Pokemon Is My Son's Obsession!

About 6 or 7 months ago, one of Jack's friends turned him onto Pokemon cards. Chad and I thought it was sort of cute. "Jack is learning to read", we thought. "Jack is learning to count", we said. Then we starting saying things like, "Jack won't stop talking about Pokemon". Or, "Jack is borderline OCD with this Pokemon card stuff". Well, we have spent way more money than I every would care to add up. I thought it was just a phase but it is lasting longer than the Power Ranger one. I thought that phase was going to push me over the edge! I got an e-mail today with a link attached, that anyone who feels my pain must check out. It made me laugh so hard my children thought I was crying. Click on the link below to see an actual Ebay item that sold. Absolutely hilarious! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

Oh Did I Need This!

Ok, so I meet another mom inventor, Shelia, through www.themompack.com. She created a product called the Handy Burpee. It is a burp cloth that you slip your hand into, and then there is a generous amount of material that you drape in front of the baby. All three of my guys spit up like crazy. I would put them on my lap, sitting up, wad the burp cloth up in my hand and cup their chins. I didn't want anything to get on my hands, me or my furniture, so I figured if it went in front of them (on the tile floor) it would be easy clean up. Moms know my dilemma and Shelia is solving our issue. Check out www.loveprints.net to learn more.

This One Caught Me By Surprise....

My brother-in-law was married to a girl named Hilary. At first I wasn't sure if I liked her. I was pretty protective of him. She grew on me though. We ended up becoming great friends. They married and I was a big part of their wedding. She and he were big parts of our lives. When I had Luke, Hilary and Gregg came to the hospital and stayed longer than anyone. We had a little party. We laughed and drank (shh..no I wasn't breast feeding). I think they were actually asked to leave by a nurse. Anyway, we were together a lot over the year they were married (they were together a few years before becoming married). They divorced in February of this year. That had to have been one of the hardest things I've ever been through. She made a mistake, a big one and I think they tried to work it out. The didn't. They couldn't. I'm not sure I blame him, but I'm not sure I blame her either. What happened was between them. I'm just sorry I couldn't fix things for them.

When she told me they were divorcing, it seriously took the wind out of me. I instantly asked her what I could do. How could I fix things? I needed her to be in my life; in my children's lives. She was my sister. I know that sounds corny, but wow was it true. I cried the whole way home from that dinner. I came home and took down all of her pictures. "Hoe could I have pictures of her in my house?", I thought. "What if Gregg sees these?", I said to Chad. It was as if she died. The pictures, and the memories just gone. I swore I would stay friends with her. That didn't need to change, right? Wrong. My in-laws weren't to keen on me talking with her. They didn't say I couldn't, but I knew I'd let them down if I did (as if I don't let them down enough). We haven't talked in about a year.

I saw Hilary last night at a wedding. She didn't expect to see me. I certainly didn't expect to see her. We looked at each other in absolute shock. We hugged each other and cried. Really cried. I'm sure everyone in the room was like, "Wow! Have they had too much to drink already?". I was just telling my friend how much I missed Hilary about a week ago. Seeing her last night, at a wedding about two hours away from where we both live, I realized something. Love, friendship and sisterhood are three things we are lucky enough to ever have in our lifetime. I had all three with one person. I miss my sister.

Kathy Rocks!

Back in November when I was looking for someone to help me with all of my design work, I asked my father-in-law if he knew of anyone (he's a designer by trade). He put me in touch with someone he used to work with named Kathy Thomas. We met and instantly hit it off. She has been the one who has brought the brand 42 kids, OnTray and my web site to life. She truly is one of the most creative people I've ever met. It's amazing that I can say, "Hey Kathy, I'd like to have a page where all of the sites that have reviewed OnTray are featured...can you put something together?". An hour later, voila! I have a page on my site that lists the sites that have reviewed OnTray, written about OnTray or carry OnTray. She is just awesome! She has done so much for me over the 10 months we've been working together and she continues to amaze me.

I've said this before, I truly feel that all the right people are in my life to help me along this journey. Kathy is someone I thank my lucky stars for. She has helped my dream come true! If you want to see her other work, visit www.katdesignweb.com today!

OnTray available on the web!

A while back I discovered this site, www.mom4life.com. I had e-mailed the owner, Heather, and she was kind enough to e-mail me right back. She answered all of my questions about how to deal with online companies who might like to carry my product, wholesale pricing and quantities to offer. She was just fabulous. Well, she now is carrying OnTray! I'm so excited. Of course I felt very official with my own web site, but with someone like Heather and www.mom4life.com, I just feel even more validated! Check them out today!

100hats.com

I was interviewed last month by a freelance writer for Business First (a local newspaper). It didn't work out for that publication, but the writer said she was working on another piece for a Web site called www.100hatts.com. It is such a need site. Full of articles, advice and inspiration for women trying to do it all. My article published yesterday. Here's a link if you would like to read it! http://www.100hats.com/subscribehats/archives/LetterView.aspx?id=506

OnTray is Available in a Store!

How exciting! There is a local children's clothing and gift store here in Westerville called Hey Diddle Diddle. I used to frequent it quite often when the boys were smaller and it was cool for them to wear adorable outfits. Now, not so much. I do always go there for the most adorable gifts and outfits for friends and family. Anyway, I went to visit Stacy, the owner, a couple of weeks ago and show her OnTray. She said she thought the space in her store was an issue, and she wasn't sure how she'd display them. Well, I was a little disappointed to say the least. I brainstormed and came up with a clever way for her to display the products. I took her a miniature shopping cart and placed four OnTray's (one of every color) in it. She placed it on the counter and I told her if she sells them great, pay me then. No risk to her. That was Monday at 4:30. She called me this morning to tell me she had sold all four of the OnTray's and needed more! I can't believe it. OnTray is available in a store! Yippie! Can you tell I'm excited? If you're in Westerville and in need of an OnTray, head to Hey Diddle Diddle (or visit my web-site, www.ontray2go.com :) )

Summer Guide 2007

I found this great site that has a wonderful list of fabulous products and coupon codes (if you know me you know I love coupons). Anyway, I thought I would share the information with you. Visit www.mommieswithstyle.com and check out all the great stuff!

If You're Pregnant....

I saw this T-shirt on a web-site that is going to be carrying OnTray. I had to post a message about it, because I think it's hilarious. I'm actually disappointed I'm not pregnant, because I would love to have this T-shirt. What a fun way to "talk" about pregnancy!

http://www.mom4life.com/catalog.php?item=1038&new=yes&ret=catalog.php%3Fnew%3Dyes

Time Management

Ok, so I need to do a better job at managing my time. Starting and running a business from home is consuming me! I am constantly thinking about how I'm going to drum up more business, get more press, reach more people, blah, blah, blah! I think Chad is getting tired of me talking about this. He's grocery shopping right now. Does that tell you something? I need to get back to my old life a little bit more. The laundry is piling up, the closets are a MESS, my children are bored and I am just irritable. Does anyone have some free advice on HOW TO DO IT ALL???