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Must-Know Tips for Bloggers & Media Covering International CES 2012 - Jan 10-13 in Las Vegas

Technology

When I started writing this piece I'd assumed my audience would just be my fellow mom bloggers both those I already know personally as well as the new ones I'll meet for the first time at CES next week. However, shortly after beginning to draft this post, I realized that all the tips and advice shared here will no doubt be helpful to moms who blog, but also to all the men and women bloggers and general media who will be descending into Las Vegas for the world's premiere technology event.

Sand Sculpture in progress at Intel's BlogHer '11 Booth last August

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The Intel Booth at BlogHer '11 featured these fanciful sand sculptures that were crafted by a single artisan over the course of the multi-day expo and conference in San Diego in August.  So you can imagine how excited I am to see what the Intel CES 2012 exhibit will be like as well as to check out the multitude of other vendors who will be pulling out all the creative and person-to-person engagement stops to generate booth traffic.

Close-up detail of Intel sand carving when nearly completed after 2 days

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Personally, I can't even count how many CES shows I've attended as a hi tech corporate or agency PR professional since I worked on that side of the fence for several decades. For sure there's always been lots of new and really cool things to see. This is my first CES covering as a mommy blogger, though, where I'll be on a mission to find fresh inspiration for MommyBlogExpert.com as well as for the weekly tech column I write for SocialMoms. After stumbling upon a variety of resources I've uncovered to date as I prepare for my trip, I've realized the details here are just too good to keep to myself.

Whether you've attended before or are a newbie blogger or media person covering this event for the first time, I hope you'll find some pearls here that will make your trip more productive.

Just in case you didn't already know, you must be registered to get a Press Pass to access press conferences, the International CES 2012 designated expo halls, key notes and other show events. Also, remember that there are several major press events happening before the official show actually opens on Tuesday including CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event on Sunday, January 8 from 4-7 p.m. and CES Press Day all day on January 9. Both of these not to miss pre-show press events take place at The Venetian.

It's less than a week till the show but if you are not registered yet but want to go the good news is you can still apply for media credentials on-site in Las Vegas. However, definitely reserve your flights and hotels first, because this city is going to be jam packed.  BTW, you might want to know that you won't get a CES Press Bag or any press luncheon tickets at the in-person registration which pre-registered media will get. Check the main CES site for details on where to register and what is required as well as schedules of events, show hours, and all kinds of helpful advice on parking, getting around the city, etc.

Once you're registered as press, make sure you update your account that will automatically be set up after you are granted Press Credentials at Virtual Press Office. Here, you'll want to add up to 10 keywords to your profile so you will receive relevant press releases from this year's exhibitors.

Also, after registering you can look at the maps of the CES show floor and where all the official events are at the Las Vegas Convention Center and next door at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (formerly known as the Las Vegas Hilton) and at The Venetian. Additionally parking is limited so you might want to commute between the two venues using the complimentary CES shuttle services that will be running in town which can take you to and from the airport too. Download the shuttle schedule here. Fee for service public transportation options to get around the city also include the Las Vegas Monorail and taxis.

You'll also want consider uploading Follow Me the official CES mobile app free from the Apple iTunes Store. I've been using this great ap to organize my own schedule and must say this is easy enough even for the technologically-challenged to navigate and has proven to be a life and time saver for me.  I've found it to be very helpful in planning out how to make the best use of my time at the show, to make appointments with vendors and also to input all the invitation only events I'll be attending.

There's so much going on at the official CES you may be too tired to take advantage of everything else that will be happening in town. But if you've got the energy you can find out about additional events and parties checking out the free Karennet List of CES 2012 Parties published by Karen Thomas of Thomas PR, Melville, NY.

In addition to following specific tech companies you'll be focusing on and relevant pundits, analysts, media, and fellow bloggers, don't forget to follow CES on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and LinkedIn too.

Lastly, because I'll be sharing additional advice, great finds and tips live from Las Vegas next week, don't forget to subscribe to MommyBlogExpert's feed as well as follow my Tweets and Facebook posts. I look forward to making new connections as well as saying hello face to face to all my old online friends and business partners.

It's going to be a great conference so best wishes for traveling safety to Las Vegas!

Meanwhile, in addition to benefiting from this post, I hope readers will feel free to add to these CES blogger coverage suggestions and ideas by leaving a comment with links to other relevant resources I may have overlooked.

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FTC Disclosure: I am a registered member of the media covering CES 2012 for this blog and SocialMoms. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post. 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.   

Stunning Floral Floats Still Belles of New Year Celebration at California Rose Bowl Parade Today

Entertainment

Photos Courtesy of  Kit-Cat.com except where indicated otherwise 

Blue skies prevailed over a beautiful day here in Southern California for the world famous Rose Parade today organized by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. The parade -- so popular adults, parents, and kids routinely camp out on the sidewalks annually the night before  -- is the precursor to another well-known New Year event: the Rose Bowl Game.  As always, the parade pageantry was truly amazing including the giant Kit-Cat Clock float that I'll be telling you all about later in this post.

Kit-Cat Float at 2012 Rose Parade

The 2012 parade -- themed Just Imagine -- was led by Grand Marshall J.R. Martinez, an Iraq War Veteran who sustained war injuries but nevertheless went on to become the champion of Dancing With the Stars - Season 13 anyway. I can't imagine a better choice to represent this year's official sentiment.  Imagining success just like Martinez has modeled for us truly helps inspire dreamers to reach for the stars.  The retired soldier's representation not only inspired the crowd along the parade route, it also honored all injured U.S. military service personnel in a big way too.
Retro Kit-Cat Clock from the Kit-Cat.com

As readers I often write about old-fashioned and classic vintage things like LEGO and Curious George. So for this post here's a closeup look at one of my favorite entries in this year's parade: The Kit-Cat Clock float sponsored by California Clock Company marking the firm's 80th anniversary.

Who doesn't remember seeing one of those charming black and white Kit-Cat Clocks hanging in someone's kitchen with eyes rolling and tail swinging back and forth? I know I've seen plenty of these classic ticking cat clocks in my time and you likely have too. 

Kit-Cat Float decorating in progress

This is the first time any of us, though, has had the chance to see that iconic wall time piece translated into a parade float 55 feet long and standing 24 feet high. It's fascinating to point out, BTW, that Kit-Cat’s float was decorated completely with fresh locally grown floral materials – something no other commercial entry had ever tried. In fact, the majority of the flowers used in the Rose Parade were imported from South America.

A yellow rose blooming in my Los Angeles garden
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Some natural materials incorporated into the Kit-Cat Float project

• Glossy Black Seaweed
• Velvety Onion Seed
• White Coconut Chips
• Yellow Button Mums
• White Sweet Rice
• Orange Lentils
• Green Split Peas
• Yellow Roses

That's not even to mention the decidedly modern twist of this giant Kit-Kat version which incorporated skateboarders zipping on and off the float via specially-designed ramps, a tween couple dancing beside an over sized jukebox and eight riders from eight to 80 years old representing every generation. These faces, of course, represent all the children, parents, grandparents and great grandparents who have admired Kit-Cat Clocks during the past eight decades since the company's founding in 1932.

Dancers in action aboard the Kit-Cat float

Did you watch the Rose Parade? What did you think of the floats in general and the Kit-Cat entry in particular? Please leave a comment and share.

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FTC Disclosure: This blog did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post. 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.