Happy Easter!

Ok, so spring wasn't entirely here, but at least it is showing some signs of arrival! Still no snow, thank goodness & more & more green blades of grass peaking through the brown, just not as warm as we'd all like. I certainly can't complain though!

One thing that is beautiful this weekend, is the arrival of Easter. Such a colorful, fun & meaningful holiday for many & the timing of it in April this year, makes it all the better. I find myself very reflective this Easter; grateful for so many things in my life & humbled by some amazing changes & people I have encountered. I really have so much.

The joy on the childrens' faces with the impending arrival of the Easter Bunny is icing on the cake. At 8 & 6 I often worry that it may be the last year they both "believe", but then I remember that magic is all around us, every single day, if only we are open to it. I still believe.

Happy Easter to all of you!
Enjoy your Adventures this holiday & be a little part of the magic for someone else!

Change

I saw green grass today. On my OWN lawn! Could it be? Dare I say it? Is SPRING beginning to show her beautiful face?!

With the baby's recent arrival & the excitement of our brand new WALL ORGANIZER, whether or not spring is actually here remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure; CHANGE is in the air.

From the birds chirping outside my window to the smiles & collective sighs of passers by, the changes we see at this time of year are all around us. What a wonderful time to dream big, embark on new dreams & re-energize some of the old ones....Spring/Summer 2010 is going to be FULL of ADVENTURES!

He is HERE!!!

Wow, the day has arrived!! We have just welcomed a wee one into our Baby Rhys family, in the form of a precious baby boy, the 4th for our President/CEO, Pam. I can't begin to express my excitement at lil "B"'s arrival! I always tell Pam she is a living saint, to be mommy to 4 boys, all while running this incredible company, Baby Rhys Adventure Gear. Also an incredible friend, wife, sister, daughter & many more titles; she certainly has a full dance card!

With B's arrival there are so many great things in store for us personally & as a team! A birth is the reminder of what is important, what REALLY matters & how amazing the "little things" can be. Since I am done my child bearing, this new baby is as close to my own as I will get & I am celebrating the miracle of this new little soul.

There are no better words to write here than the words chosen by baby B's Daddy the day before he was born:

I’ve climbed majestic mountains
Up to the top,
Navigated wild rivers
Without a stop.

Dived off jagged cliffs
Into choppy seas,
Marched down lonely roads
Despite injured knees.

Authored stories and books
Done my best to inspire,
Changed what I could
Maintained my fire.

But my finest hour
Was when I became your dad,...
You gave my wife and me
Much more than we had.

I wish we had a saner world
Where kids never died,
Where nice people finished first
And worked side by side.

I wish I could protect you
From all hurt and pain,
So that you always smiled
And remained the same.

But all I can do
Is try to be there,
When you need some help
And you’re gasping for air.

There will be times
When things seem such a mess,
And seems no one can help you
Pass your next test.

But as sure as the stars
If you look up you’ll see,
A silver-lined cloud
With the same name as me.

Congrats to my friends who are so much more like family than even they know.....
Here's to NEW BEGINNINGS!!

Spring

I can literally TASTE the spring's imminent arrival. With all of the excitement surrounding us with the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, our new product development, and a new baby on his way in 2 short weeks, there is just so much SPRING in the air!

Our signature fabrics are also a reminder of spring; BRIGHT & BOLD breathable cotton, fully functional & extremely fashionable for all of the new adventures that begin when the winter melts away. With so many people I know having babies in the coming weeks, I am sure glad I never struggle with what to get them; Baby Rhys Adventure Gear is the only choice. I am so grateful to have such a passion for my "work"; so much so that it never, ever feels like work!

A new lil Adventurer

Boy 2010 has sure started off on a great note! The response for Operation RHYSpirit we have received has been so positive & heartwarming. We have heard some personal stories of children decorating their Baby Rhys bandanas in a room full of laughter; it truly does not get any better than that! If you missed our post on Operation RHYSpirit, we donated our banadanas to children's oncology wards across Canada in the months leading up to Christmas & could not be more thrilled to contribute in this small, but unique way. I'd be happy to share more with you if you want to hear all about it, just email me at marketing@babyrhys.com.

We at Baby Rhys are also excitedly awaiting a prototype of our new creation & we're getting set for SPRING CLEANING, adventure style!

WALL POCKET ORGANIZER

An instant hit on so many levels, this piece is as functional as it stylish, just like the rest of our line. It will not only keep your child’s play area organized, it’s fabulous 100% cotton color combinations & wall art design will dazzle you.

This incredible new Baby Rhys product is a 2010 MUST HAVE

Finally & perhaps most exciting of all, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new member of the Baby Rhys family! Pam Liyanage, our beautiful President/CEO is expecting her FOURTH boy in March 2010! BOY OH BOY, there are so many new Adventures to come!

A New Year

Already 2 weeks into 2010; is it just me or does the clock have a habit of gaining speed the older that we get?! I remember when I was a child how a holiday could roll slowly by, the summers were endless & birthdays seem to hold an entire lifetime between them. No longer!

I am happy to welcome 2010; there seems to be many people that are feeling the same way. A new year is always exciting with the possibilities that lie before us & the pain or struggles we leave behind in the previous year. The world is hopefully moving forward from the tough financial woes of 2009 & there is a buzz of new energy in entering a new decade.

Back here, in our own smaller world, things are looking bright indeed!! Baby Rhys is continuing on some familiar paths & also embarking on some new adventures.
We continue to receive such positive feedback from Operation RHYSpirit & are thrilled to be making a difference in childrens lives across our country.
We have also created a brand new, fresh adventure piece; you simply MUST stay tuned to hear more about that! In the same great way we have intertwined function & practicality without sacrificing style, you will see us do it again with this new product!

So Happy New Year everyone! Seize the opportunities & make the best of each new day.

Keeping the Spirit Alive

In years past, I have always had an "after Christmas lull", between Christmas & New Years. There was so much excitement surrounding Christmas, especially once we had children, but when the day was over there was a real sense of the BLAH'S. This year has been completely different.

I have felt a tangible shift in all areas of my life in the last year & especially in the last few months. I know that Operation RHYSpirit has had much to do with that. It is so easy to have an attitude of gratitude when there really is so much to be thankful for. Every where around me, there are reasons to be grateful; from the simple things like the sunshine on my face or the diamonds in the snow after a fresh snowfall, to big things like my childrens health & the true love of my husband. With so much busy-ness in our world, it is easy to forget to slow down & smell the roses, or to be silly & dance in the rain, but it is in those things that we truly LIVE.

It has been a fabulous Christmas, I am looking forward to 2010 & the most incredible gift I received this year was in realizing that I am one of the luckiest people I know. And I plan to make time every single day to remember that by being grateful.

Happy Holidays to All!

Real Hero's

I don't know if it is just the close proximity to Christmas, or if my big, mushy heart has expanded tenfold in the last month, but I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the response to Operation RHYSpirit. The people who work with the children's oncology units have been nothing short of amazing; next to the kids themselves, these people are REAL hero's. I cannot imagine a job as difficult, yet so completely rewarding as working with sick kids every day & yet they'll still give you 100% of their attention to outside projects such as ours.

In a short time through phone calls & emails, I have been given a glimpse into a completely different world from which I live, one filled with pain & sadness, but endless strength & a real sense of HOPE. I could not do their job, I know that without a doubt, but I am so grateful there are so many people who can & do, and do it with all of their hearts.

I have been hugging my kids a little tighter since beginning this project, saying "I love you" more often, even enjoying the frigid cold winter air on my face every chance I get; simply enjoying LIFE more. Who knew that a "giving back" project would actually end up being such a gift to my own life.

Operation RHYSpirit

We are thrilled to announce our donation of Baby Rhys Bandana Hats for the precious children enduring cancer treatment in our country. What began for us as a small, local charitable idea has proudly expanded to a CANADA WIDE project!

Operation RHYSpirit

You’ll see that we have given a name to our project & we are happy with the multiple meanings it represents. “Rhys” (pronounced Reece) is the name of our President/CEO’s first child & the namesake of our company; so it’s fitting that he should continue to be the inspiration behind our donation. In addition the project is pronounced as “RE-spirit”. Although not a conventional English dictionary word, it implies a giving back to the spirit.

SPIRIT was the very first word that came to our mind when thinking of children; we should all be so blessed to have as much spirit as the sick children who are helped in our hospitals every day.

As mothers of young children ourselves, this project is so close to our hearts. Although we have thankfully never needed the services these hospitals provide & hope to never have to, we remain fully committed to making a difference in this field no matter how small.

We hope that the bright colors of our hats will brighten these brave childrens lives during their most difficult fight & that someday in the not too distant future, cancer will be a thing of the past.


With Warm Hearts,

Pam Liyanage, President/CEO
And
Kristen Ferguson, Marketing Director

For Baby Rhys Adventure Gear

Perfect Timing

Isn't it amazing that the very mention of a topic can often bring it about, almost instantly.
Take last week as an example, on the topic of SHARING. A great topic any day; for many aspects in life, but particularly enchanting at this time of year as we enter the holiday season.

Well, call it a coincidence, or the law of attraction, or plain perfect timing, but just as soon as I posted that article, we at Baby Rhys were introduced to a company who agrees that the act of SHARING applies to business as well.

Natural Pod ( www.naturalpod.com ) and all the wonderful members of their team have decided that Baby Rhys (and OUR wonderful team!) would be able to share in some of our collective knowledge & contacts to collaborate. Imagine our mutual glee at the fact that our 2 successful businesses could offer something to the other in order to help GROW that success. It really is THAT simple. As small as this world feels sometimes, the roads that each business takes, although intersecting, are rarely after the same things. The wealth of knowledge we can offer each other to pave the road to success in turn helps us reach our greatest heights.

So if I've said in a hundred times, I'll say it again. SHARE. In life, in business & of YOURSELF.
The rewards are priceless.

Now check out our BABY RHYS GEAR & all the other wonderful products Natural Pod carries & SHARE this with your friends :)

Sharing

As a mother of young kids, the subject of SHARING always comes up. When they were very small it revolved around favorite toys or treats, or who's turn it was to "help" with a task. Now although we still work on all those original lessons, we have evolved into sharing our special thoughts & feelings & sharing our LIVES. Each night at dinner we share our "best & worst" things about that day. It is my favorite part of each day; my kids are growing up so fast & what they have to say is maturing as they find their way in the world. I am just fascinated by their little personalities. I hope this will begin a lifetime of sharing their lives with us & that they ALWAYS know we are a "safe place" to do so, no matter what.

I can see the amazing parallels of sharing in business as well. We all have things that we are good at, information that others don't have easy access to & knowledge that can help someone else. Just as we tell the kids, "Go ahead & SHARE, no one is going to STEAL your stuff", this applies to business as well. Everyone has different goals, separate agenda's, diverse dreams & unique offerings that they bring to the table. The ones who will reach their own success the fastest are the ones that SHARE with others. It is a simple concept that we are constantly teaching our young children, so why then would it not apply to our WORK lives.

Give it a try; what do YOU have, whether it is knowledge, a contact, a way to open a door for another, or simply TIME, that you could share with another......
You might be surprised with all of the people that will then share with you.

REMEMBER

Today is REMEMBRANCE DAY here in Canada; such an important day for all of us, although it seems too many people FORGET that it is so much more than just a day off in the middle of the week.

Apart from wearing our poppies proudly, attending the special ceremony at school & watching the coverage from our nation's capitol, we are trying to teach our children about today's importance, without scaring them. It is amazing how scary it is to simply TALK about the reasons of this day; we cannot even imagine actually LIVING them.

Experience is all relative; they are scared of the monster under the bed, or of Mommy or Daddy not being there every minute of every day, but thankfully they have not had to be directly scared of war so far in their young lives. We hope they never have to be.

So today WE REMEMBER. In a lot of ways it is much easier to think of it with a child's simplicity & so here is what MY CHILDREN are remembering on this day & always:

- We remember that we are so blessed to be FREE & grateful to those who have allowed us that gift.
- We remember to show our deep love & pride for this beautiful country while still respecting the rest of the world.
- We remember to be kind to ALL & practice PEACE everyday.
- We remember all of those; past, present & future, that fight & even die, in order that we may live in peace.

I remember holding my hands over my first very pregnant belly & wondering aloud, on Sept 11th, 2001 as the World Trade Center towers came crashing down,"What am I doing bringing children into this crazy world?!"
Now I look at that list above that my children helped write & think how could I NOT have brought these precious gifts of true PEACE into the world. Peace lies in each of our hands, just ask a child.
REMEMBER THAT.

Giving Back

Another Sunday, another busy day crossing off my never ending "to-do" list. I always get so much done on Sundays since my husband is home & loves to take the kids out for the day while I work. However our oldest child has the flu today & our youngest just wants to bounce off the walls with boredom, so my normal quiet work routine is a little off balance today!

Lucky for me, I am working on an incredible & very rewarding charitable project that I just can't wait to bring to life. The energy, excitement & joy in doing something for others is an unparalleled feeling and anyone that know me knows that I am a person who craves all the warm fuzzies in life. I am pretty sure there is a glow around me today that can be seen from space.

Whether it is in your everyday life or within your business there is ALWAYS a way to give back; numerous ways even. It doesn't always have to cost money; sometimes only time, or a little piece of yourself, which is always given back tenfold. It feels GREAT, it changes your perspectives, it allows you to count your own blessings & it contributes to the world in a way that only YOU, unique, one of a kind you, can do.

So give it a try today. It won't take long to come up with someone, or something that matters to you that could use a helping hand in some way, however small. Think outside of the box & dive right in with passion. You'll be amazed at the distinct shift in everything you do when you give of yourself.

I can't wait to share more about our secret Baby Rhys "giving back" project...it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

THANKFUL

Although for our American friends, Thanksgiving is still a month away, here in Canada this is our weekend to be thankful. I think this holiday is one that should be celebrated every day, in some small way, for without thanks in our lives, there is so much overlooked & under appreciated.

As with any holiday, children have a way of bringing the magic & true feeling of the occasion to life. Ask a 7 year old boy what he is thankful for & he'll kindly answer that is is thankful for his mommy & daddy, his sister & his star wars toys...oh and "by the way mom, we DO NOT need such a big house, some people don't even HAVE a house". Isn't that that truth my sweet son. And for the record we don't have a big house, but we have a warm, loving family HOME that I am so thankful for.

Ask a 5 year old girl what she is thankful for & she'll tell you that she is glad to have a big brother, a mommy who can stay home for the important things in her life & a daddy that will dance, sing or dress up for her. Oh and she is thankful for Hannah Montana. Aren't we all?!

For me, apart from the HUGE things like health of my loved ones, a roof over our heads, enough food to eat & happy friends & family, there are other things I am thankful for too. A holiday like this reminds me that being thankful is not only important, but good for the soul.

I am thankful that I get up every morning & LOVE WHAT I DO. That all of the little facets of things that make me happy would be nothing without the job that I love, my commitment to every step forward we take with Baby Rhys & even the ones we take backwards, where one door closes & a window opens in it's place.

So no matter what part of the world you live in, try to take a bit of time each day to remember what you're thankful for, don't wait for the holiday to do it.
It is amazing just how many opportunities & joy come our way when we are grateful.

Not by a long shot

I recently had a conversation with a dear friend of mine whom I respect & admire deeply & it was something she said that I have to share with you.
This woman is amazing. Incredibly smart, business savvy, & one of the best mother's I know, an all around beautiful soul.

So imagine my surprise when discussing a possible break for her company in the form of some HUGE publicity, she said to me: "It's such a long shot". Now, knowing my friend, I understand that this was more of a protective mechanism incase it doesn't pan out & also just part of her very humble, down to earth personality as never one to boast, but it really got me thinking.

"It's such a long shot".

I wonder if SHE sees in her mirror; the person I see when I sit across from her, the person EVERYONE around her sees. Does she know that she is inspiring on so many levels & that the sky is her limit? That people in all walks of life look up to her & admire what she has accomplished & who she is? That her "long shot" will be a SURE SHOT if she believes it will be? Does she realize that this dream she has really is within her immediate reach? I hope she'll read this & knows it now.

Am I done telling her every single day that is not only a POSSIBILITY, but closer to REALITY than she knows.....
Not by a long shot :)

Great tip for Halloween!

Is it really OCTOBER tomorrow?! Wow.

Now that we have our kids settled into school, it's time to think about the upcoming holiday of Halloween (even though certain stores already have CHRISTMAS stuff out, good grief!).
Lucky for me, my kids are now at an age where they pretty much tell me what they want to be & it is usually the latest trend amongst kids their age....so this year we have a Darth Vader & a Hannah Montana, like most of their classmates. Of course mine will be the cutest. Teehee.

The one thing that never gets easier for Halloween as the kids age (at least not yet) is the overwhleming amount of candy & what exactly is the best way to carry it all. Since it is usually about 15 below, snow on the ground & a dark, winter like night, it is always a struggle. Pillow cases are too big & hard to hold with mitten hands. Plastic bags have cheap handles & are a no-no with our eco-conscious kiddo's. And the hard plastic pumpkins with the black handles (you know the ones I am talking about!) hold about a handful of candy, if you can get your hand in there between the mitten holding it! ARGH!

Well, fret no more. One of our biggest Baby Rhys fans, Abbey, gave me the most obvious solution. OUR TRAVEL TOY BAGS of course! http://www.babyrhys.com/traveltoybag.html The bright colors show up great in the dark night, the fabric is sturdy & strong & best of all the clip will hook right onto the child's costume (or even Dad's belt loop, if he is still "carrying" the wee ones!). Now you'd THINK that as the Marketing Director for Baby Rhys, this solution would have been obvious to me, but THANK-YOU ABBEY, for saving me another frustrating year of candy collecting! (Of course the travel toy bags are good year round & have countless uses, so stock up!)

If you have any other cool "MacGuyver Mommy" tricks up your sleeve, with our products or anything on the market, let's hear them! Please email them to me to share with our readers, I don't have to post your name. I need all the help I can get!

marketing@babyrhys.com

Things are looking up!

Oh September.
Did I mention how much I love the fall?! Regardless, it is worth repeating.

The kids are settled into their respective classrooms, I have a little bit of peace & quiet back, and there are just so many cool things happening with Baby Rhys Gear that it EXCITES me to get to work each day.

As the leaves on the trees begin to change, so does the economy. It no longer looks quite so bleak. With that shift comes a collective sigh of relief. Although still only a quiet hush right now, it is beginning to build momentum. And THAT is exciting.

If you didn't get a chance to read OUR exciting news from the summer, now is the time. Take just 5 minutes to read this power article by our president & CEO, Pam Liyanage to get your own insight to international relations, or just to share in the moment that Baby Rhys Adventure Gear & all of our staff is so thrilled about.

Click the link here & type page 52 in to the top left page finder:
http://www.themompreneur.com./MNG_200907_web_001.pdf.pdf

Once again, we welcome your comments & feedback on the article itself or anything else pertaining to Baby Rhys Adventure Gear. You will ALWAYS get a real person :)

Ahhhhh....September at last

Fall is my favorite time of year. Don't get me wrong, I love the sunshine & laziness of sleeping in, the BBQ's, the holidays & all the great things that come along with summer, but it really is tiring! I am a routine kind of gal, who likes a certain amount (ok A LOT!) of structure & order. Having 2 kids home for 9 weeks did not constitute much of either!

But now as the kids get settled into their new school year & I organize my daily task lists & get back to reality, I take a huge sigh of relief. I actually look forward to the leaves turning the beautiful colors of fall outside my office window & the crisp evening walks along the river.

So as the kids mourn the loss of another summer gone by, I will happily be crossing off each to-do, and adding 10 more, and look forward to all of the exciting developments at Baby Rhys this fall.
It's going to be a GREAT one :)

Baby Rhys: Making our mark internationally!

What an EXCITING summer this has been here at Baby Rhys!! In addition to the crazy non-routine of the summer; with holidays, moves & KIDS home from school for 2 months, the wheels have certainly not stopped turning where Baby Rhys is concerned. In fact, it has been our busiest summer to date & with good reason!

Our biggest & most exciting news is the NATIONAL RECOGNITION we received in an amazing article in the well known & popular magazine "The Mompreneur". You absolutely cannot miss this!!

Click the link here & type page 52 in to the top left page finder:
http://www.themompreneur.com./MNG_200907_web_001.pdf.pdf

With all of our direct experience with international manufacturing & sales, it was so wonderful to be featured & interviewed by The Mompreneur magazine......and we know there will be much more positive press in the months & years to come, so stay tuned!

Happy Reading!
We would love to hear comments/feedback on the article or any aspect of Baby Rhys Adventure Gear. One of the best things about our company is that you will ALWAYS get a real person in your dealings with us, we take pride in that.

Summer is here!

Well, it is about time! It seems like we just experienced the loooongest winter in history, followed by a non-existent spring & now maybe, just MAYBE, we have arrived at summer.

So, now that we wished for it, what are we going to do with it!?

The kids are done school in a couple of days, the sun is shining & we have some wonderfully exciting things happening with Baby Rhys! Now all we have to do is figure out the dynamics of doing an enormous amount of business during the summer months, with kids in tow!
Although it is always a delicate balance (or for most of us anything BUT delicate!) to juggle motherhood, life & business, the summer brings a whole new set of challenges & hurdles to overcome.

All of the things we have worked hard to accomplish over the never-ending winter is now starting to bear it's fruit....so what I really need to do now is sit back for a few minutes, enjoy the fruit salad (and perhaps a glass of vino!) to figure out how to keep that balance running smoothly!