Musings From My Minivan
This is a very special, pivotal week for me. Last week I summoned up the courage to throw my hat in the ring for the first #Mamavation program of the year. This week, as a finalist, I have to step out of my comfort zone again and ask people for votes. It’s all worth it, because already I feel as though I am a winner. ( But you can make it really real by voting for me. Click here please!) [Read more...]
2010 has been quite a year for me, with serious highs and lows. But through it all I have had some fantastic, inspiring, hard working company. On this very special, final Follow Friday of 2010 I want to acknowledge some people who I think you should take notice of. [Read more...]
It’s that time of year again, the festive one filled with holiday parties, twinkling lights and cheer. What could possible bring you down? A cold, that’s what. Yes, Winter means the sound of jingle bells are in the air but they are in concert with coughs and sneezes. What’s a Mom to do? Because you know we aren’t allowed to get sick. Heck no, too much that needs to be accomplished, and never enough time to get it all done. But the fact of the matter is we do get sniffles and coughs and chills, that have the potential to grow into full blown body aches, fevers and coughing fits. I said potential. Don’t give up just yet, cuz we’re not going down without a fight. I certainly never do. Now I am not a doctor. (And I don’t even play one on TV.) I am just a gal who has very rarely been allowed to be sick in peace, so I have developed strategies for warding off some evil ills. This is just what I do, you should definitely consult your real doctor with any questions or additional guidance. (Dear lawyers and insurance agents, was that sufficient enough of a disclaimer?) [Read more...]
SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.
For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000.
Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.
I gotta tell you, I took Christmas present giving for granted most of my life, and I didn’t even know it. I always assumed that I would have the ability to buy at least a modicum of what I wanted to for the people that I care for. Nothing outrageous mind you. I’ve never enjoyed a limitless bank account, but I have always been able to provide, or be provided for. That is until last Christmas. [Read more...]
I want to thank everyone who contributed to my Kmart, Giftcard Giveaway conversation. I am pleased to announce that as a result of their spirited comments, Tiffany and Zoope have each won a $100 giftcard for Kmart. 
Congratulations! [Read more...]
Thanks to American Express for sponsoring my writing today about small businesses. American Express is presenting Small Business Saturday, a way to honor the local merchants who are the backbone of the economy, this Saturday, November 27. They’re offering statement credits to people who shop at small businesses, advertising for small-business owners, and donations to Girls Inc. for “Likes” of the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook. Join the celebration by clicking the “Like” button and then visiting the Facebook page to learn more about the program and read the terms and conditions that apply.
This Summer for the third year in a row I performed my AWESOME Heath and Playstory time shows on the WTTW PBS-Kids Great Food Fan Van Summer tour. It’s something that I really look forward to, but it’s also something that really wears me out. I did 50 shows this Summer, (and that didn’t even include the many Miss Lori’s CAMPUS Concerts that I also performed around the country). My tour shows are two hour concert style musicals performed outside. I don’t mean outside under a tent, I mean outside under the naked sun. Which is sweaty! I sweat like nobody’s business, burning a lot of energy with each song and dance. That’s why it’s extremely important that I replenish my electrolytes and my energy supply in between sets. Thankfully this Summer we had some fantastic Chicago based sponsors who supplied healthy eats for every show; Square One Organics, Nature’s Hand GoNola and Lifeway-Kefir yogurt. The samples they had out not only kept the audience happy, they kept me going.
My concerts aren’t just about entertainment, they are an education as well. One of the lessons that I impress upon my fans is how important it is to replace the fluids and electrolytes you loose when you are engaged in active play. My shows are interactive so I am not the only one sweating during the performance, my audience “activates to be great” as well. Which is wonderfully healthy. However, temperatures in Chicago this past Summer soared often in the high 90′s, and even broke a few 100′s, which meant we all lost a lot of fluids with each song. So after every couple of songs I and my fans would have a few spoonfuls of Square One Organics Superfood.
“Isn’t that a baby food Miss Lori? Are you kidding me?” I kid you not. Square One Organics is not just for baby’s, it’s a Superfood, full of important electrolytes, crucial for me when performing my high energy shows for sure. Plus their gluten free, frozen puree is refreshing and delicious.
Electrolytes are important, but I also need fuel. During song breaks I would turn to GoNola and Lifeway-Kefir. When I combine the Nature’s Hand GoNola along with Lifeway-Kefir yogurt, and some fresh fruit, I have all the protein, carbohydrates and anitoxidants that I need to kick start my afterburners during my muscle pumping performances. On top of that, thanks to Lifeway-Kefir yogurt, I also gain much needed probiotics to help me digest my snacks properly during the show. The antioxidants also give me extra protection keeping me healthy and strong helping me survive my grueling schedule, and come out smiling!
The best part of all of this for me is that all three companies, Square One Organics, Nature’s Hand and Lifeway-Kefir are Chicago based, small businesses, giving back to their community. Not only are they providing us with great products, but with attentive service, and commitment to excellence. They, like so many other small businesses, are the backbone of our society. I am proud…and full.
What are some of your favorite small business? Please include a link to their website and introduce us to their products in a comment below. Let’s support our small businesses this Saturday and every day.
SMILE On!
ML
I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective (link to http://www. clevergirlscollective.com), which endorses Blog With Integrity (link to http://blogwithintegrity. com ), as I do.
* Level 3: Miss Lori was compensated for inserting links from a specific website in this post.
Miss Lori can be found Musing from her Minivan at MissLori.TV , Wearetherealdeal.com , YoungChicagonista , ChicagoMomsBlog , and ChicagoMoms.com. You can also see her Activating to Be Great at Miss Lori’s CAMPUS on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Last year I attended several holiday parties sponsored by some great brands. But one party in particular has stuck with me all year long…literally. Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth deodorant. Not what you were expecting me to say, huh? I’m sure, but it’s true nonetheless, and very relevant. However, truth be told, the only time I really noticed this deodorant was when I ran out of it. As they say, “you’ll miss me when I’m gone.” I didn’t notice my Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth deodorant for the whole last year that I was using it because it silently and smoothly did its’ job. And it did it so well that I didn’t give it a second thought, (or a first thought for that matter). [Read more...]
I’m known as a multi-faceted artist on Miss Lori’s CAMPUS and MissLori.TV, but I think of myself as a mother, daughter, sister, friend and community member. Like so many others these days I am plagued with the question, “what’s going on in our World today”. Having traversed my own personal struggles with the broken healthcare system, high mortgage interest rates, diminished real estate market and a failed economy I know all too well the intense fear that citizens are living with on a daily basis. To help process my own feelings I am expressing myself through my original song Dear World.
SMILE On!
ML
Listen Up! Okay, after the PR pitches I’ve been receiving these last few weeks it seems to me that we are in need of a reminder post about PR and Social Media. Now I am not an expert, I am just a working stiff in this Social medium. However, I do know a thing or two about a thing or two. (Hopefully some of my even more knowledgeable friends will chime in with their two cents as well. Hint, Hint). But here is the list of my four top pet peeves, I mean suggestions, to PR folks out there to improve their social media interactions. [Read more...]
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