When You Look Good, You Feel Good

 When you look good, you feel good!  

Those words were lovingly said by Shirleen, an amazing nurse at the Levine Children's Hospital Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit.  Shirleen, baby Scottie, and all the other precious babies and their families who called the Levine NICU their home for a time, inspired us to help spread cheer where it was needed.  While trying to come up with a meaningful way to impact those babies and families, we realized how incredibly small we felt.  How could we possibly come up with something that would mean anything when the only wish was for a miracle.  From personal experience, we understood that no gesture is too small in a time of need.  We also understood that splashes of cheer were not always in sight in the NICU.  A NICU baby's closest neighbor is often the machine that is keeping her a live until she has grown enough strength to do it on her own.  A NICU baby's best outfit is often a sterile white blanket.  So we took nurse Shirleen's words to heart and decided to help the babies feel good.  Using fabrics from our collections, we created soft colorful blankets to brighten their beds and hopefully their days.  All babies visiting the Levine NICU will have their day brightened by one of the blankets pictured above.  It was a heartfelt day when we delivered over 1,000 of these blankets to the Levine NICU.  It is our wish that all babies everywhere feel enveloped in love and cheer.

Spring 2012 Collection: A Sneak Peek! 

We had the privilege of working with Heather Rasmussen during our photo shoot for the Spring 2012 collection.  Heather is an amazing photographer inspired by motherhood and her love for storytelling through the lens.  Addie and Ella had so much fun working playing with Heather, who kept the girls motivated to keep on going until the last outfit was shot.  We can't wait to share all the pictures with you via facebook.  Until then, check out how Heather captured the essence of our Spring 12 line at heathermarie-photography.com.

The "Suri Cruise" Jacket

The reception to our Fall line has been incredible and we have you to thank!  We can't wait to see pictures of your girls wearing Addie & Ella this fall, so please be sure to tag us on facebook.  Typically, it is difficult for us to play favorites but we cannot deny that we do indeed have a favorite this Fall!  The "Suri Cruise" tweed jacket has been receiving a lot of attention, many orders, and so much love.  This coat was given this celebrity child's name by so many of you that we too have to call it just that.  We also think Suri Cruise would look fabulous in this jacket and would love it as much as we all do!  So, if any of you know Suri and her mom Katie, please let her know that we have the "Suri" jacket for her to wear this Fall!

Wardrobe Assistant

A sundress or shorts?  Ballet flats or sandals?  Lace tank or ruffle tunic?  Capris or skort?  Headband or bow?  These are just some of the decisions that go on each morning of a girl's life.  Breakfast has not even been put on the table yet, metaphorically and literally!  No matter how you prepare her the night before, somehow the menu changes in the morning.  If you have a daughter like Addie (and Ella), you know exactly what I am talking about.  Mornings are not easy!  And truth be told, I am guilty of creating this beast, as she has watched me carefully select her outfit each day of her life.  By the age of two, I was being pushed aside to the position of wardrobe assistant.  The privilege of styling Addie was taken away: Addie came out of diapers and I was handed my demotion.  My job has since been merely handing clothes upon hangers to her and opening drawers.  On an average morning, I show her at least five options which are hung and rehung again and again.  There is a debate about the day's weather, the activities, her mood.  The phrase "I am not in the mood to wear that" has been uttered countless times.  My efforts to slip in one of my favorites have all gone awry.  Addie spots the unsolicited shirt and quickly states her disapproval.  In my effort to win back my position as master styler, I tell Addie stories of how I always wanted a little girl to dress.  Addie's reply is always short but with a sweet smile, "Mom, you can pick out whatever you want in a few days".  The few days rarely come but it's okay, as we are spending precious time together each morning.  Since they do grow up entirely too quickly, I will cherish all the moments she still willingly allows me in her room (including when the final selection is something completely mismatched).

Mothering a Business

Having a business is a lot like having a child, so it's a good thing we have made them all interrelated!  We are both mothers and own a business in the children's market, so essentially we are in the business of children 24/7 and then some!  

We have all experienced the proverbial toddler who follows you around just to make her tantrum known. The minute you walk away, you hear screaming running in your direction only to throw herself under your next step.  How could so much noise come out of such a little body is what you find yourself asking.  The next question is how do I make it stop?  

A business screams just as a toddler might and even knocks you off your feet.  Just when you think all is calm and orderly, the screaming begins.  Unlike a toddler, walking away is not the cure.  With a business, it is important to pick it up, sooth it immediately and give it what it wants.

Children and business both challenge you to reroute yourself, to expect the unexpected, prepare for the worst, and embrace the best.  Milestones are reached when raising both and with each new milestone attained, new challenges arise.  

Motherhood has prepared us for the business world.  With both, we have shared many sleepless nights, joys, tears, and frustrations.  We have studied, networked, thrown out plans, made new plans, sacrificed, invested, listened to the screams, and come up with solutions.  Flexibility and determination to succeed are required in both business and in motherhood.  

And so we would like to thank our children, Addie, Ella, Carson, and Scottie for teaching us that we are capable of more than we ever thought possible.  Lastly, we would like to thank our fifth child, Addie & Ella, for making us stronger mothers, friends, and business owners.

It is hard to always live in the moment!

While most of us are juggling Summer 11, we are juggling this Summer, Fall AND Spring/Summer 2012 !  And while most of us think each season goes by entirely too quickly, we REALLY feel the rush!  In the midst of shipping out Spring/Summer merchandise, our minds are leaping ahead.  We have lived with the current season's designs for almost a year and quite frankly, we are ready to move onto the next collection.  Designing for the following Spring/Summer season begins during the current season.  With the rush of shipping out orders, comes the rush of transferring designs from thoughts to paper.  Our first Spring season did so incredibly well and we do not want to be a one-hit wonder.  We listened to customers and incorporated their feedback into the next season's designs.  Spring/Summer 2012 is as real to us now as it will be to you next year.  Our designs have been done, and redone, and done again and again.  And we are EXCITED!  Spring/Summer 2012 will bring some back some of our most loved designs, as well as introduce new pieces that are guaranteed to create a buzz.  Buyers for stores will soon see samples of our carefully designed collection, as the Spring/Summer 2012  markets begin in August.  As for the customer, you still have Fall 2011 to look forward to!!

These Boots Were Made For Docking!

Since the pictures tell all, I don't really need to tell you how excited Addie was to be in her "Addie & Ella" outfit!  Spring weather visited in the South, before all the rain began, and Addie put together this ensemble all on her own.  I would have to say she selected the perfect outfit to go with those perfect pink cowboy boots!  I would have been all over those boots too at the age of five.  Looks like Addie thinks they are the perfect dock shoes too!  I have a feeling the next look will be a bathing suit with the same cowboy boots!  These boots were made for docking...