Mompreneur

Father's Day is nearly here! We asked Kebby McInroy, Marin mom and owner of Novato's Studio 4 Art, for some ideas for unique handmade gifts for Dad. Studio 4 Art offers drop-in art making sessions, art classes, summer camps, and more. Look for their booth at this weekend's (June 13 and 14) Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music.

As Father’s Day quickly approaches, it’s time to think about that “something special” to give that special dad. Studio 4 Art has many last minute handmade options available to you. These are all created in the studio with instructors that are there to assist you along the way.
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Marin attorney and mompreneur Thea Beatie Eliot has been practicing law since 1995, and is familiar to many in the area who have used her services or attended one of her workshops. Thea's speciality is estate planning for families, keeping the needs of parents with minor children in the household in mind. We asked Thea a few questions about herself and her services and what makes living in Marin special for her. For more information about Thea Beatie Eliot and her practice, go to www.thealaw.com.

Please tell us about you and your background.

I’ve been an estate planning attorney since 1995.  I went into estate planning to meet two needs:  On the one hand, I have a strong nerdy side and the substantive law of estate planning comes from medieval English times so it’s very appealing if you like history.   And it goes without saying that tax law, which is a large part of estate planning, is a nerd’s dream.  On the other hand, I have a very strong social side and I wanted my life’s work to help people by counseling families to avoid problems, as opposed to creating or exacerbating them, which is the typical lawyer stereotype.
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I think all mothers, especially those with daughters, will agree that there's something extremely special about the mother-daughter bond. That is the premise for a new book of essays on the subject titled Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. Because I Love Her was edited by Marin mom and writer Nicki Richesin, and includes short pieces by authors including Joyce Maynard, Sheila Kohler, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Ericka Lutz, and others.

The essays are in turns poignant, profound, funny, uplifting, and comforting. They're all short, and it's the perfect volume for a busy mom to pick up during one of her all-too-rare breaks and take in a story or two. Many of the works included in Because I Love Her remind me of my relationship growing up (and to this day) with my mother, and of course make me consider my relationship with my own 3-year-old daughter and how it will evolve over time.

In this special "Earth Week" guest post, Melissa Hereford, Marin mompreneur and owner of Marin Kids and Maternity Consignment in San Rafael, offers a few reasons why buying gently used items (and selling or donating yours) is good not only for the wallet but for the environment, too.

Her motto is "Saving the earth, one outfit at a time," and she takes the idea seriously!

As we approach another Earth Day, we find ourselves focusing more and more on the recycling movement with our children, the future of the planet, and the limited space in our landfills in mind! Buying gently worn and gently used items is not only about saving money. That is a wonderful aspect of the practice, but it seems to be ever more important to reduce all the waste inherent in both manufacturing and retail. For example, when you buy gently used items, you:

One of the most rewarding entrepeneurial experiences is to be able to harness your creativity, get paid for doing it, and make people happy along the way! Marin mompreneur Andi Carvalho has carved out a niche for herself doing room re-dos for local clients. Sort of a less formal version of interior decorating, her room re-dos make use of the homeowner's existing furniture, art, and decor, all skillfully and creatively rearranged to give the room in question a whole new look. Andi also tackles more traditional interior design and home staging. If you're interested in her services, she can be reached at (510) 418-7202. Local references are available upon request.

We caught up with Andi and asked her a few questions about herself and her business as part of our ongoing "mompreneur" series.

Sometimes getting kids to communicate their feelings can be difficult, but Kimochis, a new line of stuffed toys created by a group of Marin mompreneurs in San Anselmo, are here to help. Kimochi (which means "feeling" in Japanese) toys are cute and huggable characters that come with a set of feelings inside—little dolls that represent feelings like jealous, grateful, shy, happy, and brave. These feelings and the Kimochi characters assist children, parents, and teachers in discussing their feelings, becoming better communicators, and cultivating confidence and character.

Our Kimochi, Bug (an adorable caterpillar with a hidden pair of butterfly wings), was an instant hit with our three-year-old daughter, who insists on carrying it with her just about every place. The different feelings that came with Bug all store in a handy pouch on his tummy, where they can be stored and then pulled out to play with and of course communicate about the feelings they represent. Overall it's a really appealing and well made toy. We're definitely happy to make room for Bug in our home!

Sadly, we received an email today from San Anselmo's Playdate Café stating that they are closing indefinitely. Another victim of the credit crunch and economic downturn, their doors are shutting as of today, December 8, 2008. Their website will remain up and running at www.playdate-cafe.com.

We'll definitely miss Playdate Café and all the great events they hosted for families. This past November saw the closing of another mom-run small business and similar indoor playspace, Playtime Safari in Novato. It's a shame, because both of these businesses were great resources for Bay Area parents and children. We're sorry to see them go. There's the possibility that Playdate Café may only close temporarily, so we certainly would love to see them open again soon.