Label Daddy BlogHer Sponsorship "09

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In keeping with my enthusiasm from the Mom 2.0 Summit, and getting back to the giveaways that I love on my blog, I have found the perfect contest! In Houston I had the pleasure of sitting in on conversations with Trisha of MomDot.com. I was excited to see that MomDot.com is partnering with Label Daddy for a BlogHer Sponsorship. I will be able to go to BlogHer thanks to my company Career Step. But if you need help getting to BlogHer, head on over to MomDot.com and read Trisha's detailed blog post on how you can apply! They will be announcing the winner on Feb 25th which means you only have one day to get in on this, but I just found out about it myself. Good Luck!

Summing up the Summit (Mom 2.0)

I find it ironic that by going to a blogging conference I have gotten behind in my blogging. The truth of the matter is that I have so much information that I could blog for days and days and days about it. But I came to the realization that when faced with a task that I feel that I can't accomplish the way I want it done I simply don't do it. I came to that realization while talking to my new blogging friend Christy who has a crafting blog. We were talking about knitting and my complete inability to do it and current lack of desire because I do NOT find it relaxing and I am no good at it. Believe me I have tried! Christy asked me if I was a perfectionist. I've never thought of myself as one but perhaps I am. And if I can't do it the way I want to then I tend to let it fall to the wayside. It is time to change! Time to do what little I can and be satisfied! Because seriously, I wanted to blog every night of the conference and tell you about all the amazing people I met and link to them all and maybe over time I will get to but for now I think I will have to suffice it to say that I had a fabulous time. Met too many fabulous women who are talented beyond belief and who were so incredibly friendly and personable. I have to say that meeting these ladies face to face was invaluable--to meet the real person behind the incredible blog posts. Amazing. I am going to create a mom 2.0 blogroll on my sidebar, though...


Another thing-one of the reasons I started The Grotto is because I am such a junkie for giveaways. I once heard if you believe you are lucky you will be lucky. I totally believe I am lucky-I am an optimist! At the conference they had such amazing swag and doorprizes! I was the lucky winner of a Nintendo DS and Autonet--which is an internet modem for your car and I am still trying to figure out exactly how it works and if I am in my car enough to use the internet. It is really cool.

I also want to add the Eye-fi. Oh my goodness! The photographers were using this technology throughout the conference. We had photos of a session while we were sitting in the session! We When they come out with their CF card, I am SO getting it. You can instantly upload your photos from your camera to your flickr (or other internet) account. Like you take the picture and 3 seconds later it is off your camera and online! The possibilities are amazing for this. And it would help me overcome my perfectionism when it comes to blog posts. I must.have.pictures! But sometimes it takes me a while to get my pictures off my camera. With the eye-fi they would already be online! How cool is that?!

My husband was like "I would have loved to have seen you at this conference, it sounds like you had so much fun!" He was appalled that I actually ate a cheeseburger from Burger King because even he can't get me to do that and, let me tell you, he can get me to do just about anything! But I was all caught up in the moment, the paper bag hats, the cheeseburger, the music. The Carnivale evening was great. Chris Mann was amazing as were the other performers.

mom2summit - day two-5265 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

What else- I have to say how amazing Isabel from Alphamom is. She had so many amazing marketing ideas and was so willing to help and share. Isabel-you rock!

I am feeling bad for not posting everything I wanted to but I need to get this off and on to the rest of my day. To all the amazing ladies I met at mom 2.0 --Thanks for a fabulous time and I hope to get to BlogHer in July!

If you want to here more about the Mom 2.0 summit Misty Khan has compiled a list of all the blog posts about it.

Mom 2.0 Summit

Yesterday was the first day of the Mom 2.0 summit! I can't even begin to tell you about all the amazing ladies I met here yesterday but I am going to try! And I am so wishing that I had brought my camera to take lots of photos. But what is, is! (Hey! I just found a flickr stream of photos you should check it out! Maybe some of your favorite bloggers are here and Now I have a couple photos to share!)I rubbed shoulders with the amazing twin moms Janice and Susan from 5minutesformom.com! I have loved their site for a while and when I found that I had the opportunity to be interviewed by them for my day job I was thrilled! I got to talk to them all about medical transcription training and a video will be posted on their site eventually! How cool is that?! (They also have a sister site called 5minutesforgiveaways.com and I have featured some of those giveaways here-in fact right now they have a motorola camera phone up for grabs until tonight Feb 20)

I also met more amazing ladies like the twins behind youcanmakethis.com, Kris & Kim. And Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom, who I have a total blog crush on and who was the one suggested to me that I come here! I spent a good portion of the even hanging out with Lisa of laundrytree.com - she also owns her own graphic design company and I'll have to figure out what that is today!

Justine, me, Lisa and 2 other women I can't remember their names (sorry).

Then there were Jane and Amy who have this fun fun blog called sevenof.com Every day they post a list of 7 things. Just random and fun! I met Julie of Mabels Labels who has 5 kids who are close in age like me and has number 6 on the way! Yeah Julie! Look for more about Mabels Labels on my blog in the future.

Here I am talking with Jane, and Amy from sevenof and Julie from Mabels Labels is next to them.
They have lovely hair, don't you think? :)

Oh yeah and I met Megan from YouData and Justine from brandabouttown.com and Aimee from Greeblemonkey and I'm sure I met others who I can't recall off the top of my head. I hope to tell you more about these ladies and their sites in more detail later.

I can't even tell you how awesome this event is so far and all that I've been to is the opening reception! I am looking forward to a day filled with information! I can't believe that I am meeting all these fantastic and talented women! And there are still so many I want to meet and rub shoulders with! I still have today and tomorrow! Can't wait!

My Grotto is for more than just Giveaways!

It is official. I have been thinking about it for a while and there is so much more out there than just giveaways that interest me. And I want to be able to share all the things that I love. Not only for you but for me too. So that I can say Oh yeah! I remember I loved that one blog what was it again? Or that product. So just be prepared for more fun and interesting information. This is a work in progress so come along with me on my journey. Don't worry, I'll still be featuring giveaways and am even hoping to host some of my very own in the near future. So here we go...

Koti Beth discount giveaway-50% off!

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These Amy Butler cardstock birds make me think of my friend Amy! Koti Beth is having a giveaway in honor of her 200th sale! Go check out all her fun stuff in her Etsy shop and then leave a comment on her blog for something you'd like to buy. This giveaway isn't a total freebie but it is for a coupon for 50% off any product in her shop! That is pretty awesome. So take a look at her beautiful wares and enter her giveaway! The giveaway will end February 22 at midnight EST.

Make and Takes Turns 2! Birthday Giveaway

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I was first introduced to Make and Takes by my good friend Amy. She made this Rosemary Peasant Bread that she found on Make and Takes and it is SO easy and absolutely delicious. Then a few weeks later, I attended a startupprincess event with Marie LeBaron and we will both be attending Mom 2.0 in Houston. I am eager to get to know her better. Needless to say, Make and Takes has fast become one of my favorite blogs and now she just turned two and is doing a FABULOUS give-away with 7 prizes and 7 winners! She is featuring local Utah products. There are so many fun things! So go over there and check it out now! Giveaway ends Thursday, February 19th @ midnight.

Fun Site for Valentine's Day

I came across this fun site where you can make your own conversation hearts via Skirt. It is a fun way to send a message to friends and loved ones. They even have black goth hearts for those of you who don't love this holiday!

Cansolidator Pantry

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Is anyone else's pantry as disorganized as mine is? I have cans all over the place and even though I try to keep them grouped with like items it doesn't last long. And then there's the problem of remembering which cans I bought first so that I don't end up finding a can with an expiration date of 6 years ago.(Oh wait--that just happened to me last week...) What is one to do? Enter the Cansolidator. It organizes and rotates your food in your pantry so efficiently. I have had my eye on one for a while now and it is high time I go get me some. You can enter to get one at Safely Gathered In.This giveaway ends Friday February 13th @ midnight EST.

Choffy giveaway at Kirtsy

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This looks like fun! It is hot chocolate that is brewed like coffee. I am so intrigued... Kirtsy is giving away the following:Three bags of Choffy — Nicaragua, Ivory Coast and Ecudaorian. One bag of each variety. And a French Press from Crate&Barrel. Everything you need to try Choffy for yourself and find out if it fulfills all your chocolate-coffee-Valentine-fantasies. I'm not seeing an end date. Let me know if you find it. You do need to be a registered user of Kirtsy to win, but who wouldn't want to join Kirtsy?

2nd time's a charm?

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For those of you who didn't win the last Build-a-Bear Giveaway, there is another one going on through Friday at the Crafty Conservative! She has a $25 gift card to Build-a-Bear up for grabs. Maybe this is your lucky day! She is drawing a winner on Friday Feb 13th!****Expired****

Update: *****3rd time's a true charm!***** I just found Another $25 Build-a-bear gift card at Supermom Central! This one ends Saturday, Feb 14th @ midnight.

Beautiful Handwritten Rubber Stamp

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petit elefant is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Gina from the Etsy shop Lettergirl. You can win an adorable rubber stamp with your return address that looks beautifully handwritten. I just might start sending people snail mail again if I had one of these! Giveaway ends Saturday February 14, 2009 Midnight MST.

Design Mom Valentine Crush Giveaway

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How would you like an array of gifts for Valentine's day. Design mom is giving a package with music jewelry, clothing, lip gloss and MORE... valued at over $250! I'm in L.O.V.E. Giveaway ends at midnight, Sunday February 8th!

$50 to Old Navy!

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There once was a girl... is hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift card to Old Navy. I like this shirt, but I really need to buy my kids new jeans. You could buy a lot at Old Navy for $50. What would you do? Contest Ends Feb 14th.


Found this giveaway at AuntieThesis.

$25 Build a Bear Gift Card

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This is the Monkey that my daughter, "Monkey" will be getting for her 6th bday. All my kids love build-a-bear! We have no less than 7 of them and they are constantly wanting more. When given the choice between Build-a_Bear and other Gifts they almost always choose Build-a-Bear. You too can get a build-a bear animal with a $25 gift card to Build-a-Bear. Check out this giveaway at Therapeutic Reviews and Giveaways.
This contest ends Tuesday, 2/10 9am PST.

Valentine Charm Stamp Necklace

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What a sweet way to share your love with someone special. Happy Daisy
is giving away this beautiful hand-stamped charm necklace from Tiny Tokens Jewelry. If you want to enter in the drawing hurry! This giveaway didn't state an exact end, but rather said that winners will be announced on Tuesday Feb 3!