CheeseburgHer anyone?

2010-03-02T08:09:46Z

If you have followed me, you know that for almost three years now Alpha Mom has been co-hosting CheeseburgHer Parties. Our most recent was at the Mom 2.0 Summit in Houston. If you have no idea what I'm writing about, read my co-hostess Lindsay's recaps over the years. Thank you McDonald's for trusting that we know how to do right by your brand. Without fail the whole experience continues to delight me. The CheeseburgHer parties take a lot of work to pull off but it is so worth it. There's lots of laughter and silliness and cheeeeeese. Take a look for yourself! ]]>

U.S. Olympic Champion Tanith Belbin's Advice for Moms

2010-02-28T20:45:02Z

Tanith Belbin is a champion ice dancer having earned the silver medal during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, a silver medal during the 2009 World Championships and she and partner Ben Agosto placed fourth during the Vancouver 2010 games. I was able to see them skate and in all their glory and it was fantastic! I was very excited to speak to Tanith when she visited the P&G Family Home*. Tanith has been very vocal about her weight and body image issues. With the help of her new coaches, during the summer of 2008, Tanith realized that the poor eating habits she kept in order to maintain her lithe physique was costing her in strength and agility. Since then she has taken better care of her body with proper nutrition and strength training which has led her to gain ten pounds in weight but add noticeable power and confidence to her skating. I asked Tanith what advice would she share with moms of children athletes who might be concerned about their child's current or future focus on body image. Tanith's first piece of advice to moms is to start sending positive messages about healthy eating at ages eight or nine when moms are more of an influence on their daughters than peers. By age eleven when these body image issues usually rear their heads, girls are listening more to their friends and mom's influence may be more muted by then. Tanith's second message to moms is to impart that athletes' needs are different. Moms should tell their daughters "you are exceptional and super human. You need more food, more fuel, to give you more energy." True, your child athlete may need a more efficient diet than her brothers or sisters but it's "never a matter of limitations." Tanith is unbelievably thoughtful and well-spoken on this issue, so much so that I encouraged her to speak publicly about it . I really hope she visits schools and writes articles for magazines. We can all learn from her about her success. For more on Tanith and her triumph, read the fabulous article written by the NY Times. __________________________________ Disclosure: P&G flew me to Vancouver and paid for my stay while there and that included having attended the ice dancing competition. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

U.S. Olympic Athlete Chad Hedrick a Future Dad Blogger?

2010-02-27T05:28:30Z

Thanks to P&G and their Thank You Mom Program*, I'm in Vancouver for couple of days for the Olympic Winter Games. One of the best parts thus far has been the opportunity to meet athletes as they visit their families in the P&G Family Home. I was able to meet Olympian Chad Hedrick, champion speed skater on Team USA. So far at these Olympic Winter Games, Chad has won a Bronze medal for his performance in the 1000m. At the 2006 Games in Torino, he won a Gold, Silver and Bronze!

What's Your Favorite...

Olympic Moment as a spectator? The US vs Canada Men's Hockey game last week. There was no poor sportsmanship. Spot in the P&G Home? The Pampers Village where my daughter Hadley took her first steps. And, she said Daddy for the first time in the same week! Item you brought to Vancouver? My lucky charm: a fortune cookie strip I opened before I won in 2006. It reads "Your golden opportunity is coming soon." Sport other than speed skating? To play, golf. And, I love to watch the Houston Rockets. Website? ChadHedrick.com where I hope to continue to document my family's life for years to come. (hooray, for the future daddy blogger!) Guilty Pleasure No answer. Just Laughter.

Most Valuable...

Memory? Meeting my now-wife for the first time after meeting on MySpace. Item in your Training Bag? My iPhone as it holds the inspirational music I like to listen to as I prepare for races. Possession? My daughter; she's my gold medal in Vancouver. Advice to Aspiring Olympians? Treat everyday like it's the Olympic Winter Games. If you treat training day like it's a competition, then competing is normalized to you. Advice you received from your parents? My dad taught me that you can't be good at something you don't love. __________________________________ Disclosure: P&G has flown me to Vancouver and is paying for my stay while here and that includes having attended the ice dancing competition. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

Olympic Moms Share Their Best Advice to Parents of Ambitious Athletes

2010-02-25T07:08:11Z

U.S. Curler Nicole Joraanstad and mom Debra While in Vancouver, I've been spending time at the P&G Family Home which is the home away from home for the families of competing U.S. athletes during these Olympic Winter Games. In addition, P&G graciously provided moms of each competing athlete with financial assistance to help cover their family's traveling expenses to the games. In fact, P&G is calling themselves the "Proud Sponsor of Mom." In between competitions I've been able to spend time with moms as they've dined or just hung out watching Team USA compete on the big screens throughout the P&G Family Home. I figured that at this stage they would have some great advice to share with the parents of aspiring Olympic athletes and parents of all competitive sports kids. These Olympic moms share their best advice: Judy Engstrom, mom to Molly of the Women's US Hockey Team: Help your child believe in her dreams because it is real and possible. Then, give her wings and let her go. Dixie Baver, mom to Allison, a Team USA speed skater and bronze medalist in the 3000m relay last night: Let your child try to go for it. Let her find her own way. She can do it. Jody Flatt, mom to Rachael of Women's Figure Skating: Two words... team sports. (chuckles) Figure skating is not inexpensive and requires lots of travel. When coupled with the individualized nature of single's figure skating, it can be hard on families of more than one child. Sara St. Onge, mom to Ryan of Freestyle Skiier (Aerials): Keep it fun. It needs to be something the child wants to do, not the parent. Debra Joraanstad, mom to Nicole of Women's Curling: Be patient, be there to listen and make the team snacks and treats. After competitions make the team members little care packages. I recently gave each curling team member a mini tiara with the message "Way to Sparkle!" for inspiration. __________________________________ Disclosure: P&G has flown me to Vancouver and is paying for my stay while here and that includes having attended the ice dancing competition. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

Pinheads at the Olympic Winter Games: Pin Trading is Huge

2010-02-24T06:52:52Z

pin trading in action on the streets of downtown Vancouver I've heard about the fun subculture of pin trading at Disney World from my friend Gabrielle of Design Mom. But, now that I'm at perhaps one of the greatest global get-togethers, the Olympic Winter Games, it makes sense that pin trading is the language visitors use to meet others from around the world and have fun. In fact, pin trading enthusiasts call each other pinheads. Love it! mom of U.S. Olympic athlete Molly Engstrom, of the women's hockey team Personally, pin trading is something I can get behind because the pins are nice and small and I HATE clutter. Plus, I love the idea of kids having to barter and then living with their decisions (good or bad). It appeals to the business-side of my brain seeing all these kids hone their deal-making skills. brother & sister organize their extensive Olympic pin collection At the P&G Family Home I met some youngsters who have been building their Olympic pin collection since the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. Their dad is a team leader in U.S. speed skating and their collection is filled with lots of pins dedicated to that sport. They were kind enough to give me an education about the distinctions amongst of the pins. I won't bore you with the details (but feel free to ask questions in the comment section), but the bottom line is that several factors come in to determining how valuable a pin may be. Apparently, limited edition team pins and those from media outlets have been the hardest to come by during these games. For the youngsters I met, the most valuable pins are the ones that have the most sentimental value to them. That's something we moms all love to hear. __________________________________ Disclosure: P&G has flown me to Vancouver and is paying for my stay while here and that includes having attended the ice dancing competition last night. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

Tips from Olympic Moms on Helping their Daughters Face Pressures

2010-02-24T00:26:29Z

Team USA curler Nicole Joraanstad and mom Debra So you have a daughter competing in the Olympics tonight, like Jody Flatt-- mom to figure skater Rachael-- does, what do you do to help her from cracking under the pressure of tens of millions of eyeballs watching her every lutz jump? Carpe diem. That's right, it's all about seizing the day. While we were both hanging in the P&G Beauty & Grooming Salon and Spa, Jody Flatt (she getting ready for her camera close-up tonight while Rachael is on ice) told me this afternoon that her family's mantra has been to work hard, play harder. And, with that attitude she expects her daughter to be able to live in and enjoy the momentous occasion tonight. Rachael is only a senior in high school, just having been accepted into Stamford last week. What a tremendous month, ay? US Hockey Team member Molly Engstrom's mom, Judy, attributes her daughter's even-keeled and well-grounded temperament as helping her withstand the pressures of competition. Molly learned to be an athlete as she rose through the ranks by working hard. This is Molly's second Olympic Winter Games experience, though Torino was tough as Molly was injured. This year? It's all very exciting. Debra, mom of US curler Nicole Joraanstad told me that she doesn't talk about anything competition related with her daughter when it's near game time. She's learned that that is what Nicole needs. While, Dixie, mom of Allison Baver has found that talking helps her daughter and often finds herself in the role of mom-psychologist to her. And, she loves it! Bottom line? As with what seems to be everything in parenting... there's no magic bullet. Know your child. Or, in this case, your Olympian. Also, while you're at it. Watch this P&G commercial. It makes every mom I know cry (in a good way): __________________________________ Disclosure: P&G has flown me to Vancouver and is paying for my stay while here and that includes having attended the ice dancing competition last night. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

Dreams Coming True

2010-02-23T08:00:41Z

I'm at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver right now thanks to P&G*. And, yes, it's spectacular. I'm here as part of a program where a few mom bloggers are coming to experience the P&G Family Home, Vancouver and the Olympic Winter Games of course. The P&G Family Home is a gorgeous building outfitted to look like a real house where the families of competing athletes can hang out all day and night long and meet up with each other during these weeks. They can also get their laundry done at the Tide Laundry Center and get their hair and make-up ready at the P&G Beauty & Grooming Salon and Spa ahead of their camera close-up when their son or daughter is competing. The athletes need to stay in the Olympic Village and the families aren't allowed to visit, so instead they come to the P&G Family Home. It's basically a home away from home for the athletes' families. (Yesterday, I met Team USA curler Nicole Joraanstad and asked her to explain curling to me like I'm a six-year old. I still don't get it-- my bad, not hers-- so her dad promised to explain it to me today). So, I'll be reporting back with lots of interviews over the next couple of days with cool athletes and their parents. In the meantime, I MUST share that I was able to fulfill a longtime dream to watch Ice Dancing at the Olympic Winter Games. The Saravejo Games in 1984 were until now my most memorable one. I was glued to the TV watching Katrina Witt, Scott Hamilton and the Carruthers in figure skating. However, it was the performance of Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean -- one which put ice dancing on the map-- that has stayed with me for the past 26 years. I will say this though. A couple of last night's performances captivated me no less and I caught myself with jaw agape. (I can't seem to embed the performances from last night that I want to highlight because I'm in Canada right now, but go to NBCOlympics.com and watch the gold and silver medalists' performances.) And, instead here is the Torvill & Dean performance from 26 years ago that captured my heart: Related Posts: - P&G Family Home at Vancouver Games by MomTrends - Exploring the P&G Family Home by Extraordinary Mommy __________________________________ *Disclosure: P&G has flown me to Vancouver and is paying for my stay while here and that includes having attended the ice dancing competition last night. My opinions are my own and have not been paid for whatsoever. ]]>

I love New York City most during the Holidays

2009-11-26T00:22:37Z

Remember my 40 Before 40 List? I've been enjoying actually doing the things I have been dreaming about. So, when I was invited by the nice folks representing NBC get a private viewing of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Balloons, I was all over it.

#28. Take my son to see the balloons being filled on the eve of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

It was awesome. Me and Spongebob all up close Inflation Instructions Thank you, Kim, for the photo If you're in NYC next year, make sure to stop by and see the balloons up close. There's a viewing area that's open to the public; it's crowded but moves along nicely. Also, while on our private tour (yeah, rubbing it in), Kim of Mom In The City and I discovered that all the parade balloon handlers are Macy's employees. (Some employees have been participating for over 50 years!) However, employees can sponsor their friends and family too. Any readers out there who want to sponsor me and Kim next year? Bueller? Don't forget, tomorrow's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade televises on NBC starting at 9am (all time zones). _________________________ If you're going to be in town now through the Holidays, I can't recommend enough attending the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. I bought tickets last year and this year went as the guests of MSG (the show's producers). At this point I think we've officially made it a holiday tradition, which we'll happily continue. Here are some pictures I snapped. Now thru Sunday, December 6th the fine folks at MSG are offering Orchestra seat tickets starting at $49.99. This offer is valid for 32 performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular playing between now and December 13. Use code NOV when purchasing tickets. If you’d like to see a full listing of the valid performances, click here. ______________________ Oh, one more time of the year when I love New York City... Cherry Blossom season in late April. Visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is on my 40 Before 40 list as well since it has one of the largest collection of blooming cherry blossoms. Stay tuned. ]]>

Are Mom Bloggers the New Spokespeople?

2009-11-03T04:04:38Z

Having launched this website in mid-2006 I have seen and participated in the evolution of the social media landscape. In 2006, bloggers didn't get the respect they deserved from journalists and corporate America alike. That is, until those guys realized that bloggers ranking higher in Google than them and had much higher engagement in terms of discussion on their blogs than the brands did one the "community" pages of their sites. Then in 2008, it was the power tweeters who finally earned the respect of bloggers when Twitter became a crucial player during the protests to the Iranian election. Yeah, that's been a fun trend to watch emerge. Also, it's no longer new news that mom bloggers have amassed the scale of voice and attention by the mainstream press and corporate America once reserved only for the technology bloggers. With that has come press access to high-profile events, commonplace appearances by mom bloggers on national morning talk shows as well national print periodicals citing these mom writers as expert sources. Huzzah, indeed! So, what's next? I am seeing a trend in spokesperson opportunities for mom bloggers and, I, too, have taken upon that work for companies such as VTech Kids (I am on the advisory council) and Little Debbie Snacks (more on both below). Last week, eMarketer published some statistics that confirm that brands and marketers would do well to hire well-trusted website publishers, over celebrities in fact, as they are ranked high as trusted sources to gather information. See how a blogger ranks ahead at 2.9 and a well-known celebrity at 2.2? High-fives all around. In the case of my experience with Little Debbie, I was hired for a couple of hours in NYC to help them launch their Share-a-Thon campaign (for which they are also advertising on this website). Little Debbie is going around the country handing out their new free cupcakes (four years in development, yo) to strangers on the streets. Having never done this before, it's surprisingly fun to ask strangers "How about I trade you a cupcake for a smile?" People, that line totally works! We gave away hundreds of cupcakes in no time. And, I got New Yorkers in busy midtown to smile at me. Win-win. For VTech Kids, my role includes being on their Advisory Council and writing regularly for their monthly newsletter, all of which I immensely enjoy. So, back to my bloggers as spokespeople thoughts.... I think we're going to see more of this either through long-term relationships (like mine with VTech Kids) or via short-term campaign-based opportunities. And, I think it's fabulous. I think it's great that marketers recognize the value web-based personalities and experts can bring to a campaign and are compensating them for it. On our end, as bloggers become spokespeople, we have a responsibility to not steer from our editorial guidelines and moral compass. We have stated clearly that at Alpha Mom we turn down advertising of products that I personally wouldn't consider buying for my family and my standards are even higher if I am asked to do spokesperson work. I am very excited to see how this trend unfolds!]]>

Getting Closer to Forty, Crossing Off Items & Having Fun

2009-10-23T05:00:09Z

Even though I have been writing elsewhere for this here website, I haven't visited this corner too much because I have been busy working, traveling or just plain having fun. Hiking in La Jolla with Kashi One topic that I MUST write about is my birthday. It's now a couple of weeks past, but boy-o-boy was it fun. I was a guest of one of my favorite food companies, Kashi* and started the day with a hike led by the Kashi executives themselves. If I could pick one way to start a special day, it would be hiking (Kashi did not know this; they are just who they are, doing what they do). In fact, pre-motherhood I was an avid hiker, going on hiking adventures in North America. Anyhow, now that I am 38 years old the point of this piece is to reassess my 40 Before 40 List, the one I created last year at the ~~request~~ encouragement of my friend Amy. As we review my list, I'm also putting it in the context of some decisions I've made over the past 12 months. Decision #1 I am very proud thus far of what I have done, particularly as I have proceeded at a nice non-manic pace and actually enjoyed the process. My goal is NOT "accomplishment" but rather fun or doing something that is very meaningful to me. Here's what I've done so far: #1. Read the Wizard of Oz with my son #2. Make exercise a regular part of my life again. (If I don't work out I get cranky and twitchy now) #3. See fireworks for the first time through my son's eyes. (this past July 4th) #4. Raise money for a cause that is important to me by walking. (on April 26, 2009) Here's where I've made some more progress: #5. Finish reading the Harry Potter series. I think I gave up at Book 5. (I've picked up the series again; but not done!) #6. ~~Throw my first Halloween Party.~~ DONE! #7. Become a US Citizen. (Perhaps my most important goal; I'm very close; just one last interview with the INS and then I'll be sworn in). Decision #2 At least for me, I've learned that lists are only good if you actually schedule the items. When you schedule things, they get done. Admit it, a To-do List does not command as much respect. Below are the items that I will be scheduling because I am dying to do them, require reservations and once they're in the calendar they WILL happen and I expect to love it! #8. Take trapeze lessons with my son. #9. See Madame Butterfly performed by the Metropolitan Opera. #10. Take my son to see the Nutcracker. #11. See my favorite ballet again, I'm Old Fashioned by Jerome Robbins. I sure hope NYCB performs it soon. #12. Spend the night at the Hayden Planetarium with my boys. Decision #3 I've also realized that my original list contained an awful lot of traveling. Yes, I would love to travel to all of these places over the next two years, but I love being with my husband and son too. Big Sur isn't going anywhere but my son is changing before my eyes and I want my weekends for him. Also, with my husband's work and son's school schedules, visiting ALL these places as a family within 24 months is just not feasible or realistic. So yeah, the vast majority of trips are being scratched from my list and replaced with seven other dreams. New Additions: #13. Build my son's Family Tree. At a blogger immersion at Ancestry.com I was introduced to the amazing genealogical sources out there.** #14. Cook more often. Definitely working on it! #15. Make yoga a regular part of my life again. #16. Finish decorating my apartment to my satisfaction. #17. Go Letterboxing with my son. #18. Start a weekly Family Game night. #19. Renew my driver's license (I let it expire; d'oh. In my defense, I live in NYC and public transportation is just better). Travel Item I'm keeping: #20. Visit Jackson Hole. Items that continue on the list: #21. Make a batch of fried green tomatoes. #22. Learn to snowboard. #23. Read the first Harry Potter with my son. #24. Learn the recipe to my mom's Tomato Rice with Shrimp. #25. Watch Gone with the Wind for the first time. #26. Take my son on a walk through the campus of my Alma Mater. #27. Take a hot air balloon ride. #28. Take my son to see the balloons being filled on the eve of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. DONE! #29. Go sledding in Central Park. #30. Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Cherry Blossom Day. #31. Have my wedding album published. Shameful, I know. #32. Have my wedding video finished. Gosh, I hope the video company is still in business. #33. Catch-up on Family Albums for each year. Where did I leave off? #34. Take my son to Ground Zero and (if he is emotionally ready for it) explain what happened on 9/11. #35. Throw my first Holiday Open House. #36. Set up a DIY outdoor theater and invite other families over for movies and popcorn. #37. Redo my home office. #38. Re-read my favorite book, Song of Solomon. #39. Find a new favorite book. #40. Vote for the first time. (But first I need to become a US citizen) So, I'll keep you abreast periodically of how I'm doing. Or, you can just check back here where I'll update the post. __________________________ * I participated in a blogger trip to visit Kashi HQs. They paid for my trip, including travel, lodging, activities and provided me with products. It was a blast and I continue to love their all natural foods! ** I participated in a blogger trip to visit Ancestry.com. They paid for my trip, accommodations, and provided me with products. I am now addicted to Ancestry.com and creating my family tree.]]>

Participate in a Day of Service on 9/11

2009-09-07T18:41:52Z

Yes, I was in NY on September 11th, 2001. In fact, I was 10 blocks north of the World Trade Center and watched with my naked eyes as the jet fighter planes arrived five minutes too late to stop the second plane attack on the towers. It was a terrible day wherein I lost several friends. But that story is for another day. What I try to remember about the days post 9/11 are the images of the country coming together, those who put aside their own health (and sometimes daily lives cross-country) to help in on-site rescue efforts. The waiting lines to donate blood were insane. It was like every doctor in the city rushed to the hospital. (But they waited for ambulances that never arrived). Once re-opened, our highways were filled with trucks driven by construction workers descending upon NYC to help lift the wreckage that was trapping expected survivors. Apart from shock, everyone felt utter helplessness at the new reality. As Tuesday progressed into Friday, collectively as a nation we were all still hoping for the best, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the unimaginable had really happened. And there was nothing we could do about it. So we, in NYC, moved on as best we could to help the survivors, the families of the slain and those working tirelessly at Ground Zero, as it was newly minted. At some point that week I had heard a tip from a fashionista friend, that the Hard Rock Cafe had set up a volunteer station to prepare sandwiches for recovery workers. All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I arrived on Saturday morning to discover that hundreds of other New Yorkers wanted to help too. There was no room left inside. So I snuck in. And, I never have and probably never will enjoy making dozens of PB&Js as much as I did that morning. Last year's 9/11, was the first for which I didn't cry. I was even able to celebrate a birthday with a really great friend that evening. But I felt guilty. I don't want to forget 9/11. It's an important day in my history and this nation's history. So, when President Obama signed legislation to federally-recognize September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance for the first time, I smiled. Our country deserves this. September 11 is more than just about the tragedy of that horrible day in 2001, it is about the selflessness and service we all demonstrated as a nation in its aftermath. In recognition of the first anniversary of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the 9/11 Day of Service Website has volunteer activities listed. You can search by zip code, city, state and area of interest. I know what I'm doing Friday morning already. Do you?]]>

Call to Action: write a letter to Kraft Foods

2009-08-26T15:47:42Z

Our heroes at MomsRising just released a call to action after they read Robyn O'Brien's The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick - And What We Can Do About It. This is the book that made me aware of how many artificial ingredients and chemicals had entered into our own food supply over the past 15 years, making foods we parents ate very different than the ones we serve our children today. The issue around which MomsRising is rallying support is the discrepancy between the foods sold to US families and those in other developed nations:

Keep those chemicals out of our mac and cheese! in 2008, Kraft removed artificial colorings, like yellow #5, and chemical sweeteners, like aspartame, from the products that they distribute in Europe, Australia, and other developed countries due to consumer concern over scientific studies that link these synthetic ingredients to hyperactivity and asthma in children. But, they haven’t done the same thing here in the U.S. Send a letter to Kraft requesting they remove these same ingredients from their products here. It's time that Kraft value our children as highly as they value the children in other countries!

Kraft took these chemicals and additives out of their European products. If we want Kraft to do this for us in the U.S., then Kraft needs to hear from us! Because, don't our kids deserve better? The action is simple, just click on this link and send a pre-written letter to Kraft CEO, Irene Rosenfeld, a mother of two herself, requesting that Kraft remove these same ingredients from their products here in the U.S. I just did it and it took less than 3 minutes. Ready, set, GO! * Megaphone pic by altemark]]>

CheeseburgHer Party People... say what?

2009-07-29T03:51:40Z

My last post, which seems so long ago now, was all about the pleasure of meeting online friends and acquaintances finally face-to-face. And, coincidentally, the theme of the BlogHer conference this year was In Real Life. For those of you who have never heard of BlogHer, it is the annual conference for blogging women. Though, now it has grown to embrace social media as well. So, yeah, in the female online world, the BlogHer conference is pretty much as big as it gets. Last year, I wrote about how we at Alpha Mom co-hosted a popular unofficial party, The CheeseburgHer Party. And this year, McDonald's and Dr. Pepper embraced the CheeseburgHer Party vision and sponsored the whole thing. Thank you to my lovely co-hostesses, Lena, Lindsay and Yvonne. None of this great time could have been had with out you. Without further ado, The CheeseburgHer Party Music Video. Enjoy! ]]>

Highly Effective Habits of an Alpha Mom #1 (not really, but whatever)

2009-06-03T01:40:03Z

So, the other day I gave a small presentation to my colleagues on the art of networking online and off-line. After the applause had died down (I know! I'm as shocked as you), someone pulled me aside and suggested that I "take my act on the road." I laughed, then I thought more about it (and laughed some more) and then realized that I have this space for exactly that reason. I guess what shocked me most is that now that I have been in the working world for over 15 years, habits that I apply to my home and work life have become so ingrained I don't even have to think about them. These habits are like breathing to me. Yes, this will wind up being a series of posts. I'm listing them a la my hero Steven Covey and his famous The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Alpha Mom Highly Effective Habit #1: Connect Online to Meet Off-line I think almost everyone is most effective in person. Yes, online is fast and and can be furious, but the home run is taking an online relationship and developing it IRL, meeting face-to-face. All that bonding that is done through moving prose or witty one-liners should be translated into in-person smiles, tears or fist-bumps. Why do you think there has been a rise in online conferences in the past year? It's not just SxSWi or BlogHer anymore. But there's Mom 2.0 Summit, BlissDom, and Startup Princess. It's because online friends want to meetup and hug each other or eat cheeseburgers together. (As an aside, that's also why marketers are very big into experiential events. Their dream is to have the products in the hands of consumers. If you've got a great product, the best thing that can happen is to have consumers using it and seeing its benefit first-hand.) Bottom-line, is that I try to attend as many events as possible (sponsored or not) where I can put a friendly face, a warm smile, or a hilarious chuckle FINALLY to the sharp wit or thoughtfulness of acquaintances met online. Here are some very recent examples of how I took online friendships and strengthened them with face-to-face fun (it was a busy week, that one!): Me and Betsy Cadel. Photo by Mom-101 Look at how much fun I'm having in this picture. Seriously, online is fun, but off-line is so much better. My friends Liz of Mom-101 and Emily McKhann of The Motherhood hosted a fun and charitably-focused Picnic with a Purpose on behalf of Hebrew National (I lurve their tagline). I was able to catch-up with some great online friends like Andi of Mama Knows Breast, LookyDaddy, Katja of Skimbaco, Betsy of Gray Matter Matters, Magpie Musing, Laid-Off Dad as well as make a couple of new friends, some of whom I had been following on Twitter for awhile like Carole of NYCityMama and Laurie of Bored in the Burbs. Me and Renee Ross. Photo by Mom in the City. Did you know that smiles are contagious, especially in person? Renee has a very contagious smile. Online doesn't help you stay fit. Oh no, sitting on your tuckus all day just adds more junk to the trunk (I can attest). But, trying out the EA Sports Active personal trainer workout for the Wii, well THAT does a body good. Less than 48 hours after the Picnic with a Purpose, I was FINALLY working out, drinking, laughing and crying with some lovely ladies I have known virtually for awhile. I couldn't wait to finally meet Jessica Smith, Renne J Ross and Jennifer James of Mom Bloggers Club. Luckily for me, I also got to chat with long-tome friend Alicia Ybarbo of Today's Moms and meet Nichelle of Style Mom (she lives up to her handle!). We were all at the launch party for EA Sports Active workout game for the Wii (which totally kicks' Wii Fit's skinny booty). Plus, there was wine. Score! Me and Renee Ross. Photo by Mom in the City. The following day I was pampered at a nail salon party hosted by Katja Presnal on behalf of Pledge Multi-surface Cleaner. (No joke that cleaner is amazing-- NO streaks on glass-- and it can be used to clean your computer, too). I was able to chat up Kimberly of Mom in the City (with whom I share an eerily similar school and business background), Renne J Ross, Carole of NYCityMama and get to know some other lovely moms I have been following on Twitter for eons: Amy of Selfish Mom, Esti of Primetime Parenting, and Wendy of Babies Gotta Have It. It was splendid. Plus, there were cupcakes. I have to be honest, I don't understand the point of a web-based relationship if you can't develop or translate it into real life. Remember, people do business with people, not companies. And, socially-speaking a "Twitter Party" is no CheeseburgHer Party. Just sayin'. So, as we approach the mother of all social networking events for women bloggers, BlogHer, don't be wary, be excited. Or, just come find me. I'll be the one handing out Cheeseburgers (Saturday night afterparty, location TBD). Plus, I would LOVE to meet you. ]]>

The Unhealthy Truth: why we're raising Generation Rx

2009-05-04T14:59:56Z

I have to admit that I am so tired of all the eye rolls from friends, acquaintances and even doctors after even the slightest mention that there are certain foods I AM CONVINCED adversely affect my son's behavior. The typical comment (accompanied by a snicker) is These foods have been around forever, your son is not the first to eat them. These kids are fine and Chill Out. But, now a kindred spirit in the form of mom Robyn O'Brien, founder of AllergyKids, has laid it all out for us mamas to understand in her book, The Unhealthy Truth. I knew it! I am not crazy. The unhealthy, and unfortunate, truth is that since the late 1990s, our food supply has undergone a significant change where for example the package of boxed macaroni & cheese that you ate as a child is not that same that you are feeding your kids today. Instead our food supply is NOW laden with genetically-modified proteins, antibiotics, chemical additives and preservatives, all allergens irritating our kids' immune systems and contributing to a skyrocketing allergy epidemic. 92% of Soy grown worldwide is genetically modified Robyn O'Brien leaves no stone unturned going from food group to food group and telling us what we need to know. Really! There's drama, financial intrigue and politics behind the scenes of the FDA, CDC, and FAAN when it comes to Soy, Corn, Milk, Artificial Sweetners & Coloring. O'Brien is our generation's Erin Brokovitch sharing with us a John Grishamesque-tale wherein you expect Julia Roberts to be starring in the book's movie-version. Unfortunately, this isn't the Pelican Brief, it's a true story and our kids are the victims. 80% of Corn grown worldwide is genetically modified What Robyn O'Brien learned and has shared with us is that parents need to be the ones reading every label (if only that were good enough) and understanding from where their children's food is sourced because unfortunately our government has done a piss-poor job over the last 10+ years protecting our food supply. Until things change, parents need to be more active and responsible. Milk allergy is now the most common food allergy in the US having risen to #1 over the past 10 years. Now, you can read The Unhealthy Truth and get really mad. Or, you can read it and be motivated to act like Mama O'Brien. We can make our food safe for our kids and make laws to protect our children from dangerous foods just like the European, Australian, Japanese and Russian moms have already done. Growth hormone rBGH has dominated the milk market since 1993. Could rBGH be the cause of the rise in milk allergies? See, our food has changed and new ingredients have been added that have NEVER been tested for safety. Don't you think our food should be clearly labeled so that we have a clear choice about what to feed our kids? I sure do. The European Union has a law requiring the labeling of foods containing ingredients with more than 0.9% of genetically-modified content. We Americans have nothing. Heck, I had no idea corn (found in virtually all processed foods) and soy were genetically-modified. Shame on me? Shame on our government? Or, shame on the food industry? In Norway, Yellow 5 (aka tartrazine) is banned. It is possible for big companies to make and sell kid-friendly, family-friendly and healthfully-processed foods. They are doing it in many countries outside of the US. In the UK, many US-based companies like Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca-Cola, and the Mars Company have voluntarily removed artificial colors, the preservative sodium benzoate and aspartame from their products. Which begs the question why are these companies not doing a better job here at home? Don't our kids deserve better? 92% of independent studies say that aspartame poses at least some dangers What can you do? Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. 1) Start reading food labels much more vigilantly again; we're very good about organic dairy, vegetables and grass-fed meats already. (The book provides you with a list of brands to trust) 2) Eliminate some of the worse offenders from my son's diet (Yellow 5 & Sodium Benzoate) swiftly. 3) Support initiatives to have a safer food supply. I went to Change.org, typed "food" in the search button, and supported actions that made sense. I'm not done here, there's much action to be taken. Does this mean my family is going cold turkey and you'll never see us chowing down on some colorfully-processed foods? No. I love me some cheeseburgers & fries (with a shake to go with it) for special times and won't deny my son the same guilty pleasures on occasion. But the bigger issue is getting the companies and the government to make it so that we parents don't always feel like we're playing bad cop but rather can walk confidently down our local grocery store aisles and shop for food without fear that it is making us sick. If your child's health is important to you, then yes, The Unhealthy Truth is for you. It's intense (don't plan to fly through it like the Twilight series), but it's an important book, one that parents need to digest. I didn't feel there was any fear-mongering in it, but rather well-researched and important information about the connection between our food and why it is possibly making this generation of kids sick. Photo sources (in order): Umeboshi Panda, yomi955, trekkyandy, Scoobymoo, Dyanna, kate at yr own risk. ]]>

Minding My Business