Archive for the ‘Monday: What’s New?’ Category
New Logo & New Patterns… What a Monday!
I love new stuff, I really do. Maybe it has something to do with shiny things, or new car smell (haven’t experienced that one in a while!), or checking out all of the new bells and whistles for the first time, I’m not sure, but who doesn’t love new stuff?
Well, here’s what’s new in the world of kids belts; NEW LOGO and NEW SPRING PATTERNS! Yep, you heard it here first (actually, you heard it here back in October when I announced that changes were coming). I know what you are thinking, “New logo and new patterns? All at the same time? But Michelle, that’s just too much greatness to handle all at once!” I know, and believe me, I though about that. I mean, I don’t want to overwhelm you guys, but I just have to share all of this now!
In case you don’t remember what it looks like, here is our new logo…
How great is that? I love it, it’s so clean and crisp. I love how the snaps are incorporated but we aren’t beating you over the head with them. We will be rolling out our new website soon and you should start seeing our new packaging in a store close you (or an online store in your area) in the very near future.
Next, I bring you our new Spring 2012 Patterns for Dapper Snappers. Da dada da!
Perfectly Pink Paisley
Definitely Denim
Cutesie Cupcakes
Lively Leather
So, there is our sneak peak of whats new for spring. By the way, this doesn’t even touch on the patterns that will be available in the Big Kids Belts! Wait until you see what we will be offering for them! This is such an exciting time, because, like I said, I LOVE new stuff!
Do you have any suggestions for patterns?? We would love to hear them.
Blessings,
Little Drummer Boy
I need to take a minute away from writing about kids belts, recipes, tips, tricks, and iPhone apps to brag about my son, Super Dude.
Super Dude is about to turn 7 and like his other video; Amazing 5 year old drummer does Crazy Train!, his talent shines through. We are working on updating his drum set. He recently got a new throne and we are going to get all new heads on his drums and get them tuned up. We are also getting him a metronome for his birthday, in just 2 1/2 short weeks.
Here he is drumming to “Hard to Handle”, while hubby sings and plays guitar in the back ground. See for yourself…
Pretty amazing, huh? I may be a doting mother, but considering Super Dude has only had 4 half hour technique lessons and doesn’t read music, I think he’s a natural. (PS. the video of him at 5 years old, playing crazy train, was with no lessons ever.)
I could watch and listen to him play for hours. Most moms would probably think I am crazy for letting him have a drum set, but I love it. He loves it and we are making some great memories with them. Super Dude and Hubby like to have little “jam” sessions and I think that is great father son time. It makes me smile to think they are both so talented and actually interested in the same things.
What amazes me is that he can just sit down and play and make it look so easy, like it’s normal and everyone should be able to do it. I can’t wait to see the things he will accomplish and how much better he will get. I’ll be sure to keep all of my faithful readers posted as his talent continues to blossom!
Now… I’m off to buy an old school bus that I can paint with Mondrian inspired patterns and we can travel the land embarking on our music career, I shall call us “The Dapper Snappers Family” (ala The Partrige Family, in case you didn’t catch that reference!). By the way, if you tell me you don’t know who The Partridge Family is, I think I’ll scream.
Blessings,
Parental Control
I came across something while watching TV this weekend that I thought was really cool and since it’s new to me, I thought I would share with you!
At home the hubby and I have DirecTv for cable and I was exploring some of the features that we haven’t used (but pay dearly for, I’m sure). What I found was really useful, especially if you have kids in the house. While you are on the guide screen, if you scroll to a TV show or movie and hit info, there is a tab called “Parental Info”. I had never noticed this tab before. Probably because I am surrounded by two kids screaming to each watch something different, but at this blissful moment I was by myself and could actually take in what I was looking at.
I love this parental info thing! I am so busy with my kids belts business that I don’t always have time to prescreen a movie prior to letting the little ones watch it.
It’s hard to read here, but it tells the parent about the movie and who should be allowed to watch. I can’t tell you how many times Super Dude and/or Bug have come to me and asked to watch a movie. Some of these movies I have never heard of before and I don’t want to just let them watch anything. That’s why this info is great. For example, the one above is for Men in Black and it explains that there is a high gross-out factor and that if your child is easily frightened, then this is not an appropriate movie for them. The parental info section also tells you about the language and any other inappropriate material. If you go to DirecTv’s website, you can pull up a movie and see what ages they suggest.
Ok, so this may not be “new” but it is new to me and I am glad I found it! Hopefully there was someone out there that didn’t know already and now it’s new to them too!
Blessings,
It’s Sinus Season Somewhere-10 Tips for Beating Sinus Pressure
What’s new, you ask? Sinus Season… at least it is here in Florida. I’m thinking that it’s because we have had a handful of cold weather days and no rain to speak of this winter. In fact, the high today is supposed to be 81. Yes, 81 degrees in January. Please don’t be jealous, it is wreaking havoc on everyone’s sinus’ here at the kids belts factory, especially the hubby, the mother-in-law and my assistant.
In light of that, I thought I would share 10 natural ways to reduce sinus pressure. Isn’t that thoughtful of me? Now, I just hope they read my blog…
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
- Take long showers or breathe in steam from a pot on the stove.
- Drink lots of fluids, which will thin out your mucus and may help prevent your sinuses from getting blocked up.
- Use a nasal saline spray
- Irrigate. I know that sounds bizarre and if you have never used a neti pot, it looks even weirder, but the water washes out mucus and other debris – including allergens or germs – while keeping your nasal passages moist.
- Use warm compresses on your face. Sitting with a warm, wet towel on your face may relieve discomfort and open your nasal passages.
- Prop yourself up. At night, lie on a couple of pillows. Keeping your head elevated may make breathing more comfortable.
- Avoid eating mucus producing foods until the sinus congestion or sinus pressure is totally gone.
- Use your right thumb and index finger to grasp the skin between your left thumb and index finger. Press gently to find where the muscles make a V shape on the top of your hand. Massage this small indentation with firm but gentle pressure for 10 to 15 seconds; repeat on your right hand. Do this as needed. Pregnant women should not use this technique; it may stimulate uterine contractions. You can also massage your face directly. Firmly and gently press your index fingers above the center of each eyebrow or between them. Massage for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat as needed.
- The zing of certain spices opens clogged sinuses and promotes drainage. As condiments, use hot salsas or chutneys that contain chiles, or sprinkle cayenne pepper on your food.
Hopefully some of those tips will help out with the sinus pressure you may endure and save you a little money since you can avoid buying those costly medications.
And now… off to the beach. I did say the high is 81 today and the kids are in school, so here’s to a little me time! (And if you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Nebraska to sell you.)
Blessings,
Elf on the Shelf
This year, I decided to start a new tradition with Bug & Super Dude. I told you guys that Super Dude is starting to really question Santa, so this year we have adopted an Elf on the Shelf!
What is an Elf on the Shelf, you ask? Here is a brief description from the website:
“Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf – A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages.
The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.
Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.
Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies!
Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families.
On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy.”
So far… SUCCESS!! The kids have named him Jack and he has caused widespread good choices and shortened crankiness. Bug is convinced that she saw “Jack” move his arm which resulted in the kids staring at him for about an hour.
Super Dude believes that “Jack” is a toy on the outside and a robot on the inside with a robot brain that records everything and transmits it to Santa at night.
Bottom line is that right now it’s saving this kids belts inventor some much needed sanity by having some pretty well behaved kids!
Blessings,
My New Obsession
I am a creator (not the Creator, just a creator), I like to create and invent things, thus the Dapper Snappers kids belts, and I found a site that totally feeds my need for creativity. Have you hear of it? It’s a little site called Pinterest.
In case you haven’t heard of it, it’s really one of the coolest sites out there. It’s basically an online pin board. Other individuals “pin” things that they like and you can “pin” things that you like. For example, say you do a really cool craft at home that you want to share, or you come across a delicious recipe that you found online, you can pin it. That way you can share your idea or your find with everyone else.
The coolest part? They are all sharing their ideas, crafts, recipes, humor, and so on and so forth with you!
Here’s one idea I found that I know my kids will LOVE. Light Sticks in the bathtub for a change from the standard bath. How cool is this?
And how about this one? A cute little take on a homemade candy jar.
There are also some really handy ideas for home decorating. I came across this one for how to layout photos for your wall and thought, “Now, why didn’t I think of that?”
I know those are all artsy craftsy types of things, but there are also tons of practical tips too. Did you know that you can remove soap buildup from glass shower doors by sprinkling a few drops of water onto a used fabric-softener sheet and scrubbing? For a quick and efficient spot remover mix one part Dawn dish washing liquid with two parts hydrogen peroxide; pour or spray it directly on the stain, and watch it disappear like MAGIC.
Needless to say, I can spend hours on this site just scrolling through all of the pins. There are so many categories and there are constantly new pins. It never ends! I feel like I have been sucked into a black hole of creativity and there is no way out and really, I’m ok with that because this kind of like my heaven.
Happy “pinning” to you!
Blessings,
Happy Halloween!!!
A special message from the Bug…
Blessings,
Halloween is just around the corner!
Crinkle… crinkle… rip… crunch, crunch, crunch….
That is me enjoying a piece of tasty Halloween candy that my kids have so graciously procured for my enjoyment uh… testing, yea, that’s right, testing… you know for razor blades and poisons and such. I’m a giver like that I have to make sure every little piece is safe for my precious little bundle of joy. I personally don’t even like candy. Horrid stuff it is, but I will take one for the team when needed.
Back to Halloween… I love this holiday (all Fall holidays, really) because I get a chance switch my creativity from kids belts to costumes! This year, just like every year, I asked Bug and Super Dude what they want to be for Halloween.
Bug wants to be Jessie from Toy Story.
Cool! That seems easy enough. Red cowgirl hat… Check! Cowgirl boots… Check! I can very easily take a white shirt and add the yellow trim as well as add cow print fabric to a pair of her old jeans. Add one braid and a yellow bow and ta da, Jessie from Toy Story. I just have to find a cowgirl belt buckle to add to one of her belts. That may be the trickiest part… ah who am I kidding, I’m in FL, there are big buckles all over the place. Bug will be so excited!
Now, on to my sweet little Super Dude. When I asked him, he said he wants to be a Spooky Buddy (have you seen these movies before? They are ridiculous).
Uh huh… So let me get this straight, he wants to dress up as a dog that’s dressed up like a human wearing a priate’s costume? Great, cause that’s easy to put together. Why oh why was he cursed with my vivid imagination? That’s like 3 costumes in one. Super Dude has the utmost faith that mommy will pull through, though, so I will. The things I do for my kids!
Alright, I guess I better get started on these costumes. I only have a week to put them together. I’ll have to let you know how it goes.
UPDATE: So, since I wrote this post, both of my kids have changed their minds (of course). Now, Bug is going to be a Jedi and Super is going to be Boba Fett. Talk about obscure. At least these were costumes I could purchase so that makes it easy, but it did lead to a long discussion about whether or not a girl could be a Jedi.
Boba Fett
Jedi
I have to ask, what are you (or your kids) going to be for Halloween?
New Peeps!
No, not those Peeps, peeps as in people. However, I did discover while searching for a photo of Peeps, that people do some very disturbing things with Peeps. Apparently there is an annual show dedicated to Peeps dioramas. All I can say is wow. While some are nifty, others are just wrong.
Back to our new people… We are getting so big at kids belts central that we need more hands on deck. This past week we hired two new people to join us on this wild ride. Our first hire is Dee, we brought her on full time and we are very happy to have her. So far she has been fitting in beautifully and even get’s Colleen’s sarcasm, which is way more important than actually doing her job well, because not too many people can actually work with Colleen… (just kidding, Colleen, I fear LOVE YOU!) Dee really is doing a great job. She has been picking up all of the skills necessary to make Dapper Snappers.
We also hired a part timer, Tom. He has also been working out great because for a “big, bad, biker dude” he has a wealth of knowledge about sewing machines! He has also mastered “Big Ben” our snap press machine which is awesome. Tom has made a place for himself and takes the initiative to do stuff before we even ask.
So, this is now what our factory looks like… Ha! We have a room full of 1950′s ish women happily sewing away on antique equipment. Hey we gotta save money somewhere and they work for basically nothing.
It’s still very hard for me to believe how far we have come in 3 short years. Seriously, it started out as a piece of elastic with some snaps on it that I was sewing in my garage and now we are in over 250 retailers and in over 14 different countries. That’s crazy cool! I have to say that it’s pretty amazing to hear how much mom’s and dad’s love my product and it’s even better to be able to offer a product that is not only very practical but is also affordable at the same time.
However, the more we grow, the more I need people helping me, anyone want to dog sit so I can actually get some work done?
Blessings,
Steve Jobs…
February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
And no, we don’t know where it will lead. We just know there’s something much bigger than any of us here. – Steve Jobs
I know its not “new” news, but I am sure you all have heard about the passing of Steve Jobs. You know, Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. He was also was co-founder and previously served as chief executive of a small time production company named Pixar Animation Studios; and he served on the of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2006. This is by no means an exhaustive list of his accomplishments, I don’t think I have enough room for that.
What a sad day, to say the least, I am sure that there were still endless possibilities to what this man could have created.
Being an inventor myself (have you seen my kids belts), I truly have an appreciation for Jobs’ work. His dedication to his products and his dream is the stuff they make movies about.
I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance. – Steve Jobs
The “i” products alone are a huge contribution to they way we all live and work today. Personally, I own a Mac computer and an iPhone and I’m sure all of you out there know at least one person with an iPod, iPad, iPhone, or MacBook. Whether you are a PC person or an Apple person, we all still have to recognize that he was a force and will truly live on through his inventions.
To read his story and to hear he went from building computers in his garage, to what Apple has become today is very encouraging for me as an inventor who started making Dapper Snappers out of my home. One day I can be that big… will be that big… Dapper Snappers will be on everyone’s tongues. Not literally on their tongues, I’m speaking figuratively of course because that would just be weird.
Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me. – Steve Jobs
Blessings,