On Kirtsy This Week

What is it about this week? Every morning I wake up and think it's Friday. At least today, I'm only a day off. : )



Here are some of my favorite kirtsy links from the last week or so. (Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links — I'm one of the co-founders).

-It looks like a real, actual house. And it's gorgeous.

-A great article on getting kids off the couch and into the great outdoors.

-Do you rsvp — or have you abandoned the practice?

-A post written by a mother who is observing her baby-loving toddler while knowing this daughter is infertile. Heartache!

-Why teenage girls are awesome.

-Photoshoot of a soldier coming home and meeting his baby girl for the first time.

-The best films you've never seen.

-Want to receive a fun postcard from all 50 States?

-Does owning less stuff equal having more time?

-The New York Times published a piece about mommy-blogging and the reaction hasn't been great. Here's one well-written response.

-I am enough! An invitation from Tracey Clark.




-Yummy. Anthropologie has a new sister brand called Leifsdottir. (That's where all these neato images came from. Do you like the washed out photography?)

Anything fun you've seen on Kirtsy lately? Any links you've added to Kirtsy?

Girl+Guy Party at SXSW

Are you going to SXSWi this weekend? (What is SXSWi? It's an enormous conference that covers the interactive/new media space. It's held every March in Austin, Texas. And it's followed up with a legendary film and music festival as well.)

If you're going, you will totally want to seek out Kirtsy's Girl+Guy Party. This is the second year Kirtsy has teamed with Guy Kawasaki to host this awesome shindig. And I promise, this is the ONLY girl event at SXSW. I'm not even kidding. It is a male conference through and through (and sometimes feels like a week long series of frat parties).

It's too late to RSVP online for the Kirtsy party — it's actually full to the brim. So if you want to get in, here are your options: 1) Follow @kirtsy on Twitter so you can track down one of the Kirtsy girls at the conference. They'll have some party passes on hand. 2) Volunteer to help out for a couple of hours with party set-up or take-down or registration, etc. You can let the party planners know you're a willing volunteer by reaching out through the facebook event page.

Hope to see you there!

On Kirtsy This Week

Hello Friends. I made significant progress on my taxes this morning (organizing documents and updating spreadsheets) and feel delighted about it. I am very much looking forward to marking that task off my list. How about you? Have you already sent yours in?

Here are some of my favorite kirtsy links from the last week. (Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links — I'm one of the co-founders).

-The fantastic photographer, Justin Hackworth, is signing people up for his annual 30 Strangers project. Will you be one of them?

-A new magazine for Creative Humans. That means you.

-Do this: A blogging workshop that's free and requires no travel.

-What does "middle class" mean these days?

-Mmmm. Color. I love this house tour. It's where I found the photo above.

-Newsweek article from 1995: Why the Internet will fail. : )

-The giant mirror makes the room, no?

-Recognize this belly?

I hope you enjoy these links. And I hope your weather is as sunshine-y as mine is today. Do you think winter is really over?

Make Your Own Ukelele

A package arrived this week from Uncle Jared and Aunt Liz. Inside: a make your own ukulele kit. How great is that? We can't wait to put it together. On a related note, today on Colorado Public Radio, I heard all about how the ukulele is experiencing a big revival — there's even a UkeFest this weekend at Swallowhill. If we weren't headed to Copper Mountain for a super cool weekend, we would totally check out the festival.



More greatness — my favorite Kirtsy links from the last 7 days, (Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links — I'm one of the co-founders):

-100 classic movies everyone should see. How many have you seen?

-Speaking of movies, did you see this movie trailer? It had me crying and I'm not even sure why. So cute!

-Valentine's decorations don't get easier — or cuter — than this. Make these with your kids.

-Also perfect timing for Valentine's Day, a whale blows a heart shaped bubble.

-Think your life stinks? Share your woes here or grimace at the tribulations of others, like: "Today, my car got a wheel lock because I had 5 tickets. Three of those tickets dated back to 2006. I got my car and license in 2008." (Is it awful that I find this site hilarious?)

-Need to get happy after checking out that last link? These photos will do the trick. I can't decide which one is my favorite.

-Time to get organized? Here are tips on how to create a Household Time Map.

-These gorgeous laptop covers have been making the design blog rounds all week. I think they're brilliant.

-"If they say you're too picky, that's because they settled." Agree? Disagree?

-Another house that makes me happy.

What about you Dear Readers? Are you ukulele fans? Have you ever been to a UkeFest? Posted anything awesome on Kirtsy lately?

This Week on Kirtsy

Hello Friends. I have two wonderful birth stories for you today — they'll be published in just a bit.

All these stories are suddenly feeling nearer and dearer. Why? Well, half my siblings are expecting little ones. In fact, my brother Josh and his wife Erin had a baby boy about a week ago. My sister Jordan (plus her husband Paul) is due any second. My brother Salem and his wife Megan are due in a few weeks. And then it's my turn. All the way in May. (Which might as well be 2011.)



In the meantime, here are some of my favorite kirtsy links from the last 7 days. (Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links — I'm one of the co-founders).

-The cleverest business card I've seen in awhile.

-Think you can't wear skinny jeans? Read this before you decide.

-Should you eat food that's fallen on the floor? Depends. Check this chart to be sure.

-Fun! DJEarworm — the guy we were all crushing on at Alt Summit — was written up by CNN.

-Do you have a crazy but loving family? Here's a casting call just for you.

-This blog is in French, but even if you don't speak a word, you will fall in love with the images.

-You knew it was coming: the first tweet from space.

-When did you start your baby on solid foods? These guys argue you can start before 3 months. Hmmmm.

-How do you talk to your kids about something awful like the Haiti Earthquake?

-Did you watch Oprah's show on texting while driving? Conclusion: cell phones and driving don't mix.

-This is what my workspace will look like in heaven.


What about you Dear Readers? Found anything good on Kirtsy lately? Posted anything cool there? Also, isn't it fun when you have a sibling that's expecting a baby at the same time as you?

images via Little Circus

Kirtsy

Hello Friends! I checked into my hotel at about 12:30 today. My room is gorgeous. And ginormous. Apparently, that's just how it's done at the Grand America. Love it. And the city was beautiful all day long — the sky is clear and the mountains are sparkling. Best discovery of the day? Turns out my long-time friend Girl Con Queso loves to ski. Who knew? Alt Summit is wonderful already. And it hasn't even started yet. : )

Here are some of my favorite kirtsy links from the last 7 days. (Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links — I'm one of the co-founders).

Bookmarking this so I can copy every single outfit.

Do you use Blogger software? Here are 50 most-wanted templates.

Some small business tips from a designer.

I'm having so much fun seeing what bloggers wear day to day.

Writing on the wall with lights? I must explore this a bit more.

Get a tissue. This is a moving piece by NYTimes Reporter Jonathan Dienst.

What did you think of Tiny Fey's dress at the Golden Globes? And wasn't Mo'Nique amazing?

If you love turquoise (I do!), here is your new favorite link.

It's time for lunch. Check out these 10 healthy sandwich recipes.

Is this for real? Gang-land tours in Los Angeles?

Have you ever publicly protested something? Some of these signs made me laugh.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I heart these pretty cards.

image via Vintage Printables

Kirtsy

Kirtsy is a site where anyone can share cool links (I'm one of the co-founders). Here are some of my favorite kirtsy links from the last 7 days:

Mighty Girl's list of 100 Skills Everyone Should Master.

Another excuse to eat bacon? Bring it.

Cupcakes. Delivered. (Can they get here in the next 15 min? I've got a craving.)

A collection of gorgeous backless dresses (like the one pictured above).

35 Free fonts — I think "Folk" is my favorite.

Visual explanations of social media. This is endlessly interesting to me. And often, so pretty!

Do you own a printer from Hell?

Girls Scout cookies without needing to know a Girl Scout? Tell me more. (Full disclosure: I just ordered 4 boxes from my daughter's friend.)

Pretty "save the date" cards.

What have you posted to Kirtsy lately? Anything fun?

A Peek at the Alt Summit Panel Topics

We (the Kirtsy girls) have been working furiously on the Altitude Design Summit panels and programming for the last couple of weeks. It is going to be amazing. If you are into design or social media at all, you will love this conference. I'm sure of it. (Did you see that Heather Armstrong — Dooce — will be joining the keynote panel? Woot!)

"Lead Type" image by jm3

The full program — with panels topics and descriptions — will be posted soon. In the meantime, here's a hint of what you could learn/discuss if you come to Alt Summit:

-Why everyone and their cousin is talking about design more now then ever.
-How ad networks work, how they're changing and which networks cater especially to design and lifestyle sites.
-The realities of online design — hear from a web designer, programmer and online-type expert to learn what you need to know about online design now and what to know going forward.
-Blog Etiquette and how to appropriately (and legally!) credit the content sources and sponsors you're referencing on your site.
-Creative ways site owners are generating revenue outside of ad networks.
-Being a designer vs. being a design blogger — if you're both, what should the time balance be between the two?
-Designing your community and smart ways to grow your audience.
-How design will save social media. (It needs saving you ask? Come to Alt and find out.)

And that's just a taste. It keeps getting better and better. And better.

Also. You can check out the illustrious list of speakers here (we're still waiting on a dozen or so bios, but the list as it is now will impress you all the same), and you can check the schedule for timing here.

One last thing: be aware that the registration discount ends on December 31st. It's the final discount being offered — don't miss! I hope you're coming. I will love to see you there.

Kirtsy Book Party in San Francisco

Did I tell you? I'm taking a super quick trip to San Francisco to celebrate the Kirtsy Book at a launch party tomorrow night. Did I tell you you're invited too? Well, you are. Here's the info:

SF Kirsty Book Party
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Ferney Studios
766 Valencia, 2nd Floor
San Francisco
(Directions)

See the trailer for the book here. Download the invitation for yourself here. And please feel free to invite fun people. It's going to be a great night.

My sister Jordan will be there (in fact, it's being held at her studio). My sister-in-law Liz will there. Laura Mayes will be there. Maggie Mason will be there. I hope you will be there too! We'll be celebrating the Kirtsy Book and getting hyped up for Alt Summit.

I leave tomorrow morning and I'm back on Wednesday afternoon. Just enough time for a party and trip to H&M's maternity department. : )

8 Final Hands On Small Business Sessions

I'm going to interrupt Holiday Giveaway Week to share some very good news! There are 8 more Hands On Small Business sessions — the final 8 of the program. Which means: this is your last chance to take advantage of these FREE classes. They are put on by Kirtsy and sponsored by Microsoft Office Live. And it would be a shame to miss out on the knowledge. And the fun. And the free-ness.

If you live in one of the following cities, sign up asap:

Boston on Dec. 1 (tonight!)
Portland on Dec. 1 (tonight!)
Oklahoma City on Dec. 3
Chicago on Dec. 4
Little Rock on Dec. 5
Houston on Dec. 9

The classes are taught by super awesome social media experts. You'll learn about tools to organize your business, build a website, promote your company and communicate with your customers. I attended a session here in Denver and it was terrific.

Extra fun: There are two virtual sessions happening in January!

Everywhere on Jan. 8
Everywhere on Jan. 12

What does this mean? Well. Office Live and Kirtsy received a bunch of feedback that Hands On sessions in 20 cities wasn't enough. That some people live far from those cities and couldn't get to the sessions. So. Here's the fix. Now there are two sessions happening online. If you have access to an internet connection (I'm assuming you do, because you're reading this), then you can attend! No matter where you live. Save your spot now so you don't forget about it through the holidays. Woot!

Now, back to the Giveaways (just scroll down)...

Hands On Small Business in Denver

So. The first two (of 100) Hands On Small Business Sessions were held last night. One in Charlotte. One in Atlanta. Both sold out. Awesome! Although maybe "sold out" isn't the right term. Because the classes are free (free!).

There are more classes happening this week. And throughout the next 5 weeks. There are still some dates and locations being finalized. But for most cities, you can already register. Find all the info you need at Hands On Small Business.

For those of you in the Denver area (hey local peeps!), the first class will be held this Thursday. Taught by the fabulous Aimee Greeblemonkey. You'll learn about some great tips for organizing your business and building a website by Office Live. You'll also learn about some tools for communicating with your customers and promoting your business. Here are the deets:

Thursday, October 8th
6:30pm - 8:30pm
at Klein Buendel
1667 Cole Blvd. Suite No. 225
Golden, Colorado 80401
(303) 565-4321

I'll be there. With bells on. And I hope you're coming too. Because I can't wait to see you. You can register here.

One last thing: a little birdie told me the event may be getting some news coverage. So you might want to put on some lip gloss. Just saying.

BlogHer Schedule

Are you heading to the big BlogHer conference next week? Or. Will you be in the Chicago area? If yes, I'm guessing you're having a hard time keeping track of all the parties and extra-curricular events happening in conjunction with the conference. Same for me.

Luckily, the Kirtsy Girls have come up with a fix: We've gathered all the important info in one place. Parties. Suites. Demos. Fun Runs. You can find it all in the Hershey's Kirtsy Party Alertsy. And most of the listed events are open to everyone -- not just BlogHer attendees. Woot! So everyone can join the fun. We're even offering a ready-to-print pdf of all the info for partying on the go.

Personally, I've been studying the Hershey's Kirtsy Party Alertsy like a straight-A student. This will be my 3rd year attending BlogHer. The first two years, I pretty much showed up without ever checking the conference schedule and without even a basic plan of what I wanted to do/see/take part in. But this year feels different. Like BlogHer hit some sort of tipping point and there are so many parties and invites and extra-events that I've had to make some decisions.

If you'll be attending BlogHer this year, or live anywhere in the Chicago metro area, I'd love to meet you. Here's a heads up of My Personal BlogHer Schedule (tentative, of course). Hopefully our paths will cross more than once.

Wednesday:
Fly in to Chicago

Thursday:
4:00 - I'll be attending A Hair Affair — a small gathering hosted by Danielle Wiley, Susan Wagner and Heather Barmore.
6:00 - VIP Guest to the Social Luxe Lounge. I'll even be announcing one of the winners of the BlogLuxe Awards. Nice.
9:00 - People's Party!! Everyone's invited. It's typically the biggest party at BlogHer. Kirtsy will have lots of Hershey's chocolate to give out. Mmmmmm.

Friday:
10:00 - Microsoft Microspa Lounge. I'll be getting my makeup done in the Spa.
10:30 - Session One: Business of You — Pioneers in a Post-Employee World (very likely I will end up talking with someone in the hallway and miss this. But who knows.)
2:00 to 4:00 - Yudu Nation Meetup in the Shutter Sisters Suite (Room #1237 Sheraton Towers) — Come meet me and I'll show you how to silkscreen your very own totebag. Free! Everyone's welcome — even if you're not attending BlogHer.
4:45 - Community Keynote. This is sure to be the very best session at BlogHer.
6:00 - Method Party with Danny Seo. (Remember the cool party I hosted for Method with Danny Seo way back when? I'm wonder what awesome thing he'll teach us this time.)
7:30 - BlogHer Reception
8:30 - Nikon Night Out with Carson Kressley. (Remember Carson from Queer Eye? Do you think he'll like my outfit?)
10:30 - Mommy Needs a Cocktail Party. Sounds like it's going to be fabulous.
11:00 - VIP Guest to Mamapop Party. The perfect way to close out the night.

Saturday:
9:30 - Keynote Address
10:45 - Session One: Business of You — Advanced Social Media, Syndication and Stats (Again. I could end up in the hallway here, but I think this class sounds good.)
12:00 - I'll be speaking with Jodie and Sharon from Playskool.
2:00 to 4:00 - Yudu Nation Meetup in the Shutter Sisters Suite (Room #1237 Sheraton Towers) — Come meet me and I'll show you how to silkscreen your very own totebag. Free! Everyone's welcome — even if you're not attending BlogHer.
5:00 - Closing Keynote
6:00 - BlogHer Cocktail Party
7:00 - This is unofficial, but I'd love to have dinner with all the Kirtsy Editors that are in town.
8:30 - BowlHer '09 Party. Save me the hottest bowling shoes.
10:30 CheezburgHer Party. It would be hard to end on a better note than this.

Sunday:
Head home. Probably exhausted. But happy.

What's that you ask? What's the Yudu Nation Meetup? It's pretty dang awesome. I'll post about it in a minute.

June Hands On Sessions!

Have you heard? There are 10 Hands On Social Media sessions being held this month. Woot! I know the news has been flying around twitter, but my travel/work schedule hasn't allowed me to get the word out till now.

I'm super excited about the whole thing. Kirtsy held a handful of these sessions earlier in the year and the response was universally: we want more, please. So we've been working hard to find the right sponsor — and when Office Live heard about Hands On they jumped at the chance to host 10 big sessions this month. FYI: sponsor = free sessions for readers. Nice.

What are Hands On Social Media (HOSM) sessions? Women getting together to learn social media basics in a very cool, non-stressful way. Like how to Twitter. What to do with Digg/Kirtsy. And when Flickr might come in handy. HOSM is like the new tupperware party — but there's nothing to buy. And they're FREE!

June sessions will be held in Charlotte, Denver, Houston, Salt Lake City and Little Rock. You can find dates, times, registration info and more details at HandsOnKirtsy.com.

The first session is in Charlotte tomorrow. It's going to be taught by my kirtsy partner, Laurie, and it is going to be amazing. If you're in the area — and you're a social media newbie — make every effort to be there. Totally worth it, I promise.

This coming weekend, I'll be team-teaching two sessions with the always enthusiastic Gwen Bell:

Friday, June 12th at 7:00 PM
-Location: The Cup
-1521 Pearl St., Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 449-5173
-Click here to save your spot.

Saturday, June 13th at 9:00 AM
-Location: The Curtis Hotel
-1405 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 571-0300
-Click here to save your spot.

To any Colorado peeps who might be reading:
I've been jonesing for a get-together since I moved here — I'd love to meet all the wonderful friends that sent kind emails and cool suggestions of places to check out. If you can make it to the Denver or Boulder sessions, I hope you'll come! It's totally free, you'll learn fun stuff and you'll get to hang out in two of the coolest places in Colorado. And mostly, I'd love to meet you!

Girl Guy Party at SXSW

Morning! I'm in Austin, Texas at SXSW (pronounced South by Southwest). I flew in yesterday and I have to say, it's the biggest, baddest conference that happens. Ever. Period. I feel super lucky to be a part of it.

I'm here with kirtsy. We are throwing a crazy Texas party with Guy Kawasaki's company, Alltop. And it all goes down tonight. Because kirtsy is for girls, and Guy is a guy, we're calling it the Girl/Guy party. And it's going to be amazing.

Allens Boots, the classic Texas footwear store, is the venue. (You may have noticed Allens Boots mentioned in the April issue of Domino (that's right. the final issue. sad.). There will be hay. And a chuckwagon. And boots. There will be music. And Guy. And Girls.

Guy Kawasaki is the keynote speaker (the headliner, basically) of the whole, huge, ginormous conference, so you can imagine how everyone wants to get into this shindig. But the guest list is kind of full. As in overflowing. If you're at SXSW and you want in, there's only one way to do it. Find one of the kirtsy girls and ask us for a Girl/Guy bandana. If we have any left, you'll get one. And the bandana will grant you entrance to the party.

The coolest party of the conference. I hope to see you there!

If you can't make the party, don't be sad. You can still win an HP Printer, some high-end headphones and $100 off a pair of boots by leaving a comment on the kirtsy blog.

Gwen & Joel's Wedding

It was beautiful and sweet. During the ceremony, Gwen wore a gorgeous white gown by J Crew. Joel wore Converse. And then it turned into a great big party. See more pics and more deets here.

In other kirtsy related news. A lucky someone is going to win an all-in-one HP Printer, some luxe headphones by V-Moda, and $100 off a pair of brand new boots — just by leaving a comment on the kirtsy blog. That's almost $400 of goodies. The Giveaway was just listed. Only four comments so far. Which makes for some good odds.

Fab photo of Gwen and her lovely Mother-in-law, Beth Longtine, by Aimee of Greeblemonkey.

Things I'm thinking of Today

1) How much I like lists.

2) What the weather is going to be like in Boulder, Colorado this weekend. I'm heading there on an early flight this morning. I'm all packed and ready to go.

3) How awesome Gwen Bell and Joel Longtine's wedding is going to be. That's the event calling me to Boulder.

4) Kirtsy's Party People contest. Three people will each win $200 from Minted. ($200!) Plus 150 cards designed with the winner as inspiration. How cool is that? Don't miss.

5) The funky house I'm renting in Boulder with the kirtsy girls and CosmoPolitician and Mags Mac n Cheese.

6) How much everyone wants a new set of sheets. Including me. You can enter to win a sheet set from Serena & Lily (any size, any style) through Sunday night. Enter here.

Have a great weekend!

Mom 2.0 Summit

I loved attending the Mom 2.0 Summit. I was so proud of kirtsy for putting it on. You can find links to tons of photos and more in depth reports of all things Mom 2.0 Summit here.

Also. Probably my favorite Mom 2.0 Summit report so far is by Holly Buchanan — one of the keynote speakers — and a total rockstar about everything she does (speak, write, consult, network, mentor). Don't miss the slideshow she put together.

Some Notes

I'm on my way to Houston early tomorrow morning for the Mom 2.0 Summit. It's being held at the Houston Four Seasons. Today has been full of packing and unpacking and repacking — sweet Ben Blair has been asked to offer opinions on at least a dozen different outfits as I've attempted to finalize my packing list. Can't wait to be in sunny Texas with my kirtsy peeps.

Guess what else? My friend Kathryn and I are taking 3 of our girls to see The Little Mermaid tonight. This is Olive's first Broadway show and she can not stop bouncing around the house with 7 year old excitement. Time to go get ready for a girls night on the town...

One last thing: I just want to quickly remind you that the Olli and Lime Giveaway is open through Sunday night. You can find the Giveaway by scrolling down or clicking here. Great baby gear! Don't miss it.

P.S. — Okay. This is really the last thing. Is it just me or is the internet broken today? It's like it's moving in slow motion. Or something.

Giveaway — Business Minded Ladies

Goodness. There's a whole lot happening this month with women and social media. Women everywhere, who started blogging or twittering or podcasting on a whim (like myself) have seen a lot of potential for growth and opportunity in this emerging field. And we're getting together right and left to talk about things and get ideas and share our knowledge.

Sometimes these get togethers are simple meetups over drinks. Other times, the conversations turn into full-blown conferences. Last week, ladies all over the country attended Blissdom. Next week, ladies all over the country will be heading to Houston for Mom 2.0. (I'm one of the speakers and kirtsy is putting it on — so I'm super excited about it.)

Anyway. The point of all this is that I thought it would be great to celebrate the fact that women who didn't consider themselves business-y at all, are getting all entrepreneurial on us. Thanks to social media. So the prizes for the Design Mom Giveaway today are all about these women. Five winners in all!



TWO of you will win Peek email devices. (Cherry red ones, of course. Because it's Valentine's Day this weekend.)

You've probably heard about Peek already. It's brilliant. And it's getting written up like crazy by all the major media — receiving rave reviews right and left. Think of Peek as blackberry-lite. It provides email. Period. In a very less is more sort of way. Perfect for the mom who's running errands all day and wishes she could check her email from time to time. Peek is a great companion to her basic-cell-phone-that-works-just-fine-thank-you-very-much. And it's perfectly easy to use. You can explore the device in depth here.

This is where Peek is extra brilliant. The bells and whistles that a smartphone provide are cool, but you have to pay for them. The phones are expensive and the monthly plans that go with them are astronomical and often, binding for years. But the Peek offers unlimited email and texting for just $19.95 each month. No contracts. Ever. With coverage all over the country. Plus they're super sleek.

Honestly — unless you're a hard core tech person, Peek is all the email gadget you'll ever want or need.



THREE of you will win 1000 business cards, custom printed just for you by AllBusinessCards.com.

The thing to do at these meetups and conferences and Hands on Kirtsy sessions is exchange cards. Something that lists your blog url or twitter handle. So that people can find you after the conference. But I know as well as anybody, that when you're just starting up a business or a blog, and you're not even sure where you're going to go with it, that spending even a few dollars on supplies or marketing materials is painful.

Free business cards will ease your conference expenses in a real way. And AllBusinessCards.com will make it easy for you to get them. You can design your card online using their tools. Or upload a file your graphic designer brother made for you. Either way, they'll print and ship them to you pronto.

You've got your Peek. You've got you're business cards. Looks like you're ready to attend a social media conference. Go you! And a big thank you to Peek and AllBusinessCards.com.

By the way, if you're itching to exchange business cards right this minute and you're in Utah, there's an opportunity tonight. Startup Princess is holding a Twitter-pated event to teach women how to use this fun tool. Plus, my sister-in-law Liz Stanley will be there schooling women on how to make the most of kirtsy. Find out more here.

-------------

Guidelines:
-You have until Midnight PST on Sunday, February 15th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment. One entry per person, please.
-The winner will be randomly picked and announced Monday, February 16th.
-What are Random Giveaways? Read about them here.

Grommets = Really Cool Indie Products

There is a killer of a contest happening at kirtsy this week. We're hosting it in conjunction with Daily Grommet. And if you've ever sent me an email letting me know about the rad new product you came up with, or the stylin' new thing your brother created, or the super hip item your bff is selling in her etsy shop, then this contest is for you. For reals. (By the way. I love those emails, keep them coming, please!)

Here's the deal: tell us your favorite new-on-the-scene or yet-to-go-big product and you could win a fantastic prize package worth over $230! It's super easy to enter. Just leave a comment over at the kirtsy blog — include the link/url of the product you want to promote and by all means, tell us why you like it. And that's it. You're done. One comment.

Or. Several comments if you want to promote several products. You can enter as many times as you'd like.

What a fantastic way to promote yourself, your friends or your favorite entrepreneur. We can't wait to see what you suggest!



Bummer for me — I can't enter. But if I could, I would link to the beautiful personalized jewelry at Bel Kai Designs. Take a look at my new necklace from Bel Kai. It's so pretty. And it has all 5 of my kids names. Neat!

Fa La La La Lots of Prizes

More good news! — kirtsy's latest contest was just posted. And it's HOT! Over $550 worth of goodies. From two of my favorite companies. Check it out:

First of all, Serena & Lily is offering up a $150 Gift Certificate to their gorgeous home goods shop. You probably know them for their baby bedding, but their line is so chic and sophisticated, that grown-ups everywhere begged and pleaded for them to expand their line. And they did. They now offer all sorts of gorgeous home items. And I covet the whole collection.

To sweeten the deal, check this out: for only the 2nd time in the entire history of the company, Serena & Lily is having a sale. Right now, you can get 30% off all their delicious bedding. And it truly is delicious. You'll want to eat it for breakfast. And sleep in it. All at the same time.

Second of all, All About Cute, an internet hotspot full of lovely items for you and your best friends, is offering up an Orla Kiely Bundle of treats retailing over $400.00! How deluxe is that?

The winner of this kirtsy Fa La La La Giveaway will receive an Orla Kiely Boulevard large zip wallet, an Orla Kiely Dreamsicle orange angora sweater (winner chooses her size, of course), and a $50.00 Gift Certificate to All About Cute, that she can spend as she pleases. I can picture it now. You'll be sporting your hot new sweater while pulling your hot new wallet out of your handbag, so that you can spend your hot little gift certificate.

And you can make that $50 feel like $100. Because from now through the end of the year, everything at the All About Cute site is 50% off. Just use the code: holiday.

It's super easy to enter. Just leave a comment on the kirtsy blog post, or over on kirtsy. Yay!

Of Note.

1) You can find my two most recent posts at Cookie Magazine's Nesting blog — one featuring wire laundry baskets, one featuring custom collage art by Janey Garnet. Both are don't miss finds.

2) Last chance notice:



You can enter the One Laptop Per Child Giveaway at Kirtsy through Sunday 12/7 — just leave a comment and you could win one of FOUR laptops. Sweet! There are a little over 100 entries so far, with four life-changing computers up for grabs — that's really good odds! So get those comments in ASAP. Such a great cause!

3) You can enter the super-generous Klutz Giveaway through Sunday 12/7 as well. Seven Klutz books plus a $50 Visa Giftcard. Fab!

Laidback Home

It's been kind of a whirlwind few days. The kirtsy girls came to town on Monday. We all stayed together at the Hudson Hotel. We hosted a Hands on Kirtsy session that night. Awesome. Met oodles of interesting people. Then followed it up with a Meetup. See Gwen Bell's pics here. On Tuesday we made a field trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hung out with Jesse Engle and Aaron of Tomorrow Pants. Amassed chocolate. And more chocolate. This morning — Wednesday — it was business meetings back in the city. And then I dropped off the crew at LaGuardia this afternoon. And now I'm home. In reporting mode.



One of the people I was lucky to meet at the Hands on Kirtsy session is Tina Shoulders — designer and brain behind Laidback Home. Gorgeous pillows. Hip totes. From textiles she designs herself.

And my addiction for/crush on textile designers continues...

Welcome December

Hello! I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was lovely. I was happy today to wake up and greet December. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a really good month. And the goodness starts today.

In just a few hours, I'll be picking up the Kirtsy Girls at the airport and we'll get down to business with any last-minute preparations for tonight. I hope you will be able to make it. Here are the details again in case you need a reminder:

Hands On Kirtsy
It's a Social Media 101 class for beginners. And it's free.
Monday, December 1, 2008
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Hudson Hotel, in the Studio
356 West 58th Street, New York

Kirtsy Meetup
Because we love hanging out with our NY peeps! Seriously, come by and say Hello. I'd love to meet you.
Monday, December 1, 2009
Hudson Bar
8:00 till you go home
356 West 58th Street, New York

Pretty felt ornaments at Crate & Barrel.

One Laptop Per Child Giveaway

Have you seen the latest contest at kirtsy? It's probably the most Thanksgiving appropriate contest ever. Kirtsy has teamed up with One Laptop Per Child to give away Four XO Laptops! That's right. You could win one of four laptops. Honest and true.

How? Easy: Spread the word about One Laptop Per Child by sharing their link (http://laptop.org). Email it. Tweet it. Blog it. Put it on Facebook. Call a friend. Do whatever it is you do.

Then tell kirtsy what you did by leaving a comment on the kirtsy blog or on the kirtsy entry, like: "I twittered about OLPC." And you're officially entered to win.

Winning a laptop is a fantastic thing. But OLPC's programs are even more fantastic — their whole mission and purpose is to get a laptop into the hands of every child in emerging countries across the globe. Every. Single. Child. OLPC understands how a computer can give advantages and offer opportunities in a life-changing way.



See, the little laptops they make are amazing. Super sturdy. Designed for children's hands. Easy to care for and maintain. Self-networking. And they send them for free to children around the globe. These laptops can't even be bought for personal use — they are strictly for giving away.

With one exception. Over the holidays, OLPC is holding a Give One, Get One (G1G1) promotion. You buy a laptop for yourself or for someone you love, and OLPC will donate another laptop to a child in need. In fact, this G1G1 campaign is the only way to actually buy one of their laptops. Period.



I'm a big fan. If you were reading Design Mom a year ago, you may remember my post on OLPC. We participated in the program last December — and our kids love our XO. Your kids would love one as well! Bonus: I'll bet it's the best price you'll find on a laptop anywhere.

If you are able to get involved with the Give One Get One program this year, you won't regret it. If donating a laptop isn't an option, then I hope you'll get involved by trying to win one from kirtsy!

Share the OLPC link. Tell kirtsy about it. Then you're entered to win. Done and done.

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned this contest is particularly Thanksgiving appropriate. This is what I mean: I am thankful every single day for the opportunities and friendships that have come into my life through a computer and the internet. And I'm thankful for companies like One Laptop Per Child that understand the power that computer ownership can bring to a child's life.

Do You Twitter? Do You Facebook?

Oh my goodness! I'm so excited. Remember when I told you about Hands On Kirtsy? It's a new program kirtsy is launching — featuring gatherings across the country where women can learn how to use web 2.0 services like twitter, delicious, flickr, kirtsy, facebook, stumble upon, rss feed readers, tumblr. . .

The first Hands On Kirtsy was held a few weeks ago in conjunction with the Startup Princess Retreat. And the 2nd Hands On Kirtsy is happening on Monday. This coming Monday, December 1st. And it's coming to New York!

If you're in New York and you're wanting an introduction to social media, we hope you'll attend. Maybe you've read some blogs. Signed up for Facebook. But you're not sure what all the fuss about Twitter is. Or how one would use Stumble Upon.

Then Hands On Kirsty is for you.

Hands On Kirtsy sessions are like the funnest class you ever took. No stress. No judgment. Just a bunch of girls learning what's up on the internet these days. Real hands on learning. Trying things out. Learning new skills. At the end of the session, you'll feel so in the know! You'll be able to use verbs like tweet, kirtsy, stumble and flickr without being tempted to giggle.

Extra fun: all the kirtsy girls will be in town! Laura is coming from Texas. Laurie is coming from North Carolina. And Gwen is coming from Colorado. And we can't wait to hang out with everybody. Best part: it's free dollars and thirty free cents. For reals. The details:

Hands On Kirtsy
Monday, December 1, 2008
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Hudson Hotel, in the Studio
356 West 58th Street, New York



Too advanced for Hands on Kirsty? Already a social media pro? We get that. But we want to see you anyway. So immediately after the Hands on Kirtsy, we've got a fabulous meetup happening. In the same building, at the Hudson Bar.

Kirtsy Meetup
Monday, December 1, 2009
Hudson Bar
8:00 till you go home
356 West 58th Street, New York

For sure, if you're in the area, you need to come by and say Hello! Oh. And send me an email or leave a comment if you can make it to either event — I'd love to know who's planning to come.

UPDATE: You can register for your FREE tickets to either event here: http://handsonkirtsy.eventbrite.com/

Spotted on Kirtsy

Spotted on kirtsy. Another blog to feed my addiction: Greedy Girl. Clever writing. Pretty pictures. And there's a smart calendar swap going on right now as well. Check it.

Also spotted on kirtsy. You can win free registration to the Mom 2.0 Summit in Houston, Texas. The kirtsy girls will be there — with a whole crew of other interesting people — and we can't wait to meet you! Plus, while you're at the summit, you'll get a chance to attend a Hands On Kirtsy session.

What's Hands On Kirtsy? So glad you asked. I've been dying to get the chance to announce this. Hands On Kirtsy is:

"Fun, practical gatherings of goodness to show you and yours a few new easy things to take up online. Each session will be hosted and led by kirtsy editors, kirtsy founders and kirtsy friends, who just want to get together to show you some new (and maybe not so new) cool things that will help make your online life easier, smarter and definitely more interesting."



Basically, kirtsy is going to host meetups all over the country where you can come and learn how to twitter, how to kirtsy, how to use an rss feed reader, how to facebook, how to flickr, etc. We've got 6 dates on the calendar so far. And plans-in-the-works to roll this out nationwide early in 2009 with over 200 gatherings next year.

I can't believe how excited I am for this program! I think this will go a long way in filling a big educational need. There are several people in my life that keep me in the know on the latest social media trends and sites — that teach me how to use sites like delicious and stumble upon. But from what I hear, most women don't have such mentors. So kirtsy's going to make it our mission to teach these tools to women everywhere. Because we can. And because we're all about empowering women online.

What social media/web 2.0 tool do you most want to learn?

Kirtsy/Alltop Party

After the 5MFM interview on Thursday morning, I went straight to Guy Kawasaki's house to help with preparations for the big Kirtsy-Alltop Party. And all the work, work, work paid off. The party was a red hot, super-cool, smash hit — thanks to our generous sponsors and friends like Stephanie from ListenShare and Trae and Jim from YouData.





There was a photo station with a bowl full of fake mustaches acquired by Jordan, and glam dressups provided by Mrs. Kawasaki, and the talented Ms. Juliann behind the camera. There was a button-making booth manned by the highly creative Emily. There was a vintage, red, Italian typewriter where you could type a quick Hello (in lieu of a guestbook). There was amazing food by PSRT Catering. There was amazing swag. The best part: the fabilicious guests of course.





If you get a chance to browse the party photos, you won't be disappointed. And you can see even more here.