Me Too You

My #Best09...Inspired by @GwenBell - Best Insight or Aha! Moment, Best Social Web Moment, Best Stationery, Best Laugh, Best Ad, Resolution

Continuing @GwenBell 's #best09 Blog Challenge...

Read all of my #best09 here.

December 26 - Insight or aha! moment

There are ways that I can do less while making more of an impact

Running around crazy doesn't do anyone much good. On a crisp weekend last March, I was near Yosemite for my nephew's birthday. My mom and I were talking about the book The Power of Less (my #best09 book). The previous week, I had been talking to some fellow board members at Explorer Preschool about the next year and what we were all up for. I was the membership chair and my thought was that I would continue in the position for the following year, since I felt like I had just gotten my head around everything and could now work on some improvements. But...as I talked with my mom that weekend I realized that if I stepped up to be President of the Board, I could actually do less (in terms of daily, administrative work), but have more of an impact at the school.

Aha!

Both paths would be valuable, but which would save my sanity and which would have more impact for the school and for me? (By the way, sure, I could have quit the board, but it is very important to me to give back to an organization that has had such an impact on me and on my family.) So I took the path that was less intensive hour-wise, but had more of an impact. Even though being President SEEMS like more work, it really isn't (or, it doesn't have to be). The hours that I spend are less in number, but have a greater impact and that feels good for me in my life right now.

December 27 - Social web moment

This was hard...since I work IN social web, there are so many social web moments. Going to conferences and events is one big, continuous social web moment. I often say in my head "She/he looks so familiar to me...oh, right, because I look at her/his profile photo on twitter every day. Oh yeah." I suppose it has happened so much this year that I am starting to just get used to it. There are still some big moments that stand out for me in 2009, namely: $1 from Jessica Gottlieb during a cab ride after the Social Luxe Lounge party at BlogHer means all her secrets are safe with me, a lovely lunch with Ciaran Blumenfeld (@momfluential) at the lovely (did I already say lovely?) Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel (I think I could talk to her for hours, oh right, I did), meeting @DearBadKitty and immediately feeling at home with her, celebrating Stefania's birthday and signing karaoke to the Backstreet Boys, seeing all of the insightful, witty and fun Silicon Valley Moms Blog bloggers at our holiday party this year and feeling like at this point we are all old friends and family, seeing all my IRL friends join twitter after Oprah did, taking an awkward photo with @BackpackingDad at BlogHer'09 and then repeating it at the SV Moms holiday party. But the biggest social web moment for me of 2009 was...

Random limo reunion with moburns67 at BlogHer'09

After flying into Chicago for BlogHer'09 with my friend Carla, we waited outside for our pre-arranged car to meet us. We were both in a rush to get to different events and were hoping this limo would whisk us quickly to the hotel, so we wouldn't have to, you know, stand in an annoying taxi line (which actually looked like it was going fast and not annoying at all). We waited and waited and waited. Soon we noticed that other people looked like they were waiting. Soon it was determined that the limo company had grouped us all together and instead of a private ride, there would be 14 of us in the limo together. No problem at all, the more the merrier. Except...not all of the 14 of us were there. Heavy. Sigh. Annoyed. Very annoyed.

Then I noticed that one of the people standing there waiting was someone that I knew. From a long time ago. 16 years ago, moburns67 and I worked together and were good friends. We had lost track of each other somewhere along the way. I walked up to her and said "Hi. I think I know you. Maura?" She said "Yes." (Well, of course, we are in social web land, where of course she would have people coming up to her saying they "know" her.) "No, I mean I KNOW you. I'm Lin? We used to work together?" "Oh! Right! Wow! Hi!" It was quite random to run into an old friend like that. I was not surprised to find out that she is so active on twitter. After all, she used to play scrabble via email, I believe. So ahead of the times. Since then we've gotten together for coffee and talked tweetups. Hopefully another coffee date is on the books for this next week. It has been so nice to reconnect, virtually and in real life. Here's to that terrible limo company who made it happen.

December 28 - Stationery

Well, it is not paper, it is Pingg.com

Now I am really thinking I should go look for some new stationery and write some handwritten notes. But...my find for the year for invites and ecards is Pingg.com. My friend Jane told me about this company and I used it to send Mother's Day cards via facebook and email to all of my friends who are mothers (and to my mother, of course!). I love that you can upload your own photo (or choose one of their designs, which are so cool and varied) and use a lot more capabilities than evite has. You can turn RSVP on or just use it was a card. Happy ecarding :) Now I have to run to the stationery store (Paper Source anyone?)

December 29 - Laugh

TOP SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL

Many laughs I am thinking of from 2009 need to be protected. Seriously, I am under an obligation of confidentiality, which I take very seriously. So any retreat hairstyles and subsequent bar visits (shhhh....) must be kept entirely under wraps. ROTFL.

December 30 - Ad

Somewhere in my subconscious...

I think I largely avoid ads....TIVO and a crazy, busy life helps me in this endeavor. But, of course, I still see them from time to time. Wait, did I even watch the SuperBowl in 2009? I don't recall...I think all ads are just fed directly into my subconscious, so that I am not even aware of seeing them. And I certainly can't remember any. I will have to pay closer attention...

December 31 - Resolution I wish I kept..

Presence

I just went back and reread a post I wrote on Simplicity Sake (a blog my sister and I started last year, but haven't kept up...hmm...this does not bode well, eh?) about New Year's Resolutions from 2009. My resolution last year to be more PRESENT in my life.

While I feel like I made progress on this last year, I think this is always something I have to keep in mind. And I need to remind myself of it. It is easy to get sucked into this, that and the other thing. Especially as I take on new challenges with work and step up my travel schedule (which is definitely on the books for 2010).

The first thing that comes to my mind is being present with my kids and my family. Especially as the kids get older, it is easy to think they are ok, they are fine, they don't need me as much. True, not as intensely and maybe not as much time, but still...they need my presence. I feel like this year I may need to build some things INTO the schedule. Things like:

• adjusting my schedule so that I'm working from 9-2 and then with (and PRESENT) with the kids from 2pm on
• making one-on-one time with each of the kids a priority
• getting a new babysitter so Jeff and I can have our alone time on a regular basis

Another resolution for 2010: Jeff and I have made a goal to run a half marathon in 2010 - we estimate that it is about 13.1 miles from our house to the Los Gatos Dam (and then there is the #tiarathon and #shredheads of course...). Yoga once a week should round things out. Hold me to it?

Happy 2010 and THANKS Gwen!

Happy 2010! And thank you SO MUCH, Gwen, for inspiring this series of posts. I am so glad I made the time to do this, to look back at 2009, to look at 2010 with this perspective. Now that I am done, I look forward to reading everyone else's #best09 posts and learning from them as well.

A rainy day at the beach is still a day at the beach (well, from inside...)

Today I was visiting hotels in LA with the lovely Ciaran from Los Angeles Moms Blog to find a location for an upcoming Silicon Valley Moms Group event. It was rainy, pouring actually, but it was still beautiful. I could have stayed there all day. In fact, I almost missed my plane back home.

It is Robin and I's birthday tomorrow. Kisses to you, my twin sis! So glad we got to spend the day together yesterday at Disneyland being grown-ups.

My Yummie Tummie shapewear has left BlogHer'09 Chicago and gone on vacation to Cape Cod

About a month ago, I was at the video shoot for the Silicon Valley Moms Group's new video series A Byte Out of Life, when one of my costars, Sheila, co-founder of Clever Girls Collective, asked me if I would like to be a brand ambassador for Yummie Tummie shapewear at BlogHer'09 in Chicago. I had separately just heard about the Yummie Tummie line from a twin mommy friend of mine has a couple of these magic little items. Um, yes, twins. It is a doozy. Even for those of us, like me, who don't get stretch marks. Yes, I work out and I do weigh the same as I did pre-babies, but the tummy has never been quite the same. I said....SURE!

Coincidentally, that next week I went shopping for a few fun clothing items to wear at BlogHer....and I took my three darling little angels along with me. They were actually VERY good kids and were in great awe of the "mommy store" - Ooh, pretty! Wow! You should get this! You should get that! I went for minimal damage on the pocketbook, which was slightly disappointing to them. But I did let them pick out a couple of things. As you can see...being a mom has left me craving...ahem...coverage in the tummy area. Sometimes I go for awful things, like this ruffle top (dress? For a teenager, perhaps).

Mommy and my three kids in the dressing room, trying on clothes to wear at BlogHer'09

At BlogHer, I did not wear the ruffle top number. No, no. Because I had my Yummie Tummie tank on. Instead, I wore a fitted shirt. Yes, a fitted shirt. And I LOVE the fact that the tank is MEANT to be seen. I am a fan of the layering look anyway, but a layer that actually benefits me? Great. I also really liked how the bust area is separated from the tummie area, so it actually holds EVERYTHING in place. No more annoying jiggle. The tank actually seems to have two layers of shapeness in it. While the top layer might ride up a bit, the inner layer clings to your body, making everything pretty much stay in place. Adjustments ARE necessary from time to time, but overall, I felt everything stay where it needed to and be really comfy and lightweight.

Big Stuff! I was starstruck to take a Yummie Tummie photo with Carson Kressley from Queer Eye from the Straight Guy (loved that show! miss it...even though they did get to be pretty much the same over time), right after he stripped to take off his sweater and put on a RIPT (the guy version of the Yummie Tummie).  (Yes, that's my fabulous friend and BlogHer roommate, Carla taking photos in the background.)

Me and Carson Kressley at BlogHer - me in my Yummie Tummie, Carson in his RIPT. Photo credit: Carla Duharte/BabyJIDesign

This first day at BlogHer, I tucked the Yummie Tummie tank into my jeans. The second day, I wore a looser shirt, but tried out the layered on the bottom look. Worked out very well.

Now...I am in Cape Cod, vacationing with my best friend, who just moved to the Cape, and my sister, who lives in St. John's Newfoundland. The Yummie Tummie tank has continued right along with me, when I am not wearing a swimsuit, that is! I am loving these things, even in the hot and humid weather here. Really want to try the shorts, the spagetti strap tank, and maybe something in leopard.   

Get your Yummie Tummie today - there is a 30% discount in effect through August 7th! Use the BLOGHER30 discount code.

Full disclosure: #1: I am legal counsel for Clever Girls Collective, the fantastic new social media agency that is representing Yummie Tummie. #2: I received two complimentary Yummie Tummie Boyfriend tanktops as part of being a Yummie Tummie Brand Ambassador.

Celebrating with the Macy's Moms at Disneyland

For Mother's Day, a contest was held by Disney and Macy's, awarding 50 moms (one from each state) an amazing 5 day - 4 night coast to coast trip to Disneyland and Disneyworld with their families. These lucky ladies were flown from all over the United States on Father's Day to start their celebration with a sunrise breakfast in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle on Disneyland's Main Street. They had one day at Disneyland, then were off to Florida for 2 days at Disneyworld. The event will finish off tomorrow night with a sunset dinner at Disneyworld. I was happy to be invited by Disneyland to attend the sunrise breakfast and cover the event as press.  The stories from the winners were amazing...as was the event. 

I met the winner from Indiana coming down on the elevator of the Grand Californian Hotel with her two girls. In typical fashion, the girls were discussing who would get to push the button. They agreed that the older sister would push the up button for the day and the younger sister would push the down button for the day. "There, now we don't have to fight for the rest of the day!" Mom said. Smart mama! She mentioned that she had won the contest on the Ellen show and that the whole thing was just surreal. 

The winners met in a conference room of the Grand Californian Hotel at 5:30am (ah, that part was fun, but this is what you have to do in order to have a sunrise breakfast), where they were each given a pink sash (ala, beauty pageant) to wear. Kelly, the winner from Delaware, told me about a long ago promise she had made to her 10-year-old son that when he was 10, she would take him to Disneyworld. With the current state of the economy, it wasn't going to be possible. And then she got the call that she was a winner. Wow, it sounds meant to be. I heard from the winer from Alabama, whose husband has been very ill and has been housebound for quite some time. When she won, he was doing better and she was able to get clearances from 4 doctors to allow them to travel. "This came right at the right time. It's a dream come true," she said. 

We then proceeded down through Downtown Disney to the park. On the way, I talked to Kimberly, a mom from Maryland. She has five children, but left four of them at home. She brought her 2-year-old, her best friend from the first day of her school and her friend's young daughter. Kimberly is interested in blogging and we talked a lot about Silicon Valley Moms Group. I am hoping to see her start a blog and hear about the rest of her experiences on this trip!

Macy's Moms celebration at Disneyland from Linsey Krolik on Vimeo.

It was a very unique experience to walk down Main Street of Disneyland with only 200 people, the park deserted and quiet. It reminded me of doing first tracks while skiing in Vail with my sister years ago - being able to ski on totally fresh snow with no one on this huge mountain was amazing and this was very much in the same vein. When we got to the front of the castle, a wedding-like scene was revealed. There were tables draped in pink silk tablecloths, gorgeous flower centerpieces, and a full spread of a gourmet breakfast. Each of the moms was crowned Queen for a Day with a tiara. Soon, the Queen of the castle came out to trumpets playing and soon all of the princesses - Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine - came out to talk with the crowd, take photos and sign autographs (I have to admit that I pulled out my autograph book for the occasion, something I have never really been into at Disneyland. The way they sign is actually pretty cool - and I can see how kids might get over their shyness of talking to these characters if they have some purpose: the autograph.) 

After breakfast, the moms posed for a group photo. The most memorable and over the top part of this whole thing was the release of about 50 doves from the castle. Um, wow. I'm thinking that doesn't happen very often.

The families then had an hour of early access to rides at Tomorrowland (although Space Mountain was broken at the moment...bummer) and to visit Tinkerbell at the new Pixie Hollow. (I was told that Pixie Hollow is really cool at night, when they do a lot of nightclub-like effects with the lighting. "Magical" was the word of choice...of course.). The rest of the day was theirs to play, although the moms did have some VIP seating for the Celebrate a Street Party and the new fireworks show featuring a flying Tinkerbell and Dumbo.

I'm sure they are all having a great time in Disneyworld by now. To win a trip like this would be fantastic - every mom deserves to be Queen for a Day (on a regular basis would be nice...). Disney and Macy's are helping some special moms have a trip of a lifetime. Congratulations to the winners of the Macy's Moms Disney contest!

Happy 10 year anniversary to us...a little early

Jeff and I got married 10 years ago on June 26, 1999. We were able to get away for a 4-day-weekend BY OURSELEVES for the first time since we become parents five and a half years ago. Well, we've gone away for a night or two, but the only significant getaway was when I was pregnant with Ava. Does not count.

We escaped to Portland, Oregon, but actually did not stay there much. We took a driving tour and just decided where to go each day - Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood where I relived my Easter childhood trip there by looking for eggs in the stairwell, Eagle Rock Lodge outside of Eugene on the McKenzie River where we hiked and drank wine by the river, Sylvia Beach Hotel on the Oregon Coast where we played 2 truths and a lie, the Portland Rose Testing Gardens and Japanese Gardens where we spent out last couple of hours of freedom before heading home to the kids. We read a lot to each other (one of our favorite pasttimes - this trip our book of choice was Outliers by Malcolm Gladwel, purchased at the famous Powell's Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, located on a city block in Portland). It was very nice, very necessary to get away without the kids. We drank a lot of wine and had long, (COMPLETED!) conversations. When we arrived back home, my parents said that 3 days was perfect...4 days got to be a little much. I'll take 3 days, 3 days is just fine!

    

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WHILE WE WERE GONE...

We missed a Silicon Valley Moms Blog event with Bill Nye the Science Guy (Jeff was a huge fan back in the day). Since we started forgoing our house cleaners and cleaning our house ourselves, we have felt very satisfied with ourselves. Or...we did the first few times. Frankly, the process has gotten a bit tired. The kids were very happy, therefore, when we got to try out the ActiveIon, courtesy of this event. The little green little - futuristic. The fun bzz-ing sound - pleasing. The clean windows and counters and bathrooms and floors - hmmm, quite nice. The best part is that the kids are SO excited about cleaning. Think we can keep this up?

 

Packing for Disneyland

It has been a year since we have been to Disneyland and we are SO ready to go! I usually don't build things up with the kids. I like to instead stealthily pack and then wake them up one morning and say "Guess what? We're going to Disneyland! Hop on up into the car." Because you know what can happen with kids and life. Someone will get sick or Jeff or I will have to work. The Real Reason: I hate the questions.  My kids asking me every single day for a month: "Is TODAY the day we are going to Disneyland?" and then when I say "No, honey, we are going in 2 weeks/1 week/6 days/5 days/4 days/3 days/2 days/tomorrow. We just have to be patient." I get in response "Awwwwww! But MOM!" is not my idea of a good time.

But this time, I actually have told my kids and I told them a while ago. You see, I did this because, honestly my darling husband was a bit on the fence about whether he would be able to take time off from work to go. So...I asked Ava over a month ago, before her birthday, if she wanted to go to Disneyland for her birthday. Of course, she accepted the invitation (squeal!) and then went and told asked Daddy if we could go, with puppy dog eyes.  He, of course, caved. We are going with our good friends, Jen, Steve, and their 3 kids, who are moving to the East Coast the week after our trip. We have vacationed with them for years (including our first trip to Disneyland), so it will be a special trip. We drive down from San Jose this coming Friday and will be there through the next Monday. Father's Day at Disneyland - woo hoo!

I LOVE Disneyland. I really have to be dragged out of the park when it closes. This time around, I am really looking forward to some new stuff that Disneyland has going on this summer - the new Fantasmic show might be a little too old for our kids, but we will definitely be staying up to see the new Dumbo "Magical" fireworks show, heading to Pixie Hollow (Ava and Lily love Tinkerbell!), and checking out the new electrical light parade floats. I wish we could have timed it so that it was someone's birthday (did you know you can get in FREE to Disneyland on your birthday?), like our TWINS' birthday would have been nice. Oh well. Come January, perhaps we'll be back. (The twins in our twins club, Gemini Crickets, all signed up for free tickets - what a bargain for parents of multiples!) A friend also told me that the new Toy Story Mania ride in California Adventure (the park hopper tickets allow you to go to both parks and they are right next to each other) is fantastic - she described it as similar to Astroblasters in Disneyland, but better and with 3D glasses (not sure my kids will REALLY like the 3D, but we shall see...).

Also, our trip happens to coincide with an event that Disneyland has going on that I have been invited to take part in and write about here on Me Too You. About the event: Disneyland had a contest over Mother's Day with Macy's in which it awarded a trip to Disneyland AND Disneyworld to a mom from each of the 50 states and DC. These special moms and their families will enjoy VIP treatment (for instance, a sunrise breakfast at Disneyland, a sunset dinner at Disneyworld) and will see a lot of these new things that Disney has going on.

We will be staying at the Grand Californian Hotel right above/next to Downtown Disney, which I am so excited about! I love craftsman-style architecture and it looks very plush. I don't really know a huge amount about the hotel, so I'll be sure to take some photos and share our experiences at the hotel. We have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel once and at an off-park hotel another time. Staying at the park hotels really do have some special things, in my limited experience. First of all, you have easy access to the park, but you can also get into the park 1 hour early on one day of your stay and you can easily go to character breakfasts and other fun events. And there are just little touches of Disneyland everywhere. Our favorites from the Disneyland hotel: the Tinkerbell glow in the dark wallpaper banner, the life-sized Ariel sitting beside the hot tub, the Captain Hook pirate ship in the pool.

So I'm packing a bit already (princess dresses - check, Jedi Training shirt - check). And following Disneyland on Twitter. I ordered my Vacation Planner DVD (its available to anyone who asks for one at www.disneyland.com and it is supposed to have lot of tips to plan your days in the park). And, yes...I'm counting down the days and putting up with all of the annoying questions. 5 days until we leave!

(FULL DISCLOSURE: Disneyland is footing part of our bill for our trip, as I will be covering the Moms event. Disneyland doesn't do this very often at all, but it was just the perfect opportunity since our family was already headed to the park this particular weekend anyway.)

Sleepover Central

I'm over at Silicon Valley Moms Blog today...  

Ah, Thanksgiving. 7 kids and 7 adults are packed like sardines in my sister's house on Thanksgiving Eve. Oh, actually there are only 5 adults in the house, as my parents brought their "honeymoon suite," their RV which is a haven of quiet and space. Inside the house, it is a sea of Aero beds and sleeping bags. The Mommies are up and down, being kicked out of beds, taking wee ones to the bathroom, searching for lost special pillows and pet friends in the middle of the night. We have time zone issues with some of the kids just arriving and still adjusting. When morning comes, our littlest (2.5 yrs old) asks "Can I go to the slumber party now?" As if she has been waiting for the party to happen all night long. Honey, I hate to tell you, but that WAS the party. And we get to do it again tonight! Joy.

Continue reading this post today at Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Arrival in St. John's (Just Mommy)

Yes, it is me, Mommy. I am by myself today. Well, not my myself. I mean, without the kids. I took a red eye last night from San Francisco to St. John's Newfoundland (via Toronto). It was a good trip, except that I left a bag of Lush bath bombs in the overhead compartment (Dear Flight Attendant Who Took My Lush Bath Bombs: Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your are enjoying your stolen starry bubbles.) I am visiting Robin for the first time in over a year and a half - she has been coming to me mostly (you see, there is sun where I live). Actually, it is very nice here today. Not covered in snow and ice just yet. We just saw a rainbow, in fact - really.

 Here is what we up to mostly. Working with our laptops in Robin's comfy living room, cheese, crackers, spinach dip, pita bread. Hoopy (the cat, so named because she loves to chase hoops - or ponytail ties, depending on your terminology) is cuddling with us. Did I mention we are on our second glass of wine?

I miss the kids...a bit. I called to talk to them when I arrived. Lily talked my ear off for about 15 minutes and then just left me on her bookcase for about 10 minutes - I just hung out, listened and giggled (Ben debating haircuts with Papa, Ava talking about Teacher Annie and how it was "my turn" to go to school today). But I am excited to see my niece and nephew, Hannah and Sam, very soon. How fun to be the doting Auntie (sans (total) responsibility). And hanging out without the clock ticking to bedtime or school pickup is really nice.

We are planning to have dinner at home, then head out to Robin's favorite restaurant, Basho, for drinks with some of her friends. Cheers :)

Mommy is heading to SF for BlogHer

I am packing for a little getaway - 3 days in The City. On about an hour I will be sitting on my suitcase to get it shut (no silly cups will be in there, just clothes and shoes and clothes and shoes...all for me!), picking up some business cards at the printer, and making tracks to SF. I will be speaking tomorrow on legal issues with blogging and I am very excited for the parties...I mean, my session. See you there!