Fusion Pilates

Meet Jennifer from Fusion Pilates!

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Jennifer Gianni. I've been in the mind/body field for over 20 years. My specialty is fitness for pre and post natal women. (details, celebrity clients and press at: http://www.fusionpilatesasheville.com/jennifer.php)

What is your business and where can we find it?

My fitness DVD business is called Fusion Pilates. We offer exercise dvds at www.fusionpilates.com. I also own and direct a Pilates studio in Asheville, NC (www.fusionpilatesasheville.com)

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

It is! I had no aspiration to start making exercise dvds. But when I became pregnant with my first child - I suddenly realized that there was not a lot of good information about fitness for pregnant women. And I wasn't sure I could trust the info that was out there. So - I did tons and tons of research, I collaborated with doctors and doulas, and experimented with many different ideas that were both safe and effective. This is how I created Fusion Pilates for Pregnancy. I started teaching that at my studio in Los Angeles, CA - and a pregnant client who was going out of town begged me to make a little video for her to take with her. I did - and that grew into what is now Fusion Pilates DVDs.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

For me, the creative part of entrepreneurship is what I enjoy. Coming up with ideas that might be helpful for other people. If the idea is good - the business part seems to take care of itself.

Where else can people find you?

Our DVD's are available at www.fusionpilates.com. We are also on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Pilates-Asheville/51272186445

Anything else you’d like to share?

I guess the biggest thing we try to put out there is the fact that I created my program for myself when I was searching for a way to stay in shape effectively - but most importantly - safely. Pregnancy can be a stressful time - so it's great to have a workout you don't need to worry about!

* I received a product to review.

Sweet Baby Cakes ‘n More

Melissa at Sweet Baby Cakes ‘n More makes some adorable diaper cakes!  You’ll also find some great gifts for Mom, Dad, and Baby.  Find out a little bit about her and the business and check out some of her creations . . .

Tell us a little about you . . .
My name is Melissa Lampugnano and I live in St. Augustine Florida with my 3 year old daughter. Life is hectic but fun to say the least. I work full time, raise my daughter, and try to grow my home business. Each having their challenges and joys.
What is your business and where can we find it?
Sweet Baby Cakes n More is an online store (www.sweetbabycakesnmore.com) that offers creative gifts for baby, mommy, and daddy. Our specialty would have to be our diaper cakes! Diaper Cakes are the perfect gift for a baby shower or as a centerpiece. They are cute, practical, and affordable. You can also find pre baby (mommy to be and daddy to be), baby gift baskets, diaper cupcakes, and others.
Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?
It is mom-owned and all the items on my site show my creative side being expressed. I created the site after I had my first child and was given a diaper cake as a congratulatory gift. I looked on the site that it was bought off of and thought, “Wow that is expensive”. I knew I could provide the same high quality unique product at a lower cost. I started experimenting and fell in love with the designing and creating of new ideas. I have been passionate about my products and business ever since I created my first diaper cake and I continue to strive for success in my venture.
A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?
It has not been easy to market and get my business profitable. I have a full time job and 3 year old daughter and my side business gets the time outside of these two. It’s my hobby. I try to be resourceful since I do not have the funds to market to the extent I would like. But I have found some great ways to market through research and other moms trying to do the same thing. Each sale or praise is a success in my journey and keeps me forging on to share my products with everyone.
Where else can people find you?
We can be found at: www.sweetbabycakesnmore.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Diaper-Cakes-by-Sweet-Baby-Cakes-n-more/100352693358772?ref=sgm
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SweetBabyGifts
Blog: http://sweetbabycakesnmore.wordpress.com/
Anything else you’d like to share?
I love to network with other entrepreneur moms to share marketing and business ideas. I get very excited every time I reach out to someone or someone reaches out to me. My only hope is that I learn, grow, and prosper in my business and/or am able in some way to help others in theirs.
We are heavily involved in giving back to by donating products and profits to different charities - http://www.sweetbabycakesnmore.com/agoracart55/giving.php

A Great New Networking Site for Moms! Built by Dad. :)

www.socialtoddler.com 

Meet Rich from Social Toddler!

Tell us a little about you . . .
My name is Rich Rotzang, I’m the Founder of Social Toddler and the father of a 2.5 year old little girl named Libby.

What is your business and where can we find it?
Social Toddler (http://www.socialtoddler.com) is a social networking platform for parents that are looking for ways to keep their young children busy. Members can find playgroups, plan playdates, meet local parents, and find local activities. The site operates in the United States and Canada.
Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?
It’s mom inspired, and dad built. I actually came up with the idea for the site because my wife needed a better way to stay connected with her playgroup. When our daughter was born, my wife started going to a mommy and me class. All of the women in the group were first time moms so there was a lot of information being shared back and forth via email – everything from product recommendations to playdate appointments. I saw this and thought that if we could create a place online for moms that know each other to communicate, it would simplify their day-to-day activities. This was the original inspiration behind the site.
A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?
Getting started is always the toughest part, or so I’ve been told. At a certain point in my life, I made the decision that I wanted to be in control of my future. Once the idea of Social Toddler came to me, I made the leap.
Because my background is in marketing, and not engineering, I needed someone that could actually build the site. So, I brought on a former colleague of mine, Neeraj Mittal, to be my partner and Co-Founder – without him, it would not have been possible to build the site. It took some time to get the site up and running, we tested, re-tested, built, re-built and did tons of research before we were confident that we could go to market.
Even with all that, it’s always interesting to see how customers react to the features you build, and how they end up using the site. No matter how much research you do, or how much you think you know, there is no substitute for real users interacting with the site. To this day, we rely heavily on customer feedback when building new features.
Where else can people find you?
We’re on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/socialtoddler) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/socialtoddler) and we also have a blog at blog.socialtoddler.com
Anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to playgroups, playdates, and activities, we also work with a number of well known parenting experts who write articles and answer user questions. Our experts are also business owners, who themselves have had unique and interesting entrepreneurial journeys.

Get that lotion on your OWN back with Body Buddy!

http://www.bodybuddy.com/

It’s a little late in the summer to be telling you about this simple, yet amazing product to help you apply sunscreen, but not to worry, it has many uses year round!  We just got back from a beach vacation and the Body Buddy was a helpful companion.  It is such a simple idea and an easy way to apply sunscreen or lotion on your back. 

This summer, my son had swim lessons every day at the local pool.  Sunscreen was a must for all of us and this product made it easy for me to make sure I had it on my back too.

Read below or check out their website for the many other uses for the Body Buddy.  There are some great new products you can try out as well! 

Get 25% off your order with coupon code mommysidea.com!

 

Meet Michelle from Body Buddy

(Entrepreneurs you should definitely read about her experiences!)

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Michelle Meier and I have the Body Buddy non-absorbent Lotion Applicator Band (yep what a mouthful)—it is basically an applicator BAND/strap that makes it quick and easy to apply any skin care product you want to your own back (Sunscreen, Lotion, Medication, Aloe if you didn’t have it to apply sunscreen, and I could go on. I am responsible for the small task of letting the whole world know about this one fabulous product (although there are quickly going to be more to come) It is the greatest thing since sliced bread, however it is like trying to explain what a spatula is before it was a household item—whisk would be easier- because the noun and description fall right in line with the action of the item! You know how one/you can never reach to apply lotion, sunscreen, medication, basically anything to one’s/your own back? From this moment on watch people try to get sunscreen on their back, much less reapply when you are having a moment of peace and quiet, it is really quite amusing. Well now you can!

What is your business and where can we find it?

Body Buddy Company

www.bodybuddy.com

www.blog.buddy.com

http://www.facebook.com/BodyBuddyCo

http://www.twitter.com/@bodybuddyco

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

Absolutely! This handy little number is actually my mommy’s idea. Ever heard “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”? This is definitely THAT product! My mom, lovingly referred to as the Queen Mother, invented, designed, sewed, and patented the product, herself. She actually is the inventor, we work alongside my sisters and now she takes care of her grandbaby, STILL sews, and works on other product ideas.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

There is not enough space on Deanna’s website for me to share “just a little” about so far. As I said earlier about the explanation of a one-of-a-kind product referring to the spatula, this is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. At first my mom was sewing them and just selling them locally, she still sews them as well as our new products, but does have help now. Then we tried going to market(s) and did we get the biggest eye opening experience of our lives. The internet has changed everything or now I should say technology has changed everything, but we were in a SEA of large companies with hundred of companies, and here we are with our one little but FABULOUS product! Thousands of people walking by thinking they know what it is!!! They would say to whomever they were speeding by our very expensive…a back scratcher, one of those thing you dry off with, a loofah, and again I could go on. And then men would stop a say I’ve got my bodybuddy and point to their wife. We did sell a few, but no one every re-ordered because—BACK to the spatula issue (pun intended) with their employee and then customers-no one knew what it was! We went home and regrouped.

I work full time and went to training for 10+weeks in the winter in PA and one of the guys in my training class said that’s it I’m sending this in to QVC and then he actually did! They were having a product search and long story very short we were chosen to be on their show Top 100 products of the decade for a Decade of Discoveries tour. I sold 2172 body buddies with 766 on back order in less than 4 minutes of my 8 minute segment (dry mouth, stage fright, and all).

Longer story even shorter—we thought this was great-ESTA ARRIVE’ We had arrived. We went to a few markets and every time we would be singled out. CBS Early Show featured us as 1 of 6 products “Beauty Products on the Way,” “Top Editor’s Picks” in Beauty, Spa, and Gift Magazines, and we were even on “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch”. We met lots of friends that we still keep in touch with and I am back working full time and doing this at ohhhhh right now 4:00AM. You can find out more about us and what mistakes NOT to make on my blog blog.bodybuddy.com

Where else can people find you?

www.blog.buddy.com

http://www.facebook.com/BodyBuddyCo

http://www.twitter.com/@bodybuddyco

Anything else you’d like to share?

If you have an idea. GO FOR IT. I mean absolutely go for it but do NOT quit your day job. If you have any questions feel free to email me. I have more to say on this too but I’ve already gone on too long. Oh and if any tv shows call and want to feature YOUR fabulous product on their show for a “nominal fee” so that they know your invested and believe in your idea—DO NOT DO IT! In my humble little at least $30,000 poorer self opinion! (yep that was one—we did 2, so there you go) my email is michelle@bodybuddy.com

Wishing you a moisturized back,

Michelle

Win a Pre-filled Ouch Pouch TM!

(Can’t wait to see if you’re the winner?  Head on over to PillowSewCute.Etsy.com and get yours now- if you’re the winner, you’ll get a full refund!)

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit PillowSewCute.Etsy.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us what pattern you like best.
3.. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)

-Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
-Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
-Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
-Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
-Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
-Tweet about this giveaway. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Open worldwide.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, December 5, 2009.

Meet Karen from Pillow Sew Cute

Tell us a little about you . . .

Karen, married 26 years, 2 grown children (1 cop, 1 student) SanDiego Native. Creative merchandiser for beautiful Home Decor/Garden Arts Shop.

What is your business and where can we find it?

Ouch Pouch(TM) For all your monkey's scrapes and boo boo's..... is a hand held pouch using the most updated designer fabrics, both "mom fashionista" and "child-friendly " with a clear view front pocket. Snaps closed with a colorful cowgirl snap. It holds all necessary first aid supplies for your toddler's little boo boo's and emergencies that happen while out at the park, beach, or anywhere on-the-go! Small enough to fit in your purse, backpack, stroller, or car, but large enough to hold: Neo-to-Go, band aids, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, headache meds, an inhaler, travel sized sun block, a small thermometer, (for us California babies!) It also has room for a lollipop...which of course makes the boo boo go away! With an Ouch Pouch(TM) you will no longer be scrounging at the bottom of your purse for a band aid!  The clear vinyl front pocket makes everything visible so you know right where to find your supplies in a hurry.

This is a New Mommy "Must-Have".

PillowSewCute.Etsy.com

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

I woke up at 2am one morning this last July shaking my husband...Honey, wake up!! I have an idea!! and the Ouch Pouch was born. It is in Trademark /Copyright process. Each pouch is handmade to order. I try to keep up on the latest styles of fabrics to keep it fresh. They sell for under $6 (empty) + shipping. They also come "Basic-Loaded" & "Super-Loaded" for more instant gratification.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

I have had more fun watching people interested in such a unique product and have had wonderful feedback. I have sold pouches to customers as far as Tasmania, Spain, Amsterdam, Italy, Cypress and have a distributorship offer in The UK. The best part about this...I get to buy FABRIC!  (I have sold for baby showers & 2 weddings)!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I have a few specials going on... 3 for $15. buy 4 get 5th one free

Win a Women’s Day Planner from Chaos Simplified!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://www.chaossimplified.com/.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us why you could use this planner.
3.. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)

-Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
-Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
-Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
-Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
-Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
-Tweet about this giveaway. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Open worldwide.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, December 6, 2009.

 

Meet Corri from Chaos Simplified

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Corri Bitner, I am the owner and designer of the ‘Chaos . . . simplified’ Womans Day Planner. My husband and I have 3 children (13, 8 and 6) that we homeschool and I also work part time for an oil company. Life is crazy and intense, but I wouldn’t change if for the world!

What is your business and where can we find it?

The ‘Chaos . . . simplified’ Womans Day Planner is designed to be ‘your world at your finger tips’. As a mom it’s so easy to get scatterbrained with all the responsibilities that we take on. Having everything together makes things just that much more manageable so you can actually take a minute to breath!

The feature that makes it completely innovative is that you no longer have to choose between the ‘month at a glance’ view, which gives you the big picture or the ‘week at a glance’ option that offers you the space you need to plan!

Another main focus is to keep everything ‘finances, goals, birthdays and anniversaries, priorities and even your supper plan’ all at your finger tips!

It is for sale on my website at www.chaossimplified.com.

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

It is definitely, in all aspects, mom all the way!

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

My ‘journey’ began about 10 years ago. I was always striving to find the perfect day planner to make life ‘work’, to assist me in all the crazy elements that made up my life. I searched high and low and although I came across some really amazing ones along the way, nothing ever really seemed to 'click'. About 3 years ago I had a creative minute (I still don't know really where I found that spare minute never mind the creative part of it), I announced to my husband that I was going to just make my own! I showed him my idea and he said "Why don't you get it published"! Poor guy, ever since he made that statement he's definitely lost some hair over it!

It’s definitely been an uphill battle at times, in so many ways. I definitely have learned to look back at all of it and see the positive through it. I’ve confirmed something about myself through it, being told ‘no, it can’t be done’ only makes me all the more determined to do it!

Anything else you’d like to share?

My future vision for Chaos . . . simplified is to look for the unique, innovative products that make a woman’s/mom’s life that much more simplified and to make it ‘chick’ and fun at the same time. I’d love to hear what this kind of a product is for all those busy moms out there, so if you have a minute let me know!

Win a Custom Digi Invitation from Oh My Gluestick!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit Oh My Gluestick.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us what your Digi Invitation would be for.
3.. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)

-Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
-Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
-Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
-Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
-Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
-Tweet about this giveaway. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Open worldwide.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, November 28, 2009.

Meet Tommie of Oh My Gluestick

Tell us a little about you . . .

I’m a mommy of two beautiful little monkeys who are my inspiration and reason for being.

What is your business and where can we find it?

Oh My Gluestick is a fun little shop featuring fun little party items. The specialty, of course is monkey & sock monkey invitations, cake toppers, & cupcake toppers. I have recently had a frenzy of sock monkey wedding cake topper requests. They are adorable!

Visit me at ohmygluestick.com

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

OMG is mom-owned, invented, created, operated, and loved.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

I have met some amazing people since I opened the little shop in May. It has been a fun experience creating items for parties other than my own.

Where else can people find you?

I blog at http://ohmygluestick.blogspot.com

You can Facebook me at http://www.facebook.com/ohmygluestick.OMG

Tweet me at http://twitter.com/OhMyGluestick/

Email me at ohmygluestick@yahoo.com

Anything else you’d like to share?

I love custom items and the challenge of creating something for someone that I’ve never done before. I love bringing an idea from someone’s head to life.

Win a Blog Makeover from The Design House!

Here’s the fabulous designer who created our brand new look at Mommy’s Idea!  Does your blog need a makeover?  Enter to win a standard blog makeover from the design house!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://thedesign-house.blogspot.com/
2. At the site, become a follower, click on the giveaways at  'mommy's idea' link and leave a comment on why you need a makeover so bad.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

**You are welcome to leave a comment here, however, winner will be picked from the design house website.

Open worldwide.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, November 22, 2009.

Win a Fun Faces Notepad from Cayenne Paper!

http://cayennepaper.com

 

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://cayennepaper.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite product.
3.. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)

-Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
-Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
-Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
-Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
-Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
-Tweet about this giveaway. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Open to US residents.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, November 22, 2009.

Meet Katie from Cayenne Paper

Tell us a little about you . . .
I’m Katie Tardiff and I am the owner and designer (and only employee) of Cayenne Paper: Invitations, Stationery, and Personalized Gifts with FLAVOR! I am also a mother of 2 ½ year old boy/girl twins and work full time as a speech pathologist and preschool special education teacher. I am originally from New Orleans (hence the name of my company) but we now live in the DC metro area.

What is your business and where can we find it?
Cayenne Paper is an online store specializing in anything and everything monogrammed! I have a large line of products ranging from invitations, stationery, sterling silver jewelry, purses/totes, children’s clothing and shoes, towels, tableware, and much more! You can find all of my products on my website: www.cayennepaper.com

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?
I am the sole person behind my business and do it all myself (with the occasional help from my husband to tie bows at the last minute!). I have always had a love for stationery and paper products and found myself as a teenager browsing through the aisles of paper stores and spending my allowance on personalized stationery. Later on, I started making my own stationery to save money and to customize it to my style. Whenever a friend or family member needed an invitation to a party or shower, I was right there to volunteer to make them. After a while and a very bad day at work, my husband mentioned that I should try to make this into an online business, so that’s exactly what I did.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?
My husband is an attorney, so naturally I let him take care of all of the logistics of starting my own business. He found out just how easy it is to set up an in-home business, so after a trip down to the county office with some paperwork, I was officially in business. I had no idea how to even make a website, so I bought some software which I had NO idea how to use. I purchased a manual for it (over 500 pages), browsed through the basics of how to get online and made my site with about 30 products for sale. Most of my orders were word-of-mouth, but I did manage to get orders from around the country. Now, I have over 1500 different products online and keep adding more daily! The best thing I have done for my business is to join the community at Merchant Moms (www.merchantmoms.com) for my webhosting and e-commerce store development. From there, I’ve learned a few tricks about how to get traffic to my site and it is starting to really pay off!

Where else can people find you?
I have a blog attached to my Cayenne Paper website and also am on Facebook and Twitter.

Win a Gift Certificate to Remarkable Tributes!

What is a Remarkable Tribute?

We help groups of friends and family create a tribute for someone's special occasion or event. Remarkable Tributes gives you new ways to appreciate, collaborate and celebrate!

• Tribute books are the perfect personalized gift!
• Collaboration tools help you involve friends and family, no matter where they live
• Easy to use, with no software to download
• you publish it in a book or on the web.

Show someone how much you care, while saving yourself a ton of time, with Remarkable Tributes.

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://remarkabletributes.com/.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us why you’d love to win this.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to residents of the US.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, July 19, 2009.

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Jennifer Davis. I am a mom of two, wife of nearly 16 years, a daughter, aunt, niece, sister, and a technology executive. I developed Remarkable Tributes to make it easier for people to honor people that they love with a lasting, personalized keepsake gift.

What is your business and where can we find it?

Remarkable Tributes joins friends and family to create a tribute to celebrate someone’s special occasion, be it a birthday, graduation, baby blessing, or anniversary. You can find it at http://www.RemarkableTributes.com. You can see more about Remarkable Tributes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9urRXbQzZs.

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

Yes and yes.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

The business idea started to percolate in May of 2007 when we celebrated by grandmother’s 85^th birthday. You can see more about the inspiration behind Remarkable Tributes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_T9u0g1fBA. Later that year, the concept was defined, the development team chosen, and work began early in 2008. The site went through several private pilot stages, starting with family and friends, before launching officially in January of 2009.

Where else can people find you? (blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)

Twitter: @RemarkableTweet

Blog: http://www.ARemarkableBlog.com

Facebook: Remarkable Tributes Inc. (become a fan!)

I also maintain a personal blog (about things related to technology and innovation) at http://jenniferbdavis.blogspot.com.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Remarkable Tributes make a great baby gift, for the mom-to-be or the baby as a way to compile greetings, blessings, and pictures from family and friends. You can see an example of such a baby blessing tribute at http://Claire.isRemarkable.com.

Win a Pendant from Squares of Flair!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit squaresofflair.etsy.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite item.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to US residents.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

 

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Emily and I am 38. I am a busy mom to boy/girl twins who are in the second grade and a son who is 5. I have been happily married to my college sweetheart for almost 14 years now. We moved to a small suburb of Boise, Idaho 4 years ago, but are originally from Portland, Oregon. I used to work for a dot.com and then my twins came along and I’ve been home with them ever since.

What is your business and where can we find it?

I am the owner of Squares of Flair. I make Scrabble tile pendants, bookmarks, key chains, rings and hair clips that are personalized, affordable, stylish and fun!

Last year I wanted to make a photo pendant of my children so I researched Scrabble tile jewelry online and learned how to make one. My friends loved it and told me that I should sell them. So in October I started Squares of Flair on Etsy (squareofflair.etsy.com) and it has been a lot of fun!

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

Yes, it is 100% mom-owned, invented and created! I do all of the work out of my home in between taking care of my family and running the household.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

It is a lot more work than I ever expected it to be! It is wonderful to be working from home so I have the flexibility to put work time in when it fits my schedule, but also, there is that feeling that there is always something that needs to be done. It just never goes away and it makes it difficult to relax. It is important to set a schedule and keep to it and make time for family (and myself) as well. But I love that it is something I have complete control over and I can make it into whatever I want it to be. I am looking forward to branching out into local craft fairs this summer and getting my products out into the community.

Where else can people find you?

I’m on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/squaresofflairetsycom/44499147447

And I love to offer discounts to fans!

I’m also on Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/squaresofflair

And on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squaresofflair

Anything else you’d like to share?

I love to do custom orders for clients as well as fundraisers. Recently I did a fundraiser for the YMCA Strong Kids program in which I created a tile with the definition of the word “strong.”

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=22906297&ga_search_query=strong&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6349293

I’ve also done a fundraiser for a school and the MAGIC Foundation. Send me an email if you want to develop something for your organization. They have been very popular!

You can see some of my custom orders on Flickr. You can put just about anything onto a Scrabble tile!

Win the Entire Series of ProActive Parenting Seminars!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit www.proactiveparenting.net and check out what it’s all about.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us you visited the site.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to US residents.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Meet Sharon of ProActive Parenting

Tell us a little about you . . .

I’ve been married to the same wonderful man for the last 30 years. We have 2 grown sons, tall and taller. My sons are very different people and yet eerily similar. I believe I was given two children who represent two different ends of the spectrums so I could learn. One was very, very shy as a young child. It was so intense that he earned the nickname “my little cling – on.” He has now out grown that and is very out going. The other child was an extrovert as a child and has become a bit more introspective now that he’s older.

What is your business and where can we find it?

My business is called ProActive Parenting, and can be found at www.proactiveparenting.net. (notice dot net)

This is a site offering downloadable seminars helping you lovingly teach and correct behavior in toddlers and preschoolers as you deal with everyday behavior. Our seminars show you how to achieve the kind of family you’ve always dreamed of and shows you how to do it without frustration, anger, yelling and punishment; we use discipline instead – which is teaching.

We focus on the early years due to the foundational learning that occurs during that time.

A child’s brain grows 3 times its size during the first two years of life and is hardwired by the age of five. So how parents correct behavior, teach the family rules and teach how to interact with friends becomes the foundation a child will use for years to come.

Our tips and methods are easy and practical to apply and preserve the parent child relationship.

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

This is a mom-owned business and has been for the last 18 years. We are strictly word of mouth because we all know when one mom finds something that works really well she tells everyone else. That’s what happened to us, we have an astounding 98% approval rate. Moms love the ease of the methods, the clarity and step-by-step nature of the instructions.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

I have always been an entrepreneur; it’s what works in my life. The economy has been very tough on us lately but we believe that since people are still having children and are still looking for ways not to be angry and frustrated when they’re dealing with their children that we will rebound soon.

Where else can people find you?

Facebook address is:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1253721817&ref=sharonsilver 

Twitter address is: twitter.com/sharonsilver13  I’m planning on doing something a bit different on twitter. I will be posting questions so parents can have discussions 5 days a week. That may morph into longer discussion on my website, who knows.

The best way to be part of this now is to join our mailing list. When you join the mailing list you get the monthly newsletter and a free gift for signing up.

Our newsletter is a bit different than most newsletters. I send out cool things I find that help families and an article each month addressing a different aspect of parenting. There are still many families that have been with us since the very beginning of the newsletter because the tips work so well and can easily be applied to older children too.

To join the newsletter go to www.proactiveparenting.net and look on the right side of the home page.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We are always open to hearing from you. If you have a topic that you don’t see addressed send me an email. If I write an article or seminar based on your suggestion then I’ll send you the first copy!

Win a Kid Bundle from Buttoned Up!

 

Win a Kid Bundle- A Babysitter.pad, a Chore.pad, and School.files

 

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://www.getbuttonedup.com/ and click “shop.”
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite item.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to US residents.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

Tips from Buttoned Up . . .  How to Organize a Child’s Birthday Party.

 

The key to organizing a great birthday party for a child — with your sanity intact — is keeping it simple and remembering that the most important thing to your child is having fun.

If you aim for the perfect party, odds are you’ll only stress yourself. Stress is the opposite of relaxed and enjoyable, which is what every good party needs to be. So. Don’t over-plan, overwork or over-worry. Keep the focus on fun.

Alicia on “Fun being a State of Mind”:

Forget perfect. Of course you want everyone to have a good time. But remember that these are kids and what seemed like a crisis minutes ago will be forgotten as soon as the next fun thing begins. Think back to your own childhood parties. Do you remember every detail? Or just the fact that you had parties? The long-lasting memories you are creating are more about positive feelings than whether the clown showed up on time.

No matter what happens, just go with the flow.

Sarah on “The Kids’ Section”:

When planning the party, break it up into sections. Start with a timetable. Once you’ve mapped out the basic plan, write tasks on a to-do list. I love using the Do&Delegate.list notebook from Buttoned Up for my lists because it makes it easier to enlist the help of my child and husband in tackling to-dos. When children help with the planning, they become an important part of the process and get a sense of ownership.

A few tips:

#1. 2Fers
Make one activity with a take-home component the focus of the party, saving time and money (thus a 2fer). For instance, go to the local dollar store and pick up flip-flops, glitter, cloth ribbon, stickers, neon fabric paint and anything else you think kids would like to decorate with.

Then open the party with the shoe decoration and everyone will have 1: personalized shoes; and 2: a party favor they can take home and re-use — a reminder of a great party.

Make sure all the flip-flops are the same color — for one main reason: “I want blue!” “No, you take red!” Other great 2Fers include a candy-filled pinata; homemade cupcakes that the kids decorate; and Polaroid pictures with Popsicle-stick frames.

Parents, let us know of any other ideas you might think of.

#2. E-vites
Save time and money by sending electronic invitations. More and more parents are using e-mail, but even if there are some out there who are a bit e-shy, we guarantee their kids are not. Save a tree; use a computer.

#3. E-tiquette
It is important to teach our little ones good manners, and that includes letting everyone know how grateful your child is that friends came and brought gifts.

Again, the Internet may be the perfect vehicle. There is somewhat of a debate about this. Some say the importance of thank-you notes automatically pushes this into the paper realm. If you feel this way, get blank note cards, markers and stamps — once again, at the dollar store — and have some post-party fun with your kids. If your child is just learning to write, consider fill-in-the-blank thank-you cards.

Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, Inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women and moms get themselves organized. They are also co-authors of “Everything (almost) In Its Place” and the website www.getbuttonedup.com We welcome your thoughts!  Please send ideas and questions to us at:  yourlife@getbuttonedup.com. You can also join our online mommy community at http://mybuttonedup.ning.com/.

End of the Day Whining: Two tips to help

Sharon Silver is the founder and director of ProActive Parenting, www.proactiveparenting.net.  Interested?  We’ll be hosting a giveaway for downloadable seminars next week!

The adult world can leave you exhausted at the end of the day. All you want to do is decompress; yet yourchild wants 100% of your attention, and the evening arguing begins.Mom needs to get dinner ready or bedtime will be late and dad needs to send one more email beforework tomorrow. Your child doesn’t care about that, she doesn’t know anything about the adult world, shelives in the present moment and wants your attention now. And now the whining and yelling begins.

Most children can be whiney at the end of day. They’ve held it together emotionally all day without youand now they’re home where it’s safe and the emotions begin to roll. However parents have been in theadult world all day and have little energy left for any whining.

Here are two tips, one feeds attention and one feeds the tummy, both help change End of the Day Whining.

• Literally feed end of the day whining—don’t starve it.
What if you began by feeding your child ahead of dinner instead of insisting she stop whining now!  We all know mealtime can be the only focused time a family has all day, and I’m not asking you to give that up, I’m suggesting a change in how it goes. Sometimes hunger causes whining and food is the only solution.

• Be proactive create a “dinner box”.
Have a container waiting in the refrigerator so she can have food as soon as she gets home. Stock the box ahead of time with things like cheese, yogurt, lunch meat, tuna, veggies and dip, fruit, cheese and crackers, cheese tortillas, or leftovers. What ever works for your child, as long as it’s healthy.

• Won’t that spoil her dinner?
No, it becomes the bulk of her dinner. It’s simply feeding her the way you used too when she was a baby, before you eat. Now she’s older and can handle eating as she does the next tip and while you continue to make the family meal. Also, your child’s stomach is the size of her fist. Toddlers and preschoolers don’t eat as much as adults do, and most don’t enjoy complex adult food; they’re natural grazers and prefer small portions many times a day of the foods already mentioned.

• What about family time?
Eating together each night is very important, but it’s not the eating of the food that’s so
important, it’s the time spent together. Now that your child has been partially fed invite her to finish dinner with the family or have her join you for desert. This way you get to have a calmer family meal with less whining.

• Feed the need for attention—but on your terms.
This tip will fill both of your needs, she gets attention and you continue making dinner. Consider having a special seat in the kitchen called “time with me seat”? That way your child can be with you—but not under foot. Have your child sit in her “special” seat as she eats from the “dinner box” and let her eat slowly as she tells you about her day. Begin by asking her direct questions to get things started and then let her go on about anything. This exchange fills her up with the attention she’s craving and doesn’t force you stop the flow of family life as you provide one‐on‐one time.

Sharon Silver is the founder and director of ProActive Parenting, www.proactiveparenting.net a site offering downloadable seminars to help parents switch from punishment to discipline as they deal with everyday toddler and preschooler behavior.

Win a Custom Blog Design or Blog Makeover!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://sweetpeadesignstudio.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us why you want to win this giveaway.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open worldwide.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

Meet Christin of Sweet Pea Design Studio

Tell us a little about you . . .

My name is Christin Kreml. I am 25, married with two dogs and a 3 month old (as of April 28^th).

I grew up in Austin, Texas and after finishing my degree in marketing moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado.

My loves are anything involving design, food network, camping, and some good red wine.

What is your business and where can we find it?

I design anything from print work to web sites.

On the web: http://www.sweetpeadesignstudio.com

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

I am a mom and I do all the designing/paper work/e-mailing/the works!

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

I have always wanted to start my own business and when I finished my Marketing degree, I began to design wedding invitations, graduation announcements, and other various print items for friends and family members. In October 2008 I made the decision to start offering web design, and thus Sweet Pea Design Studio was born. Since the start of the web design portion of my business, I have had a tremendous amount of positive response! I try and have a fresh and modern design style and I constantly am learning new tricks of the trade.

Where else can people find you?

Blog: http://www.sweetpeadesignstudio.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=609141924&ref=name

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christinkreml

Win a Book from the Lollipop Book Club!

Lollipop Book Club

This is a really great gift idea for kids! The Lollipop Book Club will send the child a book every month. Along with the book, they get an adorable handmade lollipop that matches the theme of the book and a note from you. For example, Too Many Frogs comes with, yup, you guessed it, a cute frog lollipop. There are several options- you can order a single book or a package for a selected number of months. You can choose a pre-designed package, or select the titles yourself. I can’t do it justice without pictures, so hop on over to http://www.lollipopbookclub.com/ and check it out for yourself!

 

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://www.lollipopbookclub.com/.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite book or who you’d give it to.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to US residents.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

 

Meet Karen of the Lollipop Book Club

Tell us a little about you . . . I am a mom of three kids: Daniel- 7, Jack- 5, and Katelyn-almost 2. I spent 14 years doing benefits consulting and management, and finally left the corporate world after I had Katelyn. I am enjoying the extra time I have with my children immensely. In my spare time, I sneak in a book (Jodi Picoult is my new favorite author) and take power walks around town.

What is your business and where can we find it? My business is The Lollipop Book Club- www.lollipopbookclub.com. It is a company specializing in the gift of books for children through age 12. We offer flexible book packages including single books, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions. Each book arrives in a red envelope addressed to the child, along with a personal note from the giver (on a sticker for the inside of the book) and an adorable handcrafted lollipop. This is truly the gift that keeps giving year round. Also, the single book gifts are priced just right for birthday party gifts.

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .? Yes, The Lollipop Book Club is mom-created and owned. My inspiration came from the frustration I felt at the growing piles of toys in my house, and the lackluster response I received from my children when giving books as gifts instead of more toys! My kids love to read books so I wanted to figure out a way to make it more fun to package them. Since kids love mail, adore sweets, and enjoy books, I found my solution. After talking to lots of other moms (grandmoms, aunts, godmothers, etc.) I realized I was on to something. Hence, The Lollipop Book Club was born!

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far? My journey has been incredible so far, and I feel like I am just at the very beginning. I have learned that it is possible to start a business with minimal financial investment, but it takes a tremendous amount of hustle and hard work. There are a multitude of resources available and tons of people willing to help, you just have to find them! The most exciting thing is to see the way in which marketing and advertising is changing. There are so many mediums to get word out to your target market for very little investment or for free. All kinds of doors are opening to small business owners making it very possible to achieve my dream.

Where else can people find you? I have a personal Facebook profile listed under my name- Karen Gallagher- so please invite me as your friend! I am in the process of setting up a business profile (it’s on the to-do list). As far as Twitter and a blog…those are in the works too. You can sign up for my newsletter and I’ll keep you posted when I’ve got my social media ducks in order!

Anything else you’d like to share? I’d just like to encourage everyone to visit my site. Even if you are not ready to purchase a gift, you’ll have a ton of fun browsing through all of the children’s books that I have personally selected to be part of the program. Also, I am extremely flexible in the way that I run my business. I always encourage my customers to ask questions. Special requests are more the rule than the exception, and I like it that way!

Win a Fridgefile!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://www.fridgefile.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us why you could use this product.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Stumble this post or www.mommysidea.com.
8. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
9. Tweet about this giveaway.

Open to US residents.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, May 3, 2009.

Meet Allison of Fridge File

What is your business and where can we find it?
My product is called the Fridgefile™. It is a product that I have designed, manufacture and market myself. We sell wholesale, retail and as a fundraising product. It is sold mostly on the internet; however, we have been featured on QVC and in national catalogs.
Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?
My company is a mom-owned company with a mom-invented product! I am a certified Women-Owned business as well.
A little about your entrepreneur journey so far…
It all started with an idea. I was tired of papers hanging off my refrigerator and piling up on my counter. I had an idea of a product that would alleviate that problem. I began researching on the internet, meeting up with inventor organizations and asking a lot of questions. Eventually I wrote my own patent, set up my company and began marketing it myself. I eventually struck a deal with a British company and wrote the licensing deal myself. Now the Fridgefile is sold in the US and Britain! It has not always been easy, but there were so many people who were willing to help me. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Win a $20 Gift Card to Born 2 Impress!

(This giveaway is now closed.)

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit www.born2impress.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite item.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
8. Tweet about this giveaway.
9. Stumble this post.

Open to residents of the US.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Friday, May 1, 2009.

Meet Jennifer of Born 2 Impress

Tell us a little about you . . .

I am a 34 years old first time mom, who loves creating new accessories and details for little girls.

I love everything handmade and spend a lot of my time designing new items for my store.

What is your business and where can we find it?

Born 2 Impress is an online Handmade Children Accessories Store and you can find us at: www.born2impress.com

Is it mom-owned, invented, created . . .?

It is mom-owned, invented and created.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?

I love what I do even though is difficult some times having a very active 22 months old running around , but I have to say that really enjoy creating the different accessories that I have in the store.

Where else can people find you?

We are currently working on a blog and can find us in twitter as Born2impress.

Anything else you’d like to share?

About Us

It was their Idea !!

Shortly after I found out that I was pregnant, I decided that I wanted to start making bows and cute accessories for little girls. I started by making different bows and headbands for my niece and then friend’s little girls. Everyone seemed to like the items so well, that they insisted that I should start my own business to sell my creations to everyone.

After my daughter was born, I kept making the products and after creating over a hundred different styles of items, my husband insisted that I should get a website and start selling my items. I decided if I was going to do this, I’d do it right. All of our products have been created with the highest quality materials available with an emphasis placed on safety. All of our accessories are hand-sewn together and all ribbon ends are heat-sealed to prevent fraying.

My little princess is my model and inspiration, as a mother I wouldn’t use anything that I wouldn’t use for my own child. My creations are colorful, fun, and unique and each is hand-crafted as if it was for my own child.

Jenniffer Powell (use a signature image here instead of text)

Founder of Born 2 Impress

Mission Statement

Born 2 Impress is committed to hand-crafting unique designs with the highest quality materials and the utmost care, for any occasion, in a timely manner so that anyone can make their little one feel and look like a princess.

Vision

To show our appreciation for kids and childhood.
To let kids be kids and look like kids.
To let parents have a sense of pride and security.
To create awareness that every kid was Born 2 Impress.

Safety

We are very concerned about children’s safety. Choking hazards are one of every parent’s main concerns. We hand-sew every appliqué, bead or little detail that can be sewn. Some pieces cannot be sewn and are either heat-sealed or industrial strength fabric adhesive is used. (Please take care that although we take every effort to insure the safety of our product, we recommend you supervise your children at all times when they are wearing small items)

Value

Our catalog is comprised exclusively of custom-created handmade items boasting a great taste in design , at a surprisingly reasonable price.

Service

At Born 2 Impress, we are passionate about kids and fashion. Besides consistently delivering unique items, made with the utmost care and the highest quality materials, we strive to provide our clients with a fulfilling and enjoyable shopping experience.

Diversity

We use all kinds of different materials and hardware ( always keeping our quality standard) to make sure you have plenty to choose from.

Win a Keepsake from Scrapits!

(This giveaway is now closed.)

If you’re looking for something unique and special, check out www.scrapits.com.  I had the opportunity to review an “On the Day You Were Born” keepsake- what a great keepsake to have for my son.  It lists different things that happened on his birthday and tells how much certain items cost.  For example, Abraham Lincoln was the first President to receive a patent and filed his application on my son’s birthday.  (He loves Abraham Lincoln, so this one is pretty neat for him!)  A gallon of milk cost $3.83 and England’s Prince Edward shares his birth date.  It also gives some sports info and the popular songs at that time.  You get to choose your background and customize the name and birthday.  It is the perfect addition to a scrapbook or baby book.  While this was done based on his birthday, you could certainly use it for a 1st birthday or other celebration too!  There are lots more goodies over at Scrapits, so go check them out!

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit http://www.scrapits.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite item.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
8. Tweet about this giveaway.
9. Stumble this post.

Open to residents of US and Canada.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Monday, April 27, 2009.

Win a Pair of Palm Palms Baby Bath Grips!

(This giveaway is now closed.)

Here's how to enter . . .

1. Visit www.palm-palms.com.
2. Come back here and leave a comment telling us why you need Palm Palms.
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID.  Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Who wants extra entries?!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Current subscribers, you can use these extra entries too, since we’re so happy to have you here!)
4. Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
5. Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
6. Blog about and link to this giveaway. Please leave your blog url in your comment.
7. Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site.
8. Tweet about this giveaway.
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Meet Jennifer of Palm Palms

Tell us a little about you?
My name is Jennifer Backstein and I am the creator of a new baby bath product that my company has recently brought to market. I am a primary school teacher and also
an interior decorator however, after I had my daughter I became the creator of a brand new baby product that I think you might be interested in.

What is your business and where can I find it?
The product is called Palm-Palms (TM) baby bath grips and was inspired from the anxiety I felt toward giving my newborn her first bath. I knew that a wet baby
could be slippery and tough to handle so I created Palm-Palms baby bath grips to help assist me in the bathing process. Palm-Palms are designed to be worn on the hands of a caregiver during baby bath time or shower time. Our research has made it very clear that anxiety over bathing babies and young children is very common
amongst both new and experienced parents. The primary function of the product is to provide an amazingly secure grip on the slippery skin of a baby or toddler.
It's just like the secure feeling of holding a baby wrapped in a towel! The soft terry cloth grips also double as washcloths even while remaining on the
caregivers hands. Fingers and thumbs are left exposed to allow direct contact with baby's skin as well as accurate testing of water temperature and easy
handling of bath accessories such as shampoo and baby wash. The grips are one size fits all and conform snugly on any hand due to the incorporated stretch
fabric. They come in three colours: pink, blue and white.
Palm-Palms baby bath grips can be purchased from our on-line website at www.palm-palms.com. When visiting our website you can learn a lot more about our product and where we have been featured. As well, Palm-Palms baby bath grips are being sold in a number of well known baby stores in and around the Toronto area.

Is it mom-owned, invented, created.....?
Yes! Palm-Palms baby bath grips was invented by me during my maternity leave. My husband and I were always bathing our newborn baby together for fear that we would drop her if we were to do it alone. We began to research products that were currently on the market to help assist us and all that we could find were products that you placed the baby into but nothing that provided a no-slip grip while holding and bathing. We started to brainstorm ideas of what we thought would be the best solution to this problem and that is how Palm-Palms baby bath grips were created.

A little about your entrepreneur journey so far?
Our journey so far has been very interesting. At first it was a little discouraging since I was not familiar in any way with this industry. It took a lot of time and effort to get retailers to speak with me and help bring my product into their stores. I received a lot of positive feedback about Palm-Palms which helped me continue pursuing my product. I had an overwhelming response to the product from prenatal and postnatal audiences I have a greater than 90% purchase rate with only a short five minute talk and demonstration and it became apparent that new and experienced parents were excited to have a product that makes baby bath time less intimidating and stressful.

Where else can people find you?
When people visit our on-line website they will see on our homepage many buttons from different websites and bloggers that have previously reviewed our product. If they click on those buttons they will be able to read the entire review to gain more insight about our product. As well we recently won a contest from PTPA (parent tested parent approved) media. As a reward for winning this contest we received national exposure on Fox News. Viewers can watch this by clicking on the link off of our homepage.