New York, New York...

Last week I decided to do a quick trip to NYC for some press desk sides, shopping and a chance catch-up with some old NYC friends.

I flew in to NYC Monday evening to prepare for my 8 hour day of desksides the following day. The pre-pregnancy Melissa would have flown in super early Tuesday am, oh how I am getting old!

Let's just say, come Tuesday, the weather was not on my side. Running around NYC in the rain, while trying to look professional, stylish and not uber pregnant, was definitely a challenge. By the end of the day I was too tired and wet to even think about making my way to UK's Top Shop (in a search for cheap cute maternity clothes) that I snuggled up in bed and watched the second to last episode of LOST.

By Wednesday the rain had passed and I walked the NY stationary show - to see if it was a fit for Melissa Beth's laptop bags and then met my friend Anna for Breaki at Pastis.

It was great to catch up. Anna is the owner and founder of Lucid New York handmade jewelry. We talked shop (whatever that means) and enjoyed a delicious breakfast.

Baby was happy after breaki and kicking! Here is a pic of Anna and myself below.

Anna and I took some pictures by this cool colorful backdrop and she was nice enough to give me one of her best-selling handmade necklaces, the circle necklace. Anna's jewelry is simple and chic and has been featured in countless magazines. I love wearing her handmade jewelry with a simple white tank, although my white tanks are starting to look like crop-tops!

After breaki I walked a few blocks to Limelight market place where I saw some of my old Bryant Park Holiday Shop friends. Jon Wye of Jon Wye Belts and Angela, from Om Aroma.

I was very impressed with the space at LimeLight - it reminded me of a Henri Bendles/Fred Segal inside of an old church (which I guess also used to be some sort of crazy club).

I managed to squeeze in one more desk-side in the afternoon and rushed off to the airport to only have to wait for our plane to arrive.. Of course, it was delayed. I guess I could have squeezed in more shopping :)

Looking forward to my next trip to NYC.

Coming home from NYC to Toronto always make me feel like I live in Suburbia (even though I live downtown!)

Dear Mom-Preneurs & Prego-Preneurs.. help!

Dear Mom-Preneurs, while I have always been a big fan of mom entrepreneurs (and all female entrepreneurs for that matter) I can finally say that I have a new fondness for mom-preneurs.

Since I (Melissa Beth) will be the newest addition to the club this October!! So moms you will have to teach me the ropes of juggling baby and bis! I will need the nitty gritty and your BEST tips/advice.

Help me find the best mom-preneur blogs, mommy blogs and prego blogs.

Send us a line (sales@melissabeth.com) or comment below on the best sites to visit!!

I am going to need all the help I can get.

So for now I am just a prego-preneur. If that is not already coined term than it should be!

(You heard it here first!)

So to show my LOVE for mom-preneurs and so you will accept me with my open arms into your clubs, I am marking down all of our diaper bags 50% off or more!

Get your diaper bag while quantities last.

Where in the world is your Melissa Beth bag?

I recently traveled to Nepal and India with my husband and had the most wonderful experience.   

As I was looking through our photos I noticed my favorite Melissa Beth bags in almost every shot.

This inspired me to start a new contest on our blog called "Where in the world is your Melissa Beth bag?".   

Send your favorite photos to us at sales@melissabeth.com and if your picture is selected you could win $100.00 gift card to our online store.   We will post the winners pictures online. There is no limit to how many pictures you can submit and we will select winners until the end of 2009.

Check out some of my pictures from Nepal & India below.   

#1

Amer Fort, Jaipur India

(Don't Slouch bag)

#2

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

(Grey Don't Slouch Bag)

#3

Golden Temple, Amritsar India

(Grey Don't Slouch Bag)

#4

Namache Bazaar, Nepal 

(Eggplant Weekend Bag)

#5

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

(Chocolate Brown Belt it Out Bag)

Send us your best travel pics! 

Gimme 5..

5 of my favorite beauty products

1.   Estee Lauder Day Wear with SPF 30.  Moisturizer with an SPF is a must! 

2.  Shu Umera Eye lash curler..  (can't leave the house without a 1-2 combo!)

3.  Biotherm -level 2 night cream.  The green bottle. 

4.  Mac "Naked Lunch" Eye Shadow.   

5.  Creme de La Mer eye cream- so far, no crows feet over here!  

See the pic below.. there are no lines in my face ;)

Actually, this was one of the first logos I designed for the MB brand (in a paint program). 

Win a Free Luxe Laptop Sleeve

We've decided to host another give-a-way.

This month you have the chance to win a free laptop sleeve.   Tell us why your laptop needs to be "pretty protected" TM.

 The Luxe Laptop Sleeve is designed for the stylish woman who demands only the best in quality and fashion. No more black, boring and BLAH laptop sleeves! You have style and so should your laptop. 

Caution: This laptop sleeve is not for the boring. Please use daringly! 

Be sure to enter by June 1, 2009.   We give extra points for creativity! 

Lou Lou Deals

Check out Lou Lou Magazine this month for a special coupon code. 

You can save when shopping online @ 

 www.melissabeth.com

Receive an additional 25% off  on regularly priced items

Okay, I'll save you the trouble of getting up.   

Use coupon code: "loulou" to redeem your discount. 

Offer expires May 28th 2009.

Melissa Beth @ The Elle Show

Come check out The Elle Show at the Carlu on April 25th.

This will be a fun-filled day of shopping, fashion-shows, beauty seminars and more.

Melissa Beth will be at booth # 1.

We will be selling all your favorite MB bags! 

Hope to see you there.

Melissa :)

I don't fit neatly into one category

I don't fit neatly into one category.   But who does?! 

I have had this blog domain for weeks now and I've been thinking about the best way to use a blog on melissabeth.com.    I have zillions of posts (and by zillions I mean 8) sitting in my draft file waiting to be posted.  But, I've been too scared to make the wrong blog category choice.    Those of you who know me well know I am sometimes slow when it comes to making a decision.

I've himmed and haaahed about whether my blog should be about fashion, style, only melissa beth designs topics, laptop bags, technology, bags in general, inspirational businesses and the list goes on and on...

But today I have made my choice.  As the sole writer of the blog (for now).   The blog will be about all of the above.    Everything that interests me, my likes and dislikes.    Ultimately, I think this is what will make my blog interesting.   I am not only interested in fashion or talking about my amazing Melissa Beth Designs products.

I love business, beauty products, bags and traveling.   I am a mild tv-aholic with a lot of thoughtful insight into the world of LOST and other amazing reality tv shows.    I am a young woman who started a business at the age of 23 and now, 5 years later, is faced with the challenges of growing a business in a sour economy.

Maybe I am about to commit blog-suicide, or maybe I am a blog genius and I just coined a new word.  But, I, much like my business Melissa Beth Designs, fit into many categories.   

My blog will offer insight into not only the coolest fashion finds and beauty products but also provide business and life lessons as I experience them.