Big News: Will REVEAL our products mid September!!

As I write the title to this blog, I get goosebumps.  This is going to be thrilling for all involved.  Pure Belly, LLC is devoted to addressing these voids in the maternity world.  This process has and is eye opening, I still catch myself in a moment that I know I will remember for the rest of my life.  I have described designing this line as surreal to more than one person, it is.  Is this really my life?  Just last January, still trying to come to the reality that I had two, count em' two babies in that growing out of control belly of mine (I was Pure Belly), I decided that I had wanted to "make" these make-shift products that I had successfully used over the course of my last three pregnancies, but make them beautiful.  My first job was at Nordstrom, there I learned about the quality of a garment and the importance of product presentation and branding.  Needed to share how these simple yet very important garments that you utilize during the day, when you need them most can absolutely change the lasting visual effects that can be left by pregnancy.  It took many trips 6 hours away to Arcata, with 4 kids and my AMAZING Mother, and back, was more than worth it.  I will cherish those memories of tearing up in my product developer's shop as I finally held in my hands the first of what was to be many Pure Belly garments, I teared up, as though I had a warm fragile baby in my hands.  This experience has been that of love and growth for me as a Woman and as a Mother.  I know who I am now, I know where I want to go.   Not being a college graduate, I often wondered if my children would be as proud as their Mama as they will be of their devoted Father, I feel like they will now, I feel proud.  Even if, God forbid I fall flat on my face (which I have been told many times, and yes by more people than my Mom, that "this is the next big thing"), I will still be very proud that I have brought this into the world, a company driven to better others lives on many levels. 

Well, looking forward to the Big Reveal!!  Although, I am nervous as all get out!  So, maybe as early as Monday we will have a beautiful new picture up, kind of a new tease, bear with us, so much to do (wordage and so on).  But, come September 10th I will be off to Nashville to meet up with Jill!  I am so excited to watch her do her magic in real life.  To me, she and I brainstorm graphics and ideas and like Willy Wonka and the Everlasting Gob Stopper machine she pops out amazing creations!  Although, being kid free for four days I may just go wild and paint the town red!  I am sure we will at least accompany work with an adult beverage or two, helps with productivity.  So in short, and we will mention it I am sure about 1.5 million times til then, mid September we will start to reveal our products, one by one, week by week.  We will be giving free product to winners of contest and special things that we do so keep up with Pure Belly at a chance to win the very first Pure Belly products!!  All of our love to you all.  Please pass this on, we would really appreciate it.

Models across USA needed... If you have a belly with a baby in it, please apply!!

Exiciting new Maternity Line needs Pregnant Models for various reasons.

Sacramento, CA, ASAP

Arcata,CA, ASAP

Murfeesboro, Nashville, TN, ASAP

Tampa, FL, ASAP

Las Vegas, NV, October 10th, 11th, 12th

Please submit photos to purebelly@gmail.com Please disclose any tearsheets and a current photo. We are happy to except new talent without previous exp. Fee can be discussed, all sizes of women and bellies are encouraged to apply. www.purebelly.com

So, this is why not every person owns their own biz, it is HARD!!!

Ugh!  I know this may not be an appropriate way to start a blog entry, but this is exactly how I feel.  It is becoming a vicious cycle.  I forget to eat all day so I end up pigging out at 10pm when I finally feel faint.  I mean to go to sleep at 11pm, I lay down, get an idea, get back up and voila it is 3am.  I swear I need to get my crap together!  My mother keeps loving giving me advice to go to sleep when the kids go to bed and just wake up early and get my work done before they wake.  Any of you fellow momopreneurs do this?  That is the other thing, twitter and FB, and even this blog.  I know I only have 9 people that follow me on here, not really sure why I am writing this except for the fact that it ends up feeling like free therapy.  This is hard, like your first baby kind of hard, the constant "are you still alive because you are so precious to me" feeling, which would make sense to you if you were like me and checked to see if my first son was breathing about every 10 minutes of his first month of life.  Something new seems to happen every hour with this company, so I am constantly checking its pulse- twitter, fb, emails, and voice mails.
So anyways, this is all very exciting but very scary.  I have met some amazing women along the way that have helped me beyond belief.  Sometimes I need a person that does not know me to tell me I am not a nut for doing this. But, of course they all have the same response, that this is going to be huge.  This I think scares me more than them saying that I am a complete moron for wasting our hard earned savings on this idea.  Why do I have such a fear of success right now.  I mean, I want it, I would not be trying to accomplish these goals if I did not.  But, I just wish I could flash forward to the second that I am either accepted or rejected by a person that actually would be in the position to buy my products. 
Every decision is huge right now.  We are designing and creating everything these next couple of weeks.  Hopefully, our material will get final approval this week and we will write that gut wrenching check, but at least get started in production.  By the way, the most frustrating part of this entire process, material.  So then, the next week, I think I may take a stroll up to Arcata- another 6 hours, was thinking Friday, I will then finalize and approve all 7 of our garments.  Still have woven logo tags, care labels, hang tags, promo, our exclusive pure butter, and so much more to approve and yuck, pay for!  So thank you nine people that may or may not read this, I guess I should apologize instead of thank you. 
Personal notes:  Todd is getting his cast off on Wed. July 28!!  Whoot whoot!!  We will be back in business with water!  This poor kid just wants a darn bath so bad.  I can not imagine!  He has been a trooper.  And, Mr. Brett, he lost that front tooth that he broke when he was 2, it was black and I always hoped that would be the first to go, yipee.  He has a bottom tooth that is loose now.  We tried to use an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos in our favor, a kid that is whaling that it hurts, then the Dad yanks on the string and he says "dat didn't even hurt", yeah Brett was not having it, said he rather go to the Dentist.  Oh well, it will fall out sometime, I see a lot of apples in his future.  The twins are great, Alex can make it to the top of the stairs with me-- Yes, I am careful, just heard a cyber gasp from my mother!  Aubrey is kinda mean actually, she beats us up big time, and scratches, growls too.  So much for my sweet little princess.
Ok- back to work, feel better since I ended my therapy with talking about my kiddos, maybe I should go to bed.  Oh, wait it is 10pm, guess what I forgot to do!? 

Hello, Storm....

Well, my last blog post was about the calm before the storm, I think we are seeing the clouds forming in the sky.  Good thing I actually love storms, the smell of the air, the feel of electricity in the air, I find it all very exciting.  We have have decided to add to our line up to have a more complete presentation to potential buyers.  Every decision that I make right now is huge.  We are trying to build a brand that is instantly recognized as a quality and luxurious product, while having a strong focus on customer service. 
Our customers are going to be our life blood.  I want to include our customers in the development of our business as much as possible.  With this very thought in mind, I have decided to put together a sort of grant system.  A place on our website that customers may nominate a charity, program, or an actual person in a conflicting situation.  Coming from the position of having two boys and then being surprised with twins the week my husband was laid off, I have and will always have a soft spot to the arrival of a blessing in the not easiest of times.  So, we want our customers to have a place to share these hardships and apply for a grant from PureBelly that will come out of a predetermined and constant percentage amount for our choice of charitable cause or causes.  The amount and frequency of these donations will be determined with our profits, the more we sell the more we can give!!  I think I am most excited about the giving part, tidings.  I want this company to be HUMAN, I think that is one thing that so many companies overlook, having a human side.  Being a company created by a bunch of women, think this is inevitable. 
So looking forward through the dark clouds, I see the light and can't wait to share it with you all!!  We are still hoping that our site and product launch will be in August some time... cross your fingers, toes, and say a prayer!! Thank you all for the amazing support, we appreciate everything that comes our way more than you will ever know!! 

I think we can, I think we can...

Well, it feels like the calm before the storm.  Storm of things to get accomplished.  Next week we will be about completing some legal issues, which means piles of paperwork, not my strong suit.  But, also get to complete a ton of creative things.  Also, patience has never been a virtrue of mine, feels like this is taking forever, just began process in Febuary, so I guess not.  My product developer keeps telling me that these things take time, average company takes 18 months to 2 years to get up and running with a line.  Now way, i would go nuts!  Hope to approve our material on thursday and be in full blown production in a month.  Hoping to give out samples to doulas and ob patients soon, feedback is a must!!  Want to get this right the first time!!

Where we are, where we are going...

The photo shoot in L.A. was perfect, got great pictures of our model Heather Newton.  Our photographer Louis De Barricua was amazing and very creative.  Now for Jill Birge Brewer to put it all together into a beautiful luxurious website.  As for me, so many little critical things to get accomplished in order for us to start production and selling.  We are so very close to production we have 5 different products that are ready for their debut, well almost ready anyway.  Now, for spending big bucks which makes me want to gag!  But, I need to just keep pushing forward as the creator and owner of Hot Milk, maternity lingerie told me this morning!!  In this economy it is hard sometimes to justify going after your dreams so passionately but my husband Ryan believes in this and me so much that it makes the descision to do this everyday, and so quickly, an easy one.  Can not wait to actually blog about our products and how they can help your pregnancy and labor be more successful and comfortable.  Just want to scream it from the mountain tops!!  Stay tuned my 7 followers LOL!!

This next week is critical for us.  Monday we will finalize care labels, hang tags, fabric, possibly another product.  Needing everything to fall into place this week.  The journey to L.A. begins Friday, once there we will get ready for our photoshoot with a beautiful model on Saturday.  I am so thankful that my sister, mother, and best friend will be coming as well.  From the start so many people have been involoved in one way or another, getting me quickly to this point, so close to having a successful company, line of products, and respected brand.  We WILL do this.  GO PureBelly GO!!!  ps- having an amazing husband that pushes me to conquer my dreams everyday is such a blessing!!

Please check out our website!

We have been working on our new website and are pleased to announce that it is now online! Please register to get 15% off your first order plus FREE shipping! Also, the first 200 people in line will receive a FREE gift!

Click to visit our website!

Welcome!

Our mission is to help pregnant women feel like they have a friend in the maternity business that TRULY understands her new, changing body.

Stay tuned for our upcoming launch!