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, I worked very hard this year to make time to volunteer almost every Thursday at Tatum’s school. I came in the morning and stayed until the kids went to lunch. All of Tatum’s classmates call me “Tatum’s mom”, a name that just makes me happy!

yummmm....drumstick?

School has been out a week or so and there has been something bothering me. Here’s my peeve. The thing I don’t get, school lunches. Have you seen what the schools serve elementary school kids? If you haven’t, I took some pictures. Week after week, I would go in and sit with Tatum for part of her lunch (we pack her lunch every day but Friday so she can be “a buyer” and get pizza), and week after week, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what the school served for lunch. We live in a society with obesity on the rise in children. But how can children learn about eating nutritiously when the schools (their educators) give them french fries with a processed chicken nugget (in the shape of a drumstick) for lunch? I don’t think I ever saw anything green, but maybe lime jello, on the trays. What the %##@?! And I know parents are busy, so packing a lunch isn’t for everyone, but children should be served balanced nutritious meals. Right?

I went on a field trip at the end of the school year. The kids needed to bring a bag lunch, so even the buyers had to bring. I was amazed at what some of the parents or caregivers packed for them. One little girl had a ready pack of nachos for lunch (queso cheese & nacho chips). That was it. Another boy, who at just 6 is tipping the scales, had for his lunch: 2 bags of chips (yes 2, not 1), chocolate pudding, a candy bar, sandwich on white bread, high-fructose corn syrup juice drink, and an apple. He ate the pudding first. Guess what he didn’t eat? Why would anyone pack all that junk food for lunch? How can our children be responsible if we are not teaching them well? I just don’t get it. Isn’t that doing a disservice to our children? I don’t believe convenience foods cost less. I know if I buy products in ready packs it actually costs more than if I buy a large bag or jar (for example, a jar of apple sauce is much more cost effective than the individual containers – but ya, the individual containers are easier).

Maybe not as bad? Chilli & tortilla chips?

Now we don’t eat perfectly at our house. Everything in moderation – we have dessert, chips, candy, etc. – sometimes, not every time. I don’t cook dinner every night (ya, talk to my husband, he is lucky if I cook 3x a week , but we try to make healthy choices. I know we should be buying organic,but it is expensive, so I buy organic sometimes. I figure sometimes is better than never.

I know the lunches that schools serve have to be cheaper than fresh quality items, but is it really worth the end result? Children developing diabetes & heart disease? How can we not afford to provide decent food in one of the richest countries in the world? Where are our priorities?

Wow, this was preachy, but seriously…what are we thinking?

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. We have an au pair. Yes I said it. I make no money, and spend money to build a business and I pay someone to help me with my kids. Seems an odd way to contribute to the family, right? Hence, my guilt.

Since I essentially work for myself I think I should just arrange my schedule around the kids. I appear to other moms like a SAHM – I volunteer at school and drive the kids to after school activities. I will leave the baby at home with our au pair and while I am waiting at an activity for the other 2, I am making or returning calls. Some times I am editing something I have written or looking at fabric prints. I am multitasking the best I can, but I couldn’t do it without help. The people that don’t know I have a business look at me like, “wow she has full-time help and stays at home – nice”. Believe me I am not lunching and shopping, however without an income to show “hey, I am working”, I do feel embarrassed.

My SAHM friends, they do it all on their own. I consider them super moms. I even have WAHM friends that don’t have help, and I am amazed at how they do it, they are wonder moms, super women. Me, I am not either of these things. I just don’t have it in me to be a good mom, wife and business woman alone. I get grumpy and overwhelmed. I know my limitations, but even with that,  I still would rather be wonder woman.

There, my dirty little secret, it’s out. The kicker is our absolutely fabulous au pair has fallen in love (good for her), is getting married and leaving us next month to move to Ohio with her new husband. So this summer,  I better figure out how to get some super powers fast.

The ‘Glamorous’ Life: Ellen Uzarowicz, Founder & Designer, Right Bank Babies

This first interview in The ‘Glamorous’ Life series is with Ellen Uzarowicz, Founder & Designer at Right Bank Babies. Ellen and I have only met on the phone and through email (that is pretty common these days, right?). I discovered Right Bank Babies, named appropriately after the Fashion District in Paris, at ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas in September of 2007. I walked by Ellen’s booth (I was also exhibiting) and had to drool over the beautiful, reversible dresses (I can’t resist stylish stuff that is functional, 2 looks with one outfit – I was hooked). Almost 2 years later, I got a chance to interview Ellen, here is just a glimpse into her glamorous life as a mompreneur.

Tell me about you and your business. Did you always want to have your own business?
I knew I wanted to start my own business after I got my MBA in Paris in 1994. I dabbled in decorative painting and murals until I had my first daughter in 2004. I started out selling high end infant car seat covers. I was appalled by the fabric options at the time for Infant Car Seats etc and had always looked up to the French for their eye for fabrics. So, I began designing beautiful car seat covers out of upholstery fabrics with tassel trims and matching blankets. I immediately became pregnant again (happy surprise!) and I gave birth to my second daughter in early 2005.

It was then that I started making clothing from leftover fabrics based on classic patterns I remembered from my childhood. I then started making simple reversible dresses in bright patterns and kept getting stopped in the street so I began using my contacts to create clothing.I started with 2 simple little pieces and now we have about 25 designs per season.

Stylish & Reversible - Love it!

In fact, I try to stick to classic designs and avoid the trendy. The patterns that have been around for decades have stayed around because they work on babies and children. There is a level of practicality I aim to stick to – designs that grow with your kids, designs that can go on over the head or be buttoned or zipped on. Outfits that are easy to sleep in and clean. And my favorite – reversibles.

We started out just selling the reversible Dresses and Rompers to boutiques and gift stores and even furniture stores. And then we had a wonderfully huge PR surprise when we opened up People Magazine and saw this. At this point we stepped it up a notch – and hired a PR company.

It’s really over the last two years that we have rounded out the line. This year we are in select Nordstrom stores and Chasing Fireflies catalog, and we are selling all over the world.

What made you take the leap to start your business?
My husband and I quit our jobs and moved to LA to follow his movie making dreams. Being in LA gave me the opportunity and connections to start the business. It grew slowly at the beginning and then just took off. It feels like overnight I went from running the business out of my bedroom to 8 employees in an office and warehouse.

Heidi Klum with daughter in a Right Bank Babies' dress.

What’s the most “glamorous” thing you’ve ever had to do for your business?
I think the Award Show gifting suites are really fun. You meet so many celebrities. Baby Couture Magazine did a two page spread article on us in their magazine and for me that photo shoot felt pretty glamorous.

What is the most bizarre thing you were doing while on a business call that you wouldn’t want the person on the other end to know?
Probably changing a diaper or cleaning up baby vomit. In the beginning there was no way to hide that I worked from home – there was always baby and toddler chatter in the background.

What do you wish someone had told you before you started your business or what advice did someone give you that you wish you had listened to?
It took me a long time to learn how to be a “boss”. I really wasn’t comfortable in that role and I wish someone had trained me and told me just how important it is to set guidelines from the beginning.

What’s the biggest surprise you’ve found about running your own company?
How much fun it is. It’s like a third child and I love it and I love going to work.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned along the way?
Trust your instincts.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you could have done differently?
No, I think everything has happened exactly how it needed to.

Visit Right Bank Babies to see their beautiful collections. Use coupon code ‘RBB Fan’ to get 10% off your order of $150 or more.