Chicago Moms Blog

Summer Road Trip '08 Product Sponsors

Buzz was all around BlogHer and SV Moms Group about our annual and infamous swag bags. The Silicon Valley Moms Group in coordination with MomViews.net would like to thank the following product sponsors that made it even more exciting for us:

Apparel and Accessories

CBS
www.cbsnews.com

Provided: Silicon Valley Moms Logo Summer Tour '08 Tee Shirts

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Lands End
www.landsend.com
Provided: Medium Open Top Canvas Tote Bag
Retail Price: $19.50

"Tip-proof" Tote stands up by itself!
Batter-proof, 24-oz. cotton canvas
Reinforced, rip-resistant bottom and handles
Sturdier seams help Tote stand upright
Four pockets inside to help you organize

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Wati Design
www.watidesign.com
Provided:
The Jenny Knit Dress - makes a very mod statement. Very comfy with leggings or at the beach over a swimsuit. Cotton Knit Jersey.
Retail Price: $50.00
and
The Serafina Ruffle Front Dress - a great look for the younger girl as well as older tween, in navy and cream flower toile print. Very chic over skinny jeans or leggings!
Retail Price: $40.00

The Wati Collection for girls is a bohemian, colorful, easy-care collection. Inspired by the girls, who wear Wati designs, each season is about washable cotton (embroidered poplins and smocked voiles) - pretty dresses and versatile separates, in vibrant, playful colors, that mix and match with ease. Available in sizes 4 - 12.

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See Kai Run
www.seekairun.com
Provided: See Kai Run children’s footwear
Retail Price:  $34.00

See Kai Run shoes are hand-crafted from supple sheepskin with padded collars and a breathable leather lining. Soles are constructed from extremely flexible rubber allowing new walkers lots of freedom to move while protecting their feet on all kinds of terrain.

A family-owned and operated business located outside of Seattle, Washington, the idea for See Kai Run was born when owner Cause Haun was on a quest for the perfect first pair of shoes for her son, Kai. Unable to find shoes in fun styles that still promoted the healthy development of little feet, Cause and her husband created their own line of shoes along that satisfied all of these needs. In just three years, See Kai Run has seen sales expand from a few boutiques, mostly in the Seattle area, to stores all around the country and worldwide. See Kai Run shoes fit children from six months to three years.      

Aaaaaaar! Pirate Talk

Yar! I need me grog!  What, you don’t talk pirate?  Ok, in plain English – Yes, I need some alcohol-after-a-whole-hour-with-a-bunch-of–bratty-kids…er... I mean pirates.

That aaar became more like an aaaargh.  Today I took my boys to see Emerald Theatre Production's “How I Became A Pirate” musical based on the book and I have to remind myself next year to hold off on kid theatre shows until fall.  I'm an avid musical theatre fan so my kids naturally enjoy it because they have been seeing shows since they were wee ones.  We frequent a lot of children’s company production shows all over Chicagoland and even threw my son a big birthday party inviting his entire preschool class and family to watch Disney's Aladdin the musical. My boys couldn't stop talking about it, and it shows how much our kids love live theatre. But I just realized that this was the first time we actually went during summer. And after today, we will never do that as a "summer-thing-to-do" again. Ever!

Art Is For Your Heart

I'll never forget the time my brother and I watched an episode of The Muppet Babies where they made an art museum in their nursery. For the rest of the day we drew and colored and hung our artwork all over the playroom, inviting Mom & Dad to see only after we'd covered every inch of the walls.

My brother went on to attend art school many, many years later. And I went on to pursue theatre in Chicago, paying rent by working in the Art Institute's Museum Shop selling books and posters and eventually working through one of the most successful and largest Monet exhibits of all time. Possibly the longest hours I'd ever worked, but probably my favorite and most interesting place I'd ever work. I was trained by Ed Harris' dad, and my new fascinating co-workers took me to courtyard parties, dinners with hummus, and through the musty paperbacked shelves of Powell's Books. We ate cheese sandwiches on our lunch break at the School of the Art Institute's cafeteria and walked through the Hall of Armor at night, with all the lights off, chills up our spines the entire time. (I swear one time I saw blood on the floor.)

They Look Good On You

Babywearing is all the rage lately- whether you're a new Mom, celeb Mom, or an old pro. Many parents wear their babies to keep them close, some wear them out of convenience, and others just need to keep track of all their kids. I tend to fall in, um, all those categories.

It's quite fashionable to wear your baby as an accessory- so many stylish slings, wraps, and carriers are available now in boutiques and online. More kids and smaller cars leave little room for bulky strollers, but a sling can be taken anywhere. And if you're breastfeeding on the go, wearing baby is the best way I've found to be discreet and get the job done. I have heard from many parents, however, that they have tried to wear their baby but they "just didn't get it." They can't figure out just how to use their carrier or haven't found one that really works for them.

Vote for Mom

This year's election is bringing all types of new sub-groups to the table.  Whether it be Wal-Mart Women, Waitress Moms, Rehab Republicans, Security Moms or Pocket Book Moms, one thing is clear: women are the vote to get by each candidate in 2008. 

While "Soccer Moms" may be so 8 years ago, the new names only solidify that the groups have become more complicated and more difficult to define.  Polls are showing that soccer moms and security moms are uniting and the typical Republican/Democrat vote spread will not look the same as it did 4 or 8 years ago.  Whether it be issues on the economy, the war, health care or the environment, many people are straying from their old ways of thinking and looking for a new place to land (this mama included).  Whether it be reading Momocrats, MomsRising or learning about the new I Remember Mama Voting project, moms are more involved than ever in politics and in this country we call home.  I have yet to find any solid Independent mom blogs (or Republican for that matter), so if you know any let us know in the comments!

The media are constantly looking for more and more information on what we moms think, and taking this survey can help get your voice heard in what you're thinking now and come November.  A recent iVillage survey showed that only 37% of women have decided who they will vote for, and more and more people are scrambling to sway us towards their way of thinking.  What issues are most important to you?

Dressing The Bumps And Bruises

The hubs and I are attending the Wings Of Hope Benefit next Friday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in honor of the American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation. The E word. Not something very popular or comfortable to talk about, but Epilepsy is real and more common than you may know. We went through the darkest of times when our son was diagnosed just over 4 years ago. Thankfully and miraculously, our son is seizure-free and medication-free now, and we are honored to wear Noah's success as a badge and share his story, one that continues to bring hope to parents wishing the same for their child. This benefit is sure to be emotional and uplifting and will not only raise awareness (with special speaker Hunter Tylo and People Magazine in attendance), but from the proceeds will also provide educational initiatives and support programs to those living with Epilepsy. And this event also has this preggy Mama wondering just what am I going to wear?

Extremely honored to be able to attend such a special night, I want to look my best. I am the face of a mother that has been through watching her child have 200 seizures a day. I saw him drift away before my very eyes and drift back and drift away again. And now I have him back for good. I want to show everyone what a survivor looks like. I didn't end up a haggardly mess rocking myself in a corner (as I seriously thought just might happen.) I made it. I'm not saying that I'm totally together, but I think I have been able to move on with life. And even if we still had the seizures as part of our everyday, we would still go on living. Life- it has this incredible ability to keep going on with or without us.

Taking a Stand

This week, I will be making history.  Not only will I be going to Washington D.C. for the first time ever, but I will also be marching the streets of the city and the steps of the Capitol in demonstration and protest.  We are flying out, leaving all three boys behind, and taking a stand.  My husband and I will be holding up signs with pictures of our two boys with autism, and like thousands upon thousands of others, we will be making a statement that we have had enough. 

Calling All Citizen Journalists!

I find it incredibly amazing that The Society of Professional Journalists is embracing us bloggers as the new media breed.  Actually we bloggers (especially mommy bloggers at that) already know that we are the new media force, but having SPJ’s nod of approval gives blogging the credibility it deserves. True to their form in "encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior", SPJ established Citizen Journalism Academy.  It is a one-day intensive workshop in bringing the journalism basics to those who are "practicing journalism through blogs, Web site production and interaction with sites maintained by mainstream news organizations.”

I attended the very first Citizen Journalism Academy workshop here in Chicago at De Paul University this past Saturday. Personally, the real reason I wanted to attend is because I noticed that there is a whole topic about “Staying Out of Trouble”.  As an active blogger, legal mess may be inevitable if you are not aware of certain practices.  And with ChicagoMomsBlog.com (whom I write for) now in syndication, we are of course being read more by the masses.  I am also as active with my 3 other blogs/sites (SugarMyBowl.com, FilipinaMoms.com, and MomViews.net) all of which are more reasons for me to make sure that I am consciously keeping the media ethics and law in mind.

What I got from the workshop is even more than I expected.  Mike Conklin a Chicago Tribune veteran of 35 years was in attendance to share his wisdom amongst MANY others like Christine Tatum, the present editor-in-chief of Infoition News Services who has also served as the past national president of SPJ. So you see, we were truly in good hands. Ms. Tatum herself was kind enough to even give me a one-on-one advice on certain disclaimers that I should have in my product review site, MomViews.net.

Welcome to St. Marys, Mr. Clinton!

I just heard the news that former President, Bill Clinton will be in my hometown of St. Marys, PA today (Thursday)!  This is EXCITING news for my itty bitty home city!  After speaking with more people about his visit, I  realize why the Clinton party may be heading into our pretty little city and the surrounding cities and towns, possibly because of a few remarks that Barack Obama made in San Francisco the other day?  Now, I've been in my own little world these days, what with starting a full-time job and whatnot, but I have searched around and found this post over at Politico.com that has captured, in full, Obama's remarks on small towns in PA and the Midwest.

Even though I have my opinion, I am not going to comment on Barack's remarks right at this moment because I need to educate Mr. Bill about St. Marys!

American Idol: The Top 12 Sing The Beatles

I'm going to go ahead and get my main American Idol spoiler over right now.  Either David Hernandez or Kristy Lee Cook is going home after tomorrow night.  I'll get to my reasons why in a bit.

Overall, tonight's show was pretty entertaining.  Everyone was getting a little crazy and what was up with Ryan Seacrest mosh pitting around the stage with Chikezie?  Soon he'll be wearing a mohawk.  Speaking of mohawk's, when will David Cook bring back his?  I'm all about that David Cook boy.