Lavender Alphabet Soup

Thought I'd share two fab new kiddy products that have recently come my way:

This little cutie is from the Sonoma Lavender company; a family-run farm in northern California where crops are grown and scented products are created for adults and children.  If you'd like a mini vacation, read about their idyllic location and family philosophy here. 

You probably already know that lavender encourages relaxation and restfulness; our daughter loves this mildly-scented, cuddly lamb whom  we've dubbed, "Lily the Lamb" in her honour. You can heat up the lavender sachet stored inside but we haven't done that; I'm pleased with the light scent.  The stuffed animals sell for $30 U.S. and you can purchase them via the Sonoma Lavender web site, linked above.

Hungry? Alphabet Soup is a three-person children's group based in Winnipeg. Their latest CD entitled, "You're It!" includes cute, upbeat ditties including, "My Lunch," "Spider-Mom" and "When I Grow Up." 

You can read about Alphabet Soup, listen to clips, upload MP3s and order their CD (for $15) via this micro-site. Feel good about supporting Canadian talent while entertaining your kids!

Mama Cards and Midwives

Just a quick "service-y" post today...

You know that situation where you're at the park, your kid befriends another child, they bond, play, laugh and have a great time. Then, at the end of this impromptu playdate, you find that you have no paper, no pencil and no chance of reconnecting with the mommy-child duo you've just met? Mabel's Labels has come out with these super cute "mama cards" that'll save you from those situations.

Pick one of their funky designs, add your contact info (including, "mom of..."), and voila! You've got a playdate-ready biz card you can keep in your pocket or the stroller. $29.00 CDN for 100 cards.

On another note...

I received an email from a TV producer in Edmonton, AB who's looking for a midwife to appear on an early morning talk show.  If you are a midwife (or know someone who is) in the Edmonton area, please contact me if you're interested and I'll pass on the details.

 

Putting the 'fun' back in fundraising?

It's only October and already my school-aged son is selling three different products for public school and Beavers.

As a school fundraiser, he (read: me) is selling magazine subscriptions at discounted prices; a portion of each sale goes to the school for extracurricular activities, BBQs, special speakers, field trips, etc.  As a magazine junkie and someone who's quite computer-savvy, this fundraiser's not too much of a stretch: I purchased magazine subscriptions online for myself, my husband, our kids, my parents and some friends (as holiday gifts).  It was quick and easy and the discounts were quite substantial. Still, we received the magazine sales package with its, "Be excited about reading!" and "Your purchase helps support our schools!" verbiage at the very beginning of the school year - perhaps in the first week.  Is this how we're bolstering education - by having five-year-olds lug fundraising packs home to tired parents?

At Beavers, which again only began in September, Kash is selling flavoured popcorn in large tins (which looks divine!) at fairly hefty prices. This one has me even more confused: we're paying for this activity (Beavers is Boy Scouts for young kids by the way), and he only attends once a week for one hour.  So, why do these little guys and girls (again, meaning me and my husband) have to fundraise? I understand the need for more cash and I understand the need to teach children about raising money for charity but I can't say I'm behind all of these endeavours. I'd rather have Kash and his classmates go on fewer trips and attend fewer special events if it means less selling.  Besides, we can only ask our neighbours, parents, friends and colleagues to buy so much stuff. 

So, um, anyone wanna buy some chocolate-covered popcorn? Only $30.

Amanda's Lemonade Stand

As a working parent I'm constantly juggling work-life-kids-home-friends and know so many others who feel the same way. Wake-up, make breakfast, dress, play, cuddle, drop-off kids, work, pick-up kids, work, play, housework, dinner, activities, bills, clean-up, friends, holiday/travel/celebration planning, bed. Sound familiar? Even kids sometimes feel stretched with school, homework, friends, activities and chores. So, what's a busy mom, dad or child to do when it comes to volunteering and making a difference? If you're feeling overwhelmed and need a little inspiration, read on.

Amanda Belzowski is an (almost) 11-year-old girl who took charge of her family's lemonade stand which was started to raise money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Ten years later, Amanda's Lemonade Stand is now an annual event drawing thousands of people to her home in north Toronto each spring and raising thousands of dollars for children through the Foundation. Here's a Q&A with Amanda who will soon be receiving a Super Citizen Award from TVO Kids.

Q: You've helped to raise over $102,087.18 to date. Do you know how that's helped the Heart & Stroke Foundation?

  A: Well, you know what - I think it¹s really helped a lot because I've not only raised a lot of money but I've also raised awareness that heart attacks and strokes don't only happen to adults but kids too...I know that this cause is important because a few years ago a man who had just had a heart attack not too long ago came up to me and told me that if I didn¹t do what I was doing, he might not be here. I felt really good about that.

Q: Do you find the process invigorating or exhausting - or both?

A: I think that preparing and getting ready for the lemonade stand is all part of the excitement. Sure it can be a bit challenging at sometimes but it's all really fun. I feel really grown-up and professional because of what I do. I go into businesses and make proposals asking for corporate sponsors. I find that getting ready for the big day is all really fun and exciting. My lemonade stand is very special because there's no overhead. All the stuff is donated totally and I feel really good about that but it takes a lot of work and asking. Of course this also would be very hard without all of the wonderful volunteers that
come out to help, usually from high school for community service hours. It's great that a kid in elementary school can help out kids in High School.

Q: What's your plan for the future? Keep running your booth as long as possible or altering it in some way?

A: Well this year, since my brother is two and a half, I think it's time to give him a bigger role in this. Last year he ate tons of the cookies instead of giving them out. I started this when I was just a little younger than him and so it's time that he starts really helping too. Of course I¹ll keep doing my lemonade stand and adding more stuff to it. I hope to get some corporate sponsors, since I tried really hard last year but couldn't get any. For this year, what I'm going to do is have Amanda's 11th Lemonade Standand Joshua's 1st Cookie Corner. I think this will give him the opportunities to really start being the fundraiser that I¹ll hope he¹ll be someday. Next year we are going to aim high again and "Double Up". We are going to try to bring my grand total to $200,000 - you cant reach the moon if you don't stretch up high - just everybody help me this year and I know I can do it!!

Q: What have you learned through your 10 years of fundraising?

A: I've learned that you're Never Too Little to Make a Big Difference in this World. Everyone can do something great if they put their heart, soul and mind into it. No matter how small or young you are, you can make this world a better place. Look at me! I started when I was 2!

Q: What advice to you have for young fundraisers and volunteers?

A: Put your heart and soul and brains into it. You can do anything you want to do! One small act of kindness can make a gigantic difference in someone¹s life. I think that the key to fundraising is to have fun. Do something that you love and believe in and you'll succeed in whatever you want to do in
life.

One final note from Amanda: Also, this year I really want to come out to schools and other groups to
tell people about what I have done and to help them and motivate them to do the same thing. If anyone out there is interested in having me come out and talk to their school [or group] please contact me at: amandaslemonade@sympatico.ca.

Bag o' Nature

I discovered Naturebag while surfing the 'net. With two little kids, acres of parkland around us and entirely too much temptation to watch television, this earth-friendly assortment o' goods strikes me as a great option for entertainment: enviro-happy, useful, TV-free, educational and conceived by two Vancouver-based moms.

The Naturebag "kit" comes in a Fair Trade organic-cotton bag and includes: a recycled pencil, soy-based crayons, binoculars, recycled notepaper, a bug box and other neat stuff. Naturebag costs about $30.00 and can be purchased via the web site and through a few retail stores in the B.C. area.

Here's a quick Q&A with mom entrepreneurs, Katharine Byers and Sylvie de Sousa of Naturebag Eco-Activities Ltd.

Q: Tell me about your business.

A: Naturebag is all about reconnecting children and their families with nature. The company was born from a desire to provide children with the means to explore and engage with the natural world. The activity booklet and tools guide the user through outdoor hands on activities designed to encourage curiosity led explorations and respect for the natural world.

Q: Why or how did it start? Where are you located?

A: It started over a coffee: two friends reconnecting after our paths hadn't crossed for a while. The conversation turned to a book we had both recently read called 'Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder' by Richard Louv. It soon became clear to both of us that we could do something to encourage children to engage with the natural environment. My background in the UK as a primary school teacher, Masters in Environmental Education coupled with Sylvie's business degree and our experience as parents with young children all contributed to the birth of Naturebag. We are located in Vancouver, B.C.

Q: How does it feel to have your own business? What have you learned?

A: It feels that all of our experience to date has been channelled and focused resulting in the realization of a long time passion to contribute towards encouraging more families to engage with nature. We have learned so much! For example: setting up and maintaining a website, understanding the accounting and legal sides of the business; we have taught ourselves the process of importing and learned that you can have so much fun doing something you really love.

Check out their web site if you have a chance. It's very user-friendly, colourful, and full of interesting testimonials and useful suggestions.

Inclusive Snacks

For many Canadian kids, school starts today. In fact, my son is attending his first day of French Immersion as I write this. While school brings new friends and teachers, homework, fresh topics and celebrations, it can also bring anxiety to kids and parents of children who suffer from food allergies. My mother-in-law, nephew and friend's son are all allergic to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and, along with peanuts, dairy and eggs, is an allergy source for myriad people.

Jill Robbins is a trained clinical psychologist who loved her job but decided to take on a new venture when her son was diagnosed with food allergies. Bradley is now 11 years old and HomeFree Treats (formally Gak's Snacks) is the now booming business that Robbins created. After identifying a need: children with food allergies should be able to enjoy daily snacks and special treats, Robbins is able to combine her desire to provide healthy, organic treats with a hole in the grocery market - people with food allergies. Most of Robbins' business comes from the U.S. where she is based but HomeFree ships their treats and cookbooks to Canada.

Here's a Q&A with Jill Robbins, mother and entrepreneur:

Q: Please tell me about your business.

A: "HomeFree Treats (formally Gak's Snacks) offers baked treats free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy, and most people with wheat and soy allergies can enjoy them as well. Our treats are also certified organic, kosher pareve, and whole grain, and contain no cholesterol or trans fat. With our products, people with and without special dietary needs can enjoy the same delicious treats together. For bakers, we sell a cookbook: Allergen-Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions as well as specialized allergen-tested baking ingredients."

Q: How does it feel to have your own business? What have you learned?

A: "I didn’t create this in order to have a business or to work for myself. I actually loved the work I was doing previously as a clinical psychologist. I created this business as a resource to families like my own because it was needed. But, it has been exciting and rewarding. I am learning diverse fields such as web site development, ingredient sourcing and inventory, equipment operation, graphic design, and shipping."

Q: What advice do you have for other mom or dad entrepreneurs?

A: "A new business is all-encompassing. It takes many times more time, money, and energy than I had ever imagined. But if you are at a point in your life when you can totally devote yourself and substantial financial resources to it, and if you cope with obstacles by problem solving (rather than anxiety), and if there is an idea about which you have passion, creating your own company can be wonderfully rewarding."

Q: Do you have plans to expand?

A: "Yes! In fact, we are planning to move into a larger facility this fall so that we have the capacity to distribute our baked treats much more widely. And we are just now introducing a new cookie flavour – organic oatmeal chocolate chip mini cookies."

To find out more about the treats, the raw ingredients or the allergen-free baking cookbook, visit Jill's web site or email info@homefreetreats.com.

The First Adventures of Incredible You...Review & Interview

Take two Sarahs, add a brood of young children and an entrepreneurial spirit and what do you get? Custom Made for Kids. This new publishing company is run by two moms: Sarah Rivera and Sarah Headrick who live and work in the U.S. Their touching, personalized book, The First Adventures of Incredible You is illustrated by Jill Dryer Bartolucci.

I received my own customized copy of this book in the mail the other day and, I have to tell you, I was pretty impressed. As a mom and a freelance writer who covers parenting and child-related issues, I've seen my share of kids' books and customized gifts but I'm happy to say that this book "wowed" me. The fact that it's hard-cover with vivid, colourful illustrations won me over first. I also enjoy the fact that my child's life story is seamlessly integrated into the overall text as opposed to a cookie-cutter approach where names and information are just dropped into place.  If you're ordering online, you can fill out a questionnaire about the child.  Books are about $33 each.

Of course, not every single detail is going to work for every kid...there's a spot for "favourite meal" which doesn't exactly jibe with my son but that's okay, it's only one page out of many. I was pleased that both Lily's and Kash's names could be incorporated as well as grandparents and other friends (if you choose) and fun memories like beach visits, a trip to the zoo and nights staring up at the stars.

Here's a quick Q&A with authors and mom entrepreneurs, Sarah Rivera and Sarah Headrick - the women behind Custom Made For Kids:

Q: How and why did you start your business?

A: "We met in a suburban Chicago playgroup and discovered that we both had a desire to start our own businesses when our kids were older. In 2006, after our second children were both out of diapers, we formed Custom Made For Kids after realizing we could take the idea of a personalized book to the next level. Most of the personalized books we saw on the market were of poor quality and/or incorporated only the child’s name and birth date into the story. We wanted to produce a high-quality keepsake book that truly highlighted the connection between the recipient child and the special people and places in the child’s life."

Q: What’s the best part about being a mom entrepreneur? And, the worst?

A: "The best part of being a mom entrepreneur is seeing your dream come to life and witnessing the great joy that your product brings to other people. The worst part of being a mom entrepreneur is taking time away from family in order to make your dream a reality. The business has a tendency to creep into your mind at all times and it can be difficult to 'turn it off.' "

Q: How does it feel to have your own business? What have you learned?

A: "It is very rewarding to have our own business. Sarah and I feel like we have accomplished so much this past year and we have had to learn about many different industries, including: marketing and public relations, website design, printing, illustration and graphic design, and accounting – just to name a few. We still have a lot more to learn – but that continuing challenge and learning curve is part of what makes it exciting (and so much more work than we ever expected when starting the business!)."

Q: Do you have plans to expand?

A: "We are in the early stages of developing another personalized storybook and we hope to add some complimentary products to our website store the near future. We feel very lucky that our business continues to expand every day."

Q: Are your customers in the U.S. only or in other countries, too?

A: "We ship all over the world. We have had orders from New Zealand, Australia, the UK and even Thailand!"

...more incredible mom entrepreneur interviews coming soon!

ENJO? ENYA? It's all about clean.

My son's friend's mom has this bumper sticker with the word "ENJO" on it and I always wondered what that meant. Is it 'Enya' spelled in a different language? Is it a cool new Swedish expression? I finally found out after asking the mom in question, Judy, that ENJO is actually an Austrian company that sells special fibre-based, environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

To better understand the company's philosophy and products, you can check out the web site, Enjo Canada. I found the site itself not very user-friendly, but there's a demo video clip on it that's pretty intriguing. You see, I'm learning from various experts and organizations that many North Americans seem to be brainwashed into thinking that we need toxic chemicals to clean and sanitize our homes and businesses. If the ENJO product-demonstration and literature is any indication, what we should be using instead are substances that are actually much safer to us, our kids and the enviroment. Many of these substances are also more cost-effective and leave behind much less waste and garbage than their popular counterparts.

I tried out some of the ENJO fibre samples and was impressed with the results. I'd like to clean with them a bit more and speak with a health or environmental expert to satisfy my cynical side but, overall, these products seem like a viable and smart alternative to cleaning with expensive, toxic chemicals.

Here's a quick Q&A with mom entrepreneur Judy Benson-Jones about her work as an ENJO direct sales consultant.

Q: Please describe your business.

A: My business is in direct sales which allows me to work my own hours so I can be home with my 5 year old son. I teach people how to clean without using chemicals.  ENJO’S fibres clean using only water and are 6 times more effective than chemicals.   

Q: How and why did you start? Where are you located?

A: I am based in Toronto and travel throughout the GTA. I also have clients as far as Ottawa, Barrie and even in the U.S. I became involved with ENJO when I met the Canadian distributor at a networking function.  When I first heard about it, I was intrigued and wanted to hear more. Since the arrival of my son I have become so much more aware of the dangers of household chemicals and also the damage the products we use are doing to the environment.  This was something that just made sense to me.

Q: What’s the best part about being a mom entrepreneur? And, the worst?

A: The best part is being in a home office and choosing the hours I work.  The worst part is feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done that I’d like.  My presentations are generally on weekends and evenings and it can be difficult to be out 3 or 4 nights a week.  But I balance that by being home with my son through the day, being able to take him to school and pick him up every day.

Q: How does it feel to have your own business? What have you learned?

A: It feels great to have my own business.  Having something that you are totally responsible for is very exciting and empowering. I have learned that I can keep my business organized, I can do some basic accounting and I can be a responsible leader.   

For more info on ENJO products and/or to ask Judy questions, you can email: jbjones@enjo-canada.com.  Looking for info on a related topic? Check out: Safety in the Home: How Can I Prevent Poisoning?

 

Interview with Mom Entrepreneur and Mini Me Books creator

Beautiful new mom, Sheri Allain, shares insight and background on the birth of her new company, Mini Me Books.

Q: How did Mini Me Books get started and what exactly is a "Mini Me" book?

A: We publish personalized children's books that let you combine your favourite family photos into the story. So you (or your child) become the star of the story - literally.

How did we get started? Well, as new parents, my husband and I took hundreds of digital photos of our new baby daughter. I was going to create a photo book online to capture the best pictures, but it seemed like a lot of time and effort (something new moms don't have). At the same time, I was reading parenting literature and taking classes -- they all mentioned the importance of early reading to stimulate your baby’s language development. One night, I had a thought: wouldn't it be great to merge the best of both worlds?

Q: I hear Hollywood's already interested in your product.

A: Yes, before we even launched, Mini Me Books scored a small victory by being selected for a celeb VIP swag bag. The event was a celebrity fundraiser supported by Nicole Richie, with other celeb mommies like Gwen Stefani in attendance. Our most recent ‘win’ was the "Best Product" award by Orca Communications.

Q: What's the best thing about being a mom entrepreneur and running your own business?

A: I enjoy the mental stimulation and rewards of doing something positive - for myself (being my own boss!), my family (providing extra income) and for the greater community (our book is very family-positive and it's printed on enviro-friendly paper).

Q: What's the worst or hardest thing about it?

A: Sometimes it's scary not having a partner(s) to share the risk and the work load. And my expenses are growing faster than my sales!

Q: What advice would you give to other mom (or dad) entrepreneurs?

Answers:

• Do your market research: Is the idea viable? Who are your competitors? What makes your different AND better?
• Don't be afraid to ask other people for advice, input, and ideas. It yields great ideas and business contacts.
• Don't take rejection or setbacks personally, dust yourself off & try again.
• Be patient & persistent.
• Be lean in the beginning with your budget & marketing plans.

Q: Do you have plans to expand?

A: Yes! I would like to create more book titles. Also, I would like to expand into other personalized gifts, such as puzzles, playing cards, and greetings cards. I think even an 'everyday' gift is more special when it is personalized with your special someone's likeness.

For more info, visit: MiniMeBooks.com

Crafty Keri

Here's an interview with a west-coast mom entrepreneur named Keri Zingle. This mom-of-two approached me after noticing our 'Vendors' thread on the ParentTalk Forums and asked if I would be interested in profiling her company, Craft Caravan. Because I'd like to shine a spotlight on hard-working and creative mom entrepreneurs from all over the country, I am more than happy to oblige.

Q: How would you describe your business?

A: Craft Caravan is a company that's run from our home in Vancouver. It's a service that lets kids be surprised with fun, educational crafts they receive in the mail.  Our service is great fun for children, and it makes craft-time easy for parent

Q: How does the service work?

A: Our Kids Craft Club is like a monthly magazine subscription; members receive a shiny green envelope of craft supplies, project instructions, and 'fun fact sheets' at the beginning of each month.  We also provide 'Card Making Kits for kids' - which include 8 brightly coloured cards and envelopes, and are loaded with tot-friendly supplies like glitter glue, stickers, and themed message labels.

Q: How did the idea come to life?

A: Craft Caravan was started as a direct result of a very hectic Valentines Day
with my daughter, scrambling to make a hand-made card for every child in her
preschool class. We were rushing for breakfast, getting ready for work, and getting ready for school, and (because she was too young to manage scissors), I was cutting hearts out of construction paper for her to decorate at the same time.  During the scramble I thought "wouldn't it be nice if someone could just provide me with all of the kid-ready supplies!" A short time later, I left my full time position and chose to stay home with my kids while working on Craft Caravan.  We launched in September 2007, and have been growing every month since.

Q: As a mom, how does it feel to run your own business?

A: I love the flexibility, as it allows me to schedule around my kids, but it's also a huge commitment and responsibility that goes with me everywhere!  In some ways it feels like having a third child...needs lots of nurturing and attention to grow into a successful 'adult', with lots of fun and challenges along the way.

For all you crafty moms, dads and kids out there: I received a few of Keri's projects in the mail.  Lily, our two-year-old worked with our nanny to do the butterfly project together.  It was very simple and small but I have to say it turned out quite beautifully (I'll post a photo of the butterfly soon!).  Keri also sent me their scrapbook kit which I know our son will love.  Craft Caravan ships across Canada and in the U.S., too.