The EcoChic

Every morning (afternoon and evening too) I flip through blog after blog looking to see what’s new in the world.  Looking to connect – looking for find people with similar interests.  One of my favorites recently has been tout-est-des-roses.  Sara Sophia and I met on Twitter and her writing is so beautiful – so poetic.  You know me – I’m not really a writer – I just blog!

Anyways – please go read her post from today “Crazy Hippie” and see why she is one of my favorite reads!  Her words have set the course for my day.   

“Like my gramma always said, pretty is as pretty does.” – tout-est-des-roses

I hope that for my readers you don’t get sick of me talking about BlogHer 10 for the next month.  In August I’ll be celebrating my 3rd year Blog-iversary and this will be my very first blogging conference ever!  A little over a year ago my blog took a turn in a new direction when I decided to sign up for Twitter – and my life hasn’t been the same since.  I’ve met so many wonderful readers, bloggers, companies, and more – I feel so blessed to be where I am today. 

Why do I want to go to BlogHer?  I have had so much fun this past year with my blog, Twitter, and especially with the creation of Eco Chic Parties that I want to see what else is out there.  What am I doing ‘wrong’?  What could I do better?  What are other bloggers doing?  In past years I’ve read blogs and tweets about others experience and the wildness that occurs when 2000 mom bloggers unite. 

But doesn’t it cost money to go?  Yes, it’s not a cheap trip.  The conference ticket alone was a few hundred dollars + hotel and expenses.  Thankfully we have connections and don’t have to pay to fly – just have to fly standby with our fingers crossed that seats are available. 

AND – I’ve had a little help with my expenses.  I have a few sponsors that I’d like to introduce to you – and officially THANK for their contribution to my trip. 

1.  Franklin Goose, Bamboo Bums, and Teething Bling/Smart Mom Jewelry all sponsored me financially. 

2.  Lillunia LLC and Rockin Green Soap both purchased ad space that I used to help with my trip.

3.  Eco Chic Parties accepts payment for some parties – and that money has been used for trip expenses as well.

4.  Mommy Doodles is my one and only graphic designer and technical expert.  Melanie is AWESOME and always willing to help me (sometimes I even pay her) with my blog(s).  She even designed my awesome business cards for me!

Why did I get sponsors?  I’ve worked with these great companies over the past year with blog reviews and Eco Chic Parties and have formed a great relationship with these ladies.  Their sponsorship will allow me to take my blog to the next level.  During BlogHer there are 2 FULL days of workshop sessions and I will be B-U-S-Y from 9am – 5pm each day + networking with new companies, companies I’ve already worked with, and other great mom bloggers.  I hope to bring back some valuable information that will improve our relationships – and better the quality of my blog. 

What does this mean to you?  I have some surprises in store for you during BlogHer – including a few giveaways from my sponsors.  Giveaways will be for both BlogHer attendees and those of you who can’t attend this year.  I’m super excited to share my experiences with you - afterall why should I keep all this knowledge to myself?  I want to see each of you grow your blogs and achieve your goals too!   

I’m on the BlogHer Green Team.  That’s right – I decided to join the Green Team and help ensure that the founders and organizers implement environmentally friendly elements to the conference.  In past years green bloggers have been upset because of the excess waste and bottled water – I’m happy to announce that the organizers are addressing these (and other) issues.  There will be water refilling stations throughout the event for bloggers to refill their reusable bottles at.  There will be a swag recycling event to recycle (donate) unwanted swag – I hear there is a TON of swag!  Other Green Team members include Summer from Green and Clean Mom, Beth Terry from Fake Plastic Fish, Jennifer from Naked Jen, Lisa from Condo Blues, Diane MacEachern of Big Green Purse, and Jenny from Conscientious Confusion.  I feel so honored to be part of the team and can’t wait to meet these influential green bloggers at BlogHer!   

Isn’t BlogHer sponsored by some BIG non-green and controversial companies – like Nestle?  Yes – like any conference they need sponsors to keep the prices reasonable – and companies like Nestle are sponsoring the weekend.  While I haven’t personally jumped on the Nestle ban I do understand the controversy – and respect your feelings towards this and other sponsors.  For me the biggest sponsor of interest is Proctor and Gamble – the makers of PAMPERS!  As a cloth diapering advocate I’m using BlogHer as a platform for me to share cloth diapers with other moms who might not know who easy they are.  Not all attendees are green bloggers – and if I can reach just one more person with the cloth diapering message my mission will be accomplished!  I’ll even be wearing an “Ask Me About Cloth Diapers” t-shirt that will be provided by the Real Diaper Association – a non-profit cloth diapering advocacy group.  I’m even bringing my family along with me to show just how easy it is to travel with cloth diapers – I’ve decided to use a local cloth diaper service while we’re there. 

What can I do for YOU?  As my loyal readers I wanted to ask YOU what you want to hear about?  What other green bloggers would you like me to interview or meet?  How can I help you improve your own blogs?  This isn’t just an opportunity for me – it’s an opportunity for me to share with you!  AND – are you going to BlogHer?  If you are – I would love to meet up!  Let me know and I’ll be sure to hunt you down!

Ahhhh, Earth Day is over and I can finally breath just a little better.  While I absolutely love this time of year I often find myself buried under a mound of projects.  Today I finally took some time to update my blog features, pages, and sidebar.  I still have some more ideas to be on the look out for so visit often.  In addition, I have some awesome reviews/giveaways lined up for the next few weeks!   

What’s changed:

1.  Notice a NEW page at the top called ‘Cloth Diapering.’  This is an archive of all my cloth diapering posts, reviews, and giveaways.  This is a great place to go if you are looking for something specific. 

2.  GONE – Current contest and specials page.  I’m working on adding that to the sidebar. 

3.  NEW social media follow tags.  You can now click the ‘Follow Me’ tab on the left of the page to find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and for my RSS Feed. 

4.  NEW: I am now an affiliate with Kelly’s Closet so when you shop from my affiliate link (on right sidebar) I get a small commission that I use to help me keep this blog going.  This is what allows me to pay my awesome graphic designer when I need help and helps pay my yearly hosting fees.  Thanks in advance for your support!

5.  MOVED – My sponsor links have moved to the top so that you may be able to support them better.  They bring you all the great giveaways you see featured here so be sure to thank them!

What else would you like to see on the blog?  Any favorite features you use or see on other blogs?

I’m growing up and branching out!  I would like to introduce to you Eco Mom Media.  My newest blog project.  Eco Mom Media has a few goals.

1.  Eco-Friendly Twitter Parties.  Oh yeah, baby!  The hottest trend to hit Twitter.  If you are a company looking for more customers or a fellow reader looking for innovative eco-friendly products you will want to check out our Twitter parties.  Our premiere party is scheduled for Earth Day, April 22nd.  Go check out #GetRealDiapers and see what it is all about. 

2.  Tips.  Regular blog posts will include topics on how to use Twitter, Facebook, and your blog to reach more readers and/or customers.  If you are a blogger, I will be providing my personal advice on how I got started with blogging and using social media to gain readers.  If you are a business, I will be providing you with advice on how to reach more customers using social media networks. 

3.  Social Media Consulting.  I’m available by the hour to help you meet your goals.  Let me help customize your social media marketing plan. 

Don’t worry, I will continue to write here as well.  I will continue to provide product reviews and host eco-friendly giveaways.  Eco Mom Media will provide me with another outlet to help you all reach your goals.  Thanks again for continuing to follow The Eco Chic and I look forward to working with you and partying with you at Eco Mom Media. 

Be sure to follow Eco Mom Media on Twitter and Facebook for the latest events and announcements.

Wow, that’s one heck of a title!  If you are anything like me SEO is a bit intimidating!  What the heck is SEO?  Search Engine Optimization!  Still lost? 

So am I!  I’ve been blogging for over 2 years now (publicly – 4 years privately) and it was a slow start.  I basically wrote about stuff that interested me and hoped that people would come to read it.  I wasn’t sure if anyone actually visited The Eco Chic besides my friends and family. 

Now, over 2 years later…I know that I have readers!  Not only do I have readers but I also have a few sponsors.  I can finally say that I’ve made a little bit of money blogging…and it’s not by Pay Per Post…which is how I started!  Not to knock programs like PPP but it just wasn’t for me.  I mean, do I really want to write about space heaters in Florida??  I’m certainly not making enough to quit my day job (yet) but that’s certainly a dream of mine. 

This year I’ve started paying more attention to what the big bloggers are doing.  I’m planning on attending my first blogger conference later this year (and still looking for a few good sponsors), I’m learning what SEO means, I’m learning how to use Photoshop, and just trying to dive into the technical side of things.  I’m learning about all the networking groups for bloggers…Type A Mom, BlogHer, Mom Select, and so many more places to meet other mom bloggers.  

My most recent find is Kelby Carr (founder of Type A Mom and many other great projects) and her new ebook, Mom Blog SEO: 30 Days to Boost Traffic, Readers, Influence and Income.  Click here to visit Mom Blog SEO. I’ve been reading Kelby’s ebook this past week and it’s all starting to click!  It’s like pieces of the blogging puzzle are FINALLY starting to come together!  My greatest challenge blogging is that I’m not a researcher when it comes to the techie stuff.  I barely have the time to blog, work, and keep up with my family!  Who has time to learn what SEO is and why it matters?  Kelby’s book is great because it assigns a daily task for you to complete!  And it’s not hard stuff…stuff I’m already doing (kinda) but just didn’t know I was doing…or why I was doing it.  Tasks that help me to change the way I’m currently thinking so that search engines (like Google) will be able to find my blog before it finds the thousands of other blogs in this vast blogosphere!

If you are just getting started or if you are looking for ways to improve what is already there, this is the best $19.99 that you will spend!  Spend it now, before you waste 2 years trying to figure it all out on your own. 

I don’t have it all figured out (yet) but with Kelby’s help I will be one step closer to my dream!  My dream of turning my hobby into a career!  Will you join me in my journey? 

I paid for my copy of Kelby’s ebook and was not paid to write a glowing review of her work.  I have however signed up for her affiliate program and can earn money if you buy her book!  That doesn’t change my opinions…but it encourages me to share it with all of you…instead of keeping her wisdom and secrets all to myself! 

Dear bloggers and businesses,

Do you have what it takes to be Eco-Terrific?

Each month of 2010 I will be featuring one lucky blogger or business for free under my sponsors section. Your 125X125 ad could be the first Eco-Terrific sponsor!

The Eco Chic is currently looking for new sponsors to help with some 2010 goals. Those goals include updating some of the features on my blog (with the help of my graphic designer) and attending my first BlogHer conference in NYC (Aug 5-7). Unfortunately these goals require a little bit of cash (BlogHer alone costs $800+ for conference and room). That is where you come in.

How to enter to be Eco-Terrific?
1. Send me one paragraph telling me something you did in January/Feb 2010 to be eco-terrific.
2. Your URL.
3. A description of your blog or business.
4. Why you want to be an Eco-Terrific sponsor.
5. Your pitch! Why should I pick you? How terrific are you?

Submit your entries to me at theecochic (at) gmail (dot) com no later than February 15th to be considered as my March Eco-Terrific sponsor.

Even if you are not selected as this months Eco-Terrific sponsor you can still purchase ad space. Email me for pricing and additional information.  Feel free to pass this on to someone you think is Eco-Terrific?  It doesn’t matter how big or small your blog or business…you can all be Eco-Terrific!

Thankfully,

The Eco Chic

So here I sit typing my very first iBlog! I cracked the screen on my PDA yesterday and had to get it replaced! Can you tell that blogging will never be the same again? I have a feeling that on the go posts will appear more often now! Ok…now to see what other fun things I can do with it! More later.

Hello? 

Hello? 

Is anyone out there? 

Oh wait, you are probably saying…”Where is The Eco Chic?  I haven’t seen anything new from her in a while!!”  Never fear my friends…I am still here!  As usual life has gotten in the way of blogging.  When my friends tell me that the feel neglected and in second place over the Internet I start to take the hint.  (I do listen.)  My family suffers from my addiction at times too.  It’s rare to find a night at the Eco-House where my nose isn’t buried into my computer as soon as the kids are snoozing away!  My dear sweet husband is sitting on one end of the sofa playing Vampires or Mafia Wars on his iPhone and I’m on the other end blogging or tweeting!  Really, it is a sad life we live.  Add in a few visits out of town and I’m actually starting to miss my little escapes to the blogosphere! 

You know exactly what I’m talking about.  There is something much more pressing and important that you need to be doing right now than reading my thoughts…but you are still here…and I love you for it! 

So now that I’ve spent a week conserving energy (hehe!) let’s get right back into the Eco World!  I have so much information and updates to bring you that I don’t know where to start first. 

FTC and blogging!  Why not, everyone else is talking about it.  The FTC is now regulating bloggers who receive compensation (either product or $$) in exchange for writing up a review for companies.  READ the actual regualtions here.  To set the Eco-Record straight…yes I receive compensation for SOME, not ALL, of the reviews that I write.  Most of the compensation I receive is my way of free product.  But rest assured that I have always (and will continue to be) been honest with you in my reviews.  If there is a product that I really don’t like I will tell you what I don’t like about it.  I will also point out the things I do like about it.  And if the product is really that horrible I will send it back to the company that sent it to me.  (Thankfully that hasn’t happened yet!)  What are your thoughts on the FTC regulations?  Do you think it will better the blogosphere?  Do you think that companies will quit offering compensation for reviews?  Have you ever found a product that you really, really, really love because of a product review on a blog?  Tell me about it!  (Leave me a comment below!!)

Breastfeeding!  Yes, I just jumped from the FTC to the Boob!  LOL!  Lady B (she’s growing up so Lil’ B just sounds so young!) is now 9 months old and is still attached to the boob!  Even with 4 teeth and business trips that take me away from her we are still breastfeeding and I couldn’t be happier. 

Cloth Diapers!  Yes, we are still using cloth and loving it!  I have 2 new diapers that I am reviewing right now.  The first is by GroBaby and the second one just arrived yesterday from Bamboo Bums.  Can I tell you that bamboo is soooooooooo soft!  Oh la la….I need a blanket out of this stuff!  Or a sweater?  Hmmm….  Our child care provider is adjusting ok to cloth but we still have a ways to go to get her fully on board.  She’s using cloth but she has some concerns.  For instance…she was sending them home in plastic bags INSIDE the wetbag…kinda defeats the purpose of the wetbag!  And yesterday she told me she put her in a sposieat nap time because she hadn’t gone poo all day.  Sure enough she did go poo at nap time and cleanup was much easier on her…but again…defeating the purpose of cloth!  It’s going to take a little bit of educating and empathizing with her to get her fully on board.  I think I need to practice my new nonviolent communication skills that I’m learning from my new book, Nonviolent Communication, A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg.  I’m reading it as part of the training to become a Real Diaper Association (RDA) Circle Leader for the Tampa Bay area.  More on that in another post. 

Family News!  My son is the light of my life and got rave reviews from his teacher yesterday in our first conference of the year.  Besides the fact that we have a mini-genius on our hands I was moved by her words on his kindness and heart!  I guess my little boy is beginning to show compassion for others and that just moved me to tears!  He’s being a mentor to a little boy in his class who doesn’t speak English well…voluntarily!  I couldn’t be more proud of him and the wonderful little man he is becoming!  Lady B is 9 months (like I mentioned earlier) and is weighing in at a whopping 17 3/4 lbs.  I don’t think her brother was that big at a year! LOL! 

Reviews & Giveaways!  Don’t worry I have many things waiting to be written about!  I have more cleaning products to write about, baby food, baby toys, kids toys, diapers, blankets, and so much more coming your way!  Now I should go formulate my game plan on how to get caught up again!  

Thanks for visiting and caring about where I have been!  I really need to find that balance between real life and my blog that seems to get a little off balance more often than not!  Have a great weekend!

Yep, this is just a crazy personal blog post!  Nothing given away…no product reviews…just me and life!  It has been a crazy busy week (like most weeks) and it doesn’t look like it’s going to settle down anytime soon.  This week has included doctors appointments for my son, stitches for my son, a potential change in caregivers for both kids during the day, and sooooo much more!  Work has been crazy busy with deadlines quickly approaching and did I mention that the blogging world has exploded!  I have to thank all of my readers for your continued support and readership.  Because of all of you I am about to throw some amazing product reviews and giveaways your way! 

Now, I must go watch Big Brother and write one of many product reviews!  Stay tuned!

What is a blog carnival?  A blog carnival is a way to network with other like minded bloggers while doing what we do best, BLOG!  This blog carnival is all about Cloth Diapers.  Specifically, what you wish you knew that you know now about cloth diapering.  Read my response below and then follow the carnival by clicking the links below.  Each link will take you to another blog that has responded to the same question!  AND…if you use cloth diapers and have a blog why doing you join us by adding MckLinky to your page after you have responded!  Have fun and thanks for visiting!

I’ve written some already on our Trials and Tribulations of Cloth Diapering in previous posts but I am going to focus on the main question today.  There will certainly be more cloth diapering posts as we continue our journey with Lil’ B (our almost 7 month old little girl). 

I wish I would have known other cloth diapering parents!  When we started this journey I didn’t know anyone who had even considered cloth diapering.  We are now almost 7 months into our journey and I have met so many cloth diapering parents online that I wish I knew before we started!  I now have a wonderful network of friends online.  I found YouTube cloth diaper reviews, I found other cloth diapering bloggers, I found cloth diapering on Facebook AND Twitter!  Twitter has been the most useful resource for networking and learning more about cloth diapering.  There is even a fun cloth diaper (#clothdiapers) chat every Monday evening at 8pm (EST).  During the chat you can ask questions to other parents and directly to the companies that manufacture and sell popular brands of cloth diapers.  On Twitter you can find representatives from Bum Genius, GADbaby, Bummis, Knickernappies, Earth Angel Diaper Co, and so many more companies and stores!  You can also find new WAHM (and dads) companies that are producing the newest modern cloth diapers and accessories on the market.  The first few weeks that I participated in the Monday night Twitter chats I learned about all the different brands and styles, stripping diapers, detergents, sun drying/bleaching, and so much more!  In addition, I’ve seen so many wonderful photographs of other Fluffy Bum babies!  I’m convinced that cloth diapering is just as stylish as it is environmentally friendly.  I now have people to ask all my deepest, darkest cloth diapering questions to that I didn’t know before I started.

Since I started I know now one other parent locally.  I have also introduced cloth diapering to other parents in the area.  I know lots of parents through mommy groups and church groups that I can share my love of cloth diapers with.  I have also introduced one of my coworkers to cloth diapering and they made the switch when their baby was 1 year old.  It’s so much less intimidating to try something if you know that you are not alone.  My goal is to show other parents that it’s just as easy to cloth diaper their babies as it is to buy sposies!  And yes, you really do save money using cloth diapers!  Don’t be intimidated by the initial price.

So what are your cloth diapering questions?  What do you want to know?  You can ask me by leaving a comment here OR you can ask any of the other cloth diapering parents that can be found virtually!  All you have to know is where to look for answers!  Check out these other great cloth diapering bloggers and visit us on Twitter Monday nights!  Just use the hashtag (#clothdiapers) in your Twitter posts and we’ll answer you back.  Good luck on your journey!  It’s definately a FLUFFY one!     

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