Last night I hung out with a bunch of the authors of Sleep Is for the Weak: The Best of the Mommybloggers Including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shoulda, Mom-101, and More! (Blogher Book). I love these peeps. Truly, I do. Sure, I got a bunch of their autographs during BlogHer's closing party at Macy's, but somehow I had forgotten to get Lisa's signature, and dear Grace Davis I hadn't seen in two years. Last night, I got their two Hancocks, plus got a chance to hang out with some of my favorite people, some of whom are in the book, and some of whom will be in the sequel. (There WILL be a sequel, right Rita?)

I could gush all day about how adorably cute Mrs. Kennedy was in her jumper. Or how I enjoyed nuzzling up to Stefania. I am always excited to see Squid's red -do and who can resist the charms of Jenijen and Jenny? Of course I worshiped at Rita's feet, and although I see Maggie everywhere, last night was the first time we actually shook hands and exchanged names. I love seeing Glennia, particularly as she always has stories to tell about the Big Name Political People she sees; that girl is devoted her Momocrat-ness.

But you don't want all the name-dropping, do you? You just want me to say BUY THE BOOK. These are fabulous writers, and the company they keep are amazing folks as well. I got to meet various husbands, too, which is frequently a window into the soul.

So... BUY THE BOOK. And feel jealous that I got to hang out with some of the wonderful women who are fellow bloggers, regardless of whether they are in the book or not!

This is not a cooking blog. But for today, humor me.

Friday October 10th is World Egg Day, and in honor of this, I will share with you one of my favorite egg recipes.

For the sake of completeness, I have posted a Flickr set of our adventures, plus have created little videos throughout the process. (Husband remarked “What’s with the multi-media extravaganza?”)

Usually folks only consider omelets, quiche, deviled eggs, and other very “eggy” tasting dishes to be made from eggs. But there are plenty of other dishes that have eggs as a major component. Egg sushi, for example, is super-yummy, and not necessarily what one considers first when thinking about egg dishes, especially if you up your wasabi factor.

Well as much as I love sushi, today I will make Norwegian pancakes.

Most people think of flour, and probably sugar, when they consider pancakes. But my favorite pancakes are primarily egg. Sure, the flour is there, as is milk, but the only sugar is whatever you put on top or inside, like syrup. And so, today I share with you my grandmother’s recipe for Norwegian Pancakes. This pancake is not quite a crepe, but is thin and versatile. Using a variety of fillings or toppings, this recipe can take on many forms.

First we had to go to the store because we realized we didn’t have enough milk:

The Cat told me he was happy to play video games instead of helping me and Splig cook the pancakes:

Before we made the actual pancakes, I prepared the fillings. One such filling/topping was (surprise!) eggs! I hard-boiled them to use later:

Our science-lesson break: how to tell the difference between the fresh-out-of-the-fridge eggs that I’d need for the pancakes proper versus the hardboiled eggs we’ll use as a filling?

Splig helped me slice the hard-boiled ones nice n’ purdy:

And then we were off to make the actual pancakes:

The three basic ingredients are eggs (6 of them!) milk (2 ¾ cups) and four (1 ½ cups.) Even these primary ingredients can be altered to taste, such as using gluten-free flour. Or you may want to use soy or rice milk to avoid casein. If you like chocolate, use chocolate milk. I wonder if using coconut milk would create a fun variation of this recipe, especially with chocolate chips as a filling?

The ingredients:

2 ¾ cups milk

Once the ingredients are all set, it is time to actually create the batter. The method is pretty simple: add the eggs and flour together, and then slowly pour the milk in the mix. Don’t stir too quickly or the batter will have too much air in it and won’t cook well. Certainly my grandma and those before her used a wooden spoon and a bowl for the mixing, but we use an electric mixer at its lowest speed. (Don’t forget to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula!)

Splig shows the process:

(Yes, I said “6 cups eggs” but really I meant “six eggs.”)

Once the batter is ready, fry up the pancakes! I use an electric frying pan set to a click under 350 degrees. Husband mocks me for my electric frying pan, but I’ve never been able to make Norwegian pancakes properly without it.

Set to a hair under 350 degrees, butter it up (yes, I use actual butter) and pour in the batter. As soon as the pancakes are solid enough to flip (they switch from shiny to matte,) flip ‘em. Less than a minute on the second side will do.

Here’s my how-to:

The next part is the creative part: either slap it on a plate or roll it up with or without fillings. Growing up I had my mom create a little roll with syrup inside. My kids love chocolate chips and marshmallows the best. I line up the toppings in a little line, and then roll the pancake around it. Of course it melts into a gooey yumminess. No syrup necessary for pancakes that are already filled with sugar!

The fillings need not be candy: fruit will do too, or more savory tastes like onion, peppers, or bacon. This pancake can act as a crepe or as an omelet. Ham, cream-cheese, and more eggs would be tasty. (I think the eggs as a garnish is great.) Add some caviar if you so desire. There are plenty of possibilities.

(Embarrassingly I say “sour cream” when I meant to say “cream cheese.” Indeed, sour cream would also be a great filling/topping, as would something like whipped cream, ricotta cheese, marzipan… whatever taste you are after.)

Here is the pictorial process involved in the green onion – cream cheese – egg variety:

- put the cooked pancake flat on a plate
- lay the toppings in a line
- fold over one side
- fold over the other side : now you have a roll!
- garnish if desired
- eat it up

And here is the finished product of the chocolate-chip-filled ones:

Do the kids like ‘em? Well sure:

But then Splig wanted to let me know that my version (onion, cream cheese, and extra eggs) wasn’t his cup of tea:

So there you have it. If anything, you’ve learned that Splig has a very unusual fashion sense and likes to be a complete goofball. You’ve also learned that Kari’s Kitchen is not ready for prime-time. But I also hope you can take my Norwegian Pancake recipe and modify it to your family’s tastes and needs. Happy World Egg Day (on the 10th!)

Thank you to the Egg Board and the Parent Bloggers Network for letting me know about this excellent holiday.

The Cat loves animals. After all, his nickname is from how he decided to become a cat as a toddler. His actual name is rather unusual in its spelling, and so much like me - it is rare to find something personalized.

Take his love of animals plus his desire to have something personalized, and you've got Billy Blue Hair. Their "Billy and Me" category contains a personalized educational DVD entitled "Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?" Through The Parent Bloggers Network, the Cat received his own personalized DVD.

The cover of the DVD has his name, spelled properly. Then within the video, his name crops up as Billy addresses him throughout the adventure.

Initially, the Cat was a bit skeptical. He loved the DVD cover since it has his name on it, but when he read the title, he remarked, "Well giraffes have long necks because they need to be able to reach the leaves on the trees." I nodded, but told him the DVD would be more than just that.

Indeed, the Cat was captivated by the show. He giggled at Billy and was clearly excited that Billy spoke directly at him. The show itself begins in a cartoon universe, but then switches to a live-action nature filmy-type thing. While the footage is what you might expect on the Nature Channel: beautiful and high-quality, but usually accompanied by either a too-sophisticated scientist's analysis or that preachy drone of those old school filmstrips, Billy's narration is upbeat and fun. He appears as his cartooned-self at the bottom of the live action. He talks about what the viewer is seeing. He poses questions to the viewer to keep them engaged. And of course, when he uses the child's name, they'll no doubt pay attention. Billy also adds some little cartoon elements to the show, like putting a hat on a lion.

The Cat's attention didn't waver. He was fascinated by the animals and definitely glad that Billy kept saying his name. He watched the whole thing several times over before moving to a new activity. My guess is that younger kids would be similarly captivated because Billy makes the education fun. The nature tidbits are broken up by Billy's storyline, which helps maintain interest. Billy talks to the kids, so keeps them involved in the learning process. I certainly learned new things about some of the animals, too. It is a nice painless way of learning something.

Spliggle wishes he could have a personalized DVD. Ironically enough, Splig's name is more common than the Cat's, and yet it is not part of Billy Blue Hair's database of over 400 names. Fortunately, the Cat's name sounds like a more common name, so it was included. Billy Blue Hair can customize the spelling of the name: the DVD comes with a personalized cover and a personalized title screen on the actual program. As long as a name in the database sounds like your child's name, you can purchase the personalized DVD with any spelling.

In that regard, some of the "over 400" names in the database are actually alternative spellings. (But even if your particular alternative spelling isn't listed, you can order it.) Honestly, some of the names in the database seemed very unusual, while some of the more "common" names I would have thought would be included, aren't. Thankfully there is a "request form" on their website so perhaps they will add more names to the possibilities.

Billy Blue Hair also has a "standard edition" which is non-personalized. As much fun as the personalization is for the packaging and the seven times Billy pronounces the child's name throughout the show, it isn't vital. When Billy poses questions to the audience without using a name, the interaction is still there.

Check out the Billy Blue Hair website to see if your child's name is listed. If not, request it - or get the standard version.

This past year I've been very lucky in the "free stuff" department

First, I went to Johnson's Camp Baby earlier in the year. That involved lots of "free" and lots of fun. Although I didn't go post-crazy about every product about which we learned, the conference has still had an impact on me and my spending.

Second, at the BlogHer Conference, we got a lot of swag. I got even more swag because of my associations with things like the Experience Project and the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. The unfortunate thing about the sheer volume of products - plus the post-conference BlogHebola virus that carries with it sheer exhaustion - is that it is very difficult (if not impossible) to post about every product, nor would I want to. After all, I want to post only about those things that I truly endorse; not feel "guilted into" posting about something simply because it is free. (You know that junk mail you receive with free address labels, or a free nickel with the "this nickel could save a child's life, please send it back to us along with your further donation.)

Although I love the "free," it doesn't necessarily translate directly to immediate blog posts. (And yes, I am disappointed when I feel "too busy" to mention products that are really worth a shout-out. But there are still benefits to swag...)

So - if you are someone hoping to get on someone's blog (or more importantly, everyone's blog,) then, should you stop the swag and only email specific bloggers for that "personal contact" that might entice them to actually write about your product?*

Well, no.

I don't say so out of greed - because after all, there were plenty of things that I passed on to others, but that is the key: I passed them on to others who would truly appreciate them..

Rather, wait a little bit, and see the "ripples" of the swag.

After Camp Baby, I posted about uterine prolapse (Johnson's makes surgical gadgets for this,) Neutrogena sun products (Yes, Johnson's makes Neutrogena and Aveeno,) Safe Kids Week, and the Thanks Mom! commercials aired during the Olympic games.

I didn't post necessarily so much about the products themselves, but here's a tip: I had a sample size bottle of Johnson's Baby Lotion by my bed. I've since used it up, so purchased another. Yes, that is right - I used my own dollars to purchase a J&J product. Similarly, I regularly use the Neutrogena cosmetics that had been in our "welcome" bag at Camp Baby. When they run out, I'll be running to the store to purchase more.

Spliggle loves the Bedtime toddler-sudsing bars. Alas, I cannot find the product on the website, so I am not sure if it has been continued, although I found bedtime washclothes, which I bet are nice - but the enclosed bar is so much sturdier than a washcloth. Perhaps I'll have to go back to that old Girl Scout trick of sticking soap inside a pantyhose leg? We could still use Johnson's Baby soap inside if Splig really wants that smell. We really depend on their detangling conditioner, too: Splig the gymnast flips and somersaults his way into some rather knotty tangles.

So I have become a J&J customer - I am purchasing products that I probably otherwise wouldn't.

Other ripples include things like the photo of me and Ted Allen on my Flickr page. People ask how I met Ted Allen, and thus I mention Camp Baby - viola! More publicity for Johnson's.

And then there is Nintendo, the sponsor of one of the Camp Baby parties. During that party, we got a chance to preview Wii Fit, which I promptly pre-ordered (and I swear I'll review it one of these days.) At the end of the party, we each got a DS.

Well I am sure you can surmise what happened next: certainly we needed more games for the DS than just the one I got at Camp Baby. And of course each son had to have his own "tiny computer." So we've spent quite a lot of money on Nintendo products that we probably wouldn't have otherwise. Not that I am complaining, the boys are thrilled and have had tons of fun! But I bet I've now paid them enough to cover that one night of free stuff, and will likely continue to buy - that's good marketing!

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"Tune in" next week when I continue the "MommyBlogger Marketing Monday" mini-series with some other examples of swag-turned-profit.

Typically people don't think of video games as being educational, but there are plenty on the market these days. The quality and method differs, but the idea is the same: get the kids involved in fun and they will forget they are learning. Jump Start World is one example of a game that is incredibly educational while still fun. (The Cat kept playing it long after I reviewed it; and continues to play from time to time.)

Leapfrog has been a real leader in the field of educational-yet-fun products. Not long ago, I reviewed the Leapfrog TAG system for reading. Splig loved it, and so did I. As I explained in my review: "The wand also reports back via the child's "Learning Path" to show the parent what skills the child has worked on, what activities the child enjoys doing, and how their learning is progressing... Readers can collect rewards for finishing various activities."

Well, the Leapster2 hand-held educational video game has that same ability: report back to the parents on progression of skills and earn "rewards."

The Cat was instantly smitten. After all, his favorite color is green and the system happens to be green (and blue.) Both kids loved the games "Dragon Kingdom" (the default on the system) and "Outwit!" (another cartridge included in my review package.) Spliggle's favorite television show is "Dragon Tales," so of course he liked "Dragon Kingdom." He enjoyed doing activities in the "creativity castle" whereas the Cat was interested in "Dragons to the Rescue," which tests math and reading skills

Although my boys are 3.5 years apart, they both found something to love about the Leapster2. The activities are varied enough and there are enough "levels" of play that activities are not too simple for the Cat or too challenging for Spliggle. Both boys have their own profile on the Leapster2. That way, their particular rewards and progression down their "Learning Path" is kept separate. Plus, it is fun for them to click on their name when they begin: even though they share the game, it is "theirs" for the duration of their session.

One feature I didn't initially notice is that there is a little headphone jack in the console. This will be very useful the next time we take a road trip. Although the games are cute, the repetitive sounds get a little distracting to parents in the front seat trying to listen to news or music.

There are plenty of different game cartridges available for the Leapster2; it also plays all Leapster cartridges. The themes are such that my boys think they are just playing "video games," but they are also reinforcing important skills.

I've been impressed with Leapfrog educational toys since their inception (and even participated in a focus group about five years ago,) but have been particularly enthusiastic with the invention of the interactive Learning Path system and the portable devices that all merge into this system. Thank you to Leapfrog for generously providing me with a Leapster2!

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Up next: I report on a similar system from a competitor! Oooooooohhhhh!

Alright, so I had already received a competitor's product for review, but when the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the V. Smile Cyber Pocket from VTech, I instantly said "Yes!" After all, both my boys have non-educational "just for fun" handheld video game consoles, but until the V.Smile showed up on our doorstep, we only had one educational hand-held video game.

Yes, boo-hoo!, but don't you want both kids learning in the backseat of the van?

Yup, I thought so. Two educational handheld games it is!

The Cyber Pocket has a different "look" than what the kids are used to: this looks like a mini-laptop computer, with a little flip-up screen. Of course both boys were very interested, especially when they saw the game that came with it is called "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure" and sports a photo of a cute alien.

Zayzoo includes several different components including singing songs (great for the preschool set) or practicing filling in missing letters of common words (excellent to reinforce those early reading skills.) The Cyber Pocket system itself is recommended for kids age five and older. It is therefore not a surprise that four-year-old Splig found some of the games too challenging; however, he still loved them. The Cat is seven, and enjoyed playing "Math Mining," "Alien Beat," and "Language Learner" the most, but has yet to explore several of the games available.

When we first turned on the system, it took some time to figure out what to do. The stylus on the lower screen corresponds to the cursor on the LCD upper screen. This is rather tricky to co-ordinate, so I was relieved that finger-joystick controls were available instead. There are both right-joystick and left-joystick positions for the console. This is the first time in a video-game situation where I've seen particular attention to whether a person might favor right or left hand.

Still, I wish the stylus were easier to use. Although the "write on one surface, see the result on another" might help hand-eye coordination in the youngsters, for this nearly-35-year old it was too tricky. I like to write directly on the screen. One advantage of not writing directly on the LCD screen, though, is that the screen life will be much longer. Many of these "write on the media" products have the potential of getting scratched and worn over time.

When the Cat tried out the system, he was frustrated by trying to use the stylus to play the game. He didn't have any trouble working the navigational screens, but when he had to actually control the character, the finger joystick made much more sense. Still, the game prompts, "Use the pen to move Zayzoo!"

I don't know whether the stylus is used exclusively in some games. If so, this would require an initial adjustment period.

What I was most intrigued by, though, was how many skills this single game covers: spelling, synonyms, antonyms, 3D puzzle building, logic, arithmetic, vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, beat and rhythm, and more. With such a wide variety of skills emphasized, kids can be both confident in the skills they've already mastered (earning lots of coins!) and challenged by those things that they are still working on, but having fun in the process.

One especially fun feature of the Cyber Pocket is that it can be plugged into the television screen via the included cable. Sure, there are plenty of TV screen video-game consoles out there, but none that you can then take with you in the van on a road trip. While at home, the kids can choose to play the Cyber Pocket with a large screen; but then on the road, in a comfy arm chair, or in their rooms, they can relish in the portability of the system. I like that there is a headphone jack so I don't necessarily have to listen to their games. I must listen to their laughter and squeals of delight, though.

The Cyber Pocket comes with a "V.Link," a little device that is a USB-port on one end and a connector to the VTech on the other end. A smiling glittery piece of toast serves as the slider between the "connect to VTech" and "expose USB port" configurations. Okay, he isn't a piece of toast, but the smiling computer screen logo looks very much like that tasty breakfast staple.

Kids can connect the V.Link to their console to download their scores; they then connect to the computer to record those scores. In the case of "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure," kids can earn gold coins during console play that can be used on the V.Smile website to unlock special bonus games. The Cat hasn't earned enough coins to unlock anything yet, but I am certain he'll enthusiastically try, then reveal in the accomplishment.

Both boys love this system. Although we are just getting to know it, I have a feeling it will be used quite frequently at our house.

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Up Tuesday: A side-by-side comparison of Leapfrog's Leapster2 and VTech's VSmile Cyber Pocket, a Smackdown! if you will. Stay tuned...

I got to the BlogHer Keynote speech early.

I didn't see anyone I knew, so I sat at a table just off center to the right in the front. I pulled out my schedule and who-knows-what-else from my bag and started to read.

A lady approached, "Is this seat taken?" she wondered.

"No, go on ahead," I nodded.

Soon we were doing the usual business-card exchange thing. Except she didn't have a business card on her. "I'm from Her Room," she said, "Did you see a card from us in your swag bag?" she asked hopefully.

My face probably gave me away. I had no idea. I hadn't dug through my swag yet. "Um, no? Not yet. I haven't had time to sort through everything!"

"Well don't throw it away - that card from Her Room is good for a free panty!" She then explained how the site is heavily customer-review driven and how the customers had voted for their favorite brand and style within the different types of undergarments. That card would entitle the bearer to a free pair of whichever type we wanted (boyshort, bikini, thong...)

Our conversation then turned to other things, but when I returned home I remembered about Her Room. I found the card and checked out the site. I selected the hi-cut brief. The Her Room customers had selected "barely there," which touted completely invisible panty lines.

I wasn't familiar with that brand, but went along with it. After all, free is free!

I received several emails from Her Room after that, checking up on the status of my order and giving me very accurate delivery times. When the package arrived (very quickly!) it was wrapped nicely in tissue paper, just as if I had bought it instead of receiving it gratis.

I was struck by how much care had gone into presenting me with a free panty.

Well, I love my new pair of underwear. In fact, I love it so much that I went back to Her Room to order a gazillion more, all the barely there model I received just because of BlogHer. While at the site, I picked up some Flexees as well, 'cause most of us can stand to have a little tummy-smoothing action. Flexees was also a brand with which I wasn't familiar, but thanks to the reviews on Her Room, I had confidence that I was purchasing something about which I knew more than trying to guess how a random flashy-looking thing on an already-svelte Victoria's Secret model would look on me.

I am ecstatic that I learned about Her Room through BlogHer. I now have underwear I actually like. And that is saying a lot.

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Her Room has a brother site called (what else!) His Room.

As I mentioned last week, I got a lot of swag at the BlogHer Conference and during its associated parties. After the conference, I contracted that energy-sapping, need-to-get-my-life-back-in-order, oh-my-gosh-I-have-so-much-to-do BlogHebola.

I have photos of the swag bags laid out on my living room floor. I have intentions to post little "quick reviews" of some of the products using notes on Flickr. But for a good majority of the products, I don't yet have an opinion because I haven't gotten a chance to use them. This doesn't mean I won't post about them, just that I wasn't able to post about them right after the conference.

A meaningful review is unrushed and genuine.

PR officials may frown at this: they wanted instant buzz! But the ripples can be so much more powerful.

Example One:

At Blogher, via SV Moms, I received an adorable diaper cake from Sweet Pea Cakes. I will be giving it to a (non-blogger) friend who is due in a few months. I am convinced that nearly every baby shower I go to in the future will include me carrying a diaper cake to the mother-to-be. They are adorable and a perfect gift. Although I haven't posted about it other than these few sentences, my non-blogging friends are going to learn about this product. And most importantly, I am using my own money to procure these cakes: I have become a Sweet Pea customer.

Example Two:

Spliggle loves the Parking Pal I received in the SV Moms swag bag. He puts the magnet all over our van. While he doesn't use it for its intended purpose, it is there in the parking lot of preschool, gymnastics, soccer, and other kid-friendly activities. It is visible, and doubly-so as Splig makes grand gestures of placing it on the van. No doubt some folks have thought "What is that?" and gone up to take a closer look. I have become advertising for the product because I am using it.

Example Three:

I was one of the lucky ones who got to eat lunch while Rocco DiSpirito talked about Bertolli pasta sauce and how to "dress up" convenience foods to be healthful and delicious as well as quick. Sure I've bought Bertolli since then - I mean, c'mon, Rocco touched me!

Example Four:

I'm still buying Oops wine, which was featured both in Chicago's BlogHer '07 and in this year's cocktail party. I've brought the wine to gatherings; the name is a great conversation starter. Of course the story that goes with it is even better: I accidentally knocked into one of the Oops signs while drinking their wine last year -- um, oops! Even my mom - who gives Napa Valley wine tours - was intrigued by Oops.

Example Five:

Well, if you read the blog yesterday, you read the entry "Her Room is My Room Too." This success was a face-to-face meeting which led me to recognize the value in my swag bag. Since ordering the initial free panty from Her Room, I've now ordered many more in that particular style (a brand that I hadn't heard of before getting the free one) plus have gotten some "foundation garments" to suck in the tummy that thankfully because of my recent dieting and exercise is becoming a bit less bulgy on its own. (Still, every gal needs a good "cincher.")

One free panty led to a drawer-full of underwear -- good move, Her Room!

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Up next week: two companies whose initial generosity has made me think of them when I was ready to purchase products different than those I had reviewed.

I forgot to order Halloween candy.

No worries on the stuff we'll give out at the door (although I'm trying to lean more towards the "trinkets" than the "treats,") but I typically like to have some nice Cat-safe candy around the house for "trading" on Halloween night. Thankfully, my boys' experience last year was more about the chase than the chowing, but plenty of wrappers were emptied over the next week or so.

Over on the Karianna Spectrum I lament my error.

Yes, the blogs have traded places temporarily: I talked product over there instead of keeping my endorsements here.

My go-to place for Feingold-safe chocolate is The Squirrel's Nest - but today was the last day to order the Halloween candy. Luckily, I've got the Thanksgiving and Christmas deadlines on my calendar.

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Find out more about the Squirrel's Nest over on the Karianna Spectrum... and then stay tuned right here, too: that LeapFrog Leapster 2 -- VTech Cyber Pocket Smackdown is coming later on today!

We have had the good fortune of receiving both a Leapster2 from LeapFrog (check out their new Leapfrog online community!) and a V.Smile CyberPocket from VTech, via the Parent Bloggers Network. I've written reviews on both, but below is a summary of some of the features both unique to each and shared between these two educational hand-held learning systems. Some of the information in the below table is objective, while other information is our impression of the systems.

Who wins the Smackdown? Well that depends on your needs. My kids love both gaming systems and both make learning FUN! Since they both cost the same, emphasize similar skills, report on those skills online, and have a variety of different games available, there is no clear winner. It is up to YOU to decide which features you prefer. For example, the Leapster2 is lighter with better stylus control than the CyberPocket, whereas the CyberPocket has the the ability to plug into the T.V. for big screen play, but the Leapster cannot. Of course my chart above is not comprehensive; there may be a feature I didn't cover that is particularly poignant for you - but the above is what my kids and I discovered as we tried out these cool gadgets.

For more information:
- VTechKids: V.Smile Cyber Pocket
- Leap Frog: Leapster2

The first two "Marketing Monday" mini-series entries dealt with swag: the Johnson's Camp Baby experience and the BlogHer Conference.

Today I'd like to point out two situations where participation in an initial product review helped me think of those companies when I needed different products. There are plenty of examples of products that I review where I continue to buy that exact product, like CleanWell. But these are examples where I used the company for another purpose.

Mattress Pads to Kids' Shoes:

I reviewed the Lands' End Pure Loft Mattress Topper at the start of the summer (via a contact I met at Camp Baby - see, another Camp Baby ripple!) At BlogHer (yes, another BlogHer ripple!) I received a $10 Lands' End gift certificate. I had a positive relationship with the Lands' End people earlier with my review, and since I had their catalog, it was a natural place to go back-to-school shopping, especially with that $10 off. I bought both boys some excellent zipper-down sneakers.

Now, I know there are plenty of folks out here who cry "But kids need to learn how to lace their shoes!" But laces come untied. And the Cat has lace-up shoes for soccer, anyway. Velcro is loud and attracts bits of yuck. Those springy-lace versions kind-of work, but with lots of use the elastic becomes limper, and so the shoe can slip off. (Meanwhile, at the start the laces are too tight, so require lots of maneuvering.)

These "Weatherly" shoes are amazing. The kids love them because they are comfortable and very easy to get on and off. I love them because they are sturdy and appropriate for outside play and "Club Fit" at school. They have a velvety outside texture that looks attractive, and they are surprisingly durable: I must admit first shock when Splig came home with his completely drenched from a day of preschool water fights (why didn't he wear his crocs?) and then surprise when the shoes dried out with no apparent ill-effects.

Beach Bags and Model Contests to Stylin' Pirate Footwear

Also during the summer, I promoted a Company Kids' Model Contest. As a thank-you for promoting the contest, Company Kids sent me an excellent care package.

Splig loves his pink skull & crossbones towel and ladybug lunchbox. I love the beach tote we received (alas, not available in this autumn season, so I cannot link,) and have used it quite frequently since receipt. (It is waterproof inside - waterproof!) They also included a catalog, which I skimmed through.

Enter Halloween-costume time. This Friday, the Cat will trick-or-treat as "King Boo" from Mario Kart. Splig will be a pirate. Although I gathered most of his costume together, he kept asking for "pirate boots." Aha! I remembered Company Kids' skull rain boots, and we're all set.

So there you have it: I've blogged about Lands' End and Company Kids before; and have continued to spend my money at both places.

In other words, even if you don't think a particular blogger has a wide enough audience to have a lot of "blog buzz," their own spending habits might be impacted by participating in a product review or giveaway. And of course, their "in real life" friends and family end up seeing them using these products. My loyal readers read my reviews - and they have their own ripples if they try and like the products.

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Up Next Week: Blogger Outreach that didn't quite work.

My kids learned about Wall-E through the magic of the internet. My eldest found the preview online and watched it a zillion times before the movie ever came out in the theater. My youngest received a Wall-E toy for his birthday. He was smitten even before the movie came out.

Both boys were excited and well-behaved when we took them to see the film. They sat still the entire time: quite a feat for very active boys! Afterwards they cuddled up to the plastic robot imitating his voice and my youngest cheerfully wore Wall-E pajamas to bed.

During the outside take, my video ran out of batteries, so although you can hear my youngest’s description of Wall-E, both sons’ more poignant thoughts are missed. During the inside take, both voices are difficult to hear: My youngest explains how Wall-E makes boxes out of trash. My eldest explains this is to get rid of waste. When asked what they liked best about Wall-E, my youngest simply answers in the affirmative “good,” then when further questioned, says “’cause I love him.”

The boys are ecstatic that Wall-E will be out on DVD this holiday season. I’m pretty excited, too, since I know several family members for whom this movie would be much appreciated.

Sure, the kids love the robot. Anything that beeps and is personified is instantly a hit. But what isn’t typical about Wall-E is that the first big chunk of the movie is without English dialogue. My kids were captivated. Wall-E’s actions: from gathering garbage to sorting his treasure, induced giggles and sustained attention. They didn’t shift in their seat or look away, because they knew they’d miss something. How often do stories unfolding on screen actually enhance attention?

With Eve’s arrival, the kids became wide-eyed. What could possibly happen? Eve, although technically not “female” still plays the female role here. In this case, the robot portrays an exceptionally strong, sophisticated and deadly female. I’m all for shows that reinforce powerful women, even if Eve isn’t really a woman.

As the plot unfolds, the animation delights. The kids squealed with excitement. My oldest held his ice-cream bar instead of eating it. It melted into a puddle, thankfully in the wrapper since he had been so enraptured by the movie that he didn’t open the bar in the first place. It is a strong endorsement that Wall-E was more important to my son than ice-cream.

Husband and I exchanged glances as we understood the underlying message of the film. We nodded as we saw what could indeed become a realistic future for us should we continue on the overindulgent convenience-laden, planet-sucking path that we’re on. But Wall-E delivers this message in a humorous way. Both boys chuckled as the obese humans tried to walk for the first time. I chuckled at various parts that should have also elicited a groan. (Yes, I’m on a diet, people, although Husband is not on a “let’s pick up the trash around [his] messy desk” project. But he is responsible environmentally in other ways, such as driving his beloved Prius.)

The wastefulness and reliance on modern conveniences related morals weren’t the only ones though. Good thing, for they probably were lost on my boys, at least for the time being. Certainly the relationship between Wall-E and Eve was something the boys could appreciate: friendship (or more) with basic phrases, but mainly actions and gestures.

Wall-E is a movie that parents can enjoy for the “deeper meaning” and cultural references. Kids enjoy the animation, the interaction amongst characters, and the action. There is always an anticipatory feeling of “what will happen next?” yet it is the type of show that isn’t stale or “ruined” after the first showing. The kids will want to watch it again and again, and the adults probably won’t mind, since there is enough going on that they can pick out new bits the second (and subsequent) time around. Of course, any movie worth getting on DVD must have this quality: if the disc is available, it will be played, so it better be a repetition-friendly movie.

We look forward to having Wall-E at our home for the holidays. I hope he can make his way to your home as well.

-Buy Now on DVD
-Buy Now on Blu Ray

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This is a Paid Review: Disney Pixar and BlogHer have asked me for my thoughts on why Wall-E is a good choice for the whole family – thank you for letting me convince you. (Check out BlogHer's Wall-E Giveaway!)