The Little Hat Company in Paris

The last time I stood in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris France, I was 16 years old. Never did I imagine that I would have started a children's hat manufacturer and the hats would travel the globe. WOW and THANK YOU GOD! Just two years since the start of The Little Hat Company we have shipped to five continents, built an amazing website (courtesy of Good Girl Graphics and Melange Studio), opened two retail stores (closed one) and shipped hats all over the country. The most amazing part of the this whole deal is the team that now resides at 10 Portland Street, South Berwick, Maine. Deb, Kim, Cathie, Linda, Amy, Lauren, Barb, and Sue - a little company in South Berwick, Maine ( a little town) is quickly becoming a global brand. Could you even imagine at our first company meeting with all of you just a year ago? Thanks to Boston Globe, The Weekly Sentinel, the 236 Diner, Maine Biz, endless Mom Blogs, Yankee Magazine, Harbor Kids, The Portsmouth Herald, Fosters, Boston's Parent Magazine, Childlight Yoga's email newsletter along with Ye Olde Computer Shoppe and so many friends for forwarding our newsletters!!! We are in the midst of 'right sizing' bringing our focus back to what we are all about - children's hats and our adorable little toy store in South Berwick Maine. Please come and visit us at the upcoming Pumpkinman Triathlon on September 6 & 7 next month at Spring Hill in South Berwick.

Thank you for all of your endless support!!!

It's okay to ask for help!

A lot of people wonder why Little Hat has reached so many more people than my other businesses. At first I didn't know how to answer or really what was the reason behind it all. Well, I'm starting to get glimpses of how this all works and it is absolutely wonderful. Little Hat has taught me - It's okay to ask for help. In the beginning when we were just starting out people were saying what a great job I was doing and instinctively I would answer "it's not me". There is something else at work here. Too many things just seemed to line up at the right time when we needed them too. It's not to say that we haven't done an amazing amount of work. Sue, Barb, Deb, Kim, Cathie, Amy, Linda, Gail, Kim, Joyce, Ginny, Valerie, Kathleen, Kris, Connie, Deb, Lauren, Matt, and many more have pushed up our sleeves and worked into all hours of the night when needed. There is a certain knowing or faith that we are all meant to be in this together and see it to the end. I have shed more tears of joy, fear, laughter, anxiety, and aha moments then any other time in my life. I have been pushed out into the community to meet the most gracious, kind, wise, giving, and helpful people. For most of my career I would allow myself to only get so far into success and then push back saying I didn't deserve what was just around the corner. Well not anymore. Everyone deserves abundance. Everyone needs abundance so that they can then share with their families, their friends, and their communities. It is so important for us to share the support that we have received from our community and each other. Please let us know how we can help you! Sue Page has taught me so many things in the past three years: much of which she shrugs off and says I'm silly. The greatest gift that she has imparted on me is to be patient and share the daily joys with my family. It has been so easy to get caught up in the daily tribulations of Little Hat...then one call from Sue and I'm instantly reminded of why we are looking so crazy in those strawberry hats... we are doing it for our families, friends, and community. Our goal is to bring abundance and joy to each and share with everyone how to get it for themselves. Life is such a wonderful gift we've been given, and feels especially so when we are truly able to shrug off our daily struggles and realize there is always joy in front of us for us to be a part of and enjoy.

Just a morning thought and a whole lot of gratitude goes out to all of you for helping!!

Wow- that was way easier than I thought to post a movie clip!

Okay so it may not be perfect but I still haven't put Lib to bed. I was way too excited to see how this all works. Please submit your movies and photos of your little ones in their Little Hat Company Lids. Each month we pick a winner and ship out a free lid of their liking to themselves or a friend. jen@thelittlehatcompany.com

"thought you might like to see you hat creation on vacation in Mont Tremblant Quebec.. Marley Ruth Leavitt...

Have a great day!!!" Tina.

Mont Tremblant Quebec hosts the Sweet Charity Stroller Lid

"thought you might like to see you hat creation on vacation in Mont Tremblant Quebec.. Marley Ruth Leavitt...
Have a great day!!!",Tina.

Tina also sent us a movie clip of Smiley Marley showing off her Sweet Charity Lid on the cobblestone streets of Quebec. As soon as I post this adorable picture I am going to put my toddler to bed and try to find out how to share this amazing clip with you. It's pure heaven for The Little Hat Company
Did I tell you how very appreciative we are for each and everyone of you sending in the beautiful images of our Stroller Lids as faithful traveling companions all over the world. It really feels good to be a global company!! Please let us know how we may be of service to you!

Best Wishes,

Jen
Founder
The Little Hat Company

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Team Bumbles

This is me and my son Aaron. He's fourteen and when he was born I started my first business - Basket Case, aptly named for my state of mind at the time. This past weekend Aaron and I embarked on one of our most prized adventures together. Last Saturday we woke up at 4:00am in the morning and headed to Newbury MA. We were part of team "Bumbles". Those are the cutest little bumble bees flying across our shirts.

My sister lost her only daughter to Cystic Fibrosis two years ago. Aaron and Kim were very close and shared a lot of their personality's and love for the Boston Red Sox. Kimmy was born when I was ten and I loved being with her. She was beautiful, brilliant, stubborn, artistic, and had the best giggle. Kim lived to be 25 years old but it wasn't long enough. Her quality of life was less then something that could be dealt with but somehow she forged on through life and found her own path. We miss her tons!

So crazy family that we are my sister convinced Aaron and I to join their team bumbles and ride 150 miles over the span of two days. OUCH!! Who said I didn't need to train? Somewhere in between being a mom of three, a business owner and a wife I only succeeded in squeezing in three training rides. Not my best but we made it - my greatest moment was my teenager not ever complaining once or saying he wanted to quit!! He kept his eyes forward and his heart in the right place. I'm so happy to be able to include him in this blog and introduce you to my son. Often with The Little Hat Company he remains behind the scenes - his noggin is way to big for the Stroller or Loope Lid - not that he would be caught in one.

I just want to say that I love him more than the entire world and I am one proud MOM!! If you would like to find out more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help please visit their site CFF.org

By the way - our little Bumbles team raised more than 4000K! The advancements that have been made since Kim was born and since passed are only short of miraculous.

Little Hat goes to StoryLand Glenn New Hampshire

"Here is a picture of our 17 month old Brianna ( South Berwick native), who is a huge fan of the Little Hat Company.

She is wearing her Strawberry hat at the Pumpkin patch at StoryLand in Glen NH during the 4th of July weekend." -Lanette

A note from The Little Hat Company: Brianna was one of our first customers while she was still in her Mom's belly. Her parents have supported us from the very beginning and we are so very thankful! It is because of Brianna and her family and many others like them that we have grown so quickly. This incredible picture means so much to our company because it represents the time that has passed, the thousands of hats that have gone out across the world, and the amazing people the company has brought into our lives. We are so very thankful for your support!

Words to Live By...from one little hat to a whole lot of others

Hi Little Hat s,

Checked out one of the websites that we are involved with and stumbled upon this wonderful quote that I had to share with all of you...just seems to fit this little company.

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."

If we all continue to live by that quote....possibilities are absolutely endless! Here's to our future and so much more fun and laughter...

xoxoCathie

That's Cathie in the pink looking up at the camera on our recent Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Boston. Last night our whole team of Managers met in my porch- beneath the twinkle lights and through Sue's vision built our dream boards. We started at 7:30pm and finished at 11:55pm. Yikes. We were saying goodbye for now to Connie who's leaving for Alaska.

We are going to miss her for now she'll be back!!