I woke up to an email from my friend Laura Berg (founder of My Smart Hands) with the subject line, I Am Beautiful Project.
Attached was a video Laura just finished editing. I knew about this project because last week Laura had sent out an invitation to social media moms to shoot a short video to be included. As per usual, her request got lost in my daily barrage of email and I didn't get around to submitting something.
I'm in the business of digital marketing, of connecting brands with moms. I'm fascinated with how the industry is evolving at lightning speed. Everyday there are new technologies, social platforms, apps, and fads I need to know about to stay on top of my game. I heard about the DX3 Conference a couple of years ago. Their mandate is to connect brands, retailers, publishers, and technology companies to help us network and learn.
Ever wonder what kids really want in a family vacation? I just read a recent survey where kids between the ages of 7 and 12 were asked what they enjoyed the most about vacations. I was surprised to learn that for 29% of kids interviewed, spending time with family was at the top of the list. Which tells me, even though our preteens are rolling their eyes at us when we ask them to clean their rooms, in their heart of hearts they still love us and want to spend quality time hanging out with Mummy and Daddy.
It's snowing today. Over 10 centimetres of the white stuff will be falling by this afternoon. When my thirteen-year-old son was getting ready to leave for school this morning, I asked if he would be wearing his winter boots today. He kinda shrugged while lacing up his old topsiders and asked, "Do I have to?"
Sun. Sand. So. Much. Food. Just got back from a ten-day stay at Club Med Sandpiper Bay for our family vacation. It's our second time at this resort. We actually discovered Club Med last year and spent the Christmas holidays there playing, swinging (not that kind), and basking in the sunshine.
Now that we've experienced close to one month over the last two years in total as guests of Club Med, I feel qualified to share my thoughts on this family resort.
One of the many scary and confusing things about dealing with severe allergies is that it can present differently each time. When you think of an allergic reaction, most of us picture hives and itchy skin, right? At least I did when my daughter was diagnosed eight years ago. But there are other symptoms of a SEVERE allergic reaction that can be way harder to recognize.
It was a week of good news for YMC. First, YMC was given the honour of First Place at the Canadian Weblog Awards (CWAs) in the General Interest category (for weblogs that cover a range of tips separated into different sections.)
Not a lot of pop stars out there balance on the edge of naughty and nice like Pink does. I'm a big fan, especially since she became a mom to daughter Willow. As with all of us who've had kids, her priorities seem to have shifted a bit — in a good way. She seems to have found that healthy balance of being mom while being mighty; something some of us let go of because we have been overwhelmed by motherhood.
Orlando is the city for busy family vacations. With the dreams-come-true fun of Disney and the movie magic of Universal to start, you will never run out of cool stuff to do. I've been to Orlando with my family several times; the last time we drove the 2115 kms from Toronto to Orlando. This time we had the luxury of an invitation by Visit Orlando to fly down for a four day Florida family fun-a-thon.
Last year, I promised my daughter a new ski jacket. Bless her heart, she wore her last one for two years until it ripped. I was trying to put off the inevitable because kids' ski jackets are so expensive! Last year I had to buy my son a new one and I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price for a kids' ski jacket! So this year, I'm doing it smart. I'm starting early while there is a huge selection and I'm shopping from the comfort of my computer.
Sitting in a Starbucks in downtown Halifax listening to Tamara Franz-Odendaal talk, all I could think was I wish my daughter could be here to hear this! Like me, Tamara is the mother of a nine year old daughter, and she is passionate about raising girls to be strong, self sufficient, and financially independant.
Raising kids is expensive. The bigger they grow, the more they eat! Ka-ching! My weekly supermarket bills are slowly getting higher thanks to my two tweenagers. My strategy is to play it smart and do whatever I can to get my bills lower. This doesn't mean I buy lower quality products or highly processed foods. I still shop well, but I am strategic with my AIR MILES Collector Card and my American Express AIR MILES Card which is also the fastest way for me to earn AIR MILES reward miles.
Believe it or not, I'm an introvert and parties are not my favorite thing. But Blissdom 2013 was the party I didn't want to leave. The only reason? YOU!
It started on Thursday night when I headed to the opening party. I never even made it INTO the actually event space because so many awesome women grabbed me to chat along the way. I loved getting to know so many bloggers who I've only connected with on Twitter and hearing feedback first-hand about what is resonating on YMC and hearing what we need to work on was also helpful as we continue to evolve.
I’m always curious how other families celebrate holidays. It wasn’t until I was in my early 30s, pre-kids, when I rented a farm for the summer that I started to celebrate Thanksgiving. Even though I don’t like cooking, I would invite my friends over for a big meal where we would laugh, share stories, and eat way too much.
Sometimes I can't make my mind up about attending one of the many conferences available to entrepeneurs but the Art of Small Business is a must for me. And I think you should come with me.
It's the kind of last minute invitation I couldn't turn down - a ticket to the Artists for Peace and Justice Fundraiser. This isn't just any benefit show. It's an exclusive, chi-chi event held in the magnificent backyard of Roots co-founder Michael Budman in the heart of Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival. Writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), is the brainchild of the charity which raises money to help the impoverished people of Haiti. Cost per ticket - over $1200!!
If the women running BlissDom gave me a medal that read Erica Ehm, Exective Advisor and Publication Partner BlissDom 2013, I'd wear it every day. Call me a nerd for being so excited, but being asked to be on BlissDom Advisory Board this year is one of my proudest moments. I've been attending BlissDom since its inception in Canada in 2010.
I pick the non-profits I want to support carefully. When there is an organization that focuses much of its attention on postive change for girls and women, then it gets my attention.
