Jamie's Blog

I Don't Care

May 10, 2012.

I was reading all over the web everyone all a flutter this morning regarding the whole Mom breast
feeding her....I don't know 9  year old son (okay he is almost four.....but still) on the cover of Time Magazine.  I read a lot of comments for and against the photo.  Mother's saying it was beautiful, others saying it was gross - and so goes another ridiculous worthless argument about who is a better mother.  

I even started to get involved in the dialogue and started imagining my post on this attrocity to society.  Ya, but not for or against breast feeding toddlers, because I am more concerned with the poor boy and what he may will go through as he grows older.  I mean, was anyone thinking of that four year old boy being a ten year old, a fourteen year old or a seventeen year old trying to date a girl?  I am sure the "Boob Man" jokes will be making a big pressence tonight on Late Night TV.  That poor kid, he will most likely be ridiculed forever, even when he  just orders a chicken breast.  I seriously was gonna dedicate a whole post to it, and ask my soon to be thirteen year old what he thought.....and then I sighed and said to myself, "I don't care."

Not to sound insensitive or crash - but I don't care.  I don't need to spew my own over-inflated opinion out there (even though the irony that I just did is not lost on me).  I don't need to tweet how for/against/agast I am at the provcative pose she is making on the cover.  It's her life and it is her bed (and her son's bed) that she has to lie in....no pun intended since the story is about that type of parenting.

I Don't Care Anymore

I loved being a part of the Mommy Blogosphere for a few years (even though I detest that word).  It was fun to write for an awesome website that got tons of comments and I liked writing about controversial subjects.  Going to Blogher was amazing, meeting some of my heroes in person was amazing.  Getting all the free food, drinks & silly crap they gave away - all Amazing.  I was all about linking, commenting, blogging and staying up on the stupid Twitter feed.  

Now-a-days, I really have no desire to spend countless hours doing all that any longer.  I still love me some Facebook (and now Pinterest) but I don't want to dedicate that much time to the craft of blogging.  The end result (for me) was not as rewarding as one would have thought.   I loved it at the time.....now, ah I am going to say it, "I don't care".

It's not that I dislike or am jealous of the other bloggers out there - it just does not interest me any longer.  Sort of like battling over breast vs. bottle - those days are long gone and I don't care what anyone (or how) they feed their kids.   Everyone seems so damn sensitive these days if other people do not conform to their ridulous standards.  As long as it does not affect me and my children, "I don't care."

Now, don't get me wrong, I still love to blog/write and I will probably do it till I die, but eh.......not religously, not daily and not for profit.  Unless of course some editor comes a callin' and asks me to write a book or my super duper ever exciting memoir...then okay - I will do it.  But until that fantasy comes to life........I just don't care.

I Used to Care, But Now I Don't

I used to go after press for Jamie's Painting & Design and more importantly Jamie with a vengence.  I was a rapid Mama Grizzly Bear on a mission and I was actually quite good at it.  Maybe not so much good - but I had a good story and most times were at the right place at the right time.  Other than getting into People Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show or in her magazine, I accomplished everything I ever imagined for my business in the eyes of the press corps.  

Also, I am not proud to admit this, but I used to turn green with jealousy when other entrepreneurs in my industry (or just close to it) got awesome press.  I assumed they were showered with sales, celebrity clients and calls from......Oprah of course after they were featured in some magazine.  I would obsess over it and would waste countless hours courting that very magazine that just ran a story similar to mine.....ya, not proud of that.  Eventually it would work out and I would get the press from that magazine, a newspaper, TV show - whatever, it came at some point.  

Again, sticking with the theme of this post, I just don't care anymore.  I mean if it happens that would be great - but I am not in the mood to go out and try to get it with my mouth frothing while I repeat my story for the 45th time to some reporter.  I am more a 'Been There, Done That' kind of girl.  The reason being is most of the press did not put $$$ in my pocket, or even equal sales.  Press did equal more press (which is a whole other post about people only want to write about you if some other reporter already did) but it rarely equaled sales.  I loved me some press, but I could not and can not pay for college bragging about being on Dr. Phil.  So......don't care.

I Could Care Less

I have mentioned many, many times how I kept up on my competition pretty closely for many years.  There are many reasons why I did this and I stand by my choices for doing it.  I really think you (me) need to know what is going on in your industry so that you can stay ahead.  This is especially important when you are a young company and a newbie to your industry.  You can not lay on your laurels - because frankly you don't have any.  

Fast forward to what is coming on our ten year mark this November and well, I guess I will take a peek once in a great while at other companies.  Honestly, most of my competition is gone - that is not me bragging, they just are.  Many, many small companies went away in the Recession or they licensed their work to larger companies.  

Also, the trends in the Children industry have sort of hit a lull in my humble opinion.  There are not exciting color combinations and amazing designs coming out these days.  I remember reading that in a Recession (or Depression) people go back to comfort foods, calm & safe colors and designs.  It makes sense and it made for a boring few years of designing new products.  So, now a days I will keep an eye on some othe companies but I am pretty sure if they develop a new design before I do, it won't be the end fo my company or the world.  I tend not to care if they do or if they don't.

What I Do Care About

I know this post sounded very negative and I yes I am singing that 80's song in my head as I write it, but stay with me.  As much as I enjoyed carying soooo much too much about these distractions in the past, I am glad I don't any longer.  I can focus on my business and my family.  I can spend my time caring about getting out good products and getting them on time to our customers.  I still want our customers to love our products and I still care about making them.

I still get excited about new designs.  Even though it has been two long years since I came out with new designs for my company I have worked on designs for sports teams, schools and various licensing companies.  I care about new partnerships, relationships and promotions with other companies.  I care about new customers (and old ones) instead of my competiton and my presence in the press.     I care about me and my happiness, instead of bending over backwards working 24 hours straight to please a channel partner that won't even pay me on time.  I care about my family and our quality of live instead of my blogs popularity and the number of readers I had last week.

So while the rest of the internet blows up over the latest boobie sighting, I will not be joining the conversation.   I am pretty sure my son's email is blowing up right now with this one photo being shared amongst all teenagers around the country.   I am going to spend the evening with my family and most likely explaining to my son about the dangers of a controversial photo and how it can haunt you....forever.  

Top Ten Things I Didn't Share in 2010

When I was a little girl I always loved the end of the year specials on the news.  They would go over the highs and lows of what happened that year.  I was always so upset if I missed "The Year in Review".  As I got older I became obsessed with the top 10 songs of the year or the top 10 celebrities, top 10 books - I still get all sucked in to those stories. 

I thought maybe I should do that, well not 10 best things but my Year in Review on the blog.  Then I realized that was pretty much the easy way out and I would only be me just cutting and pasting parts of posts I wrote this past year.   Instead I am going to share the top ten things I did NOT share with you this year.  Sometimes I did not feel it warranted a whole post, other times I did not want to share.  Yet, here we are at the end of the year and I figured what the hell I will share what I have learned and what I have NOT blogged about;

1. The End of Warm Biscuit Partnership

Sadly we ended our 6 year relationship with The Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.  There was not knock-out drag out fight or an email battle, we just went our separate ways.  I will only say that with the tough Economy we need to be paid within our 30 day agreement or have a credit card on file - times are/were/still are tough.  Some larger companies are not able to do that - so that is that.

Truth is I really do miss working with them and the friendship I had with their founder, Vicki Bodwell.  What I miss most is the collaborative designing her like I used to do.  She was and is one of the most creative and talented people I have ever met.  Talking  to her could be exhausting at times, she would bounce from one idea to another - I could not take notes fast enough to keep up with her very active mind.  Yet, even if I was exhausted after the call I was ALWAYS energized, motivated and inspired.  I miss those calls.

2. Wall Tiles Fundraiser Project & Then Again

We did another wall tile fundraiser for a local grammar school in San Mateo.  The project lasted most of the first part of 2010 and was finished right before school ended.  When we ordered the tiles from our supplier and discussed the tiles being hung outside and in the sun, there response was something like (and yes I may be exaggerating, but they did say OK) "Okey Dokey sounds fine by us.....how do you want to pay for that?"  What they should have said was, "Um you should not have our tiles hung in direct sunlight because they will fade.....how do you want to pay for that?"

What happened is we had to do the tiles twice, because they were hung in direct sun light.  It was an unfortunate incident and I felt awful for the school.  However, I did the right thing and I got a discount when we re-ordered the tiles....again for the school.  Our supplier apologized for not being forthright and then asked for our credit card number.  A hard lesson to learn during a very hard year.

3. No Sales + Late Payments = Late or No Rent

For the first time in the last four years of renting our space we have NEVER not been able to pay rent.  This year I got to give the 'ol "Never Say Never" speech.  It was a very depressing fact and it was sobering to watch our sales slow down even more than the previous year.  If 2008 saw the Economy collapse, then 2009 was flat I would say 2010 just sucked.  Almost every one of my channels that I spoke with agreed with me - sales were worse in 2010 then 2009.  Other small business owners that I spoke with had similar experiences with their business.  So, we paid rent late and sometimes we paid it even later.  It was not my finest moment - but we survived. 

4. Businesses Are Still Closing Down

Sadly this year we said good bye to some fabulously talented women and businesses in our industry and some other industries.  Some of sales channels closed their doors, other companies focussed on direct and some artists closed up shop.  I will miss talking shop with these talented women;

• Kristen Sloop of Kootie Bug Designs
• Carrie Sommer of Sommer Designs
• Diane Cullen Page of CCC Gifts

There are countless other small boutique stores and websites that quietly closed their doors this year.  Many of them were run by some amazing women that I used to enjoy talking with over the past eight years.

5. Drooz Studio is Copied....Again

Even though I am amazed and maybe some would say a tad obsessed with artists copying other artists, I am still shocked when it happens.  And, it always seems to happen to the very talented Ms. Shelly Kennedy.  I almost wish she would just release new products she would put a disclaimer on the back of each piece that says something like;

"This original piece of artwork is great isn't it?  Please do not copy it - because I will find out.  I will not be happy and it is NOT legal.  Did you catch that last part?  It is illegal."

I do not know what or if anything happened when Shelly saw this product, her product copied and sold through another channel.  I can only imagine and hope she make them stop it.

6.  New Blog Home at The Mommie's Diaries....for a short time

After the demise of Silicon Valley Mom Blog this summer I wanted to find a new home where I could write about life with children.  I tried it out at Parenting on the Peninsula for a few months but it the end I bit off more than I could chew.  I had to blog once a week and it had to be up by 11:00 a.m Sunday morning.  I can't even blog on my OWN blog once a week let alone someone elses!  And, if you must know I do love me some sleeping in on the weekends when I am not being forced to hall my ass to some softball or soccer game.  So there.  I sadly had to give my resignation and I no longer blog for anyone but me!

7. 80 Ornaments You Say? Why, Yes We Can!

For the past three years we have gotten a rather huge order from a housing development back East.  And this year we got the same order.  We give the wonderful customer a small discount andd we make 80 ornaments for them to pass out to their entire neighborhood at their annual holiday party thing.  I had every intention of photographing the large order going out and then they were ribboned and shipped, but then I felt sort of weird about it and did not want to be a braggard.  So, for the record I am not braggin - just saying it was not all bad in 2010.

8. Celebrity Client Drew Brees & Then Some

Okay, so I have had celebrities before.  For the record Charlize Theron has my dog plates, Roy  Disney ordered a birth certificate for a relative, Oprah & Ellen have ornaments by me,  and Nicole Kidman got a birth certificate for a gift.  The woman who wrote Legally Blond once ordered 50 princess plates for her daughter's birthday party.  Larry Sanders sent a birth certificate to Adam Sandler and now I have made ornaments and a birth annoucement for the one and only Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

These are all just cool little tidbits I get to throw out there at cocktail parties and um when I try to impress an ex-boyfriend or a reporter.  Until one of these celebs decides to either have their child's room filmed for People Magazine or wanders around outside with my birth certificate around their neck - my business won't be changing much.  But still - happy to have 'em and shout out to Mr. & Mrs. Drew Brees and his family .

9. Moving On Down....Not Up

We are leaving our rental space and soon.  We need to find smaller and cheaper space.  It may even be (though doubtful) in another city.  When we got this space we had 4 other employees and it was the smallest space available in Foster City, oh and times were booming.  Now - not so much.  The thing is we could run the company in about half of the space we use now, and I could work from home more. 

We had a perfect place that I was super excited about moving into....and yes, re-decorating smaller, smarter - I had so many ideas.  And then while signing the 35 page contract I saw on the last page in itty bitty (well maybe not but still) font there was an extra $255.42 (yes I memorized it) added on to each month's rent.  Not that much you say?  Well, no it is not - but yes, it sort of is these days.  Worst yet was that it was SNUCK in there, had I not paid attention and signed the contract I never would have known.  So, I am back to trying to find us a new rental space.

10.  Life Is Shorter in 2010

This year has seen many friends get sick, marriages dissolve and worse - people have passed away.  I have seen first hand the devastating effects of disease and the loss of loved ones.  I have vowed to live more, love better and enjoy life.  I realize that it is not the end of the world if business is slow or even if we do close our doors.  Life is so short and so precious that I pledge to live each day to all it is worth.  When asked this holiday season how business was, I was able to honestly say, "It was not great, but that was fine.  I am healthy happy, my kids are healthy - we were good." 

Here is to wishing everyone who has taken the time to read/comment/spam my blog a very happy healthy (and maybe wealthy) new year.  May you have a better 2011 than 2o10 and may you live life to it's fullest.

New York Times Baby

As I mentioned in my last post I had the good fortune of being interviewed by the frickin' New York Times a few weeks ago.   And, then the misfortune of the photographer coming to photograph me for the piece.  It went live last night and I was able to post it on Twitter and Facebook.  Most everyone was very positive and gave me major props.   If you read all the way through you will see my good friend Jennifer Christensen (she was my inspiration for saying NO) interviewed also.

So this morning I did go rush out and purchase one, okay three copies of the paper.  I kept singing the old "Cover of Rolling Stone" all day today.  I thought it was funny....my kids not so much.  My new nickname around school is Jamie "No I'm Not" Lentzner.  I heard that the article was passed around a lot today around some Bay Area schools, amongst volunteers, PTA boards and us ex-volunteers who were happy to NOT be at school.  You can read the article here:

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Frazzled Moms Push Back Against Volunteering

Drew Kelly for The New York Times

Jamie Lentzner, of Foster City, Calif., feeling overwhelmed, put an end to her school volunteering.

By HILARY STOUT

Published: December 1, 2010

IT was last spring, somewhere between overseeing Teacher Appreciation Week and planning the fifth-grade graduation party, when Jamie Lentzner, mother of two in Foster City, Calif., reached her breaking point. 

She had already designed the fifth-grade T-shirt, taught art twice monthly to three different classes, and organized movie night, restaurant night and beach night fund-raisers. She was overscheduled and exhausted. She had scant time to help her children with their school projects because — coincidentally — she was always working on projects for their school. “You’ve got to stop,” said her husband, Darin, who worried that the constant stress she seemed to feel was damaging to her health.

Ms. Lentzner realized that she had spiraled out of control. She vowed to put an end to all this volunteering — and to recapture some of the serenity in her family life that had vanished because of nothing more than a well-intentioned desire to pitch in.

Today, more than three months into the school year, Ms. Lentzner is a new woman. She has yet to attend a PTA meeting or decorate so much as a classroom doorknob. When she saw her name listed as chairwoman of the annual Donuts for Dads Day (another event she oversaw last year) on a volunteer sign-up sheet, she whipped out a Sharpie and crossed it out.

“No, I’m not,” she wrote.

Her business — she designs children’s room décor — improved, and at home, the change has been striking. She has time to play Ping-Pong and Wii with the children. She hosted 27 relatives and friends for Thanksgiving last week, and for the first time in years she enjoyed the holiday. “I told my husband, ‘I am not stressed,’ “ she said. “I did not have some event hanging over my head, or a T-shirt design that had to be done. I think I finally have my priorities in the right place.”

Around the country there are a number of altruistic, devoted and totally burned-out mothers just like Ms. Lentzner who are becoming emboldened to push back against the relentless requests from their children’s schools for their time. What started out as an admirable civic gesture somehow snowballed into an inability to say no to any committee assignment or project request, and spiraled into night, weekend and after-school commitments, middle-of-the-night e-mail exchanges, as well as frozen dinners, takeout pizza and baby sitters at home.

With the holidays approaching, the call for parental help at school has reached a fever pitch, but this demand is not just seasonal. As local and state economies continue to struggle, budget cuts to rich and poor school systems are increasing the reliance on unpaid parent help. The need is so great that some school districts, like a couple of specialty schools in Prince William County, Va., have made it mandatory to commit to a small amount of volunteer time, and others are considering it. In San Jose, Calif., one elementary school district has been discussing a proposal that the families of its 13,000 students commit to 30 hours of volunteer work during the year.

Many parents are happy to volunteer uncoerced, and most everyone recognizes the worthiness of the cause. But the heightened need and expectations are coming at a time when many parents have less and less time to give.

“Volunteerism is way down at our school this year,” said Gary Parkes, the PTA president at Carmel Elementary School in Woodstock, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. At the school’s recent annual fall festival some games had to be closed down because of a lack of adult volunteer supervisors.

Economic necessity, Mr. Parkes said, has forced some stay-at-home mothers to go back to work. “People are so busy trying to stay afloat, they just do not have as much time as they would like to give,” Mr. Parkes said, adding that he has heard similar laments in regional PTA meetings. “This seems to be a problem for a lot of schools.”

(Mr. Parkes has been getting creative. He reached out to the Cub Scouts to help with the fall festival and recruited the girls’ lacrosse team at the high school to operate the crazy-hair and face-painting stations. He is also exploring arrangements with the R.O.T.C. and with corporations that have public service programs.) 

Other forces are at work besides the lack of free time. The growing world of mom blogging has provided ample forums for exposing the darker feelings of motherhood, and a number of women have taken to cyberspace to gripe about school volunteer work. Some complain that the system preys on maternal guilt and that it creates a sense that a mother’s worthiness is measured in how many hours she puts in at her children’s schools. Under the headline “Just Say NO to Volunteering,” Sarah Auerswald, a former PTA president in Los Angeles, wrote in June, “What I am about to say is not very PC, so get ready: Moms, stop volunteering so much.”

Ms. Auerswald, who estimated that she had sat through 1,000 meetings over the last 10 years as a volunteer, said all her work for the schools had left her “a run-down, crabby, resentful wreck.” Worse, she said in an interview, “My kids got really resentful.” When she would leave them with yet another baby sitter, or drag them along for yet another Saturday Clean-up Day at school, they implored, “Why is it always you who has to do everything, Mom?”

Ms. Auerswald emphasized that her children’s school had a very real need for parents’ volunteer work. But she said she has learned that parents need to set realistic expectations about what they can accomplish and how much of themselves they can give.

Because the work is unpaid, some volunteers say, few realize the toll it can take on people. “I know a woman — the work she did for the public schools was so critical — she made me look like a loafer,” Ms. Auerswald said. “Then her husband left her because she was never home.”

That news was startling to Ms. Auerswald. “Not that my husband was leaving, luckily,” she said, “but he was not happy about how much I was doing.”

Part of the burnout stems from the fact that in most schools a small number of volunteers shoulder the vast majority of the work.

Everyone recognizes this, but they can’t help but wring every ounce of commitment out of those who seem willing. Consider the case of Zan Jones.

Ms. Jones is a mother of two in Keller, Tex., who works part time as a booking manager for professional speakers. This fall she was co-chairwoman of the Scholastic Book Fair, a commitment of five full days on top of the multiple meetings required to organize the event. And the decorating.

This year’s theme was superheros, so Ms. Jones made the sign with Superman saying, “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a book fair!” She made tall buildings out of cardboard boxes. She stuffed the Spider-Man costume that she had found and bought herself. When it was over, she helped pack everything up and take the money to the bank.

That’s a lot of work — especially since her children don’t go to the school anymore.

Near the end of the summer, Ms. Jones’s children, a third grader and a fifth grader, were accepted to a charter school, but she felt uneasy about breaking volunteer commitments she had made to their old school. And, apparently, the school was desperate for help.

“They were panicked,” Ms. Jones said. “There was not one mention of ‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’ If there was, I probably would have taken it and run with it.”

Still, Ms. Jones insisted that she was happy to help, and no sooner did she fulfill her commitments at the old school than she started volunteering at the new one. She has chaperoned three field trips, worked in the library and helped set up a “mad scientist” dry ice center for a Halloween party. But she admitted she considered bowing out.

“Selfishly, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is my chance for a clean break,’ ” she said. “I thought, ‘I can go somewhere where no one knows me, and I can sit silently under the radar and not volunteer.’ ”

But, she explained: “My kids really like me volunteering. Their faces light up when I’m there.”

That is what most parents assume — that school volunteer work is in the best interests of their children. But some veterans are skeptical. Jen Christensen’s epiphany came on her 41st birthday in May 2009. She was presiding over Teacher Appreciation Week at her children’s school in San Mateo, Calif., and getting up daily at 4 a.m. to work on the school auction. She was so overcommitted, she said, that she could not find time to celebrate.

What hit harder still was that she had given up working when she had children to be home with them — and now she was continually leaving them with baby sitters because she had to attend a meeting at school.

The next fall, Ms. Christensen declared herself off-limits to all school volunteer requests. “I said: ‘I’m done. I quit. Don’t call. Don’t e-mail.’ I said I have given so much of myself. I’m spending 50 hours a week working on a volunteer position. Where does it end? You want some blood? I wouldn’t even let my husband write a check.”

Ms. Christensen added: “It felt fabulous. I took a step back and was able to see what was wrong and appreciate the opportunity I have. I don’t have to work, and being able to spend time with my kids is what my job really should be.”

She noted the simple pleasure of reading with her 8-year-old son, Owen, in their special “reading chair.”

“It was calmer in our home and I think everyone was much happier,” she said.

Some of the push-back stems from just plain irritation over the way volunteer requests are made, often involving large numbers of increasingly desperate-sounding e-mails. A few years ago, Karen Bantuveris was on a plane on a business trip. “I looked down and literally saw my BlackBerry fill up with reply-all e-mails about whose turn it is to help at recess and to bring snacks,” she said. “The more I talked to working moms, the more I heard: ‘I can’t volunteer anymore. This is ridiculous.’ ”

Ms. Bantuveris put her training as a management consultant to work. She invented an online system — similar to the popular Evite invitation service — that sends a calendar of volunteer opportunities and allows parents to sign up for those of their choosing without multiple e-mail exchanges. She now runs a company called VolunteerSpot that markets the system, coordinating 460,000 volunteers, 75 percent of them parents in schools.

Even among those who have made the break from volunteering, there is always guilt. “There is such a need,” Ms. Christensen said. Her year of saying “No” ended when school started this year. But still she is a far cry from her old über-volunteer self.

She agreed to be a “room parent” for the third grade, which means she plans class parties. And she did consent to oversee the kitchen-tour fund-raiser, but she is now “kind of regretting it.” It is scheduled for September 2011, Ms. Christensen said, noting, “I still have time to get out of it.”

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So that is that, I was in the New York Times.  I can scratch it off my bucket list (I don't have one but if I did I would put be in the New York Times on it).  Once I get on the Oprah Winfrey Show (you did not think I would not reference her did you?  I only have till September 2011) and my products in People Magazine I can say I have done everything.  Everything as far as publicity goes that is.

New York Times Came a Knockin'

Just A Silicon Valley Blog Post

After the supposed end of The Silicon Valley Mom Blog I didn't give my posts much thought.  I owned them, I could re-post them and/or just let them live in the Blogosphere.  I enjoyed writing for the Silicon Valley Moms Blog a lot more than I thought I would.  I wrote about events at school, my crazy family and mostly my children. 

This June I was very fed up, frustrated and burnt out from volunteering at my children's school.  I listed all that I had done on this blog and then made a public pledge to not do it again on SV Moms Blog.  I got a lot of comments on and off line from other volunteers like myself that were done with a capital D with volunteering. 

Two weeks ago I received an email from a reporter at the New York Times  who read my post.  She asked if I would speak to her about my volunteering or lack their of.  She wanted to hear how this year was going and if I had kept up my pledge.  Without thinking I said "Hell to the Yes!", or maybe I thought that in my head and just replied very polite like in an email.  Either way I was interviewed the following day.

New York Frickin' Times Interview

Rule one when you get an interview with a very reputable news paper (or any publication) - get the  time correct.  And me being a veteran of countless interviews (okay a dozen or so) I am always prepared and I always get the time right.  Ya, not so much.   I bounced, or stumbled out of bed at 6:30 a.m. and downed two cups of coffee for my 7:00 a.m interview.  Then I waited and waited.  I waited some more. And then waited a little bit longer.  Then I drank more coffee. 

By about 7:45 a.m. I was freaking out and bouncing off the walls.  I looked at the email for the 45th time that morning and realized I had the time wrong.  Don't ask me how or why but I was under the impression the interview was at 10:00 a.m Eastern Standard Time....and uh, it was actually 10:00 a.m my time, Pacific Standard Time.   So now I was wide awake just waiting for the interview.  By the time she called (the correct agree time)  I was the babbling laughing volunteer from Hell.  I was interviewed for over 30 minutes and am pretty confident that I sounded like an insane rabid parent.  Yes, I am scared of what will be taken from the interview.

I calmed myself down by remembering some past interviews.  Having been interviewed in the past I was not even confidant my interview would even be a part of the article.  This happens more than I care to admit.  I have said it before, and will continue to say it - press is good.  All press is good (Jamie's Painting & Design never came up in this interview).  I am fine, the whole article may  not even ever be published.  I did not get my hopes up.  Then last week I got an email.  I had to be in a Photo Shoot, with my children like in a few days........ah, come again?

Ready for My Close Up

When picking out our clothes I tried not to over think it, but I wanted us to look good - so I totally over thought the whole thing.  I figured my kids should dress as casual as possible without looking like we were trying to be too causal - this is not as easy as it sounds.  The urge to dress my children in their holiday finest, get hair cuts and polish their shoes was very tempting.  Sadly I cancelled the fancy up-do, professional make-up artists/stylist and put away my formal gown, diamond tiara and fur.  We were the Lentzners, and we were going with jeans.

Last Wednesday the photographer arrived at my home.  Now, I have to preface this with the fact that the exterior of my house is a disaster.  We are in the process of having the entire house stuccoed, painted and we are replacing all of the lights.  When I answered the door I caught our photographer looking around at the plywood very skeptical.  His eyes kept darting back and forth from the plywood srewed to the house, and a bulb hanging where my light would be.  When he finally made eye contact I could have sworn I saw him sigh.  He was probably expecting Ma Kettle wearing overalls and smoking a pipe.

I took him to all the rooms, seeing which one had the best light or the best angle for him.  Even with turning on every light in the house my home for him, he was not sure about where to photograph us.  After walking back and forth for about ten minutes he still had not found a good spot.  The front yard was out of the question since it would look like we lived in an Appalachian Wooden House and the playroom ( that would be the garage) had ourdogs in it.  I was starting to get nervous.  After two tours of the Lentzner home I caught him eyeing the backyard.  This was not going to be good.

We Have Dogs & Standing Water

As he leaped out our back door and into our backyard swamp I blurted out, "We have Dogs! Watch   where you....step."  I watched him grimace as he took big then small steps while trying to examine his surroundings.  He danced around, eyeing the ground as if he were about to step on a land mind.  With the 3 solid days of rain, followed by 3 days of near freezing weather - my kids had not been out to uh, clean up after our pets. It was not a pretty sight, puddles, mud, poop and some dead plants - I was mortified.

And of course he decided to photograph outside.....yep, even though I was casual I was still rocking my cute suede boots.  Boots I did not want covered in dog excrement.  The children to were told to play soccer and look natural.  After they fought over which ball to bring outside we all dodged dog poop and mud for 10 to 15 minutes.  I am sure the look on my face was part disgust and part shock while I was being photographed.  Nothing says "Working Mom" like a mother and her children playing soccer in a mud/poop swamp.

We then took photos in our kitchen, in my office and me looking out the window at my dinning room table.  I still don't know if I was supposed to look happy, sad, confused or dignified.  I just hope the pictures came out decent.  The article is scheduled to be published Thursday, December 3, 201o.  I am hopeful that we/me sound and look decent and normal and sane.  It could happen.

Ladies Don't Start a Business, Just Have Babies?

I read a blog post yesterday that really made me think about what it took to own/start a business.  Penelope Trunk, founder of Brazen Careerist wrote a post on Tech Crunch titled, Women Don't Want to Run Startups Because They'd Rather Have Children.  In the post she touches on many broad points and makes tons of assumptions about women entrepreneurs and mother's that own their own businesses.   She does this of course AFTER she has decided to pretty much take a step way back and let other people run her third Start-up.   She is pretty much pointing her finger at VC backed Tech companies - but she makes some bold and assumed statements about female entrepreneurs. 

Here are the highlights, if you don't have the time (or stomach) to read it:

• Starting a business can be Hell
• Women are under pressure to have kids - they have biological clocks
• Women don't want to give up their personal life in exchange for the next big Thing
• She won't even go there regarding women with young children that start a business
• She compares the stupid farms people build in Farmville to how Men and Women differ
• Women want a lifestyle business, so they can control their time, work & be flexible with raising kids

Just for the Hell of it, let me counter, question or decipher her points:

Starting a Business Is Hell

Yes, yes, yes sister  it sure can be Hell!  But uh, anyone in this day and age that does not know that has been living under a rock or is really lacking in the whole brain department.  I mean, gee thanks for starting the obvious.   I sort of loathe people that fail (and yes I know harsh words, but she did fail) at something and then tell everyone else NOT to do it.  It is demoralizing and patronizing.  I mean she is right about the whole starting a business is hell....but it is also a hell of a good time.  Those first two years for me  were mostly exciting, amazing and exhilarating.  Everything was so new and so much fun.  I was Leo DiCaprio in The Titanic, "I'm on top of the world!"

Women Are Under Pressure to Have Kids - Due to Their Biological Clocks

What?  Really? Is it real? No, it is not it was actually conceived as a metaphor for the sense of urgency some women feel regarding reaching menopause, being childless or arriving at her thirties unmarried and without a suitor.  We don't really have the biological clocks - but some of us do have the need, want and desire to have children.  I don't like the fact that she lumps all women into this nice little decisive statement.  Even though I am not who she is talking about, since I started my business after I threw the damn clock away.  I already had my children....then I started the business thank you very much.

Women Don't want to Give Up Personal life for the Next Big Thing

The funny thing is when I started Jamie's Painting & Design I thought, no I knew I was going to be the next big thing.     Okay not like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates....but I was positive I was the next Rachel Ashwell or even Martha Stewart.  I had such conviction and an ego that was huge.  I could actually taste that desire for total world domination thing.  And, for those first few years I did give up a LOT of my personal life....a lot.  Our social card was empty, I worked while the children slept, I was  thinking and talking about my business all of the time (shout out to those friends that are still my friends....I must have been hell-a annoying back then).  It consumed me, like most entrepreneurs - I was obsessed with my baby.  But, back to her statement, it is so final and um broad reaching.  She, Penelope decided to quit.  She decided she wanted more of her personal and private family life.  I mean, she is even sort of snide saying that she wants to be the center of her family NOT her company.

The Impossibility of Starting a Business with Young Children

The crazy thing is she did this, her sons are young, she even says it in the article.  But, back to the fact that she did not succeed at it, soooooo no one else should try.  I did take offense to this part of the article since I was the one who did exactly that, but then I realized she has no idea who Jamie Lentzner is or what the hell to the L what  Jamie's Painting & Design does.  Since I am not going after VC money and I don't make some snazzy tech gadget...I am not that woman she is thumbing her nose at.  But, I still don't like the statement - so there.

Playing Farmville Shows the Differences Between Men & Women

I hate, hate, hate Farmville.  I never ever had the desire or time to play it.  I have seen it, I have watched it being played...and I don't get he attraction.  Maybe I am biased due to my total disregard and violent hatred of the game but still, I am not sure about her comparision.  She claims that women build colorful fun farms and men build big McManssion farms, proving that is why so few women pitch to Venture Capitalists and that even fewer get funding.  Okay?  So I say to her - what does my (if I had one) fancy farm have to do with me asking or not asking for money?  That means nothing to anyone.  I think it proves that these men spend way too much time on their computers and Facebook.  Or the men that built these huge farms are actually over compensating for something. 

Women Want a Life Style Business - To Control Their Life

Okay now I am thinking she is looking at me.  I have said this, wrote this, blogged this, cried this and screamed this.  I like the control, but doesn't everybody?  I have yet to meet a 40 something woman that did not like being in control of her own life.  We can't stay 3 forever people - we need to learn how to get dressed, earn a living and use the toilet.  Am I right?  I think men start their businesses for the same reasons - to control their own destiny.  Most uber successful entrepreneurs (I am thinking Donald Trump not Louie my Dry Cleaner) even have enormous egos and love being in control of their own lives.

But What Kind of Entrepreneur am I?

The post, as you can imagine got a ton of comments (482 at last count) and most were from women  with and without biological clocks screaming at her.  When I first read it I did take it personally and got all, "Oh no she didn't...." and I wanted to write a nasty comment.  Then I read it a few more times and I was not as irritated as I sort of confused.  I mean, I agree with her on some parts of the article (that would be one part), but coming on the heels of deciding she can not and will not do it all, sort of sounds like sour grapes. 

I do know one thing, oh she is so not talking about me or  Jamie's Painting & Design.  She doesn't even know my name (see another Sixteen Candles reference...I think I will start slipping them into EVERY post from here on out).  She knows nothing about what I do, or other like-minded women in small industries do.  I tend to buy into the whole You can have it all, just not at the same time theory and my personal favorite quote, "Life is hard...deal with it".  But I also think that a woman should not be held back by a ill-concieved pretend biological clock, or her real biological children.....I am just sayin' from experience and all.

Have I Said Everything?

I do not want to go back to the year I apologized constantly about my lack of posting - but my posts are lacking, or I am lacking the ability to post.  The last time this happened I got a large amount of emails and phone calls of people begging me to just shut up and blog.  Everyone was so sick of hearing me start each blog blushing with my head down and twisting my hat in my hands, begging for forgiveness.  I am older and not quite in the mood to ask for forgiveness these days.  I feel more like Popeye these days, swinging my muscled arms and stating, "I am what I am".

I have been asking myself how I have gotten to this point.  How could I have written all there is to write?  It is not like I have an army of apprentices that I call grasshopper.  I did not sell my business to Google or receive that most coveted call from The Oprah to feature my product.  None of those things have happened - so how could I know everything? Why do I have writer's block?  What is wrong with me?  This is what I have thought about so far:

Why This Even Started

I started writing this blog because I felt I had something to say, something that people wanted to hear.  I found nothing on the Internet that gave help, advice or even an honest view of what it took to run a business.  and not just any business, but a business run by a woman and most likely a mother.  Our problems were different, our solutions were creative and our failures were unique.  The words literally came bubbling out of me, like nothing I had ever known.  I did not realize I had so much I needed to share, or wanted to share.  I had to be vague sometimes and coy not sharing too much.  I felt that if my competition read this I would be in trouble.

As the years went by and some of my competition fell by the way side, went bankrupt or just kept hand painting, I became more open.  I am not being cruel or mocking them - I decided I just decided not to hand paint my tiles.  I felt I could either paint or I could design more and manufacture products.  I shared what had worked for me and I tried to explain how I did it.  I could produce more products (and better) for my customers, lots and lots of customers.  I am happy with my choice and I am not quiet about it.  I think my way was right, and um well it worked for me.  Yet, I am second guessing myself these days.  Did I share too much?  Was it better when I was not SO honest?

The Economy....Really Must We Go there Again?

The last two years have been hard...how many times have I written that sentence.  Anyone that can answer that question gets a years worth of SPAM and some new Ceramic Tiles for their child's room. I think I have beaten that poor dead horse enough.  Even though it has all but consumed me or the past years, I have sort of become a broken record

How many times can I discuss how hard the last two years have been?  Maybe not everyone has felt the pinch, probably the smaller the business the harder it has been.  Or it could be some industries suffered more than others?  Until the Economy rebounds and we are all spending money again, this weighs heavy me, hence why I write about it....a lot.  But, even I am getting tired of writing about it....I am sick of it - fix the Economy already!

Blogging to Blog or Blogging to Connect

Sadly, I sort of wonder if I have said everything I have to say that about running a business.  Without giving a list of my sales channels, my press releases and all of my bank account numbers I wonder if I am of done.  But still, I love to write - I enjoy to connect with others.  I am trying hard to find new topics to discuss.  I am not giving up, I am not closing down.  I am just wondering....what the hell else can I write?  (pst....that is not an open ended question either...I would REALLY like to know).

Do not worry, this is not my swan song, I am not riding my horse off into the sunset today.  I just thought I would be honest here (lying not my thing so much....but you knew that right?).  Truth be told I am frustrated.  I literally bang my head against the wall weekly, trying to figure out what to wear......write.  Not much has changed in the past few years, hence the head banging.  I am sure I will figure something out, or something will happen - it always does.

We are all Fredo

I really, really wanted to have my last post at SV Moms be a super sugary sweet look back at my time blogging.  I was hoping to touch on the good, the bad and the ugly. I wanted to embrace, enjoy and feel the Mommy Blogger love I have sort of evaded my entire blogging career.  But, then the hand of God......er, my right hand while I was watching The Daily Show I checked my blackberry and I read this article on Blogher.  These days, I do more reading and less commenting - but um, well I feel the need to comment on this one. 

Twilight Fever....Not for Everyone

If you did click on over and read the Blogher post you might know where this is going, or if you are too lazy then let me help ya out and catch you up to speed.  Robert Pattinson of the Twilight series.....hold on I am blushing, and let me catch my breath and remind myself I am 40 and he is....ewwww, okay I am back.  While speaking to Entertainment Weekly for his upcoming Eclipse cover story, Robert Pattinson made a comment about Kristen Stewart’s comments last month, where she compared the paparazzi to rapists (totally gross statement, I agree - but not what I am here to discuss).  While Kristen saw the error in her statement and she even apologized for it, Edward, eek I mean Robert Pattinson made a statement about the comment; “That whole system of Internet journalists, where no one is called to account, is almost entirely about hate,” he said “All these people get away with doing it because they have no responsibility to anyone… there are so many little nerds behind their computers, on their little blogs.”

 Here is a quote from the article"But that's not really the most important point to make about those 'little blogs.' End of the day, who cares if Twilight had never become the phenomenon it did and if you'd never moved on from small roles in big films or big roles in forgettable films? The world would not - forgive me Twilight moms - be poorer for your absence as a movie star. But you know what? It would be poorer without all those little blogs. Because those little blogs contain some of the best writing from the best writers writing today (all those little nerds are literate and poetic, and they are storytellers of a quality that matches or exceeds that of the creator of your Edward.)"  

Uh, uh, OUCH!  Was that necessary?     I re-read the Blogher blog post a number of times, then I did a google search on the whole article about Pattinson.  That was one of many things from the Blogher blog post that struck me.  My initial response was....um when did he call out Mommy Bloggers?  He said you were nerds, not bad writers...and uh no offense some of the gazillion blogs out there are bad, as bad as some of his films, okay?

We Did Not Create Edward

And since when did bloggers make him who he was today?  My gosh, I get that we (not really me, but the rest of you movers & shaker bloggers) really rock the blogging world, but Hollywood....come on now!  Ladies, ladies - let's not get our super comfortable extra elastic panties in a bunch...he is um 20 something and defending his lady.  And he said "nerds with computers"....uh duh - he is sort of right, isn't he?  Don't fight it....own it!  I am more of the um he is so not looking at me.  Get with it people, stop being so self-absorbed.

I don't mean to kick a girl (Mom) while she is down, but just 'cause your blog is super popular, and at Blogher you get to sit at the popular table....it does not mean that Mr. Pattinson knows who you are.  Nor, does it mean he was looking at you, or any of your blogging friends.  He is an actor, and I am guessing does not read blogs - let alone Mommy Blogs.  He never ever said Mommy or even female bloggers.  Why must people assume he means us, you, me?  I do not read some article about blogging and think, "Oh my gosh they are talking to me....I must have my dress tucked into my underwear?  Or they know I am lacking with comments....Must.Write.Evil. Angry. Comeback." 

I do not recall the same fury, hatred and anger towards Mr. Steve Jobs earlier this month when he said something similar at The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, "I don't want to see us descend into a nation of bloggers," Mr. Jobs said during an on stage interview. "I think we need editorial oversight now more than ever. Anything we can do to help Newspapers find new ways of expression that will help them get paid, I am all for."  Yes I blog, and I suppose I should have been offended, but I was not.

We are just like Fredo

There are a gazillion blogs out there right now.  Tuesday on CNN there was even two bloggers that told us how to get our blog popular in he Blog Universe.  Uh.....okay, I guess that sounds great, but  would rather be popular in the real world- you know that life where we interact with real human beings?    I love blogging, I love writing a blog, but I am not willing to go all "Motrin Mom" on everyone because of some stupid (ya I said it) advertisement about cramps and headaches (please do not make me go there....the commercial was dumb, end of story).  I can already hear Seth Meyers of SNL in my head, going "This is our new segment titled, "Mommy Bloggers....Really??"

One of my favorite trilogies was the Godfather series (you thought I was going to say Lord of the Rings right?  Gotcha - I am not a nerd with a laptop though....).  I even wrote a paper in college about it and got an A- thank you very much.  I always loved Fredo's speech at the end of Godfather II, it is a classic, and I think relative to some blogger's view of themselves, "...It wasn't the way I wanted it!  I can handle things.  I'm not dumb Christ, not like everyone says. I'm smart; and I want respect!"  This is how I see some bloggers, they so want to be considered part of the game...but they are just Fredo.  Hell, I am Fredo.  On the sidelines, running a few casinos here and there, but not the family.  They have no say in what the family (that would be Hollywood) does.

Thanks for the Memories

June 21, 2010

Way way back a long, long time ago - like January of 2008 I was asked to be a part of an amazing collaborative blog, The Silicon Valley Mom Blog.  It was a huge honor to be actually asked to blog, and to be associated with some really amazing writers.  It was a daunting task, and one that I was not sure I was up to.  I remember stressing over my first post, over-analyzing every word I wrote, hoping to make a huge impression on the world.  The first postwas fine, it got some comments - I enjoyed the community of Moms I was meeting and I relished in the opportunity to write about other topics than the ones I stuck to on JPD Mom - work/family juggling stuff. 

 Mommy Blogger Topics...I Can Do That!

I wrote about some funny topics, some conversationsI overheard, an embarrassing conversation my daughter had about Heineken beer.  I was just a dabblin' in the whole Mommy Blogger culture, and I enjoyed it.  Then, about 2 months in I decided to write about something that was near and dear to my heart, something that had bothered me for years - SAHM's vs. Working Moms.  Oh, oh, oh what a shit storm that was!  I was telling stories of situations that had happened to me, myself and I.  Being a working Mom in my neck of the woods has not always been easy for me.  Often times other women have said odd things, strange things, and down right mean things.  My way of dealing with it was writing a blog post. 

Everyone got on board, either with me or against me.  I even made the major mistake of linking to a blog (a very nice SAHM who made homemade goodies for her kiddos) when just trying to say she was "like" some of the mothers in my neighborhood.  The community I was embracing had quickly turned on me, and I had to develop a thick skin.  I also learned the term flamed and life has never been the same since.  It was the infamous post that got me a ticket to Hollywood to meet and be on the now infamous Dr. Phil show. 

And That's The End

That post was by far probably my favorite one, it was the one I got the most comments and readers to discuss my post.  I even was able to meet some of my fans (snort, that sounds so ridiculous) at Blogher that year who knew of my post.  Small, blip in the blogging universe, but it was my little claim to fame. 

I have written for Silicon Valley Mom Blogs for two years and 4 months.  I have posted 52 posts and I do not shy away from any controversy....well most I jump right in with two left feet.  I felt like I could let my hair down a little on SV Mom Blog, pepper in a few naughty words, phrases and really get sarcastic. 

Early last week all of the writers received a heartfelt letter from our founder, - Silicon Valley Moms was to be no more.  The site was to be shut down July 1, 2010 for many reasons, most personal.  The one site that had grown to over 800 writers, 14 different sites around the country and even Canada.  After four years, it was coming to an end.

The Good with the Bad

For me, this has been a relief actually.  There was a two post a month requirement, and though that may not sound like a lot - it was.  I don't just write about anything, I agonize over each topic and I want to make sure that the post is at the least funny.  And, if nothing entertaining, funny or controversial happened to me, I had a hard time blogging. 

I was not that shocked about the closing actually, I started to think things were very slow around that blog.  I was not getting the comments I had gotten in the past, nor was I really feeling that good opinionated blog posts were the norm.   The old guard (seasoned bloggers from before my time) were quietly walking away and newer, greener writers were joining. 

Lastly, I really felt my posts were not jelling with the others.  When I would write about the ridiculousness of the Facebook Bra Color, or an offensive chain letter I got, others blogged about peeling a banana and their plastic surgery.  Not that those topics aren't interesting to some, they were not in the same genre as mine.  I was starting to question blogging and my writing.  I was starting to think that maybe my sense of humor and style of writing was on the way out.

Where to Go Now

So the good news is the approximately 50 blog posts are mine and I own them.  I will be posting them every Friday for those that did not um, read my fabulous Mommy Blogger posts (that was sarcasm....see the font?).  Even though my audience is smaller, and you will probably agree with more than disagree - I figure they are worth posting again.  And, if you are one of my regular fans....just move on and go read some other important Mommy blog post, like about cutting up an apple or um, a boob job.

Are we on a Break?

May 12, 2009

I need to make a call.  I have been avoiding this for some time now.  Hold on.

Ring, ring.....oh wait is it not more like...."the theme song from American Idol" - yes the cell phone is ringing.....

"Hi JPD Mom Blog, it's me Jamie.  We need to talk."

"You probably have noticed I have not been around as much....and my posts are getting fewer and fewer....wait, wait don't cry, let me explain...."

Blame it on the Al-Al Alcohol, Uh the Economy

  "I wish it had not come to this, I mean I really wish we were on better terms, I feel though that a quick call to you is the best way to get my feelings across.  First, let me say how sorry I am for being so out of touch, I mean it is not like it is the first time I have neglected you.  I feel bad for ignoring you and not giving you the attention you deserve.  I know, I know you should be a priority, but sadly other parts of my life have had to take front stage."

"Now don't go and take it personally, it's not you - it's me.  Now wait, don't cry, it's not that my blog is not important, really I mean it.  It is just that when my husband is gone week after week on  business trips my um, my time and my mind is in another place.  I am not putting  you down, and I do not think any less of you.  I mean you are important to me.....I sometimes  just do not have the time to give you what you deserve.  Does that make sense?"

The Other Woman, Er, the Other Blog

"What?  What did you say?  How dare you throw the other blog in my face!  Silicon Valley Mom Blog is not, do not use that word with me!  You are just jealous!  That is different......YES it is .  I have a commitment, I signed a contract.  Oh, gosh the water works, here we go again.  The content is very different, that is more Mommy blog stuff - this blog is about my company, the up's and the downs."

"I swear sometimes it is like talking to my i-pod you are not LISTENING!  What?  I am sorry, I will stop yelling....okay now calm down, calm down.  I never said the other blog meant more to me....no I did NOT...okay, not yelling, not yelling anymore."

A Light At the End of the Tunnel, Um the Summer?

Seriously in my defense I have been juggling a lot lately.  No, no you are right I have started to see the Economy start to turn around.  Not a huge turn but it has started to pick up again at JPD, and it started the middle of April.  I am not sure what everyone else said about consumer spending, our weeks are slowly picking up.  We are noticing that each week the sales are up....not up to what we are used to, but beggars can not be choosers.  As much as I love blogging, I sort of have needed to be pro-active on the business front and make sure that the work is done and that we survive this slump.  I am not giving up on you, just you do not make me any money right now, so I need to focus on places that do.  OH, come on don't cry again.....please.

Good Sales, Even if They were a Rush Order

Which brings me to an exciting order we had last week.  I am not sure if you heard, but we had anorder for 52, actually 62 plates for a party.  A special princess plate that was given out as a party favor - it was a huge undertaking to get the plates made and packaged by Thursday to ensure a Monday delivery.  But do you know what?  We (me) did it!  We got a huge order out and that is what I have to do these days - I even did the shipping, since it was not our regular shipping day.  Not so say I do not miss blogging, but I have to make money first.  Not sure who will be attending this birthday party, but I am putting my money on that Suri Cruise and maybe Brad Pitt's little girl....I can wish right?

Wall Art Tile Fundraiser Project

Truth is a lot of my time this Spring has been spent working on a Fundraiser project and it really has taken a lot of my time.   Not only have I been the chair for it, but I have been the company doing all the work for the project.  It has been a good thing - we are taking the children's original drawings and putting them on tile.  The tiles were sold as a fundraiser, then we are going to make the tiles, grout them onto plywood and hang them in the lunch court.  All in all it was a huge success....what is wrong? I thought you would be happy for me.  Sheesh....I did this for us, for you - so that we could spend more time together!  I had to do something when business was slow.....I hear you sniffling, are you crying again?  Allergies?  Right....

New Products.....Soon

Also, I have been working on a double secret project....okay not that secret.  I do have two new products that I was hoping to release in March - but could not get it together.  I have also been working on some exclusive designs that I still need to finish....which brings me back to not having time for you.  It won't be like this forever, I promise - I am just busy now....I need kinda my space.

Okay well I hate to leave it like this, with you all crying and everything.  I will um, I will call you okay?  It's not over, I swear.  I just can't give you the commitment you want right now, I can't really be with you every day or anything, maybe every week I will check in - I need to um, focus on me now.  K?

Hey I am going to Blogher did I tell you that?  I am.....so we can uh hang out then?  We can uh, you know - it will be like old times okay?  Okay?  Oh, gosh please stop crying already.....

I will call you in a few days. I gotta go my husband will be home soon from his trip and I really crave some conversation with a um, human....oh gosh the crying again?  Gotta go....By-eee.

You are Blogging About What?

March 9, 2008.

I have a confession to make, and I am not proud of it -  sometimes I get stuck, I mean really stuck.  I sort of think Twitter is to blame, but le'ts face it - it's me.  I get stuck on what to blog about.  In fact,  I just want to pull my hair out over it.....I sit and think what should I write about.  Or worse I have a great post in my head in the shower and get all excited, get out of the shower and totally forget it.  These days when we (me) are having to get creative in every aspect of my life with finances my brain is fried when it comes to writing a creative blog post.*

I posted last year on Silicon Valley Mom Blogs and on JPD Mom about what I learned at Blogher '08.  I whined, I bitched, I agreed, I disagreed - and I told some amusing tales about what it was like.   Not really a huge deal, but I was thrilled just to attend and truth is it did not change my "blog world" or my blog readers at all.  After the dust settled I decided I would never ever go to another Blogging Conference.  I figured been there done that and got the t-shirt, why should I attend again?

If You Can Not Attend - Ask a Friend

Fast-forward to Blissdom earlier this year (last month I think) and a good friend attended.  She was a featured Mompreneur type here over a year ago and she posted about the event at Bilingual in the Boonies.  I loved her honesty, her advice and her candor.  I actually started thinking maybe I would go to Blogher, just maybe.  Go over there and read her post  and my favorite new quote I would like to have tattooed on my forehead (or at least if someone could write it on my mirror each morning I would be happy.  The quote is:

"Don't fall in love with yourself too much.  Someone is always better, someone is always less fabulous"

I am almost worried that the quote alone could crush Twitter - you know the whole, "what are you doing?".  I am so guilty I almost never write anything other than an announcement about some good news, some press - I mean who is not already sick of hearing about me on Twitter?  I am!  Everyday I read the tweets of those that I follow, I check who is still following me and um, those that dumped me while I slept...........really, while I sleep I can lose followers, I gain them - I don't know why. 

To You I say No Thank You Sir!

I am not attending Surtex, I did not exhibit at this year as I had thought I was going to at least attend.  And oh, let's see the bottom fell out of the Economy and well - My company, Jamie's Painting & Design's extra money went bye bye.  Not going to Surtex this year. 

As for the CHA show in Southern California, earlier this year  - that would be another nope, did not exhibit.  I had really hoped to exhibit, or at least attend it and focus on my licensing of my art.  Did not even pay attention to deadlines or prices - really, the Economy came a knockin' again.

Atlanta- I say no,  New  York Gift Show - um, no.  If you have decided to exhibit, I say good for you and good luck. As for me, I am not so keen on spending about  $8,000 on a trip to Georgia, Las Vegas or New York.  I can not just hope I sell a bunch of inventory to a bunch of stores that might (or might not) be in business by the end of 2009.  I live in California = so big expense for me.  If it works for you - cool, me not so much.  And, if it works for you....it would be great if you could post a blog about it....um kay?  I am needing some good retail news therapy!

And lastly we no longer have our Texas reps any longer - bye bye!  We only picked up about....um one store with them, and they dropped us after only one year.  I was like, okay - not that this past year was awful for retail and the last quarter was worst in what, 27  years?  So here comes January and they wanted to get rid of us - okay, I mean really - my fault?  I don't think so, but you want to drop us - fine, one less headache for me.

Never Say Never

So....as I sit here with a little bit of some blogstipation (pssstttt totally stole the word from Ms. Carrie Weir at Los Politos/Bilingual in the Boonies post) I have a confession to make.  I purchased a ticket on Saturday for Blogher  in Chicago.  I am sort of, alright I am actually excited.  I can not believe I am actually attending again....but me being a glutton for punishment and total crazy competitive self (yes for a short time I was the wii step champion in my home - damn my husband for beating me) I want my blog to improve.   I am going to Blogher '09!  I am hoping to do a little more schmoozin' and boozin - no, I am kidding about the boozin (but it is a weekend without children or husband).  I would really like to meet some more "like-minded bloggers". 

Moving on Up, or Down

Fact of the matter is no one knows what to do now.  Some tell me to spend, others tell me to save, market, advertise, blog, give aways - you name it, I have either been told it or read it.  I have some telling me to expand.......in fact my favorite piece of advice was that I was (and I quote) "You are just marketing to the wrong group of people." Yep, yep - that is why my sales are down.  In the end of 2008 I started marketing to uh, men behind bars that had no children, or family - dang!  

The fact is no one knows is spending much money and consumer confidence is down - you (me, we).  I just read this morning Mr. Warren Buffet says the Economy fell of a cliff....um ya it did!  If you want my advice, I say we  just need to sit back, wait and watch - but be careful out there.  I am making no quick moves, I am not making any risky investments or partnerships.   Times are tough - I am going to make it through this year.....only time will tell who else makes it.

*Ya, ya I took a picture of some peekaboo shoes....again borrowed from Carrie - shoes are it I hear.  They are from a dinner out, where I wore two different shoes.....real smooth - not the first time I did that either...sigh, maybe the Blogging Conference is not for me.

You want some more BlogHer?

August 2, 2008.

It is a new month and a new post, I am on a roll.  Thanks for the comments and emails - I promise to share all that I learned (or just assumed) from BlogHer'08.  I got to fill out a nifty questionnaire today on line about my experience....I sure hope they let me come back!* 

*Please note these "rules" are really just suggestions, or what has worked for some.  I am not an expert, so please don't call me one.  I am sure there are 240 successful blogs that do not pay attention to ANY of this....but if you care, here goes:

Give A Little Bit

I think I have mentioned this in the past, and I try really I do to adhere by it.  Give your readers something, some bit of information, some nugget of inspiration, a dash of something forbidden (not to get dirty, but something you may not say to your mother).  One of the break out sessions had a speaker say, "If you are ready to push the publish button and you are not a little bit nervous, then don't push it".  In other words, give them a little - something for the reader to go, "wow, I never thought of that" or "gee, she sure bared her soul".  The most successful blogs give a lot, I mean a lot with a capital A and their blogs are fabulous, wonderful, engaging reads. 

Look Over Here

Without using all of the fancy-schmancy jargon I hope you know that blogs are ranked and the more  blogs that link to your blog the better you are ranked.  One thing I did not know is that when you write: If you are looking for a great place to get great advice on starting a business you should go here, is not as good as saying, Go to Jamie's Blog JPD Mom to learn about starting a business.  Take the time to write the blog out, the linky love God's like it better, since the blog titled, here does um, not exist so much.

And, while we are on the subject, if you like (or love) a blog, go rate it.  You can give the blog a thumbs up, you can kirtsy it, you can stumble it - you can tell people that this blog is great or this post is great.

Commenting on Other Blogs

1. You do not need to list your URL, your name, your website, your nick name and your phone number when you comment on someone's blog.  It is in the comment already, you are sort of spamming people if you repeat your name over and over.
2. Don't comment Anonymously, your post will most likely be deleted
3. Be nice, or if you can't be nice, then try and be witty.
4. Well thought out comments will make people start to notice you AND think you are an expert.
5. If you write a comment on a blog and all you write is "Great Post!" you will probably not get an email back.
6. If you visit a blog and ask in the comment to please list you in their blog roll, read your blog or comment on your blog - they won't .  Bloggers (the successful ones) know when they are being stalked, or when someone is begging for readers.  Again, most likely your comment will be deleted.
7. Comment on blogs that are "like" your blog.  You want to create a community, you want to become an expert in your "group".
8. Recognize your "commenters", at least before you are famous.  They are your biggest fans and treat them well....or they will leave.

If You Build it, They Will Come

A great break-out session was about writing better blog posts and it gave some fabulous tips on how to make your blog great.  The basis was from Field of Dreams, "If you write good posts, then they will come." - write good posts and you will get readers.  You have to spend some time on other blogs though, you need to leave comments and you need to develop a "community".  If your blog is about collecting antique ceramic pigs, well by golly go out there and find some other "pig peeps"!

Blogging Etiquette

The big rules that we should all follow (and I know, I know I should go delete a few posts) are listed below.  We were told that your blog has to have at LEAST one of these, if not more, to make it a successful blog:

1. Write posts that are useful, not just an advertisement.  Readers know when you are yanking their chains so to speak, they are not dumb and they are fickle.  If you write dumb stuff, your readers will not appreciate it.
2. Write GOOD amusing posts.  Your posts have to be well-written, have to be something people are interested in.
3. Your posts should be timely.  This is especially important if you write about news, sports or politics...for me not so much.  Though I should (so they say) blog more often.
4. Get a good camera (top of my to-do list for the week).  You need to have pictures with your posts and they do need to be good.
5. Don't ask or beg for comments and never call out readers.  This a big no-no and a turn off,  no one wants to think Big Brother is watching them as they lurk around reading blogs. 
6. Don't tell your readers you know they are reading and DEMAND they comment....come on, no one wants to be told that we know you are watching them.  It took me almost two years before I felt comfortable to comment on other blogs, give your readers a break.
7. Do not steal content (Splogging), art or photos from other blogs.  This is a no-brainer, but people still seemed confused by it.  I don't need to get all copyright on ya do I?
8. If you want people to comment on your blog, then comment on others.  Even if you think your blog is not for bloggers (psst....it is) that does not matter.  Make sure and comment, it gets your name out there and it brings people to your blog.  Almost three years in blogs are popping up from my industry, people that never blogged are NOW blogging.  Never say never - okay?

Cutting Off In Traffic

Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes gave a great analogy about reading blogs, commenting on blogs and making us all realize where that comfort zone was.  It is easy to forget that this "person" writing a blog is real, and that there are rules of engagement for us to follow.

When you are driving on the freeway and some uh, jerk cuts you off you may yell obscenities, (you, not me, I would never do that), scream and shake your fist at the driver.  Now, when someone cuts you off at the grocery store with their cart, you may think "some swear words" in your head, but you will most likely say nothing.  Think of blogs like the person in the grocery store - they have feelings, they do not know you, you do not know them - be polite.  Remember there is a bubble around each of you though.

If this was not enough information about BlogHer, you can go to SV Moms and read another post about the event, or you can read more at Miss 604, she gives a great summaryabout some other sessions, and DrBethSnow has a funny post.  For the BESTEST information and tips go to Blogging Basics 101.  Please, talk amongst yourselves, as I am on vac-a-tion for a week....ta-ta!

Lessoned Learned at BlogHer

July 29, 2008.

Unlike the other 3,000 attendees at BlogHer last weekend, I had to sort through my notes and chew on what I learned.  The other bloggers have already posted on the whole shin-dig, and this may be a total repeat of what is out there, but here goes:

Estrogen Everywhere

I have not been around that many women at one time since college probably, and even then I know it was only about 500 maximum.  If anyone is considering going to this event be prepared to talk, and talk about yourself a lot.  Bring business cards, everyone asks for one.  The new thing was Moo Cards (which I knew about but could not get in time) and they were very cool, very hip and um, well no I was not sporting one.  You can imagine what it is like with that many women together, especially if we are at, oh I don't know a cocktail party, with cocktails - we girls get all chatty and all.  I wish I had stayed through Saturday night, I then might of seen the drama unfold, but I missed that part of the party too.

After the first night my throat hurt and I was seriously intimidated. There is a right of passage at these events it seems, and most of the bloggers were veteran bloggers, popular bloggers, famous bloggers and super-famous bloggers - all doing a huge amount of business (it seemed to us newbies) on their blogs.  I did not even know till later that there were some parties that I did not even know about - you know the "private ones".  I was extremely impressed and intimidated at the same time.  Ah, and here I thought I was going places!

The Politics of Blogging

I had no idea there were so many rules about blogging, oh wait I did know that there were rules, I just thought I was following them.  I try really I do, but every once in awhile I kind of do the whole, "doh!" I did that once. 

Now, when reading blogs I see other bloggers doing what I did and I think, oh ouch did you not get the memo?  But, apparently we all start our blogs pretty much in the dark, and (like with our businesses and our children) we got no instruction guide.  I am going to try and list some tips and unknown rules that the seasoned bloggers know, and were kind enough to share with the rest of us.

It Takes a Village

Writing a blog is not like writing an article in a paper, nor is it like a book.  It is an interactive experience between the readers and the writer.  The best part of writing a blog is meeting and hooking up (no not that kind of hooking up) with other like-minded individuals.  Another perk about being  involved in the blogosphere is you can create a community, a group of people just like you!  Hence why these rules (or suggestions if you don't like that word) are so important.  Not following by these spoken (or un-spoken words) will ensure that your blog stays in obscurity.   Getting an open dialog going with readers is a huge bonus, trust me I don't have any ceramic artist mompreneur types in my neck of the woods.

Be A Part of the Community

One of the break out sessions we learned about a community, and how to create one.  I know other bloggers that refuse to look outside their comfort zone and this is sad.  Why not post things that others would find interesting?  Why not try and have a personal relationship with people that read your blog.  Hell, I found one of my best friends from this very blog.  Don't be afraid to reach out to others - they can be there for you when things are not so great.

Stop Reading Blogs and Start Working*

June 15, 2008.

Do you ever start reading a blog and get really depressed?  So then you go read another one, and you are even more down.  By the fourteenth blog you are almost in tears and ready to shut down the whole business thing?  You are positive that everyone else is succeeding and you are the only one who is not moving your business along?  Or everyone is using Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Dig this, Stumble that?  You had thought you were going to get inspired instead you want to hide you head under the covers.....no?  Nobody?  Is it just me huh?  Well, I doubt that....

It Never Rains in Southern California

I have a handful of blogs I check weekly if not every few weeks, some shamefully I check daily.  I love to look at the pictures, learn about their businesses or just see what crafty contraption some woman has made.  Artists blogs are the best and have the most colorful photographs.  I have learned so much about sewing, painting, sketching, Etsy, trade shows, press and even some ceramics.  However, I find that if things are not going hunky dory over here I get really down on myself.  Almost all the blogs I read are just so darn happy and positive and running a business looks so darn easy.  I am still hoping that just one day they will talk about how the puppy did eat their new design, their child did throw a tantrum at a blogging event, their husband is out of town for a week and the big press opportunity did get away.

Part of me (that would be the brain part) realizes that if they are running their own business, no matter how small or large, that it can not always be good.  I know for a fact that there are challenges, frustrations and lots and lots of very hard work.  If you take a step back to get some clarity you will realize that these bloggers are working just as hard as you are, they just don't want to talk about it.  That is fine, they own the blog right? 

The artist or business blogs I do read are wonderful reads and most times very inspiring.  I feel like a bit of voyeur even when I get a glimpse of their home, their studio or their new products.  Most days, I continue to read them, most days I get inspired, get a chuckle, or just enjoy the information.    

Remember the Little Gals

Reading everyone else's accomplishments can make you feel very small and unsuccessful.  It is not always motivating to hear that your competitor has just done a photo spread in People Magazine, been chosen Entrepreneur of the year, spoke at Harvard and Oprah just called.  If I was just starting a business and was looking for something to read I may be depressed by the blogs I find on female business owners.    It is very easy to think you are failing when everyone else has SO much going on.  And another thing,  if I were a newbie in my industry, I for one would not know how they do it all. 

Stop the Insanity

When feeling down or uninspired, my solution is I tune out the other blogs, I stop reading them for a few weeks even.  It helps me focus on my own work for awhile, I stop feeling like the only one who was not invited to the party.  I suggest you try it too,  I mean not forever, but do take a blogging sabbatical.  Do what you need to do, work on your projects, get some good news under your belt.  Throw on some good ol' happy music and get a workin!  Then go back and read the blogs.  Trust me you will probably be a better and happier entrepreneur when you come back......I know I will be.   

*Here is a disclaimer I mean Stop reading everyone else's blog, not mine, you can always read my blog, or if I bum ya out you can bail on me too.  Okay, just other blogs...and only for a short time, sheesh I did not mean forever.  Just till you get your mojo back you know?

You Can Blame it on Me

May 4, 2008.

So, it has come to my attention that I need to stop apologizing and just do what I do and shut-up, or just blog.  I spend waaaay too much time apologizing for not posting, not writing well and not doing what I planned on doing.  I wish I could be more like my dog, Pixel - she looks me right in the eye all the time., and a seems to be saying , "You talking to me?"  The need to please (as my husband says) is an issue I have...he is probably right.  And, I sort of assume some peeps are a bit peeved and throwing their paint covered hands in the air and saying, "enough already'" about my posts.  Sorry, yes again - I am um, sorry for being sorry, uh sort of a strange thing to write - but I am going to try and not apologize for what I am doing, or not doing.  Damn I did it again - sorry, I mean no, I am not sorry for being sorry....shoot!  Here are a few reasons (or excuses if you must) for why I have been doing what I do, or not doing what I said I was going to do, sheesh:

The Perfect Cheer.....er uh Post

When I started this blog I thought I knew what it would become.  I had a vision, I had a plan...I guess it was like having that ol' birth plan we all had with our first pregnancy - you know how that turns out.  I had no idea that this blog would not always be what I wanted it to be.  I had no idea what would strike a cord, and what post would put readers to sleep.  I also more importantly felt that I had to put a large number of hours into each post - make it the best post ever!  Two years later I am a tad bit wiser and realize that I don't have to pour my heart and soul (and 476 words) into each post.   Well, I still try and write good posts, but I realize I can't write the Great Gatsby every week, nor do I want to....and really, I am not that great a writer.

Too Many Projects to Focus

As of right now I am seriously on overload, over drive and I have started way too many projects.  I don't know why I chose right now to open an Etsy store, go to a show, place an ad, pursue 5 licensing projects, put up new products, re-do website, go after sales channels....and get a new puppy.  All of these things I have um, well tried to pursue since January of 2008....ya read a bit side-tracked and going in 32 different directions.  The word over-achiever and crazy have passed my friends lips one too many times this year, but uh this is where I am.

Puppy Fever

Yes it is true, I have Puppy Fever and to be honest I have had puppies on the brain since um a year ago.  We started checking out websites, breeders and Rescue Dog sites since January.  I knew we would get a puppy this Spring or Summer and have spent many a night (or maybe a few hours at work) surfing the net searching for my little pup.  It was a fun search, sometimes frustrating but a family affair for sure.  We are officially finished searching....

Puppy Parties

We picked up our little Beagle puppy on Friday morning and we named her Stella.  And, yes I am having a hard time calling her Stella and not yell, "STELLLLLA!!".  She is a cutie-patotie and we love her to death already.  She has settled in just fine at the crazy Lentzner home, we have had a trail of people visiting to prove it.  My sister, the self-proclaimed Dog Whisperer of San Mateo County claims puppies need to meet a 100 people in the first hundred days of their life to be I guess good dogs.  If that is correct Stella has met about 54 in the last 48 hours so we are moving right along.

We had a little casual dinner party last night (hence the blow-up cactus in the for Cindo de Mayo in the corner), and  more people over tonight (just family).  I am squeezing this blog in between visitors. 

At least she takes a nap every hour or so and we (that would be me) get a break.  Oh, and the fact that her little face melts my heart and she has had like no accidents in the house....yet.  I am sure I will be forced to create some beagle inspired products for the fall, I mean really how can I help myself?

I hope everyone had as fun a weekend as I did.  Oh wait, I hope you all got more sleep then I did - this little pumpkin whimpers and I jump out of bed like a crazy lady (yes four times last night).  The term punch - drunk tired is not just for new mom's of babies....

Advice, Some Required Reading & A Winner!

January 21, 2008.

I am always on the look out for new blogs to read and lose myself in.  I wish I had more free time I would honestly spend all day reading and commenting on blogs.  I was told when I started JPD Mom that it would become addictive - I said to self, "ya right!".  Well, I honestly can say it is very addictive and it also hard to keep up with all the other stuff I do. 

It is hard to come up with good posts, great ideas, advice, stories - I try to avoid the whole "Puppies & Rainbows" posts too.  Not that there is anything wrong with that - it is just not what this blog is about and um, even I get tired of getting sunshine blown up my you know what all the time.  Come on - you never have a bad day? A headache?  Your kids only say the cutest, sweetest , most adorable things?  You make crafts everyday?  You always work out?  You never lose your cool?  And um - I do appreciate the positive thoughts and inspirational posts - just sometimes you gotsta put on ya cranky pants.  Am I right?   And, just to be clear, I am saying it again "Not that there is anything wrong with Puppies & Rainbows"...okay?  Don't yell today, because I DO have a headache.

Just a Taste of Advice

Speaking of advice - Sarah Jane left a great question on the comments last week - and I apologize for not answering it sooner....but I already told you about last week.  Anyhoo - Sarah Jane wanted to know about accepting credit cards from large channels and what she needed to do for that. 

First of all the companies may or may not give you a credit card, I do first orders by credit card (like a boutique that picked up a large amount of samples) and I insist the first order is by credit card - trust me on this - and I WILL blog about it.  I have been burned one too many times and it won't happen again.

You do not need a credit card machine, you will just need to process the cards through something like Quick books.  The company's may just cut you a check after the products have shipped - and the bigger the channel, the longer you will expect to wait for the check.  Catalogs are known to be 30, 60, even 90 days net (that is 90 days after the product ships you get paid) - and you have to wait for the money.  If you do not mind waiting for your money - just take checks, personally I like getting paid as soon as the product has shipped (but who doesn't?).

These Are a Few of My Favorite Blogs....Today

On My Desk

Artists, Illustrators and creative folk share the stuff on their desks.  Artisans and designers, or just plain creative types are asked to send photos of their work space, with little blurbs about why they like the space, or what they are working on, or just amusing commentary.  I love getting glimpses into other people's worlds - it helps when I think my work area is a mess...

Ellen Crimi-Trent

This is a very talented artist and illustrator that gives a humorous and honest look inside her  life.   She has been licensing her art for the past seven years.  Her designs are on every thing you can imagine - to see how a painting can be changed into a bowl, very inspiring! 

A great read and a good luck at what it takes to be a professional artist (some friend once said to me "gee I wish I could sit around and paint all day and not have to work"....ya sure) 

Sommer Designs

Carrie Sommer is the owner and of Sommer Designs.  She is the designer and manufacturer of   designer handbags and accessories.  She makes these all in her studio in Southern California.  Her blog has great tips (okay good recipes too!) and some fabulous insight into...you guessed it - running her own business.  Check out her press  - very impressive!

The Adventures of Elizabeth

This woman is amazing, she does it all - photographs, interior design, product development, store owner - she puts me to shame with her impressive resume.  I do get a bit exhausted just by reading her posts.  Check out her information and her inspiring drive.  Check out her photo to the right - gorgeous right?

We Have a Winner

Thanks to everyone for all your great comments, I know from the stats (just like other bloggers) how many readers just lurk and read the blog.  I wish there were more comments (I mean who does not want more?) but that is okay - glad to know so many of you are enjoying it!  The more the merrier - 2 years sounds so short - but oh it's been long!

Congratulations to Randi-Sue Deckard of Designing Diva - my kids just pulled her name out of the bowl - it kept them busy for a few more minutes.  Congratulations - I can ship them tomorrow!  And, don't worry I have some other items for tomorrow - so stay tuned, I am feeling super generous!

The JPD Mom Blog Turns Two!

January 15, 2008.

Two years ago from today this little blog came onto the blogosphere with both barrels blaring.  This JPD Mom Blog took the industry by storm..........uh , ya no it didn't.  I am embarrassed to point you towards those early blogs - but um, well we all come from somewhere.  Who is not embarrassed by their high school photographs? There bi-level hair cuts, there first car (yes I did have a bright canary yellow 1979 Pontiac Sunbird) or there (gulp) first boy friend?

Where it All Began

• This first blog was actually started on January 12, but I posted on the 15th
• No photographs
• No fancy links,
• No track backs accepted
• No key words
• No spell check, apparently I was not that savvy of a blogger
• Sadly.....no readers

I did not even figure out the whole check your stats thing until maybe 4 months into it.  And it took me a few months to find my whole voice and what the heck this blog would be about.  It also took me a while to really open up, I was so vague in the beginning of the blog.  I had a great friend, who was my publicist at the time, give a little nudge - and really push this blog to what it is today.  With out her help I would still be rambling about family vacations, running in circles and uh crying.

A Give Away for Everyone

So I talked before about these coasters I used to make for wineries around the Bay Area.  Well I made a quite a few of them and gave them mostly as gifts for friends and family this Christmas.  They were quite a hit....almost as popular as my new Meatball Appetizer I made this year for a New Year's Party.

I just happen to have a few of these sets sitting around the office, I know of at least two.  Hmmmm and I am wondering what to do with them?

I know - YOU can have them - a thank you to you from me!  I don't even know if I am doing this right, but I have seen it done on other blogs so here goes - do one of two things:

1. You can leave a comment on this blog, this post

2. You can write (or link) about the give away on your blog

I will keep the comments open for a week.  I have never done this before so I am sort of uh, worried I won't get any comments.........ah, oh well.  I am thinking for the next month I will periodically give some stuff away, some things might be worth more than these coasters.  Like I said before, I see the stats I know you read this....I will just have to try and find something you WANT.

I will pick a name next Monday night..... 

Just a Few Fabulous Blogs

July 29, 2007

As I was avoiding work the other day, or a week  ago or a month ago.....but who is counting (yes, I do goof off at work but please don't tell my boss, you may have heard she is a real b*tch) I stumbled across a few great blogs you may want to read.  Truth be told I love reading blogs, but find so many of them lose my interest or say....well it nothing new to read, and yawn just a "Day in the life of....".  I love when they do one of the following:

A. Talk about tile (well no, I am kidding, but that would be cool)

B. Tell the truth

C. Have a sense of humor or are self-deprecating

D. Discuss things I actually care about

D. Relative to my life, my business or my industry

Starting a Baby Btoutique & Starting A Children's Clothing Line

This blog is a great read, a company that documents what it takes to run a business.....all of what it takes to start a business.  The woman who writes is a mother and, well a female (obviously) entrepreneur.  She gives point by point details on what she is going through and holds nothing back.  She did it a bit different from me, it is not as obvious what the actual company it is - and maybe that is better, she can be REALLY honest.  If I had started blogging five years ago, this might be what I were writing, now I tend to tell it NOW and then back-track a bit.  Going back through the archives is highly entertaining and very well written.

                                                                     The Zen of Motherhood

I am sure I have read this blog before, it's been around awhile and it is hysterical.  This mother is so funny, so sarcastic and so true and honest (again I like that).  I recommend this blog to anyone and everyone that has had children.  Some of her posts are like looking into the mirror and thinking - why I thought that same thing...I just did not say it out loud.  Other posts are pure humor and self-deprecating at what us mothers go through day after day.  She has some amazing feed back, some press, some sponsors and probably a book deal....darn her, no kidding = bravo!

Hello My Name is Heather

This is a blog I have read for awhile and I follow it weekly, waiting and watching to see, what is going to happen with her company.  This is a woman is a mother, a fabric designer, an artist and boy can she sew.  She gives away patterns, advice and teases us readers with snippets of what is happening with her new products....she is doing some amazing hair thingie trash ties thing that I CAN NOT figure out what they are.  Her photographs are amazing (um ya I asked same quesition, what IS she bad at?) and I am just waiting to find about this latest product launch.  So, even if I am (um okay very much) impatient about what is going on - I enjoy it immensely.

Julie Lenzer Kirk (Hmmm, that name sounds SO familiar....)

Anyhoo, she is an expert entrepreneur, and someone who built, ran and then sold a company.  She is a coach, a writer, an author, and a mother - did I miss anything?  I had the good fortune of meeting her - via my blog (of course, doesn't that sound so hip and like we are 20-something?  Oh, well no not on myspace, guess I am NOT so hip).  She has a blog and she another one on Working Mothers site.

I was honored to get an early copy of her latest book, had the good fortune of  actually reviewing her book, "The Parentpreneur Edge".  This is a great read, and an inspirational read for those that are running a business or those thinking of starting a business, or wishing they could run a business...and yes it does become relative if you are a parent.  The book is about mistakes, choices and basically situations that are both relative to raising children and uh, raising your other baby....no not your husband....your BUSINESS.

The choices that she, and other "Parentpreneurs" made are very relative to us entrepreneurs.  If you have not had to make the tough choices about whether to do this, or be there for that event...you are not an entrepreneur.  I applaud the honesty (when they use there own names) of the people interviewed and Julie's own recollection of her experience when running a company AND raising children.  A good summer or vacation (a vacation, what is that?) read for any independent thinkers in the group! 

So - just so you know I am still working on my account of the Atlanta Gift Show (for you AND my accountant) but......er, however I did not want to jump the gun, or give a premature account of my experience.  So many times (which is hard for me, you KNOW how impatient I am) these shows are more about connections, contacts, and even sales made after the show is over.  I am continuing to make sales, make contacts and get inquiries even two weeks after the show is over.  Next post is about the first day....I promise! 

 

You Like Me, You really, really Like Me!

Me and my Mom (circa: 1970)
Originally uploaded by mama_lentz.

Thank you for the comments from my earlier blog. I appreciate all the advice and am really trying to capitalize on all these super-cool programs. It is very unlike me to jump into something (blogs) without truly understanding the way they work, so thanks for helping me.

I would like a certain someone who gave me fabulous advice to contact me via email because...hold on I have to take a deep breath and yell this "YOUR EMAIL DOES NOT WORK EMILY!!!" There I feel better now. Call me....please.

Also, truth be told I found out a very sad fact last week: My mother does not read my blog. She is afraid I am going to write something awful about her (joke's on me because I am afraid of writing any bad stuff since I thought she read it)

Okay - hope I am able to blog in the coming weeks.  The stress monster is starting to creep up on me and I can feel the tension on my neck.  Speaking with a woman today (she owns a retail website) she said she was driving in her car today and started going through a mental list in her head of all of the the things she had to do this time of the year and had to really fight the urge to go home and put her head under the covers - Amen sister! 30 days till S-day (ship day)

Romancing the Blog

November 12, 2006.

So.....thanks for the two responses (um one of you got rid of your email account and I can not contact you....), and the advice too.  And, thanks Mom for not even responding...(sniff - more time in therapy).

Apparently I am quite the novice (read idiot) when it comes to tracking people and viewers of my blog and I even went as far to sign up for some of these services, but, um did not sign up just registered....idiot....no it's okay I use that word as a term of endearment.  It is similar to when my sister and I used to call each other ugly in college, but say that to the wrong person and well...you know. This time, I went back and actually used the service, and it is pretty amazing.

So, my new friend and fellow blogger (she started her own blog) has informed me of some wonderful tools I (and you) can use:

• If you want to subscribe to other peoples blogs use www.bloglines.com.  I had signed up for it when I started my blog but uh..forgot to uh duh...add my own blog - please don't ask. It tells you when your favorite writer has updated their blog and it lets you know how many subscribers they have on each feed.
• Using a site called www.sitemeter.com let's you know how much traffic you are getting and where it is coming from
• Use www.flckr.com let's you store photos and start groups, I have yet to use this but I am typing a quick as possible.
• Technorati (www.technorati.com) Technorati will tell you how many other sites link to you and which ones they are.  This is the one I signed up for but never fully understood the potential.
• Feedburner (www.feedburner.com)  keeps tabs on how many subscribers you have, including Bloglines and the other aggregators.  From my new friend, a quick definition of an aggregator is, "An aggregator is like the newspaper.  You tell the aggregator which columns you're interested in and it will assemble any recent posts from your 'columnists' into one easy place to read." Okay this one trips me out, and as soon as I finish this blog I am SOOO signing up for it. 

So, um I guess I don't need feedback I need some *free time* to figure this whole blog thing out.  Right now I need to go write a pitch for TV shows Holiday Gift Lists that has to be sent out tomorrow morning.  And I need to figure out how to bathe two kids in the morning, get dressed, clean the house, get 30 invites printed and the two kids to school at the same time....hmmm.

 

A bit of News and a Request

November 8, 2006.

So I have been trying to 'network' or link up with other people.  I swear it could be a full time job for sure.  It's like when people say looking for a job is a full time job...networking is too!  I am always happy to link people together, or try and help someone from my industry with someone else.  I feel like it will always come back (I was able to link two different peeps today and I hope it works out).

I have recently joined Minty (jpdmom.minti.com ) which is a great community of parents giving advice....and y'all know how I love giving that!  I am still trying to get a handle on the whole blogging and linking thing - but in my spare time I try to figure it out.

Also, I started to really wonder who if anyone was reading my blog (I know you are Mom, thanks...).  I was going to beg for some comments or people to link to it.  It's almost been a year since I launched this, and though I really enjoy it and sometimes find it lethargic I was thinking is anyone out there reading this crap?

Then out of the blue another female entrepreneur from my actual industry emailed me yesterday to tell me she read my blog and loved it (well maybe she said like, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it).....and low and behold I knew of her, was and is a fan of her products and gosh darn it she is entertaining!  I was blown away.  I guess I just assumed that no one was reading this...it's an easy assumption when you get no feed back.  Well I know some people are reading but with no feed back I felt that it did not affect them.  It made my day, I was just tickled polka dot pink (inside joke) about it.

The moral or conclusion of this blog is I would LOVE LOVE LOVE some feedback....please!  What do you like about it?  What do you hate about it?  Is there anything I am not writing about you would like to know about?  I promise not to get upset and I promise to try and answer any and all of your requests.

I still go buy the golden rule "Information is Good" and I would hate to think I am going in a bad direction, or dare I say completely un-helpful direction.  If I have learned anything from my now seven year old son it is ask for help and/or advice...you never know what you might get.