Great Must Read

I am so blessed to wake up daily and realize that I have found a great career. However, being raised/from Europe, I had a slightly different childhood than most of my friends. I played with different toys and I read different books. When I decided to open a baby boutique, I realized that my childhood can be a great help in my design vision, and can be somewhat different when it came to finding classic "american" gifts. SSP will be carrying a lot of great classic wooden toys and toys that focus on child development rather than its plastic functionality.

However, growing up I read books that looked more like this:

Rather than like this ;)

Luckily I have great friends and parents who have made sure I am aware of the absolute must reads for the new babies. So what about you? What do you think are essential books that kids must read these days? Do you have a classic favorite that you still remember word by word?

Look forward to reading them all!

something extra special-must have!

When I first started to think about opening a store, I visited a show in Chicago. There, in passing, I met a young lady who caught my eye with something very unique and special. Her art wall design had a very clean and modern feel, however she understood how to capture something that can be timeless as well.

In my true stalking abilities, I decided that once I open Sugar Snap Pea, I absolutely have to have her work in my store. So, 7 months later, I reached out to the owner of Hoot Designs Co.

While Kristen specializes in other categories besides babies (cue to all my wedding and decor field friends), her special baby prints are just adorable.

The name of the game is simple. You can either purchase a pre-made print, OR you can order a special print with a special meaning for each letter. ( A is for Aunt Lori, etc) I already have a special place in my store for a print for Sugar Snap Pea, however, I still need to come up with some letters. As you can imagine, my store is going to be a very special part of my life, so I am dedicating this "baby print" to SSP.

So, those of you who want to take a stab at some letter recognition, sent me a note, and maybe your idea will end up on the final work!! I think letter Z is already taken :)

If you are expecting or thinking about a great gift, start thinking about your alphabet, because once SSP opens, we will be taking orders!!

how do you measure rejections?

Today I had a wonderful lunch with my cousin-in-law. I knew I had family in Charleston, but I didn't know how wonderful they were until recently.( I only met them this Easter). My cousin shared a wonderful quote she heard a child say in her Sunday school class "rejection is God's way of protecting us". How true! It is so often that I want something so badly, but after its all said and done, so grateful it was never given to me.

One of the reasons I've been so sporadic about posting my blogs, is because we are still in the midst of finding that "perfect space". (we, being my real estate agent and I...really has been confusing people for some reason...and I guess they assume I talk about myself in multiple persona's)

I originally had a space I was interested in, however, due to our delayed opening date, we weren't able to secure it. Sure, there was a moment of "ah shoot, we have to do it all over again" feeling, but later on, it gave me more options to look at other spaces, I wouldn't have considered in the first place.

Now that the scheduled opening date is approaching (stay tuned...may be as early as July), we may have more spaces in our favor. I'm still sticking with "mums the word" approach until we get a lease, but at least you know why I've been a slacker :)

To offset my ramble with some pretty stuff... Sugar Snap Pea is proud to support our local designers. I'll be highlighting each of them on this blog.

Our first highlight is Shawna. She is an owner and designer of may-bee clothing. I saw her little boy dressed up in the cutest pants one Sunday morning, to later find out, that we can have all the boys wear them!! Check out her website and if you have any special requests, we may be able to cook something up!! I'm so excited to have her join the Sugar Snap Pea family :)

you did that ALL day?

Starting your own business is wonderful. Your boss is great, flexible schedule and great pay..not so much. There are days when after its all said and done, I cant believe I spent 12 hours doing xyz. Today, that xyz was looking at gift wrap and bags. While I think I know what I want, there are so many different ideas that I think I could use. I wanted to share some fun pictures and inspirations that I found today. If any of you come across something you like, feel free to send it along to info@sspbaby.com. Makes me wonder what we all did before the world wide web....oh well, glad I didnt have to know those times.

would be really fun to make this seasonal gift wrapping.

love this one..dont be surprised if it appears at SSP sometime :)

before it all began, and Blueprint was still in press, I loved this baby shower ideas.

I see SSP having its own wrapping paper...just you wait!

images: google images, marthastewart.com, delightful blog.

Are you up for a challenge?

So many of you know, Sugar Snap Pea is going to be that perfect 1 stop shop for new moms and grandmothers to be. I have spent a great deal of time learning about swaddle blankets, and the perfect slings and even the perfect feeding spoon for your child.

However, I will never pretend that I know everything when it comes to getting ready for your bundle of joy ( at least not yet ;)

I'm blessed to be supported by so many friends who have already become moms or been around enough babies, and so this challenge is for you.

Sugar Snap Pea is finishing up a perfect "registry" list. The categories are:

{Nursery}

{Clothing}

{Gear/Travel}

{Changing/Sleeping}

{Nursing/Feeding}

{Bathing/Grooming}

{Play/Activity}

The registry is not limited to babies, but also is extended to help moms watch their little babies grow into big strong toddlers.

-THE CHALLENGE-

1. Come up with clever names for each registry category. These have to be unique, simple and straight to the point. Permission to be as creative as you can get! Permission to edit each category = granted.

2. Send your "I thought Id never survive without" in those categories. Some items I may already have and just hiding from you, some I may not even know existed.

3. What are the absolute must haves categories and items for the growing toddlers? (through age 4T)

I believe that every challenge is way FUNNER( excellent word, dont mock it) if it has a prize at the end. So while the prize is a secret, my faithful panels of judges and I will pick a winner.

May the best player win!

my little vision

I recently had coffee with my friend Jenna. Jenna and her husband are photographers here in Charleston. We were discussing how they were in need of some branding, and after 2 hour coffee date, we realized we think the same. In house decor.

Let me explain. When someone asks me what I want something to look like, I automatically think of furniture and colors in a room. This applies to everything. "What do I want my business cards to look like? Let me show you an image of this gorgeous kitchen, and hopefully you'll understand".

I wish I could be the kind of person who can create ugly spaces into amazing-ness (new obsession 9-by design on bravo). However, I'll stick to my managerial mindset, and just tell others what to do.

So when people started to ask me what sugar snap pea store will look like, I started to throw all kinds of inspirations, while non of them are of actual stores. I have a big board of images and textures, but I wanted to show you a few images that I loved. Lets see if the final project ends up to anything close to these images :)

images : google images, pinkwallpaper, full house.

I think I need that...

These past months have been great. I have had the priveledge to meet many wonderful retailers

here in the Charleston area, and have already been supported by many.

When people ask me what I am about to do, I say, "I'm opening a baby store...I'll be selling some babies"...well I think out of 20 tries for that joke, I got a half "you're weird" laugh...so I've since decided to stop with the joke. I have upgraded my horrible jokes, to actually telling people about the different products Ill be selling.

While I cant discuss every single line, I will share some items here and there, to get you excited about shopping at SSP.

Sugar Snap Pea will carry only the cutest clothes, but besides adorable outfits, SSP will carry items for feeding, playing, sleeping and any other "must have" items a new mom may need.

Today, I got a box of our wonderful Safe Sippy 2 cups. If you have 59 seconds, check out their little video. These bottles come in great "southern" styles as well as excellent functionality.

Its a cup that is dishwasher safe, BPA free (helps our tree friends) as well as serves the purpose from a standard sippy cup need for the younger users ( that mind you, does not spill) to toddler-big girl/boy cup with a straw!!!

Sugar Snap Pea wont carry 20 different types of sippy cups, but will strive to carry the best of the best. It has been said, that Safe Sippy 2 is the Rolls Royce of sippy cups- The beauty? No need for any down payments for this functional toy. The price is great!