***CLOSED*** My second giveaway is from another Etsy seller. I'm very happy to have the type of positive response from all the Etsy sellers I've worked with in their willingness to partner with me and offer such unique items!

Rachel is the owner of the Legion Creative shop. Rachel's design are very striking and colorful. She has a graphic design background and it definitely shows in her work. Rachel is offering one winner this beautiful daisy pendant which I absolutely love!
To enter (two entries possible):
1. Go to the Legion Creative shop to see the other items Rachel offers.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what other item you'd buy - required.

3. For an extra entry (not required), send out a Tweet about this contest and come back to this post with the link to your Tweet. Here's the shortened link to this post: http://tiny.cc/7lklx (you'll need a Twitter account.)*ETA: If you're the chosen winner and you've sent out a Tweet to help me publicize, I'll throw in a $5 Starbucks card!

4. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.You can leave your email address in the myemail [at] thisaddress [dot] com format to prevent spam.

5. Comments will close on Friday, January 30th at 11:59pm CA time.

6. I will use random.org to draw the winners and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 1/31.

7. Winners will have until Monday, 2/2 to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

8. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

*I have another giveaway for a really cute enamel pocket mirror here, pendants for three winners here, gourmet cookies here and $20 for books here.

*Be sure to visit the giveaway hub all week for more great contests!

Bloggy Carnival Day 1- Cherry Blossom Pocket Mirror

***CLOSED*** Wee! It's Carnival time! It really does seem like we just had one. To those who are here for the first time, welcome and thank you! I enjoy finding new things to bring to you and hope this round of giveaways lives up to my previous ones. I'll be giving away a different item each day (2 more from Etsy sellers!) so please check back throughout the week.

My first giveaway is from the Etsy shop Little Pink Plum. I found Janet while researching a piece on affordable Valentine's Day gifts. I like the idea of supporting small, local, mom-owned businesses and Little Pink Plum is all three. Janet is offering one winner a Cherry Blossom pocket mirror in an organza bag. So cute!


I like the idea of a small mirror. Sometimes having to use my foundation mirror is pain and I've dropped the applicator and not noticed until later. Plus, this would be great in a small bag for a night out.

To enter (two entries possible):
1. Go to the Little Pink Plum shop to see the other items Janet offers.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what other item you'd buy - required.

3. For an extra entry (not required), send out a Tweet about this contest and come back to this post with the link to your Tweet. Here's shortened link to help: http://tiny.cc/rrX3b (you'll need a Twitter account.)*ETA: If you are the chosen winner and you've also sent out a Tweet to help me publicize, I'll throw in a $5 Starbucks card!

4. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info. You can leave your email address in the myemail [at] thisaddress [dot] com format to prevent spam.

5. Comments will close on Friday, January 30th at 11:59pm CA time.

6. I will use random.org to draw the winners and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 1/31.

7. Winners will have until Monday, 2/2 to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

8. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

**I have another giveaway for a glass pendant here, three winners will get fused glass pendants here, gourmet cookies are here and $20 for books here.

*Be sure to visit the giveaway hub all week for more great contests!

Jealousy Is An Ugly, Ugly Thing

Just a quick heads up that I'm participating in the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival that starts Monday. And I hate that I have to give this great stuff away!

I will expect effusive thanks and people prostrating themselves before me when they see what I'm offering. OK, not really. Just be sure to come back all next week to see what I have for you! (Hint: jewelry and cookies!)

Study Examines Moms by Race

I could sing the praises of Maria Bailey and her team at BSM Media for, oh, about a week. I have learned so much from Maria and really look up to her personally and professionally. I was beyond flattered when she asked me to participate in a research project focusing on the values of moms of different races.

BSM sent out the press release of the findings last week (below and in PDF form here). I really hope companies, advertisers and media pay attention to the findings. This past Tuesday really was (IMHO) the beginning of a new era and a new social consciousness. Newspapers, magazines, radio, television and any other media need to be prepared for the shift in demographics I believe will be coming.

One of my comments to Maria was that, because of our new President and First Lady (squee!), there may be people of different ethnicities and backgrounds participating in media they never would have before. A grandmother who has never read the USA Today may pick it up because Obama is on the cover. A mother may buy an issue of a magazine she's never read before because of an article on the First Lady.

I'm considering subscribing to Time or Newsweek because I really want to be more active and knowledgeable politically than I was before.

I really do believe the demographics are going to change and I hope companies and the media are prepared to make sure they are reaching this new audience.

FT. LAUDERDALE (JANUARY 13, 2009) – When it comes to motherhood, nothing is black and white. As we usher in the inauguration of our first African American President, a new study examines the behaviors and values of mothers across racial lines. The research shows that while all mothers are battling with the growing concerns facing our nation, some of a mother’s coping strategies and motivations are tied to her culture and ethnic background.

The research was conducted by BSM Media, www.bsmmedia.com, a leading marketing to moms firm led by Maria Bailey, author of “Mom 3.0: Marketing With Today’s Mothers by Leveraging New Media and Technology”.

“Moms share universal concerns for their children,” says Maria Bailey, CEO of BSM Media. “It is clear, however, that the way she reacts to the economy, rising food costs and the dreams she has for her children is impacted by her personal experiences, upbringing and ethnic background.”

BSM Media partnered with several prominent African American mom bloggers to field the research: Jennifer James, editor of Mommy Too! Magazine (www.mommytoomag.com), Melanie Sheridan from Mel, A Dramatic Mommy (www.meladramaticmommy.com), Kimberly Coleman from Mom in the City (www.mominthecity.com/), and Michele Dortch, The Integrated Mother (www.integratedmother.com).

“Identifying the specific needs of African American Moms is timely,” said Melanie Sheridan from Mel, A Dramatic Mommy, www.meladramaticmommy.com. “Companies and media need to be more culturally aware and prepared for the expanded audiences recent historic events may bring their way.”

Key Findings of the study include:

· Although the majority of all moms have made household adjustments to cope with the economic crisis, African American moms are more likely to delay major purchases (57%) and avoid stores to reduce shopping (54%). Caucasian moms are coping by using coupons and discount codes (73%) and driving fewer places to conserve gas (62%).

“It takes a lot of time and concerted effort to use coupons effectively and save money, and time is something that many African American moms don’t have”, says Jennifer James, editor of Mommy Too! Magazine (www.mommytoomag.com), “In addition, many of the manufacturer coupons found in the newspaper are not found in the retail locations in urban communities and if they are, many African American moms opt to purchase lower cost generic brands which usually don’t issue coupons.”

· African American moms are more likely to turn to clergy for support (60%) than Caucasian moms (41%). Other popular support outlets among both races included spouses, parents and other moms.

· Although moms across racial lines ranked education as their greatest dream for their children, African American moms are more likely to aspire for their children to have a deep religious commitment as adults than Caucasian moms.

“For many of us, our faith has sustained us.” says Kimberly Coleman of Mom in the City, www.mominthecity.com, in response to the importance of religion in the African American community.

· Caucasian moms named managing the desires of their children for material things as a challenge (45%), while African American moms are battling with affordable housing (35%).

· While online, African American mothers are more likely to read articles (68%) and experience music (45%). Caucasian mothers are likely to frequent social networks (45%) and message boards (43%).

“The results of BSM’s research confirm one very important fact - we may share a common bond as mothers, but each of us brings a unique approach to motherhood that must be recognized,” says Michele Dortch of The Integrated Mother.