I?just got back from Blowing Rock NC.? We had such a wonderful family vacation out of the sweltering humidity of
Charleston.? I’m rejuvenated and ready to go!? Some weeks there is a whole lot of nothing going on, and other weeks, it’s just nuts. I have tons to fill you in on so here it goes….?

I received my first “action” from the USPTO regarding my Federal Trademark protection and my initial trademark application was rejected.? I’m not too upset as from what I understand they reject just about everyone the first time around.? (Same thing with a patent).? All this means is more money for my friendly neighborhood trademark attorney and his new Porsche!? (Just kidding about the Porsche, but not kidding about the money)? This is one of those expenses however that I feel is worth having a professional fight the fight for me.?

Next item of business… a friend of mine/mommy inventor/the gal that does my designs for my Grill Charms™ was on The Big Idea with Donnie Deutsch which airs tomorrow night (Wed) at 10:00!? She was invited to the show and was asked if she would stand up and ask a question.? She was able to hold up her product.? I’m so proud of her and so excited!? (In case anyone is watching, her name is Melissa with Storybook Studios)? ?

The next great thing is…. I just received a call from a producer for Start-Up Nation.? I was interviewed for a pod cast a while back last year and gave a sample elevator pitch.? Honestly… I did AWEFUL!? For those of you that don’t know what an “elevator pitch” is, according to wikipedia “The Elevator pitch is the concise description of an idea in the time span of an elevator ride, or a few minutes. Typically used when referring to entrepreneurs trying to pitch an idea to a venture capitalist or top executives in order to receive funding.”? For the pod cast interview I had about 1 minute to give an entire schpeel about my company, why someone should invest in me, blah blah blah…? I was so nervous that I would mess up and forget something that I wrote my “elevator pitch” down.? I was actually in the PA airport during the interview because at the time of the taping I was waiting for fellow Mompreneur ? “Dippy Chick” Entrepeneurd as we both had time slots to present at the Oprah / QVC auditions for Oprah’s Next Big Idea at QVC headquarters in West Chester PA.? So there I was, “reading” my speech in an airport trying to find a place where the gate announcements could not be heard.? I was a mess and you could SOOOO tell I was reading it!?? To make a long story longer about 30 minutes ago as I’m picking up my cranky kiddies from mother’s morning out, I get a call from the producer I had worked with the last time around.? She’s doing a “where are they now” segment and she wants me to update everyone on the progress of Grill Charms™.? She wants me to say a few words about any pitfalls and hurdles I have overcome and some “how to” advice for those dealing with similar issues.? AHHHHH!!!! I’m so excited!!!! ?The taping is tomorrow so I’ll let everyone know when it will air…. If I do okay! Hee hee?

And now for my final exciting event of the week… waiting for me in my mailbox from
Taiwan was my first “real” sample and it looks GREAT!!!? There is still some tweaking involved, but to quote my sourcing agent word for word “We are rounding third base!”? I’m really feeling some major forward momentum over here… LOOK OUT!?

When it rains, it pours!!!? Yahoo!!!

?Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com