A few weeks ago, the Silicon Valley Moms hosted a “Brands and Bloggers” event at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA.  The women of the LA Moms Blog came to join us in Orange County Moms for this special event. These event was about networking with representatives of brands, but we also had two great keynote speakers.

Kimberly Clayton Blaine of The Go-To Mom spoke about vlogging, or also known as video blogging.  Kimberly told us which kinds of electronic equipment she uses for vlogging, she prefers Sony products.  She also talked to use about branding our videos and why using HD quality is also important.  After listening to Kimberly speak, I wanted to run out and buy a new video camera.  Actually, I downloaded Best Buy’s iPhone application and was surfing their site for video cameras.

After Kimberly finished, we were treated to a presentation from Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential Media and Jill Asher of Silicon Valley Moms Group about how brands and bloggers can work together.  Ciaran told some great stories about bloggers working with brands.  I was laughing so hard that I can barely remember the stories, but I do remember a comparison of “seven minutes in heaven” being spoken about.  Jill spoke about Silicon Valley Moms Group and the PR (Public Relations) pitches that they receive weekly, think thousands.  During this discussion, we had individual bloggers speak about their experiences with working with PR and brands.  We also had brands and their PR speak out about how their particular companies work with bloggers, and what has worked.

During both of these great keynotes I was a bit distracted though.  We were in this fabulous ballroom, with tons of great women.  They were speaking about something that we love, blogging, and how to make it better.  But alas, this was what was waiting outside the doors behind them. Wouldn’t you be distracted?

After these great speakers, we headed towards another room to interact more with each other (bloggers, that is) and the brands (awesome PR people).  Seriously, it was really great to spend some one-on-one with the representatives of these brands.  I always say that I’m a consumer. Which means, I like to spend money, even if I don’t have it.  I’m always looking to try out out new things for myself, and for my family.  Speaking of trying out things, Kelly really loved these Cinnabon Cupcakes, perhaps she even took some home with her.

It was great to catch up with the LA Moms, as I have met many of them before. You would think we live in different states, because us, “Orange County Moms”, act like LA is sooo far away, rather than an hour. Ok, it’s a little far for me, as I don’t like to leave my Orange County bubble.  And the Orange County Moms, it was a nice treat for us to have a Girl’s Night Out like this.

I wish I could have spent more time talking to everyone, but gosh, I got so tired.  It’s amazing how much energy that comes out of me when I get to talk to people I love.  That’s what I love about this blogging thing, the people.  Of course all of these fabulous women live in my home state, California, but I’ve connected with some many other people throughout the United States and even Canada.

I would love to give a great big shout out to all of the brands represented at this event.  I learned so much while there.  I’m going to do some more in-depth reviews and possibly giveaways with these brands in the near future for my review site. So be sure and check back.

Photos of brands taken by Carla Duharte-Razur of babyjidesign.

BitDefender was the Co-Host Sponsor of the event.

These brands were also sponsors:
Stride Rite
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Busy Body Books
litl
PopCap
Ebates
iGo
Dole
Bosch
Cinnabon
Whole Foods
Stonyfield
erbaorganics
Taga
Focus Features/BABIES movie
Joseph’s Rugs
Ju-Ju-Be
Pretend City
Whrrl
Pose Prints
Sketchers
Bootights
Eden Fantasys

Photos taken by Carla Duharte-Razur of babyjidesign.

And cause you knew this was going to be a long post, right? I’m proud to say that I’m a contributor to the newest group from The Silicon Valley Moms Blogs, The Orange County Moms Blog. So be sure to check out their new sister site, with some great moms from Orange County!

Welcome to  “Angry Julie Monday’s Wordless Wednesday MckLinky”! If this your first time here, HELLO! I am doing a link-up every Wednesday! Post a picture(s) that you took in the past week and link back to it here.

Ever since I started watching Gossip Girl, I’ve had an obsession with headbands.  Seriously Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) has influenced a new trend and movement just from a TV show. Do you watch the show? I do, because I love some drama. Seriously though, the fashion on the show is awesome.  I love their stylists, and what they put together for the actor’s wardrobes. It’s amazing!

I’ve never really been a hair accessory person. I have thick and fluffy hair. I do, I swear.  My hair is always too thick for cute clips and other things. I did rock the scrunchie in the 90′s though. I’ve always had long hair until the past few years. My hair was such a hot mess though when it was long.  I pretty kept it in a ponytail 24/7.  This is one of the main reasons that I decided to cut my hair so short, was the everlasting ponytail. I decided that I needed a style, and that would be easier for me to maintain shorter hair.

I’m trying to accessorize my hair a little more.  I don’t want to look or be called a boy.  I loathe the term “boy short hair”.  Please call it “pixie” or something else, that will imply cute and stylish. I’ve used hair clips, barrettes, flowers, and now the headband.  I am obsessed with headbands. I rock the headband. I’ve also found someone else who has an obsession worse than mine. Do you follow, or read Tip Junkie? You should, because Laurie and her site are fabulous. We bonded at Blissdom over our headband obsessions.

Photo by Angie Arthur. She’s also the Co-Founder of i heart faces.

Hanging out with Laurie fueled my obession with headbands. I have quite a collection already.  They range from simple to quite fancy.  I started out with basic black headbands, but I’m moving onto to more colorful and fancy ones.

On Friday night, I was on Twitter.  I tweeted to Brooke that there was a headband on her site, that I needed.  I was not joking. I saw this headband and instantly decided it would be mine.  I actually met Brooke a few months ago at The Handmade Brigade. I got her business card and bookmarked her site. Brooke responded back that I should get the headband.  I don’t think she understood me. I had a headband emergency. I needed instant gratification. Brooke lives locally to me, which is a good thing.

I finally got a hold of Brooke on Saturday.  I spoke with her on the phone.  I told her that I had an event on Sunday.  I bought the perfect dress.  I neeeeeeeeeeed this headband to match the dress. She laughed a little, I’m sure. I said, seriously, where can I meet you? She knew I was not joking.  So we agreed that she would make me the fabulous headband.  I would meet her the next morning.

Brooke came through. She’s fabulous!!!! We chatted a little, ok maybe I blabbed my mouth off. But, she made me that most fabulous headband ever! We met in the Target parking lot at 9am Sunday morning. Cause I’m fabulous like that! I was hiding in my Tahoe with my unwashed wild hair barely awake. I felt like I was doing a drug deal or something. I was in my car handing over cash for a box.  It’s pretty funny when I tell the story in person.  But seriously, I can’t say enough good things about Brooke and her talents.  Here’s a close-up photo of the headband.  Isn’t it pretty? You can buy it HERE.

As for my entire outfit with the awesome headband. Well, I think it came out well.  Don’t you think it looked great with my awesome dress, from Tar-jay? And the ocean view isn’t too bad either!