QuirkyFusionBlogHer | QuirkyFusion

2011… a Year in Pictures

Christy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:47:40 +0000

This was a crazy busy year full of all of my favorite things… family, travel, tech, and fun. These are just some of the highlights of my activities this year.

CES 2011 in Vegas… Danny Gokey Concert

A LOT of Snow

Trip to Disney as the Traveling Mom Food Allergies Blogger

A new room for my girly little girl

A 40th Birthday! (Yikes)

A trip to NOLA for the Mom 2.0 Conference (Thanks, Microsoft!)

Lots of baking…

Forward with Ford

Visit to GE with the lovely Charlene

Family travel

More family travel

And more…

BlogHer San Diego (with some of my favorite Boston Parent Bloggers)

Bug’s First Day of Kindergarten

A Hurricane (yeah, this is the only picture I got!)

Big Guy Turns 40 (Bug turns 6)

Freak October Snowstorm (haven’t really had any snow since…)

A visit with Walter Wick

Gaming with PlayStation Family

Happy, albeit sick, holiday season…

Liberty Mutual & the Responsibility Project Treat Bloggers to Ellis Island Tour

Christy — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:21:52 +0000

Group shot at Ellis Island. Photo courtesy of Ketchum

Heading to a conference in a different city always feels exciting, but in reality, I often don’t have the time/energy to go out and explore. So, when I first heard that BlogHer 10 would take place in New York City, I was thrilled (it’s a home-away-from-home for me), but realistic. I wasn’t going to expect very much tourist time. In stepped Liberty Mutual with a pre-conference blogger tour of Ellis Island and my conference experience was complete.

Liberty Mutual invited a few dozen bloggers on a private tour and lunch at Ellis Island to talk about their Responsibility Project and give us a chance to connect with their brand. And paired up with Ketchum, they did things just right. The day started at 11am, giving me plenty of time to get a rare sleep-in and start my conference experience fully rested. We met outside the hotel to board our bus to Battery Park.

During the bus ride, we were given gift bags with fun goodies like cookies and an autographed copy of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, which was written by our fabulous tour guide, Tom Bernardin. But the bags were practictal as well, holding a couple of bottles of bottled water and sunscreen. It was a thoughtful way to kick us off for a hot summer’s day of sightseeing.

The team from Ketchum and Liberty Mutual welcomed us and said a few words before showing us a video about the Responsibilty Project and how it all got started. And then they turned things over to Tom, who talked about the history of the city and Battery Park, the different neighborhoods in downtown Manhattan and some facts about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

We arrived at Battery Park and walked past the long ticket line, and the even longer security line. We got VIP treatment! We then boarded the ferry for the hot, but beautiful ride to the Statue of Liberty and then Ellis Island. I have been there before, but it was just as inspirational to ride by the Statue and pull up on the shores of Ellis Island. My great-grandmother, great-grandfather and two great-uncles passed through Ellis Island from Russia and I kept them in my mind as we toured the grounds.

Tom led us through the museum to a private, air-conditioned room for lunch. We had a few more remarks from the Liberty Mutual team, as well as Peg Zitko, the VP of Public Affairs at The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. We were then treated to another Reponsibility Project video directed by and starring Danny Glover. You can watch Second Line on the Responsibility Project website. And then they gave away some cute jars of old-fashioned candy to one person at each table. I won ours!

After lunch, Tom took us on a quick, but informative tour around the Ellis Island museum and the grounds, before heading back to Battery Park. On the bus ride back, he shared a bit more info before we dropped him off near his home in the Village.

The Liberty Mutual/Responsibility Project Ellis Island tour was one of the big highlights of my BlogHer weekend. The ability to spend time with so many other amazing women, get in some sightseeing and reconnect with my own ancestry was priceless. But in terms of brand connection, the team did a fantastic job. We got the message they were trying to convey, but we also felt like we were given a special gift as well. I hope other brands and PR firms take note… there are ways to work with with bloggers where you get what you need, while still respecting us as individuals. Trapping us in a room while you parade your entire team in front of us in presentation after presentation isn’t engaging, isn’t fun and isn’t the best use of your time.

In addition to hosting this tour, Liberty Mutual hosted a Responsibility Project booth in the expo hall where they hosted a number of round table discussions on personal responsibility. You can read also the transcripts from those discussions on the Responsibility Project website.

Life Lessons from BlogHer

Christy — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:22:45 +0000

If I truly follow through, my BlogHer recapping will probably take all week. We’ll see how that goes. In the meantime, I have some life lessons from BlogHer…

Even though we’re adults, most of us are still afraid we won’t be accepted
Being afraid to join a group isn’t the same as being excluded by that group
Knowing your goals for a conference is the first step toward meeting them
Some people just need to complain
We’re all just people. No need to be star struck or intimidated.
It truly doesn’t matter what you wear, as long as you feel comfortable in it.
Exhaustion doesn’t equal snobbery.
Worrying about what other people think is a barrier to happiness.
Your conference experience will largely be what you choose to make of it. Choose wisely.
Pregnant gals can still dance a heckuva lot better than I can.
Hugging pretty much everyone you meet is a surefire way to have a feel-good weekend.
Sitting with just the people you know keeps you from meeting new people.
Keeping an open mind is the best way to find new opportunities.
Don’t put people on pedastals. They’re bound to fall off.
I am not the only one who is awful with names and faces.
Some strange law is in effect so that you will repeatedly run into the same people over and over and entirely miss others for the whole weekend.
Taking the up elevator may be the only way to ensure a ride on the down elevator. (No, this is not a metaphor)
Brand events may be fun, but they are never as rockin’ as the official BlogHer parties.
Cupcakes are oh-so-trendy.

And I want to reiterate this… If you meet someone you admire and they seem stand-offish, cut them some slack. It could be that they are shy, tired, overwhelmed or otherwise distracted. In many cases there is a reverse correlation between the popularity of a blogger online and their comfort with massive groups of people offline.

Me w/Kelly from @kellyology/kellykincaid.com - A BlogHer who I hadn't much spoken to before, but who was EVERYWHERE I went during BlogHer10!

BlogHer and the Private Party Myth

Christy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:24:35 +0000

There is a lot of talk this year about BlogHer and the private parties. People who aren’t invited seem to either take it as a personal slight or as proof that BlogHer is only for the “cool kids.” It isn’t either one.

Myth #1 – I’m not cool enough. Brand parties/events at BlogHer are a chance for brands to connect with bloggers in the demographic that interests them. They are typically smaller gatherings, often a dinner or a special activity. And if it seems mysterious as to who gets the invite, it is. Each brand has their own goals. Some might be looking to strengthen relationships with bloggers who are already fans. Some might want a chance to sway those who prefer a different brand, are on the fence or are indifferent. Perhaps they want families with young kids, political bloggers, bloggers with huge followings, bloggers who write about crafts, those who write particularly well, those who do product reviews. There is no one right answer. If you didn’t get an invite, it’s not a reflection on you as a person. Take another look at your blog to make sure you’re presenting an image that will draw the brand relationships that interest you and read my tips below.

Myth #2 – I won’t have fun if I don’t get private party invites. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is SO much going on at BlogHer, that you’ll have a hard time not keeping busy. There will always be people around doing something, even if it’s just hanging out in the lobby and playing games. Sure, it may feel like you’re missing out on something great when you see a bunch of bloggers heading out together to a party, but that’s all part of our natural inclination to want to be included. Some brand events really aren’t that much fun, anyway.

Myth #3 – I’ll miss my chance to connect with brands. BlogHer is crawling with brand reps. You can’t spit without hitting one (I don’t recommend the spitting part). You’ll find them easily accessible in the Expo Hall. You’ll find them in quieter spaces in the brand lounges. And you’ll probably find them by taking time to meet new people in sessions, at meals and in the hallways.

Myth #4 – I’m going to miss the swag! Hah. Check out my blog post on the danger of too much swag. I went to two private parties last year (one I coordinated and one I co-hosted), but the bulk (and, in fact, the most valuable) of the swag came from official BlogHer parties and the Expo Hall.

Myth #5 – Private parties are “better.” Some are, some aren’t. It all depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your experience and what the brands are hoping to get out of it. I met some fantastic people are the official BlogHer parties, including a few who opened important doors for me later in the year. Relationship-building happens throughout BlogHer and you never know who you’ll meet who will 1) become a great friend and 2) become a great contact. If you only focus on brand events, you could miss your chance to connect with a diverse group of amazing folks. Not only that, but official parties tend to have no agenda other than to have fun!

So, if you’re still hoping for private party invites in the future, I’ve got a few tips to help the process along. The basic idea is to present yourself as a professional with value to offer brands.

1. Keep doing what you’re doing, and do it well. Write well, write often, but don’t just focus on the “stuff.” If you look at the people getting the bulk of the invites, you’ll find bloggers with strong voices, and a persona beyond that of Review Queen.

2. Network all year long. There are plenty of review groups out there and opportunities to connect with brands. If you want brands to reach out to you, you have to make it clear on your site that you’re open to their advances. And remember, every person you connect with is a potential resource. Sure, a PR person may be reaching out with a product that doesn’t match your needs, but they may be representing something that does a few months down the line. Don’t burn bridges.

3. Don’t beg and plead for invites. Not only does it seem desperate, but it puts the event planners in a difficult spot. Would you do that with a wedding or birthday party? Hopefully not, because it’s incredibly rude. Typically, they have enough space for a certain number of people and you can assume that they invited enough people to fill those spots. Begging to be included means that they have to be the “bad guy” and turn you down. No one enjoys that. If there is a brand that you are particularly interested in working with and you feel like you can really bring something to their campaign (note: it’s not all about you!), you might consider a note to say that you’re available at that time for last-minute cancellations. And let them know that you’d be interested in working with them in the future. There is no pressure for them to respond and you’ve politely and professionally expressed an interest in the brand. That will leave you in a positive light for future opportunities.

4. Don’t badmouth PR reps and brands publicly. If you attend a brand event and do nothing but complain, other brands will notice. Remember, things you say and do in public reflect on your own personal brand.

4. Participate in the community. Join groups, comment on other blogs and be present on Twitter. The best way to get your name out there is to have meaningful engagement with other bloggers and brands.

5. Be patient. I’m always shocked that bloggers who have been around for 6-12 months expect that they’ll get all the best event invites. There are thousands of us and some of us have been doing this for a really long time. Sometimes, you just have to pay your dues…

Anissa

Christy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:53:30 +0000

Anissa and I at BlogHer

There are people in the blogging and Twittering communities that seem larger than life. @AnissaMayhew is one of those people. She is snarky, irreverent, crude and hilarious. She has mastered 140 character updating. She’s just one of the blogosphere “cool kids,” but in a nice way.

When I met Anissa at BlogHer ’09, I was uncharacteristically intimidated. I had just arrived at the massive Chicago Sheraton a day earlier and knew no one. I wandered around the lobby aimlessly for awhile, before logging onto Twitter to scout out friendly faces. Anissa was at the bar with the lovely Amanda of @HighImpactMom and invited me to join them. When I arrived, she gave me a hug and set me at ease. And that’s when I met another side of Anissa, soft-spoken, warm and kind. I’ve seen much more of that Anissa since then, and have come to really enjoy having her in my life. Sure, we don’t see each other very often. It doesn’t matter. I’m not one to take wonderful friends for granted.

Anissa probably has more facets to her personality than you can count, but the third one that I want to mention is a vulnerable side. When apologizing to her children, sharing about her first stroke and talking about her young daughter Peyton, a cancer survivor, Anissa shows us that she’s not always quite so big and bad. She’s also scared, tender, loving and gentle.

And now she’s more vulnerable than ever. I’ve been dealing with my own medical issues this week, so I completely missed the news that Anissa had suffered a second stroke yesterday. Today, along with her many, many online friends, I’m sitting helpless from home sending her as many positive and loving vibes as I can.

Come back, Anissa. We miss you. There’s a big empty hole in the Twittersphere without you there.

Read more about Anissa and find updates at Aiming Low.

No related posts.

Enjoy the RIDEZ

Christy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:36:28 +0000

This is one of several belated BlogHer posts. In addition to having very little time, the Internet access in my room is spotty at best.

In addition to the Summer in the City party I’m co-hosting on Friday with EA Sports, Pogo.com and the Wii Mommies, I’ve got another little shindig on my radar.

Tonight I’m hosting an early bird reception for roughly 35 bloggers and friends. It all began when some of the Ford attendees started to talk about getting together for dinner or drinks the night before. I took that and ran with it and now we’re having a small reception at Quartino’s Ristorante in Chicago. It’ll be low-key, but it will also be a nice chance to get to know each other in a small group before the main conference kicks off.

We are fortunate to have a few really great sponsors. Our first sponsor is RIDEMAKERZ. For those of you who don’t have one nearby, it’s sort of like Build-a-Bear, but you’re designing model cars instead. We had the chance to play around with one of the remote control versions and it’s a big hit in our house. The RIDEMAKERZ folks are not only sponsoring the event, but they’re sending some nice giveaways as well. Plus, we’ll have some RIDEZ on hand to assemble and play with. Fun!

Our other primary sponsor is 360 Public Relations. I’ve had a chance to work them quite a bit and am always impressed by their professionalism when it comes to working with bloggers. They work with some high profile family-friendly brands, including PBS Kids, Stop and Shop and Safety 1st and maintain the 360PR MomSquad (of which I am a member) to provide frontline feedback to their clients. They’re heading to BlogHer Business and will also be representing Safety 1st in the Expo area. They’ve given us some great giveaway items, too, including a new carseat which utilizes the new Air Protect technology for added protection in side-impact collisions. If you see them around BlogHer, please give them a warm hello and tell them I sent you!

Lastly, not so much a sponsor as a generous donor, we’ve got Eli’s Cheesecake. Andie, from the mail order division saw a plea from one of our attendees for some cheesecake. She kindly offered to send us a cheesecake tower. Yeah, pretty fabulous!

So, that’s the “Enjoy the RIDEZ” reception. It’s fitting to kick off our time with Ford by playing with toy cars and giving away an amazing new car seat.

Measuring My Influence

Christy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:47:47 +0000

Note to readers: This is somewhere between a rant, a self-reflection and a personal bragging session. Read at your own risk.

This week, I was notably absent from a number of invitations to upcoming blogger marketing drives. I’m not surprised, really, as this blog is relatively new and small and I don’t have the same obvious influence as some other bloggers. I don’t blog as frequently as some, and I don’t have as many readers as others. You know the drill. I’m not one of the Nielson 50 or what-have-you for the same reason.

Every so often, I get mildly upset that I’m not on a top 50 list somewhere. Today was one of those days. But, as I was feeling kind of bad for not posting on my blogs, I decided to take stock in how I spent my day and capture it for other days when I feel like a slacker.

Today, while I wasn’t blogging here, I was:

Working on my site at About.com (where I am fairly influential, if I do say so myself)
Promoting the party I’m co-hosting next Friday with my sponsor POGO.com, EA Sports and the Wii Mommies
Finding last-minute sponsors for the party I’m hosting next Wednesday (Thanks, 360PR and RIDEMAKERZ)
Scouring Chicago (virtually and on the phone) for a restaurant the RIDEMAKERZ/360PR
Creating an invitation for the aforementioned party
Promoting the new plug-in my husband wrote for e-How writers (yay, Big Guy!)
Writing an article on the new Air Protect technology and side impact crash safety
Helping a variety of other people with random Internet and technology-related issues
Preparing for BlogHer
Then all that *other* stuff like email, voice mail, blah, blah. I don’t really count that.

Basically, I was busy wearing a lot of hats and making things happen. That’s what I do.

So, here’s my resolution to myself (and the point of this point, which I’ve decided to share with the world): I am going to remember that I am influential – especially to my children, husband, family and friends. It’s easy to get caught up in the high school drama of who’s in the “in” crowd, so I’m also going to remember that I am not necessarily an “in” crowd person. And, I’m not going to make myself feel bad for DOING rather than blogging about doing. Lastly, I’m going to keep my feet more firmly on the right path (see my post at MorethanMommy). I love writing, event planning, creative brainstorming, learning new things and problem solving. I’m going to do more of it, even if it means that I only blog once a month and never get invited to Disney World (sob).

To the companies that are looking for a creative voice, a quality writer, and a loyal brand advocate, you can drop me an email. I’ll try to fit you in if I have the time.

P.S. As I was writing this, a friend pointed out that my picture is on the masthead of BlogHer today and that the lovely (and highly influential) Liz Gumbinner (who I think I met in person years ago) quoted me in a blog post. Is there such a thing as influence Karma?

No related posts.

Quirky Mama Conference Tips

Christy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:06:13 +0000

BlogHer ’09 is fast approaching and I’m so excited. I might as well be going to Disney World. Ok, not really, but I’m still very excited. I can’t wait to meet so many blogging friends in person and share ideas. That said, I’m nervous about it, too. Firstly, I’m awful with names and faces – that’s a whole separate blog post there. Second, I turn into a blathering idiot when I’m nervous. Third, I still have baby weight to lose (at what point is it no longer “baby weight?”). And, lastly, although I love meeting new people, I find the whole process exhausting. I’m sure I’ll need to sleep for a week upon my return.

With all that said, I’ve been to a lot of conferences. I’ve even planned a few myself. Sure, most of them were a bit smaller than BlogHer, but the general principles hold for most events like this.

1. Leave the guilt at home. Sure, call and check on the kids, wish them goodnight, and buy them souvenirs. But try to leave any parenting guilt at home with the unfinished laundry and dirty dishes. They may watch too much TV while you’re gone, or eat pizza every night, but most likely they’ll still be relatively happy and healthy upon your return. It’s good to have some time apart… it’s important for kids to learn that even if you go away, you’ll come back.

2. Skip the starstruck behavior. You may meet someone that you admire. Guess what? They also have people that they admire. Say hello. No one there is better than you, and if they ignore you, you’re better off without their friendship.

3. Know your priorities. Take a moment to think about why you’re attending a particular conference. Is it all the profound things you’ll learn? The great contacts you’ll make? The fabulous people you’ll meet? The swag you’ll collect? Being honest with yourself will allow you to make the most out of any conference experience. For example, I attend conferences almost entirely for the friendships, contacts and inspiration. I rarely learn anything that I couldn’t learn at home. When I’m planning my time, I make sure my schedule aligns with my priorities.

4. Know your limits. Even though I know better, some perverse part of me insists that I’m somehow obligated (to myself and to conference planners) to attend as many sessions as possible. But, going back to number 3, that doesn’t always match my priorities. First of all, there won’t always a be a session that you’re interested in. But, more importantly, sometimes you’ll have an opportunity to chat with someone really amazing, or chat with vendors/manufacturers. A lot of the best learning happens outside of official conference sessions. I also make it a point to take a break (quiet time, nap, walk, whatever) when I need to. If you’re too tired, you can’t learn anything anyway.

5. Bring your best self. Don’t try to be someone different at the conference, but DO strive to grow and learn. Push yourself to sit down at a table of new people and say hello. Try new foods. Go to parties. Exchange business cards. Invite yourself along. Heck, you don’t know these people! See tip #2. Rinse, lather, repeat.

6. Pack what you need, but don’t go crazy. There are a million lists about what to pack, so I’m not going to get into that except to add a few of my favorite things. They may not be the things that make you feel more comfortable, but maybe they’ll inspire you to make your own list. As you pack, remember one golden rule (I used to use this on trips to the Philippines, so it certainly holds in Chicago): almost anything you might forget will be available to buy wherever you go. So, my three little comfort items:

Munchies. I always pack a few portable snacks because I hate being hungry. Crackers or mixed nuts or M&Ms (maybe all three). If you’re stuck in the airport, you’ll thank me.
A candle, perfume or incense. Don’t tell the hotel, because I’m sure this is frowned on, but I like to bring something in a favorite scent. Obviously, don’t go crazy if you’ve got a roommate, but a little air freshening improves even the nicest of hotel rooms. Don’t douse the furniture or anything – some people are very sensitive to scents.
A jacket, sweater, etc. This one is mentioned everywhere, but can’t be stressed enough. Conference rooms are always set at temperatures appropriate for businessmen in suits. Imagine an arctic breeze and you’re on the right path. In fact, I am convinced that the rooms are cooler in the summer than they are in the winter. Figure that one out.

7. Have fun. Trite, but true. And if you’re feeling lonely, hunt me down. I’m the bi-racial gal with a bushy ponytail, newly waxed brows and quite a bit of remaining baby weight. I won’t remember your name, but I’ll be nice to you anyway.

Party With Me at BlogHer ’09! (and try Word Whomp, too)

Christy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:21:56 +0000

I am SO excited. I’m going to party with EA and you can, too! Last winter I got to attend a preview of EA’s line of video games. Imagine a club filled with stations of all the newest games to check out. If you’re not a gamer, this may not sound like a dream come true to you, but trust me when I say that it’s an absolute blast! And, of course, there were plenty of food and beverages as well. So much fun.

I was actually at the event to meet Kathryn Peck and Jen Riley of EA Sports. I was hoping to convince them to co-sponsor a party with me at BlogHer. If you’re not a gamer, the name “EA” probably didn’t mean anything to you prior to the release of the EA Sports Active. For those of us who loves games, though, EA represents some of the highest standards in gaming. I was pretty determined to convince them that they HAD to attend BlogHer in order to promote EA Sports Active to all of the phenomenal female bloggers. As it turns out, they were already bought-in to the idea of reaching out to female bloggers. It worked out well, since the blogging project I was working on fell through. Still, it was great to meet them and watch as EA Sports Active has taken the exergaming world by storm.

While at the EA event, I also met Honey Hamilton, publicist for Pogo.com (a division of EA). She cajoled me into playing some Word Whomp with her (try it below – you’ll get addicted, too) and I had a great time. When Kathryn let me know that Honey was looking for a blogger to sponsor to BlogHer, she didn’t need to ask me twice. Pogo.com is a perfect site for me to work with and Honey and I are probably a dangerous combination. She’s now convinced me to get a tattoo with her… and that’s before I have any alcohol in my system!

So here I am, with a fantastic sponsor and meeting my original goal to co-host a party with the great folks at EA. I feel very fortunate! Better still, if you’re going to BlogHer, you get to party with us (and the Wii Mommies!) as well. Set aside some time on Friday night from 7-10pm and head on over to the House of Blues. We’ll be there with food, drink and some of the newest and hottest offerings from EA. Space is limited, to make sure to RSVP as soon as possible. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one.

Oh, and as promised… A mini version of Word Whomp!

Why Would They Want to Do That?!

Christy — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:07:11 +0000

The other day I told a friend that I received conference sponsorship from Pogo.com. She stared at me blankly for a moment and then said, “Congratulations?” After another moment, she said, “I have no idea what that means.” I explained that Pogo is covering my travel expenses for my trip to BlogHer this summer, and she responded, “Why would they want to do that?”

Courtesy of Luc Latulippe

This was not the first time I received this response in regards to the work I do online. I’m sure it won’t be the last. That said, it’s a bit frustrating that I can’t celebrate my successes and failures with my friends and family. My husband, who at least understood the financial repercussions behind my Pogo sponsorship, certainly doesn’t get it.

A few months ago, as I was checking my email, my jaw dropped. And I turned to hubby to share the reason behind my state of surprise. “Ted Murphy followed me without me following him first!” Once again, blank stare. My spirits deflated a bit. “Ok,”I said, “I know you don’t really know who he is. Have you heard of IZEA? PayPerPost?” Blank stare combined with shaking of head. All sense of giddiness was slowly leaking away and I was starting to feel a bit silly for my reaction. “Well… he’s kind of a big deal in the word of social media… Never mind.”

Nowadays, most of my conversations about my work go this way. Even my mom is in on it. “Stop & Shop sent me a nice Mother’s Day gift.” Her response: “How come YOU get one?” (Uh, because I’m your amazing daughter?!) Me: “Uhm. I guess because I’m a blogger?” Her: “Isn’t everyone a blogger?!” Sigh.

The truth is that I am so often immersed in online social media culture that I forget that it still isn’t the norm. Unfortunately, the reminders tend to come just as I’m most excited about a contact I’ve made, recognition that I’ve received, or a special invitation that’s come my way. I’m a giant mystery to my family, involved in a bizarre culture that none of them understand and that seems to make them all a bit suspicious. Still, when I pay for dinner with a gift card I’ve received or give them advice on a fantastic (or crappy) product I’ve tested out, I see a glimmer of hope. Maybe I can reach them afterall…

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