March 17, 2012 – 12:32 pm

Confessions of a SXSW Rookie

When I was invited to speak on a panel at SXSW (South by Southwest) I jumped at the chance.  First, I love the panel topic – the future of mobile and retailing.  My co-panelists and I could wax on about the subject endlessly.  The guys from Checkpoints, Savvy Shopper, and Levis, taught me a lot about how shoppers are using their phones in store and in general.

But I was really psyched to see what the legendary SXSW conference was all about.  And in retrospect, I DID IT ALL WRONG!!!  First, I booked late and had to stay out in the burbs – every hotel room in downtown Austin was booked 6 months in advance.  This means no late night drinking, partying or networking which, as it turns out, is half the beauty of SXSW.   Second, I just showed up on Saturday morning.  That’s like just showing up at Disney World without a reservation.  I didn’t prep to see who else was attending, what events were running, which talks would wow and amaze.  There is a very effective APP called GO SXSW that saved me, but I kept running into people I knew (including my own agencies) who asked “why didn’t you let us know you would be here?”.    (Umm, cause I am a rookie here)   Third, I cut it too short.  I did the sensible type-A thing and tried to power through in a day and a half.  I left right after my panel on Sunday afternoon, only to realize that the good stuff was just about to start.  That night JayZee performed, the cool film and music people started showing up, and the interactive conversation melded into the hipsters of art and pop culture.  I just heard that last night Bruce Springsteen gave an amazing performance at SXSW while I am back here in Chicago.  Super.    All rookie mistakes not to be repeated.  I started to see SXSW as a mash up of Ted, Mill Valley Film festivle, and a Texas State fair.  No wonder its called Spring break for Geeks. Read the rest of this entry »

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in Digital Marketing | Comments (0)
January 16, 2012 – 10:36 pm

Best Teaching Website – Mama Says So

Am I the last person to know about the Kahn Academy?  This is the most brilliant website ever!  I am not ashamed to admit that my kids’ math classes have surpassed my memory of quadratic equations and plotting algebraic charts.  So where do I tell them to go when they’re stumped with their homework?  To my new favorite resource www.kahnacademy.com

Actually, one of my son’s teachers told him about it with the joke “This site may be putting me out of a job, but I’ll tell you about it anyway”.  Then I watched him use the site and I was totally sucked in.  Kahn Academy has close to 3,000 videos that teach different subjects.  It does seem that their specialty is math.  A very understandable guy in a humorous voice over teaches different topics that you select from an extensive drop down menu.  So the video is the blackboard with the teacher’s explanation of the lesson.  He takes the most complex stuff and makes it simple.  Picture your favorite teacher ever, but on every topic and available when ever you need him.  This is the parenting tool of the year(s)!  Way to take the pressure off of us Kahn academy.  Well played!

On the site they have Salman Kahn’s presentation at TED.  His vision is to make a high quality education available to everyone.   This is such a great concept; it makes up for all of the other idiotic uses for the Internet.  Count me in as a fan.  I am going  to login to learn everything I ever missed on US History and Art History.

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in Education, parenting | Comments (0)
January 14, 2012 – 6:23 pm

Whew! I’m just a Free Range Parenter

As I Googled “Worst Mom Ever” hoping I don’t show up on page 1, I was filled with  relief. 

Not only am I not named, but the honor goes to a woman named Lenore Skenazy.  So I read to see what Lenore’s deal is, only to find – She’s MY NEW HERO!   Lenore has coined the phase Free Range Parenting and actively blogs about it.  Her quote – which I love – is that society’s current over protective form of parenting creates “Hothouse, mama-tied, danger-hallucinating joy extinguishers”.  I think Jamie Lee Curtis said it better in Freaky Friday - she called them “Fun Suckers”.  Reading Lenore’s philosophy sets me free.  It turns out that I am not a bad mother, I am just the antithesis of the helicopter parent.  By telling my kids to figure it out themselves because Mama Ssays So, I was actually empowering them.  SWEET!  Wait until I show up at a PTA meeting armed with that !!!!   Even the hard core room mothers have to respect Time Magazine.  This article “The Growing Backlash Against Over-Parenting” chronicles the rise of the Free Range Parenting movement.  If the article were shorter, I would consider tattooing it on myself.  I’ll suffice to link the article here and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1940697-4,00.html   

Lenore was trotted out as “America’s worst Mom ” on the Today Show 2 years ago for letting her 9 year old ride the NYC subway alone – mind you, they they live in that city.  Jeez, I should be able to get a spot on 60 minutes for putting my kids on planes by themselves, sending them to college interviews alone, and making them ride their bikes to swimming lessons then day camp.   I mean, come on, they have always made it back alive and they can definitely navigate their way in world – with our without me. 

Where do you fall?  Helicopter Parent?  Tiger Mom?  Free Range Parent?  Or a combo platter of all three?  Me,?  I am happy to discard the “bad mommy” title for a new badge, I am a proud member of the Free Range Parenters.  Mama Says So!

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in parenting, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
November 19, 2011 – 3:24 pm

Mobile Toys Shopping with QR codes?!

This has been one of my favorite projects this year.  We have taken the Toy Team’s favorite toys, put them on billboards, and displayed them in places where it may be easier for people to shop.  Waiting at the airport?  Waiting for the bus?  Waiting for tickets at the theatre?  We just made it a snap to scan a QR code with your Smart phone, and have your toy purchase sent to its destination.

Could it really be this easy to finish the holiday shopping?  Oh yeah!  The Mobile Toy Walls are in Chicago, Dallas, and Denver airports.  They are in bus shleters, malls, and threatres in Chicago, Boston, Pittsburg, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.  Check them out and let me know how you like the scan and go option.  So far thousands of people have tken advantage of it!

Your inner multi tasker loves this idea!

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in retail, Toys, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
November 15, 2011 – 12:22 am

Favorite Toys of The Season

The holiday shopping season is underway, and some clear winners are starting to emerge from the toy aisles.  I am delighted to see some familiar faces take the spot light  – Minnie Mouse  and Elmo are topping the list for the preschool toys!  Not too surprising, educational toys are also a hit this year.  The Leap Pad from Leap Frog is already in short supply, and the Vtech Innotab is also getting scooped up and placed in shopping carts and layaway plans. 

Some surprises have been been the fluffy and cuddly Happy Nappers, and the Angry Birds game and plush.  For the girls, the edgy Monster High Dolls are selling at a scary rate.   LaLaLoopsy dolls are also tuning out to be favorites in the regular and the mini sizes.  One of my favorite girl toys?  It has to be the sassy, singing Fijit.  The best selling boys toys are some tried and true brands – Nerf, Lego, and Thomas Tank to name a few.  The RC cars are also doing great this season.    Not in the mood to shop yet?  Okay, suit yourself.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you in the December crunch time!

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in Toys | Comments (0)
September 27, 2011 – 10:18 pm

Hot Toys for the Season with Rico Rodriguez

It was great fun in NYC this week with Rico Rodriguez announcing our Kmart Fab 15 – the hottest toys for the holidays.  After he appeared to announce our list on Fox and Friends, we got to talk to the media and an amazing group of Bloggers down in SoHo.  Post the event, it was off to tape a segment on the Nate Berkus Show.  I always have a good time hanging with Rico – even on an action packed day like that – there’s plenty of room for fun.  Go to www.kmart.com/fab15 to see the Fab 15 list and watch Rico in action.

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in Toys, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
August 28, 2011 – 12:23 pm

Back To School Again – 12 years later

Twelve years ago we moved into our neighborhood and enrolled our oldest child in Kindergarten. We arrived in October, so school was already underway, and our son was a little apprehensive – until he met his new best friend and neighbor, Dan T. Dan’s Mom was delighted to have us move in as she explained her dilemma to us. “Dan is wandering around the house like a lost child because this is the first year all 5 of his siblings are in school for the full day. Dan is in Kindergarten for the morning, but then he just waits all afternoon until the kids to come home. Now, he has a playmate with Connor.”

So for years Dan and Connor walked to school together, played together, and competed together. Connor quickly became the 7th child at Dan’s house. When dinner was not to his liking at our kitchen, he knew he could do better down the street at Dan’s. After all, he explains, Mrs. T is the best cook in the neighborhood. It was almost uncanny how the boys had almost every class together, choose the same sports, and push each other with a very friendly rivalry.

Unbelievably, its 12 years later and back to school time again. And history is repeating itself at Mrs. T’s house. The twist is that all of Dan’s siblings have gone off to college. And this time we are not worried about how Dan will fill his days. As an active senior he has every minute filled. But Connor is worried about Mrs. T with so many empty chairs around the table. He’s thinking he may have to put in a little more time there, at least during the back to school season.

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
August 10, 2011 – 10:45 pm

Kid tech gets the Girl!

I’ve been known to blast Facebook and any texting device as time stealers and social skill eroders in the hands of kids.  My primary rationale is because “Mama Says So”.  But I may have to eat my words this time.

This video was taken as my son asked his girlfriend to Prom.  I can’t explain why, but  in Chicago it is inadequate to just ask a girl, “Hey, do you want to go to Prom?”  so he created a Bollywood Flash Mob to ask her.  For some bizarre reason the kids all know the Bollywood movie Lagaan, and the music “Mitwa” is what they are dancing to.

The dance scene materialized at the High School, but a lot of the dance moves were taught over facebook.  My son (the tall one) got his sister to use a flip camera and film him talking through the dance moves and progressions.  Then, through the wonders of incessant texting, they coordinated the time and place.  All of the kids’ friends and family then get to watch it on YouTube, or from their smart phones.  A little tech nirvana.

So maybe kids do use tech for more than wasting time.  In this case, it was used to get the girl.   Mama Says So.

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in family entertainment, Kids Entertainment, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
July 17, 2011 – 7:54 pm

Mama Says So Play Dates go International

I am a big fan of the international play date!

I just shipped my 13 year old off to Paris for her first French Play Date with the Bannelier family.     And its about time! My son and the oldest Bannelier boy have been swapping summer play dates since they were 11 years old. They are now 17 and great friends. When the boys were just starting out the language was a bit of a challenge.  Over the years it has become less of a factor as they both study and practice the other’s language.   However there are basic kid things that override language – like Harry Potter, sports, trampolines, music, ping pong, roller-coasters, and laughter.

I am sure the girls are making do with a lot of pantomime and smiles.   But they are swimming, playing and climbing through the adventure park in Lyon. The boys, on the other hand, have decided to dress as Fred and George, the Weasly Twins, and attend the Harry Potter midnight premiere with a bunch of high school friends.

I used to work with Mrs. Bannelier in an international firm.  When we realized that our kids were the same age we devised this international play date program that has been functioning quite well.  The kids go play for about 2 – 3 weeks as the schedules dictate, and then they return home.  Each family takes turns hosting.  The host family plans the “play date”.  Some years the kids go off to camp together, sometimes they vacation, it really depends on the family’s plans.  The idea is to blend the visiting child into the host family’s summer in a seamless way. 

So we are enjoying our French “son”  very much and judging from the infrequent upbeat texts we are getting from France, that play date is also a hit!  Viva la play!  Mama Says So!

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in family vacations, travel with kids, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
July 4, 2011 – 4:33 pm

Happy 4th of July – Pure Suburban Amerciana

Its the picture perfect July 4th in the suburb of Arlington Heights.  The whole town shows up – half of us are marching in the parade, the other half are sitting on the sidewalks and curbs cheering them on.  There are babies in strollers, dogs on leashes, tired parents with coffees in hand, kids with sacks to catch candy that will be thrown from the floats.  And we are ALL wearing red, white, and blue.  Even the dogs.

The parade is a great collection of marching bands, boy and girl scouts, floats, shriners, and classic cars.  All of the spectators rise to our feet and cheer when the Veterens either ride or march by with the colors flying.  The grandpas in their uniforms smile, wave back and graciously accept the shouted “thank yous”.  

The group I am sitting with hollars out to the friends and neighbor kids representing the local swim teams, chruches, and businesses.  They respond by tossing coupons, trinkets and coupons to us.  Even the marching jazzercize ladies toss scrunchies!   The high school marching bands are playing all of the patriotic tunes, and I am totally teared up at the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  America the Beautiful and Yanke Doodle Dandy is the the background music as Rugby teams, clowns, local politicians, the Jesse White tumblers all file by.  

All of our kids who range in age from high schoolers to 1st graders are lined up on the curb chatting, watching and cheering.  Occasionally they help the little kids collect candy and stay out of the street.  This, by the way, is the same group of kids who are too bored to do whatever we suggest and too cool to be seen in public with all of us parent types.  For this one beautiful sunny morning they get in the patriotic spirit and celebrate the day with us.  Apparently, 4th of July is not too corny afterall; Mama Says So.

By julia.fitzgerald | Posted in family entertainment, holidays, Kids Entertainment, Uncategorized | Comments (0)