Our Enchanted Children

Have You Ever Been to Annapolis, Maryland??

2009-03-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

While I'm waiting for my site to be updated I just wanted to share a few pictures of beautiful Annapolis, Maryland where I live. I can't imagine living away from the water and I take time to enjoy it and remember how blessed I am to live in this unbelievable area. We have some of the most brilliant sunrises and sunsets with the Chesapeake Bay as a backdrop, they can be breathtaking. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Our Enchanting Children Is Changing ~ For the Better!

2009-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

After about a year of putting my heart, soul and $$ into my website and getting very little business I'm ready to make a change! I loved every item that I had for sale on my original site and was very honored to offer these wonderful handmade things to you. But after much consideration I've decided to scale back and focus on a few types of products to sell instead of the over 100 that I had previously. I have found a wonderful woman who makes beautiful heirloom quality children's bedding and clothing and will sell her things exclusively along with a line of fine personalized children's jewelry. The bedding sets are lovingly handmade and will surely be passed down from generation to generation. Anyone who receives one of these sets will know how special it is and that there won't be 20,000 other children snuggling with the same pattern/design bedding. The site is still "Under Construction" but please take a look and come back in about 2 weeks for my Grand Re-Opening.....

2009-01-16T18:32:00.001-08:00

Do you like boutique children’s clothing and handmade toys? Then ACT NOW ~

2008-12-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

This is so well written, I’m just going to copy and link because I couldn’t have said it any better. Please, take action. This affects everyone.

This is a blog post on Boutique Cafe by Heather.
The Sky is Falling - CPSIA Issue

December 17th, 2008

Article by: Heather Flottman
Owner/Designer
liliputians NYC

The sky is falling! Yes, I feel a like an overly dramatic Chicken Little. And I wish it were true considering recent congressional legislation is about to crush the life out of the handmade clothing and toy industry. I’m talking about H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) signed into law August 14, 2008, and the ramifications it will have when it goes into effect February 10, 2009 (now being popularly referred to as National Bankruptcy Day).

Make no mistake. CPSIA was necessary in principle and has noble intentions, keeping our children safe and holding companies accountable for importing toxic toys. We all demand safety for our children and this is the intent of CPSIA; specifically to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12. Unfortunately this legislation lacks common sense, is ambiguous and fails to take into account the handmade industry.

What you see is not what you get with CPSIA. There is no distinction between big, small, or even micro one-person businesses. Whether it’s a large-scale manufacturer importing apparel to be sold in big box stores, or a work-at-home mom (WAHM) selling customs on ebay, the legislation applies the same to all.

Unit testing will be required on finished products, regardless if the components are natural materials or if you have documentation from a vendor stating that buttons, for example, are certified lead-free. As it stands, H.R. 4040 fails to recognize that textile products are inherently lead-free. Why then is an organic cotton shirt being tested for lead exactly?

Unit testing is extremely cost prohibitive to small business, but worse, it is unnecessary. In fact, it is completely redundant if the components that comprise the whole have already been tested and due diligence can prove they meet the guidelines.

To put a real dollar amount to testing one of my products, I solicited a lab quote. I was told it was $75 to test for lead per garment component and each substrate. Coated or painted items such as buttons are $100. So my Little Red Riding Hood Shirt, a 100% cotton knit shirt with an appliqué made from 7 cotton fabrics and 2 buttons eyes would cost $625 to test for lead. Flammability testing is also required and is either $50 for a certificate per component stating it meets weight code or $100 for actual testing. So add another $400-$800 for a grand total of $1,025-$1425. in testing costs for a shirt that retails for $40. If the shirt is offered in another colorway, the same testing is required despite the fact that the same fabrics are used throughout.

Small manufacturers have no way of absorbing the price of such redundancy. And all manufacturers will be required to test a finished component/item from each batch. Easy to do in mass production—simply pull one sample from a lot of thousands. But how does one comply when your “batches” are made-to-order batches of one? SKUs will also be required for each product with a permanent label on the item itself.

CPSIA will be retroactive and takes a guilty-until-proven-innocent approach with extremely hefty fines for violators. As written, any product used by children 12 and under (such as toys, footwear, carpets, clothing, bedding, luggage, lamps, toys, books, magazines, baseball cards, consumer electronics, school supplies, office supplies, jewelry, housewares, sports equipment and so on) without the newly required certification would be deemed hazardous, whether the item poses an actual threat or not. So on February 10, 2009, any unsold merchandise (in big box stores, the corner boutique, your fabric stash, Good Will donations, etc.) will be deemed “hazardous goods” and illegal to sell unless 3rd party testing proves otherwise. By the way, there are only 14 said labs currently in the United States.

Think you won’t be affected? I hope not, but the sad truth is that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) will be. Do you make children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, hair bows, accessories, furniture, artwork or anything else “intended for use by children age 12 and under”? Are you a retailer of children’s goods? Do you resell used children’s clothing or toys on ebay? Do you participate or shop at craft fairs? Do you donate used children’s items to needy organizations? Do you belong to a church that has rummage sales as a fundraiser? Does your child play sports and get their uniforms from a local screen print shop? Are you a consumer shopping for alternatives to mass-produced toys? If so, this law takes away that freedom.

Surely this legislation can be amended by incorporating some common sense and still make it possible to ensure our children’s safety without further hurting the US economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census (the last survey of its type), small U.S. clothing manufacturers (with fewer than 20 employees) contribute over $900 million dollars [consider: nearly $1 billion dollars] annually to the economy and comprise 68% of total apparel manufacturing in the U.S. This is clearly a vital and contributing asset to our economy. Multiply this fallout exponentially when you take into account the myriad other manufacturers, retailers and businesses that will be hurt or ultimately driven out of business.

So, why should you support amending this legislation?

Because the CPSIA isn’t fair and will not function as written. It inadvertently punishes American industries unrelated to toys and will ultimately result in fewer alternatives to mass produced merchandise made in China. The concept that small producers should be subject to the same rigorous standards but with lesser regulation (and common sense) has already been fought for and sustained in the food industry, which is why your local farmers market still exists. Now this same idea needs to be applied to children’s products.

What can you do?
1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman 888-531-9070.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
mailto:Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov.

2) Email or snail mail your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

3) Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

4) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

5) Sign the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

6) Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

7) Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook group
Twitter search
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home

8) Join the etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
Etsy Thread

9) Read more about this legislation and its ramifications:
Fashion Incubator

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day

YouTube video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

5 Minutes for Mom

Cool Mom Picks

The Smart Mama

blogher

Apparel and Footwear.org

Toy Association.org

Cafe Mom

Safety and Compliance

Zrecommends

SleepingBaby.net

Freshly Baked Blog

CPSIA New Laws That Affect Children's Items

2008-12-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

If you sell or buy anything for children under the age of 12, you NEED to read the information at the link below. If something isn't done soon, 95% of all handmade children's items will be obsolete. That means we will have to buy everything that is MASS PRODUCED and I for one will not. Please do what you can to save our handmade crafter's and their right to make and sell their goods.
Sandi

http://thiscraftymom.wordpress.com/tag/cpsia/

My Holiday Gift for You ~

2008-12-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

Some surprising uses for WD40 ~

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains.
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewelry chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly,
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40
for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to
harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to ge to get
them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of
marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed
quickly! Use WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling
on riding mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier
to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as
well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for
easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running
smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve
arthritis pain.
37) Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from car grills and bumpers.
38) The favorite use in the state of New York WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures
and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper
than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for
fishing are not allowed in some states.
40) Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately
and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark
and wipe with a clean rag.
42) Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed
and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the
lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace
the moisture and allow the car to start.

P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.

We Carry Unique Christmas Outfits For Your Little One ~

2008-12-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the adorable holiday outfits that some of my wonderful WAHM's make. You can be sure that you won't see these outfits on any other children you may meet. Remember these items are handmade and of higher quality that anything you may purchase in a department store. They also have one attribute that any store bought clothes don't have ~ they were made with an added touch of pride and love.
Please be sure to check out my site as we are always adding new and exciting items just for your little one.

http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com

2008-12-03T05:53:00.000-08:00

Lady Lynn's Boutique is giving away this beautiful Nautilus Shell Pendant & Chain Sterling Silver and it's just one of many FREE items up for grabs. You may just decide to keep this one for yourself and I know we all enjoy winning free gifts! Visit her blog at http://www.ladylynnsboutique.blogspot.com/ for your chance to win. Shop her boutique for some lovely gift idea's, you'll be glad you did.

Great Christmas Gift Ideas #5

2008-11-25T14:32:00.001-08:00

What a unique idea ~ wall murals that move! These adorable wall murals are handmade of wood and painted so no 2 will be exactly alike. You can arrange them however you want and when the child outgrows the room or you decide to move, they are easily taken down. There are many sets to choose from and each set offers additional "add-on" pieces to enhance the original mural design. Also incorporated into several of the sets are pieces that are used as Growth Charts for your child. I just can't say enough about these awesome murals. Please see my site for more ~

http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com

Great Christmas Gift Ideas #4 ~

2008-11-19T15:07:00.001-08:00

These unbelievable puzzles are made by a talented husband and wife team, by hand, using a jigsaw. They are unique puzzles that can also be used as room decor. There are lots more to choose from on my site so stop on by and check them out!

Visit us at ~ www.ourenchantedchildren.com

Great Christmas Gift Ideas #3

2008-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

You're sure to love these hand painted and personalized gift ideas! We offer picture frames, piggy banks, step stools, storage step stools, photo albums, bow holders and many treasures to choose from. Please visit our site to view all of the different designs that we have to offer. These make ideal gifts that will be cherished a lifetime.

http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com

2008-11-15T10:46:00.001-08:00

Christmas Gift Idea's #2 ~

2008-11-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some great gift ideas from another one of my very artistic vendors. I think she has come up with a really neat idea using a "chalkboard" on children's everyday items to keep them occupied and using their creativeness at the same time.

This small backpack is the perfect size for carrying notebooks and school
supplies. A small fabric "chalkboard" is found inside.Black backpack straps are adjustable for a better fit. $28

Adorable Doll House Bag will keep your little sweetie busy with her own little ones while you're at home or out. $22

Adorable Enchanted Dragon Scene Placemat/Playmat ~ Use it at home or when you take the little ones out to eat. $16

\

This bag is great for your little one to carry along some of his favorite cars and trucks and on the reverse side he can use his imagination and design one of his own on the "chalkboard". $35

Batman Placemat and Chalkboard ~ Use it at home or when you take the little ones out to eat. $16

Check out my site at http://www.ourenchantedchildren for more unique children's gift ideas just in time for Christmas.

Great Christmas Gift Idea.....

2008-11-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

At Our Enchanted Children we specialize in heirloom quality handmade items,
organic items and fun accessories. So if you're looking for that special
personalized gift for a little one you know, we have many items to choose from.
Below are a few examples of our hand painted, personalized door signs, please
see our site for more....

Door signs come with white satin ribbon for easy hanging ~
Dimensions: 11" x 3" x 6"
Price ~ $22

Moms United In Business Giveaway!

2008-11-06T16:09:00.001-08:00

“Enter the Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza, sponsored by Moms United in Business LLC, http://www.momsunitedinbusiness.com celebrating the launch of Resources for Work at Home Moms, http://resourcesforworkathomemoms.com! Come celebrate with us, and enter for your chance to win an awesome prize package, just in time for the holidays! Over $850.00 in prizes! You will NOT want to miss this! Enter at http://tinyurl.com/5b7hvm.”

A Story Worth Reading and Passing On.....

2008-10-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful story no matter what "higher power" you believe in
and this is the time of year for us all to be thankful.

Judgement Day ~

After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth
came to the end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting
room of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat
by the defense table.
As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.
He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney,
a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar
to me, I felt I knew Him.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full
flowing robes.
He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I
couldn't take my eyes off of Him.
As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.'
The prosecutor rose and said,
'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman
belongs in hell.'
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and
In the past when I cheated others Satan told of other horrible
Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the
further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own
Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely
forgotten about.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me,
I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not Offering any
form of defense at all.
I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good
in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This woman belongs in hell,
she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person
who can prove otherwise.'
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach
the bench.
The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan,
and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in
His full splendor and majesty.
I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing
me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi,
Dad,' and then He turned to address the court.
'Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned, I won't
deny any of these allegations.
And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to be
punished.
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with
outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so
that this person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me
as her Savior, so she is Mine.'
My Lord continued with, 'Her name is written in the Book of
Life,and no one can snatch her from Me.
Satan still does not understand yet. This woman is not to be given
justice, but rather mercy.'
As Jesus sat down,
He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said,'There is nothing
else that needs to be done.'
'I've done it all.'
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.
The following words bellowed from His lips..
'This woman is free.'
'The penalty for her has already been paid in full.'
'Case dismissed'
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving,
'I won't give up, I will win the next one.' I asked Jesus as He
gave me my instructions where to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?'
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
'Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has
received the same verdict as you,

~Paid In Full~

'Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!'

How Exciting!

2008-10-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

What an Honor!

Lynn of Lady Lynn's Boutique (http://www.ladylynnsboutique.blogspot.com/) honored me with this wonderful award! Thank you so much! - I am honored.

Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:~ inspires you~ makes you smile and laugh~ or maybe gives amazing information~ a great read~ has an amazing design~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:* Put the logo on your blog or post.* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Here are my nominations for the Uber Amazing:
http://bumblebeedesigns.blogspot.com
http://littleladybugdesigns.blogspot.com
http://sweetpeacakesetc.blogspot.com
http://changingdesigns.blogspot.com
http://bumblebeebabycreations.blogspot.com

Let's All Share A Favorite Holiday Memory ~ I'll Go First!

2008-10-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

My Mom & Dad
Always remember how important family is

I just love these older depictions of Santa Claus. That's the way I've always seen him in my mind, so happy, kind and jolly. Things were so much simpler when we were children but we didn't know it and just couldn't wait to grow up. Now that I'm grown up I yearn for my childhood. If I only knew then what I know now I would have been like Peter Pan and never wanted to grow up. I am blessed though because I can relive some of the wonderment and innocence of childhood through the eyes of my 2 and 1/2 yr old grandson and it's wonderful. Anyway, one of my favorite holiday memories was when year after year my mother and all of us children would pull out boxes and boxes of holiday decorations (it seemed we had just packed away) and begin decorating the house. My younger sister Mary, myself and the next eldest sister Sharyn, would just wait for Mom to pull out one of the many old mangey Rudolph's or Santa's that she had had for years. Some would have bald spots where the fur on the reindeer had worn away or a Santa would have an arm that had been haphazardly glued back on, they were a sight. We'd nudge each other and giggle about those pitiful decorations and wondered why she didn't just throw them away. Those poor things looked like they were ready for the trash can but Mom would look at them with such a gleam in her eye and all of our joking, giggling and prodding would fade away as we watched her put each one of those items in "just the right spot" as she did every year. As we grew older, my sisters and I often speak of those raggedy old decorations and wish we still had a few to add to our collection of newer decorations. My Mother always had a way of making something that could have been trash into something that was a treasure ~ just as she was a treasure to all of us kids.

Ok, now it's someone else's turn to relive their favorite holiday memory and share it with us all. What a truly wonderful and blessed season this is, it reminds us all how truly lucky we are.

Winners of Our Enchanted Children's Great Giveaway!

2008-10-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

It took me a little while to get this posted, but here are the winners ~

Mary Cybulski won the little girl's Tutu
Tamee Kirkendoll won the Guardian Angel baby blanket
Kelsey Beesley won the Blue Princess Purse
Wendy Crivello won her choice of handpainted/personalized Piggy Banks
Roberta Martinez won the adorable girls Christmas sock
Becky Capps won the 2 sets of girls hair ties/bow

Congratulations Everyone, and thanks for playing.

My Six Secrets Devulged

2008-10-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

My Six Secrets Devulged
Denise, from Changing Designs just tagged me. She was "tagged" by another blogger to basically share six secrets about herself. In turn, she tagged five others. One of those five was me! My life is about as boring as you can get but I'll try to come up with six not so well known secrets about myself.
1. I've lived in the same house for 21 years (and it looks almost as it did when I bought it and that's nothing to brag about :)
2. I have Agoraphobia and used to check myself into the local psychiatric ward and call it a vacation ~ and it was for me!
3. I lived in Maryland my whole life.
4. I have very low self esteem.
5. Sometimes when I was married, I would turn off my husbands alarm clock so he would be able to stay home with me the next day (he never knew I did it)
6. I am a big crybaby and cry at the drop of a hat. While watching a sad movie, a love story, talking to someone about something close to my heart, and mostly when I'm lying in bed at night remembering the way things "used to be".

So now I don't suppose I'll be hearing from many of you again but I'm going to make my 5 picks.

1. Nina Robinson of Nina's Window
2. Miriam Grafer of Wire Crochet for Today
3. Caroline Riepler of Little Journey's Baby World
4. Lisa Slain of Lisa's Little Luxuries
5. Jenn Rogers, Founder of Mom's United in Business

The Holidays Are Fast Approaching....

2008-09-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you don't need anyone to remind you that gift giving time is just around the corner. I wanted to take this opportunity to show you all a slide show of some of the wonderful gift ideas we have on our website for the children in your life. I am so lucky to have some of the most talented creative artisans selling their items on my site ~ I know you'd be hard put to find a nicer collection of unique items in one place on the web. Please take a few minutes and watch my slide show and if something pops up that catches your eye ~ grab a drink and a comfortable chair and mosey on over to http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com
ENJOY ~

Our Enchanted Children's Great Giveaway!!!

2008-09-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

Please be sure to visit my webstore and sign up for your chance to win one of several great prizes. No purchase necessary, entries must be in by September 29, 2008.
Good Luck!

Bits of Wisdom

2008-09-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

I received this from a friend and thought I would share it with you all.

Bits of Wisdom to help in having an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to ________ today today.'

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Nomination for a Brilliante Weblog Award!

2008-08-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

I tell you, this job is not an easy one! I don't think I can come up with 7 nominee's because I want them to be special and I'm so new here. But here goes ~

#1 Bumblebee Baby Creations @ bumblebeebabycreations.blogspot.com ~ They are a fairly new business, run by a woman who describes herself as a mother, grandmother and a friend ~ what more could you ask. The site has some of the cutest gift ideas for children around (second to my site of course;).

#2 Kidz Talk @ mykidzgotstyle.blogspot.com ~ This interested blog has articles about children in today's world ~ nothing is sugar coated, just the truth. There are also articles about updates to the Missing Children's Act and one on a missing elderly couple. I find these types of blogs some of the most interesting to read.

#3 Stampin' Chica @ stampinchica.blogspot.com ~ This blog is written by a wonderful woman named Cindy who just loves to stamp - making cards and scrapbooking. She has taken the readers from first setting up her craft room, then through her daily card stampings and is sure to remind us every chance she gets that she adores her son! Her last post was about she and a friend doing the Chicago 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk (60 miles). There were pictures of everyone staying in their pink tents and she even shared her very blistered feet pics with us along with stories for each day. I find people like this very inspirational and you can just feel her zest for life through her artwork and her writings.

#4 My Goodness Baby @ mygoodnessbaby.blogspot.com ~ This blog is hosted by a woman known as "Mom" and she has several websites that she promotes such as Bella Baby Art and My Goodness Duds. Both stores are great ~ of course BBA carries adorable art for children's rooms and MGD's has a large selection of wonderful baby items including a nice line of organic clothing. Mom's blog page is full of promotions for other WAHM's sites and crafters. She also has a lot of giveaways and contests ~ who doesn't love getting something for free??

So this is my list of blogs that I've chosen. For the nominee's, here are the rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

What an Honor ~ Thanks Denise!

2008-08-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've been nominated and I'm very thankful. I'm new at all of this but I've been trying really hard to do all of the things that need to be done to have a successful web business and blogging is one of them. I am going to choose my lucky 7 bloggers and write about them tomorrow as I am in the middle of something. But I just wanted to say thanks and I feel like I'm at the CMA's or something!!!

Family Fun Activity

2008-08-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

What are some fun ways to spend time together when the weather outside is dreary? There are all kinds of inexpensive ways to spend time with your kids. Reading a story to your young child is a wonderful experience. Listening to music and dancing together is also fun. Another fun activity is building forts with blankets and moving furniture together. Then bring in a flashlight and read a book to your child.

Play dough is also a nice creative way to spend time together. Roll it, mold it and create great works of art. It's safe and can be used over and over again. You can make your own play dough and make different colors. Here is a great play dough recipe I have used many times with my own kids.

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 cups water

4 tablespoons oil

1/2 cup cream of tartar food coloring (use this to create the colors of your choice)

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

Shaving cream art is also fun and easy. Using a vinyl table cloth or plastic placemats just spray some shaving cream on and let them use like finger paint. I would recommend using the sensitive skin brand of shaving cream. Another great favorite is collages. You just need construction paper, some magazines, elmer's glue and safety scissors. Have the children cut out pictures of interest to them and glue them all over the construction paper. Once their project dries hang proudly on your fridge.

Make a dreary day into a fun and exciting day with your child.

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Our Enchanted Children's Great Giveaway!!!

2008-08-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

We're having a terrific giveaway to thank everyone who visits my website and signs up for the drawing between now and September 29th. All you have to do is visit Our Enchanted Children and complete the sign-up form and your name will be entered for a chance to win one of several great prizes, some of which are items especially handmade for this event. Please tell everyone you know to visit the site, browse around and sign up ~ you have as good a chance of winning as the next guy! Thanks again and Good Luck....

http://www.ourenchantedchildren.com

The Starfish

2008-08-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

I really love this little story, it has so much meaning. It reminds us that every little thing we do for ourselves and others, does count. Enjoy.....

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to
the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the
beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore.
As he looked down the beach, he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think of someone who would
dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer,
he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't
dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore,
picking up something and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you
doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish
in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and
miles of beach and starfish all along it.You can't possibly make
a difference! The young man listened politely.Then bent down,
picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-

"It made a difference for that one."

Make Sure You Cross Your I's and Dot Your T's

2008-08-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share with everyone an experience I had today regarding my website. I received a phone call from a woman who stated that she was on my site, Our Enchanted Children, and there were two pictures, one of which was her young daughter modeling a jacket that one of my artistic vendors hand makes. She said that I did not have her permission to have that picture of her daughter on my site and she wanted it removed IMMEDIATELY! She said if it was not removed within 30 minutes, she was going to contact her lawyer... You can imagine how stunned I was as I had received the picture to post directly from my vendor and never thought about whose children were in some of the pictures. I explained to her that I had received the pic from the woman that makes the jacket and assured her that it was all a big misunderstanding and of course I would remove the pictures. She seemed to calm down as I again apologized and hung up.
My point is ~ if you are using anyone (other than family) to model anything on your sites, be sure to get a release from the person or the parent of that child. I never would have thought to do something like that but after today, I will be contacting all of my vendors that have sent me pictures to use on my site that feature a real person. Better safe than sorry!
Take Care,
Sandi

An Introduction To Our Enchanted Children

2008-08-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

Our Enchanted Children came into being out of my love for children and my desire to open a business that would allow me to be a stay at home Grandmother for my grandson Hunter. I have always loved handmade and personalized items and feel that if they are quality made, they will be treasured by those that receive them for not only their lifetime but for many lifetimes. I always assumed I would open a brick and mortar store here in my hometown of Annapolis but after working in the Real Estate field I realized that would'nt work. As my age creeped up on me I threw caution to the wind and decided to open an online web store and carry as many handmade and unique items as I could find. I began to search the web looking for what I consider to be some of the best children's items and put them all under one web store roof ~ Our Enchanted Children. It also made me feel good to know that I was helping other stay at home mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. fulfill their dreams of working from home doing what they love. I also found many organic items to offer for the earth and children friendly consumers. Again, it was an ego boost for me to know that I, in some small way, was doing my part to help our environment.
During this whole process I have met a lot of wonderful and very talented people and have created a bond of friendship with many of them ~ one of the added perks! I know that starting an online business is time consuming and can take several years to really catch on so I'm keeping my spirits up and trying to promote my site the best I can. It has truly been a wonderful learning experience and I now know more about business, the internet, marketing, etc., etc. than I could have ever imagined. I know that some day soon my business will take off and I will be fulfilled not only not only in my bank account but more importantly, in my heart.
* I want to take this time to thank all of my artistic vendors without whom there would be no Our Enchanted Children. And a special thank-you to my web designer and now good friend, Denise Clenney ~ you're one in a million and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your hard work and the confidence you have in me.