Granola Chicks Rocks!

Well... obviously I haven't done that well with my resolution to post here often! I could offer any number of reasons... but my favorite excuse is that I've finally discovered my "home sweet home" on the web, in the form of a truly awesome community called Granola Chicks.
I've been a member over there since September of last year, but have really gotten into it since the beginning of this year. I spend WAY too much time there, but have learned so much in that time, and made new friends in the process.
I'm amazed how I've grown and evolved through different forums... when I was pregnant and alot more "mainstream" than I am now, I used to spend alot of time at BabyFit, where I found information and grew to be a little more crunchy, hanging out there mainly in the natural childbirth and cloth diapering threads. Then someone there made mention of MDC in a post, and I started spending more time there and less time at BF... but I always felt like I had to censor myself in some ways at MDC in order to avoid getting "flamed" by some of the ultra-crunchy types that hang out there. Then someone posted there about a new local board, DAP, and I got hooked there and stopped going to MDC. Then someone at DAP mentioned DiaperSwappers, and I started spending time there, and found a new way to sell my diapers, until a bunch of someone's there were talking about HyenaCart, which made me want to find out what all the hype was about. I started chatting it up at HC in hopes of boosting business, until a super cool lady by the name of Lisa posted on HC that she was looking for donations for a local BirthFair, and also she was looking for WAHM's to feature on her website, and then I started looking around the Granola Chicks homepage and discovered the super cool forums...
So what makes Granola Chicks different, you ask? For me it's the sense of community, and the fact that there's no drama. We're all different, but everyone finds something they have in common. There are specific forums to discuss topics that might cause debate, and even a forum to post topics "Incognito" so that you can't be directly flamed for what you say. There are forums for virtually every topic you could think of, cool swaps and wandering packages, and right now, in celebration of their 2-year anniversary, there are a TON of contests and awesome prizes! (One of them is a gift certificate from me for a custom diaper/fleece shorties set!)
So, next time you're looking for a way to pass the time and avoid doing things you really should be doing, head on over to Granola Chicks and join in the fun! And don't forget to tell them I sent you! ;)

WAHM Feature: Beneath the Rowan Tree

Thinking back, I can remember when BTRT opened at HyenaCart, and thinking how cool some of their products are! The Square Roots tiles are awesome, and I love the creative name.

I love the cute hand-dyed and hand-painted clothes... and she even custom dyes adult items!

I've been wanting to get playsilks for Noah for months now, and I am in love with all of her vibrant color choices!

This business is definitely going into my list of favorites... I know that Noah's birthday list will have a set of Square Roots, a few cool playsilks, and maybe a custom-dyed and painted shirt on it! (And I think I might need a shirt, too!)

craziness has sidetracked me...

Oh, the craziness of my life! A number of stressful things have decided to present themselves in my personal life in the last couple of weeks, which has definitely sidetracked me somewhat from business (and blogging!). I'm not going to let them keep me down though! ;)
I just wanted to post a quick update and say that I will be featuring Beneath the Rowan Tree for my WAHM spotlight in the next few days, and following up quickly thereafter with a feature on Blue Goose Designs!
A quick business update- the website is still being re-designed, but is coming along great and I can't wait for my grand re-opening!

Surprise Feature: Little Bean Diapers

This week I'm doing an extra "surprise" feature, on Little Bean Diapers. Christi is someone I've gotten to know in the past few months through the forum at GranolaChicks, which has become my favorite place to hang out online.

Her business, Little Bean Diapers, was inspired by her daughter Tira, nicknamed Little Bean. Isn't she a cutie?!

Christi offers alot of great products, from nursing necklaces to training pants to officially licensed pocket diapers. She also has some great deals, like this one- five diapers for only $48!!

Check out this great WAHM business both at her main site and on HyenaCart!

New things to come!!

I am *very* excited to say that I have spent this past week drafting a new pattern for an awesome side-snapping fitted w/ a snap-in soaker... I made a test diaper for Noah, and I LOVE the new pattern!! The diaper is super trim-fitting, but still plenty absorbent (he wore it through naptime with no problems at all!), I love that the cut of it allows him completely free leg movement, and the diaper doesn't hold his legs apart at all like some bulkier dipes and prefolds do! (It fits so trim, he can wear the one fleece pull-on cover with it that is too small over any of his other diapers!!)
My new design will also feature new, better quality fabrics. The more research I have done on bamboo fabrics, the more they have called to me to try! I am looking forward to being able to use bamboo fleece and velour exclusively as the soaker and inside layers on my diapers. I hope to make this change completely within the next couple of months, so be on the lookout for my new diaper line, Widdle WeedlesTM Panda WeedlesTM!
I am also super excited to announce that my website is getting a new look for the new year, thanks to my best friend and former college roommate, Kim (affectionately known as "meine liebste Mitbewohnerin")! I look forward to launching the new site, complete with my own HC store (!) sometime in the next couple of months.
On a more serious note, after a couple of months of contemplation, I have decided to part ways with the WAHM Originals congo. I did not feel that the relationship was mutually beneficial to continue, and have decided to pursue other interests. I do strongly encourage you to check out the nice things the ladies there have stocked, though!

Spotlight: A Ray of Stitches

My WAHM feature of the week this week is A Ray of Stitches. Jessica started her business as a way to help parents find safe toys for their children in the midst of all of the recalls. I love the name of her business, and how it's a play on words with her older daughter's name, Araya.

Jessica's toys are great, I remember looking at her store when she first started selling on HyenaCart and wishing I had the funds to get some things for Noah and Nathan! I love her idea for the doll diaper of the month club, and her tic tac toe and memory sets are definitely on my list of ideas for birthday gifts for Noah this year! (hmm... I wonder if she has zoo/jungle animal stamps for her memory sets...) I think the wooden play money is pretty cool too, I can totally see little ones playing "grocery store" and paying for all of their wonderful HC playfood with Jessica's awesome play money!

Check out how happy this doll is to be wearing a sweet cloth diaper that matches her eyes!

Whiffy Bean Bags

So I hinted at this a few days ago... I am going to be highlighting a different WAHP and their business each week, partly as a way to have accountability when it comes to keeping up with blogging, but more importantly to shine the spotlight on some of the talented artists I've had the opportunity to get to know over at HyenaCart. As I mentioned, my first highlight is Leah of Whiffy Bean Bags.

I know what you're thinking... "Bean bags? What's so great about those?" Honestly, that's what I thought too, until I read about them! Obviously, bean bags can be a great play and learning tool. The textures, the different weights depending on their size and what they're filled with, different colors, etc are all great to teach children lessons about our world. Well, Leah took it even a step further by incorporating *scent* into her bean bags! I think this is the coolest idea ever.

And they're not just for kids, either! With her cute fabrics and awesome scent selection, you may just have to look into getting a few for your dresser drawers, linen closet, even your purse or your car! I'm loving these two fabrics for me:

I can totally see those awesome hippie vans as a peppermint scented Whiffy Keychain perfect for a little pick-me-up during the day! And the gorgeous pink dandelion fabric would make a pretty lavender scented bag for my dresser :)

And, of course, I can't leave out Noah ;) I'm thinking a Whiffy See-it would make an awesome distraction tool for when he wants to act up during church... He's going through a big train phase, so this fabric would be perfect! And even the See-it's are scented! I think he would like grape...

This site is definitely going into my favorites... the items I highlighted are only a sampling of the great products Leah offers! I just hope my list of must-have's from Whiffy Bean Bags won't grow too much before my Paypal tree comes into season! ;)

My next feature: A Ray of Stitches