The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

Childhood is Calling

With the current barrage of underage starlets making news for naughty nights and the ubiquitous sexy ad campaigns at every turn, it's refreshing to see at least one corporate giant not falling prey to the trend.  Though it might be difficult to sell cereal with sex, I am betting the idea has crossed the table over at Kellogg's®.  I feel refreshed after viewing their new campaign for Rice Krispies®, cleverly entitled Childhood is Calling™.

If you haven't seen their newly launched website, it's worth checking out.  Viewers are still greeted by old friends, Snap!, Crackle! & Pop!® (did you know these guys are 76 years old??!!) as well as that blue background synonymous with the childhood fave, but what's different is the message.  Contrary to what we are seeing too much of in the media lately, the idea of the campaign is "letting kids be kids."  Apart from selling Rice Krispies® cereal, Kellogg's® is doing its part to bring families back together by creating a program called Operation Spark.  Together with non-profit organization Playing For Keeps, Kellogg's® Operation Spark mission is "to provide insights and advice about how to strengthen the family connection and turn everyday moments into quality time."

Like I said, refreshing. 

It's a big concern for parents today, myself included.  Families just don't spend the same kind of quality time together as they did when we were kids.  Technology, overscheduling and the general overactive lifestyle has seeped into our families to become the 5th member (or 4th or 6th or 7th...).  Operation Spark simply offers tips on how to make the most of family time.  Ideas such as how to make the most of meal time, play time and night time purely reminds us how to maintain that vital bond with our kids.

A pretty good idea, don't you think?  Couple that with the fact that these guys invented the Rice Krispie treat, and I'm sold!   

Pediped is having a sale!

From today until June 15th save 33% on select styles and 50% of the proceeds from those sales will go to Make-A-Wish Foundation.  I'm thinking of getting Lola since they're just too much!!  Visit Pediped for details.

Research Shows Women Would Sacrifice Almost Anything But Chocolate For Blogging

Ok, I like to blog too but come on ladies!!  A study done on 6000 women by BlogHer shows that 36.2 million women are activiely part of the blogosphere.  15.1 million are writing, and 21.1 million are reading. 

Holy crap.

But it gets better.  According to this study, many women bloggers are so keen on blogging they say they would be willing to give something up in order to keep it up.  Examples are:

55% would give up alcohol

50% would give up their PDAs

42% would give up their i-Pod

43% would give up reading the newspaper or magazines

only 20% would give up chocolate

The other numbers show that women spend less time doing things like reading newspapers and magazines and watching television due to spending more time in front of their computers but that doesn't surprise me.  What does shock me is that these women would give up some integral parts of their lives so they can blog!!  PDAs and i-Pods? 

More than half of the group surveyed said they consider blogs to be a reliable source of info and that blogs are influential in their purchasing decisions.  I definitely believe in the latter.  If I didn't, I wouldn't be contributing tons of free samples to bloggers I consider to be "relevant."  But as a source of news, well, I take what I read with a grain of salt.

Don't get me wrong.  I am definitely a fan of blogging.  I love that fellow mommy-bloggers have recently been recognized by major mainstream media and I adore how much blogging has done for my store alone.  But these statistics are truly eyebrow raising!

And for the record, I wouldn't give up chocolate for anything... 

Room To Grow

In several weeks, I'm going to be a launching a new program for families in and around boston (details to come).  As I was developing the idea for my new venture, I started thinking that it might be nice to hook up with a local charity of some kind, not only to complement what I'm doing, but also to allow me to give back to the community in a way that might be a little more relevant than donating a few dollars here and there.  So after much thought and many queries, the good people over at Isis Maternity turned me on to Room to Grow, an organization currently serving Boston and New York.

I was intrigued from the get-go.  The mission is simple:

"The mission of Room to Grow is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development."

What this means is the organization works with poverty-stricken moms from their 3rd trimester until Baby is three years old (at which time the city's resources become more abundant).  The provide not only support through social workers, but equally as important, they outfit the child with clothing and toys EVERY THREE MONTHS until that child's 3rd birthday.  The mom visits the center and actually chooses clothing and developmentally appropriate gear for her child.  Every visit consists of books to take home as well.

How awesome is that?

I met with Audrey yesterday at RTG, the amazing Program Director.  She told me the story of a family they recently worked with whose baby was developmentally behind as a result of the fact that the family had no money to provide toys to stimulate him.  RTG donated a simple Johnny Jumper to this family and by his next pediatrician's appointment, the doctor was amazed at his progress.  Something most of us take for granted, a simple $25 toy, made an enormous difference in this child's life.  At that moment, I was sold.

Room to Grow collects not only donations, but also new or nearly new clothes and toys (anything in excellent condition) to distribute.  Please visit the list of suitable items and let me know if you can help.  I am willing to bring your unwanted items to their offices for you or get you more information.  If you live in another city, mail me your items and I will see that they get there.  RTG ocassionally seeks particular items (sizes and whatnot) and you will find that information here.

I am so looking forward to working with this organization and will bring you so much more news in the coming months!!

Bambina Ballerina is having a giveaway!

Stop by my friend Trisha's blog to have two chances to win a beautiful bow holder from her e-store, Bambina Ballerina.  She is giving one away and the good people over at Bloggy Giveaway are also giving away a bow holder to a lucky winner.  But hurry, it all ends on Saturday, May 17th!

Don't forget to enter to win a Star Swaddler and there's still time to win Suri's Ladybug shoes - both below.

Win A Star Swaddler!

Alex Casey Baby wants you to win a Star Swaddler by Baby Star!!  To enter, simply visit Alex Casey Baby and choose your favorite item.  Come back here and tell us what it is.  Get an additional entry if you link back to us on your blog (but you have to let us know)!  The winner will be announced on Friday, May 23rd and will choose which color they'd like. 

Open to all, free shipping ONLY within the US. 

Oh, and don't forget to enter to win Suri's shoes below!  Contest ends Thursday!

A New Look For The Daily Grind!

It's been a year of status quo and The Daily Grind was super ready for a face-lift.  At the recommendation of a trusted friend, I recruited web designer extraordinaire, Deanna (@domesticchicky) to help bring my vision to life.  A stay-at-home-mom who moonlights as a creator of beautiful web designs, Deanna took my old design to this beauty in no time, with only a touch of guidance.  The idea was to match The Daily Grind to its sister site, Alex Casey Baby and add some original touches here and there.

The Daily Grind is about to catapult to new levels.  We now have several thousand visitors per month and the numbers are growing!  What started as a weblog intended to be an outlet for my rants, raves, ideas, opinions and news (mostly read by family and friends) has really grown into a well-read blog!  With a bunch of reviews and contests in the queue, we are getting serious. 

See our new Reviews button?  Click it for some free promoting opportunities.  It is said that moms spend over $2 trillion per year which clearly makes them the decision-makers when it comes to spending.  Blog reviews are a smart, effective, quantifiable and INEXPENSIVE way to promote your store and/or product.  Contests and giveaways are a sure bet to driving traffic to your site.  This blog is also syndicated at The Kiddie Clique, so reviews get TWICE THE EXPOSURE.

Please let me know what you think of  our new look either by commenting or email!

THANKS DEANNA!!

Happy Mother's Day

I bumped into this a few times recently and think it's great... read on!

Before I was a Parent

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Parent -

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Parent

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Parent

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I w ould love being a Parent.

Before I was a Parent -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a parent and their child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Parent -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Parent.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Parent.

Alex Casey Baby Comes To YOUR House!

Alex Casey Baby does in-home boutique parties in the Boston area!! 

What is an Alex Casey Baby boutique party?

It's a great way to get your girlfriends together for a fun "ladies night"!  We transform your living room into a boutique showcasing our beautiful products.  A discount is extended on stock in the "boutique" and anything can be special ordered as well. 

An Alex Casey Baby boutique party is appropriate for baby showers, new moms groups, or simply a girls night out!

Parties can be scheduled during the day or in the evening.  A minimum of 12 shoppers is recommended, but we can accomodate as many as you can!  Once your guests arrive, sit back and enjoy your party!

Why do I want to host?

Hosts receive the following in FREE stuff:

• Sales up to $700: get 10% of the total in merchandise.
• Sales $701-$1400: get 15% of the total in merchandise.
• Sales $1401+: get 15% of the total in merchandise plus one 1/2 priced item.

Plus, IT"S REALLY FUN!!

If you're interested in hosting a boutique party, please email me!!

Ladies Who Launch Spring Event

On Wednesday night, I ventured out of suburbia and into Boston to attend the Ladies Who Launch Spring Into Action event.  I've been meaning to get involved with this seemingly fabulous organization for some time now on the recommendations of others.  LWL is essentially a platform for meeting other women entrepreneurs while exchanging ideas and offering support through groups, events and online. 

The evening started out GREAT as I was carded upon entering the club where it was being held.  Having left the house with nothing but a cell phone, the ubiquitous 'Berry and some cash, after being quizzed on the year I was born, I was ushered inside.  One $12 beverage, one $15 chair-massage and too much guacamole later, the panelists took the stage in a pretty informal way.  They consisted of a 24-year-old CEO of a weekly calendar & city guide to Boston, the owner of a mobile spa and the owner of a mobile boutique, a former lawyer who made a business of helping kids get into college, and the owner of a PR firm specializing in celebrity product placement.  It was a really interesting group who had a lot to offer.  So here's what I got out of it:

• If someone tells you that you can't do it, work harder to find a way that you can.  Be unconventional (I LOVE that word).
• Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?
• Business plan shmisness plan.  As long as you know what your goals are, forget it.  (unless you are seeking investors)
• Just because we're women with an idea does NOT mean it's a "hobby."
• Before going to the next level, check in with your gut.  Listen to it.
• I really want a pair of red shoes (two of the panelists were sporting red shoes and they looked awesome).

These ladies inspired me to call a meeting of my board of directors.  So I sat down with myself and decided the following:

• I need to find a way to tweak my business model without tweaking my business per se. 
• I need to spend WAY more time branding.  It's all about branding!!
• I need to spend more money in some places and less in others.
• I need to take more risks.

In an effort to start on my branding campaign, I signed myself up for the next In Full Force event and called my favorite employee (my mom) to recruit her for June 12th.  I have loads more work to do and the next few weeks will be spent as such.

In all, an evening well spent.  The panelists were inspiring and funny at times, and relatable.  I want to be that 24-year-old running a business and delegating to her employees.  I want to be that veteran entrepreneur who had enough vision to turn her experience in media into a product placement venture.  I can relate to that mom who runs her own business all day and comes home to her family and the needs that have to be met there.  I understand that it's tough to get gigs for a shopping event just as it is for the woman who has a mobile boutique.

And did I mention the hot red shoes?