Trying to pack light?  I know it's totally impossible right!
But here are some tips on how to mix and match pieces to maximize outfits.

Long weekend at country cottage by mrs-box featuring a printed cardigan

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Don't Slouch and Rocker Bag: Back in Stock!

Get em' while it's hot!

The "Don't Slouch" and the "Rocker Bag" are FINALLY back in stock.

We know you've been waiting patiently for them to arrive.

We can't promise how long they will stay in stock! But they here now!

MelissaBeth Gets a Facelift.... that's the website not the designer!

If you haven't already noticed MelissaBeth.com got a facelift!

We feel 10 years younger already!!

Our new website isn't just about looking good (although our new website is v. pretty!) - now when you shop its WAY easier to find what you are looking for.

Check out our list of cool new features that make shopping online a breeze!

1) Sort by size or sort by color

If you are like me than you know what you want, so just click on the top right sort by laptop size by or color section and you can easily see a list of items that fit your criteria.

2) Refer a Friend

When you refer a friend to our website (and they make a purchase) we send you a free gift certificate for $25.00! Who knew making money was this easy!

3) Product Views

Want to see every angle of our products? Just click on our alternate views to check out additional views.

4) Retailers Section

Want to check out a bag in person? Check out our new retailers section which helps you find a store closest to you. You can even view the stores on google maps.

5) Featured product section

Like to be the in the know? Now with our specialized feature product section and easy access to our newsletter you can be the first to know the latest deals at Melissa Beth

Get a $10 coupon at MelissaBeth.com

Be the first to know about the hottest new products, events and sales!

Sign up today for Melissa Beth's newsletter and you will receive a $10 coupon to use online at www.melissabeth.com

Design Inspiration + Ice Cream

Mention the word ice cream and my ears perk up!

Well, how convenient that on a quest for some design inspiration Ben and Jerry's sponsored an article with resources to help inspire designers.

My two loves: designing + ice cream

Check out the link below for some great resources to give your creativity a jump start.

If that doesn't work - eat some ice cream!

http://mashable.com/2010/06/24/design-inspiration-resources/

Finally Jake gets it right

Finally Jake dumps Vienna... As if anyone is surprised!

Well, I am actually surprised how long it took for them to break up! And poor girl. Just when her hair was starting to look less "yellow".

Maybe Ali and Jake will somehow reunite?!

What's in a name?

In early October, or maybe late September, I will launch my most exciting product to date, my first BABY!! Bad joke I know, but I made myself chuckle. Designing this "product" was far easier than any MB product. (tee hee)

Lately, I find myself trying to find perfect name for my baby. Something classic, yet unique. Something everyone will love (ya right!) and something my child will one day turn to us and say, "thank you mom and dad, I love my name". Clearly I am delusional.

I started to wonder what is in a name?!

Melissa, for instance is means "honey bee" in Greek. But what does that even mean?!

Believe it or not, I've met dozens "Melissa Beth's" who all seem to be stylish, creative, fun-loving and colorful.

Is the name "Melissa" synonymous with being all these things? It might be?!

There are also so many designers whose name is Melissa that I adore.

Melissa Sweet

Designer of gorgeous wedding gowns. I even wore one of her designs to my own weddings.

Melissa Shoes

Cute Jelly shoes for adults and now babies (see last weeks post)

Melissa Davis Photography

Super cute design templates.

Melissa and Doug

Amazingly life like stuffed animals

Baked by Melissa

Delicious and adorable mini cupcakes in NYC.

Melissa Beth

Stylish laptop and travel accessories.

So what's in a name?! I guess a lot.... pressure much?!

Accepting name suggestions from non-relatives.

Pretty is Back

Melissa Beth's Pretty Printed Sleeves are now back in stock at www.melissabeth.com

The Pretty Printed Laptop Sleeve is the perfect neoprene case to house your precious laptop.

Designed with a custom MB print, soft fleece inside lining, and super thick neoprene this laptop sleeve is more than just a pretty face!

Prices range from $29.50-$39.50

Available in 4 sizes:

10.2"/ipad/netbook

13"

14-15.4"

17"

Get em while you can!! These babies keep selling out!!

Melissa Shoes + Vivienne Westwood = Jelly Shoes for Babies

People sometimes ask us if Melissa Beth is the same as Melissa Shoes?

Well, we are definitely not the same company!! But we do like her name!

With baby on the brain, I am loving Melissa Shoes and Vivienne Westwood's newest creation... Baby Jellies.

Melissa Shoes launches their first "mini collection" and it couldn't be any sweeter.

We are happy to know Melissa's around the world are doing their part in taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary!

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!)

Melissa Beth @ The Clothing Show in Toronto

Hey Torontonians!

Come check out Melissa Beth at the Clothing Show this weekend at The Better Living Center near the Exhibition in Toronto.

Come say hi - we'll be @ Booth 449.

We will be selling our laptop bags, laptop sleeves, make up cases and MORE!

Take advantage of our sample sale and discounted discontinued items!!

The show is Friday 3-9, Saturday 11-8 and Sunday 11-7.

See you there!

Melissa :)

Mother's Day Sale

Celebrate mom and give her the gift of style.

25% off all regular priced merchandise online at www.melissabeth.com

Use couponcode: MOMSDAY

Enjoy!

Ottawa Citizen: Cool Cosmetic Carriers

Great write up in the Ottawa Citizen this weekend!

Gear to go Cool cosmetics carrier

THE OTTAWA CITIZENMARCH 20, 2010

Your dazzling array of miniature toiletry products proves that you're the girliest of girly girls. Now you may as well store them in a case befitting the Queen of Estrogen. The Don't Leave Me Hangin' makeup case by indie designer Melissa Beth is an oversized vessel with six zippered compartments that are wipeable.

The exterior is a stain-resistant velour. Roll it up for easy storage within your luggage, or hang it on the bathroom door at your hotel for easy access. Best of all, it has a pretty wallpaper-effect in the lining, and comes in sassy colours like seafoam, wasabi green and raspberry truffle.

- $48 at Ottawa Leather Goods (179 Sparks St.)

BisBuzz: Tip of the week "Just Do It"

Sometimes I find I can get overwhelmed with all the tasks the week or day may hold for me.

Or sometimes a challenging large project can leave me wondering- how am I going to do that?

However, after close to 6 years in business. I have learned you have to just do it. Nike had it right when they created this slogan. You have to make the time, make a list (so you don't get caught up with distractions, like writing this blog LOL) and just do it. The rest will fall into place.

So my advice this week is just grab life by the horns and JUST DO IT.

The Decline of MacWorld

Last week I went to MacWorld to visit some customers and see what is new and cool in the Apple World. However, I couldn't help but notice the MASSIVE decrease in size, vendors and overall excitement about MacWorld! It was a bit lame. The only thing that stayed the same was that there was a about a 1:100 female to male ratio.

Has CES taken over MacWorld? Is the era of the trade show changing?

Check out this great article in Digital Trends about the decline and MacWorld's future.

"Is MacWorld Dead?"

BisBuzz: Tip of the week

Small business owners:

My tip to you, is "when you can - pay by credit card!"

Charge it! It may not seem like an obvious choice, but credit cards offer many benefits for small businesses

1) If you do not get your goods/products/services you ordered from a company

Maybe they went bankrupt THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED TO ME!, or they just failed to ship you the goods or your products just arrived damaged. If the company will not fix your problem you can file a chargeback and in most cases you will win.

2) You get an extra 30 days on paying your credit card bill

3) You may get points for air miles or travel. Why not get a free trip somewhere when you spend money?!

4) You will have an extremely accurate record of your expenses

5) Build business credit.

"A small business credit card provides a newly established business the opportunity to build business credit. This will be useful in the future as your business grows and you need capital in the form of credit lines or loans". Although you may not need a line of credit or a loan, you may need it one day in the future and building your credit can help you in the future when you grow your business.

However, make sure you pay your credit card bill on time, as credit card fees can be extremely costly!

Melissa Beth hits Signapore

Quintessentials is the newest store to carry Melissa Beth this season.

This ultra chic boutique is carrying the complete Melissa Beth collection.

Bina, Quintesstional's owner says "Our store is a multi-brand handbag and jewellery store we introduce new brands, looks and trends before they hit the mainstream. Some of the lines we have bought may have been just on the verge of media acclaim - Dewi Kroell, Botkier, Fiona Paxton, Kotur over the past few years. Our customers enjoy the pleasure of owning new "discoveries" and labels. We specialise in the unique, the quirky and the cool and because we buy in limited quantities they also enjoy being the only ones on this tiny island carrying or using their "discovery"."

Take the Old and Make it New

My love for design spills over into home decor. While I helping my cousin-in-law finish to redecorate his bedroom we found a gorgeous antique lamp in his house.

It reminded me of my gorgeous antique tea cup collection but the lamp wasn't quiet right. It was a bit funny looking with a high misplaced candleabra and its extra tall structure. I loved the components of the lamp so much I was determined to take apart the lamp. A quick call to grandpa and he told us how we could easily pop off the light socket and take all of the hardware pieces off the lamp.

We ended up with a gorgeous unique lamp (see attached final product poor quality picture) that added a soft touch to his modern industrial-style furniture pieces. Don't be so quick to chuck out the old and replace with new. You can re-design them to work with your home. I guess the saying "everything old is new again" is very true!

Melissa Beth Laptop Bags for the 13" MacBook

One of the hottest holiday gifts this season is the 13" Macbook Pro (which now comes in silver instead of black and white) so its not only ultra high tech but also super sleek.

So which Melissa Beth laptop bags are the best for the 13" Macbook?

While all of our laptop bags do accommodate the 13" Macbook, here are some of my fav Melissa Beth laptop totes that I use when I carry my own 13" Macbook.

1) Half Pocket Full of Puter

Inspired by its big sister the 'Pocket full of 'Puter (sounds like pewter for computer) this mini laptop bag fits the 13" Macbook perfectly. Available in bright colors, this bag is not for the boring!

2) 13" Small Slim Tote

The small slim tote is a mini bag with a super thick foam padded laptop compartment. Adorable printed and thick quilted liner makes this cute laptop bag a must for all.

3) Pretty Printed Laptop Sleeve

The pretty printed laptop sleeve has been really popular since its debut in People Magazine last month. The 13" sleeve (available in 3 prints) is the perfect fit the 13" Macbook. This neoprene sleeve is great because you can easily toss your laptop in any of your existing bags and your laptop is still protected!

Need help finding a laptop bag for your laptop?

Email us at sales@melissabeth.com and we can help you find an appropriate fit.