They’re both topics I wrote about in the February issue of Chicago Parent. Thanks to Melanie and Sheila for making my job easy!
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From the category archives:
Mom Bloggers
I hate doing “touristy” things… especially in my adopted hometown of Chicago. I try to avoid crowds like the plague (except if I’m trying to score a really great deal on December 26… you know I like to shop), and since I don’t celebrate Christmas I can’t help but find that this time of year gets overly bogged down with jingly songs on the radio and altogether too many bad drivers heading downtown to do all those touristy things I try to avoid.
However, since we’re a little Chicago-bound this year because of the newborn, (Although I’m totally regretting getting sucked into flu scare so much to cancel any thought of traveling until the kid is like 15 or something.) I figure I have to bite the bullet and do a few things for my older son that would otherwise send shivers down my lululemon-clad (yes, still wearing it all) body.
Like eating at Ed Debevic’s tonight. Where I found myself honestly saying, “Honey, please eat your chicken finger. Please.” Like it was some sort of vegan tofu patty chock-full of vitamins. I figured it was better than the fries and rice krispie treat presented on the side of it. I even saw some meat in there.
Or, graciously accepting my friend Kim’s offer to go to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere because I’m not afraid of heights or anything and I thought the little man would enjoy eating a cookie 103 floors up. I was right. And I was so proud he spotted our health club from the top of the Willis (Sears!) Tower. He we is are seriously sheltered.
Look, mommy! The eliptical!
But in all honesty, when you have the time, are a little bored, and have friends that will motivate you, being all touristy in your hometown city can be rather exciting. I even have grand plans to take the kids to the Modern Wing of the Art Institute next week. It’ll make me feel a tad better about having worn a paper hat all night.
Happy Holidays to all!
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My first night out with the ladies since having #2 consisted of a few more firsts:
- The first time I used a breast pump in public. Well, if public is considered in my husband’s car while parked on Belmont. That’s public enough for me. He kept psyching me out that everyone walking out of Potbelly was looking at me. Needless to say, I will not be repeating that first again any time soon.
- The first time I showed up at an event where I was a guest of main attraction. My name looks good in lights, er, on a printed program. (You can see the photo story here, hopefully the video soon, too!)
- The first time I read something I wrote to a public audience. Will probably be the last, but I’m glad at least a few people I know laughed. (Thanks to momtrolfreak for the photo.)
The first time I put on real jeans since giving birth.
- The first time I actually felt like a legit writer. Among already established writers. In a book that I’m proud of and think is absolutely hilarious. (Hint, hint buy it!)
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I’ve never been on The Price is Right or Wheel of Fortune, but after my whirlwind experience at BlogHer, I think I’ve had enough “brought to you by…” to last me a lifetime. Last time I went to BlogHer, there were sponsors and swag to be found, but this time around it felt more like a game show than a conference.
Fortunately, there’s only so much swag a pregnant achy back can lug around, so I mostly ignored all the “paid for,” “sponsored by,” and “here here take my business card and my giveaway from my sponsor,” chatter. Of course, like she said, not all bloggers are like that, and not all parts of the conference were like that. And the time I spent away from the Expo Hall in the hallway outside of the actual sessions with my blog BFFs and at the two parties I went to made all the crazy sponsorship-advertisement-self-promotion hell disappear like all my business cards did in those giveaway bowls. (I didn’t say I didn’t want to get some free shit.)
I even shared some of my free shit with her, Marketing Mommy (R). But I kept the Kodak thing-y. Cause I got there first, ya know.
And of course BlogHer wouldn’t be BlogHer if there wasn’t some controversy over something. Put thousands of women together and the claws come out. This year, it was bringing babies to parties, bars, events, sessions, what have you. Of course, the only baby I brought was the one that was pressing on my bladder the whole time and well, I don’t think it bothered anyone except the hotel bathroom which I visited too many times to count.
Speaking of people, because I was a lame-ass attendee who couldn’t drink and a D-List blogger (don’t worry kids, I haven’t forgotten about you), there were so many people I wanted to talk to but didn’t get a chance to and those I got to talk to but not for enough time. (Wow, that’s a lot of linking for a D-lister.)
If this woman, A Hen and Two Chicks (c) can put up with my bathroom habits, I can put up with her yummy baby.
Ok, now, back to the swag and all the crap I tried to avoid but nonetheless acquired in less than 24 hours of schmoozing and not boozing at SponsHer. Like back in ‘07, I set out not to accumulate things I didn’t need, but somehow I ended up with two huge vinyl bags of stuff that was mostly for girls. I left too early to donate it to charity like she suggested, so it ended up in the wondering hands of a three-year-old who thinks there are actually presents sitting in such bags that he’s actually going to like and use. Oh, how naive he is. If I was richer, I’d give it away to the D-listers, but really, I’ll end up losing my savings in postage fees.
The swag's so good, I haven't even unpacked it yet.
But I’m not down on SponsHer. I get why they need the sponsors, I can see why some events didn’t want babies, and as a former event planner, I know how hard it is to pull something like this off. Plus, I heard the keynote was kick-ass and I’m kicking myself for missing it. Maybe next year I’ll skip the sessions, the swag and just hang out in the lobby the whole time. And call it BlogHer once again.
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I always thought Disney on Ice was just for girls. Twinkling lights, skating princesses, fairy dust. Please. But when I was offered tickets to the troupe’s show in Chicago from the lovely folks at Feld Entertainment, I just couldn’t say no. Princesses and all.
So we invited a little girl friend of my son’s and checked out the show yesterday at the United Center. And you know what? Even though there was a pre-show princess exhibit inhabited with replicas of Belle and Cinderella, and every girl I saw was dressed up as Ariel, I have to say the show was fit for kids of every size. And gender.
It also helped that we sat front row.
We were so close I could almost touch Goofy’s ass. Not that I wanted to or anything.
Plus, because the show veered more towards the Princess theme, I didn’t have to get suckered into buying any of those $20 glow wands which were all pink and stuff.
On the other hand, my friend got suckered into the purchase.
We all had so much fun that by the end of the show, my son knew the names of at least two of the princesses we saw perform. Here’s to more tutus and translucent sparkly wings in our future.
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