PEAK 2011 and MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!

What can I say....

MAXarT rocked the house! We had an awesome experience bring MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful! awareness merchandise to over 600 participants of the 2011 PEAK Inclusion Conference.

http://www.peakparent.org/conferences.asp

I highly recommend you go next year! CHECK IT OUT!

The reception was overwhelming! People love MAXarT! It's sometimes still hard for me to believe, but if I had any doubts about our products, mission or vision, I shouldn't now!

We sold 185 products to these generous, uplifting educators, parents, students, therapist... the list goes on and on.... All who genuinely want to share the MAXarT word! To empower, employ and accredit the ASD community!

I am overwhelmed and I think I could sleep for a week! THANK YOU just doesn't seem to be enough for our MAXarT supporters and customers! YOU ARE WHAT KEEPS US GOING!

Rusty doesn't usually get to be in the front lines (he's my honey do and pack mule...) Well, this event he got it up close and personal. On the ride to our friends to sleep after the first night he is in astonishment and to his own words shared ...

"WOW! I get it now! I have always thought that MAXarT was great, but never could I have imagined the positive, smiling, ready to share their story, sincerely great
experience to hand off a piece of MAXarT and experience part of the mission and
vision and how it is so purely uplifting and a genuinely needed and WANTED product! It was an amazing experience - I get it now... and you can't put that feeling into words! Every single persons face and words words are so encouraging and proud of the mission and vision MAXarT is all about."

Also as icing on the cake MAXarT is now at the Autism Community Store located in Denver Colorado. So as we take our vision seriously, we are that much closer to bringing autism awareness products to the public ready and available at their local stores! http://www.autismcommunitystore.com/

CHECK OUT THEIR STORE!

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED!

The Coloradoan Newspaper!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coloradoan.com%2Farticle%2F20110124%2FBUSINESS%2F101240307%2F-A-beautiful-endeavor-&h=b71c2

We've been busy already in January 2011

Well, just under a year for MAXarT LLC the business and we have a huge write up in the Coloradoan! MAXarT was fortunate and blessed to be featured on the front page of the business section of the Coloradoan Newspaper.

http://www.facebook.com/I.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coloradoan.com%2Farticle%2F20110124%2FBUSINESS%F101240307%2F-A-beautiful-endeavor-&h=b71c2


Please check out our article!
Awareness is key!

We are proud to be able to create awareness as well as empower, employ and accredit the ASD community!
~Gayle Timm, Mommy and CEO

2011 is here and so is MAXarT

A new year.
When most make resolutions, want changes and need a fresh start...

Well, I don't!

I want to keep going strong just like we have with MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!

We had an unbelievable year in 2010 starting with the birth of MAXarT in April, going to Hollywood, now having actual store retail accounts and everything in between.
I want just as much and more for our Autism Community in 2011 and on and on!
Ups and downs, good and bad... all of it is just what keeps us moving stronger and even more motivated to be "THE" autism awareness company
Let's ROCK ON STRONG!

Thank you everyone for 2010 and we hope you will stay strong with us into 2011!
MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!
Empower, Employ and Accredit the ASD community!

Inventory Ba... Humbug!

Morning to you all this will be short and sweet, unlike inventory!

Inventory at the Salon... still yet to do...
Inventory with MAXarT... currently underway!

Mitchell (M#2 of my 3 M's) and I spent hours yesterday counting MAXarT one by one.

Up side, Mitchell is very funny.
I have always known this, but it doesn't come out a lot.
He reserves his "funniness" for the perfect moments.

After counting several hundred pieces of MAXarT with a Mom who's taking migraine med's who can't remember what number, shirt or style you just told her AND she's looking at it - no joking!

This moment is "choice"!

Thank you Mitchell - you rule! It made inventory a lot less painful and we get to go back for more fun and games today!
xoxo Mommy

Realazation... We have a lot of MAXarT! and we still aren't done, ugh.

Reality... MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful! will be fully stocked by the first part of the week at Ace Hardware in Wellington, Colorado
(just off I-25 on Frontage Rd, North of Fort Collins, Colorado)

Dream... To have MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful! in many more Ace Hardware's to come in 2011!



Downside, on our way back this morning to finish, at least, the soft products.

Finishing on the Upside, Off to Decorating at Ace hardware with a freshly inventoried batch of MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!

Thank goodness I love MAXarT and Mitchell loves Me!

Tappin' Tuesdays

For those of you who didn't know Max has been in Tappin' Dumplings for the past several months...

Yes, you read that correct... Tappin' Dumplings!

Tuesdays have become fondly referred to now as "Tappin Tuesdays"

(Thank you Miss Susan:-))

Okay So, Yesterday Max as usual I pick him up from school, drive home in a hurry, change into his tap uniform (camouflage sport shorts and matching tank) and off to tap....

Tap runs about an hour and most Mommies leave, run errands or have their special time, but I have not felt comfortable leaving. This is Max's first unattended typical activity and so far so good, but it's always a roll of the dice.

Door swings open, Miss Marsha appears... Max takes off - no care to say goodbye, he loves tap! I become use to "NSAS" (No Separation Anxiety Syndrome) which I'm telling you can be hard on the Mommy who's kid appears to not care if she is there or not.

So next time your kiddo has a crying fit because you are leaving them; Give them a big hug and think of me... and feel glad!

Miss Marsha asks "Did he use the bathroom?"

"Yes Miss Marsha" I reply like a good Mommy.

I get a slight nod of approval and she 1/2 turns in a swift and gracious movement as door is shut - slam.

20 Min's into tap... door swings open.

Max with Miss Marsha AND the first I've seen of his recital costume a black plastic top hat.

"He has to use the bathroom" Miss Marsha tells me with one hand on Max and one eyebrow raised at me...

Ugh...

Off to the bathroom... Black Top Hat rolling forward, backward and sideways on Mr Max's head... I'm waiting to see it fall into the toilet and I'm thinking maybe I should limit the Gatorade before tap and why didn't he take off this Black Top Hat before coming to use the bathroom...dunno... Max pee's.

Back to tap. Tap, tap, tap on the door he goes back in... I go back to my seat.

5:30 Tap is over. Miss Marsha comes out I am the first one she comes to. Uh Oh...

Miss Marsha begins "We had a melt down the last 5 Min's of class..."

I nod, wide eyed and hanging onto her every word.

Miss Marsha continues "He got very upset and was on the ground and refused to participate"

I nod, frowning...

Miss Marsha continues "I left him alone to work it out and he threw his hat..."

...at this point I am visualizing the Black Top Hat crushed beyond repair and wondering how late party america is open and it's close to new years right now it is it shouldn't be that hard to replace a top hat, right?
Then refocusing and about to apologize profusely, but before I had a chance...

Miss Marsha continues in the most Matter of Fact, Understanding, Just how it is, statement I think I have ever heard

"I believe Max was mad at his hat." Miss Marsha said staring me square in the eyes and as serious as a heartattack. No jokes, no fluff, no excuses... just that one statement. That one beautiful statement! She got my kid - awe now I gotta get a tissue!

What just happened... what, what !?!?
I'm thrown for a loop, no judgment, no stress, no excuses, no explanation required from me...

Miss Marsha finishes by "telling me" to pin his hair back.
She believes between his hair and the plastic hat they are causing "Static Friction" and Max didn't like it.

I Believe Miss Marsha is Right!

The end. literally

Miss Marsha turns with the grace of an angel and is off to give the next dumplin' report.

"Not everyone "gets my kid" and when someone does WOW you wanna take 'em home and never let them go... I wanna love you and hold you and call you my own!
I LOVE MISS MARSHA! ... and Max loves tap!

On our way out Max and Mommy signed up for Tappin' Dumplins till March 2011!

MAXarT going strong!

I know, I know... it's been awhile since my initial cannonball into blogging...


Well, I am trying to get a jump start on my new and improved, more efficient schedule which includes blogging. (You may see this re posted in a few weeks as my New Years Resolution, depending on how this all goes...)
I have been up since 4:30 AM and it is now 5:17 AM. But, I am typing!

Okay so on to the heart of MAXarT...
1. Started Co.
2.Started Blog.
3. Disappeared from blog
4. In between 2 and 3... here goes...

WOW is all I can say!
We have been so busy! You all love MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful! The feedback, partnerships and overall support and genuine interest has been overwhelming to say the least...
Okay, so I graduated the Family Leadership Training Institute class and graduated! MAXarT is Born.

• We created our LLC
  


• We have our off site office
  


• We have several thousand pieces of MAXarT inventory on hand! YES I said several thousand!
  
  
• We had several vendor booths this spring, summer, fall and more coming!
  


• We have 2 on line stores - I can't brag about this because I have been about attentive to the online store needs as I have been to this blog:-(
  


• We have a product line in the Drake Parlor Salon and Day Spa (Ft. Collins, Colorado)
  


• We have a product line of the soft items (t-shirts, totes, etc...) going into a retail store in Estes Park, Colorado THIS SPRING 2011 ! THIS WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT!
  


• We have been to Los Angeles, California and pitched MAXarT to ABC for the reality show SHARK Tank. YES, folks... wait for it, that will be a blog all of it's own!
  On and on I could go, but I think I should wrap up while I have your attention!

I can't thank all of you enough! Those of you who have cannonballed right in from day one and all of you who have jumped right in along the way with us. Your time, support, idea's and and positive words of encouragement, endless volunteering at our vendor tables since April, pricing, all of the grunt work no one sees, but we appreciate SO MUCH! You all are MAXarT and should be so proud of yourselves and the positive and strong mission and vision you are encouraging for the ASD community and my little Max! This is their world too and it should be a beautiful world!

Thank you xoxo,

Gayle and Max MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!

Stay tuned, I am trying to do better and more to come in the exciting adventures of MAXarT and Mommy!

Homework!

Okay, Now I remember why I am not a 4.0 Grad Student! I can't do homework! Yes, I know, I am the last person in this world who will ever say the word can't, but agh! I really dislike paperwork! Any paperwork; bills, junk mail, homework, accounting/bookkeeping, wrapping paper from torn open presents... you name it.

I am just finishing my semester homework in one day! Yes, I had the whole semester, but I decided to do it in one of the final days, the 11th hour, the fat lady sang... You get my point! Yes, I do work better under pressure, but this is ridiculous - even for me:-)

The good thing is my homework is a community project for the family leadership training institute (My business plan for MAXarT LLC)! So the silver lining is... it really is an awesome company and I am so proud of it!

MAXarT ~ autism is beautiful!

Well, back to my labor of love!