Behind the scenes with founder of The Mother of All Baby Showers, Interview with Amy Lundy

                                       

Last week I had the pleasure of joining an old friend on an amazing work trip (#abckids14) with whom I've been working with over the past year on her unique event concept, The Mother of All Baby Showers. If you haven’t heard about the event, you will. But you likely won’t hear about her, Amy Lundy, because she puts her brand (commonly and fondly called MOABS to those who know about the growing event/brand) in the forefront and leaves her name out of it. She doesn’t push for press for herself, rather she puts her event partners in the spotlight. She’s a native South Floridian who has lived in various cities around the country, traveling extensively for her work and building relationships seems to be her forte. She genuinely cares about people and loves her work and her event partners and colleagues whom she calls “friends.” She doesn’t promote herself, her extensive marketing and events background (ever heard of American Express, um yeah, she managed their events marketing department in NYC for years before deciding to start her own business), her success or the charitable pieces of her events. She’s a wife, stay-at-home working mom and she created a business for all of us—other mom and dad entrepreneurs, bloggers, product and service providers and parents. She’s a force, but she’s humble; she’s a CEO, but she’s also a swag bag stuffer (you won’t believe what you’ll find in this year’s bags—in a word, WOW!); she means business, but she takes it all in stride and will make you laugh in an instant. Following the trip I asked her if she’d let me ask her 10 questions and she agreed and asked that we try to forgive her if her answers aren’t “perfect” because she’s answering after 4 days of no sleep (Vegas baby…for work) and she has a sick infant at the moment

So here goes…

Amy G: What made you want to create MOABS?

Amy L: I’m a mom, I’ve been pregnant, and I was overwhelmed by the choices and yet excited by everything on the market. To this day, and probably forever, I’ll love bringing together awesome traditional products (strollers, car seats) and new and innovative products (have you seen Zippyz?). I’ve been in/I’m in your shoes and I truly mean it when I say I love connecting top notch products and services with top notch parents (that’s you, in case you forgot, you’re awesome!).

Amy G: How do you choose your venues?

Amy L: Location, size of space, their excitement for the event and audience, and I try to imagine myself in the space as an eager event partner and a nervous and excited attendee. Some places just feel right to you, my instincts lead the way.

Amy G: What are the shirts about? 

Amy L: This is a good one. Our first year I had them made simply to help event partners and attendees find the staff at the event. We had so many requests to buy them that we decided to have a lot more made and at every event we work with one non-profit who sells them and keeps 100% of the revenue. In the case of the South Florida event, the non-profit is Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Foundation, which ensures the ongoing availability of safe, quality, cost-effective, patient- and family-centered care, regardless of one’s ability to pay. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is the only children’s hospital that performs cardiac catheterization, open heart surgery, pediatric heart transplantation and pediatric dialysis in Broward County. 

Amy G: Where to next?

Amy L: Wouldn’t you like to know…MOABS is adding Orlando and North Jersey, now it’s public! Whoa

Amy G: When do you sleep?

Amy L: zzzzzzz that’s me napping, 15 min naps are THE BEST. I sleep 6 hours per night if I’m lucky, but I will tell you that my amazing husband lets me sleep just a tad more on the weekends. He essentially forces me to go to bed every night and sleep a bit more on the weekends. #thankful

Amy G: What is one product you can’t live without? What product can’t your kids live without?

Amy L: I can’t live without my phone, and you know, it’s a Blackberry—how bad is that? And surprisingly, it’s not for the phone or email, it’s for the pictures. It’s a great camera and since I travel often I need to see my family photos whenever I start feeling homesick. If we’re talking baby products then I’m going with a new product I just discovered at #abckids14, shout out to Boogies Be Gone who makes nasal aspirators for babies and young kids. It’s that time of year, kids are constantly getting colds and this product offers A LOT of relief for our kids and us. Check it out, they’re a Miami-based company. My kids cannot live without Oogaa, they make the absolute cutest feeding products—making eating fun, making clean up easier for me. You can’t go wrong. And also based in Florida. That, and technology, let’s be honest. 

Amy G: What is your favorite service because it isn’t just products you feature, right?

Amy L: The usual suspects, hospitals, OBGYN’s and pediatricians are a must for my education-based events, but I particularly appreciate the fitness services out there. I hate working out, but when I can fit it in, it gives me energy and makes me that much happier. They keep getting more fun. Check out Mommycise—it’s a workout you can do with the baby and will you actually enjoy it!

Amy G: What can we expect from your event vs. other events?

Amy L: I’m excited for the other moms creating events to serve the millions of expectant and new parents looking for information around the country. I hope they find their unique spin to make their events stick out and valuable to attendees. MOABS is all about education and celebration, adults only at night at a family-friendly venue (museums) and with something for everyone, whether you’re planning, pregnant or have a newborn, infant or toddler. We appeal to EVERYONE who wants to learn and have fun. The swag bags, $20K in giveaways, food, drinks (yes, wine and beer for the non-preggers) and celebs are just icing on the cake (yes, cupcakes too). We’re into our second year, expect fabulous resources at your fingertips and LOT of surprises. From an event partner standout, I treat my partnerships seriously, as I treat my friendships—loyalty, trust, there in good times and bad, I am there year round to support the brands I work with on every event. There is no better event in the tri-county area for you as an attendee or an event partner!

Amy G: Should people go with girlfriends or hubby?

Amy L: Why choose? Bring them all. Dads will get tons of swag and education specific to them, as will moms. What’s important is that whomever goes is supportive of one another, open-minded, and ready to learn and party!

Amy G: Why a children’s museum? I thought kids weren’t invited.

Amy L: That’s true, but that’s the point. We can learn a lot and have fun at the museum with adults only, which is a different experience for us all. Young At Art especially has phenomenal exhibits that people of any age can appreciate. And I am thankful to have built such a great relationship with YAA. Don’t forget that ALL, meaning 100% of ticket proceeds go to the museum. Those ticket sales will support Classroom & Community Outreach programs in art, world culture, the environment and math delivered by museum educators at classrooms and community sites throughout South Florida, including resources for hundreds of pre-k students, their families and early childhood educators in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The museum also awards financial aid for families enrolling their children in art studio classes and art camps in the Young At Art Institute.

Amy G: Tell us a secret. 

Amy L: Okay so a secret now no longer a secret. I still have a baby blanket I sleep with every night. Embarrassing, right?

Amy G: Tell us your greatness weakness when it comes to MOABS.

Amy L: Delegating. I’m a 24-7 kind of person (don’t freak when you see emails at midnight from me please). I’ve built every relationship, whether answering simple emails from attendees or creating complex national event partnerships. It’s hard to trust others to do things my way, but I’ve also learned that sometimes others have great ideas to contribute and know things I don’t know. I’m lucky to have an excellent team at my side.

Amy G: Most embarrassing moment?

Amy L: Easy. One week after having baby #1 I left the house for the first time post c-section, got out of the car to run into a store and immediately realized I had baby poop on my hand. #mommoment

Amy G. Anything else we should know about you?

Amy L.: I desperately need a manicure and I’ve been saying that in my head for month? Oh you mean about MOABS. Yes, come say hi at the event, I want to meet you, congratulate you, thank you and be a resource for you. We’re all in this parenting journey together, I hope I can bring some laughter, learning and maybe even libations to your life. 

To learn more about this fabulous event, please visit www.sflmotherofallbabyshowers.com. Advanced admission is limited to 150 people and includes four tickets to Young At Art Museum, early admission to the event at 5:30 p.m., and a special swag bag.100 percent of ticket proceeds benefit Young At Art Museum.

Leave a blog comment telling us why you want to attend MOABS and you will be entered to win 2 VIP tickets!!! 

How to Make a No Sew Fleece Scarf

Want to make an adorable warm fleece scarf in just 10 minutes? Follow these 5 easy steps... 

1) Head to your local fabric store to pick out a fun fleece pattern. I brought my son with me to help pick out the pattern of his choice.  

Polar fleece is a synthetic fabric. It is light, soft, durable and it does not fray! Hence the no sew!!! 

2) When you get home, use a scissors to figure out what size would be best for your child. (I started with 4ft long, 1ft wide) 

3) Lay the piece of fleece flat on the table and cut long even fringes along the width of the scarf. You can have your child help with this, which is great for hand-eye coordination. 

4) Optional: Once the fringes are made you can put a knot at the bottom or even the top of the fringe to add some extra style. 

5) Just like that, the scarf is ready to wear !!!

Have fun and stay warm!!

Our Gender Reveal: What a "SWEET" Surprise

He or She? Open up to see!!! 

Looking for a sweet way to share the news of your babies sex with family and friends? What a treat it was to have Panera Bread make us delicious sugar cookies with PINK candies in them.

After my husband and I left the doctors office in excitement, who do you think the first person I called was? My mom, my BFF, nope, not this time... I called the amazing event planners at Panera Bread to share the exciting news. Within just a few hours I arrived at my local Panera Bread and the adorable boxes of cookies were waiting for me. It was such a pleasure working with such a nice team of ladies. 

I also had my son take cookies to his class for a surprise snack with his friends! 

      

Our Grandparents and Great Grandparents enjoying the delcious cookies. Thanks to the iPhone we even were able to FaceTime my brother for the BIG reveal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cara Nething: Cara.Nething@covelli.com OR
Dena Chislak: Dena.Chislak@covelli.com

Available in Palm Beach County and Broward County, Florida 

Panera Bread does WONDERful cookie gifts for any event in your life. 

Welcome New Blog Contributor Stephanie

Wonder Mommy is pleased to welcome our new blog contributor Stephanie. Stay tuned for her first post as she shares all of her adorable ideas she does with her daughter.

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I have done just about everything child related since I was 14. From babysitting “middle” class children to babysitting “celebrity” children, running a high-end day care, teaching pre-school, helping to raise my nephew, etc. So when I found out I was pregnant at 29, I said to my boyfriend, “Being a mom will be so easy, I’m a pro with kids”. Boy, was I wrong! Hey mommies, my name is Stephanie and I am a stay at home mom of my 2 year old daughter, Hayden. She is the most wonderful, smart, caring little girl I have ever met. But boy is she a challenge! I wanted to share my blogs, as I am always looking for fun, exciting, creative, and most important, learning activities to keep Hayden busy. I hope that you enjoy my blogs and get encouraged to play and have fun with your little one as they explore this big world of ours.

Product Review: Lucky & Me Underwear

I was so excited to receive 2 pairs of Lucky & Me boys underwear for my son who is starting the potty training process. Their bright color and comfy material made my hesitant son excited to wear "big boy" underwear. It was the first time he wore underwear for longer then 5 minutes. My son especially loved the boxer briefs because he said, "I match Daddy!!"

I highly recommend this product to all Wonder Mommies with boys.

"We believe underwear is just as important as birthday cake. Our mission is to redefine the underwear category for kids with fabric that’s soft and comfortable, thoughtfully designed details, adorably chic styles that capture the whimsy of childhood and prices that won’t break the piggy bank


Check out Lucky & Me and all of their great underwear options at www.luckyandme.com.

"Like" Lucky & Me on www.facebook.com/luckyandme

Smiles for Shira

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  Wonder Mommies- Grab your capes, we need your help... a friend of mine in our local Palm Beach area has dedicated her time to help her sister find a stem cell donor. Get swabbed today and let's help Shira, a TRUE Wonder Mommy find her match! 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Please take a minute and visit www.deletebloodcancer.org/shira/ - they are one of the organizations doing drives (getting people swabbed) and they share a lot of Shira's specific info on it. Also, make sure to like the facebook page Smiles For Shira- getting people to "like" the page is good because there are drives that happen across the country and they are all posted on the page along with other helpful and interesting information. Below is a letter that Shira's husband wrote that will help you better understand what Shira and her family are going through. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

                                                                                                                               Family, Friends and Soon to be Friends:

  
  In my adult life, I have never been good at asking for anything, from anyone. However, now, I have no choice. What I need to achieve requires the commitment and participation of everyone I know, everyone they know, and everyone they know.

  I am reaching out for help to give, Shira, the love of my life, the mother of my three beautiful children, Rylie (9), Brayden (6) and Lucas (3) a second lease on life. Shira is fighting for longevity.

  As many of you know, Shira was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on New Year’s Eve 2010 – just a few weeks before the first birthday of our youngest child while on a family vacation. The news hit us like a ton of bricks. But Shira kept smiling.

  We were told “this is the good kind”. Of course, with the qualifier that there is “no good kind”. The cure rates for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma are supposed to be very good.

  Like the star she is, Shira endured months of intense chemotherapy without complaint or self-pity. Unfortunately, although there was short period of remission, she quickly relapsed. Shira moved on to the next treatment option, which included a stem cell transplant using her own stem cells. Again, she endured intense chemotherapy and hospital stays of weeks at a time. Again, Shira kept smiling. She met the treatment and the Hodgkin’s head on; never complaining, never feeling sorry for herself. From the hospital, she orchestrated car pools, helped with homework via Facetime, even ordered groceries online. She was your typical mom of three kids, wife, daughter and friend. Always there to listen to everyone – and cheer them up; making donations to charities that solicited us through friends, commenting on pictures on Facebook and coordinating our daughter’s dance schedule. Ultimately, she underwent the stem cell transplant. Again, a short remission was followed by a relapse.

  For the last several months, Shira has been taking a new chemotherapy with the hopes that she will get back into remission and undergo a second stem cell transplant. This time, the transplant requires a donor. That’s where you come in.

  I am asking you all to test yourself to see if you are a match for Shira – and if not, your efforts may just help someone else’s mom, daughter or friend who like Shira is fighting every day. The test is simple. It requires taking a Q-tip and swabbing your check – putting it in a package and sending it off to be tested.

  I need your help TODAY; not tomorrow, not next week, but today. Your immediate action could be the needle in the haystack we are looking for.

  We are planning local drives in New Jersey and are working with folks around the country in our various networks to run drives in their neighborhoods.

  Shira, my family and I thank you for your immediate action. I welcome any information or guidance from those that can share.

  Keep Smiling. Justin

  
  

  
  

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