January 31st, 2012

Tips for Blissdom Alum

There is a lot of talk about what newcomers to Blissdom can do to have a great experience and a great time at Blissdom. Everything from how to prepare your kids and your partner for your absence, to what great pair of shoes to bring and what to pack in your suitcase. If the newcomer, however, is standing in the corner at lunch with fabulous shoes and a great new sweater, then it is a fail.

Much of the onus is on new Blissdom attendees to personally shape the outcome of their own Blissdom experience, but we would be amiss if we didn’t talk about how the actions of Blissdom alum can be a big part of the newcomer experience too.

Tip #1
1. Don’t immediately mention how many years you have been blogging. I really don’t know many professionals that do that. For example, when people ask me what I do for a living, I say I am an attorney. I don’t say, I am an attorney and I have been writing laws for 15 years. Sure, it is who you are, but make it part of a conversation later on. Otherwise, you are just going to freak out the newcomer who will now think her new blog she started last year is not worthy of anything.

Tip #2
In our advice to newcomers, we tell them not to be afraid to walk up to people and say hello. Or if you see a space at a table for lunch, sit down with women you don’t know. However, if you are that person who is already sitting at a table with your best blogging buds, don’t turn your head back to the conversation after someone sits down. Make eye contact, smile and perhaps mention what is the topic of conversation. Then make sure to share inside jokes at the table, like “We are all laughing because Charlene had to sing karaoke during her legal panel last year because the sound system didn’t work.” (Sadly, a true story…)

Tip #3
There are going to be a lot of crowded rooms for various sessions that are really popular, but if you see a new mom with her baby, a pregnant woman, or a blogger in a knee cast, offer your seat even if it means catching up with friends after the session is over. I know it seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes we can get lost in the chatter and forget to look up and see that someone needs some help (or a new friend).

Tip #4
It has been mentioned that newcomers will see tweets about dinner plans being made and that they should jump into the fray. In reality, that is easier said than done. If your group does want to invite other people to come along, say it in your tweets. It makes it a lot easier for someone else to jump in to the dinner-making plans if they know you are welcoming.

Tip #5
A lot of bloggers know each other from years of blogging or going to blog conferences, and they will say they are not being cliquey, but just catching up. That is true, but it still looks cliquey regardless of intentions. So consciously leave an empty chair or leave a gap in a standing circle. If you happen to see someone looking for a seat in a session or at breakfast, flag them over. Blogging besties are great, but so is meeting new bloggers.

Tip #6
Break away from the pack. Again, it is natural to hang with people you know, but once a day, go solo. See who you will meet. Put aside your number of Twitter followers or your power in the Blogaverse and keep it real. Get back to your roots and find inspiration in a new friend. People follow you because they think you are funny or cool. Show them it is real.

All in all, our individual Bliss comes from what we put into it. Our Blissdom experience can be fierce based on what comes out of it. So if you are a newcomer reading this, welcome, and take all the advice and make it work for you. But if you are a Blissdom alum, the newcomer experience starts with us. There are a lot of fabulous people to meet, so meet them halfway.

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Charlene is a Vlogging Community Leader at Blissdom and is always up for hanging with people and making new blogging friends. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ – you will find her there. And then at Blissdom 2012!

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December 18th, 2011

Online Cookie Recipe Swap 2011

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of baking to do this week! (Which somehow seems to spill into the New Year as well.)

When I see the great goodies that other people make or bring to events or as gifts, I often think to myself, I really need to get some new cookie recipes. So I thought this might be a fun, quick, and easy way to share some cookie recipe ideas with each other.  Listed below is mine, but I would love if you would leave a comment with your favorite cookie recipe. Then come back and see what people have left! Maybe we can all pick up a new recipe this year, just in time to ring in 2012!

Linzer Cookies
Image of Linzer Cookies

What you Need:

  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Red raspberry seedless preserves
  • Confectioners’ sugar

How to Make:
  1. In a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, cream together margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
  2. Sift together flour, baking power and salt. Add to wet mixture. beat until well blended.
  3. Divide dough into four equal portions. Wrap individually with plastic wrap. Refrigerate a least one hour or overnight.
  4. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Place one portion of dough between two sheets of waxed paper; roll to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into a star, heart or other seasonally appropriate shape using a 2.5 inch cookie cutter. Place one inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Cut out another similar shape in the center of half of the cookies using a one inch cookie cutter. Repeat with remaining dough.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until edges are lightly browned. Removed to wire racks. Cool completely.
  6. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the cookies with the shape cut out of the center. Assemble cookies by spreading 2 tsp of preserves on each solid shape cookie. Top with shaped cookie with the center cut out. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

 

P.S. If you don’t want to make the dough, buy Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough.

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October 5th, 2011

Citrus Lane

Citrus-y Birthdays

Do you know that more American babies are born on October 5 than any other day of the year?

Makes perfect sense after you do the math. October 5th is almost exactly 9 months after New Year’s Eve. (You know how crazy some people can get with the party hats and champagne.)

So to celebrate these birthdays (and upcoming ones too – Valentine’s Day babies show up in November), check out Citrus Lane. Citrus Lane is all about introducing parents to the baby products recommended most by real moms and dads. Similar to a wine-of-the-month club where you can choose a monthly or annual subscription, and you (or someone you give the gift to) will receive monthly boxes full of goodies!

CitrusLane

Each month, Citrus Lane fills boxes with 4 or 5 baby products along with helpful parenting tips and tricks. Each box is tailored specifically to your child’s age and stage, from newborn up to 18 months. It’s like getting a birthday gift all the time.

So definitely check them out for a new baby gift or as a treat for our Mom-awesome-selves. And here is a fabulous code: CITRUSBIRTHDAY! Use it to get 20% off ! (Good through October 15th.)

Fabulous.

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Image courtesy of Clever Girls Collective via Citrus Lane.

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June 29th, 2011

Government Ban of Drop Side Baby Cribs

relax babyThe Federal Government has officially banned the manufacture, sale and resale of baby cribs with drop-down sides. While the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in December 2010 it was banning the cribs with drop-down sides, the new rules went into effect yesterday for all manufacturers, retailers, daycare providers, consumers, etc. Safety standards for cribs have not been officially updated in almost 30 years despite the growing evidence of drop-crib safety issues over the past decade.

However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has given short-term crib rental companies and daycare providers/child care centers until Dec. 28, 2012, to comply with the new mandatory standards for baby cribs to give them time to update their inventories. So if you are traveling, or looking into daycare options, you may want to inquire about the type of crib your baby will be using.

What this means for you is that it is illegal for you to sell on online (like on Craigslist) or sell (like at a yard sale) any old drop-sided cribs. Donating is not permissible either. You can only recycle or dispose as trash. You may want to call your local town’s department of public works to determine how to handle the disposal.

Other parts of the new federal standards include not allowing immobilizers and repair kits, wood slats must be made of stronger woods to prevent breakage, crib hardware must have anti-loosening devices to keep it from coming loose or falling off, mattress supports must be more durable, and safety testing be more rigorous.

These new standards mean that the United States now has the strictest standards for crib safety in the world.

If you see any cribs that do not meet the new standards being sold in stores, online or at rummage or garage sales, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at 800-638-2772 or your local Attorney General’s Office.

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Image Credit: By Janineomg at Flickr: Creative Commons.

CategoryParenting Ideas and Advice | Comment1 Comment »

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June 23rd, 2011

New Dog

New Insanity

OMG. I am getting a dog this Saturday. Forty-eight hours from now. I know the specific time when my life is going to change. As many of you know from my previous post, it has been a whirlwind.

I don’t remember being this nervous when I got my other two dogs. But then again, I wasn’t married and didn’t have a toddler. In addition to potty training said toddler, I am adding to the poop insanity and adding puppy pee to the equation. (Apparently I like challenges.) I have already started to shift my schedule during the next two weeks so I can help the pup transition. My Saturday mornings will probably be at a puppy kindergarten somewhere.

The house has even more doggy paraphernalia. (If there are any PR people representing Dog companies, I may be the Blogger for you.) My two current dogs are wondering what the heck is going on and my toddler, of course, is oblivious. Though we watch the video of the puppy playing all the time. Not sure if it works, but hoping it will help when the puppy comes home.

I have stacks of books I got from the library that I have been pouring over. As a refresher for training, transition, and dog-to-dog introduction, as well as as learning how to acclimate kids to a new dog. (Though if you are looking to acclimate a dog to a new baby, Isis Parenting has an awesome blog post on the matter.)

Adding to my panic are the comments I have received over the past couple of weeks since we told people we were going from two dogs to three. Needless to say, not very supportive, and generally along the lines of, “Are you freaking insane?”

As the time gets closer, I think the answer is, “Yes, we are.”

Until once again I see his little face. Then the answer is, “No, just full of love I want to share.”

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June 13th, 2011

Bundle of Joy

We have been thinking about this for months. Weighing the pros and cons. It is a decision we did not take lightly as it would definitely change the status quo in our life (such as it is with a toddler and two dogs). Even though I have done it before, I wondered if I could do it again. But we made our decision and stuck with it.

We are adding to our family……

….With a dog.

(Tricked some of you, yes? Hee, Hee)

We are going from two dogs to three. Adding another little boy to the brood. A cream mini goldendoodle with the sweetest temperament ever. We are very excited. My husband has wanted a bigger dog for awhile now, but with my allergies, there is little I can do. Even though we have been thinking about it for a year, we were pushed into the action stage when we met a dog just a couple of weeks ago (and I never achoo’d). We  knew this kind-of-dog was perfect for our growing family, and could handle two doggy females who own the roost.

Am I a bit worried? Sure. Adding a dog into a family is serious and should not be taken lightly. My little girl poodles are 6 and 4 years old and I got them when I was single. Did the whole training thing solo and I had plenty of time to do so. Their combined weight is about 16 pounds total.

 

I think this little guy is going to be about 35 pounds just himself. Added to the fact that I never had a boy dog, even when I was a kid; all girls. Even my brothers who have dogs of their own have girl dogs.

It is definitely a different ball (no pun intended) of wax, but I am ready. Well, actually, after I head to the local pet supply store. Then I will be ready…ish.

But we have one big problem. This little bundle of joy is going to be calling our house home in two weeks, but we don’t have a name.

So I am looking for name suggestions? (We would like to avoid the whole ‘hey you’ situation.) Any ideas?

(Here he is:)

 

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