Time does fly.

I’m afraid I’ve been a tad quiet lately. It’s not due to a lack of anything to talk about. I’ve seen some wonderful plays and concerts (Where do I even begin? One place: Stay away from “King Kong”),  screened some beautiful films (most recently On the Basis of Sex, which I can’t wait to talk about), read some memorable books (Eleanor Oliphant is Just Fine), watched some incredible new streaming TV shows (such as The Romanoffs) and Christmas movies (I have to say, Netflix is winning in this arena), and I’ve even managed to travel a bit.

I’ve thought about posting a zillion times since I last posted. Usually, when there is silence here, it is because I’m either mulling over this blog’s fate, writing elsewhere or having a mid-life crisis. In this case, it’s all of the three.

Nonetheless, I’m still here..and elsewhere. What can I tell you? I have a new job. I’m commuting into the city again for the first time in a while. My daughter is nearly 16. I came quite close to producing an important off-Broadway show. I am still doing important work for Neighbors for Refugees and continue to fight the fight all Americans are fighting right now.

I’m also obsessed with this song and video.

Here’s a list of some of my freelance articles and where I’ve been these last few months, first and foremost. See you on the other side and here very soon. I’m going on an amazing trip tonight, as a matter of fact, and I promise to report back.

MACARONI KID TRAVEL

Sleep in a Five-Star Hotel in Jerusalem’s The Inbal Hotel

COOL MOM PICKS

Why every parent needs to see Boy Erased. Spoiler: The world desperately needs more understanding and compassion

OFF METRO

Visiting Jamestown, New York: A Comedic Weekend Away

Five Great Things To Do With Kids in and Near NYC

TREKAROO

Things to Do in Berlin with Kids

Top Ten Things to Do in Rome with Kids

PUBLICATION: TIMES OF ISRAEL

The Inbal Jerusalem 

PUBLICATION: WOMEN & HOLLYWOOD

Marsha Mason on Being in the “Prime” of Her Career and Life as a Theater Director

Jocelyn Bioh on “School Girls: Or, the African Mean Girls Play” and Its Exploration of Colorism

Martha Conley on “Boy Erased”: Sharing Her Son’s Story and Being Played by Nicole Kidman

Martha Plimpton on How Non-Profit A is For Goes to Bat for Reproductive Rights

Abby Mueller of Broadway’s Beautiful Talks Playing a Rock Star Who Lives on Her Own Terms

Bonnie Milligan Talks Representation and Female Empowerment in Broadway’s “Head Over Heels”

Nicolette Robinson on Being the First WOC to Lead Broadway’s “Waitress”

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I just wrapped up two days at the annual Social Good Summit in New York City. While I have been attending the SGS for the past five years, this year had particular meaning as I was asked to be a United Nations Foundations Fellow. I was given special access to speakers and exclusive events going on around the conference and that was very invigorating, both as a writer and cause marketer. To get up close and personal to many of the people behind major movements that are creating major change around the world was something special.

I’m a strong believer in using one’s voice for social good and I’ve enjoyed using this blog as just one of my many platforms to get word out about initiatives I believe can change the world, but best of all, it was magnificent to be in a room full of people who really care and make it their life work to plug into their passion and go out there and change the world.

 Social Good Summit

This year’s Social Good Summit was abouthow we envision the planet in 2030. The conference took the Global Goals, which were created last year and went more into detail about how each goal is being carried out to bring a solution for each. Described as a blueprint for the future, the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets address such daunting challenges as climate change, hunger, education, gender equality, sanitation, jobs, justice and shared peace.

I was curious to see how the UN was faring with the mission of carrying out these goals. And while I’m not here to say I definitively can not answer that question, I am here to say that things are happening and that a lot of work is being done in all of the seventeen areas. This year’s attendees were urged to examine how they could play a role in the 2030 agenda. By using our passions, communities and skills, we can push the agenda so much further than ever before. I believe that the Social Good Summit remains a necessity.

Here were a few of my takeaways from the conference and what inspired me. There was a lot to digest in a few days, but here’s what I’m thinking about here and now and what’s motivating me.

The world is finally ready to help refugees. Finally.

It was only one year ago that the world was presented with the devastating photo of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy of Kurdish ethnic background whose image made global headlines after he drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. The image of his father holding his body resonated around the world and was a wake-up call about the refugee crisis. However, one year later, the situation has worsened considerably. We heard that there are 65 million refugees who need help, and 50% of that number is children. The situation is dire. Obama was in NYC to attend a conference addressing this huge problem. Members of Olympian Team Refugee were at the Summit. The situation was mentioned throughout the conference and is clearly one of the UN’s current main initiatives.

What do I plan on doing? I am working to bring my local community into the international conversation. Stay tuned for this space as I will share details as the situation develops further.

Gender Equality remains a priority.

As SDG #5, a lot of the sessions were focused on gender equality and giving the voiceless a voice. YouTube personalities Jazz Jennings and Ingrid Nilsen spoke out about the state of global equity for the LGBTQ community and how that is being represented in media. Journalist Barkha Dutt spoke with former leaders of Malawi and New Zealand, Dr. Joyce Banda and Helen Clark. Both of these former leaders shared their experiences ruling their respected nations as women and the hardships they faced during their run.

What do I plan on doing? Educating myself. Inspiring my 13-year old daughter. Making sure our next U.S. President is a woman.

Real issues are being tackled.

In some cases, famous people came to talk about causes of importance to them. Talk about using your platform wisely. The Vice President spent about 40 minutes educating the audience on his Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to eradicate cancer from society by improving research, patient care and more. As a cancer survivor, his words meant a heck of a lot to me. When he leaves office, he’s going to do so much for this world. Demi Lovato opened up about mental illness and substance abuse. She was frank and very, very real about her battle.  Singer Cody Simpson addressed the issue of climate change and what should be done to save the ecosystem. Comedienne Chelsea Handler discussed using her new Netflix show to make a difference, moving her away from the world of celebrity gossip to something more substantial.

What do I plan on doing? Just as VP Biden spoke out and stood for a cause he so sincerely believes in and has a personal connection to, so do I. I am a cancer survivor and I’ve been quiet to date. It may be time to stand up and speak out to help other people.

Social media matters.

From #BlackLivesMatter to #2030NOW, hashtags were flying, and words and messages were being broadcast around the world. I’ve raised money for so many causes and raised so much awareness using my platform. The world has finally seemed to wake up to the fact that this new medium can spread messages faster than every before.

What do I plan on doing? Well, that’s obvious herebut I do have access to many other platforms and I’ll strive to use them further.

Education, education, education. 

The best thing we can offer any marginalized person is an education. It was really the WORD of the moment as education can save refugees from poverty, young girls from slavery, and it can create leaders, both male and female, all over the world.

What do I plan on doing? Finishing my Masters, for one thing.

Technology is key.

We were constantly told about new start-ups, new initiatives being created to spark action. The invention of the cell phone has really moved the needle on just about everything. There is so much more possibility than ever before as a result and every year the focus on tech gets deeper and deeper.

What do I plan on doing? Staying on top of technology advances that can save the world.

Citizen Journalism is alive and kicking.

Have a passion for a cause and want to do more than you’re doing? Social media is the best way to spread the word.

What do I plan on doing? Making my voice heard wherever I can on issues that matter most to me.

More younger people are coming to the table than ever. And they are changing the world.

We were introduced to a Memory Banda,  who when faced with the prospect of marriage and children at a very young age,  decided to take her fate into her own hands, ultimately convincing 60 chiefs to pass by-lows that have protected four million girls from child marriage in Malawi. Throughout the conference, young people were on stage, inspiring us. We were introduced to 17 U.N. Young Leaders who were selected from more than 18,000 applicants for their leadership on efforts to achieve the goals.

What do I plan on doing? Making my kids two of these change makers.

I can’t wait to see what 2017 brings and what progress will be made in the next 12 months. I’m inspired.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the SGS as a fellow but I was not asked to write anything in particular. All opinions are my own.

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Lately there are six words I seem to be writing at least twenty times a day, making them more news-worthy in my world than any others. They are not the kindest words, nor do I enjoy using them several times an hour, however these six simple words are PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST. Yep, that’s six more words than I’d like to use at any given time.

The emails I am getting are usually requests for editorial coverage here on this blog that don’t pertain to my niche whatsoever, and they typically leave me dumbfounded. In the past month, I have been asked to review toffee, a yoga and tutus event, Kosher swim ware and other miscellaneous things that are irrelevant to the world I write about.

Have I mentioned that all my of these pitches are basically asking for free exposure? They are sending me the info with the expectation of me jumping for joy and blogging about them, tweeting about them and shouting out everywhere about how fabulous they are.

There there also authors asking me if they can make editorial contributions.  Typically, these are requests for a link to their business. I probably get more of these types of emails than anything.

Let’s take a look at my “About Us” section, which hasn’t changed much over the years:

The Culture Mom’s mission is to enliven readers by showing how accessible and fun cultural and travel experiences, in New York City and beyond, can be in everyday life.  The Culture Mom is a gallant, worldly irreverent, urban explorer with broad cultural interests.  We’re passionate about travel, film, TV, reading, music, art and new experiences, both for us and our children. We also love the idea of social good, using our online voice to make a difference.

Let’s look at a few of my recent posts – I recently wrote about a ski trip to Mont Tremblant, Netflix, the NY Botanical Garden, a trip to Woodloch Resort, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and how devastated I was by the death of David Bowie. I do have a niche, if it’s hard to figure out, look at my freelance writing. I typically write about travel, culture and social good. I don’t venture into faraway territories.

Why am I writing this post? I am grateful for any attention, I assure you, and I don’t want to sound like I’m not. All I am asking is that you look at my blog before emailing me and treat me like a professional. Yes, I do have the word “mom” in my URL, and I do understand that puts me in a specific category of bloggers, but please treat me with respect.

I actually just found an old post with a few requests for all of you out there pitching me, and I’m going to repost things to avoid in the future:

– The Culture Mom is not a listing. While I do attend many cultural events, I really write about the ones I cover. Inviting me is fine, but please don’t ask me to run a listing when you don’t one here.

– My niche is fairly obvious – I cover travel, culture and advocacy. I write about these topics here and elsewhere. I don’t post recipes. I don’t review baby products. I don’t write about yogurt.

– Please don’t ask me to repost press releases. My blog is experiential. I make recommendations. I won’t recommend or promote something I know little about, particularly if it doesn’t fit my niche.

– I have a rate card. I’m a professional. Major brands should not ask for free advertising so please don’t.

– I don’t feature guest posts unless they are in line with my content. Sponsored posts? I do, but rarely, only because many of your requests don’t seem legitimate and the topics are too off first base.

– Please don’t pitch me with a subject line like this one: Every Mom Deserves a Bit of Pampering. I don’t really respond to a topic that not only pigeon holes me but talks down to me.

– And please don’t call me a “mommy blogger” in your pitch. I will most likely delete your email without responding at all.

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I love Findery, a social network for travelers. If you love to travel and haven’t used it yet, you must. It’s the most personal, intimate way of sharing info and images about your travels with others. Download the app, set up an account and start sharing (and while you’re there, check me out). The interaction is instantaneous. I also love that I can access it everywhere and can get tips from experts who are people like me who love to travel and want to share their favorite tips and experiences, and great photos.

And now I’m excited that they’ve now created a new mobile app: Findery for Windows.At the tap of the screen, Findery users discover local knowledge about their current location through personal travel stories, hidden histories, and local tips left by Findery’s extensive and active community. Findery users share their experiences and leave notes and photos about meaningful places they’ve found and love, both where they live or where they travel. The new Windows 10 application opens up a bright new world for Windows users, allowing them to connect with other travel minded individuals, whether they’re planning trips or justdreaming of exploration. The Findery team built the latest app to best utilize the Windows 10 operating system, taking advantage of Cortana’s capabilities and the ease of pinning interesting elements to the Start Menu.

Since the app was formally launched for iOS in March 2014, Findery contributors have left notes to share travel stories in all the 196 countries across the globe. The platform makes it easy to discover treasures in countless places – from where they’ve been to where they dream of going.

With Findery for Windows 10, you can plot all of your travel stories and travel dreams on a map and explore the world from New York to New Delhi. Pin a Findery note or notemap to your Start Menu or ask Cortana “Findery, show me things nearby” to see interesting notes around your location or “Findery, show me the world” to explore over 100 destinations around the world.

Once downloaded, Findery for Windows 10 uses the current location to surface interesting local notes. Not actually traveling yet? Wander the world on the app. Follow other members. Discover places you want to visit and explore. Notes can be about local history or folklore, point out interesting factoids, or be a way to share a little anecdote about a location. Notemaps are a curated collection of notes about a particular topic, theme, or location. Members can add their own notes and notes from others to the notemaps they create.

Findery is about people living their dreams­­climbing the Eiffel Tower, or relaxing on a beach in Costa Rica. Members follow each other and receive notifications when those new notes or comments are posted. Notes can all be shared to Facebook, Messaging, Microsoft OneNote, Mail, or NFC.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post but I am a regular contributor to Findery.

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I’ve been blogging for five years now and every year I’ve quietly hoped to be invited to a blogging conference called Disney Social Media Moms. It’s a very big deal in the social media community, or seems to be. Besides getting an opportunity to delve into the world of social media with other women for a weekend, you get to bring your family along to experience Walt Disney World in a very magical way with Disney as host.

When I didn’t make the cut the first year, I thought I’d make it eventually. But when I didn’t make the cut the next year, I began to think I wasn’t the right pedigree as many of my peers were selected and went the next three years in a row. I told people that the rejection didn’t hurt me, but it did. I felt like the awkward girl in high school again, the one who didn’t get invited to the prom.

Side bar: I actually really didn’t go to the prom, so I know what it feels like NOT to be invited.

But guess what? After five years, when I didn’t ever expect the invitation to ever hit my in box, it did. I was on a press trip with my son last weekend and hardly had time to focus on the fact that I got invited or that the invite said that I had to book quickly. All I do know is that the invite felt very validating. The world of blogging has taken to me to places and helped me to explore parts of myself that I didn’t know existed, and I’m grateful, and now it would take my kids back to Disney. After telling my tween aged daughter about it for several years, I would finally fulfill a dream of mine to take her to Disney in a way I would never be able to otherwise. Sure, we’ve been, but this conference would be a different experience.

But unfortunately, we can’t go. The weekend the conference is scheduled is the same weekend as the daughter of an old friend’s Bat Mitzvah. When I noticed the date, I told myself that I would talk to my friend, that of course we wouldn’t miss Disney. But I knew deep down that would be the wrong thing to do. This friend told us to save the date for her Bat Mitzvah six months ago. Our presence at the event would mean the world to her, and when we got the invite in the mail, I quickly sent our confirmed RSVP back, not just for my husband and I but also for the entire family.

So, I scheduled lunch with her in the city to have a conversation about my dilemma, but in the process, the conference filled up and registration closed. I got an email that I might be put on the waiting list and that they were trying to open more spaces after filling up in 72 hours.

Lunch with this friend also got called off and I was glad that we never had a chance to discuss the situation. I would have hurt her feelings and our friendship might not have recovered.

I took it all as a sign. I have a lifetime of opportunities to go to Disney, but I don’t have a lifetime to fix destroyed relationships.

It wasn’t easy for my daughter to understand but ultimately, I believe in her ability to know how to do the right thing and I am the only one who can teach her how to.

So, in the end, the conference taught me about priorities. It taught me to put others before myself. I hope I get invited next year, but if I don’t, I’ll have to be happy with this year’s decision, and that is one thing I know for sure.

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If you’re into live theater and don’t live in NYC, here is an opportunity to experience a new production….from your living room!

Heretick Theater Lab’s live production of “The Noir Series”, a series of four thematically linked, interactive plays written by Stephen McFeely, Ed Brubaker, Nancy Keystone, John Hindman, and The Burglars of Hamm, will see four performances in Los Angeles which will be live streamed to the world via the internet. Studio audience tickets can be purchased for $20 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/.  Online purchases and viewing can be accessed for $7.99 through http://www.dacast.com/. For a full schedule of performance dates and times please visit: http://www.hereticklab.com/

 It’s taking place on November 7 & 8 at 4pm and 8pm. There will be a Q.&A. with the cast and creators of the Noir Series immediately following the performance in the theatre lobby on the 7th. It will take place at Schkapf at 6567 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles…and online!

The cast includes Stephen McFeely – writer, Malfeasance, Ed Brubaker – writer, Air Conditioned Rooms, Nancy Keystone –writer and director, A Door to the Dark, Hugo Armstrong– actor, Malfeasance, Tessa Ferrer – actor, Air Conditioned Rooms, Jennifer Cotteleer – creator, The Noir Series, Burglars of Hamm- Jon Beauregard, Carolyn Almos, Albert Dayan, Sofiya Alexandra – Emcee, Rob Buscemi- Emcee.

Studio audience tickets can be purchased for $20 at http://noirseries.brownpapertickets.com/. Online tickets and viewing can be accessed for $7.99 for a single viewing, and $20 for a weekend viewing package through http://static.viewer.dacast.com/b/43652/p/48152.

Viewing and tickets are also accessible through the Heretick Theatre Lab homepage www.hereticklab.com.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post nor a review! I have not seen the production.

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Last week my daughter and I got treated to a very special “health” day by the wonderful women at Cool Mom Picks. She was treated to a cooking class; I was treated to an afternoon sipping mimosas and learning about a new app, LiveHealth Online, that can, quite simply, create healthier, safer lives. With the click of a button, you can have access to a physician who can advise, prescribe medication and help you save time and worry.

The event was held at Havens Kitchen in New York City, a beautiful space dedicated to the preparation and enjoyment of yummy, sustainable, seasonal food. Chef David taught two groups of children to make healthy dishes like granola and yogurt, chocolate ricotta and homemade spring rolls. It was satisfying to know that my daughter was learning about and using wholesome, organic ingredients. The menu really combined personal wellness and well-being and was a great tie in to the day’s mission – to learn about Live Health Online.

Have you ever needed medical advice urgently but had a hard time getting the doctor on the phone? I can think of that happening to me literally millions of times. There was that time she had a dreadful blister under her nose, which turned out to be inpetigo. It literally sat on her face for a week before I knew it was not just a spot but a virus. There was that time she had a croup cough and we ended up in the hospital, only to find out that we could have spent 10 minutes in steam to make her feel better. If only I could have connected with a doctor when I needed to. Sometimes it’s a matter of time – I simply can’t miss work or get away to get an opinion. 

Now if only I could have gotten advice, and medication, from a doctor on the Internet! (are you reminded of Lisa Kudrow’s Web Therapy, the show about the online therapist, too?) That’s why I find LiveHealth Online very interesting. I have had countless chronic sinus infections, for which doctors never prescribe medication for me over the phone. This app could have saved me so much time and energy. Let me explain how.

LiveHealth Online is a new (free) app that enables parents to easily and privately connect with a doctor of their choice from among 44 states when their own can’t be reached. The service can be accessed at any time and allows app users to establish a two-way, face-to-face video chat with a doctor who can both diagnose and treat them, along with their family members for non-emergency conditions such as the flu, cold, strep throat and ear infections. LiveHealth Online doctors in most states can also send prescriptions directly to the pharmacy used by the app user.

How to Enroll

Once you download the app, you need to enroll, which is really quick and easy. Then, each time you log in, you’ll see doctors that are available in your state. Bookmarking a doctor’s profile is easy. LiveHealth Online has a preferred provider section where you can store your doctor’s information.

Once you find a doctor, click Connect to talk with him or her right away. During your appointment, the doctor will review your health history, answer questions and prescribe medicines, if needed. After each session, you can even send a record to your regular doctor.

Before you see a doctor, you can view their star rating on their doctor profile. Simply click on a doctor’s photo to see this information. After your doctor’s visit, we’ll ask you to rate your experience.

Using Insurance

If you have a health plan, your visit may be covered – so you pay less. Check with your plan’s benefits to find out exactly how much you would pay. If you don’t have a health plan, visits start at $49.

Keep in mind, LiveHealth Online is not for emergencies. If you experience an emergency, you should always call 911.

Pretty brilliant, eh? Thanks for the ladies of Cool Mom Picks for introducing me to this helpful app and having my daughter and I for a day of learning, fun and inspiration (cause those ladies always inspire me).

The LiveHealth Online app is available for download from iTunes, the App Store or Google Play store.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post but I did attend a complimentary cooking class with my daughter, hosted by Cool Mom Picks and LiveHealth Online.

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As someone who’s made many efforts over the years to raise both awareness and money for social causes and issues (i.e. St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Women in Prison, the Mothers of Haiti, Room to Grow and others), I have been fascinated by the extreme success of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. At first it was kind of amusing to see the videos pop up by various friends in my Facebook feed and I didn’t see what was coming even then, when I had no idea the idea would take off to this extent. But over the last week, as celebrity videos started to appear, including the likes of Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Patrick Stewart, Benedict Cumberbatch (whose clip I show above in honor of his display of the phone number to donate to ALS), and more and more of my own friends started to post about the cause with declarations of their own monetary donations, my interest peaked. People weren’t only making the videos; they were donating money!

In all my years using social media, I have never seen so much good come out of a simple idea. As of yesterday, The ALS Association publicly announced it has received $70.2 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 24). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.3 million new donors to The Association. That is a lot of money! The ALS Association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, The Association’s public policy efforts empower people to advance public policies in our nation’s Capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.

Along with the videos have come stories of people afflicted with ALS, like the one by  a man named Anthony Carbajal. His video (please watch it from beginning to end) begins humorously and takes a serious turn, when we learn that not only is he afflicted with the illness at age 26, but he also cares for his mother who has ALS and cannot walk or eat without assistance. As we watch him take care of her, he tells us that we need to keep this discussion alive so pharmaceutical companies and others will continue to be pushed to find a cure for this fatal disease. “This is the first successful advocacy [ALS has] ever really… had and I’m so, so, so grateful,” he said. “You have no idea how every single challenge makes me feel, lifts my spirits, lifts every single ALS patient’s spirits. You’re really, truly making a difference.”

Seriously. Imagine having ALS and feeling all alone in this world, until now. The amount of support and hope coming in from this simple Bucket Challenge is amazing.

The question is what went right with this campaign? What did the organizers do SO well that even with deniers cracking down on its success, new videos and donations are popping up daily?

For one thing, it’s the feel good campaign of the summer, particularly in light of what’s happening in the Middle East and in Ferguson, Missouri. The news was getting SO depressing early in the summer that people were waiting for something to feel good and talk about. I was having trouble going on Facebook at the start of the summer. There was so much disagreement about what was going on in the world and so many divisions over it all. I felt shaken, quite honestly. But these videos are SO MUCH FUN. I’ve seen small kids getting involved, as well as my favorite celebrities joining in. It’s also summer. Kids are home from school. It’s hot out. People can dump a bucket of water on them and then jump in the pool. I love the reactions after the icy water drips down. The chilly screams….

To think that just a few weeks ago, people didn’t know what ALS was – now even young kids understand the nature of this dreadful disease. The Ice Bucket Challenge involves dousing a bucket of ice water on one’s head or donating to the ALS Association in the United States. The one who takes the challenge also has to nominate three more people. It doesn’t take much to get involved – a bucket of water and an iPhone or video recorder. Heck, you don’t even have to know much about the disease to participate.

Next, the people nominated are taking the mission very seriously. Once your name is put out there, it seems hard to refuse – you have publicly been called up (on social media) and if you don’t reciprocate, you might get chastised! The result is a ripple effect – when someone gets asked, they are responding publicly  and posting within 24 hours. I have never seen my social media streams, particularly my Facebook feed, so full of responses to one single campaign.

The hash tags (#IceBucketChallenge #ALSIceBucketChallenge) are easy and logical and the calculation of social media impressions on each is HUGE. I would imagine that the mission is also bringing people to social media for the first time. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook must have seen great growth from this campaign alone as people want to share: 1. That they made a video and joined the biggest revolution of the summer. And  2. That they are generous. Even Mark Zuckerberg has gotten involved and posted his video on Facebook!

Also, no one is pushing anyone to participate. It even seems like the ALS Association has been quiet since the start of the campaign. It wasn’t even a very strategically executed idea – it was creative, fun and well timed. When I work on a campaign, I hit social media hard. This was such an easy effort on all fronts. The ALS Association must be in their element.

So, the end results? Marketers need to come up with simple ideas that involved video that have the potential to go as viral as #IceBucketChallenge. I suspect we will see many, many more. The question is what is next? As for the people making a stink about all talk and no action, the money is certainly flowing in so maybe you should go bark up a new tree. Take it from me, I was cynical at first, too. But I am no longer. All I have to do is watch the video above and it makes me realize how successful the ALS Bucket Challenge was. You don’t have to make a video – I haven’t been nominated so I haven’t. Just go here and donate: http://www.alsa.org/donate

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A few months ago, my dear friend, Charlene DeLoach of Charlene Chronicles invited me to a unique event called Blogger Bash. Billed as “10 themed parties that will serve as networking opportunities between bloggers and big-name brands from baby to travel,” my immediate thought was ‘how would this appeal to me?’  After all, I’m not going to many blogging conferences anymore. After blogging for more than a few years, I feel that I’ve typically aged out of a lot of the information that is presented at these events. I’m also not much of a product reviewer.

However, as a consultant, blogging is much of my working world (I’m Engagement Strategist over at SheSpeaks and have my own business, Pivoting Media), and I felt there could be potential opportunity for me at this conference and I’m not one to miss the what was billed as THE blogging event of the season. When the day come, and it was time to put on clothes other than my daily jeans worn while working at home, I was really pleased to make the trek into the city.

I was even more pleased when I realized that just about every blogger I have met working in this space and have grown to love would be joining me at BloggerBash. Charlene joined forces with Laurie Schacht of Toy Insider, The Big Toy Book and Joey Fortman of Real Mom Media and their combined outreach certainly brought in the masses. Friends like Jill Smokler of Scary Mommy, Ellen Seidman of Love That Max, Jennifer Wagner of Connect with Your Teens, Fadra Nally of All Things Fadra, Esti Berkowitz of Primetime Parenting, Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential, Estelle Erasmus of Musings on Motherhood & Midlife and many more (several of my faces in the pic above) were in attendance, and more importantly, we had time to talk. The conference had only a few planned panels – most of it was saved for networking with the brands. After a few months of trying to find myself in this crazy world, the event brought me back to earth and helped me appreciate the voice I’ve carved out in this community. I loved sharing stories of successes, failures, life, business and more with these wonderful, amazing women.

Meeting with Brands

As for the event, imagine over 100 toy brands in one space in 24 hours! I am so impressed with what my friends pulled off. We were able to have one on ones with the brands, something that is really hard to do at the usual blogging conferences. Some of the brands I especially enjoyed meeting at one of their events were Rooibee Red Tea, Fashion Angels, Fat Brain Toys, Bananagrams and so many others. Better yet, a week later, a package arrived at my door filled with products too heavy to bring home. It was Christmas in July.

Source: Life Without Pink on Instragram

Kudos to Charlene and company for putting on a new kind of event for the blogging community. Long may it last.

Disclosure: I received a pass to Blogger Bash but all opinions shared are my own. 

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(Note: I am dreadfully late on this post. I always post on an event that I attend, so I regret my tardiness.)

I am not known for being very beauty or fashion centric, so when I receive invitations to event that revolve around either of the two, I am usually stunned and have to think about my RSVP very carefully. However, some of these invitations are easier to consider.

Like this one: Getting Gorgeous.

Its organizers, Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeney, are two of the most amazing, giving and savvy people I’ve met in this space. I love that they met through social media and came up with a business idea that they’ve watched grow and become more successful every year, and I love that they’ve continued to invite me and added it to my own journey. It’s an annual event in NYC that brings bloggers and fashion/beauty brands together. I look forward to it every year as it’s a time to see some of my favorite blogging turned IRL friends and spend an afternoon getting pampered.

And this year was NO exception. Audrey and Vera have truly mastered event-planning. The room looked inviting, celebratory and non-threatening as we we were told to mosey around on our own. There is no pressure, no expectations (i.e. you do for me, I do for you), only a feeling of support and camaraderie for what they do…..and for what we do and how we can do it better.

Vera and Audrey brought together an excellent selection of brands, many of whom I had never met before and had something to teach me about my own beauty and fashion regime. Bali Intimates allowed us to try on some of their new products. At first I was intimidated as I’m not a huge fan of bra shopping, but it was eye-opening to find out I had been wearing the wrong cup size and that I would be getting a new bra in the mail. The folks at Vitabath took time to educate me about taking care of my skin and I’ve really enjoyed using their products in the shower since I got home. I learned about a new resistance training below from ReXist 360. which I look forward to incorporating into my exercise regime at home. While walking around, I sipped on my Voli Vodka Raspberry Goddess and Volito drinks and look forward to making cocktails for my guests at my next party. I got a Astrology reading from Calgon and learned about their new scent. I spoke to the folks at VO5 about their new hair products – I’m a curly hair and it takes a lot to pull me out of my hair routine, but I’m definitely having my daughter try out their new products.

Vera and Audrey are so savvy and organized. There was a slew of other sponsors at the event worth mentioning: Summer, Whosevent, Born Free, Red Carpet Kids, Johnson’s Baby, Aveeno Baby, Designer Imposters, PassionRoses.com and Romio. PassionRoses gave us all a bouquet of roses to take home with us which added a whole extra layer of pampering. Fellow bloggers had their hair done, manicures and more.

It was truly a special afternoon of Getting Gorgeous.

Disclosure: I received items from each of the sponsors mentioned for review but no opinion was asked of me.

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