I just posted to the MSN Business Breakthrough Challenge! Not like waiting until the last minute. It's due Sept 30. I had 497 words, three words under the limit. I wonder how many of these they have to read to narrow it down to 20 per category. Oct 15 is the date the semi-finalists are chosen. Wish me luck!

Everything happens in 3s right? Well number 2 just did, the shipment that came in this week did not have the visa docs. So there my shipment sits in storage... waiting for only original documentation, which needs to fly in from South Africa. My father-in-law said that my daughter being sick was number 3 but I get this funny feeling that is not the case. I am bracing myself for the next blow!

Uuuugh! I have my first set of dealings with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. I received a Notice Of Action stating that a prior shipment I received last year was not sent under a valid visa. Hopefully this can be taken care of very quickly and easily with an ooops the wrong number was written down. Actually I have only 20 days to respond so it will have to happen quickly.

The Bug Zoo winter lines are in! This Burgundy Bliss Party Dress and Leggings (left pic) is my favorite. Wouldn't it make a great holiday outfit? I asked Deidre, the designer at Bug Zoo, what inspired her to make such a darling outfit and she says her daughter (her miracle baby and only child) is what inspires her. Deidre doesn't like her picture taken... but here she is below.

This dress in particular was designed as she imagined her daughter as a fairy who grants wishes and is able to grant one wish a day. She created this story around the outfit. The burgundy color was chosen as it is a warm winter color for a fairy.

The other styles are inspired by what her daughter (age 5 now, enjoys. She is a real madam who loves feminine, yet funky styles and often 'advises' her mom when she is designing what she thinks will look good and what she thinks will sell. Do I sense a budding new designer growing up in our midst?

From what I hear, all of Bug Zoo think Deidre's daughter is an angel.

I am going to participate in the MSN Business Breakthrough. I basically have to compose a 500 word or less essay about how the Business Breakthrough Team (I believe this is a team through VISA) can give me tools to make my business more efficient. The five categories to enter to win are: Marketing, Team Building, Technology, Finance and Organization. I am going to enter for the marketing category. The winner gets an evaluation and $10,000 in custom solutions based on the evaluation. Writing can be very difficult and I have until Sept 30 to send it in. Wish me luck!

So my ups and downs these past two weeks have been trying to get my two shipments in and getting them on the website. It's one thing here and one thing there that's been causing delays. Will I have my second shipment in by next week's show? I hope so. and I hope to have all the new items on line soon! Uuuugh! I just want to do everything now. Patience is not one of my virtues.