JPD Mom

Licensed Artwork by Jamie R. Lentzner

February 29, 2008.

It's Official

Well, well, well - it really is not a big deal at all, but I am excited.  I was told back in December two of my licensed designs would be available at a large department store the first week of February.  I am lucky because we have one store about 20 minutes from my home.  I don't have a problem or anything.I mean I only went to the store once like the end of January......I mean twice, okay four times tops, if you count the first three weeks of February.  And, I may have um, sort of asked some family members, friends and anyone that had one of these stores in their vicinity to go look and see if they saw my products.  I finally saw them (on my fifth trip maybe?) at the store.  I am not proud of it - but it true, I have been sort of stalking this store just so I could touch and see , my "licensed products".  For whatever reason it was not real until I saw them at the store - until I touched them and got to see my signature in the corner.  I will now be able to add Licensed Artist to my long list of things I am (it will be number 47, right after Martha Stewart wanna-be)

It is Different

Licensing artwork is different than producing products, manufacturing them and selling them to stores (and a lot less work ).  I actually license my artwork to companies that then give me a percentage of any products they sell with my "images" on their products.  This has been a goal of mine for 2007, and more importantly for 2008.

So, I sort of kind of need to eat my words - no it is okay, I am doing it gladly.  Not sure if anyone recalls my rant, well it was more than one, it was a number of posts about  success (or not) regarding  the Atlanta Gift Show.  I went on and on about how bad it was, how I did not do well, blah blah blah.  I must say months later, looking back at the experience - I only focused on the negative. 

Something positive did happen, I did get something good.  A company approached me about licensing my artwork for their wood plaques.  I did a few designs....and they pretty much sucked (no it's okay, they did), and then I did some more - and well, two (that did not suck) sold to a store.  They are now available to the public at this specific store - only these two designs.  I have worked on more, we will see what happens - I am optimistic (now I am).

It just goes to show you that you can not judge something right after the fact - you (me) needs sometime to let it settle, chew on it and wait and see the outcome.  This is just the start - not a huge deal, but a start none the less - I am finding this "owning your own business thing" is about the long haul, baby steps.  I am still not going to spend all that $$$ and exhibit - but I am thankful I got something good....something really good from the show. 

Your First Time

Oh my first time, I remember it so well.  My palms were sweaty, my heart was beating rapidly.   I held my breathe as I walked into a store looking around, but trying not to be to obvious.  There they were I finally saw my ceramic birth certificates hanging on the wall, and in the cabinets.  It was pretty amazing, it was humbling, I loved it. 

One time it even happened by accident, my husband and I were on vacation and we found a store that had my products - I knew there was one in the city, just not where.  I still remember every store's name, every website and every catalog - not best use of my brain, and I am not sure of the city every time - but I know the store name.

We were walking around downtown Napa and happen to find the store.  So, anyway I walk in, see my stuff and I am all giddy (yes geeked up for sure) and I tell the woman working that I am the artist that makes the ceramic art she has.  The woman was busy folding blankets, she looked up from what she was doing and then she grunted at me.  To my husband's credit he did rush me out and take me to a nice romantic lunch (with drinks).....I mean she grunted, she actually grunted at me.

Put it in Perspective

Looking back now, over a year and a 1/2 later the fact that she grunted is pretty funny.  Anyone who makes anything, or creates art - it is just cool to see it for sale.  It is not that I am a legend in my own mind, I just enjoy seeing my products for sale. I guess I can not be too impressed with myself when someone who sells my products grunts at me.  It isn't a big deal, it is just what I do, and to quote Popeye, "I am what I am."

Publicity for the Small Business Owner

February 25, 2008.

It is official, I get to be a contributing writer to this great group of local ladies, my peeps if you will out in the west - Silicon Valley Moms Blog that is.  I get to contribute posts to this great blog about Mom's (check out the site, there are other great sites in New York, Chicago and Washington DC).  So to thank everyone who helped me get where I am today, I have written a little acceptance speech:

"Um (fighting back tears) I would just like to thank the little people that helped me get where I am today- without you I would be nothing.  Thank you for the people I stepped on, the people I crushed and those that I totally beat to win this opportunity.  You like me!  You really, really like....excuse me while I barf in my mouth a tad, you know I am joshing you, right?"

Okay so I have Awards Show on the brain....I did watch the Oscars, and the (yawn) acceptance speeches were boring, the show was okay (though I am totally in love with John Stewart).  I really have been toying with this subject for a long time - Celebrity endorsements. 

The Oscars & The Celebrities

How much power or influence do celebrities really have.  How much money does it put it your pocket if one is seen and photographed wearing your shirt or getting one of your products?  Can a price tag be put on the celebrity that trots around town with your product on her adorable off-spring? Or her babies toushie?

The celebrity endorsement - is it all it is cracked up to be?  I wonder how you can equate a price tag to that.  I mean, I wonder why no one walked down the red carpet with one of my Name Plaques on their arm, or a Birth Certificate around there neck.  Ya, bit um unlikely right?

I am happy to say I have a few celebs with my products either given as gifts or they have them (or  so they say, they may have just chucked it in the garbage after, but I hope they have it).  I am happy to work with a wonderful boutique in Beverly Hills and I am always ready to do a favor or RUSH out an order - I mean it is Beverly Hills for pete's sake. 

I jump through hoops for the Beverly Hills Boutique.  Well, truth be told is I tend to set a fire drill off when any store calls in with a favor, I really think customer service is the most important part of my business.  The owner of this exclusive shop is very easy to work with, very kind, and I met her in person.  There is nothing like shaking hands with a business partner - I highly recommend it.  She has always been very good to me, and I will continue to jump through hoops for her - no matter who the customer is. 

Anyhoo - I digress, I do get a bit geeked up when I hear that I get to contribute to a gift basket for Adam Sandler, um I about pee my pants.  When I hear that Gary Shandling purchased a gift basket with MY birth certificate it in - woo hoo, I love me some of his shows!  When I get a thank you card from Charlize Theron, saying she loves the plates I made for her dog's - I scream and skip around the office showing everyone the note.  And, when the almighty Ms. Oprah Winfey sends a thank you card for some special ornaments I made for her dogs - I literally make everyone touch the card, in hopes that some of her "magic" would rub off on someone.

The Price of Publicity

I have been very blessed, very lucky and I have worked very hard for the publicity I have gotten  for Jamie's Painting  & Design.  For every pitch that landed me a product placement or a feature story, I guarantee you there are 34 in the garbage can.  For every letter or email, or no response that pretty much says, "Thanks but no thanks", there is ONE reporter that loves my products.  Persistence is the name of the game and follow up.  These days, I am not as dedicated to the press as I once was, nor do I have the band-with to follow up.  I should, I know but there are not enough hours in the day.  If you want press, go out and get it - it just takes a dedication and commitment.

We did use a publicist once, and she is an amazing woman and had wonderful insight.  We invested some money into our Pet line and then did a full publicity campaign.  The publicity we got was good, the Ellen Show was amazing and the price was (gulp) pricey.  We did well though - it was a good experience, but again my follow up was not what it should have been.  The fault is not on my publicist, it is on me.  It costs a lot of money to have the publicist do all of the work, and by work I mean:

• Send out product samples to possible publications, journalists, editors, TV shows, newspapers, e-zines and bloggers.
• Write a great pitch to tell journalists about your "pet project".
• Follow up on all these leads.
• Wait awhile then follow up again on the leads that look like they could be good.
• Send out professional photographs to magazines and newspapers that are interested.
• Follow up again on the leads.

The cost of a good publicist is anywhere from five to ten thousand dollars for any project.  I had one publicst from New York call me back in 2003 and offer to represent me for $5,000 to $8,000 a month retainer - I laughed at her, or snorted sort of.  Now, I know she must work hard, but I did not have that kind of disposable income. 

Do Celebrities or PR Equal Money?

This is a tough one to define, or determine.  The Ellen DeGenneres Show increased our sales I am not denying  that.  A now defunct Celebrity Magazine featured our plaque and it became a best-seller.  The other press we got never made much of an impact.  Though looking back I can equate a few things to press:

• Press makes people think your business is "the next big thing"
• Press opens doors for you, new accounts, new customers and new employees
• You never know when someone will pick up an old magazine you were once in

I think that to figure out whether a publicity campaign was a success or not you MUST look at the cost of the campaign, and then figure the sales.  As painful as this is - you have to figure out if the "Celebrity photo" equals sales, or if the feature in a local newspaper creates new accounts.  This is hard, I know - I love the publicity, but I sometimes question it. 

Easy for Me to Say

I am not the most famous person in my industry, not by a long shot.  I have used the press to my advantage in every way possible (trust me you have to) to grow my business.  I have had a lot of press, and I have worked for most of it - it was my core focus for quite awhile.  After having my share of some amazing publicity I am wondering what the price of fame is.  Does it put food on the table?  Does it open up doors?  Does it actually create more press?

The Best Press

Sometimes press comes much later, after you approached a reporter.  I commented on a Wall Street Journal article in January of 2004, it resonated with me.  Eleven months later the journalist was doing an article on families goals, entrepreneurs - she called me.  She quoted me.  I was in the frickin' Wall Street Journal due to a kind, well thought out email.  No agent, no publicist, just me sending a nice email.

The largest increase in direct sales was due to a product placement in Better Homes & Garden Kids' Room Edition (Fall '04).  Our direct sales increased 100% for over a year - everyone kept the magazine and continued to order product.  This was all from one simple email I sent the editor, alone.  I still talk with her, and I love to remind her how much of an impact her magazine had on my business.

So do you think publicity always equals sales?  Has anyone found it to change their business over night? Inquiring minds want to know!

Oh Etsy, Etsy, Etsy....Ah, Ah, Achoo!

February 20, 2008.

So....if you have noticed my posts have been, um a tad bit "lacking" and not as frequent as they used to be.  What you did not notice?  You did not wonder what happened to me?  Well, if you are interested, hold on uhum, uhuuum (clearing throat), "I AM STILL FRICKING SICK!"

That is right two weeks and three days after attending the infamous Crab Feed with many a friend, many a dancing and many a (um maybe just two) margaritas I am officially still coughing, sneezing, blowing my nose, coughing fits, blowing nose, more sneezing...and lots of whining, and a double ear infection.  I went back to the doctor today (with another $35.0 co-pay thank you very much) to have them finally give me some antibiotics:

I am Watching You Etsy....Now

I think I have mentioned before that I had sort of ignored Etsy, not given it much thought, then one Sunday morning I woke up to a fire storm of emails that had my heart racing and my fingers a typin'.  Etsy was brought up in the frenzy, so I started to poke around Etsy, and quick like and I kept on poking, and listening to what others had to say about Etsy.

From my very technically sophisticated research, or you can read: me on Etsy for two hours this morning waiting for a doctor's appointment....I found the following out:

• Etsy let's your customers list you as a "favorite" (now this time not me doing air quotes, my on line friend who has been very successful on Etsy, gave me some information), and this helps with your listings and your standings.  Etsy shoppers are like Ebay Shoppers, they are loyal and they shop all the time.
• Etsy is a community of crafters and artisans that seem to loathe (watch the video) Wal Mart and products not handmade.  They make everything themselves (though this is open to interpretation).
• Etsy is international and products can be sold to people in countries all over the world.
• Etsy's sellers charge about $2.00 to $5.00 for shipping ANY WHERE in the country - GAH!
• Etsy uses PayPal and takes a percentage of every sale, as does Etsy - it works out to only about 2-2.5% per sale for the two companies, combined.
• Etsy does not follow up on copyrights (oops how did THAT one get in here?)     
• I am actually considering using Etsy....there I said it, I might.

Let me dissect and explain every "bullet point" for you.....um kay?

Etsy All Naked and Exposed (well gosh, we hope not literally naked)

• Etsy seems to have figured how to get customers to an international Craft Bazaar if you will.  They use key words, RSS feeds, blog rings and get a ton of visitors, buyers and sellers.  The place has tons of original product, beautiful artwork, jewelry and looks like some very creative people.
• Why I wonder are they so angry and hateful of big box stores?  I mean I am not a fan of Wal Mart (really can't stand the store), but I don't have to bad talk it every chance I get.  Why be a hater?  Can't you just make your nice little drink cozy or knitted pot holder and be happy?  I am a sometimes closet crafter and I am an artist, but I don't despise either sector.
• Okay NOT a fan of shipping over seas - it costs me roughly $20.00 to ship to Alaska and Hawaii, must I ship to Italy for $46.00? I found almost all artisans charging $3.00 or $5.00 for shipping - who do they use?  Pigeons?
• The post office was $6.75 for the coasters I shipped, Fed Ex is $10.95, and don't even get me started on my UPS charges.  Who makes money on shipping when they charge $3.00?  The customer saves, this is good - but those of us that have overhead costs like rent, employees, insurance - I personally can not afford to lose $8.95 on shipping.
• Not a fan of Pay Pal myself - but I guess I could use it.  The fact that they take such a small percentage is great, and seemed like a good deal.  Then I noticed you pay a fee to post every new product - not a big fee at all, but a fee.  I found artisans on some blogs a bit peeved at the fee they were charged, claiming Etsy did nothing.  I just had to laugh out loud - come on they host the site, they advertise, they get publicity, they drive traffic to your site, they process the order, blah, blah, blah.
• I happen to know they do not follow up on copy rights when you send them a nice email that someone is copying you.  Oh wait, they do but you must jump through 14 hoops, send 32 emails and prove to them beyond a reasonable doubt that it is your design before they will pounce on someone.  Then they have the gall to suggest you contact the artist direct - okay?  This would not be such a big deal had they not um stood behind copyrights, and had it all over the site....Psst, the one on the right is the real one, the left - copy cat lady on Etsy.

   

• The ceramic community I call "my industry or my peeps" is all up in arms, and Etsy has some serious offenders(um look at the photos).  They are a very, very close rip-off of our designs that are copyrighted.   I wish they would be a bit harder on these culprits - yes, they are the few and far between - but still frustrating.

Could You Etsy?

Don't shoot the messenger, I have a line of products that does not kill it, really I don't give it any attention.  I would call it my red headed step-child, but um I have a red head at home, and she may read this some day.  The pet line started two years ago, Posh Pet Gifts by Jamie has never done much in revenue.  We were even featured on The Ellen DeGenneres Show late last year - and to use my favorite word, this division is not making a bunch of money.  So, I figure what do I have to lose if I post the pet products?

I think the traffic is good, I think the "concept" (somebody STOP me before I hurt myself with these air quotes, I am getting a cramp in my right pinkie) is great, and some success stories are hard to ignore.  I do not have the time or energy to focus on Pet websites and stores, really I have to draw the line somewhere.  I want the pet line to succeed, I really do and I feel like it may succeed in this venue. 

I am thinking that I can approach it like an experiment, and post on it (well duh) to let you know how I am doing.  I am very curious to get in there and really embrace the community, like I stated earlier there seems to be some great things going on there....minus the copyrights, ripping of Walt Disney and the uh $3.00 shipping charges.

A New Copy Cat On The Fence

Which, brings me to a real "gem" of a find I found today.  I found someone using my artwork, I did, I did.  It was not actually on Etsy, it was on her (you knew it was a her) site that was linked directly to Etsy.  She took one of my copyrighted pieces (from 2004 none the less) and put it on a light switch thingie plate. 

She even listed it as "new products" - come on now, be smart and list it as old from 2003 if you want to copy me!  She even had the gall to do my lines I use - you know dot, line, dot, dot line thing...my signature, she did do it.  I would not be so concerned, well ya I would, but I would not be so ready to send a letter had she not listed her sales channels on the site...um 5 of them that I am on, and I am ALL over these sites.  Gee, wonder where she got the idea?

So readers I would love, love, love (willing to pay even) for some advice, thoughts? Comments?  Etsy good or Etsy bad?  And go ahead, you can tell me if I am crazy and that carriage does not look a thing like mine.....really, I swear I will listen.  Right after I finish painting light switch covers, I am almost finished with them....

I am still not sure about Etsy, I do know I am very intrigued by it and would love some feed back from others that used it, liked it, hated it - any information.  I only have so much free time to poke around on these sites, and this one has me scratching my head and saying....maybe I could join this site, it could be a good thing.

 

A Dear Jamie Letter....

February 15, 2008.

I swear I am trying to keep up with the blog, but this cold has knocked me out for sure.  Apparently I did not get it as bad as everyone else in my neck of the woods and I am STILL coughing and a sneezing.  So, lazy (please read very busy) me thought I would answer Joy's question:

"I am a relatively new manufacturer and on my first solicitation of a showroom, I was picked up....however....the showroom owner made me rush to get my product to Atlanta for the January gift show because it's the biggest show of the year, blah, blah, blah....after the show was over I had only two orders.  I did not make my money back from the shipping and basically no profit...NOW....it's time to pay my second installment for the $75 showroom fee, but there are no sales coming in and I want out of the contract...is this normal?"

Oooooh, tough one, okay I am going to be honest with a little of what happened with me and my company and then some thoughts.  I like to always ask the person, "Do you want my advice or do you want me to agree with you?" Since you asked and I can not get this computer thing to talk back.....I shall give advice.  Just so we are on the same page:

If You Wonder "What is a Show Room?"

A Show Room is a place where your products can be on permanent display (vs. a temporary display when you exhibit at a show) with the representatives that are representing your line can have stores, websites, catalogs, come and see and touch your products.  It is like a retail store for retailers to find new products.  Usually you will have some collateral, or catalogs to go with the product line and it will all be placed together in an attractive setting.  The show room can charge a fee, and will get at least 15% of all sales - sales for the stores they pick up for you.  There are show rooms in all the major markets - San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Texas.....I think that is it.

If you get a good sales representative they will go after stores for you, they will show your line to large department stores that you may not be able to get into.  It can be a good thing and well worth the money also if you want to get your products into the hands of people in other states - states you do not plan on exhibiting at.

Hidden Fees And Store Samples

We do work with show rooms, and our products can be found in a few show rooms around the country.   We have had good experiences and bad ones.  Maybe the next post I can tell a few tales about what we experienced.  Here are a few fun facts about show rooms:

• You will send samples to the show room and you will pay to ship the samples.  The samples are still yours, they are on loan to the show room.  They will not pay for these samples.
• You need to send some collateral; post cards, catalogs, line sheets - something that the possible customer (retail store) can take away with them.
• You will pay a 15% fee on everything they sell for you - every store they pick up for you.  The fee is for the initial opening order (usually it runs from $200 to thousands, depending on the product line).
• You may be asked to pay a rental space fee for them to exhibit your line in the show room.
• You may be asked to pay a fee when they have a show, this can be quarterly or twice a year, depending on the show room and the location.
• Some sales representatives do not have show rooms, they just travel from store to store to try and sell your products to the store.
• You will sign a contract and agree to not solicit any stores in the territory they cover.  This can range from just one state to possibly five states.

Would You Please Cover Your Butt

If you are going to have your products in a permanent show room, now is a good time to get those wholesale documents finished.  The documentation should state shipping costs, wholesale costs, product descriptions,  minimum opening orders, re-orders - put it in writing.  Shipping costs should be set up as soon as you start a business.

Show Rooms can be great if you want to get your products into other parts of the country and if you do not like calling on new stores.  Some good show rooms have named accounts that they continually go to year after year with their product line.  It helps to make the Show Room an ally of yours, work with them, help them better sell your product and take their advice.  We found that show rooms that carried our "non-personalized" products did better than ones with only personalized products. 

I personally like the show rooms I work with - but I wish I picked up more stores from them. Some of our super-large accounts that I have, I would not have without the show rooms I am in.  These department stores would not even consider my products, had I not been in a show room.

In the End

I would say that after only one "show" you do not have a real feel for whether the show room is a  good fit for you.  I would stick it out for at least a year so you have a good idea of how much the cost of acquiring sales is - because it can be expensive.  Picking up two stores and you just got in the show room is not that bad.  It is only been one month and getting out of a contract this soon does not seem like a wise decision.

You may want to consider calling the show room and seeing if they could waive the fee, or ask to speak with another company that they represent - to get a feel for the success of the reprentatives there.  It may be that even though January is "the show" your products may do better at the July show, or at a smaller apparel show.  It is important to note that paying a fee of $75 to be in a show room is much cheaper than the $3000 it would cost you just to rent your own booth.  Or if you want to spend your time emailing and calling stores - instead of making products, then maybe a show room is not for you.

To put the costs in perspective you may want to remember running a business costs money - starting a business costs lots of money.  There are so many hidden costs that you probably did not even think of when you started out.  The saying, "It takes money to make money" is so true - especially with a small business owner.  You may not make the money back right away, but you need to ask yourself if it is worth it?  Is the show room a good show room? Have you sold anything else?  All sales from the stores that the sales rep picked up need to be included in the "is it worth it?" questions.  And it make take months or even years till you see the benefits.     

Lack of Communication

February 11, 2008.

I am sort of in a blogging tunnel, or I am blocked on blogging, or for black of better word (oooh too many B's)....I am bummed 'bout not blogging.  I don't know when it exactly happened, somewhere between yet another blog with no comments and my fall on the ground coughing fit...ya that must of been when it happened, I got seriously down on the blog.

I either made the mistake or had my eyes opened by reading other blogs, lots of other blogs that is, and that got me more down.  Maybe it was blog envy......well no, I know it was not that - having read one more "look at my cute kids cupcake" post I might just choke on the damn cupcake - no really your photos are amazing but GAH, I can not handle the saccharine.  So, um forgive me while I digress - it's comment envy, really it is.  Some blogs get 72 comments when they post - I am trying to figure out why.

The Girl Can't Help It 

Not to worry, I am sure I can pull myself up by my very lady like bootstraps and come up with something worth reading again soon....I have been over concerned that the blog was becoming too polarized and too "industry specific".  So that got me thinking, and I started toying with the idea with more "real life experiences" and show you the day in my life, but that is not a pretty picture people. 

So, as I was doing much research and I about fell off my chair reading about potty-training, eating chocolate, husband troubles, craft Tuesday.....too much for this girl to add to her blog, I think that is when I started whimpering and mumbling and my husband pulled me away from the computer for a few days of R & R.  I have been toying with a few hot topic and a polling device, that way you can give your opinion without you know, letting me know who you are.

So, just so you did not think I totally lost it - just so you can see what I have been up to: Back in the beginning of January Darin and I well, we split up.  NO, no not like that - we finally after 13+ years of sharing an office space, we separated our space.   I got a pretty studio to paint in with light green walls and my collection of urns and roses.....he got the extra room in the back of the house.  He did get the couch, the TV and stapler (damn I need the stapler) but I think I got the better deal. 

New Work Space

The first few weeks of January were a lot of us stomping (well mostly me stomping) down the hall to give back or re-claim items from each other's "new work space".  I was real sad at first - missed him, and kept yelling down the hall when I worked at home to see if he was okay.  Now, a month later - I am lovin' my new space!  I can spread out, I can have Abby in here to paint with me, I can email, blog, paint and do my make up all at the same time......well I could you know!

The New Studio

It really is quite girly, with the green and brown walls.  Yes I did go out and buy fresh flowers, and as my husband said, "that was necessary" - no it was not, but it looks purty.

The room is still this clean, and I have tried to not mess up the pretty painting table, but I have been putting it to some good use.  I have been painting for some exclusive designs I am working on for some companies, and I have been working on some new projects.  I will keep you posted - I have been dying to show you show you some products in a particular store....

The dresser to the right is one of my favorite projects, it was free.  I painted it green, then white then I sanded the heck out of it.  I got the new handles on it and it is by far one of my favorite pieces in the house.......and it stores tons of my crap...I mean art supplies.

Moving On Up

So, that is where I have been....literally and my frame of mind.  I apologize for skipping out and not telling you where I went (my mother would lead me to believe that is just rude, and she is right).  I did not plan on going on a "blogging vacation" or a "sabbatical from blogging" I just got bogged down on blogging.  But I am back.... I swear, I am listening to some Fergie...sorry! 

A Belated Birthday Wish

February 6, 2007.

I am not even quite sure when the last time I posted, I have had two sick children home for 4 days, a night out, woke up Sunday with fever and coughing up a spleen, two doctors appointments - and missed my mother's birthday yesterday. 

Since I am still coughing so hard I almost pass out , I have been banished to work from home today.  And, today IS the first day I am sitting upright - oh the joys of winter colds.  Sadly, yesterday was my Mother's birthday and I did not get to see her, we did not get to go out for dinner and I did not get to post what I wanted to.  So, even though it is belated - it is still heartfelt:

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday...yes, this is belated, and I am sorry I did not get to see you yesterday.  I was thinking I would do one of those cute rhyming poems you used to do when we were little - but it sounded totally lame and I scratched that idea.  I wanted to take this time to tell you how much I really appreciate you and all that you do.

1. Thank you for always being there for my kids, for always watching them at a moment's notice
   and never complaining...even when they mis-behave.  Well, I would not know whether they were ever bad, apparently there is this "What happens at Nana's Stays at Nana's" mantra the kids are always mumbling when they come home.
2. Thank you for always being there for me whether I ask you to or not - you come and help me at home, at work, with the children, with family cooking disasters....you just show up and help me out.  Many of my children's "over the top" birthday parties would not have been the success without the help from you....and yes I do promise to never, ever, ever do home-made snow cones again - I swear!
3. Thanks for always supporting me, no matter how crazy you might have thought my idea was.   You never questioned I would not be a success, and when other parents may have not supported art as a career - you stood behind me and always supported my choices.  I know there was that crazy few weeks at the end of college when I did um, think I might travel around the country as a representative for my sorority after graduating, and you did squash that pretty quickly - but other than that (and I deserved it) you have always been my biggest supporter.
4. Thanks for always taking my other child....no not Darin, my four legged little person covered with fur.  I know she can be a bit much sometimes, and tends to mouth off and howl around dinner time....or uh, an hour before dinner time that is.  Oh, and I realize she has been known to actually get back in bed after you made it, but I do appreciate you always taking care of her when we are away.  She loves to go to Nana's house too.
5. Thanks for always being there for Darin and I - no matter what you are there for us.  You have always helped us out, been there for us - and never complained.  We are so lucky to have you and Dad live so close by - not so close that you show up every night un-announced for dinner - but close enough that you can be here if we need you.
6. Thanks for your sense of humor - and I am so glad I got it!  You always know when to laugh at a situation, or when to um squirt us with the water while doing the dishes.  Sometimes all we can do is laugh - and you always make us feel better.  Of course it's better when we are laughing at someone else, and not you laughing at me - but still,  the laughing is good.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday and thanks for always being a great mom!  Hope to see you soon....once I stop coughing, and sneezing.

Love,
Jamie