The OpMom Blog

Virtual Vision Board Your Resolutions and Win a Pass to Mom 2.0 Summit

It is 2009, and we want help you win an all access pass to the Mom 2.0 Summit in Houston FEB 19-21.

I am a huge fan of Flickr, and I think this one is pretty fun. Our next contest for JAN is to SHOW us and the world your goals.

Simply put:

Show us your Resolutions!

1.) Take a pic that represents one of your resolutions.

2.) Upload the pic to our Flickr Group Pool –or– email the pic to not00fair@photos.flickr.com

3.) Tag the pic: “show M2S your resolutions”

4.) Win a chance to attend the 2009 Mom 2.0 Summit!

The deadline is Jan 15th. So get to uploading those pics! You can enter as many times as you want with different resolutions.

We will pick a winner on January 16th, which will include an all access pass to the 2009 Mom 2.0 Summit in Houston, TX.

Get to snapping! Speaking of, I’m off to snap one myself. GOOD LUCK!

Hands on Houston

Get over to Caroline Collective on WED, DEC 17 for the ULTIMATE social media event. Kirsty’s very own, Gwen Bell, will be taking us through social media 101. This workshop is FREE and open to the public. Be there from 6-8 learning about Twitter, Flickr, RSS feeds, how to set up your own blog, and more!

BYOL – bring your own laptop. (I love this) If you don’t have one, we will have a few extra. Be prepared for an AMAZING evening with munchies and Houston spirits from our very own Saint Arnold.

Our party sponsor will be MomHouston, a network of MomBloggers on the Houston Chronicle Parenting Network. They’ll be in attendance with their local bloggers, and with some swag!

If you need to bring the kiddos, we’ll have a holiday movie on for them in the library. See ya’ll soon!
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Date: Wednesday, Dec 17th
Time: Workshop 6-8pm, Reception following
Cost: FREEBIE! JEEBIE!
Place: Caroline Collective | 4820 Caroline Street | www.carolinecollective.cc

Opmom in New Orleans, LA ~ Dec 9

UPDATE: THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS LINUX JOURNAL!

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Meet Us in N’awlins

Come out and play for a couple of hours. On Dec 9 from 6-8 pm. We don’t get to NOLA often and would love to meet you. We like meeting like-minded entrepreneurial women who have something to say. If you have questions about start-ups, social networking, social media campaigns, design, blogging, pretty much anything we have learned we want to share with you. We are celebrating the Mom 2.0 Summit that will take place in Houston on Feb 19-21, and really want you to hear about it first-hand.

Meet us at the Marriott New Orleans hotel in the French Quarter, home to 5 Fifty 5. We will be in the private dining room with appetizers, wine, and martini specials. Show up and get caught up on the latest Mom 2.0 Summit buzz.

Win Fabulous Giveaways

Since everyone loves giveaways, there will be door prizes from Nine Maternity which is a fabulous boutique here in Houston. Seriously cool clothing, accessories, and jewelry. When I visited with the owners, I wished this shop could have the same items but in non-maternity. They have an eye for beautiful pieces.

AND Blue Avocado which was founded in Austin, TX. If your like everyone else and are looking for ways to contribute to this whole “green” eco-friendly movement. Check out their patent-pending, eco—chic system of sustainable and reusable grocery bags.

AND Malcolm’s Miracle:Perfected over four years by a Naturopathic Doctor and Master Herbalist, Malcolm’s Miracle Anti-Aging Hand and Body Treatment is unlike any other moisturizing lotion or cream. It is the only natural, hemp -based, herbal moisturizer. It’s vegan and 100% cruelty free.

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See ya there!
December 9
6-8 pm

5 fifty 5
555 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70130

http://www.555canal.com

Choosing Wines for Thanksgiving

Picking out wine for Thanksgiving can be tricky.

The table is full of robust and sweet flavors. So let’s take a look at our options for a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner.

Champagne or Sparkling Wine Pick a Champagne or sparkling that is not completely dry. Look for the label “extra dry,” which is just a little softer than a “brut”, with fuller fruit flavors that will pair wonderfully with your holiday meal. A brut, which is what I prefer doesn’t serve this type of meal well. It’s a bit like drinking orange juice after you brushed your teeth. I would go with a Piper Heidsieck Extra Dry Champagne, Moet Chandon White Star Extra Dry, or a Sparkling Chandon Extra Dry

White Wines I believe that Chardonnay is one of the BEST to pair with a turkey and sides. I would choose a full-bodied, ripe, fruity Chardonnay from France, California, or Australia. These wine will serve well from the appetizers through the meal. Now if you aren’t a fan then of Chardonnay and prefer something lighter then go for a Riesling from Washington State.

Rosé Wines
It’s true that dry rosé wines go well with almost any dish, and with so many flavors on the table at Thanksgiving, rosé can be a great choice. If your taste runs to drier wines (mine certainly do), a rosé from the Cotes du Rhone or Provence regions in France will be light, crisp, and flavorful, but won’t overpower the meal.I’m personally not a fan of Californina Rosé BUT the the ones from Cotes du Rhone or Provence or simply amazing and you should definitely give it shot. It isn’t sweet and cheap, it is a classy bottle of wine.

Red Wines For red you have a couple of options. A Beaujolais Nouveau from the Burgundy region of France complements Thanksgiving fare and it can be enjoyed slightly chilled and work for those who favor white wines. An aged version of Beaujolais will be smoother and more aromatic.
One of my favorites is a Red Cotes du Rhone from France’s Rhone Valley. My favorite and popular choice from this area is by *Châteauneuf-du-Pape*.

*Hostess Notes* When hosting I always start off with a Sparkling or Champagne. Then I move to both red and white understanding that some people prefer one or the other. For Thanksgiving I like to offer a dry French Rosé as an option instead of white or red since it seems to pair so nicely with a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Blessings to you all and Happy Entertaining!
P.S. come back and let us know what wines you enjoyed with your Thanksgiving Dinner!
 

Mamas Get Social @ The Mom 2.0 Summit

Mom 2 What? What does that mean?

It means it’s time for an intimate get-together of marketers, social media insiders, bloggers, and mompreneurs. If mom’s are truly the power niche most brands want, need, and are thinking about getting in front of, then it’s time to talk. And there is no better time and place to meet but on FEB 19-21 in Houston, TX for the Mom 2.0 Summit.

With so many social media triumphs and terrors, let’s learn how to triumph. Join the conversation, be inspired, make connections, and build relationships. An Open Conversation Between Moms and Marketers, clear and simple. If your not a mom that is A-ok.

See our ultimate list of  “Who Should Attend the Mom 2.0 Summit”. Plenty of online and offline fun, Mamagarita’s and Mom2tini’s to go around!

Mom 2.0 Summit Launch Party

First things first! Join us for the Official LAUNCH PARTY. Thanks to our sponsor YouData.com

When: Tuesday, Nov 25th 6:30-8:30pm
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Where: The Tasting Room, 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., Houston, TX
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Why: We’ll have wine, food, and prizes! And most importantly, we are offering conference tickets @ $195 (that’s 50% off full ticket price!) for anyone who registers at the party.

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Find Us Online!

All info is on the web: www.mom2summit.com

Launch party Invite is posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mom2summit/3041375631/sizes/o/

Announcements and contests on the blog here: www.mom2summit.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mom2summit

Flickr Group Pool: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mom2summit/pool/

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?info&eid=38654316399#/event.php?eid=38654316399

TAGS: M2S09, mom2summit, “Mom 2.0 Summit”

I am O so ready for Thanksgiving!

Jennie-O that is.

Me cook? Nope. Try again. All the prep, and clean-up that goes along with cooking really doesn’t interest me. Let’s just say I eat Marla style. This means as whole and non-processed as possible. You bet this also consists of smoothies, and as much Odwalla as my budget can take.

Tonight I turned my oven on and baked a Jennie-O Oven Ready Boneless Turkey Breast. It IS easy and fool-proof. Everything about it from the packaging, to the gravy, to the bag I baked it in. It even comes with a nifty pop out temperature thingy that let’s me know when it’s done. Turkey Triumph… I think so.

Believe it!

Something I cooked was tasty, and looked like a real dinner when I was done. Perfect for a busy gal who likes to take the easy and tasty way out!

Luckily next week I will be spending time with my family, and as usual the turkey prep falls in the hands of someone else. So as I am peeling potatoes for the side mashed potatoes, I will be bragging about the turkey dish I did all by myself.

I think I’ll suggest the Jennie-O whole enchilada turkey route. Why not? More time for that family drama quality time.

Another BIG plus for the Jennie-O yummylicious Turkey Breast, after leaving it out on the stove for a while, I tasted it again and it was still moist. Twilight Zone? Maybe. But I am not making any of this up, and I really did just use my oven.

Thanks Jennie-O, you rock!

Now time for dessert. A Dreyers Fruit Juice Bar! The lime one.

Pumpkin Pie Recipes & More

Pumpkin pie is a family favorite but there are tons of other treats to bake and share for Thanksgiving like this pumpkin pasties recipe that is so good you will have to double it because everyone eats them up so quickly.  My favorite pumpkin pie recipe is with pralines Praline Pumpkin Pie recipe.  There are so many other fun things you can make for the kids like this blondie recipe or these adorable cupcakes. 

If you are a hard core chocolate fan then you have to make the peanut butter and chocolate balls! I have 2 recipes for you to try the buckeyes version or the nutter butter balls. They are a fantastic treat to serve along with the dessert pies and cakes. I also like to make this simple pecan pie receipe that melts in your mouth. Happy Baking to you all! Tis the season

Birthday Party Themes with Service

I love The Celebration Shoppe’s Birthday Party Ideas because they are cute and affordable!

They have so many adorable designs and themes to choose from. But wait it gets better because they have secret sauce involved.

I love the Pirate Skull Invitation, Pirate Ship invitation , and The Princess Invitation. But what I found to be the best about their birthday party themes is that you can purchase the entire setup from The Celebration Shoppe. It’s like Birthdays to go or something. They have everything you need all bundled up into a theme which means you are not driving all over town trying to find items that match.

Here’s how the process works (the secret sauce)
Step 1: Pick a theme and get your custom invites ordered
Step 2: After you pick your theme add items such as plates, napkins, utensils, cups, candles, cookie cutter, table cloth, centerpiece and goodie bag items.
Step 3: Next, head straight over to the planning and idea center for that theme (this one is for the princess party). Every theme has it’s own planning and ideas center.

This is such a great way to plan your next party because they have all the ideas right there for you. It’s like having an assistant for planning your next gathering and I know we could all use some of that!

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

I can’t believe November is here! My mom and I have already started planning the menu for Thanksgiving.

This year we are using a combination of Family Recipes and OpMom Recipes! 

We alwahys start off with some olives, mixed nuts,  Endive with Gorgonzola and Walnuts and Prosciutto with Figs.

I have to confess that my  favorite part of Thanksgiving are the side dishes and I *Love* my mother’s recipes.  They were handed down to her verbally and most of her recipes are from memory. For example this dressing recipe is honestly the best Thanksgiving Dressing that I ever had.  

Her sweet potatoes are extremely addictive. I will also make a side of my Mashed Potatoes (w/ Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola), mandarin salad and Roasted Brussel Sprouts. 

We are trying to keep it simple this year and not end up with a bazillion side dishes which is what happened last year. We also have great dessert recipes but that is a seperate post. I think pies deserve their own post. And also stay tuned for wine recommendations to go with that Turkey!

Capture Halloween with How Fast They Grow

My favorite time of the year to take pictures of the kids is at Halloween. That’s why I am very excited about a site I recently discoverd called How Fast They Grow . The kids and I love looking at previous years at what they dressed up as and all the fun that we had. Being able to drop our pictues into unique designs to treasure forever is what I am doing this year over at How fast They Grow.  

They have gorgeous templates by amazing desigers like Jennifer Sbranti, Aimée deLongchamp, Jane Boatman Geller, and Lynn Grieveson (see their bios here).  It makes life so much easier to just drop your pictures into these unique designs for the holidays and even turn them into gifts! 

Now with just a couple of days left until Halloween here are some tips from Cathy Bennett founder & Mom of How Fast They Grow when taking pictures of your children. Once you capture your moments drop by How Fast They Grow and and start creating.

 
TIP #10
Be sure to scope out “comfy” Halloween costumes, especially for younger children and babies. Ditch the itchy costumes or the ones with lots of ornamentation around the face or head, especially if your baby or young child doesn’t like to wear hats. Your child won’t suddenly change their mind on October 31st.

TIP #9
Start photo taking early. Don’t wait until October 31st to take your Halloween photos. Take your full costume photos a week or so earlier, when you and your children are more relaxed.

TIP #8
Take lots of photos in pumpkin patches. They offer great color and backgrounds, and kids love them.

TIP #7
Take the photos when the children immediately get into their costumes, not after they’ve had time to dishevel the costume or empty their lunch or sippy cup contents on them.

TIP #6
Get behind your kids. Some of the best costume photos are taken from the back. Make sure to get some with siblings and friends holding hands. Adorable!

TIP #5
As always with digital photography: Quantity-Quantity-Quantity! Delete the bad ones and you will always get better results with more photos and more patience.

TIP #4
Mornings are best for kids photos, particularly young kids. The light is better and so are their moods!

TIP #3
Moms, don’t forget to include yourself in at least a few of the photos.

TIP #2
Think small. Halloween is filled with countless “little” photo opportunities like decorations, chocolate-covered fingers, costume closeups, children falling asleep in their costume, and bags full of candy.

TIP #1
As you welcome neighbors to the door, work with a partner to take photos. One of you can pass out candy while the other snaps photos of the kids. Costumed children in doorways (including your own) make some of the cutest photos for Halloween.