Preparing Your Family for #BlogHer13 While You're Away - Taking Care of Kids & Hubbie

Blogher

This post is especially for mom bloggers coming to BlogHer 2013 in Chicago who have kids still at home, like I me.

It's the last weekend before BlogHer and a great time to think about this...

MommyBlogExpert.com

But before we do, each of us has our families to think about...

Having attended BlogHer San Diego 2011 and BlogHer New York 2012, this is my third BlogHer. I've already shared earlier posts about 8 Essential Tips to How to Pack Your Bags for BlogHer and Decisions About Smartphone, Tablet, Laptop, Camera, etc for BlogHer to bring to this conference. There's also the story I did How to Get Invitations to Brand Parties during the conference.

Now, I want to turn the attention away from what we're all doing before we get to BlogHer for ourselves to prepare for the biggest women's blogging event of the year. Instead, let's talk about what us moms are doing to prepare our families for the time we'll be away.

Me at the Lees Carpet booth at BlogHer San Diego

Like other typical mom bloggers, I'm with my family pretty much most of the time -- since I blog and do social media strategy counseling from my home office whilst also cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, carpooling and taking care of four teens plus hubby. In fact, we usually have a home-cooked dinner with the entire family each night. But lest you think I'm perfect, you should also know that I'm not the best housekeeper so it can be a tad messy around here.

BlogHer New York Fashion Show, MommyBlogExpert.com

So, when I am going out of town like this, my family does take notice. They may even whine just a little about what they're going to do without me (it's nice to know I'm loved and appreciated). I'm guessing I'm not the only one with a family that expects you to live up to your job description no matter what else is going on. Come on. Who else has family that sort of doesn't want you to be away from them, even for a day next week?

One thing I try to do to combat this quandry is prepare food ahead of time that my really really likes. That way they'll look forward to when I'm going away instead of bemoaning it. That's why I'm baking batches of their favorite Cowboy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies right now as I write this post this afternoon.

Making Cowboy Chocolate Chip Cookies Today, MommyBlogExpert.com

I still have some other things I want to do for them, like stock the refrigerator and cook some of the dishes they like most since -- believe it or not -- my kids have never been to a fast food restaurant and actually prefer homecooked (not frozen or pre-prepared). Another thought: like just about everyone else, I've got lots of blogging work and thousands of emails to go through before I can head off to Chicago.

How about you? How do you cope with all the pre-trip chaos at home? What are some of the things you're doing (or have done in the past) to get your family ready for managing on their own while you're at BlogHer? I'd love for you to leave a comment and share.

FTC Disclosure: I've attended multiple BlogHer conferences and have also been a speaker at this event. I have paid for my own 2013 full conference ticket and did not receive any compensation for this post. Thoughts here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Verizon Wireless Adds More Flexibility to Smartphone Upgrades With New Edge Program

Technology

This is a compensated post

As a member of the Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger team I often am among the first to know when the carrier announces some big news. Yesterday we learned directly from top management all about the new Verizon Edge consumer program that just launched which adds more flexibility into the buying and upgrading of basic phones and smartphones that run on the Verizon Wireless network. For those of you who are always coveting the newest technologies and don't have the patience to endure the traditional two-year contract waiting period, this new offering may be music, literally, to your ears.

At Verizon HQ West for a recent conference, MommyBlogExpert.com

Me in row 2 with some of my #VZWBuzz Friends at CES

Verizon Edge Participant Benefits

• Upfront costs for a new phone are lower than similar offers from other carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile
• Gives you the option to pay for your device in monthly payments over 24 months with no interest added to the remaining balance
• After credit is approved, you're out the door after making just your very small first payment at the time of purchase which will be much less than buying a device outright that also requires a contract 
• The program is accessible to new customers when acquiring your first device as well as to existing clientele on any Verizon plan who have completed their contracts and are eligible for a product upgrade
• Once you've made payments for 6 months and you've paid 50% of the full retail cost of the phone you can exchange your old phone in working condition for a brand new one of your choice
• Since this program is a month to month contract, you are not obligated to stay with Verizon and there is no early termination fee if you leave -- You are only required to make the remaining payments till the device is paid off
• Tablet users may be eligible for a device payment plan that lasts only 12 months

My iPhone 5, MommyBlogExpert.com

How Verizon Edge works using example of an iPhone 5

If you don't mind a two-year contract, then you can buy the iPhone 5 outright for $199.99 from Verizon. But, if you decide to participate in Edge, then instead you would pay the full retail iPhone 5 price of $649.99 --divided into 24 monthly payments -- with only the first payment of slightly over $27 plus taxes due before you walk out of the store and start using it. With a contract, your phone is paid for and you keep it. But with Edge, once you've made payments for 6 months and you've paid about $350 (half the cost of the phone) you are offered the opportunity to trade in that working phone at Verizon for a newer iPhone if one is available.

See VerizonWireless.com for more information

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless brand ambassador. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Blogher 2013 Tips on Cameras Smartphones Tablets Laptops & Other Devices to Bring

BlogHer
2nd in a multi post series

Having attended San Diego 2011 and New York 2012, this is my third BlogHer. So wanted to share some wisdom and tips I've learned by experience. The goal of this post series is simply to maximize everyone's chance of a positive experience at #BlogHer13 -- whether you're a newbie or seasoned pro like me -- who will be descending upon Chicago for the mother of all women's blogging conferences one week from now.

I just love this picture of the giant soap sculpture that was created for BlogHer in San Diego several years ago...

Be amazed as brands pull out all the stops again at BlogHer this year!

6 Essential Things to Know About
Cameras, Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops & Handbags

• So as not to weight yourself down, again try to get by with the minimum amount of equipment, depending on your work style and what you want to accomplish
• Don't forget to bring all your chargers and a charging dock as you will likely need to renergize multiple devices each night and so will all your roommates
• Bring a high power mobile charger like the Mophie that has enough juice to charge an iPhone and iPad on a single charge, with power to spare
• Don't have Internet access except through your phone/tablet? Consider bringing a mi-fi device like NetZero so you have wi-fi on the run and won't have to pay the hotel for it
• Clearly label all your devices so someone else doesn't grab it by accident and make it easy to be returned to you if found by a Good Samaritan. You will no doubt see lots of women with the exact same camera -- like the ultra popular white Samsung Smart Camera -- and chances are, unless you have a custom one, others with the identical phone and case as yours, too. A great way to do this is to put a conspicuous sticker on the device or tie a ribbon to the strap. 
• Be careful not to leave your handbag or other valuables unattended, even for a second. I don't mean to scare you, but there were pick-pocket incidents in both San Diego and New York in the expo hall

Also see BlogHer How to Pack and What to Bring to the Conference in Your Suitcase

FTC Disclosure: I've attended multiple BlogHer conferences and have also been a speaker at this event. I have paid for my own 2013 full conference ticket and did not receive any compensation for this post. Thoughts here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.