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 Marketing
Back about 8 weeks ago, I was singing my own praises about my abundant milk supply and breastfeeding prowess. Now, I’m just a regular-old nursing pro. But while I have mastered the hooter-hider, (I highly recommend the Bebe Au Lait ones, and I’m not being paid to say that.) I have not mastered the attractive or comfortable other nursing gear.
Tempted not to spend a lot of money on a product, like a nursing bra, that I might have only used for a week or two, I bought a few cheapie ones at Target. Ten weeks later, they are still highly unattractive and not very comfortable.
Which is why I jumped at an offer by my friend Beth to test out (and giveaway) a new nursing wardrobe by Bravado. (I am being compensated to say this.) Bravado, apparently a well-recognized brand in the lactation nation but unknown to a rookie like me has come out with an affordable line of nursing gear at Target called Basics by Bravado. Yay! Just one more thing I need to add to my cart.
The stuff looks totally comfortable, and I like how on their website Bravado itemizes each item’s use and purpose.
See? She didn’t cheap out on nursing gear like I did.
I’ll tell you how it lives up to its promise when I get my gear to test out.
But, in the meantime, you can enter to win $500 worth of must-have baby items by entering the Basics by Bravado “Spot a Mom” by following these easy steps:
- Find the nearest Target store in their area offering Basics by Bravado nursing wear.
- Visit the store and snap some pics of themselves finding the Basics by Bravado store display.
- Email their photo, along with their name and contact details to basics@bravadodesigns.com.
Let me know if you decide to do it! If you do, I’ll put you in a pool to win Bravado nursing gear plus a DVD. I NEVER do contests like these, but now I’m like a member of La Leche or something. Well, not quite, but who doesn’t like free stuff? Good luck!
Disclosure: I am being compensated for writing a review of Basics by Bravado and conducting the contest. Not for breastfeeding, although if I was I’d be a bizillionaire right now.
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Lest you think the Sears Willis Tower swallowed me whole, it didn’t. But winter break with two kids, a non-stop working husband and sub-zero temperatures nearly did.
Not that I didn’t have fun touristing around Chicago amidst the snow, slush and rain. I We thoroughly enjoyed the My Gym Holiday camp where you get to drop your kids off for three hours. And I did a hallelujah dance every time my sitter showed up for a few hours. Which didn’t happen nearly enough to keep me sane, but with school starting up again tomorrow, I’m hoping to get some of it back.
I’ll never forget the moments of joy we had eating fast food (twice). I found I like Wendy’s food, but McDonald’s fries better. Nor will I forget the pissing away ung-dly amounts of money on attractions and events. We drove all the way to Schaumburg to pay $30 to go to Legoland. (And, no, Schaumburg didn’t feel all that close to the city.)
I went to Legoland and all I got was a piece of plastic.
We had some down time, though. I owe a lot of my “quiet” time over break to Lilo and Stitch and the crazy cool graphics of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (Thank you dear friends at Sony Pictures for the complimentary copy! Out for the rest of you on January 5!) I never knew how grateful I’d be to animation until I really needed it.
But beyond the bad eating habits, crappy weather and crummy souvenirs, I know this much is true: I survived winter break. Barely.
Did you?
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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 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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- Don’t look at me that way. In 5-10 years, you too, may find yourself dragging a screaming toddler up the escalator on the way to find velvet throw pillows to cover the puke stains on your couch.
- Trust me, a toddler throwing grapes on the floor is much better than smushing them in his hands.
- You most likely won’t ever hold your significant other’s hand while shopping for silverware again.
- I guarantee you’ll never unpack that Krups ice cream maker. It’s ok. Four years later and I haven’t opened mine yet.
Still dusty after all these years.
- The love you have for each other will never equal the love you have for a brand-new set of non-stick Calphalon pans.
And while I was picking on unsuspecting couples at Crate and Barrel, here’s what was happening on the web:
- The Secret Lives of Soccer Moms goes postal: I realized that after I talked to Tracey and watched the premiere episode, I forgot to Tivo the series. Which means I missed out on following all the crazy backlash the show is getting on the web. Holy crap, people. Get a life. It’s a TV show. Geez.
- Â Mickey’s going to be eating matzah one day: The Disney “blunder” is no more. Go Devra! Hope they like your charoset.
- Just what I want to read before going to bed at night: I don’t see the point of reading a fictional book about the life I’m leading. Sounds to me like another helping of the Mommy Wars hype with a different title.
- I started a new pet project. Click here to see the beginning of genius.
- ** Edited to add: Have you all seen this new site Alltop? I’ve read about it like 4 times today, so I had to write about it. It collects all the top blogs on the web according to different categories. It’s a great way to see all of your favorite sites’ top 5 posts in a few scrolls of the mouse. There is even a category for mom blogs, but you won’t see me there (yet?) so don’t forget to come back and visit here after you scroll away!
Tags: The Secret Life of Soccer Moms, The Ten-Year Nap, Meg Wolitzer, mommy wars, Disney, Alltop
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