MomImpact

BlogHer is a fabulous conference. I’ve learned a lot and had a great time during the three years I attended, but this year I’m focusing on smaller conferences. (Note to self: I have a ticket to give away to The TypeAMom Conference next month.) I’m sure the women will have a blast in NYC this year, but that doesn’t mean us homebodies can’t have a good time, too. I’m working with a few of Chicago’s leading social media ladies to put together a little something-something.  Sign up below if you’d like to hear more as the plans come together.

Kim

Able who? Skeevy what? MomImpact president Kim Moldofsky was impressed when she met the Minneapolis-based folks of Aunt Else’s Aebleskiver at the Housewares Show. Chad and his team impressed her with their passion for their small business which makes a mix and sells special cast iron pans used for making this Danish pastry.

Kim was intrigued. She knew she’d be passing through Minneapolis in June and that there was a wonderful group of bloggers there to meet, so….

Thanks to Aunt Else, Local D’Lish, Jennifer of Unplanned Cooking, Liz of Kitchen Pantry Scientist and the Blog Pantry ladies, we’re having a make-your-own aebleskiver party. Kim will also be talking to the group about brand-blogger relations.

Even if you’re not from Minneapolis, you have a chance to join in. Watch for #MNBlogPantry on Twitter the night of June 10, from 7-9 CST. And want to try you hand at aebleskiver?

Enter to win your own cast iron pan and Aunt Else’s mix, based on a 100-year-old recipe.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @MommyNeedsTherapy!

Do you feel like your to-do list is longer than you can manage in one day? Are you struggling to balance the needs of your family and Twitter your work?

Laura Vanderkam, journalist and mom of two young boys, says you and I have more time than we realize and she’s out to prove it with her hot-off-the press book, 168 Hours: You have more time than you think (Portfolio, May 2010).

MomImpact founder, Kim Modofsky, says that Laura changed her worldview with her previous book, Genius Denied, and thinks 168 Hours may lead to a paradigm shift, too.

Laura is smart, insightful, provocative and… she’s leading a free webinar for MomImpact members and friends on June 4 from 1-2 EST!

The webinar, 168 Hours: Finding Time For Your Business, Family and Twitter Self, covers time management for busy moms, particularly those who work at home. How can you manage competing priorities to boost your career while preserving downtime too?

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

* How to identify your “core competencies” — what you do best and others can’t do nearly as well.
* How to create a flexible schedule that works for you
* How to get your work done and have time for fun

We’ll also be giving away a two copies of the book to participants!

Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/155885273

Some of our favorite peeps are coming to town!

Join Blogalicious and MomImpact for a fun and fabulous get-together on Sunday, June 13 from 3:30 – 5:30. Click for details and registration.

The Blogalicious Conference will take place October 8-10, 2010 in Miami, Florida. Last year’s conference was fun and informative, and this year’s even will be even better.

Last week, MomImpact worked with Kenmore to host an event at the Kenmore Live Studio in Chicago. 

We were pleased to assist with Kenmore’s first momblogger event and even more pleased that the party was a big hit. Among the highlights of the evening was the chance to hang with Kristen Chase of Motherhood Uncensored, AKA The Mominatrix, while sipping Mominatrix signature cocktails.

Here’s Melisa’s recap of the Kenmore event. Check out Miss Lori’s photo story, “The sexy side of Kenmore” and learn who walked away with the big prize of the night. Technically, she did not walk away with the prize, it will be shipped to her house; it’s a really big prize!

Check out this video of the event, produced by the Kenmore folks.

#GalenaMoms

Familiarization (fam) trips are old hat for the travel industry and blogger fam trips are becoming more common, but a fam trip for mombloggers to rural destination was unheard of until last weekend.

Last weekend, in conjunction with the Galen/Jo Daviess Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sotaventure and MomImpact, a group of eight moms (including MomImpact’s Kim Moldofsky) got a taste of family-friendly Galena, Illinois and the surrounding area. And speaking of tastes, the group also enjoyed some might fine Illinois wines courtesy of Galena Cellars.

Our thanks to the many partners that joined Dorian Dickinson, Celestino Ruffini, Mike Scholz, and the CVB for this ground-breaking effort:

Ulyssses S. Grant Home State Historic Site, The Old Blacksmith Shop and the Galena History Museum provided fascinating glimpses into the past

Cannova’s (delightful lunch; start with the bruschetta)

Fried Green Tomatoes (delicious dinner; end with tiramisu)

Roth Weaver and Brad Davis shared their beautifully restored Seal House

Eagle Ridge Resort provided deluxe vacation homes for the night

Galena On The Fly took bloggers to lofty heights with a lovely sunrise hot air balloon flight

Galena Log Cabin Getaway & Adventure Creek Alpaca Farm introduced the group to alpacas

Chestnut Mountain Resort tempted bloggers to return to take the alpine slide in the summer and ski lessons in the winter

The Mombloggers gave the CVB members a great lesson on social media as they Tweeted, blogged, FourSquared and Twitpic’d their way through the weekend. Additional content has since been posted by this enthusiastic group on Whrrl, Posterous, Flickr and YouTube.

Participating bloggers (check back for updated links):

Barb

Brandie

Kim

Kris

Lisa

Michelle

Tracey

Val

The event even attracted attention to ShePosts, the Mashable of Mom Blogs.

Taking mom blogger outreach to new heights in Galena, IL

After covering this drool-worthy event as a blogger for years, Kim Moldofsky is pleased to announce that she will be speaking at the 2010 Sweets and Snacks Expo.

Kim sees this as one small step for a mom and one giant leap for mombloggers. She was impressed that she was asked to take part because of her mom’s eye view. As we say here, “Mom’s opinion matters.” It’s great to see an important industry association recognize this at their national gathering.

Stayed tuned because we’ll be posting a survey asking other social media moms to share their thoughts about sweets and snacks and, of course, we’ll host a candy and snack giveaway, too. Check back on the site or look for details in the next edition of MomImpact Memos.

Last week’s Future Food Flavor Tripping Twitter Party was a success. More than 20 bloggers joined the fun experimenting with their “miracle berry tablets” that make tart and sour foods taste sweet while they watched the related episode live or in an online screening room. The group attracted extra attention from Future Food fans and curious Twitter followers.

It was a great event, but don’t take our word for it:

I’m always on the lookout for exciting new items and experiences to share with MomImpact members. Last month I found a great one one when I was invited to Chicago’s MOTO restaurant for the premiere of Future Food.

A meal at MOTO is a delight for all the senses where what you see is not always what you get- an edible menu, “packing peanuts” that taste like buttered popcorn, and other surprises. It’s like Martha Stewart meets MythBusters.

MomImpact members can get a taste of this on April 13 with an exclusive opportunity to “flavor trip” with the mad scientists of food during a special live Twitter party hosted by MomImpact and Planet Green. (See the April 7, special issue of MomImpact Memos for full details.)

*the opportunity to receive mberry has ended, but the Twitter party on 4/13 at 10 EST is open to all (#FutureFood).

MomImpact is adding new clients even as we’re days from a real-life blogger tour of Mrs. Prindable’s factory, as well as a virtual blog review tour of their delicious gourmet jumbo caramel apples.

In mid-April, MomImpact is heading west to Galena, IL with ten fabulous Chicago-area mombloggers. Working with SotaVenture and the Galena Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, we’re going to show the bloggers some of the great family fun to be had in Galena, as well dining and lodging options.

Main Street, Galena, Illinois

Kim’s family headed to Galena last summer to research an article for TravelingMom.com and she’s looking forward to sharing her family’s finds with the group. See three days of her Galena family fun at Hormone-colored Days.