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Theta Mom®

Redefining Motherhood

Izzy Belle’s Trendy Tots

Izzy Belle’s is owned and lead by Michele, a mom who started this business because she wanted to create a place where others could shop for products that were completely safe and non-toxic. After many recalls were announced due to lead paint and other toxins in children’s products, she wanted to start a company that ensured the consumer was buying safe products. Therefore, she only carries products that abide by the highest safety standards and guidelines. Izzy Belle’s is really a one stop shop for unique, upscale and functional products – many of which are made with organic fabrics, are eco-friendly and/or made right here in the USA. Michele takes extreme pride in offering only the best products on the market which meet those safety standards while serving as an online shop that offers quality and trendy products.

If you have a little girl, this dress does not get any more adorable. It’s absolutely perfect for the spring, summer or upcoming Easter holiday. The bright colors and floral pattern truly says it all! The Bright Floral Dress is currently available in sizes 2, 4 and 6:

Another product that caught my eye was the darling little Sailboat Tee which also can be purchased as a onesie. We’re talking total polka dot cuteness! It’s made in the USA with 100% cotton, the perfect comfort for your little guy (in sizes 3 through 24 months).

The Organic Cotton Fleece Blankets are gorgeous organic cotton fleece blankets with natural silk trim. They make beautiful baby shower gifts and are available in both the small and large size. This is the perfect example of how Michele ensures that the material used in these products is the safest on the market.

And the Lunchboxes are completely recyclable and the entire lunchbox (except for the decorative faceplate) is dishwasher safe. Each lunchbox comes with a custom ice pack and three containers as well as your choice of decorative faceplate. How adorable are they?

Izzy Belle’s offers a little something for everyone from Toys and Games to Room Decor and even offers a gift registry for moms-to-be! Now is the perfect time to purchase because Michele is offering a special discount to Theta Mom readers: 15% off your entire order with the use of the following coupon code entered at checkout: THETA11 To stay updated on the latest designs and future discounts be sure to follow on Twitter!

Theta Mom® abides by word of mouth marketing standards and believes in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. Izzy Belle’s is a proud sponsor of Theta Mom and I was compensated for this post. However, all opinions expressed are purely my own and the content of this post was not influenced in any way.

Featured TMC Blogger: Glamamom

TMC welcomes Jill, author of the blog Glamamom. Her blog is everything you think it should be based on that title; a gorgeous web design, tons of NYC style and nothing short of sheer lifestyle glamour dripping from every post. As a Theta Mom, I enjoy my visits to her site because Jill reminds me that I am still a woman in addition to being a mom. Here is how she describes her blog in her own words:

“I’m Jill, the voice behind Glamamom, a New York City lifestyle blog.

Heather and I met at Bloggy Boot Camp in Philly late last year and instantly hit it off.  We played hooky during one of the sessions and loitered in the hallway brainstorming and discussing business ideas we’d been cultivating (the mom blogger’s version of smoking cigs in the high school bathroom).

I started writing Glamamom as a way to hold myself accountable. To keep challenging myself, meet new people, and reflect on my life as a parent and as an individual.

Hopefully the title is obviously tongue and cheek. I mean, cleaning poop out from underneath your finger nail is hardly glamorous but if you look hard enough, you can find the beauty in anything, even if it’s just an illusion to help you get through the day.

What I have gained as a result of blogging, I couldn’t have dreamed. New friends, once in a lifetime press opportunities, a full-time consulting business and a personal space, just for me.

I’m honored to be among the supportive and inspiring women that make up the Theta Mom Community and thrilled to be today’s featured blogger. Thank you Heather and to TMC!  I hope you all find what you came to the blogosphere searching for and maybe even some wonderful things you weren’t.”

Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter! New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members!

*To be considered as a Featured TMC Blogger, be sure to comment on this week’s feature! Have a great weekend ladies!

Campus Quilt Company: Turning Clothes into Treasured Memories

The Campus Quilt Company is owned and lead by Leigh Lowe which began in 2000 based on a thesis project for her MBA. She later turned that project into a thriving company dedicated to turning “old” clothes into lasting memories. Many of us have a pile of t-shirts, jeans or baby clothes that we just can’t seem to throw away which is why Leigh decided to develop a concept that would help others turn those clothes into treasured memories.

There is a quilt that can be custom made to fit any personality; if you have a husband who is a sports fanatic, you can easily create a customized quilt based on his favorite team. If you have a child who plays a sport, all of his/her t-shirts and sports memories can be turned into a quilt and if your daughter is a dancer, what better way to preserve some of her precious dance costumes? The possibilities are endless…

Although t-shirts are typically sewn onto the fabric to make these beautiful T-Shirt quilts, the company didn’t hesitate when I shared my “out of the box” idea. I wanted to preserve some of my daughter’s “first” things as a baby so I opted to create a customized Wee Quilt. I wanted to use items for this quilt that aren’t traditionally used or sewn but the company worked with me and said, “If we can get a needle through it, we can quilt it.”

Here is a photo of my gorgeous Wee Quilt:

There are so many different ways you can personalize these quilts and there are so many options available; you have choices in fabric, colors, sashing, size of each square, etc. The customer service department did a fantastic job customizing this quilt to fit my needs. If you have an idea, Campus Quilt Company will ensure that your vision is turned into a reality. They offer T-Shirt Pillows and they even create photo quilts, based on your own digital photos. How awesome is that? You can find a bunch of ideas from this page here.  

From every seam down to each square, this is truly a beautifully made product of high durability and quality, something that will remain in my family for years to come.

The Campus Quilt Company has been featured on the Today Show and Rachel Ray and it’s no surprise since these quilts are of very high quality and workmanship, making it the perfect gift for someone special. The site includes many options as you are customizing your quilt from sashing to embroidery and even custom backing. Be sure to visit the FAQ page as the full design process is outlined clearly. To stay updated on the latest designs and information be sure to “like” The Campus Quilt Company on Facebook.

Theta Mom® abides by word of mouth marketing standards and believes in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. Campus Quilt Company is a proud sponsor of Theta Mom and I was compensated for this post. In addition, having worked with Campus Quilts, photos from my sponsored quilt were added to this editorial review. However, all opinions expressed are purely my own and the content of this post was not influenced in any way.

Top Ten Ways to Create Great Blog Posts

My guest post today is the fabulous Erin, author of the blog Erin Margolin. I’ve been blogging with Erin since Theta Mom’s inception and it’s been a pleasure to watch her come into her own both as both an authentic writer and blogger. Today, she is sharing some practical advice to help you get your own writing in great form.

Instead of gettin’ all Shakespearean on you, I’m here to give you some ideas to help you write kick-ass blog posts. While I don’t claim to be any kind of expert I’ve been in Blog Land for a few years now, long enough to learn at least a little bit. I know what I like to read and I know what I like to write. So thank you, Heather, for sharing your space with me today. You are someone I look up to and admire, and hopefully one day I can build an amazing empire as you have!

Top Ten Ways To Create Great Blog Posts:

1. Good grammar is essential to great blog writing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped reading a post because of improper subject/verb agreement,  the use of “their” when it should’ve been “there,” or even basic spelling  mistakes that can easily be remedied by spell-check or www.dictionary.com. Run-on sentences also drive me batty, especially when there are no paragraph breaks. I get visually overwhelmed and I can’t read it. Chop things up into smaller, more digestible bits. Really caring about your writing AND your readers means consulting your dictionary or even that old grammar handbook hiding in the back of your closet.

2. Shorter posts are very attractive to readers. We’re all busy with our lives outside of Blog Land. If I open a post and see that it’s lengthy, I’m less likely to read it all the way through. There are certainly exceptions to this, but for the most part I try my best to keep my posts brief, two or three paragraphs. Challenge yourself to get your point across in fewer words!

3. Be different, be unpredictable. I’m not interested in your parakeet’s horrible head cold or seeing photos of your children every day (sorry). Dare yourself to mix it up. If you are killing yourself trying to think of something to say, DO NOT POST. Posting daily will not necessarily retain readers. It’s about the quality of your posts, not the quantity, remember? Followers will not disappear just because you skip out for a few days here and there. In fact, if you make them wait, they may get really antsy and eager to see what’s coming up next!

4. Read your post out loud to yourself a few times before you publish. This will help you catch errors and maybe even “see” something you didn’t earlier. Find a buddy or a writing partner, someone you can bounce ideas off of, or someone who’s willing to proof your posts and give you constructive criticism.

5. Read a lot: newspapers, books, magazines, and other blogs. I’ve always thought that reading is the single best way to improve your writing.

6. Read Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. She talks a lot about writing through the crap to get to the good stuff underneath. Get your thoughts down first, edit later.

7. Keep it light and interesting. Toss in a vlog, a guest post, a Top 10 something, a recipe, even a short story or a poem. Save the drivel in your drafts, please. If you’re scraping the insides of your brain and coming up with nothing, chill out: the world will not come to an end. If people love you and your writing, they will come back. You don’t have to force it.

8. Write the truth, what’s in your heart.  Write what you know and in the words of Cheryl @Mommy_Pants, “Write what you don’t know!” In fact, why don’t you check her out @TheRedDressClub where she posts weekly writing prompts. Whenever I need inspiration all I have to do is hop over there.

9. Look at your language. Do you use metaphors, similes, personification? What about your verbs? Did you simply get up? Or did you “jump” up? Did you pop up out of your seat like a piece of toast from the toaster? Or did you clamor over the person next to you and trip over her purse? Bring us into your post with your words. Use vivid description and details to draw us in, make us feel like we’re there.

10. Last but certainly not least: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Be authentic. Be you. Don’t try to imitate anyone else. No one is youer than you (Dr. Seuss). Just relax and let your real self shine through.

Please send me an email if you are interested in guest posting at Theta Mom® for TMC Network. Full details can be found on the Network page.

The Search is On for COMM: Council of Media Moms

Ever since I began this blog I’ve been partnering with brands that I know and trust. In addition, working as a social media consultant I developed a strong sense for what women in business want and need. I’ve been introduced to so many amazing entrepreneurs who started their very own companies. This was the very moment I decided to create a space on my own platform to feature talented women who are doing exactly that – inspiring other women, especially those in business which is when The Marketplace was born.

I couldn’t be more thrilled about the direction Theta Mom is moving toward and when I announce another opportunity like the one I’m about to announce, it makes me so proud to be an integral part of this evolving mom blogging/social media collaboration.

I was recently hired by momAgenda, an amazing brand that I have worked with numerous times before. But unlike the community managing/consulting that I perform with other clients, this position is quite unique; I have been specifically hired to create, lead and manage the most amazing, talented team of Media Moms ever established in the industry.

That’s right – momAgenda® and I are looking for YOU.

We are seeking established, influential and engaging bloggers to become part of an amazing team to continue building true brand awareness for momAgenda®. We are looking to collaborate with professional and passionate media moms to lead this mission in properly marketing momAgenda to a wide-spread audience through the momAgenda blog and social media platforms, including the Facebook page which currently has an audience of 12,000+ fans!

Council of Media Moms at momAgenda® (better known as COMM) is an online initiative that has been established to garner important insight into the needs and wants of the momAgenda community, fostering a true brand/blogger relationship. The connections formed will be paramount; momAgenda strives to cultivate a supportive community of bloggers and media moms that embraces this mission and is dedicated to high standards of integrity and excellence in the digital world.

So, do you want to be a member of the COMM team at momAgenda? Of course you do, because it’s an absolute unbelievable opportunity!!!

We are currently accepting applications now through April 1st. For further information and full details about this program and the benefits of being a member of COMM, be sure to check out the momAgenda website. If you have any questions about COMM, please feel free to email me anytime: HeatherR {at} momagenda {dot} com.

We really look forward to collaborating with you!

***Please help us spread the word about COMM on Twitter: Copy/paste the following and tweet as often as you like and be sure to tell your friends! You may be just what we are looking for!

The search is on to build an amazing team: Council of Media Moms @momagenda Deets & App http://bit.ly/hS9uDD #momAgendaCOMM

And as always, thank you for being an integral part of this blog. Especially in these moments, I am SO proud to call myself a mom blogger.