Dancing Princesses Avery, Finley and Briar Magee

Sometimes in life you get taken by surprise, as natural milestones blossom like miracles. About three years ago we did a photo shoot for new packaging for our diaper caddies. We had two models in a local mom and her daughter. The baby was as beautiful as we could have hoped for, with twinkling eyes, a radiant smile and toes so edible they made it onto the packaging.

Looking back, I realize that it was a pretty magical convergence of life parallels— a photo shoot for mom and baby, forever capturing the magic of a moment in time and the earliest days of a new product. You might think it’s a stretch to compare a baby and packaging, but little Avery, barely 9 months at the time of the shoot, was coming into her own, beginning to gurgle and kick at the activity around her, while the diaper caddies were beginning to take off, that particular round of packaging was targeted at the goal to reach wider distribution.

Now, three years later, Avery is a pre-schooler, walking home each day with breathless tales of tag on the playground and learning new songs in the classroom. SaraBear diaper caddies have exciting tales of their own, first tentatively crawling into boutiques, then walking into Target Stores throughout the country and now running into Babies “R”Us and Babiesrus.com – the world’s leading baby products retailer and the #1 Baby Registry site in the U.S.

We always knew that things would change, babies would grow up and new frontiers would be explored as a company, but it still takes our breath away.

Our gorgeous little model has grown up so much, with a baby sister taking on her own role in SaraBear photography, but to us the laughter of that 9 month old during a photo shoot one winter will endure like the first caddies crafted in a basement in the Adirondacks of New York.

Read our press release

Avery’s timeless baby face

Early August found me in Los Angeles sharing company with a group of extraordinary women. Coordinators from all states, Board of Directors and Advisory Council members from Postpartum Support International, along with leaders from LA County specializing in perinatal mood disorders, gathered together for PSI’s annual conference.

The focus was the importance of early detection of and intervention for depression and anxiety for prenatal and postpartum women. Our work makes the difference in the lives of countless new mothers and families every day. PSI’s vision is that each woman, worldwide, has access to the resources and support that they need.

PSI Coordinators – Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

SaraBear Co. is doing its part to reach out to new mothers. On every diaper caddy there hangs a little tag with the blue-dot symbolizing help. For mothers who may have no idea that they are entering a dark place, my hope is that the PSI information on this tag will help lead them right back to the light, shortening any time of suffering by directing her to the immediate help she needs. SaraBear is privileged to be an ally to such a remarkable organization and fortunate to have this cause as our philanthropic passion.

]]> http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/p-a-s-s-i-o-n/feed/ 0 http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/turned-out-to-be-a-sunny-rayi-mean-day/ http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/turned-out-to-be-a-sunny-rayi-mean-day/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:41:47 +0000 melissab http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/?p=244

The day, which was forecast for rain, was turning out to be quite pleasant. The sun played hide-n-seek through the high clouds and a pleasant breeze flirted through my windows.

Although Father’s Day, Ben was working. So by late afternoon the kids and I decided to head out to the park.  We hopped in the car and headed to their favorite playground. Wouldn’t you know – two miles down the road it started to rain. We knew the swings and slides would quickly be all wet.

Oh well. In need of a new shower-head for the guest shower I thought it would be a good time to swing into Home Depot and pick it up. Besides, the kids are always game for the Big-Orange-Tractor-Store.

So there we were…walking through the Queensbury Home Depot. As we headed out, into the front aisle came a woman walking with a dog. I wondered why someone would have a dog in the store? Must be one of those “dogs-in-training” I assumed and we kept on by.

But then, as I navigated the kids around the particularly happy pup I recognized her. I haulted the kids and stopped dead in my tracks. “Oh my God Sara, that’s Rachael Ray! It’s really her! She’s with her Mom and that’s her dog!”

Sara and I quickly contemplated what to do. We both got very nervous and decided we couldn’t do it. No way could we walk up and bother her in public. Clearly, she just wants to shop in peace like the rest of us. Nate tugged to show me the John Deere lawn mower he wanted me to buy – so we started to leave.

Then thank goodness my common sense took over. There was no way I was leaving that store without meeting her! And like any honest, quick-thinking parent I would say that my kids really wanted to meet her dog.

So we walked up and said hello. Rachael was 100x’s more beautiful in person. She introduced her dog Isaboo, we passed a few words and we then said thank you and goodbye. Having just sent Rachael one of our SaraBear diaper caddies (our continued forging PSI PR efforts) the opportunity to meet her in person was beyond thrilling.

Back outside, the sun was peaking through the clouds again and the weather had shifted. As I buckled Nate in his car seat I rambled on to Sara about how famous Rachael Ray was. And of course I texted my friend Tina about what had just happened.  I couldn’t believe we had just met Rachael Ray! I was high and giddy.

Although just a brief 30-second exchange, surely it will always be memorable for me. Sara and Nate will hear this story a million times as they grow up. How silly is it that meeting a certain other human being could be so exciting? Not too bad for a rainy day.

(Rachael Ray and her dog Isaboo. Originally from Lake George, NY, Rachael has a home here and her mother still lives in the area)

Bobby Rush – Illinois

This legislation was first introduced in 2003 by Representative Rush and has been kept alive through the determination of Melanie’s mother, Carol Blocker as well as the tenacity and dedication of countless other women.

In 2001, Melanie Stokes, the mother of a new baby girl, took her own life by jumping from the window of a Chicago hotel. Melanie suffered from postpartum depression which rapidly led to postpartum psychosis. Her fears were so dark and her soul so hollow – Melanie reached a place no one should ever go and a treatable illness took her life.

This is why Monday was a proud day for women – for those who have been spearheading the work to raise awareness and make a change in how new mothers are screened for postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum psychosis (PPP), for women who have suffered through PPD or PPP, but I think mostly for the women to come who will have a new baby and find that something is wrong – terribly wrong – and they will need help.

However, the work is not done, as off to the Senate the bill goes before it can become law. I’m not one to ask for much of my peers and friends, barely ever will you see a joke, junk or chain email from me -actually probably never. But I am asking everyone to drop a quick email to one of the women at the forefront of this bill, Susan Stone. Just email her at susanstonelcsw@aol.com with your name, credentials, state you live and permission to list your name in support of the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Act. Thank you! Melissa

]]> http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/what-a-rush/feed/ 0 http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/bullseye-baby/ http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/sarabear-stuff/bullseye-baby/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:29:20 +0000 amandamagee http://hibernate.sarabearco.com/?p=196

We have always known, both as moms and businesswomen, that SaraBear diaper caddies hit the mark for anyone with a baby. Whether it’s at Grandma’s house, tucked in the nursery, stored in the living room or kept at the office, our diaper caddies make keeping everything you need, exactly where it needs to be, for whenever you might need it easy.

Next month, the “exactly where you need it” part will take on a whole new meaning as Target® stores nationwide will be carrying a line with three patterns designed exclusively for Target®.

We know we conquered the clutter and stress that go hand-in-hand with diapering through the invention and customization of SaraBear diaper caddies. Now, in addition to our boutique lines, the addition of availability in Target® stores throughout the country and online, giving, getting and loving a SaraBear diaper caddy has become that much easier.

Because ultimately what we all want is less time searching and more time snuggling. And on that note, let’s all go rub noses with the little ones in our life.

Tonight I saw a little something that had me feeling as if I were at Zaepfel Stadium circa 1990 being crowned Homecoming Queen, The Nest has posted a SaraBear diaper caddy giveaway. Now, I can’t promise that winning will make you feel like a queen, but if you send me your address after you win, I’ll send you a tiara*.

Now, go sign up!

*We know tiaras at my house.

There I go confusing this pregnancy with our company. The little one, so adorably concealing my cute Merrell kicks, is due the 26th of this month. The debut of the new face of SaraBear that we want you to get to know is coming in early June.

SaraBear has grown significantly in the last three years and the time has come to make a significant change to our outside appearance to match who and what we’ve become.

We have been working with an incredible designer, Raeanne, of Trampoline Design, on a look and feel that will communicate who we are as a company, and more importantly, who we are as people. Intelligent, driven, community minded women committed to enhancing the way life with babies is enjoyed.

We have a feeling it’s going to be a wonderful summer!

How often kids really get sick,
The guilt of working or not working,
Sometimes being a good parent means doing things that feel awful.

I’ll tell you something, whether you have kids or not, despite the white-knuckle impulse these situations elicit as you experience them, when you emerge from them there is a euphoria and sense of accomplishment that will leave you feeling nearly invincible.

Managing a company has many similarities to parenting, with lots of outside opinions and many unexpected scenarios. Recently SaraBear completed a process that at first would have best been described as unchartered territory. After three years we decided to create new fabrics, and not just “new” to SaraBear diaper caddies, but “new” period. Custom textiles.

What we knew:

We wanted the textiles to be unique.
We wanted the patterns to work throughout the house.
We wanted to create something that would excite parents and children.

Deciding what the patterns should be was something that we spent a great deal of time deliberating. We knew that many of the people buying the caddies were holding on to them for years. One woman wrote saying that she hoped to use hers as a place to hold her daughter’s favorite mementos as she got older. Others shared that they planned to use it in another area of their house – guest room toiletries, living room catch all, the list went on. As we considered the different uses it made sense to create two price points, allowing people to invest in the look and feel of their caddy.

We realize that moms tend to be the buyers of the caddies, whether for themselves, or friends, but we wanted the patterns to appeal to men as well. It was important to us that our team of designers represent our audience, so we gathered a group that included one dad of two (almost 3) daughters in diapers, a father of two elementary school-age kids, a writer, one textile devotee, a mom, an aunt, and our caddy inventor.

And so we began. Would we use animals? Pictures? Pastels? Jewel tones? How would we differentiate the lines? There was much laughter and furrowing of brows as we each explained why something didn’t work or why another combination made our hearts soar. The entire process took about two months, with many weeks of waiting and perfecting. Samples have arrived each week and we have sat, staring and touching the bright pinks, rich blues and lush greens making notes, sending revisions and waiting on pins and needles until the changes were returned to us.

This July we will finally be able to share our finished product, much like a newborn, after months of loving and nurturing within us, and then finally holding the masterpiece in our hands and laying it with pride in the arms of friends.

For now, there is this, easier to read than an ultrasound, a sample of our babies.