Maddy Rose Boutique

Maddy Rose Boutique is Now Luxury Baby Nursery!

2008-10-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

We've changed names and we've switched our focus! Deciding that our niche is definitely baby nursery decor, we have changed our name to Luxury Baby Nursery! Check us out at our new home on the web, www.luxurybabynursery.com! Our site will be under construction over the next week as we give our store a fresh makeover...our new design should be up and running by Halloween. Thanks for being a friend - we hope to see you at our new boutique!

Keep Baby Clean this Holiday Season with a New Shopping Cart Cover

2008-10-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

Love it or hate it, the 2008 holiday shopping season is upon us! What do I love about Christmas shopping? Well, it honestly makes me happy to shop for my kids - I used to love waking up at 3:00 a.m. to head to Toys 'R Us when they were younger to buy the latest version of Tickle Me Elmo (now, forget it - they're "big kids" now and *nothing* on their Chrismas lists warrants the annual early trip to save big on Black Friday)! So anyway, today I got to thinking about how icky shopping carts can be at this time of year...enter our shopping cart covers to the rescue! Our trendy baby shopping cart covers are not only wicked cool to look at, but, they're super affordable too! My sister bought the green camo version you see here - she's married to an Army man, and, she is the talk of the commisary when she does her grocery shopping! What else is so cool besides the stylish designs we offer? How about a portable bag you can put your shopping cart cover in for easy transport? Funcational and stylish...who could ask for more?!

Children's Lighting on Sale Now!

2008-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Our children's lighting sale begins today! Our collection of boutique nursery decor just would not be complete without our new, gorgeous collection of children's lighting! We have partnered with some of the most fabulous designers of boutique baby nursery decor to offer you the finest hand painted children's light you can find on the web! With beautiful designs for boys and girls, we are certain we have the perfect decorative accessory for your child's bedroom or play area.

NEWSLETTER MEMBERS: Now is a great time to purchase your children's lighting! Not a member of our email newsletter? Sign up to save even more on your children''s lighting today!

Join our Newsletter & Save 15%!

2008-10-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

This week only - join our email newsletter and we'll give you a discount voucher worth 15% off anything in our store - that includes items which are already on sale and items which include free shipping! Visit our website at www.maddyroseboutique.com and click the "join our newsletter" link on the left - we'll then email you a discount voucher worth 15% off any item at our luxury baby boutique! Hurry though - this promotion ends Friday, October 17th!

Personalized Baby Shower Favors at Maddy Rose Boutique

2008-10-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today we updated our fun and festive collection of personalized baby shower favors at Maddy Rose Boutique! We have a ton of personalized baby showers favors with something for everyone - from wine bottle stoppers to candles, we have just what you need to throw the perfect baby shower for your loved one! My absolute favorite favor is on the right; it's our Pucker Up! Personalized Lip Balm Set. You can create a personalized label for your baby shower favor from a choice of 17 designs; each design is then available in 4 different color options! We ordered these favors for my best friend's baby shower and they were a hit - the lip balm is so smooth and everybody raves about the cute packaging when I take it out of my purse!

Pettiskirts are here!

2008-10-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Pettiskirts have arrived at Maddy Rose Boutique! Our talented designer, Lucky Gabi, has created some of the most gorgeous children's pettiskirts I have ever seen! Our pettiskirts are avaialable in a wide variety of color options, and, are designed to fit children in sizes 12 months - 8 years! Dress up never looked so fun!

Children's Toy Storage Chests at Maddy Rose Boutique

2008-10-13T07:34:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe, but the holidays are coming! Parents, you know what that means - tons of new toys in the house, and barely any room to store them. Get ahead of the game with a children's toy storage chest at Maddy Rose Boutique! Our children's toy storage chests are designed by Three Little Ziglets, Levels of Discovery, and Stacie Dale Designs. We have beautiful children's toy storage chests for boys and girls - click the images to the right to check out our collection and get your own boutique toybox!

Celebrity Baby Nurseries by New Arrivals, Inc.

2008-10-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

You wanted them, and now you've got 'em! We've finally begun to add our celebrity baby nurseries collections to Maddy Rose Boutique! New Arrivals, Inc., has recently become the it place for celebs to decorate their children's trendy baby nurseries - and no wonder - New Arrivals baby bedding is simply stunning, and the coordinating children's bedroom decor accessories coordinate each baby bedding set beautifully. Choosing a favorite has proven to be impossible for us as each celebrity baby nursery is as unique as it is gorgeous. Check it out and create your own nursery for the stars!

Our Halloween Tutu Sale Ends Tomorrow!

2008-10-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how time flies - tomorrow is already the last day of our Halloween tutu sale! Each Halloween tutu set designed by Fuzzy Me will be offered at $5.00 until tomorrow night only! After Friday, October 10th, we may be able to rush an order for you at an additional shipping fee - please don't hesitate to contact us if you forgot to buy your Halloween tutu this year!

Hip Kid Art Personalized Canvas Wall Art

2008-10-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hip Kid Art was actually one of our very first designers here at Maddy Rose Boutique! Hip Kid Art designs stunning personalized canvas wall art for children. Each piece is available in 12" x 12" or a larger 24" x 18". There is a huge variety of styles to choose from, raning from ice cream cones to surfboards! Even more awesome? Check out the lemon tree piece - 100% of the designer's profits are donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand! Orders take only two weeks to arrive!

Personalized Children's Plates Now Available at Maddy Rose Boutique!

2008-10-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the holidays...our adorable collection of personalized children's plates has arrived! This spectacular collection from VPZ Designs is available in an incredible variety of styles for your favorite kiddo! Check out our personalized children's plates and our entire collection of cool kid finds at our new personalized gifts boutique!

Photo Holiday Cards Available at Maddy Rose Boutique

2008-10-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited - photo holiday cards are now available at Maddy Rose Boutique! Our photo holiday cards are available in 4" x 6" photo paper in your choice of a matte or glossy finish. Available in a variety of themes, we have countless options to choose from ranging from the traditional Christmas greeting to a spunky eggnog photo (see right)! Beat the holiday rush and place your order today!

So...where have I been?

2008-08-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Thank you so much for visiting our blog! As you can see from the date of my last post, it's been a while since our last chat!

So, what the heck happened, and where have I been?! Well, sometimes these things aren't too easy to share, but I consider my customers to be my friends, and well, friends share their life experiences.

With that said, I feel it is time to tell my friends that I am now a single mother...yes, Suzi Sunshine is getting a divorce. So, while Maddy Rose Boutique initially began as a means to help me become a stay-at-home mom, it has now become a critical part of my life to help me tackle life's newest challenge.

At this point you may be wondering what my goal is with Maddy Rose Boutique. That is actually a simple question to answer! I still thoroughly love bringing joy to new parents who purchase our fabuluous upscale products! I honestly feel I am blessed; I am able to perform a job that I truly love while supporting my family as a single mom.

So, with all of the dreary stuff out of the way, let's get down to business! First, I must share my excitement over our back to school sale! We are currently offering 10% off everything in our "School Time" department! Stop by today to pick up a totally hip personalized lunch box by VPZ Designs - don't forget a coordinating tee from Puny Mae!

Now, I must admit that I have saved the best for last! I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to share this deal with you! For a very limited time, our 1932 75th edition Roadster Pedal Car is on sale at $80.00 off! I can assure you this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is not to be missed!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and, don't forget to join our email newsletter! In our next edition members will actually get the chance to vote on which items should be a part of our HUGE sale for our first anniversary on September 11th!

xoxo

Suzi

Personalized Retro Lunchboxes!

2008-05-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

How awesome are these Personalized Retro Lunch Boxes by VPZ Designs?! Oh my gosh I was *so* excited when this company contacted me to carry their totally fun line of lunch boxes! This line is super chic and is a perfect compliment to our Upscale Children's Boutique! You can use this trendy lunchboxes for lots of things beyond the classroom - they're perfect for storing crayons, toy cars, puzzle pieces - you name it!

Also new this week - all step stools by Straight from the Harp are 20% off! Now, I'll be the first to admit the pictures of these adorable, hand painted stools are not the best on my website - but, if you contact me, I can easily send you a larger photo so you can see the detail more clearly in this fabulous collection!

I cannot believe school is ending soon! The kids definitely have short-timer syndrome! They both also just learned how to ride their two-wheelers, so I never see them anymore! I've gone from the fun mom they want to hang out with to a short order cook for them and their friends when they make a pit stop from riding bikes! Oh well...the pool will be open in a few weeks, so I'm sure they'll be back home swimming in no time!

Enjoy the beautiful weather (if you're experiencing it...I've seen the weather report for some parts of the country an it looks scary - stay safe if you're in the storm zones)!

xoxo

Suzi

Potty Training 101!

2008-05-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but when Maddy and Nick were younger, I decided to use the warm spring and summer seasons to begin potty learning. No laughing friends - with both of my kids I just ripped off their diapers one day and let the roam the house and be free - hey, I figured they wouldn't get cold, and, well, they seemed ready...(some day I'll have to tell you about the time Maddy protested her boring plastic potty and pooped next to it, on my new carpet)!

So, what can make potty learning more fun? A Toddler Potty by Levels of Discovery! I swear, I wish they made products like this when Maddy and Nick were younger! Each Levels of Discovery Wooden Potty is so darn fun! You can include your child's photo on the prince and princess versions of the potty to make the little tot feel special using their own personal loo! Want something a little trickier? We also offer a Toddler Potty with a working timer that reads, "Time Moves Slow When You Want to Go!" How fun is that?! Click our "Always a Prince" Potty image to view our Levels of Discovery Wooden Potties!

So, many of you have wondered how the kids' camping trip went...they loved it! Fabby for them...not so fabby for their urban mama! I just don't know what it is about camping, but it is so not me! You could ask my Aunt Kathie for confirmation - she took me out visiting yard sales at her house in the moutains...she wore sweats; I wore a strapless summer dress and 3 inch red heels.

Anyway, my friend Denise swears I will love camping if I venture out in a camper! Perhaps that would be more my speed - the last time I went camping I slept in a tent...on the ground!!! Ugh and it rained our last night there - thunder, lighting...the works. Did I mention that Outoorsy Suzi didn't know she had to waterproof the tent? That made for a good experience...

Well, in the end, I'm just thankful Maddy and Nick made it home safely! There is nothing happier than greeting the kids in the driveway when they return home from a trip with their grandparents!

Thanks for stopping by...I'll be back soon!

xoxo

Suzi

Baby Bling Fiesta!

2008-05-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about our newest products! Introducing Bling Baby Pacifiers by Abbey Hill Creations! This is one bling line that has products for both boys and girls (a first for our upscale children's boutique)! Abbey Hill Creations offers a wide variety of Bling Baby Pacifier styles - we're currently offering sports themes, floral patterns, cupcakes, customized initial pacifiers...the list goes on and on! We even carry coordinating bling pacifier holders to boot! Check out the collection here!

We're having a clearance sale on our top 100 advertising. 125 x 125 banners on the top of each page are only $15.00 for a lifetime! 468 x 60 banners after the 5th and 10th rankings are only $10.00 for a lifetime! Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this affordable advertising opportunity - hurry though - once a space is gone, it's gone forever! Click here to view Maddy Rose Boutique's Top 100 Sites for Chic Parents & Tots!

The kids are going camping this weekend with their grandparents. I'm honestly a wreck worrying about tick bites, falls in the mud...you know, the stuff real campers enjoy...clearly, I'm not outdoorsy. So, say a prayer for my little kiddos during their nature excursion this weekend!

Have a great weekend, and thank you for continuing to support Maddy Rose Boutique!
xoxo
Suzi

Nicole Reid Elegant Children's High Chairs

2008-04-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Oh...my...gosh!!! I am so excited I could scream! This week we were selected by Nicole Reid to carry the most elegant children's high chairs I have ever seen. Nicole Reid Elegant Children's High Chairs are simply gorgeous...makes me wish I was rich...with a baby!

Punky Mae Tees - Trendy Message Tees for Your Tot!

2008-04-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share our newest children's tee line with you! Punky Mae Trendy Message Tees are the coolest tees we've seen in a long time! Punky Mae designs hip tees for both boys and girls, and the quality of these tees is superb (I have inpspected them myself and they passed with flying colors)! I have received a tremendous amount of awesome feedback about the superior quality of Punky Mae Tees - they simply rock! Get yours today before they end up on backorder!

Introducing Monkey Toes Hand Painted Shoes!

2008-04-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

OMG...how adorable are these hand painted shoes by Monkey Toes?! I literally screamed when the first time I saw them - I knew I *had* to offer them at Maddy Rose Boutique!

Monkey Toes shoes are available in a variety of fun decorative themes and shoe styles. Some of the fun designs available on Monkey Toes hand painted shoes include:

Buzzing Bees

Boogies Monsters

Leap Frogs

Little Ladies

Little Piggies

LUV Bugs

Silly Monkeys

Spunky Spiders

Wowie! Cowies

Each style is available in a fun sneaker or dressier Mary Jane (referred to as an Mj on our website). What makes these snazzy shoes even more fun? They are available as a set with coordinating socks for a tiny price increase! Stop by and pick up your pair today at www.maddyroseboutique.com!

Mother's Day will be here before you know it...

2008-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

So Moms, now is the perfect time to drop a little hint to your hubby! We are so excited that Baby Kaed's new line of stylish, designer diaper bags has arrived! Baby Kaed diaper bags are a huge hit on the celebrity scene - be sure to put your fave on your wish list today!

Couture Moms is making it easy to celebrate motherhood with style! We actually reached out to this fab designer when we first opened up shop in September, and finally, we have their products available at Maddy Rose Boutique! Check out our home page for more info on this chic line (which, by the way, was recently featured on Jon and Kate Plus 8)!

Be on the lookout for even more products at Maddy Rose Boutique. We're adding some new bedding lines, carseat covers, and, one of our fave designers, Luna B., has just informed us that they will soon be offering personalized lunch boxes to coordinate with their personalized tees! How awesome is that?!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo
Suzi

So Many New Products - So Little Time!

2008-04-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ellie's Boutique White Eyelet Dress (paired with jeans!)

Fabulous Price: Just $20.00!!!

"April Fools!!!" I can't tell you how many times I heard that one today! Maddy was pretty tame - Nick, on the other hand, had me running to a flooded bathroom, searching for spiders in the car, and looking for dog poop...in my bed! I didn't fall for the dog poop, but he definitely got me with the bathroom and the spider!

We have been so busy at Maddy Rose Boutique! We've added a ton of new lines, and amazingly, we still have quite a way to go! To keep it simple, I'll give you a brief list and description of each fabulous line!

AllyZabba: Designers of the softest blankets for babies and children! Not only are these blankets super comfy, but they are totally hip and stylish as well!
BePe Baby Infant Slippers: So soft and comfy to keep your baby's feet snug and warm! This line has a huge variety of styles for boys and girls!
Ellie's Boutique: Handmade boutique dresses for girls! These pillowcases can be worn separately or coordinated with a stylish pair of pants! This line is super affordable and oh so stylish (I personally LOVE the look of the dresses with jeans)! See the image above to see what I mean!
Little Fiori: Hand painted shoes! Talk about total bling! These shoes are perfect for dress up for simply sprucing up the basic jeans and tee!
Monkey Tails: Personalized pacifier clips! Each clip is personalized with your child's name - in sterling silver letters! Fabulous styles for boys and girls!
Punky Mae: Trendy Tees for your posh tot! Awesome, hip tees for boys and girls! Our featured product this week - 15% off the entire collection!
Straight from the Harp: Personalized, hand painted step stools for your chic tot! These gorgeous pieces are guaranteed to become heirloom pieces for generations to come!
Woobadoos: Handmade fuzzy children's shoes! Many of these shoes have a somewhat Asian theme that is just perfect for coordinating basic outfits, like jeans and a stylish blouse!

Below please find the list of winners from our Babe Ease product giveaway! Congratulations to our winners!

Michelle, Texas: Super-Soft Clean Shopper - Camo
Sarah, Alabama: Super-Soft Clean Shopper - Pink Pinstripes
Teri, South Carolina: The Clean Burper - Pink Polka Dots
Lori, Pennsylvania: The Clean Burper - Blue Plaid

Also, a HUGE congratulations goes out to my best friend and first ever gift registrant at Maddy Rose Boutique, Sara! Sara gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last week, and we are happy to report the entire family is doing beautifully!

As always, thank you for stopping by and being a "friend!" Don't forget to join our mailing list to keep abreast of our current sales, giveaways, and other special promotions!

xoxo

Suzi

Babe Ease Giveaway!

2008-03-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Babe Ease Clean Shopper in Funny Farm

We are so excited to introduce the newest member of the Maddy Rose Boutique family...Babe Ease! Babe Ease designs fabulous washable shopping cart covers, high chair covers, bibs, burp cloths, and more! Visit our site today at http://www.maddyroseboutique.com/ to learn how you can be entered to win a FREE Babe Ease product - no purchase necessary!

For more great savings check out the entire Babe Ease line! All products are 15% off!

xoxo

Suzi

Advice for Bucks County Courier Times & Philly Burbs Readers

2008-03-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Happy (rainy) Wednesday!

I must thank everybody who has visited our boutique after learning about us through the Bucks County Courier Times and Philly Burbs! We've received a tremendous amount of community support for our little business - thank you all for your kind words and encouragement!

Lots of people have reached out to ask me, "How do you do it? How can I start my own online business?" While I cannot promise miracles, I can share my experiences and offer advice based on what has worked for me! Below, please find an article I've written to help you along your own special journey...

So, you want to start your own, Internet business...you don't even have to explain your reasoning to me...as a mom, I get it! If you're reading this, you're probably wondering, "How on earth do I even get started?" Well, I'm happy to say it's probably much easier than you think!

The first thing you need to do is find something you are passionate about. I sell items for parents and tots because I am passionate about motherhood, children, and all of the fun things that go with the two! If I hated children, my business would never work. Why, you ask? Because I honestly wouldn't care about my products, my customers (or "friends", as I call them), and I certainly wouldn't care about their satisfaction! So, dig deep within your soul to find something you love - then brainstorm to think of creative ways to differentiate yourself from other businesses that may be similar.

Once you've decided what to sell, get your tush over to www.merchantmoms.com! Merchant Moms is an online community of about 1,200 business owners - most of them are moms (and dads) just like us! Merchant Moms offers everything you need to run a successful online business. I could go on and on raving about them (and I will if you want to give me a call for more information), but, here are my favorite features of Merchant Moms that I think could benefit most of us:

Everything is done from one place. Your website itself, shopping cart, and email account all come from Merchant Moms.
The customer support at Merchant Moms is incredible! They will help you set up your cart for free, and have administrators available at the drop of a dime to help you with any question you could ever think of!
There is a free online support group for you to chat with other moms and dads. This forum offers a wide variety of help topics such as finding good wholesalers, sharing marketing ideas, and offering HTML advice (this is a brief summary - they offer help on just about everything to be honest with you).
You don't need to know HTML to operate a website via Merchant Moms! The platform is definitely friendly for those of us with absolutely no programming experience. However, if you do have HTML experience, it is very simple to use your own code when updating your website as well.
The price cannot be beat! I've heard horror stories of people paying ridiculous amounts of money just to keep their business online - those high prices did not include services like email, a shopping cart, and 24 hour access to help via a forum like the one established on Merchant Moms.
You are never alone at Merchant Moms! Many of the business owners you will meet there are in the same boat as you - trying to run a successful online business from home to help provide for their families! I can't tell you how much fabulous advice I've received from other mothers, just like you and me!
Merchant Moms also recommends other moms who can help increase your business productivity at a very reasonable cost! For instance, I found my site designer there, a designer/vendor list there, and a writer to help me with site content to help increase my Google ratings. In fact, this blog you are reading was designed by another Merchant Mom! The best part? All of these services have been incredibly affordable. By affordable, I'm talking $100 and under. You could spend more for work that is more customized than what I ordered, but in general, none of the recommended vendors through Merchant Moms are going to break your bank account!

My next bit of advice would be to go to school. I know, no grown woman or man wants to go to school - Lord knows I didn't! But, even just a few business classes geared towards entrepreneurs can help! I fully realize the thought of taking night classes may sound overwhelming and impossible when raising families, etc. But, I can assure you, it's not impossible! I did it, and you can too! Where did I go to school? Well, I'm glad you asked! I enrolled in the Accelerated Degree program at Holy Family University in Philadelphia. This particular program is geared towards people just like me - the working adult who has priorities outside of the classroom. I opted to go for a full BS from Holy Family, and it is with great pride that I tell you I am graduating this summer! Is a college degree necessary to get your business started? Of course not - in fact, some of the wisest and most successful entrepreneurs I've met did not graduate from college. But for me, college gave me the confidence I needed to really believe in myself, my business concept, etc. It also gave my business sense a foundation that I will utilize for the rest of my life. For instance, I know how to interact with my designers and "friends" in a professional manner. I'm not afraid to speak publicly because I obtained those necessary skills at Holy Family. Was college a sacrifice for me and my family? Definitely! Do I feel it was worth the sacrifice? Without a doubt! If anything, it is important to note that, should you ever apply for a small business loan, one of the first questions on that bank application will be, "Are you a college graduate?" How great will it feel to be able to proudly check, "Yes!" on that questionnaire?

Finally, and this is most critical, you need to believe in yourself! You know you can do this, and I know you can too! Trust me, if I listened to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who told me my business idea was a joke, I'd be sitting her miserably wondering, "What if?" What if I didn't follow my dreams? What if I didn't just give it a shot? Sounds pretty depressing to me! Life is too short to wonder what if! If I didn't follow my dreams, I'd never have a successful business named after my daughter (how cool is that?)! If I wondered what if, I never would have had the courage to swallow my pride and go back to college as an adult - now, I'm so proud to be earning my degree at a time when my daughter is old enough to realize exactly what I accomplished! I've set two examples for both of my children: 1) You're never too old to get your degree; 2) Follow your dreams! Who cares what anybody else thinks? If you believe in yourself, you've won half the battle!

Oh!!! I forgot to mention one key element! You DO NOT have to be rich, or make a huge investment, to make your online business succeed! In fact, when I started my business, I paid less than $100 to get the ball rolling. That includes the cost I paid for a professional designer to work on my site and the cost of the first month's worth of e-commerce solutions from Merchant Moms! Personally, I would avoid people who offer instant success *if* you make a financial investment. My own thought is that you're not working for yourself - you're paying *them* and helping them fulfill their dreams while you're now out a significant amount of money!

You may be wondering if success came to me overnight - surely it did not. My business has only been open for six months, and I spent the first four months crying and praying, wondering if my business was nothing short of a failed dream. But, with persistence, it is paying off, and with a lot of work and dedication, it can for you too!

I hope this helps some! If you have any questions or could just use some guidance, you are welcome to email me at suzi@maddyroseboutique.com. I'm all about helping moms achieve their goals and would be happy to help in anyway!

God bless, and thank you for stopping by!

xoxo

Suzi

www.maddyroseboutique.com

25% off all KidKraft Products

2008-03-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Large Play Kitchen by KidKraft

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

You know, St. Patrick's Day is so different for me as an adult than it was when I was a child! Growing up in an Italian/Scottish/everything BUT Irish household, I never really gave St. Patrick's Day a second thought. In fact, I think I was the only kid on the block who never wore green to school!

As the mama of two Irish children, St. Patrick's Day has taken on a whole new meaning! The kids just so happened to get their report cards today, and thank God, the holiday was not sabatoged by bad grades! Maddy got straight A's (don't ask how that child does it - she certainly didn't get her smarts from me)! Nick did very well as well with a B average in all of his classes.

Anyway, we told the kids we'd do whatever they want to celebrate their fabulous report cards - we were thinking Friendly's for their favorite meals and ice cream. As if! Instead, they requested corned beef and cabbage (something I clearly cannot make) so we called the local diner for takeout! I'm so glad the day ended on a high note - it certainly didn't begin that way! Nick cried all morning that it wasn't fair he had to attend school on St. Patrick's Day. In fact, the little bugger actually tricked me and told me they had off today for the holiday! I didn't *remember* seeing that on the calendar, but they do attend Catholic School in a predominantly Irish parish, so I honestly thought he was telling the truth and I somehow overlooked this on the school calendar! Needless to say I wasn't pleased when I checked the calendar and realized he not only had school, but report cards today as well...

At Maddy Rose Boutique we have been CRAZY busy!!! I'm so thrilled with the success of our little business, and I am so grateful to all of you for supporting me on this journey! I have spent the last few months going through a wide range of emotions - I've shed lots of tears, bruised my knees from praying, and recently, have enjoyed the benefits of my hard work.

One such benefit is an article that will be published tomorrow in the Bucks County Courier Times! I'm so excited to introduce my business to the Philadelphia suburbs, and Maddy and Nick are absolutely thrilled their pictures will be in the local newspaper (Nick asked if it would make him rich...that boy is a pistol)!

So, I have to tell you about the FABULOUS new lines we are offering! As you can see on our home page, we are offering 25% off our entire KidKraft collection! This line is so fun! I've wanted to offer KidKraft products for some time now, and I'm so glad we can finally offer this fabulous line to our friends! KidKraft is well known for their awesome toys and toddler beds and cots. The savings from our 25% off sale are absolutely huge - be sure to check it out today!

This week we also added an incredibly fun lines of t-shirts to our boutique. This super line is designed by Luna B. Tees. These personalized tees are available in a HUGE variety of styles. I can tell you first hand how fabulous the product quality is as I just received a t-shirt I requested for my nephew, Spencer's, first birthday. We got the Boys Personalized Tee and the quality is just wonderful. The shirt is super soft and the personalization is great (no iron-on decals here)! For the price of these personalized tees, the quality can't be beat. Talk about the perfect gift!

We will be incredibly busy over the next few weeks adding more upscale products to our chic little boutique! Visit our blog often to see what's new - you never know when a special promotion will pop up just for you!

xoxo

Suzi

www.maddyroseboutique.com

Free Pacifier Giveaway!

2008-03-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

We are so excited about our "always a sale" program! Each week we're offering a sale on something unique that you won't find in any brick and mortar store.

This week we're offering a free pacifier by Lots to Say Baby with the purchase of one our fabulous gift sets! This is the perfect time to check out our newest designer, Genny Sue! Genny Sue designs fabulous, boutique baby gift sets for the hip chick or cool little dude. This line is designed with fabulous quality in mind at a very reasonable price. Be sure to order your gift set today!

On the home front something very strange has happened this week! I have suddenly become allergic to something in our house, and we can't figure out what it is! Even more strange, the allergy pills the doctor gave me aren't helping - I sneeze nonstop! Of course the kids think this is hilarious, but it's getting on my nerves! I go back to the allergist in two weeks for testing to see what the culprit is. I have a feeling it's Nick's bunny, Sunshine, but we'll see!

Last week the kids had an art auction at school. This is always such a fun fundraiser! Each classroom works with a professional artist to make a one of a kind masterpiece, and the highest bidder gets to bring the class project home. Maddy's class made a fabulous set of ceramic plates. Last year I won the class project so this year I agreed to share the prize with the other parents in the class. So, we all went in and placed one winning bid, and then we each took home our child's plate. Maddy's is a Christmas plate decorated with beautiful ornaments - I love it!

Nick's class made a combination ice bucket/plant holder. It's brown, and each kid painted a bug on it. I had to have it, so $250 later and I now am the proud owner of this fabulous piece of decor! It actually looks really cute in my living room - we have it on a stand so it's not just sitting on the floor!

Time to get back to work. Thanks for stopping by and remember to make it a great day!

xoxo

Suzi

Diaper Bag Sale- Ends March 7th!

2008-03-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hello!

This week has been full of adventures!

On Tuesday, Nick made his first Penance! I don't know what that boy was confessing, but he was in the confessional for so long that I almost interrupted and pulled him out! It was definitely a nail-biter, but he left smiling, which was a huge relief! He didn't tell me much - the only thing he said was he told Father he lied to his parents..."a lot!" He must have been pretty nervous - this morning his stomach was so upset that he had to stay home from school!

To the contrary, Maddy Rose is still refusing to miss a day of school! She's aiming for perfect attendance this year - in the midst of cold and flu season that's proven to be quite a challenge! One day I begged her to stay home, but she persevered and crawled to class. When she left for school I reminded her that being sent home by the school nurse did not count as an absense, but alas, the phone never rang. Thankfully, she had a snow day to catch up on her rest and just chill! I told her I'm forcing her to miss the first day of school next year to alleviate this stress!

So, what's new at Maddy Rose Boutique? Plenty!

First, I must draw your attention to the fabulous job Jen Meinking with Fingerprints Boutique did writing our "about us" page! She sent me a brief questionnaire, and I honestly felt like I was missing something. Well, today the "about us" page when live, and it reads like Jen's known me her entire life! Click here to check out Jen's fabulous work and learn a little more about me!

Also new this week, we've implemented our "always a sale" campaign! To kick things off, all diaper bags by Danielle Elizabeth and Baby Kaed are 15% off! These boutique diaper bags define high-end style, so be sure to check them out and get yours today!

That reminds me! I'm always wondering what items my "friends" would like to see go on sale! Have a suggestion? Send it my way at suzi@maddyroseboutique.com.

Thanks for stopping by - remember to think of Joannie and "Make it a great day!"

xoxo

Suzi

Personalized Wall Canvases by Hip Kid Art

2008-02-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Let's talk personalized wall canvases! We absolutely love this line of decorative wall art by Hip Kid Art. Designed by hip moms with chic kiddo style in mind, these fabulous pieces are available in two sizes:

12" x 12" ($75.00)
24" x 18" ($125.00)

This totally hip line offers an incredible variety of designs for both boys and girls! In fact, we have over 50 designs to choose from! Click the image above to view this incredible collection by Hip Kid Art!

I wish I had more time to post here, but I am one of the victims of this season's failed flu shot! This is the first winter I ever got one, and I promise you, it will also be the last!

Stay healthy!

xoxo

Suzi

Let's Talk Pacifiers!

2008-02-23T21:49:00.001-08:00

Okay, I think this line of pacifiers by Lots to Say baby is simply brilliant! They come in a variety of different sayings, and each design has several colors to choose from! You know what else is so awesome about these fabby finds? Each pacifier only costs $8.00! You can't be that! To make an impact statement I would suggest pairing the pacifiers with a spunky onesie or t-shirt from Pumpkin Noodle. Click the images above to view each complete line!

On the homefront, everybody is sick! Blah! It snowed yesterday for the first time all winter (we've had ice, but that's about it). I thought snow was supposed to kill the germs? Apparently not in my house! Everybody has the sniffles, except for the dog, who woke up and puked all over my bedroom this morning. Thank God for wood floors!

Lots of people have sent messages about my back injury - thank you so much for your kind words of support!

I'm off to bed for now - be on the lookout for my next post when we focus on canvas wall art!

Remember...Joannie says, "Make it a great day!"

xoxo
Suzi

What's new in Suzi's world?

2008-02-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

I know...I deserve a slap on the wrists...it's been a long time since my last post! I apologize for the delay - as you will read, my life has temporarily been turned upside down since my last post!

So, what happened?! Well, a few months ago I started to feel this nagging pain in my lower back. I tried to ignore it as we moms typically do - I just figured it would go away and continued to push through it. Boy was that a mistake! About three weeks ago I just couldn't move - it just happened one day - I had tremendous pain that was practically paralyzing. Long story short, four of the five disks in my lumbar spine decided to "bulge" and get comfy in their new home...right on my sciatic nerve! How gutsy of those little guys! So, there is now a new "Nick" in my life; he is my Physical Therapist whom I see three times a week for torture sessions to get my back in working order again! Thank God he's such a nice guy - I actually cried from the pain during my first session, and he was so supportive! Picture Santa Claus as your Physical Therapist! We're working really hard together, and our goal is to get me functioning again by April 1st.

On the homefront, the kids have been awesome dealing with my injury! Nick sweeps my floors every day, and Maddy follows-up with a Swifer washing. I'm taking a hit to the wallet in allowance fees, but hey, beggers can't be choosers!

The kids both got their progress reports this week - and both of them received straight "goods!" Mid-term reports don't have standard letter grades - just good, satisfactory, or improvement needed. Suffice it to say I am one proud mama this week!

On to Maddy Rose Boutique. Can you believe what a gorgeous job Keely with Mod Melon Creative did redesigning my website? Holy cow! She is one talented chica! Kudos also go out to Tina with Elaborique Studios! She designed this fabulous new blog and my new top 100 advertising website, which can be viewed here: http://maddyrose.gotop100.com/.

We have some fabulous new designers I must tell you about! Today I'll tell you about our absolutely stunning line of hand painted decor by Three Little Ziglets! From bedding to accessories, this designer has thought of it all! I'm proud to offer this fabulous line of one-stop shopping at Maddy Rose Boutique! Check out the photo of the "Welcome to the Jungle" line featured above - gorgeous or what? You know what I especially love about this line? That products are offered for boys and girls! I cannot tell you how many designers focus on girls and leave the boys high and dry!

Tomorrow we'll focus on our new line of hysterical pacifiers by Lots to Say Baby. Until then, remember Joannie's motto and "Make it a great day!"

xoxo

Suzi

My First Blog!

2008-01-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hello! Thank you for visiting Maddy Rose Boutique's new blog! I'm so exctied to tell you about myself and my business! Please visit here often to keep up with our business's latest news as well as get a laugh or two in as I share my adventures of opening a business while raising two little kiddos!

So, who the heck am I, and what am I doing here? I'm glad you asked! My name is Suzi; I'm a 31 year-old mama of two rockin' kiddos! Maddy Rose (the business namesake) just turned 10 years old yesterday. 10 years old...where does the time go?! All day I kept writing the date as 1/29/98 instead of 1/29/08. I guess my mind was elsewhere!

I'm also the proud mother of Nicholas (or Niko as I call him)! He's 7 years old and his hobbies include hiding his toothbrush, shooting bunnies, and any other disgusting thing little boys do! Sounds gross but he always makes me smile!

Anyway, about this blog and this business of mine. Well, for starters, I've always wanted to work from home. Why now? Well, I miss my kids! I want to volunteer at their school more, and, when the school nurse calls, I want to run to pick them up without thinking twice! Additionally, working in corporate America stinks! I'm sure you can relate.

My mission with Maddy Rose Boutique is simple. Customer satisfaction is my primary focus. I've learned a lot along the way; in fact I fired three wholesalers this week alone due to poor customer service! My customers are my friends, and I refuse to let them down as a result of another company's actions.

So what about my business now? Well, I am thrilled to tell you I have the highest level of confidence in my current designers! They are all just as driven as I am to please the customer, and I believe in them 110%! Our current product line is simply the best and we are adding new products every day!

Please stop by our website often and keep abreast of our latest products! Of course, please check out our blog often too - post as much as you'd like! We love hearing from our friends and want to hear your suggestions for Maddy Rose Boutique!

Thanks for visiting! As my mother-in-law Joannie always says, "Make it a great day!"

xoxo
Suzi