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Conference Packing Picks: eBags Tote & Packing Cubes

cecelia — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:19:05 +0000

Savvy Laptop Tote

As I headed down to North Carolina to put finishing touches on Reviewer’s Retreat at Great Wolf Lodge, it occurred to me that packing for a conference requires a special set of packing skills learned only after multiple trips, conferences of all kinds and a few mistakes along the way. A mini-weekend with Bridgette was just what the doctor ordered to remind myself how to prepare for a conference/family vacation at Great Wolf Lodge.

#1 Tech Packing

This includes all of the “techie” stuff you’ll need since any blogger worth her (or his) mettle will have a laundry list of chords and such as they head out to network and learn. In partnership with eBags who will be attending RR12, I used this Savvy Laptop Tote ($39.99) from eBags to get the tech packing complete. The list included my laptop and iPad with chargers for both. My iPhone plus charger and an extra Apple compatible chord after an incident once left me without a charger making me a bit overcautious in their area. A few magazines for the plane (no electronics on takeoff and landing after all) along with my liquids in a clear bag, wallet with ID and boarding pass and I was nearly set. Toss in some Phineas & Ferb pretzels plus a small Carolina Pad notebook and pen (keeping it old school) and this one is ready to roll.

Packing Cubes

2. Luggage

Without kids a two night trip to GWL is a fairly easy pack. Using these Packing Cubes from eBags, a few pair of shorts and shirts, two sundresses, two pair of flip flops, a bathing suit and coverup, and some PJs and my carry-on is almost ready to roll. A Too Faced eyeshadow pallet means on package for eyes. A light sweater for any conference is a good idea since conference room may be air conditioned.

3. RR12 Miscellaneous Items

Packing specifically for a conference, one item important to never leave home without are your business cards. At Reviewer’s Retreat you’ll also need PJs and slippers for the Slumber Party and your favorite sports-themed attire for the opening evening’s Tailgate Party. Most of all, bring and open mind and willingness meet new people, and RR12 will be a fun, worthwhile trip.

Product samples were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% my own.

Cool Tip

Check out more cool travel picks on Bags by eBags Pinterest page.

Pfister Blog Hop: Enter to Win a Pfister Faucet by Blogging!

cecelia — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:37:16 +0000

Like many people around the nation, I watched the horrors of Hurricane Katrina on television wondering how the images could possibly be of our own great nation. The vulnerability of the city of New Orleans, of the United States, and of course of the people who were evacuated, or worse, was exposed to those of us removed from potential natural disasters.

A few short years later I met two ladies from New Orleans. Both become good friends and one I’m in contact with more on a daily basis than anyone but my immediate family. Bridgette and Renee offered their firsthand accounts of evacuating their homes and the losses they suffered. In other words, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was humanized for me for the first time. So when I hear of projects like Rebuilding Together, the leading national non-profit works to revitalize neighborhoods by providing free home repairs for those in need, I’m happy to spread the word!

Since working with them on a faucet review and later as partner at Reviewer’s Retreat, I have even more respect for Pfister faucets and am excited to share that every new “like” on Pfister’s Facebook page, $1 worth of brand new Pfister faucets will be donated to the organization up to $20,000 worth of product for homes in need during the month of April.

Join this Pfister Blog Hop and you can win one of twenty Pfister faucets (kitchen or bath) just by sharing your how you get involved in your own community and encourage your readers to like Pfister’s Facebook page and join the effort for Rebuilding Together. Once you write a blog post on the topic:

Amplify your post on Twitter using hashtag #PfisterHop
Link up your post on the linky so readers can “hop” the posts and read your experiences.
Posts must be included in the linky by 11:59pm EST on April 30, 2012. Only one blog post per domain name, please.

Once you’ve joined the Blog Hop:

Pfister will donate $1 in product to Rebuilding Together for every post on the Blog Hop linky (up to $500 in product donation).
Twenty (yes, TWENTY) posts included in the Blog Hop linky will receive your choice of one Pfister faucet from among several kitchen and bath options! Have you seen the selection?!? Winning posts will be randomly selected.

Blogger Tip: Firefox to Chrome

cecelia — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:46:45 +0000

Recently I heard Firefox may be causing some of the Mac crash problems I’ve been experiencing. Although I tried Chrome at one time and found it’s functionality limited, I decided to give it another shot. So far I’m extremely pleased with the speed and have been able to customize it to work well with my internet needs, specifically as a blogger.

What I Did:

1. Download Google Chrome

2. Uninstall Firefox (Drag from “Finder” to “Trash” on Mac)

3. Add Extensions from “Settings” menu. These are similar to Firefox plugins. I added extensions for Facebook, TweetDeck, OneClick Pintrest, and even a browser “Theme” you see as pink and green flowers in the screen shot above.

4. Most important, go to “Bookmark Manager” and “Bookmarks Bar” to add folders. You can then create files of bookmarks visible right from the home browser screen. As you can see, I have folders for “Blog Tasks” to remember the many various places to go each day (Pintrest, Buffer, Klout) and “Logins” to quickly access the WP admin for my various sites. Not only does this manage bookmarks and make them easily accessible, it can remind you to complete certain tasks or quickly add affiliate links to a post.

5. Missing the separate search bar in Firefox? Fear not…just type your search in the browser bar and all is well!

Happy browsing!

Great Wolf Lodge Deals

cecelia — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:17:51 +0000

Our family loves Great Wolf Lodge and tries to visit a few times each year. The best way to find a Great Wolf Lodge deal is to sign up for the e-Pack to get them delivered directly in your inbox. I also checktheir deals periodically for offers organized by month. Here’s an easy reference:

If you happen to be a blogger who works with brands, than the best deal around is Reviewer’s Retreat at Great Wolf Lodge. We’ve worked with GWL to offer a fantastic package for the only blog conference geared 100% to brand/blogger relationships. Bring the familiy too since we’ve scheduled plenty of time to enjoy the waterpark in addition to informative sessions and fun parties for attendees. Get additional information at ReviewersRetreat.com.

Share the Blog Love with Blog Pops!

cecelia — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:58:41 +0000

Let’s not forget about our favorite bloggers this Valentine’s Day. Tell them you love their blog, think it’s cute or just that they are a great blog friend. Grab a blog pop and share easily with one click on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest by clicking on the pop you want to give and using the share buttons. Give as many pops as you’d like! There are five messages including:

I think your blog is cute.
Your blog is my favorite!
Thanks for being a great blog mentor.
I love your blog.
You’re a great blog friend.

Remember to tell them “You’ve been popped” when you give a pop. Just for fun…

Happy Valentine’s Day & Happy Popping!

V-Day, Coupons & Recipes

cecelia — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:35:33 +0000

While Cool Baby Kid offers cool picks, these ladies posts are HOT! Check out what my favorite bloggers from around the web are up to this week:

Bling for Your Ears SayHelloDiamonds Giveaway – Thrifty & Chic Mom

Cool & Creative Valentine Cards for Kids – Stacie Haight Connerty

Men. Easier Fed Than Understood – Baby Lovin Mama

Pork Tenderloin Medallions Recipe – The Shopping Mama

Saving Money Without Extreme Couponing – Experimental Mommy

Potty Training, Recipes & More

cecelia — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:51:24 +0000

While Cool Baby Kid offers cool picks, these ladies posts are HOT! Check out what my favorite bloggers from around the web are up to this week:

Nursing Moms Must Have Products – Thrifty & Chic Mom

The Waikki Aquarium – An Island Life

Cabbage Soup Diet Review & Recipe – Jolly Mom

Ten Tips for Potty Training Boys – The Mom Buzz (on Social Moms)

Top 5 Inspirational Quotes on Pintrest – Experimental Mommy

The Review Stew Has Been Hopped

cecelia — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:06:48 +0000

As a Double Duty Diva, I’m always on the lookout for cool new blogs for families. This one caught my eye because of it’s pithy title, “Review Stew.” Sure enough, a fun site with reviews, giveaways, book reviews, and special holiday-themed posts, it wasn’t hard to find a fun Diva blog to love.

So Review Stew…you’ve been hopped.

Cool Tip: Fan on Facebook and follow on Twitter to keep up with what’s on the menu!

Spreading Valentine’s Day Blog Love

cecelia — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:23:29 +0000

The Double Duty Diva bloggers, a blog network devoted to helping to promote and expose each other’s site to new readers and grow their blogs, is spreading the Diva love. In the spirit of the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, we’ve chosen to share new sites we love with our readers. Often we visit the same blogs but fail to branch out, so without further ado, here are three that are worth checking out:

Cool Tip: Subscribe to CBK via RSS or email and follow on Facebookor Twitter for more cool tips and picks.

Follow These Five Fabulous Blogs

cecelia — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:45:20 +0000

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend’s wish!

At the top of my “Five Fabulous Blogger List” is Experimental Mommy, a friend, business partner and blogger who I met at BlogHer in 2009. Bridgette not only runs a successful product review blog but also works full-time and is a mom to two beautiful girls. Truly a Double Duty Diva, she manages many endeavors with professionalism and class making me proud to call her a friend and business partner.

A Fab Five Blogger List would not be complete without What Mommies Need, another Double Duty Diva who like Bridgette somehow finds the time to blog, work and parent. And while her blog focuses on reviews, family adventures and noteworthy news, having met Renne in person I think she should create another blog focusing on beauty since this girl knows her makeup…and is a beautiful too!

Next on the list, The Shopping . It’s creator, Kate, traded online legal research for providing product picks for babies and kids. I’ve watched her site evolve into a premier stop on the web for any parent looking for cool clothes, toys and more for themselves or their families.

When the Divas were looking to add a member to their team, we headed straight to Angie from My Four Monkeys. As she says, “It’s a Jungle Out There,” but we knew Angie was a cut above the rest. A product review blog with book reviews for kids and even craft idea too, the site is a wealth of information and a blog I subscribed to myself. A homeschooling mother of four, Angie epitomizes what it means to be a Double Duty Diva!

If you’re looking for a good deal Baby Good Buys is a must-visit. There’s a reason thousands of deal hunters follow her blog and Facebook page–nice looking, clean and filled with the best deals for parents and kids, the site is as delightful as it’s creator Marybeth who I’ve had the pleasure to meet in person.

Cool Tip: Follow this Fab Five on Twitter!

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend’s wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.