Do you have a Smelly Monster??? GIVEAWAY: Kids Bath and Body

Meet Nayetta...new Etsy shop owner and maker of the yummy bath and body sundries at Smelly Monster. http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmellyMonster  Smelly Monster carries Bath and Body products for KIDS  "that are lye-free and that make bath time fun...even for boys!"   She is a mom to three children ages 9 - 24.  WOW....she is BUSY!  She says both of her Grandmothers were crafty and her father was a pattern maker.  "I have always loved creating, but for years I chose an accounting career over crafting. There's not much room for creativity in accounting. My other venues include being an author, blogger, and entrepreneur."  From Accounting to Smelly Monster.  lol  That tickles my funny bone...but it is so AWESOME!  

Nayetta tells me she started to making the kids the Smelly Monster line in 2011.  She says, " Our goal was to have a kids skin care line that included products specifically for boys, both young and all the way up to pre-teens.  We wanted to see different products for boys when picking out gifts and presents. Dry skin is a problem because of the climate where we live, so we also needed to create something that solved that problem for us." YAY!!  We need more boy things on Etsy.  I constantly hear moms asking for more cute boy things and boy products.


The inspiration for Smelly Monster comes from Nayetta's children.  She says, " Sometimes it's how they view current events, and what's going on in their world. I pay attention to the things they say and ask them if they think we could make a product around it. We went to an animal show and my son handled a pet snake that he wants one day. But for now, we created "Slithering Suds", a shower gel with small snakes inside."  I LOVE IT!!!!  " The girls help with the graphic arts and are the cheerleaders behind the products."  Wow!  Talk about taking your work home...she is taking her home to work!  :)  Nayetta went on to say, "our area suffered some bad weather that prompted school closings that caused us to also change our schedules. Out of that situation, came some creative product names that we are currently working on - stay tuned! As a little girl, I watched my grandmother, her neighbors, and her friends get together to stir lye soap in big iron pots that cooked on a wood fire in the front yard. Those memories inspire me also. "  She is keeping it in the family.

So, Smelly Monster....GREAT name.  Something kids would love as well!  Smart and creative, but I was wondering why she choose that.  Nayetta explains, "Well since we knew that making boys products was an important part of this new product line, we asked for the boys opinion. My son started tossing around random names like sports, sweat, shower, no-shower!, outside, climbing, and even pillow-fight! It's amazing what brain-storming produces. Then we visualized big bubbles and came up with monster for big. During more talks, we put smelly with monster and Smelly Monster

was born."  I am so inspired with how she has involved her kids and family in this venture!  I should have my kids name some of my outfits.  :)  Great way to teach your kids about business and show them an entrepreneurial spirit.

With being a mom and family life Nayetta says "organization is key" in her life.  "I have a bright folder where I place all the paperwork from Smelly Monster so I can pull it out at month end and see where I stand. The kids homework desk is stocked with supplies. We try to stick to a schedule during the week and focus on fun on the weekends."

She continues, "The most important thing I have to do daily is remember the basics and find time-savers, even if they cost.  I know which restaurants offer deals on each day of the week and $5 pizza when I don't have time to cook.  Let's say my morning schedule is changed abruptly. I know I will get back on track at some point. I don't stress because I know my basics. My business basics are my system: check emails, visit my Etsy store, socialize!, order supplies, make products, paperwork, training. That sounds like a lot, but it's really the boundaries for me so I know what I have to do and what I have to ignore. "

Nayetta and I belong to a Christian Etsy Team called the CAST team http://www.etsy.com/teams/6326/christian-artists-street-team-cast  

The team is a great support and very uplifting.  You always know how has your back if you need prayer, etc..  I asked her what her three favorite CAST Team shops were and this is her list:  The thing I want to stress is that most if not all of these shops are yet to really take off, including Smelly Monster, so support local business and purchase something from them!

cookiebabe - her items express for me her motto to "make my home just the way I want it...to make me smile when I look at it". http://www.etsy.com/shop/cookiebabe

















BurchDesigns - those photos make me enjoy what I'm looking at. http://www.etsy.com/shop/BurchDesigns

HeavenlyKnitchet - in addition to selling her knit creations, she also creates tools that help other crafters - very kind of her. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeavenlyKnitchet








When I asked her about Etsy and what she likes about it she said, " Etsy is like this revolving business machine created for crafters to jump on and ride as far as they want to ride, learn as much as they want to learn, and sell as much as they want to sell!  I'm part of this massive pool of savvy, smart, kind people who are business owners. I love the teams. I love all the support from Etsy and the training. Who wouldn't want to be on Etsy?" AGREED!!!  Those of you reading this who have any creative or business bone in you, but are not doing much with it....GET ON BOARD THE ETSY TRAIN!!!  Sales continue to go up and up for this company and the companies within Etsy every year, even in a bad economy.

If you have read any of my interviews, I always like to ask an off-the-wall question.  I asked Nayetta what her motto for life was and she said:
 "...I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul".  "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley. Moreover,  I have the ultimate responsibility to make right choices for my fate and for my soul. 

So the question is....DO YOU HAVE 

A SMELLY MONSTER????

 If you do, I am sure you rather have a monster that smells like a yummy smelly monster than a stinky one.  If you are one of those parents, than this giveaway is for you!

GIVEAWAY worth $15.00

Giveaway ends 10pm Eastern time Nov. 1, 2011

You could win this bottle of Smelly Monster Blue-Blast Body Lotion.  The listing for this product in her shop says this:  

Blue Blast Lotion for Kids was created with the galaxy in mind. Our son thought of this name because the "blast" name would encourage kids to use lotion. You get a whopping 8 ounces that can be used daily, immediately after bathing, or as needed. 

This lotion is lightly-scented with Indian Sandalwood. This gives a nice, clean, fresh scent. Blue Blast Lotion is mild and contains ingredients that have been known to moisturize children's skin. We use it on one of our kids who has sensitive skin and who is allergic to many other store-bought lotions.

The ingredients include Sunflower Oil and Allantoin. 

Sunflower Oil: Native American Indians were the first to discover the healing properties of Sunflower Oil which is rich in Vitamin E that helps moisturize and regenerate skin. 

Allantoin: Allantoin is thought to have the ability to help heal wounds, sores and stimulate growth of healthy tissue. It is a skin softener and anti-irritant. 

The coloring is cosmetic-safe.

Storage: 8 oz. plastic bottle with snap-closure top. Please store in a cool place. You will have plenty of time to use this product within the recommended time of 9 months after purchase.

If you don't see enough of the product you want, we'll create it for you. Just let us know...  

THIS IS HOW TO ENTER:  

As always, make sure you follow my blog before entering and leave a way for me to get a hold of you if you win in one of your entries (email, etc.).

1 entry - Add Smelly Monster's Etsy Shop to your Favorites http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmellyMonster

2 entries - Like her Facebook Page -     http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smelly-Monster/242550472443043

3 entries -follow the shop on twitter -  twitter.com/SmellyMonster

4 entries -  Make a treasury on Etsy with one of her products and come back with the treasury URL so we can view it.

5 entries - buy an item in the shop....it not only will increase your chances of wining, but if you win, it will be like buy one get one free!