New Format!

Wow! The blog has really grown over the past few months with a lot of new features and additions! With that in mind, I thought that it would be a great idea to organize the blog for reader ease! So, with that in mind, I have broken down some of the routine features into individual pages- I think this will make manuevering on the blog much more functional and fun! You can get to just what you want without muddling through posts that you have either already read or are not interested in! So, the Share the Love Feature has its own page- Features- you can get to it by clicking on the "Features" link under the Pages heading at the left sidebar (second section down).

Also, we have talked about the mini market page for my handmade seller friends! I am still anxious to get this underway! For more visibility and more functionality- the Mini market will also have its own page- Remember, the mini market is totally free and just a way for us to help each other out with promotions! I will post one of your widgets on the page and promote the page as a mini marketplace. Readers can link directly to your store by clicking on the widget. Most marketplaces offer a mini store option- so if you use Winkelf, Etsy, or Artfire just go to your mini store tab, Rapid Cart tab, window tab, etc. and copy the code. Then email the code to me at Mommytyme70@yahoo.com with "mini market" in the subject line! I will let you know when you are up and running!

Also, for my selling friends- I often provide you with links, free traffic services, promotional tools, etc. These can now be found on their own page! Again, just for ease of use. You can link directly to that page simply by clicking on the link under the Pages heading.

For my shoppers and viewers- I have created a What's New page for all of the latest Mommy Tyme creations and a page of all of Mommy Tyme Gifts market outlets! Enjoy and please let me know if there are any shopping difficulties with these links.

Finally, the joy of Ning and social networking! I have set up a page of all the hot spots that Mommy Tyme participates in. I often get requests to send invitations for Ning networks or the facebook fan page link, etc. Now you can find all these great places in one spot. Just click on any of the icons or badges and you can sign up!

So, let me know if this system and lay out works better, is more confusing- etc!

Mommy's Mini Marketplace- Join in For Free! Promote yourself!

You might notice that I have rearranged the format of Mommy's Reviews?  Or maybe not... But, I have.  I have so many different things I want to present each week, that if I post it all as individual entries, it becomes a jumbled mess and you may miss something!  So, I have broke the blog down into some sections for convenience and easier reading!  There are categories that are presented vertically, so the newest blog entries will be first, followed by the mini market, The Share the Love Series, etc. etc.  I have posted each section in CAPS AND BOLD!  Remember to check it all out!  Each section has some really cool stuff to offer!

As we have talked about previously, the Share the Love Series will be ongoing and updated weekly.  As will the pursuit of handmade series which is my weekly blog entry!  The Mommy's Mini Market contains all of my shops- but, my new FEATURE is Mommy's Mini Marketplace- which I hope to have up and running in the next week or so... Here is the deal for this:  If you are a handmade artisan and you want to promote your items/shops- you can do so here!  I would like to feature 3-4 mini shops (or widgets) each week (or month)!  All you have to do is- sign up!  Just leave me a comment with your shop URL, name, and email.  I will choose 3-4 shops for this first feature, then contact the shop owners.  The shop owners will send me the code for their mini shops  I will post the mini marketplace.  One catch, however, is that the online shops must have a mini/window, etc.  I know that etsy, winkelf, artfire, and fuzz b offer this free service- but, as for other marketplaces, I am not sure!  You will just have to ensure that your venue does offer this service.

My readers get a fantastic opportunity to browse a variety of shops with multiple modes of talent!   Readers can shop directly from the blog or they can link to your shop and see all of your great products!  This will give readers a chance to see all the fantastic items out there in the handmade marketplaces- not just the few items I may choose to feature!  And this provides you (the shop owner) with one more link back, one more promotional tool, one more place where your name and products is being shouted out!  You have to do absolutely nothing!  I will tweet your shop's presence here, post it on my website, let my facebook followers know, etc! 



I honestly believe in promoting and preserving the great talents out there!  One of my biggest fears is that by the time my child is an adult, there were only be cheap, mass marketed products for him to enjoy.  I want the future of handmade and artisan work to grow- I pray that individuals continue to express themselves and their creativity and that there continue to be a market that openly appreciates and receives these creations.  So, I feel an ultimate obligation to do my part and shout to the world - Hey check these artists out!  So, Mommys Mini Marketplace is just one more way I can do that!  Problem is .... I need participants (you, the shop owner!)

So, if you are interested, comment with the needed information- and I hope to have this feature section up and running sometime next week!

The next new section/feature- is the contest corner!  I think this will be a fun spot where Readers can check out all the latest contests and links to drawings, etc.  I am always entering everything.  I love to win!  I love to try new things, you never know when you are going to get something that just changes your whole outlook!  Recently on a blog, The Crafty Tortoise, I won some great gifts- a gorgeous gold bear bracelet and matching earrings, a wonderful lavender sachet, coupons and discounts to a variety of etsy shops, and more... It was so exciting to get this in the mail!  I couldn't wait to tear the package open and I was so excited about the contents!  It was really fun!  So, I wanted to offer that here, also!  Every contest I find and enter, I will post here so you can enter, too!  Then if any of us win, lets talk about the prize/host/contest!  Its all about helping one another out!  So as I find them, I will post them!  Check daily... it will change frequently!  This saves you the trouble of scouring all the blogs, sites, links to find a contest- You can just pop in here and see what's new!

If you have a contest, and would like to post the link and some info about it here- just comment with the information and contact email, I will be So Happy to Do This For You!

Also, if interested in showcasing your items in my "Sweets for your Sweety" Pursuit of Handmade, comment here with a link to your URL.  By doing so, you give me permission to present your pictures and link here on Mommy's Reviews! 

Gearing up for the Valentines Holiday?  Show your sweety how much you really care and give a gift they will love!  Dont forget your kids on the Hallmark Holiday, either!  They love to get a special treat from mom, dad, or the grandparents!

I have created a few gift sets and ideas from Mommy Tyme Gifts that I think will make a perfect token of love for someone special!  Check them out below....

Do you have a special tradition or any romantic/family plans for Valentines Day?  If so, share them with us.... I am always looking for ways to spice it up! 

Also, if you have a handmade shop and would like to have your items showcased here, just comment with your URL/shop address and state that I have permission to post your pictures!  In my grand pursuit of handmade I am looking for the perfect Valentines Day Gifts to showcase here at Mommy's Reviews!