My 40 Before 40 List

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Published 10.02.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (5)

It's almost my 37th birthday and my friend Amy of Doobleh-vay asked for my Life List. That coupled by my admiration of Chris Jordan's 40 Before 40 List, led to me finally think through what it is that I want to accomplish in the near future.

But in really thinking about it, I think I have accomplished many of the things that I've really want to do. (Except there is one major thing on my list below). Yes, I put my list together but it is very different from the mental list I kept during my twenties.

During my twenties, I was rah-rah-rah let me do this by the time I'm 25, this by the time I'm 30.

Now, I'm less accomplishment-oriented and more focused on making memories.

1) See the Grand Canyon.
2) Rent a convertible and drive through Big Sur.
3) Visit Jackson Hole.
4) Go camping with my family. Yep, I have never been.
5) Take trapeze lessons with my son.
6) Take a biking trip with my family along the Natchez Trace.
7) Learn to snowboard.
8) Read the Wizard of Oz with my son.
9) Read the first Harry Potter with my son.
10) Finish reading the Harry Potter series. I think I gave up at Book 5.
11) Throw my first Halloween Party.
12) Learn the recipe to my mom's Tomato Rice with Shrimp.
13) Make exercise a regular part of my life again.
14) Watch Gone with the Wind for the first time.
15) Return to Portugal to visit family. It's been way too long.
16) Take my son on a walk through the campus of my Alma Mater.
17) Take a hot air balloon ride.
18) Take my son to see the balloons being filled on the eve of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
19) Go sledding in Central Park.
20) Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Cherry Blossom Day.
21) Have my wedding album published. Shameful, I know.
22) Have my wedding video finished. Gosh, I hope the video company is still in business.
23) Catch-up on Family Albums for each year. Where did I leave off?
24) See fireworks for the first time through my son's eyes.
25) See Madame Butterfly performed by the Metropolitan Opera.
26) Take my son to see the Nutcracker.
27) Visit New Orleans.
28) See my favorite ballet again, I'm Old Fashioned by Jerome Robbins. I sure hope NYCB performs it soon.
29) Visit Martha's Vineyard.
30) Take my son to Ground Zero and (if he is emotionally ready for it) explain what happened on 9/11.
31) Spend the night at the Hayden Planetarium with my boys.
32) Throw my first Holiday Open House.
33) Set up a DIY outdoor theater and invite other families over for movies and popcorn.
34) Redo my home office.
35) Raise money for a cause that is important to me by walking.
36) Re-read my favorite book, Song of Solomon.
37) Find a new favorite book.
38) Make a batch of fried green tomatoes.
39) Become a US Citizen. I was born in Portugal and never naturalized, though I am eligible. Please follow me on my journey to become a citizen.
40) Vote for the first time.

Since there are 36 months until my 40th birthday, I'm going to try to accomplish these at a rate of one per month. Are you with me?

The Return of the Main Event

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Published 09.03.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (3)

This post is dedicated to BOSSY's son who's just starting at Columbia.

Nineteen years ago this week I was starting my first-year at Columbia University. I felt beyond fortunate to be going there. It was the only school that was out of my reach when applying for college. So, I didn't even bother to research their curriculum or anything else for that matter. I sent in my acceptance letter and a check before they changed their minds.

I was very excited to kick-off my studies with choices for all different classes, ones that weren't your generic math, social studies, English, like in high school. But as we settled into our dorm and registration approached, all my new classmates could yammer on about was the Core Curriculum. Yes, it has it's own Wikipedia entry! "The Core," as it is known, is a series of required classes in western civilization (literature, philosophy, art, music) that all entering students take. But, it's almost two years worth of classes. Imagine my disappointment. No choices!

Only in my senior year did I learn (during a US history class) that the Core Curriculum was started after World War I as a means to unify the freshman class. New students were coming in from all over the country and Columbia wanted to make sure the guys (yes, Columbia didn't go co-ed until the 80s) had at least one thing in common with each other. I guess teen angst wasn't universal back then. See, I forgot to share that not only are all the Core classes identical, the reading lists are too.

Yep, no choices.

But, to my surprise, there was something very comforting about not having to worry about more decisions. And, then there was the electricity. Walking into the grand library hall and seeing first-years all reading the same book at the same time. And, there was the chatter, all of us discussing The Decameron, for example, while feeding each other grapes. (I kid).

I haven't felt (or noticed) that much energy until this summer.

After years of a gazillion cable channels, niche social networks and the long tail everywhere, we're all abuzz and atwitter about the same things.

I love being able to read the Twilight series, watch the Phelps Olympic history-making moments and observe Election 08 developments with my friends. Albeit we communicate in real-time via technology, not in the library hall or the dorm tv room.

There is something so powerful about the whole nation moved, enraged or inspired by one event.

So, as much as the long tail continues to be sliced and diced, don't discount the main event. Make yourself available to participate. You may be surprised by how much you'll enjoy it.

Pampers & UNICEF connect moms around the world

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Published 08.13.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (5)

A couple of weeks ago Pampers flew me out to visit their headquarters, meet their executives, see their diaper prototype plant, and more. So much more. I learned so much over a period of 24 hours. Too much to download it all here. I'm going to focus on my top three takeaways:

Innovation
I am an innovation junkie. I just love all and every kind of talk about it (thus our launching of Alphamom Labs next week). Since my son is now five years old, I had no idea that Pampers now makes a Swaddlers diaper that include a wetness indicator. You should have seen my jaw drop when I first laid eyes on this newish diaper. (can whomever took a photo of me with the look of awe on my face please send it to me? I know I saw some blinding flashes going off.)

Disposable diapers are more absorbent now than ever, and as a new mom I struggled with being able to tell whether my tiny son had done a teeny wee into his super-absorbent diaper. Finally a slightly more experienced mom (her son was a week older) at a new moms' group told me to put a toilet paper square inside the diaper. Since then, that is the advice I've been shelling out, on national TV. Well, no more. It's find thee a Swaddlers diaper with a wee indicator!

Commitment to Product Quality & the Environment
Our group had a chance to interview, at length, Pampers' Global Head of Product Quality. On the back of a year of toxic scares in the children's world (hello! toys from China and BPA) the universal focus of our talk was what's going into Pampers diapers. What we learned is that Pampers takes their commitment to the environment just as seriously as they take their commitment to children. As such, they've been focused on taking things out of their diapers. Over time they have reduced by a third, the material that goes into the diapers and by two-thirds, the packaging. That has led to an overall reduction in water usage of 40% and energy usage of 20%. Moreover, they continue to invest in product development by researching more natural material sources and new diapering systems. They are in the test market with a diapering system that is part reusable and part disposal.

Connecting Moms around the world to Eradicate Tetanus
Perhaps the most lasting memory of my visit was understanding Pampers' initiative to donate one tetanus vaccine to UNICEF with every package sold of Pampers diapers. I love this because it is easy and simple to understand and ultimately connects moms in the developed world who want to help moms in the developing world.

Caryl Stern, the CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF personally explained the Pampers/ UNICEF initiative to us. FACT: 140,000 newborns and 30,000 mothers die of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) each year. The fact that this disease still exists is mind-blowing, given that it has practically been eradicated from the developed world. When you learn that it only takes three 5-cent vaccines to inoculate against MNT it becomes even harder to comprehend.

Pampers is committed to helping moms eradicate MNT and indicated that this program will continue until MNT no longer exists. Pampers and UNICEF just see themselves as the connectors here. Moms are buying diapers, so why not have a portion of their purchase go to help save other moms' and babies' lives. Pampers collects the money and UNICEF administers the vaccines. Below is a video of a Pampers executive visiting Angola (where my grandfather was born) explaining how the program works.

As a parting gift from the field trip, Pampers donated 1,000 vaccines in my name to UNICEF. Actually, Pampers donated 1,000 vaccines in everyone's name. Thank you, thank you.

Putting my money where my mouth is
The mom blogger group was so pumped by the initiative that Mindy Roberts at The Mommy Blog took the bull by the horns and whipped up a donation widget. This will live on the Alpha Mom site from now until I at least raise enough money for 10,000 vaccines, or $500. Then I will personally match that amount with up to an additional 10,000 vaccines. So, please help me raise funds for a total of 20,000 vaccines which equals over 6,500 moms and babies with full inoculation. That is the equivalent of 4% of the annual mortality rate. Think about it... $1,000 can inoculate, for a lifetime, 4% of the moms and babies who die annually of maternal and neonatal tetanus.

So click below and then send me an email at isabel@alphamom.com so that I can match your contribution and send you virtual hugs and kisses. If you have your own blog or online property, please consider embedding this widget on your site.

Pampers' UNICEF trip

How to Sponsor a Great Party: CheeseburgHer 08

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Published 08.09.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (6)

By now you may or may not have heard about the the rockin' Second Annual CheeseburgHer Party at the BlogHer Conference last month.

Honestly, there's not much I can add to all the great posts that have already been written (If I missed yours, please let me know and I will include it on the list below).

So, I figured I would give you a page out of the Alpha Mom playbook on how to throw a successfully-sponsored party, in 10 Easy Steps, of course.

1- When you learn that a small party thrown by professionals you admire will happen yet again, you muscle your way in offer to sponsor it. Pick-up the tab, but promise to keep the party true to its roots. And, keep that promise.

Picture from the First Annual CheeseburgHer Party, hosted by Yvonne, Lindsay and SJ.

2- Try to differentiate on the prior year's party, just a touch.

We rented a suite, not a ballroom, ensuring that the original vibe remained intact. And so that you could wear paper bags on your head privately without losing your dignity.

3-Make sure there are enough party hats for everyone.

A sea of paper-bag heads

4- Delegate responsibilities.

5- Encourage party-goers to hang-out on your bed. Because that's keepin' it real.

6- Roll-up your sleeves and get involved.

7- Invite everyone to the party.

Infants!

Babies!

Nursing mothers and Photo-bombers

Pregnant women

Celebrities

Cute couples

Handsome dads

8- Have so much fun, ensuring you will get closed down by security.

9- Have a contingency plan.

We moved the party to the Hotel Lobby.

10- Distribute left-over McDonald's cheeseburgers and fries to homeless people outside the hotel. Thanks SJ and Gwendomama!

Thank you, all you lovely CheeseburgHer attendees. I am sorry that the party ended so early. We thought we would have at least one hour to party.

Also, you were all very respectful of my room and after-party clean-up was seriously only a 5 minute affair, thanks to the generous help of friends.

To relive the memories over and over, please visit the following:

- CheeseburgHer 08 Party Flickr Group
- Recap by co-Host Lindsay of Suburban Turmoil
- Hat Thursday by Whoorl
- CheeseburgHer Caption contest at Loralee's Looney Tunes

Photo Credits in sequence: 1) Suburban Turmoil, 2) Petroville, 3) Greeblemonkey, 4) Plain Jane Mom, 5) Suburban Turmoil, 6) Greeblemonkey, 7) Joy Unexpected 8) Greeblemonkey, 9) Plain Jane Mom, 10) Suburban Turmoil, 11) Greeblemonkey, 12) Plain Jane Mom, 13) Suburban Turmoil, 14) Joy Unexpected, 15) Suburban Turmoil, 16) DutchBlitz, 17) A Girl and A Boy, 18) Suburban Turmoil, 19) Petroville

BlogHer 08: the Re:Boot Room

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Published 08.04.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (7)

Oh gosh. I'm getting old. It's all relative, so stop looking at me that way. Yes, you.

Back in the day, I traveled to Boston several times a week jumping on the shuttle like it was a bus to Brooklyn. Now, a two-hour day trip via airplane kiiilllls me. The jet lag. Arrrgh.

So, a flight to San Fran and back with three days, plus non-stop parties and meet-and-greets, I knew that it would take awhile to recover. And, it has. So, finally the first of two posts on BlogHer.

The Re:Boot Room
This year I decided at the last minute (like 4 days before the conference started) to turn the suite I had rented for the Second Annual CheeseburgHer Party into a sanctuary during the BlogHer Conference.

During and after my first BlogHer Conference I kept hearing and reading accounts of bloggers having been overwhelmed by the intensity and energy of the conference. The pressure (either real or self-imposed) of having to meet internet friends and fans is daunting.

As I perused the final version of this year's conference schedule, I BROKE OUT INTO A SWEAT. I, the social butterfly, could not focus my eyes on all the goings-ons during the conference... the concurrent panels, the sponsored-special events, the makeover booths, sponsor row, etc.

I decided then and there that the BlogHer conference was missing a refuge, a place where bloggers could recharge their social batteries. As you know, necessity is the mother of invention. Thus was born The Re:Boot Room.

"I didn't get an invitation"
We decided it would be poor form and disrespectful to paying conference advertisers to position ourselves in the middle of the conference traffic and push fliers into attendees' hands. So, I informed my Twitter followers and those I met face-to-face about our escape room. And, of course, I made sure everyone knew they could bring their BlogHer friends if they too needed a break. We encouraged people to spread the word. So, I am sorry if anyone may have felt left out. It wasn't meant to be an exclusive room, but there was no way everyone could have known about it. And, all conference attendees were welcomed when they stopped by regardless of how they heard of it.

Reflections
I couldn't have been more pleased with the lovely conversation and lovelier bloggers who stopped by the Re:Boot Room. We had a fabulous "power breakfast" on Saturday with smoothies, protein bars, yogurt and of course COFFEE... everything a blogger needed to get through the marathon of the day. Lunch was grab-and-go pizza slices and then there were cupcakes and espresso & lattes for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Some conclusions:

#1: you can never go wrong with cupcakes!

#2: for a "Hangover Breakfast" (held on Sunday Morning) you need greasy food. I wanted to serve cold pizza. But, alas, we had no fridge in the suite. Though the Red Bulls hit the right spot.

#3: mail giveaways to winners. I schlepped prizes there and back when I saw how moms were inundated with swag.

#4: work with a great partner on ideation and execution. Thanks, Brand About Town!

#5: when we do this again, start promoting it sooner so as to allow more bloggers to be able to take advantage of it.

#6: listen to your community members and make their experience your priority.

Thank you dear bloggers who stopped by and made it a wonderful place to hang out and meet others. I am beyond touched that you appreciated our gesture. We enjoyed it too!

And, lastly, thank you to Method Home for the lovely giveaway gifts. You rawk and are a Lovemark to me.