Spring is in the air just in time for some new reading

Thank you for voting for our video! Our video has generated some wonderful feedback and responses. We are so inspired that we are busy getting new patterns for your favorite Reading Comfort product. By the way, this means that we will soon be discontinuing some of our older patterns at a comfrot price, just in time for Mother's day.

Presenting Our Newset video...

We are so happy to introduce our new video that showcases the people who make up Amanda Crawford Designs. We want all of you to get to know us! Don't forget, we are changing our patterns often and have launched our new E-Buddy.

Updating our Inventory

Great news! We are announcing that we will be updating our Book Buddy, Paperback Book Buddy and E-Buddy patterns 6 times a year! That means you'll have more to choose. Of course keep in mind that once we run out of a pattern, we will retire it, never to be seen again. So don't delay on your purchases.

We want YOU!

We know everyone is busy. So if you can't send us your video, send us your pictures! We want to see you and your Book Buddy. Show off your sense of style and let the world see which Book Buddy you love. Send your video or pictures to brett@readingcomfort.com

Remember, we want to feature YOU on an upcoming video. First 5 submissions will win a FREE E-Buddy plus a Book Buddy (even from our new private reserve line).

We need YOU!

We are looking for our most enthusiastic customer to make a quick 10-20 second video telling us why they love our products and that they found out about our new E-Buddy through our email marketing with Vertical Response. We know you are out there! So get your camera out and hit record. You can use your digital camera, video camera, or even the camera on your laptop. Nothing fancy, just fun, and energetic. We want to hear from you!

o The first 5 submissions will receive a FREE E-Buddy (any size or style) plus one FREE Book Buddy(you may even choose one of our newest styles from our Private Reserve Line of microfiber Book Buddys.)

o The winning video will be featured in our "Five Minutes of Fame" documentary that we are submitting to our email provider Vertical Response. Vertical Response wants to see what we are all about and who our customers are. Your creativity and spirit will help us in our video submission contest!

o If you have any questions, please call our Distribution Center at 877-477-0060 or email us at info@readingcomfort.com.

o Please send your final cut to Brett in Business Development at brett@readingcomfort.com.

Myrna Alpern feature article

Myrna Alpern, founder and President of Reading Comfort by Amanda Crawford Designs, has bee featured in our local Westlake Village Acorn Newspaper! Life really does begin at 70...

New E-Buddy Launched

We've launched our new E-Buddy line! They are at a great price and as always in a variety of wonderful colors. Comfort and style have never looked so good!

Working hard on our new line of products!

Can't wait for all of you to see our newest addition! Not only are we working on a great line of e-Reader Buddy, we are calling it the E-Buddy, but also a faux suede line! Now style will definitely meet comfort. Check our website soon for the official launch!

Exciting new line...

We're getting ready to launch our new line of e-reader pillows. Stay tuned!

Customer Feedback: Priceless

We were so moved by this letter, we wanted to share it with all of you.

"I wanted to share a book buddy story with you. After seeing my book buddy on my blog (before I actually even reviewed it), my mom bought one for my grandma who has arthritis in her hands. My grandma loved it, which I believe I mentioned in my review. My grandma bought one for a friend of hers who is a paraplegic. She is LOVING it, because once her husband places the book on the book buddy initially, she is able to manipulate the pages from one set of ribbons to another using her mouth stick. She says it is amazing and she is so happy to actually be able to read a book on her own again. Supposedly she has also shared the product with her physical therapist or someone who thinks it is just phenomenal.

Just thought you'd like to know!"

Jen

Reading Comfort Video! Watch The Comfort Happen.

8 New Book Buddy Fabrics Just In Time For Fall (and Holiday Shopping)

Click here to peruse our fabulous premier line. My new favorite design is "Jeannie". What's yours?

"Working" On Your Birthday As Comfort

As time goes by, we at Reading Comfort continue to ponder what comfort means to us (as you no doubt have learned by now). One aspect of the concept of comfort that makes me happy is how utterly subjective and personal it is.

For instance, today is my birthday and today I take comfort in working on my newest business. Many have balked at this and I must admit that my head is full of little voices saying "you shouldn't work on your birthday, you should be out having fun". Fun is another concept that is completely subjective (for instance, my sister's idea of fun is sky diving. Um, no).

Because I feel so passionately about what I do, often my work is fun. Or, at least it is for me. Honestly, I couldn't think of a better way to bring in this new year for me than to pursue my greatest love; healthy baking.

Reading Comfort was born of love and passion when Myrna invented the Book Buddy for her mother, a voracious reader who had trouble gripping a book due to arthritis. A decade later, that love has touched countless others.

As a new business owner, I can think of nothing more inspirational.

Do you work or play on your birthday?

Lying In Bed All Day: Taking A Break As Comfort

Good morning! I am working from bed. Again. I am also practicing not judging myself for this. Yes, not judging because I haven't run 3 miles, tidied up the apartment and made my husband a healthy breakfast by 8am.

I've been reading a book (using my trusty Book Buddy, of course) called I Was A Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids and the overriding theme is how mothers make themselves crazy by constantly criticizing themselves and others regarding what it means to be, and what it takes to be a "good mom". While I'm not a mom myself, I can totally relate to the constant barrage of judgement going on in my head. Here is what my head tells me I should get done in a day in order for it to be deemed "successful".

• Workout
• Make healthy meals for myself
• Make healthy meals for my husband
• Work= Make clients happy
• Run errands
• Complete any household tasks (bills, appointments, laundry, organization...)
  
• Blog
• Market my business
• Wear something cute
• Call/see a friend
• Test a new recipe
• Pay attention to my husband
  
• Follow a spiritual practice

Some days the above is doable, and can be incredibly gratifying. Other days, it's completely overwhelming and I wonder, who am I doing this for anyway? Why do I feel guilty if I don't get everything done? What about not feeling guilty if NOTHING gets done?

I've always been the one who looks like she has it all "together", while simultaneously feeling like I'm about to fall apart. I'm curious to see if I let some of this go, maybe it will fall into place. I have a hunch it will...

I just found a wonderful blog post on the virtues of writing in bed. Thank you, Kimberly Willis Holt! I feel so much better.

What does "taking a break" mean to you?

Color As Comfort: What's Yours? Have No Idea? Let's Explore...

When someone asks me what my favorite color is, I completely blank. This also happens when I'm asked about favorite songs, food, movies...

When I saw this intriguing series of questions in the September Edition of House Beautiful that could help me determine, once and for all, what my truly favorite color is, I had to jump in. And I want to take you with me.


1. What's the first color you see in the morning?
White

2. What color are your eyes?
Hazel

3. What color do you wear the most?
Blue

4. What color do you never wear?
Purple

5. What color do you wear when you want to feel sexy?
Red

6. What color gets you the most compliments?
Green necklace or turquoise scarf

7. What color is your lipstick?
Clear, only use lip balm

8. What color was your living room when you were growing up?
Dark, greyish blue

9. What color was your bedroom when you were growing up?
White wall paper with primary color fat stripes; red, yellow, green, blue...

10. What color are your sheets?
Green

11. What color was your favorite crayon as a child?
Pink

12. What color is your car?
Charcoal grey

13. What color was your prom dress?
Black

14. What's your favorite gemstone?
Peridot

15. What is your favorite flower?
Peony or tulips; pink

16. What color makes you happiest?
Butter yellow

17. What color depresses you?
Maroon

18. What color calms you?
Green

19. What color makes you grind your teeth?
Anything fluorescent

20. What color would you like to try, but are scared to?
Purple


Well, I don't know how much clarity was gleaned from this, but it was fun. Honestly what comes to mind from this is that perhaps my favorite color is pink. Why? I think of the other colors I adore:

Grey
Blue
Green
Yellow

What makes me the most happy is when any of these colors is accented with...pink!

And of course, my favorite Book Buddy design is Sweet Charlotte...that should have been a sign.

Pink is my final answer. Your turn!

Back To School Days: Do You Have Your Book Buddy?

Photo courtesy of Bermuda Onion

When I was in college, I went to the library to use a computer, in the community computer room. There were no computers in dorm rooms and no one could even fathom a laptop. And I'm not THAT old, people. This was in 1995.

In 2007, EDUCAUSE published a study that reported laptop ownership on campus had increased from 52.8 percent of the student population to 75.8 percent in a two year time frame. Oh, and 36% of students owned two computers.

I love my laptop. I'm kind of obsessed, actually. What makes using it all the more pleasurable is my trusty Book Buddy. By placing my laptop on top of the mini desktop, it zaps away any heat the computer is generating, while the pillow portion allows me to find the most comfortable position to work. I know I have said this many times, but I utilize my Book Buddy everyday, for many, many hours.

If you or someone you love is heading off to school, you must consider giving something they never knew they wanted, that they will then adore more than they thought they ever could. Seriously.

Oh, and it's genius for books, too.

Thunderstorm As Comfort

I love a good thunderstorm. I love when a storm is brewing and everyone rushes to get patio furniture covered and the bikes put in the garage and the beach towels off the clothesline. It's like you go about your daily life, then all of a sudden the weather reminds you of its presence and demands some attention.

I love thunderstorms because they are what I consider "safe danger". They're not like tornadoes where you're not sure if you will lose your roof or if a tree will down your power lines for the next three days. I'm sure one of the reasons I have such an affinity is as a child, I would feel super loved when the sky started to threaten a summer day. Mom and dad would make sure my sister and I were close, and we would sit together on our screened in porch and feel the temperature drop and the wind would howl and the cold, fat drops would shock our arms and feet. It felt like the world stopped and we would just watch the weather like a movie.

Are summer storms friend or foe for you? Do tell!

Hometown As Comfort

I believe in the saying, "you can go home again", but I can visit! I absolutely adore the town I grew up in, Ann Arbor, Michigan. With the exception of the sometimes harsh winter weather, this town is perfection in my eyes. It has all the elements that personally qualify for great city living; thriving music, arts and culture scene, delicious food, art movie houses and yoga studios. It has all this and maintains a small town vibe and friendliness.

When I come home to visit, I drink in all the familiar elements and enjoy them in a way I never would if I lived here. I jog through my elementary school playground, walk the streets of downtown and COVET the food at Zingerman's Deli with the fervor of a 13 year old girl with a crush.

What comforts do you associate with your hometown?

It's Hot, Yes? Multiple Fans As Comfort

It's finally gotten hot in my neck of the woods: Santa Monica, California. We live about 3 miles from the beach so we get lucky with ocean breezes much of the time. We also have southern facing windows with no tree cover and the walls bake all day long, making for some hot nights.

These nights remind me of Michigan summers, when my mom would have fans in each doorway, pushing cool air from open windows through one room to the next room. We would be careful not to trip over extension cords and box fans, and we would have to shout to be heard over the thunder of forced air. On especially stifling evenings, I would lie in bed with a fan directly on my legs, and my mom would put cool wash cloths on my forehead.

I came across this particular fan on Clean Technica and had to share. I think it is a great idea; saves space while cooling the air from room to room. I might just have to get me one...

How do you comfort yourself in extreme temperatures?

xoxo

Joyful Spending As Comfort

I have a hard time doing nice things for myself. Being a freelancer in this economy, sometimes I find myself in a sort of deprivation mode and one of the ways that shows up is in lack of self care. Rather than getting a haircut, I'll just bobby pin my too long bangs to my head and keep marketing. I'll make dinner after a 12 hour work day on set because I don't want the expense of ordering in.

There's a difference between being frugal and being a martyr. I am learning this lesson ever so slowly.

Yesterday, I was light on work and was also feeling very low energy. I was feeling too "guilty" to treat myself to a movie, so instead I got my car washed and then got a haircut. The comfort was in where I went for said haircut. Not to the cheapie place that butchers my hair or driving 2 hours round trip to Long Beach so my friend will cut my hair at a discounted price.

I went to a lovely salon in Santa Monica, just down the street from my home, and drank the whole experience in. I luxuriated in a ten minute head massage during the shampoo. I got a marvelous cut by someone who was not hurried or high on anything. The salon was clean and bright and even offered me complimentary bang trims whenever I want.

The icing on the cake? I was offered 50% off because it was my first visit. I have concluded that not spending any money can be just as detrimental as over spending. The key is to spend smart and enjoy what you pay for.

What creates joyful spending for you?