Website Re-launch! In 3-2-1. Blast off!

I am extremely thrilled to announce the website re-launch of Thumbprint Trading Cards at www.thumbprinttradingcards.com. Thumbprint Trading Cards help you put a face with a name in a high-impact, no-technology-required kind of way. As a double-sided calling card or business card, it makes exchanging contact information on the fly simple.

Our website soft launch was in May 2008. This re-launch brings with it e-commerce capabilities, an extensive FAQ and additions to our portfolio.

For those of you who are new to Thumbprint Trading Cards or who are good friends of the company, please visit our site!

Ink Colors and Fonts for Thumbprint Trading Cards

Welcome to our Ink Color and Font Menu! If you haven't visited Diaper Bag Adventures before, I'm glad you're here. If you have time, please have a look around.

Ink Colors: Due to variations in computer monitors, the appearance of ink colors may vary slightly.

Fonts: Fonts will be properly sized to ensure that text is legible.

If you would like to have a closer look at our ink color and font menu, please e-mail [info@thumbprinttradingcards.com] us with your mailing address and we'll pop one in the mail to you as soon as possible!

Copyright 2007 - 2008 Thumbprint Trading Cards. All rights reserved.

What's In My Diaper Bag?

A few weeks before Nicholas was born, I put together my diaper bag. I knew that I wouldn't want to think about getting it together for our first outing which would be our first trip to the pediatrician's office. When I was done with that, I put together the identical contents for my husband in a bag that had a more masculine feel. When I was done with that, I put together a super duper emergency diaper bag that would reside in the car trunk.

I put together the second diaper bag because I was being considerate. What if JD didn't want to carry my feminine diaper bag while the two of them went on a special father-son outing? I put together the third diaper bag because I was watching too much Jon & Kate Plus 8 and that's what they have in the back of their 10-passenger van.

Almost one year later, the inside of my diaper bag looks really different. It's not that I was carrying the wrong things but now I'm carrying fewer things. I would highly recommend packing one diaper bag before bringing baby home but I would recommend an edited list of things. The second and third diaper bag I would hold off on. [Note from JD - I got over it and just carry the main diaper bag. Turns out that carrying my son is enough of a cue of my manhood that a diaper bag doesn't even register as anything embarrassing.]

My original diaper bag included

· diapers

· changing mat

· baby wipes

· grocery bags for trash

· bleach wipes [for questionable surfaces]

· hand sanitizer

· all-purpose baby ointment

· diaper rash cream

· hand lotion

· disposable latex gloves

· baby outfit

· baby hat, gloves and socks

· receiving blanket

· disposable camera

· mini stuffed animal

· baby rattle

I would instead recommend

· diapers

· changing mat

· baby wipes

· bag for dirty diapers [disposable or re-usable and washable]

· hand sanitizer

· baby ointment or cream

· baby outfit

· receiving blanket

· nursing drape or bottle/formula

· extra pacifier [if using]

Why would I get the rid of the rest?

· Bleach wipes [you can baby wipe questionable surfaces and your baby isn't coordinated enough to move off the changing mat and grab things]

· All-purpose baby ointment AND Diaper rash cream [I'd carry a small container of only one and I'm a huge fan of the ointment because it's also great for those little bitty nail scratches or chapped skin]

· Hand lotion [because I just let my hand get a little dry]

· Disposable latex gloves [you can baby wipe then hand sanitize or wash any poopy disaster. Also, you might want to avoid them if you have latex allergy concerns]

· Baby hat, gloves and socks [I never lost them and they never needed to be changed]

· Disposable camera [the normal camera was always around]

· Mini stuffed animal and baby rattle [Nicholas didn't really focus on toys for several months]

As you and your baby grow together, you'll figure out what you need and don't need in the bag. If you do decide to put together an emergency diaper bag for the trunk, don't forgot to rotate diapers and clothes for growing babies and seasonal changes.

A Big Hug and Two Thumbs Up for Jenny GG Photography

As I work on making the content of www.thumbrinttradingcards.com more robust, I would be remiss not to reflect on the journey of our site soft-launch.

We wouldn't have been able to launch Thumbprint Trading Cards 1.0 if it were not for the talented and gracious Jenny GG. She lent us her photography skills so we could showcase our services and products. As I have come to know her, I am ever more impressed with her focus [pun intended] and feel inspired by her business growth.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll stop writing now. Her work speaks for itself. You can visit Jenny GG at www.jennyggphotography.com.

The Beater Phone

My cell phone died on me today. The causes are known – biting, licking and falling on the ground. When I went to visit my neighborhood cell phone provider, I learned that I was caught in a loop. My phone was no longer under warranty, I was not eligible to re-new my contract to get a free phone and I wasn't eligible for a discount on a full-price phone. What?!?

At first, I thought I'd just use my previous cell phone, but then I remembered that I had given it to my dad when he was stuck in a similar contract situation. I had boxed up that beloved phone in its original packaging and mailed it to him.

That's when I remembered Goldie. Goldie is a gold-toned Nokia I purchased on-line a while back. I loved her right off the bat even though I got horrible service in my condo building and in my work loft. It was so bad that, shortly after she arrived, I boxed her up and stashed her away.

I found her this afternoon. She's all charged up and ready to go, and seems to get a few bars of service in the new townhouse. So far, so good.

Cupcakes are Yummy!

I did not grow up a huge fan of cupcakes, nor did I dislike them. They just weren't part of my family's dessert repertoire.

When I moved to Ballard in 2006 and discovered Cupcake Royale on NW Market Street, I had to institute a rule: one cupcake per week. While it's much easier to impose some self control, I'm still a sucka'!

I tend to go with what I know – lavender frosted chocolate cupcake or lemon frosted vanilla cupcake. Then I saw the seasonal Skagit Valley Farm Strawberry frosted cupcakes. Are you kidding me with the locally grown, real strawberries [organic no less] in the icing? I'm all about it!

And as if that wasn't enough pure pleasure, I found myself inside the Wallingford Center this same week. I had to take a peek at Trophy Cupcakes and Party. Not only were their cupcakes gorgeous, the ambiance was a treat. I tried their Red Velvet Cupcake. Never has red velvet cake tasted of chocolate to me like that cupcake did.

Cupcakes are yummy indeed!

Oh! Oh! Self-control, where are you?