Big Ole Nut Shell

I have seriously disappointed this blog.  Before Facebook, it was my go-to place to write about all things Mod Mom related...or just mom related.  I kinda miss it, I do. But life and work have been so busy that simply updating via Facebook and Twitter seems the easiest way to pass along Mod Mom news.

But you're writing, Kiersten??!?!  Yup.  I am.  Thought I'd do a speed round of what has been happening around these parts.   And take this opportunity to thank you again for coming around this blog and for supporting Mod Mom.  Still blows my mind that this all started back in 2006 when I was trying to figure out how to measure wood and join one side of a toy box to the other without driving a nail through my finger.  Which did happen on occasion.

So to catch you up...

• Last year, a true ANGEL investor came into my life via a form email.  We spoke a few times by phone and his over all message to me was that he believed in me and the Mod Mom brand.  We never met in person.  He literally mailed a check for a huge amount of money with no royalties, etc attached. I am forever grateful for his faith and generosity.  Like I said, a true Angel.
• Since then, we've hired part-time staff to help take the day-to-day workload off my back and give me time to develop new lines and partnerships.  My amazingly talented husband has been helping me on weekends and during his off-work hours to do just that.  He's been essential to the growth we're now seeing with our company and I'm so thankful for him.
• I launched The Little Light Project, a non-profit organization helping families whose children have passed in addition to helping children and their parents understand how to manage and grow intuition. It's amazing the reach this little organization has!  We've been getting emails from all over the world without doing any advertising.  If you build it, they will come! 
• Mod Mom partnered with Safe Horizon, the nations largest organization based in NYC that helps families who have suffered violence.  When you purchase items on our website, 5% of the sale price goes to Safe Horizon!  We're thrilled to be able to help!
• We have officially partnered with Columbia Forest Products (and their formaldehyde-free wood that is made here in the States) and are in the process of designing multiple lines of storage furniture (not just kids!) for major national retailers.  It's all still in the works but more detail to come on this, for sure!!
• We are in the design/prototype/negotiation stage with the FANTASTIC well-known kids furniture/goods retailer.  Designing exclusive Mod Mom pieces for them.  YAY!
• We've partnered with Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band -- they are HUGE in the kid music world -- to create a line of storage based off of their award winning songs. 
• And we're going to launch a Woodland Mod collection that skews a little more traditional in design taste.  Fine, hardwood, Amish-craftsmanship will still be at the heart of Woodland Mod!

In a nutshell, that's what's happening on this end.  Look for new products, a revamped website, new partnerships and new wood! 

As always, thank you for supporting us through the years.  Now, I'm off to pick up Noah from school!

Help a Family Escape Domestic Abuse

 Please consider donating any amount of money you can spare to help a family escaping domestic abuse.  While I can't give out specific information, I can say that this courageous mom is trying desperately to make a new, better life for herself and her kids.

If you donate, you will be entered to win an Owyn Toy Box valued at $425!  No amount is too small.  Let's help give one mom and her children a new start.  Free from violence, threats, and negativity.

To donate, click the link below:

COURAGEOUS MOM ESCAPING DOMESTIC ABUSE

 Thank you so much for your help and support!  I'll keep everyone posted as to when we draw the winner of the toy box.

WIN THIS TOYBOX! 
Just donate any amount you can to help a family escape domestic violence!

What a NEW Year!!

Happy New Year!!  23 days late!  Hope you're all over your resolutions to lose weight and stop drinking caffeine (or vodka).  I know I am!  I started out strong but one massive cold sent me climbing back into the comfy couch and out of my running shoes. I know I'll kick it into gear right after I eat way too much in Vegas this weekend. :)

I am so excited about this new year of ours.  It feels different than other years for many reasons but one of them being because I finally came to terms with the fact that as much as I want to believe I can think outside of my furniture box, I've found it's really hard to just that.  It's difficult to think bigger than what I've always done. Thank goodness I know some new-to-Mod-Mom folks (who believe in what we're doing) and existing team members who have so many amazing ideas and so much already in the works that I can now step back a bit from the day-to-day inner workings and look at the bigger picture.  In order to grow the way we know Mod Mom can, we need collaboration.  As a woman who always handled everything for MMF, it surprised me how hard it was to let go of a little of that control.  But I know that I do not have all the answers and I don't have all the ideas, so we're starting 2013 off with lots of new connections, new design ideas, and a team of people who believe in what we're doing and our avenues for growth.

Now back to Vegas....

We are heading to Vegas on Saturday for the Las Vegas World Market International Home Furnishings Show.  I'm really honored to be among a handful of people being awarded WITH IT WOW Awards on Sunday night.  We have lots of meetings lined up and a little mechanical bull riding as well.  Ya know. Cuz that's what you do when you go to Vegas.

Both Mod Mom Furniture and The Little Light Project are really growing in ways I never thought possible. And I couldn't be happier.   I'll continue to keep following my heart and opening my mind to lots of new ideas and partnerships.  Saying I'm grateful for the people in my life on both the Mod Mom front and with the volunteer work I'm doing would be an understatement.  I believe if you're in alignment with what you're guided to do in life, the Universe conspires with you, not against you.  And in this new year, the Universe hit a home run with the folks I call business partners, mentors, and friends.  

May 2013 be starting off as fabulous for you as it has for me.  Minus the illness part, of course.

AFTER HOLIDAYS SALE IS HERE!!

AFTER HOLIDAYS SALE!! From now til January 13th, when you use the discount code JAN15OFF when purchasing through www.modmomfurniture.com, you'll get 15% off toy boxes and the Owyn Table and Stool set! Don't miss this sale! And don't miss the new CHASE toy box sold exclusively on MMF.com.

Nativity Sets For Sale -- A Sam Brown Design for Mod Mom Furniture

Facebook Fan/Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Sale That Lasts All Weekend!!

I think I've come up with the longest name for a sale in the history of the world!!

Facebook Fan/Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Sale That Lasts All Weekend!! 

So here's how this works... you can get 20% off any MMF storage item sold on www.modmomfurniture.com if you're a Facebook Fan of MMF starting tonight and going through Sunday at 11:59pm!  Shipping cost is included in the discounted price!

Shipping time is still 4-6 weeks from date of purchase and we'll do our best to get them shipped before Christmas!  If not, you'll have a nice storage piece after Christmas for all those toys you're stepping on throughout the house!

Spread the news to friends to become Facebook fans to get the discount! www.facebook.com/modmomfurniture

To get the discount, you have to purchase using the buttons below....

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Gracie Toy Box -- Walnut Stain or Natural Birch

Regular Price: $475
Sale Price: $380

Stain Color

Walnut Stain $380.00 USD Natural Birch $380.00 USD

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Owyn Toy Box

Regular Price: $425
Sale Price: $340

Owyn Toy Box

Owyn Toy Box $340.00 USD

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Bertie Toy Box

Regular Price: $395
Sale Price: $316

Bertie Toy Box

Bertie Toy Box $316.00 USD

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Noah Owl Toy Box

Regular Price: $395
Sale Price: $316

Noah Owl Toy Box

Noah Owl Toy Box $316.00 USD

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Maude Toy Box

Regular Price: $450
Sale Price $360

Maude Toy Box

Maude Toy Box $360.00 USD

Don't Miss the One Kings Lane Sale going on Now! Ends Monday, November 19

Get up to 34% off regular retail price when you purchase through www.onekingslane.com between now and Monday, November 19!  But hurry...they are going fast!! They will ship by December 18th just in time for the holidays!!

Available are Maude, Noah Owl, Bertie, Owyn and Gracie Toy Box!

How to Build Your Own Toy Bin!

Modern Wood Toy Bin on Casters (approx cost to build = $80-$100)

Wood:  1/2 Baltic Birch plywood (about 30 per 5 x 5 sheet at lumberyard)

• You'll have left over wood so you can make other things.  Step stool?  :) 

Cut List (either cut on a table saw or have lumber yard cut)

• (2)  30inchL x 11.5 in tall (front and back panels)
• (1) 30 in L x 14 in tall (bottom)
• (2) 13 in L x 11 in tall (side panels)

Other Supplies needed:

• Miller Dowel Kit (21747) Mini-X Quick Drill Kit $27.99
  http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10483&site=ROCKLER&filter=miller%20dowels

• Sand paper for hand sanding or for orbital sander
• Casters of your choice
• 1/2inch long wood screws (12) for attaching casters.
• Wood glue
• Rag for wiping glue
• Hammer

Detailing:

• cut veneer or wall decal or scrapbook paper cut into favorite shape
• decoupage paste

Finishing:

• Water based polyurethane
• foam roller

Veteran's Day Tribute

Happy Veteran's Day! And a big thank you to veterans, soldiers, and all those amazing military families who miss their loved ones on a daily basis.

I've been thinking a lot about my family members who served today and wanted to honor them in some small way . My mom was kind enough to share some of what she knows about my grandparents so I've included it below. Thanks Mom!

(Juanita Pennington, 1945)

My grandmother, Juanita Pennington was member of the WAVES (Women's Navy) and worked in D.C. during WWII. (Photo above was taken in D.C.) One of her jobs was to decode Japanese messages. She was put on a train with other WAVES. Juanita had no idea where she was going or where she ended up due to the black-out curtains hanging in the train windows. She got off the train at a secret location and worked on the messages. The women would be brought back to their bases the next day.

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My grandfather, Lawrence Pennington was a paratrooper during WWII. He was in Africa fighting Rommel (German) as well as parachuting into Europe where he was one of the first paratroopers to drop over the Ziegfreid line when Americans invaded Europe. Most of the men were killed as they parachuted, but he landed safely and hid under a snow-covered tree. He was discovered and held as a prisoner for nine months. The Russian army liberated him and when he came back home to the US he was sent to the Biltmore House Estate in North Carolina to recuperate due to his poor health.

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(Clifford Parsons with my dad, Barry Parsons)

My grandpa, Clifford Parsons, was in the Army Engineers division who was responsible for building the roads and bridges before the rest of the troops advanced. He fought in Europe and was ordered to invade Normandy. A week before the invasion, his units' orders were changed or he would have been one of the first men there.
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(Charles Hathcock)

Scott's grandfather, Charles Hathcock, also served during WWII. Charles came from a family of six siblings; he was the youngest of four brothers. At one point during WWII, all of the Hathcock brothers were serving in the war. Charles was recruited much later in the war and served in Austria Germany in two main roles. His first role was as a Military Police(MP) officer watching over German war prisoners. His second role gave him the opportunity to explore the German countryside as part of the communications reconstruction team. Charles helped hang telephone lines and open back up communications between German villages. He never had to fire a single shot in either role but instead left the war with an appreciation for the German Austrian people and their countryside.

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My grandpa, Calvin Deeter, served in the Navy aboard the The USS Conklin DE439. There's a wonderful website dedicated to those who served on the Conklin: http://www.ussconklin.org/index.htm.

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Thanks Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine!

If you pick up Pregnancy and Newborn magazine this month, you'll see something that looks familiar! Check out the Owyn Table and Stool Set on page 96!