Eat your heart out

I have tried over the years not to be or become that parent. You know the one. The one who constantly brags or boasts about their kid on Facebook or in person, whether there is something to brag or boast about or not. Or who constantly one-ups you with tales of their little genius's or athlete's or [insert whatever here]'s accomplishments.

I think I've done a pretty good job of keeping my pride (and bragging) in check. But sometimes your kid does something so awesome, so mind-blowingly sweet or thoughtful or amazing or extraordinary, you just have to brag share. And friends, today is such a day.

For today, the teenager made me (and okay, technically the spouse, too, but she really made them for me) croissants and pain au chocolats, FROM SCRATCH. Because she knew I'd been feeling blue and craving a good croissant and pain au chocolat. (I am still kvelling.)

Here is the scene that greeted me at 8 a.m. this morning as I entered the kitchen: a plate covered with hearts topped with a hot-out-of-the-oven croissant and pain au chocolat (along with orange juice and a selection of condiments).

Never has a mother -- or this mother -- been so moved by baked goods. But OH! what baked goods! I am not exaggerating when I say these croissants and pain au chocolat were as good as -- BETTER -- than any I've had in New York or Paris. And trust me, I have eaten A LOT of croissant and pain au chocolat in my day.

However, rather than continue to drool on my keyboard prattle on about how incredibly flaky and buttery and mouthwateringly delicious these delectable morsels of French yumminess were, I will let the baked goods speak for themselves.

Mmmm...

[And if you think the croissant and pain au chocolat were impressive, check out the teenager's food blog and its Facebook page, which has way more likes than my page does. Okay, I'm done bragging now.]

Don't ask, don't get

[Alternate title: Would it kill you to buy a t-shirt?]

As many of you know, I recently launched my first ecommerce business, a clothing line called Prepster Pineapple. The brand and logo were the brainchild of my teenage daughter (who has since turned her attention to food blogging), who loved the idea of mom turning her doodle of a cute, preppy pineapple-headed Hawaiian boy (at left) into a line of clothing for teens and tweens.

Since launching, I have learned that writing about small business (my day job) is waaaaay easier than creating and running a small business, especially a clothing brand.

Indeed, in the past few months alone I have re-shot all the website photos (most of which were taken on the Big Island of Hawaii and feature local teenage surfers), added a blog, and launched my first PR campaign (which landed Prepster Pineapple in the New York Times, as well as several other newspapers, and in the upcoming back-to-school issue of Girls' Life magazine).

I've also added new products, like these adorable Prepster Pineapple 100% Cotton Bucket Hats (available in White and Khaki)...

and these very stylish, vintage-looking, 100% cotton, garment-dyed Aloha t-shirts for him...

and the Aloha tee for her...

So why is this post titled "Don't ask, don't get"? Because I need your help getting the word out about Prepster Pineapple. And as anyone in marketing will tell you, a recommendation or referral from a friend or colleague is worth more than any ad.

So whether you have already bought a Prepster Pineapple t-shirt or a Prepster Pineapple polo shirt (in which case, THANK YOU), know someone who would look sweet in a Prepster Pineapple t-shirt or polo shirt (And who wouldn't? They are awesome) or bucket hat (Don't go out in the sun without one!), or want to help out your old friend J., please take a minute to tell your friends about Prepster Pineapple and like the Prepster Pineapple page on Facebook.

Mahalo.

Looking for something yummy for dinner?

This month, the teenager started her own food blog. The blog is called Yes to Yummy, and it chronicles her adventures in cooking healthy gourmet meals -- that are sugar- and wheat/gluten-free, as well as free of processed foodstuffs*, but full of flavor.

Here's a screenshot of one of her recent blog posts, titled "Baaad to the Boneless":

You can find out why and how she decided to change her diet, lost 30 pounds in six months, and became a gourmet chef (she cooks all of our dinners, which I'd put up against almost any restaurant chef's** -- and sometimes other meals, too) on her About Me page. (Spoiler: She didn't have any food allergies or gastrointestinal issues. She was overweight, though not fat, but we never told her to go on a diet -- just to eat in moderation, i.e., measure out what a portion or a single serving really was. Changing her diet, mainly kicking out sugar, wheat, and processed food, was all her idea -- and had to do with wanting to feel and look better.)

She also has a Yes to Yummy Facebook page, which the spouse and I have already "Liked" -- and the teenager would appreciate other people liking too. (Hint.)

So, if you are looking for delicious and nutritious dinner menus -- that happen to be wheat/gluten- and sugar-free -- check out Yes to Yummy!

Note: She plans on posting a different healthy meal every day -- and will also feature sweet (healthy) treats in the coming weeks. So be sure to follow her!

*All of our meat and poultry comes from a wonderful local butcher that only sells organic, free-range, grass-fed meat raised less than 150 miles away. We also buy our milk, eggs, and cheese from a local environmentally responsible farm. And most of the vegetables we eat are locally grown -- and/or are organic, not because organic food is better for you but because we don't want to ingest pesticides.

**And I'm not just saying that because I'm a proud Jewish mother. Though your son should be so lucky to find a nice girl like my daughter who can cook him nice, healthy meals -- and smart too. And would it kill you to click on her blog? You look like you could lose a few pounds. Not that you heard it from me. 

Think pink!

Now, I wouldn't presume to tell a woman 

what a woman ought to think, 

But tell her if she's got to think: think pink!

              --Maggie Prescott, Funny Face

As many of you no doubt know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the symbol for which is a pink ribbon. And to support breast cancer awareness, education, and research, many businesses around the country offer pink products for sale during October and donate a portion of each sale to worthy charities. So this year, now that I am a business owner, I decided to join in and commissioned special pink Prepster Pineapple t-shirts.

And now through October 31st when you purchase a pink Prepster Pineapple t-shirt*, I will donate $5 of each sale to breast cancer research -- and will personally match the amount.

Don't need any more t-shirts right now? I understand. But please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice to help scientists discover a cure for breast cancer, which affects 1 out of 8 women in the United States.

And... think pink!



*T-shirts are $26 and are only available to customers in the 50 United States. Shipping is a flat rate of $6.

Do you know Prepster Pineapple?

Welcome to another Shameless Plug edition of J-TWO-O!

Today's shameless plug: my new online retail business, Prepster Pineapple.

So what is Prepster Pineapple? Prepster Pineapple is that cool, preppy-looking pineapple guy over there on the left, the product of my teenage daughter's imagination. Pretty sweet.

And Prepster Pineapple Clothing is our (as in the teenager and my) line of preppy, hip clothing. Think Tommy Bahama with a more Hawaiian, preppy bent, designed for teens, tweens, and prepsters of all ages.

Right now, we are just selling Prepster Pineapple t-shirts (pictured below, which are made from super soft 100% combed cotton) for men and women, boys and girls...


and Prepster Pineapple polo shirts (made out of 100% pique knit cotton and way cooler than those overpriced preppy alligator, polo player, and palm-tree shirts), which are available in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes (sample shown in white, below) — and are perfect for all you golfers, boaters, and weekend athletes.

And if you use the code PP-FS-SOCIAL-0812 at checkout between now and August 31, you'll receive free shipping* on your order! (That's a $6 savings!)

Not interested in buying a shirt right now? No problem. But if you could take a few seconds to "Like" the Prepster Pineapple Facebook page, or get your kid, too — and spread the word — I'd appreciate it.

Also we want your feedback! We are currently working on new items for the spring. So if there's a color t-shirt or polo shirt you'd like to see (we're going to be adding pink), or you have a suggestion for a clothing item (keep it clean people), let me know via email or a blog comment.

Mahalo!

*Right now we are only shipping to addresses in the United States.

Words with Friend Alec Baldwin

Welcome to another Shameless Plug edition of J-TWO-O! Today's shameless plug: My stepfather's new book, Eye Rhymes (pictured at right -- and a steal at only $9.95).

What are eye rhymes? Also known as "visual rhymes" or "sight rhymes," eye rhymes are verses based on words that look as if they should rhyme but don't (e.g., bomb, comb, tomb). And the book Eye Rhymes is filled with 47 of them, all written by my stepfather, wordsmith and cryptic puzzle creator John de Cuevas, and illustrated by his friends Sara Ferguson and Janet Young.

And what, pray tell, does this have to do with Alec Baldwin? I'm so glad you asked!

Alec Baldwin -- along with master thespian Blythe Danner -- narrate the online version of the book, which you can listen to (and read along with -- for free) at http://eyerhymesplus.com/. (But would it kill you to buy a book?)

And while I am shamelessly plugging books, it's not too late to purchase a copy of my mother's children's book, Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure!

Okay, my work here is done.

Make my mom happy. Buy her children's book.

Even if you don't give a hoot about making my mother happy, and frankly why should you, you should buy this book if you have kids, or grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, or cousins, or godchildren aged 7 or younger. Why? Because it's a really great children's book, about a curious polar bear who explores Central Park in New York -- and the illustrations are gorgeous. And it would score me and the spouse (who created and manages the website) major brownie points.

But don't take my word for it that Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure is a great children's book. See for yourself at http://www.polaritybearbooks.com/.

And if clicking a link and scrolling through a website is more than you can bear right now, here's a sample page. (Click the photo to enlarge. Then click the back (arrow) button on your browser to return to the post.)















Pretty great illustrations, yes? (That would be a rhetorical question.)

Seriously, what kid wouldn't love this book?! (Again, that would be a rhetorical question.)

But wait, there's more! If you click on this special link for J-TWO-O readers, http://www.polaritybearbooks.com/j-two-o, you'll get $2 off the $17.95 retail price! (The book was self-published and is currently only available via the web.)

Don't have any rugrats of your own or your kids are too old to be reading a cute story about a fun-loving polar bear? I bet you've got friends and co-workers and relatives who do, who would just love Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure. And if you send them a link to this post, they can get the $2 off discount.

Okay, I believe my work here is done.

Happy Mom?

(And maybe next time you write a children's book, that was indirectly inspired by your one and only child, who said she would tell all her friends and blog readers about it, you might dedicate the book to her. )