Lessons for small business from NBC, Jay Leno & Conan O’Brien

Ever since the whole disaster with NBC-Jay Leno-Conan O’Brien started, I have been thinking about how the situation applies to small business or just business in general. Mistakes a lot of businesses make, but here are just a few of the glaring red flags and something to think about when setting your own business strategy and making decisions. Five years ago, NBC announced that Conan O’Brien would start hosting The Tonight Show in June 2009. I remember think, “wow that’s odd announcing that 5 years in advance”. I was never clear if Leno had asked to retire or was asked to “retire”, but the timeline seemed really long and why announce it. If Leno was asked... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Thursday, January 28th, 2010 5 Years

It was 5 years ago on January 13th, 2005 that my mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. 5 years. 5 YEARS. I just keep saying it, over and over again in my head. So much can happen in 5 years, it is literally a lifetime for my son who is turning 5 in April. Looking back a the last 5 years, I realize so much has changed, life goes on, but at the same time I look around our house and so much of it is exactly like it was 5 years ago. On the mantel above the fireplace sits a framed picture of my sister, mom and I, and leaning on that frame is the memorial card from my mom’s service. I placed it there when we came home from her service and it has been there ever since. I am not sure how... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Sunday, January 17th, 2010 52 to Fabulous: What A Girl Wants (Week 1)

At the beginning of a new year, resolutions are on a lot of people’s minds (except for those that have decided after so many years of setting and not doing, it isn’t even worth the time thinking about them!). I don’t set them every year, but I am feeling like 2010 requires a new start after an eventful 2009, that did not include consistent blog posts. So I made 2 modest ones in my post – A New Year, A New Start for…, – get a weekly routine (like writing a weekly post) and live in the present. Right after I posted, I then saw a post from the always inspiring (and just plain cool) Kelby Carr about her 3 words for 2010. Which got me thinking about what mine would... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 A New Year, A New Start for…

It is unbelievable that it is already 2010. I know I think this every year “where did the time go?”. Oh well, I am not going to focus woulda, coulda, shoulda, but on making a new start for this new year. New year, new opportunities. Not going to set resolutions that I can’t keep, like “to stop being a procrastinator” – maybe something more gentle like “to procrastinate just a little less”. This blog has gone to the dogs. It is neglected, well maybe abandoned is a better word. I am full of ideas, things I want to write and say, but never seem to be at the right place at the right time to complete the actual act of typing my thoughts. Full of ideas,... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Friday, January 1st, 2010 The ‘Glamorous’ Life: Heather Stouffer, Founder & President, Mom Made Foods LLC

This interview in The ‘Glamorous’ Life series is with my dear friend, Heather Stouffer, Founder & President at Mom Made Foods. Heather and I were destined to be friends – Sarah Masterson at DC-Baby wrote a post mentioning both of our companies. Immediately after reading the post, I wrote Sarah and asked for Heather’s contact details. Sarah writes back: “Heather already emailed and asked for yours too.” Great minds think alike Having your own business can be a lonely endeavor. Sometimes friends and family can’t relate (or get tired of hearing about “the business”!). Finding someone who understands the dilemmas, the stress, and can even celebrate the little triumphs is... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Friday, July 10th, 2009 Tuesday Tirade #1: School Lunches & #@??!!!%%!

I’ve fallen off the blogging bandwagon, but thought I would come back with my first Tuesday Tirade. Ya, I have decided that Tuesdays will be my outlet to bitch about the stuff in the world (my little piece of it) that is bothering me %#@^!!! The last few weeks have been crazy busy. End of May, the Chic&Cozy was shelved at Target. A huge undertaking and something I am very proud of, but also completely stressed out about (will blog about this later). Coinciding with entering Target came the end of the school year for Asher (1st year of Montessori) and for Tatum, who just finished her first year at the public school in kindergarten. I can’t believe she is a first grader. Gulp. Anyway,... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 My dirty little secret…I am not Wonder Woman

I am going to confess something that makes me uncomfortable. I am somewhere between 2 worlds. I am both a SAHM and a WAHM.  I work from home, but the fact is when you are starting a business, it can take a while before you actually contribute income into the family. In fact starting a business where you design and build products takes capital. We have spent at least what is considered the average family income on starting this business, and it will take some time before we see return on our investment. Everything we make goes back into the business to keep branding and keep building product. So I am between two worlds and my guilty secret is that in order to do my business, I need to have childcare.... [Continue reading this post]

Posted on: Wednesday, June 10th, 2009