Hello!!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! Ours was wonderful... tomorrow I hope to post pictures of our great holiday!

Until then, I wanted to ask you crafty gals where (either online or storefront) can I buy storage furniture and organizational solutions for an office/craft room?

Any ideas?!

Please read...

You guys may want to pass this info on to all your friends who have their own business making things for children. Please sign this and pass along to everyone you know.. I read this on a friend's blog:

As most of you know I own a children’s clothing business, and as of February 10, myself and thousands of others in the children’s industry will be deeply affected financially or will be out of business.
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Remember the outcry last holiday season over lead in imported toys? In order to combat such safety issues, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has passed legislation called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law sets stringent guidelines for children’s products containing lead and phthalates (a chemical used in some vinyl products). It is supposed to go into effect February 10th, 2009, and after that date any product intended for children ages 12 and under must meet these guidelines, and have a certificate of compliance from a CPSC-accredited laboratory. This includes not just toys, but clothing, jewelry, blankets, sheets, books, bibs, strollers, carriers, and anything else that a child under 12 might come in contact with. Sounds great, right?
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In theory, maybe. But in actuality the law is so far reaching that it may succeed in turning the economy upside down. For starters, the CPSIA requires end unit testing on every product intended for use by children under 12. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to do this testing, regardless of how small the business. That means that manufacturers (like myself ) will have to pay to get every different product they offer tested. These tests have to be done at a CSPC accredited lab, and cost tens of thousands of dollars. For example if you offer 3 different types of dresses. Each dress contains 2 different fabrics, as well as buttons, and thread, so that’s potentially $600 to test one dress. But if you have 3 or more styles, that’s $1800. And when you get a new bolt of fabric, you need to start all over again.
At present, there are no exemptions for small businesses and “micro” manufacturers and most handcraft artisans. There is no exception for quantities made, where the garments/products are made or anything else. Nor is there an exception for unadorned fabric components, unfinished wood components, materials which, by their nature, are free of lead and phthalates.
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Also, the Act takes a “guilty until proven innocent” approach, which would treat a handmade, unfinished wooden toy that doesn’t meet the certification deadline of 2/10/09 as a “banned hazardous substance” which would be illegal to distribute in this country. Each infraction carries a $100,000 felony charge. This legislation is also retroactive for any pre-existing inventory as of February 10th, 2009. This means that everything on the shelves in those big (or small) stores will also be “banned, hazardous substances” - contraband. Larger corporations that can afford testing will incur thousands, maybe millions of dollars in fees, and this expense will be handed down to the consumer, probably making the prices for children’s products go through the roof.
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This also means that after that date, even selling your kids old things on eBay or Craigslist will be illegal. Charities will not be able to accept donations without a certificate of compliance either. February 10, 2009 is being dubbed “National Bankruptcy Day” by many people in the apparel and toy industry. If this legislation is not amended, it will affect everyone from port workers to parents looking for legal products. Billions of dollars worth of children’s products will have to be destroyed because they can’t be legally sold, and this will cause major environmental problems.
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While I am all for higher safety standards and keeping our kids safe, this law is so overreaching as to put thousands on manufacturers of children’s products out of business -hurting our economy and causing even more loan defaults. Though this legislation was well-intentioned, it cannot be allowed to stand as is.
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Please help us defend the American dream and our entrepreneurial spirit! This law affects every stay at home mom trying to help put food on the table and every grandmother knitting blankets for the local craft fair. It makes the thousands of us who have found a niche in the burgeoning children’s market have to make a tough decision - continue to produce items illegally and possible incur a $100,000 fine, pay the enormous fees and raise costs of goods sold, or close up shop!

Please help us!
Contact your Congressperson using this link: http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476
It only takes 30 seconds!
If you have an extra minute send a hard copy of the letter as well!To sign the online petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.htmlRead more about it here: http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

Come Visit Us!!

We will be showcasing our products at Melange-Galleria of Salons in Friendswood, Texas tomorrow! The address is 400 West Parkwood Ave, Friendswood, Texas 77546. The phone number is 281-993-3500. Stop by and see our fabulous products if your in the area!

Oh My

Went Christmas shopping tonight. It was brutal. The stores are packed. There are no parking places. People were rude. Lines were long. My feet hurt. Needing to just relax and think on what this season is truly about. How can people be so ugly over a single item they are buying to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. A little backwards maybe? Sheesh.

Headed to a warm bath. Then rading the pantry for something with more than 100 calories. Don't you love how I justify my eating habits?!

Goodnight friends,
Rachel

Pictures

Random pictures of my family, my friends and their cute kiddos!

Random Question...

Hey girls! How is everyone doing? Hope all is well! Just so you know, I'm sorry I don't post everyday...BUT I want you girls to know that everyday (ok several times a day) I read your blogs!

Okay a random question: does anyone know or have a clue how much it would cost to either close in a garage (making it apart of the house), or close in a back porch. I'm looking to make myself a seperate studio space. Right now the office is in our bedroom...we have a HUGE sitting area with windows and while it is a nice office space, I would really love another space.. a bigger, seperate space!

I know that you guys aren't going to shoot off an exact price to me but, maybe a ballpark figure? $5,000? $10,000??

Anyone know??

A Mother Inquires...

Ok, so I have two questions:

At what age, does a child sit at the dinner table and eat with out getting the food EVERYWHERE? I mean, all over him, all over the table and all over the floor.

I know my kiddos are young; so I'm not expecting a miracle here.. just wondering how much longer it lasts. I seriously have to sweep and mop like five times a day. It's getting old.


And finally, any of you moms out there have any great recipies to share?! I'm in need of some new ones.. tired of cooking the same old stuff. I'm open to anything.. as long as it doesn't involve too many appliances. 'Cause this Momma don't like doing dishes!!

Love to all--goodnight,
Rachel

I cannot belive it.

Well we just returned from driving around the city and seeing all the snow. It's so beautiful. Never have I seen anything like it. It never snows in Houston. I'm thankful I got to see such a beautiful site.

We saw so many families out and about enjoying the snow. We even saw a 12 foot snowman!! Yes you read that right.. we'll have pictures later.

For now, my feet are frozen..I'm sipping on my Starbucks white hot chocolate..it's 11:40pm and I'm about to go snuggle up next to my Mr. Right! He'll warm me up ;) wink wink. Goodnight!

OMG!!!!!!!!!

It's snowing even more now! MY HOUSE AND NEIGHBORHOOD ARE COVERED!!

This is awesome!!

...more pictures to come.

Do you hear what I hear??

I hear snow hitting my window!! I am SO EXCITED! It never snows here! When I say snow I mean, flakes falling from the sky! Not snow like some of you guys get... but hey, I'll take what I can get! We weren't expecting it to snow but what an early Christmas surpise! We caught a little video of Bryce's first time to see snow!

New markdowns, and BLINGALICIOUS!!

Hey everyone! Wanted to post some of our new markdowns. Our Christmas Holiday Dress by Oopsy Daisy Baby is on sale! I've got three sizes left: 2T, 6 and 8. The retail price is $120.00 but they are on sale for $99.00.

Also our BLING pacifiers have been marked down!! Check them out! Perfect for a baby shower gift! They are truly OOAK!

Have a look at our other BLING items, such as birthday bling, bling clothing, bling shoes and bling bedroom decor!

Also new are our cute and trendy burp cloths! Perfect for every styling mommy! We just got in an adorable hot pink and zebra tutu complete with a glitter overlay!

Take a peek at our new items! Have a great evening!

Just In!!

Check out our new designs here at Jack and Cole!

These hats are downright precious! Talk about trendy and cute, eh? I don't think there could be a cuter way to keep your baby's head warm this time of year. These printed baby hats are one of a kind and very unique! They'd make the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for that little one in your life!

Currently we have these in 0-18 months but we can also get them in 2T-6 years!!

Contact me if you are interested in any of these FABULOUS hats!!
*Be sure to scroll below to see the "why I got out of bed to post*

I crawled out of bed for this post...

So, my husband and I were just laying in bed doing our late night chat... he tells me this story and I first, laugh and then am shocked..and then I crawl out of bed to share with you fine folks!

I sent my husband out tonight to run to the grocery store to get me a few things(he's such a sweetie). While he was there he turns on the frozen food asile to get a bag of frozen corn(not just any corn, southwest corn--yumo!), there is only one other gentleman(this discription will be revoked I promise)on the asile.

As he's pulling the bag out to place it in the cart he says he hears the most disgusting noise...he turns to see the man, "hacking" a "lugi"(or however you spell that disgusting word)!!! Oh it gets worse...

He says the man does this for a few, long seconds..and then he SPITS IT ON THE FLOOR!! Yes, right there. In the middle of asile. At WALMART! Are you kidding me?! Could people be anymore CRUDE?!

I seriously think this ranks in the top ten of the "You might be a Redneck if.." list.

Way to go buddy...Jeff Foxworthy would be proud.

PS-How sad because you know some old lady is going slip on that nastyness and break her hip.

Nobody ever said it would be easy...

So, I was inspired to go public with some thoughts I've had because of the sweet gal over at this blog: www.thepurvisfam.blogspot.com

Reading her post about being a SAHM was like reading the thoughts from my very own mind.

Being a stay-at-home mom is the hardest job in the world. It requires so much work, and gets so little appreciation at times. It is very much a self-sacrifice. I know that mom's who work sacrifice alot too. But staying at home often times means alot of lonliness, and no adult interaction. It's so funny that I could love staying at home so much, and at the same time I have days when it gets on my nerves!!

I have my "good times" when all I feel is great appreciation to the Lord and my husband for allowing me to stay home. Then I have those "not so good days" when I am very lonely. And I hate to stay it, but I also have those days when I feel like I just want to go back to work simply to have money to buy shoes. It's true. I tend to look at what other people have. Even though those people have two incomes...two VERY NICE incomes. Don't get me wrong, I get to buy shoes. I mean, what would life be without fabulous shoes right?! But, it's those times when I have to say "no" to myself because the family needs something. When I know without doubt that with that income I used to have, there wouldn't be any "no's."

Those are the days when I am being selfish. I know what really matters. The sacrifices I've made both personally and financhially will always outway what I've given up.

So, here's a little "something" I wrote a few months ago on one of those "bad days." I was feeling down...and I was sick and tired of feeling that way! I sat at the kitchen table with some paper and a pen and began to write what I felt in my heart.. I then put it on my fridge so that I could read it when "one of those days" came about:

When you are feeling lonely and feel as though you have no purpose, remember:
~God's plan for me is totally different than His plan for someone else.
~Quit looking at what others have, do, or "seem" to feel. Their life is not mine.
~I am choosing to raise my kids! The hardest job in the world is this.
~This job earns no pay but reaps rewards greater that I can see.
~I cannot get these young years back. Soon, they will be grown and not require all my love and attention. I will miss these years...

...and by then, it will not have mattered that we had more money, a nicer house or car, or that we payed off debt faster. What will have mattered are the memories that we've made. And the satisfaction of knowing that nobody else raised my children. The satisfaction of no regrets. No amount of money can replace that peace.

Blessings,
A grateful and blessed SAHM

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Momma is the nurse...

Hi there friends! I hope you are all doing well. Here in the Marquez Casa we have a sick little one. Britton is not feeling well. We took him to the doctor yesterday and they said he has a virus. It's funny how that's all they can seem to tell you. My husband always nags me because I take them to the doctor when they have a fever...but, I like to be safe and not sorry. I mean, that's what insurance is for honey!!

I have spent pretty much my entire day working. Unpackaging products, labeling them, adding them to the website and so on... it's alot of work but it's totally me and oh so fun.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday! Have any of you guys finished your Christmas shopping? I've started but haven't finished yet. I never know what to get my Dad...he's the HARDEST person to buy for. He always tells me that he wants "socks and undewear." How boring! We'll see what I can find for him.

Well, I'm off to finish work. I might be back later with another post. It all depends on how much work I can get done.

Until then, I'll leave you with some pictures of some seriously adorable baby booties! Available at www.jackandcoledesigns.com for only $15.00! Blessings my friends!