Thankyou to an ultra successful Bambina Ballerina season. We received 70 orders in November, which was an overwhelming 210 hours of work for the season for one person. I got them all done and shipped priority mail. Last order goes out tomorrow morning and I am SO SO grateful for all the returning and new customers, and of course, the amazing referrals.

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I cant wait to go into the new season with all new hair bow holder styles. I have shut down the inventory on the site till Jan 1st so I can enjoy a stress free few weeks with my family.

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Happy holidays!

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Trisha Haas

Dont forget to buy gorgeous hair bows and clips at LOVE 2 SPARKLE, a Bambina Recommended Hairbow provider!

Nope, we are not doing one, everyone in the Blogosphere is doing them, so we figured a big post telling you everything to buy would be pretty redundant. HOWEVER, we want your Christmas Gift Ideas! So we are asking you to create a mutual gift guide with us. There is nothing more powerful then EVERYONE’S ideas in one spot, so let your opinion be heard. There are so many people out there that have tried great products or reviewed great products, so what we want you to do is either:

1) Put a Linky directly to the store/product you are recommending to someone. Maybe you have purchased there, reviewed there, buy there everyday…maybe its your product!

or

2) Leave a link to your blog where you did a review on something you loved! (direct please, not just to your blog, but the actual post)

Please put the name of the PRODUCT in the linky title so people know if they want to click on it.  You may leave as many as you want and please explain the comments why you really loved something if you are recommending it!

Then go by and check out everyone’s products and links they leave so you can search out some Christmas ideas. Save gas, by Online! We also strongly encourage bloggers to buy from blog sponsors and supporters. They keep our reviews and giveaways going and often support small mom-made businesses.

That’s it…MomDots “You Recommend it” Christmas Guide Spectacular. And hurry up…I haven’t bought one gift. I need yall to tell me what to get! (especially for my in laws)

~Trisha

(and i did add my momdot favorites to the linkys as well!)

1. Personalized Key Fob 2. My Bag 3. Baby Capes 4. Cookie Boutique- YUM! 5. Toro Stroller (w/ video) 6. Kids lunchbox Cards (stocking stuffer) 7. Scribble It (show off your blog) 8. Pajamas (matching family!) 9. Eyes Cream Shades (stocking stuffer) 10. Vintage Apron (for mom) 11. Animal Scramble Game 12. Matching Dad and Son Ties 13. Personalized Stamp 14. Alana Lilie Photo Ornaments and Jewelry 15. Stacey Moore - Photofiddle (Pictures on Canvas) 16. Bambina Ballerina Hairbowholders 17. Peeka Stories (Personalized Books for Kids) 18. Fairytopia Bow Holders 19. Adorable Button Hair Accessories 20. Names & Faces Personalized Key Fob

21. Pam Brechlin 22. Custom Stamped SS Necklaces 23. Monogrammed Travel Mugs 24. Photo Clipboards (For Men) 25. Leapfrog Fridge DJ & MegaBloks Tiny ‘n’ Tuff (Kids 1-5) 26. Little Monkey Personalities Tees (For Kids) 27. Doodle Kids® 28. The Charming Lamb 29. Picture Perfect Boutique 30. Transformers Animated Cyberspeed Bumblebee 31. Batman The Dark Knight Figure, Action Cape Batman 32. Golden Flower Creations 33. Baby Blankets - Mini 34. Baby Blankets 35. Skin Care Products 36. Doodlebug Dezigns Holiday Photo Cards 37. Natural Pod 38. Tiny Decor Green Kids Gifts 39. Nana Star Book and Plush 40. Zinkotek System (lifesized blocks)

41. Kushies Playmat 42. Rocking Horse 43. April 44. Pedal Car 45. 5 Minutes for Mom Christmas Giveaway List 46. Custom Pendants 47. Peachy Pendants 48. Corner Lot Creations 49. Yippi Hippi 50. Bratsacks Babyware 51. Personalized Lunchboxes 52. Book Holders 53. Karie Siciliano 54. KarieAlls 55. Kristen’s Custom Creations 56. Nodin’s Nest 57. Weird Bug Lady 58. You’re next!

Trisha

http://www.MomDot.com (MomDot), http://www.bambinaballerina.com (Bambina Boutique), 

I am mommy blogger Trisha, the head mom around here. I say that, but I am lying, because I could not run this place without the entire team below me. In fact, it wouldn’t exist without the patience and love of these girls and their time. I am 30 (yikes!), I have a 3.5 year old that I am afraid will ever be an only child cause I am too scared to have more, a 29 year old DH (who reminds me that he is younger a lot), and we currently live in Mobile, AL. We did a 7 year stint in the Air Force and have lived in Texas, South Carolina, and Ohio. I went to college for Criminology at the University of South Florida. I am an entrepreneur at heart and have, over the years, self taught myself HTML and website design. We opened this place simply to bring together boutiques and bloggers together and offer them the spotlight. Plus, I really like to work on websites, so this fulfills my need! LOL! So please make yourself comfortable. Come back to meet the bloggers, who like you, are wanting to connect, and the boutiques, who are working hard on fulfilling their business dreams. If you ever want to talk to me, our forum is the best way, so please join. I love to help moms!

Alicia

(The Life of a Crazed Mommy) http://www.thelifeofacrazedmommy.blogspot.com

Hey Everyone! I’m mommy blogger Alicia, the girl behind Momdot, I’m also a SAHM Mom to 2 little ladies.  I have an incredible husband, Jamie, who I’ve been with for the past 9 years.  Before being a Mommy I was a 2nd grade teacher in the public school system.  I have many passions, but I totally enjoy horse back riding, reading, and most of all spending time with my family.  I think I’ve also found my spot with running Momdot with the 2 greatest ladies!  A big thanks to all our readers for making Momdot what it is!

Bridgette- New Orleans (Interviewer/Reviewer)

Blog Name:  The Not-So-Blog Blog
Link: http://www.thenotsoblog.blogspot.com

My name is Bridgette, also known as Mommy to two beautiful girls, Lily (3.5) and Aubrie (4 months).  I work full time outside the home as a Lab Technician (yes, I am a Science geek).  My husband and I live in a suburb of New Orleans.  I am new to the blogging world, but through the kindness of my Online friends, I am starting to have a clue!  (-editors note: Bridgette tortures termites for a living)

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Check out my Youtube Video for Walmart!

KitesforKabul.jpg

I love to read..i mean LOVE to read. Right now I am reading a book called Three Cups of Tea. I make time to read about 1-2 hours a day. I know..your wondering where I find the time, but if I dont do something to keep myself sane, I would lose it. I work every second Im not with my daughter, so during her naps or atleast once after she goes to bed, I take a bath and read in the tub.

Anyhoo..onto the book. Its about a mountain climber who was in Afghanistan and came accross a small village that really made him feel welcome and at home. Once he realized there was no school and the children only got a teacher a few times a week if that, and did their work in the dirt with a stick, he promised to come back and build them a school. Its about fulfilling his promise to that village. I am fascinated with the Afghan culture.

Books like this remind me that I am on such a small scale in life. Its so important to not only have a goal and find ways to achieve it, but to realize that life is bigger then who we are as people, but really is about who we are when we have reached out to others.

Three cups of Tea,  The Kite Runner, and probably a million more I have read and will read, really touch me. They make me want to do so much more.

A few years ago I started a charity called Kites for Kabul. I took an idea that my husband and I had to give kites to the children in Afghanistan and had to figure out how to make it happen. This was before I had even heard of The Kite Runner. I think that book came out in the same year actually. While in afghanistan, my husband learned of the plight the kids had and was so touched, he wanted to give back.  He called one day and told me that the kids were always flying kites, and that they had been banned by the Taliban, but now that Americans were there, that they could fly them again. So me, a new mom with a 9 month old, alone without my husband for many months, went on a search to figure out how to successfully collect kites and get them to Afghanistan for the kids.

I started out with what I knew best..a website. Every night after my daughter was in bed, I spent all night emailing companies and people and asking (begging) for a newspaper article. One small newspaper in the middle of no where took me up on it and did a small article, which launched me. I took that article and got another one, and another one and slowly and surely built over 1200 kites that were donated from all over the country. Even some schools had thier kids make real afghan kites and donate them. It was such a neat experiance. I couldnt believe it was actually working out!

The base we were on at the time flew them over on a C-17 and gave them to the U.S. base there. The other kites I had bought from India and had sent over from an Afghan guy to the U.S. Embassy. The embassy over there actully PAID FOR the shipping. The whole thing just fell into place. One of the funny things (wasnt funny at the time) was that the kites got unloaded in the wrong area and left with the FBI in afghanistan. It took us almost a MONTH to find them.

But most of them did reach my husband and he was able to bring some small joy to the kids there. He got to take them to Afghani orphanages and distribute them. The rest were taken after his time was up and someone else got to distribute them. We never did find out how it went after he was gone, but I am sure it was great.

I just wanted to share that when you really want to do something, even if your just a “little person”, that you can. Ill share some of the news articles when I get only the laptop..i have them over on that one. **update: I added some, just click on the top where the links are**

I think that the world can make a difference..one dream and goal at a time.

It appears I have been nominated for the Hot Bloggers Calender. *snort*

I think im hot…most days. Except the 6.5 days out of the week I sit in my jogging pants here at the computer…but damn, that other half a day, I could pass for a cute mom. You know the irony in this, was that I was so not a cute high schooler. My DH told me I was an ugly duckling..I eventually came into my own. Supportive, huh. LOL! But really, something about being 30 makes me be “alright” with myself-flaws and all!!

(OMG, do I have some big Southern Girl Hair or WHAT?)

But what I think would be really fun is to meet other hottie mommies, so please extend your vote for me if you would~ While we are at it…brown or blonde hair? I really have to make up my mind because I have roots…(for both), right now. Which is a talent, I might add.

Scroll to the bottom, I am almost all the way down and it says Trisha (momdot).I would really appreciate it. The blogger that is running this, was one of the very first bloggers that ever supported Bambina Ballerina for me back when I was a new business online, and well, well before I was a blogger. I would love to meet her and give her a hug.

Other reasons you should vote for me:

1) I need a vacation. I mean, really badly. In fact, I would sell my soul to go away for a day.

2) I represent ALL bloggers…they interview me, I am going to talk about YOU! Our site doesnt exist without you all and that really should be brought out. I think MomDot is the only blogger site in the nominations that shares space with ALL bloggers and promotes them…We need representation! If we win, and our name is out there, that means others can see YOUR listings HERE. Its WIN/WIN!

3) I have big hair. Its awesome. What Can i say? I could pretend I was Cindy Crawford in a photoshoot. Pretend being the operative word.

4) I DO need a makeover. You think they would give me one? *stares at yoga pants*

5) MomDot brought this VERY important issue to light

6) I would take lots of crazy photos of all bloggers involved and make sure they make our front page for your viewing pleasure.

And If I win, I promise to promote WORLD PEACE!

trisha

 Recently it was brought to my attention that a report was filed about Bambina on a consumer protection website from a “customer” and then it was followed up minutes later by a new “customer”. The newer customer had a name of an online person that I had gotten to know. Her and I had gotten into an arguement, online, over unrelated business things. If you want to know more, go here.

As revenge, she went and filed this fake report, which now comes up in google under my business name, but rest assured, this is NOT a real consumer. Nor in the year that I have had bambina, had anyone claim anything of the like.

Yes, we have had issues where I forgot a bow or a speciality item. Once i even sent the wrong bowholder to someone and had to pay to have it sent back to me and make her a new one. I have always refunded or fixed EVERY mistake I have ever made as quickly as possible.

It was clear it was this blogger doing this, and you can see the info here regarding it and the final proof here .

 As if that is not enough, we spoke with someone who knows this blogger and was talking to her about the situation then said this that follows.

Sandra Guest

Re: Yall!!!!! GO READ THE DRAMA ON MOMDOT « Reply #10 on: Today at 10:45:53 AM » I totally understand. It was not right for her to do that. I asked her why she did that and she said that she was just really upset about the blog that you had posted. That was the best revenge that she could think of. She really does regret it and I e-mailed her what you said and she hasn’t responded yet. Do you want me to post her reply when I get it?

I would just like to say that as a mom that works at home, I dont care how mad you are at someone, espiecally if you do not know them other then online or a thing about them, to file a FAKE REPORT about their BUSINESS is beyond low and disgusting. I would never ever do that to someone.

Still being the nice person I am, I told the girl above who was talking to this other person that if she retracted her statement, I would take down my blogs talking about her…I was then emailed and said she would not retract it till I took down my blogs, which I REFUSE to do, becuase I did nothing wrong, and Bambina did nothing wrong.

So not only is this person not a customer of ours, she is a bit crazy. We are really, REALLY sorry to even bring this to your attention, but we did not want anyone to think that that report was real. We will be happy to provide you with any of our REAL customers names and emails (with their permission) and please check our guestbook for the happy customers over the years.

 Trisha

If you want them priority shipped, they cost approx $35 to ship, please contact us before ordering to arrange that. Due to the size, not the weight, the USPS and UPS charges per cubic feet and we have not found a way around that. We are sorry for the inconvience.

 If you want to order one and not add the wings on, but have me fold the wings in and you can attach them at your own home, I can possible get them into a smaller box lowering your shipping cost. Contact me for that!

 trisha

trisha