Chevy Drive to Blue Hill

This years BlogHer conference in NYC was jammed packed with special, private events and the first one of many for me was a drive to Blue Hill at Stone Barns in a Chevrolet Cruze.

We departed from the NYC Hilton at about 9am, each 2 person team in their own Cruze.  We were armed with a set of directions and an envelope of cash for the toll in and out of the city.

Once we arrived at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, we were split into two groups.  My group was lead to the actual field where green beans were grown and we got to experience how to pick green beans.  Then, once we were hot and dripping from the sweltering heat, we were lead to the kitchen where we learned how to make raspberry preserves.  I couldn’t believe how easy it was and the finished product tasted much better than store bought preserves.

Our next adventure was in the Chevy Volt.  What a cool car!  The Volt is battery operated and super sporty.  We were given a full overview of the ins and outs of the car that has yet to be in production.  We got a test drive in the prototype and I was geeked out by all the bells and whistles and cool technology the car possesses.  It really is made for the future driver that is ready for a car that fits right into the technology driven world.

After the drive, it was lunch time.  We started off with amazing hors d’oeuvres such as polenta fries with spicy vegetables and pancetta wrapped zucchini and non alcoholic, ice cold beverages.  Then we moved into the dining room for a wonderful meal of a salad made of summer fruits and vegetables with homemade ricotta and pastured Stone Barns chicken with summer beans and smoked tomato.  My mouth was in heaven!  Lunch ended with a flaxseed brownie with caramelized strawberries and toaster pine nut ice cream… delectable!

My favorite part of the day were the connections I made with the GM crew.  They were there to answer any and all questions about the Volt and the future of Chevrolet as well as connect themselves (the brand) with us (the bloggers/influencers).  This connection will put them ahead on loyalty list.  They are good people and that makes a huge difference to me.

One more thing I’m not too proud to share, but will was that my driving partner Fiona Bryan and I got lost coming back from Blue Hill at Stone Barns and were trying to find our way through New York.  On Star helped us get back on track and find our way back to the Hilton.  If you haven’t tried On Star, it totally rocks!  I liked being able to talk to a live person… it made me relax in a stressful situation.

Thanks GM for an amazing time!

Movie Casting Call in Michigan

WHAT: Home Run Showdown, a movie directed by Oz Scott (Cheetah Girls) is holding an open casting call for boys ages 9-12 who have had some experience playing baseball and who think they have what it takes to star in a kids baseball movie.

Home Run Showdown is set to start filming in early August right here in the Detroit Metropolitan area. Producers are looking for all body types, races/ethnicities and personalities. No acting experience is necessary.

WHEN: Wednesday June 30, 2010, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ages 9-10, 3-5:30 p.m.
Ages 11-12, 5:30-8 p.m.

WHERE: Westin Hotel
1st Floor
1500 Town Center
Southfield, MI 48075
(Park in the lot or structure)

CONTACT: For more information about the Home Run Showdown casting call, contact Lisa Maas or Wensdy Von Buskirk of Publicity Works at lmaas@publicityworkspr.com or wvonbuskirk@publicityworkspr.com or call 248.691.4466.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Audition doesn’t guarantee a role in the movie. You may be photographed or videotaped for casting purposes only.

Review – Marmalade Hills Natural Skin Care

In my life, skin care is the oatmeal that gets lobbed my way and exfoliating happens in the sandbox. That is, until now. Locally owned and operated Marmalade Hills brings the spa to me and you with their new natural skin care line.

Created by Liana Spiegel, a local artisan and mother of two, Marmalade Hills is founded on the belief that living an eco-friendly lifestyle and using natural, biodegradable products is a rewarding, personal choice. Spiegel truly believe and depends on uncompromised quality of her products and happy customers. She makes each of her products by hand in small batches, which helps her ensure their high quality and unique appeal not found in mass produced products.

To write this review, Marmalade Hills provided me a number of products. Each was packaged well and had a label clearly indicating what it was.

One of the products was lotion. My two-year-old believes that lotion heals everything. The morning after my products arrived we were in a hurry to get to day care when she bumped her elbow on the edge of a kitchen cabinet. There were tears and cries for her lotion. I was already carrying an armful of bags and I was ready to head out the door, but I saw the Marmalade Hills products and decided to give it a shot. I put a dab of it on her arm. It wasn’t overwhelming. It left her skin smooth. It was light as I rubbed it on her skin. Most importantly, it healed her “ouchie!”

I was looking forward to using the mask and the other facial care product. One night, after the children were asleep, I slathered on the facial mask, sat down with a book and immediately felt like I was at the spa. After 10 minutes, I washed it away and my face felt completely refreshed. The product smelled great and left the skin feeling tight, clean and soft.

Marmalade Hills offers all-natural handcrafted soaps, whipped body polishes, other bath time luxuries, moisturizers, baby care products, facial care products, lip balms, foot care, soy products and more.

To learn more, or to buy your own Marmalade Hills product, visit the Marmalade Hills website.

While Marmalade Hills provided me with products for this review, the opinions written her are my own.

Date Night at the Cotswold Cafe Review

It had been a while since we’ve had a date night and we were definitely overdue.  I had been invited by the Cotswold Cafe to come and try their new evening dining since it was something new they were adding to the cafe on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Cotswold Cafe is located on the grounds of the late Edsel and Eleanor Ford.  The space is now open for dinner Fridays and Saturdays from 5-8 p.m., and from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sunday for brunch. Regular lunch hours, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., from Tuesday through Saturday will remain unchanged.

The Cotswold Café has also secured a tavern liquor license, allowing for a newly added selection of beer and wine. Beer enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the Fuller’s “London’s Pride” Pale Ale and Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout from Yorkshire, England, and wine lovers will encounter a full range of selections, by the glass and bottle, from bold reds to sweet, refreshing whites.

It was a warm evening, perfect for outdoor seating, so we chose to sit outside and enjoy the calm, outdoor atmosphere.  Having three kids and working from home can be very stressful, so the last place I want to be is a loud, noisy restaurant.  By the end of the evening, I felt more relaxed and refreshed than I have in a long time.

I wasn’t sure what to order, so I asked Nicole, my server for her suggestion.  She suggested the Chicken Wellington which was one of the specials that evening.  It was delicious!

Chicken Wellington Menu Description:

Tender chicken breast stuffed with a mushroom duxelle, wrapped in puff pastry and baked golden brown.  Served with mashed potatoes and freshed vegetables $14

I practically licked my plate clean, it was SO good!

My husband is a meat and potatoes kinda guy, so he ordered  the Petit Filet and was worried he wouldn’t be full from the 5 oz steak.

Petit Filet Menu Description:

5 oz Filet Mignon grilled to perfection.  Served with Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables.

My husband loved his meal as well, but was slightly disappointed that the piece of meat wasn’t as rare as he liked.  Rare to him is bloody and red.  The steak he ended up with was more on the pink side, but he still enjoyed his meal.

For dessert we went with the recommendation of the server and Chef Erik and went with the Cranberry & Pear Cobbler.  It was to DIE for!  Warm cobbler with big chunks of pear and whole round cranberries and a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a hint of cinnamon.  My mouth is watering as I remember the bursting flavor that popped in my mouth!

Cranberry & Pear Cobbler Menu Description:

Our signature combination of Fresh Cranberries and Pears, with Cinnamon, Ginger and a Golden Crumble with Oats and Brown Sugar.  Served Warm with Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel and Whipped Cream.

All in all, the evening was perfect!  The servers were very friendly and knowledgeable, the food was excellent, the prices were extremely reasonable and the atmosphere was relaxing.  It was a nice place to go for a date night with my husband, but I also plan on coming with the entire family during the day on a Saturday or Sunday because the food is so good and like I said, the prices are so reasonable.

Check out this video to see more about our evening and to hear Chef Erik talk about his previous training at Hudson’s, where some of the menu items came from:

For Reservations and more information, please call 313-884-4222 Ext. 145

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores.

I was invited by the Cotswold Cafe and given half off our dinner bill for review.  All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything.

I’m Going to Be An Extra in Harold and Kumar 3

Filming starts June 21 for Harold and Kumar 3.  I got an email a few weeks ago because I was in the database when I had sent my “stats” in when I heard they were looking for extras for a re-make of Red Dawn that was filming here in the Detroit area.  That was about 6 months or so ago.  I hadn’t heard anything and I wasn’t holding my breath.  I just thought I’d throw my info and picture into the pool of aspiring actors, or fame seekers and see what happened.  Hey, it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

So, back to the present time again.  I got the email.  It said I’m in to be an extra in Harold and Kumar 3 and then got another email asking me if I was willing to pose nude or topless.  I can’t deny the fact that I was tempted at the offer.  I even pondered if for a moment and then “poof”  it disappeared, just like that.  I’m a 35 year old married mom of three girls living in metro Detroit and it just didn’t seem right.  If I had been single and kidless…I would have done it no problem and without hitch.

I guess I won’t get that guaranteed face time boob time on the big screen, but I will get a part somewhere, hopefully.

I’ll definitely keep you updated with how it goes.  I’m kinda excited and with all the movies filming here in the Detroit area, I’m sure this won’t be my only opportunity.

Gleek Retreat Recap

This past weekend I was given the opportunity to speak at a local conference called Gleek Retreat in Olive, MI.  My  sponsor  was Collective Bias and I am so grateful to them for sending me!

I got to speak

I was so excite for Gleek because I go to speak at my first conference!  I’ve been doing segments for Fox Detroit over the past few months and I just love doing them.  I get a rush off of the nervous butterfly feeling that I get right before the segment goes live and then when it’s done, I feel so good that I made it through remembering all of the product info I have memorized.  It’s a great feeling and the challenge of speaking in front of a live audience was even more of a thrill.

I put together my very first power point presentation and just went for it speaking about Building Your Brand and Social Media In Real Life.  I was uber nervous, but after the presentation I got great feedback and I felt a sense of accomplishment.  It felt great!

I got to meet some MI bloggers

I was really excited that I was going to get to meet some more Michigan bloggers.  I know just a few around the metro Detroit area, but since there are supposedly millions upon millions of bloggers, it was nice to meet to ones local to Michigan.  When you are a blogger and people ask you what you do, most of the time, you get a blank stare and the conversation ends there.  Being around like-minded individuals was pretty refreshing.

I got to re-connect with old friends

I was so excited to re-connect with my lovely blogger friends Sandy and Melissa.  As bloggers, you form friendships with women all over the US and when you get the opportunity to reconnect “in real life” only a few times a year, those times are quite special!

I needed to get away

I was in need of a relaxing getaway and that’s just what I got!  We stayed at the most lovely retreat called Into the Woods Retreat.  It was like going to sleep-away camp because there were 20 beds, 6 to our room, but it was the upscale, adult version of the sleep-away camp you might go to as a child.  There were women there that made all of our meals, turned down our beds, placed chocolates on our beds and were so charming.  The food was plentiful and extremely good…we were all extremely satisfied.

All I can say it that I had an amazing time and met some wonderfully, amazing women.

The conference was perfectly put together and extremely organized.  You can bet I will be back next year for Gleek Retreat ’11!!!

Detroit Mommies Speaking at Gleek Retreat This Weekend

This weekend, I will be speaking at Gleek Retreat in West Olive, MI.  I will be speaking about Building Your Brand with Aaron Schaap from Elevator Up and Social Media In Real Life with Sandy Jenney from Chat With Sandy.

I’m very excited about speaking and more so about Social Media In Real Life because it’s something that I know a lot about and owe all of my success in the digital world to.

My first conference ever was BlogHer ’09.  If you haven’t been, it is overwhelming to say the least.  There are over 1000 women and if you go with any expectations, you are setting yourself up for a failed experience.

I went to BlogHer ’09 with one goal… to connect with my online friends, in real life.  I made it a point to approach my blogging friends as I saw them during the conference, sure I was nervous, but I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by and by the end of the conference, my “short list” was all checked off and I made some wonderful connections.

After the conference, I continued to build and nurture the relationships and after a short time, great opportunities started coming my way.

It’s all about making a connection and nurturing those connections.  It’s also about making an effort, setting aside fear and taking a risk.

I look forward to making new connections this weekend and nurturing the ones I’ve already made.

Adventure Days

This is a guest post written by Bryan Willmert, who blogs at soulexcursion.com.

“These days are what we make of them” is a phrase that often rolls through my mind when I am looking ahead with the question of what to do with the kids. I have three kids under the age of 10 and they are completely full of life, which means that they can wear me out like nobodies business. Although, nothing beats watching the wonder in their eyes as they discover new things and places. That alone is a huge component of what keeps the creativity going for what we do as a family.

A couple weeks ago, we set out on “Adventure Day”. Now just to explain it a little bit about what adventure days are; they are days where we (the parent or parents) set out from the house with a plan on what will take place, but we refuse to tell the kids. We are evil aren’t we! Well, the anticipation that you set puts them in a place of enormous expectation and they begin to realize that even the smallest of tasks can be a fun adventure.
My kids LOVE adventure day, although the suspense while they are in the car nearly drives them, and myself insane. I have 2 kids that are planners. They get up in the morning and want a bullet list of what is coming up through out the day. While we are heading out on the adventure, they work at asking questions and begin making guesses on where we will end up. Sometimes I will give them very easy suggestions, and other days I really push their mental limits for what the next step may be.

On this particular adventure day, we had the big destination in mind, but everything else was a bit from the hip. We had thoughts on what we would do, yet had not fully decided. The first stop left the kids dumbfounded and without many guesses at all, but upon entering Bagger Dave’s in Berkley, they loved this new place. Anything from the French fries, Shirley Temple Drinks, and the train that moves throughout the dining areas; they loved it all. But as soon as the check came, so did their questions about the next stop. After working our way back to Woodward Ave, they were ringing off guess after guess of what it might be, but each guess was either met with a “no” or a “yes… just kidding”. The more they would rise up with questions, the more that I would play with them, holding their suspicions at bay.

After many questions, and now nearing 696, I hear a yell from the backseat from my 9 year old son Jake, “I know where we are going.. THE ZOO!!!! Are we dad?? Are we going to the Zoo?” Once I responded with, “I am not sure”, they exploded with excitement because they saw right through me and then this lead to 3 hours of exploration.

That day at the Zoo we hit the butterfly house, the reptile house, the polar bears, and every outdoor exhibit in between. The awe and wonder that was in each of their eyes as we saw a variety of displays, and nothing could compare to having my camera on hand to capture each of these moments! It was such an amazing time to let them see the animals that excited them and having them search for animals from certain continents that they had been studying about.

Like all good times, we saw the effects of excitement, the sun, and a great deal of walking beginning to taking affect, so we started to head back. Even though we saw their energy depleting, we shared of one more stop in the adventure day and that put a little extra kick in their step.

The final stop in the adventure day was the brand new Sonic Drive-Inn for a little treat. Much to our surprise, they were running “happy hour specials”, so that was ½ off all drinks & slushies. Nothing made me happier than to find a ½ off deal! (btw.. their happy hour times are from 2-4pm everyday).

We don’t do “adventure days” every weekend but we do mix them in to have fun. Sometimes it isn’t as adventurous as the zoo, but it is just around Rochester Hills and it mixes in a treat somewhere, a stop at a park, or whatever your imagination can conjure up. It creates conversations & memories between you and your kids that will last a lifetime.

The next weekend or day off that you have, think of a few things that you and your kids might enjoy doing together and create an adventure out of it. Those days will stick with them forever.

About Bryan:

Bryan Willmert can be summed up as a husband, a dad of 3 kiddos, an artsy techie thinker creative who is a web 2.0 junkie.. who is an avid Chicago bears, cubs, blackhawks, bulls & Minnesota twins fan..

Bryan writes for his blog Soul Excursion (www.soulexcursion.com), runs his own start up company called Edooce, works full time as a Creative Producer for Kensington Community Church and is always dreaming. You can follow him on Twitter @bryanwillmert and @edooce.

Michigan’s Smoking Ban

On May 1.2010 Michigan banned smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces.  Being a parent and a health conscious individual, I am extremely thrilled by this move that Michigan finally made.

There are however, individuals that are less than thrilled by this new law.  And, as you’ve guessed they are the individuals that, prior to May 1,2010, were able to sit at a bar or restaurant and  leisurely puff on their cigarette while the rest of us non-smokers scurried to finish our meal, so that our children and ourselves did not have to endure too much of the second hand smoke we were forced to breath.

According to a few different studies, 70 percent of smokers² want to quit, but only three to five who quit unaided stay smoke-free for up to 12 months³.

To encourage Michiganders who want to quit, sometimes it’s important to have that support of others, and that’s why Pfizer has supported LetsQuitTogetherNow.com. The site allows smokers to make a pledge to quit smoking and learn about making a quit plan; in addition to providing resources, it also is a chance for smokers to compete in a city-by-city competition to join in a pledge and help their local communities get healthier. Right now, Kalamazoo has collected the most pledges – so there’s still time for Detroit to represent!

Charlotte’s Wings celebrates Earth Day

Rochester Hills based non-profit Charlotte’s Wings is thrilled to be partnering with local author Bridget Llewellyn and the Village of Rochester Hills to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday April 11.

Between noon and 3:00 p.m Llewellyn will read from her new children’s book One Child, One Planet: Inspiration for the Young Conservationist at the Village of Rochester Hills.  She will also be selling books to benefit Charlotte’s Wings.

Charlotte’s Wings was founded in March 2008 in memory of a local infant, Charlotte, who at just five months old died of a rare degenerative brain disease. In lieu of baptism gifts, her parents made a large donation of books to the pediatric unit at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. 

Charlotte’s Wings was founded to continue and expand this initiative – donating books to children in hospitals and hospice care in southeastern Michigan. To date they have donated over 5000 books to local hospitals and hospices. Through this endeavor, they aim to provide hope and smiles during traumatic times.

For more information on this event or Charlotte’s Wings visit www.charlottes-wings.com or become their fan on facebook.

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