MiraBest

SuburbanMomma

Next week marks the launch of a new company right in our neighborhood: SuburbanMomma.com! Deborah L. wrote this beautiful "back story" to her company--which is tied into her life and something that all women can relate to who have work/life balance issues. I encourage you to sign up for SuburbanMomma's daily email deals (it's sort of like Groupon but just for moms and North Jersey locales!). She was featured on NY1 News here. I can't wait for the fabulous deals to come in...starting with a great one for the Bronx Zoo on Monday. So don't delay, sign up now! (below the article you can see an exclusive sneak peek at the FIRST offer to debut on Monday)

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The day it was decided.

Mine is an unconventional household.  A second marriage for both of us with “his”, “hers” and “ours” kids.  The first batch is grown and in college or graduate school, the “ours”, a precious 5 ½ year old, is like an only child with the house and us (mostly) to herself. 

I married extremely young the first time, had a daughter, got divorced and became a single mom all by the age of 23.  That daughter is now 22 and every once in a while I calculate in my mind what I was doing at her age and wonder WHAT WERE MY PARENTS THINKING?  I wed because I wanted to, not because I had to (I know what you are thinking!)  The baby came a full year later.  Of course, you can never look back and I cannot imagine my life without this amazing young woman in it but come hell or high water, I would never let her follow in my insane footsteps and give up all the experiences a young twenty something should and could have unencumbered by a family of her own.  

At 19, I dropped out of college and went to work because we were flat broke.  Nothing like having no money in the bank and a heap of debt to help you make career choices.  It took a slightly embellished resume and a not so little fib about my age (making me older!) to land a job in NYC as an administrative assistant.  Having once dreamt of becoming a lawyer, I wanted to do more and spent many years working up the proverbial food chain until I got a huge break and was recruited by a software start-up that provided a specialized application to the bank I was working for.   This was a small company that needed sales and I was an eager beaver ready to tear into a new challenge and break out of the assistant role.  The work was rewarding but demanding and it took me away from my older daughter quite a bit.  

Working moms have huge struggles (even though some manage to make it look easy at times).  We are helping to provide for the family but in doing so we are far less available. When my older daughter was growing up, I planned my business trips to coincide with her overnight visits with her dad but she remembers that I was never home even though, I most certainly was.  Trying to get ahead, there were so many times that I was with her physically but my mind was someplace else entirely.  I was young, I was trying to make a better life for us both.  Some of my choices I made were good and others, not so much.

The funny thing about having a second family is that there is a sense of getting a “do-over”.  I have been down this road before so I know it goes quick – days are long but the years are short.  These early years go by especially fast - blink and you go from first tooth to first kiss.  However, because I have been here before, my perspective on what’s important has changed.   I am more compassionate, more patient and much more tolerant.  I think our big kids all see the difference in our parenting style with the little one and it actually causes jealousy (which, frankly, I wasn’t expecting given the age differences).  I can’t make any excuses for it.  We all get better when we do things a second time so why wouldn’t that apply to parenting as well?  I tell my older girl that she got my youth (because Lord knows that I don’t get on the floor and play with this one like I did when I was 22) but that this one gets my wisdom. Not that I think I am wise per se, just wiser than I was at the ripe old age of 25, 26 and 27 trying to make grown up decisions.

I have been a slave to others my whole career, giving 110% and then some because I needed to work up the ladder which was especially difficult because I was a college drop out and, dare I say, a woman in the workplace.  To overcome it, I had to work like no other.  It did pay off and I eventually earned the career I wanted but at a huge cost to me, and my family.  As I entered into mommyhood for the second time, I started thinking about improving my work/life balance and actually doing something on my own so this little girl doesn’t grow up thinking I was never around either.  I didn’t know if I had the guts to actually do it until the day it was decided.

One day just a handful of months ago, my daughter, home from a day of school, escaped the babysitter and came crying up to my office in the attic where I work when I’m not traveling.  I was on a conference call with a half a dozen people on Skype (so it was a speakerphone) and I was presenting.  I heard her wails getting closer and closer as I was making my pitch which caused me to use my “fast talking New Yorker voice” so I could get the words out and silence the speaker.  Despite the distraction. I managed to complete my sentence and hit the mute button just as she enters the room.  I look at her with the “I’m serious” look (because I know from the sound of the cry that she is certainly not hurt) and ask her what’s wrong.  She responds with something totally lame, which I can no longer remember, but it was in the I-am-five-and-I-cry-over-absolutely-nothing category. At this point, I boil over and tell her to go back downstairs.  I remind her that she is not allowed to come upstairs when I am working and that she is certainly not allowed to come upstairs crying.  Only, I didn’t say it so nicely.  I was mean.  I was terse.  I might have yelled.  She knew I meant business and quickly retreated back downstairs to the babysitter.  I turned back to my desk to unmute the line and resume the conversation only to discover I didn’t actually mute it in the first place.  I am a bad mother and now there are witnesses.

The mortification I felt in that moment still sticks with me especially because I am not a screamer at now there are 6 people in this world that think otherwise. My daughter actually lost a tooth that night and when I posted the picture of Facebook, they teased me that I knocked it out during that call.  (Seriously, not funny.) It did make me ask myself “what am I doing”? This is the place I did not want to go back to being a working mom for the second time.  This is my do-over for heaven’s sake.  I enjoy working very much and the income is important to our future but I don’t want to be beholden to other people’s schedules.  I don’t want to feel torn between my child and my job.  I want to be able to focus on work during school hours and be there for my child, as a mother, before and after.  I had been working on a business plan for months and months already and that day, I had to ask myself ”what the heck are you waiting for?”

 And so, it was decided.   I started acting on the business plan in earnest and my dream of having my own business became a reality with the birth of SuburbanMomma on July 27^th, 2010.  I set out to create a company that offers balance not just to my family and me but also to other Moms and their families.  SuburbanMomma offers local daily deals on things we all spend money on anyway  -- enriching experiences for our kids, date night activities for us and our spouse, family adventures and the occasional pampering service.  But the thing I am most proud of is that the SuburbanMomma business model has been designed to employ a workforce of moms who want the same work life balance that I do.  Moms shouldn’t have to choose between work and family, we should be able to do it all…and have it all (for less!). 

Written by the original SuburbanMomma, Deborah L. 

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45% Off a Fall Family Outing to the Bronx Zoo
Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Bronx Zoo and this exclusive offer is as rare as some of the animals that live there! On Monday, you can get a FREE child’s Total Experience ticket (age 3 to 12) with each adult Total Experience Ticket purchased, limit of 2 per family.  We LOVE the Total Experience because it provides unrestricted access to all the Zoo has to offer including the Wild Asia Monorail, Congo Gorilla Forest, Children's Zoo, Bug Carousel, Butterfly Garden, Zoo Shuttle and new 4D Theater. Be sure to check out the Zoo's great trip planning  resources before you visit so you can be sure to catch the animal enrichment sessions, or other great family activities!

During October weekends, you and your family can enjoy the Bronx Zoo’s BOO AT THE ZOO spooktacular events: go on a Haunted Safari, navigate the hay maze, travel through Creepy Hollow on the Lost Hay Ride, visit the Treat Stations, enjoy a mysterious magic show, energetic musical performances, puppet shows and more! So much to do and see, it will drive your little ghouls wild.  So pounce on the buy button and get ready for a roarin’ good time.  

Deal Details:
•Expires October 31, 2010
•Limit: 2 per family
•Attractions subject to mechanical and 
weather availability.
- May not be combined with any other offer
-  Not valid on parking, merchandise or rides
 
Deal Highlights: 
Available Dates: 
9/17-9/18
Columbus Day
Plus Any Saturday or Sunday in October
 
Costumes Encouraged During Boo in the Zoo Weekends!

Sign up now to get this great deal on Monday! SuburbanMomma.com

Q&A with co-founder of Avant-Kids, Jennifer Palinkas-Chavez

I love to promote my friends who have businesses and one that I'm VERY happy to tout is that of my friends Jen and Walter Chavez. Jen is a friend of mine from college and we are lucky enough to get their items as gifts! I highly recommend the heart shirt to order for Valentine's Day. So, don't delay!

 When did Avant Kids launch? We began production in  February 2009 and our first sales event was in May 2009 at a Crandford, NJ craft fair.

What inspired you to start the company? Our children and our love of handmade, unique items.

 

What are your backgrounds/training?  Walter has been painting and sculpting since he was a teenager, he took several classes in college and recently but no formal training.  As for myself, I took a sewing class in high school and a few classes recently.  We are both primarily self taught with years of practice J

 

What are some of your popular items? Walter’s most popular item is his Lego Luke Print along with my wrist cuffs,  groovy guitar gift sets, and minky scarves.

 
 

What has been the most fun to work on?  The most fun yet most challenging for me was making dolls which I don’t currently have any listings for but do welcome custom orders.  Walter truly loves all his painting.

What's the process behind the products...how are the products made?  Our children are our main source of inspiration, so their interests usually turn into our creations.  Walter usually gets an idea, takes some photos of what is inspiring him, sketches, and paints.  I usually write things down and meditate on what I would like to make until I find time to actually do it.  I have a collection of ideas written in a journal or pieces of paper collected, I also sketch and then start working with the material until I like what I see and would use for myself.  If I wouldn’t buy it myself I won’t sell it.

 

Say I have a new mom friend, can you suggest a gift set that I can give her? What would you put in there?  A great gift is a bib, burp and blanket set with the child’s initial or a custom doll, personalized with hand embroidered name and matching  bib and burp set.  An anywhere blanket and matching onsee is also a very nice gift.

 

As a mom, when do you find time to work?  Usually at night when the kids are asleep but if I have several orders to get done my mom watches the kids.

  

What are you working on right now for the company? What can we expect in the future (new products, etc.) Girl inspired and lego inspired paintings also screen printed shirts with original designs.

 

Give me a local tip about your neighborhood..great restaurant, business, etc.  Westfield is having a restaurant week the week of the 21^st I believe.  Great places to eat.  Checkout westfieldtoday.com.

 

What mom moment made you cry?  I can’t say that I cry that often but some positive tears that always catch me off guard are firsts.  The first time my boys have an experience I always get emotional.  An example would be taking Mason to see his favorite prehistoric animals in the Museum of Natural History in NYC.  To see the awe and excitement in his eyes is just amazing to me and reminds me how blessed I am to have my boys.

You can find the Avant-Kids store on Etsy at: www.etsy.com/shop/avantkids

Their web site is at: www.avant-kids.com

Enter coupon code:  MIRA at checkout and you will get free shipping on any shirts. You make your purchase through paypal and they will reimburse you the shipping amount through paypal.
They always have free shipping on scarves and wrist cuffs. 

Here is my daughter, Audrey, modeling the heart shirt...perfect for Valentine's day! 

 

Work at Home Opportunity: Stella Dot

Recently, I attended the Pint Size Social holiday party (which was SO much fun, btw!) and I was able to peruse the other vendors in attendance. One person I wanted to talk to was the woman behind the Stella Dot table. I had heard about the jewelry, saw the web site, and knew that they offered women an opportunity to create a business around jewelry. 

Well, every time I circled around to her table she was busy with customers so after several tries I finally got to speak to her. I had to get the scoop on this business opportunity and see whether it was A) Legit! and B) profitable! The latter seemed to be true since it seemed she was racking up sales like a bandit. So, we traded cards and we did a little Q&A about her experience. Enjoy!

 

The History of Stella Dot

A few years ago, our founder and mother of two, Jessica Herrin, had a vision to create a new kind of company that would help today's busy woman thrive. As a successful entrepreneur, who co-founded WeddingChannel.com (yes, you saw her on Oprah!), Jessica wanted to use her talents to help solve the modern woman's dilemma. How to find a successful career you love that you can balance with a bustling life and family? Never satisfied with the status quo, Jessica felt too many of the existing home-based business opportunities offered ho-hum products, high pressure sales tactics, and limited marketing opportunities with a dated approach. Worse yet, far too of these "opportunities" just put inventory and supplies in people's closets, and no profits in their pockets.

Jessica's vision called for an entirely new concept--an opportunity that combined the best of direct sales with the ease of e-commerce and social networking to create an oh-so-doable business more flexible and lucrative, fun and stylish, than ever before. All built on a foundation of irresistible product and exceedingly personal service.

Stella & Dot is a company inspired by and created for strong women--just like you!

The Lowdown: How to get started as a rep, benefits, etc.

Your Stella & Dot start-up can be an easy, part-time way to earn $10,000 in six months, or a full-time career mentoring other Stylists and making six figures. It’s all up to you.  There is no requirement to build a team of stylists.  The effort you put into it will match the rewards you get out of it.  It costs $199 to get started.  You receive $350 in jewelry plus all the materials to launch your first few trunk shows.  I always like to loan my jewelry to a new stylist.  I know when I started I did not want to make a major investment in a lot of jewelry, so I borrowed a seasoned stylists’ collection.  The free jewelry credit I earned from my launch party, I used to invest in more jewelry for my business.  The rest is history! 

The benefits are indescribable, because I get such satisfaction sharing this brand new jewelry line with women.  They love finding that new style that no one knows about.  Yes, I am making great money selling the jewelry but the biggest reward is sharing the opportunity with women.  As a stylist I earn 30% on my sales.  We just had an incentive trip to Cabo. 

1.     How did you get involved in Stella Dot? How long have you been working for them?

I heard a friend mention that she had a friend selling Stella and Dot.  I like to think I am pretty in-the-know with current fashion and business; however I had never heard of this company.  I googled it while I was on the phone with my friend.  In 15 minutes I knew this was the business for me.  That was July 2009.   Since graduating business school I have not been able to satiate my inner entrepreneurial spirit and urge to be my own boss.  Stella and Dot is everything I want in my own business.  I just did not have to invent it and literally started making money from my first trunk show. 

2. How many hours a week do you put into it? What are the kinds of things you do for the business on a typical day?

I focus 10-15 hours per week and want to do more.  My calendar has been stacked with trunk shows in December since people are preparing for the holidays.  Funny though--most customers are buying for themselves right now.  Love it!   My method is – do a little Stella and Dot every day.  One day I may send 15 look books to potential hostesses.  Today I am sending follow-up emails to my customers to see how much they love their jewelry.  I work full-time too and have a 14 month old, so I make it all work.  I find myself falling more and more in love with Stella and Dot and right now I am looking to grow my team of stylists.  My goal is to spread the love in 2010! 

3. How do you work full time AND do this? Isn’t it overwhelming? Especially with kids? 

I have a great support system at home (my husband).  He works long hours too, but we keep a family calendar on the fridge.  I try to do one weeknight show per week and then leave the rest up to lunchtime and weekends.  So far, so very good!!!  I also have to tap into babysitters.  One piece of advice I got from other stylists is- start taking orders at your trunk shows right away.  You are not at the shows to party, you are there to make sales and earn free jewelry for your hostess. 

4. What personality traits do you need for this type of work?

Positive, Professional and Optimistic!  I used to think I was quiet and reserved.  Becoming a stylist has made me more confident networking with women and one might even consider me a fashionista now.  One thing I had to stay true to is “less is more.”  I go to trunk shows in jeans and a cute, basic tee or sweater.  Most girls do not need new clothes when times get tight, so I show my customers how Stella glams up the simplest things in their closet on a very reasonable budget.  You do not need a degree from FIT or an MBA to be a stylist--just a love for meeting new women and making them look and feel incredible. 

5. What kind of support does the company give you?

We have incredible training resources through S&D TV, and a customer support team that is amazing. We have our own Facebook called Stylist Space, so I network with other stylists, read their inquiries and share ideas.  There are open forum conference calls where stylists can dial in weekly and ask questions.  We have regional meetings where stylists get to network and share tips.  There is an annual meeting called “Hoopla” where stylists network, meet our leaders, designers and view a fashion show of the upcoming collection.  There is on-going training for stylists who want to emerge as leaders.  I can’t say enough amazing things about the support and incentives in place to help stylists to succeed. 

6. Is there a monthly membership fee? Annual dues? Monthly sales quotas or monthly purchase quotas? Do you keep inventory?

There is no monthly membership fee.  There is an annual stylist fee which is $59.  No sales quotas or montly purchase quotas.  I like to commit to 4-6 trunk shows per month.  I do not have inventory just samples which are also my best adverstising when I wear the samples.  I plan to sell my fall/holiday samples in January.  Most stylists will sell their retired samples and reinvest it into the new season samples.  Our spring/ summer collection launches January 15!   

7. Are there any perks that you particularly enjoy?

I LOVE earning the free jewelry.  It Is so rewarding for me to look at my free jewelry credit and business supply credits after I’ve done a few trunk shows.  It is so great to sit down and decide what new pieces I want for my trunk shows, and the dollars stay in my pocket.

8. What are some challenges to working as a jewelry rep?

I would say the biggest challenge is getting over that direct sales “ick” factor.  We’ve all been invited to those parties where you feel required to make a purchase.  Stella and Dot is so not.   I think that is what I love most about this company.  Women fall in love with the jewels and even make wish lists.  The minute they see our website or catalog--no explanation is needed.  They want to see more.  We have something for everyone- what we like to call affordable luxury. 

9. Why is this an ideal work at home opportunity for moms?

A stylist can book trunk shows whenever she likes.  She can host playdates, weeknight evenings, weekends, office lunch trunk shows--no one keeps tabs on her schedule.  I like to stick to 4-6 shows per month.  Of course if she does more, she earns a lot more.  I have to say I plan my Gymboree jewelry each week.  Everywhere you go someone wants your Stella and Dot.  I can almost sense other moms are saying “darn it, why didn’t I find this opportunity before this girl?”  It’s a slam dunk. 

10. What are your top sellers? What are your favorite pieces?

The initial charm necklaces are big sellers right now.  The Jasmine Gold Filigree (she is wearing them in the picture) and Garden Party Chandelier earrings are favorites amongst my customers.  My favorite is the Natasha embroidered bib necklace featured in People Magazine this month.  I resurrected a 7 year old little black dress and voila! 

 

11. What is a hostess and how much jewelry have your hostesses earned?

[Note: hostesses can be anyone who hosts a party for Ashley in their home, inviting their friends] My hostesses typically earn $250-$550 in free jewelry. They also earn 2-4 additional pieces at half off. 

12. Great! This sounds perfect…how does one get started?

Stylists sign up online using a credit card.  My stylist ID #102805.  I will be contacted when you sign up and make sure you know the tools Stella and Dot offeres.  We will discuss your launch trunk show and goals.  

If you are interested I (Mira) will be hosting a Stella Dot party at my house Either Wed. Dec. 30th or Sat. January 16th. Email me (miraspark@gmail.com) if you're interested (with the best date). Ashley will show her line for us and answer any questions about the stylist opportunity. 

 

To contact Ashley directly and check out her site:  

Ashley Travers: ashleytravers@gmail.com /www.stelladot.com/ashleytravers.

Q&A with co-owner of The Craft Lounge, Susannah Levy

I have heard great things about this store in Leonia and love how it supports local artists and builds community with local residents. I will definitely be taking a class in the future!

Susannah Levy is a former graphic designer; mother of 10-year-old Ollie and 8-year-old Maddie; lifelong dabbler in many crafts including knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, jewelry-making, glass etching, felting, and more; lover of polka-dots. Along with her sister, Kathy Pecht, and Jen Ballot, she is a co-owner of The Craft Lounge. You can find her online at: 

www.thecraftlounge.com; @thecraftlounge on twitter; The Craft Lounge fan page on facebook

Where is Craft Lounge located? How did you pick that location?

The Craft Lounge is located at 324 Broad Avenue, Leonia, NJ. Our store is in the heart of the business district and we love being right in the middle of town.

What is the story behind Craft Lounge? And when was it started?

For years, we had a knitting group that met every month or so at Kathy's house. A bunch of us would eat pizza and chat and knit — a perfect Friday evening. As time went on, people started bringing other crafts to work on — beading, embroidery, etc. We all loved bouncing ideas off each other, getting advice, and inspiring and encouraging each other.

 

We realized that the interest in handcrafted goods extended well beyond our little group, so we started putting on holiday craft fairs. Jen, Kathy, and I constantly talked about how great it would be to combine a place to buy handcrafted goods with a studio where we could teach crafts. Our talents compliment each other so well and we shared a vision, so when the retail space opened up, we knew it was a sign...

What are some of the criteria for items in your store?

Items should be attractive, well made, and affordable. We have made a real effort to keep the prices of our inventory as low as possible, because what we want most is to share our love of these handmade treasures. With all three of us weighing in on selecting items to carry, we make sure to have merchandise that will appeal to many types of buyers.

What makes your shop different from other specialty shops or a craft fair?

The Craft Lounge is a full-sensory experience: it's pretty, cozy (we've got the best comfy chair in town!), and it even smells great, thanks to our ever-changing selection of soaps. It's a destination for people who want to feel inspired or just relax and connect with friends and neighbors.

We are Leonia moms who have always tried to shop locally. Now that we are merchants, we are proud that about 50% of our roughly 100 artists are from Leonia. That's extraordinary when you're talking about a town of only 9,000 people. Also, when we opened The Craft Lounge nearly 18 months ago, we had just 20 artists, which means that in the space of a year-and-a-half, 80 artists have heard about us and jumped at the chance to be a part of our little community of artisans. 

The final piece to the puzzle is that in addition to being able to buy lovely things in our shop, you can learn how to make them. In our workshop area, we teach a  wide range of crafting classes to people of all ages and offer private parties for kids and adults.

  

What are some of your popular items? What's the most unique item you've ever sold?

We have a large selection of jewelry in a variety of price ranges, so that's certainly a big seller. Customers also love our soaps & candles, housewares, and items for babies and children. The great thing about our store is that we sell a little bit of everything. I'm not sure I could pick a most unusual item we've sold, since much of our merchandise is one-of-a-kind!

What kids of classes do you offer? What's the most popular class right now?

Among other crafts, we teach:

knitting & crochet

machine & hand sewing

sewing for boys

embroidery

soapmaking & candlemaking

glass etching

beading

greeting card design

and seasonal workshops for almost every holiday

Soapmaking is one of our most popular crafts because it's fun for ages 5 - 100. Whenever we offer soapmaking classes, whether for kids, adults, or both, they always fill!

Any suggestions for Christmas gifts for my family?

Where should I start?! We really do have something for everyone on your list:

Babies

modern baby quilts, $45 – $65

bibs, $12

soft toys, $9

felted booties, $28

Kids

reversible crayon aprons, $25

crayon rolls (in prints for boys and girls), $12

magic wands, $12

doll clothing (fits American Girl™ and other 18'' dolls), $5 – $25

"New Moon" earrings & necklace, $18 – $27 (HUGE with teens!)

Women

jewelry, $5 – $300

ceramics, $12 – $150

hats, scarves & gloves, $18 – $65

soaps & candles, $4 – $12

picture frames, $10 – $20

purses, $15 – $45

Men

clipboards & clocks made of upcycled computer parts, $45 – $225

ceramic mugs, $12 – $20

hand-turned wood pens w/wood box, $55 – $75

wool hats & scarves, $18 – $65

oil barrel candles, $8

musician figures made of upcycled computers & cell phones, $60 – $275

Plus, we have ornaments for everyone!

What if I'm just not "crafty" or I feel insecure about my artistic skills?

We take the intimidation factor out of crafting. We often hear the refrain "I'm not the least bit creative." These same people have made beautiful soaps in our studio; kids with no sewing experience have embroidered patches for their t-shirts and jeans and have created their own doll clothing. We love to teach craft classes to all levels and to bring out the creative juices in everyone. Best of all, people feel really good about themselves when they've made something completely by hand, especially if they've never done it before.

 

Who is your typical clientele?

Because of the multi-faceted nature of our business, our clientele varies. In the boutique, we get moms, teenagers, and a steady parade of husbands buying their wives gifts for birthdays & anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and of course, the winter holidays. As for classes, we teach everyone— boys & girls, adults, parent & child pairs, young women, and grandmothers. We do a lot of kids' parties, but we also do our share of private parties for the grownups — moms love to schedule a Mom's Night Out with their friends!

What are you working on right now?

We're always busy coming up with new workshops to teach. As for my own crafting, I've been crocheting cupcake ornaments, making personalized etched glass ornaments, and sewing some hot/cold therapy packs with removable flannel covers. I can never stick to just one craft! 

What can we expect in the future and how can moms help you get there?

We plan to offer even more classes, including a monthly Upcycled Craft. We'd also like to do more Charitable Crafting events like the Chemo Caps workshop we held in October. It's always helpful to have input from our customers as far as what crafts they'd like to learn.

Continuing to expand the inventory in our boutique is in the plan as well. To that end, the best thing anyone can do — not just for The Craft Lounge, but for all downtown business districts — is to patronize local independent shops and spread the word when you have a positive experience.

What do you have going on right now that I can get involved in?

We have a couple of spaces left in Saturday's Holiday Soapmaking workshop. (But hurry because they fill quickly!) Beginning next week, we'll be taking a break from classes for the holidays, but we'll be back in January with a slew of new classes, including Kids' Machine Sewing, Felting, Knitting Skills Refresher Workshop, Kids' Paper Beads, and Spa Night: Make Your Own Lip Balm. Until then, come on by to browse the shop, arrange a private class for a Mom's Night Out, or just chill in the lounge.

Do you have a local tip about Leonia? Great kids place, restaurant, park or mom's hang out? What do you like/dislike about the town?

My family and I love the new Italian restaurant, Fontana di Trevi, on Ft. Lee Road. The owners are delightful, the atmosphere is lovely, and the food is delicious. We've been there with our kids and without. It's a great way to have a date night but not break the bank on a sitter — no travel time!

I love Leonia and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. My kids' classrooms are culturally diverse, I can walk almost anywhere in town, and my neighbors are friendly. All that and I'm right across the bridge from NYC. What more could you want from a community?

Thanks, Susannah for those great tips and bravo to your and your co-owners for creating such a wonderful sanctuary for the community. I encourage any of you moms who need a break to get some friends together and get crafty!

Q&A with creator of The Wumblers, Laura J. Wellington

Recently, as we were walking to a restaurant in Ridgewood, I happened to stop in this store with my kids. My daughter instantly went crazy over these cute stuffed animals, Wumblers. You can pop them in and out of their watermelon "shell" and they are very soft and cuddly. I was also intrigued by Laura's inspirational story so I took her card to do an interview. I hope you do get to check out their show on TBN (DVR it!) Sat mornings or buy a DVD on their site. There is also an iPhone app that they've developed (some proceeds go to Tuesday's Child). More info can be found on their great site: Link here. A great cause and a great product!

 

Laura J. Wellington, CEO, co-founded The Giddy Gander Company LLC in 2006. In conjunction with these two ventures, Ms. Wellington is also the co-founder and active President of Wellington Consulting Company and Wellington Financial Systems where she has developed and supported IT pricing systems for the past 17 years. A former teacher, mother of four, and widow, Ms. Wellington's insight and understanding of children has proven itself invaluable to both her professional and personal lives. Her innovative accomplishments currently include the development of child related products geared toward making everyday parenting easier and extend into the mentoring of other young women. 

What is a Wumbler?  A Wumbler is a character born from a watermelon.  The Wumblers teach children social, global, and nutritional lessons that enhance children's lives and help make the world a better place to live.

 

What is the story behind Wumbler? And when was it started?  The Wumblers were created by myself Laura J. Wellington as a child; however, the business of Wumbling began in 2002, shortly after the tragedy of 9/11.  It was the death of my husband from cancer in 2001 combined with the travesty for so many other families resulting from 9/11 in 2002 that inspired me to commit my life to making the world a safer, more hopeful world for children.

How does your brand "mentor in children a sense of responsibility to humankind that will span lives and improve each generation's outlook and opportunity for a better tomorrow."?  The Wumblers takes sophisticated social, global, and fundamental lessons and breaks them down into simple messages surrounded by fun and play - the languages of children.  We don't just tell the child to "Help," we explain to the child the benefits of helping and how doing so will positively affect his/her life.  Instead of leaving these lessons to schools, we have launched creative ways beyond school walls that allow children to engage in this type of learning everyday.

What makes Wumblers different from other brands? The Wumblers is created by a mom of, soon-to-be, six children.  Like other moms, I found that much of what our children were watching on television was doing more harm than good and that too many important lessons were being left out.  In an effort to support parenting and family health, I created The Wumblers to share with other parents and families to ease the challenges of growing wonderful children in an environment where having too little time was an every day occurrence in all homes.  We also give a tremendous amount of money back to the community and specific charities close to our heart.

How did you come up with the name Giddy Gander and Wumbler?  We named our company The Giddy Gander Company in an expression of gratitude to our investors.  We also thought it was a fun name for a children's television and branding company.  I came up with the name the Wumblers partially after my late husband whose last name was Wellington.  I called the characters Bumblers until I met Dean.  Then I took the "W" from his surname and exchanged the "B" forming the word "Wumbler!"

How do you produce your DVD's? We have a licensee, Daywind, who produces and distributes them for us.

Where do you get story ideas from? Myself, my children, other series I find remiss in certain important lessons needing to be shared.  Basically, everywhere!

What's a sample story line that was popular?  When mom gets sick, Bertrum (the main Wumbler character) finds out how difficult it is to be a MOM! He sees what his Mom does on a daily basis regarding taking care of the family and at the end realizes he needs to take care of his Mom.

Can my kids watch Wumblers on TV?  Yes, please call your cable provider as to which network and channel you can see it on.  In Ridgewood, NJ, you can view it on Channel 68, Saturday mornings at 8:00am or 8:30am

How do kids respond to the Wumblers?  I've never met a kid that didn't go crazy over The Wumblers, especially our Baby Wumblers which are award winning plush toys. They can’t wait to hold one and squeeze and once they grab hold of it they don’t want to let it go.  We have gotten so many comments from Moms how their kids react to the show and the characters that it is wonderful.

Are there any other products or resources that are helpful for families in need--whether grieving a family member or coping with loss? Any that helped your children?  That's a very interesting question.  The best resource to help your children or family cope with a loss is "open communication" between parent and child.  Allow the child to grieve and don't hide your grieving either.  Kids need to understand that it's OK to be sad at any age.  Strength is not lost in sadness but in never allowing oneself to feel sad.  It is the only way one can turn the corner to being happy again.  We also did a promotion with Gilda’s Club in Hackensack which really is a wonderful place for families to go when dealing with a family member that has cancer.

What are you working on right now?  We are continuing to build The Wumblers brand and expand into retail.

What can we expect in the future and how can moms help you get there?  Every child should understand the importance of Wumbling to their own lives and the entire world.  Moms can help by getting the word out about The Wumblers brand.  I invite everyone to Wumble!

What's the best way to buy Wumbler products?  Best way is to come visit our retail store at 11 Oak Street in Ridgewood, New Jersey or on the web at www.wumblerpatch.com

Do you have a local tip about Ridgewood?  Great kids place, restaurant, park or mom's hang out?  Yes, the best cupcakes in Ridgewood, NJ, are sold at Natalie's!

How do you balance work and motherhood?  It's a new trick every day!  The bottom line is that I want to so I take each day as it comes and keep my priorities in order along the way!

 

Thanks, Laura, for your awesome answers. We are very lucky to have you in NJ! You're an inspiration to mompreneurs everywhere. A widowed mom of soon-to-be 6 kids with two thriving companies...I think I need some of that mentoring! I love how you honored your husband through the name, too. Wumblers is such a perfect and appropriate name! Best of luck to you and your company. And moms, be sure to get your Wumbler! (Store location: 11 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ)

Q&A with founders of Gift Hero, Lisa Fielding and Stefanie Katz-Rothman

Lisa Fielding and Stefanie Katz-Rothman are New York City moms living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  They have three young children between them, Lisa (7 year old boy, 6 year old girl) and Stefanie (5 year old boy).  Stefanie spent over 15 years in corporate America most recently at American Express and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.  Lisa began her career in packaged goods marketing and ultimately focused on not-for-profit organizations that benefit children around the world including Unicef and Save the Children.  At the time they started GIFT HERO, Lisa was consulting to not-for-profit organizations and Stefanie was in search of her next dream job.  They lived in the same apartment building and met through their children.  Their families became fast friends and playmates and Lisa and Stefanie discovered common ground in their desire to be entrepreneurs and build a business that filled an unmet need for busy moms.  They quickly decided that GIFT HERO filled such a big need in the marketplace that they decided to put all of their efforts behind it.

Lisa and Stefanie blog at www.giftheroblog.com and you can follow them on twitter @GIFTHERO or fan them on facebook (www.facebook.com/gifthero)

What is Gift Hero?

GIFT HERO sells the best selection of birthday and holiday gifts for children ages 2-10.  We have tested all of the gifts we sell and don’t offer anything we wouldn’t be thrilled for our own children to receive.  We have found what we believe to be the best toys for each age, gender and party-appropriate price point. We created an easy and quick search tool we call Gift Finder to help customers quickly find their gifts with 3 questions – What is the gender of the child? What is her age? What is your price range? In seconds, moms will see our favorite gifts ready to buy and ship.  

What gave you the idea for Gift Hero? When and how did you get it started?

The concept for GIFT HERO was to eliminate the “pain point” of buying gifts for kids’ parties.  With three young children between us, (Lisa (7 year old boy, 6 year old girl) and Stefanie (5 year old boy)) we had spent too much time staring at the overwhelming, yet unsatisfying, selection of toys in our local toy stores and at big online retailers trying to find that perfect gift…that we felt good about giving and the birthday child (and her mom) would love.  We knew there had to be a better, easier, more convenient way so we leveraged our years of corporate and not-for-profit experience and started GIFT HERO.  We launched our business on March 31, 2009.  We first started discussing the idea in May 2008 so it took us about 10 months from concept to first sale.

How often do you add items to your store? What criteria must the product meet before you will add it? Do you have a "toy philosophy"?

We regularly add items to our store.  Since we launched, as a result of customer demand, we added two new age categories – 8-10 year olds and 2 year olds.  Before the summer, we added wonderful gifts for outdoor play.  When we learn of (and try out) a wonderful new product, we will add it if it we believe it would be compelling to our customers and would add to our selection.  Our philosophy is that a toy must be educational, not available everywhere, and most importantly, work well as a gift for a birthday party.

What are the advantages of using Gift Hero as opposed to buying something at the store? 

There are several advantages.  First, we have a very carefully edited selection so our customers don’t have to sift through hundreds of choices.  Second, we built a search tool we call Gift Finder to make it super easy to navigate our store – 3 questions…gender, age, price range.  Third, we ship quickly.  Orders go out the next business day after we receive them and customers can ship to themselves or directly to the child/recipient.  Finally, our signature gift bag is wonderful and distinctive “wrapping” with an eco-spin. 

What has been some of the feedback from the kids who have gotten Gift Hero gifts?

We have received wonderful feedback from our customers saying that the gift recipient was thrilled with their gift. People are so relieved when their child gets an age appropriate gift that is also educational. One little 4 year old boy who received the Take Apart Crane was going to bed with it!

What challenges have you faced as a mompreneur? How did you overcome them?

Every day is a challenge…and an opportunity.  We are self-funded so we are extremely careful with every penny we invest in the business and we are often faced with tough choices.  We juggle parenting and the business and our children always come first so we often work late into the night.  We are lucky that we both have strong support systems and spouses that are very excited about what we are creating. 

What are your favorite products on Gift Hero? What are your kids' favorite products on Gift Hero?

Lisa’s personal favorite is the Buddha Board – our whole family uses it to express ourselves creatively.  Six year old Maya loves to draw and tell stories, and her favorite is the Create Your Own Pop-Up Books. Seven year old Josh loves sports – the sports guys by Kaskey Kids, including Soccer Guys, Baseball Guys and Football Guys, are his favorite. He often has multiple games going on around his bedroom! Five year old Benjamin loves to build and design, the Zoob toys in particular are a big hit with him.

Are there any companies that consistently produce great quality gifts/toys?

We only buy from companies that produce high quality gifts and toys! Some of our personal favorites are Mudpuppy for puzzles, University Games for games, International Playthings for pretend play and Superstructs for building sets.

What are you working on right now for Gift Hero?

Our focus right now is holiday and ensuring GIFT HERO is a go-to source for holiday gift giving.  We have updated our site with a holiday look, we are adding some new products to meet the needs of our customers, and we are aggressively marketing and doing press outreach to ensure our message is reaching our target. 

Just in time for the holidays, we also just added a new charity program to GIFT HERO.  Giving back has always been a core principle of our business.  Just in time for the holidays, we began a partnership with Ronald McDonald House of New York to help provide educational toys and games for their playroom.  We hope our customers will join us and will add a donation to their purchase to help us with this important effort. 

What can we expect in the future and how can moms help you get there?

You can expect us to always sell the best selection of gifts.  We will be adding younger ages over the next year or so – so many of our customers and colleagues have asked for this and it is paramount to us to meet the needs of our customers.  We will always stay true to our brand.  We are looking to add new features to our site including customer feedback and reviews, wishlists, and enhanced ways to donate.  Moms can help us get there by visiting our site, shopping with us and emailing us with their opinions, suggestions and ideas. 

How does Gift Hero work to improve the community in terms of service/giving? 

We feel very strongly about giving back and creating opportunities to teach children the value and importance of charity.  We want our children to realize how lucky they are and want every child to feels as fortunate as theirs do.  So, part of GIFT HERO is an opportunity to give back.  GIFT HERO works with children’s charities to provide gifts and experiences to children whose families can’t afford them.  When we launched, we worked with the Urban Horizon Head Start program in the Bronx, NY and together with our customers help fund an apple picking trip for the children in the program.  We are very excited to share that we are now working with Ronald McDonald House of New York and will be filling their “wishlist” of educational toys and games for their playroom.

Here is a typical scenario...I have a gift to buy for a 4year old girl coming up. How do I use your site to find the perfect gift? Any deals right now I can take advantage of? Do you do gift wrapping, too?

Visit us at www.gifthero.com and use our Gift Finder.  Just select 4 year old, girl, and a price range (or all price ranges).  Click GO! and within seconds you will see our choices.  We don’t offer traditional gift wrapping.  We designed a fabulous, eco-friendly and reusable gift bag.  Just pull the drawstring and your gift is “wrapped.”  There is no paper waste and no need to find a bag for your gift.  We are currently offering free shipping for orders over $75.  We believe our prices are fair and our service is wonderful. Keep your eyes open over the next couple of weeks as we are partnering with some great sites for moms and will have some additional offers out there.

Give me a local tip about your neighborhood...great kids place, kid friendly restaurant, awesome school or mom's pampering place...

The best thing about our neighborhood is Central Park.  We live in the most exciting city in the world and only a few blocks from Central Park where there are places to run around, awesome playgrounds, and big rocks to climb.

We also love Gobo for vegetarian Asian food (Benjamin’s favorite), Dakshin and Chennai for Indian Food, Tasti Delite for ice cream. 

What is the best gift you've ever received?

Lisa - A photo album of my kids’ pictures that my husband and kids put together for me.

Stefanie – My grandmother’s engagement ring which my husband then re-set with rubies when my son was born.

What's the best gift your child has ever received? 

 Josh – Snap Circuits Jr.

Maya – Fold N Go Dollhouse

(Both available at GIFT HERO)

Benjamin – a huge box of LEGO that was his Dad’s as a kid – shipped to us from AZ from his grandparents, Viking Toys Chubbies Bucket of Vehicles (also sold at GIFT HERO)

How do you feel about "regifting"?

At GIFT HERO, we are believers in regifting.  This might sound counterintuitive for a gift retailer but regifting is easy, convenient and can help get a gift into the hands of the right person (or, in our case, child).  If your child receives a gift he already owns, gets more than one of the same popular toy, is given a gift that is completely age-inappropriate or is sent a toy that is not consistent with her interests (like a tomboy who gets a ballet puzzle) stash it away in your closet and save it for an upcoming birthday party.  Guaranteed, it will be the perfect gift for someone else as long as you choose wisely.  

There is just no reason for the expense of driving to a store to return or exchange a gift (assuming you even have a gift receipt) or paying return postage to ship back a gift you received from an online store.  At GIFT HERO, while we do accept returns, we don’t get many because our gifts are wonderful and we know our customers will be proud to give them to another child should they not be appropriate for their own son or daughter.  There is nothing to be ashamed of when regifting, but be sure to remove any tags or cards with the name of the original recipient!

How do you balance work and motherhood? 

We balance work and motherhood by being flexible, relying on each other and trying to have a sense of humor.  Our families come first and we are both very lucky to have wonderful spouses who believe in us and in GIFT HERO.

Thank you so much for a great interview, Stefanie and Lisa. And best of luck to your company...can't wait till the wishlists are activated and I can start building my wishlist! MB

Q&A with Momma Couture founder Rashmi Budhram

Recently, I went to the Baby Show event put on by Big City Moms and Cookie Magazine in NYC. It was great seeing all the vendors and to be able to try out some free samples. One vendor really impressed me--Momma Couture diaper bags. And, I loved the fact that Rashmi is also a mompreneur. Her bags are attractive (nice, neutral colors) and not too expensive. A great combo right there! Plus, it has all the features of a soft sided cooler due to some great technology. So here's the lowdown on her and her budding venture!

Rashmi Budhram is a native Philadelphian but now a New York convert for the past decade who had a career in corporate America for over 10 years in Sales, Marketing, and Product Development. Before becoming a mom Rashmi was always looking for the ultimage handbag and her quest only became more obsessive when she had Anjali (almost 4) and Arin (almost 2). As she searched high and low for he ultimate diaper bag, ultimately this obsession and strong push (okay, scream) from her husband led to designing the first Momma Couture bag. Momma Couture launched in March 2009. The sole Momma behind this operation, Rashmi is busy working full, part and overtime on making it a success. While not busy working on new designs and toting her kids around, usually wearing a Momma Couture bag, you can find her on Twitter: Link here. And Facebook: Link here. 

What is unique about Momma Couture bags?

Momma Couture bags are insulated to keep wipes moist and contents of bottles/sippy cups at the right temperature (City Bag, shown right, $150). There is a unique on the go wipes pockets within some of the bags so that parents can simply store the wipes directly in the appropriate pocket. There is also a fully insulated wristlet-- Momma’s City Bag Wristlet—which was designed to keep wipes moist or snacks fresh while on the go. Both the unique on the go wipes pocket and Momma’s Wristlet eliminate the use of plastic boxes or plastic bags traditionally used to store wipes and snacks. Also, items are kept warm or cold for up to 4 hours. You can use an ice pack too if you so desire but I don't. 

The other main feature that makes the bags unique is that they are CPSIA compliant. What that means is that all the materials used to create the bags—fabric and hardware— meet the CPSC lead and phthalate requirements mandated for apparel, toys, bottles and other items used for kids 12 and under. Kids put everything and anything into their mouths and the thought of a child putting a piece of the bag in their mouth and having lead/toxins emitted into them just didn’t sit well with me. 

What gave you the idea for Momma Couture?

After I had my first child I could not find the right diaper bag for my needs.  I was trying to use my own bags and of course spilling milk in them and ruining them...not good! I wanted something that could keep the snacks and milk I was always carrying around at the right temp and wanted something that was of neutral color that I actually wanted to carry around. Many of the bags are small enough to be carried as an additional bag to your own. A lot of the women I have spoke to just want to carry their own handbags around after a certain point and just need a little bag for their kids stuff. Hence the design of my first bag the Momma’s Helper, then came the Stash & Go and the designs kept coming after that.

 

Momma's Helper, $160

When and how did you get it started?

I really dedicated myself to the company back in July of 2008 and launched in March of 2009. With my first design actually sketched back in 2007, but of course filed away right after it was sketched b/c I was so busy in my corporate job and became pregnant with my second I forgot about it. 

Are there any other bags out there that have the same features? 

There are other bags that do have insulation in them, however the on the go wipes pockets and Momma’s Wristlet are unique to my collection. The neutral colors used in the collection are what other say are unique to them as well. 

What is your favorite product from the line? Which ones do you use the most often? What are the hot sellers so far? 

That’s a hard one I find I use the different bags for different situations so can’t say there’s just one. However, I do find that I am using the city bag most often.  It’s so easy to use when I’m with and without the kids b/c of it’s size and it let’s me keep my hands free. I also use the Momma’s helper a lot b/c I send my daughter’s lunch in it for school. The Stinky Bum (pictured below, $55) is the other one that I seem to be gravitating to when I go out with the kids for dinner,  quick trips out or parties b/c it’s  just so fun. It has room for both my kids stuff and my stuff, and the STINKY BUM lettering makes me laugh  every time I pull it out! 

All the bags are doing well b/c they are so different, but if I had to pick my top 3 it would the city bag, playdate, and stinky bum. 

What are you working on right now for Momma Couture? New products? Marketing? Production?

It seems that I’m always working on everything at the same time. However, a large part of this year’s focus was product and production so I’m excited to be really focusing on the marketing aspect of my business right now. It’s just so fun interacting with Momma’s, like yourself, and getting to go to events to show off the bags and hear people’s opinions, and the needs they have as parents in their diaper bags. 

What can we expect in the future and how can moms help you get there?

You should expect more great products from the line and that all our products will remain CPSIA compliant! I do plan on expanding the line however, with 2 collections launched within the first 6 months I’m going to take a bit of a rest from adding any new bags until probably next spring...stay tuned. As for how Moms can help get the brand out there I would have to say is to use the product and tell your friends!  I have found as a parent some of the best products I use are b/c they were recommended by another parent. 

Give me a local tip about your neighborhood...great kids place, kid friendly restaurant, awesome school or mom's pampering place...

We live in Cobble Hill Brooklyn. Our neighborhood is very kid friendly—lots of parks, kid friendly restaurants across a lot of different cuisines which I love for my kids to try and great places to take my kids to classes for music, dance, etc. It’s also great that we live 10 minutes outside of the downtown manhattan where we love to take our kids. 

I love how affordable your bags are and how simple yet stylish they are. Any plans to change the design or the price points? 

Thank you!  I plan on always having my staples which is what you see in the collection now across both fabric options. I wouldn’t expect to see changes in these staple designs, but there will definitely be little details that may change/added to make them even better. I do plan on adding more bags in the future, and the plan is to keep at the price points the collections are currently at.  

Stash and Go, pictured, $57. 

How do you keep your diaper bag clean? I find I buy inexpensive ones because inevitably I have to get a new one when it gets too dirty. Cookie crumbs, pen marks, and dirt are the major offenders for me!

I’m a big fan of dustbusters, especially the one’s with nozzles that can get into hard to reach places. This is how I clean most of the inside of my bags except for the ones that have linings that you can pull out I use a cloth, specifically set aside for this purpose, with a little bit of water. This works for both the inside and outside of all the Momma Couture bags.

What is your ideal diaper bag? 

This is a great question! Even though I design diaper bags you would think I would say one of my designs which most of the time is true, but just like you don’t have the ideal child I truly don’t believe I’ll ever design or find the ideal diaper bag or handbag for that matter! I’m always thinking of ways they can be better. Also, I have found that my diaper bag needs change as my kids get older. The one thing that has stayed constant as I use different diaper bags is that they need to be insulated as I honestly believe that I will always need to carry around a bag with snacks and drinks for my kids! 

What mom moment made you cry? 

My there are a lot of these. Most recently it was when my daughter (almost 4) was not feeling well and my son (almost 2) was trying to sing her Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star as she was laying down trying to rest. 

How do you balance work and motherhood? 

This question assumes I am balancing both! I don’t do a great job of balancing work and motherhood. I find myself working when I’m with my kids and thinking about my kids when I’m working...all I can say is a Happy Momma makes for a happy family so in my case working makes me happy which makes me a better Momma so it’s a good balance. 

To purchase any items, visit her website:  http://www.mommacouture.com/index.html

Playdate, $245 (left)

Satchel, $165 (below)