Regardless of who you are, you know that a home — be it apartment, condo or house — doesn’t feel complete with bare walls. If you love travel, you may have pictures of scenic destinations on the walls. Fond of art? Your walls may be adorned with expensive paintings. A parent? People assume that the best way to reflect the family is with photos hung in abundance.
Trust me, we have quite the collection of family photographs to hang.. but there is something on my walls that I feel make it feel more like home. Memories of my children on canvases that hang on walls throughout my home. What memories? Their hand and foot prints from different stages. One child’s prints, or all three children’s prints.. these canvases are my favorites.
It’s not expensive. In fact, our local craft store often puts their canvases 50% off so I can buy bigger sizes without feeling like I’m spending too much. I use child-safe paints because, well, it’s going on their body. Then? I let them have fun. Sometimes I’ll stick the canvases outside and let them have free reign. Other times we set them on the play room table and help them along. Then, I label the back with the name and age of the child who made it, and hang it.
I enjoy looking back.. walking through the house and saying “He was only 2 months old when we did that!” or “Look at how small your hands were!” They are priceless pieces of art, and they make my house a home.
What is your favorite way to preserve memories of your children’s different ages as they grow?
Have you ever driven down the road and seen a car that immediately caught your eye? A very expensive, very powerful car that grabbed your attention immediately as it passed you? Like a Maserati or Viper. (Or the giant truck in the picture? Ha!) Have you ever seen a car that was so out of the box that you couldn’t help but stare at it? (Like my husband when the Matte Black Mercedes parked next to us at a gas station..) That’s how I feel about a particular brand of stroller right now. It’s like a Tesla.. it’s so impressive and so desirable. There are enough of them out there that you recognize it when you see it… and yet it’s not quite attainable to most people. Of course, I am talking about Bugaboo.
Bugaboo strollers have always been a hot item on my wish list. I know, I know.. what premium stroller isn’t on my wish list? But lately, Bugaboo has given me more and more reasons to rekindle my desire. The fire was reignited when they announced the Bugaboo Donkey. A double Bugaboo? That can then switch to a single stroller with an added on storage compartment? Genius. Combine with that the sleek design over all and you’ve hit double stroller jackpot.
Then came the announcement of the Buffalo. A multi-terrain Bugaboo? One I could take to the beach or on a hike.. but would equally fit in at the mall or my favorite baby boutique? Amazing.
Of course, there was the announced Andy Warhol collaboration. Gorgeous Bugaboo’s used as the canvas to display modern art. The moment I saw the “Flowers” design, I was hooked. Imagine that on their all black special edition frame? Gorgeous. Next.. the appropriate-for-this-post Viktor&Rolf for Bugaboo “My first car” – I didn’t think they could make me want one of their strollers any more than those did, honestly. Naturally.. they had to prove me wrong.
Bugaboo just announced another collaboration. One that, as an Oregonian, made me gasp and swoon. Bugaboo has taken their fabulous strollers and combined them with the Native styles and fabrics of Pendleton Woolen Mills. I understand that some are thinking “What?!? Wool ?Tribal? Bugaboo?” — I am in love, though. I wouldn’t have thought a designer brand could pull it off, but they did – and they are gorgeous.
I’m sure my husband is wishing that Bugaboo would stop.. or perhaps that my standards were lower. Haha. For now, he just has to deal with listening to me swoon over them.. and hope that one day he suprises me by having one arrive at my doorstep!
See.. even Nordstrom knows how much I love it.. This was in my FB feed. Haha!!
What do you think of these strollers? Which Bugaboo can you see yourself driving around the local playground?
** This is NOT a sponsored post. I just happen to be in love with all that Bugaboo has going on right now.
I cannot believe I am writing this post already. It’s the middle of August. My kids aren’t even back in school yet. Is it really time to start thinking about Halloween?? The seasonal costume shops and Halloween displays popping up already tell me that yes, indeed it is. My goal is to not have an event like last year occur again. My son was set on a specific costume. He begged and pleaded. “I’ll see if I can find it..” I said. I never found it. I waited too long. Every where was sold out and he kindly gave me his second choice and only complained about it a little. I promise.. this year I’m on top of it.
Just as I do with backpacks.. I have certain standards for costumes. Some people think it’s silly considering they are typically only worn for one night and rarely passed down. However, it’s still a purchase.. which means it is not exempt from the scrutiny that all of my purchases fall victim to.
I refuse to pay for cheap polyester. Not going to happen.
It has to look like it’s supposed to. If you want to be a character from a movie.. it had better be recognizable or it’s just not going to happen.
There must be available accessories to complete the look. (I have this weird thing for accessorizing..)
Preferably something that can be thrown in our dress-up bin for at least a year of continued fun. Especially if it costs me more than $30.
With these criteria in mind.. I love the costumes at Pottery Barn Kids. The quality and the material are amazing and the designs are adorable. Not to mention, the coordinating trick or treat bag? Completes the ensemble. Like I said, I love accessories!
The Pottery Barn Kids costumes this year don’t disappoint. From the adorable baby costumes to the fun kids costumes. I am currently hoping my kids will go along with doing a Dr. Seuss theme for our family. How adorable would that be? The Lorax? The Cat in the Hat? Red Fish, Blue Fish? SO cute.
I don’t know that they will go along with it, though. My 4-year-old spotted the firefighter costume… and my 7-year-old liked the astronaut. I can only imagine the reaction I would get if I showed my 2-year-old the giraffe costume! I guess you will have to come back in October to see which costumes won out? 🙂
Have you started costume planning yet or are you last minute costume shoppers? Do you do family costumes or do you let your kids choose what they want to be? How many of you have crazy costume standards like I do? Which is your favorite Potter Barn Kids costume this year? (If I had a little girl, I would definitely put her in the baby owl costume!)
** This is NOT a sponsored post. Just an incredible love for Pottery Barn Kids costumes.
I love premium products. As I said in my “About” section, I really do believe that for many children’s products, you get what you pay for. However, sometimes the pricey items are not in your budget, but they are something you love or the style you want. The good news is – there are honestly quality solutions for all budgets. Sure, it may not be the item you wanted.. but it will look and often function quite similarly. Sometimes they are even made by the same companies.
For instance, the Nook Pebble crib mattress. It’s gorgeous and innovative. It’s free of harsh chemicals, not to mention soft and comfortable.. (Yet still safe and secure for baby!) Their bright colors and fabulous features come at a steep price point, though. ($395) Many people scoff. However, Nook Sleep Systems designed a crib mattress with most of the same features (Some of the limitations include only being 1-sided and white being the only color option..) but roughly half the of price.. ($195) The CloudSleeper is available only at Target.com. It’s still slightly more expensive than your typical plastic covered, hard-as-a-rock crib mattress.. but again, you get what you pay for and the price difference between the CloudSleeper and a traditional crib mattress is minimal.
Another brand with options in multiple price market’s is Britax. Their infant car seat, the Chaperone, is well loved and envied by many.. though some couldn’t (or didn’t want to) spend that much on an infant car seat. ($229.99) So, Britax released a second infant car seat with a lower price point, the B-Safe seat. Same Britax safety, same Britax styles.. slightly more affordable. ($179) They even make that specific car seat in BOB Stroller fabrics. ($199.99) Very nice.
Then we venture to other brands that don’t have multiple price tiers for their gear… for those items, you can often find other brands who make very similar products within a more affordable price range. As I’ve stated multiple times, I am in love with the Stokke Tripp Trapp. It’s highly functional, has multiple uses and grows with your child. In my opinion, it’s fairly priced.. ($249.99) but I understand that fair does not always mean affordable. There are a few other high chairs on the market with close to the same style and the same “grow with you” idea. The Keekaroo Height Right ($189.95) is a similar idea with a slightly more affordable price. The Badger Basket Embassy Wood high chair with tray is another one at a significantly lower price than both of the above. ($139.99) Again, fairly similar.. Personally, I would still go with the established quality of the Stokke Tripp Trapp.. but if you want the look on a budget, these are some options.
Cribs are another vastly priced market. The modern style is super trendy right now, but the price tags on many of them make even me cringe. Take for instance the Oeuf Sparrow. Gorgeous. Modern. Would work in just about any nursery. The price, however, wouldn’t work in most of budgets. ($760) For a similar look for about half the price, you can find the Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1. ($379)
The process even works in reverse.. Lets take bouncy seats. We all know of the crazy selection of decently priced bouncy seats. In the basic market, my favorite is the Graco Simple Snuggles Bouncer ($54.99) — but what if you want something nicer? You may be more interested in the Chicco I-Feel Rocker. ($99.99) Still not enough? Perhaps you are more drawn in by the Baby Bjorn Baby Sitter Balance. ($199.99) Close.. but perhaps not modern enough? There’s still a bouncer for you. The Bloom Coco Plexistyle is the perfect posh accent. ($350)
If you have a style in mind or find a product that you absolutely adore but can’t necessarily afford, do some research. There may be something very similar but at a more wallet friendly price. If there is a product you desire, but want something a little more premium… there are options for you as well. Research is critical — You never know what you may find!!
Is there a premium baby product out there that you wish you could find a cheaper version of? Which one? Are there premium products out there that you would never buy a cheaper version of?
I’m a pretty well seasoned mom. In 8 years, I have had three little boys. Sure, I haven’t been through the teenager years yet, and I have no idea what it’s like to send a child off to college, but I know enough to raise good kids. I also armed myself with the knowledge I need to make informed decisions for myself.
When I was pregnant with my first son I was 23. I was the first of my friends to have kids. In fact, most of them are just now starting to have kids. The decisions I made regarding my children were mine to make. With none of my close friends having children, none of them tried to tell me how they thought I should or shouldn’t raise my own. There came a time where I needed the support of other moms, though. People who were going through the same things I was. Growing and learning this new adventure of parenting. As I ventured out and attempted to find “mommy friends” what I saw was disheartening. Moms who felt like it was their place to judge, critique and comment on the parenting decisions that other moms were making – even without being asked.
Is it really so much to think that, perhaps, we can simply support one another in this crazy roller coaster of motherhood? Yes, even if we don’t personally agree with the decisions others make. We should be able to know that there is a community of moms who, regardless of their own personal beliefs, will support you along the way and give you a lift when you need one, a pat on the back when warranted and a shoulder to cry on when the days get tough. We should not always have to feel like we are on the defensive because of the personal parenting choices that we have made.
There are so many controversial topics about parenting. Breast or bottle. Puree’s or diced first foods. Cloth or disposable. Pierced ears and circumcisions. You know what, though? Regardless of your choices or my choices.. none of those choices impact anyone else. My choice (and ability) to breastfeed effected myself and my sons. No one else. My baby’s first food had no impact on anyone other than my children, the washing machine and occasionally the carpet. What does have an effect on you, me and all other parents? The constant scrutiny of each and every one of our decisions. When we look for support, we find judgement. When we look for a life raft, we’re pushed back into the raging water. For things that really shouldn’t matter to anyone else. We need to stop judging others. We need to stop assuming that our choices are right for everyone.
My views on parenting are no different than my views on baby gear. There are so many choices out there. They are your choices to make. If you ask for my opinion (or in the case of the blog.. come looking for my opinion..) I will give it to you.. but it’s strictly my opinion and my experience. I do not expect you to.. nor will I assume you will.. do things the way I did. I want to lift you up. Support you in this crazy parenting experience. Not make it more complicated. I want you to feel comfortable asking me questions or confiding your fears and worries to me– not run away fearing that I will attack your choices. I expect the same in return.
Lets stop the judging. Lets stop the pushing. If someone asks for your opinion, give it. If they simply ask for support, be there. Make no assumptions. Make no judgement and stop gossiping. Remember that your choices are your own.. and my choices are my own. We can co-exist, believe it or not.
A while back I asked a bunch of my friends a question. What baby items did you spend the most time researching? The responses were different for the most part.. but one thing was consistent. Not a single person said high chair. As a gear addict, there are so many high chairs on the market and some of them are quite swoon worthy. (Stokke Tripp Trapp? Bloom Fresco Chrome? Boon Flair??) Naturally I would have to weigh the pros and cons and research my little heart out before I would buy one. Apparently though, that is just me. (If you are curious.. the above high chair is the Graco Blossom 4-in-1)
So I followed up… “I noticed no one said high chair.. did you not research your high chair? Was the high chair not an important purchase?” Again, surprising to me.. most answered no. They either bought whatever was cheapest, whatever was the most familiar brand, or whatever matched their gear set.
I am shocked. Really? The high chair is the start to your child’s independence. It’s likely where they will take their first bite of food. They will exercise their pincer grasp there. It is even where they will inevitable learn cause and effect from repeatedly tossing their green beans to the floor and giggling with delight. So why does it sit so low on the priority list? Especially when so many people buy one they end up hating.
I am so intrigued. By now most of you know I’m a researcher. It doesn’t matter what piece of baby gear it is I’m buying.. I’m going to find the best piece that fits my criteria and my lifestyle. I understand not all are like me, but some people research their exersaucer more than their high chair.. and I’m so very curious as to why.
So here is my question to you.. Where did your high chair fall on your list of priorities when shopping for baby and why? What piece did you invest the most time (and possibly money..) on? Why? Finally.. if money wasn’t an issue.. is there a baby product you were splurge on? (Like the gorgeous Andy Warhol Bugaboo, perhaps?)
That dreaded point of the summer has arrived. I have to come to terms with the fact that I need to start preparing for back to school. I dislike doing it all in a mad rush, especially when our children’s school has a rather specific list of supplies. I need to make sure I get everything we need and in time so I try to start doing it mid to late July.
Our particular school has a uniform for all kids First Grade and up, so worrying about clothes shopping isn’t as critical for us. Though, I do need to make sure that we have the correct shoes and our preschooler is dressed presentably through the year. While the uniform helps us not stress too much about those aspects of returning to school, there are the many other parts of back to school shopping that must be completed. If you asked my soon-to-be-second-grader, he would tell you that there are two very important things to buy. The backpack and the lunch box. Of course he would think this. There are no rules or restrictions on his backpack or lunch box, and while wearing a uniform.. what better way to express yourself? As his parents, however, we do have rules and restrictions on his backpack and lunch box. Sure, I want him to have a way to express what he likes.. but I have a few criteria, mostly for his backpack:
It needs to be adequate in size. What good is a backpack that can’t hold all of your belongings? However, it also needs to be appropriately sized for the child to carry or wear.
While I don’t mind a fun print.. I don’t want it to be a tacky walking advertisement strapped to my child’s back.
It needs to be high quality. I am willing to buy a new backpack each year, but the idea of needing to buy more than one? Or have my child walking around with holes in his back pack? I am not okay with that.
It needs to maximize the usability within it. A rule I have taken from my diaper bag criteria. It needs pockets and places to put things. Not just a big open bag where things sink to the bottom and get lost in an abyss.
I prefer that the lunch box also be practical in use. If it can fit a bento-style box inside it, that is preferred.
I am sure this looks incredibly specific to some people. It might be easier if I just ran to whatever store and grabbed any backpack and lunch box he wanted and made do.. but that’s just not how I, personally, do things. If you’ve read this blog before, you know I like things of quality. I don’t just buy anything. I look into it. Research it. Do my best to make sure the money I am spending is being spent wisely.
When our oldest son went to Kindergarten, we found the perfect backpack that fit my criteria. The Pottery Barn Kids collection of backpacks and lunch boxes. They come in a variety of sizes, so as he grows and the contents of his backpack grows, there are many options. The quality is outstanding. So far, they have lasted through the school year and beyond.
Yes, I do buy a new bag for each new school year, but the previous year’s bag still gets used for things like travel, sleep overs and trips to grandma’s house. Not only do the bags fit my criteria, but my boys love that they can get them in styles they enjoy. (Our oldest is quite fond of his Star Wars one..) The Batman, Spiderman and Star Wars collections draw my kids in with glee, while I don’t shudder upon seeing them. They aren’t overly tacky. I also love that they sell matching backpacks and lunch boxes. Not only do they sell lunch boxes, but they also sell bento boxes that fit inside many of their lunch boxes. You can even get Planet Lunch Boxes to match some of their backpack collections. What eco-friendly mom doesn’t love that?
Also, our son’s school has a “water only” policy. They are allowed to have a water bottle at their desk throughout the day, but that is the only beverage they are allowed, even during lunch. They can also refill it as needed. For this we love that Pottery Barn Kids also sells the Klean Kanteen kids bottles with spouts. You can get them to match the backpack and lunch box collections.
Knowing that I can go to one place to get all of these items and that they are of amazing quality makes me that much happier.
Are you already preparing for back to school? Are you as particular about the school items you purchase for your kids as I am? How many of you are embarking on the school journey for the first time this year?
** This is not a sponsored post. I was not paid for this post and no products were provided to me. We love these items and wanted to share that love with you**
As a mom, when summer approaches, I both welcome and dread the rising temperatures. Unlike many parts of the country, here in Oregon we are just not built for heat. Like the typical mom of today, I took to Pinterest to find creative ways to conquer the heat. In my searches, I came across a product that is simply genius. A DIY Freezer pop, of sorts. I immediately had to go to their website and find out about it.
Zipzicles. A BPA-Free, recyclable zip top ice-pop bag. Like the traditional “Otter Pops” that we all knew as children, only you can make them however you want, with whatever you want. Whenever you want. I love this. I can make them as healthy (or unhealthy?) as I want to. I can make them kid friendly.. or even make a few for a more “adult” crowd. While some of you are assuming I am talking about a Margarita ice-pop.. (which I’m sure would be fantastic.. Though.. make sure you label them and keep away from children!) I’m more the “freeze some coffee and have an ice-pop for breakfast” kind of person.
WizCo, the makers of Zipzicles, were kind enough to send me a set of their product to try out and review for you. I am so happy with this product. Our weather warmed up just in time for us to take advantage of it. Of course, I couldn’t resist spreading the word, so we arranged a summer play-date with our friends that included kiddie pools, sprinklers, lemonade and of course, our freshly made Zipzicles.
I took advantage of the opportunity to make our own ice-pops by letting my children get in on the fun. Together we picked out our flavors. They chose Strawberry-Orange-Vanilla and also just Orange-Vanilla. To execute this, I broke out the BabyBullet, got frozen strawberries, vanilla frozen yogurt and orange juice. So simple, and sure.. the frozen yogurt added a little bit of calories, it was much healthier than handing my kids an ice cream cone and I knew exactly what was in it! Our packet of Zipzicles came with 12 packets, so we made 6 of each flavor. They were easy to open, easy to fill and held a lot! Definitely pay attention to the “fill line” – I had a few “oops” moments with mine and well.. at least clean up tasted good! We froze them, packed them in a bag and headed over to our friend’s house.
Just as easy as they were to fill, they were simple to open. The traditional ice-pops we are all familiar with require the use of scissors – leaving you with a top piece that should be thrown away but somehow always ends up in the yard and a child covered in food-colored dye. This simply pulled open like a zip-top sandwich bag, stayed intact, and sure, while our children were sticky messes as the heat quickly melted the ice-pop, they weren’t stained with fake orange, red or blue dye.
Another benefit of the Zipzicle is an important one for our household. Having the ability to make them myself, means that I don’t have to worry about exposing my son to any of his allergies. I have all the control. I know what goes in. I know what comes in contact with it. I knew the moment that I saw them on Pinterest that I was going to love it. Using them only proved me right. We are already about to order more to have at our toddler’s birthday party at the end of July. He’s going to have a “PhiePhie” party, so I’m thinking I’ll do the Orange-Vanilla flavor and dot it with chocolate chips! A giraffe ice-pop! Fun!!
Did I make you all hungry yet? Have I inspired you with summer frozen treat ideas? Well, here’s where you get lucky! WizCo is giving three (3) of you the chance to win a pack of Zipzicles of your very own!! But first, tell me, what is your favorite way to beat the heat with your kids?? What would you make with your Zipzicles pouches? (You can also find some recipes on Zipzicles site and even on Pinterest!)
Note: This product was provided to me by WizCo. I was not paid for this review and the opinions expressed are my own.
Now that I’ve hit you all with the emotionally driven Part 1 of my Disney Social Media Moms: On-the-Road adventure.. I’m going to attempt to fill you up with some useful information. You may be wondering why Disney does these events? Why is the blogging community so important to them? Why moms?
We were warmly welcomed by Maria Bailey taking the stage. If you’ve never heard of Maria, you should look her up. She’s an author, a radio host, an entrepreneur and most of all — a mom. You may even venture to say that she is the expert on marketing to moms. Her credentials are mighty.. but her passion is mightier. She started out the event by giving us a few very interesting statistics about moms. Eye opening statements regarding why moms are such a critical market for companies. Obviously, running a blog about baby and children’s products, this intrigued me. How many of you, my readers, knew that moms — you — contribute 1.7 trillion dollars to the general economy? More than Spain, Portugal and Australia combined! Next time you see an ad targeted at you, I want you to remember that! Those companies know this statistic. They know that you are the market to hit. More than just marketing, though.. Were you aware that there are more than 5.5 million mom owned businesses today? So we aren’t just spending money, we are making money.
You, or should I say we, are having an impact larger than just on the economy, though. “When you follow your passion, your kids pick up on those behaviors..” Maria stated. This led into why Disney invests so much in this conference.. in moms and mom owned business. “They (your children) learn from you. That is the magic.. and Disney is here to support that.” We are setting a precedence for our children. Our passion? They see it. Our determination? They observe it. Our dedication? They learn it. This also means that our doubts? Frustrations? Priorities. They are witnessing.. absorbing.. all of that, too.
While we let all of this information sink in, Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director for Disneyland Resorts, took the stage. She wowed us with a fabulous look at all the new happenings at the Disney parks. From the newest expansion at Magic Kingdom, Fantasy Land, (which happens to be the largest expansion in Disney history) and the Art of Animation Resort to Disneyland’s recent Fantasy Faire and the one year anniversary of Car’s Land. Along with the new Fantasy Faire comes the Royal Theater with two new shows, Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. I guarantee, about 10 seconds into this video presentation, that entire room of women.. moms.. were plotting out their next Disney Park vacation. Disney wants to know what we want. They want to empower us. They want to support us. Let us realize our potential. It was made clear in those moments, that while yes, Disney has an amazing marketing department.. they honestly saw us as more than just 1.7 trillion dollars. That is why they put together these invitation-only conferences.
Michele was followed up by Mindee’s presentation that I spoke about in Part 1.. and then Maria took the stage again. She said one thing that really jumped out at me (and no, it wasn’t just that my contact info should be easier to find..) Remember, I told you that our role as moms and business women.. it’s about more than our success, but the behaviors that we are instilling in our children. Right? Maria said “The next time your child is talking to you and they ask you a question.. see if you are looking at the whites of their eyes. If you do that, it will start to bring you around to being really present.” I always try to look at my children when they speak to me.. but the whites of their eyes.. that’s hard. Try it.. you’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes. You connect differently. Being present for your children – that is ultimately the most important part of being a mom.
After we were all blown away by Maria, Michele and Mindee (I just realized they all have M names.. Just like Mickey Mouse! Haha!) and desperate for a Disney Parks vacation, they introduced a panel of inspiring ladies. I told you, Disney wants to empower us as more than just a consumer market.. this panel was 3 lovely moms. More so than that, they were three recipients of the Huggies Mom Inspired Grant. The Huggies Mom Inspired Grant is a $15,000 grant awarded to mom inventors. (They happen to be taking applications now!!) Our panel consisted of Erin Kelly – Owner and creator of Hulabye Happy Changer, Alma Moussa – Owner and creator of Babee Covee 6-in-one blanket, and Romy Taormina- Owner and Creator of Psi Bands.
Maria asked them a series of very helpful questions.. it was quite inspiring to hear their stories. Moms who saw a need for something, took a leap and made something of it. They, like Mindee, spoke of both the highs and the lows and kept the journey of a mompreneur honest. The infamous work/life “balance”? Some are still working on it. While we learned a lot and had several “oh!” moments.. there was a quote from Romy that jumped out at me. I think it hit me because it applies to more than just business. As a blogger, as a mom, as a person.. We all experience rejection. Maria asked “How do you deal with rejection?” and Romy replied “Unyielding passion. It may be a no today, it may be a no today and tomorrow, but it may not be.”
At this point, we were all inspired. All of these amazing moms, just like us, who followed their passion and made an impact. Then Maria introduced the final presenter. Another “M” name.. (I’m beginning to think they planned this! Haha!) Michelle Stepney – The Public Relations Director for Global Content Development at Disney. She spoke to us about the media and how to conduct yourself around them. While you may think “Why do bloggers need to know how to deal with the media?” – it was extremely helpful. Several bloggers do media consultations, and honestly.. even those who don’t, you are still portraying yourself in the public eye. You don’t want to do or say something that will always be there to haunt you. Michelle showed us some hilarious “what not to do..” video clips that had the room laughing hysterically. My goal is to ultimately never be that person. Haha. She gave us a little glimpse into the media training they give the Disney cast members and provided such fabulous advice. She was such a pleasure to listen to!
I learned so much in this short 1/2 day event. It made me yearn for more. Most of us left going “Just one more day! Pleeease!” The knowledge and advice from those women was unbelievable. I walked away knowing that I may just be one mom, you may just be one mom, but like the wave at a sporting event.. it just takes ONE person to start something big.
Thank you, Disney. You have proven that you care. That you notice. Your drive for empowerment. Support. We appreciate you and look forward to many family vacations full of your magic. Thank you Maria Bailey and the M-Squad (That’s what I’m going to call you all.. yep!) Mindee, Michele and Michelle. You’ve inspired us all and we will never forget this gathering. Last, but not least, thank you to the Huggies Mom Inspired panelists. As a baby gear guru, I am extremely excited to have had the chance to experience your products. (Especially those Psi Bands.. can you say Tea Cup Ride??)
For my readers.. Thank you. It’s because of your support that I was given the opportunity to experience this event. I am now armed with an artillery of knowledge on how to be the best I can be in all my fields. Mom, Blogger, Consumer.
“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” – Walt Disney
If you read my previous post, you saw that I was stressing out over leaving my children and going to Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. You’ll be happy to know, I did it! I survived leaving my kids for the first time. Sure, the night before I left I cried a river full of ugly tears.. but we’ll keep that between us. What matters is that I came away from this not regretting a single thing. My children got to have two amazing days of fun with their daddy and I got to experience the most amazing opportunity with a room full of women I will never forget. The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration On-The-Road was more than I could have imagined.
If you’ve ever been to a Disney park, you know that Disney doesn’t fail at delivering magic. This event stayed true to that, not necessarily in a “Disney Magic” sort of way.. (though, they did provide that too!!) this magic was different. The energy alone resonated throughout the hotel lobby before the conference had even started. Picture the smile on your child’s face when you first spot the gates at Disneyland. That look was plastered on the faces of each and every woman waiting for those doors to open. Okay.. maybe it was more that look, accompanied by a little sleep deprivation and a deep need of coffee.
Registration opened. We each obtained our lanyard with name tag and our gift bag.. and immediately went to socializing. This is a social media event, after all. Even the shy and reserved moms were chatting up a storm with the women around them. Several of us had been communicating on a Facebook group for a few weeks prior to the event, so we set out to find one another. I already feel a connection to so many of these women. We entered the room, interacted more.. then we took our seats to experience the most amazing ride. It is Disney, after all.
The 6-ish hours I experienced at this event are going to take more than one post to share with you. Even then, I likely won’t even get to touch on everything. However, in this post I am going to focus on the keynote speaker, Mindee Doney. (You all may know her as “The genius creator of Boogie Wipes!”) While the entire event had a profound impact on me.. the time she was standing on that stage resonated with me the most.. and if you look at twitter (#DisneySMMoms) you will see I am not alone.
I struggle to put into words the impact she had on that room and I’m a blogger.. words should not be hard to come by! From the moment she was introduced, she had engaged the room. Her energy, her emotion. All of it came through so clearly. She began by talking to us about what most of us knew of her.. Boogie Wipes. What mom hasn’t heard of Boogie Wipes? My household even has several of those little “Boogs” stuffed booger creatures floating around. She explained how she came about creating the amazing product and led us on her journey. She took us through the highs.. and ultimately the low. More than the journey of business.. she spoke to us about motherhood. How the two areas of life played with one another. Or, perhaps how they battled one another? To say she was honest doesn’t even explain it. She didn’t sugar coat anything. She didn’t hide anything, either. I’m almost certain that the honesty and transparency is what hooked us all. Her message was loud and it was clear. Embrace, Empower and Accept. I can say those words over and over in my head and hear her declare them so passionately.
To embrace you and what you do Accept your responsibilities Rock your talents Believe in the big picture
Empower yourself and empower others. HELP is not a 4-letter-word Know when to say no Nurture what resets you Ask for help.. specifically and honestly Believe in your village.. their way works too
To expect life will go on Cherish the highs, be in the lows Set regular goals according to your chapter Choose a pace that balances needs versus wants
She ended her presentation with as much energy as she started with. Her message will continue to inspire us all. In fact, this post has taken me days to write because she showed me that I can walk away from work. Work can wait. “Know when you can walk away from it. Don’t go back to it. It will be okay.” The schedule I put in place today sets the expectations for the schedule I live tomorrow.. a year from now.. five years from now. “Start as you mean to go. If you don’t want to be working the way you’re working in 5 years.. you don’t need to be working that way right now. The way that you work. The attitude that you work with, should be the same.”
“There is no pause button, rewind or fast forward when it comes to the journey. Peace hangs out in our scrapbooks, itineraries and gratitude. When we choose daily to embrace life and empower potential, we can easily expect our journey to be happily ever after.”
At the end of her presentation, that room full of social media moms (all of which were glued to some sort of electronic device.. typing, tweeting, posting, facebooking, instagraming..) dropped the device in their hand and stood up with applause. Have you ever seen a room full of bloggers not have a device in their hands?? It was surreal. And deserved. I wish I could have recorded every moment of her presentation to relive it over again.
Please do me a favor. Go to Mindee’s blog “Get your OWN Juice Box“, “Like” her on Facebook and follow her on twitter to experience a little bit of what I had the opportunity to experience. I feel fortunate to have been included in this event and to have the ability to share so much of it with you. I can’t wait to share more!
