Check Out Our Review in the Boston Globe!

Our first big press, Our Over Tote TM by Ellie Bags TM is in the “Gearing Up” column in the Boston Globe today!  A big thank you to Lylah Alphonse for her support. 

Check it out here!  http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2008/11/02/a_piggyback_tote/

We’d be so grateful if you’d like to help spread the word about our Over Tote TM, “The smart new way to carry a diaper bag.”    

Get yours today and make life a little bit easier!  http://www.elliebags.com

(Be sure to check out our “Make Life Simpler” Collection of products too!)

The Beach Vacation Test

The Over Tote TM was finally ready, just in time for my beach vacation. Here's how it worked out.

On the road trip down- So convenient! I kept it on my purse for most of the trip and took just the Over Tote TM for diaper changes in restaurant bathrooms. I took off the Over Tote TM and took just my purse to go buy some Virginia peanuts. :-) At the beach- I took the Over Tote TM & my purse when I was out with my little guy. I took it off and took just my purse to go shopping! Only needed the Over Tote TM for a tiring climb and extremely fun run down Jockey's Ridge. On the way home- Wow, did my Over Tote TM come in handy for a BIG diaper change in the car. Having wipes immediately accessible is a priceless gift!

We have worked so hard to get to this point, and I am proud to say that our Over Tote TM System passed the Beach Vacation test with flying colors!

Try out your very own Over Tote TM today at www.elliebags.com!

It Couldn't Be Done

My favorite poem. May it make you smile and believe in your dreams. (Read it out loud, it's even more fun.)

It Couldn't Be Done

Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But, he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it"; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he’d begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.

To Launch or Not to Launch

I was hoping to launch in May. In June. In July. As it gets down to the wire (I will be going back to teaching in September!) I am anxious to get this thing moving. I was hoping to be ready by the end of July, but alas, that was not to be. We will be going on a much anticipated beach vacation in August, so ultimately it just makes sense to wait until after the trip. So here it is ladies (and possibly gentlemen,) the official date . . . Launch Day!!

Wednesday, August 13th A grand opening on the 13th? some of you might ask, as you step over the sidewalk crack and throw salt over your shoulder. Yes, one of my very best friends was born on the 13th, so I consider it a wonderful date. Please join our celebration. Come visit, look around, shop if you are compelled to. Tell your friends about it. And please be sure to sign our guestbook. We'll have some grand opening specials for you too. You can sign up for news & special offers at www.elliebags.com. (Come back on Wordless Wednesday for a sneak peek!) And if you are reading this blog, I think you also deserve a coupon code. Use code idea10 for 10% off an OT TM System. Don't worry, I'll remind you again when it gets closer. :-) Hope to see you there!

The Waiting Game

I think the number one thing you have to be willing to do when you start a business is wait. It seems no matter what it is, I am always waiting for something before I can go on to the next thing. Here's what I mean . . . March 2008 Goal: set up legal business entity. Fill out forms through legalzoom.com to form LLC, wait for 30-60 days for it to be filed. It gets filed. Wait for official paperwork with official ID numbers. Goal: Set up wholesale acounts- nope. Need to wait for official ID numbers. Goal: Set up bank account- nope. Need to wait for official ID numbers. Goal: Work with professional seamstress to fine tune the prototype. Send materials, wait. Get prototype, note changes, send materials, wait. Get next prototype, note more changes, send materials, wait. You get the picture. Goal: Work with illustrator on logo. Wait. Get images, note changes, wait. (Although I must say, this was so worth the wait! I just love the logo she came up with. It is exactly the spirit of motherhood we wanted to capture.) April 2008 Officially filed as Precious Giggles, LLC!! Goal: File Assumed Name certificate to do business as Ellie Bags. Wait for official filing date and paperwork. Goal: Armed with new logos and images, create website. Wow, no waiting here, just myself to wait for. May, June, July 2008 Goal: Launch in May. Wait. Launch in June. Wait. Launch in July? We're hoping! This is by no means a full list of all the things it has taken to get to this point. I have a new appreciation for those who have started their own business and all the work that goes into it. But I have to say that it has also been interesting and exciting. And while you’re waiting, there are always plenty of other things to get done. Hopefully, the wait to launch won't be much longer . . .

The Journey Begins . . .

As a new mom, you experience all kinds of new things. Most of them, wonderful moments you never knew existed. Then there are all the things you must learn. Read the books, talk to friends, take the advice . . . but it all comes down to finding your own way and what works best for you. Mom-hood also provides many new challenges. One of the main ones I became aware of right away was organization. It is critical to be organized, especially when leaving the house. No one wants to be caught without a diaper and please don't let me be caught without enough wipes! I was tired of having so many bags of baby's things & my things when I'd go out. Or I'd constantly be switching things back and forth between bags. I knew there had to be a better way and I began a mission to find it, along with the help of my mom. We came up with "The smart new way to carry a diaper bag" and are almost ready to introduce it to the world. I can't say it will change life as you know it completely, but it just might make your day as a mom a little simpler. Join us for our launch- sign up at http://www.elliebags.com/ to be notified when we're ready!

An Entrepreneur?

I'm not sure when I officially became an entrepreneur. When the idea for Ellie Bags popped into my head? When I convinced my mom to help me come up with a solution to the problem? (I was tired of constantly having to switch my things back and forth between the diaper bag and my purse!) When we formed our LLC? Or will I officially join the ranks when we launch our product at the end of the month? Along the way I have learned a lot about starting a business and I've met some inspiring and supportive people too. So if you stay with me for the journey, you'll hear about a little bit of everything. My inspiration- my sweet little boy, the adventure of inventing a product and starting a company, what happens after the launch, and oh yes, how am I going to do this when I go back to work full time?! Thanks for tagging along for the ride . . .