Preparing for Black Friday

To debut on the l'Amore Initmo website just in time for Black Friday...

This pretty in pink in the first in the l'Amore Every Day Collection - The Joy. 50% of all proceeds from the purchase of The Joy will be donated to breast cancer research. Join l'Amore Intimo in the cause.

Dream Sweet

Back in Love Again

Not that I ever fell out of love with l'Amore Intimo -- but it's so much to do and no time. All of this will pay off. But no complaining about the temporary office position that I have with the census today. I have a bridal bead strand to finish tonight. Tomorrow before I head out to see MJ's This Is It, I have a l'Amore Boxer to stitch together - first I got to get that complex serger threaded - again. Loving every minute of it.

The next swag bag event for l'Amore Intimo is called Sip and Shop on December 4th. l'Amore Intimo will give 28 panties - the rainbow collection, 4 in each color - and as many of the 40% discount cards as they need for each bag. But before that we are participating in BBPN's Business Promo. The Backyard Boutique Party network is putting together packages for Hitmakers - this will also be a great way to publicize. I have to do it while the office job is still paying and then l'Amore Intimo will start paying -- I'm sure of this.

Dream Sweet

A Funny Thing Happened...

With the hustle and bustle of working full time away from l'Amore Intimo and working on l'Amore Intimo in the hours left in the day and week, I missed checking in on the website. I thought it had only been a few days, but in that few days something went wrongfully awry with the front page. My catch was missing and so was the description of the featured birthstone thong. Then to top that off the opening statement was out of sorts from it's normal positioning.

I'm not a techie but I don't believe that these changes made themselves. In all its wonder with my password for my wix account securely kept, I wish I knew how this happened. Hackers? Or maybe it's just hosting with wix. Whatever it is I don't want it to happen again.

Dream Sweet

Firsts

Today goes down as another l'Amore Intimo first. This will be forever the day l'Amore Intimo procured the first independent consultant. There was a 3 hour "can this be a productive business relationship" meeting . My instinct is yay.

Until again --
Dream Sweet

Passion

Tonight, another excellent teacher - Miles McPherson - speaker delivered an inspirational message at revival. The sweetness of this message wasn't that he said what he said, but rather how I was tuned into what God was saying to me.

There are times when I still wonder with l'Amore Intimo, what's it all about and then I design something or write something and it all makes sense. Some may not understand, with my eyes fixed on my spiritual beliefs, how I could be the designer of intimate apparel. To that I say, you are welcome to walk in my shoes and see how I got to this point.

Once I was told -- and with all due respect I believe that it was out of nothing but good intentions -- that l'Amore Intimo would appeal to strippers and she knew quite a few of them. I pray that the unique beauty of l'Amore Intimo appeals to more than that demographic as it is intended to represent the intimate love. That love is the love of yourself. Loving is respecting yourself as a woman and treating yourself with the utmost respect and honor. Not intimate wear to tease or please the opposite sex. Intimate wear because you think it's beautiful for you.

But these things got me thinking while the speaker was talking this evening. He said his church - the Rock - has a ministry outreach that goes into the strip joints in San Diego bringing the strippers positive messages. l'Amore Intimo has been placed on my heart and my mission for this business is to reach women who are hurting, sick, or feeling incapable and needing a boost, through various women's charities. Any way, beyond the wordiness that is happening here, I was championed to bring a message of love through the l'Amore Intimo products. I have since (yes just tonight) decided on a special design for raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. It's pink and beautiful and for every one that sells, 50% will go to breast cancer research.

But the message didn't end there for me. Everything became very clear about why I am working 8 hours at a job and then coming home at the end of my day to have the day begin again with l'Amore Intimo - the intimate love. This speaker spoke of 5 p's -- preparation, purpose, pain, power and passion. It was all very inspirational but more so when he got to passion - as I had to turn my note sheet over and on the back where I had written at the beginning of his message a note to myself, a revelation of sorts that said "l'Amore Intimo is to minister with the love it holds behind the product". It was there I wrote "passion". He said that passion is the commitment to NEVER QUIT. Eureka! l'Amore Intimo's slogan is "release the passion in you" -- find your passion and release it. Passion is your commitment NEVER QUIT. I won't quit. Will you?

Dream Sweet

What's Love Got to do With Anything?

Tonight was a wonderful revival night. As I joined in the worship at my church, sitting only 4 rows from the front, I watched the deaf interpreter. I saw love in what she was doing. Expressing music and words through facial expressions and deliberate hand motions, is her labor of love. As I watched her beautiful joyful expressions I thought to myself -- everyone should be full of this love.

Dream Sweet

The Weekend is Coming

And I gotta a lot of work to do. Doesn't seem like I will ever catch up with myself. Seems like I need an assistant. Seems like little of nothing is getting done. Then I look back on where I was this time last year, and I'm so much stronger, so much wiser, so much more. Pursuing the desires of my heart - l'Amore Intimo tops the list - has been the best thing ever.

Have you pursued your dreams today?

Dream Sweet

Showcase

Today I found a cute portable showcase for the Birthstone Thong Collection. The 12 fit beautifully inside this single bin - not too big, not too small. It does have green handles which can either be painted or left as they are. This is a great case for independent distributors to showcase any of the l'Amore Intimo collections, but first I will use it for my meeting with the board of the charity group we will be sponsoring the event for in November. I'm siked about this worthwhile cause and believe my designs will make a great impression with or without the bin. But it adds a little something.

Dream Sweet

Something New for October

Not that the original bead strand for October - The Pink Tourmaline Birthstone Thong from l'Amore Intimo wasn't gorgeous enough but because the lingerie is hand-crafted we get to change things up as we grow. My goal is for everyone who orders a l'Amore Intimo to feel they are getting something uniquely beautiful crafted just for them.

Dream Sweet

A Night at the Observatory

A friend and I trekked to the Griffith Observatory tonight, and I must say GO. If you are in the L.A. area it's worth it. Besides admittance is free. There are special events that you need tickets for but everything else is free. There's a restaurant and a gift store which of course if you want something form these places you need to bring your wallet, but everything is free. I harp on this because my first experience at one of L.A.'s museum was a bit of culture shock to me - a DC girl who grew up on the Smithsonian and the National Zoo, which are free admittance. So to have to pay to enter a museum or a zoo was foreign to me.

Any way. Tonight there where nothing but couples at the observatory. Couples kisses under the stars or gazing through telescopes or holding hands as they made their way through the exhibits. I totally agree this is a good thing - dinner and a nice Sunday drive to the observatory. Economic and romantic. I had fun.

Dream Sweet

Pulling A Murn

Is there ever a tactful way to point out ignorance? Thinking maybe not. It is what it is. I'm not just rambling on - I'm talking about something so typical it could be overlooked or deemed unimportant. Profiling. You know that goes on in airports more post 911. It also still exist in the workplace. Categorizing someone's talent or abilities by the way they look (be it the color of there skin or appeared age). It's called discrimination and it won't be allowed when I do start hiring at l'Amore Intimo. I experienced the deeming jolt of discrimination and maybe from poor ignorant assumption, this week at the census office. No worries, I handled it by pulling a Murn.

Dream Sweet

(Murn is a pet name I call my Mother who is a very strong matriarch and business woman - takes no bs from anyone, and if crossed will help the crosser to recognize who she is and that her place in this world is where she wants to be.)

Have You Ever Seen a Rainbow?

Of course you have. You've seen the beauty of the purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Maybe, just perhaps you've even had fantasies of finding the gold at the end of a rainbow. Today I found the gold when my fabric samples arrived in every color of the rainbow. The fabric is rich and the colors vibrant. The l'Amore Intimo Every Day Rainbow Collection is on its way.

Dream Sweet

Unlucky in Love

You know the saying "lucky in cards, unlucky in love"? And then there's the version "lucky in business, unlucky in love". What do you believe?

I'm not quite sure that luck and love go together. Seems that too much time and nurturing should go into love and loving, to call it lucky when it works or unlucky when it doesn't. Whatever the statistics may show I believe anything that's worth having is worth the effort that is put into it, but I also believe sometimes when you're looking, and hoping, and waiting for love, that you could fall into something far from it just because.

To experience one great intimacy is worth a million empty desires.

Dream Sweet

The Sassy Bride - As promised

As promised -- a sneak peak at the first design in the l'Amore Intimo Bridal Collection. This one is the Sassy Bride. To come are the Classy Bride, the Boy oh Boy Bride, and the Wedding Thong. The Sassy bride is a remake of the Sassy Tavi design in white fr the bride.

The Bridal collection will premiere online November 2009. Don't worry about the flesh tone - it's only a mannequin.

Dream Sweet

Shark Tank?

That was the buzz around the office today - Shark Tank. I didn't see the show but hear the premise is about some rich investors looking to steal business ideas right from under their owners. Hmmm.

Someone suggested this might be something to consider for l'Amore Intimo. To that I would have to say let me watch the show first. But my initial thought is, why would I sell a business I am so very passionate about? Give 50% or more to some investor who can then give me the boot, mass produce cheap "beep" in China and call it l'Amore Intimo? I can see how this could work if I was in this just for the money - but today - I'm not there. Maybe way down the line somewhere. Who knows. Today I'm loving being the owner of this beautiful venture. But I will watch the show and let you know.

Dream Sweet

Anything Online

To make my life easier I found a chocolate thermometer spatula (for tempering l'Amore Intimo Chocolate, ribbed stretch fabric for the l"Amore Intimo The Cami, power mesh in all the colors of the rainbow for l'Amore Intimo Every Day Collection for $10 less than the shop in the fashion district.

There's information of every shape form or fashion to aid any entrepreneur. I even think information from those who are working their way through their first year of business can be found - like this web log. Thanks for reading. Thank you google.

Dream Sweet

PS - Come back tomorrow to see the first design in the l'Amore Intimo Bridal Collection.

Is Busy Good?

"Everybody's working for the weekend" and "working 9 to 5", are lyrics that come to mind when I think about my time spent away from l'Amore Intimo production. There is so much that needs to be done on a daily basis and not enough time to do everything,without that constant feeling of exhaustion. But I know this too will pass, or will it ever? Will there be a time when I won't have to sacrifice in hopes of living the dream, and just live the dream?


Dream Sweet

Cool

A friend of mine told me of the upcoming wedding of her 19 year old son. Since the Bridal Collection is under construction I thought what a perfect gift to give a couple in love. I offered to give the groom and his bride the Bridal Gift Set - which includes the Wedding Thong, the l'Amore Intimo Boxer, the l'Amore Scentual (candle), and a sample of chocolate sweet and chocolate heat.

Funny thing is I thought the gift offer would at least get a quick response of yay or nay. Three days went by and nothing until this morning when I got this response (as I paraphrase)...

I don't consider myself a prude but I had a hard time sitting down with my son over my shoulder as I showed him your email with the gift offer and then your website. He, however thought all of it was "cool" and would be happy to receive the gift.

To which I took a bit of time to consider my reply which I thought was necessary...

You are a wonderful mommy. Allowing your son to choose outside of your personal preference, I adore that. L'Amore Intimo means The Intimate Love, and the brand logo is release the passion in you. The intimate love to me is loving yourself , building up and edifying with self respect, self regard, and sharing that with the world.

My goal is to create uniquely beautiful pieces that are indeed inspired by love, hand-crafted with passion and cherished for always. Cherishing the moments, the time, the memories. Meant for every woman.

Dear friend, since I started l'Amore, introduced it to the public--people have come out of the wood work to instruct me on what to do. Many, most love the brand and the concept behind the brand. Most understand I am not selling scank wear but rather intimate apparel, very high end yes, but also a message from a place deep inside my heart. I am taking a complete original stance by not photographing my designs on models, and have confused many men who have offered to shoot this for me. What I feel is that I am not going to conform. L'Amore Intimo will be different. A website and catalog that's not a skin flick. My desire is to use silhouette sketches as models make the pictures beautiful pieces of art like my designs.

You know some of my heartache in the past years, and I am still standing after so much drama and what some consider disaster and sadness. L'Amore Intimo is something I have lovingly created. I am even sponsoring a women's charity event to aid the women's recovery shelter in Santa Monica. L'Amore Intimo also gives 10% of sells earnings to women's charities. I believe that supporting women's causes is of the utmost importance, because many times we're overlooked.

I hope that with the intro of each one of our collections to come that you indeed will find a particular design that you love. Kelli used to be a bit prudish as did many of my supporters until they held a design up close and saw the love that I put into it.

Daily I am growing and changing just like my company. Making a way out of no way instead of crying about my ex owing me two years of support and our house being lost in a short sale. Lynn God is good all the time and through it all I am stronger and hopefully more humble and giving.

Check out my blog, I believe it could help any new entrepreneur. lamoreintimo.blogspot.com

xoxo

I add this reply to my sweet friend it's okay to release your passion in whatever your heart's desire. My heart's desire is to create intimate apparel that's hopefully different and loved by most. For too long I lived in a stifled state, wasting my creative mind, not wanting to step out of bounds for myself and what I wanted. The best lesson I took away from my marriage and divorce is that time is indeed a terrible thing to waste. a few of my "friends" no longer speak to me since I started l'Amore Intimo and sometimes that bothers me, but I have also gained close, caring, supportive real friends (which include family) who understand that it's not about the panties, which are indeed beautiful, it's about living the dream, following your heart, and learning every day.

Dream Sweet

Top 10

Today someone told me they were fired for low productivity once. She said her supervisor offered no assistance but instead looked at the number of cupcakes made and fired her. Behind this low productivity was the fact that the facility was cheap on the non stick spray required to produce a cupcake that wouldn’t stick to the pan.

The random stories I hear about people's work situations, better aids me in how I would deal with the same situations. In this case of low productivity, I would make sure first that the employee does indeed have the right equipment needed to do their particular job, and that all of my ducks are indeed in a row. I would expect that my employees ducks should be all in a row too or low productivity would indeed be a factor.

One day all of this great stuff I’m learning is going to help me run a company which will be considered one of the top 10 companies to work for. That’s my goal..

Dream Sweet

The Blitz Is On

It's obvious by most that i am a huge BASEBALL fan, but I also enjoy football - or I should say the Redskins and anybody that beats Dallas on any given day. I know a little about the blitz and it's time for l'Amore Intimo to BLITZ. or the past two days I have been working on a very important ad/pr campaign for the company to be introduced this weekend. What my hopes are is to increase of course the sells margin but also to fatten that rolodex. I'm siked with my plays and I'm headed for the goal. I would appreciate your prayers and cares and constant well wishes. Grazie Mille.

Dream Sweet