We’re honoured to announce that the four co-founders of Mabel’s Labels – Julie Cole, Cynthia Esp, Julie Ellis and Tricia Mumby – are finalists in the 2009 RBC Women Entrepreneur Awards, in the RBC Momentum Award category. This annual award recognizes women entrepreneurs from across Canada who make exceptional contributions to the local, Canadian and global economy.

It is truly an accomplishment for the co-founders to be recognized, as a record 1500+ nominees applied for these prestigious awards, in five categories.

You can read more about the awards in this RBC/Women of Influence press release. Please note, while the release states Julie Cole as the finalist, all co-founders are officially equal contenders.

Winners will be announced at an Awards Gala in Toronto on December 8, 2009. Wish us luck!

Last week on October 15th, many mamas were lighting candles in remembrance. That day has been designated as National Pregnancy Loss & Infant Loss Awareness Day.

I had a miscarriage soon after my first child was born. My loss was accompanied with some guilt too – finding out I was pregnant while having a newborn left me horrified. I quickly adjusted to the thought of my “Irish Twins” and was devastated when I miscarried. Then came the guilt – how could I have initially greeted this pregnancy with such little enthusiasm? Guilt and being a mama – a match made in hell.

Almost 10 years has passed since that time but there are two occasions when I am particularly reminded about it:

1) When I see my friend who had a similar due date. Her little girl will be turning nine-years-old next month. I should have someone turning nine next month.
2) When filling out the paperwork in subsequent pregnancies, you are required to record how many live births you have had, and also how many pregnancies. My numbers don’t match. I get shivers thinking about the mamas out there whose numbers REALLY don’t add up, and by a long shot. Just can’t imagine having to write down: pregnancies: 8 / live births: 0

I often think about the mamas who have lost full-term babies or babies during the first year of life. I wonder what happens when they are innocently asked “so, how many kids do you have?”

I think that must be a torturous question – the answer could either make you feel you are not acknowledging your lost child, or alternatively, you have to explain the painful experience to every stranger who is making small talk.

I had a teacher in high school who was raising two daughters, five years apart in age. She had lost her middle daughter, who was severely disabled, after several years of caring for her three girls. She often had people comment to her: “two kids, five years apart in age – what an easy way to do it!”

Little did they know.

I hope that this Day of Remembrance tells the world that mama is entitled to her grief – no matter what form it takes or how long it lasts, which is often a lifetime. So, on this day let us remember our losses. In some ways for many mamas, it is a day like no other – a day that we love and miss our children.

This one’s for you, our wonderful, loyal customers. We’re celebrating those of you who have been with us the longest, spread the word about us online and off, or who simply use our products in marvelous ways.

The Mabel Award categories are…

Best Brand Ambassador

Best Performance in the Use of our Labels

Most Loyal Customer

The “Mabel’s Ears Must Be Burning” Award

The Mabelicious Award 

Each of the five winners will receive a $100 Mabel’s Labels’ gift certificate and a set of 45 limited edition sticky labels (not sold anywhere!). Plus, those with blogs, Twitter pages and websites will be eligible to display a graphic of their ‘Mabel’ Award online.

Nominate yourself or your friends. Simply email awards@mabel.ca, describing why you should win in your chosen category. Deadline for entries is November 1st, 2009.
For more details click here.

Mabel's Labels Crop Circle

Hamilton, Ontario – October 14, 2009 : A remarkable example of the crop circle phenomena has appeared in a field in Ontario, Canada. Often found in Britain, crop circles are rare in this country, making this sighting particularly notable.

Who or what has left this astonishing design is a mystery but the subject appears to be ‘Mabel’, the mop-haired mascot of leading label company Mabel’s Labels. A company representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The only cropping I’m familiar with is the cute little scissors tool in my photo editing software. By the way, do you know how to remove grass stains?” Pressed further the spokeperson added “Mabel’s Labels makes labels for the stuff kids lose not labyrinths for kids to get lost in!” Meanwhile, crop circle expert, Cornelius Wheatpacker, believes the image is of extra-terrestrial origin. “Obviously, highly intelligent beings are behind this design” he stated, adding “or not”.

I was miraculously alone in my car the other day tuned into CBC, hoping to catch the dreamy voice of long- time crush, Jian Ghomeshi.

Being interviewed was Shane Earle, Mount Cashel Orphanage survivor. Something he said really resonated with me: the way we live each day as an adult is a constant reaction to how we were treated as a child.

That really spoke to me – although the majority of our years are spent as an adult, those childhood years are with us always. We carry those around with us day in and day out. Sadly, the weight of those years can be very heavy for some people.

I want the weight of their childhood years to be very light for my adult children. It got me to thinking – how am I treating my children to contribute to them being at peace as adults? I started a mental list and will share two simple ways that I think are significant. They are both little things that I hope make my kids feel like they are the top dogs in my life. Here are my two bits of advice:

1) Be excited to see them.
Whether the kids are walking in from school or I’m picking them up from Cubs, I always look ridiculously excited to see them. Sometimes I have to fake it – sometimes I wish they were gone for another hour, but they don’t need to know that. I vividly remember my own mom’s face every time we came home from school. She looked as though she was eagerly waiting to be re-united with us. Man, it made me feel good.

2) Don’t be late picking them up.
It is a very rare occasion that I would be even a couple of minutes late to pick up my kids. I feel like being late is sending them a message: I was so preoccupied with my work or other activity that I forgot about you. Being on time tells them that they are my first priority.

Sure, they are small, but as a child those things made me feel really valued. And as Shane Earle said, how we are treated as a child has a tremendous impact on our adult lives. I hope those little things will give them confidence and they will go into adulthood knowing their worth.

So, how do you treat your kiddos? What tips and tricks do you have to help lighten the load for your adult children?