Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday

Don’t forget!: The last day to enter the #KmartBLS sweepstakes is December 23^rd - So keep the tweets coming and use the #KmartBLS hashtag before the contest is over!  All those following @KmartDealsnNews on December 23^rd will be entered to win the Grand Prize of a $500 Kmart shopping spree!  The winner will be drawn on the 30^th. For full details, make sure to check out http://tr.im/kmartbls Good luck!

Last minute Holiday shopping?  No worries, Kmart has extended their shopping hours to 6am-12am through December 23^rd and 6am-10pm December 24^th.  Use the following link to tweet about the new shopping hours and enter yourself for the daily drawing! Shop @KmartDealsnNews extended Holiday hours: 6am-12am until 12/23 and 6am-10pm on 12/24! #KmartBLS.

Here are the Bluelight Special teasers for this weekend 12/26 - 12/27:

·         Gen gemstone earrings (reg.$ 39.99) sale $9.99  


·         Mushabellies (reg.  $24.99) sale $7.99  


·         Digital Photo Keychain (reg. $19.99) sale $8.99 ( 65% off )  

Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings Program WINNER

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

3
2
1

Timestamp: 2009-12-22 19:41:50 UTC

Congratulations to  shelley of http://iamstillstandingafterallthistime.blogspot.com
http://theplaygroundprincess.blogspot.com
http://theuntraditionaltopiaryblog.blogspot.com/
http://thedcladies.blogspot.com/
for winning the $25 American Express Gift Card.  Please send your mailing address to connectingwomenradio(at)gmail(dot)com.

Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings Program

 Are you hosting the holiday get together in your home, or do you want to wow your host with your ability to prepare a fabulous yet simple to prepare dish?  Hellmann's and Food Network Chef Bobby Flay have teamed up together, coming up with the Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings Program to help you come up with some fabulous dishes with simple ingredients and preparations.

You can

* watch videos of Chef  Bobby Flay showing you some ideas of food dishes.
* save money with coupons.
* fan Hellmann's on Facebook
* enter contests and other promotions.

Also as a bonus, one lucky reader of Connecting Women, will win a $25 American Express Gift Card.  To enter the contest, leave a comment on which recipe you would try and why.  Contest ends Dec. 21, 2009 10 a.m. CST, so that the winner can receive the prize before Christmas.


*I was compensated by MomSelect Media, and the winner will be sent a gift card from MomSelect.

Remember: Be Nice to the Media!

Don't think the media has to print, publish or use the material you provide or send to them.  Also, do not have an attitude with the media, as if you are doing them a favor.  Chances are the media gets hundreds, if not thousands if press releases a day.  If they sense an attitude from your press release, chances are it will get dropped.

Posted via email from Tips, Thoughts and Ideas related to Media

Winner of Lenox Giveaway: Congrats to Over Thirty Mommy!

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

3

1
5
2
4

Timestamp: 2009-12-14 11 pm CST

Congrats to Over Thirty Mommy comment!  Please send your email address to connectingwomenradio(at)gmail(dot)com so I can send it to Lenox!  Once again thanks to all who commented.  Look forward to more giveaways.

Happy Holidays to all!
To win this giveaway, read below and follow the directions.


Lenox® 120th Anniversary Small Swan, 5 1/4”L, $29.95
Available at Lenox.com
- Special 120th anniversary backstamp

First introduced in 1984, this swan sculpture is crafted in the classic Lenox style of ivory china and gold. Exquisite artistry and craftsmanship reveal the swan's graceful, S-shaped neck. Generous accents of gold highlight the swan's pointed beak. The sculpture is hollowed out and can hold potpourri, nuts, candies and more.

To have have a chance of winning this Lenox® 120th Anniversary Small Swan, leave a comment below on a family tradition that you do during the holidays. One winner will be selected randomly using Random.org. Winner will be declared: Dec. 14th, 2009, 11 p.m. CST.

LATCH Cross Country

With the holiday season moving into full swing, families across the country are in the car and on the go.  Whether you?re driving across the country to visit family or across town to holiday shop, it is important that your child passengers are riding safely and that child safety seats are used correctly.

AAA estimated that 30 million people travelled this Thanksgiving holiday alone (AAA Chicago Newsroom), and for many this is just the beginning of the holiday hustle and bustle.  Now is the time to utilize the Child Car Safety tools (Child Passenger Safety) provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation?s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council to learn more about proper car seat use and installation.  You will find informative resources that include instructional videos.

Have child passenger safety questions that you need answered before you travel over the river and through the woods to Grandma?s?  NHTSA is always available to answer your questions online through Facebook and Twitter.

This is a Global Influence campaign.

Don't Be Buzzed While You Are Driving

It's holiday party season - time to celebrate all of the exciting winter holidays with our friends and loved ones.  Our mailboxes are  flooded with invitations to parties and dinners and other holiday
get-togethers.  With these parties come food, fellowship, gifts, and
in many cases, festive alcoholic drinks.

In 2008, nearly 12,000 people in the U.S. were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes - and during the periods around Christmas and New Year's, this number was particularly high, with 316
people killed in alchol-impaired driving crashes.  In 2007, 162,493 women were arrested for a DUI, an increase of almost 29% since 1998.  You can't help but wonder if lives could have been saved if people
thought twice before getting behind the wheel.  With the holidays approaching, it's important that drivers be reminded about the dangers of buzzed driving.  Who knows...it could save a life.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) and the Ad Council are asking everyone to drive smart this holiday season and to pledge not to drive buzzed.  Help spread this message during the
holiday season by posting about the dangers of buzzed driving, sharing a story or experience you might have had with buzzed driving and encouraging readers to follow Buzzed Driving on Twitter
(@buzzeddriving) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/buzzeddrivingisdrunkdriving) to get the
latest updates and news.  You can also visit the Buzzed Driving website (http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/) where readers can sign a pledge to not drive buzzed, play an interactive game which demonstrates the difference between buzzed and drunk, and hear personal stories from people who have driven buzzed.

While at holiday events, it's easy to lose track of a drink here or there - but this can be fatal.  This holiday season, keep you and your family safe by spreading this message.

Have a safe and happy holiday and remember that buzzed driving IS
drunk driving.


Disclosure: Part of the Global Influence Campaign

Offer a Discount or Giveaway

When you deal with a media, offer a discount or giveaway to the audience.  Not only will they be excited, chances are they will remember you longer.

Posted via email from Tips, Thoughts and Ideas related to Media

Big Apple Circus Discount Code Dates Extended!

To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:

Online: http://bigapplecircus.org/pop.aspx and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box

By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10

In Person:  Big Top Box Office  10AM–6PM daily. No service fee. Bring a copy of this blog post

*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.


Disclosure: This is part of the  American Pop Social Media Marketing campaign.

Kmart Bluelight Holiday Specials

During the weekend of December 12^th and 13th, the following are Kmart Bluelight Holiday Specials: 

· Essential Home Snug Sack 50% off (reg. $19.99)

· Jaclyn Smith Today Cashmere Blend Throw $12.99 (reg. $29.99)

· Kodak 7” digital frame $49.99 (reg. $79.99)

All day offers:

Saturday:

· Mens Boxed Gifts $5 (reg. 16.99-19.99)

· Die Hard Battery Bank BOGO Free (reg. $9.99)

Sunday:

· Fisher Price Fashion Separates $4.99 (Infant/Toddler) reg. $10.99-$18.99

· Hershey Snack size jumbo bags $3.50 (reg. $5.99)



Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! For more info and rules, go to : http://tr.im/KmartBLS.

Disclosure: This is part of the  American Pop Social Media Marketing campaign.

Spice Up Thanksgiving Leftovers with this Recipe for Turkey Enchiladas

According to the National Turkey Federation, over 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the United States during Thanksgiving last year… leaving millions of Americans wondering what to do with all those leftovers after friends and family head out the door.

For a tempting alternative to the traditional turkey sandwich, Dedric McGhee, executive chef of Thyme on the Creek, the in-house restaurant at the Millennium Harvest House Hotel in Boulder, CO is offering up his leftover-ready recipe for Green Chile Turkey Enchiladas.

Photo credit: Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Millennium Harvest House Boulder

Green Chile Turkey Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion, peeled and diced
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2-4 ounce cans of chopped green chilies
  
• ¼ tsp cumin
• 1/3 tsp oregano
• 1/3 tsp coriander powder
• 1 ½ cups shredded turkey
• 2 cups cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses
• 1 pack corn tortillas
• 1 pint sour cream
• 2 green onions, chopped
• Salsa

Directions:

1. Add the butter to a warm sauté pan. 
2. Add onions and sauté until translucent. 
3. Add garlic and cook until it becomes aromatic. 
4. Add flour and cook for 1 minute. 
5. Pour both cans of green chiles into pan.
6. Add cumin, oregano, coriander, chicken broth and a little salt and pepper. 
7. Simmer for 5 minutes at low heat.
8. Place turkey in a mixing bowl. Add 1/3 cup of the green chile mix, 1/3 cup of sour cream, 1/3 of the cheese mixture and salt and pepper. Mix well.
9. Grease a 13x9 baking dish. 
10. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling in each tortilla and roll up. Place the rolled tortillas in the baking dish seam-side down. Continue to add rolled tortillas until the top layer is filled.
11. Pour the rest of the green chili on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese. 
12. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Serve with sour cream, green onions and salsa.

Lenox Giveaway: Small Swan

To win this giveaway, read below and follow the directions.

 

Lenox® 120^th Anniversary Small Swan, 5 1/4”L, $29.95
Available at Lenox.com
- Special 120^th anniversary backstamp

First introduced in 1984, this swan sculpture is crafted in the classic Lenox style of ivory china and gold.  Exquisite artistry and craftsmanship reveal the swan's graceful, S-shaped neck.  Generous accents of gold highlight the swan's pointed beak.  The sculpture is hollowed out and can hold potpourri, nuts, candies and more.

To have have a chance of winning this Lenox® 120th Anniversary Small Swan,  leave a comment below on a family tradition that you do during the holidays.  One winner will be selected randomly using Random.org.  Winner will be declared: Dec. 14th, 2009, 11 p.m. CST. 

Attention Kmart Shoppers !

Image via Wikipedia

Attention Kmart Shoppers - we’re proud to announce the Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes!

Started November 12th, you can enter for a chance to win a $50 Kmart gift card everyday from 11/12/2009 – 12/23/2009! In addition to daily winners, everyone following @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter (as of 12/23/2009) will be entered for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping spree!

HOW TO ENTER
For a chance to win Daily, First, and Grand prizes, follow these easy steps:
1) Follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter from your personal Twitter account
2) Issue a Tweet everyday using the hashtag: #KmartBLS


A winner will be chosen everyday only from tweets within a 24hr period – so each day is a new opportunity to win a Daily Prize! The more often you tweet #KmartBLS, the better your chances are to win!

PRIZES
Daily winners will be chosen by random drawing and awarded a $50 gift card, everyday from 11/12 – 12/23. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

Grand and First prize winners will be chosen at random from eligible followers of the @KmartDealsnNews Twitter account at the end of the sweepstakes. One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Kmart gift card, and five (5) First Prize winners will receive a $100 Kmart gift card. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

RULES
There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN, must be legal resident of the 50 U.S. and DC, 18 or older. Sweepstakes ends 12/23/2009. Visit http://tr.im/KmartBLSRules for official Rules.

Click on the following links to help spread the word about the Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes to your friends and followers on Twitter!

Tweet #KmartBLS for a Chance to Win a $50 Kmart Gift Card Everyday from 11/12 - 12/23! For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls @KmartDealsnNews

Follow @KmartDealsnNews for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping Spree! #KmartBLS For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls

As promised, here are this weekend’s Bluelight Special teasers:  11/21-11/22 Bluelight Specials!

• Home/All Frames 50% off (reg range $1-$29.99)

• Boys and Girls Basic Edition turtlenecks $2.99 (reg.$7.99)

• Home/All Cookware 40% off (reg. $6.99-169.99)

Meet Leslie Blodgett and Get an Autographed Bottle of Bare Skin 11/18 and 11/19!

If you’re going to be in or around NYC or Tampa this week, RSVP today for your chance to meet Leslie Blodgett—and get a bottle of Bare Skin autographed!

Leslie will be making two in-store appearances to celebrate the launch of her exclusive new fragrance collection, Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries!  Come talk beauty with the woman behind the Bare Skin scent, sample the fragrance, and if you’re one of the first 100 to buy a bottle on the day of the event, Leslie will sign it!*

Sephora Times Square

At 42^nd Street and 7^th Avenue

Wednesday, November 18

5:30-7:30 PM

RSVP here!

Sephora International Plaza

2223 N. West Shore Blvd.

(Cross-Streets: West Shore & Boy Scout Blvd.)

Thursday, November 19

6-8 PM

RSVP here!

*Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries purchase required for bottle or packaging to be autographed. Autograph possible but not guaranteed after first 100 bottles have been purchased on day of event.

CyberMonday and AVG Offers Tips on Shopping Safely Online

#ShopSafely with CyberMonday.org and AVG:

-         information provided by Scott Silverman of the National Retail Federation and Shop.org & Beth Jordan of AVG

Safety:

-         Be sure to shop on reputable, trust-worthy sites such as CyberMonday.com and its retail partners

-         Just as you’re more careful when shopping in busy malls during the holiday, be more careful online as well

-         AVG offers free downloads of virus scan and link scan here: www.shop.org/shopsafely  and http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition (the free download link may be shared with readers)

Tips:

1.      Look for the “S” for Security: Make sure the sites you are shopping from are secure and have “HTTPS” in the URL.  The “S” ensures security.  Also, look for the padlock symbol and research shopping sites at locations such as shopzilla.com and pricegrabber.com.

2.      Stay Current on Security Software: Make sure you have the latest virus protection software updates from your provider before you start your holiday shopping.

3.      Think Before You Link: Employ a URL scanning tool to ensure you’re not clicking on links that lead to infected websites.  Free tool here: http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

4.      Keep Your Private Information Private: Make sure you keep your personal information private.  Create a separate e-mail account just for shopping and use a unique password.  Keep records of your online shopping by printing confirmation pages and e-mail confirmations.

5.      Mix Up Your Passwords: Each e-mail, bank, credit card account should have a unique password.  Write them down and store them in a secure location.

These tips can all be found at www.shop.org/shopsafely

Deals:

-         42% of Americans will buy at least one gift online this holiday season.  Online sales are expected to increase about eight percent this holiday season while overall retail sales are expected to fall one percent. 

Why people spend online:

-         the ability to shop at all hours of the day

-         easier to compare prices

-         free shipping

-         convenience

-         avoiding crowds

-         easier to find items

CyberMonday.com aggregates the best deals from their 600 retail partners, all on one site.

-         deals of the hour on Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be found at CyberMonday.com

-         you can find sites offering free shipping by choosing “free shipping offers” on the top right of the site

-         the site also contains a “Deal of the Week,” special offers, and coupons

Giveaways:

From today through Cyber Monday (11/30), $250 in gift cards from Shop.org’s retail partners will be given away daily at the Cyber Monday Twitter account and Facebook account: http://twitter.com/ShopCyberMonday and http://www.facebook.com/shopcybermonday

Stay up to date on new information regarding online shopping safety and deals this holiday season please invite them to:

-         find safe shopping tips w/ links to AVG downloads at www.shop.org/shopsafely

-         shop www.cybermonday.com for the best deals online

-         download AVG free link scanning software: http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

-         follow AVG on Twitter: http://twitter.com/officialAVGnews

-         follow CyberMonday.com on Twitter: http://twitter.com/shopcybermonday

-         become a fan of AVG on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21625367076

-         become a fan of CyberMonday.com in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shopcybermonday

There will also be a Twitter event on Tuesday, November 24^th from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET with the hashtag #CyberMonday.  More tips will be shared and gift cards will be awarded during the event.

Krystkowiak offers discount for kids books

Jan Krystkowiak of http://www.whereintheworldbooks.com is offering 10% off of personalized kids books. Use code "tails".

Krystkowiak gave an interview on reading and how personalized kids books improve comprehension on Connecting Women Radio: http://tobtr.com/s/738859.

Tips on Surviving Holiday Travel on SingleMindedWomen.com

This month on SingleMindedWomen.com, the largest online news destination for singleistas, readers will learn the top tips for successful holiday travel from Escapes Editor Melanie Nayer. Whether it’s how to best navigate crowded airports, vacation bargain hunting and surviving long road trips with the kids, readers will learn how to brave the holiday travel season successfully.  

 

For those flying over the Thanksgiving holiday, Nayer suggest being flexible with travel dates. Some of the larger airlines (US Air, United, Delta and Continental) are charging an extra $10 for holiday fares, but if travelers can leave a few days before Thanksgiving (Sun-Tuesday), you can avoid some extra charges, and a lot of extra chaos at the airport.

 

Some quick tips for holiday travel:

 

For Singles: Pack light, Ladies. The easiest way to get through security this holiday season is to bring next to nothing. Mix-and-match outfits are your best accessory. Hint: Banana Republic has some great non-wrinkle black dresses for under $100 that travel well, and can be worn during the day or for a nice night out.

 

For Parents: There's nothing wrong with a little bribe. What's more stressful than making your way through airport security with the kids in tow mid-meltdown? Keeping the kids from kicking the back of the airplane seat during the coast-to-coast flight. Have a new toy, new book, or 'surprise' in one of your carry-ons to keep kids occupied and excited for the flight. 

 

Involve the kids on holiday travel planning: If you're prepping for a road trip to Grandma's house this holiday season, let the kids help plan the trip. Assigning 'projects' keeps them involved and excited for the long car ride. In addition, let them each choose one car game that they want, and can only be opened once you're on your way. It will get the kids pumped for the ride, and keep them busy.

 

Also featured in November on SingleMindedWomen.com, just in time for Black Friday, readers can get tips on setting a budget for holiday shopping. Think heart not head, when it comes to gift giving, says SingleMindedWomen.com’s money maven, Martin Brown. Give from a place of love, Brown says. The amount of money put toward a gift is not as powerful a factor as the simple expression of caring.

 

Careers

·         Find out how to increase cash flow with tips from a mom entrepreneur.

·         Read about Celebrity Wellness Coach A.J. Johnson in the monthly Single Entrepreneur feature

·         Careers Channel Editor Paula Santonocito dishes on navigating office politics

 

Relationships

·         Relationships Editor Josie Brown writes about the 12 reasons women are not having sex and what they can do about it

·         Women can found out how to keep a lusty libido during menopause

·         Find out if you’re “sexting” proficient 

 

Single Moms

·         The Single Moms Channel will debut the new feature “Single Through Sorrow,” an intimate look at women who’ve lost their spouses

·         Thanksgiving Recipe Contest: Cooking with Mom. Ladies can enter their favorite family recipe and enter to win a $50 gift card

SingleMindedWomen.com provides a place to support and honor a woman's lifestyle choice within a trusted community where women share their views, find inspirational ideas and discover ways to enhance “single life” with topics ranging from travel, health, careers, dating, finances and parenting. 

 

 

Founded by 20-year publishing veteran, Allison O’Connor, who had the same experiences many single women face today—cracking the “old boys” network at work, buying a house on her own, traveling solo both for fun and business, investing for her own retirement, and even having a baby as a single woman, the site seeks to inform as well as entertain, single women like her, and younger ones learning as they go.

  

Founded in 2008, SingleMindedWomen.com is the largest online news source for single women in the U.S. The site features seven channels: Careers, Escapes, Health, Money, Relationships, Single Parenting, and Style.  To learn more, please visit www.singlemindedwomen.com

Get Your Company Into the Social Space with the Kbuzz

Carrie Kerpen, Queen Bee of the Kbuzz, is offering a special discount to our readers. Kerpen appeared on Connecting Women Radio to discuss social media and word of mouth marketing:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/connectingwomen/2009/11/13/Connecting-Women. 

Take 50% off of the facelift (http://thefacelift.biz) or (http://thepagestarter.com) The Page Starter Pro, both of which help with a company's entrance into the social space. Use code WOMEN

Also, all free webinars can be found at http://facebook.com/thekbuzz.

TCBY Store Giveaway Officially Begins

TCBY, The Country's Best Yogurt, is officially collecting entries for This Could Be Yours, The Great TCBY Store Giveaway. Found on TCBY.com, the contest will reward one lucky person with his or her very own TCBY store and is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 21.

To enter, contestants must submit a video, no longer than two minutes, explaining why they should be the recipient of their very own TCBY, why their town is the perfect location, and what they have to offer the brand. Submissions will be judged on creativity, a sense of business acumen, and originality. Video submissions will be accepted between October 5, 2009 and November 30, 2009.

"We're looking for the country's best business owners, and are eagerly awaiting the video submissions; we know they are going to be great," said Steve Willes, Director of Marketing TCBY. "This contest gives us the opportunity to help someone make their professional and personal dreams come true, and we anticipate that he or she will continue the tradition, started in 1981, of serving the country's best frozen yogurt."

Following the initial entry round, TCBY will narrow all video submissions down to 25 semi-finalists. The public will then be given the opportunity to help narrow the list down to 10 finalists, who will go through an informal interview process before the winner is chosen.

"Especially now, it's important for us to champion the entrepreneurial spirit of this country, and invite anyone who's ever wanted to own a TCBY to submit their video" said Michael Ward, President of TCBY. "With the support of an iconic brand and nearly 30 years of history behind the winner, we're certain this will be a great success for all involved."

For more information on This Could Be Yours, The Great TCBY Store Giveaway, and a full list of rules and regulations, please visit www.tcby.com.

About TCBY
Based in Salt Lake City, TCBY, The Country's Best Yogurt has been a frozen yogurt innovator from the day its first shop opened in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. Ever since, the great-tasting, low-fat frozen yogurt concept has received an enthusiastic response from an increasingly health-conscious public. With more than 800 locations both in the United States and internationally, TCBY - Best Tasting, Best For You(tm) has long been a healthier alternative for consumers looking for a treat or snack. To learn more check out www.TCBY.com.

AdoptUsKids: November is National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month. AdoptUsKids (http://www.adoptuskids.org) shows the importance and benefits of adoption from foster care. 

The mission of AdoptUsKids is to recruit and connect foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States.  Funded by the Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families, the national photolisting website contains photos and information about children in foster care. A national adoption public service advertising recruitment campaign was launched in July 2004 in a partnership of the Children’s Bureau, the Ad Council, and AdoptUsKids, with the goal of raising awareness of the significant number of children in this country waiting to be adopted. New PSAs have been developed as an extension of this highly successful campaign. The latest series of ads in this award-winning campaign target the African American community, in keeping with the effort to diligently recruit from communities representative of the children in care.  Thirty-one percent of the children in foster care waiting to be adopted are African American; African American children are overrepresented in the foster care population relative to their percentage in the U.S. general population. Because of this, African American children often wait longer to be adopted.

Visit http://www.adoptuskids.org/adoption-and-foster-care-advocacy/ to learn more about adoption from foster care and how to help spread the word about children in care waiting for a forever family.You can search for children in you area by visiting: http://www.adoptuskids.org/Child/ChildSearch.aspx.

We encourage readers to follow @perfectparent (http://twitter.com/perfectparent or http://twitter.com/adoptuskids) and become a fan of AdoptUsKids on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdoptUsKids.

Finally, there will be a Twitter event at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10th to discuss the benefits of adoption, and provide information on adoption from foster care. Use the hashtag #adoptuskids to participate.

This campaign is brought to you by Global Influence, the former Momfluence network.

Jon and Kate: Thoughts....

First I must say I started watching Jon and Kate Plus Eight about a year and a half ago. I was on maternity leave, and the my schedule for about a month was in shambles. I was never a real TV watcher, but when you can't sleep, channel surfing becomes your brainless activity of choice.

I was intrigued by this show that depicted this couple and their twin girls and sextuplets. Not sure exactly why I was first intrigued, perhaps it could have been the two day marathon on TLC that drew me in and in two days I was pretty much caught up on their fun activities.

Of course I could have been drawn in by the fact that Kate seemed to always be in control of her eight children. Here I was at home with one new born, and I didn't feel in control. After all, I was always in control of my work environment. Control was my forte. Now that I was out of my element and out of control, my new inspiration came from a lady, Kate, that seemed to manage eight children with what, I observed, minimal help.

And then a bit over a year of watching, it all started to crumble for Jon and Kate. Though people would comment about how "mean and controlling" Kate was, and how "lazy and aloof" Jon was, I thought somehow they balanced each other. They were two data points on the opposites of the spectrum. So all that bickering on TV just reinforced to me, that somehow this bizarre relationship worked for them. Not really sure how, but it worked. I was obviously wrong.

Would I be wrong to also say, that this break up, though it will have a negative impact to the children, is a lot more entertaining than the actual show? I know, I feel horrible for saying that, but it's true. I'm not the only one that thinks that, millions of viewers agree. The rating for the show has increased after the announcement of the divorce.

So I pose the questions that I am often asked: "Who do you think is right? Jon, for wanting the children off the TV show? Or Kate, for wanting to be able to support the children financially?"

Doolittle Offers Discount to You!

Doolittle offers a complete line of stationery and accessories for men,
women and kids, and is the perfect place for easy, online holiday
shopping for almost anyone on the gift list. 

Readers get 15% off anything in the Doolittle Junior (check out the Play Date Cards!) line or the Seasonal collection, which features the... brand new Correspondence Seals.

You can see them here:

http://www.felixdoolittle.com/web/front_junior.aspx

And here:

http://www.felixdoolittle.com/web/front_seasonal.aspx

Readers just need to use the code DoolittleJr when checking out. This code will be active through November 30.

What You Need to Know About Children's Health Care

From the Children’s Defense (www.childrensdefense.org) website:

Join Us In Standing Together for Children:  Congress is debating health reform legislation that could leave millions of children worse rather than better off and fails to fix bureaucratic, unfair barriers to care. This must be changed now!

What We Are Demanding:  Congress and the President must support changes that provide comprehensive, affordable, accessible care for all children no matter where they live. Changes must build on what works in the system and fix what doesn’t work for children now.

Actions You Can Take:  Join children, parents, grandparents and champions for children in a "stroll" to the Nation's Capitol on November 4 or join stroller brigades in cities across the country November 5 through 8 to ensure that our children are not left behind in health care reform. Can't join a stroller brigade in-person? You can also participate in our Virtual Stroller Brigade!

Important Dates and Links:

-          November 4^th: The Stroller Brigade campaign kicks off in the DC and readers in the DC area can sign up here - http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/join-stroller-brigade/washington-dc.html

 

-          November 5^th through 8^th: The Stroller Brigade will travel around the country.  You can find a location near them here - http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/join-stroller-brigade.html

 

-          You can create a Stroller Brigade in their own neighborhood here: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/create-your-own-stroller-brigade.html

 

-          You  who do not want to join a Stroller Brigade can help by contacting their member of Congress, spreading the word about the campaign, and sharing their own story: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/take-action.html

-          Fact sheets and more: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/toolkit.html

-          The Stroller Brigade in the news: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/news.html

The Twitter Blogger Press Conference is Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. EST with the hashtag #strollerbrigade if you would like to join, and I’d love to see you all there!  We will be chatting with a director from the Children’s Defense fund.

Marketing 101 With Fiona Pietruski

As Chief Marketing Officer at SheSpeaks, an online community of smart and insightful  women who come together to share opinions and see the power of their collective voices in action, it’s Fiona Pietruski job to know women. So why not take a few tips from her?  Below you will find a few of Pietruski’s marketing “basics” – just a glimpse of the knowledge she’ll share as a speaker at AdweekMedia’s inaugural Marketing to Women conference this Wednesday, November 4.  Women’s purchasing power is more influential than ever before; don’t miss this opportunity to learn what makes a woman reach into her wallet and spend. Fiona appeared on Connecting Women Radio as well.

Also gain insight into the other sex at the 5^th annual Marketing to Men event tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3!  Both conferences will be held at The Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

What marketers/brands do you admire and “look up to” for their strategies?

Oprah, Etsy, Bloomingdales

What are key marketing tips that you’ve learned that you feel are important to share?

I think it’s crucial to take the “talk with, not at” rule a bit further in today’s marketing communications.  Most marketers have seen the value in truly listening to their consumers and have figured out ways in which to do that to cull information and insights.  The next step is to respond and engage with those consumers – to really enter into a dialogue, to go deeper into the how’s and why’s, and to show that as a brand, you not only want to know what your consumers think, but that you are doing something with that knowledge.  I’ve found the rewards from true engagement to be invaluable, not just for marketing results, but for brand innovation as well.  

What have you learned not to do in your experience as a marketer?

A – Don’t assume.  If you don’t know for sure, ask.  Ask consumers how they’d like your next product packaged, if they like the color, if it works for a purpose they didn’t expect it to.  Too many marketers are still assuming that women want things a certain way, based solely on long-established stereotypes that feel so ingrained, we don’t even identify them as stereotypes anymore.  

B – Don’t go dark.  Don’t start a conversation with your consumers and then abandon it.  Don’t shut down in the face of a new communication method and not even try it.  Don’t stop communicating just because the environment, your category, or your business is suffering.  Keeping the dialogue open will help you address problems and earn consumer trust.