Bank Street Bookstore

I finally visited Bank Street Bookstore the other day. I was pleasantly surprised. On the lower level are books, music, DVDs, educational games and toys. Upstairs is pedagogy. It’s a small space, but it was easy to navigate. They did not have a million strollers and kids running around and the books were in great condition. I must have been there during off peak hours. I bought Recien Nacido, Llename de Gracia, No Quiero Dormir and Whose Mommy Is This? If that was not exciting enough, I joined the Baker’s Dozen Book Club…for free. Every 12 children’s books I buy, I earn 10% of the amount spent on those books! Now, if only they had a deal on tuition for the for the Bankstreet School for Children.

Oh my goodness!

It’s been a week since my last post, where did the time go? I have to get up to speed. I have been looking at so many blog sites. I have to say, what people manage to accomplish and post on a regular basis is absolutely amazing! I have been checking out Design Mom pretty regularly. Make It has become a favorite too. Make It is where I learned about Carolynn Duncan and her site The Hundred Dollar Business Experiment. I even took the entrepreneurial quizzes you can link to from her site.

So if I have not been blogging, what have I been doing this last week. I did take a few more photos around the neighborhood. The one above was my favorite by De La Vega. The messages read: “be mindful even if your mind is full” and “you are your best investment.”

A week and a day

It’s been a week and day since I started my blog. It has been coming along and so have my plans for starting my own business. I have written a life plan and business plan. I hope to post my first creation soon. What’s more inspirational and motivating are the photos I have started taking around my neighborhood.

I have lived in East Harlem for six years. My community has been in constant redevelopment. Gentrification is a concern for Puerto Rican residents who have lived here for decades who feel their heritage is being challenged by the influx of Mexicans, low, middle income housing residents and market rate developments on every block.

For me, this community has been a window of opportunity. I live in a diverse community on the verge of change. I recognize this has both positive and negative implications. I have become a home owner, something I only dreamed would be possible on the island Manhattan.

In an attempt to capture a community that has been welcoming a wonderful to me, I have started a photo blog to capture this period of transition. Check it out on flickr.

I got a free ride

I got a free ride from the MTA because my baby is soooo cute and the funny thing is she was sleeping at the time. I got on the bus with two dollars in quarters in my hand. Before I could put the change in the appropriate slot the bus driver looked at me and he melted at the sight of the sleeping 20lb+ baby hanging from the BabyBjorn in sweet slumber. Hell, I saved two dollars today! That’s two dollars I can invest in my business.

Woe is me...

I feel like a big box of puzzle pieces. I know where each piece should fit, but the amount of pieces makes this process so overwhelming. Honestly, part of the fear is of failure. StartupNation outlines 10 steps to open for business. I found StartupNation through the small business resource government website. I will focus on one step each day in order to manage my anxiety. I cannot do EVERYTHING at once. Besides, I have to change diapers, play, make butternut squash puree, bathe the baby, bathe myself, clean the house and make dinner, just to name a few things.

The first step I need to take toward starting my business according to StartupNation is to Create a Life Plan. Well that’s a good thing! Everyone should take the time to create a life plan. Ok. I will do it! My goal for today is to think about my life plan.

I did manage to take a really cool photo today! Next, butternut squash.

I wanna be a MOMTREPRENEUR!

While reading UrbanBaby Daily NYC one morning, I came across a new product for kids. Something invented by a mom for moms and or dads and their kids! “Hey! That’s my invention!” I thought to myself. Does that ever happen to you? You see some new invention and you think to yourself, if only I had done that sooner or followed through, or really believed I actually had a good idea…I turned to my partner and gasped, “I had that idea, why didn’t I follow through and make that into my business?” Then I turned on him. “Why didn’t you encourage me to make that into a business of my own? You’re a businessman, tell me what I need to do to make my idea’s into reality…I have to start something, I have to make one of my ideas into a realistic product this year!”

I am not sure if it was out of fear, surprise or if he was just excited to hear me speak. I had been in a funk for about week, very moody and premenstrual. He wanted to be on the safe side so he encouraged me and told me I could do it, I could do anything! I basked in the momentary glory and support. I was enthusiastic and ready to take off. I could not sleep that night, my mind was racing. I hate when that happens, because a racing mind is not good when you are trying sleep, but I was excited. The next day I started to put my thoughts on paper and tried to organize all of the ideas I had since becoming a new mom. I started listing the things I needed to do, I started to read the blogs, something I was never really into, but have come to enjoy immensely, visit the websites, design a website, get a domain, etc. Wow! This was becoming overwhelming and I hadn’t really started anything yet.

One of the things on my list was to start my own blog. Here I am making my first post so I have the momentum to continue moving forward.

While researching ideas for my business I came across some great products, stores, blogs and projects. I thought my blog would be a good place to share my research, experience, thoughts and eventually I hope my very own product.

How could I not point you to the website and product that lived in my imagination for all of two months before it was realized and immortalized on my computer screen that faithful morning my life changed yet again…Check out Petite Vilolette for Food Smocks, what a bright idea!

Read more about their fabulous product in the article below:
http://newyork.urbanbaby.com/ub_daily/120606daily.html