Oh. My. Word.
I don’t often do the Period. After. Each. Word. thing for emphasis, but I’m really feeling emphatic about this. An internet marketing firm that specializes in creating buzz among bloggers has invited me on an all-expenses paid trip to California for a “Sony Mommy Blogger Event”!
I know you’re probably thinking noooo KimC, it’s a scam! But we’ve dealt a bit with this company before (remember this?) and we also did some online research. This is the same company that did the Dove Real Beauty campaign. Remember the immensely popular video of the process of turning a real-life woman into a billboard model?
And besides, the offer starts with airfare, so a scam would leave me at the local airport, 10 minutes from where hubby works. Not bad for a worst-case scenario. 
We haven’t decided yet if I’ll be going. I would love to be able to hop up to Portland and visit my grandparents while I’m on the West Coast - this was something we had hoped to do this year anyway, and this event might allow me to do it at very little cost. I’m not nervous about traveling at 7 months pregnant. And we can work out the household logistics. With a 12yo and 14yo in the house and plenty of relatives within a half mile, these things are surprisingly simple.
The big question is, do we feel it’s appropriate for me to be off alone in a strange city, large and far away? We both had the same initial reaction: No way! But on further reflection, we really haven’t come up with a good reason to feel this way. I’ve driven hundreds of miles on many occasions, both with and without children. A thousand miles from home on an airline flight seems much closer than 300 miles from home in a van in the middle of nowhere.
We’re thinking, considering, praying, and taking counsel. This sounds like it would be fun, educational and maybe even be profitable (free gifts were mentioned…) And of course it would be good blog fodder! It might not rival Shannon’s trip to Africa, but hey - I haven’t been to California since I was 12 and camping with my parents and 6 younger sibs. Incidentally, that was the last time I ever wore a 2 piece swimsuit. Short story, humiliation galore. I’m not sharing that story.
If I go, I hope to come back with stories that don’t make me want to live under a rock for the next 3 years.
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Filed under: Everyday life, blogging
Oh, that sounds so cool! What an honor!
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity and a chance to refresh and refuel before the new baby arrives! Do you have a good friend who might be able to go along? That would be fun!
If hubby says “yes”, I say WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! You should go and have a good time.
That’s really exciting! Best wishes!
I’m so glad for you. If you decide to go, bring the camera because we want to see pictures!!
NOT of the two-piece suit, though LOL! Bless you!
And once you’ve tackled California, you could hop on over to Mongolia!
That’s great Kim, how exciting! Hey maybe you want to stop up in WA on your travels North you can come see the Burns clan
Hope it works out, sounds like a really neat opportunity!
Blessings!
And from CA, the Engstroms are right on the way to the Burns’ house!
I know you don’t know me - but I found you searching for other bloggers going to the event - I will be there too! I am from the area, so I would be glad to keep an eye on you
Now hang on there, Jenni and Karen, if Kim is going to be in PORTLAND, I think those of us in Oregon have first dibs! LOL! Seriously, if you do make it up to see your grandparents, Kim, maybe you wouldn’t mind a “meet you at Starbucks” for those of us who would love to meet you in real life! Oh, and you WA ladies, I guess you could drive down for it too. =)
~jerri
Kim,
are you interested in my initial thought?
Ok, I am going to stretch my neck out here:
Vanity
(you do not want to know the second thought)
I am sure that you are capable of caring for yourself in a large city far away from home, however one must simply consider not if it is feasable, but if it is correct.
What is your motivation for going? Where you planning on travelling (to California) 7 months pregnant? Is this an answer to prayer?
I have every confidence that you will make the right choice regardless of what my thinking might be.
I’m going too, LOL. My mom lives in the area, so I’ll be spending a few days with her after the event. And La Valencia is wonderful. I spent a lot of dinners there as a teen. And enjoyed walking to the beach or around La Jolla Cove after dinner. It’s gorgeous there, so I hope you can go!
[...] this? I’m in. In mid April, I’ll be here, playing with this and this and this. It’s [...]
please be careful flying while pregnant…
I was invited too! I found you trying to get a little more information about it. Whee!
Wow! That is awesome- take lots of pictures. I am sure you will have a blast!