Orange County Moms Blog

Vlog: Moms, kids and pets

A simple Pineapple Martini toast to all the moms who give their kids the gift of pets. Whatever the pet, whatever the size, whatever the mess. 

Mom Bloggers Aren't Free Ad Hos, Really

If one more company hits me up to pimp their sale or frivolous whatever, I may officially lose it.

It's just ridiculous. We are asked to sell everyone else's stuff and do it for free. Hello?! We are moms, we are busy, we have kids and families to provide for and take care of. 

The ridiculous thing is, these companies (out to build their own financial families), see our worth, as they seek us out and hit us up, but they don't value the true essence of family we stand for--which is at its root: loved ones who spend quality time together and financially (and emotionally, of course) support one another. Too many Mom Bloggers get stuck spinning their wheels for free at the expense of their family because they get lost on this runaway Mother Theresa of Blogging Bandwagon.

Now, this is no revolutionary bitchfest I'm venting here; it's been said before. Which brings to the front burner, why are less and less companies getting it? 

I don't know, but cheers to companies who do get it, who value the worthy Mom Blogger and her message and who see beyond a url of free ad space. Cheers to those who pay for space (or offer other legit value she deems worthy).

So, now, what needs to happen to these companies taking advantage of innocent newbies or kind-hearted not-so-newbies? Perhaps they need to be outed, then they might see the power of a Mom Blogger.

Just sayin.

This is an original Orange County post by Debbie, a writer, mom and vlogger but no free ad pimp ho. You can find her at her OC e-zine site at PeaceandMom.com, on Facebook, Twitter, at Debbie's Hot Topics or DebbieLavdas.com.

Strike a pose? My school's about to strike.

Orange County's Capo teachers (CUSD) are about to strike any day it seems. I don’t know what to think or what to believe, but I know that talk of substitute teachers who’ve never been fingerprinted is enough to make me do shots (my 2-minute Martini Monovlog above).

I just can’t imagine dropping my kids off with picket lines. Can’t we all just get along, already? It’s been going on for months! Who’s really got the kids’ best interest at heart? Kids or cash? LA's Bill Handel had some usual frank talk yesterday on his KFI radio show with OC mom/reporter Hannah Scott (worth a listen: click OC Teachers on 4/1).

The story is all over, at MSNBC and more. So with all the chatter, why am I—and so many of my fellow Mom friends—still disengaged?

I wonder: are your kids in Capo, do you care, would you picket at Capo or if it hits your district? 

This is an original Orange County post. You can keep up with Debbie, strike or not, at her OC e-zine site at PeaceandMom.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, at Debbie's Hot Topics or DebbieLavdas.com.

I'm a Serial School Changer.

Now I’m not talking about switching my kids to a new school because of a new job or house, I’m talking scooping them from stability simply because of the curriculum, philosophy, teachers, lunch menu, paint colors or whatever the reason this time. I jest on that last part, but you get the idea. 

My kids are four and six, yes, I’ve had the same hairstyle longer than my tikes have had their school mascots. Between them, I've had at least five school changes/ordeals/transitions/freakouts. The private schools, public schools, charter schools ...

So is it just me? I don’t know, as so many OC moms around me seem to have a backup school in their back pocket. Sure, we give the Stepford wave and smile at dropoff, but we’re calculating a better plan before the door shuts.