Hormone-colored Days

Should I List my House with a Real Estate Agent?

2009-11-25T07:07:00.002-06:00

As we ponder getting a little more action on our Skokie House for Sale, we're wondering if we should just go ahead and list with an agent. But, ugh, the thought of writing one of those ginormous commission checks is killing me. So I chatted with an agent friend of mine to learn more about where the commission goes. Read about it on my blog, Have I got a House for You!, at Roost.com.

Young Frankenstein: The Latest from Broadway in Chicago

2009-11-21T09:54:00.007-06:00

I was once again fortunate to be a guest of Broadway in Chicago, as they invited me and a friend to check out their latest offering- Young Frankenstein. In a nutshell, it was like the 1974 Mel Brooks movie, only in full color, with singing and dancing. For me, the highlight was a rousing number called "Join the family business" in which young Dr. Frankenstein is called in his dreams to join in his forefather's dream of bringing new life to a corpse. The all-singing, all-dancing piece involved a delightfully original element of puppetry that made it a "wow" in my book.

I asked my guest, Karen Kring, to share her thoughts about the musical.

I had the special opportunity to go with my neighbor friend Kim Moldofsky to see "Young Frankenstein" at the Cadillac Palace earlier this month. It did not disappoint.

The musical seemed to include most of the classic lines I remember from the Mel Brooks' 1974 movie, such as "what hump?" "what knockers!" and one of my favorites "walk this way". They did a whole song based on "roll, roll, roll in the hay." Other new songs include "Transylvania Mania" and "He Vas My Boyfriend".

Had to appreciate the updates in this production, a reference to a soy macchiato and some other changes that indicated some additional creativity put into the production and not a mere translation of the movie to stage.

The play blew out their version of the "Putting on the Ritz" number making you forget you were watching a play set in Transylvania Heights.

Watching the play I had to remember Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman, and of course Peter Boyle, as if they were long lost friends. Though not an identical production, performances of Roger Bart, Corey English, Shuler Hensley, Beth Curry, Brad Oscar, Joanna Glushak, Anne Horak, and others should satisfy the the movie's cast, if not make them proud.

Like the movie, the horses neigh when they hear "Frau Brucher". It wasn't until seeing the play that I'd heard the idea that Brucher means glue in German*. Having studied German in college, I was surprised not to have known this. Sure enough, according to various web sources, my German/English dictionary and my German bud Daniel, Klebstoff is glue in German and Brucher is just a surname.

If you go see the show, I'd be interested in what you think. I'm especially curious about people's reaction this show based on their relationship with the movie. I'd seen the movie many times and wonder if knowing or not knowing the movie would affect someone's enjoyment of the play.

While we were in the balcony, and I was fine with that, see if you can get floor seats. There's a part where the actors come off stage and I missed that. In case strobe lights are a concern for you, know that they use them.

Karen Kring is a photographer, journalist, designer and editor by choice and a writer by necessity. She lives in Skokie, tweets at @LiveFromSkokie and runs Kring Lerner Group, an agency doing a variety of photography, journalism and other media projects and campaigns.

*I as the one who told her brucher meant glue because that's what my trivia buff of a husband told me.

Truth Be Told

2009-11-19T16:37:00.006-06:00

Truth Be Told, this game was sent to me for review by the kind folks at Buffalo Games.
Truth Be Told, the name of the game really is Truth Be Told.

It's one of those games that in my house, never quite gets played through to the end because such hilarity ensues that my boys, ages 9 and 11, just lose themselves. I should mention that the two of them have turned charades into a contact sport. They get a bit crazy when they're having fun. This is a good thing, though, because it means deep belly laughs and side-splitting guffaws shared as a family.

Truth Be Told is like a personal version of Balderdash AKA Dictionary (another family favorite that gets broken up by goofiness and pee-in-your pants fun). In Balderdash, players try to guess a plausible definition for an obscure word; in Truth Be Told, players try to guess each others' likes and dislikes.

For example, in Truth Be Told, I take the role of "the host" and read a card that says, "Truth be told, I get annoyed by _______." I secretly complete my write on/wipe off fill-in-the-blank card (no wasted paper!) "whiny children."

As I write, each of other the other players write answers on their cards. So DH might write, "When DH doesn't change the empty roll of toilet paper," and one of my boys might guess (answering as me), "When I run out of chocolate."

As the host I then collect the completed fill-in-the-blank-cards and read off the the results. Players consider the responses and vote for what they think is the real answer (all of which have some degree of truth in my hypothetical case).

Points can be scored in several ways: voting for the true answer, getting others to vote for your bluff answer. But again, we didn't get quite that far. That said, the recommended age range for this game is 12 and up, so my boys are a bit young for it. We were in it more for the laughs than the competition, anyway.

So far, we've managed to keep all the write-on/wipe off cards, paddles and markers, which means no scavenging for paper and pencils when we play. It would be nice if it came with some kind of wiper for the boards or a starter pack of tissues for that purpose, assuming you don't want your kids to use their hands or shirts to do the job.

I look forward to trying this out with our cousins over Thanksgiving Break.

From the company: This game retails for $27.99. It is designed for 3-8 players. It is currently available in Buffalo, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix and St. Louis, as well as through the Buffalo Games website. It will available nationwide in January 2010.

One more bit: Meet the folks behind Buffalo Games as the Chicago Toy and Game Expo (CHI-TAG) at Navy Pier November 21 and 22. Click to get $2 your admission to CHI-TAG courtesy of my friends at Chicagonista.

This game was sent to me at no cost. This review expresses my opinion and was not influenced, previewed or edited by anyone at Buffalo Games.

Prayers for Anissa

2009-11-18T13:02:00.004-06:00

Last night I saw the #prayersforAnissa hashtag on Twitter and got concerned. She has recently tweeted that her young daughter was found to be cancer-free after one year without chemo. My first thought was that there had been a mistake in the interpretation of the results and the cancer had returned. But, no.

I was shocked and saddened to find out that Anissa had suffered a severe stroke and was in ICU down it Atlanta. I think every mom on Twitter went to bed last night with thoughts of Anissa and her family.

By the crack of dawn today, the community had mobilized, thanks for Anissa's good friends.

I'm told that Anissa's group site, Aiming Low is having traffic-related server issues, so I'm sending you to Heather Spohr's site for information on how you can help Anissa's family.

There's been a call to for bloggers to use their PR connections to help- help with lodging for out of town family, food to provide sustenance, items to keep her three kiddos busy and more. I'm proud to say that my clients at ConAgra foods acted swiftly and without question when I raised the issue to them.

I mostly know Anissa through her funny, snarky comments on Twitter, but she can be quite poignant as well. My thoughts and prayers to Anissa and her family.

Marketing to Moms Who Blog: In Defense of Twitter Parties

2009-11-13T08:23:00.023-06:00

Twitter parties can be fun and interesting or artificial and annoying depending on how the party is staged. Tonight there's a party for #Steaz that will be interesting and fun. Of course, it will be, it's for my client!

The party, run by Amy, AKA @ResourcefulMom is not about the #fakegush, nor is it all about the product. I mean, certainly you'll learn a bit about Steaz's tasty organic, fair trade iced teas (now available at Target Stores nationwide and always available at Whole Foods) and have a chance to win Steaz drinks and Target gift cards, but much of discussion will focus on green living with fab mamas Jennifer Taggart (@theSmartMama) and Sommer Poquette (@greenmom). Full details at Amy's blog.

Twitter parties can be useful to brands because they create opportunities to connect with and listen to a relatively large amount of people in the social space in a short period of time, especially when the parties are hosted by an established provider. Long-time providers, party planners like Amy (sitewarming parties) and Jyl (#GNO), charge for their services, but they can bring in a crowd as well as expertise that most bloggers cannot.

For more details on why Twitter Parties Don't Suck, check out Stefania Pomponi Butler's explanation on the Clever Girls Collective blog. She provides a great overview as to why brands might pursue a party as well as tips as to how those who find them annoying can tune out for a wee bit without ruining their Twitter time.
Oh, and get a peek at Steaz Zero and a free coupon for it over at my food blog, Scrambled CAKE. Well, I've actually only got an empty bottle because one of my boys drank it up lickety-split.

See you tonight at 8 PM CST on Twitter.

Marketing to Mommy Bloggers: What She Said

2009-11-12T08:46:00.004-06:00

In recent weeks, I've been so busy with client work, hosting a local tweet-up and my new blog at Roost (Have I Got a House for You!), trying to stay on top of my email, and pondering Twitter's new features in addition to real life responsibilities, that I've lagged on my marketing to moms posts.

Never fear. I've got smart peeps who pick up the slack. Go read Kimberly Coleman's post on her site, Mom in the City, "What a Mommy Blogger (Does Not) Want."

Kimberly was recently part of a top-notch momblogger panel at the Child's Play Communication's Blogger Brunch. She posted her tips in case she didn't have time to express all her thoughts as a panelist.

She has great advice. In you're a marketing or PR pro, her post is a must-read. And of course, you can always read through my marketing to mommy bloggger archives, too.

Parenting Gifted Children: Speaking Out for Gifted Children in Illinois

2009-11-10T05:28:00.001-06:00

Here is my testimony from the ISBE budget hearing.

Like you, I want to see every student in Illinois demonstrate academic achievement. As the mother of two academically advanced elementary school students, I’m unclear on how this is done. Tests like the ISATs mean little for children like mine who exceed government dictated expectations for a given grade level long before they enter it.

I want my children to work hard and learn new things. I want them to demonstrate significant and measurable achievement each school year. I want the State of Illinois to recognize and serve gifted students as a special needs population. High ability/academically talented/gifted- choose your term- these children have social, emotional and educational needs that differ from those of most students.

Not only that, within the gifted population, there is a continuum of abilities, such that a highly or profoundly gifted student is as many standard deviations away from a moderately gifted student, as a moderately gifted student is from an average one. But that’s an aside, expecting public schools to accommodate the type of students who, by very definition, are quite rare is a pipe dream. Unless that student has learning or physical differences that place them on the low end of the bell curve, of course.*

There’s a perception that gifted children have all the advantages, but many parents I know struggle with the intensities and challenges such a child often brings. .... (At a recent) PTO meeting, I held back an ironic chuckle when a teacher proclaimed, "If our students aren't challenged, then they’re cheated."

Let me be clear, high ability children throughout the state of Illinois are being cheated because of a lack of funding, lack of teacher training, and lack of appropriate coursework.

It would be nice if our state and nation worked harder to recognize and serve academically advanced students like my sons. I’m not promising one of my boys will find the cure for cancer or be the next Einstein (have you heard how he treated his first wife?), I just want what the state wants- demonstrated academic achievement and preparation for success after high school. If my boys and other children like them don’t learn to work hard now, if they don’t experience the frustration of facing a challenge and the joy of overcoming it during their most formative years, what will happen to them beyond high school?

Please stop leaving gifted children behind.

*This came off as kind of snarky and I'm torn that I included it. I left it in because, tone aside, that does seem to be my experience.

Parenting Gifted Children. Advocating for Gifted Children.

2009-11-09T09:53:00.009-06:00

Last week I attended an Illinois State Board of Education budget hearing to advocate for gifted children. It was every bit bad as I feared. In fact, it was much like the last time.

So the ISBE hearing, or as I like to call it, The Cavalcade of Blind and Visually Impaired Children, got me thinking about a few things. But first, a brief recap.

Oh, there was the normal plug for Head Start and early intervention programs that serve poor immigrant families. What's not to like about early childhood ed? Especially when it serves children from low-income homes. (No sarcasm intended; this is good stuff.)

Then came the blind and visually impaired students who showed up in force to argue for the return of the $700,000 that was cut from a program that provides crucial assistive technology. And again, I'm not poking fun. They were a case study in effective advocacy. They showed up in large numbers armed with compelling stories. They kicked budgetary ass.

My goodness, first there was the little eight year-old visually impaired boy with albinism who asked the board to “please, please, please” restore the funding for assistive technology. He was followed by other blind and visually impaired teens asking for the same, all with touching stories about the crucial role that technology such as BrailleNote computers and JAWS play in their lives.

But the clincher was a cute nine-year-old blind boy who read his own braille-typed speech from his computer, concluding with something like, “When you vote for the final budget, remember me.”

My goodness, I don't think there was a dry eye in the house as he walked back to his seat.

Damn it.

The blind kids won.

And when I say they won it's because yes, this is a competition. I wish it wasn't. I wish all worthwhile programs could get funded. But the Illinois education budget is tight and only getting tighter.

Several times during the two-hour meeting, in between attendees pleading for their slice of the pie, the chairwoman sighed, "Who is going to get left behind?"

So when I got up to speak, the first thing I said was, "I know who's going to get left behind. It's my sons and children like them." She smiled at me as if I was kidding. But I wasn't.

I'm certain that if it weren't for these jerky real estate guys who spoke about wanting schools to sell and lease back their buildings, I would have been the least popular speaker in the room. *sigh*

Then again, no one could come close to those kids. Even if I brought my boys, or the entire kindergarten class from the the private gifted school they used to attend for that matter, it would not have had the same effect.

It's easy to see that the blind children have to work hard to overcome the obstacles life has placed before them. You know they are working hard to achieve. Gifted kids? They have all the advantages. Or so it seems.

How does one show that a child is in the 97th or 99th or 99.99% is not making the expected academic process? How does one demonstrate that a child who is making straight A's is an underachiever?

Sure, there is research that indicates academically talented students do better, that is, they make more progress each year when placed in homogeneous groups that move at a faster pace than a typical age-grade class. Research, shmesearch. It seems an eight-year-old who reads at a junior high level is cute, precocious, someone to be admired, not someone to throw state education dollars at. Grrr.

But the thing is, the thing that became more apparent to me as the night went on, is that compared to other special needs students, appropriate educational interventions for gifted students are ridiculously inexpensive.

My blogfriend Daisy, who is an educator and has a blind son (though not in Illinois), chimed in through Twitter that the cost of educating a visually impaired child is high, but not as high as the cost of not educating them.

Make sense, for sure. But I think in comparison gifted children fall short. What is the cost of not fully educating a child who already exceeds government dictated standards? I think there a cost, and it's high, it's just not something Illinois nor the US Department of Education choose to make a priority.

So my second experience at a state by budget hearing was every bit as disheartening as my first. On the other hand, this time I was the only one who spoke up for gifted education, so I in that sense I'm glad I went.

It does not serve my children's interest to post my testimony in its entirety, but I will post a chunk of it later this week.

Edited to add: this post is also inspired by the Yahoo!MotherBoard. This month we're talking about education funding and budget cuts. See what April at All About Balance has to say about the role of the arts in education.

Click for more musing on raising gifted children.

Skinny dipping in the school pool and why advocating for gifted kids is like masturbating

2009-11-03T08:12:00.003-06:00

Yep, skinny dipping at school, that's how things worked in Chicago public schools back in the 1950s. Read on at Chicago Moms Blog.

I think I'm going to work the old skinny dipping as school policy into my statement advocating for gifted children in Illinois at the upcoming state board of ed budget hearing. Honestly though, I'm tempted to talk about how advocating for gifted kids is like masturbating. I feel compelled to do it (advocate, I mean), and I'll feel good for doing it (for speaking up, I mean) but it's not a very productive use of my time.

Color me cynical, but it seems to me that the most compelling arguments for recognizing gifted children as special needs children aren't apparent until one is raising such a child.

Your thoughts?

Special Programs for Gifted Children: Luxuries or Necessities

2009-11-02T05:39:00.003-06:00

Last summer Candace Lindemann, Ed. M., a former colleague of mine from the Momformation blog, interviewed me for her piece Gifted Programs: Luxuries or Necessities? I'm a little late blogging about it, but no matter, the question is timeless.

Because they sometimes only serve a small number (or by definition in the State of Illinois, a small percentage) of students, and high performing students at that, gifted programs are often seen as a luxury. How does a school justify a class for six students who seemingly excel when other students in the grade are still struggling to read?

Gifted students have special needs. They have special educational as well as social-emotional issues. Though affective (social-emotional) is ignored in many programs, a cutting-edge program should include that component.

Special classes for gifted children are not luxuries, they are not privileges, they are appropriate educational interventions.

When Michele Kane, president elect of the Illinois Association of Gifted Children, spoke at my recent parent gathering, she mentioned that as a group, parents of gifted kids do not advocate as vociferously, as passionately as parents of other special needs children.

In Illinois, there's still time to change this. There are two remaining Illinois State Board of Education Budget hearings left.

Go.
Speak.
Advocate.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Wheeling
Community Consolidated School District 21
Board Room
999 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling (Enter from East side of building only)
Wednesday, December. 9, 2009 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Mundelein
Mundelein School District 75
Lincoln School Multipurpose Room
200 West Maple, Mundelein

I have a class Thursday night and need to think about where I need to be. If you (or I) can't make it, contact the Superintendent's office at the State Board of Education Phone: 217-782-2221; TTY/TDD: 217-782-1900; Fax: 217-785-3972.

Edited to add: Okay, I realized I *need* go to Thursday's budget hearing; I can't let the opportunity pass. Unlike the last time I went to an ISBE budget hearing, I'm going to prepare remarks ahead of time. I'll post them on my blog in the next week or so.

Coming Home to Roost

2009-10-31T14:42:00.004-05:00

Coming home to Roost.com, that is. Last week, I joined my friend Kim Tracy Prince of House of Prince fame over at Roost.com. Roost is a site that makes it easy to find a home almost anywhere in the US. Site visitors can browse the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) as well as get value added information like local market insights and industry news.

I had used the Roost to sort of window shop (monitor shop?) for houses long before I started writing on the site, so it's nice that things came full circle--or they will once I'm able to purchase a new house.

I'm writing about my wacky misadventures trying to sell @SkokieHouse in my Roost blog, Have I Got a House for You! Kim TP is chronicling her adventures looking for a new home and getting hers on the market in The Diary of a Moving Mom.

This week's post, How Much is my House Worth?, details what happened the day I met with three different Realtors to get competitive pricing information on the Skokie house. In a nutshell, I...well, go read!

Halloween Safety Tips and Your Candy Personality

2009-10-29T12:02:00.007-05:00

Tips for a happy and safe Halloween- our latest contribution to Johnson and Johnson's Health Channel on YouTube. I received a PR pitch for a video on this topic earlier in the week and I have to say, I think our homespun effort is better. (But I'm biased.)

The great news for bloggers is that JNJ Health purchases these videos for use on their site. (I think I may have also signed over my firstborn grandchild; I'm not great at reading the fine print on contracts.) I'll share info soon on how you can do this, too.

And click through to learn more your Candy Personality.

Happy Halloween!

Blogger Outreach in Chicago

2009-10-27T07:26:00.003-05:00

Sure, just a couple of weeks ago I was complaining about the lack of events, and now I'm headed to my third one in a week.

Last week at The Pampered Chef headquarters, they each attendee one of their newly redesigned cookie presses. Did someone say cookie? Within 24 hours, I was baking with my son. Check out our results and see the press in action.

Yesterday I was a Pampered Chef

2009-10-23T09:02:00.003-05:00

Read about this Chicago foodie fun event over on my food blog, Scrambled CAKE.

Jewlicious: Shmooze. Nosh. Call your Mother.

2009-10-19T05:36:00.005-05:00

Yiddeshe Mamas, Represent!

I'm pleased to announce Jewlicious 2010: The Beauty of Guilt.

Throughout the conference, those lovely ladies from Parentopia, prime issuers of absolution, will help us assess our priorities and deliver us from guilt due to:

Blogging too much
Not blogging enough
Not commenting enough
Ignoring the family in order to keep up with Twitter/Facebook/Whrrl/Google reader
Spending more time reviewing products than our children's homework

In addition to programming, shmoozing and spa treatments, another key component of Jewelicious is our devotion to the art of the Nosh.

Featured speakers in this track include David Sax of the new book, Save the Deli. After noshing on everything from chopped liver to knishes, Jennifer Perillo, an Italian-Catholic shiksa daughter-in-law who puts us to shame with her fabulous holiday spreads, will teach us to look at Jewish soul food in a new light.

But wait, there's more!

Sessions you won't want to miss include:

Got Kvetch? There's an App for That! Jessica Gottlieb and Jami Becker

How to Raise a Mensch The mother of Peter Shankman

Twiteleh and Other Hot New Social Media Tools Techmama

Keeping up with the Goldbergs: 2010's Hottest Tchotkes PopJudaica

You Want I Should Write about that on My Blog? How to Approach PR Kim Moldofsky

Bi-cultural in the Boonies Naomi Shapiro and Aliza Sherman

Buy Kosher in the Boonies The Angel Forever

It's Never Too Late: Adult Bat Mitzvah Marketing Mommy

JDate Success! Interactive Amy

So, you want to be Jewish... Leah Jones

A Skinned Knee? Meh, It's a Blessing Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.

Not Tonight Dear, I Have a Headache Paula Kamen

Mommybloggers, Go Forth and Make Money Ayelet Waldman

Jewlicious will include a kick-ass tzeddekah project, to boot.

And what's a gathering of powerful blogging mamas without a bit of swag? Keep this on the QT, but rumor has it our group will be the first to bring home up the new "Tefillin Barbie!"

There are so many other surprises in store! Ladies, this conference will be beyond.

Of course, Jewlicious is open to all.

Well, it would be if it were real.

Party on with Nancy Loo

2009-10-18T10:10:00.005-05:00

Who needed Blog World Expo? Many of Chicago's key social media players were partying it up in our hometown last weekend courtesy of Chicago newscaster Nancy Loo as we gathered to celebrate her new blog.

Props for a great event also go to: Chicago favorite Garrett popcorn (nom nom), Ai sushi (yum!) Juvenesse Spa (aaaaaaah), and Steaz (woot! my newest client), as well as Duong Sheahan and MJ Tam.

I had a wonderful time hanging out with with Amy Ravit Korin and Nicole G. Simonds and my ride sponsor by Karen Kring, in addition to new acquaintances such as Alecia Dantico, and Sue Markgraf.

Oh, and you may recall last week's plea for more Chicago-based events? The blogging gods heard me and I've now got a full dance card of parties, brand events, press meetings and the like. That was easy, even if I am hosting two of the events. Now, I just have to figure out how to call attention to my talented, but geographically challenged, friends.

Next up on my request list--more public speaking opportunities. Do you hear me, Internets? Take a peek at my updated About section and let's talk about where I can talk.

Parenting Gifted Children: Chicago Area Parent Talks

2009-10-16T23:29:00.004-05:00

Two exciting events for parents of gifted children are taking place in the Chicago area.

I am hosting the first one Tuesday night, an evening with Michele Kane, Ed.D., mother, teacher*, counselor**, advocate and president-elect of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children.

Michele will share tips on raising emotionally intense children and advocating for those children at school. She is a treasure trove of information and resources and I'm delighted and incredibly thankful that she volunteered her time for this talk.

*She also has a Master's Degree in Educational Administration
**and Master's Degree in Counseling and Guidance

I plan to livetweet the talk under the hashtags #mkane #gifted

I asked my tweeps if they had any questions and here's what came in:

JeanneBernish asked, "How best to educate the educators and admins on best practices for teaching/I.D. #gifted"
and "and how best to encourage the training to percolate down through a PS hierarchy?"
and "finally, how to empower our G/T specialists within their schools to help serve #gifted pop"
(Keep in mind Twitter's 140 character limit; I can see what she's getting at.)

TeachAGiftedKid said, "I would to know how to educate all the parties involved with our gifted too."

If you have questions, leave them below in the comments and I will pass them along to Michele. See this blog next week for answers.

Event number two is The Challenge of Parenting an Artistically Talented Child
by Andy Mahoney at Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm
There is no charge for this lecture, but donations will go to benefit the art department of SAA.

Blogalicious Was Swagalicious, So What's The Problem?

2009-10-13T10:38:00.018-05:00

I just flew back from Atlanta and are my arms tired. Ba-dum-bum.

Seriously, the MamaLaw ladies, put on a fabulous conference. The speakers were great; I picked up tips and tricks at every session I attended, and the conference atmosphere was thick with support.

Once I got past feeling intimidated by the wealth of knowledge and success that surrounded me, I was able to relax and enjoy. And there was plenty of enjoyment to be had. Liz Henry has an excellent recap over at BlogHer, along with links to the reflections of several other attendees.

The swag was flowing at Blogalicious, thanks in part to my sponsor (and client) ConAgra Foods and their super crunchy Alexia chips. Many other generous sponsors filled swag bags, too. I didn't see any shoving or fighting to get to the bags which were offered at every party and even some meals.

And yet.... I have concerns.

That's why I'm creating Kim's Commandments O' Swag. I'll start with a few of my own guidelines and I'd love for you to add your thoughts.

Be mindful of those who traveled from afar and don't want to pay for checked luggage. In other words, just because attendees appreciate your generous offer of three, 18-ounce bottles of nicely scented lotion doesn't mean they're eager to fill up their suitcases with your product and pay a $20 fee to check their luggage to bring it home. Consider offering coupons to those who want to travel light.

Don't hand out swag during the final hours of the conference.
Again, this largely applies to out-of-towners, but keep in mind that many attendees don't make it to the closing session and those who do may already be packed and checked out of their rooms.

Ask conference organizers to consider instituting a recycling system.
It seems like the last thing a sponsor wants it to see a recycling table full of their product, but I'd say the last thing they want to see if their product in a garbage can. Not every item is going to be right for every attendee, but you know what they say about one woman's trash being another woman's treasure.

At Blogalicious, I gave my hair care products to a new blogfriend who was more likely to appreciate them. She was happy to get the extra and I was happy the sponsor samples did not go to waste.

At BlogHer08 the Zwaggle folks operated an awesome swap room where bloggers left what they didn't want and were free to take what they did. Zwaggle folks worked to find homes for whatever product was left over.

Connecting with a local woman's shelter is another option.

I'm sure the thought of this leaves some potential sponsors cringing, but if they saw the three bags full of appreciated, but unwanted, items left behind by my roommate and I (multiply that by a few dozen or a few hundred other attendees), they might reconsider.

I don't mean to imply that this issue is unique to Blogalicious. It's not. It's pervasive issue, though I probably didn't notice it at my first blog conference because it was all so new and exciting. Free stuff!

I also don't mean to insinuate that sponsors should just stay home. This is not at all the case! Sponsors are great. Swag is exciting. It's fun. It's a great way to gain exposure for products. It's just that every bit of swag is not going to be a great fit for every conference attendee.

How does a sponsor or a blogger maximize "fit" and minimizing landfill waste?

How can we make this delightfully swaggy process more efficient?

More on marketing to moms.

Marketing to Moms: Won't You Please Come to Chicago

2009-10-12T05:52:00.003-05:00

I've previously mentioned that blogging and social media have opened up my world. As a result I now have friends (or "friends" as my husband likes to say) all over the country. And I've noticed a few things about my peeps in New York City- they are always headed somewhere and doing something.

Sure, NYC is the city that never sleeps, but it's more than the busy, hip lifestyles of my friends. NYC is a marketing favorite. Not a week goes by that my bloggy friends aren't off to one brand event or another.

What gives? Chicago is toddlin' town, sweet home to a wonderful community of blogging mamas and other social media types. The city is home to many fabulous PR agencies (if only their branch offices) and many large brands.

When it comes to brands, why do Second City mamas play second fiddle to our NYC brethren?

I welcome your thoughts. And if you represent a brand and want to reach a savvy, but grounded and highly connected Midwestern crowd, drop me a note and I'll get your people in touch with my people.

I don't mean to distract you, but I couldn't resist including this clip from the Daily Show, "Chicago Nope," regarding the Olympic Committee's announcement of Rio as host of the 2016 Olympic Games. Comment first, then watch this hilarious clip.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Chicago Nope

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Ron Paul Interview

Edited to add: Despite strong representation from my Windy City peeps, even the Blogalicious crew passed us over for next year. Admittedly cold rainy weather is easily trumped by wifi on the beach--the conference will take place in Miami.

More musings on marketing to moms who blog.

I'm leaving on a jet plane

2009-10-09T05:45:00.000-05:00

And heading to Atlanta for

You may recall that earlier this year, I had an article up at MediaPost Engage:Moms on increasing diversity at brand sponsored blogger retreats. As a result, I am delighted to be part of the panel, Marketing to Women of Color: The Real Deal, alongside seasoned PR pros and bloggers.

One of my clients, ConAgra Foods, is covering my expenses. They are providing a few snacks for the swag bag, as well. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but I know the munchy crunchy products were a big hit in my house.

In addition to my presentation, I'm excited to see old friends and make new ones. BlogHer was such a busy rush; I expect this smaller conference to have a calmer, more intimate feel. I'm looking forward to it!

Follow along on Twitter #Blogalicious09.

When Do You Give a Kid a Cell Phone?

2009-10-08T01:07:00.004-05:00

I had the opportunity to review a Kajeet cell phone just over two years ago. At the time, I felt my nine-year-old son was a bit young for his own phone, but I thought it might make for an interesting experiment.

Now a strapping 11-year-old with a growing sense of independence and increasingly busy schedule, I think it's time to activate the phone for reals. I mentioned this to DH, who responded by asking if junior high kids typically have cell phones. And you thought I lived in a cave.

Yes, many (most or all if you ask my son) junior high students have cell phones.

If my boy is going to be at school after hours working on projects or going places with his friends (without me!) I want him to be able to reach me.

I need to spend time over at the Kajeet site to see what's changed, but a quick trip to my friend Stacey's blog, Tree, Root and Twig, indicates it operates much the way it did two years ago. That is, we can start the service and cancel at any time without messy contractual obligations. We can set time limits and budgets on phone calls and texting.

Actually, Stacey tweeted about the need to take the phone away from her text-obsessed teen daughter the other night, which motivated me to look into this. I think the downloadable games are more likely to be my son's downfall.

Though I'm not pleased about adding extra expenses to our budget (did I mention the free oil change I had where I was informed my car needed $600 of repairs? We had this confirmed by a second source which offered a *slightly* less expensive repair option. Sigh.), I think the time is right.

And when I say the time is right now, I mean I hope to be organized enough to get this going by Halloween because he's hoping to go trick-or-treating sans adult.*

*That makes me nervous, but I think we started going on our own by 4th grade back in the day.

Raising Gifted Children: School for Disruptive Students

2009-10-07T05:26:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week I came across a commentary piece in the Chicago Sun-Times which got me thinking. Esther J. Cepeda's article, "School for disruptive students might work," voices concerns which I've tossed around in my mind for a while now.

Reflecting on a former student who behaved in her classroom, but not for other teachers, Cepeda writes, "...I do know the destructive impact he had on classmates outside of my algebra lessons: mounds of lost instruction time, undermining of other students' respect for their teachers; some diluted bullying, annoying those who wanted to learn."

She wonders if putting disruptive students into special classrooms with teachers trained to "reach" them would help.

As the mother of a child who functions best in a structured and calm setting, I've been frustrated and disappointed to find how few teachers provide such an environment. I understand that some kids have the need to get up now and then and yet others lack the typical amount of self-control (and that in my middle class suburb I dare say most of these kids have IEPs), I just wish those kids didn't meet their needs at the expense of my son's needs.

Can I get my boy an IEP that states his need for a calm structured environment? Oh, right.

At any rate, as Cepeda ponders the efficiency of removing disruptive students from the class, she wonders if such special classes for disruptive students would merely turn into a dumping ground.

Still, she writes that perhaps that concern, "...should be set aside to investigate the possibility that such a program could recoup thousands of hours of instruction time in mainstream classrooms."

I can't help but think that part of the issue is our nation priority focused on raising the bottom, rather than helping all children learn and grow academically. And I think that Cepeda's dumping ground fears are valid.

Still, the thought of my boys being in classrooms where learning, rather than classroom management, is the focus is quite appealing.

Your thoughts?

When product reviews yield unexpected results

2009-10-03T18:39:00.002-05:00

Hey, the new Shark cleaning products arrived!

Marketing to Moms: Social Media Moms for Hire

2009-10-01T08:25:00.007-05:00

Having recently attended a blogger event that fell flat at times, I am keenly aware of the degree to which having a momblogger on staff can help boost brand efforts to a higher level.

The momspace can be tricky- it's good to have a tour guide, a Social Media Mom, by your side to help you navigate. The few hundred or even few thousand dollars it may cost to hire that experienced mom is well worth it.

I wrote about this yesterday over at MediaPost's Engage:Mom column. The article, Social Media Moms: A Worthwhile Investment, includes useful insights from bloggers Meagan Francis and Audrey McClelland.

In related news, as I write this, there's a #NestleFamily blogger retreat taking place. If you follow any moms on Twitter, you've likely caught wind of the fact that some moms are calling out Nestle for their infant formula marketing practices and are criticizing bloggers who chose to participate in the retreat. (And yet others are using the hashtag to inform women who have fed their babies formula that they have ruined them. Nice.).

It's the largest case of Hashtag Hijack I've ever seen.

One tweet in a flurry of exchanges that caught my eye was from Liz Gumbinner of Mom-101. She said, "The issue is that marketers don't know what they want the bloggers to be. Press? Consultants? Evangelists? Enlightened consumers?"

What is the role of bloggers on a retreat? There's great discussion on this over at Christine Koh's personal blog, Pop Discourse. Christine, AKA @BostonMamas, wrote about why she chose not to attend the Nestle retreat and Meagan Francis chimed in with a great comment and others shared insights, as well.

Go read. Comment. Tweet. Share your thoughts.

Edited to add this link to Amy from SelfishMom's post on When a Hashtag Gets Hijacked.

More on marketing to moms who blog.

NYC Adventures

2009-09-29T11:13:00.000-05:00

My trip to New York City was a blast! I always thought I'd hate the city, but now I cant' wait for an excuse to go back (cough *BlogHer 10*). I had a great time hanging out with old friends and meeting many new ones.

I met up with Ilina from Dirt and Noise, Carmen from Mom to the Screaming Masses, Jenn From Frugal Upstate and we enjoyed a fun, if touristy, dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner (singing waiters!) then we walked about 100 blocks through Times Square to the LUSH store and headed to a sponsored meet and greet.

I met up with BlogHer friend Jennifer Perillo from In Jennie's Kitchen and couldn't hear more than the conversations going on to my immediate right or left in the dark noisy room. That said, when one of my companions got up to make a call, I called Drew from Cook Like Your Grandmother over and we chatted.

Jennifer, Ilina, Drew and I headed to Lindy's for late night dessert. I only had 24 hours in NYC, when else was I going to try to the local cheesecake? Despite a citywide banana shortage, a good time was had by all, including Naomi from Superdumb Supervillain, who joined us after her late arrival to the hotel.

Naomi, Drew and I wandered around Times Square, but having already had my walkabout, I headed back to the hotel on my own. Halfway there, though, I stopped, enthralled by street performers near the half-price ticket place. I finally headed back to my hotel when it started to drizzle and I feared a street fight would break out to due a crazy or drunk (or perhaps mentally ill and drunk) woman. Um, make that many drunk and/or mentally ill people gathered in a small space.

At any rate, it was midnight, raining and I was heading to my hotel alone. I was only two blocks from my hotel when I stopped to watch the street action. But when I looked down the street to where I thought the hotel would be (have I mentioned my ability to get lost in a paper bag?), I didn't see it.

I almost freaked out seeing as I was in New York City, alone after midnight in the rain, (which was really more of light drizzle).

Also, knowing all too well my poor sense of direction and how easy it is to get lost in NYC, DH warned me not to go out alone.

So anyway, my heart was pounding as I pondered calling my husband and telling him, "Hi. I'm alone in NYC at midnight in the rain. If I tell you what intersection I'm at will you MapQuest me back to my hotel?"

But at the same time, I knew the hotel was nearby. I'm not much on street names, but I know my landmarks. I knew I was down the block from the the giant M&M sign. Still, walking from the brightly lit Times Square onto a darker side street concerned me. Once I did though, I saw my problem. Construction scaffolding was blocking the Sheraton sign. Phew!

I made it back to the hotel safely. Then adrenaline still pumping through my veins, I checked email and signed onto Twitter where I chatted with Jennifer (as in the woman I shared dessert with) and Kim Tracy Prince, who has living it up in Hawaii.

The next morning Carmen, Jenn and two later arrivals, Jendi from Simple Vlogging Tips and Jen from My Kitchen Addiction and I headed to the Today Show bright and early. Make that early, but not bright--the sun wasn't even out when we left the hotel!

I left before I got my Today Show screen time because I needed to change and walk over to the event hotel. However, I did get screen time of a different sort of the Today Show Blog (I'm the fourth one down).

As far as the products I learned about, they were interesting and I'll write about them when I receive review samples. I hope it's soon because Google is already sending people looking for product information to my blog based on my introductory Ninja post. In other words, I'm number one! (Though need another lesson in screen shots. This looks like crap. Help?)

Oh, and of course, other highlights included meeting (however quickly) Nikki from Blasian Baby Notes and Kimberly from Mom in the City and getting a quick overview of the Manhattan skyline from Liz at Mom101.

Too tired to read? See my trip in pictures!