New Site Design

Be sure to stop by Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique to check out our new site design in progress! I've been working on it since early August (stumbling my way through Photoshop as I learn new techniques)...there's still work to be done, but I'm happy with how it's coming along. Next to undergo a makeover...the blog!

Autumn

It's a beautiful Autumn day here today and I just had to share! The leaves are just starting to turn vibrant shades of auburn, orange, and gold and there's a pleasant breeze in the air. The temp outside is a refreshing 67 degrees and I can practically taste the freshly pressed apple cider I'm plannig to buy later this afternoon...I LOVE Autumn!

How Time Flies

It's so hard to believe that my 3rd little munchkin is going to turn 1 year old tomorrow!! It seems like just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital to a world of chaos...

My husband had been transferred during the pregnancy, but we decided that my 2 older children and I would stay behind until our precious Micah was born. It was important to both of us that I continue with my OB through the pregnancy, rather than scurrying to find a new one mid term. So my husband made the grouling 2 1/2 hour commute each Monday and Friday, so that he could see us each weekend.

Unfortunately, timing was not in our favor when it came time for the birth. Little Micah was born September 25, 2007 and our movers arrived on September 27th...just 2 days later! We made the drive to Ohio and bunked down with my grandparents for 3 days until our new house was ready. In his 1st short week of life, Micah slept in 4 different locations (hospital, old house, grandparents house, new house) and essentially moved 3 times! Ironically enough, at this phase of his little life, he is the most laid back, go-with-the-flow, happy baby in the world!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE MICAH-MOO!!

Introducing...

Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique is pleased to introduce some exciting new treats in our Spa Sweet Shoppe! Stop by to check out the "fresh baked" Cookeez, cool and creamy ice cream Sandwichz, and yummy Tub Taffy. Crafted by local artisan, Tammy Brodbeck, these zero-calorie delights are good for your skin and your waistline! Come indulge today!!

15 Sites for Promoting Your Local Business

By Kristin Edelhauser February 15, 2007

Want to get your name out to locals and visitors alike? Take advantage of these online marketing sites and watch your business grow.
The advertising of the future is going online--and going local. This hot trend is growing rapidly and shows no signs of letting up. In fact, according to a report by Borrell Associates, local online advertising is expected to grow by 31 percent this year, hitting $7.7 billion. The report also predicts local paid search will skyrocket by 86 percent this year, up to $1.8 billion. Local e-mail marketing will experience growth of about 54 percent, reaching $233 million.
There's no question that consumers are using the internet to navigate their way to local brick-and-mortar retailers. A recent study by ROI Research Inc. and Performics shows that online searches influence 20 to 30 percent of purchases made at retail locations--and that number is only increasing. More and more sites, like Local.com, are making their presence known by competing against major search engines like Google and Yahoo!. So study up, plan your budget and get in on the online advertising game.
1. Website: Google AdWordsHow It Will Help You: AdWords helps you target local online customers by setting your pay-per-click ads to appear only when people search a particular city, state or region. There's no minimum spending requirement--your daily budget is up to you.
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2. Website: Yahoo! Local ListingsHow It Will Help You: Local Listings will promote your business to customers looking for information in Yahoo! Local. Choose from three different plans (one is free) to meet your company's needs.
3. Website: CitySearchHow It Will Help You: CitySearch offers online advertising tools to easily open your account, manage your daily results and receive ad placement on MSN, Yahoo!, Google and Ask.com. Similar to the idea of pay-per-click advertising, CitySearch offers two paid plans, "Web Connect" and "Call Connect."
4. Website: Ask.com's AskCityHow It Will Help You: Ask.com recently launched AskCity, a new local search application that's a one-stop destination for making plans. In one screen, consumers can map a route, make dinner reservations, purchase movie tickets and e-mail plans to others. Pricing for advertising on Ask.com varies.
5. Website: AOL's CityGuideHow It Will Help You: AOL's CityGuide specializes in providing local entertainment information to AOL service members. Advertising with AOL allows marketers to target consumers specifically by lifestyle and market.
6. Website: CraigslistHow It Will Help You: Craigslist gets an estimated 10 million unique visitors per day. With an online classified ad format organized by region or city, Craigslist connects buyers and sellers in more than 300 communities; for the most part, posting on the site is free.
7. Website: MerchantCircle.comHow It Will Help You: This free site offers a local business listing service that allows you to better manage your online reputation and become more visible in search engine results.
8. Website: DotsterHow It Will Help You: Dotster is a web domain registration and hosting company offering a local web advertising package called "Local Site Promotion." You set your monthly budget and Dotster will make your ad visible on all the major search engines.
9. Website: Local.comHow It Will Help You: Advertising on Local.com will give you access to their 10 million-plus monthly customers. Choose from a free basic listing or pay-per-click options.
10. Website: Froogle LocalHow It Will Help You: Google's shopping search engine allows users to search for specific products by location. It's a great way for users to find retail stores regardless of whether you use e-commerce.
11. Website:ReachLocalHow It Will Help You: This site provides a central location for businesses to set-up, maintain and track local search advertising campaigns. Pricing varies.
12. Website: RegisterLocalHow It Will Help You: RegisterLocal is a service, costing $199.95 per year, that allows you to create a master profile they submit to search engines and directories on your behalf.
13. Website: TrueLocalHow It Will Help You: This local search engine features full-text searching and offers advertising opportunities for businesses. Currently indexing more than 13 million local businesses, TrueLocal starts at just $1 per month.
14. Website: YellowPages.comHow It Will Help You: YellowPages.com is a large online local directory site featuring city guides and advertising solutions. Basic listings are free.
15. Website: Web.com's MyEzClicks programHow It Will Help You: MyEzClicks lists your business on more than 30 major search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and MSN for a monthly fee.

I found this on Entrepreneur.com It's a very informative site filled with lots of business tips for FREE. Enjoy!

And the Winner Is.....

Congratulations to Meredith U from NY, NY! Meredith is the lucky winner of the Bullfrogs & Butterflies Classic Layette Milkshake 2-Pack giveaway hosted by Little Window Shoppe. She has selected the infant version of our Classic Blueberry Milkshake as her prize.

We're sure she'll enjoy this yummy treat, whether she chooses to keep it for herself or

give it as a gift!

Be sure to check out our friends at Popular Baby Products on October 3rd for another fabulous giveaway from Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique!

Yummy Giveaway!

Bullfrogs & Butterflies Classic Layette Milkshake

Looking for a great giveaway that's as yummy as it is functional? Stop by and visit our friends at Little Window Shoppe. We're teaming up with this fabulous site to give away one of our Classic Layette Milkshake 2-Packs. The winner will receive 2 of these delicious milkshakes, complete with 2 Pampers Swaddlers, 2 cotton burp cloths, 2 baby washcloths, 2 cotton onsies (0-3m), and 1 pair of socks (0-6m).

Come indulge in one of these refreshing treats today!

Gearing Up for the Holidays

It's hard to believe that September is here already! With it brings thoughts of Fall...cooler Autumn days, changing leaves, crisp apples, cider and doughnuts, bonfires, and hayrides (can you tell which is my favorite season?!).

The Holidays are right around the corner and what better way to start your Holiday Shopping than with a uniquely clever gift from Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique? We're giving a few of our favorites a Holiday Makeover! Come sample our delicious Peppermint Washcloth Candies, Cinnamon Spice Floats, Spiced Pumpkin Floats, and Peppermint Milkshakes. We've also designed a beautiful Cornucopia Layette Bouquet with earthy foliage and loads of baby necessities!

Give something your friends and family are sure to remember for years to come...a delightfully sweet gift from Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique!

Are Your Child Safety Measures Up to Par?

No one likes to think of the unthinkable happening to their little prince or princess...but in the case of an emergency, do you have your child's pertinent information in a readily accessible place? When was the last time you updated your child's safety information?

Why is child ID and child safety so important? The FBI receives over 2000 missing children reports every day. A child in the United States becomes missing every 40 seconds. Statistics from the US justice department and the world Almanac puts the chance of any child becoming missing at 1 in 42.

According to law enforcement throughout the United States, a parent’s best assurance for the quick and safe recovery of a missing child is to have a complete profile of the child on hand. The first hours after a child becomes missing is the most critical time for recovery. However it is also the time when the parents are in a panic mode and can not remember a detailed description of their child.
This is where Guard-A-KidTM comes into play. By providing a total and complete child ID and child safety package, Guard-A-KidTM is able to provide you with the peace of mind to focus your energy on other things. I personally love the Smart ID sticks! This high capacity USB flash memory stick can store all of your family's safety information in one convenient location and you can update your information as frequently as you desire without having to re-purchase!

Stop by and visit Michelle Johnson and Sheila Mortensen today. They are untraditional moms with traditional values and a genuine desire to provide you with top of the line safety products for your precious loved ones!