Mommy's Lil Monkey

MOVING SALE TIME!!

2010-05-03T18:04:00.005-04:00

For a limited time we are having a moving sale in our Etsy store and site! BOGO 1/2 off at Etsy OR 20% off + on the site!

http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MommysMonkey

New Contest

2010-01-11T10:52:00.001-05:00

Check out our new contest on our Facebook group!

HUGE FALL SALE!!!

2009-09-27T10:32:00.004-04:00

For a limited time only select items are marked down by 50% off - hurry these deals won't last!

Visit Mommy's Lil Monkey for more details!

Halloween Challenge

2009-09-26T14:05:00.002-04:00

If you have a moment visit the Team etsyBABY Halloween Challenge and cast your vote for the most spooktacular creation!

http://shopetsybaby.com/Halloween

It's some stiff competition that's for sure!!!

Sorry We've Been MIA!

2009-09-26T13:54:00.004-04:00

Between going back to work, family obligations and working on some awesome new product lines for the site we just haven't had an ounce of spare time for the blog :-( But our absence has lead to some exciting new items on the website and the wait was worth it!

Eco Friendly Reusable Makeup Pads - not just for mommies!

Fun and Funky Wet Bags - a must for anyone on the go!

Big Bib and Burpie Sets - make great gifts!

Even more Amazing KISS Diaper Bags - not just for diapers!

A lot of these items are available on our own site too www.MommysLilMonkey.com

Time Saving Tips for Uber Busy Moms!

2009-07-05T08:42:00.007-04:00

Being a mom is synonymous with busy! Many of us not only work full time in the home but also work outside the home - which means time is at a premium for us. I read a statistic in one of the Canadian papers that 80% of mom's who work outside of the home have missed witnessing first hand at least one major milestone in their child's life. Finding an extra few moments where ever we can is a bonus! Here are a few tips I have complied that I have found useful, hopefully you will too!

1 - Invest in a Crock-pot. Yes one of those old fashioned slow cookers your Gran might have used. The beauty of this is two fold: it doesn't heat up the house while it cooks AND you can just throw everything in frozen before you leave the house in the morning, when you get home at supper time VIOLA! dinner is ready! Be sure to get a crock-pot with a removable 'pot' part it washes up a lot faster. A quick search on the internet will reward you with loads of recipes if you feel you need them!

2 - Throw a load of laundry in anytime you leave the house. With a 16 month old and cloth diapers I find the piles of laundry never end. But instead of wasting a whole day to laundry I simply throw in a load anytime I plan to leave the house. I then fold the laundry in the bathroom while my monkey is taking a bath. That way I can still supervise him and get something done as well! Also investing in a sectioned laundry basket helps cut down on the time to sort laundry - simply drop it in the correct compartment when you bring it to the laundry room and its ready to go!

3 - Borax. See my post here on the joys of Borax! http://mommyslilmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-i-love-borax.html

4 - Cloth Diapers don't have to be a lot of work. See my post here for some great tips! http://mommyslilmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/02/diaper-care-tips-and-tricks.html

5 - Toy Boxes. Keep a toy box on every level of the house to help keep clutter to a minimum. The added bonus of this is that your little one will eventually learn themselves to put the toys back too! We even keep a mini laundry basket in the bathroom for the monkey to place his bath toys in when bath time is all done!

And of course you can save time gift hunting by going to Mommy's Lil Monkey for all your baby, toddler and parenting needs!

SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award

2009-06-30T20:00:00.001-04:00

SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Posted using ShareThis

Mommy's Lil Monkey Press Release

2009-06-23T19:49:00.002-04:00

Mom Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 – Press Release

For Immediate Release

Vote Now for Mommy’s Lil Monkey (Julia Mackenzie-De Jonge) to be Canada's top Mom Entrepreneur!

Mommy’s Lil Monkey is nominated to win $15,500 and we need your votes to help us win.

Toronto, ON June 2009 – Mommy’s Lil Monkey has put our name into the ring to win The SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a readers' choice contest designed to find Canada's top Mom Entrepreneur. The winner will be announced in the fall, and will be rewarded with a $15,500 that was designed to help take that business to the next level.

Launched in 2008 Mommy’s Lil Monkey has grown from a small home-based business to an online national store! Mommy’s Lil Monkey offers a banana load of amazing baby gifts & goodies including diaper liners, organic nursing pads, diaper bags, burpie cloths and more! All approved by my lil monkey Jacob! Mommy’s Lil Monkey items are created with love, the concept of stylish simplicity and are eco friendly! Babies are enough work; who needs the fuss and muss of extra frills, lace and bows? Best of all Mommy’s Lil Monkey boutique quality and unique items are priced affordably so that any mommy can enjoy them.

"So many baby items in today’s market are over priced, over complicated and over wasteful. When I found out we were having a monkey of our own I knew there had to be a better way!” Says Julia Mackenzie-De Jonge, creator and owner of Mommy’s Lil Monkey, "If we are honoured with the title of Mom Entrepreneur of the Year, I plan to use the award money to help build Mommy’s Lil Monkey into part time employment a step beyond its current status of a beloved hobby."

Throughout the contest period, Savvymom.ca will be hosting a 'Mom Entrepreneurs Gallery' at www.mompentreneuraward.com. Mommy’s Lil Monkey can be viewed by clicking on this URL http://momentrepreneuraward.ca/MomBio.aspx?momID=241 .

Voters are also eligible to win prizes provided by Mabel’s Labels, Starrytime Keepsakes and Joe Fresh Style in the voter sweepstakes that accompanies this award program.

Mommy’s Lil Monkey: a banana load of amazing handcrafted eco friendly goodies for mommy and baby. Using unique materials, and designed & tested by moms with a focus on affordability. Additional company information can be obtained at www.MommysLilMonkey.com .

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Julia Mackenzie-De Jonge
Julia@mommyslilmonkey.com

Can't believe we we're accepted!!!

2009-06-16T19:36:00.001-04:00

Mommy's Lil Monkey has been officially nominated as a Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year 2009!!! You can help MLM win over $15,000 in prizes towards growing our business by visiting http://momentrepreneuraward.ca/MomBio.aspx?momID=241 and casting your vote!

You continued support is greatly appreciated!
Hugs,
the monkies

Happy Almost Summer!

2009-06-15T07:56:00.004-04:00

Mommy's Lil Monkey hopes you have all sorts of wonderful adventures planned with your little monkies for this summer! Whether it's a trip to the zoo, a back yard picnic or fun in the park - enjoy the beautiful weather (and don't forget your sunscreen!).

MLM is working hard on making the site even better and more user friendly (as always please send us your feedback). And we are thrilled to be in the development or production stages of two new and exciting products: Momma Earth pads and Banana Bum pants!

As always our focus is to bring you earth friendly products that are fun, funky and fabulous at a price anyone can afford. We are gladly accepting custom orders and whole sale orders over the summer months. Just drop us an email with details of what you are looking for and we will see what we can come up with!

Be sure to check the site regularly, new products are being posted every day! Happy Summer from Mommy's Lil Monkey!

Still a few more days to enter and win!!

2009-06-11T19:38:00.000-04:00

Want to win a set of our new Mommy's Lil Monkey Orb-Sorbent Nursing Pads?? It's simple!

Visit our site http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com - check out our growing selection of nursing pads.
Then email us (customerservice@mommyslilmonkey.com) and let us know either:
1) what is your favourite fabric print of the new pads?
or
2) what print would you like to see the pads in?

Two winners will be chosen at random from the emails and each winner will receive one pair of the Mommy's Lil Monkey SUPER Orb-Sorbent Nursing Pads (shipping included anywhere in North America!).

Contest closes 6/15/09 - email us with any questions!

Team Etsybaby Customer Appreciation Event

2009-06-02T05:42:00.002-04:00

Be sure to check out all of the great stores participating in the Etsybaby Customer Appreciation event!

http://shopetsybaby.com/ebca

Mommy's Lil Monkey will be too!

WIN a set of our New Nursing Pads!!!

2009-06-01T11:55:00.005-04:00

Labour Kit Suggestions

2009-05-29T19:24:00.003-04:00

Here are a few things I suggest to new mommy's to have on hand for labour (and even the last few weeks of pregnancy)! Hope these suggestions help make your birth easier!

~ a yoga ball. Great for the last few weeks to help encourage the baby into position, also helps ease back labour in the last few stages.
~ hot water bottle. Easier to control then a heating pad and less risk of getting too hot.
~ lavendar massage oil and peppermint massage oil. Peppermint will help stimulate you, the lavendar will of course help you relax (check with your health care provider before using of course!)
~ a rolling pin. This is a must if you experience ANY back labour, it will help ease your labour coaches arms when they need to massage you!

Love this Site!!!

2009-05-27T17:16:00.002-04:00

I love this online store! It's Canadian and they have amazing customer service!

http://www.tonicliving.com/index.asp

It's also where I get a lot of the fabrics I create with!

Why I Love Borax!

2009-04-05T10:42:00.003-04:00

My little monkey is addicted to blackberries - and being at that stage where he cannot stay still you can imagine the mess he makes!

We had been using Borax on his cloth diapers for a few months and it never occurred to me to use it in the rest of the wash. Faced with a brand new white shirt stained purple with blackberries I didn't want to use bleach or any other harsh cleaning agent - so I decided to try a cup of Borax in his wash.

WOW - not only did it remove ALL of the blackberry stains, but it took out old stains from other items in the wash. Pasta sauce, jello, juice it was all gone! And I feel good knowing that it's gentle enough to use on his laundry and not extremely harmful to the environment.

And on his diapers we don't even need to pre-soak them any more. Just a cup of Borax and the diapers come out clean and fresh. They also feel softer then when we use just laundry detergent on them - which is an added bonus.

Guess that's why Borax has been around for so long!
http://www.purexcanada.com/index.cfm?page_id=430

Just a quick mention that our new Sping Line is slowly being posted on the site - be sure to check it out! http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com (and yes I now prewash all the fabrics in Borax instead of detergent!!!)

Up Coming Mommy's Lil Monkey shows!

2009-03-25T18:48:00.004-04:00

Sat. Apr 25:
10 AM - 4 PM
SPRING CRAFT AND BAKE SALE
At Stamford Presbyterian Church
3121 St. Paul Avenue
Niagara Falls, ON

Sun. May 3:
12 PM - 4 PM
“JUST-IN-TIME” FOR MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT/ARTISAN FAIR
To Support the La Leche League Toronto Downtown Group
St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club Gym
843 Palmerston Avenue
Toronto, ON M6G 2R8
(Palmerston/Bathurst and Dupont)

Sun. May 24:
12 PM - 4 PM
MADE WITH LOVE
Spring Artisan Craft Show
Lithuanian House
1573 Bloor St. West
Toronto, ON
(right by the Dundas West Subway Station)

For more information visit http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com

Back to Work ... Jury Duty ... Molars & Day care germs!

2009-03-13T11:53:00.003-04:00

Yup - we've been a little MIA the last two weeks ... but we had a good reason (see above!).

I learned today that one AMAZINGLY talented artist featured me in her blog:
http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2009/03/interview-with-julia-from-mommysmonkey.html
Be sure to check out her Etsy store - her quilt work will blow you away!

We have also booked two shows (with more coming) for the spring season - check the Show and Tell page for more information!
http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/
Our new items are slowly coming together and should be posted on the site in the coming weeks - they will also be featured at our shows!

So it will continue to be busy busy busy for these monkeys!

Vote for MommysMonkey is the Etsybaby Spring Fling Contest!

2009-03-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

Introducing the "Princess P" Dress

2009-02-21T20:16:00.005-05:00

Yippee! I finally had a chance to test out my prototype design and it worked! So I went ahead and started sewing even more! Here is my first completed dress.

Princess P Dress features

- 100% serged edges/seams

- ribbon tie is stitched into

- dress so that you won't loss it in the wash or to curious little hands

- hemmed to your desired length at no additional charge

- machine washable and dryer safe

- made with unique fabrics and high quality ribbon

- arm holes and neck line is completely faced for a clean look

Available in sizes 6 months - 5 years. Custom orders accepted on 6 years - 10 years size. Hope to have them up live on the site within a few days www.MommysLilMonkey.com - you can always email us in the meantime customerservice@mommyslilmonkey.com !

Shown is "Princess P" dress in Birdies (Size 3T+)

New Sping Additions!

2009-02-19T07:18:00.000-05:00

Coming soon for Spring from Mommy's Lil Monkey and LilyBugz!!!

- "Princess P" dress line (from 3 months to 10 years)
- made to match LilyBugz clipees (you show us the outfit we make the clipees to match)
- "Cuddle Me" crib shoes (from 0-6 months)
- "Carry Me Close" baby/toddler sling (up to 35 lbs)
- purses and totes for all ages (not just for Mommies anymore!)
- new and improved "Binky Bungee" and "Binky Bags"
- plus lots more!!!

Be sure to check the website often for updates and new items http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com and if you are at the Hot Tots show in Ottawa look for us in the 'goodie bags'!

Diaper Care Tips and Tricks

2009-02-18T12:26:00.003-05:00

Proper care for cloth diapers helps prolong their life, keep the smellies down and makes your job easier! In every case you should follow your manufacturers directions on washing and drying specifics, but here are a few tips I have discovered over the last year of cloth diapering!

Hang to Dry - whenever the weather permits, hang your diapers to dry. Of course with some this may take a full day - but the results are worth it! The sun will naturally bleach out the stains and the fresh air will of course freshen them up.

Vinegar - since fabric softener is a huge NO NO with cloth diapers (and liners) you may find that line drying and regular use leaves the diapers (and liners) slightly "crunchy". I have found that every few washes a cup of vinegar helps soften the fibers and remove any detergent build up. An added benefit is that vinegar naturally kills yeast bacteria.

Pre-soaking - I don't have the time or frankly stomach to pre-soak my diapers in a pail. Instead I take advantage of my washing machine! I let the machine fully fill with the diapers, some Borax and baby detergent and then just after it starts the agitation I turn the machine off. I let the diapers sit for about 20 minutes and then start it up again. I also make sure to use the extra rinse cycle to help get them really clean. This may seem like a waste of water but it takes no more then pre-soaking them in a pail.

Low Dry - it's important to dry your diapers on a low heat. Higher heat can break down the fibres or with All-In-Ones can break down the waterproofing. Again line dryer out doors is always best.

I have used Kushies (All-in-Ones) for three main reasons - they are inexpensive, they are 100% Canadian made, and they work for me! But the tips and tricks above can be applied to any cloth diapers. These are also the same tricks I use for Mommy's Lil Monkey wipes and liners.

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Banner ad space is still available on our site - please visit the Other Fun Places page for details!
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Middle of the Night Tantrums

2009-02-17T12:56:00.003-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted much - I have been dealing with the wee monkey having middle of the night tantrums. I am exhausted and getting worried since I start back to work in a week. I've tried researching the causes of night time tantrums (he's 11.5 months) and there seems to be a few possible causes.

- night terrors
- teething
- growing pains
- separation anxiety
- frustrated at not being able to do something
- unknown cause

We've ruled out night terrors because he is fully awake and has been awake for at least 10 minutes before the full blown tantrum starts. Growing pains and teething don't seem as likely either because 'tempra' and other natural methods aren't helping. Separation anxiety is probably not a cause since his routine has not changed any and the tantrums start AFTER he sees one of us.

I am going to try the distant contact method - where we let him cry it out after letting him know we are still near by. We don't pick him up or stay in his room. We simply open his door, let him know its ok, that mommy and daddy are near and that it's time to go back to bed. We repeat that a few times as we go back to our own room. Hopefully the neighbours can't hear him screaming bloody murder at 1 am!

We are offering 15% off most items in our Etsy store http://www.mommysmonkey.etsy.com/ and watch for our big birthday sale on 2/28 for one day only!! Also lots of new inventory has been added to http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/ - and ad space is still available (see the Other Fun Places page for details)!

Lil Monkey Bum Care

2009-02-12T09:56:00.000-05:00

Any parent knows how miserable diaper rash is - for baby and mommy. Knock on wood with some special attention and routine my little monkey has only had one bout of diaper rash. Here are some tips to help you keep your little monkey's bum happy!

Cotton - any product that touches your wee ones bum should be cotton. This includes wipes, liners etc. Even though you are using it to wipe the bum any polyester blend product such as minky, fleeces or poly-cottons just don't breath and clean like cotton. Same with liners, although I find fleece liners useful for super soakers, I recommend using a cotton/flannel over top or a flannel liner filled with fleece. Think about what the best undies are to wear for your health - yup you got it cotton!

Natural Wipe Solutions - we use a recipe that I made through trial and error that contains all natural products (and comes free with any wipe set purchased from www.MommysLilMonkey.com). The best part is this recipe has ingredients that help kill/fight yeast (the #1 cause of diaper rash), soothes the skin and moisturizes without petroleum (which doesn't allow the skin to breath).

Fresh Air - sure it can get messy, but the best thing for a bum is to get some fresh air whenever possible! Consider some diaper free time before your little monkeys bath or before changing them for bed time. Of course keeps some wipes handy to clean up any 'accidents'.

Diaper Rash Creams - stay away from any products that contain petroleum, glycerin and chemicals you have never heard of! We use a great product called Weleda (http://shop.weleda.com/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=MotherAndBaby) - it also works well on cradle cap.

Frequent Diaper changes - especially if you use cloth diapers. Because cloth is just not as absorbent as disposables the liquids can sit at the surface leaving baby's skin damp. It's important before putting on a clean diaper to make sure your little one's bum is dry - of course baby powder is great for that!

I hope you find these tips useful in keeping bums everyway happy!

Calling All Creative Mommies or Grammas!

2009-02-11T10:10:00.004-05:00

Are you a creative/crafting mommy or gramma? Do you have an online store that needs to be promoted and shared with the world?

I am looking to feature a creative mommy/gramma once a week on the Mommy's Lil Monkey blog. I really don't like the term WAHM or SAHM ... we are moms no matter what our 'employment' status we work at home too!

If you are interested please email me at julia@mommyslilmonkey.com for more information! We also offer banner advertising on the website under the page "Other Fun Places" - visit the page for more information on how you can have your banner there too www.MommysLilMonkey.com

And a quick promo for my Etsy store sale! www.MommysMonkey.etsy.com
`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`15% OFF SALE ON NOW!!!From Feb 2 - 27 receive 15% off your total order (excluding shipping) on most* items in store. A revised Paypal invoice will be sent once you have completed your shopping!* Digital Doodads & gift certificates are not included in this sale sorry!`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`

Helpful Links for Canadian Mommies

2009-02-09T09:18:00.002-05:00

I can hardly believe my little monkey is almost one year old now - it seems like just yesterday I was cradling him in my arms and thinking 'my gosh I can't really be the mommy to such a beautiful creature'!

You learn a lot in that first year! And holy bananas is it overwhelming!

To help out those new mommies out there here are some links that I found really useful - most of them are directed towards Canadians.

Enfimal (formula) Family Beginnings club: free samples, feeding information and lots more http://www.enfamil.ca/en/enrollment/index.html?gclid=CLOYptD6zZgCFQRhswodhkxR2A

Heinz Baby Canada: tons of great information about formula feeding, introducing baby foods/solids and free samples, plus lots more
http://www.heinzbaby.com/english/about/

Motherisk (run by Toronto Sick Kids): a great resource for pregnancy questions, drugs and breastfeeding and all things baby
http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp

Johnson's Baby products: tried, tested and loved by generations of mommies; we swear by the bedtime massage gels
http://www.johnsonsbaby.ca/en/

The Smiling Mom - if you are ever in the Niagara Region stop by this amazing consignment store for gently used maternity and baby/children's items
http://www.thesmilingmom.com/mambo/

Hot Tots Sale - in the Ottawa area? Be sure to check out this HUGE sale!
http://www.hottots.ca/

Mommy's Lil Monkey - everything you need to keep mommy and baby from going bananas (tee hee!!!) http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com

Cloth Diapering Must Haves

2009-02-08T12:20:00.004-05:00

Those who are new to cloth diapering know that it's a confusing world filled with many expensive and elaborate products. When I first ventured into cloth diapering I was overwhelmed with the opinions and information available on the Internet.

What I can't tell you is what cloth diapering system is best for you - each baby and parent needs to determine this through their specific needs and desires. What I can tell you is that there are a few 'must haves' no matter what diapering system you go with!

Diaper Liners - Mommy's Lil Monkey offers a variety of liners, all to fill a specific purpose. in general liners are used to keep the diapers from becoming too stained, allow easier clean up of 'solid messes' and in most cases adds a soft layer directly against your little one's bum! Whether you opt for a simply 2-layer flannel liner to minimize staining or add a terry filled liner for those babes who are super soakers - Mommy's Lil Monkey has the liner you'll need! The best part is our liners come in fun prints and are all tested before we market them.

Diaper Wipes (a.k.a. bummy wipes, wipes, cloths) - what is the point of cloth diapering if you are going to use disposable wipes? Also have you read the ingredients in those wipes - yikes! The best thing on a babies bum is cotton, soft and natural. That's why any of Mommy's Lil Monkey wipes are perfect for your messy needs! We offer a variety of wipes, many made from 100% organic unbleached cotton - and in numerous sizes. From little messes to those sticky toddler stinkies Mommy's Lil Monkey wipes stand up to the job. The more you wash our wipes, the softer they become. Also our wipe solution recipe is made from all natural ingredients (available at pretty much any health food, drug store or big chain store) and help fight yeast which is the main cause of diaper rashes.

A sense of humour - yup that's what I said! Let's face it cloth diapers can sometimes be a bit of work. And no matter what style diaper you choose - a dirty one is never fun! There is nothing I find more icky then emptying that dirty diaper pail at the end of the day and getting it ready to wash - ewwww. But I remind myself that for every cloth diaper I use - I am saving the planet and making it greener for my little monkey!

One small step at a time, Mommy's Lil Monkey helps you make cloth diaper fun, inexpensize, easy and greener then ever before! Be sure to take a look at our wide range of cloth diapering accessories and many other great products at http://www.MommysLilMonkey.com . We take custom orders on our prodcuts too - keep that in mind if you're thinking of a certain theme for your nursery or have a specific diapering need!

Some New Items!

2009-02-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Here are some newly listed items. Right now we have a store on Etsy (http://www.mommysmonkey.etsy.com/) but we are moving items over to the main site slowly (http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/).

Sock Monkey Snugly Blankie

Daisy Super Soaker Diaper Liners

Flyer for Mom 2 Mom Show in a Few Weeks

2009-02-05T11:20:00.005-05:00

The flyer I recently designed for goodie bags at an upcoming Mom 2 Mom show in Hamilton. It's been converted into a .jpeg so it shows blurrier then it actually is!

Hey there Hi there!

2009-02-05T11:00:00.006-05:00

Just starting to work on our blog for Mommy's Lil Monkey! Check back often, or better yet subscribe to the updates!

And don't forget to visit the new site http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/ !!!

A Lil Bit About Mommy's Lil Monkey

A banana load of amazing baby gifts & goodies! Including diaper liners, minky blankies, binky (soother) covers, diaper bags, burpie cloths and more! All approved by my our lil monkeys! All items are presented with a high quality ribbon, Mommy's Lil Monkey tag and wrapped in high quality tissue before shipping.All of our items are created with love, the concept of stylish simplicity and eco friendly where possible! Babies are enough work; who needs the fuss and muss of extra frills, lace and bows? And everything in our store is ready to ship!Welcoming consignment deals (within Canada) and gladly considering wholesale orders as well - contact us to discuss!