Ahhh, The Last Day of 2009....

So it is December 31, 2009....what a year! It was a great year over-all for me and for Bebe Dulce. A lot of work, a lot of fun, a lot of lessons learned and a few surprises. I think my biggest accomplishment personally is having a good and loving marriage, even though getting Bebe Dulce off the ground has made it tough and having the cutest 2 year old EVER. She is so amazing and fun and sweet. Just this morning when she was finished with her breakfast I gave her a wet paper towel to wipe off her face and hands, she said "thank you, Mommy!". I just have to pat myself on the back every time she says please and thank you without being prompted, I love it! As for my biggest accomplishment business wise, just having a successful business in this economy is a pretty good accomplishment. I am also very proud of my marketing and PR, which as you have heard me say before I knew NOTHING about before this Fall. I did a lot of research and work and I am now very proud of my extensive Press page on my website! I hope that page continues to expand in 2010! I hope everything expands in 2010, personally and professionally!!

So here is to everyone (I have to make a toast now because I will definitely not be awake at midnight), for those who had a tough year, I hope 2010 brings you what you need for success and happiness and for those that had a great 2009, I hope 2010 brings you more success and happiness! Cheers!

Yumm! Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe

Okay, I have been baking this bread for a couple of years now and I am ready to share the recipe. Every year I forget how good it is!

8 oz package of cream cheese (reduced fat is you want)
1 1/3 cup of sugar, divided
2 eggs
2 tablespoons lemon extract
1 1/2 cup biscuit baking mix (you an use any mix, even reduced fat or make your own, I have done both, make your own is a little better, just google the recipe for bisquick)
1 lemon, you will use the rind and the juice
1 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen, if frozen do not thaw)

Preheat oven to 350. Coat non-stick loaf pan with cooking spray.

Beat the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and lemon extract, beat. Add the biscuit baking mix and lemon rind just until blended. Carefully fold in blueberries. Bake for 45 min -1 hour. In a bowl in the microwave (or saucepan on the stove combine the juice of the lemon and the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar until sugar is dissolved. Take a toothpick and poke several holes in top of bread. Pour sugar and lemon mixture over the top of hot bread. Enjoy! Sooo good!!

This is also a good bread to freeze for another time!

If you use the reduced fat version, it really isn't that bad for you either!

Happy Holidays!

Poor Neglected Blog....

My poor neglected blog....Life has been busy the past month or two and unfortunately Baby Blog is the last on the list of things to do. Bebe Dulce has been featured in many blog, magazines, editorials, etc... You can always check them out on our press page. I do encourage everyone to check them out, you can win free products on almost all of our reviews!!

I was just "tweeting", when I came across a tweet that a woman's 2 year old drowned in a pool this afternoon, so very sad. When I followed that tweet a little more I came across another woman who gave birth to a beautiful little girl on Nov. 30 (that was Alea's due date) and five days later the baby died in her mother's arms of CHD (Congenital heart disease). Both stories are unbelievably devastating. I can't imagine what these poor women are going through. I can't even begin to comprehend. What this brings me to during this holiday season, is that we can get so wrapped up in the "hoopla" of the holidays and our busy lives (as mine has been so extremely busy the last month) and just cherish our kids. I know we all do but give them an extra hug and big smooch. Be grateful for what you have...your child.

Happy Holidays!

FREE Bebe Dulce Product!

Get FREE Bebe Dulce products! I have been doing a marketing campaign for Bebe Dulce in the world of Mom Blogger's and Reviewers. What happens is I contact the blogger/reviewer or they contact me and ask to do a review of our products. The blogger/reviewer writes a blog about Bebe Dulce and the product they received, so that their readers can get the inside scoop on new, fun and hip products. When someone does a review on Bebe Dulce I like to add a giveaway contest to the review. This adds a little fun and excitement to the review and also gives people a chance to win FREE products! And what is more fun than getting FREE goodies?? So here are a few of our latest reviews, check them out, enter the contest, you could be the next winner of some awesome Bebe Dulce loot! There is no catch, we pay for shipping and all!!

Posh Little - Win a FREE Peek-a-Boo Clip

The Gerber Babies - Win a FREE onesie of your choice

Mommy PR - Win a FREE Peek-a-Boo Clip

Fabulous Fun Finds - Win a FREE onesie of your choice

This is all for now, many more to come in the next few weeks. I will keep you updated so you can win more Bebe Dulce!!

Livin' The Life...

Wow, it has been awhile since my last post! I have been swamped with marketing and PR and loving every minute of it! I have gotten great responses from almost everyone I contacted! The Peek-a-Boo Clip is doing well and will hopefully be doing even better very soon! I little marketing tip that I thought of is to give the local hospital (there is only one here) a bag of Peek-a-Boo Clips and let them give them to new Mom's. I really want to get the buzz going about the Peek-a-Boo and I think this will definitely help. I mean anyone so far that has heard of it loves it but I don't know everyone and don't have access to new Mom's, so this is my idea. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

A couple of days ago the new issue of Aspen Peak Magazine came out and there is a sweet, little article about Bebe Dulce!! Wayhooo!!! Our first magazine feature! Plus Start Up Nation called a couple of weeks ago and interviewed me regarding my entry into their 2009 Home Based Business Competition. My first interview!! I didn't win the competition but was one of the "Top Winners" (as they describe it) meaning we were interviewed and mentioned in 2 articles on msn.com. Marketing and PR is alot of work but it is definitely starting to pay off!!

Get a head start on your Holiday shopping, use code earlybird until Nov. 12 to get 20% off your entire order plus FREE shipping and a FREE Peek-a-Boo or Paci Clip for all orders over $50!!

Coming next week at http://www.bebedulceaspen.com/ peppermint scent for lotion, candle, shea butter, relaxation pillow, and sea salt! I just made it this week end and let me just say the lotion is "to die for", it makes your skin tingle! You know like when you put a toner or cleanser on your face! Amazing! Can't wait for you all to try it!!

Go Big or Go Home?

I have this email in my inbox from a marketing/PR company that I am on their e-newsletter list. The email was sent probably a month ago and I have yet to open it. I like it the way it is, in bold letters since it is unopened, so it catches my attention at least daily. I love answering the question each time I see it. Of course, GO BIG! It inspires me when I see it and can perk me up if I am having a bad day! So if you are debating whether or not to do something.... ALWAYS GO BIG!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.

Living the Life of a PR Mama

In the past week since the launch of the Peek-a-Boo clip I have been doing non-stop promoting. I have been in contact with magazines, online magazines, blog reviewers, Le Leche, Mom PR websites, etc... I will have to say I wish I did more diligent promoting sooner, it really works! Just in the past week, I have probably gotten responses from nearly half the people I have contacted. I feel like the Peek-a-Boo clip is getting me in the door but then everyone wants to see mainly gifts sets for gift guides. Everyone seems to love the Peek-a-Boo clip idea but for some reason no one seems to currently be nursing?? I am just trying to look for people that are nursing to review the Peek-a-Boo, is nursing a thing of the past?? I don't think so.

PR is fun and I feel like I am really getting the hang of it considering I have not an ounce of experience!

The Peek-a-Boo Clip

Wow! It has been a busy life here at Bebe Dulce. I have just launched the "Peek-a-Boo Clip" and I couldn't be more excited! My own invention, finally comes to life! I thought of the Peek-a-Boo about a year and a half ago when I was nursing my daughter. Everyone raved about the "Hooter Hider" but I never really used mine. My diaper bag was always full and the last thing I wanted to do was to stuff my Hooter Hider in the bag as well. I knew I could just use the blanket because I always had a blanket with us even though "flashing" strangers was always a possibility! Well needless to say the Peek-a-Boo clip was a dream and I am bursting at the seams that it is now a reality!

So now that the Peek-a-Boo Clip is ready to help new Mom's everywhere and I am busy pitching the Peek-a-Boo to the media. I met with a PR person yesterday and got some great tips on top of the loads of PR/marketing research I have already done. So now it is pitch, wait, pitch, wait, hope!

Off to do more pitching but before I go I have to give a BIG THANK YOU to Shop with Me Mama who blogged about the Peek-a-Boo even before I did! Thanks Kim, you rock!

Pursue your Dream. Live your Dream.

Holding Hands

This weekend Alea's school had their annual Fall festival. We went and although Alea knows plenty of people she wanted to hold my hand most of the time. She typically never wants to hold my hand, I literally have to force her when we cross the street. I will have to tell you that the fact that she wanted to hold my hand was one of the best feelings. She wanted to hold onto me and walk around, at times I lead her and other times she lead me.

So many times through the struggles of being a business owner and being a Mom I realize that sometimes I just need someone to hold my hand. At times I feel like I have great direction and know exactly what I want and how to get it. Other times I feel lost and feel like I have no idea what I am doing. Regardless of the reason everyone needs someone to hold their hand from time to time, it just makes you feel better!

Determination

You know my Mom is constantly telling me that my daughter acts just like I did as a child. I know I wasn't the easiest child, everything had to be my way and I would stop at nothing to get it. I tell my Mom, every child acts that way, every child wants everything their way! My Mother insists that I was different, I was beyond determined and I really stopped at nothing to get what I wanted. So I finally asked her a few weeks ago when we were visiting, so is this a good thing or a bad thing, my determination as a kid? She told me that growing up, of course I was very hard to deal with but she knew in the back of her head that it would hopefully turn out to be a good characteristic as an adult.

Well, I will have to tell you through my adult life my determination had gotten me through more than I can believe. I get down on my "luck" just as much as the next guy. Sometimes it will take me a day or two to perk back up and get back on track but one thing is for sure I will stop at nothing to succeed. Bebe Dulce is like another child to me, it is my baby. I created this company and have worked endlessly raising what I want more than anything to be a big success. I get this incredible opportunity to live out this amazing dream and I am determined to make the most of it!

So cheers to being determined to follow your dreams and determined to be successful!

Burrr It's Monday

Mondays are always tough. Although I work on and off through the weekends, Mondays are still Mondays regardless of the fact that I work at home for myself. Mondays are just made to catch up and work hard to get the week started. Last Monday started my week off with a bang! A great review, a magazine requesting info about Bebe Dulce it couldn't have began much better. This Monday, 4 stores that are extremely late on their payments, calling them just to get blown off, sending late letters, just not the fun and exciting bang I was hoping for. Oh Well, you win some, you lose some. Plus it snowed today and it is freezing, it is suppose to get down to 30 tonight! Burrrr, I wasn't finished with Summer.

Anyway, I have 2 large orders for stores to finish up this week. When I watch the news I feel fortunate to have work right now. There are so many people without jobs and so many companies closing, it is so sad. I hope Bebe Dulce continues to grow so I can hire people without jobs. What I think is even more sad is that Simon from American Idol is making (I think I heard right) $45 million this season! REALLY?? What is this world coming to?

Off to a Great Start

I love it when the week starts off GREAT! Typically, Monday mornings are dreaded, family time is over and rountine life begins. Well this week I've had "pots of gold" thrown into my routine and I couldn't be happier!! First thing Monday morning, I got an email from a magazine needing pictures for their Bebe Dulce write-up, then someone else contacted me checking facts for the article. Today, I was looking through a couple of Mom websites when I clicked on Mommies With Style and viola! Bebe Dulce review! What a pleasant surprise and what a Great review! Be warned that they are changing a couple of things that are incorrect, like my name. I couldn't have asked for a better review! Thanks Mommies With Style!

Plus, Bebe Dulce just turned one and I just launched my new website!! So in celebration I am offering a 15% discount (code birthday15), a FREE tote bag on all orders over $75, both of these offers are good until this Sunday the 20th. On top of all that I am offering FREE shipping on all orders over $50 (good until the end of the month)!! Celebrating always makes me feel generous! I just really want to jump start this new year in business and jump start my new website that I have worked so hard on!!

Well, I hope everyone else's week is off to a great start as well, if not make yourself feel better with a little retail therapy at Bebe Dulce and take advantage of our fun offers!!

Slacking & Working Hard at the Same Time

Well, I am sad to say it has been a week since my last blog. I am a slacker, okay not really, I have been working my buns off but a slacker in the blogging department. I have been completely sunk in my new website. I just have to finish it and the company I choose to help design the site, well stinks to say the least. I chose the company based on price and I guess as everyone knows, you get what you pay for. Through all the frustration I just keep telling myself how much money I am saving, although I am not 100% loving the site, it has features that I need to grow Bebe Dulce. Right now that is all I can afford. I just want to love my site and I don't, I liked my old one better but the old site can't give me the features I need. As Bebe Dulce grows I will just gradually adjust and upgrade. Anyone that is paying someone to build an e-commerce site, be full warned it is VERY PRICEY! Hopefully it will pay for itself sooner rather than later!

As I have said before I love my job! I couldn't be happier with my career and the success of my business but I will say one thing, this job is hard. I say hard in a challenging way. There is just so much to running a business much less making the product as well and you can't slack in any department. I am challenged constantly, so much so my brain hurts. I wouldn't trade it for the world but damn this is hard work!

I will honestly say one thing, I think I have learned more in the past year of having my own business than I have learned any other single year in my life. Luckily I have something successful to show for it. Bebe Dulce's official one year anniversary (from the day I launched my website not the first day I started working on Bebe Dulce :) is this Friday. We will celebrate then, so be sure to check back as I know I will be feeling generous!

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
— Mahatma Gandhi

Honoring Anna Rose

I am so excited about this month's "Shop 2 Share" organization! I feel very privileged to honor Anna Rose Votey. Anna Rose was born to my cousin Stacey and her husband Chuck. You can really tell by reading Anna's story that she touched so many lives in so many ways. Please take a minute to read her story at Bebe Dulce's "Shop 2 Share" page. I can't believe it has been over 5 years, I remember when Anna was born and vividly remember email updates from Stacey and Chuck on Anna's status. So needless to say, I am honored to honor Anna!

More Bebe Dulce...

Through talking to my sales reps in the past couple of weeks the summer has been VERY slow for most of our stores :( August was pretty slow for us on our website also. So... we are now offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. We want to lend a hand as we know the summer was tough. I haven't put an end date on the free shipping yet, as I haven't decided how long to let this promo go, 1 month, 2 months, till the end of the year???? We will see!

Have a Great Day!

What a Great Weekend!

We went to Nashville this past weekend. I had a trunk show on Friday night and my Grandmother's 90th birthday on Saturday. The trunk show went well and the new designs were a hit. Recently I have redesigned the tutu, designed an adorable onesie to match the tutu with tulle flowers and added new embroidery hats. I still have a list of new items that I want to design, I just have to find the time to actually make the products!

My Grandmother's birthday was Saturday and she had a huge party. It was very fun and great to see my extended family. We have a big family and we are rarely all together, I think the last time was at my wedding, 3 years ago!! Anyway, this big birthday really got me thinking about many things, the first is when I am 90 what will I remember most about my life and what will I be most proud of. Then I received an email from a woman who is an artist that I am "friends" with on Martha Stewart's website "Dreamers into Doers". A month or two ago I complimented her artwork and suggested that she market herself to interior designers, I have a great friend that is an interior designer and she has mentioned to me how she searches far and wide for beautiful, unique artwork for her clients. Anyway, the artist emailed me and thanked me for motivating her to get brochures made up and get a website up and running. It was such a nice email and is still making me grin from ear to ear just thinking about it.

That is one of a few things that I want to remember about my life when I am 90, that I helped people in some way, whether it is motivating them to achieve their dreams, helping people through Shop 2 Share or even just lending a hand when someone needs it.


"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough" — Mae West

My, How Time Flies When You Are Having Fun Working!

Wow, it has been almost a week since my last post! That is the longest I have gone without posting! I guess things have been busy this week. Busy in a good way, of course. Orders are still coming in and I am filling them as quickly as possible. On top of that I am researching places (websites and blogs) to review my products, re-designing my tutu's (just for a fresh fun look!), designing a new onesie to match the tutu's (so cute, I can't wait to post pics for you to see!) and adding my products to my new website (I feel like I will never finish :). All in the name of a fun, good growing business! WhoooHooo!

I get so inspired by looking at other websites and seeing how they "do" things. I hope that someone, anyone gets inspired by looking at my website and reading my blog, (crossing my fingers :)

We have a big trunk show planned in Nashville next Friday, so excited! I think it will be grand! Until next time, keep on working, researching and having fun (not in that order!) !

Oh and how could I forget! My "Shop 2 Share" blog post was featured on 5 minutes for Mom! Check it out!

Some Things Just Don't Happen as You Expect....

Since this winter I have wanted to take Alea to the zoo. She LOVES animals, loves dogs, cats, monkeys, ducks, cows, etc... I just couldn't wait to get her to the zoo to see all the amazing animals there. Well, things didn't quite work out as I planned. We get to the zoo and she immediately gets in the stroller (SCORE!) she hasn't ridden in the stroller since the spring, I think this will be the perfect day. We get in the zoo and immediately see kangaroos and ostrich's, I take her out of the stroller for a better view (BIG, BIG mistake). Now all she wants to do is stand next to the stroller and play with the straps on the stroller. So now we can't walk or even move for that matter. To distract from the stroller straps, I give her a bottle of water and a straw, we can walk again but someone has to hold her so we can actually walk and she can still play with the water bottle. Quite frankly she could have cared less about the zoo, the only thing she cared about the entire day was the water bottle and straw which did not leave her hands and spilled all over everyone that came near. She did not get back in the stroller except when I bribed her with ice cream but that only lasted until the ice cream was gone!

Despite the dis-interest of my child, the zoo was still fun and I definitely learned "things just don't happen as I always expect!"

What I do know is the Dallas market starts Tuesday and our sales rep will be there. I am trying not to expect anything for fear of not living up to my expectations. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed that it exceeds my expectations! Stay positive and have confidence in my products but even if it doesn't end up as successful as I hope, it's life, and I will learn from the experience, just as I learned today at the zoo. Don't get down if things don't happen as you expect!

Gotta Love It When The Hard Work Pays Off

I have been non-stop marketing and I feel like it is really paying off. I now have companies contacting me instead of me always contacting them. I mean I don't have people knocking down my door or anything but it is nice to have people contact me wanting to connect or wanting us to attend their show, etc... I really just have to pat myself on the back as the hard work does payoff occasionally. The main key to marketing is that you can never stop. I want to find as many places as I can to market Bebe Dulce and now "Shop 2 Share". I really want "Shop 2 Share" to be a huge success and am researching every outlet in order to ensure that it is a success and we give as much money as possible to those in need.

Now I just need to finish the new website.....what a daunting task!

Going to Denver this weekend for a party and taking Alea to the zoo. I am soooo excited to take her to the zoo or maybe I am just excited myself!

"Shop 2 Share"

I am so excited to finally launch "Shop 2 Share"!! After much debate and consideration about the name, we have finally chosen "Shop 2 Share". I think the name suits the program perfectly, When you SHOP Bebe Dulce you are SHARING with those in need. It is really simple but so powerful in what the program can do. My goal of this program is to CONSISTENTLY give. Sure it is easy when someone emails me for silent auction donations to send them a few things or when a friend emails or calls me to ask to donate to this walk or that run. The thing is, that's not consistent. Programs that operate ALWAYS give, they ALWAYS SHARE. I want to ALWAYS SHARE too. I don't want to hound people with my favorite quote, but that is what inspired me to start this program and I hope it inspires you too. It is short and simple, just what I like...

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."
— Mahatma Gandhi

So here's to the success of "Shop 2 Share"! I hope we can give more than I ever expected.

My Day Was Made

Of course I love hearing that people love my products. I love when people email me after they have received their order and tell me how much they like everything. Yesterday I got an email from "Rachel" with a video attached. An adorable 3 year old little girl twirling in her new tutu. The title of the video was "Guess who won the best gift award". I am glad this cute little girl loves her new tutu as much as I liked making it.

It is late and I am still working on the details of "Give Back" or "Give Always", I can't decide on the name. I only have until tomorrow, I think I will sleep on it. I am so excited to launch this program and give to those in need while also helping my customers give!

Never stop researching and never stop marketing, so important for your business!

I Love My Job

Really, I love what I do. I just feel so lucky to be able to do what I enjoy. One of Tigey's friends asked me a couple of months ago if I could have any job in the world what would it be? Honestly I am doing it! Don't get me wrong starting your own business without a lot of money and doing basically every part of it myself is TOUGH but beyond rewarding. I truly feel like this is what I was meant to do with my career.

So with marketing Bebe Dulce I have met a whole new community of people on different websites that I find inspirational and helpful. I am a member of Martha Stewart's Dreamer into Doers social networking site. Today I cam home from a long day to get an email from Beth (a fellow Dreamer into Doer) and she mentioned this here lovely blog on her blog! What a nice surprise. Beth has a great blog that gives helpful marketing info to small businesses. Thanks Beth. http://www.minibizbuzz.typepad.com/

The next marketing avenue that I am exploring is to send in our products in to "review" blogs and websites. There are many out there. I have a handful that I will begin sending press kits to in hopes of having my products reviewed. First I need to write another press release. I want to change my pitch a little to focus more on the quality of craftmanship you get from handmade products as well as the great customer service that we provide being a small business. When you give someone a unique, handmade gift with great quality and style it has more meaning than buying the same blanket or outfit everyone else buys from Target.

Don't forget I am launching "Give Back" on August 1. I am just working out a few more details and then this great program will take off. I am so excited to help others in this way as well as help my customers give just by shopping Bebe Dulce.

My wish for all of you is that you find a career that you truly enjoy.

Where Do I Begin

Well, for starters, today is my birthday. You know I don't really like my birthdays anymore, I feel like they are destined for disappointment. I don't want to seem like a downer because I try really hard to be positive in most situations. I just feel like the expectation that the day should be perfect makes it entirely imperfect. Just like New Years Eve, I don't know if I have ever had a great one. You make all these fancy plans get a new dress and then the night turns out to be a flop. Today was a fine birthday, nothing exciting. Sometimes I just wish birthdays were like they used to be, when I was a kid I literally felt different than I did they day before. Now they are just another day. Next year I want to celebrate like I used to!

So we went to Austin. It took a very long time. We left Wednesday night and drove to Denver, everything went fine, our hotel was actually much nicer than I expected. Thursday morning we get to the airport only to find out out flight has been cancelled. Frontier does not have another flight with available seats for 4 days to Austin. Okay. So they say they can switch us to United but the flight doesn't leave until 8pm, it is currently 8:30am. Breath. They say they can put us on stand by for 2 other United flights. The next flight leaves at 1:30pm. Luckily the bags are on the 1:30 flight, so if I can't make it for the trunk show at least my bags will get there and Jen can have merchandise for the show. We miss the 1:30 flight. We get on the 5:00 flight, after the longest day of my life (being in the airport with a 1 1/2 year old for 8 1/2 hours SUCKS), we get to Austin at 8:00pm, the same time the show ends. Still bummed I missed the show.

What I will say is that we ended up having a spectacular time in Austin thanks to Jen and Derrik. Such a fun, fun weekend. Drank wine, played in the fountains, laughed, kids played and didn't miss a beat with a great friend I haven't seen in 6 years. It was great.

What a day already and we haven't even left for Austin yet!! I have been running around like crazy trying to finish up last minute orders, packing, cleaning and a million other things. I am so excited to go I can barely think straight. Then I check my email and Austin Kidbits featured us in their newsletter today! WhooooHoooo. It was a great little bit on Bebe Dulce and mentioned our trunk show Thursday night. Okay, now I really can't think straight. My wonderful brother came over to watch Alea so I could go into town and run errands. I needed to go to the post office and the bank. I mail everything at the post office and then head to the bank, only to realize that I left my deposits at home!!! Dang it!! Good thing we live in a small town and we are only 5 minutes away from town but geez, today has loads of excitement and my brain is not working!! So now I am sitting on the couch, having an early glass of wine and blogging. Whew. Not sure the glass of wine will hurt me or help, who am I kidding??? Of course it will help, wine ALWAYS helps!! HEHE

Cheers! We are off to Austin!

Visit us at Sanctuary Thursday night if you are in Austin! 6-8pm

Goin' ta Austin!

Well, Jen has done it again! She has gotten more orders! We will soon be in stores in southern Cali! I love expanding our market. Once we ship the orders, we will let you know where you can find us in SoCal!!

We are headed to Austin, Texas this weekend. Bebe Dulce will be having a trunk show at "Sanctuary" for their anniversary party. This is our first trunk show, hopefully the first of many to come, and we couldn't be more excited. Plus I will be seeing my long-time friend and now sales rep, Jen who I haven't seen in 6 or 7 years! We are in for a fun-filled weekend! My how times have changed. The last time Jen and I saw each other we both lived in NYC and went to all the best "hot spots", now we are both married with kids and have little time for ourselves much less hitting all the "hot spots"! I am sure we will make time this weekend though! I will tell you all about it next week.

Jen and I will also be heading to several of the Austin stores that carry Bebe Dulce baby gifts. I love seeing my products displayed in stores. Hopefully, I will remember to take pictures of the displays for everyone to see!

Marketing Pays Off & My Baby Girl Rocks

You know about a month ago I decided to concentrate on marketing Bebe Dulce. I had been really busy with store orders but my internet business had slacked off. So I started researching marketing techniques, everything from internet based to handing my business card out more. I have been so focused on this. I have learned lots of things from doing loads of research. I will have to say all my hard work is paying off. I have been really busy with internet and "word of mouth" orders. I will also have to say that I really enjoying marketing, I am kinda surprised by that.

This afternoon I took Alea to town and we were at the fountain playing, well she was playing. Lots of kids are constantly there. Alea loves it. She is so social, although she barely talks in public, and loves other kids. Anyway, there are always balloons there for the kids to play with and of course Alea was playing with a balloon. There was another balloon a couple of feet away from her, she walked over to the balloon, picked it up and took it over to a 10 month old little girl standing with her Mom and gave her a balloon!!! I am so proud of her. I work so hard on making sure she shares and today made it all worth it. What a good girl :)


"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
— Maya Angelou

Random Thoughts, FREE Pillow

Random Thoughts...

Just a little exercise tip, when you go walking or hiking, bring your ski poles or a couple of walking sticks. Why? You burn 25% more calories when walking or hiking with poles because you are moving your arms as well, therefore getting a full body workout.

I should have started this blog, joined facebook, twitter and all the other social media sites when I worked for someone else. It was so much easier to waste time on someone else's clock rather than my own. Damn it!

I don't know why I dream of being on Oprah!? I can't even talk in front of 20 people much less the whole world. I think I will change my dream that my company, my products will be on Oprah, not me in particular.

Let's have a little fun.
Okay, now if you message me today, this means by midnight tonight, Thursday July 16. I will send you a FREE relaxation pillow. Yep, totally FREE, FREE pillow, FREE shipping.

What you need to do is visit my website http://www.bebedulceaspen.com/ and fill out the email list on the home page. Include your shipping address and what scent of pillow you would like. To find the scents visit the Mom's relaxation products page on the site.

Ready, Go, Have a Great Day!

"Give Back"

I am itching for more marketing and PR techniques. As of now I have sent out press kits to a few publications. Unfortunately, since sending them we have only been able to get in touch with one person. That person was of course the one person I almost didn't send a press kit to because they don't really do stories on businesses and people, they are strictly "news". Bummer. We will keep calling though. In the meantime, I will be writing another press release to send out, one that is more "news worthy" vs. informational on Bebe Dulce as a company.

I have a new program that I hope to launch August 1. It will be called "Give Back". Give Back is a program that I wanted to create to help give back to the community, non-profits, charities and organizations. Bebe Dulce will give a percentage of our sales to a chosen organization. We will let our customers choose the organizations where they can also honor someone. I chose the program "Give Back" because we want to give to organizations in need. I also want to give back to my loyal customers for shopping Bebe Dulce.

I hope that "Give Back" is a success and we can give LOADS of money to people that need it.


"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up."
— Mark Twain

Bebe Dulce Business Tip

Okay, so I want to start giving tips on how I am increasing business for Bebe Dulce. I am just learning and I do a lot of research but other than that I am new to the business game (as of last year).

So my Bebe Dulce Tip of the Day...

Recruit your friends as sales reps. I knew that I needed a big jump-start to my business. I only planned on doing "word-of'-mouth" advertising for my internet based business. Well, that didn't work. I mean I got a couple of orders a week but that wasn't cutting it.

My awesome friend Jen really liked my product and would help me brainstorm on how to get the word out. Before we knew it Jen was my first sales rep! I then asked a couple other friends and now I have 4 sales reps. One is a stay at home Mom and the others work either full or part time. They love it because they can make their own schedule and work as much or as little as they want, plus they make extra cash! I love it becasue they make commission only and they pay for their samples they "use" to sell. I researched loads of sales rep jobs to figure out what was common practice and then added in what worked for me. So far, this has been an incredible jump-start for Bebe Dulce. We are currently in over 20 stores in 3 states!!

If you want to be a sales rep or if you have a business and would like more info about hiring sales reps, just send me a comment.

Enjoy your day!

My Baby, My Work

I wonder what Alea will be when she grows up. I was thinking today that she likes soooo many things. She LOVES to talk on the phone, she loves to "colar", she loves to rub lotion on me, she loves to play in the dirt, she loves to pick flowers she also loves for me to put make up on her, she is such a happy girl. I am so lucky.

I have been painting onesies, t-shirts and tutu's all weekend. I love it, it is such a nice change up from sewing. Both equally fun! I have a great job. Hopefully soon I will be able to employee some of the people that are laid off. Business has been good and let it continue! Cheers!


"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." — Albert Einstein

My Baby Girl

Exhausted. It really is amazing how much a 1 1/2 year old can completely wear you out. For now, I get about a 2 hour nap break during the day. I think I definitely need to start napping instead of racing around the house trying to do a million things during that time. I need a nap! It is Friday night, 7:45pm and I am already laying in bed watching TV!?! My-how life changes in such a short time! I do think about going out and having fun, being social, but when the time comes I am a NO-GO! I can't remember the last time I even stayed up 'till midnight! Don't say New Years because I haven't even rung in the New Year for the past couple of years. Am I what people consider a loser?? What will I be when I have another baby?? Okay, don't answer that.

Since I am on the kid topic...how can a 1 1/2 year old have so many opinions? Now we don't wear bibs, don't want to wear diapers or clothes, don't sit in stroller, barely get in the car seat, only like to wear shoes indoors?? When she is completely forced to wear shoes outside she only wants to wear one?? Really? Only wants to eat my food even though it is the same thing that is on her plate, I could really go on for days. My Mom claims that Alea acts like I did as a child, really? Is that why it took you a mear 6 years to have another?? Damn. So Alea got Tigey's looks (other than the tan skin) and my amazing personality! Good thing she is beyond adorable.

With this I am signing off...
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."
—Robert A. Heinlein

My Life Today

Well, I just had a nice phone meeting with a website designer. So, BebeDulce.com facelift begins! This is so exciting, I hope it goes smoothly!

I have been really busy with internet orders this week, I hope this means my marketing is starting to pay off. I have been studying all about marketing and PR lately. There is so much to do and to learn. Everyone has a different take on what has worked for them. I am just taking the things I like to do and going with them first. If that doesn't work then I guess I will have to start doing the things I don't like to do..... like talking to people I don't know about myself and my company.
It is such a learning process and the common key I have found to marketing is that you can never stop! You have to keep up with many marketing techniques consistently for them to work. That is the hard part! It is so easy to do something once, like writing a blog, but to keep up with doing them is a whole other story.

Anyway, today is my one day a week that I work at the Aspen Club & Spa front desk. It is hard for me to stop my work and get there but once I am there I really enjoy it. Since I work at home, I feel like a hermit. It is good to have to get out of here and be social, something that I like to do but have a hard time doing. In case you didn't know, I am actually a pretty shy person. I really want to talk to strangers but it is so hard for me. That is definitely the trait that I like least about myself, I think, at least today anyway!

Okay, enough for now. I hope everyone is having a good day!

Vote for Bebe Dulce

Back to the Blog world! You know I have never been able to keep a diary. I just could never keep up with it. I would write a day or two and then forget to for months. That was years ago when I was single, had easy jobs, and no kid. Now I run my own business, married and have a very busy 1 1/2 year old. Why do I think I can keep up with this now????? I think I will just cross my fingers and imagine that I have more time than I know what to do with! Go Blog!!

As for Bebe Dulce, I am trying to redesign my website. It is really tough. I want add a few new features and upgrade it over all. This is such a big task, but so very important for my business. Websites are so complex and then add the search engine optimization!! WOW. I am glad I am not in the web business.

I entered Bebe Dulce in Start Up Nation's Home Based business competition. So follow this link and vote for Bebe Dulce! You can only vote once a day but once you vote you can get email reminders to vote every day. Vote Bebe Dulce daily!!

Anyway, back to my day with Alea and enjoying her silly-ness.

I wish everyone a day of love and laughter!

Oprah

I can't believe I haven't written on here since Thursday. Last week when I started this blog thought I would write on here every other day at the least! Oh well, it was a holiday weekend after all!

I mailed out more press kits today. I am excited to see the response. This week I need to follow up on the kits I have already mailed. I also need to work on my kits for OPRAH, yep I said Oprah! I have decided that is my new goal! I am determined be on Oprah one of these days!

This week I want to work on more marketing techniques. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!

Hand Out Business Cards

Today was a great day. I love having great days. I Set up a table at the Aspen Club and it was very successful. I think even just standing there and handing out business cards is success. As long as I am telling someone new about my company or just talking about Bebe Dulce I think is really good. Spread the word!

My first blog post!!

My first blog post!! I better make it good! HAHA

Today was a great day, my brother came over and babysat this morning for a few hours so I could get a little work finished. I am so glad to have my brother here. Alea just adores him and he babysits anytime for free. Living so far away from family, in particular my Mom, I don't know what I would do without a little free help and especially with someone I trust. He always talks about moving but I really hope he doesn't.

Tomorrow is daycare day! I am going to set up a Bebe Dulce table in the morning at the Aspen Club. I hope it is busy! I haven't set up a table there in months. I have also always done it with someone else but tomorrow I will be by myself. I am not a person that likes doing things like that by myself. Wish me luck!

I am really excited for the holiday weekend. I have never been a huge holiday person but now that I have a child, holidays take on a totally different meaning.