Archive for the ‘Random Ramblings’ Category
The show must go on!
The ABC Kids Show, that is…
Here we are a week away from the show and I feel like we still have so much to do to get our kids belts display tradeshow worthy! I am a bit of a procrastinator, I know this, but is it my fault that everything important has to be done last minute? NOOoooo, well ok, maybe it is partly my fault, but I am blaming it mostly on the dog. Mainly because she can’t argue with me and even if she could, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be a very compelling argument, I mean, really what reasoning skills does a dog have? Plus, if I didn’t have to constantly take her for walks or endlessly pull bits of soggy chewed paper from her mouth, then I would have much more time on my hands to do actual tradeshow type work.
Current to do list…
- Finalize Booth Layout
- Layout & Print Promo Sheets
- Take a nap
- Lose my mind
- Make sure we have enough product to completed to display everything
- Finish unpacking my house so I can finally find Bugs brush and no longer have to comb her hair with a plastic fork
- Finish cleaning out the old house so as to ensure the return of our security deposit
- Pack for Tradeshow
- And on and on and on…
Aside from all of that, we are super excited about being involved in the ABC Kids show and really are working day and night to get everything perfect. We will be unveiling some exciting new patterns for our original Dapper Snappers line as well as showcasing the Big Kids Belts, the Dapper Snappers for Moms and Mitten Clips. The show is in Louisville, KY this year so we could go and visit Churchill Downs on our off time (ha ha ha). I am ready for it to be here so I can see the turn out, meet some great new people and feed off of the energy that always goes along with these types of events.
If you are planning on attending, come see us at booth #2433!
Ok, now I have to get back to work….
Blessings,
$1 Books, not such a bargain
Occasionally, I take a break from the wonderful world of making toddler belts for a little “me” time. A couple of days ago, my me time included shopping at a local chain store (ok, it’s Target) with Bug. This specific chain store has one of those “bargain” sections.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for a bargain so I love to look through those bins. It’s especially nice with little kids, because it’s generally stuff I can cheaply (let’s face it, those items aren’t just inexpensive, they are cheap!) get to entertain them while I shop.
So, here I am shopping with Bug. We are looking at all of the little bargain goodies, trying to decide what we would like to throw into the cart. Do we want some water guns, or some cutesy little stickers? How about some beach toys, or some princess toys? Look there are some storage bins for mommy and some little appetizer plates. (Really? Appetizer plates? What corners are you cutting, exactly, that you can sell ceramic plates at such a bargain?)
Anyway, back to the story… Bug see’s some Sesame Street books with Bert and Ernie that look interesting. Let’s take a look, I mean books for $1.00? I’m game!
Upon further inspection of the book, it starts to become clear as to why they are in the $1.00 bin. Apparently, proper spelling and a grasp of the English language costs extra to produce. What with the whole editing expense and everything.
Seriously, have we become so accustomed to deals that we are truly willing to sacrifice not just quality, but actual “correctness”? It’s one thing to skimp on the quality of ink you use or the thickness of the paper, but actual spelling and grammar?
One explanation could be that the book was manufactured and produced in China, maybe they got a bad version of Google Translate, who knows. I was just sadly disappointed to see our beloved child educators, Bert & Ernie, being discredited in such a manner. After all, isn’t that what Sesame Street is all about, for the most part, teaching our kids to read?
This post was brought to you by the letter P for proof… would it have killed you to proof this book prior to printing?
Who would have guessed it, $1 books, not such a bargain after all!
Blessings,
The murky world of in-between sizes
When Super Dude as was a toddler, it was difficult to figure out the different sizes. Was he a 2T or a 24 mo and what the heck is the difference? Am I missing something here? Shouldn’t there be a standard template somewhere that says what a 2T is, how can they all vary so much? It’s a tad ridiculous if you ask me. How can one company label something as a 2T and another company label it as a 2T but when you hold them against each other there is clearly a huge difference?
Now he is beyond toddler sizes, but not quite big boy sizes. Case in point: Socks. You would think socks could be an easy fit right? No. They have 4.5-8.5 and then 9-2.5. The small size is way too small and the big size is HUGE! What were they thinking? That is a huge size range. That would be like saying “These socks fit ladies size 5-ladies size 10,” ummmm NO, they don’t! Did they never have a boy in a size 10-11? The big size is way bigger than that.
We have the same problem with clothes. A 5T is too small. A regular 6 is too big. We’ve been in limbo for a year now. Granted, my son is small for his age, thus the Dapper Snappers kids belts invention thingy. But c’mon! Couldn’t you at least give me a little help in the shirt size arena? And why are the neck openings so small? There have been times that we have had to buy a size bigger just to get the shirt over his head.
While we are talking about sizing, the other thing I noticed was that when Super Dude was smaller so many of the clothes were sold as sets. I’m not sure about you, but he was never the same size on top as he was on the bottom, so here we were with a shirt that fits perfectly and pants that were huge, that was another reason for Dapper Snappers. Are there really that many kids out there that are equally sized? Are my kids just odd-balls? Well, yes, they are, but I’m specifically talking about the size arena right now. 
Don’t even get me started on “one-size-fits-all”… Biggest fabrication ever!
Any other clothing complaints out there?
Blessings,
Playing “Telephone” with Google
Remember way back when, in grade school (elementary, primary, what-have-you), playing “Telephone”? It’s amazing how saying something like “Did you have all your meals?” can turn into “Do you wanna hear me moo?” (Huh Honey?! LOL)
Some time ago, I wrote copy for Dapper Snappers toddler belts to better explain how these kids belts work. It’s amazing to see the translations that copy is in now (Spanish, French, Korean, etc). What’s even more amazing? When someone uses Google Translate to translate that same copy back to English. You would think someone would have proofed this:
Special Price Dapper Snapper Baby & Toddler Adjustable Belt (Hot Pink)
Dapper Snapper Baby & Toddler Adjustable Belt (Hot Pink)
Price: $11.95
Fix Droopy Drawers in an instant! It’s not often you find the slim pants that fits your child’s life. Each often, the length of the pants is perfect and life is too great, causing Droopy Drawers. Until recently, options were limited to a belt that bulky diaper changes and potty training almost impossible adjustable belt or pants that cost twice as much as normal trousers. With fast as children grow, they could afford it? Now, with Dapper Snappers, while those falling drawer is a breeze! Dapper Snapper is composed of a short piece of flexible hinge with snaps that fit into the back loop 3 pants and grabs the child out 2 loops to cinch the pants and prevent them from falling. In a sense, Dapper Snappers are some belt child. If you are looking for a child seat belts, belts for children, boys belts, belt or a child, we are sure to find Dapper Snappers are the best choice!
Thanks to Google Alerts, I had this little gem delivered to my inbox. I needed a good laugh! Hope you had one too!
Blessings,
PS. 
Check the star rating! AWESOME!!!
School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days…
In case you haven’t seen all of the “Back to School” TV ads, print ads, radio ads, posters, mailers, the meet the teacher flyers, school supply lists and so on and so forth, let me be the first to tell you, “It’s time for the kids to go back to school!” YAY!! Oh, wait, I probably shouldn’t be so excited, but I am.
Super Dude goes back to school on Monday and he couldn’t be more excited (Although I’m not as physically fit as I once was, I am definitely doing cartwheels in my head). He’s going onto first grade this year and I can’t believe it. We have gone through this twice now (pre-k and kindergarten) but doesn’t seem to get any easier. When did he get so big? And where was I when it happened?
We have bought into the hype and purchased all of his “back to school” supplies. He picked out a Transformers “Bumblebee” lunch box and a very cool camo backpack. Don’t get me wrong, I want my son to be “supplied” but it seems like the list gets larger and larger each year. I kind of feel like we are supplying for the whole class! Seems like retailers and the school board are getting together to single handedly improve the economy.
We got to meet his teacher today and I am very pleased. He seemed to really like her, as well. I think this year will be a great year and Super Dude is such a little sponge, he will do amazing.
Bug gets one more week of freedom, but after being stuck with us at the kids belts factory all summer, I think she’s chomping at the bit for some new scenery! I can’t say that I blame her. I mean, I love being here so much I hardly leave long enough to go to sleep (ha ha…), but for a 4 year old, it gets awfully monotonous.
She seems eager to start her pre-k adventure. We will see if that holds up once the day actually gets here. I gave her the option of a princess backpack or a monkey backpack, surprisingly she picked the monkeys! It even came with a super cute, matching lunch box. She’s already had plenty of experience with her new teacher from staying for “Lunch Bunch” after school most of last year.
I am thrilled that they are going back because they need a break and the social interaction (as well as the education) that comes with school, but it’s always a sad day in our household. Seriously…Didn’t they just learn to crawl?
Don’t Get Greedy!
Alas, poor Netflix, you served me well…But your split plans? Um…no…
My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed hours of unlimited streaming (I think that’s the only thing that has kept Bug from being bored out of her mind here at the office while we schlep kids belts) and the DVD’s have been great, but I have to say that a 60% price increase seems a bit excessive. I’m not sure what school of business you attended that said such a drastic increase all at one time is a smart one.
It seems as though the rapid (seemingly overnight) popularity of Netflix all but hastened the demise of Blockbuster, Movie Gallery (in case you don’t remember those, click here) and the like. I mean, really, we saw those stores going by the wayside eventually thanks to cable companies offering “On Demand” programming and more and more Redbox vending machines popping up all over the place and the endless places that you can stream movies online, but I’m pretty sure that Netflix was the straw that broke the camels back.
While all of these new options are convenient, there is something to be said about walking into a video store, picking up a VHS tape (yes, that dates me, I know) reading the description on the back of the box and moving on to the next. Call me nostalgic, but it was exciting to see the “New Releases” and all of the fancy cover art. Ok, so I’m a geek, but I’m ok with that.
Then, there were all of those glorious late fees. By the time we actually returned the movie and paid the late fees, we probably could have just bought the movie, but all those tapes just took up too much room.
Ah… Squirrel!
Back to Netflix, I think it was a major mistake to raise your prices so drastically and no matter how much I love you, it’s now the principle of it… I will not pay a 60% price increase, for no additional return. I guess our life will consist on trips to the nearest Redbox vending machines. Maybe we will now just have to check out Epix for our online streaming. It’s free for the time being, anyway. And if we stick with you? Well, I will be saving $2/month by only getting streaming. Thanks for saving me money.
The lesson: Don’t mess with a good thing by getting greedy. It’s bad for business.
Blessings,
I’ve Got Someone New!
In a world where desks are cluttered, mail is unopened, and to do lists get pushed over until tomorrow, one thing just got a little easier… I hired a new assistant! Yes, another one, don’t judge me. The kids belts industry is a cutthroat one.
Her name is Jen, she’s fantastic and I love her! Sure, it helps that she appreciates my sense of humor and is already finishing my sentences, but the most important thing is I can delegate again! Yay for me! I know what you are thinking… “But, Michelle, what’s in it for me? Sure, you get a super cool assistant to make your life easier, but what do I get?”
Well, for one, I have way more time on may hands (ha ha, note the sarcasm) to share my ramblings with you and lets face it, you’ve been lonely without me.
Secondly, you can be comforted to know that I may, now, just finally get some of my sanity back. Reassuring, huh? I thought so.
So back to Jen. She dreams of world peace and she likes long walks on the beach… doesn’t everyone? Seriously though, she is a native to Daytona Beach (I know, I didn’t think those existed either), is married to her high school sweetheart, and the mother of a two year old. She is very excited to join the Dapper Snappers crew and is jumping in with both feet.
There she is! And her little boy is rockin' a Dapper Snappers toddler belt!
Her first task is to become my personal nag. Yes, I need a nag to keep me on task and I have told her as much. I’m not sure how she feels about her new job description, but I am sure she will adapt to it beautifully! (Not to say that she is a nag, but that she adapts to change well).
Now that I am slowly solving the overworked problem, does anyone want a puppy? Or a 4 year old? I’m willing to negotiate. Ah, who am I kidding, I am way too attached to the puppy… 
So what’s new with you?
Blessings,
Long Time, Busy Me!
August? Already!?!
Where has the time gone? More importantly, what has been consuming my time? Everything… or so it seems. Catalog design, babysitting, puppy training, preparing for the ABC Kids Expo, and some other exciting things that will be revealed in later blog posts. Needless to say, the world of Dapper Snappers has been a busy one!
The most important thing that I have been working on is the catalog for our fall line of kids belts. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to photograph some mighty cute little ones (and not so little ones), a super photogenic “mama to be” and one very persistent squirrel.
Trying to do a “fall” photo shoot in the middle of August, in Florida, where it’s 94° at 9:00am was interesting. Those kiddos were troopers, to say the least, in their jeans and long sleeve shirts. All I have to say is thank goodness I am good at photoshop! After retouching some sweaty foreheads and toning down the green grass, they turned out really good! I am also excited about a few new items we are adding (hint: something for the bigger kids).
On another note, I have discovered in the last month that it’s harder to train a 4 year old how to handle a puppy, than it is to actually train the puppy (thank you reruns of Dog Whisperer). I am happy to report that the puppy is much closer to being potty trained, but slightly unhappy to report that it has been at the cost of my own sanity (what little I had left). It has been very neat to put the Dog Whisperer’s tips into practice and to see them work. Sammy is quickly learning what her area is and we are gaining a little bit of freedom with knowing that she’s not going to run out in the shop and get under everyone’s feet. Now, if I could just teach Bug that Sammy is not a baby doll… I might be getting somewhere.
PS. I will be writing more often, I promise!
Of Love and Loss and Grieving…
When I was young, all of 3 weeks past my 13th birthday, my mother died. The family that took me in and later adopted me were ill-equipped to help me grieve my loss. I spent many hours up in my room feeling lost, depressed, and emotionally neglected. While I don’t blame my new “parents” for handling the situation poorly, I do think that huge mistakes were made. I don’t intend to let that be the case with my children. Of course I didn’t know I felt so strongly about it until late yesterday morning.
Meowzer helps me with some tweeting
Meowzer has been my friend since I got him at the pound 10 years ago. He and his brother (an actual littermate) were the perfect fit for our home. Weighing in at just 1 lb each they fit perfectly, one in each hand (pot belly, big paws, and all). Meowzer’s brother was the mouser. He would chase anything on the ground. Meowzer on the other hand was a birder (is that the correct term?). If it were up in the air, he would jump up and get it. Other than the personality differences, and the slight difference in how they carried themselves (Meowzer upright and his brother crouched), it was hard for people to tell them apart.
After Super Dude was born, the family dynamic changed a bit. The cats lost their special status as this new baby took over everything. Meowzer’s brother was always tolerant, but never cuddly with the baby. Meowzer, already having proven he liked the “rough stuff”, found a new playmate in Super Dude. He’d put up with tail grabbing and when Super Dude was old enough, full on tackling. Meowzer loved the attention.
Super Dude "resting" on Meowzer
When the Bug came along, Meowzer’s brother had had enough. He had escaped and fled under the deck for 3 days. He wasn’t the same after I coaxed him out. Something in him broke. Within a few weeks, he could no longer walk straight, showing signs of a stroke or some other neurological incapacitation. While it was sad to let him go, we knew there was no fixing him. Super Dude wasn’t old enough to understand. I was not as moved by it as I felt I should have been. The hormones after having a baby make it strange to deal with anything outside of this new little being taking over your world. I just didn’t have it in me to cry over him.
By the time Super Dude was 3, he started letting Meowzer outside. As much as we tried to prevent our indoor kitty from getting out, our toddler just kept opening the doors for him. Meowzer was a tremendously happy cat after we decided to let him be an indoor/outdoor cat. There wasn’t much to fear where we lived in Oregon anyway. We didn’t have snakes or poisonous critters about. Meowzer was big enough the other neighborhood cats would stay away. He brought us a couple birds to show his appreciation. And since it rains 9 months out of the year, he was indoors a lot. When we moved to Florida, things changed. We realized that we could no longer let him go outside because there are ticks that attack in droves. Every night he would come home with at least one attached to him. We couldn’t keep them away, so Meowzer became an indoor kitty again. He didn’t like that much.
Take me with you!!!
Bug was always rough with Meowzer. She would hit him, kick him, pull him around by the tail… And yet he would come back for more. In the past few months, she had been getting better, even making sure he had food every day all the while claiming that she was the “Kitty Mama”. That was fine with us; anything to get her to be compassionate. Meowzer would purr when Bug would come find him. He let her pick him up by his top half and drag him around the room “human” style. He let her put things on his head like blankets and ribbons and Barbie crowns. He was so good to her.
Meowzer sat patiently as he was "crowned" by Bug
About a month ago, I decided to let Meowzer be an indoor/outdoor kitty again. He was plain ‘ol miserable being stuck in the house all the time. He let us know by getting into the garbage nightly and by meowing at the door at all hours of the night. So I got all his shots up to date plus extras. I made sure he had the best flea and tick deterrent on. He was so happy to be able to go outside again. He would follow me to the garden and sniff all my plants, not knowing that I planted som catnip just for him that wouldn’t be ready until now. He would just go out to sit on the back patio and soak up some sun or wander through the bushes behind our house. Every once in a while, he would yell at other cats in the neighborhood that crossed into his territory. There were probably a couple fights but he never came home noticeably injured.
Bug, Meowzer, and Super Dude share a blanket.
One morning, a little less than 2 weeks ago, he started acting strangely. He was hiding under my bed, in the closet, anywhere he thought he could get away from everyone. When I pulled him out of the closet, he couldn’t walk on his left front leg. There was a lump and signs of an injury, so I took him to the vet. They determined Meowzer had a puncture wound, probably caused by another cat. With an antibiotic injection, subcutaneous fluids, and pain medication, Meowzer was sent back home to recover. The next day he looked much better. But by the following day, he wasn’t recovering as well as we had hoped. A second trip to the vet showed lost weight, dehydration, loss of apetite, and vomiting that earned him another look-see and more subcutaneous fluids. He was doing much better the next day. Still limping, but better. More vomiting. Nothing would stay down for more than 4 hours, even with anti-nausea meds.
After talking with a good friend of mine (also a veterinarian) in detail about Meowzer’s issues, I was given a lot of good advice, including to check for other lumps. I discovered a second lump just behind his elbow (or whatever they call that in cats). A third trip to the vet revealed more weight lost, and upon xray, another puncture wound. Meowzer received more subcutaneous fluids as well as a prescription for different antibiotics. I tried to force feed him, but it only resulted in more vomiting a few hours later. He wasn’t getting better, but I still held out hope. I told the kids Meowzer was sick, but I since I was sure he would recover, I didn’t make a big deal out of it.
Yesterday morning Meowzer wasn’t looking good at all. I force-fed him some food and his antibiotic. The vet’s office said that even though there was no doctor in house that could see him, we could get more subcutaneous fluids so he would feel better. Hubby was working, so I had both kids with me. It was just to get the cat more fluids after all. Meowzer’s temperature was low, he had lost more weight, and they couldn’t readily find a pulse. It just so happened that Meowzer’s regular doctor was there for some other appointment. She came in and listened intently to his chest. She had asked if he was breathing like this at before. I thought he was just breathing like that at home because he was trying to purr. She said that she was having trouble hearing his heart because it was muffled by probable fluid in/on his lungs. She believed it was possible he got bit by a snake.
To tell the truth, things started getting blurry. She told me his body was shutting down and that it was just a matter of time before he passed away. What?!?! This was it?!?! She left the room so I could have a few moments while I waited for Hubby to come. I told the kids what was happening and what was going to happen. Bug cried because I was crying. Super Dude was confused and in disbelief. I thought it was important to let them say goodbye to Meowzer before he went up to “Kitty Heaven”.
I let my MIL know what was going on. She said that it was important that I deal with the loss in a way that was good for the kids; to be a good example. That’s when it struck me. I needed to teach them how to grieve in a healthy way. Of all the things I wanted to teach my kids, this was not one of them. But I want to teach them now. Teaching them to deal with their emotions in a healthy way will keep them from turning to alcoholism and drugs. They will also be able to help their kids the right way. I’m all about breaking bad cycles and replacing them with good ones.
I ugly cried all the way home. I acknowledged my own hurt and anger and disappointment. I talked to the kids. I told them it was okay to cry, that their hearts would hurt for a while. I held my son while he and I cried together until he fell asleep on my chest. Later I took the lock off the cabinet under the sink that was used to keep Meowzer out of the garbage. I couldn’t bare to do much more than get rid of a few things out of the kitchen. There was so much more to do, but Hubby had to do it for me. It hurt too much.
It was all I could do to answer the myriad of questions lobbed at me by Super Dude and Bug. “Where is he now that he’s dead?” In Kitty Heaven. “Is there a Kitty God?” I think there is only one God. “Does God have pets?” He just might. Maybe Casper is his pet now. “When will we get a new pet?” Not any time soon. We still need to let our hearts feel better. In the meantime, it’s okay to cry and talk about him. I will hug you and hold you and help you through this. And I miss him too. I miss him so much. “Mama, I’m sorry he died.” Me too son. Me too…
Super Dude drew a picture of Meowzer shortly after we left the vet.
My heart aches because I lost my friend. My heart aches because my children’s hearts ache. But in this pain is an incredible opportunity to learn and to teach. As much as I don’t want to, it’s the hard stuff that helps us grow. I’ve been working on helping the kids remember the good things about Meowzer. “He was a good guy.” Yes he was son. He was a wonderful part of our family and he will be greatly missed.
Meowzer; Friend, Companion, Family 2001-2011
Blessings,
Shampoo with a Hotdog on it!
A typical joke told by my 5 year old son:
Super Dude: Knock Knock!
Me: Who’s there?
Super Dude: Shapoo
Me: Shampoo who?
Super Dude: Shampoo with a hotdog on it! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa! Dat’s funny huh mama!
**************
Oh Super Dude. Someday you’ll get it. I mean, you have an incredible sense of humor, when you’re not trying. For now I get to regale my family, friends, and FaceBook/Twitter buddies with all the funny things you and your sister say. Like at Christmas when you were excitedly opening presents and when your sister asked what present you were opening you exclaimed, “I don’t know but I’ve always wanted it!” Or your version of Gloria…Real version: Gloria in excelsis deo. Kiddos version: Oh-oh-ohohohohohohohoh-ohia Jesus Christ in stereo. And then the time when the Bug declared that “Jesus Price is Born!”
***************
My kids are funny, smart, and the joy of my life (not to mention my inspiration for inventing those genius Kids Belts). But they do say the darnedest things, don’t they? Well, thanks to someone who contacted me through my blog, I got turned onto a website dedicated to sharing those darnedest things. My Kid is Gifted allows you to share the funny things your kid does and says in a safe environment. I mean, not everyone wants to know every thing your kid does. And you probably don’t want everyone, especially creepy, stalker-types, to know all about your kids. Here you can share with people who want to know the funny things your kids are saying. And you can gauge your own anonymity.
This site is great. You can submit your kid’s “gifted” moments. You can read about all the other “gifted” kids. You can even help moderate the site by giving a thumbs up or down on stories that have been submitted. This site definitely qualifies as a Squirrel moment! Go check it out now!
Blessings,