CambodiaPosted: October 18, 2009 at 8:52 am | byFiled under: Cambodia, About Me It’s 5:19 am and I have finally given up trying to fall back asleep after an hour of tossing and turning. My mind is focused on the thoughts and memories I have of Cambodia. So instead of fighting it I have fixed myself a cup of Cambodian coffee (why do we not put condensed milk in our coffee?!), flipped the fire on & grabbed my laptop, ipod and kindle with the Shack in it. Life is perfect as I listen to Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars - with my puppy curled at my side. It’s good to be me. I am going to try and write some of the memories I have of our trip – to capture the lessons that I have learned. I don’t want to forget the people who changed how I think about life in some pretty surprising ways. (0)commentsCambodia 2009Posted: October 15, 2009 at 10:38 am | byFiled under: About Me This October my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia. We went with a group to work with an organazation called TransformAsia. It was a trip of a life time. After a start in Phnom Pehn my husband and I split up in to two different groups. Most of the trip is chronicled in a fellow traveller (and now dear friend)’s blog. She did such a great job of capturing the trip I am including the link as a description of what we experienced. Check it out here: http://kimmeyer.wordpress.com/category/cambodia-2009/ I will be sure to follow up with some stories of my own - and some of the ways my heart has been completely changed after this trip. With jet lag, re-entry into life as a Mom to Briggs and catching up with all that is going on with Lots to Say Baby, I am still a little overwhelmed as I try to process all that I saw. Love, Erin - Chief Momma (1)commentHome!Posted: August 30, 2009 at 12:01 pm | byFiled under: Company News, About Me We are back! I am relaxed after an amazing trip to Southwest Harbor Maine. We are hitting the ground running - the next few weeks are going to be crazy! I am so glad that we had a fantastic trip because I feel energized and excited about the month ahead and not totally freaked out Lots to Say Baby will be launching TWO new products this month at the ABC Kids Expo Sept 13th. Stay tuned for details that may ‘leak out’ here in the next few weeks! The products look awesome and from the initial reaction by our mom’s panel I KNOW that you are going to go crazy for them too! We are putting the final touches on our website - SO excited! Then, - I am headed to Cambodia at the end of the month. My husband and I will be working at an orphanage called the David Center. With all the chaos going on it has been tough to get my head wrapped around this incredible experience but as it gets closer I can’t help but feel just how important this trip will be in our lives. So, that is it. We are home. Email will be finished up today. Then it’s feet first in show prep! Have a great week! Erin (0)commentsThe last day - MainePosted: August 30, 2009 at 11:53 am | byFiled under: Adventures in Mommahood, About Me
Today is our last full day on Mount Desert Island. We will be back I am sure of it. We wont be coming back to this house though and my heart is starting to feel the cracks of sadness that have been there all week I am over all joyful and thankful for this gift of a week. After 50+ years, the house will sell this summer. It will go to another family who will create new traditions. I believe they will love the house like we always have so I am ok with that part. I mourn not sitting in my space though. So many of the memories I have here are solitary. I lived up here alone or with grandma for that summer before going off to Switzerland. MY room has always been Alice’s room or Daddy’s room so it gets complicated when people start coming here when I am here cause I get a little possesive. The house will sell because it is time for my aunt and uncle to build their dream retirement home up the road. We will come to visit which is how I know we will be back. But it won’t be in my space. It will be –even more than it ever has been – in their house. The ache gets bigger. I want to steal dishes from the cupbard. Enough of the sadness for now. I will let more in when I am down on the Claremont dock – for now I am lettin it simmer under the surface. Because this day is just TOO DIVINE to waste on a moment of forlorn dramatics. The water is so sparkly..I have mentioned that already right? It’s amazing so totally worth a second mention. The day sits ahead of us with so much promise! B (my son) is still sleeping. S (my husband) is still lounging in bed. P (by brother) is snoring in the bedroom above me. It is the kind of quiet that I love the most..family near by but with space. Ok so what to do today? Hair appt at 9:30. What? YOU don’t get your hair done on vacation!? Its kind of a think with my Aunt A. She always has the best hair dresser and loves hers here on the island and made an appointment for me months ago! We may walk into town before that to get coffee and a scone..well I will be getting a blueberry danish because they are SO yummy –and- I can’t really stand a scone. SO DRY! S might ride his bike to Bar Harbor to return it to the rental shop. B and I will meet him and finish the trip with a hike to the top of..hmm..maybe one of the Bubbles. Or amybe we will just drive around the island and soak in the amazing views. Tonight we will probably have broiled haddock cause that sounds good to me right now. Who knows..I still have to pack so the boys will probably be able to talk me into dinner out too. Ok, off to read for a bit. I totally heart my Kindle. It takes a bit to get used to holding but I heart it nonetheless. (0)comments Maine here we come!Posted: August 19, 2009 at 4:15 pm | byFiled under: About Me Our family has been going to Southwest Harbor Maine for oh..for over 50 years. My Dad, Aunt and Uncle spent their summers at the little house overlooking the Atlantic. Then I grew up spending many of my summers there. On vacations with my family and then when I got a bit older I would go and spend the entire summer on the island with my Grandma. Southwest Harbor is in the fabric of our family -a place that for all our differences in personality and ideas..we all truly love. Hiking every day. Lobsters on the dock in our grubbies. Fish chowder and an evening of Scrabble. It was a place where I could sit and think on the rocks of the coastline. I figured out a lot about who I am on those rocks. It is heaven. Now it is time to go back. It has been 10 years since I have driven over the bridge (Thompson Island I think) to get to Mount Desert Island. Last time I visited, I was living in DC on my own in a tiny studio apartment and working at my first job since graduation. Sean and I had just started dating - he wasn’t with me because I wasn’t ready to introduce the new “guy” in my life to the family :). Today, life is much different. The ‘guy’ was a keeper -Sean and I have been married for 8 1/2 years. We live outside Seattle and have an awesome 2 1/2 year old son. They have never been there and I can’t wait to show them a place that means so much to me. This week I will share with them a piece of my heart and soul. It isn’t that we wanted to wait that long until we went back. Life just got crazy and though we always said ’next year’ another trip always came up. We wanted to explore the rest of the world as a couple -Greece, Mexico, Ireland all beckoned us. Maine would always be there. Except now, it will be there for another family soon. Friday I will drive over that bridge and head to WL for the last time. The house will be sold this year. I hope to a family who will make new traditions and memories and loves it as much as we do. Part of my heart breaks for this transition to a new time. Most of me though is just so excited to show Sean and Briggs a bit of me that they have never seen. So in a few days I will be elbow deep in lobster guts and exhausted from hiking Cadillac Mtn. It is going to be a great week. -Erin Chief Momma PS: It wouldn’t be a post without a funny picture of Briggs dressed up like a lobster
Happy Fourth of July!Posted: July 4, 2009 at 10:38 am | byFiled under: About Me We are so blessed to live in a country where we are free. Where men and women fight for that freedom every day. Our Armed Forces give their own comforts so we can have ours. They give up treasured moments like holding their babies because they are far away protecting us so we can have those moments in a safer world. They learn about their childs day over the phone or skype so we can all have dinner together. So treasure the moments we all have today..tomorrow and the next. They are gifts from God made possible my the men and women who sacrifice so much for our freedom. Thank you to each of you! Love Chief Momma (0)commentsHappy Canada Day!Posted: July 1, 2009 at 10:49 am | byFiled under: About Me Happy Canada Day everyone! I am from CT originally BUT my husband and son are both duel citizens so we wear a lot of red around here! I hope that all our family and all the great stores that carry our pacifiers have a relaxing holiday! I know my MIL is off to the cottage for a long weekend and looking forward to it!
Valentines Day - when you own your own businessPosted: February 15, 2009 at 12:57 am | byFiled under: Building a Business, About Me Today was a very romantic day for me. I didn’t wear red, get roses or even taste a bite of chocolate. Fortunately Grandma remembered to get Briggs a card and some treats (he LOVES the monkey)..because i completely forgot!..my mind was on air freight this week. My sweet hubby generously brought Briggs along with him to pick up our new merchandising displays - leaving me 2 1/2 hours to clean and prep my office for the arrive of our pacifier shipment. Later, in the afternoon, we went to the airport as a family. Pacis touched down at 12:55 and cleared customs just in time - the office closed at 3:30 and we arrived at 3:25! - phew. Thank goodness that pacis are small..we got all 7 crates in the car!
As a treat we thought a nice meal was in order and we were both in the mood for steak. Where do you take a two year old on Valentines Day without ruining the meal for all in your vicinity? - The Keg! It was perfect. Table with a kitchen view to keep B amused. A glass of sauv blanc and a yummy meal. Who cared it was 4:30 - all the ‘early birders’ thought B was cute! Sean and I laughed together about how much our lives have changed..and how great it is. Now, we will finish the night with taking photos and processing inventory. I am taking a break while we get B settled in for the night (the clack of pacis is SO distracting for a baby trying to get to sleep!). My Vday was not what the media or our society would describe as romantic or very ‘Valentiny’ but to me it was perfect. My husband with me, helping me, hanging out with Briggs and just being together. I am so lucky to be blessed with the best hubby in the world. That is all I need for Valentines Day! (1)commentWOW! What a week!Posted: February 2, 2009 at 11:48 am | byFiled under: Media, Nice things happen, Adventures in Mommahood, About Me So I don’t want to go on forever about the Super Bowl since the rest of the world will be talking about it over the water cooler today. Let me just leave the subject with one sentence. WOW..what a fun last quarter. I love it when the entire room is on their feet cheering! Ok, that was 2 sentences. Sorry This week is crazy. I find out more on when my inventory will arrive (I SO hate waiting!). I am setting up the warehouse for the influx in pacis. MIL Elaine arrives Thursday. Then it is off to Baby Day Luxe - Saturday morning! I am so excited to be able to help again this year. A friend and fellow woman-owned business (mompreneur) started Baby Day Luxe to give each of the wonderful women served by local food & clothing banks items from many of the local baby/mom businesses. Items from Baby Chaleco, BooginHead, Lots to Say Baby and many others will be given out alongside the staples they need so much like clothing, diapers and formula. It is a great opportunity to get to know a new group of amazing folks. After a morning at Providence Regina House Sari and I will be heading over to the Sample Sale in Redmond. If you are local and reading this..come visit! Many local baby companies are selling their samples (Lots to Say Baby pacis and SippiGrips will be there!) & left over inventory from last year. It is an awesome bargain! The address is: 8413 154th Ave NE, Bldg I Redmond, WA 98065 Lost? call 425.785.5980 (or just google map it in the first place so you don’t have to worry!) So, now you know what Chief Momma is up to this week in between play dates and Sesame Street episodes! Have a great week yourself! XOXO Erin Chief Momma (0)commentsI am not participating in this recession!Posted: October 28, 2008 at 12:43 pm | byFiled under: Articles of Interest, Off the shelf - what I am reading, About Me I don’t know about you but I have been on information overload with the economy and the election - it is never ending! You know it is bad when my MIL is screening calls because she can’t stand another political call (DC is the WORST place for tons of calls!) Anyway, I have spent a lot of time contemplating how I feel about all of the events. How I will vote. How I will grow our business. How will our family be impacted. I have also gotten a lot of signs that things are going to be just fine. Yes, we are in a tough economy in transition. Things are going to change (we all hate change Back to the signs.. Sean recently went to a networking event where everyone wore pins that said “I am choosing not to participate in the recession”. LOVE THAT! I heard a snippet of a story on NPR yesterday (B was screaming so I missed the rest The sermon at church on Sunday was about tithing and reworking your budget in todays economy so it DOES work (ie. 86 the Choos). Then I saw this video from Toilet Paper Entrepeneurs which basically explained HOW you make it through these down turns. So the way I see it..we are going to be just fine. The signs are there. Just think of it as a Diet. We are all cranky the first week, then things get a bit better but it takes some time before you actually don’t CRAVE McDonalds. THEN
It is time for the change. Don’t run from it. Embrace it with open eyes and smart decisions and you will come out of this transition just fine..and maybe even smarter and more confident than before. (0)commentsNext Page » |
