Hip As I Wanna Be » Momz Share

Momz Share Website Is Live!

JennieG — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:25:51 +0000

So excited to announce that the official Momz Share website is live! So very, very excited!

What you can expect from the new site:

News about blogger networking events in the Baltimore / Washington D.C. Metro Area
Guest posts by fantastic bloggers on important topics.
Features on area bloggers and much, much more!

DC Metro Momz Share – Silver Spring Video (Better Late Then Never!)

JennieG — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:41:34 +0000

What you need to know is that I’ve never made a video movie before so it is not the greatest. <–Disclaimer But here is a video of some fabulous bloggers who came out for the second Momz Share event. Recognize anyone you know? Yes, the most annoying music ever. Anyone have easy movie making software that will let me put pictures AND video in? (If you don’t help me then I will have to continue making cheesy videos like this one that you will have to watch. So basically you would be helping yourself… you know, in the end!)

IF YOU ARE IN THIS VIDEO – LEAVE A COMMENT SO READERS CAN FIND YOUR FABULOUS SELF/BLOG!

Momz Share: A Successful Silver Spring Soiree

JennieG — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:46:26 +0000

I’m exhausted.

But in a good way. In a very, very good way.

This past Saturday we (Lara & I) held our second Momz Share event. (First event details here.) This one, appropriately titled “The Silver Spring Soiree” was hosted by the wonderful (and hilarious BTW) Jessica McFadden of A Parent In Silver Spring at the The Little Gym in Silver Spring, MD. We had over 70 (totally lost count) bloggers from the DC Metro area in attendance!

Some of the night’s highlights? Well, where to begin…

–>RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY! An auction to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Team Why Mommy, anchored by Sunday Stillwell of Extreme Parenthood in honor of our friend Susan Niebur of Toddler Planet‘s courage and tenacity. The women in attendance were extremely generous, buying up raffle tickets for the cause. And the donations? Well, we had THOUSANDS of dollars worth of DONATED items from business as well as an additional $1,000 donation from Bit Defender! Truly overwhelming!

Our gratitude goes out to:

La Papillon Spa, Peace Love Lip Gloss, Bring It To Fruition, The Round House Theater, The Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery, The National Aquarium, Tuscan Home Decor & Design, All things Italian, Certifikid, Then Again Photography, The Melting Pot of DC, Tech Savvy Mama, Be Lifestyle MedSpa, Simplify Organizing, BitDefender and their BitMoms community! (Although she won’t want me to, I really must mention my creative-cohort at this point – Lara Dipaola. She worked like a maniac to arrange all of this. I did none of it. She is my personal hero!)

–>WE MUST NOT FORGET THE FOOD! Food for the soiree was provided by Sarah of The Soupergirl, Theresa of Treet, and the last minute heroics provided by Done Right Catering. (Seriously, they saved the day and personally supervised the entire time. What a fantastic company. Hire them NOW!)

–>GOT PASSION? We were also lead in an exercise in finding our passions by Lauree, life coach and owner of Simply Leap . (I’m planning on writing a separate post on this tomorrow. Inspiring stuff!) Also much gratitude to Melanie Spring of Sisarina, our Momz Share mentor and sponsor extraordinaire.

–> DID I MENTION THE NETWORKING? This is just such a unique opportunity to meet other area bloggers and network offline. Someone told me that evening that Momz Share was “the best part of a conference.” Which totally made me smile. BECAUSE THAT IS THE POINT. The entire reason we began this project was so that bloggers can network offline and build strong relationships. We want everyone to form partnerships so that they can reach out and have support in their online efforts.

INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE PHOTOS? We have a Momz Share Flickr group and photos can be found here. (Many thanks for Then Again Photography and Laura from Better in Bulk for their skills. You ladies are amazing!)

INTERESTED IN READING OTHER BLOGGER’S TAKE ON MOMZ SHARE? There will be a link up here.

FEEDBACK? If you went and would like to provide feedback anonymously, do so here.

Momz Share – This Weekend! (May 22)

JennieG — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:32:07 +0000

DC Metro Bloggers… our second Momz Share is this weekend! Woo hoo!

Some quick bits of information for you:

If you haven’t already registered, please check out this post and register. Our theme is “FINDING YOUR PASSIONS!” Lauree Ostrofsky, life and career coach from Simply Leap will be offering some tips and hints for busy moms on cultivating their inner passions and dreams!
The location and time have changed. Our new location is the Little Gym In Silver Spring from 8-11pm.
There is a $10 food and beverage registration fee. All money raised in excess of administration costs will be donated to charity.
In support of Why Mommy’s battle with cancer, there will be an raffle auction with tons of goodies to benefit cancer research. Bring $1 bills!!!
Follow us on Twitter @momzshare and fan us on Facebook to learn the latest!
Hashtag on Twitter is #momzshare
We will have a McLinky link up after the event, details will be announced. We also have a Flickr Momz Share pool for pictures after the event. Video is encouraged as well!
Blogroll can be found here. We have 74 people registered so far.
Jessica McFadden of A Parent In Silver Spring is the host!
Melanie Spring of Sisarina will be at the event! Melanie and Sisarina are official Momz Share sponsors and will be developing a website for Momz Share in the next month! Be sure to thank her when you meet her!

See ya Saturday! (MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND – DON’T FORGET!)

Momz Share May 22nd Attendee Blogroll

JennieG — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:42:09 +0000

Momz Share Founders:

Hip As I Wanna Be (Jen)

Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom (Lara)

Momz Share Hostess:

A Parent In Silver Spring (Jessica)

May 2010 Attendees (In order of registration)

Barely Domestic Mama

Seriously A Homemaker

It’s My Time To Write

Tuscan Home Decor & Design

Land Of Bean I’m Not The Nanny

Caffeine And A Prayer

Laundry For Six Traveling Marshalls

An Acorn Dreaming

Urban Mama

There Must Be More To Life Than Dishes & Laundry

Look What Mom Found And Dad Too

Did You Remember Your Pill Today?

Washington Family Magazine

The Dementia Queen (Blog under development)

If you are not listed on this blogroll then you are not registered! Please read this to register.

Note: Venue has changed!

Announcing Our May Momz Share: The Silver Spring Soiree!

JennieG — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:20:38 +0000

I am so happy to announce that our second quarter Momz Share event will be hosted by Jessica McFadden, author of A Parent In Silver Spring! If you aren’t familiar with Momz Share you can check out this newspaper article by the Gazette.

Date/Time: Saturday, May 22, 2010 (8pm-11:00pm)

NEW Location: The Little Gym /1386 Lamberton Drive /Silver Spring, MD

Price: $10 NOTE: All payment will go towards food and beverages for the evening and admin costs (launch of new website) after that all money raised from ANY Momz Share events will go towards charity. More will be announced at the event.

Topic: What is your dream? Tailor your blog to your goals!

And yes, there will be an unofficial after-party at a super-secret location. Super-secret is code for “we’ll tell you when you get there!”

TO REGISTER: All bloggers who wish to attend must register. (Even if you registered for the last one, this is your official ticket in to the May event so registration is important!) We need the deets on you. Yes, your REAL NAME. Yes, your REAL ADDRESS. Why? We mail confirmations, we do name tags… its all sorts of official, you know? You will receive a confirmation email and further communication from this address: jlgerlock(at)comcast.net. Please look for it! REGISTRATION HERE.

MOMZ SHARE LAUNCH SURVEY: Help us make Momz Share better! If you attended the first one, please (PLEASE) fill out this confidential survey. CONFIDENTIAL, ladies. No one will have any clue who wrote what. So give us the real deal. The results we get from this survey will help us shape future events. SURVEY HERE.

And of course, don’t forget to follow Momz Share on Twitter (@momzshare)and friend us on Facebook (here). (BTW – We tweet with the hashtag #momzshare) We use those to communicate cool stuff with attendees. If you would like to see pictures from the first event – check them out on Flickr! If you are a business that would like to become involved in some way, please email lara.momzshare(at)gmail.com.

FALL 2010 HOSTESS – Jill, author of Scary Mommy

Momz Share DC Metro Launch Party

JennieG — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:45:19 +0000

On Saturday night Lara Dipaola and I had the privilege of launching Momz Share and playing host to 45 amazing DC Metro area bloggers!

In case you are not familiar with Momz Share: The concept is to simply provide a real life opportunities for moms who have a passion for blogging to connect, build relationships, learn, share information and form strong personal networks. The events are held quarterly and hosted by a different, fabulous D.C. Metro Region blogger. It is one part girl’s night out and one part networking.

Okay, official speak over. If you wanna read more, click here. It is now time to gush!

I don’t even know where to begin except to say that we had the most fabulous, interesting and diverse group of women. I was humbled and in awe of every single one of them BEFORE they even got there. And to have them all assembled under one roof was truly an honor. I am putting a linky on the bottom of this post because I think that while we were the hosts, THEY will tell the real story!

If you would like to see some photos from the event (Because, as we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words and I don’t have enough space on this blog for that.) —->We have a Flickr group here. More pictures will be added by the attending bloggers in the future so check back! (Why am I wearing a tiara, you ask? Lara provided it and well, the Tarara wine was so yummy that I felt a little “uninhibited.” Enough said.)

And permit me, if you will, to acknowledge the wonderful companies who came on board and donated services to help our vision come to fruition. This would still be in concept stage if they hadn’t offered their services!

107 Designs –Michael Guill designed the Momz Share logo and buttons! He is an amazing talent and wonderful friend. Give him some love on Twitter @107Designs or check out his totally cool website here.

Sisarina – Lara and I met with Melanie Spring in Bethesda one day and she totally got the concept. Not only that, she jumped on board! Her company Sisarina designed the Momz Share banner and soon to be collateral material, not to mention…. OUR NEW WEBSITE! (Under construction. More to come!) Wow, right? Tweet her up @sisarina or check out her business online!

Tarara Winery – I can’t even tell you how overwhelmed we were with their generosity! They jumped in with both feet and poured wine for our guests all night and even sent each lady home with their own vino. Thank you to Jordan and Kerri for supporting Momz Share! Give them some love @tararawinery and on the web.

And there is no way that I can forget Laura of Better in Bulk and Amanda of Then Again Photography for coming in and saving the day with their photography genius. Ladies, you are wonderful! (But I kinda already knew that!)

Special thanks also go out to the Maryland Ensemble Theatre and Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center for loaning us gorgeous linens for the soiree!

EXTRAVAGANTLY AWESOME DRAWING PRIZES WERE PROVIDED BY: e.l.f. Cosmetics, Soge Shirts, Jasmere.com, Thien Kim – Passion Parties, La Papillion Spa, Port Discovery, Lisa Helfert Photography, 107 Designs (Additional information on there contributions can be found here.)

TAKE HOME GIFTS FOR THE LADIES WERE DONATED BY: Tarara Winery , La Papillion Spa, Seed Body Care, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Jasmere, MET – The Fun Company (Additional information on there contributions can be found here.)

The next Momz Share event will be held on May 22nd and will be hosted by Jessica of A Parent in Silver Spring! We will require another round of registrations which will begin this Friday on this website. Look for details on the event and the topic from @mammamania, @dipaolamomma and @jessicaAPISS via Twitter soon! And BTW – the next event better not end in a trip to the ER. But that is another blog post entirely, isn’t it?

Momz Share Profile: Mizz Information

JennieG — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:12:24 +0000

Name and Name of Blog: Maggie McGary, Mizz Information

Twitter name: @Maggielmcg

Tell us a little bit about your blog: I used to just blog about random stuff, then I kept reading how it was better if you picked one topic to blog about, so I started blogging about social media and realized I had a lot to say about it so it stuck. I blog about social media–trends, what’s new, what’s coming, and what bugs me about it. I work for an association so I also blog about social media as it relates to associations.

Most surprising or coolest thing that has happened as a result of your blogging? When I started blogging in 2006, it a) never occurred to me that anyone would actually read it and b) that I’d end up getting a job because of it. Both have happened; I don’t have a ton of readers but more than I used to, and my posts are frequently featured in other places, which is nice. And I am the online community & social media manager for an association.

What do you love the most about blogging? That I can write about whatever I want, when I want–and only if I want to. When I’m not feeling it, I don’t do it.

Name one thing that might surprise people about you. I have webbed toes (some–not all of them!)

Aside from blogging, what would you name as some of your passions? My family, reading, movies, anything cute and Japanese, social media, home decorating.

We all love to discover new blogs. Name two of your favorite blogs on the internet!

Stuff White People Like because it’s hilarious

Cute And Devil – my sister’s blog

Momz Share Profile: Musings From Me on Kids, Preteens and Teens

JennieG — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:01:04 +0000

Name and Name of Blog: Jill Berry / Musings from Me on Kids, Preteens, and Teens

Tell us a little about yourself and your other blogs:

I live about halfway between DC and Baltimore. I’m not a native Washingtonian or a Baltimorean. I grew up in England…Manchester to be precise. I came to Maryland after college in Pennsylvania. Actually, it is even more complicated than that. Here’s my life in a 140 character tweet:

Born UK. Lived US frm aged 4-9. Lived UK aged 9-10. Lived US aged 11. Lived UK aged 12-18. Moved 2 PA 4 college. After graduation moved MD

I write about raising kids near DC for DC Metro Moms. I am the Parenting and Families Editor for DC Ladies. I am also at the Baltimore Parenting Tweens Examiner. In addition, I write for TypeAMom about Preteens

In my spare time (ha ha), I am the new City Leader for DC City Mommy which is a place for moms to share parenting tips, find an activity or school for their child, and meet other moms. Join us!

I participate on the Family Circle site: Momster.com, the site for moms of tweens and teens. Come join my group on Chores for Tweens and Teens. I write a blog for Momster, too.

Twitter name: @MusingsfromMe and @KidPreteenTeen

Tell us a little bit about your blog:

I am raising a kid, a preteen, and a teen and living to blog about it at http://www.musingsfromme.com. I did not start blogging until my youngest was 5. I have no recent pee, poop, or throw up stories to share. Instead, I must tread through the minefield of what I can and cannot blog about with my tween and teen girls. Both have been known to check out my blog from time to time, which keeps me on my toes!

Most surprising or coolest thing that has happened as a result of your blogging?

I was interviewed twice by local TV. I was interviewed by Fox 45 Baltimore about my children’s experiences with Yoursphere.com: an online social network that puts safety first and is an alternative to Facebook and MySpace.

WUSA gave me the chance to test out a new cleaning tool. Click to see if it worked or not.

What do you love the most about blogging?

The community. I have met more people in the last year of blogging than during my entire life. I am a quiet person, but blogging, tweeting, and connecting with people online has given me a voice.

We all love to discover new blogs. Name two of your favorite blogs:

I check a couple of blogs regularly. I like to find out what is happening in the lives of the bloggers:

Notes From The Trenches - Chris is a mom of 7 who used to homeschool when she lived in New England. her kids range in age from 5 to 15. Chris tells it like it is. She shares funny stories, like the time her son exclaimed “That is the saddest thing in the world!” when he watched a box of donuts roll off the shopping cart and get crushed by a car.

Woulda Shoulda – Mir is a divorced and re-married mom of 2. She blogs about life in the South from the perspective of a former northerner. She blogs about her struggle to come up with a diagnosis for her square peg round hole son.

Momz Share Profile: Land Of Bean

JennieG — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:48:28 +0000

Name and Name of Blog: Cara Blevins (aka Carabee) Land of Bean

Other blogs you write ? BlogTrotting

Twitter name: Carabee

Tell us a little bit about your blog:

Totally true tales about the insanity that abounds in a home with the most crazy active, picky-eating, loud talking, mess-making, teleporting, destruction-wreaking toddler on the planet. She’s just lucky she’s so darn cute.

What do you love the most about blogging?

It’s cliche, but I really do love the sense of community within the blogging world. When I first became a stay at home mom, I had no idea how isolating it can be. Just me and my daughter day in and day out. Sounds like heaven until you actually have to live it. Blogging helped me get through those early crazy days. When I didn’t know anything about anything, (not that I have a clue now) and felt SO lost and alone. I didn’t want to complain to my husband or friends because I feared they would judge me and think I wasn’t cut out for it. As a type A career woman before, I know they were all watching closely. Which isn’t to say that they weren’t supportive, they were, I’m just crazy like that.

Because of blogging, I have made some amazing friends. Relationships that have spilled over into the real world and become very much a part of my everyday life. I have come to realize that there is no “normal” when it comes to kids. And perhaps most importantly, that no matter how insane I might be feeling, I am NOT alone.

Name one thing that might surprise people about you?

This won’t surprise anyone that knows me in real life, but I am a huge Sci-Fi junkie. Give me a space adventure over a romantic comedy any day of the week. It all began with Star Wars and Luke Skywalker when I was a wee lass of only 3 years old. Since then, it has only gotten worse. I don’t go so far as dressing up as a Princess Leia at ComiCon, but I do know how to say “success” in Klingon. Yep, I’m a geek.

We all love to discover new blogs. Name two of your favorite blogs on the internet!

Not to Brag - NTB was one of the first blogs I read and she has kept me engaged and entertained ever since.

Momisodes – Funny and touching, Momisodes posts wonderful stories about her life with Dadisodes and Babisodes and is expecting Babisodes 2.0 in a couple of months.