S’mores.  Who HASN’T had them?

There are rite of passage.  As American as apple pie.  A huge part of any childhood memory.

Everybody loves S’mores, right? Who DOESN’T?  I’ll tell  you who.  My husband, that is who.  My husband isn’t fond of S’mores because they contain one vital ingredient – chocolate. Yes, my man hates chocolate.  Which is another blog post entirely, my friends. He is lucky that we are still married.

So we had a problem to solve this weekend because the boys and I love S’mores snacking and hubby snubs it. The challenge? Find a recipe that the hubby will like.

Let me just pause here to ask you a question: Am I the only one in the world who didn’t know that you could make  S’mores with bananas? And mint? And, hello? Strawberries!  Well, you can my friend. (more…)

Nice title, right?

Subtle, that is my middle name.

This is one subject that I just can’t be subtle about.  I can’t beat around the bush. I can’t dance around the subject.  Basically, I NEED YOU!

You see, I’ve found myself somehow up for a nomination by Nickelodeon for “Best Parenting Blog.”  I know, I am as shocked as you are.

I was just all minding my business one day when I came across the notification in my in-box.  I thought that surely it was a mistake.  But then I saw my picture on the same page as this description:

“We know you love Dooce, Amalah and about six million other awesome blogs. But which of these up-and-comers make you laugh, cry and LOVE being a parent?”

Besides the fact that I have NO IDEA WHY I am included in the same company with those ladies (who are awesome BTW), I am beyond thrilled.  I feel like someone nominated me for HOMECOMING QUEEN’.

And I am totally okay with begging asking for votes.

So if you are a friend, or a relative, a stranger or a stalker (no matter!) please head over to Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Picks 2010 to vote to nominate me for the BEST PARENTING BLOG.

I totally appreciate it!

I am hatching a diabolical plan.

Not ready to reveal it yet.  I have to get the thumbs up from my husband first.  (Because, well, he and the kids will need to buy in.) Hint: It involves shoes, a large apple, a charity and a lot of man hours.  Oh, and tons and tons of social media.

And it is in my top ten of things I want to do before I die.

Wanna take a guess?

If you know me in real life you know three things about me – I adore sweets, I love running AND I am a sucker for a good cause.  And HOLY HANNA PEOPLE someone has combined these three things together to create… THE CUPCAKE RUN.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Cakes for Cause will be holding its first ever 5K, dubbed “The Cupcake Run” to benefit youth who  have aged out of the foster care system.  The run/walk (Because they expect walkers and kids too!) will take place on Sunday, April 11^th at 8:30am in Frederick, MD.

The Cupcake Run course will begin in the back lot of the YMCA and will travel through the north end of downtown Frederick.  (Flat course!) Of course there will be awards, t-shirts and all that good stuff but the real fun is the fact that all participants will given a cupcake for their efforts!  Hello?  Sign me up!

Registration  is $15.00 prior to March 31^st and $20 after.  You can register here on Active.com. I really, really want to  to come out and support this race.  Don’t make me beg folks.

And let me fill you in on Cakes for Cause: Elin Ross runs it. She is a fabulous woman, a social visionary and a friend. Cakes for Cause operates the social enterprise, Moxie Bakery & Cafe in downtown Frederick.  Moxie serves as a teaching classroom for youth who have aged out of the foster care system,  are living in public housing, or who are involved with juvenile services.  Open to the public, the Cakes for Cause program serves as an important link for youth as they enter adulthood by enabling them to develop real skills and support within the community.

DON’T FORGET: I’m hosting a Blogher2010 cash sponsorship giveaway from SEED!  Find out more here!

On Saturday I attended my first blogging “conference” in Baltimore. (Ironic, isn’t it? Same day as my blogaversary.) “Bloggy Boot Camp” was put on by the Secret is in the Sauce or more affectionately known in the blog world as SITS.

I’m gonna be honest with you, I had no idea what to expect.

The conference had a nice blend of topics and some truly engaging speakers.  And I learned a lot. But in the end, I didn’t really care much about all that.

You know what I liked most of all?  Hanging with MY PEOPLE.  You see, in my real EVERY DAY life, I am the odd ball.  Having a blog isn’t as common as say, owning a car. Or a blender. My friends appreciate my blog, don’t get me wrong.  They just don’t have a PASSION for blogging like I do.  They don’t exactly “get it.”

I’m the odd ball.

But at Boot Camp, the bloggy passion was literally oozing out of these ladies very pores and it was simply AWESOME.

I confess that I even found myself a little nervous around ladies that I admired.  And I was all yammering on like that middle school girl who just REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wants you to like her.  Which was amusing and slightly pathetic at the same time.  Thank goodness I have ADD and quickly moved on to the next shiny object or I might not have emerged from under the proverbial blanket ever again.

So if you are a blogger and have not had a chance to attend a conference or a seminar or something of that nature, I say to you “GET THEE TO ONE, AND QUICK!”

You will love it.

And because I am feeling all generous and stuff, I put together some tidbits I gleaned from the sessions:

Good overall advice: Be clear on who you are and what you do. You don’t HAVE to categorize yourself as a “mom blogger.” Once you decide what it is that you do… DO IT WELL!  Develop a tagline. USE IT.  And whatever you do: BE SWITZERLAND!  Stay neutral and out of the drama.

On social media: Everything you do in social media has to be thoughtful.  Who you follow and who you interact with makes up your online reputation.  Even your comments can be traced back to you.  Don’t forget that even Twitter is searchable by Google.  Above all else, be professional!  You are your own brand.  Consider every part of your online presence and act accordingly.

If you would like to see a Whrrl story on Bloggy Boot Camp, click here. For more pictures, you can check out Scary Mommy’s photo stream on the event here OR for tons of posts on the event, head over to In The Trenches of Mommyhood for a link up of the posts on this event.

DON’T FORGET: I’m hosting a Blogher2010 cash sponsorship giveaway from SEED!  Find out more here!

DO YOU WANT TO WIN A SPONSORSHIP TO BLOGHER 2010?

Well, then it is time to speak up and start talking about SEED!

SEED Power (a line of all natural body care) is providing some lucky ladies with the chance to attend BlogHer 21010 in NYC with their fabulous SEEDS OF INSPIRATION contest.  Not only will the winner receive a $250 CASH sponsorship, but they will also be VIP guests at an exclusive, swanky NYC PAR-TAY the Friday night of the convention.  (And let me tell you – from what I hear it will be FAB-U-LOUS!)

HERE IS HOW ENTER THE SEEDS OF INSPIRATION BLOGHER 2010 SPONSORSHIP CONTEST:

Visit the Seed Website and read about the products and the founder’s story.

Write a blog post about how the products, philosophy or owner’s story INSPIRE YOU to nurture your own entrepreneurial spirit, live a more organic lifestyle OR make a more positive environmental impact! The post must include a link to the SEED website within it and a mention and link back to this contest to be considered. Then come back to Hip As I Wanna Be and link up!

A COUPLE OF OTHER RULES, BABY:

All contestants must ALSO complete the following steps for their entry to be considered:

• Visit the SEED website and join their community via email
• Follow @SeedPower on Twitter
• Tweet the following “I’m inspired by @SEEDpower & the SEEDs of Inspiration #blogher10 #sponsorship contest http://bit.ly/b2oQDM #pickmeseed”
• Become a fan of SEED on FaceBook

{And don’t forget to leave a comment letting the contest host (ME!) know you completed these steps}

Submit your entry via Mr. Linky below and then you are done!

BUT THERE IS ONE MORE THING, LADIES... The fact that you can enter to win once a week until the contest closes. Just create a new post, link up again and tweet!  The coolness, never ends does it?  And if you want extra chances to win in a different way, you can enter each week over at Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom (Whrrl contest) and Makeover Momma (Vlog contest) as well.

Each entry must be unique and not simply the submission of the previous week’s entry.

Winners who have followed the submission rules will then have their entries judged by SEED on the following criteria: creativity, originality, interpretation of the theme.

SEED Power Body Care will choose the winner of the contest as well as several other winners who will get invitations to the swank-tastic invite only party being hosted on Saturday August 5th, 2010 by SEED.  BTW – Hip As I Wanna Be, though partially sponsored to BlogHer 2010 by SEED, will have no part in the selection process and is simply hosting this contest.

Contest ends March 31, 2010 at 11:00 p.m. PST. Winners will be announced on the SEED website on or about April 9, 2010.  (But it might be a good idea to follow “me” on Twitter and fan Hip As I Wanna Be on Facebook to make sure you are up to date on the contest 411.)

AND…. because they are a truly fabulous company, Seed is also offering the readers of Hip As I Wanna Be a discount on their products.  To order some fabulous products using your special discount code, click here.

NOTE: I AM A TECHNO MORON! For some reason the comments are closed. Just email me at jlgerlock@comcast.net and I will make sure SEED gets them!

Yesterday my family and I were invited to experience a brand new exhibit called “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious” at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore.   What a blast!

My childhood hero!

Now, we had been to Port Discovery years ago with the kids and, of course, we loved it. But this trip was entirely different.  They were completely engaged and were begging for us not to leave. It was three stories of kid nirvana. (THIS kid included!) My personal favorite has always been the Egyptian exhibit.  Last time we visited it, the boys were too young to appreciate it.  This time?  They were running around like maniacs trying to find codes and checking out the mummies. I think we were in that exhibit for a good 30 minutes.

The newest addition to the museum, and the reason for all of the celebration,  is the Curious George area.  This exhibit, which was developed in partnership with PBS KIDS, is an interactive dream for little ones weaving in  math, science, engineering into a colorful fun adventure-land.  Even my oldest son was captivated by it.  Two words: mini – golf!

I highly recommend bringing your kids out to Baltimore for a day of family fun.  Port Discovery is a gem for the kiddos! For more information on Port Discovery and all the exhibits they offer, click here. FTC Disclosure: My family and I were invited guests to the opening celebration of the Curious George exhibit. All opinions are mine alone.