Month: June 2009

Start Poken! A Social Media Gadget and Giveaway!

Recently I participated in a MomActive Twitter Party sponsored by Start Poken, where I noticed they were giving away Pokens. Now you may wonder, as I did, what in the world is a Poken. Well let me share something new and fun with you! A Poken, by Start Poken Inc., is a gadget that plugs into your computer’s USB port allowing you to upload your social media profiles as well as contact information. You can exchange that information with another Poken owner by touching them together. Pokens come in a variety of different characters such as Baby Poken or Rock Star Poken. They also offer customizable Pokens for individual corporations to promote their own brand. My neighbor and I both have Pokens. We uploaded our Social Media contact information onto the Pokens, touched them together, giv...

Band-Aid® Couture

Today, June 30th, marks a milestone in our family. Is it a birthday? No. Is it a wedding anniversary? No. It’s the anniversary of our first trip to the ER with Claire. We do things big around here. I mean, if you’re gonna go, go all out. There was blood. There were paramedics. Did I mention all the blood? But, all’s well that ends well, and in reality, it was something that really couldn’t have been avoided. It was just a bonk on the head that happened to require stitches. Claire tripped and hit her head on a rather innocuous upholstered chair, and did so just right that it split her forehead open. I learned some things that day: Wow. Head wounds can gush! Quentin Tarantino would have been impressed with the aftermath in our living room. I can remember all of my First Aid Training in the m...

Tour de Colorado’s Ultimate Splurge for Families: The Broadmoor’s New Cottages

I had been touring the Olympic Peninsula all week. I flew home late that night, did laundry, repacked and then jumped in the car with my family the next morning. Upon arrival at The Broadmoor’s sculpted grounds, I was frenzied and sleep-deprived. The moment we pulled up to the security gate, all my worries were whisked away faster than the Calgon commercials of yesteryear. I gave the guard my name, received a parking pass and drove to the valet. I was greeted by Alex, a Romanian bellhop with a damsel-wooing accent: “Mrs. Johnson! How nice of you to join us again.” I wondered how he knew I had stayed at The Broadmoor once before. Did he also know my favorite color is blue and that I have no intention to pay that unmerited parking ticket I received downtown? In the end, I didn’t care. The Br...

Win the Ultimate Pamper Package in the Mile High City!

CONTEST CLOSED Mile High Mamas had a makeover– Now it’s your turn! To celebrate our redesign, we have put together the ultimate pamper package for moms and we want you to win it! Just what will it entail? Only some of the very best indulgences Denver has to offer including: A personal 60-minute spa treatment from Indulgences Day Spa. Named as “One of Denver’s top spas” by 5280 magazine, this haven in the Highlands is as charming as the Victorian house in which it resides. The decor is Shabby Chic, the staffers authentic and most importantly, the massages are fabulous. I’ve had a few treatments and hands down, my favorite was the 60-minute Swedish massage. Then again, I talked for weeks about my rejuvenating facial. But when my husband surprised me with a...

10 iPhone App Suggestions for Parents

I recently bought an iPhone and I am now addicted to it. I enjoy finding ways I can use my iPhone to help me organize my life and occasionally entertain my daughter. PCMag.com has shared a list of 10 iPhone apps which parents may find helpful. Thanks PCMag.com for these great tips! Apple’s newest phone, the iPhone 3G S, went on sale this past Friday, and sold a million in the first weekend. With over 50,000 apps on the market, how will consumers—particularly busy parents—know which are the best ones to buy? According to tech leader PCMag.com, the best ones aren’t always the ones that are top-rated on iTunes. PCMag.com editors have cut through the clutter and named the 10 iPhone apps for parents and how they can be adapted to make motherhood (or fatherhood) a less complicated experien...

Glue and snouts for dinner! Why being picky is not a lifetime sentence

My kids have never eaten baloney, cottage cheese, or plain Cheerios. They’ve never been subjected to rhubarb, which I’ve heard is so awful it must be engulfed in strawberries or the unfortunate gobbler may die of grossness. They’ve never known the earthy-oozy tastes of soy milk, bleu cheese, feta, tofu, or tapioca pudding. Gosh, those are some picky kids!, you might think. But I’m the person who doesn’t like any of the above. I never buy, prepare, or serve foods that have been on my ick-list for decades. Pickiness begets pickiness, so I’ve witnessed my prejudices become a part of my kids culinary sensibilities. Blame Me. My family is known for having dark hair, blue eyes, and a certain panicked look on our faces when cottage cheese is near. I’m not...

Embracing the Unexpected–Pregnancy, That Is

Guest blogger Janalee Chmel is co-owner of “MA! motherhood with attitude” (Mile High Mamas’ pick for the most hilarious mom-oriented cards on the market) and is a Denver-based freelance writer. My heart is pounding as I write this because it feels sort of like “coming out.” Where to begin??? Welp, how about on January 28, 2010. January 28, 2010. That is the day I am due to deliver Baby #3. Yes, I am knocked up. Bun in the oven. “TIN ROOF! RUSTED!” (google it) Noooo, this was not planned. OK, so here I am, 40 years old, children at ages 7 and a 6, and one on the way. Suffice it to say, I’m scared. YES, this is a blessed event. YES, “everything will work out,” as my husband Dave and I keep hearing from our giggling friends. But this is quite scary. Let me lay it on ya: * No...

Mama’s Fantastic 4th of July Preview

We here at the Mamas strive to bring you information on activities that are fun and economical. The 4th of July offers so many amazing things to do, whether it’s a community fireworks display, or the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Thus we bring you our 4th of July list. It’s long, but by no means exhaustive. Almost every city/municipality/what-have-you has some kind of Independence Day celebration and/or fireworks display. If you don’t see your neighborhood represented, give your local government, civic association, or HOA a call. Chances are they’ll point you in the right direction, whether it’s their own celebration, or one nearby. These events are organized by date, and then region, so you can strategically plan your weekend and soak up as much fun as humanly possible. Have fun! Friday, Ju...

Mama’s Weekly Picks for Colorado’s Best Family-friendly Events

This week, we bring you a slightly abbreviated list in anticipation of the holiday weekend to come. Look for a gigantic list of all things Independence Day coming your way later this week. Fireworks displays and celebrations galore, people! We’ll also get your holiday off to a great start with an early post of activities for late next week and beyond. Are guests invading? Look no further than the Mamas for great ideas on where best to take the out-of-towners. In the meantime, relax, take in a concert or a movie, and enjoy the warm weather we’re finally having. A pre-holiday trip to Estes Park might be in order to check out the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Or head down to Sakura Square and enjoy some Japanese culture. As always, Denver is rich with fun things to do. . . enjoy! Summer Co...

Earning My Mom Badge

I have loved Tessa from the the moment I knew of her existence, but the lovin’ wasn’t proven until she was about 3 months old. My husband Rob had a conference in Costa Rica one summer, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to travel with him. So we recruited two babysitters — the kind who buy their own airline tickets and hotel room — a.k.a “parents.” Mine. Three-month-old babies have a surprising amount of stuff. Clothing, diapers, wipes, and (in our case) formula, bottles, washing paraphernalia and drool cloths. One of the bulkiest things a baby needs is a bath. I envisioned getting on the plane with all her stuff and my stuff and a car seat and a stroller, and it was easy to decide we could do without the bath. I’d just have her take a bath...

Here Fishy Fishy, Bye Fishy Fishy: Share Your Fish “Tails”

If there was a Social Services for Fish, we would be so busted. I am sad to inform you that Tad, Rad and Cad met their demise, as well as those other unnamed fishes we managed to kill as well. Total lifespan at the Johnson Slaughterhouse? A whopping 23 days. For the lucky ones. For those just tuning in, my daughter Hadley received a fish tank for her 5th birthday from her Aunt Lisa. My husband Jamie and I had previously been resistant to acquiring a pet but thought fish ownership would be a no-brainer. Turns out the Wizard of Oz’s scarecrow isn’t the only one without a brain. We started with three fish and replaced them after each ceremonial burial around the toilet. Tad met his demise in his Man Cave. Cad attempted the back-stroke and ended up staying there. A few others died ...

Twitter 101: What’s all this Tweetin’ Fuss About?

Twitter–what is it and who cares what I am doing right now? I have had this conversation with a friend of mine. Who cares that I am taking my kids to the park right now? Well there is sooo much more to Twitter than finding out what other people are up to. Twitter is a a free social messaging tool to stay connected instantly. You need to sign up on the Twitter website to start your free Twitter account. There are thousands perhaps millions of people signed up on Twitter. You can choose to follow anyone on Twitter and they can choose to follow you. The way it works is that you type an instant “tweet” or update that says what you are doing in that moment and it is instantly posted to your Twitter feed. The people who can then see that instant update are people who have chose...