Just over a year ago, we were approached by a precious Myers Park mom who was researching patents on her product, bow buddies. She sent us a prototype, we gave her our feedback and hoped to hear back from her as she further developed this fun concept. We were thrilled to see the new version of bow buddies hit local boutiques. Let me tell you, bow buddies is nothing short of brilliant!
As you all know, starting a business from scratch while raising children is tough, words cannot accurately describe the highs and lows that come along with the ride. Only the strong will prevail, and Cathy Monte is just that and then some!
bow buddies is an adorable concept where you can accessorize your bow collection that over the years could reach a gazillion bows. After raising two bow-loving girls (well actually a Southern bow-loving mama!), you quickly realize that you could seriously buy a bow for every outfit. Cathy has made this trend fashionable and functional by designing adorable clips to add to the bows – any bow in your collection. Do you have a young Charlotte Jr. Soccer player? Super, add the bow buddies soccer ball to any bow and your little one will own the field and look fabulous every step of the way. Oh, and just a little bragging rights here – this particular soccer ball bow buddy may have been worn recently on a Bachelorette episode. How fun is that to see our local Smarty mompreneur’s blood, sweat and tears on national tv? You go, girl!
So Smarties, we present Cathy Monte, founder of bow buddies and Smarty Mama of two.
Let’s get to know Cathy!
Cathy’s Smarty Mom Stats
Mom of: Evan (5 3/4) and Amelia (2 1/2)
Married to: Tim for seven FABULOUS years!
Years in Charlotte: 10
Hood: Myers Park
Hometown: Stuart, FL (gotta love a Florida girl at heart!)
Occupation: I am blessed to be a stay-at-home Mom as well as, the founder & designer of, bow buddies.
Tell us about Bow Buddies and how you got started.
After Amelia was born, I was perplexed as to what to do with the 25+ hair bows we had been given for her to wear. I am a girl who LOVES fashion. Mixing prints, fabrics and colors. The plain, grosgrain ribbon hair bows were a bit on the boring side. So, before Amelia’s first birthday I went to all of the children’s boutiques in Charlotte looking for a “birthday” accessory to add to one of Amelia’s already owned hair bows.
The closest thing that I found was a white hair bow, with a cupcake glued to its center. It cost $16. I caved, bought it but soon after thought, “ I can make an accessory for hair bows.”
Amelia began wearing my creations around town and I received several compliments and, “where did you get that?” After speaking with a lawyer, I patented my idea and bow buddies was brought to life. bow buddies are the first, interchangeable accessory that attach to all hair bows – any size, any color – without damaging the bow itself. It’s a great way for girls to bring out their “designer” side. bow buddies are the lipgloss to an outfit, cost less than $10 and make a statement.
Where can our Smarty audience purchase your bow buddies and cost?
Specialty stores in Charlotte, as well as a few Country Clubs in the area AND stores, Country Clubs and schools in SC, NY and TX.
Cost is anywhere from $4.00 – $8.00. For more info on stores, click here.
What is your vision with bow buddies?
The great thing about bow buddies is that the designs are endless. From cupcakes to collegiate logos, I hope that I can continue to create products that my customers want. Fashion is about creativity and bow buddies allow you to be the designer of your hair bow, “because every bow needs a buddy.”
Now for the funny stuff…who is your celebrity crush?
Bradley Cooper (Amen, sista, that’s mine too!~jen)
What is your favorite piece of kids gear?
Land’s End Monogrammed Canvas Bags. Keeps all of the kids’s gear organized.
If you wrote a parenting manual, the title would be…
“Pray before you speak”
First thing that pops into your head when I say “mom”?
“Go, go, Gadget Arms!” Even if I am only heading out for a few minutes, I feel as though I am forever carrying bags of stuff. Snacks, sippy cups, change of clothes, soccer gear, swim gear, lovies, you name it!
Behavioral trait you hope your children don’t inherit from you?
I have spent MANY a day & night worrying, especially, in my twenties. So, I hope that Evan & Amelia will not “sweat the small stuff.”
Funniest thing your kids have ever said?
I AM that Mom who writes down what their children say & date it.
Evan (4 yrs. old): Mommy, does the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ drive to our house?
Me: No, he flies here.
Evan: But he doesn’t have a plane.
Me: No, it’s magic.
Evan: Oh, so a rocket ship comes out of his bottom and he flies here.”
Favorite kids movie?
Toy Story
Household appliance you could not live without?
My Coffee Maker
Favorite CSP article?
Guest Blog post by, Kelly Buckley. Reminding me to be thankful for EVERY moment with my children, husband and family. And to ask myself, “what’s one little thing that I am grateful for today?”
Guilty pleasure?
“Date Days” with my hubby. We have a sitter come every Saturday afternoon, so that we can enjoy a leisurely lunch, maybe take in a movie, relax in a bookstore, spend quality time just the two of us. I am so thankful for the wonderful babysitters who LOVE our children, so that we can sneak away.
The bow buddy CSP Giveaway!
Cathy is giving THREE lucky Smarties three bow buddies of her choice, just because! Leave a comment below with the funniest thing your child(ren) have ever said to you. Thanks, Cathy!
Smarties, for more information on bow buddies:
Visit their website and facebook.
13 comments
We are potty training our youngest daughter, and the other day, she went, and waited for me to come “admire” her work. After I told her she did a good job, she responded “Daddy cheers more when *he* sees it.” Therefore bringing on a cheerleader- like “Hooray!” from me and her big sister.
Cathy, We are ver proud of you and your helper Tim. Keep up the good work.
Several years ago when our grandson was 2 yrs old, he heard that his cousin (Bob’s daughter Cassie) had Chicken Pox. When he saw me a day or two later,
he said, “OH! Grammy, poor Cassie has the Chicken Nuggets”. Just too cute.
We love our bow buddies; well deserved recognition for a wonderful mommy entrepreneur! I don’t write down the funnies, but probably won’t forget when my daughter proclaimed in Target that she was going to marry her brother in a monkey cage!?! hmmmmm
I am blessed and fortunate to know Cathy. She is the true definition of a friend and is a blessing to so many! Thankful that CSP featured a lady that has been such a blessing in my life!
saw these at alphabet soup and thought they were such a great great idea!
My husband always tells our girls that they are his babies (even though the oldest is now three). The other day, the oldest said, “Daddy, you’re my baby.” She was trying to say “I’m your baby” but got the pronouns mixed up. It was really funny (and sweet!).
My husband is color blind and he often saying something is one color when it is totally a different color. One day my son said “Daddy, you aren’t too smart with your colors!” We still quote him today! The other thing he said, which I love, is that the world must be so much more beautiful to his father b/c he sees boring old gray rocks and green or some plain blue car as purple, etc.! So sweet! JWalsh
This happened just the other day. My daughter is 2, so she isn’t putting long sentences together yet, but I was sitting at our kitchen table working on the computer, when she asked for more milk. I heard her, but I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough because she came up next to me, pushed my legs to the side of the chair and said, “Down” and then, “Mommy, milk please” (but sounds like peace.) It made me laugh because she was definitely ordering me around and saying the things I tell her.
Two of my daugthers (7 and 5) were recently diagnosed with celiac’s disease and had to adjust their diets to eliminate gluten. My oldest daugther is having a hard time with this change – she is a foodie at heart. Recently we were discussing heaven and all of its beauty and rewards and she piped up – ‘do I have to eat gluten free in heaven?’ And oh so thankfully I answer, no you do not!
I too am one of those moms that keeps a journal of what my kids say. Not long after my second daughter was born I was bringing the christening gown to the dry cleaners and the lady asked if I wanted it sealed and I said yes.
So Olivia asked me why I did that and I explained to her that maybe one day when she and her sister are older they may want to use that gown on their babies if they decide to baptize them.
She thought about it for a minute and said, “will Daddy stay in the hospital with me when I have my baby?.” I swear I had to fight back the tears, it was so sweet.
My daughter is not old enough to talk yet, but a little boy I babysit for who is 4, once asked my sister “what the two things below her chin were” she answered, and he said “well how come babysitter Whitney’s are bigger than yours and mommys” and now every time I babysit he mentions that.
Love the things young children say! <3
I also write down things that my son gets wrong (ex. platter for bladder) and sometimes funny sayings end up as Facebook status material. All I have to do is put it in quotes and friends know who said it, LOL!
Once, I playfully swatted his behind telling him to "get your cheeks into the tub mister!" and he replied "those aren't my cheeks, those are my bottom pieces."
Love him. 🙂
My daughter and I were at the Harris Teeter in Matthews and we were driving slowly letting people cross the street and my daughter looked at the pedestrian crossing sign and for some reason it has a black oval around the waist of the person in the picture. She looked at me and said, “Mom look, that sign means that you are only allowed to cross the street here while you are hula hooping! Where are their hula hoops?” You have to go see this sign. It was just the greatest!