The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

Black Friday - Cyber Monday SALE at Alex Casey Baby

Alex Casey Baby is offering 15% off your whole order today through Cyber Monday.  Just enter promo code Fifteen1 for savings!

Best sellers include:

Our line of exclusive full-sized Personalized Towels

 

Tutus up to size 6/7T

 

Cool Trucker Caps 

And our brand-new Little Man Tie Shirts

 
Alex Casey Baby

 
 
 

You Asked, Alex Casey Baby Answered... and 10% off!

“Little Man Shirts” for Big Boys!  Up to size 10!!!

The PERFECT Baby Blankie… - Bamboo Blankets & Snugglers!

 
 
  
 
 
  

Take 10% off your order through Black Friday – November 27^th.  Enter promo code Thanks09 at checkout.

www.alexcaseybaby.com

 
 
  

Shop for a Cause

In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Alex Casey Baby Will Donate 10% of

 Every Order to the Young Survival Coalition* During the Month of October.

Shop Now and Make a Difference.

www.alexcaseybaby.com

 

* Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.  www.youngsurvival.org

PR Fail #231

I love PR.  I used to work in PR, I count on (my own) PR for my company, and I enjoy being reached out to by PR people who wish to combine their client's products with my blog.  But man, sometimes it gets outta hand.

I mean, if you read my blog and have an iota of common sense then you know that the reviews I give and the giveaways I'm lucky enough to host are mainly the result of these PR relationships.  But you also know that something, in some way, is exchanged in order for these reviews to happen.  99.9% of the time it's a sample of the product I'm reviewing.  Just a sample, for me to test-drive, so I can bring you my sincere opinion on product x.  Just as i provide blogs with a sample when I ask them to review a product from Alex Casey Baby.

So how would you feel if you saw a review of a product here that I hadn't put my hands on?  A product that I'd seen in pictures, that I'd read about, but had never used?  I mean, what would that do to my credibility?  Would you ever trust me again?

I didn't think so.  Which is essentially what I told Ms. PR Pro when she sent this email:

Jill,

Hope you're well! I thought this line would be right up your alley for your blog..

Keeping babies and toddler cozy, warm and safe at night just got even more stylish thanks to a savvy line!

Blah Blah Blah...

Happy to share photos, or more information with you. I think your readers will adore this line and it lasts forever!

All my best,

Ms. PR Pro

 

So I responded:

 

Ms. PR Pro,

 

This line looks FAB!  Since I'm the mom of a toddler who still uses sleepsacks (and it's hard to fine ones large enough!), I'd love to review a sleepsack in the toddler section.  We can do this with or without a giveaway, but I think this will be a great success since I receive TONS of hits about swaddles and sleepsacks (and tend to write a lot about them).

Let me know if this works and we can go from there.

Best,

Jill

 

To which she replied:

 

Hi Jill,

Unfortunately at this time we do not have samples to send.  I'd be more than happy to send you photos or additional information, but at this time that's all we'd be able to do.  Thanks so much for your interest.

 

Ummm...  Did I miss something here?  I responded by letting her know that I couldn't imagine how it'd be possible to review something I hadn't seen and let her know that this might be called an advertorial.  But I'm wondering what kind of PR firm thinks this type of outreach, or more importantly, this type of review, might be all that beneficial to the client.  I'm tempted to reveal the firm that bothered with this, and the client's name too, but since that's not really my style, I digress.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

Back to School with Alex Casey Baby!

We're not just for babies anymore!

Get your kids ready to rule the school with our supplies:

Personalized Lunchboxes

Choose from 11 different styles including:

 

Nap Packs

Perfect for any 2 to 7-year-old who takes a nap at school!

  

 

Backpacks

Beautiful and bold, durable and practical.  Eco-friendly too!

 

Check out these and other fabulous stuff at Alex Casey Baby.

A Blog For All Seasons

If there's one thing that I did learn at BlogHer, it's that everyone blogs for their own personal reasons.  Since we spend most of our time blogging in a bubble, it's nice to get out and remember what brought us here in the first place. 

I started A Daily Grind as an extension of my business.  That, and the fact that I'm actually a trained writer (shocking, I know) is what inspired me to sit down and put words out there for whoever wanted to read.  At the time, I didn't realize I was joining a "tribe" or would soon be labeled a "mommy blogger."  Cuz, really, I never thought of myself that way until someone told me that's what I was.

And really, I'm not sure I like labels (unless they say Tory Burch or Marc Jacobs, that is).

Over the course of the conference, I was asked "so, what's your blog about?" like 127 times and 127 I stumbled.

"Ummm..., it's like about, uh, I guess... stu-uff?"

Cuz really, I didn't know what to say.

So I spent a little time thinking about it.  What is this blog about?  And what I came up with is not a one-word answer.  My blog is like me - all over the place, sometimes disorganized, but it always has a touch more personality than you'd think on first glance.

It's true, I do reviews and giveaways here cuz, hey, someone's gotta put applesauce on the table. ;)  But I do reviews and stuff because I really do like trying new products and also because I know the influence bloggers can have when they write a truthful and honest review.  I know this because I know the influence other bloggers have had on my brand.  So if you're you're a company or even just an individual with a product and you're on the fence about whether or not bloggers can help you, give it a shot.  I bet you'll be happy with the results.

But as much as I like spreading the word about the latest and greatest, I feel like my best posts, the ones that really reflect my true personality are those that really come from the heart.  Anecdotes about something that happened in my day, my rants and raves... Those are the pieces that tell a story about me. 

So next time someone asks me what my blog's really about?  I'll probably answer simply: me.

BlogHer Sponsors? Who Needs 'Em...

I don't have a sponsor for BlogHer.  And based on the number of companies/PR firms/monied peeps that I deal with on an excruciatingly regular basis, this might seem strange.  But it's not.  Because I (sort of) wanted it this way.

When I bought my BlogHer ticket waaaaay back when the pricing was still considered "earlybird", it didn't even occur to me that I could actually get a sponsor to pick up the tab.  I know.  Rookie.  And then as I read the Twitter stream and talked to my blog-friends, I realized that it wouldn't take much to actually get this whole ordeal paid-for!  What was I waiting for?

So I created a cute little media package with neat little headings that included, Who Am I?  and What Do you Stand to Gain?  I added the number of unique visitors I get and some ideas I had that would get us (you) noticed at the big event.

And it sat in my documents.

At first, I scolded myself.  How will you ever find a sponsor if you don't actively look?  Put out feelers?  At least tweet that you're looking to represent someone?  Blog about it?

But nothing.

And the weeks and months rolled on.

And shockingly, nobody banged down my door in search of a blogger to sponsor.

And as time marched on, I noticed that most of my peers had sponsors.  What was wrong with me?  So I entered a few "no strings attached" contests, in hopes of being the lucky winner of an all (or partly) expense paid trip to Chicago.  But alas, I'm not one of those who wins things. 

Then it hit me.  I never went out to find a sponsor because I don't think I actually ever really wanted one.  I don't think I wanted the responsibility of representing anyone else's brand at BlogHer.  After all, I am a business-owner myself.  And a blogger.  And a big part of the reason why I'm so looking forward to BlogHer is the prospect of meeting people who might be interested in me and my brand.  And if I'm busy promoting others, I may miss that opportunity.  Next year might be different, but for now, something about representing others just wasn't feeling organic to me.

So there you have it.  I have finally secured an official sponsor for BlogHer '09 - and it's me.  See you there.  :)     

NEW Personalized Towels!

If you like our Personalized Towels, you're going to LOVE these!

 

 

These are our #1 selling items!  Come see what else we've got at Alex Casey Baby...

New Pj's (bigger sizes too!), Socks, and a SUMMER DISCOUNT at Alex Casey Baby!

Pajamas now up to 24 months!! Only $25!

 

 

New ORGANIC Rainbow Socks – just $20!

 

Check out our tutus in NEW colors, including Ice Cream Sundae – they’re delicious!

 

 

Save 15% off all orders now through July 8^th – just enter promo code Summer09!

 

www.alexcaseybaby.com – We ship WORLDWIDE! Email us for deets.

 

 

Win a Ju-Ju-Be Bag at Mommies With Style!

Check out the below post by Ciaran at Mommies with Style and visit their site to enter to win!

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Check out Alex Casey’s Spring Selection and Win a Bag from Jujube

Looking for a little inspiration for a charming baby gift or something to spruce up your own kid’s springtime wardrobe?  

Alex Casey Baby never disappoints with a carefully curated assortment of the cutest kids clothing and accessories. This spring Alex Casey has found some adorable mod dresses with bold graphic prints, irresistible baby trucker hats and ruffled leggings from Bon Bon Cupcakes that put the final fluff on a cute outfit. 

But don’t let me tell you what’s cute. Visit Mommies with Style and leave a comment telling us your favorite item on the Alex Casey Baby website and you might win a Jujube Be Light in Cherry Lemonade.  Repeat - YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR COMMENT AT MOMMIES WITH STYLE!  Comments left here don't count. 

Enter by May 26th, one winner will be selected after that time.

SAVE 15% at Alex Casey Baby!  Simply enter promo code MSW3 at save 15% through June 1st.