I am very excited to share some great news.  As you all know, I am the star of the debut StinkyKids book titled StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors.  I share this book with my friends Max, Hannah and Julie and we are all very happy about the news we just learned from our publishing family at Raven Tree Press.

Today we recieved our first book review, and as we all knew, it is a HIT, a very positive review.  Below is the actual review.  Please visit the website Author’s Choice Reviews (www.idealinhope.com) where you can find the review and learn about the reviewer, Carolyn R. Scheidies.  Enjoy!!

‘Britt has a secret she doesn’t want to share with her parents.  If she does, they won’t let her have her playdate with her friends Hannah, Max, and Julie.  When she explains to her friends, they try to help, but everything they do makes things worse.  Finally, they have to deal with the consequences.  An all-too-realistic story of cutting hair with delightfully drawn kid characters who act like kids.

An upbeat story that helps kids understand the consequences of choices, the need to ask for help at times and to make wise choices.  Parents should have this book to read with their children.

RECOMMENDED!’ 

 http://www.idealinhope.com/bookreviews/picturebooks.html

Both boys can’t wait until the new book comes out!

Again, thanks so much. It was very kind of you to do that – especially with your crazy schedule!

—comments like this make it all worthwhile.  This was from a mom of a elementary school student who won the StinkyKids coloring contest during our first book signing event in Atlanta, GA where we sold 130 books in one hour!!!

She is a coach for a program called Girls on the Run, which my friends and I at StinkyKids support via our special addtion tee shirt sold on our on-line store.  (StinkyKids donates 40%, after costs, of each StinkyKids Girls on the Run tee shirt sold to the program.)

Jen not only helped my little stinKers and I by ordering a StinkyKids Girls on the Run tee shirt for herself and her ‘little princess’, but she also helped by sharing our story with her readers on her blog titled Domestic Diva Jen.

The link to the story is below.  Jen has a beautiful way of using words to describe what StinkyKids is all about.  Not just from the business side of selling products, but from our mission to share our motto ‘Always Be A Leader of Good’ with all of the little stinKers in the world. 

To quote her:

” I found a new way of thinking.. something like ‘paying it forward’, but not just one time.  It’s like paying it forward–everyday, all day long, forever…what a concept!”

I love that through our StinkyKids characters and motto, we are inspiring people like Mrs. Domestic Diva Jen everyday, and chaning the way people are thinking in a positive way.  That is what really matters, and that is why StinkyKids are proud of what we have accomplished…and we have only just started!!!!

Enjoy Jen’s blog by clicking on the link below:

http://domesticdivajen.blogspot.com/2010/09/being-leader-of-good.html

I have a special friend here today, who would like to share a story with us about how she was a ‘Leader of Good’ today. 

It is my cousin StinkyKid Joey!!  Ok Joey, take it away…

Hi everyone.  I am StinkyKid Joey and I am a Leader Of Good for my compassion for animals.  Today was a great day as I helped save a little doggies life!!  Here is what happened..

I was walking my cousin, StinkyKid Max’s dog, Pudgy, who is an English Bulldog puppy today and saw a little dog in the middle of the street!!  I was a bit scared because I had Pudgy with me who is only 8 months old, and I did not know if the two dogs would hurt each other.

So as much as my mind was telling me to keep walking to protect Pudgy, my heart, said that I needed to stop and help the doggie find her home.  I also thought about what if my dog Clyde was lost.  I would hope that someone would stop and help him find our home.  I would be so sad if I lost him.

So as a Leader of Good, I told Pudgy to stay calm, and we called the lost dog over to the side walk.  I did not go in the middle of the street!!  Too dangerous.  When the dog came to us I held her collar and found out that her name was Joey, just like mine!!!  She also had a phone number on her collar so I used my mom’s cell phone (she was walking with me) and called Joey the dog’s owner. 

The owner was SOO happy and told me that she was so proud of me for calling her about her dog Joey.  She said she loves Joey very much and her kids would have been so upset if she was lost forever.  She asked me what she could do for me in return for my Leader Of Good act, and I said that everyone should do kind acts like this and no reward was necessary.

I felt so good that Joey the dog was returned to her owner and Pudgy was such a good girl while I rescued the other dog.  My day was complete and my mommy hugged me and said she would take me for ice cream later.

Just wanted to share my Leader of Good Story with you.  Here is picture of me hula hooping in my backyard.  Enjoy.

Thanks Joey, I cannot wait to come over later to hula hoop in your backyard.  Bye!!

As you all know, StinkyKid Britt was named after me, the creator of StinkyKids, Britt Menzies.  I would like to share a personal story of my own with everyone as the creator and and not as StinkyKid Britt.

The story starts a little over a year ago, July 16, 2009, when my whole world changed in the matter of minutes.  While shopping for a gift for my niece Julie (who is StinkyKid Julie) with my daughter Emma, I began to have pain in my tummy.

The pain continued to get worse leading me to an emergency visit to the hospital, to find out that I had a rare situation that if not taken care of immediately, could take my life.

Luckily for me and my family, I was in the hands of amazing doctors and was operated on successfully, and while having to stay in the hospital for a week, my life was saved. 

While the recovery was slow and somewhat painful, I was getting better.  Until, September 16, 2009, exactly 8 weeks later, I found myself  back in the emergency room with a complication from my initial operation, resulting in another week long stay in the hospital and more worry about my health between myself and my family. 

But once again, I was in the hands of amazing doctors, and recovered, and recovered to become the text book of health today.

I wanted to share this story because it has now been a year since this unfortunate health scare occurred, and the year has not only brought life back to me, it has brought life and tremendous success to my StinkyKids characters. 

What a difference a year makes!!!

Within the year, here is a list of the successes and opportunities that have occurred with me and my little stinKers:

• Plush dolls launched at 110 Nordstrom locations, Nordstrom.com and FAO Schwarz NYC
• Plush dolls sold out at FAO Schwarz and Nordstrom locations
• Nordstrom.com tripled their order in sales
• Plush dolls sold better than other famous brands within Nordstrom and FAO Schwarz landing 33 out of 100 best seller)
• Plush dolls sold out with no advertising and marketing behind the launch
• Signed on with Stone America Licensing to expand the brand into many licensing opportunities
• Partnered with Madame Alexander Doll Company as the exclusive licensee for the soft bodied dolls (see www.madamealxeander.com for full line of plush)
• Partnered with Pearson Publishing for first adventure book in the StinkyKids book series titled ‘StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors’
• Featured in the July/August 2010 issue of The Toy Book (click link below for article)(http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/7c4b3223#/7c4b3223/1)
• Completed the manuscript for the second adventure book in the StinkyKids book series titled ‘StinkyKids See A Full Moon’

There are many more exciting opportunities that occurred with StinkyKids, but these are the highlights and I am extremely appreciative for every one of them. 

Not all of this success came without a lot of work. Even at my weakest moment this past year, I never lost the intense passion that I have to make StinkyKids a household name and a brand we can all trust and enjoy. 

Now, almost exactly a year later that I was in the hospital worried about my health, StinkyKids, my family and myself are looking forward to the re-launch of the StinkyKids plush dolls under the Madame Alexander Doll Company name, the launch of the first StinkyKid book published by Pearson, and much more opportunities to expand the brand and live to see our dreams come true.  Curently the plush will be sold at (but not all inclusive) (update on the book to come soon):

• FAO Schwarz
• FAO.com
• FAO pop up’s in Toys R Us locations (approx. 300)
• Nordstrom
• Nordstrom.com
• Fat Brain Toy Catalog
• Target.com
• Walmart.com
• Amazon.com

My purpose for sharing this story is to inspire.  To appreciate everything that we have and all that we work so hard to achieve.  It is a story that has a very happy ending and a lot of valuable lessons attached, that little stinKers of all ages can learn from and strive to accomplish.  I wonder what next year will bring and I look forward in the opportunity to not only enjoy it, but live it.

What a difference a year makes!!! 

Today, is Friday the 13th which normally means that bad things may happen, but for me, as I am a “Leader Of Good’, something great happened for me and my StinkyKids friends today.

We are featured in the lastest issue of The Toy Book!!  AND, my good friend StinkyKid Julie is on the COVER!!  No kidding!!

The article stretches over 3 pages and includes photos of our creator, Britt Menzies (holding me, StinkyKid Britt, wearing my new tutu from Madame Alexander Doll Company), and photos of the original prototype of the StinkyKid Julie doll (WOW how far she has come!!)

Thanks to Jennifer Ringler for her writing talents who truly captured the entire story giving tribute to everyone who has helped StinkyKids become a success (FAO Schwarz, Nordstrom, more..) and a big thank you to Jackie Breyer, who believed in the StinkyKids story and recommended that the world know about our brand.

Big things are happening to me and my little stinKer friends and the next few months are going to be so much fun as our plush line and book hit stores.  I will keep you updated…..

Click this link below to enjoy the article on pages 24, 26, and 28. 

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/7c4b3223#/7c4b3223/1

Come and see all of the exciting new products that we have featuring the 10 diverse StinkyKids characters.  Plush dolls, book, tee shirts and much more to come soon.

Our fans are having fun learning about all of the new opportunties in the world of the StinkyKids and are posting adorable pictures of their own little stinKers with their StinkyKids brand products.

Become a fan today as you will Love the StinkyKids.. they are so stinKin’ cute.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/StinkyKids/109465142441849?v=photos#!/pages/StinkyKids/109465142441849?v=wall

Thank you,

StinkyKid Britt

This is my son Max who inspired StinkyKid Max

Hello, StinkyKid Britt here,  and I am excited to share another wonderful comment from one of our fans.  It is about my favorite little stinKer, StinkyKid Max.  Enjoy…

Just saw the Max doll in Nordstrom and bought it for my 1yr old son who loved it! Finally a boy! Just wondering if you have outfits for the doll. Also, where would I be able to purchase a “Britt” doll? Great products! Thank you!

After receiving this comment I thought it would be fun to share a little bit about StinkyKid Max so that you can get to know him better.

StinkyKid Max is named after my son, Max, and the doll looks exactly like him.  He wears a bathing suit because the ‘real’ Max is an amazing swimmer and loves the pool.  When I created the character, Max had a swim suit with sharks on it, hence StinkyKid Max’s outfit.  He is a great soccer player and plays the piano.  Kosher dill pickles are his favorite food and he can eat an entire jar full in one sitting.  All of the characteristics that I created for StinkyKid Max, truly were inspired by my son Max.  As for his ‘leader of good’ quality, the real Max has a heart of gold and always volunteers to help and ‘make right choices’.

Funny story :

I took my son Max to see the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks. In the movie Alvin tells someone that he is so famous that he has his own plush doll.  Max and I turned to each other and laughed.  I knew that he felt very special knowing he has his own plush doll too.

I am very proud to be able to supply boy plush dolls for our little stinKers.  As a mom, whenever I wanted to get a soft ‘lovey’ for my son, it always had to be a stuffed animal or monster or automobile.  I am glad to now provide other moms with another opportunity in plush for our little boys; one they can relate to, look like, and take with them as their best friend everywhere.

If you knew the real Max, my son, he would definitely be your best friend and inspire you to ‘Always be a leader of good’.

Cheers to my buddy StinkyKid Max.

good things happen to good people

Sometimes the  rewards for being a good person do not come from a store, or from financial success; sometimes rewards come from a few simple words.

Here is a true story about how a few simple words made all of my hard work and dedication to building a quality brand worthwhile:

On my website I have a ‘contact us’ form and I get very nice messages about StinkyKids from all of our fans.  But just last week, when I really needed to have some reinforcement for all of my passion and hard work, I received this message:

My daughter has Hannah, and I would like to purchase more stinky kid friends for her friends! I am only finding 5 of the gang on the nordstrom.com website. I went to my local Nordstrom and they did not have any. FAO Schwarz also does not carry them online. Help me find Joey! Nicole in San Diego

As I always respond personally to the messages I receive from the StinkyKids fans, I wrote back to Nicole in San Diego thanking her for her purchase of StinkyKid Hannah and updating her on the re-launch of the dolls.  Later that night, I received this message back from Nicole in San Diego. (this next response is the true reward!!)

Hello Britt! I truly appreciate your personalized response.

My daughter Lillian was given $20 to spend at F.A.O. Schwarz on a trip to New York at Christmastime.

Of all the things to choose from at that huge toy store, she chose Hannah. She has since taken Hannah with her everywhere.

I look forward to your next release, and will be purchasing Julie for Lillian’s best friend Indie until then.

Thank you for a great product with so much personality.

Good things happen to good people!!!  These small words brought me such BIG rewards and has been my gold medal in the marathon to success.  Not only do I have these small words displayed in my office, but everyday, I read Nicole from San Diego message to remind myself that I am doing good and bringing smiles to all of the little stinKers in the world.

Thank you Nicole from San Diego for sharing these small words with me and thank you Lillian for loving the StinkyKids not because a commerical told you to, but because you just loved a high quality, beautiful doll with a great message.

We should all achieve success like this!!!