Name: Jenna  Stubbs

Childrens’ names and ages: Weston-19 Months  Teddy (four-legged baby) 3.5 years

Where were you raised? Very southeastern tip of Arkansas in the small town of Hamburg.

How long have you lived in NWA and what led you to this area? Like a lot of people, I came to college here and fell in love with the area. After attending the U of A, going to UAMS in Little Rock for a few years, and living in Memphis for one year, my husband and I moved back here in the summer of 2006.

What has been your favorite thing to do in NWA this summer? Well it’s not actually an attraction or destination per se, but after dinnertime, my husband and I have made a habit of taking our boys for walks around the trail system in Siloam Springs (especially around JBU) and this has been a great way to enjoy the sunshine and have quality family time. We also enjoy taking them to the park to play Frisbee.

How long have you been married? Together for 6, married for 3 and a half.

How did you two meet? We were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend (Thanks Livi!) I was attending dental hygiene school in Little Rock while Scott finished dental school in Memphis. I was skeptical about a blind date, but I decided to give it a try. As it turned out, he was my perfect guy, and we’ve been together ever since.

Where do you work? I practiced dental hygiene for 4 years but decided to be a SAHM a little over a year ago.

How do you stay connected with your friends (besides Facebook)? We have a great group of friends that we stay connected with by doing a monthly supper club. At the beginning of the year, each couple picks a month to host it at their house. The hostess cooks the main course, while everyone else brings the appetizers, sides, and desserts. It is lots of fun for the adults and the kids and is a great way for everyone to set aside time for each other.

What’s your sure-fire way to relax? I can always clear my head when I’m running. Add an iPod and a great sunrise to the mix, and I am set for the day. 

What are a few of your favorite things? Photography, Running/Working Out, Coffee, my Google Reader full of new blog posts (of course I’m subscribed to NWA Motherlode), every show on Bravo TV (total addict and no, I’m not ashamed of it), vacations, cheese dip, camping.

What’s stressing you out the most right now? Fortunately, right now I would say I don’t have any stress in my life (knock on wood, don’t hate me) but I do always stress unnecessarily over things like something bad happening to my son/husband/mother/family/friends.

What’s your favorite part of being a mom? The simple things: hearing my son’s diaper swishing as he walks across the floor, hearing his laugh, all the “firsts.� In the last few months, he’s learned to give hugs and kisses and that just melts my heart.

What has surprised you the most about motherhood? That I’m actually good at it. I had never babysat even one day as a teenager, and my son’s diaper was the first diaper I had ever changed in my life, so needless to say, I had the least experience possible in being a mom. Another huge surprise for me was that I love being a SAHM. I was definitely in the “why-would–you-ever-want-to-do-that?� mindset before an issue at work caused me to suddenly decide to quit. Becoming a SAHM has BY FAR been the best thing to ever happen to me as a mother and a person. It totally changed how I view family dynamics. 

What is your favorite memory (so far) of your little one: My son is not the cuddly type at all. I can count on one hand the number of times has he lain his head on my chest and fallen asleep and those moments were so precious. Then he’d wake up and be going ninety to nothing again

One word to sum me up: Blessed

It’s ALIVE! We’re happy to announce that nwaMotherlode.com has spun off a new little sister website, and we’re calling her “Mom’s Choice Directory.com”. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

We want to thank you guys for giving us the idea for this new site. Many of the moms who read nwaMotherlode have sent us questions via e-mail over the past two years, and lots of those questions read like this: “I just moved here two months ago and now I need to find a bakery in Springdale that can make a birthday cake in the shape of a Transformer for my son’s 4th birthday party. HELP! Where do I go for that?”

We got so many different inquiries that we decided it might be helpful to build a directory that has a true mom-slant to it. We moms always ask other moms for recommendations, and that’s the foundation for this directory.

You may remember that last fall we asked for your recommendations on favorite businesses in various categories. (Click here to see that post.) Many of you commented or e-mailed us to let us know which businesses in Northwest Arkansas you frequent most often. We used a lot of that information to begin building a list of businesses throughout the area, and now it has become this new online directory. The cool thing about it is that it will let you search for a business by category (like appliances, music lessons, women’s clothing, etc.) and it will also let you search by individual city or you can choose “all cities” if you’re not sure.

If you remember part of a business’ name but not all of it, you can also search by partial name, too. For example, you might remember that a store has the word “Purple” in the name. So you type the word “purple” into the search bar, and then the website will give you a list of businesses that have that word in the name (like “Purple Armadillo”, which is a fun furniture/accessories store to visit in Bentonville.)

We wanted to make the directory as useful as possible to our fellow mamas, so we’ve included as many businesses as we could find in a given category. All the listings include business name, phone number and address. Some of them appear with a “Mom’s Choice” blue ribbon beside the name, and those are the ones that Shannon and I personally recommend because we’ve shopped there ourselves or have used that particular service.

If you see a pink purse icon beside the business’ name, click on it and it will give you a quote from a local  mom who has used that business before. If you see the word “info” beside the business’ name, that means that the business has chosen to expand their listing in the directory and provide more detail to local moms about what they do and sell.

If you see the “go” button beside the business name, that means you can click it and go directly to the company’s website.

PLEASE NOTE! If you see any error in the search results of this new directory, we’d really appreciate it if you’d shoot us a quick e-mail to let us know so we can correct it asap. As you can imagine, the amount of data in a directory like this is HUGE, so it will be an ongoing process to make sure all the info is absolutely correct and up to date.

If you happen to own or work at one of the businesses listed and want more info on the directory or how to expand your company’s listing, just send us an e-mail at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com and we’ll send you the details.

We hope you love and use the new Mom’s Choice Business Directory. We will keep adding new categories to the database, so let us know if there’s a particular area you’re interested in.

Stay tuned because next Monday we’re going to have an awesome giveaway tied to the new directory. More to come on that next week!

Mamas, we’d like you to help us welcome a new sponsor to nwaMotherlode, Dr. Joseph Ivy. Dr. Ivy has a new clinic on the Willow Creek Women’s Hospital campus in Johnson and we’re really impressed with the technology he uses to make various cancer treatments less invasive.

We asked Dr. Ivy some questions about his new practice and the special technology he has at Ivy Women’s Cancer Care.

As a gynecologic oncologist, what types of cancers do you treat?

a: To become a gynecologic oncologist, you must first complete a residency in OB/GYN. From that experience, I learned to perform surgeries on general conditions that women may face, such as basic hysterectomies and the removal of non-cancerous ovaries.

I still perform these surgeries on a regular basis. To become a gynecologist, I trained for an additional three years at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. During this training, I learned how to perform cancer-staging surgeries on the female reproductive organs. Specifically, I operate on cancers of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, vagina, vulva and of the abdominal wall lining. Through my fellowship training, I am able to offer these surgeries through minimally invasive techniques that allow most patients to be discharged the following day and experience less pain and scarring. I am one of the few gynecologists in the nation that are certified to perform and teach these highly advanced surgeries on the da Vinci Surgical System, which is a robotic surgical technique.

Where is your new office located?

a: Our office is located on the Willow Creek Women’s Hospital Campus. The address is 5501 Willow Creek Dr. Suite 202, Johnson, AR 72741. Click here to visit the center’s website.

Tell us more about the “da Vinci robot� to help with various procedures. Does it help make surgery less invasive?

a: I trained on the da Vinci Surgical System for three years during my gynecologic oncology fellowship at the University of Minnesota. I use it almost exclusively to perform cancer staging surgery for cervical and endometrial cancers. The da Vinci robot (pictured at right) offers the patients a rapid recovery and return to their normal activities that other open cancer surgeries do not. My patients typically are well enough to be discharged the day after surgery with minimal pain and scarring. Whereas routine open surgeries require a full six weeks of recovery, my patients are able to return to their routine and activities usually within one-to-two weeks and can go back to work within three weeks if desired.

Which procedures can you use the robot for?

a: I use the robot for all of my non-cancerous surgeries as well as surgeries for cancer of the uterus, and early stage ovarian cancers.

Why do you have such a passion for helping female cancer patients?

a: Nothing is more rewarding than helping someone who is facing a life threatening disease. Women deal with a lot, emotionally and medically, and I have established our practice to make the entire treatment process as patient friendly as possible. Fighting cancer is a terrible time in a woman’s life and we want to be a practice that understands that and does everything we can to help them. I’m really glad to be in Northwest Arkansas and to provide a level of care that previously was not available in the area.

What is the most common cancer among women?

a: Endometrial cancer affects more women each year than any other gynecologic malignancy. Fortunately, if caught early, surgery alone can cure the disease. And again, I use the da Vinci robot to perform the surgery, so most women are able to be discharged the day after surgery and recover more rapidly than traditional open surgery.

What kinds of screenings do you offer for women who are concerned about cancer?

a: Breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers have family connections and I offer office evaluations to determine your risk of developing these forms of cancer. If the risk is great enough, I would recommend a surgery to remove the risk associated with the familial condition. Furthermore, women with estrogen or progesterone receptor positive breast cancer are candidates for these adjuvant surgeries as well and I would be happy to see them in my clinic for an educational office visit.

Are there any new medical advances in the field that women might not know about?

a: The advances in gynecologic oncology come quickly. The ones I feel are most applicable to the general population currently are the HPV vaccine, use of minimally invasive techniques to treat gynecologic conditions, recommendations for familial cancer screenings, and new developments in the way we deliver chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancers. I would recommend patients contact their doctor or my office to discuss these topics.

Where are you from and how long have you been living in Northwest Arkansas?

a: I am a native Arkansan. I was born in El Dorado and I lived there until I graduated high school and moved to Little Rock, where I completed college and medical school. From there I spent seven years in Louisiana where I completed an OB/GYN residency and practiced pelvic surgery. I then moved to Minnesota for three years to complete my gynecologic oncology fellowship after which I moved to Northwest Arkansas to begin practice.

What led you to the area?

a: I moved to Northwest Arkansas to be closer to my family and to develop a Da Vinci cancer program. Northwest Arkansas is one of the few areas that has a Da Vinci robot that I would able to have full access to for two-to-three days per week. This would allow me to give more patients the benefits of the robotic surgery and the freedom to pursue my passion for less invasive surgical options. I truly believe in the benefits of minimally invasive techniques for patients and surgeons alike and I have set up luncheons and seminars to help patients within the community understand the benefits they obtain through these surgical techniques.

Tell us a little about what you like to do when you’re not seeing patients.

a: I have a 9-year-old son who lives in Tulsa, OK, so much of my time is spent around his activities. When I am not spending time with him, I enjoy fly-fishing for trout in the waters of Northwest and Central Arkansas. I also enjoy playing golf, riding mountain bikes and collecting wine.

Read more about Dr. Ivy and the cancer care clinic by visiting his website, www.ivycancercare.com.

Congratulations to Amber Denny! This lucky mama won the Vintage Virgo $100 Shopping Spree!

Amber has 1-year-old Emma Rose and is pregnant with a baby boy who’s due on November 30th. Enjoy your shopping spree, Amber!

We know she’ll love cruising Vintage Virgo’s online shop because the clothes and gifts are simply adorable.

We wanted to know more about behind-the-scenes at Vintage Virgo, so we asked the owner, mama to two sons, to spill a little in the following Q & A.

(Also, don’t forget that nwaMotherlode readers receive a  20% discount when they use the checkout code nwaMother! Click on the ad at right to shop the Vintage Virgo website.)

How did your idea for launching Vintage Virgo develop? I have always wanted to do something creative. I remember growing up and making all of my own Barbie doll clothes, so the idea to have a website that allows me to use some of my creativity was very appealing. I also have always loved clothing and fashion. The idea to create a website that combined nationally recognized brands with handmade and organic items came to me, and I thought other moms would appreciate such a site too. I also think life is too short to not do things that make you happy. That combination is why I started Vintage Virgo.

How did you come up with the name? The name comes straight from the zodiac. My boys and I are Virgos, and I am a very typical Virgo (type A, sensitive, outgoing, overanalyzes everything, annoyingly driven, etc).

You said your clothing and gifts are 100% homemade with a focus on organic. Why is that so important to you? Our Vintage Virgo line is 100% handmade. It’s important to me to offer handmade items that come from moms across the country just like myself, who want to have a creative outlet and have fun making things for their children. Organic is also a focus of ours and will continue to be. What could be better for a baby than clothing and blankets that are good for the environment and amazing on their skin?

And you and your best friend design some of the tees? Yes, my friend and I design and make all of the Vintage Virgo tees. I help design them, and she makes them. It has been so much fun to work on this project together.

What’s  the latest, greatest find that you’re telling everyone about? Some of the hottest items are our Bella Tunno diaper bags. The bags are so classy, trendy and cute that they do not even look like a diaper bag. Our amazing baby blankets are very popular. The Razzle Baby Blankets are gorgeous and very indulgent. They make the perfect gift. Another hot trend is handmade crocheted toys. (We are getting a shipment soon). They are very popular among new moms, and complete a baby nursery.

What’s your hottest-selling item right now? Our aden & anais baby swaddle blankets are huge. They are 100% organic and are antifungal, antimicrobial and are so soft. Another hot selling item are our BabyJar burpies. They are very popular among the celebrity crowd including Kourtney Kardashian and have been featured in numerous celebrity magazines.

How can we order from Vintage Virgo? It’s so easy…just go to www.vintagevirgo.com and start shopping! Don’t forget that nwaMotherlode mom’s get a 20% discount, just use the
nwamother code at checkout!

What sizes do you have? We carry newborn to 4T

What are some of your most popular brands? We are fortunate to be able to offer some great brands including Pink Chicken, Appaman, BabyJar, aden & anais and Mustard Pie

Tell us about your two little boys. Are they wild men? Wild men is an understatement…they are rowdy boys who love to be active. My oldest is eight and my youngest is three. They are so much fun, but such a handful!

Will you share with us why you support the American Heart Association and St. Jude’s with some of the proceeds? The American Heart Association is a very important organization in our lives. Three years ago, my husband caught a virus and instead of his body fighting it off, it attacked his heart. This lead to severe congestive heart failure. This has had a profound impact on our lives. We are uncertain if he will need a heart transplant, and take things one day at a time. The AHA does amazing things to support heart disease. We also support St. Judes because of our love of children, and those we know who have had to deal with a sick child. We will continue to grow our support of these great organizations as Vintage Virgo grows.

How did you and your husband meet? We met in college. He was the older upperclassman who was also a star athlete. I was the dorky college freshman who crushed after him. I always say that I chased him until he caught me.

And he helps out with the business, right? Yes, he handles all of the day to day activity of the website. He loves numbers, accounting, spreadsheets, and all of those other things that make my head hurt, so we make a great team and it works out well.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? I love hanging out with my boys. My son
is in youth sports, so that keeps us busy (any mom with kids in sports knows just how busy I am talking about!) I also love tennis and being active.

Click HERE to visit the Vintage Virgo website and start shopping!