I think I've turned the Twitter Corner

Twitter truly is a phenomenon in so many ways.  Beyond the fact that it is rapidly taking over the way our entire world communicates, it has this bizarre quality that I am now able to explain.  In less than 24 hours, Twitter has the ability to swing from being viewed by potential tweeple (I can not believe I just wrote that but stay with me, it proves my point) with confusion, curiosity, and a bit of disdain to becoming, at the very least, a staple of said tweeple's life, if not a diagnosable addiction.

Hello, my name is Julia and I'm a tweetaholic. ...

Wel,l okay, not quite but I can see the addiction in my near future.  Yesterday I was still dumbfounded by my Monkey Beanz twitter account (blatant plug for followers!).  After a weekend of reading some awesome info from some other mom entrepreneurs  (I'll be putting a post up soon with links included - these women are amazing!) about the beauty of Twitter, I decided to dive in and started following their advice.

Lo and behold, the smart business mamas are right!  I've downloaded my Tweetdeck to keep things organized, connected up with facebook and have already met some really cool people in just a couple of hours of tweeting and following.

It's official, I'm a convert.  Viewing tweets no longer makes me feel like I am reading a computer manual in Chinese ... the lightbulb has gone on!  Admittedly, I am still a touch wary of the Twitter language but give me a few months and I'll probably be tweeting, and retweeting, all my lovely tweeples.

If you're tweeting, follow Monkey Beanz and we can be tweeps!

NPR: Milestone in the life of an adult

This last weekend, I officially became a member of MPBN, our local NPR station here in Maine.  I have been listening to NPR forever ... in the car with my dad driving to school, in the kitchen cooking dinner with my mom, car trips to the mountains for my brothers' ski races.  And my parents were always members ... I have years of listening to the membership drives on the radio, even watching them on public television when I was young.  I distinctly remember the many NPR tote bags and other NPR paraphernalia we had around the house over the years.

No that I have a family and a home of my own, I have found myself drawn again to NPR for many of the same reasons as others:  the news, the humor, the interest of the stories provided.  There is also a sens of nostalgia mixed in there as well.  Nearly every evening as the clock nears 5:00, I find myself in the kitchen preparing dinner, listening to NPR, the sounds of my two girls playing (or bickering depending on the day) in the other room.  In the last several years, I lived in another country, married a man there, gave birth there far from my family, moved back to my home with my new family, started a business, had another baby, bought a home ... things that might scream YOU ARE A GROWN UP to the outside world but none of which really made me feel like I had taken that next step towards entering adulthood. 

Chopping veggies in the kitchen of my home, the sounds of my kids mixed with the familiar voices of NPR soothes me at the end of the day.  It brings me back to my childhood, a time in which I now idealize to be a time of few cares and worries, and for a few moments I feel relaxed and, yes, proud of the life I have created.

These moments are, of course, soon interrupted by wails of blame from the playroom, water boiling over on the stove or the ringing of the phone.  This last weekend, however, I made the decision 30 years in the making and picked up the phone to become a new member of NPR.

I now eagerly await my "Wait, wait, Don't Tell Me" travel coffee mug which I will tote around town proudly ... my badge of adulthood.

Morning Glory Muffins

I know I just posted but I just made the most amazing muffins and very much have to share this recipe

You will need:

4 Eggs

1 1/3 C.Veg oil

1 t. vanilla

3 C. Flour

1 1/4 C Brown Sugar

3 t. baking soda

3/4 t. salt

3 t. cinnamon

3 C. shredded carrots

3/4 C. Flaked coconut

1 Lg. apple shredded

1/3 C. nuts

I also added 1/4 C. Flax Seed

Now here is what you do.. Preheat your oven to 350. In mixing bowl beat oil, eggs and vanilla.

Combine remaining ingredients and stir into egg mixture just until moist. Spoon into greased muffin pan and bake 15-20 minutes. SOOO good. You are going to love these!!!!

 

I am back!!!

Hello all!!! Sorry it has taken me so long to catch up with life. I am now a mommy!!! Layla Ellen was born January 9th at 1:02 am. 8lbs 5oz and just beautiful!!! My labor experience was wonderful. I had so much support around me at all times.

I have been staying home with Layla and really enjoying my time with her. Monkey Beanz is still going strong. We have added so many awesome things to the website. http://www.monkeybeanz.com/

The diaper bag has been great!!! We also are using the booties. Sooo cute. I look forward to writing more and catching up with everyone. Thank you all for the support!!

Nyki and Layla

Packing for the hospital

Good Morning Bloggers!!!
I am one week away from my due date. I am so so excited. I am really trying to be prepared and have everything ready. The lack of energy that I have is a bit frustrating and holds me back a bit. I miss that second trimester energy. Nothing was out of place at my house.
SO my task for the last few days has been to get packed for the hospital. This is what I have so far
Mommy Bag
Comfy pants
Sweat Shirt
Undies
Thick socks
Nursing Bra
Items to shower with
Lip balm
A blanket my grandmother made me to use for nursing
Deodarent
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Still need to pack
snacks
books
music

Baby bag  I used my new Monkey Beanz Diaper bag. Mine is the second one in the green one.
.
Pacifier
2 Onesies
2 Outfits
Blanket
Cap
Warm outside suit. (It is very cold in January in Maine)

This is all I have packed... is there anything you think I might be missing?? What did you wish you had packed or was happy that you had packed?? Was there something that saved the day?? Help this first time mommy!!!!
That is it for me time to go get this house in order...
Peace Love and Fair TRADE!!!
Nyki

New Stuff!!!

Hello All!! So sorry I missed you last week. My hands were so swollen I could barely type. I am 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date!!! I am so so excited!!!!

Monkey Beanz has really been expanding. If you are looking for gift ideas here are a few gift sets that we have put together.

Baby Gift Set Includes: 1 Monkey Beanz mobile (your choice of style), 1 pair of luxurious fair trade baby booties and a fair trade chocolate for Mama all presented in our Canvas Reusable Fair Trade Apple Tree Tote.

We also do a gift set for toddlers that is in the same bag that includes 1 Monkey Beanz toy (your choice of drum set or tool set), 1 pair of Monkey Beanz Thai fisherman pants (your choice of color) and a fair trade chocolate all presented in our Canvas Reusable Fair Trade Apple Tree Tote

This bag is my new personal favorite!!!

Okay last but not least... I just purchased these for our baby on the way...

I cannot wait for little Spencer or Lily to show these off!!! Check out http://www.monkeybeanz.com/ for more of our amazingly awesome Fair Trade products. We will also be posting even more items soon!!!!

Happy  Holidays to everyone!!! Be safe!!!

NYki

Holiday Open House ... Great Last Minute Gifts

Just a heads up for anyone in the Portland area looking for some great baby and mama gifts.  Check out the Holiday Open House at The Boutique at Maine Medical Center in Portland.  Trust me, this is not your average hospital gift shop.  I went in a couple of weeks ago to talk with the buyer about providing some Monkey Beanz product and was amazed at the feeling of the shop as soon as I walked through the door.  You feel like you are in a very upscale children's boutique and completely forget about the hospital bustle in the other side of the door.  Very easy to browse through and the staff is quite knowledgeable if you have any questions about what you might need.  Plus, the new buyer has expanded the inventory to include an increased number of local businesses like these beautiful organic slings made by Denise Jacobsohn of Slings and Baby Things and currently, a variety of Monkey Beanz fair trade infant mobiles which were already creating quite a stir in the shop when I dropped them off!

The Holiday Open House is tomorrow, Thursday, December 17th from 10-8.  Go take a peek, you won't regret it!