Death of a Crackberry Addict

Being a mother means making sacrafices. Social life, wardrobe, and yes, even technology. Today I reluctantly walked into the Verizon Wireless store with tears in my eyes and made the decision to turn off my Blackberry. I know, I know - teary eyed? You're thinking "you cried over a Blackberry?" Yes, I did. There's a reason they call it a Crackberry you  know. It's a strong addiction that we have to face.

One day after a unusually busy morning, I realized I forgot my phone at home. Oh no! I didnt' have time to turn around and get it. I'd certainly be late to work if I did. The entire day, I kept glancing down to see the empty spot on my desk mocking me with "you really want to see if you have a Blackberry Messenger message right now, don't you?" or "you have 5 new emails, you wish you could see them on your phone right now, huh?" Yes, I really, really would. But I would have to rely on the age-old technology of the PC and internet connection.

How will I get through life without having Twitter at my finger tips? Will I become disconnected from Facebook like I was before I got my Blackberry? I do have the internet at home so I will need to re-teach myself to actually go sit at the computer for a while. I hate that. After working at a computer all day, there's nothing more boring than sitting at a computer again.

I have other priorities in my life right now that need my 45 Blackberry data-plan dollars. My son is growing and eating me out of house and home. My best friend is getting married and I have the honor of being in her wedding. And to top it off, I have to begin paying back the obscene amounts of student loans I have lingering in my not-so-distant future. *sigh*

In retrospect it's all worth it. I have my priorities and my Blackberry just doesn't fit in. I'll miss you dear friend. You've provided me entertainment with your Brick Breaker game, fun with the Facebook app, and of course a combination of both fun and entertainment with Twitter Berry. Rest in peace in my desk drawer until we meet again.

Tis the Season for Some Chili!

Tailgaiting, chilly night in, no matter what you're doing, a hot bowl of chili in the fall warms you right up! I made some super yummy chili last night and thought I'd share the recipe. But don't tell my dad! ;) It's a favorite of mine and so easy to make!

What you'll need:

• 1 - 1.5 lbs of ground meat or turkey (cooked and drained)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 package of McCormick's Original Chili seasoning mix
• 2 cans of chopped tomatoes with green chilis (undrained)
• 3 6 oz. cans of tomato sauce
• 2 cans of red kidney beans

All you need to do is throw it in a pot and turn on the heat! I like to get mine up to a good bubbling simmer with higher heat in the beginning then, after a few minutes turn it down to low heat and just let it go for a while. Mmmm I can't wait to get home and eat some more!

Try this recipe out! When you do, come back and let me know if you made any changes and added your own flare! I'm always looking for something new! Do you have any recipes your willing to share?

PR Friendly!

Just thought I'd put a little post out there for those who don't know. My blog is PR friendly! I'm a cheerleader by nature and love sharing with the world when I find something that is absolutely stellar! I do product and service reviews and giveaways. I love giving my readers the chance to win something that I've been gloating about on my blog and Twitter page!

If you have a product or service you would like reviewed or if you would like to sponsor a giveaway, please contact me at themadmomblog @ gmail.com.

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BlogHer 2010 Sponsorship

I am now actively seeking sponsorship to attend BlogHer 2010 in New York City. BlogHer is the biggest conference of the year that has an active audience of female bloggers, PR and media, and brand reps. If you are a PR rep or business that wants their company or product exposed to over 1,000 bloggers, please contact me.

Why sponsor me?
Here are my preliminary offerings but everything is negotiable!

- 12 month display ad above the fold on my site
- Sponsor page with details about your product and company
- Tweeting and blog posts before, during and after the event
- All posts about BlogHer and the Sponsor will have SEO links with keyword anchor text
- Will distribute and promote your swag and promotional material

Interested? Here's the breakdown:
Times are tight. I'm seeking full sponsorship for the event, but will negotiate for partial. The full conference pass is $202.95 (early bird rate ends 2/28/10), plus travel and accommodations.

Please contact me, Amanda, at themadmomblog @ gmail.com if you are interested in negotiating a BlogHer 2010 for Mad Mom.

Thanks!