New Blog!

Hi friends!
     I know that I have failed you when it comes to consistent blogging.  I have some good news though! I've been doing A TON of behind the scenes work on my business and I'm now fully prepared to bring amazing content right to your inbox each and every week! Woo hoo! 
    Here's the deal though, I need you to come on over to my NEW blog and sign up to stay connected. It's super easy.  Just go here -->> http://www.myunbowlievablelife.com.  

    I will be deleting this blog in a week and will NOT bring my subscribers list with me. So if you'd like to stay up to date on my life (personal and professional) and learn some things about turning your passion into profit by creating a business from your craft then meet me over at My Unbowlievable Life! 

I'll see you soon!
-Kristin

DIY: How To Clean a Hair Bow

I'm pretty sure, no, I'm positive that dirt is naturally attracted to clean objects. Especially when it comes to our children! Much like the sock monster hiding in the dryer the dirt dilemma is an unsolved mystery.

Let's say you just purchased an adorable bow to perfectly match her outfit and now it has dirt, ketchup, spaghetti sauce or some other exotic condiment stuck to it. Or maybe it just has lots of dirty finger prints on it that have quickly turned her white bow gray. 

"How can I clean my bow without destroying it?" you ask.

Good news, my friend. I HAVE THE ANSWER! And I'm sharing it with you today!

Today I am focusing on how to clean a grosgrain (grow-grain) hair bow. Grosgrain is the most common type of bow available. It's a great ribbon because it's durable, easy to work with, lasts forever, and still looks feminine and girly. Grosgrain hair bows are perfect for every pretty princess and bow lover alike.  The bad news is that grosgrain has lots of ridges. The kind of ridges that like to collect dirt and grime. If you choose to use these instructions on more fragile materials such as satin or organza please know that your bow may lose its shape and or have water spots and end up looking worse than when you first started.

This is the texture of grosgrain ribbon. See the ridges?

I've seen people recommend putting bows in garment bags and washing them in the washing machine or placing them on the top shelf of the dish washer on the gentle cycle. I've had many Unbowlievable bows survive the washing machine (and dryer too) but because I'm a bow guru and know exactly how bows are put together I think these methods are a crapshoot. You might get lucky and have your bow survive one time and you might not be so lucky the next. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. The cleaning method I'm about to show you will work every single time.

STEP ONE
Start with a good cleaner. Spray evenly over entire surface of the bow and then focusing on trouble spots.  I HIGHLY recommend OxiClean Baby! I love it because it's fragrance, dye and chlorine free. This stuff usually ALWAYS gets the stains out (think all baby stains not just dirty hair bows). Just keep in mind that it's powerful and if you leave it on any material for too long it will eat holes in your clothes and bows! Trust me. I learned the hard way!

I usually purchase my OxiClean Baby at Babies R Us but it's carried in many stores.

STEP TWO
Let the solution soak into fabric for 5-10 minutes.
NOTE: You do NOT want the solution to dry onto the fabric before you've rinsed it so make sure you have enough solution on your bow that it won't completely dry out in 5-10 minutes.

Spray with solution. Focus on stains.

Let bow soak for 5-10 minutes.

STEP THREE
No matter what the size of your bow you don't want to scrub too hard or you could pull threads in the ribbon and ruin the look of it.  You want to use your thumb and fingers to to rub the stains away.

Rub ribbon between pointer finger and thumb to work out dirt and stains. If there are stubborn stains repeat steps 1-3 until the stains have been lifted.

STEP FOUR
After you have gently worked the dirt and stains out of your bow you will need to rinse off the cleaning solution. You can get the entire bow (clip included) wet so no need to be cautious. I run mine under the kitchen sink.

STEP FIVE
Once your bow is clean and rinsed you will need to dry it. I recommend blow drying your bow instead of letting it air dry because if it air dries it may be shapeless and flat. If you blow dry it you can form the ribbon with your hands and as it dries it will have much more shape. 

WARNING:
1. Be careful not to burn your fingers while blow drying. That sucker gets hot!
2. Do not overheat the bow! If you make the bow too hot the glue may begin to melt and the bow could detach from the clip.
3. Be cautious when handling the metal clip. Keep in mind that metal gets hot very quickly so please be cautious when handling it.
4. Overheating ribbon can cause it to brown PERMANENTLY! Remember that you're drying it, not frying it! 

Congrats! You're done! You've just cleaned your hair bows!

If this tutorial was helpful for you I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below or post pictures of your little ones in their newly cleaned hair bows on our Facebook page! It'd also be AMAZING if you would share this tutorial with your friends and family! Tweet about it, Share it on Facebook or Pin it on Pinterest.

Do you have questions about bows that you'd like to have answered?  Leave them below in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them in an upcoming blog! 

As always, if you're in the market for NEW hair bows stop by my website

 www.unbowlievable.com

 

 

 

                                    

The Not So Bow Lady

"Bow Lady."  A title I've gladly but reluctantly embraced. Nothing about this title screams fun, hip, cool mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. I feel like I should be walking around with a Mary Poppins bag full of goodies, bad hair and makeup and no sense of style. After all, that's what those crafty and creative types are like, right?

WRONG.

Welcome to the world where I prefer to be known as an entrepreneur, mompreneur (mom entrepreneur) and hair bow guru.  Long story short, I know the bow business inside and out, I'm not old and I love fashion.  I especially love helping YOU find the perfect hair bows for your little lady.

When we had our retail store you were able to walk through our doors and either me or my amazing staff could make you anything your heart desired. Now that we're gone (crazy to see Motherhood Maternity in our spot, isn't it?) how will your life ever be the same?  Ok, a little over dramatic.  But really, how are you supposed to perfectly match all of the new outfits you buy as your "baby" grows.  

Enter the coolest feature to EVER hit the hair bow industry. 

Now you can custom design hair bows from the comfort of your home! If you're not getting just how amazing this is let me explain.  

We just took the MOST POPULAR feature of our business and created a program that allows you to access our store from the comfort of your home! 

If you can't tell, I'm totally pumped! I've made a video for you with 2 purposes. First was just to stop by and say "hi." I haven't seen many of you face to face in almost a year and a half so I made a cameo. Secondly, I want to show you just how simple (and how fun!) it is to design your own bows!  You literally just click and create! 

 If the video above isn't cooperating then click here to watch it. 

What are you waiting for? Click here to visit our website and start designing bows for your little princess!  

And because I love you guys, use promo code DHB13 and save 25% off your next custom design purchase!

Making a List, Checking it Twice



Is it really possible that today is the last day of November?  What happened to this year?  I'm convinced that life passes by so much faster when you have children. Don't you agree?



I wanted to take a moment and send everyone a belated "Happy Thanksgiving!"  I am truly thankful for each and every one of you.  You all have been so amazing and so many have helped tremendously in the efforts to spread the word about Unbowlievable.  Thank you, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate you all!

Last, but not least, I wanted to let you all know that our store will be closing December 31st. Shortly after I wrote "Sink or Swim" I got word from the mall that they had plans to put a permanent store in our location.  They did offer us the option to relocate to the other end of the mall but after considering all our options we've decided it's time for a new chapter.  I've spent a lot of time praying and seeking direction for Unbowlievable and I can't help but feel that this is exactly what is meant to be.   Now, don't be sad.  We're not going anywhere!  We are just a few short weeks away from launching the most amazing hair accessories website EVER (if I do say so myself. hehe)  and we still plan to have another retail location at some point but I'm not going to promise that will happen in the very near future.



Now go grab a pen and paper, check out your daughter's wardrobe and come stock up on hair accessories before we're gone! Make your list and check it twice. Maybe Santa needs to fill all the stockings with Unbowlievable bows this year! (hint hint) 

Love to you all!

xoxo

-Kristin

Sink or Swim

Have you ever had that moment? You know, the one where you're up to here (holds hand way above head) in "stuff".  Your "stuff" is undoubtedly different from my "stuff" but it's equally as real to each of us. And it is in this moment, when the weight of what you are bearing is totally overwhelming, you make a choice. Will you sink or will you swim? You can go down with out a fight or you can give it all you've got and hope you "swim."



I find myself in that place today. I'm buried by life but oddly at peace by all of it. I know my Creator is holding my hand as I'm on this journey and it's just a matter of time until I reach a true moment of clarity. For now? I'm at a cross road: keep Unbowlievable open or close it?  (Don't think I didn't hear you gasp!)

Now please don't think for a moment that I'm looking for sympathy because I'm not. But I know that  you can help.

Many of you guys (I hate to call you "customers") have become my friends. I'm usually at the store to greet you when you arrive. I've helped you design bows for your daughter's baptism,  first (and 2nd and 3rd) birthday, holiday pictures. You name it.  Many of you knew me when I only had one child.  You've been with me through my pregnancy and you helped me welcome my second princess into this world.  I've had several of you stop by Unbowlievable just to introduce me to your new baby too (since I helped you find accessories for her while you were expecting).  You all have brought more joy to my life than you'll ever know.  You've played a huge part in my success and in helping my dream for Unbowlievable come true.

You know the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child", right? Well, Unbowlievable is my child and YOU are my village.  I have one simple request: TALK ABOUT UNBOWLIEVABLE!  Tell your friends, neighbors, and the cashier at the grocery store. It doesn't matter who it is, we just need more people to know about Unbowlievable!  Here are a few ways you can help!

   

1.   Talk about us on Facebook! (Click HERE to visit our FB fan page). Post pictures of your little princess wearing her Unbowlievable bows on our page.  Tag us in your posts and encourage your friends to come and visit. Brag on us, share about us and help us let others know we exist!   (And just so you know, we will have a new and improved website up and running in about 3 weeks!)

2.  Tweet about us!  Follow us on Twitter @Unbowlievable. Tag us as much as you can and make sure you use the hash tag #unbowlievable.






3. If you're on Yelp, consider writing a review about the store.

4. If you blog, write a review about our product or our store.  I'm even willing to send you product samples so that you can write a review and keep some great free products too.  Just e-mail me at info@unbowlievable.com, send me the link to your blog and let me know what type of samples you're interested in reviewing.

I'm simply asking, no, I'm actually begging, that you do something (anything!) to help spread the word about Unbowlievable.  You guys have the ability to help grow this business from a one store location to a national brand just by letting people know how great we are! This is do or die time for us.  If things stay the same we won't survive. We either sink or we swim. I'm ready to swim! 

Thank you guys SO MUCH for continuing to be a part of my life, for being a friend and for helping me out when I need it the most! You're all amazing!

xoxo
-Kristin