I don’t want to be totally negative about aspiring photographers. In fact, every one of us has started out as an amateur at some point or another. Nowadays with all of the semi-professional camera equipment people can own it is a great stepping stool to get started.

But WHO would want to look at my photography?? Well, it all depends on your subject matter really, but at TeenyB we are always encouraging people to be creative AND have fun. Our Contributors.TeenyB.com Section is a great way to get some practice in AND earn a gift certificate for TeenyB. A true win-win situation!

Lately I have really been enjoying reviewing and accepting the newest contributors. Each of these girls earned not only a $50 gift certificate towards their next TeenyB purchase, but they also had fun doing it. Check out the website to see the rules today.

Here is a photo I just love. Great background and lovely pose. I always love seeing fresh new ideas for shooting. This is a great backdrop that is really unexpected for bikinis!

There is plenty more bikini photos and updates of real girls rocking TeenyB’s so if you have never visited Contributors.TeenyB.com before, be sure to do it today!!!

This is really not a new topic to discuss, but an important one to always be aware of.

More times then I care to realize I have models email me asking when they might receive their test photos or inquiring their bikini, etc. Unfortunately upon further inspection, we come to realize that someone has lied and misled them into thinking they were affiliated with TeenyB and our Company.

As a model it is always important to be diligent. Do you homework about whom you are shooting with, what their intentions are, and if they are for real, or just scamming you.

You can ALWAYS email our customer service if you are unsure of your photographers affiliation with our company.

Please do not be a victim of fraud. We work hard to uphold the standards of not only our swimwear, but the conduct in which our photographers hold themselves. We do not wish to tarnish YOUR feelings of our company for someone who is simply posing to be affiliated with us.

If you have been the victim of a scam, POST about it. Call that person out! Make sure it doesn’t happen again!

Here are a few SCAMMER PHOTOGRAPHERS who CONSISTENTLY LIE about working with us:

Michael Henshall, 304 Marketing
SPR Modeling, Susan
Chris Ventura, Ventura Pictures

Inevitably, when you take trips you are always having to purchase some sort of souvenir for yourself, for your friends or family, whatever. It has been close to 2 months traveling and I have been searching for something to get my nieces and nephews, and of course ourself.
I am not the person to just buy something because I have to. If I end up not finding anything I like, I will simply not make a purchase. Luckily my family has been conditioned not to always receive presents because I have gone somewhere. However since this is my first time in South America I really wanted to find something. While I know it will not be my last, my family may never have the pleasure of traveling down here. Needless to say, a few rules I like to have when looking for a souvenir purchase.

Something handmade. Something local or reflective of the native culture. Quality so it will last.
When visiting markets in the local cities, we are always on the lookout. I would be lying if I didn’t say that most of the stuff looks eerily similar to the last, and I am not sure if it is from Ecquador or Chile. (Chile is where we have spent the bulk of our time.). I have a feeling I will not be making too many more purchases in Chile because what I have seen is no different then the next, and doesn’t meet my high quality standards. Luckily, I did recognize this when in Ecquador and made some ample purchases then. Though in reflection I wish I would have bought more as I clearly passed up the most interesting stuff with thoughts there would be plenty more in the remaining 6 weeks of travel. That is of course the risk you take.
Luckily for modern day Internet shopping, you can do a lot of your research simultaneously, and no pass up opportunities because you do not know what is around the corner. It gets me to thinking about bikinis (of course) because it is what I do. I remember when I was younger and wanted to buy a sexy thong bikini to sunbathe in. I had gone to the coast and visited all of the local shops. Finally settling on one, determined to not walk away empty handed, I made my purchase of a not so flattering, much more expensive then I had ever purchased before bikini and wore it that day. It’s shelf life was very short for good reason. When going thru an old bag years later I stumbled upon it and was horrified that I would have even made that purchase. It makes me think of what a waste of money it was.

Now a days, I am much more aware of value. I will make splurge purchases that may seem way to expensive for some, but know that I will get years of use out of it, and it will still look as great as when I first bought it. Even more present is my “value radar” when the economy is weak.

Every once in a while we will receive emails from customers, or potential consumers posing some form of this same concern.
Why, they ask, would I pay so much for your bikini when there are plenty of others that sell for much cheaper.

I do not want to waste the time to answer such a question for you, but all I can say is the people who do make the purchase are simply looking for something MORE. Something better. Something that will last them longer then a season, that will look better than any other swimsuit and will ultimately cost them less then a different suit based on the sustained value and use it provides. Plus, sometimes you just have to purchase what you like.
A recent customer understood it and considerately wrote a letter expressing her excitement.

“I just received my suits in the mail, and from the adorable packaging to the perfect fit, I am IN LOVE! I will never buy a swimsuit anywhere else from now on. While this is the most I’ve ever spent on a suit, I can say I’m glad I took the plunge because with TeenyB you really pay for what you get. The fabric is luxurious, and the cut and fit of the Brazilian full pucker bottom is exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely be back for more! Thanks -Nikki”

I appreciate these letters because for every negative letter we receive, a good one comes in and replenishes my faith in our product and pricing.

That is what I look for in most every purchase I make. That is what I am looking on our trip for gifts, and that is what I look for in clothes that I buy.

Really this is probably too much of an open ended question and the reality is, the answer is both.

One should always be striving to make products better, more efficient and creative while also preserving the things that make it great in the first place.

This really is not my point, so let me change gears for a moment. While traveling (especially with a young child) it is important to try and preserve some recognizable patterns for your kid so that he can transition better into his new environment. True, some children adapt better then others, but there are ways to make it easier for anyone.

As adults most of us probably are excited to get a total change of scenery and it is easy for us to abandon all of the good habits we cherish at home normally. However, it IS still important to keep your health up. While I am not saying, stick to a diet if you are on one…I am the first one to say do everything in moderation. When you come to a new culture, it is essential to immerse yourself in it. Try the local cuisine and indulge in their delicacies. That is certainly what I cherish. I would much rather walk 10 miles a day so I can eat the specially baked breads in the morning and the local cheeses and wines then forgo them all together.

Working out for me is the big key in retaining my “good habits” while of course creating new bad ones. I know that they are only temporary and will cease as I remove myself from the local surroundings. Chile has proven very challenging for me to workout. It is not to say it is HARD to find a place to workout, quite the contrary with its vertical terrain one cannot help but get aerobic activity simply walking to the supermarket. This is a good change of pace for me because living in Florida there ARE no hills. I get plenty of exercise but it does not mix it up like trying to run up a hill at a 18% incline.

Needless to say, as I sit here taking a rest trying to gear myself up for a quick afternoon run around the neighborhood I cannot help but think of two things; learning my surroundings and neighbors that much better as they cheer Maria and I on to make it up that final hill, and just how sore my calves actually are.

Here’s to creating a challenge for yourself no matter where you are!

I recently had a bit of a revelation while on a trip. In fact, it has taken me a long 2 weeks just to really start to unwind and feel like I am ready for a vacation.

I recognize that not a lot of people have the luxury to take long vacations (2 weeks is certainly one of them) much less something even longer…like 8 weeks…but I would also beg to argue that in the past 5 years my “vacations” were never really vacations at all. When you are building a business, you are living and breathing it. There may be a few brief moments when you take a breath and clear your mind…but it is only to quickly fill it once again with ideas for your next step.

But that is really the way I like it. I love this work. I love this job, being able to create and see progress. Having a direct hand in how the company is formed, who we hire to be on our team…I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just as true though, it IS important to be able to decompress. This past year has been very challenging for me in lots of ways but most importantly was the addition to our family. As a new mother I have been allocating my time very wisely trying to still grow the company and grow my family and that tends to leave very little time for me to work on “myself.” Before the days of babies I would frolic around in my TeenyB and lay in the sun. I would plan fun parties and do arts and crafts projects because I had the extra time. I would read 5 times as many books as I do now, and spend a LOT more time developing and retaining my existing friendships. Now, I am sad to admit most, if not all of that has gone to the wayside and I have put my priorities elsewhere. All of which is necessary and totally healthy, but at some point it is also important for a woman to begin to integrate them back into her world….something I had simply not done.

This trip is coming at a great time for me because I am ready to start handling more of a workload. I feel comfortable with the baby, and the growth of the company is good and steady. We have implemented a lot of new and exciting features for the site and have much more to do in the years to come. But I need some time for me. But how does one pick up where they left off 2 years ago? How do I just get back into all of that? How do I feel effortlessly sexy again when I haven’t kept up with it in so long???? I was at am impasse. I knew what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be again. I wanted to be that free spirited, fun loving, stress free person who glowed with light and happiness…

It hadn’t dawned on me that the quickest way to get there was to go back to the basics. Put on that Micro Thong or that Whaletail Thong (my 2 personal favorite styles) and soak up a few moments of sunlight. I am not talking hours and hours, but 10 minutes. How could I not even have thought of that??? I will tell you why….because after having a kid, it can be a daunting thing to get back into a tiny bikini. Especially when I have a LOT of other styles introduced into the line that are larger and cover more. But that is the thing…that is NOT MY STYLE. The more fabric that covers MY body, the more I am worried about how my body is sitting in it. The LESS I have covering me, the more free I feel. The less I worry about if the suit is hitting my belly, etc. Wearing that Micro thong laying out, made me realize…I never lost myself…I just wasn’t letting her be free.

So for those of you out there who want to make a change, want to put on another hat and let your inner self out I challenge you to lose the extra pieces that are covering you.

As if we weren’t busy enough…

We get approached a lot to participate in different events, but every once in a while, something catches our attention and we KNOW we have to get involved. This Friday, TeenyB will join forces with The Gentlemen’s Society benefiting the Children’s Dream Fund for a fun filled night of fashion extravaganza.

What better way to get a party started then with a bikini fashion show?

If you are local to the Tampa area and would like to support the Children’s Dream Fun, be sure to join us.

If you’d like to know more about the Event itself or The Gentlemen’s Society, be sure to check them out at their facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/TheGentlemensSocietyTampa

Once in a while, a distinguished company gets the pleasure of viewing some of the work a photographer is able to create with their products. I was very happy to hear the news that Leica had contacted Robert Turi to do an interview with him based on his experiences as a photographer and user of their products, Leica cameras.

This is not only a great tribute to a personal friend and confidant, but also a member of the TeenyB team so we are excited to see this. Take a moment to read these 2 terrific posts.

http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/robert-turi-combining-passion-and-spontaneity-part-one/

And of course the follow-up to the article.

Part Two

My only real complaint is that there are NO photos in bikinis here

Congratulations Bobby, it was a pleasure reading this article, and I wish you only the greatest things in your carer to come!

Okay it is safe to say this year is already starting to blow by. After our successful Spring Line shoot, I took a much deserved break from my computer and working. We spend post Christmas and New Years in New Orleans which was very pleasant. The weather was moderately warm, especially for NOLA so it was great to walk the streets of the city.

After about the 3rd day of lounging and playing Words With Friends I begun to second guess my choice NOT to bring my computer with me. While I knew I would not have any of the edited content from our trip, I certainly had a lot of OTHER tasks I could have been working on in the meantime.

Every year we try and make some tweaks to the website. All with the idea of making the shopping and browsing experience better for the customer. When having our discussions as to what can be improved upon, one universal request is to make our photos larger. We spend a LOT of time shooting and honing in our photography style, so when we really do not get a chance to show it off, it does become frustrating. In just a few short weeks you will begin to see some of these changes on the site. Specifically with our SEPARATES section. Now, when you come to view a separate you will not only have a product photo, but also a larger photo showing the model with both the top and bottom. (Very similar to how we present our SETS.)

I digress, my point to this detail was not to bore you with work related updates, but to explain why, when I finally DID get back after the new year, I hit the ground sprinting, and I have not turned back once.

Going thru the very extensive list of Separates that we offer on the website in all of our departments is amazing to think just how many styles and colors of bikinis we actually sell! For someone to come to this website and say there is not enough choice, is, to me unthinkable. If you do not find something on TeenyB that you do NOT like, then, well you just don’t like super sexy perfectly tailored luxury Brazilian bikinis! (And to each his own.)

So needless to say, lots of changes to the website coming as we speak…(have you noticed our new interface?)

Now you have the ability to shop by color and bikini category as well as our traditional Departments Section. It is just scratching the surface of all the great additions we will have on our site this year…not to mention the awesome new styles and colors for Spring 2012!!

Wow, that went by really fast.

It is amazing how much time and effort goes into planning the catalog shoots, but how quickly they seem to go by.
It is no doubt that in the middle of it (long days, short nights) it feels like it is never going to end, but all the days seem to just blend together and the next thing you know it’s over.

It is always the few days after the shoots that really get to me. I am so focused on shooting, planning, organizing, etc. that I really have no time for anything else. I do not watch television, read any blogs or internet news stories, so when I try to assimilate myself back into regular life, I am out of the loop….to say the least.

Another interesting thing to note with regards to our photo shoots is the comradery it builds. Shooting on location in the same house makes it feel like a small reality show (for lack of a better description). Really it is like being on set shooting a movie. You are working with each other and being creative. Many times “acting” of sorts, or definitely stepping outside of yourself. And then of course you are eating dinner together, relaxing; basically spending every waking moment together. Over the course of the week, it becomes second nature. Knowing how close we will be working, I go to great lengths to always choose very particular people who we work with. While one bad apple will not necessarily spoil the bunch, it will definitely make a sour pie. But at the end of the week, when the work is done and the bags are once again packed up, one cannot feel a small twinge of sadness that it went by all so fast.

One of my favorite things to do post catalog shoot is go thru all of the behind the scenes photos. This is the stuff I really feel I miss out on, because I am so focused on work. I love going thru it day by day. Seeing the photo shoot in the eyes of someone else. I love seeing the smiles, the silly photos taken, and the memories built.

Thank you too everyone who participated in this years Catalog shoot, both models and staff alike. While it will not be the last, it certainly was a very memorable one.

And for those of you who think there is no possible way you could be a TeenyB model keep this in mind.

This year we had 2 BRAND NEW MODELS who have little to NO experience in front of the camera. Yep, we do not discriminate because you have no experience, we can spot potential from a mile away. So if you have always wanted to be a model, send in a photo, or submit a few you have taken to our Contributors section… you never know where it might lead you!!!

Emily (below) is one of our 2 beauties. Hard to believe she is a newbie huh?? Looking forward to shooting her again very soon.

Well as we all know, the Ditch the Diaper contest winner was already chosen in September. Congratulations to Rosey for submitting a terrific video! Christmas is coming early for Rosey because she is getting a $2,000 Bikini Makeover!!!

And not only does she get to pick and choose ANY bikini she wants, she gets the full experience with a PERSONAL shopper to walk her thru our entire lines, and help her with sizing, styles and ANYTHING she needs.

How much can a girl get in bikinis for a $2,000 makeover??? A woman can NEVER have enough bikinis!

Congratulations again Rosey for your participation, we hope you will send us a photo soon!!

Well if you love football, then last night was a very exciting night for you.

If you are a Saints fan (like me) then you were disappointed to start the season off with a loss, but I will not get into the details of why we did not prevail. What I am happy about is the fact that football is back in our lives! Finally, something good to watch on TV.

I know someone else who is happy…..

Here in Vegas this week, and very excited about having to work this weekend.

I cannot believe it has been almost 3 years since we have been to this city, (especially since we used to come twice a year!). We have good reason to visit though, the Magic show is here and we have some work to do! Sourcing is a big part of being able to create new designs and ideas, and that is exactly what we are doing. We have a lot of ideas in the works for the coming months and years, and you have to start planning for all of the steps necessary to make them happen.

On our list of items to look for include trims and fabrics! Of course we have a few very specific needs, but we cannot give away ALL of our plans.

Right before we left, we perfected a BRAND NEW bikini bottom, so we are really excited about that. We expect it to launch at the end of Summer. Not that we don’t already love the bottoms we have, but we are expanding to keep fitting more body styles. Everybody’s booty is different, and while the pucker butt bottoms are a fantastic hit, we can always keep perfecting them. This bottom will really appeal to the girls who have a bigger, rounder, plumper booty! Same great fit, but this shape will really accentuate their larger curve!!

More about that later…..we have to get ready for the big show!

While my Summer trip is winding down..who am I kidding I fly back home tomorrow, I cannot help but already miss it. It seems to have gone by entirely WAY too fast.

I can really see how people can get used to perpetually traveling. It is so exciting to be in new places and discovering new adventures. I do not mean to say I want to be moving every 2 days to a new place, I like spending 2 weeks – 2 months in the same place. Getting a feel for how people live their lives, what restaurants to find, parks, hikes and anything interesting about the city and locals.

But alas, coming home is always sweet. I get to visit my family, see my dog, and walk on my local beach – which of course I adore! We will not be home for too long, I have some very fun work to attend to!!!

A quick trip to Vegas at the end of the month is a big one for me. A sourcing event where I can search for new vendors to help fulfill visions of bikinis, coverups and so much more!

Not looking forward to the flight – coming home from this trip I NOW have a walking toddler. It really is a treat to see how much ALL of us have grown!

For the past week, we have been on a cruise thru Alaska. It is my first time up here, and it is very beautiful. From what I hear the weather has been fantastic (they normally have more rain and clouds I guess). I can only imagine how cold it is during the Winter, brrrr.

The second day of our cruise, our boat went up the Tracy Arm Fjord. It was gorgeous! The entire journey was calm and serene, it looked like clouds and waterfalls were just painted on a picturesque mountain with Aqua blue water calmly below. The view from our deck we could see the glacier for quite a while, and it was interesting how much more detailed it really was. From far away it seemed so smooth…but as you came closer, you could see deep crevasses and chunks of ice falling off. It really was quite stunning. Waterfalls at every turn only added to the scenery and background noise.

While out boat did allow us to get much closer than I had expected it to, it still was a bit away. We decided to take a quick photo in my bikini top as we started our turn. Why you may ask…because, when do you EVER get a chance to take a bikini photo next to a Glacier?

While the cats away…

That is not to say, no fun is had when I am around…but just because I am gone does not mean that work comes to a grinding halt!

If it weren’t for the incredible staff at TeenyB, we would be nothing!

Our main photographer, Bobby Turi is busy setting up test photo shoots as we speak. If you have always wanted to model for TeenyB, now is your chance. We are currently test shooting for some trips we will be making to the Bahamas in the Fall.

Contact us via our Models Page, (there is a link at the bottom of this page).
You can also get up to date information about TeenyB at our Facebook Page (TeenyBBikinis)

This past weekend I tried to by some cute sandals at a store. Can you believe it, they were not only TOTALLY out of stock, but they also were starting to get rid of Summer clothes all together. Is it really time for Fall?

One of the things I love about selling online exclusively is that we can update NEW PRODUCTS whenever we want them!

Just because the stores are switching seasons, doesn’t mean we have to follow suit. In fact, check out 2 sexy new prints we JUST updated on the website!!

Indian Prints and Ikot prints are very trendy right now, and why not rock this trend with a sexy bikini to really push the edge!!

Limited Edition Indian Tribal Print with Crocus:

and Limited Edition Indian Feather Print. This print is really cool because the top triangles are always in black and white, and the bottom is where the color comes in on the suit!

Well we will be leaving Tahoe in a few short days. I cannot believe that 2 weeks has gone by so quickly.

I must admit, it is tough to be on the road, I just seem to lose track of time. It is not that I am homesick, (Of course I miss my husband and dog) but it really is a matter of it going by too quickly! I turn around, and 2 days have gone by and I have not once checked up on work. I can see how easy it is to get lost in relaxation.

But I was very pleased to check out the Ditch the Diaper page recently. It makes me feel good to read the messages and submissions that women have made on both ends: Those who have already become a TeenyB Girl, and those who WANT to become one.

Upon reflection of the event we thru at Caddy’s, it really was a great success on so many levels.
The first of course being, getting girls in our bikinis! The more girls who wear our suits, the more our suits can be seen by other potential TeenyB wearers.
The second success is I think we got a chance to show SO MANY different people (with EVERY type of body style) that you too can wear a TeenyB. Just because you think MODELS look great in our bikinis, it is tough to convince girls, that these bikinis are really made for the everyday person! People with curves and muscles, and boobs and butts! Skinny girls (no offense) are going to look great in most everything. It is a testament when you can fit DIFFERENT body styles into the same bikinis and it really looks great on them too!

After spending some time reviewing the photos, I am motivated to design more! I already have 2 new sexy top designs in my head and when I get back into town, we are going to make them!!

In the meantime, keep enjoying the sunshine and stay active.

For those who have been patiently waiting to see the outcome of our Ditch the Diaper event at Caddy’s last month, you can go to the DitchtheDiaper.com website and check out the before and after photos now!! Even though the event is over, the Campaign is still in full swing! If you haven’t participated yet, this is a perfect time to enter! Remember, all accepted entrants receive a gift certificate just for participating, and of course a chance to win a $2,000 BIKINI MAKEOVER! So what are you waiting for???

We have a special video put together. Our host, and gorgeous model Valerie leads us through a maze of diaper wearing women who are ready to make the pledge to ditch just that!

See their stunning transformations into TeenyB’s!!!