December 30th, 2009 • Comments: 0 • by Wendy • Fabulous Finds

Nursing Mother Goddess Pendants are Here!

In the summer of 2008, I exhibited at the DONA Conference here in Vancouver, BC.  As we all filed-in to set-up our wares for the vendor area, my eyes kept wandering over to my neighbour's table.  If you don't already know this about me, I am a jewelry FREAK!  My neighbour was ceramic artist Susan Kirk and her beautiful, hand-crafted Nursing Mother Goddess Necklaces had caught my eye.  I'll admit that by the end of the 2-day conference, I left with several of her pieces.

A Nursing Mother Goddess Pendant celebrates and honours breastfeeding, thus making it "the" perfect gift for new mothers and their families, doulas, lactation consultants, midwives and ob/gyns.

These stunning hand-crafted ceramic pendants are available in four non-toxic, low-fire glaze colours - Stone Turquoise, Ivory (shown left), Ebony and Terra Cotta - effortlessly coordinating with anything and everything in your wardrobe!

Understated yet eye-catching, she will be a conversation-starter every time you wear her!  I can't tell you how many people have commented when I wear mine.

The Nursing Mother Goddess Necklace measures 2" tall (pendant portion) and is carried by a 25" black satin cord that is easily adjusted to be shorter if desired.

Tell us what you think about these necklaces.  Would you like to see more of this type of product in our online store?  Leave a comment below to share!

December 18th, 2009 • Comments: 0 • by Wendy • Fabulous Finds • General • In the News

Buy Entrepreneur with Collective-E

Did you know that US entrepreneurs and small businesses account for 99.7% of employers and produce a GDP of over $6 trillion dollars?

Did you know the 10.6 million women-owned businesses in the US employ 19.1 million workers?  That's 1 in 7 employees.

Did you know that minority-owned small businesses account for $591 billion dollars in national revenue?

Do you make an effort to purchase goods made by entrepreneurs and small businesses?  If you don't, perhaps you may want to take a second look at this fantastic and growing industry.

According to Collective-E...

"When you Buy Entrepreneur, it enhances your ability to find something perfect, unique and special for everyone on your list.  Everyday at Collective-E, we are fortunate to discover new and unique entrepreneurial brands ranging from multi-million dollar cosmetic and handbag lines to brownie companies run out of home offices; organic jewelry companies to massage therapists and everything in between.  You can find out about more of them here.  Though their size and scope may vary, they share a passion for providing unique and high quality products to their customers and for creating a better life for themselves and those who work with them. Not only is it a way to shop and support something important this holiday season, but it feels good too!"

"Entrepreneurs have the best ideas with the freshest inspiration. Find gifts for friends, family, or a little pick-me-up for yourself. You'll find unique pieces of jewelry, bridal designers, baby gifts, wine consultants, accountants, and much more. Collective-E members update this section all of the time as a live gift guide!"

Not only will you find UNIQUE and AMAZING products and services across all categories, but you will be supporting a vital, yet oft-overlooked part of the economy.

Entrepreneurs are everywhere!  Purchase a gift certificate at your local indie restaurant or neighbourhood hair salon; patronize a boutique in your area; shop on a favourite online web store.  Shopping local supports your community - these entrepreneurs are your neighbours, your family and maybe even your employer!

Buy Entrepreneur this holiday season and beyond!

July 24th, 2009 • Comments: 0 • by Wendy • Fabulous Finds

Sugar Mountain Catering - Yes We Do That!

My husband is a vegetarian.  His sister and her husband are vegan.  My Dad (RIP) only ate a specific kind of white fish (he HATED salmon).

So when it came time to pick a caterer for our wedding, I had a tall order to fill.  I (of course) began by doing online research and found some names of local caterers and what people were saying about them.  I called a caterer on my list and when I described our requirements to the woman who answered, her response was, "Are you going to bend over backwards for just a few people at your wedding?"  Uh... yes I am.  We're talking about my (at the time future) husband, his family and my DAD!?!  After "snarky lady's" rude remark, she said she would fax me some menus to look over.  My mouth hung open as I read over them.  What she listening to me at all?  Every single one had beef or chicken as the main course.  Hello?

I made a few more calls, all of which were pretty much dead-ends.  Everyone was flogging the same-old, same-old "roast beef and lasagna" or "chicken and pasta salad" that you encounter at every wedding...  I knew that I wanted my wedding to be unique in every aspect INCLUDING the food!  And I knew I could do it with our limited budget (I am very resourceful).

Then I found Sugar Mountain Catering and David Macmillan purely by chance.  It was a random comment on a wedding forum by a newlywed who was raving about them.  It wasn't long before I was speaking to David on the phone.  He explained that custom menus were his specialty and how he in fact thrived on the creativity and challenge of them.  He described unusual pairings that he had carried off with flying colours - like the Japanese bride and the Jewish groom or the Persian fellow that married the German girl.

While the first woman I called chastised me for being "too" accommodating towards my guests, David welcomed the challenge I had with open arms.  I could actually hear the wheels turning inside his head and feel his excitement for the creative process that he was about to embark on.

As David says on his site, "We work within your budget and cater any ethnic cuisine. Our chef thrives on custom designing menus to suit your specific needs and looks forward to sitting with you for a menu consultation and providing a tasting for you and your spouse-to-be in the comfort of your own home free of charge."  It was a match made in heaven.  It almost felt too good to be true!

So then it was time for the tasting.  It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G to say the least.  David and his wife came out to our home, brought the wine, and proceeded to create 4 dishes for us to taste.  Honestly, he had me after the first bite.

And he was warm, genuine and authentic.  And so was his wife.  It was like eating with old friends.

On the day of our wedding, everyone RAVED about the food.  Even if they weren't sure about a particular dish at first, they were happily surprised.  My uncle's words to my Mom were something along the lines of, "Well the food was certainly different, but I tried everything and it was all EXCELLENT!"  I was so very happy that there was something for everyone AND that it was delicious to boot!

Then to top it all off, my Aunt asked me if I could get the recipe for a particular salad that David had made featuring Granny Smith apples.  There was no hesitation on David's part at all to share it with her.  I've honestly lost count of how many times I've recommended Sugar Mountain Catering.

I had an expectation of an experience as I sat down to dinner on my wedding day and David Macmillan and his team at Sugar Mountain Catering delivered that experience.

So figure out what you're good at, ensure there is a need for it, and do it CONSISTENTLY.  Then put that into a statement.  That is your BRAND PROMISE.

Do you have a brand promise?  Please leave a comment below and share.

June 21st, 2009 • Comments: 0 • by Wendy • Carnival of Breastfeeding • Fabulous Finds • Pumping • Resources

June Carnival of Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding Hats? YES! Nursing Covers? Uh... Not So Much

Welcome to the June Carnival of Breastfeeding!  The theme for this month is Nursing in Public.  Be sure to check out the other bloggers' posts below.

I never really had a problem breastfeeding in public, but the oogles and stares indicated to me that a lot of other people did, which in turn, made me a teensy bit uncomfortable, but never enough to deter me.  I usually draped my shoulder with a receiving blanket to appease the gawkers (did I say that?) however since the baby's head would jerk and pull it off, I was forever adjusting.  I thought it was a pain in the ... well, you know.

I was never too jazzed about those big, bulky nursing covers either.  When I see a mom using one even to this day, I immediately think, "what big, bad thing is she hiding under that thing?"  'In my humble opinion', it sends a message that breastfeeding is something to be covered up and ashamed of.  "It is illicit, top secret, too awful to be seen with the human eye."  How ridiculous!  I also think that in warm weather, the baby would be sweltering under there.  Although they seem to function well for moms, they are definitely NOT for me and I imagine a lot of other moms feel the same way.

I have met so many Mom-Entrepreneurs since having my children.  It makes me so happy when I hear about yet another fantastic product that was created by a Mom that couldn't find "something" in the market, and thus created it herself!

One of these Moms is Diane Sam, the creator of MoBoleez®.  She has come up with an ingenious invention - the world's first breastfeeding hat!  Being that I had already weaned both my daughters, it almost made me want to have another baby... almost. ;-)  Your baby wears the hat on their sweet little head, therefore his or her movements don't cause any "indiscretions".  The great big brim of the MoBoleez® gives moms a bit of privacy without covering-up the breastfeeding like it is some "big bad secret".  And here's a bonus - once baby is done nursing, she can continue to wear it as a sun hat!

MoBoleez hats draw attention to breastfeeding in a fun, positive and fashionable way which is one of the things that breastfeeding needs to be once again accepted into the mainstream culture as it once was at the beginning of the last century. 

Isn't it time?

Do you/did you breastfeed in public?  If so, were you comfortable or not so much?  What, if anything, did you use for a cover?  I'd love to hear from you!

Check out these other bloggers' posts on Nursing in Public (updated throughout the day):

• Lucy and Ethel Have a Baby: Nursing in Public - Boobs Out and Proud
• PhD in Parenting:  Would You, Could You, Nurse in Public?
• Dirty Diaper Laundry:  Breastfeeding in Public - Talents - I Haz It
• Kim Through the Looking Glass: Here, at the Restaurant?
• Grudgemom: Nursing in a Room Full of People You Know
• Mum Unplugged: Awww, is He Sleeping?
• Massachusetts Friends of Midwives: Nursing in Public - Chinatown, the Subway, the Vatican, and More
• Mother Mary's Soapbox: Breastfeeding Oriana
• Tiny Grass: Nursing in Public as an Immigrant
• Mommy News and Views: Breastfeeding in Public
• The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: Get Kicked Off a Bus for Nursing in Public? Here's How to Respond
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3: To Cover or Not To Cover
• Stork Stories: Little Old Men... & Nursing in Public
• Chronicles of a Nursing Mom: Why Worry About NIP?
• Blacktating: Thank You for Nursing in Public
• Musings on Mamahood: NIP, No Tuck
• Mama Knows Breast: Products That Can Help You Breastfeed in Public
• babyREADY: A Wee NIP in the Park!
• Tales of Life With a Girl on the Go: Planes, Trains and Automobiles - We've Breastfed in them All
• Breastfeeding Moms Unite!: Nursing in Public:  A Fresh Perspective on Nurse-Ins
• Hobo Mama: Easy, Discreet Ways to Breastfeed a Toddler in Public
• Breastfeeding Mums: Nursing in Public - What's a Breastfeeding Mother to Do?

May 30th, 2009 • Comments: 0 • by Wendy • Fabulous Finds

MoBoleez? YES! Nursing Covers? Uh... Not So Much

Had I met Diane Sam of MoBoleez® about 3 years earlier than I did, I would have had one of her hats in every color!  As it is, I met her when I had already weaned my youngest daughter so I didn't get to take advantage of her ingenious invention!  It almost made me want to have another baby... almost. ;-)

I really didn't have a problem breastfeeding in public, but the oogles and stares indicated to me that a lot of other people did, which in turn, made me a teensy bit uncomfortable, but never enough to deter me.  I usually draped my shoulder with a receiving blanket to appease the gawkers (did I say that?), which I was forever adjusting due to the fact that the baby's head would jerk and pull it off.  I thought it was a pain in the ... well, you know.

I can't say that I'm too jazzed about those big, bulky nursing covers either.  When I see a mom using one, I immediately think, "what big, bad thing is she hiding under that thing?"  "In my humble opinion", it sends a message that breastfeeding is something to be covered up and ashamed of.  "It is illicit, top secret, too awful to be seen with the human eye."  So ridiculous!  I also think that in warm weather, the baby would be sweltering under there.  Although they seem to function well for moms, they are definitely NOT for me and I imagine a lot of other moms feel the same way.

If I had had a MoBoleez, adjusting the cover due to the baby's movements would have been irrelevant because she would have worn the hat on her sweet little head!  A little bit of movement here or there doesn't matter at all.  The great big brim of the MoBoleez gives moms a bit of privacy without covering-up the breastfeeding like it is some big bad secret.

And here's a bonus - once baby is done, she can continue to wear the MoBoleez as a sun hat!  There has never been a better time to buy a MoBoleez - their brand new line, dubbed MoBoleez Couture features fashion-forward fabrics that are reversible to a solid so you are getting "2 hats for the price of 1".

MoBoleez hats draw attention to breastfeeding in a fun, positive and fashionable way which is what breastfeeding needs - to be once again accepted into the mainstream culture as it once was at the beginning of the last century.

Isn't it time?

Do you/did you breastfeed in public?  If so, were you comfortable or not so much.  What, if anything, did you use for a cover?  I'd love to hear from you!