On Wednesday I am heading off to the all-expense-paid Johnson's Camp Baby. I am glad that I will be seeing folks that I love and meeting new faces. If you are attending Camp Baby and haven't already, please join the NaBloPoMo group devoted to us. Also, there is a group blog to read and/or to contribute and a Flickr group as well. Needless to say, this will be a well-recorded event!

I am nervous, excited, and all of those other conflicting emotions. Each time I hear of another blogger I HEART who is coming, or yet another celebrity who will make an appearance, my heart jumps just a little. This will be a fantastic time. Of course, this event hasn't been without its controversy, but a first-time event usually has its kinks. I look forward to learning more about our "purpose" (since many of us are out of the baby stage, despite certain grandmothers asking about "spinning for a girl," bunkbeds for the boys to create "more space," and other "hey are you going to have another baby?" type queries without actually spitting out the question.)

And all through the house, not a creature was stirring,
... except for Kari

Seriously:
- the class rats were asleep in their little house
- the actual cat was sleeping on the bed
- the kid Cat was sleeping, no longer squiggling around like he did at 3 a.m.
- the kid Spliggle was snoring
- and Husband was fast asleep

But I couldn't sleep. My mind tried to remind me of what I need to do today. I am going to whiten my teeth (using a kit.) I have some work-related tasks to complete before my very early departure tomorrow morning. I need to print out more business cards and pack my bags. Is my camera-battery fully charged? Will I remember my swimsuit? Oh, and I have a hair appointment today, but since the boys are on Spring Break I have to remember to take them to my mom's house.

Around 6:15, which may not seem early to some of you, I realized I should just get up. After all, I leave tomorrow morning at 5:15, which means I need to be awake by at least 4:30, if not earlier. That will be a harsh wake-up call.

I am back from Johnson & Johnson's Camp Baby. What an amazing adventure it was!

On the travel-side, I have tales of gratuitiy questions, the thrill of being picked up by a car service (hey, I had never been one of those folks with their name written on a plaque by the baggage claim) and then the fear that I would throw up in that fancy car.

On the friendship-side, I was pleased to see people I've enjoyed online and at other blogging events. I was glad to meet new people, including great people from GM and Johnson & Johnson's.

On the program-side, I have plenty to say - there were talks that were amazing, and some that were condescending. There were excellent "extra-curricular" events and a jam-packed schedule. Lori and her staff did a fabulous job of putting together this first-time event. I will definitely write more regarding my thoughts; however, the nature of the trip means that I am just now "waking up" after putting my life on "pause" for the last several days. As such, I still need more time to recover and get back to "real life" after being treated so well for the latter part of last week.

In the meantime, check out my Flickr photos, those of the Johnson's Baby group (hey, anyone know where the photos that the professional photographer was taking will be?) and of course, log on to Twitter to read word-by-word some of the things that happened.

I imagined myself putting together a neatly-organized progression of posts to accurately recap my feelings on Johnson & Johnson's all-expense-paid blogger outreach "Camp Baby;" however, as inspiration strikes at odd times, I think I'll just let things "spill out" where they may. Ahem

---

This morning as I walked around our local reservoir, I was a bit perturbed to see a size 000 woman (probably thinner than my already-too-thin boys) energetically power-walking with an eensy-weensy baby in a Baby Bjorn. My Baby Bjorn hurt my back after awhile, so I couldn't imagine exercising with my baby in it, but more than that I was astonished at how active (and thin!) this woman was post-partum. Sure, maybe she is not the one who actually gave birth, but let's pretend for a moment.

As I watched her quickly stride out of my sight, I recalled how the nurse giving us the tour of the maternity ward laughed when I asked if I could walk the four NYC blocks home after giving birth. After all, she was talking about how the hospital requires everyone to have carseats before being allowed home. I wondered if I could be exempt because we wouldn't be taking a car.

"You'll feel as though you were hit by a bus," she laughed. "You'll be taking a car home!"

And indeed, I did. I took a taxi home with my mom (the shortest taxi ride in the driver's history, I am certain,) and Husband walked home in the rain with the newborn Cat in a Baby Bjorn.

This weekend we made a spontaneous decision to go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. As I scrambled around packing, I made sure to bring along plenty of sunscreen. I've had ikky-mole scares and while my olive-skinned older son is perpetually tan, Spliggle is blonde and ghostly-pale like me.

Last year, we tried out KINeSYS, and I was glad. I enjoyed the ability to spray it on without worrying about coverage. (I do cheat and "spread" a little "just in case.") Also in my sun-arsenal is Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer. A couple years ago, I had tried an SPF 50+ from L'Oreal, but it smelled disgusting, rancid even. I am not sure how I decided to try Neutrogena, but I did.

Then when I went to Camp Baby, one of our freebies was a bag filled with Neutrogena products. I didn't know that Johnson & Johnson owns Neutrogena! (I also didn't know they own Aveena.) As part of my stash, I received more Ultra-Sheer, plus their Face-Block and a spray-on sunscreen.

While I was at Camp Baby, I learned of two impressive programs that I would like to mention here.

Today I will profile Safe Kids USA. National "Safe Kids Week" was actually last week, so I missed the boat in announcing it week-of; however, the Safe Kids USA website has plenty of valuable material for parents.

Although some hospitals have carseat checks before the new parents are allowed out of the parking lot, and many police departments offer free carseat checks, many parents don't take them up on their offer. I remember traveling down the freeway when Splig's infant seat tipped over, despite being installed by several people who should have known what they were doing.

And then there is water-safety. (Pictured are Oscar winner actress Marcia Gay Harden and Charisse Nurnberg, mother of Matt, who drowned at the age of 3 - photo from Safe Kids USA) Unfortunately, I have a scary story to tell:

The good folks at Johnson & Johnson who sponsored my trip back east earlier this year for Camp Baby have spoiled me again! Last Thursday I had the amazing opportunity to take part in a conference call with Olympic Champion Janet Evans (pictured here with her daughter Sydney).

I've posted my thoughts surrounding the subject matter over on The Karianna Spectrum, but wanted to mention it here as well.

As part of their sponsorship of the Beijing Games, J&J is doing a "Thanks Mom!" series of commercials during the Games. Although I wish they would include dads in all this, I am eager to find out which athletes' mothers they profile, and am interested in seeing a little "behind the athlete" information.

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!

--

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

It is hard to believe that the BlogHer conference is only a month away.

It seemed so far in the future - after Splig's myringotomy - tonsillectomy - adenoidectomy surgery, after school ends, after soccer starts, after summer is half over, after this, after that.

But we've been plowing through all those events, and now BlogHer is next on the list. (Well, and Splig's birthday. He won't let any of us forget that.)

People attending BlogHer are scrambling around getting their plane tickets, hotel reservations, and some new duds to wear. The preparations can take a hefty toll on the wallet. Thankfully, a variety of Johnson & Johnson brands are sponsoring a mega-sweepstakes to enable 20 (yes, twenty, that isn't a typo) bloggers the funding to attend the conference.

Acuvue, Carefree, Johnson's Baby, Listerine Agent Cool Blue, OB, Splenda, Stayfree, and other J&J brands are giving away $1200 in cash to 20 (twenty) people; 5 (five) of these people will also receive a Flip camera.

I should note that this contest does not provide tickets to the sold-out BlogHer; rather, it is for conference attendees who already have their tickets. The suggested use of the $1200 is to pay for travel, lodging, and other aspects of conference-going. I know I'd love to have an extra $1200 in my bank account!

Good Luck!

--

* Enter the sweepstakes
* Official rules of the sweepstakes