She's Connected Conference 2011: Part Deux

Part One of my ShesConnected wrap up was all about what I learned at the conference. This post is a fun one. It's got pictures!

The past week was a week of firsts for me. It was my first social media conference, the first time I have been away from my toddler overnight (and for a few days!), the first time I roomed with someone I had never met in person before, and my first time back in my city of birth since...well, maybe since June for my daughter's Mount Sinai Hospital Preemie/NICU Graduates Picnic.

 It was so hard to say goodbye to Little One. There were lots of tears. Ummm...strictly on my behalf though. To be honest, she didn't really care that I was gone. All she knew was that she was having a blast at Lola and Grampy's house.

I called every night and Little One's last conversation with me went something along the lines of, "Mama, please don't call me anymore. I'm busy. I'm washing dishes."

I bawled my eyes out. She's Two-Teen going on eighteen.

Oh! It was also the first time I saw my brother and his girlfriend in months! They're a busy young Toronto couple. We live on Manitoulin Island. You do the math.

 The Fashion District. Oh, how I've missed Toronto! I love posting random pics. Giant thimble, anyone?
It's been far too long since I have taken a walk on Spadina. I miss Chinatown! Scored some inexpensive comfy shoes. My pretty shoes for the conference landed me with band-aids on my toes within the first hour of me wearing them.

Also my first time having Chinese Dim Sum in a long time!  I love you, Northern Ontario, but you seriously do not know what real Chinese food is! Sooooo delicious! Don't know what Dim Sum is? Click here to find out.

 On our way back to my brother and his girlfriend's condo, we stopped at Cool Hand Luc's for some ice cream. You know, because we didn't already stuff ourselves at Dim Sum only moments earlier!

Aren't you diggin' that barfing ice cream guy? Too funny! Almost tempted to paint this scene on Little One's bedroom walls!

Raspberry Thunder or Tornado (I can't remember the name) and Birthday Cake ice cream. Deeeeelish.

This was also my first time flying with Porter Airlines. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting. I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy the plane was. Lots of leg room! I know, you're thinking I'm a shorty and don't need that much leg room. You know when the guy in front of you reclines his seat and ends up practically in your lap? That didn't happen on this flight.

I managed to score a seat sale and one way from Sudbury to Toronto was only $69 +tax. That's cheaper than driving! It's also a lot faster! It takes me about 5.5 to 6 hrs to drive to Toronto. Flying was only less than 55 minutes. By the time I finished the drink the flight attendant gave me, we were landing! Fast, huh?

The flight attendants and pilots were amazing. Friendly, helpful, professional. I will definitely be flying with Porter again. New fan!

Whew! Thank you for patiently waiting for me to get to the conference part. That's what you were waiting for, right?

Well, this is what greeted us after check-in and registration.

Purdy's Chocolate was strategically placed right in the entrance of the convention hall. A taste test first thing in the morning? Sure! I'm in!

You know which one I chose right? Ummm hmmm! The Hedgehog! As my toddler would say, "Awwwww! It's toe tute!" Translation: "It's so cute!" Didn't stop us from devouring (I mean "sampling") it!

 Lots and lots of amazing sponsors (and lots of swag).
FordCanada
ToshibaCanada
MapleLeafFoods
JanesFamilyFd
Christine Cushing
Purdy'sChocolate
MolsonCanadian67
AdultEssentials
Sobeys
Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA)
Life Choices Food
PepsiCanada
ConAgraFoods
Royal Canadian Mint
and more!

Do you see who I'm with in this next photo?!?! No, you do not know how excited I was! It's Christine Cushing! Yes, the Christine Cushing! Celebrity Chef Christine Cushing! You know who I'm talking about! I've been a fan of hers for years! My grandfather (may he rest in peace) was the one who got me into her cooking show back in the day. Now my toddler loves her. LOVES her!

 Christine Cushing was so friendly and personable. You know I was totally letting out a loud teenage girl  #SQUEEEE in my head, right? She gave us a copy of her cookbook and a bottle of organic extra virgin olive oil. She signed Little One's cookbook too. Thank you so much, Christine!

 AaricaMakeUpBlog and I had to go to our room and deposit our swag. It felt like we were carrying 100 lbs of product. Oh, okay. I won't lie. I also needed to change my shoes. Ouch!

 Back for some networking and meeting with the brands. Honey, my birthday is coming up. Toshiba Tablet? Just sayin'.

 I'm such a weiner!

This is me with my gal, GGirlGGreen. Isn't she absolutely gorgeous?! Her personality is just as beautiful. Love this Tweep!

 Goofing around for our "red carpet" pics. Yes, I normally wear pink feather boas for pics. Isn't JustNikiV hilarious? Love her!

 Also in red carpet photos are Whispered Inspirations (Ha! Nancy and I were THE shortest tweeps at #SCCTO! No, seriously! We were!) and Aarica Make-Up Blog (my roomie for the conference)!

 I have to say that #shoesconnected sure knows how to throw a party! Check out how packed it was in there! Two floors packed with people! Scrumptious hors d'hoevres and great wine! Thank you STLTO for the delicious wine.

 Did I mention that the #shoesconnected after party was held at Town Shoes? Food, wine, friends, SHOES!!! Can't get any better than that! Oh, look! There's Gingermommy! Love her!

 It was so hot in there with all those happy tweeps, that we had to grab some fresh air. Okay, I joked about how I thought I was having hot flashes. I was hot!

Look! Bewildered Bug, Whispered Inspirations, Aarica Make-Up Blog, and I are all wearing PURPLE! We're the Purdy's Chocolate mascots! ;)

After the after party, we decided to head to Earl's for a bite to eat and a little more to drink. Upper Canada Soap, Etobicoke Moms, Little Ms. Save, Aarica, Sweet Mama Brady, MadeByHandShow, GGirlGGreen and I had a great time. We got back to the Sheraton in one piece, although we were almost down a tweep! Toronto taxi drivers are crazy. #chickenwing incident! That's all I am allowed to say or SweetMamaBrady might kill me.

 Early the next morning, we made our way back to the conference room to learn and acquire some "nuggets", if you will. No, not chicken nuggets! There was chicken there! Hi, JanesFood and Dana McCauley! Hi, Chicken Farmers!

 After the conference, I had to buy a new suitcase to lug all my swag home. This being my first social media/blogging conference, I didn't expect that much swag. I only brought one carry-on for my four days away from home. I figured I'd bring back one extra bag with all the swag, but it turns out I needed an extra suitcase!!!

 Oy! How was I going to get ALL that on a plane? Yes, that is a thong you see in this pic! Thanks, divine.ca!

 Etobicoke Moms branded me in the ladies' room. Cute tattoo, yes?

 Last night in Toronto. Still on a high from the amazing She's Connected Conference. Sharing wine and tortellini with my girls, BewilderedBug, SweetMamaBrady, and AaricaMakeUpBlog at Trattoria Mercatto.

 Remarks from the busy two days at #SCCTO:
I learned so much about brands, relationships with brands, what they expect/want from bloggers.

Donna Marie Antoniadis is my idol. I really admire her. Oh, and when she gave me a huge hug and said, "You are so sweet", I was worried she would pinch my cheeks! She didn't.

Listen2Lena is as gorgeous in person as she is online and she's got a fabulous personality! She is so amazing!

SassyModernMom is stunning and sweet. I love her!

Mom vs. the Boys is exactly as sweet and wonderful in person as she is online.

Highlight of Day 2 was bumping into Julie Cole and her having breakfast with us and sitting at our table for key note speech and panel. I love Julie. She is one of the funniest women I've ever met! My husband was even shocked that the Mabel's Labels maven sat at our table.

Just discovered that Dana McCauley, the Canadian chef, food writer, food trend tracker, culinary director for Janes Family Food and I share a Manitoulin Island connection...and it's even closer than I'd imagined! How crazy is that? First, my serendipitous meetings with BewilderedBug and AskMamaMOE and discovering how our paths are connected, and now Dana McCauley?! Surreal!

Deborah Lowther is stunning, radiant, vibrant. Those vitamins are amazing! I'll have whatever she's  having! ;)


PTPA Sharon has great style and great hair!

tjzmommy just wows me all the time. I am in awe of her. Check out what you can do for Zack's Dream Room.

Next day: Plane ride home. Back to reality. Thank goodness for swag. This got me by until I could get to real food. The Sudbury airport has nothing near it!

 Finally home to see my sweet little toddler and my husband (who was also away from our poor toddler! Daddy was on the www.wildERmed.org course over the weekend).

 "Christine Cushing signed this for me?!?!" She was so excited!

 Life Choices mac and cheese. "Can we make this now, Mama?"

 IronKids Gummies! She loves them!

 Above photo: "Look, Mama! I'm a chef!"

Bwahahahaha! She thought the divine.ca thong was an apron!!!

See? I told you she loves Christine Cushing!

Applause TOYS!

I remember the feeling of excitement that rushed through my veins whenever I set foot inside Toys 'R Us when I was a kid. I know. Pretty sad. All the colours, tactile sensations, visual stimulation...guaranteed to grab a kid's attention!

Now that I'm a mom, I have been doing my research on items for Little One. If she does have toys, I want them to be safe (non-toxic paints, high quality, etc), environmentally friendly, and educational. I don't know when I began researching  pregnancy, baby, and toddler products, but now that I'm a mom, I know I am more conscious about my purchases and I like to make informed decisions when choosing products. 

I don't know when or how I found out about ApplauseTOYS, but I am so glad to have found them! I actually have a feeling our paths crossed somehow on Twitter. It might have been at a Melissa & Doug Twitter Party, now that I think of it!

ApplauseTOYS is a Canadian store that carries a very impressive variety of educational toys that kids and parents alike enjoy and love. They carry many of the leading brands like Melissa & Doug, Alex, Boon, etc. ApplauseTOYS also carries a variety of shades of  Piggy Paint natural, eco-friendly nail polish for girls!

I've had the pleasure of communicating with ApplauseTOYS and must say that they are amazing to Tweet with. Also, their customer service is unparalleled!  They are super friendly, helpful, and efficient! We love ApplauseTOYS!

I am taking Little One for her first big trip at the end of this year. In preparation of her big trip, she is the proud new owner of...

Trunki Trixie!

Trunki is the one and only riding luggage for kids made by Melissa & Doug. It's sturdy, child-friendly, fun, and you can pull your tot around the airport on their Trunki if they get tired! How fun is that?

Little One has already been putting her favourite outfits and toys in her Trunki Trixie and she loves being pulled around on it! We've even customized/personalized Trixie by making her into a cat! Little One loves cats and specifically asked for "whikkerzzz"!

Yes, she also has the saddle bag that converts from comfy saddle for tot to sit on (along with a horn to make one's presence known!) to an over the shoulder bag that conveniently stores necessities like crayons, gadgets, and doodads! Little One keeps her flashlight in there at all times! Goofy kid! :)

Stop by ApplauseTOYS and check out all of the amazing products they carry.  I guarantee you'll have fun shopping (be it via their online store or their Muskoka store). If you're in Muskoka/Cottage Country, why not pop in and say hello? Tell them I sent you! Spread the ApplauseTOYS luv!

High on Life...and Chocolate

I suffer from a terrible affliction that many moms like me suffer from. The symptoms vary from woman to woman and can present themselves differently and at any given moment. This awful thing I suffer from is called...Mommy guilt.

Yes, Mommy guilt is a terrible, terrible thing to suffer from. I want to be with my toddler all the time. I don't ever like being away from her. I don't want to miss out on any moments of her life. I want to be there to soak up all those precious moments and keep them imprinted in my memory and on my heart.

Having to teach again poses a problem in this "wanting to be with my daughter all the time" thing. It means that I am not with her all the time. I  have to work. I have to prepare for lessons, plan, correct homework, etc. Then I have to come home and divide my time with toddler and household chores. The farm is demanding, the household chores are demanding, the toddler is demanding.

I get burnt out and need a few moments to myself to regroup and recharge my batteries. Like many moms know, this is a challenge. I go to Zumba classes and soon rehearsals for the play will resume. I try to do things for me every now and then. That's when the Mommy guilt hits.

However, the time has come that I now realize just how important time for myself is. One of my best friends told me, "All you need is once a month. Promise me that you will go out, do something for yourself, get your hair styled, get a manicure, go shopping for yourself...just once a month. That's all it takes. Once a month."

Thus came the birth of Girls' Night. My sista friend, Artsy Teacher Mom and I decided to plan a girls' night and invite all the moms we know who could use a break. We work hard, we take care of our families, we're exhausted, and some moms are at home with children all day and never get to leave the house.

We hosted our first Girls' Night at my house last night and it was a huge success! Artsy Teacher Mom also hosted a Silpada party since we had the girls there. We had two blenders going with Margaritas, Pina Coladas, and Strawberry Daiquiris. There was wine and non-alcoholic drinks as well. The spread was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. Artsy Teacher Mom and I are all about serving our guests scrumptious and delectable food. I think the show stopper was the Ultimately Chocolate cake bombs!

It was a fabulous evening. The energy from the women in attendance was amazing. I haven't laughed so hard in ages! I can say that I felt recharged, rejuvenated, uplifted, and fantastic. The party was such a huge success, that Artsy Teacher Mom and I are planning on hosting a girls' night once a month. Each month will have a different theme. Next up is facials and the month after we'll be making our own bath bombs out of Epsom salt and essential oils!

When I opened my e-mail this morning, my inbox was inundated with an overwhelming number of messages thanking us for the amazing night. All the women said that it was something that they needed and were looking forward to the next get together.

I am so glad we did this! And, I don't feel the least bit guilty.

P.S. Hubby, my ESL student, and Little One were sent over to Artsy Teacher Mom's house for the evening. Along with The Carpenter's Wife's husband and Artsy Teacher Mom's husband, the men had their "men's night"... and took care of the kids!

No photos of the party, since I was too busy hosting! :)

This blog entry is cross-posted over here.

It's A Party! A Barber Foods Table Manners Twitter Party!

Feeding times were so much easier when Little One was still little. Now she is a 22 month old girlie who is as independent as can be. She doesn't want any help eating. She can feed herself with her own fork, thank you very much. Help her spoon her yogurt into her mouth? I think not!

Along with her independence and eating on her own come the terrible table manners. Little One has the tendency to throw her food on the floor once she's had enough. When she gets full, she swipes all the food off her tray and "cleans" it off. *sigh*

Every meal, we go through the "No thank you. We do not throw food on the floor!", "Throwing food on the floor is NOT nice!", "Please do not wipe your food all over your face!" and "STOP THROWING FOOD ON THE FLOOR!" We go through this E-V-E-R-Y S-I-N-G-L-E T-I-M-E!

I don't know which table manners story is the funniest. The one where Little One smeared pasta and pasta sauce ALL OVER herself during an evening with friends or the one when she decided it would be funny to wear her hamburger on her head like a hat?She thought it was funny, and she certainly succeeded at making all our guests laugh! Mommy wasn't impressed with the flying food. I've got homemade lasagna stains on my ceiling to show for it!

Thankfully, Barber Foods and The Product Review Place are presenting "a special Table Manners Twitter Dinner Party. Join us on Thursday, October 14, 2010 from 7:30-9:00 PM EST. Tweet with us and table manners guru Sherry Thomas who’ll help answer your most pressing questions and solve everyday dilemmas when it comes to bringing peace to your dinner table."

I Love You, Neti

Oh, yes it's true!
I love you, Neti.
And, this is true.
When I'm not near you,
I'm blue.
Oh, Neti!
I love you!

There are certain things in life that are so very private and intimate that you sometimes don't even want to share them with your spouse.

My love affair with my Neti is one of those things.

I was introduced to my fair Neti a few years ago. A friend highly recommended Neti and sent her my way. We have been inseparable ever since.

Neti and I have had our quiet, special moments together. Just her and I. In the bathroom. In the kitchen. Hovering over the sink.

My husband has seen Neti before, but he has never witnessed the special relationship we share. At least, not until today.

I accidentally left the bathroom door open while Neti and I were doing our thing. I didn't notice Hubby standing in the door way in silence.

"Having fun, honey?"

I gasped. I was caught red-handed. I didn't know whether to be embarrassed or not. After all, this was a very normal, natural thing. Why should I be embarrassed?

I suffer from allergies and sinus related issues. When you live on a farm, apparently you are not supposed to be allergic to anything. My Neti Pot has helped me tremendously with my sinuses and allergies. I have to admit, that it was a relief for me that my husband actually witnessed me with Neti! Now I don't feel like I need to use the Neti Pot in secrecy anymore. The process is kind of gross, but the result? You're left feeling oh-so-clean and refreshed!

*Photo from Google Images*