a place where no first names are used, and any subject is game.
Last year BigZabba wrote an essay about something that scared her and what she could do to overcome that fear.
This week, after many weeks of practice and rehearsals, she performed in her school’s variety show, in front of a sold out crowd of 435 people, to overcome her fear of being in front of people. She did such a fantastic job. We are so proud of her, but even better she was proud of herself.
AllyZabba hasn’t always been a trendy baby blanket designer. Her favorite food growing up was mac & cheese. When she tired of playing with her Barbies, she priced them with a black marker and sold them at pretend yard sales. Entrepreneurial? Perhaps. Trendy? No.
AZ has spent most of her life surrounded by kids. From her formative years helping out with Sunday School to her graduation day at Biola University where she majored in Liberal Studies she has been “about” kids. Immediately after graduation, she began teaching in a local elementary school and continued to enjoy the classroom for several years. It wasn’t until her own kids were on the way that she paused her career for the position of full-time Mom.
That’s when things started getting a little more trendy.
Once her daughters were born, AZ started sewing custom blankets for her daughters and friends. Every time she’d go out with a new blanket she got compliments from people asking where she got such cuddly and trendy blankets. The same spirit that was inspired to write 50¢ on the faces of her Barbies was beginning to get an idea.
Later that year, AllyZabba.com was born. The online store, named after a strange combination of her two daughters nicknames, immediately became a success. Sewing blankets, working with resellers and designing new products for the site occupied all of the kids nap time and often late into the night. Hearing the great feedback on the products has been the biggest rewards and keeps AZ inspired.
AZ still keeps mac & cheese stocked in the pantry, but her oldest daughter already has her own favorite food that indicates a more trendy taste—Edamame.
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This is a sorta silly bio that we sent out once to an online product review site. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Wow, what a brave girl!!! I watched this with my girls. Very neat! Way to go, BZ! You’re conquering your fear! =)
Oh missy BZ…if Pappy would have been there, he would have called you his railroader girl since you played the train! BRAVO…BRAVO!!! I’m standing up giving you a standing ovation!