First Birthday Onesie Sale & Vancouver Olympics Update

Sorry I have been very MIA! What has been going on since November? Where to start! This past Christmas Memento was very busy with lots of Christmas orders. I am still amazed at how word has gotten out about my little business. Thank you to all my existing and new customers that found my creations. The mommy & me aprons were by far the biggest seller. Second was the collapsible market tote baskets.

On the personal side lots has happened in the Johnson household. Ron's mom passed away 9 days before Christmas. Donna survived for 8 months after being diagnosed with cancer. I still find it hard to believe that he doesn’t have his mom walking on this Earth anymore. When you think of your mom you just think she will always be there. We all have a mom but when you lose your mom there is only one mom. I had the pleasure of having Donna as my mother in law and friend for 14 years. We spent 3 weeks in Vancouver in May after she was diagnosed with Cancer. We had a great visit and got to spend some quality time with Donna while she was still feeling okay. When Donna and I last talked in person we had a wonderful chat that brings tear to my eyes just thinking of it know. She told me how proud of me she was. That I turned into a wonderful woman and a great Mom. I married Ron when I was 20 so Donna did see me grow from a young gal to a woman to a mom. She told me she could not have asked for a better partner for her son. It meant so much to me to have a talk like this with Donna. We have had other talks before that were deep and meaningful but this one was different. We both didn’t know if this would be the last time we saw each other or not. It turned out it was. We had a plane ticket to spend Christmas with Donna but she passed away Dec 16 and our ticket was for the 20th. I thanked Donna for raising Ron and for the gift I have in having him be my husband, best friend and the farther of our children. He is an incredible man and I am so blessed to share my life with him. Without Donna I would not have my husband or my children. It is never easy when we lose someone we love. I try to tell myself when you feel in the middle of the sadness that the depths of sadness reflect the depths of love that person holds in your heart.

We spent Christmas in Vancouver which was happy & sad. Liberty enjoyed spending time with her cousins and seeing my mom, Grandma & Papa. Maverick enjoyed opening any and all presents regardless if they were his. Then in January we got to see my mom again as the kids & I and my mom went to Mexico for a week. We had lots of fun playing in the sand, ocean and pools. It was nice to get away and just relax for a week. Then in February we went back to Vancouver to attend the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Having grown up in the Vancouver area I was so excited to attend my first Olympics and that it was in my home town. Ron & I went to two hockey games, the women’s bronze and women’s gold match. They both were great games. When Finland won I felt sad for the team from Sweden as they sat back on the bench and watched the Finland team hug and cheer with their win. But in sports a win cannot be celebrated without someone loosing. The president of Finland was there and it was a very moving moment when the team sang their National anthem to their president. I had tears and my eyes and felt the emotion. Later that afternoon was the Gold game between Canada and the USA. We took a flag for both countries and we cheered for Canada. I love the USA but growing up in Canada and with Canada being a hockey country how can you not cheer for Canada. I did however keep in mind that when the Olympics were in the USA in Salt Lake City Canada did beat the USA in the gold game on US soil. So it would be poetic justice if the women's USA hockey team gave Canada a taste of what it feels like to loose on their soil. But that didn’t happen this time. Canada won and the sea of red in the arena went wild. I did feel sad for the US team just like I did for the Swedish team. It is hard when you lose a game at that level to remember how far you have come and what an accomplishment it is to be 1 of 4 teams playing for a medal at the Winter Olympics. When the USA got their silver medals they entire crown chanted USA. It was very moving and I hope the women all know that we were so proud of them. I had never been to women’s hockey game before and it was a pleasure and honor to watch both of these games. I do hope they continue to keep women’s hockey in the Olympics. For years in skating, skiing, Luge and other sports there have been European or Asian countries that dominant and as that sport has time to develop more countries bring more competition to that sport. With women's hockey it has only been in 4 Olympics so far and needs time to develop and grow. So to the rest of the world please continue to grow your teams. That sums up our Canada, Mexico, USA travels. We are planning on staying put for a while now and no flights. It isn’t easy with 2 car seats and stroller and luggage.
On the Memento side so far this year which I know it is already March but I took most of January & February off to recover from a very busy end of last year. After doing an inventory and looking at sales I am focusing on moving inventory that I will no longer carry. I have so many baby items but in the personalized gift category there is so many baby blankets, bib, burp cloths, diaper cover and onesies that are out there. I have decided to focus on things I do that are different. Plus this will free up the current $4000 inventory I have! Can you believe that number. I asked my accountant (my husband) if I was profitable last year. He said yes and no. He isn't a real accountant which may be why it takes so long to get definite real answers from him. But he said my inventory is much too high and if I can get it to half or less than Memento would be profitable. This is the start of year 3 and I have set my goal to move out inventory and focus on a core line of products.

First Item to focus on is Personalized First Birthday Onesies. The perfect way to celebrate your little on turning one and a great gift for giving a special little boy or girl. Onesies are embroidered with an appliqué one in fabric choices for girls and boys. Or choose a cupcake appliqué design. On sale for $18. Onesie come in white, blue, pink or chocolate brown. Once they are sold out of that color and size I am not going to order anymore, so get them while you can.

Have a great and wonderful week.