ParentSphere – Promoting products and services that make a parent's world go around

Alright, I decided that I wanted to link up to anyone who stopped by my table at the Brands & Bloggers Summit.  I knew when I concocted this little idea that it was going to take a big chunk of time.  But, I wanted to do it anyway because I want a permanent reminder of [...]

This session is so important for any and all bloggers, really, whether you’re reviewing products directly or not. Sarah Evans is our speaker and she is touching on the subject of bloggers and brands working together.  If you are contemplating starting a product and/or service review blog, please do your homework.  You’re just protecting yourself [...]

The panel of bloggers and brands at today’s summit have brought interesting conversation to the table and have answered audience questions wonderfully.  The whole point of getting a bunch of influential people in a room is to educate and inspire. I’m finding that all here today.

It’s 9:30 am and I’m still trying to wake up and wrap my head around the fact that I’m in a room full of amazing people.  It’s been so long and this feels SO good.  I took somewhat of a blogging break a year or so ago.  Not a break, but I just slowed down…a [...]

Not only did we get to see Gustafer Yellowgold’s live show this past weekend in Chicago, we also got to see him once again the other night in the suburbs.  We were pretty stoked about that. The whole fam went to the show at Schubas.  By the way, if you are around the Chicago area, [...]

Just last month, I took my kids to see Dot & Ziggy.  It was such a cute play geared toward my pint-size toddler!  I’m happy to work with the Chicago Children’s Theatre and offer TWO tickets for giveaway to the Dot & Ziggy NOON performance at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago on Saturday, June [...]

Thank you to all who came out on Tuesday night to our Northern Illinois Food Bank benefit show. Admittedly, planning this event and hoping for a good turnout was a bit stressful but after watching it all come together, I’m very proud of our efforts. In my mind, this benefit show just opened the door [...]

We paid a visit to our local food bank, the Northern Illinois Food Bank (voted 2010 food bank of the year), to learn about how they operate.  In our quick visit, I took away quite a bit of valuable information. Here’s a video of my warehouse walk-through with Jarrod Daab, NIFB’s Senior Development Officer. We [...]

My mother-in-law and I recently took the girls to see Dot & Ziggy at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.  In a nutshell, the production was a huge hit with both the youngsters and their parents/caregivers. I was nervous at first, because my toddler is very busy and I expected at least one or two [...]

I’m so excited to announce this event! My participation in ConAgra’s Child Hunger Ends Here initiative has inspired me and given me the opportunity to do something I really love – and do it for a good cause. (Double win!) On Tuesday, May 24th, we are hosting an acoustic benefit show where all proceeds will [...]

I spent yesterday afternoon at the World of Whirlpool Blogger Lunch in Chicago.  I swoon over appliances and other miscellaneous household items, so this event was a good fit. I remember receiving a Clorox ReadyMop at my wedding shower in 2002.  As I squealed in delight, my girlfriends, who were nowhere near the marriage stage, [...]

17.2 million children in the United States don’t get enough food to live active, healthful lives – that’s one in four kids who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. That’s why ConAgra Foods is encouraging people across the country to rally together to help end child hunger in our communities. I recently [...]

On Saturday, Hailey and I drove to Rosemont, IL to catch the Imagination Movers on their “In A Big Warehouse” tour. The Movers are halfway through their United States tour, playing over one hundred shows along the way. That’s the big time, people. We arrived early and when I say early, I mean, the parking [...]

There are various ways to contribute to the Child Hunger Ends Here initiative and here is just one way to give, that seamlessly fits in with your daily life and makes getting lost in the supermarket kind of worth it.  Watch and learn: *Go Grocery Shopping – From March through May 2011, ConAgra Foods will [...]

*Congratulations to our winner, JENNY in West Chicago, IL! Thanks to all who entered. I’m sure we’ll have more exciting event ticket giveaways coming soon! We have been big fans of the Imagination Movers since 2008, when we heard their music on the Disney Channel.  We would always look forward to their videos, which were [...]