XiaolinMama

Chef Martin Yan cooks for Assmblymember candidate Paul Fong

Haven't had lunch today in preparation for a meal cooked by the venerable Martin Yan for a fundraiser for Paul Fong candidate for CA Assembly.

He joked he was a fine example of what good chinese cooking produces. If you buy 12,000 copies, he joked that would cook for you and bring Rachel Ray to do the dishes. Buy a few more and maybe he'll bring Emeril to do the laundry- now that is tempting!

.Martin was a character, just like Paul Fong. Check out his campaign and vote!

Purple blasters Under6 soccer

Blog World Expo Weekend

This weekend I had the chance to attend Blog World Expo in Las Vegas. Yes, what happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas - except for when you are attending at blogging conference. Then everything said and done is documented and sent around the world via twitter, blog posts and actual talking to each other the next morning. It was a good time - a few interesting panels and many great parties.

Like any conference, the real learning happens in the hall ways, over drinks and when meeting new folks or folks you have met online. It was a huge cross section of bloggers - tech, real estate, military, political, and the godbloggers. It made for a crazy mix of folks.

Here's a snap from the TechSet party at the Mirage's Bare pool, where normally women pay $20 bucks to lay poolside and men pay $40.00. Swanky! Met loads of folks and quite a few free and overpriced drinks.

Had the opportunity to speak this year as a last minute replacement with City Mama and Susan Getgood at the "How to Pitch to (Mom) Bloggers" panel. We had more people in the room than I thought given the audience of BWE and had a ton of questions during and afterwards. Susan kept the session moving and being both a marketer and a mom she had a ton to contribute. Stefania and Susan seriously kick ass. Go over to City Mama's post to read what she didn't get to say on the panel to PR folks. Again, she. kicks. ass. Enuf said.

I learned a whole bunch and left with a million new ideas of what I could do to beef up my personal blog and helped me clarify why I even write this blog. It also helped validate our strategies for launching my latest venture Lookiloos. Most importantly, reminded me that I actually knew more about this than I gave myself credit for.

A few key take aways include:
* Twitter can mobilize masses - or just be an avenue for sharing what you had for lunch.
* At the end of the day, it is ALL about great content. (ala Guy Kawasaki)
* There are a gazillion social media tools and you DON'T have to use them all - just the ones that will work for you or will help you reach your audience.
* Men think a "Hotchick" can sell anything on a video pod cast. (Oh geez, that must explain Sarah Palin!)
* Pack lunch when going to BWE - cuz, you're on your own for food.
* Even boys get giddy when they meet someone they only know online - SO cute to watch. Kinda like BlogHer without all the hugging and squealing.
* Marketers still struggle with figuring out how to outreach to mom bloggers - to some it is a complete mystery that I am not sure they will ever master.

The expo floor had a lot of resources with some great swag. I picked up a few videos including "The Real John McCain" and "Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections" from the BlogCritics booth. I was hoping to win a new wii game from the Yard Barker booth, but left with a ping pong ball. (uh, thanks...) I also got some antibacterial gel from Tara at the Lijit booth. (A very cool tool you all should install on your blogs asap!)

The best swag of the weekend had to be my Maker's Mark Drink Shaker. The MM bus was handing them out, while they were signing up voters. (Does a MOMocrat proud.) As I loaded 4 shakers into my suitcase, I overheard one young woman admit she was not registered and wasn't thinking she had the chance to do so since she traveled so much. The MM person quickly pointed out the computers they had onboard the bus and told her if she registered she could have 2 shakers. She actually went on the bus and signed up! Hot damn, nicely done MM dude! Nicely done!

Overall, great weekend. Now on to figuring out what it all means.

Supplies for return trip from Blog World Expo O8

The hubs and I headed to Las Vegas for Blog World Expo this past weekend. No kids, just blog talking and free drink parties. I have too many new ideas swimming in my head. (Be on the look out for a recap post.)
To make the transitipn back to parenthood easier, I am armed with peanuts from the Southwest Airlines blogger booth, People Magazine from City Mama and drink coupons!
I think a Baileys and coffee is in order to ready myself for the mountain of client calls and laundry that await:( Can't wait to get home.

Pajamas and Working from Home

As many of you know I am a serial entrepreneur. I work from home and frankly, never plan to work solely from an office EVER again. Most days I love it. What is not to love? I call all the shots - pick my clients, never have to engage in office cooler drama, no lame "waste the whole day" meetings and have the luxury to work in my pajamas. ( that is if I didn't have to take the kids to school first) Oh how that seemed like the ultimate perk, no more suits or showering!

As a work from home mom, it is great that Saturday isn't dedicated to laundry and cleaning house. In theory, I can throw a load in at anytime or buy groceries in the middle of the day without the kids. (I never remember to do so, but I could if wanted to to)

I have to say, I have NEVER worked so hard in my life. Gone are the days of leisure lunches and expense accounts. Oh how I miss those. Working from home, means everyone thinks that I now have to manage everything at home because I have "more time", right? The PTA, the household, hire the person to trim the trees, bake snacks for the soccer team, make lunches, worry about health care and bill at least 40 hours a week. Running a business means worrying about cash flow, growing your business and managing your reputation and employees. Running a blog means you have to take care of it, like a child on a daily basis. Some days stink! But most days I have to just laugh/marvel and the insanity I have set up for myself.

Some things I laugh.marvel at on a daily basis:
*Squirrels: I have recently converted my garage into my office - it is still in process. But I marvel at how much noise those little critters make and how quickly they run along my back fence.
* No matter how much time I have - dinner is still not made early enough. The belief that would not serve dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets to my kids ever again when I worked for myself was a DELUSION. HA!
* Shopping for office supplies is an obsession I. MUST. deal with. One really doesn't need all those folders or fancy paper clips- oh, but I can't help myself.
* Twitter is NOT your friend when you have a report to do.
* Twitter is perfect when you want to have some "water cooler" discussion about Sarah Palin.
* There just are not enough hours in the day.
* Wine makes night time work MUCH better.
* I have not worked from home in my jammies yet - I must be doing something wrong. Dang!

Birthday Math

Today is my birthday! I told my son a while back that I was 21 (NOT true!) and since then he has been diligently adding a year to my age.

So this year, my 5 YO daughter asked me how old I was going to be. I told her to ask her brother. They figured out that I was turning 31. ( Bless their hearts- I'm really turning 36 today.)

So I was telling my hair dresser about the kids and Mateo in all his brilliance says. "Well girl, 40 is the new 20, so happy 16th bday to you!"

Now that is MY kinda math.

Lookiloos Finally Launches

More to come, Lookilos launched our partnership with the San Jose Mercury News to host our stories once a week! We're so excited!

Too much sugar means...

A filling at the dentist. Two cavities aack!

My fifteen minutes of fame with Graco

I blogged a few months ago about going to Atlanta with the fine folks at Graco to talk about my favorite car seats.   Well the day is finally here... yippee!  They have unveiled the "Ready for the Road Campaign".

Basically, they put make up on me and had me chatting about what it takes to get me and the family on the road , which is no small feat.  It was a blast.  The campaign is basically real parents telling new parents about the real deal on family travels - whether around the block or on a 8 hour trip to Disneyland.  The microsite even has a car seat chooser - dang where was that when I had a newborn??  Check it out really!

Read the awesome Lindsey from Graco's thoughts here.  Better yet check out the site here.

Be sure to check out the fabulous Kelcy, Vicky and Joe - the true start of this production.  They are freakin' hillarious.  Me dopey!  But I'm used to it :)

Here are two videos - first one nicely package piece about my family and the second behind the scenes.

  Feel free to laugh out loud!  I did and so did the kids.   

McCain gets Barack Rolled