Tweens & Teens

Oh-My-Gawd! Those of you who have lived this already, how did you do it? Today my 14 year old daughter came home and asked me if she could hang out with one of her guy friends. He recently turned 16 and just got his drivers license! She said he is on a driving kick {as I remember getting my license, I know he just wants to drive and drive and drive}. After hearing the words, my anxiety level increased. Yes, we knew it was coming, but I am SO not prepared for this stage of their lives where I have to “let her loose” on the dangerous streets with teens and adults driving like they have to be somewhere yesterday! Her plans ended up changing so I escaped this situation for now…but there will come another time where the question is asked… which translates to “can I get into a car with a new 16 year old driver as a passenger”….I’m scared!

How did you make it through this stage of their lives…the driving stage? Does the fear ever get less? Is this the point in her life where the constant worry resides within me? I trust her completely…it’s the others on the road that I don’t trust!

Yes, it’s almost that time of year…winter time!  Some hate it, some (like myself) love it.  I love the cold {not freezing, just cold} air, love not sneezing {due to spring/summer/fall allergies} and I most definitely LOVE cozy sweaters, sweatpants and big fluffy blankets…and of course, sitting by a toasty warm fire!  Ahhh… I can feel it already!

With winter comes super cute accessories like hats, scarves and mittens!  There are so many to choose from!  This week I put together a little sampling of some of the most original scarves (and a beanie cap) that I found just surfing the web.  I was thinking of the gamers, because my son is one…then thought the girls love food and animals, right?

Whether you like, love or hate the cold and winter to come, I hope you enjoy shopping for some fun, trendy and unique accessories!  That too always makes me smile!
Happy Winter!

I LOVE Halloween.  I mean LOVE Halloween so much that I told my parents I wanted a Halloween Party over a Sweet 16 Party!  It’s true; I passed up on a Sweet 16 birthday bash for a Halloween party.

One of the perks of being a parent is you get to go through Halloween again by way of your children’s eyes.  I’ve been fortunate enough to give my children Halloween with candy and special costumes they get to pick out or I make for them.  As parents we know ‘the Halloween costume’ is such a big deal for our kiddos.  Going to pick out their costume is huge and can take days, or a couple exchanges to acquire just the right one.

Nevertheless not everyone has the luxury to go on a Halloween costume-shopping trip.  In 2008 the warm heart of 11-year-old Emma Rose Shapiro while sorting through her old costumes realized not all children had the opportunity to receive a new costume.  Emma decided to take action and created Halloween Helpers.

Emma’s goals: enlist children who outgrow or become disinterested in previous years’ costumes to share them with kids who would not typically receive costumes.

• Raise awareness, and gain empathy, among her peers that there are children who do not participate in Halloween.  Halloween Helpers has put over 3000 costumes in the hands of deserving children, and helped created memories.

This year {2012} Emma would still like to continue The Halloween Helpers. However, in order to do so, she feels that this idealistic program needs to become a full-fledged 501c3 to receive widespread acceptance, legitimacy and to perpetuate her long-term vision.  Her goal was not just to collect and distribute costumes for a few hours of enjoyment.  Rather, her original intention was, and still is, to distribute the costumes and hold costume parades/parties in local community centers.  This will ensure that children have a safe place to show off their costume and trick-or-treat in a positive, secure environment.

However, in order to do so, she needs to raise $1,700.00 for costly government application fees.  She has turned to Indiegogo, an online crowd-sourcing fundraising tool, for help.

The $1,700.00 Emma Rose hopes to raise through her on-line fundraising campaign  will help pay for all of the government application and attorney fees related to this effort.

These include (but are not limited to): a state and national name search; filing PA Department of State incorporation papers; obtaining a 501c3 status from the IRS; and placing legally required advertisements about the incorporation of The Halloween Helpers in legal journals and general circulation newspapers.

I ask you all to help out Emma Rose and check out Halloween Helpers website, as well as please make a donation to Emma Rose’s Indiegogo fundraising page.

Tots to Teens, believes in the entrepreneurial spirit, and when we share our Business of the Month we always hope the stories you read will inspire.  We are thrilled to share this month’s Business of the Month because this month’s entrepreneur will be entering High School! {Our first teen business owner }We hope you will share this interview with your children.  Madison Robinson has created the brand FishFlops®, FishFlops are adorable flip-flops, which exemplify Madison’s love of aquatic animals and the beach—perfect for the summer!  We are excited that we can share this remarkable vision turned reality…. Meet Madison Robinson the visionary behind FishFlops®

 T2T: What was that light bulb moment for you?

Madison: The light bulb moment for me happened after a day at the beach.  I was born on Galveston Island and went to the beach all the time.  I loved to draw, color, fish, and play on the beach as a kid.  When I was 8 years old I was drawing and coloring and looked over at my many pair of flip-flops in my room.  I thought I would draw some of my favorite ocean creatures on an outline of a flip-flop.  I decided to call them FishFlops® and I showed my dad.  He was so excited.

T2T: What pushed you to follow through?

Madison: I think the fact that my family and friends thought the FishFlops® were really neat and they said they would buy them.  My family and friends encouraged me to keep on creating.

T2T: How did you come up with the name FishFlops®?

Madison: After I drew some fish on the outline of a flip-flop and I wrote the word, FishFlops.  I thought the name was catchy.  I showed my dad and said, “Look Dad, I made FishFlops®!”  He said that was the perfect name.

T2T: FishFlops® now offers shirts and hats to coordinate with FishFlops®; do you see yourself designing more clothing in the future?

Madison: Yes.  I love to go shopping and see all of the latest styles.  One day I want to see my clothing in the malls.  I want to create a life style brand.

T2T: You have written Swimming with Spinner and Living Together at Sea by Orkicky what inspired you to write these stories for children?

Madison: After drawing my characters, I gave them names.  It’s always good to have someone encourage you when you are afraid of doing something.  So, I thought these characters could tell a story but also be a friend to a child who needs encouragement.  

T2T: Can you tell us more about the FishFlops® virtual world, when can we expect an arrival? 

Madison: Right now we are focused on the footwear aspect of FishFlops®.  The virtual world will require a lot of time but we are in talks with a few companies that can help make this happen.

T2T: What has been the most exciting thing to happen to you since becoming a business owner?

Madison: The most exciting thing that has happened to me since starting this journey is getting my shoes into Nordstrom.  Walking into Nordstrom and seeing my product on the wall was a moment I will never forget.  Everybody at Nordstrom has treated me like family. 

T2T: How do you manage it all FishFlops®, school, social activities, and teenage life?

Madison: I’ll be starting my first year of high school soon and so most of my time will be on schoolwork.  Hanging out with my friends is something I really enjoy.  As for FishFlops®, I still have a lot to learn about the business side and that’s where my dad helps out. 

T2T: When do you get time to concentrate on your designs? 

Madison: Even though it is summer and I am spending time with my friends and doing things with my family, I understand that in this business there are deadlines that have to be met for next year’s designs.  I make time to concentrate on my new designs.

T2T: It is summertime and everybody wears flip-flops but who would you love to see wear FishFlops®?

Madison: I’d love to see kids across the country and my friends wear them.  We are making adult sizes next year so there will be something for everyone.  We recently donated FishFlops® to Shoes for Orphan’s Souls®, which provides new shoes and socks to orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and throughout the world.  I would love to see these children in my FishFlops®.

T2T: If you had advice for kids who have a passion and want to create their own product what would you tell them? 

Madison: I would tell them to write down their idea, share their idea with family and friends and get their opinions.  Be open to suggestions.  Be patient because it can be a long process but eventually things do start happening.  Never give up.

T2T: What do you plan to do in the future?

Madison: I’d like to see FishFlops® become a lifestyle brand.  I can see it as a way of informing kids about the ocean and the life in it, and things we can do to protect it.  Giving back is important.

     I cannot tell you how impressed and inspired we here at Tots to Teens are with Madison’s story.  She also has a giving heart, this past December Madison donated FishFlops to the children at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Snowball Express Military Charity.  Madison also shared her story with the children, “I enjoyed talking with the kids and sharing my FishFlops journey.  It made me feel good to share my FishFlops® and my story.” We are delighted that Madison has taken time to give back… we cannot be more impressed with her business ethic and her kind heart.

To purchase your own FishFlops® we suggest the “lighted FishFlops®” Madison created for Nordstrom.  Please go support Madison and share her story and big Thank you again to Madison for sharing her!

Maddie is such a sharing person she is giving away one pair of FishFlops to one lucky winner, plenty of chances to win! Ready… set… go! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breakups are a natural part of life.  However, even though we know it could happen, we never really know how we are going to feel once it does happen.  If you’ve gone through a breakup or know someone who is, getting out of that break up rut seems like a daunting task.  Caird Urquhart, author of 30 Ways to Better Days…How to Rally After You’ve Been Dumped, has provided us with the top ten tips on how to get over, getting dumped!

Remove All Evidence
Things can often carry more weight than the relationship itself. Do you have stuff in your closet you just can’t part with? Do you feel if you throw it away you will be discarding a memory or the relationship associated with that memory? No object can replace your memories. Your ex is gone, so their stuff should be gone too. Clean up your surroundings so you have a fresh start.

Spend Time With People Who Don’t Know Your Story
Spending time doing something new with fresh people can break you of the habit of talking about your ex. If these people don’t know you they won’t be talking about your relationship. You will also get to enjoy a new experience which may open up all kinds of possibilities.

Plan ahead
Often on the heels of a breakup we experience good days and bad days. On the good days plan ahead, so on the bad days when you don’t feel like doing anything, you will because you have already committed to doing so. Just the act of getting up and out will help to lift your spirits.

Redecorate
Regardless of your budget, there is always something you can do to freshen up your home. Even simply moving your bed so you wake up each morning looking in a different direction can dramatically alter your mood.

Exercise
Exercise is good for your mind, body and spirit. Your body deserves your attention. Love it and it will love you back. When you feel good physically your self confidence will get a boost too.

Don’t ask
You do not need to know what your ex is up too. Don’t ask your friends; When did you see him? Who was he with? Does he look happy? And so on. Even a trusted source will only know half of the real story. Don’t set yourself up this way. Spend your time building your own life and not being curious about your ex’s.

Work
A rewarding job, whether volunteer or paying is a wonderful distraction. It can occupy your mind so you can escape the constant marry-go-round of thought about your past relationship. If you work hard at something you love, time will pass and you could come out the other end ahead in life and occupation.

Don’t play the victim
You may feel like the victim, just don’t play the part. The sooner you can claim responsibility for your life the sooner you can change it. Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens because of you. Take charge of your day to day behaviour and you will go from rut to rockin’.

Reignite your passions
Are there things you love to do that your ex didn’t enjoy like travel, art class or tennis? Take advantage of your freedom and sign up for those activities you love. Get out and do them now.

Change your routine
Even the smallest change in your day to day routine will shift your perspective and start to pull you out of your rut.  Take a different route to work, change what you eat in the morning, invite someone new to join you for lunch, stop watching TV with dinner. Mix it up and see what new ideas and opportunities come into your life.

About Caird Urquhart:
30 Ways to Better Days…How to Rally After You’ve Been Dumped is a self-help book aimed at women who have just gone through a relationship breakup. The chapters in the book are short and sweet and was written as an easy to read, no nonsense handbook with the intention of helping women of all ages lift their self-esteem and become empowered to move on.

With 18 years of experience in the film and television industry as a producer, casting director and actor, Caird became a personal and business coach.  After graduating from The Coaches Training Institute and being accredited by the International Coaches Federation, she founded New Road Coaching Inc. in October of 2005.

Since then, Newroad has been working with entrepreneurs, executives, athletes and entertainers to help them achieve the big picture possibilities of their lives.  Her hope as a coach is to be able to share the true magic of the entertainment industry; that dreams can become reality.

Caird lives in Toronto, Canada where she is the proud Aunt to ten nieces and nephews.  She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in Psychology and Physical Education from Wilfred Laurier University. And is a member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise, Canadian Association of Women Executive and Entrepreneurs, Company of Women, Women in Film and Television, The Economic Club and The Empire Club of Canada.

Do you ever look at other people’s nails and immediately get an impression about their personalities? For example, whenever you notice a person’s perfect french manicure, do you get the idea that she has a confident and sophisticated character? Likewise, if you notice that someone’s nails are adorned in crackle polish, do you get the impression that she has a spunky and outgoing disposition?

Whether they are glammed up with sparkly polish or left plain and unadorned, nails can tell a lot about a person. With all of today’s polish and decor options, there are countless ways to give off an impression via your nails. This may make you wonder, what do my nails say about me?

Katie Saxton, Nail Expert and President of Custom Nail Solutions, has put together a quick list that will help you discover the effect that your nails have on one’s first impression of you. Use it to simply see your nails’ effect, or try the other decor options to express a different side of your personality!

1. Red Nails: Perfectly polished, fire engine-red nails tell others that you are daring, outgoing, and highly confident. Wear these out to the club to show off your diva side!

2. Dark Blue and Black Nails: These shades tell others that you are outgoing and live on the wild side. When people see these nails, they get the impression that you live an adrenaline-filled lifestyle full of constant excitement!

3. Nail Wraps: Adorning your nails with wraps in designs like cheetah, lace, or polka-dot tells others that you are trendy, fashionable, and fun! Adorn your nails with wraps when you want to garner attention at your favorite nighttime hotspots!

4. Pink Polish: Pink polishes tell others that you have a flirty and feminine personality. Polish your nails with pink hues whenever you want to show off your girly and sweet side!

5. Crackle Polish: As said above, crackle polishes tell others that you are spunky and high-spirited. Decorate your nails with this style when you want to be noticed at a concert or dance party!

6. Colorful Stiletto Nails: Loved by fashion icons Lady Gaga and Beyonce, colorful stiletto nails tell others you are a diva with attitude! Wear these when you want the paparazzi snapping pictures wherever you go!

7. Nude Polish: Clear and nude polishes tell others that you are laid-back and have an easy-going persona. Natural hues give off the impression that you are relaxed and enjoy the little things in life.

8. Neon Nail Polishes: Polishes in neon pink, green, orange, and yellow hues let others know that you are an outgoing extrovert that loves a good party!

9. Unpolished and Unadorned Nails: Leaving your nails as they are lets others know that you are confident and unstressed about your appearance.

10. Chipped Polish: When people see chipped nail polish, they can tell that you live a busy lifestyle and don’t have a lot of time to relax. If you see that your polish is chipped, take ten minutes out of your day to get your nails primped and ready for the spotlight again!

11. Painted Designs and Sparkle Polish: Decorating your nails with sparkle polish and polish designs like stars tells others that you have a creative imagination! Choose this style when you want your nails to show off your artistic side!

If you have been wondering for a while about what your nails truly say about you, the above list should help. Don’t forget, you can also easily match your nails to your personality with a pair of Custom Nail Solutions’ custom fit nails. Custom Nail Solutions is a revolutionary artificial nail product that offers custom nails that uniquely fit only your nail beds, are reusable and chemical-free. They are thinner, stronger, and virtually indestructible. Because they are everlasting, you will save thousands of dollars by not having to make expensive and inconvenient nail appointments.You can have lovely, natural looking salon-style nails on your own schedule and in the comfort of your own home.

With Custom Nail Solutions, you can also choose your own specific length, smile line and shape, depending on the occasion. Choose from styles like sport, active, fashion, glamour and stiletto to express yourself and give a fab first impression!  Bobby Thomas, “The Today Show” Style Editor, recently featured Custom Nail Solutions as one of the latest must-haves for nails and it is easy to see why!

Check out www.customnailsolutions.com for more information. “Like” Custom Nail Solutions on Facebook, follow on Twitter @customnails and pin on Pinterest under Custom Nail Solutions.