searchable

thanks to kelly and tim (thanks for the directions, guys!) Landon's Love should now be searchable through google and bing.

networking and marketing

we finally broke down and joined facebook. shaun showed me how to add websites onto my page. i'm hoping this will be a great way to spread the word of Landon's Love and gain some customers!

generosity shows up when you least expect it

I experienced my typical mid-afternoon frustrations at school today, but only to be quickly forgotten by one of my dear students.

I realize I have been making some unfair generalizations this year. It was clear to me today that not all middle schoolers are selfish.

At the beginning of each year, I always play Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with my students to help them get to know me. This year the million dollar question lead me into telling my kids about Landon and Landon's Love. I talk about him and the business often because I like my kids to know as much about me and my family as I'm comfortable with...I feel it helps me build relationships with my kids and allows them to understand me a little better.

Apparently sharing this information made an impact on at least on one student. She approached me today as class began and told me that her sister (who I taught when I was pregnant with Landon) is directing a play and that some of their money from each night's performances will be donated to a different charity. She asked me if I would be interested in having Landon's Love being one of the recipients. I didn't know what to say! I was so touched. I gave her a big hug.

I am so moved and feel I was the student today rather than the teacher. I learned from her that even during the most selfish time of life, adolescence, people can be compassionate, selfless and caring.

I hope that Landon attains these same qualities and can move those who he comes in contact with as much as I have been moved today.

I emailed the girls' mom today to express my thanks for her dedication to give the girls such a wonderful upbringing.

Even if this doesn't work out for the donation, I have been forever touched by the generosity of 2 girls. I feel privileged to have taught both of them!

wooden products

I played with mod podge yesterday for the first time...it was a lot of fun.

Between yesterday and today, i have come up with 2 new projects for Landon's Love!

Product 1: Wooden photo and memo holders (inspired from the wooden blocks I made at Christmas time--http://pinkandgreenpolkadots-ninzo.blogspot.com/2009/12/sampling-of-christmas-part-2.html)

I picked these up at target after the holidays...notice the red stickers? you know what that means! good times!

Even though these will not stand alone like the wooden blocks I made during the holidays, I figured I could find some way to make it work. I couldn't have been more pleased to find these at the dollar store...2 for a buck...are you kidding me!

I used a variety of materials when I made these wooden jokers. Take a look.

Here are some "finished" products--I was thinking folks could use them as picture holders or to do lists, etc.

Product 2: Miniature Wooden Sentiments

In the process of cleaning up the mess from the basement flood, I came across several jenga-type games. I figured we didn't need multiples, so I decided I would play and see what I could come up with for Landon's Love!

I used mod podge on these to protect them as well.

I still need to determine the prices for each of these products and get them onto the website. I don't know if it is worth putting the photo/to do list things on there as I have a limited supply due to the clearance labels. I'm thinking the miniature wooden sentiments could be a permanent product.

Any feedback is appreciated. Let me know if you like these, how they could be better, etc.

now, that's creative

As you know, I've been struggling with Landon's Love and what products to have, etc.

I want something truly unique, but I feel like my projects, which ultimately become Landon's Love products are merely a recreation of someone else's creativity.

I came across this crafting blog this morning and it is amazing--the things she makes are nothing like I've seen before, family-oriented, and green.
http://redbirdcrafts.blogspot.com/

Maybe my mind just isn't in that creation mode these days, I don't know...or maybe it's the teacher in me...teachers are great at "borrowing" ideas from others and then using them in their own classroom.

Nonetheless, I'm moving on, hoping that one day I will come up with something truly unique.

game kits

Landon's Love already sells one family game kit and I'm working on a second.

The first game kit features 3 card games that foster imagination and conversation.

This new game kit will focus on physical activity. In it will be 2 games I've decided on so far. here's one of them:

Bossy Ball

I got this idea from Family Fun magazine (LOVE THAT MAG!)

This game is made with a beach ball. It has sayings written on the ball that tells players how to throw it during gameplay; things like "overhead while singing." I typed up a direction sheet to go along with it.

I think this game will get to the family-oriented products I was looking to create and sell.

3:30am

We saw 3:30 am this morning before mr. mr. went back to sleep!--just in case any of you were wondering how the night ended :-)

On a brighter note, we had a wonderful day at the farm. Vicky is working on getting Landon warmed up to riding again! We also made boo and shiraz some kitty toys, walked the big boys up the big hill (I led Solvin, which I loved, and Landon held my hand), fed the cow (Ramona) and ducks and separated some brushes according to color.

As far as therapy goes, Edenbrook is one-stop shopping. Not only does Landon get to be around fantastic and majestic animals and the beauty of the land, he gets to spend time with a compassionate and caring family (Velikys--we love you guys!), and gets to work on skills that support speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy without even knowing it!

I went to a meeting this week which spoke to the idea of students and their knowledge of concepts and skills. Today I was reminded of that knowledge is what you can apply to real-life, unfortunately not what I always ask of my students in the classroom. Edenbrook is helping Landon build skills that he can use for the rest of his life. I am already worried about Landon's kindergarten experience, but I need to always keep in the forefront of my mind that so long as Landon is building skills for life, test scores in school shouldn't matter.

While we were at the farm today Vicky shared with me some beautiful soaps that a friend of hers made. She had a great idea, which was to think about a way to make something to go with the soaps--like a sleeve or a holder. I love this idea and cannot wait to explore!

Well, if that post wasn't random enough for you, I don't know what will be...wow! Sorry about that!

be careful what you wish for

shaun and i have been talking about how sad it's been that Landon has fallen asleep practically every night at 5:30 pm for what seems like forever. although we know he needs the rest, it is disappointing for us because the evenings are the only times we see him during the week.

as usual, he fell asleep on the lengthy 5 minute ride home tonight. shaun and i ordered food, tried to clean up some of this ridiculous mess and then settled in to watch a movie. 20 minutes into the movie what do we hear? the pitter patter of (not 8 tiny reindeer) Landon with the biggest grin and his signature snicker...you know, the one he busts out when he's doing something he shouldn't!

so, here we are...shaun is playing a video game to entertain him and my hair is getting the "twist" treatment!

i'm sure this will be far less comical 2 hours from now when he is still awake, but for now we can only enjoy the time...even if it is midnight!

winter product

In an effort to avoid coming home to this incredible mess, I ran to JoAnn Fabrics, where I have been wanting to go since after Christmas. I figured the fleece would be on sale. Sure enough it was, but the line to get fabric cut and measured was all the way to the back of the store, so I stumbled across some no sew fleece throw kits and thought they would do just fine!

I accomplished two things in my visit:

1. I temporarily forgot about my house being a complete and utter wreck.

2. Purchased fleece to make scarves to sell for Landon's Love.

By the time I get these scarves made and ready to sell it will probably be warm weather, but at least I have the material and will have them for next year if nothing else.

I will post pictures as soon as I get some made. For now, here is a picture of a scarf I made a while back.

I have to decide on a price for the scarves...will post that soon as well.

struggle with focus

i'm having a hard time completely identifying what i want "Landon's Love" to reflect.

i love the magnets i started the business with, and i plan to continue with those, but i guess i'm just struggling to figure out what other products to make and sell. i have enjoyed making everything, but i wonder if there are just too many random items.

i certainly think i have products that appeal to women, but should the other products be completely family-oriented, like games, etc?

another struggle right now is time...i think the business could be a lot more successful if i set up at craft fairs and had more Landon's Love parties, but it's hard to find the time (or energy :-) ). i just feel like seeing the Landon's Love products makes the difference. i am grateful to have the website and certainly don't regret setting it up, but with products being added, changed, and eliminated from the production list, it's hard to keep everything up-to-date.

maybe i should start by getting the inventory back up, and then host some Landon's Love parties.

anyone have any suggestions? any takers on a Landon's Love party? :-)

new product--take out organizer

$2

Use these to organize your delivery and take-out fliers and coupons!



i haven't gotten these on the website yet...maybe this weekend.

i'm always open to ideas, so let me know what you think about this one and other ideas.

More Genetic Testing

we got the results from the last genetics testing. i can't say i really know what anything means, but i appreciated the call.

the test confirmed landon's deletion at chromosome 4 on the short arm (p). this latest test also identified the interval at which it is deleted. the test also concluded that he is missing 33 known genes, which are located in the region.

this deleted interval with the 33 missing genes is thought to be the cause for landon's delays and difficulties at this point.

i am sure we will find out more and more as each year passes.

for now, we celebrate his progress, and he's given us plenty of things to celebrate!

as much as i struggle with our situation, i absolutely cherish the moments that we have. it's almost as if God has put life on slow motion so that we can observe the changes and the milestones unlike other families.

i'm not sure what the future will hold for any of us, but i guess no one does.

Landon's Loves

one of our favorite parts of the week is visiting Edenbrook Farm for our weekly farm therapy session. Landon's newest love at the farm are the two kittens.

today, he was so excited to be with them that he literally locked himself with the two kittens in the office when it was time to leave!

if you haven't checked out this wonderful program, here is the link:

http://www.edenbrookfarm.org/index.html

Wordle Image

A while back i mentioned Wordle and couldn't get an image to upload to the blog. i took a picture of the one the shirts so you can have a taste.

the only thing that stinks about iron-on is that after a year of washing it starts to crack, etc.

i was thinking these images might be cool on things that are worn/used less often...grocery bags or something like that.

it's been a year!

...since the thought of Landon's Love emerged. I believe it was New Year's Eve when i couldn't sleep and i came into the kitchen and sketched the landon's love logo on the back of a weekly calendar from Michaels. i just found that piece of paper when cleaning out the office.

i am pleased with our success in the first year and hope that 2010 will bring even more opportunities to give back to genetics research through Landon's Love.

Happy New Year everyone!