Not Dead. Yet.

Anyone taking a peek in my blog these days will most likely get a chilling sense of desolation. An eerie feeling that you get when you find yourself walking into the streets of a ghost town. Deserted. Isolated. Abandoned. And probably falling apart. A forgotten planet all on its own. Forgotten by time. Forgotten by the world.

You surmise it's dead. 

I don't blame you.

I'd probably think it's dead too.

The Day I Got Bullied by an Old Fart who hates Bloggers

Who is a Bully?

Bully. -noun. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates...people - defined by dictionary.com

I recently traded posts with my good bloggy friend Aparna of Parentella covering the topic of bullying which unintentionally reincarnated a sad memory of one incident I had not too long ago. One that totally changed my entire perspective on bullying. One that was totally unexpected. One I shall never forget. I was bullied. Yes I was. Not by a kid { thank heavens! } but by a lady old enough to be a grandma. And you want to know what's so horrific about it? Well, I was bullied in front of my six year old kid... 

Top 5 Reasons to go to Social Media Conferences and Why YOU should go too!

Conference Season is here and all these conferences are swirling around my head like little birds chirping wildly for attention! Yes, I want to go to each one of them! Why?!

Well, when I started blogging, I was oblivious to what goes on around blogosphere. Call me clueless! At that time, my focus was just on one thing: mastering the art of blogging. Which to this date, sadly, I still have not! I spent most of my time building a relationship with my blog because back then, it was all I know. I was blind to the rest of what wonderful things blogosphere has to offer.

In Denial. With the little knowledge I knew then, I took in a misguided concept that my blog will survive on it's own without outside influence. Thus my sphere of influence was limited solely within my blog and the few people I've met along the way. Social Media Networking sites, Conferences and bloggy events made no sense to me at all. I thought I can do without them...

Conference Season: Proven Techniques to make you a Pro in the Game

It's Conference Season and if you're going to a major conference, it can be intimidating especially if it's your first. Here are some effective techniques to get you started:

1. Attend small ones or even local Mom meet ups just so to get the hang of connecting and yes, socializing with style and confidence. I have attended a few and it has helped a lot.

2. Seek out and connect with those attending PRE-conference. Twitter is a great venue to do this. Then join in on any sites pre-customized for the event to see whose attending. It's always helpful to see a familiar face in a crowded room.

3. Now the best tool to survive a conference, is to go with the flow. Connect. Connect. And Connect. Socialize! Who knows what opportunity it will open up for you. Best of all BE YOURSELF. Don't be afraid to have fun!

4. Last but not the least, DON'T FORGET your BUSINESS CARDS! And make sure to trade them every chance you get. You'll thank yourself for it. Trust me.

Related Item:

• Conference 101: How to survive your first major conference
• It's Official. I'm going to Blogher (Link your blog)  
• Disney Social Media Moms - What will you celebrate?

Conference 101: How to survive your first Major Conference

Going to a Conference is like being in a movie. There are great stories to tell. Stuffs that are best deleted and those juicy "behind the scenes" episodes that no one else knows about but only by those who were there...

My First.

The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration conference is my first major conference. It was attended by more than 150 women consisting of Moms and Non-moms all over the country who shares a common denominator: a love for blogging and Social Media. Luckily, it was the official launching of a first of many which makes every attendee, pioneers of a great beginning. Disney is really wise for tapping into this rich source of marketing. Kudos to them!

Now observing all these influential women through a neophyte's perspective readily gives you a sense of pride to be a part of a larger than life community that thrive in the realms of social media. A broad spectrum that is now steadily being dominated by mom bloggers. And why not? Mom bloggers are the ones molding social media to a whole new level and setting a new tone to it. One that is so effective, everyone clamors for it. Like what Scott Stratten say " You (mom blogger) have NO competition"

This is evident during the conference. Where male/dad bloggers were uniquely in attendance and where ironically, two of them won Maxine Clark's Bear giveaways during the Friday session! No one minded. It's all in the name of fun!

But fun is not all. Being around other women with different personality and temperament is another story. Here's what you might, if lucky, might NOT, encounter and how to work around it:

a) The Snob - Yes, there were some. Not a lot but some. Treats you like you're invisible. Passes by you in the hallway, conference room or sits with you in the same room, You smile, say hi. Nada. She's just so caught up with her own popularity perhaps?

Tip: They usually hang out with the same peeps exclusively. Connect at your own risk.

b) The Whiner - For the love of me. They whine and complain about everything. They don't care who's listening. They let out their steam every chance they get. Toxic to be next to. They're aggravated when they don't get their way. Beware!  

Tip: They don't smile a lot. Steer clear!

c) The Shy Gal -(nothing wrong being shy, believe it or not, I am too) They sit so quietly. Rarely socializes and keep to themselves like they're in a lonely planet.

Tip: They're glued to the first person they connect with. Take the first step in breaking the ice. Once they open up, they're highly interactive and fun to be with.

d) The Social Butterfly - You just got to love this gal. Great connector and oozing with confidence. They talk to anyone who moves and breathe!

Tip: They're the life of the party. Totally connect with them! And learn the trick of the"trade" in the process.

I enjoyed the conference no doubt about that! The highlight was meeting everyone face to face and making lasting connections. This is the best perk of going to a conference: creating friendships beyond the realm of the virtual world.

Bringing the Human touch back! - When the Internet is Gone

Photo courtesy of Imdb.com

What will I write before internet is gone forever?

Just thinking of that statement makes me feel like I'm with Michael J. Fox going back NOT to the future but to the past, where personal, human interactions are cherished and dearly precious. Days long gone. Stolen by internet and technology. Yes, I hear you! Technology is great to us but it also turned us into humanoids. Imagine being in the same room with someone. What are they doing while you're talking? They're oogling at their wi-fi capable phones, texting, facebooking, twittering and pretending to be listening to you by half-consciously nodding their heads like automated robots. Gone are the eye contacts and attentive listeners! This is why, if Justin Timberlake insists on bringing the sexy back, then I say, bring humanity back!

 

Photo courtesy of JustinTimberlake.com

So this is what I'll write:

Gone with the hackers! Privacy and security re-established!

Welcome back hand-written letters that makes me jump with joy whenever I get them in the mail and warms my heart when it is written by someone dear. Yes, I will go through withdrawal being obsessed being online for so long but in the bright side of things, I can be human again! My hubby and I will no longer text each other while in the same room, or web chat while in separate rooms. We might actually have romance back in real time!

As a parting word,  I will include a warm thank you to my fellow online internet-addicted friends along with my name, address and phone number so they can get in touch with me and maybe send me actual cards for my birthday. Then a shout out to all the companies I worked with so I can continue working with them OFFLINE.

Ah to be human again!



*This is my entry to Mabel's Labels Blogher'10 Contest. I hope you enjoyed it. If you want to vie for the challenge, you can find the details and rules at Mabel's Labels Contest page.

Resolutions gone wild

Why do we create resolutions year after year only to fail miserably? Is there any point in making them knowing we won't keep them anyway? What if your resolutions transforms itself into a living nemesis, a nuisance if you must and overkill whatever sensible attempt you have? Oooh this sound eerie doesn't it? I could say blame it on my Sci-Fi brainwashed noggin, or whatever intelligible reasoning is left of it anyway.

So, Why is it a nemesis? Let me attempt to dissect the not-so-obvious.

Take a look at yourself and tell me how many have you accomplished during the course of many years. Me? Nil,zip,nada and lots of regrets after. You're probably saying, "it's your fault!" Well, you maybe right but nah, some resolutions just like the firecrackers on New Year, they're spectacular at first and then fizzles away into Shang-ri-la! Total oblivion.

Weight loss for example. My resolution- time and again, is to loss these undying flabs and double folds for good with the help of a cool gadgetry like say, Wii. Unfortunately, my Santa didn't give me what I so wished for- and yet again for the nth Christmas time! Not that he is to be blamed but the lack thereof, of course has left me unmotivated to exercise! There goes my resolution - laughing at my misfortune! It may be a lame excuse, you say, but to do something you have to be motivated, and without that motivation, everything else is, um, worthless...

So this year, like any other New Years, my resolution is to NOT MAKE any resolutions that I can't keep! A tamed, sensible, achievable goals at this point are my ideals. A few of them that you too may find useful:

a) Network More not just online but via Social Media Conferences and Mom Projects- so far 2010 is proving to be a good year!
b) Redefine my online portfolio to focus on my professional skills and highlight current achievements.
c) Update my blog regularly and post relevant topics.
d) Time Management: finding a better balance between motherhood, career and business.
e) Actively take part in Charitable causes.
f) Set a time for a regular GNO with my daughter.
g) Boost the success of our personal businesses this year.

I can go on and on but then it won't make any sense to do that. What about you, have you gotten tired making resolutions each year OR you're one of those incurable resolutioner- giving up is not in your vocabulary?

Oh as for the weight loss...don't get fooled. Wii is not the end of it. But now Wii is a different story. That elusive bad boy will stay on my wish list until I get my hands on it. Yo betcha!

The Race for Mom Blogging Success

I was doing my normal round of blog hopping last week and came across @BabyStephs blog where she eloquently expressed what some, if not most of us "mom bloggers" fear. Below is a quote from her blog:

"It's an odd position to be in. Knowing that in this blogging tweeting world, if you get one day or one event or conference behind, you're eating the dust of those ahead of you. It can take a while to catch up, and some won't make it." - Baby Steph

Though her statement rings true to a tee and though I feel like this on occasion, success in blogging doesn't always necessarily mean attending every available blog event or conferences that's out there today. I would like to say that there's more to it than meets the eye.

Just take @Moomettes helpful tips : 11 ways to drive traffic to your blog where one of them I was privileged to take advantage of when I was invited to guest post in her blog. Success boils down to what priorities and expectations you have set for yourself and your blogging career (yes, it is a career - just ask @Dooce).

I personally believe that attending blog events and conferences does catapults YOU as a blogger to the hilt of success ONLY because it gives you that hands-on contact with other bloggers, PR moguls and Media scouts by putting a "face" and "voice" value behind the blog you slave yourself to day and night! One thing that proved true during the Logitech Mom Mixer Event I attended in Cary NC, but this didn't necessarily mean, my blog is now a huge success. I still need to put a lot of hard work to achieve this. Everything becomes relative at this point.

Yes, most of the successful bloggers we see around us, we equate their success to their consistent presence in most blog events and conferences that's out there today. And though I agree to this being true on a certain degree, the key question is: WHAT DID THEY DO when they were in these conferences? My intelligent guess: they NETWORKED the heck out of themselves and created lasting relationships beyond virtual the whole time they were in there!

I, too, would like to populate these events and see what it will do for me - but just like you - I just can't afford it. I, too need a little help -and though yes, this is a hint that I'm looking for sponsorships for BlogHer 2010 too- you should know that your passion and your objective is the driving force in achieving the success you crave. Let them work for you. For at the end of the day, no one else is out there who will help you achieve blogging success but yourself... And if you can't do it now?

"But in reality, in reality, the Internet will probably still be here tomorrow or in two years" -Baby Steph

Yes it will...and your time, my time to shine will come once we decide to embrace it...

Why Twitter is like the Parable of the Sower

This is why.

a) You who Twitter is the sower.

b) You scatter your tweets into tweetland.

c) Some of your tweets go to the wayside where it gets ignored, unacknowledged then devoured away to old updateland.

d) Some of your tweets falls upon receptive tweeples but your tweets are not enough to generate ongoing conversation or connections. You're quickly forgotten and you're branded "who are you again bum?"- Sorry, you're just not that famous.

e) Then some of your tweets falls among circle of elite tweeples but your tweets gets quickly choked down by other famous tweeters in that stream. Again, sorry, you're just not in their famous circle band.

f) But not all is lost, some of your tweets does fall onto great tweeple streams and sparks wonderful friendships, even opportunities and lots and lots of followers and connections! Good tweeple friends that you sure want to keep for life!

You do reap what you sow.

TV Version of Follow Friday
via @wxbrad of WCNC 36
Can you find me in the list?

This docu-post was inspired by @Hellosweetworld as she points out one of the common scenarios on Twitter : tweets and twitters are ignored and unacknowledged by "famous" twitters. A sentiment also shared by others. Though Twitter can be a very noisy place most times, why do you think this is becoming a notorious phenomena?

Join me in my Twitter Channel via @MaricrisG

Moms@Work - Dress For Success Update

Showing off all the tons of donations from all you lovely folks!

This Thursday, Sept 17 is the much-awaited Moms at Work Luncheon and I'm quite excited to hand over all the tons of donation I gathered from all of you! In behalf of Zen Ventures and Golden Flower Creations, thank you for making my cause a success! I wouldn't have done it without you. Your donations will come a long way in helping the underprivileged & disadvantaged women of America through Dress For Success to help take charge of their lives. Women to Women!

My ticket - more than ready to network!

I will post an after-event update so stay tuned! In the meantime, I'm dancing the happy dance for you and me! Ticket is in hand, I'm ready to meet wonderful moms and have fun! I'll also be joining the Charlotte Moms Like Me group, who is one of the major sponsors of the event, so watch out for me in their booth and at the groups' luncheon table. Can't wait to meet the wonderful ladies behind this cool local mom site in person! Please come say Hi to us!

Special Thanks to:

Kathryn of Blueberry Hill

Lori of Loribelle Designs

Geri of Silpada Jewelry

Kristin of Sweet World Photography

Tiasha - @tstevens312

Martha of A Sense of Humor is Essential

Jackie of The Dancer's Spirit

These ladies have a heart of Gold! HUGE THANKS from the bottom of my heart.

Weekender Post

I want to recap my week with a focus on Gratitude. Ironic as it seem, it is human nature to easily remember the negative things rather than the positive things that happens in our lives, or actions done to us by other people. We call these negativity many names and sometimes etch them in stone with anger and hatred. How long do you hold a grudge against a person that has done you wrong? Sometimes it takes a lifetime for others. I know someone close to me that did and sadly, it didn't do her good. She was miserable for years! So, I'm throwing in the red flag your way. Unless you're in denial, then stop right here and read no more! This is for the brave of heart and conscientious soul...no, actually, this is really easy! This is what you need to do: for the next couple of weeks, create a little journal of things you're thankful about. Write even the simplest things and next to it is the reason why. At the end of the 2 weeks, take time to read what you wrote and find out what feeling it gives you and how all that positive chi(energy) starts free-flowing. The challenger who wrote the most, wins the challenge and will be my featured post & blog for the week. If you want to take the dare, sign up by leaving a comment with your name and blog url (or not if you have none).At each week of the 2-week challenge,submit your list, so I can tally your numbers.

Here is my Gratitude list for this week:

1. Thankful that I (still) have a job - with the economy now,a lot of people are either losing their jobs or finding it hard to find one. Most of all, 2 working couples is better than one(right now).

2.Thankful that I was sick for 4 days - not fun but I did get to spend more quality time with my daughter that I normally couldn't do during the week. She now knows how to spell cat and... Mom (her favorite word!) - best of all, I lost 3 lbs.!

3.Thankful that I have a Child-I was stressing about not getting pregnant again when I wanted to, but then I think about women who couldn't even bear one child. I have one. I'm blessed nonetheless.

4. Thankful for a loving husband - who always takes care of lunch & ready in time for me when I come home. I don't cook much anymore. He does!

5.Thankful that I am in the US - and in a better living condition. I grew & lived in a 3rd world country. I know how it's like to be poor.

There you go. I'm sure you have a lot to be thankful for.Write them down & see how just by simply reading what you're thankful about dramatically changes your perspective of your own life. Remember,submit your 1st list on July19th. or you can just keep them to yourself & be inspired by it (",) or share it to us and inspire others.

In the Eyes of A Child

Almighty for A day

Given the insanity of wars, global strife, political, social and religious conflicts: How would you define or create an ideal world? What will be in it? Who will dwell in it? What will you borrow and what will you eliminate from all the current madness in the contemporary civilization we all breathe in?

I pondered on these words... and I can't help but mutter to myself...How the heck can anyone ever create an Ideal world?! An ideal world was created way before us but we defaced it, devoured it & plundered its’ riches and beauty with our erring ways. How then with our tumultuous nature be able to create an ideal world even in our heads ? I looked at my child’s eyes and there !!! The world she “sees” is the world I want to create. A perfect world devoid:

of Illusions – The Illusion of great power. Power that consumes so many a leaders’ hearts, they are blind to peace. Their hearts are so driven with greed and lust for dominance, they annihilate anyone in their path to get to their coveted prize: To Rule the entire World! This Illusion will be annihilated the same way this Wicked politicians annihilate their competitors. My world will only reflect honesty, humility and compassion.

of Super-Religions : Religions that was formed by power-hungry men who crave control and whose sole purpose is to reign supreme above all else & creating havoc on the beliefs of other believers to entice them to join their manipulative organizations; Religion based on personal fame & Glory, notwithstanding shame or lack of decency for as long as it attains personal gratification; and Religions who are self-proclaimed gods that aim to destroy rather than to nurture. We worship the same God and yet religion had created factions among us. It has become the church of men and not of God. Look at what they've achieved so far... War and death of so many men! So, scratch religion from my world and replace it with nothing but a single union of faith. No ritual, no sect, no denomination, just faithful believers worshiping the same God in perfect synchrony. Everyone will be equal and no one will be greater over another rather that a melding of kindness and generosity ;

of Poverty – and its ugliness. A world where there’s always good food in our tables when we beckon for it. Food prepared with love and care, readily available from an unending abundance of resources meticulously replenished with the joy of those who labored & toiled the lands by their hands and harvested the fruits they planted for all to share and feast on. A world Where everyone will have what they need, be it clothing or a roof above their heads; all these will be provided. So shall be, enough farmlands for farmers to farm and enough river for fishermen to fish at. Everyone will be well-nurtured and money itself will not play a role in my world. Everything will be free. Everyone will work for the good of each other, not just for himself. Their main responsibility is to care lovingly for each other. Harmony is the only thing they know between themselves, not greed, lust or idiotic arrogance ;

of War and Strife and political distress and Evil– A world which is a safe haven. Secured and guarded and anyone can roam around with no restriction or upheavals from unseen predators lurking in the darkened world of wickedness, whoremongering & distrust. Politicians, Leaders, unworthy rulers, Even Kings and Queens will be a myriad of things in the past, like a dandelion blown away by the wind, never to be seen again. For in my world, I will have none of them, just plain folks who are united as one big family. Evil will not find a place in our midst. For Peace will rule the land. Sin will be as foreign as hate itself, nor the thought for war ever bear presence in our minds or prevail in our hearts . There shall be no fighting, disagreement or selfish motives or parody, only praises and encouragements.

Innocence is the essence of a child of which preserves the purity of their hearts, and in their eyes, the world they see is perfect, unadulterated and full of love, free of stress, Chaos and hate or sickness! The perfect "heaven" on earth inhabited by a society with pure hearts. Everyone will possess a child-like character but mature and compassionate by nature. Their best virtue will be kindness and compassion. My world will be the new garden of Eden! So, if there is anything I will borrow, I will borrow the Garden of Eden as the setting of my earthly realm. Everything will be green and natural. Not a hint of modern touch which only taints and pollute the grand design of the innocence and cleanliness of my ideal world. Pestilence and sickness will not set foot in any existent form or matter, nor any venomous creature of kind. Everything will be as perfect and as pure as the heart of a child. Hence, This is the world I see through the eyes of my child … This is the world I will create (If I can)… A world fit for a child, a world fit for everyone...

“Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” – Look in the eyes of a child right now and let me know what you see ….

"This is my entry to the Blog Challenge 05: "Almighty for A day"