How long does it take to go from ‘ah-ha’ to getting press in the magazines?

For Potty Tots, it took us two years from the idea phase to having a complete product that we could market. From there it has taken us a year to get some coverage in the media (mostly social media and local parent magazines). It is difficult to get into the major parenting magazines as a feature article. We are actively pursuing all avenues of marketing including retailers, children’s catalogs, and trade shows. We have even sent Potty Tots kits to over 50 celebrity parents! (even Hollywood stars have to potty train their children!)

How do you go about finding an illustrator?

I found most of my artists online at www.ifreelance.com. (illustrator, animator, musician, printer etc…) I was so fortunate to be able to find a talented illustrator (Jennifer Ware of Zenware Designs) who captured my vision of the Potty Tots and brought them to life! I am happy with the way everything turned out, especially considering I worked with most of the development and design team online! (very 21st century!)

Did you partner with someone who had experience starting a business or did you just figure it out as you went along?

Most of starting Potty Tots was learning as I went along (and I learned a lot! ) Luckily my husband had the business background and experience with manufacturing and sourcing in China and was able to find a great printer for us and handle the logistics of shipping etc…

Did you ever consider just throwing in the towel?

I never considered throwing in the towel. We launched Potty Tots right in the middle of a recession and I knew it would be tough. But I knew we had a great product and that there is a great need for help with potty training so I kept on believing!

You partnered with your sister. What do you say to the people who warn against going into business with family?

With family, as with any business partner, you have to make sure that you are on the same page when it comes to anything from ideas on how to develop the product to how much money you are willing to spend on production, advertising etc… My advice is to find someone with the same vision, excitement and work ethic and you will be successful.

Chef Tony was also willing to taste my gazpacho, and show me the proper way to chop an onion. The one-handed egg cracking trick will have to wait until next time.

If you are in the DC area be sure to visit Visions Restaurant, and check out Sisarina for the next Tweet Up date.

Thanks Tony!
Janine

How did she come up with her vision? Stacey shares the how, why and when of her journey…

Sorry Joe.
Sorry for calling your ‘Mr. Funny Guy’ one too many times (in terms of interviewers I have lots to learn…or do I?).
Sorry for not taking your advice and heading into a quiet corner.

That said, Joe was a sport and lived up to his reputation for humor. He was also soooo very nice.

We talked about the fact that everyone thinks he is wearing a hat in his avatar picture on Twitter. We discussed where he gets his humorous material (lately he’s been stealing from his wife who is newly on Twitter herself so that’s going to have to stop) and we discussed why he has no reference to his ‘real’ job on his website or Twitter bio.

If you love @JoeSchmitt watch this (and try to ignore the background activity AND his mid-western accent).

We love you Joe!

Janine (@twincident)

Linda (@shortpumppreppy)

Sometimes it was the pose, sometimes it was the SHOES, sometimes the well defined *please let that be me one day* calves, and sometimes it was *ahem* the tube socks.

But these were the 12 that the judges (Ok, Me, Janine, and Stan from Pacific Shaving Company) agreed were the HAWTEST legs at Blogher 09…and voting starts now and runs through August 7…

Vote for your choice by commenting (here or on the whrrl story) for the legs you love the most.

One Grand Prize Winner will receive a Pacific Shaving Company gift package including one (1) 2-oz. bottle of All Natural Shaving Oil (will last up to a year!), one (1) Nick Stick, and a fancy-schmancy winner button to proudly display on their blog.

Two Runners-Up will receive a 1/2 oz. bottle of All Natural Shaving Oil and a not-quite-as-fancy button to display on their blog.

I had the opportunity to interview Laila Ali at an event that focused on fighting childhood obesity. As usual I go off-topic and get to the Mom of the Matter. This interview was originally posted here but every time I watch it I feel a little bit better about myself. Why?

Because Laila Ali admits she sucks in her tummy too!

I hope her publicist doesn’t see that and cringe because really – THAT is the stuff that makes a personality like Laila so much more appealing! She. Is. Real. And, more importantly, she is willing to admit it while taking the time to talk to ME…right after being interviewed by CNN (for Realz people).

Here’s to a real mom, and a real woman.

Janine is a mother of twins by day and a Mamarazzi by night. She writes about raising her twins, her neuroses, and reviews on TwoferMom.com.

Recently I got behind the scenes of the Yanni Voices tour and got the real story from sultry vocalist Leslie Mills (@Leslie_Mills for you Twitter folk).

Me: You have an interesting music background with experience in a band, then a solo album, and then writing songs for film and TV, plus you’ve worked with some pretty cool people. To me, the Yanni Voices project seems really different from anything you’ve done before. Is it?

Leslie Mills: Working with Yanni has been different to anything I’ve done before in the business though my background has helped me in this experience.  I’ve been a singer/songwriter for a number of years and started off performing in a band called To The Moon Alice where I got some experience touring but in a van not a tour bus! This opportunity has gotten me back out on stage performing live and also has been a wonderful experience to write and collaborate on Yanni’s compositions.

Me: Do you like your Yanni served with or without mustache?

Leslie: Without Mustache!

Me: Yanni Voices seems to really be more about the unique talents of the vocalists and the musicians and less about Yanni. Did you feel you had a little more freedom to explore with this project as compared to other projects?

Leslie: In this project I’ve had the freedom to explore different genres of music especially in the orchestration and instrumentation which has been fantastic. This project was a growing experience as well with the challenge of tuning in and creating lyrics to some of Yanni’s already known compositions. This project has been entirely unique.

Me: OK, the song you sing on the piano with Chloe dancing…sort of middle eastern sound…you were moving and grooving up there and it really seemed like Yanni was encouraging you. Does that come naturally to you as a performer or did Yanni have to push you a little to really let go?

Leslie: That song is Our Days. I love this as a performance piece in the show and the vibe of the music. Yanni is supportive and encouraging.  In my first rock/pop band I used to run around and move and groove but not in a choreographed way.  It was fun to do something that is so visual and to be able to let go at the same time.

Me: Let’s talk Twitter…Who got you started?

Leslie: @musicbizwiz

Me: How has it helped you or is it more of a way to kill time on the road?

Leslie: I love twitter! It’s helping me stay more directly in touch with people.. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I so enjoy it!

Me: Whose tweets, besides mine, do you look forward to reading? 

Leslie: Besides yours???  well, when i started I was anxiously awaiting the tweets from Tina Fey and Larry David but I’m still waiting..
Now that I am on the road and traveling every day, it is so cool to hear from fans and people that have come to the shows, and all of my twitter friends!  It’s great to be able to stay in touch but also get good tips or thoughtful quotes from people.

Me: Are your friends or family on Twitter? I would imagine that would be a great way to stay in touch with them.

Leslie: Some friends are on Twitter… but my mom prefers an old fashioned phone call.

Me: Have you participated in any of the Twitter Parties? (for example, Girls Night Out #GNO on Tuesdays)

Leslie: I would love to check out Girls Night Out when I have a Tuesday off!  You’ll have to tell me how to do that.  I did a live performance for the #UBP (Ultimate Blog Party) which was a lot of fun.

Me: What do you think of us bloggers? Have you started blogging? Are there any blogs that you read?  

Leslie: I love bloggers and I’m intrigued.  I’d love to start blogging.   I’ve been enjoying checking out the blogs of people I’ve had the opportunity to meet.

Me: Life on the road….I’m so curious, indulge me
Where do you do laundry?

Leslie: Laundry is a challenge for me.  (Then again, it was a challenge for me at home.. ha!)  It so happens I went to a laundromat on my day off in Greenville, SC.  There occasionally is guest laundry in hotels but when more than 30 people need to do laundry on the same day.. good luck!   In some places I could send out my laundry for ‘wash & fold’.  Haven’t done that yet.  I have purchased new socks from the drugstore in desperation.

Me: What is a girl to do with the tiny bathroom in the trailer?

Leslie: The bathroom on the bus is fine for our traveling… we stick to the hotels & venues for showering & getting ready.  I do have a dressing room for the show.. which usually provides enough space… but the scariest was putting makeup on under fluorescent lighting. yikes! we now have a large lighted mirror that travels with us… thankfully.

Me: What do you do on your days off – read? shop? go sightseeing?

Leslie: So far it’s been shopping, getting nails done, getting massage and resting!  I haven’t done much sightseeing yet but hopefully will.  I love to check out a great local restaurant and eat food specific to the region.. then again – my first sights are set on finding the nearest Starbucks.

Me: Is there a hobby you have or an activity that you’ve had to put on hold while you are on tour?

Leslie: I haven’t been able to write much new music from the tour but I’m bringing my guitar for the next half.

Me: Boys versus Girls
You seem to be close with Chloe, but what about the ‘boys’ Ender and Nathan? Do the four of you hang out or are they busy playing Wii or XBox or something?  

Leslie: We’re all pretty close. We see each other on the bus and get to talk each day.  On days off or while traveling I might go shopping with Chloe, or catch up with Ender for breakfast or maybe they’ll all go out while I stay in to rest, for example.  We are all supportive of each other.   It’s been a great part of the experience getting to know all of them.

Me: What’s on your iPod?

Leslie: Coldplay, Seal, Sade, Goldfrapp, Prince, Dido, U2, Donovan, Cat Stevens, Frou Frou

Janine is a mother of twins by day and a Mamarazzi by night. She writes about raising her twins, her neuroses, and reviews on TwoferMom.com.