Project Playlist: the social media experiment

Have you ever stumbled upon a website that had a customized playlist of music (like the one you're listening to right now), or have you ever wished there were a way to listen to music outside your current collection--and do so legally? Playlist.com is the latest and greatest in the world of online music...and it's all legal.

Playlist.com is a lot like Google but strictly for music. Just like you search for sites, images and media on Google, you can use Playlist.com to find and listen to music legally online. But it's not just about you and your music. Playlist.com has a social aspect to it as well.

Once you create a playlist you can share it with friends, browse others' playlists and even post your playlist on your website. How is this legal? Playlist.com prohibits the uploading or downloading of songs to or from their site and does not actually host music files. The site only helps you find the files and listen to them. Your playlist on Playlist.com is simply a collection of hyperlinks pointing to music files located on websites throughout the Internet. Playlist.com's player allows you to stream the data in those music files.

Playlist.com isn't just about streaming music. The site also does what it can to support artists. If you find a song you like, you can legally--and easily--purchase it. (The site links principally to iTunes.) Playlist has a great video tutorial that tells exactly what Playlist.com all about. You can also read more about the company here.

I decided to have a go at creating my own playlist. I didn't have a lot of time (nap time is short around here) but here are ten songs I searched for and added...and I could have spent all day doing it so be forewarned. Playlist.com is addictive! Now it's your turn to create and share! --Emily

FRS: it's all about healthy energy

It's another late night and I'm totally exhausted. Maybe that's why FRS popped into mind when thinking about a post for take it off tuesday. And because I'm so terribly tired I'm going to refer to the review I did on FRS for Boutique Cafe rather than writing a post completely from scratch. I just don't have it in me tonight, but this is a really great product for the energy-starved.

Here are the highlights from "FRS gives you energy without the post-energy crash:"

• The FRS (Free Radical Scavenger) formula was created in 1997 after 7 years of research into the benefits of plant-based antioxidants on human health.
• FRS Healthy Energy combines quercetin, which is a natural, powerful antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, with 7 essential vitamins. “Quercetin helps extend your body’s natural energy and fight fatigue caused by oxidants that build up in your body from daily activity, exercise and stress.”
• One can of FRS Healthy Energy has the same amount of flavonoid antioxidants as 3 servings of blueberries, 8 servings of red onions or 10 servings of raspberries.
• FRS Healthy Energy comes in four different variations: cans, concentrate, powdered drink mix and soft chews. (The Low Cal Orange and Peach Mango concentrates are my favorites and though I didn’t have scientific research to back it up, I felt like I got the quickest energy boost from the concentrate.)
• FRS can also enhance your focus and alertness and support overall weight management. My favorite use for FRS was to take it about 30 minutes before a workout so I not only had the energy to get on the treadmill but had the energy to exercise just a little harder (so I could have an extra Dove chocolate or two later).
• Lance Armstrong recently joined FRS’ Board of Directors and chose FRS as the exclusive beverage he represents worldwide.

If you’re tired of the lows that come after the Diet-Coke-and-Halloween-candy high then you might want to learn a bit more about FRS Healthy Energy. It’s a tasty way to get your “daily allowance of enhanced mental focus, increased performance and the energy to keep you going”…and we could all use some of that! –Emily

StartupPrincess: How to Get Media Coverage for Your Product

I promise I really do find some of these great mompreneur monday resources on my own, but when StartupPrincess has a great article, which they often do, I have to share. I have found their posts, interviews and articles informative, insightful and important for my business. (Ah, the power of alliteration!)

Take the article, "How to Get Media Coverage for Your Product" from Margie Zable Fisher of Zable Fisher Public Relations. Did you know there are only three steps in this process?

1. Have a great product.
2. Find the right media contact and make a great pitch.
3. Follow up.

Sounds easy but it's so much more involved than that. Take the first step--do you really and truly have a great product? And if you do, can you sell it? That last question brings me back to the StartupPrincess TouchPoint conference I attended and the epiphany I had when I learned the importance of an elevator pitch, even if I weren't looking for outside funding.

Finding the right media contact isn't easy either. How do you sort through the lists and lists of contacts, from print media to online media? And making a great pitch is all about that 30-second elevator pitch...but tailored to your audience.

You'd think following up would be a no-brainer, but I know too many people who fail to do so. That's one thing I try to be good about, and though I've had the occasional contact not ever reply to my inquiries as to whether or not they received our product sample (not going there in this post), following up has definitely paid off for our little company.

And that's just my take on the article. I didn't even begin to cover the nitty gritty on how to accomplish each step. If you want that you'll have to read the full article by Fisher on StartupPrincess. And then print it out and have it handy so you can reference it every time you make a pitch or plan a new product launch. Those three steps could be your guide for success. --Emily

chicken focaccia sandwiches and roasted red pepper & tomato soup

I love, love, LOVE soup and a sandwich for lunch. One of my favorite lunches is Paradise Bakery's vegetarian sandwich and a side of their Fire Roast Garlic Tomato soup. And just typing that makes me start craving it!

If you like a tasty, slightly gourmet sandwich and side of soup then you'll enjoy today's food for thought friday. I have a wonderful chicken focaccia sandwich recipe (super easy too!) and I'll fill you in on one of the yummiest, organic, off-the-shelf soups out there.

Chicken Focaccia Sandwich
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/4 inch thickness
ground black pepper to taste
1 T olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
2 T mayonnaise
2 tsp prepared Dijon-style mustard
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 c baby spinach leaves
2 tomatoes, sliced
8 slices garlic and rosemary focaccia bread

Sprinkle pepper on one side of each chicken cutlet. Heat oil in a large skillet; brown garlic in oil, then add chicken, pepper-side-down. Saute chicken until cooked through and juices run clear, about 12 to 15 minutes.

In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, mustard and rosemary. (If you don't have fresh rosemary it's still good!) Mix together and spread mixture on 4 slices focaccia bread. Place 1 chicken cutlet on each of these slices, then top with 1/4 cup spinach leaves, a couple slices of tomato, and another bread slice. Note: I found that with thicker foccacia, slicing it in half height-wise is the best way to go. Otherwise the sandwich is mostly bread!

For an even more gourmet sandwich, serve it with homemade focaccia bread (recipe below). I did and it was soooo yummy!


Emily's Favorite Focaccia
2 3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white sugar
1 T active dry yeast
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 T vegetable oil
1 c water
2 T olive oil
1 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 c mozzarella

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and black pepper. Mix in the vegetable oil and water. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Punch dough down; place on greased baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Brush top with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm. (Option: To do the dough in your bread machine, add the ingredients in the order listed by your machine and set on the dough cycle. It will rise longer than the recipe calls for but still turns out great! Follow the rest of the recipe to bake it.)

The soup I wanted to mention is our new favorite find from Costco. It's their Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato soup from Pacific Natural Foods. It comes in a case of 6 cartons for I believe under $12. You can heat it on the stovetop or in the microwave. It was a wonderful flavor, is totally organic and fairly low calorie. Top with a few croutons and a drizzle of cream and your soup is as gourmet as your chicken sandwich!

"Avoid fruits and nuts. You are what you eat." --Jim Davis

See Kai Run helps you "share a pair" for the holidays

What's hot? See Kai Run children's shoes (and their new Smaller line...see full "When 'smaller' is better" review on BoutiqueCafe.com).

What's hotter than that? Helping See Kai Run donate a pair of shoes to a child in need.

See Kai Run, a company that designs he perfect first shoe for new walkers, has just kicked off its Share a Pair for the holiday season. For every pair of shoes sold at SeeKaiRun.com starting November 1st and ending December 31st, See Kai Run will match the sale with a donation to Soles4Souls. (Soles4Souls is an international charity dedicated to providing footwear to disadvantaged people around the world.)

Share a Pair is part of See Kai Run’s ongoing campaign to share its shoes with children who need them most. To date, See Kai Run has shared over 24,000 shoes with children in need.

Though I don't often need a good excuse to buy cute new shoes for my babies, it helps to have one if only to somewhat appease the guilt of satisfying wants rather than needs. See Kai Run's Share a Pair is definitely a cause worthy of my support...and yours! --Emily

bundle up with JJ Cole's Bundle Me

As the snow falls outside my window I've been thinking of what product to feature on today's that's hot! thursday, and having driven the girls to school this morning in said snow, the perfect product came to mind. In fact it's one of my favorite product reviews from Boutique Cafe, the Bundle Me from JJ Cole.

If you live anywhere that gets cold in the winter (lucky me), the Bundle Me is a must-have baby product. I first reviewed the Original Bundle Me back in October of 2006 and I used that thing 24/7 during the late fall, winter and early spring. Then I was lucky enough to review their Bundle Me Lite (perfect for spring and chilly summer evenings) in 2007, so I was beyond stoked when they asked if I would review the Urban Bundle Me in JJ Cole's newest color, Sassy.

With a one-year-old little girl, I opted for the toddler size to allow a little room for growth. In typical Bundle Me style--but in a non-typical, super cool color--the Urban was designed to allow my daughter's safety straps to rest directly on her. Plus it's been crash tested. (Believe it or not, safety is more important to me than style, but I’m really glad the Urban has both!)

As much as I loved my Original Bundle Me, I really like the Urban's quilted outer nylon shell because it does a better job protecting against rain and snow, and though I also was a big fan of the Original's shearing lining, I could easily get used to the soft chamois lining the inside of the Urban. I’m really excited about using this in the car seat because the heat in my old van takes a while to get going. This will definitely come in handy during those early-morning drives to school!

The Urban Bundle Me is just as machine washable as the others and also has a removable top so my little one will be comfortable even on those rare unseasonably warm winter days. After the snow that fell yesterday and today I am jonesing for even a day in the 50s.

The Bundle Me will be your best friend this winter, and we could all use another best friend. Surround your little one in warmth and style (especially in its three new colors: Frenzy, Lagoon and Sassy) with JJ Cole's Urban Bundle Me.

Note: You can read my full review on JJ Cole's Urban Bundle Me and their new burp clothes at BoutiqueCafe.com. --Emily

excellent Etsy find: WrenWillow

Twitter is what inspired our new excellent Etsy find feature, and Twitter is where I found today's Etsy shop. WrenWillow (named after the artist's daughter) is a collection of one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn and hand-dyed infant clothing.

The mom behind WrenWillow was looking to dress her daughter in clothing that was a little unusual and a bit edgy. She also wanted clothing that was soft and baby-friendly yet beautiful and unique. After not finding what she was looking for, and in true mompreneur style, she started designing her own onesies.

WrenWillow's designs are actually dyed into the fabric so they don't feel stiff or scratchy. You won't find any plastic appliqués or uncomfortable accents on WrenWillow clothing. All of this makes for a wonderful infant shirt, but what makes these shirts fabulous is the artwork, and these tees are truly works of art.

My favorites are the Love Bird, Autumn Fairy and Green Dragon. But WrenWillow has more than just infant and kid tees. You'll also find a few adult t-shirts and the cutest diaper covers. (I'm thinking of buying my little girl one for Christmas!) And if you find a design you like but want it in a different color scheme or on a different style/size tee, just let her know by requesting a custom item. Happy shopping! --Emily

Hulu: who knew?

As in, who knew such a resource existed on the Internet? Who knew you could find your favorite TV shows, movies and media clips in one place and view them any time, all the time and for free? Sound too good to be true? I thought so too, and so I read and reread Hulu's About page looking to answer the all-time popular question, "So what's the catch?" I couldn't find one. (If you know of one, please share.)

Hulu's mission is to "help people find and enjoy the world's premium video content when, where and how they want it." I have to say I like their mission. Hulu is basically an online video service offering popular TV shows, movies and clips for free, anytime in the U.S. And these aren't popular-in-what-country shows. You'll find programming from over 100 content providers (FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony, Warner Bros.). You can choose from over 900--and that's no typo--current primetime TV shows, from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to Ugly Betty, and classics like The A Team and Airwolf (you must remember Airwolf!). I haven't even mentioned movies like Men in Black, The Karate Kid and even clips from Saturday Night Live.

Shows are either watched at Hulu.com or other online sites. Hulu's search feature lets you find any premium video online even if it is not directly available on Hulu.com. For example, I searched for Ugly Betty, and though the results showed on Hulu's site, I was redirected to ABC's website to watch the episode. Though that's where I watch it anyway, it's nice to click through directly to the episode page rather than working my way through ABC's site.

You can browse Hulu's collection by channel (Action & Adventure, Food & Leisure), popularity and most recently added. You can share full-length episodes and clips and Hulu even has a clipping feature that allows you to select the portion of a video you would like to share. Who knew you could do that so easily?

I could go on and on but by now you've probably already visited Hulu.com and asking, "Who knew I could get addicted so dang quickly?" I know...I asked the same question myself. I leave you with one of my favorite clips from Napoleon Dynamite. Enjoy!

'tis the season for leg warmers

I'm probably going to date myself on today's fashion trend tuesday by telling you I remember wearing pink leg warmers in the 6th grade. They were so totally cool layered over my jeans. I think I even had a pair of striped ones. (I also had a Flashdance-type sweatshirt, but we won't go there...) Leg warmers haven't been in style since the 80's, but thanks to BabyLegs, they're now a fashionable must-have accessory for your little one--and they're not just for girls anymore (or for kids)!

Many of you already know about BabyLegs, but for those who don't, the idea for BabyLegs started when a mom wanted to keep her diaper-free daughter's legs warm while she was healing from bad rashes. Her impromptu creation allowed the rash to heal and had a few other positive side effects: they made diaper changes quick and easy; kept her knees protected while crawling; and provided sun protection. After moms continued to ask her about her daughter's little leg warmers, she began selling her invention out of a diaper bag. Not suprisingly, the popularity of BabyLegs spread quickly and these fashionable leg warmers can now be found in over 50 countries.

Looking at the fashionable designs, you can see why BabyLegs are so popular. From rainbow stripes to classic colors to red-hot flames, there's a style to suit every personality. (The Bones style would have been perfect for Halloween!) My favorites are the Pink Flame, Vine (organic), and the Lollipop (super soft). Believe me, it was hard to narrow it down to three for this review!

If you think the styles seem endless, the ways you can wear BabyLegs are too. Sure, you can put them on your little one as he crawls around the house, but you can also cover up his legs while in a front carrier or his arms so he can wear his favorite short-sleeve hero t-shirt even in chilly weather. Teens and adults are also getting into BabyLegs. They wear them over shin guards to show their true colors, over their arms for warmth, or simply as a fashion statement.

You can purchase BabyLegs directly from the site or from a variety of online boutiques. You can also find them at Target (another great excuse to hit Target this week). A pair runs about $12 though you can find some styles on sale for around $10. --Emily

the power of mom bloggers

Blogging is big, and for the lucky few it is even big business. Today's mompreneur monday feature touches on the power of mom bloggers.

If you're reading this blog you're more than likely a mom blogger yourself or know someone who is. From moms who blog about the BPA-free children's toys and accessories to moms who blog about the latest fashion trends, the blogosphere is full of moms who blog about products. In "Mom Bloggers May Be Key to Marketing Success," the author gives a brief but powerful look at the statistics behind MBs (my acronym for "mom bloggers"):

• 96% of moms value recommendations they find on mom-run blogs
  
• Over 78% of MBs review products and services
• 94% of moms rely on other moms to make purchasing decisions
• More than 60% of MBs consider making money important and want to connect better with companies
  
• 37% of MBs have been contacted as resources for the press

I'm not surprised by these figures, mainly because I am a MB for BoutiqueCafe.com and Polliwogged.com. I know about the large audience of moms who seek out product reviews, paying close attention to those written by moms with whom they can relate.

Another great article is "Five Reasons Why Mom Blogs Are the Blogs to Watch:"

Mom blogs are poised to become the next big 'It' when it comes to the internet–they’re gathering power like no other blogging niche and will only get bigger and better.

Sounds good, doesn't it? The article goes on to list the author's five reasons why mom blogs are growing in popularity (I've included my own thoughts about each reason):

1. Moms can blog at home--we can work whenever, however we want
2. Moms need the sociality of the Net--this is a no-brainer; without online communities we might never have an adult conversation throughout the course of the day
3. Moms have a wealth of material to use--we can blog about anything and everything because we can do anything and already do everything, plus we can make it real
4. Moms are record keepers--how many friend & family blogs do you keep track of?
   
5. Mom blogs wield economic power--we are often the buyers in the family and we want to know the latest about new products and services and we will give our honest opinion about said products and services

Mom bloggers (MBs) are part of a huge market. If you can tap into it, whether as a company wanting to get the word out about a new product or a mom wanting to share the ins and outs of organic children's products, there's a pretty darn good chance of success. And I wish you all the success in the world...go, moms! --Emily

georgie tees fall sale!

Okay, it's actually been Fall for about five weeks but it's finally starting to feel like it! georgie tees wants to help you start the shopping season off early with our FABULOUS FALL SALE!

Spend $50 and receive a free little twig or baby star gift (it's a surprise!) and$2 Priority Mail shipping!*

Sale ends November 8th so shop now for the best selection. This would be a great time to pick up our "let's get smashed" infant onesie (the perfect infant tee to ring in the New Year) and stock up on a layering tee or two from our comfy maternity line!

* All discounts reflected after order is processed.

join the great cloth diaper hunt!

It’s that time again! We are proud to announce our sponsorship of the 8th Semi-annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt™! Register here and then visit participating sponsor sites, hunt for the Diaper Decisions™ diaper icon, and earn entries to 65 random prize drawings, including two Grand Prizes (our "nesting" maternity tee in plum is part of a grand prize pack!) and one Ultimate Grand Prize! For more details please visit the Rules and FAQ pages.

This is our third time sponsoring this hunt and it is a lot of fun for everyone involved. The hunters have a great time trying to find the diaper icons and the sponsors have a great time trying to hide it. If someone gets stuck, they can head over to the hint forum for a little help. You won't believe the ginormous number of prizes; check out the haul on the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt's prize page.

As an added incentive, participants receive special discount codes good at various sponsor sites. For example, if you register as a hunter you'll get a code for 20% off your georgie tees purchase!

Good luck and happy hunting! --Emily