmen Nieves is very good with children. You can RSVP on Facebook if you like. Dec 3 and Dec 10. No appointment

Easy Fall Recipe: Batter Fried Apple Slices

2011-10-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've said it before, my daughter (almost 4) loves to help in the kitchen. I try to give her any task like stirring, dipping, taste testing, that she can handle. She's pretty good but I do have to remind her that we cannot reuse any utensil she "tastes" from. Sometimes she'll sneak and stick her finger in whatever we're working on if I've got my back turned. I have to promise she can lick the bowl

2011 Live Green CT Festival!

2011-09-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.livegreenct.com Gumdrop Swap will be an exhibitor at this festival for the 2nd year! It takes place at Taylor Farms (near Calf Pasture Beach) in Norwalk, CT on the weekend of September 17-18. This year I am simplifying my display and only selling the Beetlejuice of London, Logo Kidz, Babalooi designer brands and other featured merchandise to showcase the selection of new merchandise

Summer Fun Project: Making Healthy Yogurt Fruit Popsicles

2011-08-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

As I gear up for a heat wave with estimates of 100 degrees with the heat index I figure what better way to beat the heat than a popsicle? I saw some fancy schmancy popsicle molds in a magazine about a month ago and planned to order online. Of course I was going to look for a bargain because $30 seemed pricey for popsicle molds. So, I was perusing the newly opened Whole Foods market in Fairfield,

Woombie: A Love Story.

2011-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with a Local Mompreneur's products! It all started innocently enough when I accepted a "connection" on MerchantCircle from a woman named Karen and her business, Woombie. "Funny name. Never heard of it." I thought to myself. So, I visit their website to find out what a Woombie was. I was blown away! I LOVE finding other local mompreneurs. I instantly feel connected to other

Frugal Foodie Find!

2011-07-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've shared another local frugal food find a while back. Snappy Dawgs is a food cart that serves delicious food during the week on the corner of Main St and Fairfield Ave in front of the Fairfield County Courthouse. But I work on Saturdays and they don't come on the weekend. I am partial to restaurants that deliver because I can't afford to close my business to go get lunch. So, one of my

I love my city of Bridgeport!

2011-07-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

My city (Bridgeport, CT) gets a bad rap. We were even poked fun at in a episode of Family Guy. I'm wasn't born or raised in CT so I don't know first-hand what it was like 10-20 years ago. I hear it used to be a lot of crime and corruption. What former large city hasn't gone through a period of rebuilding? Bridgeport was once a major port and manufacturing city. I hear from customers how nice the

Have you ever been blessed by the Coupon Fairy?

2011-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

I really wish I had the time and dedication to be like those serious EXTREME couponers. Have you seen that show? I would need to also build out my basement to store my stockpile of groceries and toiletries too. But the savings are impressive. That's undeniable. I'm so not organized. Then I would feel guilty if it was crowded that day at the store and I was holding up the line because I was

Loving You as YOU ARE!

2011-07-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a wonderful video of fellow curvy model Fluvia in collaboration with Plus Model Magazine. Fluvia wears a size 18 and she exudes sexiness and style. For all of us that second guess the image we see in the mirror, this should boost your confidence! Save up to 80% on custom printed products at Vistaprint. Order today! Get Paid to Tweet! http://ad.ly/publisher/refer/251902558

The Ultimate Swap-a-Nista Contest

2011-06-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Are you the Ultimate Swap-a-Nista? Sign up on our Facebook Page for a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate (store credit). Then make a WALL POST about why you like swapping or Gumdrop Swap. This is our biggest giveaway to date! Get 3 or more friends to sign up for a chance to win another secret prize! Save up to 80% on custom printed products at Vistaprint. Order today! Get Paid to Tweet

Model Portfolio Update

2011-06-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

From April 17, 2011 Shoot As I mentioned before, I "moonlight" as a "real-size" model whenever I get the opportunity. I've worked for clients such as Junonia and My Alli in the past. And in a previous post I shared some of the shoe choices I was planning to get for my spring shoot from endless.com. Professional models are expected to update their portfolios every 3-6 months. From April 17,

When Second Hand Just Won't Do.

2011-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

It may be a little weird that someone who owns a store selling used items would advise the public to buy new. But in certain instances used items pose a danger or inconvenience not worth trying to save a buck. About once a week a customer inquires about a used car seat and I have to explain that it is illegal to sell a used car seat in the state of CT (and most states). Why? Because the seller

‘Hardest Working Small Biz Mom’

2011-05-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are bring-your-kid-to-work-days at Gumdrop Swap Kids Boutique. It's part of the reason I started my own business almost two years ago. Setting my own hours, not having to lie about when I have to take time off for my child's illness, finally being praised for all my hard work were all the "freedoms" I thought I'd enjoy as an entrepreneur. Sure, there's a lot of fulfillment in working

4/23/11, 1pm-4pm Eco Kid Bash at Gumdrop Swap in Downtown Bridgeport

2011-04-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

So excited to announce this FREE event for Fairfield County! Like our Halloween event, Boo Bash, last fall, this event is open to the public. We will feature sponsors and vendors geared towards families, children, sustainability, wellness, and recycling. Kids will make crafts from recycled material and can plant seeds in a container they decorate. The Bluefish mascot (minor league baseball) will

Spring means new photos!

2011-03-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Spring is peeking out. I'm excited because this is my favorite time to update my modeling portfolio. I know some awesome photographers that I found when we were all just getting started in this industry. Now they've gone on to being very successful. So much so that they are too busy to "test" (work for trade i.e. free) which is understandable. Paying customers always take precedence over

I am the featured Venture Mom!

2011-02-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

As a solopreneur, I constantly need inspiration. Nothing is more inspirational than hearing the story of other people who have started their own successful business. Its even better when they are women and I can relate even more when those women are moms. As working moms and wives, there's is not much time left in our pies (think pie chart) for much else, especially running a business. So when I

Dusting Off the Old Stilettos

2011-02-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Being a curvy woman, I've never mastered the art of walking in stilettos. I prefer a more comfy shoe seeing that I spend a lot of time on my feet. But www.stilettowoman.com has nothing to do with thin-heeled shoes and everything to do with celebrating being a woman and facing the world with your chest out and shoulders back (the posture that wearing stilettos demands). If you are a business