This Full House Archive

Tag: busy mom

  • Don’t Have a Zombie Name for BlogHer?
    Go Ahead and Get One (I’ll Wait!)

     

    One of the things I'm looking forward to the most about attending the BlogHer Conference, next week (besides, enjoying the company of online friends and meeting up with co-writers, some for the very first time, not to mention, the whole, yah, San Diego is GORGEOUS thing, of course!) is attending the Old School Blogging session.

    Not only are 2 of my most favorite people in the whole wide web, Jenn and BusyMom, speaking (Melisa and I have reserved the front row, just so you know) seeing as I will also be celebrating my 8th Blogiversary, in September, I feel as if we are INDEED kindred spirits.

    (AM SO!)

    I am also honored to be able to call them out as very dear friends, IRL, too (yes, they know about it!)

    Why?  Is that weird?  It's not meant to be, really. 

    We've shared the ups, downs and somewhere in-betweens of blogging, while under the influence of children, for 8 years, now (not an easy feat, by the by) and each of us has, quite literally, watched our kids grow up, online.

    Because, contrary to all the reports about blogging being passé, or very nearly dead (at best) there are some things that don't translate well on Facebook, or Twitter.

    So, at the risk of sounding all mushy (I know, E., too late!) I thought it would be fun to wear my new Zombie Name Tag proudly at BlogHer, this year:

    Zombie Name Generator

    Seeing as I'll be very surely, nearly dead, by this time, next week, anyway, preparing for a 6 hour plane ride and all (Dramamine is my co-pilot!)

    Either way, if you are a blogging newbie, or a first-timer to this particular conference circuit, as a 5 time attendee, my best advice (unsolicited as it may be) can be summed up in 3 simple bullets: 

    • Do NOT sweat it, my friend (we are ALL as nervous, as you are, I promise)
    • Blogging is most assuredly alive and STILL kicking creative ass (see blogroll above)
    • There is plenty of room for everyone (even dorks, like me)

    Just don't make me have to bite you, okay?

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • Who’s Been Sitting in My Chair and Why is My Kid Calling it Mom?

    Mommy's Little Doppelganger

    My husband, Garth (not his real name) met me at the train station on Sunday and, after taking a quick look at my swollen legs, scaly arms, blistering hands and blotchy neck (you're welcome!) believing that my recent poison ivy infection had somehow morphed into leprosy (ditto) he drove me straight to the doctor's office.

    "I can't breath."

    Apparently, I still hadn't gotten over an unexpected trip to a NYC hospital and BusyMom wasn't around.

    (more…)

  • Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Attend BlogHer: SaveHer ’10

    BlogHer 10 Time Square

    I mean, really, wrangling 2,000+ registered attendees (not to mention, the 11-ty billion others already living in/visiting NYC) something's bound to go wrong (coming from someone, whose attempts at throwing a dinner party, for 6, the last 16 years, has failed, miserably, more often than not) and, well, someone's destined to get their feelings hurt (see previous parenthesis) or, break something (ditto) right?

    No worries, SaveHer '10 is here (i.e. alternate title: Riding in an Ambulance with BusyMom!)

    (more…)

  • Just Don’t Call Me a Tech Blogger!

    I break things (a lot) so, calling me a tech blogger would be bad (even my kids would back me up on this point) and I am certainly not the most connected or coolest mom and she's pretty much cornered the market on savvy (don't worry, they really do know their stuff) but, does it really matter what I blog about?

    No.

    If I've learned anything, in my 7 years of blogging (besides, the fact it's not a good idea to change from a hosted blog site, to another, before backing up your archives, der!) the most important take away (ready?) is that the words I write (or, choose to publish) really don't matter, unless I've touched someone, in a positive, or negative way.

    Hopefully, in a positive way, because, well, I don't know of anyone who blogs to feel bad about stuff, on purpose, nor would I want to.

    Still.  Should it make a difference, how I choose to approach (i.e. respond to) this whole mommyblogging business?

    Pardon my Jersey, but abso-friggin-lutely!

    In fact, last week, I was asked to speak on a panel of (along with the aforementioned cool, connected and savvy) moms who blog (because, not everyone necessarily wishes to be defined by the term mommyblogger) about working closely with brands (there, I said it!) and not just because I'm an expert, or anything (because, I'm not, der!) but, I feel, to provide a slightly different (i.e., seasoned) point of view, when addressing online mom-specific communities, as a whole.

    "I blog because it makes me feel good."

    Actually, the point I was trying to make (because, some of us write better than we speak, ahem) is really simple: I enjoy making other mothers feel good (seriously, if we don't lift each other up, who will?)

    My mission is equally as simple: to help dismiss the idea that anything beginning with the word "mother," or ending in "hood" should be portrayed as nothing, if not perfect (especially, in the media) oh, and pardon me if my blog makes me feel a little better about myself, too.

    [steps off soapbox]

    I'm not the same person I was 7 years ago and I'm not saying blogging should be, either (times change, you know?) and I certainly don't want to sound like a purist, or preachy (do people really read blogs, anymore?) however, I have to agree with Busy Mom in thinking that perhaps we should all look a little inward, before responding to all the negativity surrounding moms online — or, simply reaffirm the fact that there is a community out there, for everyone, regardless of what type of blog you keep.

    With that said, here's a headline you probably won't read anytime soon:

    Moms aren't necessarily all about the blog bashing and the comment thrashing, or into the drama of virtual hair-pulling contests, either!

    I mean, don't we see enough of that at PTA meetings, right?

    [ducks to avoid flying fundraisers]

    Me?

    I will gladly reaffirm that:

    1. I am a dork (but, I'm not stupid)
    2. I will continue to share my stories (sorry, Mom)
    3. Also, share cool stuff I find online and try not to break things (too much)
    4. While, hopefully, continue to give back to my community, in a positive way (without being taken advantage of, by media folks who still just don't get it, der!)
    5. Because, well, it's how I roll.

    Unless, you think moms are stupid, or blogging about nice stuff is dumb, then it ALL doesn't really matter, anyway, right?

    Well, then, there's always Engadget!

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    © 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

  • The Magic Garden
    Beware – chuckling daisy patch ahead!

    This freaky little flashback was inspired by my friend, the lyrically-gifted BusyMom (apparently, she grew up watching really weird stuff on t.v., too!)

    See, and we turned out alright…right…RIGHT?

    [sound of crickets chirping]

    OH…look…OVER THERE…BusyMom's wearing pigtails?

    SLAM!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.