Sweet World of Joan

It is so much easier to buy toys for babies, or even for toddlers. Any toy you give them is readily appreciated, but for children it’s a different matter all together. Children, I found out recently that they have certain preference and expectations when it comes to their toys. Lorenzo’s 6th Birthday is days away but my husband and I are still at a loss on what gift to give him. “Mommy I want a PSP for Christmas” My parents were puzzled on what a PSP is, a request Lorenzo made a month before Christmas. We were amazed on why would a 5-year old child demand a PSP, and what will he do with it. Investigating I found out that most of his friends, playmates and classmates have one and would often tease him when is would borrow theirs to ask his mother to buy one for him( whew! Talk about peer pressure). When I told my husband about it, he was already planning on giving our son an electronic gadget for Christmas. We decided not to give him the PSP for its not practical for a gadget that costs...

Participating on the SM Marikina Bloggers Event was so much fun. Bloggers were invited by SM Marikina to stress test their wireless connection today. Bloggers were encouraged to go around the mall and try the Wifi connection with their laptops, cellphones ,PSP or any WIFI enabled device. It was also an opportunity to touch base with fellow bloggers and relax after a stressful week. It also gave me an opportunity to bond with my husband who joined me in the event. Here are my observations: * The WIFI connection was fast early in the event with only a few bloggers at the start of the event. I had published two blogs and uploaded a file for my egoup. * After 3pm, the WIFI connections started to slow down as more bloggers arrive. * By 4pm I lost my internet connection completely. Recommendations: 1. Introduce a Surfer/Blogger Membership for the mall so that people will be encouraged to visit the mall frequently by giving them additional perks(you can charge minimal membership fee). 2. ...

Business was brisk last valentine, almost all my products were sold out and my customers were very happy. They looked for me after valentines and said his wife was very happy about the chocolate bouquet that he gave her. An organization that I supplied chocolates said that they earned a lot that valentine. I actually had doubts that I will have a successful season this valentine. Everything was quite a week before heart’s day, no one was buying, and even my “sukis” were not yet contacting me. Then, two days before valentine everything heated up, inquiries and order came flooding in. And deliveries were made from sun up till 10pm at night. I barely slept that week, averaging only 2 hours of sleep a day, I still attended my classes, which was amazing since I also have a valentine booth at Informatics Cainta. Informatics Cainta celebrated their college week then that is why I had the opportunity to participate. In reflection, for an entrepreneur like me having a successful valentine seaso...

I had my hobby turned business since 2000, over the years I expanded my product line and have busy seasons (Christmas and Valentines) and loyal customers. Having a child in 2003 did not change that; I just gained a little assistant. I had Lorenzo with me while making my orders, when he was still small he was in the kitchen with me in his crib(he even manages to get a bite or two of chocolates when I was not looking). There was a time that I had to let him sleep first before I can work for he insists on tasting every product I am making. I never intentionally “taught” or “trained” him to do what I do. Maybe it was the environment he grown up in. Ever since I can remember he would always want to help me. That is why I named my online store after him: http://www.mylittlebaker.com . My family is amazed on how adept he is in handling my equipments and he is familiar with the ingredients that I use. Last Christmas he volunteered to prepare the fruitcake boxes that I use for packaging. This V...