Taking You To the Next Level

What's a small, women-owned business to do in this day of epublishing? Get with it of course! We have new year's resolutions too and at the top of our list is to epublish our children's picture book on Amazon. Meek and I believe this will be a wonderful way to minister while cutting printing costs. The great thing is, this epublishing option isn't just available to us. It's open to all. Go to Amazon for the details. Meanwhile stay tuned for our Kindle version of Sisters Are From Heaven. We'll let you know when it's ready for download.

Peace and blessings,

Polly

Praise for Sisters!

Sisters Are From Heaven" is a heartwarming story about the love between sisters. Not excluding moments of difficulty, pain or upset, the pathways of a relationship between two sisters are described in text and represented in colorful photographs of two real sisters in daily familiar situations and settings involving work and play activities. Co-created by two talented sisters, with photographs of their daughters, "Sisters Are From Heaven " seems designed to appeal to young, preschool age children, to help them pursue the best in their lives together. Emphasizing the God given gift of family and siblings, "Sisters Are From Heaven" is bound to please, attract and gently enlighten. Parents and siblings will welcome it and make it a favorite.
-- Midwest Book Review

“This is a sweet treasure that pays homage to sisterhood...
To sisters everywhere...you are a gift from heaven.”
-- Mary Rand Hess, Children’s and Young
Adult Writer

“Tamika has done an exquisite job of turning everyday moments
into lifetime treasures that anyone can enjoy.
Onjeinika’s simple yet elegant writing style delights
me and my young children and has provided
countless hours of enjoyment.

“Sisters Are From Heaven” shows what can happen
when we wisely invest our time and talents
to the glory of our Creator. A timeless representation of
sisterly respect and affection.”
-- Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Founder and CEO, Indie Business
Media, LLC and host of the Indie Business Radio Show

“Love shared between sisters transcends the familial
connection and ultimately serves as a model for other relationships.”
-- Brooke Kenny, Staff Writer, The Gazette

A Short Message: One Step Closer

Today Polly & I moved one step closer to having our second edition of Sisters Are From Heaven printed. We approved a pdf file of the book this evening and hopefully will be able to approve the softcover proof that will be arriving in the mail shortly. It is such an exciting time. Our second edition will have our very own logo on the back! God is good...all the time...and all the time...God is good.

We will be coming out in full force marketing, promoting and selling our book. As of now we have a wonderful vending opportunity in April and it will be the first time we are debutting our the book with our personalized logo. Soon Polly & Meek will be a household name. We believe it and embrace it and pray that God will work through us to deliver his positive message to the masses. A message and a testimony that not only lets young children see themselves on each page of our book and learn from the positive message it teaches but also one that reminds us all that everything is possible when done to the glory of God and he will make your wildest dreams a reality. That is the kind of God we serve!

Do you believe?

Sharing Love With Everyone!

Did you have a happy 4th of July? We certainly did!

We kicked off on Friday with a cook out at my sister and brother-in-law's home in Northern Va. Our father had come into town and we made it a family event when my husband, step-daughter and I came over to add in to the fun. We enjoyed ourselves with burgers, hotdogs, sausage dogs, chips and strawberry Kool-aid. Of course my brother-in-law made the most delicious peach smoothie concoction (virgin for me of course) and I made some cole slaw to top my hotdog with, yummy! It was all so delish.

The highlight of my day had to be seeing all the kids embrace my step-daughter and play with her as if they have known her for years and years. I am sure they are too young to remember meeting her about 3 years ago. As a matter of fact, I think this was the youngest one’s first time meeting her. Nonetheless, they went upstairs to play with toys and after a while it got very quiet. I went up to check on them and they were all the way upstairs. I asked what they were doing up there and they came out to report that they were ‘taking Big Sister on a tour of their rooms’. Okay I said and went back downstairs. A bit later, my youngest niece came down to show me money form the cash register that ‘Big Sister’ had given to her. I thought it was so very cute how they had given her a pet name immediately and embraced her to so quickly.

After eating, we went outside for water gun play. The simple things can fill a child with such glee. I think my sister has perfected the skill of showing her children that they can be fully entertained by the simple things in life. No one could tell them that they were not having the time of their lives out there running back and forth wetting each other with the guns. I sat on the steps, innocently taking photos, only to be sprayed down a few times. But my sister a.k.a Cleopatra Jones came out in full force with two small water pistols blazing, fighting them off left and right. She got quite the work out herself running behind those kids the way she was. After that it was time for red light, green light and I was immediately taken back to my childhood. Watching Lainey freeze had me rolling on the ground.

At the end of the evening we all exchanged hugs and kisses as my family and I headed back home. Even my boy Ox gave me big sugar and asked when I was coming back. I told him soon and I cannot wait to see them all again!

Amazon.com Review

If you have read our children's picture book, Sisters Are From Heaven, please visit Amazon and provide a customer review!

Slumping Economy? Need More Money? Start Your Own Business!

We hear it on every TV station these days...'We are in a recession and it will take some time to turn the economy around.' What are we to do with sky-rocketing prices? How are we supposed to meet the needs for ourselves and our families? I say, start your own business!

Yes, you read correctly. Take your hobby and turn it into a full-filling and lucrative business.

What is it that you enjoy doing? Selling items on ebay or Craigslist, photography, baking, sewing, housekeeping or organizing? Put those passions to use and make some extra dough on the side.

One of my co-workers just started a handbag business. She is a newlywed and new mom and took her love for handbags to a new level. She says the response has been great and she has plans to introduce her Spring collection in the coming weeks. Who knew something so simple could be so lucrative? I too love handbags, but I do not always like to go out and shop for them. Now, I have the convenience of just looking through her inventory on my lunch break and buying the bags I want. I think it is simple and fantastic!

The list does not stop with just this particular co-woker. I work with a very talented group of individuals. Although we all have day jobs, the majority of us still have a passion or hobby that we have decided to turn into a small business. From web design, logo creations, selling avon and pampered chef, to landscaping businesses, we do it all! We love and enjoy it and it gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment that most 9 to 5 jobs simply cannot provide. And starting your own business is not as hard as one might think. I held off on taking my hobby to the next level because I thought taking the time to make the business official would take too long and be too expensive. Boy was I wrong! Depending on what you want to do, you can be in business tomorrow.

The government keeps telling us to stimulate the economy in order to stop the downward spiral, but in this time of layoffs and cutbacks, we've got to take matters into our own hands and use our God given talents to make the world a more positive place. What started out as a serious hobby for me, has blossomed into a full fledged small business. My passion is photography and book writing. What is yours?

Do We Have Your Support?

I have to ask the question, though I have pondered long over asking it. Do we have the support of our friends, families and communities as a small, women-owned business striving to share positive products and messages with the world?

My sister and I started this journey with the few pennies we had knowing that it would not be an easy road but it was a road that we were happy to travel together. I confess that the road has been harder to travel than I had expected. We’ve fought tooth over nail and demand only the very best for our customers. We’ve attended day long expos and bazaars in an attempt to spread our message to the masses. We’ve toiled and prayed for the success of our book in hopes that it will uplift and empower families to teach their young children that love is key and that we must cherish one another even when the going gets tough.

Has it all been in vain?

Well I don’t think so. As we brainstorm on how to attract new customers, we are painfully aware of the need for additional funds to create and publish our next book. But the heart of our business and most important aspect to us, is sharing God’s positive ministry with everyone. We believe our product does just that and if you have not had a chance to enjoy this wonderful story with your children, siblings, families or friends --- then prepare to be blessed!

Sisters Are From Heaven simply must be a part of your children’s book collection. So Onjeinika and I are giving away 3 hardcover proofs of our book. All you need to do is be one of the first three to email us your contact information and join our mailing list and we’ll send the book to you. It is just that simple. Our only request is that you share the story with everyone you know. Read it to your children, share it with your daycare providers, Youth Ministries at church, camps, friends, families and associates…share it with the world!

In addition, please let us know what we can do to better serve you. Our ears are wide open to suggestions and we are ready to assist. Because isn’t that what God wants us to do…to help and support one another in any way that we can? It’s a two way exchange and we are more than happy to be on the giving end.

Many Blessings,

Meek (Polly & Meek)

If You Can Just Take God Out...

That was the statement that lit a fire under my sister. I consider my sister to be the kind-hearted one. The who stays objective, focused, cool and calm despite what may be thrown at her. I consider myself the one to protect her and defend her when it seems anyone is trying to rush over her and take her kindness and sereneness for weakness. But on this day, with this statement, I could not even rush in quick enough, I could not get a word in edge-wise. Instead I listened and was so proud of the way Polly handled it.

We were at one of our expos during the 2008 season and we had a woman come up who said she was a teacher at one school or another. She took our book, Sisters Are From Heaven, and begin to read through it. When she got to the end, she looked at us and begin to ask some questions. My sister was taking the lead, as we often would so that neither one of us got tuckered out with all the talk and bustling around from making contacts and sales. The lady said, 'this is a very nice book and I really like it, BUT the God..' and then she made this anguished face...'if you can take the God out I can get a lot of people to buy the book'. At first I do not think Polly truly understood what the woman was saying. Heck we were both tired and it looked as though it took a minute to register. I rose to my feet ready to defend, but then my sister begin to speak. She did not say much except 'Take God out? No way'. The woman tried to defend her point 'well you have to understand that in the school system we have a lot of diversity and different beliefs and some parents don't want to see the word God in the story'. I begin to think we were on Candied Camera or the women was going to say we were being Punked or something. My sister said 'well then they do not have to buy it. We will never take God out of our story, the book is called Sisters Are From Heaven, so it is clear what that means.' I don't think it was so much what Polly said, it was how she said it. It was stated matter of fact and not open for further discussion and the woman understood that. She placed the book back on the pedestal and shrugged and said 'well' and walked off.

I giggled to myself as she and I discussed the nerve of some people to even suggest taking God out of our story after all He has done for us. Nothing seemed more outlandish to us. Has anyone every asked you to take something out or add something to your book or short story that you did not want to do? If so, how did you handle it?

Amazon here we come!

So, I guess you all have been wondering where we’ve been. Never fear we are still around hard at work trying and trying again.

This month we plan some new upgrades to our website and to expand on our marketing strategies. We have pondered what product to put out next, in between the writing of our next book. We landed on the idea of beautiful cards that feature my photography and my sisters writing…what else could one expect? So keep your ear to the ground and your face to the wind. We’ll be sending out our newsletter and directing folks to our website to do a tad bit of holiday shopping for self, friends and family.

But before I go, the big news that I could not wait to share is Sisters Are From Heaven is now available on Amazon.com. This is another great milestone for my sister and I and another huge opportunity to share our positive ministry for children with the world! What can be better than that?

Many Blessings,

Meek