v 5 issue 28: Happy Valentine

Celebrate Valentine's Day with unique and fun gifts for your little ones. Plus...reunite with your true love and "Recapture the Romance."

Cover by Shannon Lott










1 The heart and PAW emblem is one of many signature prints from Lucky Puppy. Our choice for the month of February is the Heart PAW shirt with a dark pink PAW printed onto a long-sleeved heather grey thermal shirt of exceptional quality. Please note, 15% of each online purchase is donated to the Paws and Learn Humane Education Center. Enter code: TT15 for 15% purchases.

2 Genny and Jane creatively intertwine red and pink grosgrain ribbons into the shape of love. The Woven Heart Ribbon Sculpture Clip gets a grip from a partially lined alligator clip and is made to fit either the right side or left side of the hair. Email gennyandjane[at]gmail.com with code: TTW Friends for 15% off purchases.

3 Based upon real animals from around the globe, YooHoo & Friends live in the virtual world of Yootopia-where you can play games & have tons of fun with your new furry friend. The Pink YooHoo is a lemur with large lovable eyes, a pink heart, and a very special surprise...when you squeeze his tummy he lets out a big smooching sound. Available at Auroragift.com

4 Who needs candy for Valentine's Day! The very thought of the Heart Moccasin from Nowali warms the heart with sensations of comfy & cozy toes...and this coziness lasts way longer than a box of chocolate. These adorable knitted mocs have no-slip leather soles and are available in shades of red or pink. Enter code: TOTTRENDS for free shipping thru 2/21/10.

5 The Valentine socks from Trumpette are full of L-O-V-E. Little lovebird's piggies will stay toasty in these fiery red stockings decorated with enough hugs and kisses to get them way beyond the day. Fit sizes 0-12 months. Available at Myprincesscloset.com

6 Look dazzling and festive in these hearts shaped Pink Amethyst gemstone earrings. Check out Alluramarie’s full Valentine’s Day Collection as well as her other fabulous jewelry in a wide range of styles you're sure to love. Three's A Crowd Earrings are on sale now $12.50. Enter code: TOTWKLY for 15% all purchases.

7 Pass on some love (and an updated picture!) with gorgeous boutique quality portrait cards this Valentine's Day. Mango Ink stands apart from the big companies by providing real life designers to work diligently on all orders-perfecting color coordinations and fonts for true customer satisfaction. Dozens of predesigned cards are currently available for all occasions, but be sure to stay tuned for the addition of some amazing new thank you cards. Need these in a hurry... Enter code: TOTLOVE for free 2nd day air shipping on orders $50 or more thru 2/28/10.

8 The Ooh La La Couture Hot Pink Floral Denim Skirt Set is one of those great finds which lasts through the seasons. The set includes a denim skirt with floral print ruffles and a heart print tank. Match it up with the available bolero and leggings to keep warm during the chilly seasons, but don't put it away for the summer...this is sure to be a favorite all year long. Available at Everythingbuttheprincess.com. Enter code TTWFree for Free shipping.


Our Interview with the owner of Woobie Wear
Q: What was the inspiration behind Woobie Wear?
My daughter, Lauren Jessica, who is now turning six in April, is my inspiration. She models my line and loves to have her hair done! I also do photography, so we spend a lot of time together at photo shoots too.

Q: What obstacles (if any) did you face along the way & how did you overcome them?
There are basically two main obstacles that I've encountered. First, learning how to run a full-time business, while maintaining balance in my family life; it is a challenge every day. I force myself to stop working and hug my kids as often as I can! Second, we grew tremendously from 2008-2009; therefore, keeping up with the product demand was a challenge; fortunately, I was able to connect the growth of my business to a great social mission by partnering with St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation, a local non-profit agency that helps provide people with disabilities meaningful employment. You can read details on my website under Community Involvement.

Q: How do you manage juggling being mom/wife/entrepreneur?
It's never easy, but you adapt. I'm lucky to have a very supportive husband who believes in me and this business and helps out whenever he can...at the same time, I have a wonderful babysitter who lives across the street to care for my 19 month old son, Andrew. I also work at night when the kids go to bed, while my daughter is at Kindergarten and the while baby is napping! (and having a Blackberry helps too!)

Q: What is your greatest success professionally?
My greatest success so far was my line being picked up by Von Maur, a major department store here in the Midwest. When I took Lauren to the store, she was so excited and we introduced ourselves to the sales people, they loved meeting us and seeing Lauren in person since she is on all the hang tags!

Q: What is unique or special about your business that gives it an edge over your competitors?
Woobie Wear is unique in that we pride ourselves on not only providing a top quality, fashionable product; but we work hand in hand with our community, as I mention above, and we donate to several charities. Also, I designed our hats exclusive for Woobie Wear and they are all hand made with sequin trim around the bottom.

Q: Tell us about your donations and involvement for children battling cancer.
My brother-in-law is a Pediatric Oncologist who started his work out of medical school with the Dana Farber clinic in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his time there, he was heavily involved in their fundraising programs and my husband and I always donated in support of their events. As I launched my business, it occurred to me that another way to support these wonderful organizations was to donate my product directly to the children with the hopes of brightening their day. As I began to do this, I received a wonderful response and immediately had to do more, so I began to find local hospitals and foundations I could donate to. It's a very moving and emotional experience when you see the impact on the families and their children and words can't express how good it makes you feel. This past Christmas holiday, my International Sales Rep for Japan, who also does my PR, donated our hats to a children's hospital in Tokyo, which was the first time anything like that had been done. Woobie Wear always welcomes any special requests or sponsorships for charities.

Lisa Blackman, is the Designer/Owner of Woobie Wear, Inc. Reach her by email at woobiewear@comcast.net View her website at Woobiewear.com




Recapture the Romance
Remember the thrill when you first fell in love? Hearing your spouse’s voice on the phone would send tingles up your spine. When you embraced, all was well with your word. And when the two of you daydreamed about your future together, it seemed anything was possible.

The wonderful, heady feeling of being in love is part physiology, part psychology, and total bliss. While it is no substitute for the more mature, long-term love that follows, it is certainly a great beginning, and great place to revisit at any point in a marriage. Here are some ideas for bringing back the thrill of those early days, and cultivating it in the present.

Indulge the senses. Sensuality isn’t just about sex. It is a romantic experience in its own right, one that the human body is designed to experience.

Ever wonder why we associate things like red roses, candlelight and moonlight, wine and chocolate, and silky fabrics with romance? It is because the senses are a gateway to our emotions. They are also a short-cut to long-forgotten memories and experiences that we associate with them.

Plan an evening of sensuous pleasure, making sure there is an element to entice each of the sense. Prepare foods and beverages that appeal to both eye and palate. Play music that soothes you. Enjoy candlelight, roses, and chocolate – they are more than just a cliché! Pamper yourself and your spouse with physical comfort – warm baths, scented lotions, the fresh smell of clean linen.

And don’t forget the delicious sensation of falling asleep in each other’s arms. Too often, busy couples find themselves on different schedules. After an evening of pleasing the senses, make it a point to surrender to the haven of slumber together.

Have a night of music the two of you enjoyed while dating. The idea is to recreate that period in time, and music is a powerful facilitator. There are two ways to do it. One is to go to a concert by this artist and enjoy reminiscing about your shared history. On a budget (or in the event that the artist is no longer performing), you can play CDs or watch a concert on DVD. To expand on the theme, wear your favorite outfits that are reminiscent of that era. Prepare foods that you both indulged in. Bring out your photo album or saved love letters, and revel in the memories of the “good old days.”

Take a walk. What is more romantic than seeing a couple out for a stroll, holding hands in companionable silence? Such a simple pleasure can easily become a habit, and a regular opportunity to share thoughts about your day when the two of you reunite each evening.