Top 25 Best Pieces of Advice from Moms

I'm not sure when exactly it happens, but there is a day post-parenthood that you open your mouth and your mom comes out! The 1st time I noticed it, I giggled to myself and then realized my mom had a few great sayings that I have carried forward into my own parenting. I have compiled a list below, gathered from my mom and the moms of those close to me, in no particular order. Would love to hear your top mom-faves too!

1. Treat others as you want them to treat you. (Not how they treat you, how you want them to treat you...my kids somehow get confused on this one often!)

2. Sharing is caring. 

3. Always wear clean underwear (then my mom would elaborate with the "if you get hit by a bus and have to go the hospital, you want to have on clean underwear...I don't think I needed the explanation looking back!)

4. It's less about words and more about actions. 

5. You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. 

6. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

7. Give more to your community than you take from it. 

8. Anything worth having is worth working for. 

9. Before making a decision, do the newspaper check...would you be proud to have your decision/action on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. 

10. No matter who comes in and out of your life, always stay true to yourself. 

11. Things are much more enjoyable when you have earned them.

12. Drink lots of water and use moisturizer daily. 

13. Put the seat down.

14. Be a person that builds others up, not one that tears them down.

15. Always tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, even when they drive you crazy. 

16. It's not what you say, but how you say it. 

17. Sit up straight. 

18. This too shall pass.

19. Smile at people, it's a free gift that goes a very long way. 

20. Be kind & have courage (this was borrowed from Cinderella's mom)

21. People who seem the least lovable, need the love the most. 

22. Always have your own money. 

23. Live life with gratitude.

24. When you feel alone chat with God. 

25. Find the positive, it could always be worse. 

Visit our Pinterest Board for more fun mom advice. 

Challenged

I saw this quote today, and found myself in a moment of thought...which is rare around my office, usually not so much time to actually think! Anyhow, this one really resonated with me today. There are many days in this business and in life where I run on high-speed, handling the daily decisions the best way possible, overcoming obstacles, and creating solutions. Then, there is the occasion, to be quite honest with you, where I am deeply challenged and not quite sure how to handle it.

To take a step back, I am not your average CEO. My formal education is not from a fancy Ivy League school. My parents, although both extremely talented and hard-working in their own right, do not have a college education. I am not the most well-spoken person you have ever met, nor the best-read. I try my best to keep up. I have two children that are at the top of my priority list, and this business was really baby #1 before they were born. I read a great business book when I can fit it in between days in search of carousels (my sons request this weekend), and I challenge myself to learn from others whenever possible. I think for the most part, I do okay most days. Really, I am not unlike most of you reading this post, most likely. We are just 'normal' people working super hard to do the best we possible can.

So, back to those challenged moments. I realized today that these challenges I face, are truly my most valuable teachers. Whether a loved one, an employee, or a vendor, those that challenge me, often force me to take a step back and evaluate. I evaluate my actions, the actions of others, ways to improve, and ways to grow. In retrospect, I should be grateful to these people. I should also remember in those moments that these will be the people to lift me higher, to make me better, and to teach me the most.

Do you have someone challenging you at the moment? In writing this blog, I often think it a bit silly to write about my life...really everyone has their own lives to worry about, why care about mine? But, I do it in hopes that what I am going through at the moment may touch someone else. May, the unlikely chance, be just what they needed to read that day. If you are being challenged by someone in this moment, maybe this perspective can help...what are they teaching you? I'm fairly certain I am stronger, wiser, and maybe even enlightened by the people that have pushed, tested, and challenged me the most. I may not have enjoyed the process (to say the least), but I am grateful for it.

Win a Tiffany ring AND $250 to spend at RuffleButts/RuggedButts!!!!

Funny enough, I'm usually not a big name-brand person. I like what I like and I value quality, and if there is a great name to go along with it, then that's cool too. There are just a few brands/designers that have special meaning to me, and Tiffany & Co is one of them. It was in some recent thought that I had a fun idea...

The meaning behind the name:

As I've mentioned many, many times in this blog, I have always known that I wanted to accomplish something 'big', but it wasn't until RuffleButts that I knew what the accomplishment was supposed to be. Growing up in KY with a single mom, Tiffany wasn't a brand that I was introduced to till after college. My first career was with a pharmaceutical company. I vividly remember one of my co-workers who was years ahead of me with regard to experience and life achievements. She always wore this shiny, classy-looking Tiffany bracelet. It wasn't until a few years later, when I closed my first big real estate deal that I went to Tiffany to purchase not only a piece for myself, but also for my super-supportive mom. It was my "I've made it moment", and my gift to my mom to thank her for all of her sacrifice over the years. It was then, just a few years later, when I met Mark, that I landed my 2nd piece as a 'wooing gift'. It was so sweet and made me feel very loved! Over the years, these Tiffany pieces have been a reminder of the blessings in my life. 

What we are doing:

So this brings me to my weekend thought. I would like to share with you, the people who have supported my dreams, my goals and ambitions, your own celebratory Tiffany piece. A reminder that you are loved, you are valued, and that you can accomplish any dream you wish. I know it is just a material thing, but it is the meaning that is so much more valuable. It is a special mom and daughter giveaway, in honor of my mom, and in celebration of you!

So, with this said, we are launching our best and biggest giveaway yet. We are giving away a Return to Tiffany Heart Signet Ring for you AND $250 for you to spend on your little angel at RuffleButts.com and/or RuggedButts.com. Sending luck and gratitude, I hope you enjoy!

Enter HERE ---> http://www.facebook.com/RuffleButts?v=app_203351739677351

My little RuffleButt

It is not often I talk about my little RuffleButt here on the RuffleBlog, but today, I had a little revelation. I started RuffleButts with the intention of doing a handful of things, one of which was making people smile. Seems simple, and almost a little corny, right? Well, after living the fast-paced life of million dollar real estate in Dallas, I was ready to sell to moms instead of millionaires. Ok, maybe a few millionaire moms included, but to people who just wanted to dote on their baby girls and enjoy life. It is so fun to see people repeat our brand name, or just to see their reactions to our little ruffles...9.9 times out of 10 it is a big grin, a HUGE reward for what I do every day.

I started RuffleButts before I was a mom myself. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but God decided his plan was a little later than I had anticipated. I put everything I had into this business and it really became my baby pre-baby. It gave me such joy, such reward, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Then came my Aubrey! I had no idea what these little people do to your life. So, this morning as Aubrey and I stood in the kitchen ready to head out the door to school, I looked at her and that great big grin and realized that I now get to do two things that are all about the smiles...share RuffleButts and be a mom. Life doesn't get much better!

Ok, I'm certainly not pretending that I don't struggle like every other woman in this world...that I wasn't in a battle of the wills with my toddler just last night. Yes, she is a strong-willed little lady, and absolutely HATES brushing her teeth! Yes, I am like every other mom, but it is smiles like these that remind me how blessed I truly am!

I love my job

No, this title is not to make you nauseous, especially if you are sitting there at your desk staring at the clock...believe me I have my down days too, but I just remembered why I do what I do. I received a phone call from our customer, Megan, calling to place a reorder. She just had the nicest things to say about our products! She sent me pictures of her absolutely adorable daughter Lulu (isn't she cute!!), and gave me the best compliment - she said that the moms at play day, and Lulu's very particular cousin, all raved about her little ruffled outfit. They were all smiles, and I just couldn't ask for more!

She went on to say that she is in early education and so many of the little girls dress like teenagers, which is so disappointing. I am thrilled to hear that there are precious little angels out there enjoying their days of innocence in our little ruffles. The time just goes by so fast and those ruffled years are over before you know it, treasure these days!

So, after many years of soul searching and job hopping, I am just so blessed to be where I am today. Believe me, I never forget it!

Working Mom

Believe me, I think all moms are 'working moms', but I just came across this picture from a few months back and I had to share. I promise, I do not force my daughter to sit at the computer very often, but on this day, she was feeling cooperative and I had a TON of work to do! She was completely passed out and Mark came around the corner and snapped this cute pic...well, cute of her anyway!!

So fortunate

"That a girl Amber!! As long as you are true to yourself nothing else matters!!
Your products are AMAZING, and of wonderful quality!!
A loyal customer!! ~Lisa"

"Amber, you are allowed to be a bit "negative" at times! That makes you human, of course! I hope whatever got you down has been pushed out of your mind. You are doing a great job and your products are adorable! Keep on keepin' on! ~Anna (Sweet Dreams Designs)"

What can I say...we have the best customers ever!! I just received these notes today from two of my favorite customers. I do know how truly blessed I am. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your support and encouragement. This is also a nice reminder that although we are all far from perfect, and some of us are a little further than others, there are still many incredibly considerate, supportive, caring and overall wonderful people out there! When you find them, hold on tight and count your blessings. I know I couldn't do any of this without the fabulous people in my life!

Okay, so completely changing the subject...I had to share this recent pic of me and the little one. Talk about blessings!

Confession

Okay, I know I'm not the only mom thinking these thoughts...and I always promised to be 100% honest on this blog. So, today, I caught myself having this mental conversation - "If I have a mental breakdown, what will happen? So, they put me in the hospital. Well, when I had Aubrey, it wasn't so bad to be in a place where they bring you meals three times a day, wait on you hand and foot, and won't allow you to work. It would be like a forced vacation, with a really good excuse." Then I realized that I would be a little disappointed if it took a mental breakdown to force me to use good judgement in balancing my life, and a vacation would probably be cheaper!! So then I thought, "Okay, Amber, you are going to be a responsible business owner and mother, and figure out a way."

So, now that I am past the internal conversation (which probably leads many of you to believe that I am closer to that mental breakdown than I actually know), I have made the commitment to myself to try to figure this out. I need help!! I know that moms always have a long to-do list, but it is quite discouraging when days keep passing as the list just grows longer and longer. How do you do it??? Okay, I will find a way. I will find a way!

So, that is my honest sharing for the day. I absolutely love being a mom, and an entrepreneur, but wow, this is one crazy gig!!

And here is Aubrey's most recent pic...she is growing up so fast already =)

Other great companies

When I was out in LA earlier this month for the celebrity gifting suite, I was fortunate enough to meet some incredible women. These women are also business owners, pursuing their own dream, and have come up with some really great products, so I wanted to share them with you...

Buggy Bag - This company has designed the ultimate shopping cart seat cover, diaper bag, & changing pad in one! The great thing is that it rolls up in a convenient carry-all with straps. They also have a quote on their brochure that I totally love - For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalms 91:11. It is always so great to see a company strong in their beliefs! I already have one of these for Aubrey and can't wait to put it to use. It is super padded and so much nicer than basic ones you see at the mass retailers.

Happy Heinys - This is a great cloth diaper company with this fabulously designed cloth diapering system for those moms opting out of the disposables. They are already super cute on their own, but they can also be worn under our RuffleButts since they are waterproof!

McCall Wilder Designs - This is a couture clothing company for children. If you are a southern momma or grandma with a love for the details, this is the line for you! They are based out of Atlanta and have their own boutique at the Cates Center Plaza.

Cricket & Monkey - This lady is super sweet and makes some really fun diaper bags, along with other stylish baby goodies. Her blanket was even seen in US weekly with Tori Spelling!

Chuck the Yuck - the name says it all! What a clever idea.

The buti-bag Co -This is another Charlotte based company with an array of great accessories in very stylish fabrics. And the Owner is a sweetie!

Peek-a-Boo - This is a mom pursing her dream of creating the ultimate nursing bib. She is also super sweet and had her little angel right by her side throughout the event! She hand-makes this detailed nursing bibs, which were unlike anything I've seen before.

Zooni - You have to check out this brand of hand-made head wear (and mittens)! These hats are so adorable, I just couldn't come home without one for my little angel! They are obviously totally usefull (especially this year!!), but also make for great pics.

MamaOm - I have mentioned this one before, but she is such an amazing business woman and truly genuine person, I have to mention it again!

Chef Antonio - He is the author and creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Kids in the Kitchen. This is a great way to get your kids cooking along with you!

Last, but surely not least, I have to mention one of our RuffleButt customers who is also pursuing her WAHM dream. She makes these adorable floral headbands by hand and just recently launched her Etsy shop called Little Lovelys. These also make for great pics and, of course, look adorable worn with your favorite RuffleButts!


Okay, I think this is enough for now. I just love sharing other great products and supporting women in the pursuit of a dream. I know first-hand how much tears, love & sweat go into creating a launching a business. These women are an inspiration to many!

Sleepy Wrap Giveaway

I am always the frugal one, and I love anything for FREE, so I thought I would pass along this fun giveaway on MommyMandy.com...




Want to win a Sleepy Wrap? Then head on over to mommymandy.com for your chance to win one these great wraps. The winner will be able to pick the color they like. Babywearing is a great way to bond with your baby and I would love to be entered to win! You can enter HERE! This giveaway will end on Aug 15th

Good luck on your entry!

We're having a RuffleButt Baby!!!

For those of you who have so sweetly followed my crazy writings over the past year or so, I am very excited to tell you that I have an update to my Goals posting from this past December...

My husband, Mark & I are expecting our very own RuffleButt Baby!! Through faith and prayer, we were hoping for a little angel of our own one of these days soon, but trusted God to give us this miraculous gift when we were/are good and ready. I am thrilled to say that it is finally our time, we are expecting our little angel this November and we couldn't be happier!

I must admit that the first trimester was a bit of a tester for me, as I had no idea what morning sickness was all about. I was so in over my head trying to balance work and taking care of my body. As all of you entrepreneurs know, if you aren't doing it, no one is...we don't get "sick days" and I thought I was going to loose it. But, as we all do, I got through it, and am now feeling great! I still can't imagine how expecting moms with little ones already at home make it through this time, but I guess we all find it deep within ourselves to do what we gotta do.

My husband has been beyond supportive helping me in every way...he has packed orders (for those of you with a personal note from Mark at the bottom of your invoices), spends countless hours on accounting, and completely manages our myspace page, all while managing his own career in the mortgage business! I am one blessed little lady!!

I apologize for keeping you in the dark up to this point, but we wanted to get through those first few months and into the safe zone, which I am so happy to say that we finally are! We have our big 21 week ultrasound on the 8th, so I'll be sure to keep you updated. Patience is not a character strength of either one of us, so we will definitely be finding out the sex on that date (if the little one cooperates).

I am so very grateful for your support, thoughts and prayers over the past 6 months and the next 6 to come! I truly could not be more blessed with the business, my family, and now a little RuffleButt of my own! Life has a way of coming at you in all directions, and sometimes it is so difficult to understand, but from my experience, if you have faith, work hard, love life, and live by the golden rule, it all works itself out.

To work or not to work...

This week I had conversations with two separate women, for whom I have so much respect. One is a wonderfully supportive friend, in a similar stage in life. She has been working in a career she likes, but does not love (as I was just a few years ago). She has a passion for animals, but is not quite sure how to pursue that while also bringing in an income. She has been married for a while now and plans to add to her family soon. We got into the discussion that so many woman have at least once in their lives...to work or not too work. So, we both want children, we both have a natural ambition and drive that would classify us in the "Type A personality" class, but we are both a little torn when it comes to the big debate about working as a mother. I, obviously, am planning to work as a mother, as this business is such a huge part of my life, but know that when that day comes I will find myself torn between spending hours at the office or time with my little angel playing on the floor. I have always believed that there has to be a way to have both, as many of the working moms around the world have proven, but I can't imagine how difficult that will be. I can also completely understand the decision to become a stay-at-home-mom, as the older I get, the more I understand what very little time we have with the most important "job" of our life!

My second conversation was with someone I consider to be a new friend, a complete sweetheart, a new mom, who openly shared her experiences with me. This fabulously talented lady has spent years in the industry making her mark. She worked her way through multiple successful careers that many us women would majorly envy - lets just say she spent years writing fabulous fashion stories for a very well known website and has her own TV show about shopping! Okay, now that we are all dying of jealousy...she is just like many of you new mommies out there, facing those same decisions. As we were discussing her new mommy status, she made such a good point, that motherhood is like this secret society where you all have this one major thing in common, your precious little creations that are now the center of your universe.

I realized that no matter who you are, or where you are in your career that motherhood changes everything. I also realized that although I already had so much respect for moms, it is really so much bigger than I can imagine. The balance, the responsibility, the physical demands, the mental exhaustion, the incredible rewards - I don't think anyone can comprehend the true depth of this role until they official become a member! I know 100% that I can not wait until the day comes that I will have a little RuffleButt of my own and officially join this club, but in the meantime, I will continue to have an indescribable amount of respect for the mothers of this world!

The Happiest Place on Earth

So, with all of my production headaches this month, I decided that I needed a little getaway to secure my sanity. I convinced my husband to whisk me away to Disney World for the Thanksgiving holiday. Having not visited this land of happiness since childhood, I figured it would be a great place to escape from my manufacturing nightmare of a reality!

What an incredible experience!! I would highly recommend this getaway for any family, with or without children. Although my husband and I hope to have children of our own someday soon, this was a fabulous bonding experience for us and our marriage. We were able to smile, laugh, eat and walk our little hearts out!

I've heard that Thanksgiving was a great time to venture to the big DW, and I would have to agree. We never waited more than 45 minutes in a line, and even that was rare. We enjoyed the sunshine and 75 degree weather and really didn't miss the big turkey too terribly much. They do offer the traditional Thanksgiving meal at a few of the park restaurants, but we opted for the fish and chips at the Epcot UK pub.

I would have appreciated a few tips when planning my trip, so I wanted to post these for anyone planning to visit in the near future...

- We stayed at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel right across from Downtown Disney and loved it. We booked the TZoo Special, which made for better rates and free buffet breakfast (which usually costs $20/person).
- Stay at a hotel that offers free transportation to and from the resorts. Parking on site is about $11/day.
- For those parties of two, I would highly recommend the UK pub in Epcot. Everyone was so friendly and the food at the pub is less expensive than the restaurant that is attached.
- We went to the House of Blues for dinner on Friday night and were surprised by the semi-reasonable prices. We expected to endure tourist pricing at most restaurants near-by, but were pleasantly surprised that this restaurant was not too bad.
- The new Soarin ride at Epcot was definitely worth the wait, but if you go at closing time, the wait is about 1/2 as long as it is throughout the day.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

All great achievements require time

I received this little bit of advice today and wanted to pass it along. It applies to life in so many ways - building a business, managing a family, developing a marriage, any "achievement". Someone once told me that any success worth achieving requires work and will be painful at times. When you think about it, life's greatest achievements are by far the most work, but worth every ounce of it!

To achieve maximum success accept that progress
is made one step at a time.

Every big accomplishment is a series
of little accomplishments.

A building is built one brick at a time.
Foot ball games are won one play at a time.

Success is always the sum of small efforts,
repeated day in and day out.

No great thing is created suddenly
any more then a bunch of grapes
or an orange miraculously appears.

If you want an orange, you must give it time.
There must be time for it to blossom, bear fruit,
then ripen.

That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.
That which grow slowly, endures.

You walk over the highest mountain
one step at a time.

Copyright 2007 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Reproduce freely but maintain Copyright notice.

Oh so grateful

Being that this is the week of thanks, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about our many blessings. Hopefully these facts are a reminder of how fortunate we are to live such a wonderful life.

Envious of others with their newer cars or bigger homes?
- 1.2 billion people in this world live on less than $1/day.

Do you have a pity party when you have a cold?
- More than 38 million people around the world are infected by HIV/AIDS.

Does your child complain about going to school?
- Around the world, 77 million children do not go to school because their parents can not afford fees, books or uniforms.

Did you leave the water running this morning when you brushed your teeth?
- 1 out of 7 people in our world do not have access to clean water for drinking, cooking or washing.

Can you imagine watching your child suffer, without access to a doctor?
- Every year 10 million children die before their 5th birthday, nearly all of them from causes that could have been prevented.

Have you ever gone to bed hungry?
- Around the world, 1 person in 7 goes to bed hungry each night.

Do you complain about needing a bigger house or a better neighborhood?
- More than 14 million refugees and internationally displaced people reside in tents and temporary shelters.

This is not meant to bring you down or to make you sad, but more as a reminder of the many reasons you have to be happy.

These past few weeks have been tremendously stressful for me personally, as I have struggled to get our production back from the factory. It seems to be one thing after another - a hurricane, a delay in customs, sizing issues...I know this is business and I expect to solve problems, but I was a bit overwhelmed these past few weeks. Thanksgiving couldn't have come at a better time for me. It is such a nice reminder, and quite honestly, a kick in the butt for me to appreciate the many blessings in my life. So, I am a little stressed at the moment...There are people in this world, millions of them, that are stressed about feeding their children, finding water to bathe in, fighting a disease without modern medicine on their side. How bad could it possibly be if our product arrives a week or two late? Don't get me wrong, this is my business and I will do anything to keep promises and make our customers happy - I just have to remember that life is so much bigger than I.

One of those weeks

First, I must send such a big thank you to Becki (aka BlogMom) at http://www.blogmommas.com/. I am so honored that she has chosen to feature RuffleButts as the Blog of the Month! As most of you know, this is a new world for me, but in these short few months, I have met so many incredibly talented and supportive blogging moms. I can't believe that I didn't do this sooner!

So, this week...wow, it has been one heck of a week! A bit of a roller coaster for me personally, but a big week for RuffleButts. I'm sure many of you can relate - you know those days where you know for sure that you are full of female hormones? Well, I was reminded with flashing neon lights this week! I called my husband on Wednesday, a complete mess - when he asked me what was wrong, I babbled on about all of the things that I need to do, and don't have time, and am overwhelmed with guilt when I take a break. Sound familiar?

My husband and I are so ready for children, we're simply waiting patiently for God to agree. But, I must say in weeks like these, I can't help but to question how in the world moms do it all!! All of my wonderful mommy friends tell me that you just find a way, just as with everything else in life. You know, that is so true and one of the most amazing things about being a woman - God just gives us the strength to do what we need to do. So, it is almost Friday, and I have made it through, remembering that I can do anything with faith and patience! I know I sound like a bit of an emotional mess, but really I am just like each and every one of you - we have up days, down days, and everything in between, but as women we sometimes tend to put on the happy face. I've decided that it's okay to struggle, as long as we don't ever give up!

Control

I can only imagine that as a mom, you would struggle with this issue daily...in your control vs. out of your control. This has been an ongoing issue for me for these past few months in two major ways...the business and my family. I have a ton going on everyday with this business and I find myself awake at 4am stressing about everything from emails to fabric to sales. Then, I have to remind myself that I've done all I can do at the moment. Maybe I made a mistake, maybe I'm learning as I go, but I have to turn it over to a greater power, give it my best and move forward.

On to my husband - okay, I'm sure most of you wives will relate to me here...I love my husband dearly. He is super funny, beyond smart and a very loving and supportive man. With that said, there are still times when I want to pull my hair out :) Although I am the only 'only child' between the two of us, you would never know it! We are two peas in a pod, stubborn as can be, and we struggle with letting go of that control factor.

So, tell me this moms...how do you do it?? How do you manage the things that are in your control and accept the things that are not? How do you let go of the reins and allow your children to do things on their own when you know they may mess up? If I am waking up at 4am with just a business to run, how do you ever sleep with a family depending on you?? I think that God must give moms a gift - patience, understanding and acceptance. You just have to remember that we all struggle at times and God is always there to accept your flaws and love you anyway. I am still learning that I am human and can not conquer it all alone, but I pray daily for more patience, understanding and acceptance.