BuddyBoo Stationery

What to Look for in Daycare for your Child

2009-11-05T14:47:00.004-06:00

That little bundle in your arms means everything to you. You work hard to give that child everything you can with the best you can offer. Don't overlook daycare!

I do not claim to be an expert in this matter, however, I do have a lot of experience in interviewing, selecting, learning, and growing with daycare providers in my 8 years with kids. My mishaps will be below.

Start with a phone interview

Are you licensed? This may not seem like a big deal, but really it is. Obtaining a license is important to show that the provider is ensuring your child's safety. It also requires inspections by the state or county to make sure the house / facility is up to code on everything.

How many kids are in your care right now? What is the ratio of adults to children? If you're calling the provider during the day, what's the background noise like? Are kids under control? Anyone hurt? Does the provider seem to want to spend time with you or with the kids? You're a mom~pay attention to your instincts while you talk.

What is your rate for my child's age? May seem obvious, but if you can't afford it, you need to look elsewhere.

Feeling good? Schedule a visit.

Is the place clean? Are toys in good condition? Is the crib of the same decade as your baby? Do you see all the parts to various toys in your line of site?

What's she like? Does she seem confident of her location? Can you tell if she takes pride in what she does and how she cares for kids?

Is there ample space for kids to play and run and be kids? (See one of my mishaps below...it makes a difference).

Still feeling good? Trust your gut. This is important stuff.

The one thing my husband and I learned as we went along was that trusting our gut from the very beginning was key in our decision and if it was the right decision.

Consider these mishaps:
1. Baby went to in-home daycare. First time we separated from our child so it was overwhelming anyway. Felt just okay about her. Realized 2 months later our baby was watching soap operas and parked outside with no hat in January. She also was switching between formulas after reaffirming that wouldn't happen. No wonder he had tummy aches!
2. Found an excellent provider who wasn't licensed. Thought we could overlook that, but she ended up taking him out for lunch to McDonald's. Did she have a legal carseat? We were afraid to ask.
3. Next. She had an enclosed yard (yay) but it was all cement (kidding??). Our child didn't walk yet, but was kept inside a plastic crate when he was outside. Instincts were not loud and clear when we started.
4. Finally found her! This one was around for over 20 years. Special ed teaching background. Huge backyard. Stable family. The first moment we met her we were comfortable. Before leaving her house we both felt that we wanted to sign paperwork there on the spot. She ended up being a beautiful addition to the care team of our kids. We trusted our gut and knew she was wonderful. To this day when we see her in town, we get a big smile.
5. Moved on to preschool facility. Our gut spoke loud and clear that it was a great fit for our kids.

Basically, the whole point of this posting is very simple. Ready? Your child is the most important thing in your life now. Trust your gut. You're a mom, you're a dad, you know what I'm talking about. It has to feel right from the very beginning.

After all, aren't those precious little cherub faces worth it?

As always, share the site pass the blog.

Jean
BuddyBoo

Christmas Cards: Simple Step to Make Addressing Easier

2009-10-16T10:55:00.003-05:00

Christmas is coming, have you heard? Don't know about you, but my jaw has dropped a time or two upon walking into a store to see Christmas decorations already. One store had a rack of sparkly red, silver, gold, and fat Santas next to a rack of pumpkins, witches, and weird moving skeleton hand things that freak me out anytime I walk by.

I started running a special on Christmas cards this week. I've had a handful of takers already - I love giving people a great deal on a unique and different Christmas card. This got me thinking about how I can make things easier for you when it comes to your mailing list so I thought I'd share what I do. I learned from my mom, who has the world's largest collection of organizational books. You don't need to buy a book for this one, just use your computer.

I have a spreadsheet with a separate tab for each year with everyone's addresses on it. I don't like to remove names from my list, but adding names is fun. I like to be able to see who is new each year which is why I do a new tab each year. If I hear that someone moves throughout the year I update my current year tab so I don't have to search emails or my phone's database or my email database to find it when it's Christmastime.

Really, it's simple when you think about it. I'm guessing many of you do this, too. I think my list this year is hovering around 95.

How big is your list?

Jean
BuddyBoo Stationery

Christmas Greetings from BuddyBoo

2009-10-05T09:21:00.007-05:00

BuddyBoo Stationery has officially entered Christmas mode - stationery style!

Think about it. You're opening cards from your friends and family and eventually see the same card you picked out with someone else's photo on it. Avoid that by going with a customized design from BuddyBoo! Let's come up with something totally you and exceptionally dramatic for your holiday greetings.

Below you will find samples I also have posted on my website. This is just the beginning! These are samples - if you like these, great. If not, let's come up with something different. I'm ready!

I'm running a special for the month of October - don't miss out!

If you contact me to begin your Christmas cards this month and we finish them in November, you will receive 15% off your entire order! Remember: we have to finish them in November to get this great deal.

And remember: when you have your Christmas cards made by BuddyBoo you are giving back: a portion of all profits go to autism charities. How amazing is that! By ordering your cards through BuddyBoo, you're giving a gift. Let's get started today.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean

BuddyBoo Stationery

How to Save Money on your Wedding? Hire a Professional.

2009-08-26T12:42:00.002-05:00

Did you know the average wedding can take more than 200 hours just to plan? Wow!

“Some couples may not have the time to compare choices or prices to make sure they are getting the best deal and ensure all the details are in place. Wedding coordinators do not make decisions for you, but guide and assist you in making informed decisions,” says Katie Peterson, owner of The Simple Solution, a Minneapolis-based personal and corporate concierge business. “A wedding coordinator will save you time and enable you to get the most for your money.”

But What about Cost?
While we are seeing some glimmers of hope with the economy supposedly turning more to the optimistic, budgets and the bottom line still rule the roost.

“You can afford a wedding coordinator,” explains Katie. “Your wedding coordinator will save you money by suggesting the appropriate vendors that will provide professional services to accommodate your budget.”

The professionals are experienced in negotiating contracts with caterers, florists, photographers, and other suppliers.

So How do I Find One?
Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the planner and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. Where does wedding planning truly begin? With the numbers! Plan your budget before you get carried away with other wedding details. Determine how much you want to spend, then The Simple Solution can help determine type of wedding you would like to have: location, theme, # of guests, formality, and time of day.

When asked what else The Simple Solution can provide customers, Katie’s response was, “We take care of everything from the mundane to the insane.” Among her many talents, Katie can provide errand running, gift and shopping services, key holding, wait service, automotive services, postal needs, “manny services” for bachelors, recuperative and senior services, and event planning.

“When you hire the simple solution you know that you are buying quality, service, knowledge, professionalism, creativity, guidance, leg work, a stress reliever, an etiquette expert and a personal assistant and friend.”

For more information about The Simple Solution, please visit www.thesimplesolution.biz.

And as always, share the BuddyBoo site, pass this blog.

Jean
BuddyBoo Stationery

"A Mom's Perspective" on Raising a Child with Special Needs

2009-08-07T09:33:00.003-05:00

I was recently interviewed by NewMom, Inc for their blog for new moms. I thought I'd post a "reblog" (stealing the term slightly from retweet on Twitter) in mine to gain more exposure. Click the title of this blog post for the link to the interview!

The title of the entry is "A Mom's Perspective - Raising a Child with Special Needs." My son "Buddy" is one of the inspirations behind my company. A portion of BuddyBoo Stationery's profits are given to autism charities. It feels good to give back and bring hope to others.

NewMom, Inc is a Minneapolis-based company gaining good ground as a resource for mothers. Watch their blog for more interviews by other mothers on a wide variety of topics. NewMom has a ton of resources and helpful links for all things mommy.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean
BuddyBoo Stationery

As stated in my answers and what I need to state again is that the answers to the interview questions are my opinion.

BuddyBoo is Here and There and Everywhere

2009-07-27T11:45:00.004-05:00

As you begin checking your email, Twitter updates, Facebook updates, blog postings, friends’ sites, friends of friends’ sites, be on the lookout for BuddyBoo. I’m everywhere!

This is where you can find me and what to do at each location:

Facebook: Be my friend, become a fan, spread the word!

Blogspot: Right here, folks. Continue to watch for updates and share the updates with your friends and family. I will be posting relevant information for your life-moment throughout the year.

Twitter: Watch me tweet! Follow me and find out what’s new for BuddyBoo.

MomsLikeMe: This is one of the coolest spots to get information on absolutely anything related to you being a mom. Be my friend on MomsLikeMe and let’s swap ideas and tricks for our kiddos.

Website: Definitely web 1.0, definitely filled with a ton of examples, ideas, and invitations and announcements to satisfy your every invitation and announcement need...definitely need to contact me for your next project.

Crafty Sites: Etsy and ShopHomemade have cool profiles of BuddyBoo products and services.

Etsy has a cool custom request system where you can put in a request for a certain project and Etsians bid on your job. It’s a fun and easy way to get a project done for less. Tell me you’re requesting a custom project and I’ll bid, too!

Do you know of an online presence BuddyBoo is missing? Write me and let me know of a cool site you like!

As always, pass the blog, share the site.

Jean
BuddyBoo

The Ultimate Wedding Entrance

2009-07-23T08:18:00.002-05:00

I found this online and had to share it with you! If you're looking for inspiration, look no further than this wedding entrance.

Truly unforgettable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Remember: share the site, pass the blog.

Jean

Celebrate Dad with a Card from BuddyBoo!

2009-05-26T20:34:00.006-05:00

You can now buy a card from BuddyBoo Stationery for Dad!

Click here to enter the site.

As always, pass the blog, share the site.

Jean

BuddyBoo At StrollerStrides Event in Maple Grove This Saturday

2009-05-05T09:21:00.003-05:00

BuddyBoo Stationery will be attending the StrollerStrides Grand Opening event this Saturday at the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. Come join an exciting event kicking off this great company.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean
BuddyBoo

Graduation Announcements Now Available From BuddyBoo

2009-04-15T12:09:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, Graduate. You're about to reach an important milestone in your life. It's time to invite your closest friends and family to help you celebrate!

Visit BuddyBoo Stationery today to see some cool, fresh, and color-coordinated ideas for your graduation announcements.

As always, share the site, pass the blog!

Jean
BuddyBoo Stationery

Pay It Forward

2009-04-09T13:54:00.005-05:00

Hello my BuddyBoo blog followers. Thanks for reading. I am constantly trying to come up with fun topics to post in my blog and just seconds ago while reading an online article, it came to me. It has nothing to do with stationery or invitations or parties. It has to do with others.

Pay it forward. What does that term mean, anyway? Someone asked me that once. I haven't seen the movie that shares the title, but I know what it means to me - it means taking what information and knowledge and love and time I have from within me and giving it to someone else who might need it. For no reason other than to make that next person's life a little brighter. Seems simple, doesn't it?

The article I just read was about a man younger than my parents who has been on a waiting list to receive a liver transplant. He got a call last Saturday morning that a liver was ready for him some 80 or 100 miles away if he could get there through a massive snow storm. He made it to the hospital and got his transplant because 8 different snow plows literally plowed his route through a storm. It sounds like many people were involved in getting this man to his new liver. New life! New hope he's been sitting on for a year.

Hearing about a benevolent act brightens my day. It gives me hope that this world is a good place and I live among great people. It gives me inspiration to do likewise.

Here are some different ways you can be a pay-it-forward person and change the life of another person while at the same time changing yourself:

-go work a food shelf for a half day
-volunteer at a fundraising event
-hold the door open for a person walking in the store behind you
-greet cashiers with eye contact, a smile, and use their name if they have a nametag on
-spend $1.66 on a small coffee for the guy in line behind you at the coffee shop (can you imagine?)

-call your local community elementary school and ask if you can be a guest reader for kindergarteners some day
-pick up that trash you see on your walk
-spend $3.00 on some daffodils and bring them to your neighbor

...just to name a few.

I guarantee your life will change by paying it forward.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean
BuddyBoo Stationery

Oh - P.S. BuddyBoo donates a portion of its profits to autism charities. That's how I pay it forward. And let me tell you, it feels good.

BuddyBoo at Salon Sartor Open House Tonight (Wednesday)

2009-04-01T10:55:00.003-05:00

No fooling, I will be showing my wares at Salon Sartor's Open House tonight, April 1, 2009 from 5:00 to 9:00.

I invite you to stop in and see all the great things available at Salon Sartor. Visit their website at: http://www.salonsartor.com/

See you there!

As always, share the site, pass the blog,
Jean

Wedding Invitations with Flare

2009-03-23T07:41:00.006-05:00

I am excited to share I've posted some new invitation design options for brides! Click here to access the page on my site for invitations you can order now.

I am excited to work with you.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean

New BuddyBoo Designs Coming...Looking for Your Input!

2009-03-09T12:47:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday! It seems we had a wonderful glimpse of spring just around the corner which has motivated me to spring my business ahead and offer new products. I'm very excited to get new products and ideas rolled out.

Soon I'll be offering different wedding invitations, baby announcements and birthday invitations anyone can order. Pricing will be cheaper than totally customized design and artwork, but it will allow me to reach a much bigger customer base and help me grow my business.

So, the input I'd like from you is easy and fun! If you've found my blog, you've no doubt found fun sites with similar themes and have seen some amazing color combinations, design elements, theme ideas, right? Send me your favorites, let's see what BuddyBoo can do to create something equally spectacular!

As always, pass along the blog, share the site.

Jean

BuddyBoo Stationery

www.buddyboostationery.com

Fun Baby Sites!

2009-02-17T14:15:00.003-06:00

Having a baby is truly one of the most remarkable moments in your life. Finding all the right stuff to go with your baby is fun and challenging! I decided to share some fun sites with very cool things. Check them out!

There are two sites I really like that sell homemade items. I know one mom who is outfitting her entire baby’s room from Etsy. The other site is Shop Handmade. Why not support someone crafting by hand!

A very chic site is Cool Mom Picks. I really like their style of writing, too. Another very chic site is My Retro Baby which has a fun and exciting website design. Oh, and check out this crazy-accurate pacifier.

For all those wishing to get active with your baby or toddler and you live in the northwest metro, StrollerStrides is opening this spring in Maple Grove at the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes. And why not dress up your baby's carrier with a wrap from SimplyElla.

All-natural baby food can be found at Sweet Cheeks Baby Food. Going natural and organic is really best for your bambino.

For all the advice, fun, tips, coupons, and resources, go to Moms Like Me. Other moms in the metro area share silly stories, helpful hints, and information on anything under the sun. (Be BuddyBoo's friend on this site, too!)

And finally for all your stationery needs, check out BuddyBoo Stationery! Baby announcements are so fun to create – they reflect parents, the child, perhaps an older sibling, and anything you desire. My site might not be the flashiest or most interactive, but I promise a fun experience.

As always, share the site, pass the blog.

Jean

Weddings on a Strict Budget

2009-02-01T21:13:00.002-06:00

Weddings are expensive and can get overwhelming sometimes. It's important to find someone you can trust to help you watch expenses while making sure your desires are met with your wedding stationery. After all, it's the first thing your guests will see and sets the stage for the biggest day of your life!

Below are some helpful hints on how to save money with wedding stationery.

Probably the biggest savings is to have your guests reply to an email address or a wedding website with your photos, your love story, how the proposal went down instead of the reply card, the envelope, the stamp, and your time.
Have the directions / map printed on one side and the invitation printed on the front side. Saves trees, saves stuffing time, has all the important information on one sheet for your guests.
Have one vendor do everything together - the invitations, the programs, the table cards if you need them, the save-the-date card. That way you're only spending money on one design instead of someone designing each part separately.
If you're newly engaged and need the whole package or getting married next month and still need the programs designed, consider BuddyBoo Stationery. You'll be glad you did.

As always, pass the blog, share the word.

BuddyBoo is in the News

2009-01-22T18:31:00.003-06:00

I am pleased as punch to share with my little corner of the world a story our local cable channel did on BuddyBoo Stationery. Cable Channel 12 came to our house last Friday and wowed the kids with their camera and lights and caught a glimpse of how glamorous my work conditions are.

The link will work for a month and I don't want to lose the incredible story written by reporter Shannon Slatton so I'm copying the text to this blog.

For now, please click here to access the story. This is why BuddyBoo exists.

Maple Grove business pays it forward
For Jean Tate, the path to a second career all started with Christmas cards.

"I've made them for friends and family. It got up to about 90, but then I had to cut back," said Tate.

As the feedback kept coming in, the ideas kept churning."Everybody would write in cards -- this was really cool. You should do this for a living," said Tate.

So what convinced Tate to start up a part-time job?

"Having the strong support of all of my friends and family combined with the strong desire to have more time with my kids."

In April, Tate decided to use her marketing skills to tailor-make stationery for customers. She started up a website and a business out of her Maple Grove home. Tate decided to name her new stationery company BuddyBoo Stationery after her two children, Jordan, 7, whose nickname is 'Buddy,' and Ellie, 3, who she calls 'Boo.'

"I thought I would see how it goes and keep my day job and grow BuddyBoo and someday I'll be able to have BuddyBoo be it and I'll have more flexibility with my kids," said Tate. Tate's goal is to have that happen by the time 3-year-old Ellie is in Kindergarten.

But what makes this home business different from others is she started with one big commitment.

"Even if I make $5 and that's it, then I'm going to donate part of it to autism awareness," said Tate. Three years ago, doctors diagnosed her son Jordan with autism.

"That basically rocks your world, when you go through that whole process and you have somebody say I think there's something wrong with your child," said Tate. "It took me a long time to pull myself off the floor and say this isn't about me, it's about him."

Jordan's autism is high-functioning, which means most people probably wouldn't notice it. Tate says he's a very bright boy with a good vocabulary, but sometimes struggles with language and social skills.

"He'll have a hard time finding the right word. He'll say 'do you like milk in your bucket?"' said Tate. "The brain is in the right category but can't filter through everything. One day you are dealing with this, and the next day it's not an issue. One day you will try this tool in therapy, but the next day it won't work."

Since Jordan's diagnosis, the Tates have become very involved with the Walk Now for Autism. They were one of the top fundraisers for 2008. Tate says more people need to be aware of high functioning autism cases like Jordan's.

"I want people to know there is another side to autism besides kids who can't speak or adults who can't speak," said Tate. "Every kid is different."

So while she hopes her personalized cards will pull on a few heart strings, she knows part of the profits will go to a cause that's close to her own heart.

Shannon Slatton, reporting
sslatton@twelve.tv
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Post Moms 2 Mom Expo

2009-01-10T18:28:00.002-06:00

Thanks for attending the first Moms 2 Mom Expo! What a great success for a great cause! I'm so thrilled to have been a part of this event and am thankful I was asked to become a vendor. The Taylor and Kovic families are in my thoughts as they deal with the loss of their Amy.

Please remember to visit this blog and my website often. I truly value your business and look forward to becoming a source for all your parties, celebrations, and stationery.

Be on the lookout for BuddyBoo Stationery. I'm ready to explode into the market, be seen and heard everywhere, and become your number one source for invitations, announcements, personalized stationery, and gifts.

Jean
BuddyBoo

Look at All This Stuff!

2009-01-06T20:48:00.002-06:00

The picture below is a sampling of all the stationery I'll have for sale at the Moms 2 Mom Expo this Saturday.

Playdate Cards - Calling all Moms!

2009-01-02T10:06:00.007-06:00

The latest trend is a calling card for children. How cool is that? Ever been to the playground, met another parent and child who you'd like to see again but can't find a scrap of paper to get their name and number? Here's an awesome solution - a playdate card for your child!

BuddyBoo Stationery offers a great selection of design options for these playdate cards and more designs will always be added. I have some samples on my website and will be posting more soon, but visit me at the Moms 2 Mom Expo on January 10 to see my latest examples and order yours!

If you're interested in seeing samples and want to order some, email me at design@buddyboostationery.com. Mention you heard about it from this blog and you'll save $1.00 off the price.

A set of 10 is only $5.00 and $4.00 after this blog offer. You can always order more than 10...after all, your child is going to have a ton of friends, right?

As always, pass the blog, share the site.

Jean

BuddyBoo Stationery

P.S. Watch KARE-11 this Saturday, January 3, 2009, as the Moms 2 Mom Expo will be highlighted. Among samples available for moms at the Expo are designs by BuddyBoo Stationery!

Cheers to 2009

2008-12-31T09:27:00.005-06:00

Cheers to 2009! May your new year be filled with surprises, smiles, and special moments.

I have instructions for you for 2009. Fairly simple, read on.

If you're having a baby or getting married or graduating in 2009, please consider BuddyBoo Stationery as an option for your announcements, shower invitations, wedding invitations and programs, or party invitations. You won't regret it.
If you're not having a baby or getting married or graduating, please share BuddyBoo with others you know. Everyone has a million contacts, I'd like all one million to know about BuddyBoo.
Take a moment to remember all the events in your life in 2008. Even the not-so-fun ones (we all have 'em). Learn from all of those moments.

As always, share the blog...share my site.

Jean

BuddyBoo is going to the Moms 2 Mom Expo

2008-12-27T08:34:00.009-06:00

Hi everyone

I'm attending the Moms 2 Mom Expo in Brooklyn Park on Saturday, January 10, 2009. This event is filled with resources for you. I invite you to come check it out!

The Moms 2 Mom Expo costs $5 to enter and all proceeds go to a mother in need. This year's mom is Amy Taylor who is in the last stages of cancer taking over her body. Her Caring Bridge site is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor.

Moms 2 Mom Expo

Grace Fellowship Church

8601 101st Ave. N.

Brooklyn Park 55442

Doors open at 9:00 and show closes at 3:00.

As always, surf my site, pass along my blog, spread the word.

Jean
BuddyBoo

High-Functioning Autism Through Mom’s Eyes

2008-12-15T11:32:00.005-06:00

I might have some more people seeing this blog now. I sure hope so anyway. Can I have your attention for a few minutes? Do you want to learn something new?

The media has done a wonderful job of getting the word "autism" into homes and conversations. Cameras have followed families and young adults into their private and personal lives to show how autism has an effect on more than just the individual challenged with it. The camera has shown fear and frustration on children who have so much to offer but can’t verbalize it. It has shown exhausted mothers and fathers trying to find ways to cope with challenging behavior at the grocery store or in a restaurant. Celebrities have told their stories of success, failure, opinions on therapies and causes. You’ve heard some of this, right?

What the media hasn’t shown yet, at least from what I’ve seen, is those people who will fall through the cracks unless someone is a strong advocate and never rests.

What does high-function autism (HFA) mean anyway? Is it different from Aspergers? What about PDD-NOS? For our family it means we feel blessed to have a child who speaks and is considered very high functioning. He has a lot of struggles getting the right words out and often ends it abruptly with, “Nevermind.” Sometimes I see it as a form of silent autism because so many people have no clue our son has any special needs.

Why do I use the term silent?
When he scratches his back it’s not because it’s an itch. There are hives covering his entire torso because he’s worked up about something happening and internalizing his fear/worries/anxiety. But you see him scratching an itch.

When he stomps his foot on the floor you see a kid working cause and effect. He’s doing it for the deep sensory impact it’s providing his body. Shortly after that, he’ll be jumping from the highest point of a couch or playset onto his knees. Makes me cringe just thinking about what his knees will be like at 45.

When he’s trying to tell you a story, you hear him stumble on a couple words. Those words never come to him and if he does get something out without your help, the word is wrong. An example of this is if he wants to say, “Would you like water in your cup?” it will come out, “Would you like water in your bucket…I mean, um, not bucket….I mean cup?”

Buddy was at a birthday party this past weekend. It was a bowling party, something he’s really enjoyed lately. After 2 short hours, he was ready to leave. He was overwhelmed with the lights, the music, the massive projector screen playing a movie with no sound. The arm that holds the pins while it’s pushing the tipped ones out of the way was a complete distraction. How does the ball come up that shoot? Where do those pins go anyway? Who is working the machines in the back? I had to bring him back to reality after each roll of the ball. Sure, that’s an attention-span issue, I understand that. But he’s on medication to help that. If he wasn’t on that medication, how would he have been? He’s also on another medication to help with the worries and hives, yet he still was covered in them all day yesterday.

Why do I care? Why should you?
Buddy will not fall through the cracks on my watch. He will not miss out on academics because I didn’t push to get something to happen. He will not slip into a spiral of sensory overload because I failed to recognize his needs and do that beanbag sandwich. He will not miss out on most normal kid activities because I didn’t do my research first on how he can get the most out of it without breaking down. He is my son. I do everything for him.

BuddyBoo Stationery also cares. Since inception, my first priority is to pay it forward. So with each purchase made with BuddyBoo, a donation is made to making sure autism is not a feared disorder and making sure autism research continues to move forward.

Why should you care? Because if you’re reading this, you know autism or you know me or you know Buddy. And now, officially, autism has touched your world. Please spread the word, spread this blog posting, and follow any of the links I have placed in the blog above to educate yourself more on autism and its effects on people. Most importantly, believe you can find the beauty in everything around you. I believe in the beauty in my Buddy. There is so much more to him than autism. While I need to focus on it more sometimes than not, it’s so his world can be as normal as possible so others can see his beauty as well.

Thanks for reading, thanks for sharing with someone else.

Wedding Invitations on a Budget

2008-11-06T13:05:00.003-06:00

With the economy being the big buzz word of the season, I thought I'd share some ideas on how to make wedding invitations more economical for you. There are a number of ways you can make your invitations interesting and still get the main point across, which is, "Come to my party!"

Reply postcards instead of a card in an envelope
You'll not only save money on postage, but also on paper because those little envelopes cost money, too
Reply email address!
I recently had a couple do a custom email address and that is how their guests will respond to their party. Emailing is free for everyone.
Eliminate that pesky piece of tissue paper - what's it for anyway?
Have one sheet of paper for your invite - not folded
Print the reception details on the back of your invitation
Go with BuddyBoo Stationery. BuddyBoo works every project to become unique and economical. My goal is to make your wedding stationery talked about - it sets the stage for your event!

Visit www.buddyboostationery.com for all your stationery needs. Weddings are a special event creating memories for a lifetime. Start it off right with invitations - after all that's what your guests will see first.

Become a BuddyBoo Follower!

2008-11-04T08:32:00.001-06:00

There is a button on the left under "I Like Fans" to help you follow my blog. Please click on this and continue to receive notifications when BuddyBoo sends a new post. And, again, I appreciate your sharing of this blog, of my website, of my capabilities.

Jean

How to Make Christmas Cards Stress-Free

2008-11-04T08:08:00.007-06:00

Christmas is filled with parties, programs, cookies, shopping, family, friends, school vacation, more cookies, more shopping, gifts hidden everywhere, lights up, Santa sightings, .... right? Why take your own time to get your Christmas cards together? BuddyBoo Stationery is ready to create a personalized, customized, energized Christmas card to show off to your friends and family. Here's what you need to do:

Pick your photo
Decide your quantity
Email or call BuddyBoo
Work on your address list

That sounds easy, right?

Visit http://www.buddyboostationery.com/ today. Your Christmas cards are just an email or phone call away.

And here's a new challenge for you. Pass this blog address on to 5 other people you know. Anyone with the special code will receive $5 off* the total price of Christmas cards.

*Offer expires 1-1-09.

Special code: BBChristmas08

When to Send Baby Announcements

2008-10-08T19:16:00.003-05:00

A new mom asked me this week when the perfect time is to send a baby announcement. Probably the best advice I could give right away is that when baby is just home from the hospital your spare time should be spent snoring.

The perfect time is when you're ready for it. Sometimes all it takes is a super-adorable photo to give you a jump-start into doing it and contacting BuddyBoo. Let me take care of the design and production! All you have to do is gather your mailing list.

Visit http://buddyboostationery.com/baby_announcements__birth_announcements to see some samples and get an idea of what BuddyBoo Stationery can do for you!

And remember - share the blog...

Jean

BuddyBoo

Tips for Baby Announcement Photos

2008-10-02T10:26:00.013-05:00

I'm working on a couple baby announcements right now and thought I'd talk about some ideas I've had on taking great photos of your baby for announcements.

You don't need a professional photographer. You do need great natural lighting and a decent resolution on your camera. Find a window mid-day without sunlight streaming right in (you don't want to blind your bambino). A slider door is best so your baby can be right next to the best natural lighting.

Get close and get at the same level. If you're on the same level as your baby, you will get a more realistic angle for the audience. Getting close helps eliminate outside clutter, like the chair your baby is propped up on or part of a bookshelf in the background. Lay down if you need to get that right angle. You don't want enlarged nostrils.

You have a digital camera, right? Take a bunch. Don't delete until you've looked at all of them on your computer. That tiny screen on your camera won't show you the full effect of a picture.

Keep in mind when you're getting really close that you don't want to chop off part of baby's head or chin. Your announcement designer (I really think you should go with BuddyBoo Stationery) will be able to make those adjustments to make the whole look perfect.

You know that newborns have their eyes open for 3 minutes a day. Have the camera ready. So cute with eyes open, but if you really like a peaceful image of your baby sleeping, that's a decision of yours, too.

Pay attention to your background. With my kids I frequently used a plain-patterned blanket as a background. It helps draw the audience's eye to your baby's face, not the animal on the blanket behind baby's head.

Check out this photo below. This was taken by mom Jodie Schoenwetter from
Spring, Texas, and is absolutely beautiful. The lighting is incredible (no bad shadows), it shows the baby's personality very well, and the angle makes it very powerful.

BuddyBoo Stationery is an excellent resource for your baby announcement needs, wedding invitation needs, graduation announcements and part invitation design. Visit www.buddyboostationery.com.

Getting ready for the weekend...

2008-09-12T13:18:00.002-05:00

I'm getting ready for the weekend and looking forward to an evening without distraction to work on a wedding program for October, work on a wedding invitation for this winter, and a baby announcement for a bambino set to arrive the end of this month. I have a lot to do and looking forward to it.

Want just one card for a birthday present? I've got a stack of initial cards already made that I need to post on my site. Pretty cool...

I'm thinking about checking out a wholesaler. Haven't researched it enough to really be serious, but hey. If I want BuddyBoo out there, that's a good place to try.

Hey, SEOs
I've also designed a company logo and company letterhead. She loves it! I've designed a flyer to sell a condo, a customized gift certificate for a CEO taking flying lessons, and lots of weddings and babies. I can't wait to start on Christmas greetings in a couple months. I have ideas for my family, just need to start creating.

First Blog for Everything

2008-08-29T11:17:00.004-05:00

Well, this is my first time blogging. A very wise person told me if I have a passion for what I do, my business will grow to what I dream for it to become. So look out, world: here comes BuddyBoo.

That being said, what do I write about?

I'm new to this blogging site, too, so not quite sure how to spread the word on my soon-to-be blogging addiction. I'll attempt to get a link to my website www.buddyboostationery.com and then get BuddyBoo's website to link to this.

Couple things to attract attention on those magical search engine optimization tools...
I love seeing new ideas on wedding invitations. I'm doing a ceremony program for a couple in October who already had their invites done. When I asked what she wanted in her programs, she said her invites were very simple and nothing special. I received the invite in the mail and WHOAH. I loved it. I can't wait to come up with great ideas to coordinate with them.

Baby announcements are so fun for me to create because there is so much we can use as the theme. I've partnered with a great company in the Maple Grove/Plymouth, MN area and can't wait to get some business out of that relationship.

I'll leave my first post like this for now. This weekend I'll think about other things to write about. I like to tell stories, so it can't be too hard for me.

Hey. If you get sent a link to this blog, send it around! I love fans (see that link over there?) and this is a great way to keep BuddyBoo fresh in the big internet world. Send me ideas on what to blog about, too, if you have them.

Jean
BuddyBoo