Birthday Blog Post No. 9

This month, I've asked a load of totally rockin' business women to help me celebrate The Cool Rule Company's first birthday with a series of fab guest blog posts. And certainly, no celebration would be complete without today's guest who is known in more familiar circles as 'The Party Lady'. Get your party poppers ready folks, it's Maxine Johnston from 'Life's A Celebration'!



Hi there everybody. My name is Maxine and I run a party business called 'Life’s A Celebration'.

We’re all about celebrating here at Life’s A Celebration so I’m really happy to have been asked by Abi to help celebrate The Cool Rule Company’s first birthday.

Maxine's always in the party mood

Life’s A Celebration came about when my daughter was about to turn six and asked for a 'Musical Statues' party. I immediately thought, 'I can do that!' and looked around for a business that would just box up a party and send it to my front door. Now that would have been convenient. It seemed there was no such business so I set about setting up Life’s A Celebration.

As parents, we all know how stressful kids’ parties can be so the concept of my business is to just make parties as stress-free as possible. We box up a party and send out absolutely everything you need. It’s that easy.

Just part of the Life's A Celebration pirate and princess range

After the business was launched the concept was so well received that I was soon being asked to provide party boxes for grown up birthdays too, as well as baby showers and hen parties. So the business quickly expanded into other celebrations too.

We now have our own premises and an ever-expanding product range.

Getting in the party spirit - but she's not walking the aisle yet!

I first met Abi about eighteen months ago at a networking event staged by Derwentside Enterprise Agency. It quickly became obvious that we were going to get on and since then I think it’s safe to say that we’ve become firm friends, as well as co-working on various projects and events.

It’s been really good to see The Cool Rule Company develop from the seed of an idea to a fully-fledged business going from strength to strength. We love the Cool Rule vibe that Abi has created and her range of products for toddlers are fab. The Cool Rule Book is such a great idea for those parents that want to promote positive ideals within their families.

The Cool Rule Book that's sweeping the globe

So many happy returns The Cool Rule Company and here’s to many more birthdays to come!




Thanks for joining in with our celebrations Maxine. We love what you do and after the games you led at Big Tot's last birthday bash, it's safe to say he well and truly loves you too!

If you'd like to find out more about Maxine's genius party-in-a-box service, here are the details you need:

lifesacelebration.co.uk
maxine@lifesacelebration.co.uk
07852955800
facebook.com/LifesACelebration
twitter.com/maxine_johnston


And if you want to promote boundaries for your toddler with nothing but fun and happiness, pay The Cool Rule Company a visit today at thecoolrulecompany.co.uk. Enjoy!

Birthday Blog Post No. 8

On our guest blog series today I'd like to introduce one of my most favourite business concepts I've come across this year. 'Magic Mummies' is a secret, undercover service for us Mums. Intrigued? Then read on . . .



Hi, I’m Claire and I own a business called 'Magic Mummies', every mum's best kept secret.

Claire - the original Magic Mummy

At Magic Mummies, we provide undercover services for busy mums such as baking cakes for summer fairs, making costumes, arranging parties and gift-sourcing. Our aim is to help take the stress out of everyday life and allow mums to spend less time juggling and more time on themselves and their families. But what makes Magic Mummies so special is that we deliver our services discreetly, which means our mummies can take the all credit if they want to.

Just a taste of what Magic Mummies can do for you

Having just passed our own first birthday I jumped at the chance to write a birthday blog post for Abi at The Cool Rule Company.

I first met Abi at the Derwentside Enterprise Agency’s Mumpreneur group when we were both setting up our businesses at the same time. And as luck would have it I discovered a group of fantastic mums who have been great support ever since, not to mention the Derwentside Enterprise Agency mentors.


Magic Mummies, like The Cool Rule Company, is all about encouraging happy family living as well as making parents’ lives easier. The Cool Rule Company has a range with products to suit every parent's needs. They encourage the setting of simple, loving rules and a way to personalise the whole experience. After all, we all know that every child loves an excuse to look at photos of themselves!

Claire's gorgeous girls


As a mum of two girls myself I am all too aware how difficult it is to maintain a consistent approach to parenting. I’ve lost count of the number of reward schemes I’ve tried! But the Cool Rules are something quite special. They help keep everyone on track and they come in different guises: a Cool Rule Book, reward charts your little one can decorate, rocket and butterfly charts, posters - there really is something for everyone. Creating a balanced home life can be difficult, but The Cool Rule Company certainly helps you to find a balance that works for you.

The Cool Rule range

There have been so many lovely occasions since my first encounter with Abi. The funniest time being when we went to a posh business networking event, took a wrong turn and had to run across a pristeen golf course with our high heels on and a toddler in tow! We just hoped the caretaker wasn't looking!


I just know that Magic Mummies and The Cool Rule Company will continue to collaborate as the businesses develop. I will be launching new Magic Mummy services soon and a new website at the end of summer so keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates.

I feel very fortunate that I was able to get to know Abi and experience The Cool Rule Company in its infancy, because it has gone from strength to strength in its first year. It is barely recognisable as the business that started a year ago. So Happy 1st Birthday to The Cool Rule Company! I can’t wait to see what you’ve achieved by your 2nd Birthday . . . hip, hip hooray!




Thanks Claire! We think Magic Mummies is a tremendous business concept and we're not surprised in the least that your first year has gone so well. 


If you'd like to contact Claire or find out more about how she can go undercover to help you, these are the links you need:


magicmummies.co.uk
facebook.com/magicmums
twitter.com/magicmummies


If you're also curious about what The Cool Rule Company can do for you and your family, check out our website at thecoolrulecompany.co.uk and like us on Facebook to be in on the Cool Rule vibe!

Birthday Blog Post No. 7

As part of The Cool Rule Company's 1st birthday blog series, I'm so chuffed to introduce a fantastic guest post. It's Sarah Loveland, a very talented photographer with a passion for bringing the joys of photography to anybody anywhere. Today she gives us some hints and tips on photographing your toddler - enjoy!


Hi, I'm Sarah. I was fortunate enough to meet Abi from The Cool Rule Company when I popped along to a Mumpreneur meeting in Consett which was staged by Derwentside Enterprise Agency. I had previously seen the Cool Rule Book on Facebook so it was great to have a proper look at it. I loved the fact that parents could stick their own photos into the book.

Sarah and the Cool Rule Book which caught her photographer's eye

As a professional photographer one of the things that I do is teach people how to take better pictures. In addition to lessons and workshops I have created a range of fun and informal photography lessons in a box. One box in my range is the ‘How to Photograph Your Toddler’ box.

Sarah's genius photography lesson in a box

If you're a parent, have you often struggled to photograph your little one now they are at an age where they are on the move? Smaller cameras often have a delay once you’ve pressed the button and by the time the camera has taken the picture the child has moved - how frustrating is that?!

Here are a couple of pointers for photographing your children . . . 

• Where is the light? Try not to shoot towards a window or the sun. Keep the light to one side or just over your shoulder. If your child is evenly lit the picture will be better.

• What’s in the background? Make sure you have moved the washing! Sometimes by taking a step to the left or right you realise what needs to be changed in the background.

• Try and tell a story. In the Cool Rule Book you will want particular pictures to show special things. Think about how you can get your picture to tell the story of what is going on. 

Most importantly, have fun with it and keep it fun for the children! They will get bored with you trying to get the perfect picture if you go on at them to sit still and smile

I would like to wish The Cool Rule Company a very happy birthday!

Smile!

  













Thanks Sarah. Personally, we love your photography lessons in a box range and definitely think the 'How to Photograph Your Toddler box' is a perfect partner to the Cool Rule Book!

If you'd like to contact Sarah or want to find out more about her fantastic services and products, here are the details you need:

sarahloveland.com
facebook.com/SarahLovelandPhotography
facebook.com/Photographylessonsinabox

If you're curious about the wonders of the Cool Rule Book and the rest of the fantastic Cool Rule range, skip on over to our website: thecoolrulecompany.co.uk

Birthday Blog Post No. 6

We're halfway through our series of guest blog posts to celebrate The Cool Rule Company's first birthday . . . and today's guest is somebody who continues to inspire the ethos and philosophy of everything The Cool Rule Company does. Introducing Elaine Young, a mindfulness and meditation extraordinaire - enjoy!



Hi Cool Rulers

I’m Elaine Young, and I’m a Mum, Granny and Mindfulness teacher.  I know that parents and children need all the help they can get to make the process of teaching and learning an adventure, something more than a series of achievements, do’s, don’ts, rights and wrongs.  That’s why I’m delighted to offer The Cool Rule Company a big high five on reaching its first birthday!

Elaine with her granddaughter, Lyla

I met Abi and I met a while ago, when she attended a mindfulness course, and I was thrilled when she got in touch, some time later, to tell me she’d ventured into business.  From what I’d experienced of her, I guessed the business would be lively, creative, imaginative, and practical. I was right!

What I love about Abi’s work (whether it be the Cool Rule products, the fun and lively Facebook page, her blogs and stories) is the honesty and humour, the down to earth look at what it’s really like to be a parent, and the optimism and practicality it offers as a response. Abi admits its not easy bringing up Big and Little Tot, but through The Cool Rule products, she offers a way of working with the challenges in an upbeat and practical way.  Rather than a list of “must do’s”, she helps us to collaborate with our children, to become allies in the process of learning and growing. Cool Rules are built on fun, creativity and togetherness.

Some pages from Big Tot's Cool Rule Book

My granddaughter, Lyla (two and a half) suggests what should go into her Cool Rule Book.  She loves having photos taken specially, and quotes from it too, occasionally advising her friends on how to behave! Lyla is great fun, and like every child of her age, she’s no stranger to the odd stormy moment. The Cool Rule Book (and a grown up who stays calm and doesn’t take it personally) can act as an anchor for her when the water gets a bit choppy.

Lyla sitting beautifully for a haircut and celebrating her tidying up skills!

Since 2008, I’ve been studying and teaching mindfulness and stress reduction, and now provide courses in Tyneside, Northumberland and Durham. Having set up and co-run two successful social enterprises in the past (Team Fostering and Living Mindfully- both still growing businesses) I’ve recently decided to downsize, to spend more time with family and friends (and myself) and still do the work I love. 

So I’m now a sole trader, working under the banner of Mindfulness on the Tyne, offering mindfulness based training and mentoring to a range of clients. It’s an authentic expression of my values, of where I am in my life right now, just as parenting and running companies was where I was right then.  I’ve learned that life flows and everything changes, and so do we.

Elaine's latest venture

Mindfulness is a way of living a life that isn’t dependent on everything being easy or pleasant; of accepting that there will be difficulties, and celebrating the joys. Being in the present moment (rather than in the fantasy world of worry or recollections of past mistakes or misdemeanours) helps us to develop a sense of being okay, even when what’s going on in and around us feels chaotic or unbalanced. For parents of young children, that’s probably a lot of the time! One of my favourite quotations is “Everything is a mess, all is well!” and I was delighted at a recent retreat when a Mum told me how much more she has relaxed around her children since learning some basic mindfulness.

I love helping parents to practise with their children, and the Cool Rules encourage that too, by encouraging them to be engaged, to share, to negotiate and to work together. Marvellous!

Thanks Elaine! I'm so pleased Lyla is enjoying her Cool Rule Book and thank you so much for inspiring me in the development of all of the Cool Rule products.

If you'd like to find out more about Elaine's work in mindfulness and how you might be able to get involved, please use the links below:

mindfulnessonthetyne.co.uk
facebook.com/MindfulnessOnTheTyne

If you're intrigued by The Cool Rule Company's amazing approach to happy family living, check out our website, thecoolrulecompany.co.uk and don't forget to 'like' us on Facebook to keep up to date with antics from Big Tot and Little Tot as well as all our ace competitions, freebies and special offers.

Birthday Blog Post No. 5

On today's blog post, I'm really happy to welcome yet another marvelous entrepreneur to help celebrate The Cool Rule Company's first birthday. It's Carrie Dennison from Press for Design and believe me, without her, you may not even have had any of the Cool Rule products in your life. I'll let her tell you all about it . . .



Hello! I’m Carrie and I’ve been running a graphic design business called Press for Design for nearly two years now.

Carrie - the brains and creativity behind Press for Design

There are two distinct sides to my business. One is the graphic and web design side, where I work with other businesses to create their websites, adverts, brochures, leaflets, business cards, etc.  I also train people in setting up their own Wordpress websites.

The other is the art side, where I create lino cut artwork and illustrations and sell them through my own site, Etsy and local craft markets. With all that going on, you can imagine that there’s never an uncreative moment in the Press for Design studio!

A selection of Press for Design's work

My aim behind Press for Design is to provide a friendly, approachable, yet professional, graphic design and web design service for local sole traders and small start up businesses.  I aim to make the design process easy and understandable and keep my clients updated with how their project is progressing.

When I was first starting out, I received plenty of help and advice from the lovely ladies at the Derwentside Enterprise Agency. And this was where I first met Abi.

I immediately spotted a kindred artistic spirit, and loved the idea of the Cool Rule Book.  At the time, Abi was in need of some scanning equipment so that she could get her fab products on the market, so I was happy to help her out and get all those gorgeous designs scanned and in digital form for her.  As well as business talk, over the year we’ve also had some lovely chats over a cuppa about life and where it take us.

These guys would never have been scanned without Carrie!

Although I don’t have children, I love the creative aspect of the Cool Rule Book. Now here is a book that children can engage with and customize to make it their own. The Cool Rule Poster and Reward Charts are especially fun - plenty of scope to get creative and also a wonderfully fun addition to any child’s wall.

The Cool Rule Poster and Reward Charts

 I’m a firm believer in displaying children’s creativity everywhere! I also love the fact that the book, charts and poster will be a wonderful reminder of all the fun things children got up to when they were young. With her Cool Rule range, Abi is creating plenty of wonderful memories for families to look back on.

I’m currently expanding my business offer and after having held successful Wordpress masterclasses at Derwentside Enterprise Agency I am now providing one-to-one Wordpress training for sole traders and small companies who would like to take advantage of Wordpress's free website hosting and have full control of their website content.

On the art side, I’m now creating downloadable digital stationery, where you can print out gorgeous letter paper and envelopes whenever you like.

Part of Press for Design's collection of downloadable stationery

It’s been fantastic seeing how much The Cool Rule Company has grown over the past year, and here’s to a very happy first birthday with many, many more to come!


Thanks so much Carrie. I'm so glad we've been able to work together and I'm sure I'll be knocking down your door again in the near future for yet more graphic design and technical expertise! And take it from me folks, working with Carrie is a dream.

If you want to check out Carrie's work, or get in touch with her, here are the links you need:

pressfordesign.co.uk
facebook.com/pressfordesign
twitter.com/pressfordesign
pressfordesign.etsy.com

And if you want to browse the Cool Rule range and see how you can transform the life you share with your toddler, skip on over to thecoolrulecompany.co.uk

Birthday Blog Post No. 4

Welcome to our birthday blog series, where I've handpicked the most amazing mums and business women I've met during the first year of The Cool Rule Company's trading. Here's yet another fab mumpreneur telling you why she loves The Cool Rule range, her business and above all, her kids. It's Michelle Rose from marketing company, Custard and Bear (random name, but cool, eh?).



When Abi approached me to write a blog post for The Cool Rule Company’s first birthday celebrations I was over the moon. “No bother,” I thought. “I’ll rattle that off in no time.”

Ha. Not quite.

I’m now over my deadline and frantically typing away whilst trying to settle my four month old baby, and hope that my two and four year olds stay sleeping.

Michelle with the original Custard & Bear

Welcome to my world as a Mumpreneur (and a Mumpreneur with three young kids at that!).

Businesses are like children; they thrive and flourish when paid lots of Grade A attention, they get grouchy and difficult to deal with when you give them Grade F attention.

So, how on earth do you give your kids and your business that Grade A attention when there’s literally not enough hours in the day? 

The amazing thing about meeting Abi, and all of her inspirational birthday business bloggers, was that they understand this juggling act. And let me tell you that juggling a business and being a mummy ain’t easy. It’s great fun, exhilarating, rewarding, empowering and just generally fab. But it’s also a knackering, ever-changing, constant battle of dividing your time between work and the kids, and trying not to feel guilty when you choose one over the other.

Michelle's awesome marketing agency

Other mums I meet often think that ‘working from home’ means I don’t really do much, and that my stress over work is a lame excuse as to why my house is always a tip!

However, I don’t stress over giving my business Grade A attention because it’s a fun hobby or a cute diversion from changing pooey nappies; I stress over it because my business pays my mortgage.

But, the downside of all of this juggling is that I often find myself fraught, tired and a bit wired. And, if I’m being brutally honest, I take that out on my kids. I get grouchy with them and snipe and whinge and moan at them and then wonder why they don’t behave like angels.

So, I bought Abi’s Cool Rule Book with a different reason to most mums. I bought it to remind me that my kids need me, my time, and a sane, fun mummy. Their Cool Rule Books are secretly my Cool Rule Books!

A very happy Big Tot with his Cool Rule Book

When I’m tired and at my wit’s end with them I pick up their books, look at all of our rules, see their smiley faces and I smile too. I mean I really, really beam from ear to ear.

And, armed with my smile and happy thoughts, I am Super Mummy – the most funny, silliest, cuddle giving, bubble blowing, lego building mummy for miles around.

And, do you know what? When I’m happy and the kids are happy then my business is happy. And that’s because the joy my kids have for life infects me; I thrive on their happiness and I’m inspired, motivated and full of ideas and my clients just love it.

I don’t think that when Abi launched the Cool Rule Company she ever dreamed that it was a tool to improve business productivity, but hey, for me that’s exactly what it is! It’s my bible on how to juggle being a mummy and being a mumpreneur and for me it’s invaluable.

Every business mummy should have one!

(Oh, and just in case you’re wondering what I do… I run Custard and Bear, a marketing agency, and we’re pretty awesome).



Michelle, we're so happy to hear that our Cool Rule Books have helped you in the enormous quest of raising toddlers and raising your business too - result!

If you want to contact Michelle or find out more about what she does, here are her details:

facebook.com/custardandbear
@custardandbear
custardandbear.com - website coming soon!

If you want to check out the genius of The Cool Rule Book for yourself, visit thecoolrulecompany.co.uk. Thanks for reading!

Birthday Blog Post No. 3

There's a touch of magic to today's guest blog post. I'm so pleased to introduce you to Mel Rickerby, or as her customers and fans better know her, Magical Mel. I'll let her tell you all about her wonderful line of work and you'll see why I've been so lucky to know her in my first year of business.


Hi, I'm Magical Mel and I'm so pleased to be part of The Cool Rule Company's guest blog posts to celebrate its first year of business.

Magical Mel and a fantastic 'Relax Kids' book

I was so very lucky to meet Abi and discover her wonderful Cool Rule products at Cumbria Baby and Toddler Show at the end of last year. I was there in my glittery fairy wear as I run Fairy School for children alongside Relax Kids classes, parties and training.

Having worked with children for over eighteen years now I truly believe that encouraging them to open their minds and believe in themselves is the answer to their well being. Helping them to engage in their dreams and wishes and giving them tools to succeed positively through life truly has to be embraced.

Mel and a fairy helper

I was attracted to the Cool Rule products not only because of the little man peeping over the wall (which I remember from my teens) but also the terminology, ‘Cool Rules’. How wonderful if children and parents can find a way to make rules cool and gain by spending valuable time together. If my own children had been at the right age to buy the goods I would not have hesitated.

The fantastic Cool Rule range

Starting children young on positive outlooks and remembering the good things in life will only enhance their future. I love the way Cool Rule children will gain something positive to keep and take into the future with them when using the Cool Rule Book or anything else from the Cool Rule range.

I feel that my own business Motivational Exciting Learning shares a lot of the philosophies with The Cool Rule Company and that’s why I invited Abi along to Cumbrian Fairy Day 2013. This is a unique event where children and grown-ups can come along with open minds and experience lots of positive and creative activities together. Building on last year's event, it's going to be a real success and I'm so pleased to say The Cool Rule Company will be part of it.

Faith, trust and a bit of fairy dust!

I hope to work alongside Abi again in the near future and cannot wait to see her wonderful products again this year at Cumbrian Fairy Day, I wish her all the best for her future, and I just know it will be a cool one.



Thanks so much Mel. We're glad you could be a part of our birthday celebrations and you continue to inspire us here at The Cool Rule Company. We're really looking forward to Cumbrian Fairy Day too and will be reporting back here on the blog about how it went!


If you'd like to find out more about Mel and her magical work with children, just use the links below:
 
motivationalexcitinglearning.com
facebook.com/pages/Magical-Mel
cumbrianfairyday.com

If you want to browse the Cool Rule range and see why it stopped Mel in her fairy tracks, check out our website, thecoolrulecompany.co.uk