Resolutions anyone? Give – a – way!
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Category Archives: Sponsored Blog
How to Meet Dr. Oz (sponsored)
1) Enter a contest on coolmom.com sponsored by Clorox Toilet Wand to go to O You!, O Magazine’s annual premiere event where the Oprah stars gather to share their wisdom about life improvement. (Clorox Toilet Wand was one of the sponsors of the event, too.)
2) Win the contest.
3) Have the sweetest, most open personality so that when you buy the said stars’ books or run into them they want to talk to you.
That’s the story of Lori in a nutshell, the sweet gal who won the O You contest. A much belated post here to share with you including Lori’s post about her time at O You! and a video I shot while I was there. While the kind people at Clorox edited it for me, I didn’t do the best camera work here, but hey I was in the room with Suze Orman, and Oprah!
It was a fun event. I would say they need to have less lines for some of the booths and more food and bathrooms, but the talks were worth the ride…and meeting Lori!
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Lori’s post:
My name is Lori and I am a single mom and full-time student. With two teenagers and two kids age ten and under, being a Health Professions major trying to learn chemistry and human genetics can be very difficult to say the least. I have been without a job for over a year now and adding the financial struggle on top of all the responsibilities I have, can sometimes seem overwhelming. About three weeks prior to the conference I went through a very difficult situation, I thought I was going to loose my place to live. It was a very hard time and I was terrified. A lot of prayers, hundreds of phone calls and some amazing people, I was able to stay in my home and it all worked out. Although relieved and extremely grateful, I felt exhausted from the fight. Not even a full week from surviving that struggle I got an email from Daphne telling me I had won the trip to O You! First I was in disbelief but as it all came together, I was so exhilarated to know I was going to be able to be a part of the event I had heard about and wanted so desperately to attend but knew there was no way I could afford it. A dream come true, a gift from above and the most welcome break I think I could have ever asked for.
O You! in Atlanta, Georgia was the most energizing, uplifting and empowering event I have ever experienced. From the arrival, going through the line to get into the convention center, until the last moments in exiting the conference, the excitement was constant. The women I had the opportunity to encounter throughout the day from different states and parts of the world, were one of the biggest highlights for me. To connect with women that are searching for enlightenment, women who have found truth, women in triumph, women in struggle ….. to realize you are not alone in the journey was such a revelation come real. Seeing it up close and personal was a dream come true.
Gayle King spoke giving me goose bumps in the opening ceremony, Martha Beck and Suze Orman bringing mental and financial forecast as Lisa Ling rounded out the morning with her keynote speech that gave my goose bumps chills. After such a powerful start to the day, it was off to check out some of the sponsor tables before the first class. Samples of Truvia, small gifts from Crest, healthy snacks from Actifry and boy o’ boy the free pair of Spanx!!!!! That was a happy moment 
Almost as happy as the moment of meeting the Clorox girls and getting a ToiletWand to take home!!! Just when I thought I was in heaven with my free pair of Spanx, I was standing next to Dr. Oz taking a photo with him!!!! One of my best life experiences, he is one of my all time favorites. From Dr. Oz to Bob Greene who was also kind enough to take a photo with me!!
It was a day filled with meeting and being able to appreciate my favorite O Magazine contributors up close and personal. Peter Walsh, Lisa Ling, Nate Berkus, Donna Brazile and Gayle King all in the span of a few hours. Love, love, love Gayle!!!! I did not know Eva LaRue was going to be there, with her beautiful Crest smile, she was so kind and took lots of photos with fans while signing many autographs.
Floating on a cloud of ’WOW’, the first session of “Finding Your Passion” was just what I needed. The session was lead by Suze Orman, Martha Beck and Donna Brazile. It was an hour and a half of soul nourishing information and essential inspiration in moving forward in life with whatever and wherever you are in your life. Suze Orman brought out Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx to hit home the idea of believing and persistence and being ready. A trio that was just what the doctor ordered. Just when I thought the day could not get any better it was on to the second session of ‘Feeling Good, Looking Better’. A session that offered steps and advice from industry leaders Dr. Mehmet Oz and Bob Greene. Living longer, looking younger, with life changing tips easily incorporated into any lifestyle accompanied by real makeovers and beauty trends of now and later.
It was a day so packed with great learning moments and it all came to a peak when all the experts came together on one stage and expressed what they know for sure. It was such a beautiful bow on such a gift of that day. The ultimate prize in that gift were the closing remarks, spoken so eloquently and power-filled by the O of O magazine, Oprah. The words and the message in those words were so overwhelmingly joyous bringing the end of the conference to a spectacular close. Oprah is one of the best speakers I have ever had the pleasure to hear speak. She delivered such a life-changing message that I will never forget. Oprah even answered questions from some lucky O You! attendees!!!
Ride the wave of life, I owe it to my creator and the universe to accept life’s opportunities and do the best I can with them. I pledge to follow my heart and live the passion that I have growing in my soul. I will remember to do my part in the world because it only takes one to make a difference and inspire change and that is why we are all here to learn and teach and give to one another the love and the knowledge we all are capable of sharing.
I want to thank the wonderful people at Clorox for the incredible trip and the outstanding stay at the W Hotel Midtown. It was an absolutely fabulous weekend. A huge thank-you to you, Daphne for your wonderful website and banging blog and your awesome personality!!! I appreciate the experience you gave me from the bottom of my heart.
P.S. Meeting Dr. Oz was an amazing highlight because he was part of a great inspiration for me. I weighed 220 lbs and had gotten so tired of myself. I had become such a great minded spiritually grounded person but was miserable being so out of shape. I began to try to loose weight and had gotten down to 180 but it was so hard and I was so overwhelmed by the process. I love sweets and fried anything It is so easy to eat… put it in your mouth and chew and it feels so good going down. I saw a show Dr. Oz did with a cadaver showcasing the areas in the human body that are affected by fat… I knew about the belly fat and all the troubles it can cause and the various other areas that being overweight adversely affect. Dr. Oz had a human brain and explained how fat deposits in the brain cells…. it was something that blew my mind and scared me to the point where I was able to get down to 135lbs and become the smallest I have ever been in my adult life, even part of my teens. Thanks to Daphne and Clorox I was able to thank Dr. Oz personally and he even invited me to send in my story and come on the show… stay tuned to see if it becomes a reality
O You! Recap (sponsored)
My trip to Atlanta to O You! put some spring in my step, which was it’s objective. I would never even have known about this O Magazine event had the Toilet Wand gang at Clorox not asked me to go to it and give a trip away for it.
Here is what it was: A convention of Oprah fans who wanted to be inspired to improve their lives or get over a hurdle.
Pros: it was well produced, heard some good talkers: Suze Orman, Martha Beck, Donna Brazile — who knew she was so fired up? She always seems a little bored on the political shows. Dr. Oz told us all we needed sleep. I could have told him that and my face isn’t on the back of a bus. Meeting the winner of the Cool Mom contest and hearing Oprah speak live, she almost made me cry.
Cons: It was crowded. The lines for the bathroom in the morning were insanely long (fortunately I knew to beat up to the Ode to Commode where there was no line. Apparently, so did Nate Berkus because I saw him going into the men’s room there as well. By the time my seminars were done (one could pick 2 out of 3) there was no food left. The irony was not lost on me as I stood under the lunch pavillion at the empty baskets where salads and sandwiches use to be, glassy eyed attendees shoving potato chips in their mouth, as that was all that remained, save the bad cookies, while Bob Greene talked on a nearby stage to a woman who had lost over 90lbs.
“Yes, eating right is the most important part of weight loss.” Um, Bob, yo, Bob, can we get an egg white wrap over here?
I have some choppy footage I’m going to get edited, but the uploading part is … problematic. Also, Lori, the CM winner, is going to do a guest post. She was the sweetest, most unjaded gal. So glad she won the trip.
I loved being in Atlanta. Great to see my long lost cousin Sue Ellen and eat Southern chow. The other night I had a great meal with my dear friends from Nashville who came down to see me. Their bourbon drinking put me under the table, but well worth it.
The overall message from Oprah in a nutshell: the past can’t hold you unless you let it. Your life needs to be about service. Your life matters. Everyone’s story matters.
O- Bound (sponsored)
I’m about to fly to Atlanta. Tomorrow is the O you! event. As my visitors will recall we had a contest for Ode to the commode, the campaign to draw attention to the Clorox Toilet wand ( a disposable toilet brush, because why do reuse it? yuck) Clorox is one of O You!’s sponsors and they asked me to do a contest giveaway for ticket to the Premier Oprah Mag event and go cover it myself. I will be tweeting from @coolmomdotcom handle this weekend about it.
Anyway, the winner of the contest is Lori Foreman of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She seems to be quite a contest player judging from her twitter feed, but she swears she is now a Cool Mom fan… that’s right! I look forward to meeting her tomorrow.
I’m also looking forward to seeing my cousin Sue Ellen Brogden, ( yes we spell differently, long story) who I have not seen since we were pre teens, well, maybe just teens. My daddy is from Georgia, so I might get a little choked up returning to his homeland.. first time since he died.
Also, dear friends are driving up down Saturday night from Nashville. So my sked is bascially, land, eat dinner, sleep, Oprah event, eat dinner, sleep, fly home.
I have no idea if will touch the hem of Oprah’s garment or be in the back row while Dr. Oz lectures us to eat more healthy food. Will let you know!
Win a Trip to “O You!” (sponsored)
Ever watched Oprah and just wanted to walk into her show sit on Suze Orman’s lap as she redoes your finances and have Dr. Oz look into your ears? Well, that’s not going to happen, but the next best thing.
you could win a trip to go to O You! O, The Oprah Magazine’s Signature Event.
Look for the key under your seat! I’m very excited to tell you that I have been chosen as the only blogger by Clorox to give away a trip to Atlanta to attend this SOLD OUT event.
All day Oprah’s faves..and OPRAH herself will be giving lectures on how to live your life to the fullest. The tickets, if they were still for sale are $125. Clorox toilet wand is one of the sponsors of the event and is paying for one lucky Cool Mom viewer/reader to fly to Atlanta, putting them up in a hotel for the event October 15th. I am going as well and will be doing some of my Cool Moming (yeah, it’s a verb) on the ground (Nate, oh Nate, it’s me, Daphne, we did a segment on Fashion Team once, oh Nate!) Here is a partial list of speakers:
Oprah Winfrey, founder and editorial director of O, The Oprah Magazine and CEO and chief creative officer of OWN
The top 20 things Oprah knows for sure
Gayle King, Editor-at-Large, O, The Oprah Magazine and host of The Gayle King Show on OWN and Sirius/XM Radio
Lisa Ling, host of Our America with Lisa Ling on OWN 
Suze Orman, financial expert, O columnist, host of The Suze Orman Show and co-host of Ask Oprah’s All Stars on OWN
Nate Berkus, design expert and host of The Nate Berkus Show 
Dr. Oz, health expert, O columnist, host of The Dr. Oz Show and co-host of Ask Oprah’s All Stars on OWNDr. Oz gives strategies, advice and the quickest route to calm
Clorox, the makers of the ToiletWand, reached out to me to help promote this event. I will be attending the event, and my airfare and hotel is being taken care of. Which means I also get to visit with my cousin Sue-Ellen, so that’s a plus.
So how can you join me – and that Winfrey lady–in Atlanta?
For an entry, comment on this post and let me know that you “Like” Ode to the Commode on Facebook: www.facebook.com/odetothecommode. Also, answer if you will, who usually does the toilet scrubbing in your household? ( no right or wrong answer)
For an extra entry, follow @OdetotheCommode on Twitter and tweet: Ditch the ick w/ #cloroxtoiletwand to #win a trip to #OYou2011 w/@coolmomdotcom & @odetothecommode
Yes, toilet cleaner, but let’s face it would we be living our life to the fullest without modern plumbing? I know when we say what we are grateful at Thanksgiving I so frequently mention it at the top of my list my family makes fun of me. To which I say, the pilgrims wish they had a toilet.
Hey, a free trip with inspiring speakers and lots of like minded people, follow, like, write on the wall AND please write a comment that you did or “enter me” or any brief thing so I can keep track of you all.
One winner will randomly selected from all entries received by 3:00pm PT on Friday 10/7. Good luck!
Look forward to seeing one of you in Atlanta.
For official rules, click here.
Women in comedy: interview with Wendi Mclendon-Covey
A highlight of my trip to Blog Her ’11 was interviewing one of the stars of my favorite film of 2011, “Bridesmaid”, Wendi Mclendon – Covey. She had my favorite line in the entire hilarious picture and I gushed to her about that. She is the comic spokesperson for Hillshire Farm and we chatted about those funny commercials… seriously, funny.
She is a trooper, while I think I’m way fun to talk to, I know she had done quite a few interviews that day, yet seemed fresh as a daisy. Watch us here
Check this one out. It’s the new one. (Best line “We’re pretty!”) If only all commercials were that clever, but hey they can’t all be Pack It. I also brought up a legend’s birthday that had resonance with her.
As someone who interviewed actors on TV for years it was nice to have more than 90 seconds to chat. That’s one of the advantages of the web. I really hope she continues to get work, funny women usually get shafted… oh we talked about that too.
This the third and final installment of posts with Hillshire Farm. I’ve enjoyed doing them and was given a wide berth creatively which I love. I also got some great coupons from them at Blogher and the deli meats have been getting gobbled up at the Brogdon/Peel household.
Finding the Good in Back To School (sponsored)
Can you smell it? Can you smell the tension of trying to get your kids dressed, hair brushed and “for the love of God, put on your shoes” as you try not to get a tardy? You’d think it was my report card at stake.
Yes, I can smell back to school time is close. Oh, those last gleeful moments of summer. Outdoor dining in the back yard, staying up late and mosquito bites. Lathering up the kids with sunblock, glasses, sun hat and the rose of summer: Cherries!
I know some parents think summer creates more work for them, but I have really enjoyed it this year. But, I have to look for the bright side as summer wanes.
Brightside #1
When Rex starts his two day a week school I will have two mornings I can work out and get into supermodel shape…if you can with two days a week workout.
Brightside #2 when it gets dark earlier, I get the kids to sleep sooner thereby leaving more time to read ( also known as watch DVR’d “House Hunter International”)
Brightside #3 Continuing the tradition of “Day Outs”. When I was growing up my mom took each of us on our own day out with mom. We bought our school clothes and then got to pick where we would go to eat for lunch.
“Anywhere you want!” She would say. Did I pick legendary restaurants of LA that are long shuttered? Scandia, Chasen’s, Brown Derby? No.
“Howard Johnsons!”
Last year was the first year I started it with Vivien. It is magical being the mom in this equation as it was being the daughter. I love our time together. When we shop we discuss likes and dislikes, style and what is appropriate. She is no longer at the age that I can dress her up like a paper doll, but is not giving me the sullen teen push back. I know which colors she gravitates too.
But, since she is still a little kid I can’t wear her out and risk a meltdown mid “happy day”. So I’m doing my research before we set out. I know from my niece ( 10) the kids are still digging the Peace signs and graphic tees. Denim is hot, check. Sears Style helps you do your homework so you know what the kids are into. I do prefer to go to a place I can pick up a few t- shirts for my stepson as well. ( sidebar, there was the cutest yellow dress with white lace in the junior department that I wonder if my childbearing hips could fit into). Sears also has a Sears Personal Shopper app this year for iPhone and Android’s (my phone) that I want to use. Snap a picture of something you want for back to school and expert shoppers find it and contact you on where you can get it, even if it’s not at Sears.
I smell smart shopping.
This is one of three posts sponsored by Sears. I was pleased to be asked to be a spokesperson for their back to school tween clothing. Next post: favorites from the media tour.
What to wear back to school? Survey Results (sponsored)
What are the back to school items you want to skip? Which ones are on your to do list?
If I was to fill out a survey on the topic I would say
1) One of my back to school items is trying not to look like the frumpiest lady at drop off.
2) closed toed shoes for Vivien. She can’t wear her favorite foot wear at her school, sandals, so I will be looking for closed toe shoes that are EASY TO PUT ON. When we are trying to get out the door I can’t stand wrestling with the hard to slip on shoes.
3) good price. Yes, I have seen $130 jeans for little kids. I have also seen people bungee jump. I plan on doing neither. They grow out of their clothes so fast it’s koo-koo to spend that kind of money on kid clothes.
Well, speaking of surveys Sears and Blogher did a survey about parent’s shopping habits for this Back to School period. Here are some of the results
–two-thirds of parents say they are inclined to spend more on apparel items like jeans, tops and shoes for this school year versus last year.
So, even in a downturn, kiddos still keep growing. I am more likely to buy something for my kids than myself.
But according to the survey, parents are spending more on KEY items, but, they using newspaper ads, circulars and loyalty programs to track down the best deals. All those services that rhyme with boo pon, you know.
Okay, so what are the key items? For my 10 year old niece it’s cool pants and graphic tee’s. Preferably, with a peace sign. For my 17 year old stepson, it’s tight legged blue jeans and plan t shirts. For Vivien it’s anything in pink. So, to make the purchase worthwhile… the maximize your time, here a few results of my own:
1) pick stuff they are really going to wear. Yes, I would love it if I could still dress my niece up in fancy dresses, but it ain’t going to happen.
2) lay out a few rules. there will be no midriff showing, a non starter. I’m fine with a peace sign, or Love or American flag, but nothing with a negative or snarky saying thanks.
I know I will soon be made irrelevant, but right now I still a little input.
3) don’t shop at a place that is not your food group. Make sure it’s a store that has stuff you feel okay with.
4) Sears has a great Facebook application called, “Mom’s Amazing List”, which allows you to actually create your own shopping list and get suggestions based on your child’s gender and age.
5) Avoid the impulse. I could buy my daughter cute, flowery dresses all day, but her closet is choking with them, so until she gets a little bigger, I can’t justify that purchase.
I should ) my own shopping better.
this is the first of three posts sponsored by Sears about Back to School shopping. I am going to be doing some media appearances in support of their program. I love me some Sears.
Getting my daughter to eat breakfast, & Blogher ’11 : Sponsored
Busy week. Shot two days worth of Her Say ( check out at www.hersay.com). Body suddenly racked by grief on Tuesday ( see previous post). Leaving for super speedo getaway with family. Hard to find the time. When you buy a house the travel budget does dwindle. My kids are so excited for their trip. Vivien packed last night unaided. This morning I found Vivien was ready to go and had put her stuff in my closet to let me know.
The day after we come back I am going to Blogher’11 in San Diego. First time going. I’m going in part so I can check out the activities at the Hillshire Farm booth. I’ve been collaborating with them this month I’m going to interview their spokesperson, “Bridesmaid” star Wendi McLendon-Covey. She will be signing autographs and meeting people there.
I also want to check out the food styling workshop they are doing. This would be of help to food bloggers and to wives of chef’s who try to take pictures of food with little success. Who could that be? Mark has told me hilarious stories about what makes food look good in pictures, sometimes it’s car oil. Seriously, yummy food and yummy photography are not the same thing. Since I’m his wifeager I think I need more knowledge.
So, maybe I will see you there.
Okay, back to yummy food. Here is a vid Vivien and I did about how I get her to eat breakfast. Yes, it is a win-win.
CLICK HERE to watch… in case you missed it. Did I mention to click here, no not here, the other here.
Go to http://facebook.com/hillshirefarm for all their blogher info.
Yes, I am being paid a kings ransom to write about Hillshire Farms. It’s crazy money, I could have bought Candy Spelling’s place. Well, maybe some of her wrapping paper. But, I love smoked turkey. I should have asked for smoked turkey.
Secret Motivation: Farmer’s Market, sponsored
Sure my kids would chomp on a chewy food that’s color is not found in nature, but I’m trying to get them excited…or at least sort of curious.. about foods that are good to them and to teach them how you incorporate these foods into a meal.
When Vivien was younger she was more open to things plucked from the ground. 
They love dad’s catering van. We are pretty chic around here and the Campanile van is our “company car” ( no sleek sedan for us!). Our kids love playing in the van, so I brought them to the restaurant as Mark was unloading his bounty from the day’s shopping. His first stop is Campanile, the second is Tar Pit. We caught up with him at camp.
Click to here to see the video…and You might learn a few things.. I know I did!
Starting August 1st, when someone watches the featured video on the Hillshire Farm Facebook page, they will get to download a $.55 Off coupon for any Hillshire Farm product. Then, if they post the offer on their Facebook Newsfeed or enter three friend’s email addresses, they will have the opportunity to upgrade to a larger coupon for $1 off.
This the second of four posts that are sponsored by Hillshire Farms. Which basically means they ask me if I can write or do a vid on themes they are using in their marketing. They are easy themes to connect with so I readily agreed. I am going to receive some money for this. Whoops, I forgot to also ask for sliced ham. I love sliced ham.