Mommy Gossip

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Even though I published my first blog post in February 2008, I didn't technically jump into the social media world until the end of last July when I actively started writing on this blog. (Click here to read about what turned me into a blogging fanatic for 3 weeks in Pennsylvania.) And, I must admit I had no idea what I was in store for. What began as a digital journal has turned my life upside down in every good way possible. The best part? Friends! Glorious friends!


I started out, surprisingly enough to those of you who really know me, as a passive blogger—writing for myself. I didn't really start interacting with people in the social realm until mid August or so when I started reading other blogs and leaving comments thanks to my good and crazy friend, Carissa Rogers at GoodandCrazyPeople. OK, so it only took me 2 weeks for my extrovert tendencies to kick in. And, I'm so glad they did.


I discovered so many fun blogs, but wanted more. Shortly after I started blogging in earnest, I discovered twitter and the rest is a blur... First, Carissa and I started the #gno weekly Twitter parties, after that we formed Mom It Forward, then I started using Facebook like a maniac, formed a YouTube group, a Flickr group, started a Wiki, and officially got into all things online... and as you know, I'm hooked! Or, as my husband says, addicted!!!

I made so many friends in such a quick time and I won't lie to you, my IRL friends and family were a bit nervous thinking all of you were predators trying to pick up on me or get my data to use in damaging ways. So, when I started making the transition from on to offline, I discovered the best part of on is really off! What do I mean by that?

In early December, I joined a few other Mom It Forward (#gno) gals I had met online to join me in a service project at an assisted living facility in Utah. I knew these women from blogging or from twitter, but had never met them in real life. We met up with our kids and shared the Christmas spirit with men and women in our local community. But first, we had a planning meeting! Check out the three of us: Kristina from Pulsipher Predilections and Kristin from Domestically Sassy.


In December, I also joined the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City board and in January, I attended my first meeting and met up with one of my newst BFFs, Krista Parry. We had been tweeting for approximately 2 weeks, but when we met up IRL, we hit it off. It didn't even take until the end of the evening before people were asking us if we were sisters. I felt like I had been friends with her since Jr. High. Fast forward three months... we probably talk more on the phone or live now than we do on Twitter!

Since that time, I have met tons of amazing folks in the local Social Media scene as well as have been able to meet up with some of my favorite mommy bloggers there like Quinn from Created by Mom and Cecily from My Chaos, My Bliss (the co-founder of Photo Story Friday and a co-faculty member in the Fishful Thinking program).


In February, I went to my first social media/blogging conference—Blissdom—in Nashville, Tennessee. There, I met hundreds of gals, may of which I had been tweeting with during #gno—some since early last fall. Going to this conference was like coming home. Nothing can really explain the emotion of meeting someone and realizing it is @sugarjones or @rachel_ferrucci or @jessicaknows—women you feel so close to but have never met IRL. Even better is becoming real life friends with these gal and having a bond tighter than you did before.



Also awesome was meeting new folks at the conference and discovering that offline relationships translate equally as well to online. In other words, I met people at the conference I hadn't really interacted with online and we instantly became friends. Josh and Rebecca Unfried of the amazing Mom Faves site joined us for a service project at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Nothing like chatting over chopping vegetables to bond you for life.










The first weekend in March, I was very fortunate to fly out to New York and attend a parenting workshop as part of the Fishful Thinking program. Mr Youth, the interactive agency for Pepperidge Farm, selected 10 women across the US to help promote this amazing program on positive parenting. They must have known I really needed some help. I'm sure if I share the 5 ingredients of positive parenting with enough people some of it will rub off on me, right? LOL!

My point for bringing all of this up? While there, I met even more fantastic women in the program that were all in social media—amazing moms who blog, network, and manage all of their many roles while trying to be a positive parent! And to add to the fun, I even met up with tweeting friend and now IRL friend Katja Presnal from Skimbaco Lifestyle and her three children for lunch in New York City. Why we didn't have someone else take the pictures so Katja could be in it with us is beyond me. Next time, right?


And just last week, I attended a workshop with about 50 women—some I had met online, others I hadn't. We learned about how to have realistic expectations and how to be terrific moms. We hooked up with "old" friends, got to meet new ones, and even won terrific prizes all over chocolate!

But the treat of all treats, literally, was hooking up with a group of 14 other online women—mostly bloggers—in my local community to go out to eat at a fabulous new restaurant in Highland, Utah called The Blue Lemon.



Not only was there instant friendship, but terrific food! Let me share!



Oh! Yah! Nothing like discovering a new restaurant, going in with low expectations, seeing the sophisticated style, and trying nearly 8 dishes (that doesn't even include dessert) and loving every one of them. And, you know it is bad when you start getting protective of your tomato bisque even when it is really supposed to be a share and share alike type of an experience.

The highlights? The surpringly delicious... ok, delicious doesn't even begin to describe it... SCRUMPTIOUS! DELECTIBLE! AMAZING! (all rolled into one) butternut squash soup. I was so busy eating it that I forgot to take a picture (and it is worth seeing a picture of it even though it doesn't do it justice), but I did snap one of the chef preparing it (a little behind the scenes shot for you!).

And what would dinner be without dessert?

And here's the best part of this long history of my meet ups with these online women (7 months is like 20 years in online time)... these women—every single one of them—are AMAZING. They have talents and skills and beauty (inside and out) and more talents and are funny and sensitive and are full of great ideas for the moms and online women and entrepreneurs so many of us are. Plus, they are energizing to be around, and overall... a huge addition to my life. In other words, they are exactly the opposite of the gals you meet on MySpace that are really weird men! LOL! They would have been my friends IRL had I met them IRL. :)

So now what... does it ever end. Oh! No! This is just the beginning. On Saturday, March 28, Mom It Forward and Make and Takes are hostessing a family-friendly service project for the Christmas Box House. I'm excited to meet more moms as we serve side by side with our families.

And, on Saturday, April 18, we will be having a huge benefit concert for these charities to help provide sustainable incomes and business opportunities for women in Kenya: http://yehu.org, http://basabody.com, and http://coastcoconutfarms.com all under The Pope Foundation umbrella out of Provo.

Want in to see how "off" can be better than "on"? Want to experience the friend frenzy that is social media. Or, just want to connect with other moms? Take advantage of one of the upcoming activities that involve the Salt Lake City social media scene, moms, and more:

• Meet some friends at The Blue Lemon Bistro (and invite me... unless you want to share the tomato bisque).
• Attend Ignite and Pod Camp Thursday and Friday, March 26-27.
  
• Join us for our March 28 service project.
• Attend next the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City for its April 16 meeting at The Melting Pot.
• Join the planning committee or attend the Moms Helping Moms charity event on Saturday, April 18 to help support women in Kenya!
• Come party with the mommy scene at BlogHer in Chicago the weekend of July 24. I know, it's that or Pioneer Day in Utah, but seriously... think of all the fun, friends, and fabulous information!
  

I did not call my blog Mommy Gossip because I thought it was catchy, cute, or because it was the last one on my list not already taken JK. And, I didn't even name it Mommy Gossip because I like to gossip. Because, when you look up the definition of the word gossip, it usually includes another word—scandalous. And scandalous does not define me or my blogging philosophy. Nope, I named this lovely site Mommy Gossip, because I love to share stories. I love to chit and to chat, because I have found it is one of the best ways to see that the greener grass is right between my very own toes.

But, gabbing wouldn't mean anything if it weren't for all of you mommy babes in blogland who gossip with me—who share your stories and the shade of your own green grass, whether it be in the winter or summer of its lifecycle.

So today, I want to thank several people for bestowing awards on me. This blogaritaville sugar is the purest and sweetest variety there is. I'd also like to spread the love by giving these awards to many mommies I call my friends.


This award comes from Elizabeth at Parenting Pink and Parenting Pink. (Nope, I didn't accidentally repeat those. Click on each link to see how this amazing mommy can multi-task.) Then, visit these sites to see who my blogging BFFs are.

Candid Carrie—Let the Healing Magic Begin literally made my cheeks hurt from OD-ing on laughter. I didn't think it was possible, but Carrie showed me it could be done.

Posh Point of View—The two Jennifers (see below) definitely deserve this award. I always wanted to be BFF with a homecoming queen. And these two are some of the finest—and competitive—you'll ever meet.

Happily Ever After Land—(See above.)

Decisionally Challenged—Georgie is hilarious. Visit her site and then read her guest post on Postcards From the Edge to get a good laugh.

Can't Hardly Wait—Georgette is brave, bold, and candid in her posts. She's tough and tender all at once. Love this girl!

And speaking of Georgette at Can't Hardly Wait... Her and Melody at Pennies in My Pocket took me international with this award. Drop on by to get in on the goods. And remember, I am guest posting at Following in My Shoes today, so make sure to comment where you are there.

A Cowboy's Wife—Just dropped by here today for the first time. Love this site's design. Plus she has another site dedicated to food. What's not to love?

Following in My Shoes—Rachel is hilarious and her Little Lady is adorable. What a combination.

Bloggedy Blog Blog—You will want this gal to decorate your house, take pics of your kids, and eat lunch with you. Love this site.

Moms, Ministry & More—I've got nothing on her public restroom experience. Go to Following in My Shoes to see mine and link here to see hers. All I can say is WOW!

On the Flip Side—Love the current yet sensitive topics addressed and the differing opinions expressed here. Check out today's post that deals with pornography. It's G-rated. Don't worry!

Postcards From the Edge—Deb is spicy and keeps great company with Jill Jill Bo Bill, Amelia Bedilia, and Georgie. Add some flavor to your browsing pleasure by visitng her site.

Classy Chaos—How could you not love someone who describes herself as a stilhetto ho and a dentist's wife?