Nevermind the 102 degree weather this day… it was another beautiful wedding! Thanks so much to Francis from Francis Joseph Photography for asking me to second shoot with him. It really was a privilege! The ceremony and reception took place out at the stunning Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin. Dinner was catered by the {lick my lips delish} Salt Lick. Everything was perfect ♥
Last week I gladly head up to Texas School a day early to help assist a fellow photographer forum friend who’s work I’ve looong time admired. Admired might be too soft a word… I may have erked out a school girl squeak noise when asked to assist on a special shoot with Matt Nicolosi. He put out a call for models when he stumbled upon a free weekend {thanks to a volcanically canceled trip overseas} to try a little something fun. Another forum friend Lauren quickly jumped at the chance to have him photograph her so we met him down in Deep Ellum in Dallas. I expecting nothing short of amazing and wow did he not let us down. Simply amazing work!! He has posted the images on his blog, under the title ‘Lauren + Ron’ so go take a looksie.
The Strawlution Straw creator, Mompreneur Jamie Wallace!
My husband and I recently had the pleasure of working with a friend of mine as she launched her new product, The Strawlution Straw! I’ve known Jamie for many years through various playgroups and I’ve watched her creation morph from a budding idea into an internationally sold product! I was so excited when she asked me to take her all of her product/packaging images and photograph during the filming of their commercial video. My husband built her website, found at Strawlution.com, giving you a convenient place online to pick up your own packages of straws.
If you haven’t heard of Strawlution, read on… her idea truly is amazing! A straw that goes in, but doesn’t come out! These are perfect for little ones who are pulling out their straws constantly at home, at restaurants or at the park. You can push them into anything with a foil top such as yogurts and applesauce, eliminating the need to spoon feed. They are ideal for use of on the go snacks. They are also helpful with the elderly who may have a more difficult time holding and maneuvering a spoon. They have even proved beneficial for special needs children and adults who are not able to feed themselves. I’d like to share some of the photos as well as a quick interview I grabbed with this very busy Mompreneur.
How did you come up with the idea for Strawlution?
Basically the idea came about because my babies were 1,2,and 3 years old! My kids have always loved yogurt. I encouraged it because it’s a great healthy snack. But, spoon feeding three toddlers yogurt multiple times a day was a pain! And even though the yogurt companies are trying to make an option for parents like, GoGurts (in a tube), crush cups, none of them are a mess free option for young kids! So, I started pushing a drinking straw right through the foil on top of the yogurt. It worked great except I would find yogurt containers around the house and the straw had fallen out causing yogurt to spill on my carpet, furniture and toys. That’s where the first idea of “why is there not a straw that goes in and doesn’t come out”, came from!
What was the journey like taking Strawlution from concept to market?
EXHAUSTING! There are days when people tell me that they have a good idea and I don’t come across very positive! It’s certainly more work than I ever imagined, between the patents, trademarks, manufacturing, engineers, website, marketing, investors, contracts, packaging, bar codes, fulfillment…! I spent my entire life (including my college career) in a leotard and pink tights! This is all completely overwhelming and foreign to me! The hardest part has been the fact that I have created an entirely new concept. The manufacturing process itself is something that has never been done before. Believe it or not it is REALLY hard to make my straw!
What environmental considerations have you taken in creating the Strawlution straw?
The design helps the environment by prevent the removal of a straw and needing another; resulting in less straws being used and less plastic being thrown away! The Strawlution Straw is also FDA approved, BPA Free, dishwasher safe, and 100% Made in America! It’s a mouthful, but I worked really hard to be able to say it!
What’s life like for you as creator of this innovative product?
We are just a few weeks into our launch, and this has been years in the making. So right now, it’s too crazy to even take in! There are several different directions we could go with the company and the products we are creating. Right now it’s definitely, one day at a time!
Weeeee! I’ve been crazy lately with my kids, their school work, my work work, taxes, my hockey games… just plain busy! I’d like to catch up the blog for a sec and share a recent beautiful Austin family session. Little 7 month old Jack is just more adorable than should be allowed. He was so stinkin’ funny… he didn’t like to sit on the grass, at all! He’d get this very determined and concerned look on his face, crinkling his little forehead, and just start pulling and pulling the grass up. Put him on the ground on a blanket? Happy as a clam 
All smiles showing off his two little teeth. We decided that he was going to grow up to own a landscaping company some day. {wink}
