Two Winnipeg moms Susie Freedman Tapper and Mara Zipursky have recently returned from the experience of a lifetime - premiering their Sweet Pedtooties mukluks at the Gift Lounge in the Peninsula Hotel at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on January 15-16, 2010. This was an opportunity to display their product to celebrities, producers, writers, editors, publicists, photographers, and others.

“It was an expensive venture”, Tapper admits, “but well worth it if just one celebrity is photographed and seen wearing our product in a beauty, fashion or entertainment magazine. The exposure for our product from that would be phenomenal.”

Their two day adventure in Los Angeles was fun-filled, exciting, surreal and totally exhausting. “Thank God we were at least exhibiting comfy footwear, otherwise my feet would have been killing me by the end”, says Tapper.

“We had brought with us 17 pairs of assorted mukluks. The plan was not to give them away there to everybody that walked by, but to take orders and ship them to certain celebrities for free. This way, each person would get the exact pair they wanted”, added Tapper.

Zipursky and Tapper at their display table at the Gift Lounge

The highlight of the event for the two was meeting many well known celebrities. They met Neve Campbell from the 1990’s TV series "Party of Five" and the "Scream" movies. Tapper describes her as nice, low key, down to earth and absolutely beautiful. She chose a pair of Tall Gummi Grey Fur Candy Sweet Pedtooties mukluks.

Actress Neve Campbell

They met Catherine O'Hara, a brilliant comedic actress from “SCTV”, “Waiting For Guffman”, “Best In Show”, and “A Mighty Wind”. She designed her very own unique pair - Tall Candy Apple Green Candy mukluks with brown fur.

Actress Catherine O'Hara

Meeting Ashley Greene who plays Alice Cullen in the “Twilight” films was exciting for Tapper as she loves the Twilight book series. “She was so sweet and gorgeous. She fell in love with a pair of perfectly fitting Tall Gummi Grey Candy mukluks and she asked if she could take them with her right then”, says Tapper. Now Tapper is scouring the web for photos of Ashley Greene in her Sweet Pedtooties mukluks.

Actress Ashley Greene

Meeting Deidre Hall who plays Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives” was a true delight for the two. She was lovely, happy and warm. She chose a pair of Tall Black Licorice Fur Candy mukluks, which were shipped to her. When they sent out free mukluks, they never expected to hear back from most of the celebrities. But right after Deidre Hall received hers, she phoned to thank Tapper and Zipursky.

Actress Deidre Hall

They were especially exhilarated to meet Meaghan Waller, a 19 year old from their home town of Winnipeg Manitoba who recently won Canada’s Next Top Model.

Meaghan Waller, Canada’s Next Top Model winner, Tapper and Zipursky

Tapper and Zipursky report that everyone they met was genuine and not pretentious. They showed interest in their product and were supportive of their business venture.

Sweet Pedtooties makes custom, hand-made mukluks for infants, youth and adults. Sweet Pedtooties mukluks are available in short and tall; in black, grey, brown, pink, green, and turquoise blue suede and white or black leather; with fleece lining, sheepskin lining or a combination of the two; with a variety of CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski elements designs or bead free.

Back in Winnipeg, the fun is over and the work begins. “It's time to do some marketing for our product so that people know that our brand of mukluks, Sweet Pedtooties actually exists!”, Tapper explains. For more information or to order a pair, visit www.sweetpedtooties.com.

Don’t be surprised if you see photos of Hollywood actresses wearing Sweet Pedtooties Mukluks in your favourite beauty, fashion, or entertainment magazine. Tapper and Zipursky won’t be surprised, they’ll be thrilled.

Rhonda Prepes is an engineer, educator, mother, and writer in Winnipeg.