CityMama™

Hot Links for 7/31/09

We'll be getting back to regularly scheduled programming soon, it's just that I've been super busy. Posts about my trip to Michigan (including a very inspiring visit to Ford), BlogHer, and my backlog of recipes and other fun food things to share will be trickling forth from my fingertips. I'm about to leave for Hawaii for just shy of three weeks so perhaps I'll find time to write there.  Or maybe I'll just sit on the beach or splash in the ocean with my girls or celebrate my 15th wedding anniversary and stuff.

In the mean time, links will have to do, but this is good stuff.

If you live in Northern California (basically Monterey to the Oregon border) or Western Nevada (Hi, Reno!) you definitely want to check out the awesome contest I am running over on CityMama's Free Stuff.  You know how much I hate to do giveaways--I only do them if they are good, and this is good.

I had an amazing dinner this week at one of the best restaurants in the world, Manresa.  You can check out the photos of just about every course on my Flickr.  It was a fabulous meal and we gushed so much that we were invited into the kitchen to check out the behind-the-scenes action.  Truly a dinner to remember.

And while you're on Flickr, you can check out my photos of our roadtrip through Michigan and BlogHer09. If we're not yet friends on Flickr, let's be!

Did you know I was on a panel session at BlogHer? It was a "room of your own" session on Women of Color and Marketing. I will never get around to writing it up, so just go and read what my fellow panelist and idol, Mocha Momma, had to say about it.  Being there, in that packed room with some of the smartest frickin' women on the internets, was the highlight of my time in Chicago. It beats seeing Carson Kressley's naked (tan and shaved) chest any day. [photo credit: lucrecer white braxton]

Oh, yeah. I met Carson. He complimented me on my jacket.

While at BlogHer I met John Kim, Seoul bro and VP of Product Management and Marketing for Whrrl.  (I confused it with Twhirl in front of him--smooth!). Anyway, I've been playing around with it on my iPhone and it's fun! Love the idea that it tells the stories of your life. If you are on Whrrl, friend me up!

Hope you are all well and that you are having an amazing summer!

Road trip stories: Nun Fashion in Michigan. (Yes, Michigan.)

I-75 is long and boring, y'all. And sometimes, you don't have a choice about where you stop and pee.

What a girl wants (in a car)

Tomorrow I am meeting with some of the folks from Ford who want to know what women want in a car.  I know what I want and it has nothing to do with cupholders (although ones big enough to hold Kleen Kanteens would be nice for kids).

I want USB ports for my gadgets.
I want to be able to sync my iPhone and/or iPod effortlessly.
I want a safe, reliable car.
I want a nice-looking car.
I want a plug-in hybrid.

How about you?  What do YOU want in a car?  Leave your answer in the comments below and I will tell Ford everything you say tomorrow.

Ford-y Whatever Road Trip

Follow along on this latest installment: From Detroit to Mackinac Island in a red Mustang. It's like Thelma and Louise only we don't shoot anyone.

Weekend on Mackinac Island

Words cannot possibly do Mackinac Island, Michigan justice.  And neither do the pictures, quite frankly. It is far more spectacular in person.  You'll just have to go.

No, really.  Put this place on your bucket list.

We went on an 8 mile bike trip around the island today and after returning the bikes to the rental shop, I turned a corner and was greeted by this "Grand" lady. Hello, gorgeous.

We've kicked off our 40 Whatever Birthday Road Trip!

Can you say, "Red Mustang Coupe?" You can follow our adventures over here. Please join us!

70's modern obsession: Latest Etsy finds

Slowly and surely, it all comes together.  It helps having great sellers like brandeye with a shop full of housewares and vintage, perfect for a little late-night, online browsing.

Hello, cheery, blobby, handmade pillow with the cute needlepoint! $20

Hello, colorful platter. Zinnias and mums are so 70's. $8

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Hello, perfectly-shaped, sideways salad bowl that reminds me a coconut.  When I flipped it over it said it was from Hawaii. Like me. $9

 

My take on the MomDot PR Blackout

The blogosphere is abuzz with the news that MomDot has proposed a week-long PR blackout in August. This came about after a 90 minute discussion on Friday Night Live on the subject of "bloggy burnout." The conclusion drawn was that: "Mom Bloggers are simply doing too much."

With the allure of giveaways, reviews, and blog trips, Mom Bloggers have turned from what they love the most, their family, into working directly as public relations for their captive audience. It boils down to knowing your worth and then standing up for it.

Here's the MomDot solution. From August 10-August 16:

(Do) not blog ANY giveaways, ANY reviews, and Zero press releases. In fact, we dont want you to talk to PR at ALL that whole week.  We want to see your blog naked, raw, and back to basics. Talk about your kids, your marriage, your college, your hopes, your dreams, your house and whatever you can come up with for one week.

In other words, for a week, post content.

Many bloggers have shared their opinions on the whole content bloggers (writers) v. review bloggers (shills), myself included.  My own personal thoughts, in a nutshell, are that the blogosphere is big enough for both kinds of bloggers. I know the kind of blogger I want to read (or hire), but that is my personal preference.

I've been blogging since 2003 (on Typepad since early 2004) and I have always known my worth. My blogs have always been about content. I don't need to participate in a PR blackout because because my blogs have never been driven by giveaways and reviews. They've been driven by my passions and my interests. (And my passions and interests don't necessarily include doing free marketing work on behalf of companies with lots of money to pay marketing and PR folks.)

Cooking Mama! (The blog)

Just wanted to let you know that I have a new cooking blog called Cooking Mama on MSN's Delish.com, one of the Top 10 (Top 10!) food sites on the internet!

The focus is just what you'd expect from me: cooking healthful, organic- and locally-sourced whenever possible, "gourmet" family meals.  That kids will eat.  Every post contains an easy (you know me) recipe that you can make in not too much time with or without your kids' help.

Recently I've written about:

making summer fruit crisps
getting organized in the kitchen
and making your own salad dressing

I would love for you to check out Cooking Mama and let me know what you think!  If you subscribed to the RSS or bookmarked the site that would be extra awesome.

You'll still find me sharing recipes here, but from time-to-time I may point you to something yummy over on Cooking Mama.

(And no, I don't know how they were able to use the name Cooking Mama since there is a Wii game of the same name, but I figure, it's Microsoft, they can do anything, right?)

Uncooked spaghetti sauce: Italian tuna, heirloom tomatoes, mint, and orange

This pasta reminds me of all the flavors of the Amalfi coast. It's a simple, uncooked sauce—perfect for summer—which comes together while you are cooking the pasta. The key is to use a really good imported tuna packed in olive oil, sweet summer tomatoes, and the freshest herbs.  Mint and tomatoes go really well together. So do tomatoes and orange. I decided to gild the lily and throw everything together and it worked quite nicely. It was so delicious that Bunny and Wallie ate every speck and were licking their pasta bowls. I think I'll call this one:

Spaghettini Positano

• 1 lb spaghettini or spaghetti
• 1 5 or 6 oz can or jar of imported Italian or Spanish tuna (Genova or Flott) packed in olive oil
• 3-4 glugs of extra virgin olive oil (1/2 cup or so)
• 2 medium heirloom tomatoes (different colors are lovely), seeded and chopped
• 1/3 a bunch of chives, minced (about a handful)
• 1/2 a Vidalia, Texas Sweet or Maui sweet onion, chopped
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves, rough-chopped
• the juice of one orange, if you don't have an orange, a lemon (if you don't have fresh citrus, skip it)
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper
• small dried Tuscan chilis to crumble over your serving (or chili flakes)

Cook pasta for about a minute less than the box indicates in generously salted water.

Place remaining ingredients in a large serving bowl, toss together gently, then season to taste with salt and pepper. When pasta is cooked and drained, dump into the bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve at once. (Cheese is not served with this sauce.)

Here is the sauce hanging out, waiting for its pasta partner.