More on the CPSIA Law- I had to share!

I found this on another blog and copied it all to share with you! Please visit these blogs and see what else they have to say about the CPSIA law!! Help fight this law and continue to buy handmade!!

Please, take action. This affects everyone.

This is a blog post on Boutique Cafe by Heather.

The Sky is Falling - CPSIA Issue
December 17th, 2008

Article by: Heather Flottman
Owner/Designer
liliputians NYC

The sky is falling! Yes, I feel a like an overly dramatic Chicken Little. And I wish it were true considering recent congressional legislation is about to crush the life out of the handmade clothing and toy industry. I’m talking about H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) signed into law August 14, 2008, and the ramifications it will have when it goes into effect February 10, 2009 (now being popularly referred to as National Bankruptcy Day).

Make no mistake. CPSIA was necessary in principle and has noble intentions, keeping our children safe and holding companies accountable for importing toxic toys. We all demand safety for our children and this is the intent of CPSIA; specifically to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12. Unfortunately this legislation lacks common sense, is ambiguous and fails to take into account the handmade industry.

What you see is not what you get with CPSIA. There is no distinction between big, small, or even micro one-person businesses. Whether it’s a large-scale manufacturer importing apparel to be sold in big box stores, or a work-at-home mom (WAHM) selling customs on ebay, the legislation applies the same to all.

Unit testing will be required on finished products, regardless if the components are natural materials or if you have documentation from a vendor stating that buttons, for example, are certified lead-free. As it stands, H.R. 4040 fails to recognize that textile products are inherently lead-free. Why then is an organic cotton shirt being tested for lead exactly?

Unit testing is extremely cost prohibitive to small business, but worse, it is unnecessary. In fact, it is completely redundant if the components that comprise the whole have already been tested and due diligence can prove they meet the guidelines.

To put a real dollar amount to testing one of my products, I solicited a lab quote. I was told it was $75 to test for lead per garment component and each substrate. Coated or painted items such as buttons are $100. So my Little Red Riding Hood Shirt, a 100% cotton knit shirt with an appliqué made from 7 cotton fabrics and 2 buttons eyes would cost $625 to test for lead. Flammability testing is also required and is either $50 for a certificate per component stating it meets weight code or $100 for actual testing. So add another $400-$800 for a grand total of $1,025-$1425. in testing costs for a shirt that retails for $40. If the shirt is offered in another colorway, the same testing is required despite the fact that the same fabrics are used throughout.

Small manufacturers have no way of absorbing the price of such redundancy. And all manufacturers will be required to test a finished component/item from each batch. Easy to do in mass production—simply pull one sample from a lot of thousands. But how does one comply when your “batches” are made-to-order batches of one? SKUs will also be required for each product with a permanent label on the item itself.

CPSIA will be retroactive and takes a guilty-until-proven-innocent approach with extremely hefty fines for violators. As written, any product used by children 12 and under (such as toys, footwear, carpets, clothing, bedding, luggage, lamps, toys, books, magazines, baseball cards, consumer electronics, school supplies, office supplies, jewelry, housewares, sports equipment and so on) without the newly required certification would be deemed hazardous, whether the item poses an actual threat or not. So on February 10, 2009, any unsold merchandise (in big box stores, the corner boutique, your fabric stash, Good Will donations, etc.) will be deemed “hazardous goods” and illegal to sell unless 3rd party testing proves otherwise. By the way, there are only 14 said labs currently in the United States.

Think you won’t be affected? I hope not, but the sad truth is that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) will be. Do you make children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, hair bows, accessories, furniture, artwork or anything else “intended for use by children age 12 and under”? Are you a retailer of children’s goods? Do you resell used children’s clothing or toys on ebay? Do you participate or shop at craft fairs? Do you donate used children’s items to needy organizations? Do you belong to a church that has rummage sales as a fundraiser? Does your child play sports and get their uniforms from a local screen print shop? Are you a consumer shopping for alternatives to mass-produced toys? If so, this law takes away that freedom.

Surely this legislation can be amended by incorporating some common sense and still make it possible to ensure our children’s safety without further hurting the US economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census (the last survey of its type), small U.S. clothing manufacturers (with fewer than 20 employees) contribute over $900 million dollars [consider: nearly $1 billion dollars] annually to the economy and comprise 68% of total apparel manufacturing in the U.S. This is clearly a vital and contributing asset to our economy. Multiply this fallout exponentially when you take into account the myriad other manufacturers, retailers and businesses that will be hurt or ultimately driven out of business.

So, why should you support amending this legislation?

Because the CPSIA isn’t fair and will not function as written. It inadvertently punishes American industries unrelated to toys and will ultimately result in fewer alternatives to mass produced merchandise made in China. The concept that small producers should be subject to the same rigorous standards but with lesser regulation (and common sense) has already been fought for and sustained in the food industry, which is why your local farmers market still exists. Now this same idea needs to be applied to children’s products.

What can you do?
1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman 888-531-9070.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
mailto:Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov.

2) Email or snail mail your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

3) Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

4) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

5) Sign the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

6) Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

7) Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook group
Twitter search
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home

Join the etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
Etsy Thread

9) Read more about this legislation and its ramifications:
Fashion Incubator

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day

5 Minutes for Mom

Cool Mom Picks

The Smart Mama

blogher

Apparel and Footwear.org

Toy Association.org

Cafe Mom

Safety and Compliance

Zrecommends

SleepingBaby.net

Freshly Baked Blog


~Dawn

Find out more about CPSIA and how you can help!

I found a lot of blogs that have information on this new law, CPSIA- Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, and how it will affect the handmade products made by so many stay at home moms and dads across America. Here are some great stories and links to read up on and then vote to have this law reviewed by Obama when he gets into office so that we don't see it go in affect this way on February 10, 2009. We all want to protect our children so let's keep them protected with our high quality, made in the USA, quality products from our companies!!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/5127/cpsia/

http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=23

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:"Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA "http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys?e I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time. Thanks!

~Dawn

Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and your family! I hope you have a wonderful day! Here is a poem for the occasion:

An Inspirational Poem

Be Thankful
By Author Unknown
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
as they can become your blessings.

Thank you! Happy Holidays!
~Dawn

Black Friday Specials at Sweet Pea Cakes,etc.

This Friday marks another Black Friday filled with shopping specials across the nation! Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. is offering loads of specials just for you this Friday at 4 am til Sunday at midnight!!

** Buy one get one free manicure and pedicure travel sets! Pick from chocolate, vanilla, mocha or french vanilla travel sets to use for stock stuffers or quick gifts for teachers, babysitters, friends and family!

** Free bib set with each nursing cover up purchase! In the comment field when ordering please include which bib set you would like from our bib set page. These will be packaged and included with your order!

** Order all diaper cakes and towel cakes before December 16th to ensure Christmas delivery for all the Christmas and New Year babies!!

** All children and baby bathtime towel cakes that are Christmas gifts will also include a holiday stocking with soaps and extra bath toys- FREE!

** All Snowman towel cakes, cupcakes and any other holiday gift will come with a $10 gift card!

Don't forget to tell a friend about Sweet Pea Cakes, etc.
Dawn

Lotus Bebe Brings Eco-luxury for Babies

Lotus Bèbè brings Eco-Luxury for Babies

Collection of bamboo and soy baby blankets and accessories launched
Moorpark, CA - November 14, 2008-- Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. recently launched a new collection of soybean and bamboo baby blankets and accessories to the eco-market.

The company, located in Southern California, was created by Kathleen Raulin, CEO and “Mommy-Entrepreneur”, in 2008 who says, “I couldn’t find stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly for my own son. There were very few options out there, and what I found was pretty boring.”

The Lotus Bèbè collection includes luxury soy blankets, bamboo blankets, and petite blankies. The blankets come trimmed in 100% vibrant silk. For that sustainable luxury all little ones deserve. Each blanket comes tied with a ribbon and a tag printed on 100% recycled paper with embedded wildflower seeds. “We wanted to have the least amount of packaging of our products and also something that can be recycled.” says Kathleen. The tag can be planted in soil and in a few weeks wildflowers will sprout.

The chemicals used in the growing and manufacturing of conventional textiles can contribute to an overall decline in both our health and the environment, with sensitivities and health problems becoming more common. The many benefits of using bamboo and soy can help keep our children and our earth healthy.
The soybean fabric is produced by using the leftover dregs of tofu and soybean oil production and spinning the proteins into threads. Soybean is sustainable because it uses what would have been waste and turning it into something useful, namely soybean fabric. The production of soybean does not pollute the environment as the accessory and auxiliary agents are non-toxic and the residue after the protein is extracted can still be used as feed for livestock. The fabric produced by this process is light and smooth with a silky sheen. Some of the benefits of soy are:
· Naturally resistant to certain types of bacteria
· Wicks moisture away to help keep skin dry and comfortable
· Keeps out harmful UV rays
· Biodegradable

Bamboo is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo is by nature pest resistant and grown naturally without the use of pesticides or fertilizers and uses very little rain water. Bamboo also regenerates quickly and can be harvested repeatedly. The bamboo plants used for fabric is planted and grown on family-owned farms that have been in agricultural use for generations. The raw material bamboo is selected from a non-polluted region in the Yunnan and Sicuan province in China. The whole distilling and production process is a green process without any effect on the environment. The resulting fabric is light, almost translucent, and softer than cotton with a natural sheen that feels like silk or cashmere. In addition, bamboo fiber is a biodegradable textile material. As a natural cellulose fiber, it can be 100% biodegraded in the soil by microorganisms and sunshine. Some of the benefits of bamboo are:

· Naturally anti-bacterial
· Hypo-allergenic; won't irritate skin
· Double the absorbency of regular cotton
· Thermal regulating to keep the body cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather
· Keeps out harmful UV rays
· 100% Biodegradable

The Lotus Bebe collection is currently available at boutique shops including Juvenile Shop - Sherman Oaks, CA, Drool – Thousand Oaks, Ca, Baby Coo – Los Gatos, CA. The collection is also available online at www.peppyparents.com, www.organicbabygarden.com, and www.theglassbabybottle.com. The company is seeking retailers and wholesalers around the US to handle their line, please call 1(800)298-0803 for more details.

For more information please visit www.lotusbebe.com, or you may contact ARL Marketing & Public Relations at 954-376-8388 and via email at: Andrew@arlmarketing.com for media coverage, sample requests, and interviews.

More about Lotus Bèbè and Raulin Enterprises, Inc.

Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. was created in Southern California, in 2008, out of a need for stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly. They discovered the unique properties of bamboo and soybean fabrics and started looking for items made with either. Trying to find items made from bamboo and soybean was challenging, due to the fact that no one was carrying these items. So the idea of Lotus Bèbè was started. There product line was launched with hip mommas and poppas in mind, who want to give their children something natural, eco-friendly but at the same time luxurious.

About ARL Marketing & Public Relations, Inc.

ARL Marketing & Public Relations is a privately owned firm based in South Florida. The firm has clients across the US including New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. They also services clients in the United Kingdom. ARL Marketing Public Relations is a firm that develops and executes programs that help companies achieve their sales and marketing objectives. For more information, please log on to www.arlmarketing.com

Simple Thanksgiving Crafts for the Kids

Thanks to Parents.com for their Turkey Day craft ideas. To view even more simple crafts, receipes and more visit Parents now!

Napkin Buddy

What you'll need:

Empty cardboard tubes,

scissors,

colored craft foam,

scalloped-edge scissors,

foam mounting tape,

googly eyes,

Hold the Foam! glue

How to make it: Cut cardboard tubes into 1-inch-wide rings. Cut 5-x-1-1/8-inch pieces of foam; glue one around each ring. To make the turkey's body, cut out one 2-inch circle from craft foam. For the layered "feathers," cut out one 3-inch and one 4-inch circle from foam, then cut both in half. Trim the rounded edges with scalloped scissors. Glue the 4-inch half-circle to the center of the napkin ring; let dry. For dimension, use mounting tape to layer the 3-inch half-circle on top, then the 2-inch circle on top of that. Cut out a turkey head, beak, and wattle from foam. Glue the wattle, beak, and googly eyes to the head; let dry. Then glue the head to the center of the top circle.

Doing little crafts with your children is such a great way to spend quality time together as well as give them something to add to the dinner meal when everyone is running around crazy making the food!

~Dawn

University Park Momprenuer Marketplace

Join some of your favorite CfC brands at the 2nd annual University Park Momprenuer Marketplace. Get some holiday shopping in and support local mom business owners. See you there!

Saturday, Nov. 15th

10AM - 2PM

Univeristy Park Elementary

2300 S. St. Paul, Denver

Participating CfC Brands:

Alpha Buddies

Baby Candy

Belle Baby Carriers

BruzWear

Expectees

Jackaboo

Lil' Angel Designs

Shady Baby

Sloppy Baby

New little Buddies for Mom!

A MOM’S BEST FRIEND

Helping Moms with The Happy Company’s New Breast Buddies

Hayward, CA – November 2008 – Whether you chose to breastfeed or not, breast tenderness and engorgementis often a time consuming and painful problem for newmoms. The Happy Company’s Breast Buddies allows you to compress without taking time out of your busy day. Even with the best intentions and thorough preparation, having a new baby is a lifestyle change for everyone. Breast Buddies were designed to aid busy nursing and non-nursing moms in the relief of common breast tenderness and engorgement issues. Made of 100% soft, natural cotton filled with flax seeds and anamazing rose-lavender herbal blend. Made with a unique cone shaped channeled design that contours to natura lcurves and fits any breast size. Experience natural relief of breast tenderness, engorgement, mastitis, swelling, and increase or reduce milk production depending on your needs. Breast Buddies are reusable compress pads that can be quickly heated in the microwave or chilled in the freezer depending on your individual needs.

Breast Buddies should be partnered with your favorite disposable breast pad and spot cleaned only!

Suggested Retail Price $19.99

To view the entire line or to make a purchase please visit: http://www.thehappycompany.com/

About The Happy Company:Founded in the 1990s by massage therapist, Mark Juarez– creator of the Happy Massager - The Happy Company is devoted to developing tools for healthy living that fit into a modern lifestyle. Their extensive line of relaxation treatment and aromatherapy products bring the spa experience into your home. For more information, please visit www.thehappycompany.com.

New Emergen-C for Kids

FOR IMMEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer von Stauffenberg
SZPR, Inc.
(760) 943-2333
jennifer@szpr.com

The New Fun, Fizzy and Delicious Emergen-C® KidzÔ Complete Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral Supplement Drink Mix is Available on Store Shelves Today

-Kids love to mix it up, watch it fizz and gulp down this fun, fizzy good for them vitamin supplement.-

Foothill Ranch, California (October, 2008) - Alacer Corp., maker of the popular vitamin fizzy drink mix, Emergen-C, has announced the latest addition to their family of products, the NEW Emergen-C Kidz contains a whopping 24 essential nutrients, including more immune-boosting vitamin C than the leading brand and choline, to support healthy brain function.*

“Kids love to mix it up, watch it fizz and gulp it down so much that they chose and named their favorite flavors: Strawnanaberry Blast, Orange Pineapple Explosion and Cherry Yumberry,” said Meghann Seidner, Emergen-C Brand Manager. “Moms feel great knowing each packet contains 250mg real fruit juice powders, and no artificial flavors!”
To ensure this fruity, mouth-watering vitamin formula is the best-tasting product on the market, Alacer Corp. went straight to the source. Kids influenced every aspect of the product development from tasting to naming and even package design. There were over 100 kids from across the nation that participated in selecting their favorite flavors. The final packaging incorporates design elements from each winner.

The creative product name winners include Austin Blase, age 8, of Duluth, Georgia for Orange Pineapple Explosion and Bernadine Macedo, age 8, of Los Angeles for Strawnanaberry. The three kids whose drawings inspired the new package design include Marisa Rodriguez, age 9, of Rosemead, California for Cherry Yumberry; Alessandra Rios, age 8, of Pasadena, California for Strawnanaberry Blast; and Jake Mowery, age 12, of Cumming, Georgia for Orange Pineapple Explosion. The winner for best name and best artwork for each flavor was rewarded with a prize package of $1,000 to be donated to their school’s reading, math or science program . All participating kids received a complimentary sport sling bag.

To meet the winners and to learn more about Emergen-C Kidz, please visit http://www.emergenc.com/.

About Alacer Corp. For more than 35 years, Alacer Corp., based in Foothill Ranch, Calif., has been an industry leader and innovator in developing, manufacturing and marketing dietary supplements and nutritionally enhanced products that support an energetic, healthy lifestyle.* It produces 400 million packets annually of Emergen-C®, which is sold in health food stores, supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers and club stores nationwide. For more information about Alacer, please visit www.emergenc.com.

More Halloween Fun!

Pictures of Monkey and Peanut enjoying carving pumpkins at Grandma's house and going trick or treating! How was your Halloween this year? Any big plans for the upcoming holidays?

~Dawn

Tori Spelling Loves Colorado Baby Brands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Olivia Omega Logan, info@congratsfromcolorado.com, 303-931-2628

Tori Spelling Loves Colorado Baby Brands

DENVER (October 31, 2008) – Congrats from Colorado (CfC), a new conglomerate of Colorado-based businesses focused on products forparents and children, announced today that Tori Spelling, star and producer of reality series Tori & Dean: Inn Love, was gifted with a “Congrats from Colorado” goodie basket to celebrate her new baby girl Stella and big brother Liam."Liam loves his Ambajam blanket. He takes it everywhere! His little sister Stella is jealous. Evey little kid should have one." - Tori Spelling
The basket included Tori's favorite Ambajam Cuddle-Up blanket along with other wonderful baby and toddler items.

Gift Basket Participating Companies:
http://www.alpha-buddies.com/
http://www.ambajam.com/
http://www.amymichellebags.com/
http://www.babycandystore.com/
http://www.bebesniklefritz.com/
http://www.bellabmaternity.com/
http://www.bellebabycarriers.com/
http://www.bruzwear.com/
http://www.bumblecover.com/
http://www.cozmotot.com/
http://www.shopdreem.com/
http://www.motherhoodwithattitude.com/
http://www.monkey-toes.com/
http://www.shadybaby.com/
http://www.short-hats.com/
http://www.sloppybaby.com/

The CfC network of over 50 local companies started formation in 2007 and justrecently established itself with 25 dedicated members and an online gift guide(http://www.congratsfromcolorado.com/) that launched in August. Olivia Omega Logan, founder of CfC and mompreneur advocate began to formulate the concept of the professional network after she launched her infant clothing company Baby Candy (http://www.babycandystore.com/) and searched for resources and support through other like-minded business owners. As the CfC coop grows, its members strive to put Colorado on the map when it comes to the juvenile products industry.

About Congrats from Colorado: Congrats from Colorado (CfC) is a new network of Colorado companies offering products of parents and children. The program offers these businesses ways to build brand awareness among consumers, press and trade, both locally and nationally. CfC will launch its online gift guide featuring Colorado products for parents and children at the end of July. For more information visit http://www.congratsfromcolorado.com/ or call 1-800-491-7908.

Photo Contest at Monkey-Toes

Send those snaps today!
contest runs November 3-10

(photography provided by Just B Photography http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NKcx_W8u_Rlcz4sYt9Qe7DtgBhQdawiNWNIT1q7NS-SX_5vp_JpkHErBH6n703V5pnwnaehhWmRqrPLfeUJvJaREpa0KWbDBaoTxy-T3VMVNzYLqEc2loQ== 303-915-9423)

Enter your kiddo to win $25, $50 or $100 in Monkey-Toes!
Our Annual Halloween Costume Contest
starts Today through Monday

To enter -
All entries must be wearing a costume and Monkey-Toes. Entries must be sent to http://us.mc630.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@monkey-toes.comby midnight (EST) Nov 10 and include the following information -
Permission to use the digital image

Digital picture (please send just 1)

Parent's name

Email

Phone

Child's name

Child's age

Everyone is a winner! $5 coupon for any Monkey-Toes.com products (all valid entries)

MomToBeDepot.com's Lauri Harrison will be judging all entries. Winners will be notified by Friday November 14, 2008.

Wordless Wednesday- My little trick or treaters

These are my little trick or treaters- Monkey was Hannah Montana and Peanut was a little witch. This year the weather was wonderful for trick or treating. We also managed to trick or treat at the zoo, Mr. Biggs and our church carnival!

For all other Wordless Wednesdays, check out 5 minutes for mom!

~Dawn

Our New President- Barack Obama

Election day has come and gone and we now move to a new revolution, a new era, and a new change to America. Like it or not things are going to be different. It is going to take time to see the stocks go back up. It is going to take time to see the housing market get back on its feet. It is going to take time to see this war end in Iraq. It is going to take time to get this planet "green". But I have time. I have time if it is going to be better. I have time, if life for me as a single mom, mother of two, small business owner, struggling day in and day out, if life is going to be better. It can only get better from here. Change was coming whether Obama or McCain won. Regardless of who you side with, both wanted what was best for this country, both are proud to be an American and both were going to make changes. We have a new president that will take over this office on January 20th. It is time we join together and do our part to work hard, to help the hungry, help the homeless, to better the economy in any way we can. It is no longer time to stay separate as Democrats and Republicans. If everyone comes together to support one President in the chance to better this country the way we know it to be, a lot of good can come from this. Even if you are disappointed that it was not McCain that one, don't you think we can get more done by doing our part then sitting back and watching it far apart as so many Americans did with Bush as our President. Here is part of an article I read this morning:
Nov. 4, 2008, was the day when American politics shifted on its axis.
The ascent of an African-American to the presidency — a victory by a 47-year-old man who was born when segregation was still the law of the land across much of this nation — is a moment so powerful and so obvious that its symbolism needs no commentary.
But it was the reality of power, not the symbolism, that changed Tuesday night in ways more profound than meet the eye.
The rout of the Republican Party, and the accompanying gains by Democrats in Congress, mean that Barack Obama will assume office with vastly more influence in the nation’s capital than most of his recent predecessors have wielded.
The only exceptions suggest the magnitude of the moment. Power flowed in unprecedented ways to George W. Bush in the year after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It flowed likewise to Lyndon B. Johnson after his landslide in 1964.
Beyond those fleeting moments, every president for more than two generations has confronted divided government or hobbling internal divisions within his own party.
The Democrats’ moment with Obama, as a brilliant campaigner confronts the challenges of governance, could also prove fleeting. For now, the results — in their breadth across a continent — suggest seismic change that goes far beyond Obama's 4 percent margin in the popular vote.
To read the rest please visit: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/15300

The acceptance speech from our 44th President:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jrF18Gh44E

What are your thoughts? Please remember and respect other people's view points when leaving comments.

Thank you! I hope you were able to vote and be a part of history yesterday!
~Dawn

Halloween Costume Ideas

Are you still trying to decide what to have your children be for Halloween that doesn't costume a fortune or is not to revealing for our 'tweens?? Here are a few ideas to make your own costumes this year. There is still plenty of time with Halloween about 10 days away:

We’re all feeling the squeeze from the economic downturn but that doesn’t have to mean cutting corners on family fun this Halloween. Craft magazine illustrates how to make fun and funky costumes for your kids with a visit to your recycling bin, sewing box or local craft store – much easier than standing in line at a crowded costume shop and a bit easier on the wallet, as well.

You can quickly and easily whip up these five amazing kiddy costumes using supplies you probably already have on hand, plus a bit of creativity. These custom-made outfits also have more staying power than most flimsy store-bought costumes, and you'll love how cheap and quick they are to make. Follow the links below for full instructions:

Bee: http://craftzine.com/halloweenkids/#bee
Monkey: http://craftzine.com/halloweenkids/#monkey
Lego: http://craftzine.com/halloweenkids/#lego
Sushi: http://craftzine.com/halloweenkids/#sushi
Pirate: http://craftzine.com/halloweenkids/#pirate

Information provided by:

Amy Benson
Account Executive
The Rosen Group