ChambanaMoms.com » Deals and Steals

‘Girl Talk’: Advice From Mom, Teen Daughters

From The Editors — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:49:31 +0000

By Nicole O’Dell

It’s great to be back on this awesome blog to share some fun news with you. I’ve recently had the incredible privilege of compiling an advice Q&A book, “Girl Talk,” with my two daughters and blogging partners, Natalie (14) and Emily (11). And we want to invite you out to the Champaign Family Christian Store on Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where the three of us will be sharing some treats and signing copies of our new book. Come visit!

First, check out some of the issues we cover in our book:

"Girl Talk," written by Nicole O'Dell and her daughters, is a question-and-answer style book for teens. Credit: Nicole O'Dell

Q: My mom is always on me about what I wear. I just don’t see why it should matter to her. I mean, she got to wear the things she wanted to wear when she was young. The styles are different now, though. She won’t let me wear any shirts that show even a fraction of my stomach, and I have to actually bend over in jeans to prove to her that nothing shows in the back, if you know what I mean. She even says there’s stuff in the Bible about the way to dress right. Is that true? What should I do to change her mind?

Q: I have a friend who is pretty skinny, but she thinks she’s fat. … I actually heard her make herself throw up in the school bathroom a couple of times. What should I do about it? Or is it none of my business?

Q: I recently lost a lot of weight and started high school at the same time. I’m getting all sorts of attention from boys, and I just don’t know what to do about it because it’s so new to me. I kind of like it … but I’m nervous. What should I do?

That last one is a question I would have asked if I’d written to “Girl Talk” at the start of my freshman year of high school. But, I didn’t know to ask. I didn’t know I was facing a challenge. I simply reacted to things as I faced them. And I made mistakes. Many of them.

Each of us has a set of experiences and circumstances — some within our control and some not — that shapes the way we look at choices, temptation, peer pressure, and everything that comes up along the way. If we can help prepare girls before they find themselves staring peer pressure in the face, they’ll feel more equipped to stand strong. To say NO to whatever life throws at them.

And bad decisions are one thing, but there’s also the stuff girls deal with that they have no control over: divorce, abuse, loss, grief, illness, financial strain, and more. Those life-altering circumstances make it even more difficult for girls to stand against the pressure when all they want is friendship, acceptance and love.

It takes pro-active, intentional effort to make the necessary preparations to help teens combat peer pressure.

That’s why my daughters and I started the Girl Talk Column on my blog. We wanted to give girls a place they could go with those tough questions about life. The column grew, and the questions built up to the point when we, along with Barbour Publishing, decided to put 180 questions from readers and our answers into a book. But it’s not just any book; the vibrant, trendy format has a scrapbook-y feel as each page is full color with graphics galore.

Nat, Em, and I hope you’ll pass this resource along to the teens in your life. Also, the Girl Talk column is ongoing. You can write to us with your questions anytime!

Remember, it’s all about choices!

And if you’d like to win a copy of Girl Talk, signed by all three of us, leave a comment here. Tweeting about this post will earn you another entry if you let us know you did. I’d also love it if you signed up for my Choices e-Zine/newsletter, too — that will earn you a third entry!

Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Teen Talk Radio, is a mom of six, ranging from 20 all the way down to a set of toddler triplets. She writes fiction for teens including the popular “Scenarios for Girls” interactive fiction series and the “Diamond Estates Series.” Emily is a straight-A fifth grader at Eastlawn School in Paxton, Ill.; Natalie is an honor student in the eighth grade at Paxton-Buckley-Loda Middle School.

Mom-to-Mom: A Book Review (and Giveaway!)

From The Editors — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:43:58 +0000

by Jennifer Newell

Editor’s Note: Marianne Malone will appear at a book signing Friday, Jan. 27 from 3 to 6 p.m at Bella Bambini. See below for giveaway info!

Stealing Magic takes off right where Marianne Malone left her reader in The Sixty Eight Rooms- a magical adventure! Ruthie and Jack, sixth graders in Chicago, have just found missing artwork from Edmund Bell, local artist/legend. The people of Chicago just surmise these children to be lucky and crafty, while Ruthie and Jack know the real secret. These two curious youngsters have a magical key that allows them to shrink into miniature versions of themselves and travel through the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute.

From the Art Institute’s website: “The 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms enable one to glimpse elements of European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930s. Painstakingly constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot, these fascinating models were conceived by Mrs. James Ward Thorne of Chicago and constructed between 1932 and 1940 by master craftsmen according to her specifications.”

During the first novel, Ruthie and Jack learned the in’s and out’s of this magical secret, where in the second novel Malone shares with us historical facts that readers might be able to relate to. One main theme throughout the book is how to effectively deal with what life brings in terms of circumstances beyond our control. Throughout Ruthie and Jack’s adventures they meet several different characters with real life dilemmas. One character is a Jewish girl living in France during the Holocaust. Another is a slave girl living in the South pre-Civil War. In both situations, Ruthie and Jack want to help these characters and as readers we are intrigued by what the possibilities might be.

I think for the target reader- 8 to 12 years old- this book could open a dialogue between children and their teachers, parents and peers. Reading the book and discussing the historical facts help us all to never forget and learn from the past.

Overall, once again- I’m honored that I had the opportunity to read Stealing Magic before it hit shelves this week! Marianne is a wonderful author and inspiring woman. I was left wanting more at the end of this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.

Want to get your hands on these wonderful books by a local author?

One lucky Chambanamoms.com reader will receive copies of both Stealing Magic and The Sixty Eight Rooms. To be eligible, leave us a comment and tell us: What book from your childhood do you enjoy — or do you look forward to sharing – with your kids (or any other kids too)?

No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. Contest will be wrapped up by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb 1. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by noon on Monday, Feb. 6, or another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older.

Giveaway: All Things Kids

From The Editors — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:29:27 +0000

Born and raised in the Champaign/Mahomet area, Reagan Merkle-Litteken and her husband, Eric, wanted a business that would help the community as well as provide the flexibility to spend time with their children, now 8 and 4. They found it in All Things Kids Inc., a babies, kids, and maternity consignment shop in Champaign.

The Merkle-Litteken family includs All Things Kids owners Reagan and Eric, and their two children. Credit: Reagan Merkle-Litteken

All Things Kids boasts 5,000-square feet of must-have items for all ages, from infants to teenagers, as well as for new or seasoned parents. The store is unique because it consigns and sells all seasons, all year. The clothing selection consists of sizes preemie up to juniors and maternity. The store also consigns toys, books, games, equipment and furniture.

It is kind of like an indoor garage sale, year round.

Back in early 2008, when the Merkle-Litteken family was exploring the kids consignment shop options, they were shocked that there was only one kids consignment shop in the Champaign area. The store opened in August 2008 in a small location with 33 consignors.

“We were amazed at the awesome response right away,” Reagan Merkle-Litteken said.

Shortly after opening, the store was expanded, eventually tripling in size. In May 2010, the Merkle-Litteken family moved the store to just west of North Prospect on Mattis Avenue to better accommodate the ever-expanding inventory.

“[We] are now where we never dreamed we would be in three short years,” Merkle-Litteken said. “We are still dreaming of more.”

All Things Kids is full of gently used clothes, books, toys and games for all ages and sizes. Credit: Reagan Merkle-Litteken

The store’s owners love the idea of helping moms, dads and caregivers by offering a place where they can consign outgrown items and shop for the next size. Merkle-Litteken believes consignors can find peace of mind knowing they will buy quality clothing and toys at affordable prices. (Consignors also have the option to using their credit for in-store purchases or request the money in their account.)

The owners are proud of their dedicated staff, “who put their hearts into making [All Things Kids] what it is today,” Merkle-Litteken said. “We are always striving to make things better for our customers.”

“The store is definitely more work than I ever imagined, but worth it when you hear and see the excitement when someone checks their credit and/or sees the amazing amount of stuff bought for far less than a real store.”

All Things Kids is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. for the working parents. Also like them on Facebook to get updates and pictures of what’s new in the store.

Want to find out what All Things Kids is all about? Can’t wait to get back to the store and see what they’ll have next?

All Things Kids is giving one lucky Chambanamoms.com reader a $50 gift certificate. To be eligible, leave us a comment and tell us: What items would you like to find in a consignment shop like All Things Kids OR what’s the best deal you’ve ever nabbed at a consignment shop?

No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. Contest will be wrapped up by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by noon on Monday, Jan. 30, or another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older.

Best Kept Secret: Center for Children’s Books

From The Editors — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:12:57 +0000

Did someone say free children’s books? Well, we just did.

This week marks the Center for Children’s Books winter “Galley Giveaway.” This giveaway includes pre-publication children’s, middle grade, and young adults books. They will be given out first come, first serve starting Wednesday, Jan. 18 between 3-7 p.m. You can find the Center for Children’s Books within The Graduate School of Library and Information Science building at the University of Illinois, 501 E. Daniel Street, Champaign.

Kids always have their noses stuck in a book? Expand your home's collection at the galley giveaway in January and the Center for Children's Books Sale in February. Photo by GoodnCrazy on flickr

Galleys are “generally produced after a manuscript has been typeset but before proofreading, and are used by publicists to send to book reviewers, distributors and book clubs that like to see a copy of the book three or four months before its official publication date,” according to this “galley FAQ.”

If there are any galleys left after Wednesday, the Center will send out an email to let patrons know how many remain for the giveaway Thursday (scheduled for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and will repeat that for Friday as well. Here’s the link to get on the listserv, so you’ll get notifications.

Another date to write down on your calendar is the Center’s 11th annual Children’s Book Sale, which goes from Monday, Feb. 20, through Wednesday, Feb. 22. Sale hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. Entry is free. The Book Sale is a great opportunity to stock up on new books at very reduced prices, and the sale benefits the Center itself.

There is also a pre-sale on Feb. 19, which costs $20 to attend. Tickets must be reserved by phone (217.244.9331) or email (ccb@illinois.edu); reservations will be taken between Jan. 30 and Feb. 13.

According to the Center, the sale contains thousands of new children’s books for youth ages birth through high school. The titles include fiction and nonfiction; board books, picture books, easy and transitional readers; chapter books, series fiction, novels, activity books and kits; nonfiction series, mass-market paperbacks, and more.

Paperback books are $1 or $2 each, hardcover books are $5 each, and some individual items are priced as marked. All proceeds support the Center for Children’s Books and The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

The Center is a unit of the University of Illinois Graduate School for Library and Information Science. It houses a non-circulating collection of recent and historically significant trade books for youth, birth through high school. The CCB also collects reference books on the history and criticism of literature for youth, literature-based library and classroom programming, and storytelling. Although the collection is non-circulating, it is available for examination by scholars, teachers, librarians, students, and the public.

Cardinals Caravan Stops in Champaign Jan. 13

From The Editors — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:56:03 +0000

Like they do every January, members of the St. Louis Cardinals will visit their fans in Champaign-Urbana.

This year, they do so as World Series Champions.

Celebrate the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series victory -- and look ahead to 2012 -- at the Cardinals Caravan Jan. 13 in Champaign. photo by brianandjaclyn on flickr

Get autographs and pictures with a few select members of the Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 13 (yes, Friday the 13th!) at Round Barn Banquet Center in Champaign. Doors open at 11:00 a.m for the noon event, which is FREE. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Cardinals players scheduled to appear include: outfielder Jon Jay, infielder Daniel Descalso; pitcher Brandon Dickson; and minor leaguer Matt Adams. Former Cardinal players Chris Duncan and Tom Lawless as well as Cardinals radio voice John Rooney will be on hand to reminisce about the 2011 championship season as well as to look ahead toward 2012.

The event will include a question-and-answer session before fans are allowed to get in line for autographs and photos. Thanks to Connect FM 93.5/95.3, Champaign-Urbana’s radio home of the Cardinals, for this information.

Another date to write down on your calendar, Cardinals fans: the Cardinals World Series trophy will make appearances in Springfield, Decatur and Normal in February.

Springfield: 3-7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the U.S. Cellular store at 244 S. Dirksen Parkway.

Normal: 3-7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the U.S. Cellular store at 1700 Parkway Plaza

Decatur: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 25 at the U.S. Cellular store at Northgate Mall

Giveaway: Meet Mompreneur Rebecca Seymour, Shaklee Distributor

From The Editors — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:10:25 +0000

Busy working mom Rebecca Seymour knows what it’s like to try and balance a full plate. Rebecca is employed full-time at the University of Illinois (where she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees) and also works part-time as an independent distributor for Shaklee Corporation. Mom to Jerad, 7, Owen, 3, and infant Claire, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and running in her precious spare time. She lives with her family in Mahomet. Interested in her prducts? You can reach her through her website or her blog.

Q: Why did you decide to work with Shaklee?

Rebecca Seymour is a working mom of three who also distributes Shaklee products in her spare time. Photo provided

I started buying Shaklee products as a favor to a friend and fellow mom who was distributing them around Chicago where I am originally from. I expected it to be a one-time purchase, but the more I learned about and used the products, the more items I kept buying. I never thought I would be a distributor or salesperson for anything, but I really believe in and love the products and wanted to share them with others.

Q: I’m guessing many of our readers haven’t heard of your brand before. What should we know about it?
Shaklee has been around for over 50 years and has thrived through all economic conditions. All of their products are completely natural, nontoxic and environmentally friendly. Shaklee performs years of clinical testing on their products, and they are honestly more effective than the majority of name-brand products I used to buy in the store. They also offer a money-back guarantee if a customer is unhappy for any reason.

Q: How have you incorporated these products into your lifestyle?
Where haven’t I?! Let’s see….my whole family uses the vitamin and nutritional supplements. All of our cleaning products including hand soap, dish, and laundry detergents are from Shaklee. The Cinch shakes and snack bars helped me naturally lose some of my baby weight, and I continue to use them for energy and health on a regular basis. I have also fallen in love with their anti-aging skin care line – one of my best discoveries ever!

Q: What are your favorite items that you are selling?
Definitely the Get Clean Household Kit – These products work wonderfully and I can clean everything in my house safely without worrying whether my baby is crawling or eating on a chemically treated surface. These products have also helped my friends who have kids with severe allergies breath in cleaner air in their homes.

And the Shakleekids Incredivites chewable Multivitamin/Multimineral – the first children’s chewable multivitamin in the U.S. with lactoferrin, which helps kids’ immune systems stay supercharged. Packed with 23 essential nutrients, it’s the world’s best kids’ supplement-with 600 IU of Vitamin D to support strong bones and teeth, and 100% of the Daily Value of all eight B vitamins and vitamin C. It is gluten-free with no artificial colors or sweeteners and unlike a lot of the vitamins on the shelves, these are designed so your child actually absorbs every vitamin and mineral listed on the label.

Q: You work full-time as well – how are you balancing everything?
That is the million dollar question! Some days I feel like I am balancing better than others. As cliché as it sounds, I try to take one day at a time. There are times when cleaning and work can wait, and taking the kids to the park or to a museum or just hanging out is most important. And there are other times when I need to finish something at work and I just try to make the best of my time at home. I sympathize with moms all over – it is the hardest job, and it is difficult to feel like you are doing anything well even though you are doing a quadrillion things at once! Above all I know that my no matter how many directions I am pulled in, my family is my #1 priority.

Q: How have your kids influenced the business?
I am definitely more aware of children’s nutritional needs now and how harmful chemicals, toxins and artificial ingredients can be to their overall health. Before I used to buy whatever was cheapest on the shelf without even thinking….

Q: What have you learned since you started down this entrepreneurial path?
Being successful at anything takes time and effort. And as in any business, knowledge is definitely key – a lot of potential customers don’t already use Shaklee products simply because they are not informed, or because it is something different they have never thought about before. I am living proof!

We’ve made it simple to enter this great giveaway — start the New Year off right with a new vitamin supply. Get a 120-count bottle of Chewable Incredivites – a $34.95 retail value.

Just leave us a comment and tell us: what are you most looking forward to in 2012?

No purchase necessary. Only one entry per person. Contest will be wrapped up by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12. Winner will be picked at random by random.org. Winner must respond to email notification by noon on Monday, Jan. 16 or another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Prize is valued at $34.95.

New Year’s Fitness Freebies in Champaign-Urbana

From The Editors — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:44:55 +0000

It’s like clockwork each New Year – the urge to get fit and recommit to our wellness goals.

If you’re looking for ways to dip your pecs into the fitness frenzy without making a long-term, expensive commitment, there are many ways to do that. Some start next week; others are available anytime. Here’s what we’ve found:

Have you turned your back on fitness? Get back into it with these budget-friendly options. Photo by lululemon athletica, flickr

Urbana Park District Free Fitness Week Jan. 3-6
Where: Phillips Recreation Center, Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center or Brookens Gym, depending on class
What: Try out any exercise class at the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center, Phillips Recreation Center or Brookens Gym absolutely free from Jan. 3-6. (Excludes Tai Chi.)

Champaign Park District: Free Group Classes Jan. 3-8
Where: Springer Cultural Center, Leonhard Recreation Center and Savoy Recreation Center.
What: Choose from any one of the 16 spring classes and try them out for free. Also, buy group fitness passes at a steep discount from Jan. 9-22.

The Fitness Center
Where: Champaign, Monticello and Tuscola locations
What: Get a 7-day trial pass for use anytime.

Charter Fitness
Where: Champaign and Urbana locations (formerly known as Cardinal Fitness)
What: Print out a coupon for a free 5-day trial membership. Must present the coupon to redeem the offer.

Gold’s Gym
Where: Champaign
What: Fill out a form to get a free 7-day membership pass via email.

Curves
Where: Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Monticello, Tuscola
What: Fill out a form to start the process to receive a f ree 7-day guest membership pass. Call ahead to the location you want to attend and make sure they participate in this promotion.

Did we miss any? Add them in the comments below.

Free Food Dec. 28-29 Benefitting Great Local Charities!

From The Editors — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:05:15 +0000

Meatheads, a new burgers and fries fast-casual restaurant, will celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 30. Located in the old Blockbuster building (part of which was demolished), the restaurant is celebrating its opening by offering free food Dec. 28 and 29 in exchange for donations to a few of our favorite local charities, including the Crisis Nursery and the Champaign County YMCA.

Each person will receive a complimentary burger, toppings, fries and a soft drink. To get in on this deal, you must sign up for a specific seating time. The website says you will receive a confirmation email and must bring that with notice with you.

Seatings on Dec. 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. will benefit the Champaign County YMCA gymnastics program.

Seatings on Dec. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2p.m. will benefit the Crisis Nursery in Urbana, and the seating from 5 to 8 p.m. will benefit the Champaign-Urbana Youth Hockey Association.

Meatheads is located at 1305 South Neil Street, Champaign.

If you eat at Meatheads, send us a review!

Meet the Mompreneur: Champaign Surplus’ Shira Epstein

From The Editors — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:33:24 +0000

Editor’s note: We are proud to have Champaign Surplus as a chambanamoms.com sponsor. Need a last-minute gift? Champaign Surplus is the place to head this week, with gifts available for the whole family.

Meet Shira Epstein, the third generation co-owner of Champaign Surplus, the area’s top destination for outdoor clothing and gear. Although she recently returned to town to join the family business, Shira is no stranger to entrepreneurship, having built up her own graphic design business over the past decade. In addition to her business acumen, Shira also inherited from her parents a true passion for the outdoors and nature, and in her spare time she loves to backpack and hike. Shira and her husband Dan are the parents of baby Jacob, who turns 1 next month.

See why we think Shira Epstein is a mompreneur to know — and don’t miss out on this special Champaign Surplus coupon for chambanamoms.com readers!

Champaign Surplus co-owner Shira Epstein hiking with her son, Jacob, on the Appalachian Trail this summer. Photo provided

Q: What is a typical day like for you?
Totally crazy and much too short, of course — just like for every other working mom out there! But to be more serious, I am quite fortunate to be able to arrange my schedule so that I’m at Champaign Surplus working on the business 3-4 days a week, and at home with my little guy the other days. Not that my Champaign Surplus brain and world ever turns off! Just like with any entrepreneurial enterprise, there’s always a business trip, vendor order deadline, marketing item, staffing need or other To-Do that needs to be addressed and spills over into evenings and weekends. It can be challenging, since the juggling means I cant do everything to the full level I’d like to. But all in all, I’m lucky to be able to have the best of both worlds.

Q: Your son Jacob is not yet a year old. How has he influenced how you view the store and its future?
Entirely! Though Jacob was just a hopeful thought at the time, starting and raising a family in Champaign-Urbana was definitely one of the reasons my husband Dan and I made the move back to buy the business in 2010. As a mother now, I do find myself increasingly nostalgic about the family-owned, multi-generational enterprise. I loved growing up in this community, and being a child of the store — and I hope my son will feel the same way. My brother and I spent lots of time here as kids, playing in the warehouse or under my dad or grandpa’s desks. When we were on break from school, I’d sometimes stand behind the front counter with our longtime managers Theo and Patricia and put customer purchases in bags or help count the year-end inventory. I doubt I was much actual help — but it definitely made me feel special and part of the family business! I then worked at the store throughout high school and over summers during college. But what’s been especially nice through the three generations of Champaign Surplus is that there’s never been pressure on the next generation to have to continue the business. My grandparents truly viewed the store as a means to provide for the family and enable their four children to pursue an education in anything they wanted. My parents were exactly the same way. While I knew they’d love for me or my brother to come into the business, they always encouraged our own career interests. I want it to be the same for my kids… that Champaign Surplus is a very special part of their lives which provides for them financially, as a backdrop for fond experiences and life lessons, and allows them to pursue their dreams. Of course if they then end up wanting to become ‘Generation 4′, that would be wonderful, as well.

Q: Did you ever imagine you would come home to Champaign to run the family business?
I didn’t, actually. I was one of those lucky people who was entirely happy with what they chose to get their degree in, and absolutely loved my career as a Graphic Designer in Chicago. In fact, most of our family and friends assumed that it would be my brother Jonathan, who studied Wildlands Management and Long Range Planning and is a City Planner in Lakewood, Colo. But the store was a constant and appealing option in the background for me. After 15+ years of being what I call “creative on-demand” for my clients, I was getting a bit burned out and started to think a career change might be a treat. And as my parents started to consider their exit plans for retirement, it was very difficult to think of Champaign Surplus ceasing to exist. When I met Dan, who shared both my passion for the outdoors (and outdoor gear we sell at the store) and the desire to be entrepreneurial and work for ourselves, and when our two skill sets were the right combo for the business, it all just seemed to align perfectly.

Q: What are the challenges — and rewards — of working with your mom, dad and husband?
There are some challenges, of course. We each have very different work styles and have had to find ways to make that work for everyone. I think the biggest challenge may be that even when you are at home you never entirely stop talking about work. But the rewards are much more prevalent. Neither my grandparents nor my parents had any trouble working together. Dan and I talked at great length before we made the decision to purchase the business about the dynamics and whether we thought it would work. And it does! It’s been nice learning the ins and outs of how the business has run from my parents, and then to be able to bring our fresh perspectives to complement and build on that amazing 60-year foundation. I think what is the most special and rewarding about this latest generational transition is that each of the four of us have a totally different skill set that meets an important need for the store.

Q: You have owned your own graphic design business for many years. How have you merged that passion with your current role?
In lots of ways. Dan jokingly calls me the Marketing & Design Department. But, it’s pretty much true — and I love putting my design and marketing strategy skills to use for the store. When we first arrived, I designed our new logo and updated branding for the store, and started to apply it to our public-facing efforts like the launch of our new eCommerce website in July 2010, new building awnings and paper shopping bags. Basically, I handle all our many ongoing design and marketing efforts, including the website, all of our advertising, customer communications and mailings, in-store signage… you name it. I also continue to work on projects for Trillium Creative clients, which I very much enjoy.

Q: Do you have any advice for other women/moms who want to their own businesses?
One very important key is that you have to love what you do. If you’re not passionate about the business you’re starting, it will be impossible to get potential customers and vendors excited about what you are doing, or to keep the fire in your belly when tough challenges arise, hours are long or you’re having to sacrifice time with your family. I’ve been super lucky in that I absolutely loved running my graphic design firm and I love this new adventure of running Champaign Surplus. Another piece of advice is to be realistic and really do your research in advance. As a graphic designer, I worked with many start-up entrepreneurs over the years that came to me for their branding, all excited about their new business idea. I was amazed at how many of them hadn’t adequately researched their industry or competitive landscape, completed a proper business plan, or defined clear goals. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities and be passionate enough about the endeavor to not be entirely risk-adverse. But you also have to come from an informed place.

Q: What have been big sellers this holiday season – and do you have any recs for last-minute shoppers?
The major standout category for us this holiday season has been everything outerwear. Specifically jackets and coats from The North Face and anything featuring Columbia’s Omni-Heat technology. We were also excited to bring back a Kids’ outerwear selection this year. It has garnered a great response, so we’ll be able to continue and expand the Kids’ offerings next year.

Did you see the special Champaign Surplus coupon for chambanamoms.com readers? Check it out!

Dial-A-Carol: A Champaign-Urbana Tradition Continues

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:27:49 +0000

Create a Christmas memory, old-school style. Call up Dial-a-Carol today (or before Dec. 16). Photo by kevinspencer on Flickr

It seems so quaint – the idea that you can pick up the phone and request a certain holiday tune. (Now, we have Spotify for that, but I digress).

Dial-A-Carol is one Champaign-Urbana tradition that has stood the test of time — and tape players, CD players, the MP3 revolution and more. A student-run holiday program at the University of Illinois, each year the students of Snyder Hall, provide cheer in the form of holiday music.

As they write in their event announcement: “The idea behind the program is quite simple. Anyone from anywhere can call us and request a holiday tune to be played over the telephone, or a person may send a request to a friend in the local Champaign-Urbana area (217 area code). Volunteers also sing to every 5th caller! Our program runs 24 hours a day for seven days and is held each year during finals week of the first semester. Last year our program logged 1,200 calls from all over the world.”

The program is fully staffed by volunteers. Students pulling all-nighters isn’t uncommon this year, after all. Finals start Friday, Dec. 9.

Celebrating its 51st season, Dial-A-Carol started at midnight on Dec. 8 and will go until 11:59 PM on December 15, 2011. The telephone number during the week is (217) 332-1882.