Window-Shopping Wednesday: 2 Funky Mums

I cannot help but want one of these tees from 2 Funky Mums. The tees give you a sense of pride for being a Mom. Let's face it - being a mom, while rewarding, is the hardest job in the world. 2 Funky Mums recognizes this and believes that "today's Mom should be celebrated for her hard work." So they offer high quality fashion such as these cool rhinestone "Moms Rock" tees so that moms can look mah-velous and have fun too!

Click HERE for a direct link to the "Moms Rock" tees. Visit 2 Funky Mums at www.2funkymums.com for more fabulous items!

Theme for Friday's Featured Five: Holiday Gifts for Dad/Dad-to-be/Grandpa

During this holiday season, let's not forget all the dads, dad-to-be, and grandpa too! Some may say that they're challenging to find gifts for, so I hope there are some WAHM businesses out there that have something for these fine gentlemen.

The theme for this Friday's Featured Five is: Holiday Gifts for Dad/Dad-to-be/Grandpa.





How Friday's Featured Five works:
Do you design, make, and sell holiday gifts for fathers, fathers-to-be, and grandfathers? Perhaps you have something extraordinary and unique that would make perfect gifts for dads!

If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom) and sell holiday gifts for dad/dad-to-be/grandpa (this week's theme), email me at wahmspotlight@yahoo.com and we'll feature your product free! Yes, that's free advertising you and your business!

For a limited time only for this holiday season, all submissions I receive will get a photo feature showing their product with a brief description and link on this blog.

When you email a submission, please include the following information:
- photo of product
- direct link to product from your website/etsy shop/ebay store
- brief description of product
- business/company name
- website link
- special offer/promotion, if available (include how long special will run)


Deadline for submitting photos and links for Friday's Featured Five is by noon on Thursday, November 30, 2006.

Tuesday's Trendy Tots: Growing Up With Style

Looking for something unique to give your children this holiday season? Start a new tradition and give them something they'll cherish for years to come! Growing Up With Style has these hand-crafted personalized holiday ornaments. Created by Beaded Things, the stained glass ornament can be personalized with the child's name and date. These wonderful ornaments can be embellished with either a star, an angel, or a flower, and the gem comes in different colors, so that each child can have a different ornament.

What's more, these ornaments are so inexpensive, you have to get one for every little one you know! Click HERE for a direct link to the Beaded Things Personalized Ornaments with Year. Visit Growing Up With Style for more gift ideas for all the trendy tots on your list!

Monday Spotlight: Dippy Chick

Meet the Mom Behind Dippy Chick!

Who is Dippy Chick Co.? Where are you located?
My name is Christine Hanisco and I am the founder of The Dippy Chick Company, Inc. My business cards says “President, CEO and Dippiest Chick”. I'm located in Kingston, N.H.


How did you come up with your business name?
I started out with SerenDIPity Gourmet Specialties. It was long and I ended up hating it. My web address was always dippychick.com, because there were a million Serendipitys out there and I couldn’t get a decent domain name. When I incorporated, I decided to change it to The Dippy Chick Company. It made sense because I became well-known as “Dippy Chick”.





When and why did you decide to start your own business?
I worked as a graphic and web designer for years and then switched to real estate for a change. When I became pregnant with my second child, I realized that a career in real estate was futile with all of the odd hours. I decided that I needed a home-based business so that I could care for our boys. We couldn’t afford day care and I wanted to spend time with them while they were little.


How did you get started?
I used to attend craft shows with my friends every now and then. I saw people selling dip mixes and thought it would be a great business to get into some day. A couple of years later, I did! The first thing I had to do was get licensed by the state which involves a kitchen inspection, water test and fee. Then I had to formulate all of my products and convert them into large batches. I then created the packaging which was really boring at first. At some point it dawned on me to use my drawing skills. Once I did that my sense of humor came through – and that ended up making Dippy Chick what it is today.





What motivates you to keep your business going?
My kids. It’s funny – my husband referred to me as “driven” the other day. That really struck me funny. I was never a driven person until I had our boys. I guess I feel a need to provide for them. I work really hard to hopefully provide them with a better future.


Do you have anything new you are featuring on your website?
Actually, we have two new dip mix flavors – “Twisted Tomato Tornado” and “Kamikaze Wasabi”. Also, I just redesigned my site to be more upscale and user friendly. Pretty soon we will be introducing some dipping oil herb blends and some crock pot helpers. I’m also considering soup mixes, pasta sauces and salad dressing mixes.





How do you juggle family and work at home?
It’s not easy, but I have help from some people. I have a sitter who comes here to the house about 15 hours a week. I also have two helpers that help me with packaging and shipping. I have several friends and relatives that help me at trade shows and fairs that thankfully don’t mind being paid in dip!


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
Getting help from a sitter has been instrumental for making this work. I hired an old family friend who is retired and needs the extra money. She is upstairs with the boys while I work downstairs, so I’m always a holler away. It’s really a nice situation. There are plenty of retirees out there just aching to play “grandma” or “grandpa” to some little kids.





Visit Dippy Chick at www.dippychick.com



Stores that carry Dippy Chick products:
We have a store listing on our web site at www.dippychick.com/stores.htm . We are adding new stores on a weekly basis. Right now we’re at about 53 stores across the US. This has been increasing because I was just featured as a mom-entrepreneur on ABC’s World News with Charles Gibson, as well as on national radio.

Friday's Featured Five: Holiday Paper Goods

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

This Friday's Featured Five presents Holiday-themed Paper Goods. From scratchbooks and notepads to fill those stockings to personalized holiday greeting cards and stationery sheets....spread some holiday joy on paper and shop from these WAHM businesses!

Scratchbooks
Cute little scratchbooks are perfect for jotting down notes, phone numbers and brilliant flashes of genius. Approximately 2 inches square, with 20 sheets of paper inside. Only $2 each!

by Gallimaufry Arts

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: Through Sunday, November 26, midnight PST, enjoy 10% off of your entire order! (Offer excludes chain maille jewelry, which is already 10% off this month, as well as clearance items and shipping costs.) Please email your orders directly to gallimaufryarts@yahoo.com and an updated Paypal invoice will be sent.***








Enduring Notions Christmas Card
Completely custom designed holiday cards, designed for you at the time you place your order.

By Enduring Notions: Custom Design Photo Announcements & Invitations

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: Use coupon code WAHM good through December 5th - receive 10% off your order & FREE SHIPPING***








Family Member Christmas
"Spice up your kitchen counter with these sweet notes. Personalize these to fit you, family or friends. Add your name, email address .. whatever suits your needs. Each pad set includes 2 pads , 75 sheets on each pad and is approx. 5.5" x 8.5" in size. They are printed on 24 lb. paper and with the highest quality of ink. These make a great gift for you or a neighbor for the holiday season!"

By Little Bits Of Me: Handmade & Personalized Gifts

Click HERE for direct link to item










Snowy Winter Wishes Stationery Set
Greeting with Snowy Winter Wishes add the perfect touch for any desk or home office. Includes: NoteCard (2), Thank You Card (1), NoteCard to Personalize (1), Stationery Sheets (2), Stationery Sheets to Personalize (2), To Do List Pages (2), To Do List Pages to Personalize (2), Return Address Labels (30) - Yes! you can personalize them yourself, and Gift Tags (30). Also included is a set you can personalized from your desktop. Save time & money this holiday season - purchase once and print personalized sets to give as gifts!

By Your Printables: Save Time & Money with our unique Printables You Can Personalize!

Click HEREfor direct link to item

***Special Offer: Use Coupon Code Nov0620 at checkout and save 20% off your entire order! (offer good until November 30th, 2006)***

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

FROM WAHM SPOTLIGHT!!

Window-Shopping Wednesday: Vintage Body Spa

Vintage Body Spa is offering some luxurious holiday treatment to pamper your skin. The "Wake Up Sugar Scrub Peppermint Snow" above has that "familiar peppermint and vanilla blend to sooth any sweet tooth!"

This sugar scrub is a mild exfoliate that will nourish your skin, unblock those pores, and soothe the senses. Pamper yourself! You know you deserve it! There are 2 other sugar scrubs: A Sweet Holiday and Cranberry & Fig. Click HERE for a direct link to the Sugar Scrubs.

***Special Offer: Free shipping promotion between Nov. 17-29th. Please use the code FallIndulge06 for free standard shipping during checkout. Place your orders early and beat the holiday rush!***

Theme for Friday's Featured Five: Holiday Paper Goods

Spread the joy of the holiday season on paper! Show me holiday themed cards, notecards, stationery, gift tags, notepads, books....anything made of paper! This Friday's Featured Five theme is: Holiday Paper Goods


How Friday's Featured Five works:
Do you design, make, and sell holiday themed paper goods such as greeting cards, notecards, gift tags, gift bags, stationery, books, notepads.....any holiday-themed item made of paper?

If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom) and sell holiday-themed paper goods (this week's theme), email me at wahmspotlight@yahoo.com and we'll feature your product free! Yes, that's free advertising you and your business!

For a limited time only for this holiday season, all submissions I receive will get a photo feature showing their product with a brief description and link on this blog.

When you email a submission, please include the following information:
- photo of product
- direct link to product from your website/etsy shop/ebay store
- brief description of product
- business/company name
- website link
- special offer/promotion, if available (include how long special will run)


Deadline for submitting photos and links for Friday's Featured Five is by noon on Thursday, November 23, 2006.

Thank you and Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Tuesday's Trendy Tot Special Review: Olive Kids' Placemat

My kids LOVE their Olive Kids personalized placemats! For the first time in a very long time, both kids stayed at the table longer than usual to eat their meals - they usually eat for about 3 minutes and then try to get up and go. The placemats offered enough distraction to get them to stay at the table and eat all their food! My 22-month old is having fun pointing out and trying to say the different vehicles and things he sees on the placemat, and my 4 year old makes up different stories everyday about what's going on on the placemat - so the placemats has some educational benefits too! My 4 year old also thinks it's cool to see his name on print too!

What's best about these placemats is that you can easily wipe them off with a sponge. The laminate is thick and heavy, so they will endure those multiple washings a day!

Olive Kids has many coordinating items - from personalized clocks, to bedding accessories, and framed prints. Their designs are vibrant, fun, and stimulating! If you are shopping this holiday for little ones, visit Olive Kids at http://olivekids.com. For a direct link to the placemats, click HERE.

Monday Spotlight: Keeta Collection

Who is Keeta Collection?
We are two friends turned business partners, Robbin Mills and Vicki Ray. We were two work at home moms who were looking for an outlet for our creative sides.


Where are you located?
We live in Ocala, Florida.


How did you come up with your business name?
Well, it's not a terribly exciting story, but here it is. Vicki's sister-in-law gave her the nickname Vickita, which then turned into Keeta. We loved the way it looked and sounded so we elaborated on it a little and came up with the Keeta Collection. We also wanted a name that would work with whatever we created. Keeta sounds funky, classic, cute and creative all at one time, which is the personality we feel our bags have.




When and why did you decide to start your own business?
We always loved talking about our newest creations and comparing notes. Then one day out of the blue, Vicki looked at me and said, "We are starting a business, today, are you ready?" After the shock wore off, I realized that our taste really complemented each other and we already knew that we could work well together. So therein the Keeta Collection was born.


How did you get started?
After the initial ideas formed, we began selling a few bags at a time on Ebay. From there we developed a website, KeetaCollection.com. Our latest venture would be boutique sales. We have just opened our doors to a few wholesale accounts and it has been great getting to know the shop owners and working with them.





What motivates you to keep your business going?
We tend to motivate each other. We both have a passion for creating and that motivates us as well. What is awesome about our partnership is that when one of us needs to give more at home then the other steps in and gives more to the business.


Do you have a new product/design you are featuring on your website?
We continually add new designs. But our signature item would have to be our messenger bags. We sell those as diaper bags, school bags and everyday totes.




How do you juggle family and work at home?
It helps to have the partner to step up when times are hard. In addition, with running our own business, we can slow down when necessary. A big part of working at home revolves around scheduling. As long as we are organized, we can accomplish what we set out to accomplish. If we know we will be on a school field trip, or at our child's tennis match or basketball game, we can set our work schedule around that. On occasion, our families do have to live with bags piled up all around, but that only gives them a chance to appreciate our hard work.


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
The biggest thing would be to set up a good plan for time management. It is very helpful to schedule in your work hours and keep them as separated from home life as possible. If the family knows you are completely theirs outside of work hours, they are much more helpful during the work hours. Of course there are times when the two will intertwine, but we find that we are much happier when we separate them as much as possible.



Visit Keeta Collection at www.KeetaCollection.com


***Special Offer: Get 25% off your entire purchase over $40 - just email Keeta Collection and mention "WAHM." Discount good from November 23, 2006 through December 8, 2006***



Stores that carry Keeta Collection products:

The Cottage Shoppe
Apricot Lane
Sunflower Embroidery

Friday's Featured Five: Holiday Gifts for Moms/Moms-to-be/Grandmas

The holidays are here! Today's Friday's Featured Five has a variety of gifts for mothers, mothers-to-be, and grandmothers too! From keepsake jewelry to pearlized frames, to pillows, to appliqued shirts, and to bead spinners for those crafty mothers and grandmothers....there is something for every mom!

WAHM Spotlight couldn't just feature five today so we're featuring all submissions we've received! Please kick back, shop around, and enjoy! Oh and take advantage of the special offers that these WAHM businesses are offering for the holiday gift-giving season!

Mothers' bracelets
"Our Mothers' bracelets and name jewlery are all unique and hand-made with Swarovski crystals birthstones, and Sterling Silver. The Mothers bracelets can be the most priceless gift anyone could give as they make perfect gifts to last a lifetime."

from Angelic Grooves -- beautiful, unique, fashionable art and the home of celiac disease awareness jewlery!

***Special Offer: November promotion - 10% off of these beautiful birthstone mothers bracelets. Please email me that you have seen this and I will send an invoice to you with a 10% off voucher!***








The Budget Bead Spinner
"The Seed Bead Spinner Stringing Tool is the fastest and easiest way to string seed beads. Simply place seed beads into the bowl, insert the wire needle and spin! An excellent tool for simple, quick projects - or for producing items requiring many beads strung in quantity. The Bead Spinner makes a great stocking stuffer / gift for bead enthusiasts or the general crafter."

from SerendipBeady

Click HERE for direct link to item








Simply Tiffany Taite Square Pearlized Frame
"What grandmother wouldn't love a picture of her grandchild for the holidays? This beautiful pearlized picture frame is just the right size for a gorgeous picture of your child or children. We also have other styles of picture frames as well as many other items that she would love."

from Simply Lovely Gifts: Beautiful gifts for babies, girls and Mommy, too!

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: Use promotion code SLG10 for 10% off all products***








Grandma’s Brag Necklace
"Handcrafted in Sterling Silver, we use your photos to create a custom necklace. Reversible so you can use two photos or select from our patterns."

from Kathy Lo Rocks: Custom Photo Jewelry

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: 10% and free shipping – use “Moms” in the coupon code at checkout***








FRIDA KAHLO INSPIRED Appliqued Shirts
"Frida Kahlo inspired appliques with the phrases VIVA FRIDA and TE AMO MUCHO decorate the front of these appliqued shirts by liliputians NYC. Both have heirloom-quality, decorative top stitching and are available on a fitted tee in long or short sleeves. Coordinating skirt and matching Frida Kahlo children's sets also available for art lovers."

by Liliputians NYC: whimsical, quirky, fun & funky

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: "WAHMS" for 15% discount good through 12/31/06***








Miscarriage/ Pregnancy Loss Charm Bracelet
"Our unique Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss Charm Bracelet commemorates the special time in your little one's brief life. Wear this bracelet in loving remembrance and memory of a precious baby that has touched your heart, but gone too soon. With symbolic sterling silver charms and swarovski crystals to symbolize the months conception, loss, and due date. Picture is shown with our copyrighted Baby Footprints Charm, which can be engraved on the back with any name or date.
Makes a thoughtful gift for a friend or relative who has had one or more miscarriages/ pregnancy losses. Comes in a beautiful organza gift pouch and with a product card to explain the meaning of this bracelet. You may also send a personal message on a gift card at checkout, and send directly to the gift recipient."

from My Forever Child ~Child Loss Keepsakes~

Click HERE for direct link to item








Hula Hoops
"The 16" x 12" pillow features a hand-made crazy quilt fabric collage panel that is mounted to the front of a blue silk pillow. Panel is made from a foundation of commercial and hand-dyed/painted fabrics that are embellished with ribbons, thread, buttons, beads and anything else of interest I can find a way to attach. The pillow has a zipper enclosure on the back for removing the pillow insert for cleaning or replacement."

from Colorfuldayz

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: 10% discount on any items currently on the site, or any custom items ordered before the end of the year. Must indicate that you saw Colorfuldayz at www.wahmspotlight.blogspot.com.***








9 month charm bracelet
"Celebrate your pregnancy by adding a charm to mark each months milestone. This is a sweet treasure for a mom to be."

from Sweet Noelle: A boutique for baby and mom

Click HERE for direct link to item

***Special Offer: Use Promo code - sweet - (to get 15% off)***

Window-Shopping Wednesday: A Little Hut

I fell in love with these Block Print Cards from A Little Hut. Each card is made from an original illustration created on a linoleum block. Each card is unique in that each are handprinted so there are small variations from one card to the next. The designs are fresh, simple, and textural. The Christmas tree card above would make great Christmas cards. To see more cards from A Little Hut, visit www.alittlehut.com. Click HERE for more Block Print cards.

Theme for Friday's Featured Five: Holiday Gifts for Mommy/Grandma

The holidays are here! In the next couple of weeks until Christmas, WAHM Spotlight will feature holiday gifts for just about everybody on your list.

To kick off the holiday gift spotlight, the theme for this Friday's Featured Five is: Holiday Gifts for Mommy/Mommy-to-be and Grandma.


How Friday's Featured Five works:
Do you design, create, and/or sell products that would make great gifts for mothers, mothers-to-be and grandmothers?

If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom) and have items that would make wonderful gifts for mothers, mothers-to-be and even Grandmothers (this week's theme), email me at wahmspotlight@yahoo.com and we'll feature your product free! Yes, that's free advertising you and your business!

The first five submissions I receive will have a photo feature showing their product on this blog and a brief description of the product and their business. The remaining submissions will still be featured but only with links to your website (link feature).

To give as many WAHM businesses a chance to be featured, each business is limited to only one photo feature a month on Friday's Featured Five. There is no limit for a link feature. For example, if you already had a turn being one of the Featured Five, say this month, you can still submit to us, but it will only be a link to to your website.


Deadline for submitting photos and links for Friday's Featured Five is by noon on Thursday, November 16, 2006.


I welcome any comments and/or suggestions for a new theme anytime (or if you just want to say hi!)! Just send me an email to: wahmspotlight@yahoo.com.

Tuesday's Trendy Tots: Baby Startlet

Baby Starlet offers hand-crafted fashionable baby bedding and accessories. The most distinguishable product they offer are these Moses Baskets. The Sari Moses Basket above blends exotic sari fabric with delicate flannel, giving your little star the most comfortable, cozy warm feel inside the basket.

Baby Starlet also offers bedding accessories to coordinate with each Moses Basket in their collections. There are burp cloths, receiving blankets, changing pad cover, and nursing pillow covers. Save 25% off if you purchase the entire collection!

To view the Sari Moses Basket Collection, click HERE. Visit Baby Starlet at www.babystarlet.com and give your little star the royal treatment!

Monday Spotlight: Aunt Art

Meet the Mom Behind Aunt Art

Who is Aunt Art? Where are you located?
Aunt Art is a children's boutique specializing in hip gear for kids. Located, right now, in Des Moines WA. We are moving cross country at the end of November to Maryland.


How did you come up with your business name?
I was an aunt before I was a mom and was called "Aunt Art". I always made a point to give the cool, unusual gifts to my nieces and nephews and when I started my company I thought it would be a perfect name for my company since moms aren't the only ones looking for great products for kids.




When and why did you decide to start your own business?
Aunt Art officially started after the birth of my first son. Before Logan was born I was making baby hats at street markets in NYC and the response was fantastic. Once I was a SAHM I realized that I could continue selling baby and kid items while taking care of my child.




How did you get started?
It started with burp cloths. My son had reflux and I spent 8 months with a tacky, white cloth diaper on my shoulder and the fashionista in me hated that diaper on my shoulder. So I made some fashionable burp cloths that were in bright, fun prints and everywhere I went people remarked and asked where they could buy them. So I started selling them on my website and as my children grow I continue to think of new items that would make my life easier as a mom. For example the Picasso Chalk Mat was born after another night eating out where my husband and I spent the entire meal entertaining our son and not ever having adult conversation, I thought this has got to change. So I made the Picasso Chalk Mat to fill the need of entertaining my son while we were out at dinner and he created art over and over again and my husband and I could actually talk! The chalk mat has come in handy not only at restaurants but also at my midwife appointments when I was pregnant with my second son. Logan would create art while I could talk to my midwife about the pregnancy. As my children discover new things and grow and learn I discover new ways to create items for them.




What motivates you to keep your business going?
Believing in what I create is my constant motivation. I "test run" all of my products on my own kids first and when I see them enjoy it I know that other kids will enjoy it also. Having items that are made by an actual mom in the thick of raising kids, I believe is what makes my products stand out from the rest.


Do you have a new product/design you are featuring on your website?
Picasso Chalk Mats. Placemat on one side, chalk board on the other. Roll it up, snap closed and throw in your bag to take anywhere. Makes a great gift for kids of all ages.




How do you juggle family and work at home?
Time management! In the beginning I did everything during naps and when the boys were in bed for the night. As the kids get older I'm able to get things done during the day while they are playing, painting or coloring. They have art desks in my studio so we can all work together. And once the kids are in bed for the night I am able to get a ton of things done in those mere 3 hours before I lay down for a good nights sleep. And on the weekends my husband takes the kids out for some quality "Daddy-time" so I can work.


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
Follow your bliss! I am not going to lie and say that it isn't hard. There will be many roughs spots. But in the end it is worth it! The journey is very rewarding.




Visit Aunt Art at www.auntart.com


Online stores that carry Aunt Art products:

Hip and Little
www.Hipandlittle.com

Top Toggery
www.toptoggery.com

Friday's Featured Five: Boutiques

Looking to bring more exposure to your business and products? Consider working with a boutique who can showcase your products for you.

WAHM Spotlight is featuring boutiques for Friday's Featured Five where WAHM designers/artists/businesses can submit their work/products to be included in the boutique online store.

So please visit these boutiques, even if you're just in the mood for some shopping!

Growing Up With Style - Swing By!

Whether you need it - or just want it - Growing Up with Style features a unique collection of products designed to celebrate the growth of your child - with style! is a one stop-shopping destination for out of the ordinary children's clothing, designer diaper bags, fun and colorful toys that teach, personalized gifts and fun extras including jewelry and entertaining pieces for moms and dads with an eye for style. Swing By for a peek at our fabulous personalized holiday ornaments!

Info on how to submit your products:

New products can be submitted through a submission form on our site - which is located HERE - We are always looking for fresh fun products to add to our website, especially those made by work at home moms. If you have a product that you think would be a good fit for our shoppers we would love to hear about it! Tell us a bit about your product and include a link to a photo if possible. We are most interested in working with vendors who are willing to drop-ship (similar to consignment) products at this time.

Visit Growing Up With Style at www.growingupwithstyle.com

Bagadoodle - A Boutique for Fabulous Accessories

Bagadoodle.com is a boutique that makes it easy to find that uniquehandmade handbag, fabric belt, hand-crafted jewelry and more. The sitebrings together diverse "indie" designers and offers a wide range ofprices. This is the place for gift shopping!

Info on how to submit your products:

For inclusion in Bagadoodle.com, please submit an email to customerservice@bagadoodle.com describing your business and provide a link to your web site so I can view your products. Bagadoodle.com is actively adding bag designers, jewelry designers, and infant accessory designers.

Visit Bagadoodle at www.bagadoodle.com

If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom), own, and run a boutique that features different designers/crafters/artists/businesses, and would like to be featured here on WAHM Spotlight, please email me at wahmspotlight@yahoo.com to be included in our directory.

Window-Shopping Wednesday: Kisukisu

There's a wonderful Etsy shop called Kisukisu - "kisu kisu" is a "loose interpretation of 'kiss kiss' in Japanese." Inspired by the Japanese culture, Kisukisu has the most unique items including this whimsical "Deluxe Bento Sushi Soap" which contains 6 different fragrances. The fragrances are just as exotic as the way the soaps are presented - Turkish Mocha, Coconut Lemongrass, Dragon's Blood, Red Ginger, Oriental Musk, and Mayan Gold. Great as a gift for sushi lovers or to adorn that asian-themed bath, you can find the "Deluxe Bento Sushi Soap HERE.

Visit Kisukisu for more Japanese inspired products at http://kisukisu.etsy.com

Theme for Friday's Featured Five: Boutiques

For those moms just starting out in their businesses, getting your product out there can be challenging. But there are online boutiques out there that carry products from different designers that can get you started. For this Friday's Featured Five, WAHM Spotlight wants to feature Boutiques where WAHM designers/artists/businesses can submit their work/products to be included in the boutique online store.


How Friday's Featured Five works:
Do you own an online boutique store where WAHM businesses can submit their products for inclusion in your store? Your boutique must carry products from different designers/artists/businesses.

If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom), own, and run an online boutique that feature different designers (this week's theme), email me at wahmspotlight@yahoo.com and we'll feature your boutique free! Yes, that's free advertising you and your boutique!

The first five submissions I receive will have a photo feature showing their boutique logo/banner on this blog and a brief description of how designers can submit their work/products for inclusion. The remaining submissions will still be featured but only with links to your boutique (link feature).

To give as many WAHM businesses a chance to be featured, each business is limited to only one photo feature a month on Friday's Featured Five. There is no limit for a link feature. For example, if you already had a turn being one of the Featured Five, say this month, you can still submit to us, but it will only be a link to to your website.


Deadline for submitting photos and links for Friday's Featured Five is by noon on Thursday, November 9, 2006.


I welcome any comments and/or suggestions for a new theme anytime (or if you just want to say hi!)! Just send me an email to: wahmspotlight@yahoo.com.

Tuesday's Trendy Tots: 2 Red Hens at Bagadoodle Boutique

I love these "not-your-ordinary" diaper bags by 2 Red Hens over at Bagadoodle, a handbag and accessories boutique. The "Egg Drop Soup Whole Roost Diaper Bag" above is my favorite, perhaps because I have 2 boys and I love that blue and brown color combo - but the "Chocolate Covered Fabulous Whole Roost Diaper Bag" below is just divine for those with little princesses.

The diaper bags are roomy, with enough external and internal pockets for baby's and mommy's necessities. Why carry a boring diaper bag? For a direct link to the Egg Drop Soup Whole Roost Diaper Bag, click HERE. You can find the Chocolate Covered Fabulous Whole Roost Diaper Bag HERE.

Visit Bagadoodle at www.bagadoodle.com for more of these "not-your-ordinary" diaper bags.

Monday Spotlight: Creative Outlet Designs

Meet the Mom Behind Creative Outlet Designs!

Who is Creative Outlet Designs?
Creative Outlet Designs is a one women show! LOL!!! I am the sole designer, seamstress, accountant, secretary, etc. I am a wife, mommy and designer rolled into one creative and very organized body. I love to create girls and boys outfits in themes and colors that I love and relate to. And why let the kiddos get all the attention? Now Women can get some of that attention too with my new line of Shaggy Mosaic Jeans for YOU!


Where are you located?
Idaho




How did you come up with your business name?
I have always dabbled in the arts, taking classes and exploring different mediums to work with. After becoming a stay at home Mom I found I still had that drive and desire to be creative with my hands and express my ideas. I needed a creative outlet. Hence the name, Creative Outlet Designs was born.


When and why did you decide to start your own business?
I started my business not really knowing where I wanted to go with it for sure or how big. I just knew I wanted to create. I had become engulfed in motherhood and loved every minute but also needed to spend a bit more time on Me and remember what I loved to do outside of playing peek a boo and singing nursery rhymes all day. I played around with different crafts and materials before nailing down my direction of wanting to go with creating children’s clothing.



How did you get started?
I stumbled upon a group of women with similar interests and we all helped each other find our passions, answer business questions, bounce ideas around, etc. I started by selling on ebay and in local shows. I still use ebay to sell a few items and help bring exposure to my new website. Ebay is where my customer base started from and where I have a lot of loyal customers.


What motivates you to keep your business going?
The excitement of the next idea coming to my head, seeing new fabrics that practically create the design for themselves and hearing the wonderful compliments my customers receive when they are wearing something I have created for them. I love the challenge of thinking outside the box and creating something that is original and new – not something off the rack that everyone else will have.




Do you have a new product/design you are featuring on your website?
My Shaggy Mosaic Jeans for WOMEN have just recently made their internet debut! I have done them locally before but just last month made them available online for a worldwide audience.


How do you juggle family and work at home?
I try to follow a routine and also do some “work” projects while still being involved in some family activities. I tend to work mostly in the evenings after my kids are in bed and early in the morning as the family starts to wake up. Plus I go off of how I generally feel. If I am getting stressed out and cranky, I have too much of a workload and I need to cut back or slow down. I love to design and create but family comes first for me and my kids are only little so long.




What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
I say go for it! Find something you love to do and have a passion for and then research, research, research!! Find support groups or people who also work from home and ask them your questions. Be prepared to learn and step outside of your comfort zone somewhat. I try to always be learning something new, growing and reaching a bit higher while helping others do the same along the way.


Visit Creative Outlet Designs at www.creativeoutletdesigns.com

Friday's Featured Five: Specialty Boutiques

We're going boutique shopping today! We've got WAHM boutiques that offer unique items from nursing blankets to handmade jewelry, vintage brooches, and cookie bouquets! Please kick back, relax, and start your holiday shopping!

Two Busy Bees: Vintage fabric handbags and accessories for fashionable moderns.

Two Busy Bees sells original handbags and accessories individually crafted from vintage fabrics, jewlery and notions, with contemporary appeal. The boutique is filled with lots of stocking stuffers for the holidays, offers $3.00 flat fee shipping and gratis gift wrapping. All items are DIY, indie fashion creations. And of course, "Designed for fashionable moderns."

Re-fashioned Vintage Brooch
by Two Busy Bees
Click HERE for direct link to product

Visit Two Busy Bees at www.twobusybees.com

Pure Boy Clothes: The premier online clothing store exclusively for boys

Pure Boy Clothes is your one stop shop on the Web to find cool duds for your little man. All of our lines are chosen for their, "where did you get that" attention grabbing ability. Our market research budget is a little constrained, so we simply dress our own kids and see what happens. Now you can shop your favorite brands such as IKKS, Jean Bourget, Kingsley, Dogwood, One Kid, SPUDZ, and many more, without traipsing all around town. We offer gift wrapping and free shipping on any order over $100.

"Morfs Brand Vintage Superhero Shirt"
by Pure Boy Clothes
Click HERE for direct link to product

Visit Pure Boy Clothes at www.pureboyclothes.com

****Special Offer: Use Coupon Code: WAHM and get 20% off your online order!

Offer good thru Jan. 31, 2007****

Jeweled Elegance: Graceful - Feminine - Unique
Luxury for the modern woman

Jeweled Elegance is my online boutique of hand-crafted elegant, feminine jewelry designs. My style is inspired by the romantic eras of the past, but created for the modern woman's everyday style. I design in quality metals with gemstones, freshwater pearls, crystals and more unique materials like handmade papers and hand sculpted clay.

The philosophy: I believe in personal jewelry that reflects the unique beauty and romance of your soul. To achieve that, my originals are one of a kind or extremely limited in quantity. Your jewelry should be as unique and special as you are. You should feel like a princess!

Many of my designs are influenced by Art Nouveau, Medieval and Japanese themes. My Art Nouveau ladybug earrings and Japanese paper earrings have been bestselling items this year.

I also have a custom bridal service for bride and bridesmaid jewelry. I work with brides through personal custom web pages to produce jewelry that matches their wedding colors and style.

"It's A Diva Thing"
by Jeweled Elegance
Click HERE for direct link to product

Visit Jeweled Elegance at www.jeweledonline.com










Sasha B. Designs: Nursing covers so soft and cozy they're favorite blankies for years to come!

At Sasha B. Designs we specialize in beautiful, handmade nursing covers for breastfeeding moms. Our covers make wonderful gifts and are available in a range of gorgeous colors including Baby Girl Pink, Baby Boy Blue, Butter Yellow, Navy, Sage and Lilac. We are a family-friendly company and all of our products are designed and produced in Portland, Oregon.


Sasha B. Designs nursing covers
Click HERE for direct link to product

Visit Sasha B. Designs at www.sashabdesigns.com










Chocolate, Flowers, and Unique Gifts: Fresh from the Growers and Bakery, Straight to Your Door

Chocolate, Flowers and Unique Gifts carry just that! The Finest Chocolates, the Freshest Flowers, the most delicious Cookie Bouquets and Gourmet Gift Baskets. We cater to every occasion and gift giving need there is. We also carry a unique line of gifts; like Pewter, Floral Pens, Spa Gift Sets and more. Come start your Holiday shopping early, with Chocolate, Flowers and Unique Gifts.


Happy Holidays Cookie Bouquet
by Chocolate, Flowers, and Unique Gifts
Click HERE for direct link to product

Visit Chocolate, Flowers, and Unique Gifts at http://www.chocolate-flowers-unique-gifts.com

Other WAHM Specialty Boutiques:

Simply Lovely Gifts: Beautiful gifts for babies, girls, and Mommy, too!
www.simplylovelygifts.com

Little Bits of Me: Handmade & Personlaized Gifts
www.littlebitsofme.com

Baby Splendor: A Unique In-Home Baby Boutique
www.tammy.mybabysplendor.com

Window-Shopping Wednesday: Bagadoodle

There's this wonderful boutique called Bagadoodle, a WAHM-run boutique, where you can find unique handmade bags from a diverse group of indie designers. I love the "Anna Shopper" bag above designed by Bari J Handbags and Accessories, also a WAHM. It's the perfect bag for the autumn season, and I just love the little button closure detail. Click HERE for a direct link to the "Anna Shopper" bag at Bagadoodle. To check out more of the latest handbags, totes, and purses at Bagadoodle, go to www.bagadoodle.com.