Shawn Rabideau

Met event planner Shawn Rabideau at the 1-800-FLOWERS blogger event at
their Melrose Park office today. Shawn appears on Bravo's "Bethenny
Getting Married". He gave us lots of decorating tips for the holidays
including edible decor.

Disclosure: I received gift bags from 1-800-Flowers.

Child's Play Communications Gifts

Here's what I received from the sponsors at the holiday blogger brunch
hosted by Child's Play Communications two Saturdays ago at Chicago's
Navy Pier. Following/during the brunch we bloggers got a chance to
meet the sponsors.
Disclosure: received gifts and gift cards from sponsors.

Family Dollar Gift Bag

Here are the contents of the gift bag I received at the Family Dollar
blogger event in Chicago two Thursdays ago. Not pictured are two gift
cards worth a total of $50. They were promoting $5 toys at this event
so they included Hot Wheels cars and a coffeemaker in the bag.

Nordstrom Fragrance Quiz

Nordstrom Oakbrook offered a fragrance quiz to attendees of last
Saturday's fragrance festival. I took a 4 question quiz and the
results show that I like oriental fragrances. Attendees picked from
floral, fresh, oriental and woodsy and received a fabric bracelet
scented with a fragrance of their choice. New fragrances highlighted
at the table included Yves Saint Laurent Belle D'Opium, an oriental.

Marketing to Moms in Social Media

Child's Play Communications hosted a panel discussion titled, Marketing to Moms in Social Media: How to Most Effectively Promote Your Brand, at Chicago's Navy Pier last Saturday. The panelists were Amy Mueller of http://www.parentsphere.net/, Kris Cain of www.LittleTechGirl.com, MJ Tam of www.Chicagonista.com, and Maria Ramos of www.MyChicagoMommy.com. The panel was moderated by Child's Play's Stephanie Azzarone. 

After the panel Chicago and Indiana area mom bloggers enjoyed brunch, mimosas, and Cold Stone Creamery layer cakes. Bloggers also got a chance to talk with sponsors from Backyard Safari Outfitters/Zillionz, Cold Stone Creamery, In Zone beverages, Mary Kay, MEGA Brands, Playtex Baby, Restaurant.com, and Toy State. We also received gifts from the sponsors.

Disclosure: Received gifts and gift cards from above sponsors, free admission to panel and brunch, and free pass to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.  

Flowerbomb Hand Massage

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb offered hand massages during the Nordstrom
Oakbrook fragrance festival. I met the designers Viktor Horsting and
Rolf Snoeren when they visited Nordstrom Michigan Avenue for the
fragrance's launch a few Octobers ago.

Family Dollar Holiday Tablescape

Here is the holiday tablescape that an event planner designed for the
Chicago Family Dollar blogger event last Thursday. She said she was
going for a Pottery Barn/Crate & Barrel look. I asked about fast
holiday decorating tips. She suggested using the glass hurricane and
putting a pre-decorated wreath around it. The glass hurricane and
wreath are now on my dining room table. Need to get the white pillar
candle to complete the look.
Disclosure: I received a $50 gift card, gift bag, and the glass
hurricane and wreath from Family Dollar.

Nordstrom Fragrance Breakfast

Yummy breakfast served at today's fragrance festival. Egg & cheese
panini, bacon, egg & cheese panini, French toast, cranberry and
another scone, donuts, and fruit kabobs. The Bellini and mimosa bar
offered pear and mango bellinis (have only had peach bellinis before).
Only thing missing: coffee.

My Chicago Mommy

Here's me with Maria Tiongco Ramos of
http://www.mychicagomommy.com/ at the Family Dollar event at Hotel 71
tonight. I've met Maria at several blogger events. She'll be speaking
on a panel of bloggers this Saturday at Navy Pier.
Disclosure: received gift card of $50, gift bag and car service home
from Family Dollar.

Family Dollar Blogger Event

Had fun and learned a lot at the Family Dollar event for bloggers
tonight. We met with representatives from Family Dollar at Hotel 71
before going to the Family Dollar store on 2252 N Milwaukee. The event
brought a lot of bloggers (especially frugal bloggers) from the
Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area. Am going home now in the car
service that they provided.
Disclosure: Family Dollar provided me a $50 gift card, a gift bag
worth about $20, a glass hurricane and wreath, car service to my home,
and food & drink.

Nescafe Taster's Choice

Nescafe Taster's Choice handed out a sample pack of six sticks
(packets) of their instant coffee at Ogilvie Transportation Center in
Chicago this morning. Inside of pack says, "Real Beans - Real Flavor-
Real Value@ along with a $1.00 off coupon on any stick pack carton 20
count or larger. Flavors: French Roast, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Decaf House
Blend, House Blend, and 100% Columbian.

Sweets at PrettyCity Shape Sale

No shortage of sweets at the PrettyCity Shape Magazine Beauty Sample
Sale. Enjoyed the Flirtini - we got two drink tickets with admission.
Lots of free beauty services including manicures and makeovers. Beauty
exhibitors included Pop Beauty, L'Oreal (Armani and Viktor & Rolf
Flowerbomb fragrances) and lots of salons (that sold Aveda and
Dermalogica).

Flirty Girl Fitness

Sundeck at Flirty Girl Fitness on West Randolph where the PrettyCity
Shape Beauty Sample Sale took place. Have always wanted to take
exercise classes like pole dancing here - sounds like fun.

Pop Beauty & Pop Chips

Pop Beauty (and Pixi) sold color palettes at bargain prices at the
PrettyCity Shape Beauty Sample Sale. Pop Chips were given out for free.