The Passenger Seat is yours...

What a ride.


The last few months have probably been the most exciting, most intensive few months I have yet to experience in my life. I have been meeting some of the most amazing people, sharing ideas and collaborating with some pretty fantastic Canadian businesses.

When I lived in Asia my Mom would often say I should be keeping a journal of my experiences so I will remember them forever. I loved the idea but never really committed to it.

So as I get ready for what I think will be the craziest 4 weeks of 2010 as the owner of BOBA I have decided to document the ride. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy job but it is so exciting. The passion I have for what I do radiates and grows stronger every day. I love looking at my product, hearing feedback about it and getting elbows deep in papers to prepare what’s in store.

The next few weeks are going to be exciting. My new website launches within days and it is pretty fabulous. I had my photo shoot yesterday with Joseph Saraceno and what a great day – check out the pictures below for a sneak peek behind the scenes!

Come Friday I am hitting the road. It will be me, my dad’s Ford pick-up truck, a rolling rack, my collection and a mannequin. I will spend a few days in Regina and then make my way to Alberta. While in AB I will be in Calgary, Edmonton and various cities in the surrounding area.

If you know of any stores that would be a great fit for BOBA please send me a note and I will get in touch.

Once I return at the end of March I will be launching BOBA Private Shopping Parties. Get your girlfriends together and host a party in the privacy of your own home. I will have a full range of sizes in the entire product line and provide ideas on how BOBA Fashionable Basics can be coordinated with existing pieces in your wardrobe to flatter your blossoming belly.

Jump in the passenger seat and stay tuned for the exciting journey to the prairies.

For the Love of Fashion,

xoxo

aLi m.

An idea is turning into reality - PROJECT FORMULA

Have you ever briefly met someone whether it is on an airplane, through a friend or at an event that you haven’t forgotten?


I meet amazing and influential people almost every day, but in 2006 I met a little girl and her mother that changed how I see the world. In January of that year I had finished my 2 year teaching contract in Taipei City, Taiwan and had embarked on a 2 month journey through South East Asia. When I was in Siem Reap, Cambodia I met a young boy and his very unhappy sister. He was selling pirated books on the street to tourists and taking care of his baby sister. His English was pretty good so I asked him what was wrong with the little girl; he told me she was hungry. Having a soft spot for children I picked up the little girl and fell in love with her. She was so sweet and so beautiful. Over my week stay I met their mother and learned that she was my age at the time, so 26 and had 7 children the youngest being about 1 month old. She also told me her husband lost his leg and eye sight due to a landmine.

She didn’t feel sorry for herself or her situation instead she embraced life and was happy to be alive. Every night she would sit with her children on the road and watch her husband’s band of landmine victims play to tourist and collect money. By the end of my stay I had visited the mother and the little girl almost every day. When I was saying good bye I asked what I could do to help. She didn’t ask for money all she asked for was baby formula so the little girl I fell in love with could grow healthy. I purchased 3 tins of formula and didn’t think much of the impact the formula would actually have until later in my life. Today I know baby formula could be the difference between life and death.

The first Christmas after I moved back to Canada my sister made a donation in my name to UNICEF for Baby Formula to go to someone in need. Once again baby formula was crossing paths with my life and I needed to figure out why because I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

I did some research on baby formula and 3rd World Countries and some of the things I read were pretty scary, such as the risk of life threatening diarrhoea due to mixing the formula with contaminated water. Large organizations such as UNICEF have taken amazing strides in educating women for safer practices. I know we often think that 3rd world countries are so desperate for help from amazing countries like Canada that we forget to look at the problems we have in our backyard.

In 2009 when I first launched BOBA an interesting event happened that began to bridge the gap between my idea and reality. One spring day I was exhausted and in need of some serious “me” time, so I took the day off from work. While I was eating lunch and watching the news at noon, Austin Delaney from CTV was doing a segment on Black Market baby formula. He reported that baby formula was a hot commodity on the black market scene because it is expensive and as quoted in a Star.com article - Dr. Deborah O'Connor, director of clinical dietetics at the Hospital for Sick Children, says feeding a baby is very expensive. "For families with low income, it can make a hole in the wallet."

So from that very moment of eating lunch while watching Austin Delaney, the bridge was built and PROJECT FORMULA came to life. I made the decision that a portion of the proceeds from sales at BOBA would go towards purchasing baby formula for women in need. If you follow my blogs you will know that BOBA has been a work in progress over the past year. 2010 has already been a very exciting year and fall of this year will mark the official launch of PROJECT FORMULA.

I share this story with you as my commitment to help Canadian women feed the future stars of Canada. A mother should never have to panic about how she is going to pay to feed her baby and most importantly proper nutrition is essential for the growth and development of babies.

Stay tuned for the launch of the new babyonboardapparel.com website and be sure to visit us at the following shows.

Family-a-Fair – Calgary, Alberta March 26 & 27 Booth 120

Spring Moma & Chicks Show – Oshawa, Ontario April 16

Shop for Baby – Toronto, Ontario April 25


For the Love of Fashion and our future stars,
xoxo aLi. M.

ps. here are some pictures from Cambodia including that beautiful little girl.

One Flaw in Women

Yesterday, I received this in my inbox! I think I have read it about 10 times and I honesty couldn’t agree more. Share this with the women in your life. I think it is pretty strong and powerful.


Xoxo

aLi m.

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men . . . . .
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy .
They smile when they want to scream .
They sing when they want to cry .
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous .
They fight for what they believe in . .
They stand up to injustice .
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution .
They go without so their family can have .
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend .
They love unconditionally .
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards .
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding .
Their hearts break when a friend dies .
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left .
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart .
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors .
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you .
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning .
They bring joy, hope and love .
They have compassion and ideas .
They give moral support to their
family and friends .
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give .
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH .

Exciting Things R Happening

Wow! Where have I been? It’s been a while since my last post. I have been here and working hard getting ready to take BOBA to the next level of fashion.

Exciting things are happening and I can hardly wait to share them with the world. If you follow me on Facebook you will know that I am launching a Spring/Summer Collection which will be for sale on my website by mid-March. This collection will include dresses, tunics, nursing tops and 3 way leggings. I will still include my original printed tee-shirts which will be part of my “Celebration Collection.” The color story is also fabulous; boasting colors of lemon meringue, green grass, grape gum, blue-jay blue, sporty grey, black and white.

I also have a very busy calendar coming up. I will be hitting the roads in western Canada and Ontario visiting stores and showing what the new collection has to offer. I will also have a booth at the A Mommy Soiree in Toronto on April 25th. If you are around get your gals together and purchase your tickets before they sell out.

Another exciting event coming up is the launch of the first CRAVE Toronto Urban Girl’s Guidebook which will also include BOBA.

This is just the beginning. If you know of another great event that BOBA should be at please share – mailto:info@babyonboardapparel.com

Also, stay tuned for our new website set to launch within the next 3 weeks!! March is going to be a busy month with lots of exciting new things taking place.

I want to share this top ten list I found from a brilliant British website called The Baby Show. This site is definitely worth a breeze through.

Top ten must-have maternity clothes

As your body changes shape, you may start to feel uncomfortable if the clothes you wear are not designed with room for your bump. Skirts could ride up and look much shorter than you'd like, tops can be tight across the stomach but baggy over the shoulders. It's important to get some proper maternity clothes in which you can both feel comfortable and look great. But don't rush out and blow all your money at the first early sign of pregnancy as your size may increase more than you anticipated!

1. Jeans or combats

No need to forgo style and comfort just because you're expecting. Modern boot cut, stretch jeans with 'regular' styling are available to buy from many maternity retailers. Trousers that are wider at the base, made in light denim and comfortable for the bump are the most flattering. Combat trousers can also be worn for a casual look with draw-string waists, wide ankles and useful side panel pockets.

2. A bigger little black dress

If you want to go out for a smart dinner or an evening with friends, a black dress is ideal for showing off your blossoming figure and feeling comfortable at the same time. This classic dress made in maternity style is perfect for elegant events out during your pregnancy.

3. The professional look

If you're used to wearing smart suits to work, there's no need to stop now that you're pregnant. Good quality trouser suits, tailored skirts and classic white shirts are all available in maternity styles. But remember you can often feel quite hot when pregnant so opt for cool cotton or sleeveless tops to keep the temperature down. Maternity tights can complete the professional look.

4. A twin set

Because you tend to feel warmer during your pregnancy it's wise to wear layers so you can easily peel one off if you start to feel the heat. A matching light natural fibre sweater and cardigan are ideal.

5. Comfortable lingerie

Opt for comfort where it counts the most! These days you can find many different styles and designs of beautiful maternity lingerie. Look for new bras as your size increases and ask for help if you need to be measured for a bra. It's important to feel supported and comfortable (as well as beautiful) as your body alters and grows larger. You will need to buy nursing bras before baby arrives, but wait until you're around 36 weeks as you'll get a better idea of what size you're likely to be around this time.

6. Cotton tops and dresses

You may start to feel warmer than usual during your pregnancy, so select tops and dresses made of cotton or other natural fibres to help you look cool and keep cool.

7. Hip accessories

No need to forget to accessorise during your antenatal nine months. Colourful scarves, funky earrings, sparkling necklace or chic bag can make you look and feel brighter.

8. Wrap or tie-back tops

These fit closer to your body on top, and allow more room around the bottom half; a flattering design that's also comfortable to wear. With tie-backs you can adjust the fit according to your growing size wearing them tighter during the earlier months and loosening them later on.

9. Black stretch trousers/leggings - BOBA will have 3 way leggings -WITH hardware!!! You will love!

Durable, economical, highly wearable and comfortable; they go with everything and make a great base from which to build an outfit. And they never go out of fashion. You can wear them in the first few weeks and continue throughout your pregnancy and on afterwards as you start to slim down.

10. A-line skirt - we have a dress and a top in A-Line! It's a perfect fit and sooo very comfortable

A slim-fitting skirt is a much more flattering cut for maternity wear than a full one. Taller ladies should go for a stylish mid length cut, while shorter ladies could try a knee-length hemline. A standard item of any maternity wardrobe; the A-line skirt goes with almost anything.

For the Love of Fashion,


xoxo aLi m.

BOBA my BFF

December marks the birthday of BOBA. A year ago this time I officially registered the company which essentially made the idea come to life. The year has been a crazy ride. I have seen BOBA grow and develop into something that I never imagined it would and personally I have grown. I have played the juggling act with my time shifting between my day job, my social life and a tiny bit of personal time while developing BOBA. This was usually not an easy task; however I quickly learned what I was good at and what I wasn’t.



I also became best friends with my business and what I mean by this is that starting a business is like forming a relationship with someone new. There is a period of utter bliss when you are first getting to know each other, there are rough patches which sometimes result in a bit of time apart and then there is the overall realization that we are in this together! I hit the overall realization stage a few months ago when I had an Ah ha! moment and realized BOBA was meant to be and BOBA will be something powerful in the very near future. I started the company with the purpose of helping others and in 2010 this officially kick off as I practice the belief that giving back is good business.


As I think about my final weeks at my day job I get so excited over the idea that soon I will be able to put all my love and passion into BOBA. BOBA was conceived through the love I have with my creativity, my family, and the phenomenal experience of becoming an auntie. As I ask other entrepreneurs about their great leap from full time employee to full time business owner I get the same reaction – it is a scary thought but once you make it happen it is the best experience ever.


About a month ago when I was really coming to terms with leaving my day job I decided to write the story of my life for the next 5 years. For the first time in my life I could see the light. I could completely visualize where I will be with BOBA. For anyone who is struggling to see the light, if you write it, it will come. I think it is amazing how powerful putting thoughts onto paper can be. A perfect example is Stephanie Meyer and her Twilight series, which came to life after she had a vivid dream and began writing about it. And need I say more!


So with all this I am excited to say that my BFF BOBA will be walking into 2010 with some fabulously fun and flirty fashions for the blossoming bellied fashionistas.


Many people have shared their thoughts with me about what they would like to see in maternity fashion and here is what I promise BOBA will produce – Canadian made garments that are not only fashion forward but affordable and available in sizes Small to 3X-Large.


Please continue to send me comments and I will consider all ideas that fly into my inbox – write me at info@babyonboardapparel.com

For the love of Fashion and a big Happy Birthday to BOBA,

 Xoxo


aLi m.

BabySteals.com | Quality, name brand baby and maternity products, one ultimate deal at a time until it's sold out!

BabySteals.com | Quality, name brand baby and maternity products, one ultimate deal at a time until it's sold out!

Posted using ShareThis

Holiday Sale!

The other day I saw a sign for a retail shop stating they were extending their hours for the holidays! I shook my head and couldn't believe it was happening already! I guess it is closer to the end of November than the beginning. So I decided to get into the Holiday Spirit and offer a great sale on BOBA Tee's. Until December 31/09 all tee's online will be selling for $30.00 plus taxes and shipping - buy.  This is a great deal! If you know anyone who is expecting wrap up a BOBA tee to put under the tree.                                                                      

For the Love of Fashion
xoxo

aLi m.