I’m just about 5 months pregnant and have been wearing maternity clothes since the little plus sign popped up (at least it feels that way).  I didn’t purchase a large maternity wardrobe when I was pregnant with my son because I was on bedrest.  The only shopping I was able to do was online, and I only bought comfy clothing (since I was at home for 5 months). I feel so blessed this pregnancy because, apart from being terribly sick in the first trimester, I have not had any complications. Since my return from BlogHer, I’ve felt really good.  The nausea and sickness has subsided (thankfully), the migraines are coming less than once a week, and I feel energized (and just a tad bit big!).

Speaking of BlogHer, I had a fabulous maternity wardrobe sponsor:  Maggie Maternity.  I showed you a little preview of what I was going to wear right before the trip.  I received a beautiful Summer Sleeveless Maxi Dress in Navy and a stunning Pearl Necklace with Sculpted Sterling Silver Roses Clasp which I wore on Friday for all of my events, including a Nintendo Dinner sponsored by Brand About Town and a Nikon party.

Here is a bit more information about Maggie Maternity from the site:

Maggie Maternity brings a whole new meaning to how we dress when we are pregnant.  Our collection of maternity clothing makes dressing while expecting beautiful and effortless. Flattering and comfortable, our designs were borne out of necessity. We wanted simple unfussy clothes.  These are staple items that are far from the usual maternity basics.  Our stretch jersey fabric is incredibly comfortable and flattering.

My shopping during my first pregnancy was limited to a few online venues, which sufficed at the time, since all I was doing was staying home in bed.  This pregnancy I’ve been able to work, travel, and socialize, which means I needed a few staple pieces suitable for casual and formal/professional events.  The dress I received, first and foremost, is super comfortable.  I love the lightweight, stretchy fabric.  It’s definitely a dress I can wear for casual and more formal events and I know I’ll wear it right until I deliver (and after as well as I’m trimming down!).  I chose blue since I find it to be a bit more casual but if you’re looking for something even dressier, I would recommend choosing red.

To be honest, I didn’t immediately think of jewelry when considering my maternity wardrobe.  But when a piece was suggested to me by a representative from the company, I realized how much of a difference it made to the dress.  The Pearl Necklace with Sculpted Steriling Silver Roses Clasp definitely “dressed up” the piece and I felt like I was glowing for the 2 formal events I attended (one at The Signature Room at the 95th, the other at the Flatwater Restaurant).  The necklace is made of sterling silver and is a strand of gorgeous pearls.  You can actually either wear the rose clasp in the front or the back which will give the necklace a different look.  It’s very versatile.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the style and quality of the items I received from Maggie Maternity.  Some of their pieces are on sale right now, so do check them out if you’re pregnant and looking for some stylish wardrobe pieces.  I’m actually interseted in their Maggie Box which is a set of four, staple wardrobe items.  With this box, you could add a few colored items and be set for your entire pregnancy!

Tomorrow morning, I leave for Chicago with a plane full of Los Angeles bloggers bound for the largest women’s blogging conference ever.  As I sit here, typing this, my little boy lies sleeping next to me.  He’s been sick…nothing major…nothing we needed to take him in for…just not feeling well.  And my excitement is clouded just a bit since I am leaving him for 3 days.  Three days…it’s just a brief moment in time.  But leaving my son is heartbreaking.  He has always traveled with me. I don’t remember being away from him for this long. So while there are parties to attend, PR personal to engage with, and new and old friends to meet…I may seem just a bit distracted.  After all, I’m first and foremost a mom.

Just a few housekeeping items…  Giveaway winners will be chosen next week.  Be sure to watch your inbox!  Review and giveaway postings will be light this weekend and very much BlogHer oriented.  For all the latest happenings, be sure to follow me on Twitter.  And I apologize in advance if I’m a little slow responding to emails.

I’m very much looking forward to meeting many of you who will be attending!  Please catch up with me if you’d like.

In less than one week I’ll be at THE largest women’s blogging conference ever…BlogHer!  This year is expected to be even bigger and better than last year.  There are parties to attend (oh the parties), bloggers to meet and reconnect with, and company representatives to engage with.  Last year, I had no trouble figuring out what to wear.  I try to stay up to date with current fashion trends.  However, this year, I’m pregnant with my second child.  Four months by the end of BlogHer to be exact and I’m already sporting the bump.  So, what to wear has become more of a concern this year.

Thanks to several amazing companies, I will be wearing some of the latest in maternity fashion, jewelry, and shoes.  Here is a little preview of what I’m wearing.  But please come back for my detailed reviews after BlogHer.

Japanese Weekend

Bengaline Maternity Crop Pant with Maternity Nursing Top

Maternity Dress with Tuck Sash

Maggie Maternity

Summer Sleeveless Maxi Dress

Pearl Necklace with Sculpted Sterling Silver Roses Clasp

Kuru Footwear

Draft Soft Shell

In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago for BlogHer.  This is my second year attending the conference and I am so excited about the opportunity to network and socialize!  I want to start by thanking CARES once again for their generous conference fee sponsorship.  If you are a company, looking for representation at THE largest women’s blogging conference, please connect with me.  I’d love to talk about the range of possibilities for promoting your brand.

I happened across blogs when I was pregnant and on bed rest with my son.  I was looking for support and information that would help me survive 5 months of bed rest.  I diligently stayed in bed, connecting with other women all over the country.  My son was born, healthy and full-term and again, I found myself in need of friendship, support, and advice.  Those first few months are difficult.  But the community of women I began to interact with encouraged, inspired, and educated me.

I’ve been blogging for almost two years now, and while I feel like I’ve evolved and matured as a writer, I still have much to learn.  I also feel I have much to give.  Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of companies.  The relationships I’ve formed have truly been mutually beneficial.  As a consumer, I value the opinions of other moms who’ve “been there and done that.”  As a writer, I value transparency and authenticity.  My blog focuses on motherhood and families, with a passion for green living.

If you are a company interested in sponsoring me this year, here is what I offer:

1.  Sidebar advertising

2.  Written posts/reviews about your company and product (and coverage on Twitter)

3.  Wearing your product.  In fact, I’m entering my second trimester of pregnancy so I’d HAPPILY wear your maternity clothing!

4.  Handing out business cards/promotional material

5.  Sample distribution in bags

If you have other ideas about how we can work together to best promote your brand, please feel free to contact me via email.

As a member of Momfluence, I wanted to share some information about their upcoming campaigns!

First:  If you’re going to BlogHer, you don’t want to miss this.  Momfluence has teamed up with HP to offer one lucky BlogHer attendee a $50o scholarship to cover the fees!  Head on over to their site for your chance at winning.

Second:  Resourceful Mommy is hosting a sitewarming party (she’s so savvy!) for Dr. Weigh on Friday at 9pm EST (#kidsweigh).  On the site, Joanna Dolgoff, M. D. created a simple traffic light-based system which allows children to lose weight safely and easily.  With childhood obesity on the rise in this country, it’s definitely going to be an informative party.  Oh, and it wouldn’t be a site warming party without prizes!  The grand prize is a Wii Fit (we love ours and definitely find it to be a fun way to keep active!).  Head on over to Resourceful Mommy for details on participating.  And be sure to check out the client testimonials and Dr. Weigh success stories.  Then just fill out the secure contest form with your fav:  http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest.

Last:  If you’re going to BlogHer, Momfluence and Type-A Mom will team up with HP to throw a live Sitewarming in the Columbus Room at the Sheraton!  There will be incredible HP swag bags for the first 100 guests as well as prizes throughout the night, all from HP.  RSVP on their Facebook page!

BlogHer ‘09 is days away and I’m both excited and slightly overwhelmed with all the things to think about: bloggers and companies I finally get to meet in person, breakout sessions that I can’t wait to attend, the LA to Chicago flight with something like 30 bloggers on it, so many parties I can’t even count and much needed naps due to pregnancy! And so much more! If last year was any indication of what’s to come, this BlogHer will be awesome! And of course I’ll be blogging and tweeting all about it as it happens.
This might not be possible if it weren’t for my incredible sponsors who are helping me get there. Thank you so much!

What kind of convention would it be with out parties and gatherings of all sorts? Here are just a few I’m hoping to attend (and a few I have to stay on the DL about (don’t worry…you’ll find out soon enough):

I will be attending BlogHer in July and it will be my second year in a row!  I have a fabulous sponsor (more about that very soon) and I’m driving across the country with two other bloggers that I’ve gotten to know both online and in person.  All I need is a place (or two) to stay!  Z Recommends is giving away a three night stay at the Chicago Sheraton!  Hurry!  Here is exactly what they’re giving away:

A three-night, executive-perk stay at the Chicago Sheraton for the nights of July 23-25. Those nights include the night before the BlogHer conference begins, plus the two nights of the conference, and the room they’ve reserved for our winner is on the hotel’s Executive Club Level, with no strings attached – no rack rate, no taxes, no access fees, just a free three-night stay at one of Chicago’s top hotels.

Here is how you should enter:

1. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog, linking to this post. Then send your post link to  zrecseditors (at) gmail (dot) com, with “BlogHer hotel stay” in the subject line.
2. For a second entry, tweet the following from your Twitter account: “Win three nights at the Sheraton Chicago during #BlogHer in a random drawing by ZRecs and #PRIZEY http://tinyurl.com/blogherhotel”. The tweet must be formatted as instructed, and will be tracked automatically by your use of the #PRIZEY hashtag. You must complete the first entry method to be eligible to enter using Twitter.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Cathie F.  Congratulations and good luck on being chosen for a BlogHer scholarship!  Let me know if you are chosen.

I’ve been hinting about a Kodak giveaway for two weeks now and I bet you’d probably like for me to just get on with it!  Well…it’s finally here!

A few weeks ago you read about my participation in an online blogger briefing with personal finance journalist and author Laura Rowley.  The event was hosted by Kodak and included twenty-five AMAZING bloggers live via video stream and conference call, and online via Twitter.  Laura shared practical, savvy tips on how we can all save money in every room of our house.  Here are some of my favorites:

1.  Eat In! Consumers (like myself) can save up to $2700 a year just by taking time to plan meals.

2.  Use Coupons! I shop at natural food markets so I signed up to receive coupon booklets from Mambo Sprouts, which helps me save on natural and organic products.  You can also opt for Whole’s Food’s generic 365 line of foods and products which are conventionally more cost-effective than their name brand counterparts.

3.  Program your Thermostat! Try turning down your thermostat a degree each day to where you’re most comfortable.  If you program your thermostat for a lower temperature when you’re asleep or away, you could save five to ten percent on your heating bill.

4.  Unplug! Vampire electronics are draining both the environment’s precious resources and your wallet.  Invest in a power strip and unplug (not just turn off) any appliance you’re not using.

5.  Ditch the Dry Cleaners! “Dry Clean Only” labels are designed to protect the manufacturer. Try using Dryel or Dry Cleaner’s Secret.

6.  Invest in low flow water fixtures!

7.  Go generic! From beauty products to prescriptions, there is always a generic, cost-effective alternative that most likely works as well as it’s counterpart.

8.  Evaluate and Negotiate! Seek out Services to help you analyze your cell phone bill for ways you can save money.  Contact your insurance broker to negotiate lower rates.

9. Take a vacation…or a staycation! Spend some time re-evaluating your cable usage by putting your cable service on vacation mode.  This will give you an opportunity to evaluate which channels you really need.  And while you’re at it, why not stay close to home and rediscover historical landmarks, parks, and attractions as a tourist in your home town?

10.  Blog It! Use your blogging services to…WHAT?  Make money?  What a novel concept!  Any takers?

31 year old mother and nurse seeks to promote your company through her witty, honest, sometimes tongue-in-cheek writing and savvy public relations skills.

The goal of Kodak’s Print and Prosper campaign is to shed some financial light on the subject of ink costs.  Last year Americans overspent by $5 billion on inkjet printer ink.  Kodak’s new line of printers are designed to help you save up to $110 on the cost of ink alone.  I recently reviewed the Kodak ESP 7 All-In-One Printer, designed to print smart and effectively.

Win It! One of you will win a Kodak ESP 7 All-In-One Printer right here on my blog.  Oh…but it gets better.  There will be 25 winners total over the next 5 weeks (1 winner from each of the 25 bloggers participating in the campaign) and out of those 25 winners, 5 will a FULL BlogHer scholarship (and it’s sold out!) including travel costs. Go Kodak!  The contest here on my blog will end on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 10 PM PST and the winner MUST respond ASAP so that the information can be sent over on Monday.  Here are the blogs participating this week (I’ll give you a new list each week):

Simple

Mom In the City

Blissfully Domestic

This is a very special giveaway, so the rules will be differ slightly from those on my other giveaways.

First entry:  Leave me a comment with your best money saving tip, how to avoid being taken advantage of financially, or how you stimulate your home economy.  Please keep in mind that winners will be chosen by celebrity guest judge Laura Rowley and will be based on how well they represent the “Print and Prosper” theme.

Subsequent entries:

Post the “Win a Printer!” badge on your blog and leave a comment with a DIFFERENT tip

Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with yet ANOTHER tip

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the giveaway and leave a comment with ANOTHER tip (getting the drift yet?)

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader and leave a comment with ANOTHER tip

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments along with ANOTHER TIP

IF you signed Mr. Linky and joined in on the Twitter conversation the day of the briefing, you may leave ANOTHER TIP (be sure you leave a link to your Twitter account)

<a href=”http://rockinmama.net/?p=3864″ mce_href=”http://rockinmama.net/?p=3864″ target=”_blank”><img alt=”Kodak Giveaway” src=”http://rockinmama.net/images/Buttons/kodakbutton.jpg” mce_src=”http://rockinmama.net/images/Buttons/kodakbutton.jpg” border=”0″ /></a>

I have had some wonderful opportunities to work with some amazing companies over the last couple of years that I’ve been blogging.  I work really hard to bring you products that are unique, functional, affordable, and fabulous.  If you read my blog regularly, then you know I’m passionate about fitness and going green.  You also know that I LOVE photography and have recently dabbled in some video reviews.   I feel very honored to be participating in an amazing online blogger briefing this Wednesday with 30 other amazing bloggers.  The briefing will be with personal finance expert Laura Rowley.  Laura is a mother to three children, writes a weekly column at Yahoo! Finance, and authored the book Money & Happiness.  Laura is going to talk about how to save money in every room of your house and will answer questions about personal finance and I plan on sharing with you all of her tips, particularly at a time when our economy is in such a fragile state.  Women play a key role in managing family finances and their role is never as important as it is now, during our difficult economic times.  I, for one, work part-time and still raise my son full-time.  Many of you work (part or full-time), run your own business, and do as much as you can to make the most of every dollar.

In conjunction with this briefing, I will be giving away a brand new Ink jet printer, courtesy of Kodak to help one of you to begin to stimulate your home economy.  There will be a number of bloggers hosting giveaways for a Kodak printer and when I get the list, I will be sure to link to all of the giveaways for easy reference.

And that’s not all…of those who win a printer, 5 will receive a full BlogHer conference scholarship, including registration and conference costs!  This is an event you definitely don’t want to miss.

While I don’t have all of the details yet, I will keep you as updated as I can.  You will be able to follow the briefing on Twitter and when I get the hashtag for the event, I will post it here.

Here’s what you can do right now.  Sign Mr. Linky if you want to participate (this is not required but encouraged…hint hint!).  Follow me on Twitter for the latest information.  Leave a comment if you have any questions!

Whew!  My Spring Cleaning Series is almost over but I have a few last minute tips and product picks to help you out.  Speaking of Spring Cleaning, winners have been posted (check specific posts) and emailed.  Please make sure to respond within 48 hours to accept your prize.  I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all of the great items sponsors so generously donated. A HUGE thank you to our sponsors (they’re listed on my sidebar), Tanya, and Amanda for making this such a successful event.  I had so much fun and my husband is LOVING how clean our house is!

Next up…Mother’s Day is around the corner (May 10 to be exact which just so happens to be my husband’s birthday) and it’s time to start getting prepared.  I know I am already thinking of what I want to get my own mother, my mother-in-law, and my 2 BFF’s Kristin and mother-to-be Amy.  If you’re struggling with gift ideas or need some creative suggestions, be sure to stop by for my Mother’s Day Gift Guide (brought to you in conjunction THE fabulous Amanda and Kristin).  If you thought the Spring Cleaning Series was huge…just wait!  We’ve got an amazing line-up of reviews and giveaways you don’t want to miss! Grab a button (hint, hint) and stop by April 13.

And…I hinted to you last week about an opportunity to win not only a Kodak printer, but a full scholarship to the very popular, now sold-out, BlogHer in Chicago.  Stop by Monday April 13th for all of the details!

Here’s what’s coming up on Rockin’ Mama.

You may have noticed Bob Stroller Contest button on my sidebar.  Very soon I’ll be reviewing the official stroller of choice for Stroller Strides.  I am so excited to share with you the ins and outs of the oh-so-famous, highly coveted BOB Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller!

I’ve shared with you some upcoming opportunities to see both Disney On Ice and Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at greatly discounted prices,  thanks to Mom Central.  I’ve just recently learned that I was chosen to be a Feld Family Activator in my home community of Orange County, California.  So what does that mean?  I’m not entirely sure of the details but what I do know is that I will be one of several influential mom bloggers in the area promoting the shows.  How exciting is that?

Not only will I be going to BlogHer in July…I’ll be DRIVING there with Sondra from Happy Healthy Hip Parenting and Amanda from Mommy Mandy!  We’re driving across the country in a Chevy thanks to GM and BlogHer.  More details to come but if you’re a company interested in receiving some promotion during our drive, please feel free to contact me!

On May 7, I will participating in the National Mom’s Nite Out!  Stay tuned for more details on my involvement and how you can get involved too!

And…I have a fabulous BlogHer sponsor!  It’s none other than CARES!  I reviewed the Child Aviation Restraint System on my blog earlier this year and was featured on their site as their blogger of the month.  I am so excited to tell you more about this fantastic company who is helping to make flying both convenient and safe!

I’m still looking for 2 more sponsors for BlogHer this year.  If you are a company interested in getting some exposure, please email me!

And with that I’ll leave you with a question.  I love doing themed series so I want to ask you, the readers, what you’d like to see next.  Just leave a comment!  There are thousands of blogs out there and I greatly appreciate that you’ve chosen to spend a little bit of your day with me!  Ciao!