Blog Stalking :: 5 Blogs I Am Loving Right Now

The inspiration behind starting my own blog came from reading blogs. I had a handful of favorites that I would read on a daily basis. Some are still in existence today while others have closed up shop and have moved on.

Thanks to Instagram and a few other popular social media outlets, I've found some new blogs to love. Here are the 5 blogs I am loving right now.

1. One Girl Talks by Kasey Buick
I started reading Kasey's blog when she was living with her family in suburban Chicago. I was enchanted by the pretty pictures of her home and her eclectic fashion sense. It was modern meets vintage Parisian, and I loved it. Then one day Kasey and her family pick up and decide to move to Kauai, Hawaii for one year. As she says, "You only live once." Well, one year turned into another year. If her pictures from suburban Chicago had me at hello, what do you think I've been doing over the pictures from Hawaii? Yeah, you need to check her out.

2. Get Your Pretty On by Alison Lumbatis
In a sea of fashion blogs on the Web, it's difficult to find one that offers affordable, accessible, and appropriate fashions. But that's just what Alison does at Get Your Pretty On. Her realistic approach to fashion and style is refreshing. Plus, I love her energy and upbeat approach to everyday dressing for modern women. If you often struggle with putting together outfits, Alison's style challenges are the perfect solution.

3. Love Taza | Rockstar Diaries by Naomi Davis
Drool-worthy pictures of New York City accompanied by helpful and resourceful city guides make this blog a weekly necessity for me. Naomi delights in sharing pictures of her NYC (and beyond) adventures with her husband and two adorable young children. You can't help but to live the life of a NYC urbanite vicariously through Naomi.

4. COOKIE + kate by Kate Taylor
Cookie + kate is a vegetarian food blog that focuses on fun and flexible recipes that nourish the body. Kate dishes up some mouth-watering recipes and eye-catching photos that will inspire you to get into your kitchen on a regular basis. And her trusty canine companion, Cookie, is the best and cutest helper a girl could ask for.

5. Keep It Simple, Keep It Fresh by Lissa
I've been following Lissa since she blogged way back when at A Dash of Humble Pie. Her impeccable home decor and Pottery Barn-inspired style had me hooked. When I experimented in a gluten-free lifestyle, I relied on Lissa's delicious recipes to get me through. If home decor and food aren't your thing, then checking out her gorgeous photography is a MUST!

So, there. Now you've got some cyber surfing to do!

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Top Posts of 2013

Whether you are a new POAM reader or you've been sticking around for a while, this year was a good one for the ole blog. I had the most visitors this year than any other year since I started this venture 5 years ago!

Here are some of the best of the best of 2013.

1. The Perfect Bloody Mary - I won't lie. I love a good bloody Mary, and this one if pure perfection.

2. Taking Green Jeans From Day to Night - I love my green jeans, and often I'll wear them during the day to run errands, work from home, etc. Often, I want to wear them out that same evening for cocktails or dinner.

3. The "Little Things" with Bill and Giuliana Rancic - I had the pleasure of meeting this fabulous couple back in May during a breast cancer awareness campaign. They were beyond amazing.

4. Gluten-Free Orange Brownies - Last spring while I was experimenting with a gluten-free lifestyle, I made these brownies for our Easter celebration. They were a crowd pleaser!

5. Miracle Blur Product Review - See how this revolutionary primer tackled my most pesky skin conditions.

6. Six Months Post-Hurricane Sandy - Residents of the Jersey shore were still adjusting to life after Hurricane Sandy. This post shows just how far (or not) that we have come.

7. National Martini Day {recipes} - I celebrated National Martini Day with a cake batter martini. Yum!

8. Warm Goat Cheese Salad - This is one of my all-time favorite salads. It's restaurant quality but so easy to make at home.

9. Cheese Fondue - If you are looking for a fun meal for the kids or for an adult gathering, try cheese fondue. It's easy to prepare and is a great conversation starter!

10. 4 Hair Care Products Every Woman Needs To Own - If you are not using these products, you should be. Enough said!

And here are my top 10 all-time most popular posts since I started blogging in 2008.

1. Best App for Beginning Runners: Couch to 5K - I discovered this app when I took on running. It is the best app for working up to running from zero miles to 3.2 miles.

2. Death by Chocolate dessert - I serve this on Christmas every year and no one has ever requested anything but this dessert. It's that fabulous!

3. The Letter That Landed My Daughter on the Safety Patrol - It never ceases to amaze me how popular this post is. I'm not sure if people actually find it helpful or are amused by it.

4. Black Beans and Rice {recipe} - This is one of my favorite recipes. For a twist, add some sliced avocado to the top.

5. 25 Days of Christmas - Day 11: Cookies - My favorite part of the holidays: cookies. Here are a few of my favorites.

6. White Sangria {recipe} - This is a summer cocktail staple. Perfect for after the beach or as a pre-dinner cocktail when barbecuing with friends.

7. Theraderm Skin Renewal System {Product Review} - You'll be amazed by my "Before" and "After" pictures.

8. The Bubble Room Desserts - During our annual vacation to Captiva Island, Florida, we never miss a stop at The Bubble Room. The desserts are To. Die. For.

9. How To Wear a Chambray Shirt - Who could have guessed that the 90's most popular shirt would come skipping back onto the fashion scene?

10. Breast Cancer: A Young Mother's Story - When I put a call out for survivor's stories, I never imagined that I'd be so moved by any of them. This particular one touched my heart, and I was lucky enough to meet Wendy at a blogging conference years later.

And there you have it, folks. The best of the best. I hope you've enjoyed walking down memory lane with me.

Here's to a great 2014!

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I'm Featured in Fabulous After 40's "What I Wore"

Each week Fabulous After 40 showcases their readers and fashion bloggers over 40 in a weekly feature called "What I Wore". I was invited to be featured last week, and I gladly accepted.

I would love if you'd stop over there to check out my picture. I'm wearing an Old Navy color block dress that I picked up for a steal!! Don't miss it!

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My Thoughts on #BlogHer12

It was my very first BlogHer conference, and I tried to approach it with zero hopes and expectations. I prepared by reading as many advice posts from fellow bloggers as I could.

I knew what to pack. I knew what to wear. I knew who to see. I knew which parties were the best. I knew everything you've ever wanted to know about BlogHer. I just didn't know if I wanted to go.

I had some party commitments for Thursday evening, but otherwise, I just wasn't sold.

And then I got a text from Chrissy. She wanted to know if I'd be there and could we hook up at some point...maybe even share a room.

It didn't take much to convince me. I was in!

I bought my conference ticket, booked a room, and packed my bags.

So, was it worth it? Here's what I thought.

1. It's all about the parties.
There are thousands of attendees, and only a small portion attend the educational sessions. So, where is everyone else? Why, they are at private events and parties, of course.

I was invited to attend a cocktail party hosted by Stonyfield Farm and Healthy Child Healthy World on Thursday evening. It was held at Rouge Tomate. All the food was organic and much of it was prepared with ingredients supplied by Stonyfield Farm.

Gigi, the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, spoke about the many steps we can take to create healthy and chemical-free environments for our children. Her words were inspiring. I definitely left with renewed enthusiasm for ridding our home of chemicals.

In line with the fast pace of NYC, I left that party and walked straight to another one, the #SweetSuite hosted by The Big Toy Book. The Big Toy Book is THE authority on toys. If you want to know what is the hottest toy for girls or boys, head straight to The Big Toy Book.

The party was held at the Viacom Building. The views from the 7th floor were amazing!

But it was the views inside that were spectacular. Toys, toys, and more toys...as far as the eyes could see. My daughters would have been in their glory. Gymnast Dora. Make-Your-Own jewelry, and Blingles.

It seems that many attendees go for the parties and not for the actual conference itself. This was disappointing to learn. As a blogger, I was there to refine the art of blogging. But it appears that not everyone was there for the same reasons.

The follow morning, I returned to NYC in full BlogHer mode. I was ready to dive right in. My first stop was the registration desk. It was uneventful. I was given my badge and sent on my way. I headed into the Expo Hall first.

2. There are lots of opportunities to try products and receive samples and swag.
I had a chance to connect with some of my favorite brands including Jamba Juice, Verizon Wireless, Starbucks, Hershey's, Moo, and CVS Minute Clinic. I picked up so many samples from some of my favorite brands. I was introduced to some new ones too. I was warned to bring some extra totes to carry everything. As it turned out, I didn't need those extra totes after all. I accepted swag from only those brands with whom I have an intention of continuing a relationship or whose product I really wanted to try.

3. Choose your sessions carefully.
There's so much information available to attendees. Since sessions occur simultaneously, you must wisely pick and choose the sessions that you want attend. It's impossible to attend each session. Determine which are most important to you as a blogger and plan to attend those sessions.

I attended 2 sessions, one on working with brands and the other was utilizing Facebook and Twitter to promote my brand. Both of which were incredibly informative. However, they were both over-crowded (not sure if this is typical of BlogHer sessions). And there was a constant stream in and out of the room of attendees, which became very distracting.

The session that I attended on working with brands was so crowded that the spill over attendees were directed to another room where an audio feed was made available, but we couldn't see the panelists. I had a very difficult time listening to the panelists when I couldn't see them. I left the session early a bit frustrated.

For the afternoon session on Facebook and Twitter, I was smart and got to the room early. I had a seat that provided me with a perfect view of the panelists. Plus, I walked away with lots of notes.

The panelists in the sessions that I attended were knowledge experts who were appropriately selected. They seemed to genuinely complement each other.

4. You'll never get to see most of the bloggers in attendance.
I am not kidding when I say that I ran into the same people over and over again. There were some attendees whose paths I never crossed. If you go and have hopes to meet specific people, you need to have a plan in place to do so. You will NEVER run into someone by chance. EVER.

There was one blogger in particular that I planned to meet, Wendy Nielson. Wendy guest posted for me last October during breast cancer awareness month. We've tweeted with each other ever since. Wendy is a breast cancer survivor (Yay!!)  and an all-around fantastic woman. It was my goal to meet her.We did meet, but we certainly didn't spend enough time together.

5. Comfortable shoes are a must!
It sounds incredibly obvious, but as an attendee I was torn between looking good and feeling good. Since it was my first time attending BlogHer, I wasn't sure how much time I'd spend standing versus sitting. I settled on a pair of stylish yet flat sandals. They were perfect after all as I spent much of the day on my feet.

6. Expect little down time.
You will leave the conference EXHAUSTED. There's very little time in between sessions, and although there are breaks built into the schedule, they pass quickly. If you attend off-site parties, there's even less time in between events.

7. You will have fun!
If you walk away with nothing else, you will surely walk away with a few good stories to tell. BlogHer is known for its parties. Every evening, BlogHer hosts a party for conference attendees. These parties are guaranteed to give you and your blogging buddies something to talk about the next morning.

Overall Impressions

Was it worth it?
After all the hemming and hawing that I did, I have to say that I am so glad that I went. I left with all my expectations either met or exceeded.

Would I attend another BlogHer?
When it comes back to NYC, I will definitely be there. I'm not sure if I'll attend next year in Chicago. Certainly cost is a factor for me...unless I secure a sponsor. This year's costs were so low. This trip cost me about $350-$400 including my conference ticket, food, and train costs. I used reward points for the hotel room in order to keep my costs low.

Stay tuned! BlogHer13 will be here before you know it.

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Lessons I Learned at Bloggy Bootcamp #BBCPhilly

Despite how much you know, there is always something to learn. Never was this more clear to me than this past weekend when I attended my second Bloggy Boot Camp.

Tiffany and Fran are the beauty and brains behind SITS Bloggy Boot Camp, a blog conference geared towards beginner, intermediate, and advanced bloggers. What I love about Bloggy Boot Camp is that it's a travelling conference, hitting up to 6 cities per year. For many, travelling to a distant city isn't an option. Often it's a matter of timing. Other times, it's the cost that is often an obstacle. SITS makes it possible to attend a conference within driving distance while taking just a day out of your schedule.

While many bloggers are writing recap posts, I'm taking a different approach. Because I walked away armed with pages upon pages of notes, I thought I'd recap the lessons I learned.

Lessons Learned at Bloggy Boot Camp Philly

1. Work with intention
This was advice that I desperately needed. It seems as though I've been flopping all over the place lately, and I needed someone to set me on the right path.

•   Set office hours. This will help set expectations with your family. They know when you are off limits, and office hours will help you to better manage your time.
•   Read email twice per day. Time spent on email is time spent away from something else. Block out time for Facebook and Twitter too.

2. Protect Your Social Identity
Don't post online (whether it's on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+) when you are having the worst day of your life. Your brand should reflect the best of you. The worst of times hardly bring out the best in us.

3. Be Seen IRL
Social media by default is an industry in which people hide behind computers, iPads and smart phones. Get out and get in front of others in social media. The best connections and deals are made face-to-face.

4. Know How Much Your Blog Costs Per Day
If your goal is to make money on your blog, you need to know what your blog is costing you per day. From expenses such as domain names and hosting costs to the amount of time that YOU spend on it each day, every expense needs to be taken into consideration.

5. Don't Try to Label Yourself as a Niche Blogger If You Are Not
It's OK to not have a niche. The key is to work your unique angle, and the loyal readers and opportunities will follow.

6. Vlogging is the Next Big Thing
Vlogging is the next big thing in blogging. Vlogging gives your readers a chance to see you in a different way, an active way. They see you and they hear you. What a concept! More and more brands are turning to bloggers who successfully connect with their readers through videos to promote their products. I really need to step up my game here.

7. Be Loyal to Your Readers

•     - Consistency is key. Post at the same time each day. I need to focus efforts here as I am very inconsistent with my posting schedule.
•     - Sponsored posts should tell a personal story. Make a connection between you and the sponsoring brand.
•     - Have your readers' backs. Use language that shows your readers that you are watching out for them. If you are loyal to them, they will reciprocate.

8. Stay Ahead of the Trend
Being the first to blog about a product, a book, a concept, or a current event yields traffic. Be the first to offer it, and the readers are sure to come.

My favorite quote of the day:
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

There were lots of famous people quoted throughout the day, but the above was by far my favorite. When I worked in software consulting, I always said that there were two types of people: the visionaries and the worker bees. Some people have great talent in the form of ideas and concepts. Others are productive and  execute with hard work. There are the lucky ones who have both. On the days when your talent isn't working its A game, stick to good old-fashioned hard work. You won't go wrong.

If you are a blogger and are considering attending Bloggy Boot Camp, you must do it. In addition to a great education, you'll also get to meet and network with incredibly talented women. To be in a room with 150 fellow bloggers who share your vision and your goals not to mention that they just "get" you is priceless. You seriously cannot put a price tag on it. It is so worth the $100.

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Saying Goodbye to Google Friend Connect

On March 1, 2012 Google will discontinue Google Friend Connect (GFC) for blogs that are not using the Blogger platform. However, the absence of GFC will affect all bloggers.

Via Google Friend Connect, your blog's RSS feed shows up in Google Reader. It is currently unclear if Google will remove this functionality on March 1. What is clear is that the GFC widgets that are currently displayed on countless blogs will be inoperable and the option to join a blog via GFC will no longer exist on March 1. You will need another option to stay connected to your favorite blogs.

What to do? What to do?

For starters, one of the first things you need to do is remove the GFC widget from your blog. There's no use in anyone joining for 6 weeks.

Encourage your GFC subcribers to connect with your blog in a number of different ways:

1. Subscribe via RSS feed
Most blogs will have an icon or a subscription box displayed somewhere on the blog to allow you to do this. For a more comprehensive explanation on why you, as a blogger, need to set up a RSS feed, read the Feedburner tutorial written by my pal Gigi, from Kludgy Mom. She highlights the whys of Feedburner. An RSS feed is incredibly easy to create with Feedburner.

To stay in touch with Pieces of a Mom, subscribe to my RSS feed.

2. Connect on Facebook
Most blogs have fan pages on Facebook. You can either perform a search in Facebook for the blog you are looking for or you can go to the blog to see if there is a Facebook widget or icon where you can easily "Like" the page.

To stay in touch with Pieces of a Mom on Facebook, click to "Like" my page. I update my Facebook page with all of my posts and some other relevant and helpful articles.

3. Follow on Twitter
Most bloggers are on Twitter and are very active there. I love the conversation on Twitter much more than on Facebook. It's more lively and more frequent. Again, you can perform a search on Twitter for your favorite blogs or check the blog for a Twitter icon.

To stay in touch with Pieces of a Mom on Twitter, click here to follow me. I am very active on Twitter and can usually be found tweeting about my favorite TV shows.

4. Send a newsletter
You can also send a newsletter to your current GFC subscribers to let them know how they can connect with you once GFC has been discontinued. I'm hoping that the blogs to which I subscribe do this. It really is the simplest way for your subscribers. They merely click a link in a message to make the new connection with you.

For more information, check out this informative post at momcomm.

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The Best Web Hosting Sites at your Fingertips

This year, I'll be migrating my blog from Blogger to WordPress. That migration means I'll need to find a web host, an independent site to host my domain. What seemed like a daunting task was made so much easier with the help of Web Hosting Fan, an independent hosting review and ranking website. If you are looking for a web hosting provider, look no further than Web Hosting Fan.

Webhostingfan.com has compiled a list of the top 10 most trusted and reliable web hosting providers. It would take hours, maybe days to do this type of research on my own. In addition to the link of providers, there are also reviews for each of the top 10 and a comprehensive list of FAQs.

What I love about http://www.webhostingfan.com/ is that the list of the top 10 providers is compiled in a spreadsheet-like format which includes columns for price, rating, year founded, and how long the user has to use the site before he/she requests a refund. All of this information is extremely helpful to those looking for a host, and presenting it in such a way makes the search even easier and more pleasant than it might otherwise be.

Don't spend hours poring over web sites looking for the best host for your site.Let your search begin and end with Web Hosting Fan.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed herein are solely mine.

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Exciting Announcement: I'm a Brand Ambassador!!!

When I first launched Pieces of a Mom three years ago, I never imagined the people I would meet, the opportunities that I'd be given, and the path my little ole blog would take. What began as an experimental and creative outlet for me has turned into a business. Go figure.

Three years and over 700 posts later, I am proud to announce my very first brand ambassadorship!! While this may not be big news for big bloggers, it's pretty exciting stuff for me. It opens up doors that wouldn't otherwise be open for me, and I'm elated to be representing a company that I wholeheartedly endorse, Stonyfield Farm.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet representatives from Stonyfield back in April when I attended a luncheon hosted by Stonyfield featuring Robyn O'Brien. To read more, click here. I was so impressed by Stonyfield's mission and history. I left the luncheon knowing that I wanted to work with this company in some capacity as a blogger. And now I am thrilled to have been given that opportunity.

Stonyfield Farm, the award-winning organic dairy company, was founded in 1983 on a small farm in New Hampshire. With humble beginnings and lofty goals, Stonyfield has blossomed into a thriving business which focuses on sustainable farming practices. Over the last couple of decades, Stonyfield has experienced explosive growth, while introducing many new products: yogurt drinks, frozen yogurt, ice cream, YoBaby, a Greek yogurt we call Oikos, soy yogurts, and fluid milk—all organic.

In addition to producing the finest (and yummiest) yogurt on the market, Stonyfield also prides itself on being a model for socially and environmentally responsible business practices.  Stonyfield established a “Profits for the Planet” program, which commits 10% of annual profits to individuals and organizations working to restore and protect the environment. Stonyfield also uses the yogurt lids—millions each week—to promote causes, organizations, and environmental initiatives. Our plant engineers have worked hard to reduce the energy used to make yogurt, and to recycle as much waste as possible, which has kept tens of millions of pounds of waste from being dumped into landfills.

I am proud to be a Stonyfield "Yo-Getter". I can't think of a better company with which to align myself and my blog. But how do you benefit as a reader? Well, you'll get lots of great information here regarding organic dairy products and manufacturing practices. There will also be fun giveaways and heaps of great recipes that you can share with your family.

In the meantime, head on over to Stonyfield's Web site where you can register to earn rewards on purchases, print coupons for your favorite products, and read about all things Stonyfield.

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Today's Featured Member at The Mom Pledge

It's a glorious Friday here on the east coast! I can't wait to kick the weekend into high gear!!

If you have a few extra minutes on your hands today, I'd love it if you could stop by The Mom Pledge where I am today's featured member.



Thanks, and have a fabulous weekend! :)

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Is homework dreaded in your home? Read my latest post on Meridian Momtourage

Back to school means back to schoolwork and homework. The start of another school year can often be overwhelming for both children and parents. Making the transition from a carefree summer to a structured school routine proves difficult for everyone. The combination of more complex academic topics and additional hours of homework can lead to anxiety for children of any age. This fall I sent my youngest off to kindergarten and my oldest to the 4th grade.

Read More...

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Happy 4th Birthday to Jersey Bites

A few months ago, I started writing for Jersey Bites. Editors from counties all over the state write for Jersey Bites. I had met only one in real life (IRL). On Saturday, Deborah Smith, the founder and executive editor of Jersey Bites, hosted a party to celebrate the 4th birthday of Jersey Bites.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There is nothing like meeting someone IRL. I've been reading the material from these editors for months. I've admired their writing and have been envious of their creativity in the kitchen. On Saturday, I finally got to meet so many of them. Everyone brought food. The food at this party was Out. Of. This. World.

The JB photographer took some publicity shots. Here we are totally hamming (pun intended) it up for the camera!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, JERSEY BITES!

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Come visit me at Jersey Bites!

I'm so elated to announce that I'll be writing for Jersey Bites as the Monmouth County editor. I've been reading Jersey Bites for years, and I've always been envious of the writers to have landed such a great writing gig. Now, I'm part of the team, and I'm anxious to make my mark!!

I'll be working on my first feature this weekend when I head to the Red Bank Farmers Market. Keep an eye out for the article.

In the meantime, if you live in the Garden State (and even if you don't), stop by Jersey Bites and check out all the goodness in the county where you reside.

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The best thing I've done for my blog...

You know that feeling you get when you see or are notified of a new comment? It's a rush of adrenaline.

Every single comment makes me think, "Wow. Someone cared enough about something I have to say to take the time to type a comment."

Comments are special. They are the virtual equivalent of a touch on the arm or a hug. They show us that someone cares.

Several months ago I decided to install Disqus, a global commenting system. I wasn't satisfied with Blogger's basic commenting system. I wanted more. I looked into several and decided that Disqus was the best option for me.

As a blogger, one of the most important rules for me is to engage my readers. Writing posts accomplishes only part of that goal. To fully engage readers, I needed to be able to reply directly to comments. I wanted my readers who took the time to comment to know just how appreciative I was. Their interaction meant that my post struck a chord not only with me but with them as well.

Disqus allows me to reply to comments easily and effectively. And I can easily comment on other blogs using Disqus also. Once you create an account at http://www.disqus.com/, it's super easy to install as a widget in Blogger. You can access your account online to review comments and see "likes", and there are add-on platforms if you are looking to expand the basic commenting system.

I have to say that making the switch to Disqus was, by far, the best thing I've ever done for my blog...and for my readers!

Disclosure: I received no compensation in exchange for this post.

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Did someone say "Party"?

Yep, someone said it, and it's happening right now. It's the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party or better known as the UBP for those in the know, and it's become an annual tradition around here.

If you're not familiar with the UBP, you can get all the deets here.

If you're stopping by from the party, welcome to my spot in cyberworld. I'm Sheila, wife to 1, mom to 2, sister to 3, friend to many. For more, visit my About page.

I've been blogging for a little over 2 years. I write what I know and what I live. Pieces of a Mom is a collection of my experiences, my trials and tribulations as a wife and mother, my fears, my successes, and my complaints. Yes, I do whine occasionally, but hey, sometimes you just need to vent.

I love products, especially beauty products. Often I share my favorites as well as some fun, fabulous finds. Occasionally, I do reviews and offer giveaways for products that I love and use on a daily basis. In fact, I am currently offering a $100 GNC gift card giveaway. Click here to enter.

I hope you'll hang out for a bit. The best way to get to know me is to sneak around and read some random posts. You can also follow me on Twitter where I've got plenty to say! In the meantime, I'm going to start partying by blog hopping. Be sure to let me know that you were here so that I can return the favor by stopping by your blog. Can't wait to "meet" you!

xx,
Sheila

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Girls Lunch Out Event

After a long winter on hiatus, the blogging events are starting to get rolling. On Saturday I attended a networking event organized by Girls Lunch Out (a.k.a. GLO). GLO was co-founded by Erica Voll and Tina Seitzinger in an effort to bring together women in social media and give them an opportunity to network, lunch, and learn in an informal, fun, and zero-pressure setting. The event was held at 8 East Bar in Conshohocken, PA.

GLO co-founders, Tina Seitzinger and Erica Voll.

They are both also two of the first people I met in the mom blogging world.

In addition to lunch, there were plenty of goodies.

Clockwise: The "GLO Sweet Tart" martini, fun swag bags (including products from PopChips, Dazzlestik, Seed, Happy Baby Foods, and Lavenders Day Spa), a delicious cookie tray from @cookieapaloozanj, and a fabulous door prize (a Michael Kors bag generously donated by Dole Foods).

There was plenty of networking.

Here I am chatting it up with (l. to r.) Jennifer, Rebecca, Cristie, and Mel.

There was lots of tweeting, mingling, and lunching.

For more information about Girl Lunch Out and to become a member, hop on over to the Web site.

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Meridian MomTourage Meet and Greet

Let me begin by saying that there's nothing like meeting people in real life (IRL). It makes a huge difference in how you interact. At the end of the summer, I was contacted and asked to be a contributing blogger for Meridian MomTourage, a local, online resource for moms. Meridian MomTourage is operated by Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising of Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers.

Although the events listed at Meridian MomTourage are localized, the content applies to any mom, anywhere in the world. It is an excellent health and lifestyle resource with invaluable information.

Last month, Meridian invited the MomTourage Blogger team to a meet and greet at The Downtown, in Red Bank, New Jersey. I was excited to meet my fellow bloggers as well as the team from Meridian Health. It's a strange thing to speak with, tweet, and email people for months without a face to face meeting. So, finally, an opportunity to put faces with names. It certainly didn't disappoint. In a world where I often feel like the only blogger and social media maven, it was a refreshing change to connect with others who share my love of all things social media.

 Fellow bloggers: Jenn Costanza, Brenda Milouchev, and me.

 More Meridian MomTourage bloggers (l. to r.) Angie Hoffman, Stacey Crew, Cristie Ritz-King, and Lori Sawyer.

Jenn Costanza and me.

Members of the Meridian MomTourage team.

It was a fun evening getting to know everyone. And The Downtown is fabulous, too. We enjoyed appetizers, but the word is that dinner is excellent. You can't go wrong in Red Bank.

I think I speak for all of the MomTourage bloggers when I say that we are looking forward to the next outing!

And don't forget to check out Meridian MomTourage!

*All photos appear courtesy of Meridian MomTourage.

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Bloggy Bootcamp Recap - Networking

Be sure to read my Bloggy Bootcamp Education Recap if you haven't already.

After a day chock full of mind-blowing speakers and inspiring presentations, it was time for some networking. All Bootcamp attendees were invited to attend a cocktail party sponsored by Virtua Woman. But we had a couple of hours to kill between the end of the education session and the start of the cocktail party.

I had the opportunity to socialize with some of my favorite bloggers and some new friends too. We sat on the veranda at the Hyatt Regency chatting about our respective backgrounds, families, and blog histories. Getting to know these women was, by far, one of the best aspects of Bloggy Bootcamp. Plus, it was a gorgeous evening in Philadelphia!

L. to r., Theta Mom, Figments of a Mom, Me, Running on Empty Mommy, Complicated Mama, Life Without Pink.

To finally meet these and many other bloggers IRL (in real life) was amazing. It makes online interactions that much more meaningful.

There was definitely no lack of conversation among this group!

We are already planning our next meet-up!

Photo credits: Life Without Pink

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I'm a babyssentials blogger!

Just a little tidbit of exciting news to share! I am one of several official bloggers for babyssentials. I am on the panel of mom bloggers and will be blogging under the Home Front section of the babyssentials community. Stop by to check out the community and meet the other bloggers. Or you can view my first post, which was adapted from a similar article that I wrote for Examiner.com

http://www.babyssentials.com

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I'm a guest!

I'm honored to be guest posting today at Housewife Bliss. I've built quite a rapport with Coryanne over the months, and I absolutely adore her. Her blog is a wonderful collection of history, tips and tricks. Please stop by her blog and show her some bloggy love.

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Mom bloggers in the news

There are 35+ million women who either write, read or comment on blogs. As that number continues to grow, negativity in the mom blogger community grows as well. NBC's Today show recently featured two prominent women in the blogging community and their thoughts on the dark side of mom blogs.



My personal philosophy on commenting is that if you can't respond with a respectful comment, do not comment at all. Sure, there will always be issues and opinions with which we disagree, but is it necessary to voice those oppositions? I don't think so, but obviously, others disagree. I welcome all comments even those that may not be in agreement with those voiced in my posts. But I will remove any comments that are rude or disrepectful.

There is an overwhelming amount of support and empathy in the mom blogging community that far outweighs the negativity. I appreciate other's opinions, ideas and approaches to parenting, and hope that any visitors to my blog would do the same for me.

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