News for Attachment Parenting International (API)

The principles behind attachment parenting are ones that, for me, resonate with my core personal values. They just make sense. I remember learning about attachment as a psychology major in college, and then again in graduate school. Even then, I knew they reflected some of my deepest beliefs but it was not until we were expecting my daughter years later that the ideals behind attachment parenting became concrete and real.

Babywearing is strongly associated with attachment parenting's 8 guiding principles and I believe they reflect a great deal about what attachment parenting is all about -- the natural, deeply held connection to your child and honoring that connection. Fortunately, parents themselves can become connected with others who feel the same through Attachment Parenting International.

Attachment Parenting International (API), a non-profit organization that promotes parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents, has several exciting changes they would like to announce, including:

• A newly redesigned web site and new logo at Attachment Parenting.org;


• Attachment parenting worldwide support forums;


• Parent Education Program - a comprehensive series of classes for every stage and age of child development from infancy through adulthood;


• A new book based on API's Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting by API co-founders Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson which is expected to be available this summer;


• A series of podcasts, webinars, chats, and forums with API Advisory Board members and other supporters of AP. Future events are scheduled with Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. James McKenna, and Kathleen Kendall Tacket. Check out the events page for more information.

These are just a few of many exciting things going on at API. I hope you'll stop by and check it out for yourself. To find attachment parenting support near you, check out API's membership and support group information page.

My Suite Valentine: Hotel Icon

Who: Hotel ICON

What: For those who appreciate the charm of historic architecture, this one's a flip gone wild. Hotel ICON is the $35 million historic reinvention of the former Union National Bank building, a landmark structure built in 1911 on Downtown Houston's bustling Main Street. The massive bank vault doors behind the front desk serve as a stately reminder of the hotel's rich history.

When: anytime is the right time

Where: www.hotelicon.com | 220 Main | Houston 77002

Why: Hubby took me on an early Valentine's getaway. Our Deluxe accommodations featured 378 square feet of pure elegance and romance as well as a breathtaking skyline view, cushy king-sized bed, and spacious walk-in rain shower. From the gracious concierge to the rich gothic swags, I felt as though I had been whisked miles away from my so-called life into a world of elegance and luxury like I have never experienced.

What about the kids: I left mine with grandma so I can't say how kid-friendly it is, though probably about average. I did read that they have bonded babysitters available. But the place is soooo romantic, you and your honey will probably want to be kid-free.

What about the environment: While the shower heads seemed to be low-flow enough, I'm not sure they were intended to be that way. To add a touch of green, I suggest that they first hook up with the Green Hotel Initiative then consider switching over to energy-efficient light bulbs, installing motion-sensors for the lighting (I'll admit, we left our lights and TV on the entire time we were out that night), offering green laundry and dry-cleaning service, and using organic bed linens and bath supplies.

What else: You can quickly get to the nearby Museum District using Houston's easy METRORail service just steps away. Or, for a trip to the Theatre District or anywhere else Downtown, use the hotel's complimentary car service.

What now: Go book your own romantic interlude at Hotel ICON right away!

We Interrupt this Blog to Bring You.... Life...

Hey guys, in between being sick, busy, caring for the sick, and caring for the busy, I have not had a chance to get back into blog mode. Bear with me please. Blessings!

My Top 5 Biggest Makeup Pet Peeves

First I'll say, I am make up challenged. I err on the side of caution though and instead of putting it on all wrong, I don't bother putting it on at all. I really admire those women who have the time and the talent to beautify their faces every day and if I were able to master the techniques to highlight my more pleasing features and camouflage the less desirable ones, believe me, I would do it more often. At least twice a week anyway. (Am I setting women back too many years by saying these things? Nah, to each her own right?) In any case, on my list of who I want to be, right next to working out more and dressing more flatteringly, I have included goals for wearing makeup more often. I always notice when women have nice makeup. I love the look, the sophistication, and the polish of a face made up in a natural, refreshing way. I especially like

1. nicely groomed eyebrows
2. long eyelashes
3. flattering lipcolor
4. smooth, glowing skin
5. well-defined eyes
   

On the other hand, there are those occasional times when I notice some major faux pas and wish I could find a tactful enough way to say something, anything. You know who I'm talking about. Those poor ladies who are the perpetrators of my top five most hated makeup no-nos:

1. overplucked eyebrows
2. spider eyes
3. overlined lips
4. the face-mask look (i.e., underblended foundation)
5. rough, leathery skin
   

How many times have I watched TLC's Nick Arrojo transform dull, ordinary faces into lively, cheerful ones? How many times have I wised I could snap a pic with my camera phone (if I had one) and send it in to What Not to Wear's Emergency Episode. I shouldn't be talking though. I've had my share of make up lessons, courtesy of many friends' home make up parties, only to find myself completely confused later when the nice lady has gone home.

This is why I'm glad for the internet and the online sites that offer make up tips, because they give you a chance to practice without the pressure of someone staring you in the face and you have the ability to reference the information when you need it. I think that's where I'll start, with the tips at makeuptip.com. When I'm brave enough, maybe I'll post a pic of myself after I've practiced alot.

Are YOU Fabulous? Do you long to be?

I like to think I am, but if you look at me, that's probably not the first thing you think of. Perhaps, instead, you'd think... conscientious, reserved, or down-to-earth. And you'd be correct. I am all of those things and proud of it. But do you ever long to step outside yourself for a while and be someone else? I do. I've felt that way off and on throughout my life, and more often since the birth of my daughter.

Maybe that's why I'm a Kimora Lee Simmons fan (re: my post from yesterday), because she is so very fabulous. I look at her and my inner vixen screams to be released from its ordinary cell. For half an hour I watch her show and am convinced I can be like her with just a bit of effort. Ok, maybe a little more effort than that. I married an entrepreneur. Check. Together we had a beautiful daughter we adore. Check. I'm a partner in the business. Check. I'm a gorgeous amazon of a woman. Um, no check.

Well, she does have a great clothing line that reeks with promise for a sub-urban mama like myself. I think if I get a pair of baby phat boots like these, my inner vixen would explode with joy at having finally been set free. And my husband would likely scream as well. We can't talk about that on this blog though.

How many other moms are out there, wanting with all their hearts to be fabulous too? I know I'm not alone. (And think of all the dads, wishing for the same thing.) I know my happiness is not tied to any material thing, but I do know the power of clothing and its ability to transform you, if only for a short time.

Honey, if you're reading this, I promise if you let me get these fabulous baby phat boots, though spendy, they will be worth each and every penny benjamin.

(Feel free to check the urban dictionary located in my sidebar for pertinent reference information.)

Materialism on the Mend: Blogging is the new therapy

I've been on a spending diet for a while now, mostly because we haven't had the extra money to spend. It's good for me though, because I was slowly spiraling into a materialistic place that I wasn't quite happy with. That's one reason I like having Punkin Pockets and being able to show all of you the cool stuff out there I'd be buying if I could. It satisfies that window shopping need while keeping my bank account in the black.

Another good thing about spending less is that I am able to sift and sort through all the things my covetous heart desires, sift all the way down until I get to the things I really, truly feel I can't do without. If I just give myself a month, usually I forget about those cute shoes that perfectly match that empire waist dress that would send me into wardrobe nirvana. This way, I am able to take a step back and realize one of two things: (1) that I was making the (insert coveted item here) way more important than it really was, or (2) that it actually is something I need and wouldn't end up in the pile in the corner.

So, consider this blog my therapy of sorts. Here, I can fantasize about all the fabulous things I think I want and come back later to see if they still make my heart quiver. Don't get me wrong, I think shopping is fine and wonderful, it's what makes the world go 'round. But for me, it's all about perspective and for a while, I was losing mine. Anyway, here's to more blog therapy for many moons to come.

My Eyeglasses: A self-reflection

I wear glasses. I have worn glasses since I was in third grade but the ones I wore weren't at all cool. I remember when wearing glasses was not a choice I had, when it was forced upon me against my will because I was too young for contact lenses (or maybe they hadn't been invented yet, way back in the day).

I had those famous Sally Jesse Rafael style eyeglasses, big and round and red. I don't remember if they had the hipster style for kids back then. Surely if they had, my mother would have allowed me to wear them right? No, they didn't make them yet. How else could she knowingly and willingly make her beloved daughter look like a dork all those years.

Now I wear glasses of my own choosing, like these Jai Kudo Womens Eyeglasses , of the hipster intellectual variety. And I actually think I look better with them than without. They add a little bit of flavor to my otherwise plain, unmade face on those days (most days) I don't feel like getting dolled up. For those days I do get it together, they add a little extra pizazz that my husband seems to appreciate and that make me more noticeable in a sea of faces.

Suffice it to say that I've come full circle. I've moved from being the brunt of my classmates' jokes because of my thick specs, to hating their intrusive, inconvenient presence during my teen years, to now, when I appreciate their novelty and their contribution to my personal style and character. Ah, self-acceptance has its benefits, doesn't it?

This is a sponsored post. But the ideas are solely mine.

Goodbye Dear Friend

My dad called Monday to let me know my old friend passed away Sunday afternoon. I'd known him for about 13 years. He came into my life just after the passing of my other dear friend Niko, another schnauzer, my parents' attempt at a replacement friend.

Affectionately known as "Pops" and "Zeke", my friend Zurich had endured alot in his life. I remember the time he got lost and we found out that he had gotten into the neighbor's yard and had been mawled by their dog. And then, just about 2 years ago, he was run over in the driveway and ended up losing one of his back legs. He had endured it all, but yet he was there, spunky and never without a word to say.

Dear Zurich, you will be so, so missed. I'm sorry I didn't love you at first, but I realize now just how much you meant to me.

(Not an actual pic of Zurich, though he looked like that except he had floppy ears. Unfortunately, I don't have any digital photos of him.)

What do blog marketing, Kimora Lee Simmons, Fergie, and custom blog design have in common?

What do blog marketing, Kimora Lee Simmons, Fergie, and custom blog design all have in common?

Give up yet? You should, because it makes no sense to me either. What they all have in common is me. Not in the cool 6 Degrees of Separation kind of way where I could say I met Kimora and Fergie thanks to all my blog marketing tactics. There's nothing cool about it.

They are my top 4 search terms for about the last 3 days. That basically means that I've been spending embarrassing amounts of time Googling, Facebooking, Myspacing, and any other kind of search-ing I could do to find those four specific topics. I admit that I really, really enjoy Kimora's show, Life in the Fab Lane. I love to see how a mother entreprenuer, fashion icon, and business mogul does her thing. And, Fergie, I've loved her since her days on Kids Inc. I even have her Wild Orchid CD. So, I decided I'd look them up and see what's out there. Maybe if I add them on Myspace, become a fan on Facebook, and show some love every now and then, maybe, just maybe they'll add or comment back. It happened to Ren, so why not me?

You're wondering where blog marketing and blog design come in aren't you? To tell the truth, I'm a chronic multi-tasker so while one search loads on one page, I'm searching for something else on another page. And I do work. Alot, and lately too much. (Besides this blog, I also started one for my husband's company and that is taking up all my time and all my sleep too.) I like to work and play at the same time so about half of my eight open tabs are for goofing off and the other half are work-related.

Anyway, after I finally exhausted every search engine I knew about, I thought I was done. Until I found Spock. When I do a Fergie search, I can see who's linked up with her over on Myspace and view tags related to her. But cooler than that, I can actually upload pics (if I had any), vote on which pics I like, find other people who like her music, and edit details about her wiki-style. You can look up other stuff on Spock too, friends, family, long-lost exes, by keying in their email addresses or by letting Spock take a peek inside your email contact lists. Neat huh? I thought so. Now I'm going to try a few more creative searches. As if I need another thing to keep me busy.

Manifest Yourself

Bitten with love from Ren's blog Unfolding, who lovingly reposted from Lululemon.com... the Lululemon manifesto. Meditate on one everyday.

My Letter Writing Project for the Year

One thing I have vowed to do this year is write more letters. Frankly, I am a bit tired of email, and overwhelmed by it. But I am inextricably tied to it as well. I log in and refresh way too many times a day, as if expecting the winning numbers to the lottery to appear in the next message.

But writing in all its forms is something I enjoy and long to make a daily activity. I have to, and I need to. Blogging and emailing are what I do, but there is something still so superficial about it all. So I am going to start writing letters and sending what I am calling "blessing cards" to those friends I don't see enough, and those acquaintances I'd like to become friends. I've even vowed to begin writing my dear mother in law every month. She is such a sweet lady and she loves getting letters about what's going on down here.

I am armed with an unusual assortment of supplies to undertake my task. I've got some Cavallini rubber stamps to decorate my cards and some old magazine pages I've recycled into envelopes. Now I just need to buy some card stock paper in ivory, butter, or parchment to use for the blessing cards. I have some return address labels that I got free in the mail, but I really should go ahead and have some custom address labels printed, maybe even with photos of the kids on them. At VistaPrint you can design your own address labels with their templates or upload your own design and you get over 100 of them for less than $10. My mother in law would be all over those. Maybe I'll even have hubby design some for her for her birthday in February. For me, this is a fun way to satisfy my goals for being thoughtful and creative all in one. The next challenge is to actually sit down and get it done. When I do, I'll post an update about it all here.

Being Who I Am: What I Accomplished Last Year

All year long, I take notes on the kind of person I want to be, what kinds of new things I want to try, and steps I can take to get there. I have a notebook solely dedicated to my personal reflection and it can include notes on anything from a craft I want to try, to prayers, to list upon list of places to go and people to meet.

Sometimes, though, I forget to follow up and can end up feeling like I'm not accomplishing anything. So, here's my list, my little pat on the back for all the things I wanted to do and actually got done in 2007.

1. framed and hung family photos (Father's Day present to my hubby)
2. lead two women's Bible studies
3. baked more
   
4. cooked more (3 meals maybe?)
5. sent more thank you notes
6. participated in a Bible study
7. started this blog
8. started writing more
9. began recycling regularly
10. began reading more (13 books!)
11. read and studied my Bible more regularly
12. hosted more dinners for friends at home
13. painted bedroom walls
14. painted the dresser my sister gave us
15. volunteered more
16. organized our recipe "center"
17. cooked a meal for a friend
18. helped a friend in a time of need
    
19. kept the business bookkeeping up to date
20. paid the business taxes on time
    

Some of the things on the list are things I want to repeat this year, specifically the ones related to being the kind of person I want to be, organized, thoughtful, generous, and creative. I still have a long way to go I think, which is why I'm grateful to have today to work on it! It can be alot of work to be mindful of my character throughout the day because I get so caught up in the mundane tasks of being a wife, mother, and business partner. I forget that in those tasks I can also be encourager, comforter, and nurturer.

Remembering that each moment grants the opportunity to shape my character is one of the most important things I can do. Asking myself, "Am I being who I want to be in this moment?" is how I release myself from the momentary bad mood or harsh tone, from the lazy and the indifferent. When I am able to that I can transcend my circumstances and get back to being who I was created to be.

Toddler Mom's Quick Hair Fix

I'm really not one to fuss too much over my own hair. Frankly, it's just that easy to style and manage every day. But along comes my little girl with hair that simply must get "done" and I have no idea if it's possible to keep it looking "nice" all the time. I'm not talking about making her look like a pageant beauty every second of the day (well, she is quite beautiful) but I do prefer a done look to an unkept one. I know she's a kid, but can we keep the bad hair days to a minimum?

I'm thinking about one day a couple weeks ago when my beauty decided to "do" her hair herself. (Actually, she's done this a few times.) This is something she loves, and I know that, but for some reason, I hadn't locked the bathroom door that day to keep her from "doing" it. Down the stairs she comes proud as can be about what she had just accomplished. It wasn't lotion this time, or diaper cream. It was some sort of skin therapy ointment sample that had come in the mail, probably before she was even born, and long since forgotten. Her hair was quite fragrant and very, um, greasy. And of course, we were expected to be somewhere within a few minutes time.

That's one moment I wish I'd had some of this spray powder shampoo I just found. I don't know what's in it, but they say you can spray it on and brush it out, getting rid of whatever was making your style do a don't. Yeah, in the ideal world we all get a shower before running out of the door, but who do you know that lives in the ideal world? It's a dry shampoo that's supposed to refresh your hair without having to use water, leaving it clean, shiny, and without residue. Hmm, water conservationists take note. And it comes in shades color matched for all hair shades too.

Now, I don't know if this stuff is ok for kids, but I know if I had a bottle for every time Z. poured dirt in her hair, rubbed playdough into it, or gave herself a spaghetti sauce treatment, I'd get fewer of the your-kid-is-soooo-dirty-and-mine-is-perfect looks I've seen on other parents' faces. I gotta give this stuff a test run.

Girls Gone Hot: Bikram at it's best

Yesterday, I accompanied my friend Ren to the Texas Yoga Asana Championship. Yes, yogis compete. Who knew? Apparently all the cool kids did, and this time I got to be one of them! So we drove the 6 hours total to Dallas and back and had so much fun. The last "road trip" I took was in grad school about a year before I was pregnant with Z. It felt great to get away from the house with a good girlfriend and just have fun. And the yoga was hot!

The contestants were from Texas area Bikram studios and were competing to represent the Lone Star State at the national and international championships in LA in February. Apparently, Texas rocks when it comes to yoga and last year's international champion, Ky Ha, is even from Houston! Each person did the same 5 basic postures and 2 optional ones of their choice and were judged on execution in addition to grace, poise, charisma, and confidence. They were nothing short of inspirational. I've dabbled in yoga many times in the past, the most when I was pregnant, and have always wanted to make it a regular part of my life. I've got the yoga bug again, so you may see me writing about that more now.

Congratulations to this year's winners
Sarah Stout from Fort Worth and
Celeste & Joseph Encinia (pictured here) from Dallas!
You guys are a true inspiration. You totally rock!

I joked with Ren that I would be up there competing next year. Ha! But it's a nice dream to have. I may at least start saving up to take a month's worth of classes. So, don't hate me if you see me writing more sponsored posts cuz that's the only way I could pay for them.

the fundraising saga continues

Starting a non-profit organization has always been on my lifelong to do list. Two years ago when I founded Houston Baby Wearers, I did not realize that I was taking the baby steps to finally realize that goal. Although I feel reasonably competent in many areas, fundraising is not one of them. I posted on that a while back. Apparently, alot of people feel the same way I do about traditional fundraising mechanisms. Hitting up my coworkers (if I had any) to buy cheaply made junk they don't need and may never use is not in my blood. I just can't do it. I am not able to sell something I would never buy myself.

To date our group account is basically zero and we have a few bills coming that need to be paid. That's why when I found ShoutBack.com, I signed up right away. One really cool feature is their Auctions listing. It allows members of your ShoutBack group to put items up for auction to benefit your group. For example, I have a some sling still in stock that I am trying to liquidate. So, for the sake of my beloved group, I am putting a couple slings and some other stuff up for auction and the proceeds will benefit Houston Baby Wearers. The other really neat thing is you can use ShoutBack.com to shop. Hello!!! That is so right up my ally. Like I said, I signed up right away and it was so easy and so free. ShoutBack is a great way for groups like mine as well as the local La Leche League, my Attachment Parenting Group, and the list goes on! It's about time the fundraising world caught up with the ubergeeks and made online shopping something to be proud of. Way to go!

update on the tomatoes

I just wanted to give inquiring minds an update about the tomatoes I posted about here. A couple days ago, when dh threatened to accidentally throw them away, dd and I braved the near-freezing Texas cold snap to plant the one surviving tomato into a pot. Already it is beginning to shrivel. Even though I was careful to water it, not plant it too deep, and keep it inside when the temps are freezing, the poor thing seems to know that the evil green thumb is it's caretaker and has given up all hope. Ah well. I'm so over the whole gardening thing.

I've got free piano lessons and a plan

So, now that my very dear friend and neighbor Ren has finally inherited her mother's piano and had it delivered a couple weeks ago, I have to figure out a way to get my fingers on those delicious ivories on a regular basis. You see, ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. (For those of you who are paying really close attention, yes, that would make this Dream No. 327.) I began lessons at the little Baptist school down the street when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and fell in love instantly. But I've been unable to keep my skills honed throughout the years.

Looks like now's my chance! (Insert sinister laugh here.)

The way I figure it, she'll be needing a babysitter a few times a week for yoga and for various other Mommy missions and that's when I'll make my move. I'll have to be careful because I haven't visited in a while and she may get suspicious. "Why Tori! You walked all the way down the street just to see me?" Better make some double chocolate vegan carob brownies and use that as my excuse. That and Zoë needed a play date. I'll sign up for some free Piano lessons & piano chords from this cool site I found and show them to her. We'll get into some playful duets, dance, and she'll sing a Justin Timberlake song while I play the accompaniment. Thanks to those free Piano lessons & piano chords I will be able to play JT by ear in no time. It will be delightful. And Ren will never be the wiser because she, of all people, does not read this blog.

A perfect plan!

The Elements of Supplies: Wholesale Bath & Body Supplies

As you may remember, I pledged to buy handmade this holiday season. For me, that pledge extends to purchases made throughout the year as well. This year I intend to go a step further to make my own gifts and goodies to pass out to friends and family and even to donate to charity. I'm interested in just about every craft there is, from quilting and knitting to candle making and baking, and it's my hope to get to try my hand at lots of different things and find a few things that I can really get into.

One craft I've only briefly considered is soap making. I love the idea of making your own soap and have used handmade soaps before. They are super luscious to use, smell amazing, and are so much better for your skin than over the counter soaps full of who knows what. But where do you start? I mean, if you want to make a batch to give as gifts, where do you get all the tins, tubs, and containers? Nothing is more frustrating that being excited to try something new but not knowing where to begin.

Fortunately, Elements Bath and Body has the answer. They are a family-owned and operated company that offers a wide variety of wholesale bath and body supplies, recipes, accessories, and bath and body packaging. They offer all you need to make and package your own homemade soaps, lip balms, body lotion, and bath salts. I'm already considering getting some of their chamomile, rose petals, or flax seeds to make neck and shoulder pillows! Or maybe I'll use their Rose-Milk Tub Tea recipe to make some fabulous baby shower gifts! Elements' cute muslin bags would be perfect! The possibilities are endless really. You should check them out too. Then come back and tell us all about what you're making!

My 2008 Resolutions & Goals

Happy 2008!

It's that time of year again: time to re-commit to all those resolutions you gave up on last year! Hmm, maybe that's only my family. Well-meaning as we are, we just didn't get around to a few things. It could be our list was long and ambitious. Nevermind that, I know no other way to be.

Hubby and I spent most of Christmas Adam reviewing that long list of 2007 goals we made last year. We hadn't done too well on many because, frankly, we had forgotten, the sheet of paper lost among the endless sea of papers drowning my desk. Fortunately I found them during a cleaning spree right after Thanksgiving which resulted in creating a household notebook to file away all the papers and things I never know what to do with.

The things we were able to mark off ended up being the goals closest to our hearts and passions. Some of the other goals, which were more like chores really, eagerly await their turn in 2008. Over the next few days I will share some of my

• personal goals
• family and household goals
• crafting goals, and
• eco-living goals.

Once again, it is an ambitious list and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you, seeing what you will be up to this year, and getting your ideas!

-----
After posting, I found this nifty little contest going on over at 5 Minutes for Mom to help kick start your New Year.

Birthing an Online Business?

The busiest shopping season of the year is over and online retailers are raking it on. And why not? Online shopping is the fastest and easiest way I, and millions of others, have found to comparison shop, buy, and save. I love to shop online and will very rarely step foot into a brick and mortar retail store. I love online shopping so much that I even opened my own online store. Punkin Pockets began as an online boutique specializing in stylish baby slings, clothing, and natural toys. After being in business for a little over a year though, I realized that I didn't really enjoy being on that end of the retail market.

I have since moved on to the blog format you see here and am loving the change. I can offer my friends a comprehensive directory of all the same sites I love and buy from the most, while contributing a little to my family's income, being home to raise my daughter, and being free to assist my husband in building his graphic design business. Along the way, I have made friends with a lot of very successful women with their own retail stores and admire their tenacity and business acumen a great deal. The business world still excites me and I have since encouraged many other mothers I know to get their own business started as well.

One of the easiest ways to take the plunge is to open an online store. The internet has become a common tool used by mothers who work outside the home to earn extra money so they can leave the workforce. And many moms who are already home with their children have found that an online business has enabled them to remain at home. The basics of getting started include deciding what you want to sell, getting a domain name and host, and finding good ecommerce software.

Once you've decided on a business name and a domain name, check to be sure they are available. An online search and a visit to your county courthouse can take care of that. And after you've figured out what you're interested in selling, take a look around at the different shopping cart software available. One of the things that most frustrated me was the shopping cart software I had to use. It was severely limited but came with my host's package and I couldn't afford to upgrade or change it. One company, Ashop Commerce, offers a FREE 10-day trial of their web-based shopping cart service. In addition to its ecommerce software, they also offer domain name registration, logo design, search engine submission and optimization, plus a whole lot of other stuff. If you're willing to invest some time and money into your business (and why wouldn't you) Ashop Commerce is worth checking out. They even have live sales & support, a video demonstration, and a test drive feature that is fun to try.

Remember though, you might be entering a whole new world you know nothing about and it can be quite intimidating. Like entering motherhood for the first time, you never really know what you are getting yourself into, but once you take the leap of faith, you can't imagine your life any other way.