Mompreneur and Dapper Snappers Inventor on Her Big Idea Internet Radio Show

Dapper Snappers Mompreneur

Fix droopy drawers in a snap with Dapper Snappers!

Be sure to listen to the Her Big Idea Internet Radio Show on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. PDT / 2 p.m. EST hosted on Blog Talk Radio.  I will be chatting with Michelle, the inventor of Dapper Snappers.

Dapper Snappers is an elastic band that keeps your child’s pants from drooping.  Michelle’s products help thin children and their parents find clothes that actually fit!It’s a perfect accessory for your child’s back-to-school wardrobe.

You can purchase Dapper Snappers at www.dappersnappers.com. They come in packs of three – both in boy & girl colors for $15 or you can buy them individually for just $6!  And coming soon, build your own Dapper Snappers.

Be sure to set your reminders because this interview is not to be missed!

~Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio.

1 Comment

Elaine H., August 4th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women, Interviews, mompreneur

Holiday Golightly – Group Travel Planning for Girlfriend Getaways

Holiday Golighty - group travel planning for girlfriend getaways

When it comes to bachelorette parties, today’s savvy ladies are turning to more sophisticated options for the final hurrah. A recent survey* by Holiday Golightly, an online group travel planning service designed specifically for girlfriend getaways, finds an overwhelming 88% of respondents are looking for more upscale options when it comes to bachelorette party themes, leaving the days of strippers and raunchy accessories behind.

One of our most popular features is the new ‘Divvy it Up’ tool, enabling groups to enter and divide moneys owed at the end of the trip. It’s free to use and effectively eliminates the check-splitting headache – which more than 70-percent of survey respondents claimed was a struggle!

In fact, 61% of respondents reported they prefer a bachelorette weekend away with a mix of activities, as opposed to one wild night out in their own town – and more than half (57%) are willing to pay up to $400 for said getaway. However, of those invited to bachelorette events this year, a notable 66% indicated the weakened economy may somewhat impact their bachelorette plans, but another 21% were ready to open their wallets no matter what.

Economy aside, in terms of planning a bachelorette party, respondents cited the scheduling headache that accompanies organizing a big group as the biggest hang-up (37%), followed by dividing and collecting funds (32%) and selecting activities (19%). Helping address these needs, Holiday Golightly offers girlfriend groups in-the-know itineraries to destinations far and near, as well as a number of online tools, ideas and advice to help any frazzled planner.

“Holiday Golightly is designed to be any woman’s first-stop resource when faced with the daunting task of planning a girls’ getaway,” said Kerry Rupp, Holiday Golightly founder. “One of our most popular features is the new ‘Divvy it Up‘ tool, enabling groups to enter and divide moneys owed at the end of the trip. It’s free to use and effectively eliminates the check-splitting headache – which more than 70-percent of survey respondents claimed was a struggle!”

In addition to free planning tools and getaway advice, Holiday Golightly features a range of itineraries available for girlfriend groups to book. Trips are themed to each destination and include optional activities hand-selected by the jet setting Golightly girls to ensure the sophisticated, yet carefree getaway ladies are looking for. Trips even come complete with the insiders Golightly Guide pointing guests to the hottest spots in town.

Perfect for bachelorette parties, Holiday Golightly has packaged one-of-a-kind trips for any bride and her best friends to partake. From spa-inspired getaways to culinary escapades, explore bachelorette party packages at Holiday Golightly’s special “Bachelorette Bidnezz” page, including:

**Vegas – a go-all-out getaway complete with coveted VIP passes, concert tickets, sassy makeovers and even a Botox party!

**Chicago – de-stress in the Midwest with comedy club tickets, cooking classes and private chocolate tasting party (no one sticks to their wedding diet anyway!).

**Martha’s Vineyard - a relaxing hotel, sunset sailing, plus glider flights, horseback riding and more – how spoiled can you get?!

All Holiday Golightly prices are determined by final activity line-up. For more information on the Holiday Golightly packages, online planning tools and in-the-know travel tips, visit www.holidaygolightly.com.

Holiday Golightly is an online group travel planning service and resource designed specifically for girlfriend getaways. On the travel planning and booking side, Holiday Golightly offers several trip destinations itineraries – complete with in-the-know-activity options – to ensure girlfriend groups have a fabulous trip! In addition to its planning services, the Holiday Golightly site is loaded with free destination ideas, insider info, real-life advice and sleek trip tools – including the popular Divvy It Up cash divider and collector feature – to help any frazzled planner.

Kerry Rupp, Founder of Holiday Golightly.  Kerry spent a number of years in Very Important Professional Positions, which is shorthand for “she really knows what she is doing,” in the business sense. She brings over 13 years of strategic planning, marketing, business development and operational management experience from Classmates.com, Jobster, LexisNexis, McKinsey & Company, Sterling Commerce and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).

So what makes Kerry a perfect person to open a travel agency?  Here are the numbers:

  • 45 – The number of States in the U.S.A. she’s been to (although 2 were really just drive-throughs – they still count)
  • 8 – The number of States (in the U.S.A.) she’s lived in
  • 3 – Foreign countries she’s lived in ( Canada – yes, it counts – Germany and Italy)
  • 46 – Foreign countries she’s visited (give or take a few), including 10 in Central America and the Caribbean, 5 in South America, 19 in Europe, 10 in Asia and the Pacific Rim.

For more insight about the company’s founder and Holiday Golightly, follow along at Blogiday Golightly, a lifestyle blog offering witty girlfriend gossip every day of the week.

~Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio.

No Comments

Elaine H., August 2nd 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fun Stuff, Inspirational Women

A New Social Network May Keep the Doctor Away

The 29-Day Giving Challenge is a a pay-it-forward type of social network created by Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Cami Walker.  The goal of this network is to change lives, one gift at a time.

Feeling desperate and hopeless after spending eight days in the hospital related to Multiple Sclerosis, 35-year-old Cami Walker, decided to take an odd “prescription” from an African medicine woman. The remedy? Give away one thing each day for 29 days.

“I thought the suggestion was crazy at first, but decided it wasn’t going to hurt me to try it. Things couldn’t get much worse,” said Walker. “I was shocked by how quickly things turned around for me. By day 14, I was able to walk without my cane and many of my MS symptoms subsided. I was able to start working part-time again by day 29.”

Now, several months and many daily gifts later, Walker says she is still improving. Walker was so inspired by the changes in her health and other areas of her life that she decided to turn the 29-Day Giving Challenge into a worldwide giving movement. Today 29Gifts.org has givers taking part from all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Many of Walker’s fellow givers are dealing with serious health challenges, including various forms of cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, post-polio syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. And many are reporting positive changes in their conditions.

Givers commit to the Challenge by signing up on a social networking website where they can share stories in personal blogs and meet other givers. Their gifts can be anything: time, money, things, or kind words. Over 1,200 inspiring giving stories have been posted on the community site at www.29Gifts.org.

“Giving is a way to focus on what’s right with me instead of what’s wrong,” said Walker. “The simple addition of giving mindfully to another person each day has improved my state of mind and had a positive impact on my health–far more than any medication I take. I’m experiencing fewer MS symptoms and when problems do flare up I cope better with them.”

I recently joined this network and I look forward to starting my 29-day challenge today!  There are currently 713 members but Cami has a goal of inspiring and reaching 2,000 members by September 29, 2008.  Imagine how many people can be touched by this social network revolution?

To join the network or to find out more information about the 29-Day Giving Challenge please go to: www.29gifts.org.

Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio.

1 Comment

Elaine H., July 30th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women

All Woman Tech Start Up Launch New Affiliate Shopping Widget

tinymassive.gif

The world of interactive shopping widgets just got some girl power. The other day I stumbled across this new online affiliate shopping widget produced by an all woman start up company called TinyMassive.

Former merchants and co-founders Kate Hiscox and Lauren Miller recently launched the TinyMassive shopping widget. What a great way to support women and also make a little money on the side with your blog, website and social networking pages.

The impressive thing about the TinyMassive widget is that it scans the page the widget lives on and then brings up relevant products that the visitor may be interested in purchasing. Also, the widget’s sleek design adds to your blog’s overall look and feel unlike most of those unsightly Google advertisements. You are also given five choices of ad sizes to embed into your site: 728×90, 160×280, 250×250, 160×600, and 125×125.

Signing up to be a TinyMasive affiliate is really easy, all you need is a website, blog, or social networking page and a PayPal account. Just go to the publisher’s section, fill out the simple three-step form and then install the Javascript code in one of your widget text boxes!

If you have an online store, you might consider signing up as a merchant with TinyMassive by visiting the merchant’s section.

While selling online, the co-founders were frustrated with the return on investment from leads delivered to their stores via shopping comparison engines and widget networks.

“From the moment a shopper enters a comparison shopping site or interacts with a product widget, a wealth of behavioral data is available,” adds Miller.

But unfortunately Miller found that informative data was not used or even give to the merchant.

TinyMassive is made up of a passionate team of women innovators, merchants and world-class developers with expertise in search and social network development. For more information, please visit http://www.tinymassive.com.

Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio.

No Comments

Elaine H., July 26th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women

Celebrity Chef and Author Giada De Laurentiis: The Face of a New Italian Gourmet Line

I’m a huge fan of the Food Network. And one of my favorite shows on that network is Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. Just like the title of her show indicates, Giada demonstrates how to makes simple Italian food that the home cook can easily replicate for their friends and family.

Giada and Academia Barilla, a branch of the Barilla pasta company, recently launched a line of co-branded, specialty food items for distribution in gourmet stores nationwide and in its online store.

This is Barilla’s first-ever gourmet celebrity product line. It offers food connoisseurs an authentic taste of Italy. Products include: Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Sicilian Hand-Harvested Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon Zest, and Giada’s Tuscan Herb Mix. De Laurentiis personally selected all products.

Giada is a very inspiring and hard-working woman on the go. In addition to Giada’s two Food Network shows, she is a co-host of NBC’s Today Show, and author of three New York Times best-selling cookbooks. A fourth cookbook, Giada’s Kitchen, will be in bookstores nationwide in Fall 2008. She is the granddaughter of famed Italian movie producer Dino De Laurentiis and legendary actress Silvana Mangano.

The celebrity chef has also recently added the title of “mother” to her distinguished resume. Giada gave birth to a daughter, Jade Marie De Laurentiis Thompson born on March 29, 2008.

I might have to check out these new products by Barilla. I would love to try the Tuscan Herb Mix. Yum! Which product sounds good to you?

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

No Comments

Elaine H., July 2nd 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Domestic Diva, Fun Stuff, Inspirational Women

Show 014 – Interview with “A Dozen Invisible Pieces” Author Kimmelin Hull

On Wednesday, July 2 at 11 am Pacific / 2 pm Eastern on the HerBigIdea Internet Radio Show, I will chat with “A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood” author Kimmelin Hull.

The very eloquent Kimmelin grew up in the Seattle area, and now lives with her husband and three children in Montana where she teaches childbirth and parenting preparation classes She has an undergraduate degree in creative writing from the University of Puget Sound, a Physician Assistant certificate from Saint Francis University, as well as Lamaze Childbirth Educator. She is a freelance writer for Montana Parent magazine.

We will chat about: why she decided to write her book, “A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood”, the themes covered in the book, about her internal struggle with balancing home commitments and career, her decision to leave the medical profession to become a mother, author and teacher to new mothers. We’ll also chat about what she has done to promote her new book and how she got her book deal.

Please visit Kimmelin’s website at: http://www.DozenInvisiblePieces.com and her blog at:  http://kimmelin.wordpress.com

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

[audio:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/HerBigIdea/2008/07/02/Show-014-Interview-with-Author-Kimmelin-Hull.mp3]

1 Comment

Elaine H., June 30th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Authors, Inspirational Women, Interviews, Podcast

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation Pledges $200,000 to “Women for Women International” Program in Iraq


Of the recently reported $1 million donated by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to help those affected by war, I was happy to see a pledge of $200,000 going to the Women for Women International’s program in Iraq.  This money will benefit 300 women, and more than 1,000 children in Iraq.  The donation will allow women to invest in the health, education and nutrition of their children.We all remember when Angelina visited Iraq twice in the past year.  All the media was concerned about her going to a war zone and being possibly pregnant, and in fact she was.  On these trips  she learned that, “…educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal,” said Ms. Jolie.

As a former teacher and an optimist, I know that with education anything is possible. Teaching children how to read can help them escape their harsh realities by immersing themselves in the fantasy world of a book.

Women for Women International was founded in 1993 to help women overcome the horrors of war and civil strife in ways that can help them rebuild their lives, families, and communities. Since 2003, its Iraq program has provided immediate and long term economic solutions to more than 4,000 women and works with organizations and governing bodies from the grassroots up to the highest levels of leadership to address the needs of Iraqi women and families.

According to a Women for Women International report on Iraq released earlier this year, over 70% of the 1,500 Iraqi women interviewed said their family cannot afford to pay for the necessities of daily life. One Iraqi mother said, “If I was the president of the country, I would make filling the stomachs of the people as my utmost priority.”

A Women for Women International-Iraq representative said, “This generous donation will help these women who suffered to get a better life for them and for their families and will ensure that their children will have a better future. We believe that stronger women build stronger nations. The support we are receiving from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will save lives and help us to build a strong future for the children of Iraq.”

The donation to Women for Women International is part of a $1 million commitment to support the education of 8,000 young people from both the United States and Iraq impacted by the recent conflict.

Learn more about Women for Women, please check out the video and for more information on how to help the women of Iraq please go to: http://www.WomenforWomen.org

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

2 Comments

Elaine H., June 27th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women, News, Video

Inspirational Book “Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned”

 

I came across this newly-release book called Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned (Wiley, $19.99, hardcover) by Cathy Scott.  This seems like an interesting summer read for the pet lover that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. 

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina led to the largest animal rescue effort in history, with approximately 15,000 pets saved. Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned choronicles Katrina’s four-legged vicitims. 

Pet owners had to make the heart-wrenching choice to abandon their pets in the floodwaters and leave them behind to fend for themselves.  Cathy also follows the stories of many pets from rescue, to rehab, then reunited with their familes.  She also writes about selfless efforts of strangers and as well as inspirational pet adoptions.

Cathy, an accomplished writer, traveled to New Orleans at the request of Best Friends Animal Society Magazine to document the plight of pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. She quickly became a rescuer as well as a reporter.

More than two years after the levees broke, the world is still drawn to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and its impact. This horrific event caused the people of New Orleans to lose everything imaginable, from family and friends to possessions and pets. However, in such dire times, the best in human nature often prevails.

Check out this inspirational read!

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

1 Comment

Elaine H., June 25th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Authors, Inspirational Women

Show 013 – Interview with My Plate-Mate Owners & Her Big Idea Social Network

platemate2.gif

Check out my interview with mothers, Paige and Michele, who are co-owners of My Plate-Mate spill guard feeding gear for toddlers, seniors and those with special needs. 

The mission of My Plate-Mate is to offer it customers a unique self-feeding product. As a learning tool, My Plate-Mate assists in promoting independence and self-confidence in all users no matter their age or limitation. Michele and Paige understand the importance and joy that comes from being able to share a meal with family and friends. My Plate-Mate will bring back this positive dining experience and eliminate the frustration and mess.

You can listen to the live Internet Radio Show hosted on BlogTalkRadio every Wednesday at 11 am PDT / 2 pm EDT.  If you missed the live show, you can access the show’s archives at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/herbigidea or right here at http://HerBigIdea.com/podcast-archives.   

Also, please check out my article on PoshMama Online Magazine and Social Network.  This week I wrote about the Entrecard and my experiences with this free advertising and networking site.

welcome_signup.gif

And speaking of networking site, I have created an online social network just for Her Big Idea listeners and readers. The network can be found at  http://herbigidea.ning.com/ or your can reach this new online community by linking through HerBigIdea.com. 

I have created a place where women bloggers and business owners network, promote their businesses, bounce ideas off each other and support each others’ ventures and adventures. This is a private network so only women who invited by another member or who are screened via a questionnaire are allowed to join.

Please sign up today to be one of our inaugural members and remember to invite your friends!

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

[audio:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/HerBigIdea/2008/06/25/Show-013-Interview-with-Paige-from-myplate-matecom.mp3]

2 Comments

Elaine H., June 23rd 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women, Interviews, News, Podcast

Mom Invents Eco-Friendly Learning Cards to Enhance Early Childhood Literacy

As a former teacher I know that each child has a different learning style.  Some students can look at a word and memorize it, others need to hear and see the word and while others need to look, hear and write the word a few times and maybe even draw a picture before a word is learned. 

I was excited to see the eco-friendly product, Write Way To Learn Learning Cards, which are basically “flash cards.”   This product was created by mother after her four-year old son began learning the sounds of the alphabet.  He eagerly wanted to read bedtime stories to his little sister. To encourage her son’s enthusiasm, his mother began searching for a teaching product that was interactive, fun, and creative. There was no individual product available that provided the comprehensive and exciting learning experience she wanted for her son, so she began creating learning cards using family photos and recycled paper.

Modeling social responsibility for the next generation, the company’s learning card sets are eco-friendly.  All the card sets and supporting materials are printed on recycled paper. The learning cards are then heavily laminated to create a  reusable product. Also, to reduce the environmental impact of product shipping, all of the card sets are available in an optional web-download format.

While the company’s innovative learning tools are primarily developed for children ages 3-8, older children can also benefit from advanced sets, and sets that teach American Sign Language. Foreign language learning cards are currently under development. 

Write Way to Learn also offers an online tool called “Design Your Own” that will allow customers to easily create customized learning cards featuring their own pictures and text.  These custom cards teach family names or just make your child feel special! The “My Family” and “My World” learning card sets are completely customizable and created for you using your pictures and text. It is so simple and fun!

To get a sample of a card visit www.writewaytolearn.com and click on the “email us” link.

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

No Comments

Elaine H., June 20th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inspirational Women
« Older Posts