Last month, I participated in Mom Central National Mother Talk Tour. In a marathon packing afternoon, I sent 25 Kindercones to blogging moms across America. I had no idea that there were so many funny, lighthearted, and often informative sites out there. All of the bloggers are mothers with school-age children and all of them found the idea of a gift on the first day of school a really sweet concept. I would like to share the blog sites with you and I especially love all the photos of kids with my KinderCones. For me, this is a wonderful way to generate word of mouth publicity and gives me the confidence to work even harder. I believe that the tradition of the Schultuete will be a great success through these blogs. All blogs can be found on my blogroll.

I am confronted for the second time with the conundrom of having a business that depends on and strives in the summer months.  The Schultüte, or KinderCone, is all about the moment when summer is just shy of  a fleeting memory and the moment when routine and tasks are once again on our minds.  But – KinderCone starts planning for that day, the first day of school, long before the graduation hats fly in the air and little Kindergarten Graduates proudly can call themselves a  ”now a First Grader”.  So what is a mother with four kids to do?  Between festivals, orders and marketing campaigns, we decided to try a staycation this year.

Spare us the expensive air tickets (try flying 6 people to California), two hotel rooms (where else to put four kids) and nauseating car travel, despite the educational National Geographic videos ( it just makes me feel better about watching TV in the car).  We are going to Chicago, the Windy City, home to sandy beaches, free outdoor concerts and so many attractions they are impossible to list.  The best part: we live here.  The worst part: we live here.

I really am looking forward to exploring Chicago and try to stay on the course of a vacation: So I decided on a few rules for my family for a successful staycation

1. I will not do laundry

2.  Eating out  should always be an option

3. Computer time limited to emergency checking of mail (and KinderCone orders of course)

4. Explore a new venue or activity every day – even the most relaxing ones.

5. Spoil the girls with things we would never do – go to the movies, carnivals, a sleepover in the backyard and expensive suburban pools…

6. Get a babysitter more than once and explore Chicago at night

I miss traveling in the summer and I really miss seeing my family and friends in Germany; but staying close to home and to what is important to you can sometimes be just as good.

I started to develop the idea of KinderCone when I made a Schultüte for Lillian, our first daughter.  She HAD to have a Schultüte because I had one growing up and it connected her and myself to our roots in Germany.  It also brought back these youthful sentiments of pride and starting something that was almost bigger than oneself.  That part of growing up and realizing that a new chapter of childhood was about to begin stuck with me.  Like so many others I distinctly remember the contents of my Kindercone; the delicious chocolates bars (Kinder Chocolate as it was called), the amazingly yellow zippered pencil case, and my first fountain pen, manufactured by the German company Pelikan.  It was blue and silver on the top and I remember being so proud of my future assignment: First Grader, first writer and reader.  The ownership of a fountain pen really was the stepping point into adulthood, albeit far away on that morning in Frau Hauptmann’s classroom filled to the rim with 30 sweaty, anxious First Graders.

I have been writing with a fountain pen ever since, even had a purple ink phase and must say that the skills of good penmanship have been very beneficial to me. I still enjoy writing letters and cards and pride myself in adressing each KinderCone customer with a hand-written little note telling them how much I appreciate their purchase and enthusiasm.

When I met Nancy Olsen at the eve of the penshow in Chicago last week I was astounded at her magazine Stylus, a magazine entirely devoted to fine writing and pen lovers.  There is hope for a resurrection of fountain pens for children after all I thought.  I would love to present these wonderful fountain pens and a new system called Griffix that Pelikan is planning on introducing to the US on my website.  Many parents would be thrilled to find these products of their youth and being able to include them with their Schultüte gift.  Nancy was so helpful with giving me great ideas on how to connect KinderCone with this wonderful prospect of re-introducing penmanship to our children.  I am looking forward to embarking on yet another tradition; create a new generation of writers in the age of all encompassing technology.

I recommend Nancy’s blog, NancyOlsonInk where she reflects on the art of writing and penmanship, reviews pens and looks at new trends.

Last week was one of those lucky weeks (I hope).  I was just finishing up sending my KinderCones to all the important and influencing magazines in the States when I received an invitation to have lunch with REAL SIMPLE’s editor in chief Kristin van Ogtrop.  I had send her a KinderCone, complete with press kit and the (unrealistic?) hope she would not just open my package but even find it inspiring and worth mentioning in her Family edition.  So, of course I immediately changed all my other really important things like watering our lawn that didn’t seem to share any spring-like feelings like the rest of the garden or clean the guest bathroom even with impending guests.  No, I went to the beautiful and impressive Union League Club in downtown Chicago and joined other women for lunch and a reading from her latest book.

You know a succeesful and nice woman when you see her, with Kristin van Ogtrop however, you can also hear it.  She is funny!  I really recommend her new book called : Just Let Me Lie Down. Yes, it is one of those funny and heartwarming mom-work combo books but I like the way it is to the point and sorted in hilarious and brief tidbits, all in alphabetical order.  This is great because, as we know, reading is one of those luxuries that are usually short and sweet; just like the many morsels of “been there” moments Kristin van Ogtrop so accurately shares with us.  I am not sure where she finds the time, but she also is blogging on REAL SIMPLE’s website.Adventures in Chaos by Kristin van Ogtrop. Check it out – it is funny and informative too!

And – who knows maybe KinderCone’s story will be included in this year’s REAL SIMPLE Family edition.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Days are getting longer and we have even had two days over 30 degrees in a row; it must be Spring in Chicago!  KinderCone is hard at work to bring the tradition of the Schultüte to America, this summer we will be featured at the German Fest in Milwaukee in July.  We will make small Schultüten at the children’s area in what is dubbed as the biggest German festival outside of Germany.  As I am making my rounds with all the upcoming festivals and organizations I really must say I am so thankful for all the nice people on the other end of the phone line; cold calling is not my favorite part of KinderCone!  It is not so easy explaining a first day of school celebration, even if it is 200 years old.

My festival dates will be available via Twitter and Facebook and I am looking forward to meeting many more families this summer as we Celebrate School together with Karli and KinderCone.

Check out this year’s German Fest in Milwaukee at the end of July.

German Fest Milwaukee

Wow, hard to believe but our children have spent nearly 100 days in their respective classrooms, learning, studying hard and hopefully having a fun and rewarding learning experience.  Not only is Spring around the corner but we can honestly huddle together and talk about summer plans without sounding completely ridiculous.  It is hard to find a plan for three months of summer bliss with the little darlings.  Child sharing anyone?  KinderCone, bringing the tradition of the Schultuete to the US, is planning on a road trip with my biggest fans, 4, 6, 8 and 11 respectively.  I want to share this new and exciting back to school idea with many small and large communities and plan on reporting from the road.

BUT – first things first, I would like to announce a competition for the 100th Day of School.

On my latest page addition on my website, you can find the page included in the KinderJournal featuring the 100th Day of School.  I have already announced a competition to win $100 for your child’s classroom.  Be creative and have fun, fill out the page and mail it to me, or contact me and I will send you my mailing address.  I am sure your teachers will be thrilled to receive $100 for their classroom supplies.  Spread the word if you will, the contest ends on March 15th and I will announce the winners on April 1st. Happy drawing everyone!

KinderCone\’s Create Page

Other fun sites for 100th Day of School Projects:

AtoZteacherstuff

This is a good resource for the projects that our kids have to bring in for the 100th Day of school.

I would like to announce that KinderCone is presenting a contest for the 100th Day of School.  Our KinderJournal features a 10oth Day of School page and now you can download just that page on our newly created Create Page.  The most creative entry will be drawn by April 15th and the winning child’s classroom will receive a $100 gift certificate for their teacher.  You can email me the completed page or contact me at vivian@kindercone.com for more information.  I am really excited about getting many answers to my question:

If you could have 100 of anything it would be:

KinderCone\’s Create Page

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the traditional German Schultuete.  First mentioned in Jena in the Eastern region of Germany in 1810, the school cone has ever since become a symbol for German school children when they set off on their first day of school, in particular on the first day of first grade.  The big cardboard cone is decorated with stickers, drawings or comes as a large shiny and perfectly formed Schultüte filled with little gift, school supplies and – to the child’s delight – lots of sweet goodies.

The history of the Schultüte, now known in the States as KinderCone , dates back 200 years when it was introduced in the cities of Dresden and Leipzig.  The cones were taken to school by the proud parents or grandparents and hung onto a so-called Schultüten tree, then they were passed to the children by the teacher.  I am sure that in these times this must have been the highlight in every child’s life.  To this day you can ask any German about their first day of school and they will tell you about it in detail.  Just ask celebrities like Heidi Klum or Leonardo Di Caprio how they liked their KinderCone; when you are German or have a German mother, you will have a Schultüte – it is a must.

As we celebrate 200 years of this tradition, KinderCone wants to take it to the next level and make the first day of school a new day to celebrate.  And why not for the second and third graders as well? I know that my children are always looking forward to their first day of school  - they always get a little KinderCone as a reward for being great students and great kids  - even when one of them will enter 7th grade next year.  These two pictures were taken before KinderCone came to life – but you can tell the excitement and happiness in their smiles, it is what truly inspired me.

my inspiration was that smile

Even a Pre-schooler gets a KinderCone!

KinderCones Days of Summer

I think the sun was out last week some time, but I am not sure – January in Chicago, not for the sun lover that is living in each one of us.  So I dug up our old video footage of last summer’s KinderCone festivals and played with Imovie for two days, found the great song of Jerry Mungo (summertime) and made a short and fun video clip.  These festivals were such a great way to connect with my customers, small and big, and to explain the tradition of the Schultuete. I cannot wait to do it again very soon. Until then – enjoy the video and think Spring!

I started this new year (and decade) with a big bang in Munich, my hometown.  The fireworks could be seen lighting up the night sky all over the city, and one could feel the excitement and joy for a new year and what a year it would be!

Now going into its second season, KinderCone is bringing the tradition of the Schultuete to America; I am proud to say that the response was overall really positive and enthusiastic and I have high hopes for the Schultuete tradition to take roots here in the States.

2010 marks the 200 year anniversary of this long standing and highly anticipated event for every first time scholar in Germany and I will try my best to find as many old images as possible, my collection so far can be seen at KinderCones Flickr Account Last year around this time I was finishing up the last touches on my first badge of KinderCones; as you know, each and every Schultuete is still hand assembled in small villages around Bamberg, a lovely small town in southwest Germany.  I would like to share my favorite KinderCone moments with you over the next few entries and hope you enjoy the images.  We at KinderCone (meaning my girls and I) are looking forward to another fun

Creating this childhood memory at Emmett School in August

filled and successful second year and many smiling faces on the day of Kindergarden Graduation or First Day of School!

Proud first grader at Bell School in September

Celebrating Oktoberfest KinderCone style

A future enthusiast tries a KinderCone in July

For more images, go to my website KinderCone.

Thanks for all you support and I am looking forward to another great year!