The Baby Potential Promise: Doing Good with Fun, Practical Clothing

About the Products
Parents dream that their children will grow up to be well-educated and successful.  In order to promote that aspiration from early on, two San Antonio mothers, Dacia Napier, M.D. and Allison Zeller, decided to start Baby Potential, a line of onesies and t-shirts embroidered with a choice of 12 silk-screened career patches such as Artist, Lawyer, and Teacher among other careers to communicate to the world the inherent potential baby possesses.  The unique line with a promise for brighter horizons for children everywhere launches nationally this spring. that each and every

The company started when Napier was inspired by her aunt’s hand-embroidered onesies she made for new babies in their family.  When she asked if she’d be willing to sell them and her aunt declined, she decided to start the business herself.  Napier wasn’t only motivated by her aunt’s needlework, but was also influenced by the community around her.  After learning that her city of San Antonio had one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect reports in the state and the country, she knew she had to do something.  She determined that the apparel line would encourage change through social marketing and community outreach.

"Baby Potential was born of the belief that with love, education and community support, all babies have the potential to grow into productive adults and achieve career success – regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic status," says Napier.  "The idea is to see the career patch on an infant’s onesie or a toddler’s t-shirt and equate the message with that child’s potential and future."

With this charitable mission in mind, she created a onesie prototype and showed it to her friend, fellow mother and philanthropist, Allison Zeller.  With a shared belief to give back to the community and to spread a positive message, Zeller quickly got on board.  “It’s about helping children and helping the community,” said Zeller.  “How could I not support this?”

Baby Potential not only communicates an inspirational message with its apparel but gives back to the community in two ways.  The company donates ten percent of sales to community outreach and educational programs and also has a partnership with the Family Service Association (FSA) of San Antonio to support local women.  Through this partnership, Baby Potential established the “Sew Circle,” a group of ten women who were trained and had classes to teach them how to hand-embroider the garments for custom orders.  This opportunity allows the women to work from home and earn an extra income.

Quality and style are also high on Baby Potential’s list of objectives.  The products are gender-neutral and available in six bright, contemporary colors with a modern and sophisticated design.  Featuring classic styling and tailoring, they are made of 100 percent fine cotton, combed for softness and comfort, and are durable and won’t fade or shrink.  Double-needle stitch detail reinforces the seams and shoulders are form-fitting.  Onesie’s have three-button style closure with premium snaps.

If you don’t like Artist, Lawyer or Teacher, other career patches include: Biologist, Chef, Doctor, Philanthropist, Radiologist, Rancher, Rocket Scientist.

“Baby Potential apparel is fun, it provides parents and gift-givers a unique option for baby apparel, and also spreads the belief that every baby has value. Every baby has the potential to be what ever he or she wants to be,” concludes Napier.

Ideal for parents and gift-givers, Baby Potential products are available on Target.com, select retailers and at babypotential.com.  Specialty orders can also be made online.  Apparel and sets start at approximately $15 and are available for infants and toddlers in sizes 0-4T (4 years old).  Visit www.babypotential.com, the blog, “Start here.  Grow Far” at http://babypotential.typepad.com/

My Take on the Products
I have to say that I was impressed with the quality and the messages that these products share. We were able to try out two (Vet and Philanthropist) and we received many compliments on how cute the shits were. One of the nice touches on the shirts (besides the images and future potential message) was the extra stitching that goes into these items. Each of the shirts had machine sewed florets and other sewn items around the neckline of the shirt. This added a nice touch and actually made me think of a home made item instead of a store bought item.

Second, I have to commend the idea of the future potential of any young child. The messages on these shirts reinforces the potential that all children have to achieve their dreams and become whatever they want to become. I love this message and think that we need more of these messages in society today!

So if you are looking for a well crafted item that reinforces the idea that all children have potential, this clothing line is perfect for you!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Terri O’s Super Simple family fun projects to do before and on the 4th of July

Preparation is everything! Here are a few projects you and your family can do together to get ready for all those fabulous fourth festivities. The best part is they are Super Simple ™

Before the holiday:

1. Grab a plain t-shirt and give it your personal touch. Paint stars and stripes with acrylic fabric paint, let dry and heat set in the dryer. (http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/article_read.php?aid=78&pagename=Projects for Category: Holiday Crafts)
2.  Have the kids paint a terra cotta pot in red, white and blue. Roll your plastic ware in decorative napkins and secure with raffia. Place them inside the pot and set on your table. (http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/article_read.php?aid=70&pagename=Projects for Category: Holiday Crafts)
3. Using large wood craft sticks, stars, a dowel and some paint you can create super simple outdoor décor for the yard. I call them Crafty Wood Stick Flags. Be sure to save them for next year! (http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/article_read.php?aid=61&pagename=Projects for Category: Holiday Crafts)
4. Paint a message board with chalkboard paint. Take it with you to the parade and write messages to people in the parade to let them know you support them!
5. Thank a soldier. Create a care package for someone in the armed forces. We decorated a cigar box and filled it with a goodies. (http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/download_archive1.php?aid=47)

Party Day Projects:

1. Make your own edible arrangement. Kids love to make melon balls. Place all your fruit on skewers in a fun colorful arrangement. Use watermelon for red, blueberries for blue and marshmallows for white.
2. Make an instant scrapbook out of paper bags. If you have access to a printer you can print your photos and place them in your embellished book that night! (http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/article_read.php?aid=12&pagename=Search Results for)
3. Gather the kids and make red, white and blue wind socks. With some craft foam and a glue gun you can make it instantly.
4. Tempera paint is washable and can be found at the craft store. Pick some up and do some face painting before the parade.
5. Pay a visit to a lonely veteran. Show them how much you appreciate them serving our country.

For more great ideas and Super Simple projects visit www.terriocraftprojects.com Free how to videos and printable projects. Order Terri O’s DVD on line and download right to your computer for even more Super Simple projects for fashion, holidays and paper crafting.

Save The Children Starts Initiative to Raise Awareness of the Impact of Local Health Workers in the Developing World

 

Save the Children and The Advertising Council announced today the launch of a national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of the preventable and treatable causes of childhood death in the developing world. The new campaign shows Americans that they can have a significant impact on saving and improving the lives of at-risk children and newborns by supporting the deployment of local health workers.

According to Save the Children, the majority of child deaths are preventable through proven, low-cost interventions like vaccinations, better delivery and newborn care practices, and treatment of common infections like diarrhea and pneumonia. This care is delivered by local health workers serving in their own
communities or local clinics. In fact, Save the Children estimates that every four seconds a child’s life is being saved as a result of the care provided by these local health workers. However, global estimates suggest the need for over 4.2 million more health workers to deliver this life-saving care throughout the world. The
PSAs highlight the local health worker as a hero, offering a sustainable solution for child survival in the developing world.

Every day, about 24,000 children in the developing world die of preventable or treatable illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea before they reach the age of five, according to Save the Children. Nearly 4 million of these deaths occur among newborns less than one month old, which is roughly equivalent to the total number of babies born annually in the U.S. These tragedies occur because many of these children live in marginalized urban and rural areas which lack access to trained health professionals and health facilities. Local health workers are trained to promote preventive care and to assess and treat children with signs of disease and other life-threatening conditions.

“I have met many of these women and men who are not only looking after their own children but all of the children in the community,” said Mary Beth Powers, Save the Children’s Newborn and Child Survival Campaign Chief. “They make my daily jog look like a walk in the park compared to the miles they travel to
help save lives.”

Consumer research released today by Save the Children and commissioned by WomanTrend found that 42 percent of women said they would be encouraged to give time or money to help save the lives of newborns and children in the world’s poorest nations if they had a better understanding of what they could do to help. Furthermore, 52 percent of women said they would be willing to donate money to a respected charity and 51 percent said they would volunteer their time to help save the lives of newborns and children in the world’s poorest nations.

"We are thrilled to partner with two wonderful organizations, Save the Children and BBDO, on this compelling campaign that has the opportunity to save the lives of children and newborns throughout the world,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “By highlighting the significant work of local health workers, we hope to inspire Americans to learn more about Save the Children and provide
encouragement and support to these local heroes that are so deserving of it."

Created pro bono by BBDO, the campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and web ads. The PSAs, filmed in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, aim to show Americans that they can have a significant impact on saving and improving the lives of at-risk children and newborns by supporting local health workers. The campaign highlights the local health worker as the bridge between American supporters and children in need. The PSAs end with the tagline “See where the good goes” and share the experiences of the local health workers in a way that is both relatable and inspiring. Additional radio spots feature voiceovers by actresses Lisa Edelstein, Rebecca Romijn, and actress and singer Idina Menzel, all supporters of Save the Children.

“This is an issue that is near and dear to all of us at BBDO,” said John Osborn, President and Chief Executive Officer of BBDO New York. “We’ve tried to make a connection with our audience by accentuating the positive, reinforcing the heart and soul of Save the Children. People told us they want help and hope, so
these became the building blocks of our effort, one of the ways BBDO is approaching ‘soul branding,’ which reinforces doing well by doing good.”

All of the PSAs direct audiences to visit a new interactive website, www.GoodGoes.org, developed by Washington, DC-based Home Front Communications. The site provides visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the issue of child survival and the role of the local health worker and “See where the good goes.” Additionally, the site features a customized Google map application of their village routes, blog posts, video bios and statistics on how many children they treat and the child survival solutions they administer.

In addition to the new PSAs and website, the campaign will engage the audiences through a series of social media strategies, including blog and online outreach, as well as social networking initiatives. Through an innovative Facebook application, users will be encouraged to become a part of a virtual wall of support for local health workers and share messages of encouragement.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to sign up on Twitter to receive tweets about local health workers and their journeys. They can text “GOODGOES” to 20222 to give $10 for a package of newborn care and give a baby a healthy start in life. Furthermore the new PSAs will be featured on the homepage of YouTube.

• Facebook.com/GoodGoes
• Twitter.com/GoodGoes
• YouTube.com/GoodGoes

The Ad Council is distributing the new PSAs to more than 33,000 media outlets nationwide this week. Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs will run and air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media.

More about the Project

Staycations: Company Kids Helps Families Enjoy Summer Fun From Home

More and more families are staying at home in lieu of the summer vacation in an effort to save some extra dollars this year. As staycations become the vacation of choice, kids will celebrate National Slumber Party Day (NSPD) on June 26. For the event, Company Kids is offering 20 percent off for four days, to help parents create a summer getaway at home. Below are some helpful tips from Company Kids to make your staycation off without a hitch:

• Keep all guests on an equal playing field. For ultimate party success, you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because one guest received two cupcakes and the others had one.

• It’s never too early to teach your child how to be a good guest.  Send them packing with a gift for the host that fits the theme of the party. (Cookies, cupcakes and snacks are always welcomed!)

• Game time is a must! Don’t forget to incorporate brain teasing games that will stimulate their mind. 

• Monitor the computer. One wrong click on the internet, can lead to tons of inappropriate content for those under 21.

• If your child hasn’t quite conquered bed wetting, don’t forget to pack an extra set of pajamas. This could be the difference between cute and fashionable or simply embarrassed.

Modern Bloom Quilt Bedding
Retail Price: $32.00-$129.00
Bold flowers add a sunny feeling to any room. Company Kids handcrafted modern bloom quilt is the perfect item to bring in that summer aura. Since it is 100% cotton, this quilt is machine washable.
Standard Shams: $32.00
Twin Quilt: $99.00
Queen Quilt: $129.00
Available online at: www.companykids.com

Chenille Sofa
Retail Price: $159.00
Whether reading a book or just watching a movie, Company Kids chenille sofa offers a cozy resting place. An all purpose item, this sofa flips open to provide an overnight guest with a goodnight’s sleep. Equipped with a removable cotton chenille cover, two companion pillows, this item is perfect for summer slumber parties.
Available online at: www.companykids.com

Annabelle Two- Piece Shorty PJ
Retail Price: $24.00
Company Kids annabelle two-piece pajama is the perfect item for a pajama party or Friday night slumber party. These flame resistant pajamas are made with cotton/modacrylic blend jersey.
Available online at: www.companykids.com

Foldable Floor Tray Table
Retail Price: $49.00
Company Kids foldable floor tray is perfect for crafts and indoor picnics. Equipped with metal legs for easy storage, this portable tabletop is finished with a non-toxic paint. This item is available in an array of different colors, from red and blue to pink and white.
Available online at: www.companykids.com

 

Zoo Crew Plush Animals
Retail Price: $24.00
Need more members for the tea party; this crew is ready to have fun with you! These poly-fill stuffed elephant, monkey and lion come in a bright mix of corduroy, felt, velour and more with gingham checks and polka dots.
Avaliable online at: www.companykids.com


My Take on the Products
I was able to try out the plush stuffed animals and I can say that my daughters loved their new Elephant! The are made with high amounts of detail, soft and plush, my girls were in awe. If all of the rest of the materials were made to the same parameters, I can just guess that I would like these as well. I loved the fact that they had a ton of products in the catalog that would fit the theme as well!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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The Cascade Complete Pac Challenge

About the Product
Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs™ combines the best of powder and gel in one powerful pac to conquer tough food cleaning and greasy messes. It pre-treats, fights stains, and rinses away tough food particles; all while fighting through layers of residue and leaving nothing behind but shine.

Powers Away 24 Hour Stuck-On Food A dishwasher full of dirty dishes? "Would you ever let them sit for a whole day so that the food gets dried on and stuck on?" Cascade Complete Pacs have more tough food cleaning ingredients.It Power away 24hour stuck on food so you can let them sit for a whole day, and they’ll still turn out amazingly clean and shiny!

Pre-treating Power The pre-treating power of Cascade Complete All-in-One ActionPacs rinses baked-on messes away easily.Simply stick a dirty casserole dish right into the dishwasher instead of soaking it over night.Now you can wake up to a beautiful clean, instead of another chore.

Fast Action Cascade Complete All-in-One ActionPacs dissolve quickly to get to work making the most of the dishwashing cycle.

Rinse Aid Action The rinse aid power of Cascade Complete All-in-One ActionPacs helps prevents spots and film so your glassware and clear plates shine as brightly as you do.

Grease Fighting Power Cascade Complete All-in-One ActionPacs use tough power to remove grease and keep it from sticking to dishes and plasticware such as spatulas, mixing bowls and storage containers.

My Take on The Product I have used action pacs from other companies in the past, but did not have a chance to try out this product in the past. I was excited to try this, especially with their claim that one Pac would be all that I would need to clean up any messes that I might have. They even sent me a baking dish to get messy so that I could try it. I was asked not to pre-rinse prior to washing as well. Well... I followed their instructions and made some Potatoes au Gratin et Moutarade. We all know how messy this can be, so needless to say I was happy to try the Action Pac to see if it lived up to its claim.


I have to say that I was impressed! Like many action pacs, Cascade's is very easy to use and their dissolvable pac makes it easy to drop and go. As a parent I love this as it makes my life so much easier and thus, I do not have to worry about the time it take to measure out, pour, etc. The result of our experiment was quite impressive as well, the baked on items in the pan they provided were gone. I had a spotless pan in my midst!


I am sold and plan to watch for this the next time I need dishwashing detergent.


Are you ready to take the Cascade Complete Pac Challenge? If so, check out www.cascadeclean.com for more information!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review - Fast Track Networking

National networking expert Lucy Rosen has spent more than twenty five years networking – both as the founder and president of a bi-coastal marketing/public relations agency and as the founder and president of the national networking organization Women on the Fast Track.  Now she’s sharing her networking expertise with readers across the country with the publication of her latest book – revealing the networking secrets, and successes, of some of the best networkers in the country and offering a unique step-by-step approach to networking proven to put people on the fast track.

 

 This book offers an insider’s look from the woman dubbed the “Queen of Networking” into what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to networking.  In addition, the book is filled with real-life “networking success stories” of leading business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the country – highlighting how networking helped them in their careers … and offering valuable real-life-lessons that every networker needs to know -- now -- to take their career to the next level. 

“Networking isn’t giving your business card to everyone you meet, or collecting as many business cards as you can and then calling all the people the next morning and trying to sell them your widget.  Yet unfortunately, that’s still how far too many people approach the concept of networking,” says Rosen, who has been featured in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, PINK magazine and Working Mother and interviewed on numerous national and local broadcast outlets.  “When done right, networking can often be the differentiating factor that helps you land the deal, or in today’s times land the job, so it’s critical that people know how to approach networking in a way that not only builds relationships, but builds business.  There’s an art to turning a run-of-the-mill conversation into a life-long contact, and the building of these valuable contacts is what this book is all about.” 

Fast Track Networking offers seasoned advice not only from Rosen – the founder/president of the national marketing firm SmartMarketing Solutions Group (www.smartmarketingsolutionsgroup.com), but from a number of other successful executives who share their networking strategies in this informative, and insightful, book.  Peppered with anecdotes and networking tips from business leaders  throughout all industries, including Build-A-Bear founder and CEO Maxine Clark and Alison Berke Morano, Chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party Chairs Association, the book is designed to turn today’s fledgling networkers into fast-track networkers …providing an easy-to-follow plan guaranteed to get results.

A fresh approach to networking written in Rosen’s unique down-to-earth style, the book covers today’s most important concepts when it comes to this area of growing interest to professionals, with chapters including:

• Networking is Like Dating.  Only Better.
• Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter, Oh My: How Smart Networkers are Using Social Media to Make -- and Keep -- Great Contacts
• Position is Everything:  Where to Stand, How to Navigate the Crowd ... and Other Advice on What "Works" in Working Every Room you Enter.
•  Strategic Alliances: How the Right Partnership Can Boost Your Business ... and Beyond   

In addition, each chapter ends with a summary of tips/tools learned in each section -- clearly pinpointing what the reader now knows as a “fast track networker” – providing a concise guide as to what the reader can do to put themselves on the fast track to networking success.

For more information about Lucy Rosen and/or to order Fast Track Networking: Turning Conversations into Contacts or view a complete list of booksellers where the book is available, visit http://www.lucyrosen.com/. 

My take on the book
As a person who networks daily, I was quite excited to read this book. With all of the experience that the author brings to the table, I found this book to be complete with great, practical information that is lively and energetic. The book also does a great job at engaging the reader in experiences so the information jumps off the page and draws the reader into the book itself.

If you work in business or are just trying to increase your networking savvy this book is a great addition to your professional collection!

If this book sounds like one you would like in your own library, you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review - The Power of Rest

About the Book

Award-winning sleep, rest, and body clock expert Dr. Matthew Edlund has identified an ongoing health crisis.  After years of clinical research and consultations with hundreds of patients, he discovered that many people aren’t just sleep-deprived, they’re rest-deprived. The result?  Our hearts, minds, and central nervous systems are overloaded, our health is suffering, and we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be truly refreshed.  Dr. Edlund’s new book THE POWER OF REST: Why Sleep Alone is Not Enough (HarperOne, Hardcover, $24.99, June 8, 2010) provides a comprehensive step-by-step solution to rebuilding our natural ability to rest. 

Too many people today accept sluggishness and fatigue as the inevitable side effects of hectic lives, and believe that there isn’t much they can do about it besides squeezing in another hour or two of sleep.  Getting enough sleep is important (and Dr. Edlund provides plenty of expert advice on sleeping well) but it’s only one part of a much larger spectrum of rest.  The benefits of making time for rest have proven extraordinary: when people engage the body’s power to restore and renew itself, they look younger, heal faster, lose weight more effectively, and experience greater joy in their work and their relationships. 

Dr. Edlund has isolated the unique benefits of four crucial types of active rest to create a groundbreaking program that fits easily into even the busiest schedules.  The four types of rest include:

·         Physical Rest: Sleep is one form of passive physical rest, but engaging in active forms of physical rest is also crucial.  Dr. Edlund’s 30-day plan provides a range of techniques for active physical rest, including breathing exercises, timed naps, baths, and yoga poses.

·         Mental Rest: While we need to rest the body, it’s equally important to learn to focus and concentrate the mind.  Mental rest involves reconfiguring one’s mind to quickly and easily obtain a sense of relaxed control, and Dr. Edlund has developed exercises—including self-hypnosis, relaxation, and visualization—designed to help maximize this process.

·         Social Rest: Humans are hardwired to be extremely social—social connectedness is built into the structure of our brains.  Studies show that people with strong social connections live longer, cope with stress better, and are healthier.  The Power of Rest explains how to incorporate key social rest techniques into your life.

·         Spiritual Rest: Certain spiritual practices can provide a profound sense of rest, inner peace, connection, and self-healing, and scientific studies have demonstrated that meditation can actually change the structure of the brain over time.  Dr. Edlund provides exercises involving meditation, prayer and contemplation that bring renewal and a sense of well-being.

We wouldn’t expect our bodies to function without food and, Dr. Edlund argues, we shouldn’t expect to feel fully fueled and alert without rest. This step-by-step 30-day plan introduces one simple, no-cost technique each day—many of which can be accomplished in just a minute or two.  Readers will learn to make room in their lives for this basic biological need, and how to quickly create a healthier, more successful, more vital and relaxed life.

About the author:

Matthew Edlund, M. D., M.O.H., is an award-winning expert on rest, body clocks, and sleep. Dr. Edlund’s work had been featured in O, the Oprah Magazine, Prevention, Shape, Redbook, Real Simple, More, PsychologyToday.com, and hundreds of other magazines, newspapers and websites.  He founded the West Coast Regional Sleep Disorders Center, and now runs both the Center for Circadian Medicine and the Gulf Coast Sleep Institute in Sarasota, Florida.

My Take on the Book
As a parent I think most parents have come to realize that sleep is a luxury. For me, I have never needed a lot of sleep and my body typically does not let me sleep long into the morning. Though this is a the case for me, this book brought forward interesting concepts. The book suggests many easy to implement strategies that can help to change your hectic and most of the time sleep-deprived life.

Dr. Edlund seems to make sleep fun and tries to make the reader see this as well. He also spends a lot of time helping the reader to understand the importance of sleep on one's body as well as overall functioning and productivity, which I have even seen in my own life.

I plan to try some of the techniques, and who knows, I too may be finding new ways to sneak in a rest here or there...you never know!
 

If this book sounds like one you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.