Featured Mom-preneur: Julie Cole of Mabel's Labels

Family ties... big dreams...organizer extraordinaire...

From sippy cups to socks, sticky tags to iron-on labels, Mabel's Labels help your little ones hang onto their belongings. Genius.

Julie Cole, the face of Mabel’s Labels, takes a few moments out of her day (…most likely around midnight) to give us an honest glimpse into what it's like to be a successful mom of five (soon-to-be six!) and a nurturing business women.

Read some heartfelt advice on juggling work, and mothering. We hope you'll find her as creatively cool as we do. {Don't forget to enter their generous giveaway below!}

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
I am a former lawyer, now mompreneur who co-founded Mabel’s Labels six years ago with three other fabulous women that I happen to be related to. One is my sister, and the others are friends from university who went on to marry my brother and young uncle. So it’s a family affair now! I am expecting my sixth child, and my eldest just turned nine and has autism. Clearly, I function well on little sleep and no “me” time!


2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
Mabel's Labels is the original Canadian-made label company and is the leading provider of personalized labels for the stuff kids lose.

3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
My business partners and I were all working in the traditional workforce and managing our young families. When my eldest son was diagnosed with autism, I quickly realized the law books would have to be shelved and the search for a family-friendly and flexible career began. In addition, there was a product missing from the market. We wanted to create adorable but incredibly durable labels for all the stuff kids lose. Our clever little business plan combined with the needs of our families provided all the inspiration we needed!

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
There are many rewarding aspects of running a business. We have started something and been there nurturing it and watching it grow. We often say Mabel is like a daughter! I love the connection we have with our customers who, like us, are busy with small children. The most rewarding part of being a mompreneur is having flexibility in your life to manage (or juggle!) work and family life. I find being a mama very rewarding in so many ways – certainly being a mama of many has given me exposure to the good, the bad and the ugly of being a parent, but the good stuff far outweighs the tough stuff!


5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
I know it is more easily said than done, but you need to be able to manage several balls in the air at one time. Being a mompreneur provides more flexibility, but flexibility does not get your work done for you. If you do that afternoon playdate, you’ll likely still be sitting at your computer working past midnight. In my experience, this career path is best suited to those who are not too hung up on getting sleep and are very functional without it. I always know the mompreneurs because they are the ones who reply to an e-mail on a Saturday night at 11:00pm or a Monday at 3:00am! You must also have the ability to tune out the mess and noise around you. If dishes on the counter or laundry in the dryer distract you and call out to you, working from home may be an issue.

6. What keeps you motivated?
It is very motivating to contribute and nurture a business that you started. It’s also very motivating to have my business partners. We keep each other energized and focused, even on those days when we’ve been up all night with a coughing child!

7. What is your next big goal?
Does Oprah count? We want to break into new markets and keep creating innovative and fabulous products that parents and kids love.

8. What is your guilty pleasure?
I’m not sure that I have one. I must admit, I can’t bare the thought of having a massage or a pedicure because I know the whole time I was indulging I would be thinking about all that I could be getting done in that time!

9. Name a product that you can't live without, for you or your baby?
Obviously, my Mabel’s Labels aside, there is one baby product I love and unfortunately it can’t be purchased. I bundle or wrap my babies before putting them to bed until they are quite old. As such, the babies are quite big and no wraps on the market are big and stretchy enough for my liking. As such, my mother-in-law makes me custom made wraps so I can continue mummifying my infants until they are practically toddlers! My babies sleep well so I wouldn’t be without Oma’s wraps!

10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
Trust your gut and remember that you are the boss of your baby. When we had concerns about my son’s development, we were sent away time and time again and made to feel like we were paranoid. You have to be a strong advocate for your child and trust yourself. There is only one expert on your child and that is you!

And, one lucky mommy will be the winner of their very own
Camp/School Pack from Mabel's Labels! A $34 value!
The Camp/School Pack has all the labels you need for summer camp or school.

{giveaway has now ended...}

Featured Mom-preneur: Jackie Hernandez of Tiny Décor

Most moms remember the moment when they were faced with the impossible decision to stay-at-home or return to work.

Our latest featured Mom remembers 'her' moment well. She dreamt of doing something that would allow her to be at home with her son full-time. Taking her passion for fabrics, design, the environment, and her desire to create, she jumped in. It all started with a blog and a loving husband at her side…

Learn a bit more below about Jackie Hernandez, owner of Tiny Décor, and also this week's creator of our Cuddle of the Week! We hope you'll find her as creatively cool as we do.

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
When my son turned 6 months old I decided to leave my corporate job and stay at home full-time with him. Around the same time my husband and I started daydreaming about Tiny Décor. Once I was at home with the baby, who took long naps at the time, it wasn't long before daydreaming turned into reality. I started the Tiny Decor Blog about eco-friendly baby products and we launched the Tiny Décor Boutique and Etsy Shop. I love making the products and spending time with my son (who is now 15 months old). I can think of no better business partner, than my ever supportive husband.

2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
Our goal is to help eco-minded parents create naturally modern kids rooms.

3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
I am truly inspired by the fabrics I work with. I search at length for hand-printed organic fabrics that are suitable for the nursery, but can live on in any room of the home. Our current fabrics include designs by Mod Green Pod and Kirin & Co. The products are inspired by parenthood and the need for things both beautiful and functional. It can be difficult to find modern, affordable, eco-friendly products for the nursery and we aim to change that.

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
I love my son's laugh and his spirit. He always brightens my day and I cannot imagine a day without him. Being a mom-preneur has given me the amazing opportunity to work from home and see my son almost all the time. I get to see him and my business grow day by day. Raising a baby and starting a business are the same in a lot of ways...they both require a lot of nurturing.

5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
To be realistic about your goals and the amount of time you can commit. My number one priority is my son, but I have found a way to fit in work time early in the morning, during nap times, and late at night so I can spend as much time with him as possible. Setting short-term goals has been really helpful for me to stay focused during the time I do have to work.

6. What keeps you motivated?
I have two big goals; to stay home to raise my son and to build a successful business. The two motivate each other, because building a successful business allows me to stay home with my son and being a work-at-home mom allows me the flexibility to build my business.

7. What is your next big goal?
In the next few weeks I am launching my own line of screen-printed art which is my main focus right now. But we really want to start a small line of sustainable kids furniture including toy boxes, bookshelves, and play tables.

8. What is your guilty pleasure?
Taking time away to read design blogs, magazines and to watch HGTV.

9. Name a product that you can't live without, for you or your baby?
My favorite all-time baby product is still my Stokke stroller. Early in my pregnancy I was very very sick and my husband surprised me with the stroller. He got it in my favorite color, turquoise. We use it to take the baby everywhere. We have tried other strollers during travel, but we always miss the Stokke.

10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
Patience. I know it sounds obvious, but I never realized how much my patience would be tried. As a mom you have to be patient with baby, patient with yourself, and patient with your spouse.

Where to find Jackie Hernandez
Shop handmade, originals on Tiny Décor Handmade (Etsy)
Outfit your entire modern, eco-friendly nursery from the Tiny Décor Boutique
Get inspired by Jackie's original, virtual designs in the Nursery Design Guide
Read about eco-friendly nursery design on the Tiny Décor Blog

Featured Mom-preneur: Liz Clay of Cici Art Factory

When I first checked out Cici Art Factory's web site I was instantly drawn to the bold and seriously bright whimsical themes that appear across all of their product lines. Then I was charmed with their theory that "little eyes deserve to see the chunky paint, pure pigment and clean design of original art". How perfect? The hand-made panels and fresh paintings will truly entertain and engage both little and big eyes alike...

Liz Clay, the incredible talent behind Cici Art Factory, is the mom of three girls. Read on to learn what keeps this busy mom, our second featured mom-prenuer, going and how she still finds time to stop, be silly and search for fairies with her girls. We hope you'll find her as creatively cool as we do.

Here's our interview with Liz...

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
I'm a mom of three girls (almost 4, 2 and 6 mos.) I’m from Vancouver and still live here!

I've always loved everything to do with art but it took me awhile to decide to focus on it full-time. In university I studied business and then went on to do another degree in Visual Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design in Vancouver. Following graduation I spent several years working overseas in Singapore and eventually Vancouver in the advertising and design business.

After the birth of my second daughter, I started painting again but in a style that was for both of us – girls with rosy cheeks and wild hair, trees with wise owls, girl’s in old-fashioned bathtubs with tones of bubbles.

I stumbled across etsy somehow... started an online store and things started to sell. Eventually I decided to have my own website to sell to both retailers and customers directly.

2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
I aim to activate rooms and spark imaginations with original art for kids rooms.

3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
My kids (this is an obvious one!), old-fashioned things (clawfoot bathtubs, 1920’s cars, dresses), children’s books from the 70’s with fabulous design in it (orange and brown owls, bold and vibrant patterns).

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
Getting to spend this much time with my girls is absolutely fabulous. I know pretty much everything about them as I’ve been with them all day long. I love that I can be around my girls but still have the challenge of figuring out the next steps for my business.

5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
Just go for it and enjoy it! It’s an amazing learning experience – from figuring out how to get your products made, how to sell them, what your unique selling point is, how to market them, build a website etc. etc.

There’s also an amazing support network of other mom’s doing the same thing.

6. What keeps you motivated?
I simply enjoy it and it’s the right thing for me at this time. So… if I had to choose between watching TV at night and working on my art, the art is a natural choice.

7. What is your next big goal?
I’m looking into getting the portraits printed on canvas so they would be ready-to-hang, rather than require framing. The main challenge here is that I’d love to have them printed on an organic canvas using non-toxic paints, stretched over wood from a sustainable source. The problem is that I’ve yet to find a printer that can do giclee quality printing on organic canvas. The demand just isn’t there yet and my quantities are so small its hard to find someone willing to do it.

Art wise, I have an 8 x 8 foot painting hanging over my oldest daughter’s bed and I love the scale of it. Right now all of my work is small scale – for shipping and painting purposes mainly but I’d love to do a series of really big trees for kids rooms. Trees where the seasons were ambiguous – apples on snowy branches, or trees with crazy little houses in their branches.

8. What is your guilty pleasure?

Popcorn, movies and chocolate chip cookies. Maybe even all at once.

9. Name a product that you can't live without, for you or your baby?
I’m loving my Mountain Buggy urban double stroller with a kiddie step on the back. I live in a neighbourhood where everything is within walking distance – the beach, the drop-ins, shops. I love just being able to walk out my front door and get around quickly with my girls if I need to.

10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
To slow down and to be silly. Today on our walk we stopped by a tree and looked in the moss for fairies.

We have three of these fabulous prints to giveaway!
{Thanks, Liz!}

One lucky True Cuddles subscriber will win
one of these fabulous prints from Cici Art Factory!

Each print measures 8" x 10" and is digitally printed on 110 lb archival paper.

It's signed and dated on the front and has a white border for framing.

Enter to win by...

1. Visiting Cici Art Factory's gallery and choose your favorite piece

2. Simply make a comment on our blog below telling us what it is!

Don't forget to leave your email address
so we can notify the lucky winner!

Please only leave one comment. Winner must be a True Cuddles Subscriber!
Winner will be selected at random. Contest Ends 11/30/08

Our Very First Featured Mom-preneur!

We have serious shoe envy - in more ways than one.

I was first introduced to these shoes when I purchased a pair for my daughter. I chose them because they were adorable and more importantly, supportive as she took her first timid steps. They are buttery-soft, flexible, breathable and have durable rubber soles. I could go on and on, but basically, if you are not familiar with these shoes, you should be.

We promised to share with you inspiring stories of mom's juggling business and family and we're thrilled to reveal our first featured mom-preneur is the co-founder of See Kai Run, Cause Haun, mom of two boys. We're grateful that she instantly agreed to chat with us and hope you'll find her as creatively cool as we do.

Here's our interview with Cause...

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
I’m a mom of two boys, Kai 6 years old and Ocean 2 years old. I’ve been married to my husband, Gang Chen, for 10 years. We started See Kai Run when Kai was learning to walk, about 4 years ago. We live in Seattle, where I am from, and spend time in China every year, where my husband is from. We do our best to raise our children with the best of both of our cultures.

2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
A small company creating healthy, functional, high quality, hip, urban footwear for infants and toddlers.

3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?

The inspiration for my business came from an unmet need in the market. I was a mom to an adorable son learning to walk and there were no shoes available that I wanted to put on his feet! I wanted very flexible soles, soft leather, a wide toe box, and unique cool styling that I couldn’t find at the malls. When I’m designing each season, I think of what shoe I would want to see on the shelf to put on Kai and Ocean. Designing girl shoes is harder – but I try to imagine I had a daughter and do the same.

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
The most rewarding thing about being a mom... Wow – that’s a tough question to answer. I think the most rewarding part (and the most enjoyable part) is when I can see that my children feel loved and when they express love and care for others.The most rewarding thing about being an entrepreneur is the satisfaction I gain from creating a product that thousands of other people also like. The most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur while being a mom is that my children can see that their mom is happy and satisfied and that it is possible to create one’s livelihood outside of the traditional office and/or 9 to 5 situation. The next best thing is having a flexible schedule!

5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
Trust that even if you don’t know all the answers (or even all of the questions!) you will figure it out. Nothing is too difficult to understand. You are capable.

6. What keeps you motivated?
I want to continue to design shoes that parents and children enjoy using. I believe See Kai Run provides really great shoes that are good for children’s feet and I want See Kai Run to continue to be successful.

7. What is your next big goal?
To get Kai’s hair cut, make his Halloween costume, and bake his birthday cake all before Friday!

8. What is your guilty pleasure? Currently it’s Facebook!

9. Name a product that you can't live without, for you or your baby? Costco baby wipes. I use them for the diaper area, but also for cleaning faces, the car interior, my desk, my hands, boy’s dirty feet, computer monitor, you name it.

10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}? It is not my job as a mom to shield my children from disappointment or sadness. It is my job to teach them how to deal with these necessary parts of life.


See Kai Run gives back. ANOTHER reason why we love this company (did we really need another?) See Kai Run will match the sale of each pair of shoes sold online {http://www.seekairun.com/} from Nov. 1 through Dec 31st with a donation to Soles4Souls. They share their shoes with children who need them. A true warm and fuzzy cuddle...

We have a pair of these hip shoes to giveaway!

One lucky True Cuddles subscriber will win
their choice of shoes from the See Kai Run or Smaller line!

This giveaway has now ended!

{Winner will be announced on 11/18/08!}

Creatively Cool.

Mom·pre·neur [mom-pruh-nur] noun

1. a creatively cool mommy who works at home,

balancing baby (ies) and their business (es)

At least that’s OUR definition…

True Cuddles provides a fun and unique shopping experience but we haven't stopped there - we crave to create a community for you to discover and reach out to other moms. We’d also love to celebrate you or someone you know as one of our featured mom-preneurs.

Twice a month, we’ll feature a mom who successfully juggles family and a business. We'll also showcase one of her very own products or services. She'll share a little about herself and her business.

What’s in it for the mom-preneur?
Exposure. Bragging rights. A cute badge for your website.
With hundreds of visitors each week, you’ll be sure to gain some exposure from being featured on our website. We’ll even equip you with an adorably designed banner for your blog or site so you can tell the world you’ve been featured on True Cuddles.

What's in it for our readers?

Advice. Inspiration. Gift ideas.

We'll gather knowledge from our creatively cool mommy that we hope will be motivating and informative. Perhaps you'll be inspired to take the next step in starting your own business... If nothing else, you'll learn about a really cool mom who creates a really cool product that would make a really cool gift.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured, we'd love to hear from you! Email us at truecuddles {at} gmail {dot} com