Success in Potty Training

I gotta tell ya', there is nothing like a bad tummy to get your 2.5 year old in the swing of pooping in the potty. We had only one true successful potty plop until yesterday when Lola managed to make it to the potty 9 - yes 9 - times with a rumbly tummy. She definitely has the hang of pooping in the potty now. Today the belly is better and she is still on the right track, but she doesn't seem to understand that a successful poop should actually be in the potty. Lola seems to think that if she is outdoors the potty goal is just to maintain a clean pair of underwear. The tricky part is praising her cleanliness but explaining that the grass or patio is not the best place to release the ol' bowels. Safety first, and the bottom line (no pun intended) is poop is just not safe.

Aside from life w/ kids, everything in Woobee land is great. The article in Parenting magazine has kept me very busy filling orders. I am also finally getting the hang of my new job at BabyLegs. It was difficult at first for me to focus on a business that wasn't my own. I have been promoting Woobee Kids for so long, thinking about new ways to promote BabyLegs was an interesting challenge. It was a new mind set that I needed to acquire. But, I love the product and I think I am definitely getting my groove on now.

Lawyers - arrrrrgh.

Woobee Kids and BellySock's contract with BabyLegs is at the point where we (WB & BS) need to retain a lawyer to oversee the negotiations, because as everyone knows friendships can be preserved by a well written contract that benefits all. With that said, we have interviewed two different experienced firms. And the one thing that is loud and clear - can you say trademark?!

Once you talk with a lawyer you will want to run out and trademark your beloved product, despite the expense (BTW around $2500 - $3000 w/ no complications). I personally feel kind of pinned against a wall...Woobee is a popular name for children products and i do not want to go into production on a large scale and find out someone else has legal rights to my name/brand. That would be financially and morally devastating. So I need to come up with the $2500 to trademark Woobee in case someone challenges me, or risk it until I am more financially able to come up with that money? ALL the lawyers we talked with made it very clear that we would be idiots to risk it. So now we come up with the money to trademark and then the money to have the contract drawn up.Well, I guess the girls don't get new clothes for school this year - just kidding, kind of...

Poop goes plop!

When my life is crazy tasks that seem to big are set aside until I have time to clearly think about their execution. Potty training Lola has been one of those tasks. She is attending a little pre-school 2 days a week in August and the children are supposed to be potty trained. In the past every time we had asked her to wear underpants she very adamantly shouted "NO" followed by throwing herself on the ground repeating "no underpants" over and over. Now that I no longer work nights I have actually taken time to think about this task and whoa-la, Lola is potty trained!!! Well, she doesn't use diapers except at night time, oh and she has only pooped in the potty once at a friends house.

Here's another wonderful use for Woobee blankets - lay them down on the bed or carseat soft side up when potty training to protect surfaces.

The poop thing was an issue for my eldest Ava too. She was scared of the sound of the poop hitting the water - plop! Lola is actually encouraged by this and has adopted the phrase "poop goes plop" as her mantra. I am so pleased with how quickly Lola figured out the whole pee thing I am just fine being patient about the rest of it. After all, I have a good feeling that she isn't going to college wearing a diaper at night so she can have her morning poop in "comfort".

Another practical and well known use for BabyLegs...potty training. Lola is adorable cruizing around in her naked bottom and green pok-a-dot BabyLegs.

What Happens When You Get Press?

Check me out. I am getting all crazy with this blogging stuff and adding pictures! This is Georgia kicking it at the park on a pistachio/chocolate Woobee blanket. Her mom Della Chang is an awesome photographer and took this shot.

The Parenting magazine August issue is out already to its subscribers. I know this because I have already had an increase in sales-hooray! This is not always the case for all press. It has been my experience that getting press does ot always equal immediate sales. Take Woobees piece in Seattle Metropolitan mag's "Best Of" July issue - I don't think I felt a thing from that sales wise. What I do get though is people seeing the product when I am out and about (I use the blankets for everything in the summer - towels, picnic blankets, wind blockers) and commenting on how they remember seeing Woobees in the magazine. So, even if it is not sales it is brand recognition which in return will bring you sales. Personally, I prefer the kind of pres that brings in immediate sales - call me crazy.

The girls are at summer camp from 10am - 3pm three days a week. I have been able to get a lot more work done with this new schedule and the best thing is I know they are having a great time. If all the stars are lined up, they will both take naps when they get home too - like today. When I have ample time to get business taken care of for Woobee and now also for BabyLegs, I am much more focused on my time with Ava and Lola. It has truly been amazing not waiting tables at night and being home with my family. I am a lucky girl!

Yeah Parenting Magazine!

So Woobee's little blurb is coming out in Parenting Magazine's August issue. It is actually official, I saw it. Now we will see what actually happens. My hopes & dreams...sell so much product I am scrambling to get everything in production. I found a great new local production team and am anxious to use them.

Here's a mommy manufacturer tip: don't stop looking for a better price on your production until you are 100% satisfied. And remember when you are figuring out your products price look past just the cost of your materials. Fold in the cost of your marketing, cost of running your business (electric, Internet, shipping, rent, etc.), any rep fees, and other cost you may have. If you just take into consideration your material cost you will not make a living, but rather be very busy with a new costly hobby. I don't know about you, but I certainly do not have time for any more hobbies...I don't even have time for my old ones.

Trade shows

Tradeshows are one of those things that you really don't want to do, but you kind of have to if you want your brand to have weight & validity in its community. In a nutshell trade shows are exhausting, expensive and it is a miricle when you see your return in sales. Deciding which show to do is nerve racking. If you only have budget for one or two shows you want to choose well. A slow show can really get a girl down. Then there is the cost of the booth (the physical space you need to rent), the displays and posters you are going to use, shipping these items, catalogs and print material you need to give out - oh, and do not forget to have press kits for the press room! You can also find out what press will be there ahead of time and call to schedule an appointment with them to talk about your product. Taking advantage of the press that is there can help you tremendously. FREE press is the best press!

Woobee Kids, BellySock and BabyLegs will be at the ABC Kids Expo in Vegas Sept 7-10 (I will be there personally too so come by and say hi), Nicole from BabyLegs is taking us to Germany for the huge kids show in mid-Sept., and we will also be at Mom2B the last weekend of September in LA. This is one of the reasons this Woobee/BabyLegs merger is important for my company...the ability to get exposure that would not normally be able to afford. It takes money to make money - sad but true.

Here comes the Sun, do do do do....

My daughters think that every time we play Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles it literally brings out the sun. Unfortunately, the weather in Seattle changes so quickly and frequently I haven't been able to disprove this crazy (but sweet) idea they have.

I have taken on the song as my sort of anthem though. Here Comes the Sun - it's been a long cold lonely winter - between my injured husband, death & sickness in my family, starting a new company while waiting tables & taking care of my girls, it seems like years since it's been here...but now I don't wait tables anymore, Woobee blankets were in the Best Of Seattle issue of Seattle Metropolitan Mag, my husband is done with school, and my eldest daughter is starting full-time kindergarten (can I get a high five for full-time kindergarten!). And I say, it's alright do do do do dodo.

PS Speaking of sun, I am looking for the best beach foods...with all this sun comes sand, and I need easy eats that are sand friendly- any ideas?