HeatherB's blog

A Woman's Business: Isabel Kallman

2009-06-23T12:29:49-05:00

BlogHer was started to find where the women in technology and
blogging were. Now that thousands of them have been found I'm on a
quest to find and talk to my favorite women in the blogosphere. Women
who make my jaw drop with their enthusiasm for for communicating within
a new and often changing space, women who are always ready for more.
I'm not that type of woman; the kind that works on project after
project and it terrifies me to even think of leaving Real Job for a
life of being an entrepreneur but the women I will be interviewing in
this series have done just that. They've gone after what they wanted
and took control of their careers and for that reason I am often in awe
of what they've done with their lives and how they've gotten here.

Isabel Kallman. What can I say about Isabel that hasn't already been said before? Since starting her successful website AlphaMom, she has been called the Martha Stewart of parenting and I'm pretty sure she's a genius or something very close to it. Isabel is one tough cookie in her high-heels and she's always ready for more when it comes to her business.

1) You are the "chief cook and bottle washer" for AlphaMom. What exactly is
AlphaMom and how does it differ from other parenting sites?

Alphamom is an editorial destination focusing on parents and a research and
marketing company focued on reaching moms. I guess what makes us different
is that our editorial is written through the filter that becoming a mother
is not natural to many women and rather than turn to Grandma, their first
instinct is to turn to Google.

2) Prior to starting AlphaMom you worked on Wall Street. What made you
decide to leave and start your own business?

I worked on Wall Street for a decade, had a great job and was really good at
it. But, I was bored and not passionate about stocks. I retired when I had
my son, at the beginning of my maternity leave.

You know how they say that necessity is the mother of invention? Well, a
year into my 'retirement' or 'sabbatical' (semantics, really), the idea of
Alpha Mom was born. It was clear that there were millions of other women
who felt as unprepared for motherhood as I did when their babies were first
born. Our mission was to become their helping hand and speak to them in a
supportive, not patronizing, voice. Oh, and in case you're wondering, I've
never been bored with work since.

3) There has been plenty of talk in the last year - notably on morning news
shows - as to how people define the term 'Alpha Mom'. What is your
definition?

Alpha Moms are everywhere. You probably work with one, maybe your sister is
one, or maybe you¹re married to one. Our research shows that 22% of online
moms are considered Alpha Moms, or about 11 million women. And, really the
definition is simple.

A) They are passionate (not obsessive) about parenting. But they are also
passionate about politics, scrapbooking, shoes, hair, and books for example.
However, motherhood does not define them.

B) As mentioned above, Alpha Moms went through an intense period of ³mother
shock when they had their first child and their instinct was to run to
Google, not Grandma. Grandma doesn't know about BPA in baby bottles, for
example.

C) They get a high from knowing things first.

D) And once they know something, they can¹t help themselves but share it, be
it good or bad. (Remember the recall of the Thomas the Tank Engine toys? By
the time it hit the NY Times, that news had been passed around the mom world
several times over).

Because of these characteristics, an independent researcher found that Alpha
Moms are at least 50% more influential than other online moms. We like that
definition!

4) I have been reading the site for a few years now and there
have been many changes. What do you see as the future of the site and is it
different from what you had envisioned when it started?

First of all, thank you for your support.

It's interesting, Heather, that you think Alpha Mom has changed a lot since
we first launched. In fact, I think we have moved along at a steady pace in
terms of evolution. I love that our writers have worked with us for a
prolonged period of time. It shows stability and consistency, which as you
know is lacking out there on the interwebs, where it seems websites change
color and tone more often than people change their underwear.

Our evolution has been organic driven by feedback we get from our readers
and responding to the marketplace. Thus, I am very excited about our
research and marketing business arm, Alphamom Labs, where companies can get
access to our opinionated readers and have honest dialogues about existing
or coming-to-market products and services for families. I always think that
when a product passes a mom¹s sniff test, every consumer benefits. When you
become a mom, the children of the world become your children. It's more
than just about her family, it's about her friends' families too.

We have lots of exciting dreams and plans in terms of areas we¹d like to
grow. Hopefully that will come soon.

5) Has the current state of the economy forced you to change your business
model and day to day operation of the site?

The economy has delayed implementing our expansion plans, which were quite
aggressive a year ago. However, we're getting creative on how we can still
execute on our ambitions. Rather than looking at raising capital, we're
looking at strategic alternatives, which we think are better shorter- and
longer-term. Nice silver lining to the sucky economy, huh?

Day-to-day has been pretty steady. We're focused and our goal is to continue
to produce content that is consistently fresh and puts a smile on our
readers' faces or thoughtful introspection. We'll take a raised fist in the
air, too.

6) And finally - my favorite question - what do you want to be when you grow
up?

Girl, I'm already grown up. Wink.

Thanks, Isabel!

For more on Isabel check out her 5 Minutes for mom interview, Her "Fearless" article on Huffington Post. And next up in "A Woman's Business" an interview with Jenny Lawson aka The Bloggess.

HeatherB is not a mom and doesn't play one on No Pasa Nada and still people seem to think she's one. It's weird.

A Woman's Business: Gwen Bell

2009-06-16T15:52:08-05:00

BlogHer was started to find where the women in technology and blogging were. Now that thousands of them have been found I'm on a quest to find and talk to my favorite women in the blogosphere. Women who make my jaw drop with their enthusiasm for for communicating within a new and often changing space, women who are always ready for more. I'm not that type of woman; the kind that works on project after project and it terrifies me to even think of leaving Real Job for a life of being an entrepreneur but the women I will be interviewing in this series have done just that. They've gone after what they wanted and took control of their careers and for that reason I am often in awe of what they've done with their lives and how they've gotten here.

At 27, Gwen Bell's photo is what you would see if you were to look up Social Media in the dictionary. I've found her fascinating and have been excited to watch her through this tricky landscape to see what she does next. Here is my interview with her where we discuss what she'll be when she grows up and how the economy has changed her outlook on her career:

1) If someone were to walk up to you at a party and ask you what you do for a living, what would your answer be?

My answer would depend on the situation. If we're at a party I'll tell you I do work on the social web. If we're in a business setting I'll tell you I'm a consultant, speaker and educator in the social web space. If you're a friend I'll tell you to go read my blog.

2) To me and probably for others, you are a bona fide Social Media maven. You’ve also been called one of the most Powerful and Influential Women in Social Media. What does all of that mean to you?

Awesomesauce! It means I have to work twice as hard to keep putting out quality content. Accolades are nice because they give you a standard to live up to. If you let them be more than that, you're in hot water. I use accolades as catalysts to continue growing.

3) BlogHer was started to find the women bloggers and now we’re everywhere. What do you see for the future of women in the Internet and in Social Media?

I believe we'll continue to be everywhere. I hope that we keep asking and answering questions about our value, that we support one another in this space. That we extend our reach with the conferences that are now popping up everywhere with women in mind (you're beginning to see t-shirts offered in women's sizes in swag bags. Hurrah!). BlogHer supports this wonderful, flourishing ecosphere. I love being a part of and watching it grow (I'm a sucker for conferences - that's where I get my juice to do this everyday). You also see events like #gno (girls night out) every Tuesday on Twitter. When I simply want to catch up with women that matter to me in a dynamic conversation, I drop in. You can find supportive community anywhere if you're looking for and willing to help grow it.

4) You have this great quote from your 2008 recap post that says, “And really, if you’re an entrepreneur, you are young for life. There’s something about having a DIY life that lends itself to youth. (Perhaps it also takes a little bit of insanity to go this route, but there you have it.)” What made you decide to take your career into your own hands and become an entrepreneur?

The only "real" job I've ever had lasted eight months. I was in Tokyo working for the biggest English school in the nation. Student files were in constant disarray, teachers did as little as possible to collect a paycheck every other week, the expectations for quality of teaching was so low. I knew I wanted a different kind of life. I opened a yoga studio within two years of being in the country. The thrill of emptying my bank account, telling the school 'thanks but I'm starting out on my own now' (that company filed for bankruptcy about two years after I left), creating my own rules, my own pricing structure. Teaching with standards that I knew to be as high as I could make them. Hiring the first teacher. How could I live any other way after experiencing that?

5) As an entrepreneur how has this economy affected you?

I have used "the economy" to propel me forward. I don't get scared, I get creative. Ok, I occasionally get scared. That's when I sit with the situation and determine what the source of fear is. And I walk right into it. I have an incredible support network that believes in me, even moments after I admit a mistake. Part of this support network is on Twitter. Part of it is the women I've partnered with at Kirtsy. I have several mentors with whom I meet on a regular basis to make sure we're both on the right track.

The truth is "the economy" is like any other stumbling block you may encounter as an entrepreneur. It's our opportunity to stay awake, work with the stuck feelings. Reach out and help. Helping is a powerful way to get through your down times.

6) You’re a project woman: From your Twitter stream you’re always ready to do the next thing. Do you have anything exciting up your sleeve?

Always. Right now I'm researching open plan living. Loft living. I'm going through the home-buying process. And now that the new gwenbell.com is live, each day is something new (why I never had a contact form before will forever remain a mystery - get a contact form on your site, folks!). I have a fun project planned for the BlogHer conference in Chicago - see you there! Ask me about it in person!

7) Finally – and most importantly – what do you want to be when you grow up?

Second time someone has asked me this week! I'm doing what I love, so it's a tough question. If I could trade it all in and sing karaoke for a living, you know I'd do it. My favorite thing, beyond being an entrepreneur, is gyrating on stage to Pat Benatar. C'mon. Hit me with your best shot!

Thanks, Gwen!

Look for upcoming interviews with Isabel Kallman, Jenny Lawson and Laura Mayes

HeatherB writes about her non-entrepreneurial life at No Pasa Nada.

A Bit of a Rant on Salary Transparency

2009-06-09T22:06:00-05:00

A few weeks ago via Twitter - that of the 140 character writing - Julie heard from Gwen who got from Penelope Trunk a post about salary transparency. And so I said to Julie, "Hell no!" and Julie said something about those twerps who get paid more than they should so I said, I'll be writing about this because point blank: NO ONE needs to know my salary.

Without naming names or places and to protect my ass(ets) the long story short is that with my first two jobs the FEC was the mastermind behind telling the free world my salary. I worked on a presidential campaign and then for a political committee and the FEC mandates that salaries to employees be reported as part of their expenditures and it is done very publicly. Which means that it will forever be known that I once worked for 15 cents an hour and yet I've never had Ramen. I'm a magician or a debt maven.

Then I received a new job with a higher salary. Fine, well and good. I thought that it was pretty limited who was privy to how much I made but let's just say that it was not. In fact there are people who knew my salary well before I started and then took it upon themselves to share that bit of knowledge with everyone else in the office. A bunch of givers they are. It was pretty horrific personally. Obviously privacy isn't something that I need - I write anything and everything about my personal life ON THE INTERNET - but my salary? That is quite another thing.

I don't need to know what you are making and you do not need to know what I am making unless I am paying you rent, student loan payments or your my mom and I've screamed my salary so loudly in your ear that it burst an eardrum. That is it. And salary is something I try not to think about because of the line that ends up being crossed between people who are treated as equals by management and yet there's that number in the middle. It's a line that is crossed when your next door office mate knows exactly how much you make down to the decimal point. Things become competitive and people start questioning why X makes this much and therefore they should be making the same amount because haven't you heard? Life is now fair!

It's on par with telling someone my page views or some equally stupid number that really means absolutely nothing and yet it gets others all riled up for no reason. It's just a number. I don't tell people my page views and had a really hard time doing so recently because again - no need for anyone to know - and it goes along the lines of people starting to make assumptions about how much you're making via your blog if you have that many page views and how you spend said money and it's really NO ONES BUSINESS. AT ALL.

So that was a ranty and impassioned point of view on salary transparency. I don't like it. And I don't want my salary whether it come from blogging (HAAAAAAAAAAAAA) or from Real Job. It's on a need to know basis and unless your name is American Express; you don't need to know.

HeatherB writes about anything and everything and gets a little too transparent about her life at No Pasa Nada.

In the event of losing my makeup...

2009-06-07T20:51:11-05:00

Several years ago my mother, brother and I took a trip to Mallorca off the coast of Spain. On their way from JFK to Madrid my mother and brother's luggage mysteriously disappeared. My brother's bag showed up at the resort a few days later and my mother's was gone forever and ever. Amen. A long with my favorite pair of sandals and her makeup.

This event put the fear of the Beauty Gods into me that has manifested into me being permanently attached to my carry-on luggage and those little 3oz containers and a stash of quart sized bags. I'm a Permanent Carry-On(er) and proud of it. I've developed a mean set of delts from hoisting my bag into the luggage space and a penchant for keeping my makeup close by and at the ready just in the event of an emergency. I know where the oxygen masks will come from but if I can't find the perfect match of foundation then there will be full blown panic in the friendly skies.

I have this friend that still checks all of her makeup. She carries it in this massive train case and only carrying a tube of lipstick with her. When my mother lost her luggage somewhere over the Atlantic it was still when you could bring a Costco size bottle of Pantene for a four day trip and no one would care. But what if...What if you lose your makeup? My heart races at the thought of being stranded and fully blemished with nary a bit of concealer by my side. But this fear that I have has helped break me of my other fear of drugstore makeup.

Add the latter to the list of things that I cringe at the thought of: Clowns and having to purchase foundation from CVS. But the thing about fears is that at some point you must conquer them or at least attempt to conquer them knowing that your makeup is a) Just five miles away and b) Knowing that the person whose makeup drawer you're raiding might have some stuff stashed. But other than that onward to CVS on a test of what I would do if I actually lost my makeup.

Foundation: I didn't buy any because I didn't need it since I found a stash of bronzer in my mom's (ok I was staying at my mom's sans makeup) drawer but I did notice that of all the brands available Revlon is the one with the best pickings. That's my biggest thing about purchasing drugstore makeup; I like having someone there to match my shades for me and in CVS or Target you have to rely on what it looks like in the bottle which is usually wrong but Revlon at least had a diverse range of foundation choices. Also as it pertains to packing, there is never any need to carry the entire bottle with you. That's insane and if you do that then you risk having it explode in your bag so I keep it in a little plastic jar type thing and I never use all that much anyway.

Blush: Dude, I hooked myself up with some Covergirl. I bought one of those blushes with three different shades for blending purposes and it worked out well in a pinch also - and don't tell the people at MAC but I think it might be my new favorite.

Lip color: I went on a Neutrogena spending spree and bought a lovely lipstick type thing with SPF 20 and a sheer gloss with SPF 20 which is a combined SPF 40 which means that my lips will never fall off. Right? Right. Also they were both in a red color that I loved because it meant that my eye makeup could be completely lacking since I was would be wearing oversized shades for the entire day.

That was about as far as I needed to go and for a grand total of *drum roll* less than $20. The last time I bought foundation alone it was $26. I would say that this experience was a marked and cheaper improvement from most of my Sephora splurges and I was just as thrilled if not more.

What are your favorite drugstore beauty buys?

Real Simple has a great round up of budget beauty buys. And I feel like I should add that this isn't my first foray into drugstore makeup. I just don't do it often because I like knowing that something is easily returnable at Sephora or Nordstrom and that the people at CVS really don't care that you don't like the shade you received.

HeatherB writes about makeup and everything else at No Pasa Nada

So, about that recession

2009-05-27T16:14:41-05:00

Not sure if you recall but a few months ago I wrote about my Recession Guilt. The kind that plagued me and made me feel bad for having it relatively easy while so many were struggling financially. And then I went and bathed in hundred dollar bills.
Since then my tune has changed because this recession thing is starting to wear me down. There are repercussions and a domino effect that is beginning to slowly suffocate me as other larger entities are hit hard by the happenings in the markets. In a word: suuuuuucks. We twenty somethings have had things pretty good and it is a truth universally acknowledged that we enjoy immediacy. With the recession things are less immediate and more like a tortoise on Ambien unless it's a credit card company who wants their money NOW.
Money that used to come back quickly is now scrutinized. My student loan payments have been late because of the waiting for the money. My credit card bills are out of control and sometimes I have to breathe into a paper bag before logging into my bank account. I haven't spent more than I have in ages but the rate at which the money comes in and then goes out has sped up because (*cough*government owned*cough*) Citibank wants their money but I can't get them their money until I get my money and it's a truly vicious cycle. A cycle of UGH topped with CRAP.
Recently the New York Times had a fantastic article from their own economics reporter, Edmund Andrews, who wrote about his own credit crisis on the heels of the bursting of the housing bubble:

"The icy slap of reality hit me two weeks after New Year's Day in January 2005. We had been living in our new house for five months. I walked out of The Time's Washington bureau, several blocks from the White House, and crossed Farragut Square to my bank. I had a bad feeling about what the A.T.M. would reveal about my balance, but I was shocked when I looked at the receipt: $196. We were broke"

Go read the rest of the article but for me it hit close to home. As I had recently talked to a friend of mine and told her that I couldn't believe that I was paid to write about personal finance when I felt like I couldn't hold my own finances together. I was a failure at doing something I loved and it's hard to dispense any sort of advice when you are under the same boulder of woe as most others.
The silver lining - at least in my case - is that I'm not a personal finance or business expert. I am a person paid to write about my experiences with being a semi-fresh out of college twenty-something headed down my career path. So it's not like anyone is looking at me to decipher every word out of Tim Geithner's mouth. But still...it's that feeling of, hoo boy, this is harder than I thought, have bubbled up to the surface. And what I love most about blogging is the ability to find people who are right there with you; so know that I am. There are the differences of raises and salaries and how I check the 'Single Income No Kids' box but I think it's safe to say that no one...I mean NO ONE is safe from this recession. I just feel stupid for thinking otherwise.
Related reading: CBS Reports with Katie Couric: Children of the Recession
Why do moms have higher unemployment rates than dads? HeatherB also writes at No Pasa Nada and her shopping habits (tsk, tsk) at Beauty Hacks.

Know Your Body, Ladies

2009-05-18T15:52:32-05:00

I harp incessantly about body types and bra fittings not because I'm some sort of clothing expert but because I've learned by totally doing it wrong. I'm the girl who has had muffin top, a card slot showing, boob spillage, visible panty line and then there was that pair of pants that cut circulation to the rest of my body. So it is my goal to not have you be me. I might be good at a lot of things but dressing myself is not one of them. I'm a 'third time's a charm' kinda girl.

So, I've ended up kind of bulbous due to spending more time eating french fries than in a gym. It's something I've accepted and will have to deal with because it's not like the pounds hopped on overnight so it's not like they're going to take flight from my hips anytime in the near future. Again; it's fine but it's taken me months to do some accepting and realize what works and what doesn't work and to (Aha!) know my body. Which really isn't that much different than the previous body, it's just that I've gotten better at hiding the flaws.

First of all, I have a great rack and I'm not afraid to show it. And it's good only because I invest a lot in underwire and in shapewear. That's right, I'm a shapewear-aholic and I'm not afraid to admit it. I have a friend who finds it constrictive - which it is - but I'd prefer for things to be in place. The only other part of my body that I find remotely appealing enough to show the general public are my calves. Only writing this out now do I realize that perhaps a bedsheet would be the best choice of attire. Sadly, that is unacceptable if I would like to remain employed but it seems I've turned a new leaf here. Instead of buying the first thing I see on sale because it's on sale. Or before buying the first thing I see in an empire waist because I can breathe and I like to breathe; I've been trying to find things to fit my body as it is now. All round and flabby yet being able to show off the things that I like. I'm about to channel Jillian Michaels when I say, "If you've got it, flaunt it, ladies".

For me it's shirt's like this one from Old Navy, paired with skinny jeans (again from Old Navy, HOLLA!) and flats for a casual day. Or this dress from Shabby Apple which shows off the girls and still hides all that I dislike. I used to get angry with myself for any sort of body related changes and then I got over it because, as my friend Jonna said, 'it's just a means to an end'. It isn't the end. The key though is knowing what works for your shape right now and not what might work for your shape once you lose those extra 30 lbs. You know, after you have one more bite of chocolate chip cookie.

See Zandria's post on body image from the skinny girl perspective. Hint: NO ONE is completely happy with their bodies. But we do learn to accept them as they are.

HeatherB also writes at No Pasa Nada.

A Whirl Around The Personal Finance Space

2009-05-05T11:10:45-05:00

I haven't done one of these in awhile because I'm too busy playing a business, career and personal finance expert on television. Or the Internet. Whatever.

Here are a few of my favorite business/career/personal finance bloggers in these parts. They're the people I go to when I need help with rewriting my budget for the umpteenth time. They're the people who seem to get it much better than I do. But I suppose that's the case with anything; you always feel like someone is doing it better and you are totally doing it wrong.

These particular posts were chosen for their timeliness as well as some pretty fine advice:

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds: Suze's Advice Revisited

I chose this post because - and I'm sure I've told this story here before - when I graduated from college my mother gave me a Suze Orman book. In the book Suze says to pay credit card debt with a minimum payment + $50 plan starting with the card with the highest interest rate. It actually worked like a charm but it seems that Ms. Orman is changing her tune in light of current economic conditions.

I don’t know about you but my crystal ball is broken and I have no way
of really knowing when the recession will cease and when/if the economy
will rebound. Even when the market rebounds, that may mean great news
for the markets but until that jobless person gets a job, they have no
way of knowing when things will get better. In the mean time while
they do have a job and other means of income I think it wise to
continue to save towards at least 6-8 months with the goal of 1 year’s
expenses in an emergency fund.

Frugal Babe: Don't Fake It Till You Make It

I always hear of these people who start their own businesses but I'm far too much of a chicken to wrap my head around not knowing when my next paycheck might be coming. But for you courageous kids who step up and go for something, Frugal Babe has some advice on how to proceed once you've started your small business.

If you’re looking to start a business or even just become self-employed
part time, make sure that you apply the same frugal eye to business
purchases that you do to all your other purchases. Ask yourself if you
need it, what sort of return on investment you’ll get, and whether
there’s a less expensive option out there. Don’t be fooled by the idea
that business expenses are a tax write-off. Yes, you can deduct
business expenses, but it’s better to keep $100 in your pocket and pay
$25 in taxes (just an example) than to spend that $100 on a business
expense and save yourself the $25 in taxes. You come out $75 ahead in
the first scenario. So unless you really need to spend the money,
don’t let yourself be lulled into the idea that spending it is a good
idea because of the tax write-off.

Poorer Than You: Reminder Check Your Credit Report

All I have to say about this one is that Stephanie is right and I need to get on this ASAP.

Why? Well, it’s a good thing to monitor your credit once a year. But a
lot can happen over the course of a year. Say I checked my credit
reports all at once, and the next week, my identity was stolen to open
accounts under my social security number. I might not know about it
until a full year later, when I checked my reports again. But if I pull
one report every four months, I have a greater chance of catching an
error (or a thief) in good time.

HeatherB also writes at No Pasa Nada. She actually loves answering personal finance advice so if you have any burning questions, send them her way.

Spring Makeovers (It's ok to be a nudist)

2009-05-04T11:14:42-05:00

Once the mercury on the thermometer (or, since it's 2009, once the weather app on my iPhone) reaches 60 degrees I'm catapulted into a whirlwind act of flushing out my makeup. Washing brushes, getting rid of stuff I hated and colors that made me look like a hooker. It's a random act of kindness for my face.

In the spring and summer I become a nudist. Yeah, I said it. I'm all about the nudes. Not that during the winter I'm busting out bright shadows anyway but the heavy foundation? That's kicked to the curb. The warmer months mean a different way of approaching your makeup routine and I take this very, very seriously.

Though first I should confess that in general, my makeup is pretty basic and kind of nude. I don't like heavy makeup and there's this really unfortunate photo of me after my first go at foundation and well, it's now a fear of mine. That said, my spring/summer routine is much lighter fare. Like food and drinks. No one wants to spend the duration of the hottest months with anything heavy in them or around them which should include your face.

Here's what I use. And as you will soon tell, I am a brand loyalist (MAC, call me!).

1) Bobbi Brown All Over Bronzing Gel with SPF 15 $28

I first put on a little concealer under my eyes (holy bags, Batman!) and then mix a drop or two of foundation with this. It goes on nice and smooth. Gives good color and doesn't make your face feel weighed down.

2) MAC Cosmetics Tinted Lip Conditioner $14.50

I love this stuff. Though I don't use this color, I use 'soothing beige' (I know, I am so boring). It's not stick and again with the SPF 15. My God, no matter what, infuse some SPF something into your skincare routine. Not just in the spring/summer but ALL YEAR ROUND.

3) MAC Cosmetics Select Cover-Up $15.50

There's no specific reason for why I started using this particular cover-up but I've had it for years and once again, I'm here to profess my love for it. And I do really like it. It does the job of covering up and that's all I need.

4) MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Blush $21

Full disclosure: I didn't actually purchase this stuff until I was doing research for this post. When I went to test it out the woman at the counter used the color below on me (Love Thing) and I was like, "Wow, that's gonna be a bit bold" and then she had to hold my hand while telling me that I would not look like I just popped out of a Pat Benatar video. This is the sheerest stuff ever and it gives the perfect amount of color. I don't look like a clown! WHOO!

5) Passion by OPI $8

I've heard complaints about people not being able to find the right nude polish. It either looks too white or too iridescent or too something. This happens to be my favorite for my hands come summer with a nice bright color on my toes (current color: DC Cherry Blossom). My toes are my favorite thing about spring though; they scream that spring has sprung and thrill me to no end.

So what do you change about your makeup routine - if anything - come spring?

*Photos provided by MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown and OPI

HeatherB also writes at No Pasa Nada.

Bloggers as Reviewers: Tell me how you really feel

2009-04-28T19:56:01-05:00

For as long as I've had this job my favorite topic of discussion has long been how bloggers go about making money off of their blogs, if they so choose. In the time that I've been blogging things have gone from 'Here is my website. I am here to ramble. YAY!' to 'Here is my website! How much can I get from it?'

There's of course a middle place, grayish area where most people fall but the ones who seem to be the most vocal are on one side or the other. There has been a bit of a kerfuffle as of late around the mommyblogosphere about - after this article in the Wall Street Journal - who does reviews. Why some do reviews. What people receive from their reviews. And who is or isn't transparent about the reviews that they do. I feel as if I've give my thoughts on this ad nauseam. But because I'm excellent at annoying the crap out of people, I will give the short version of my feelings: I like transparency when it comes to doing product reviews. I also like good content. I will not read a blog that is all reviews all the time. That said, I don't feel it's my place to criticize what others do with their blogs. If you want to review a Swiffer every other day at five bucks a pop? Enjoy!

Anyway, given the recent rumblings as of late I am going to link to a few posts about receiving (or not receiving) product for review or giveaways or trips. Read the posts - whether or not you're a mommyblogger - and let me know what you think. What side of the blogger-review conundrum do you fall on?

Blogging Ethics by Kelby Carr

It’s easy to say bloggers can’t take money for any reason, but don’t
moms who put time and effort into their blogs deserve to earn some
money for them? Blogging is not traditional journalism. I’ve said it
many, many times, but the key here is disclosure. And when I say
disclosure, I mean obvious and clear disclosure. And a little soul
searching before you accept a check from a company is in order because
there is no secret code about when that is appropriate or not.

I'm Caling Out the Carpetbagging Mommybloggers by Queen of Spain

You know there is a beautiful old dinosaur of an idea that
traditional media has taught us. You clearly separate ads from
editorial. Ads and editorial are not the same and you don’t blur the
lines. Reviews are clearly marked and disclosed. Giveaways are just
that…giveaways, where in you admit you too got yourself the giveaway
item. It’s what makes you”credible.” No really, it does. And
let me tell you sister right now you are far from credible. But these
companies are so desperate to get online and they find you and you find
them and then ALL our credibility drops. Thanks for that. Not.

This is Me. On a Tirade by Trish at MomDot

Oh, and let’s chat about the women who
stress the hell over putting up ads on their sidebars and even worse,
the commenters that COMPLAIN about it. Complain about some ads? On the
Internet? Have you been to any site on the internet lately? My freaking EMAIL has ads in the sidebars.

Listen, I put up ads here. You can see
them. Do me a favor and click on them sometimes so I can get paid more
for the 1 penny an hour I get paid now. I encourage more bloggers to
put ads in their sidebars and stop enslaving themselves to work for free.

Blogging, Double Standards and Recomendations by Jessica Knows

I have a disclosure policy on my blog that says that I may have been
compensated for some reviews. Let’s be clear here. Compensation has
many definitions and unless I say the post was “sponsored” by someone?
I did not receive cash. I received either a product or service for
review.

Also, I was quoted as saying, “I choose not to be critical.” Some
people reading this took it as an implication that I’ll write a
positive review no matter what. That’s hardly the case. I refuse to
review something that I cannot personally provide a positive
recommendation for.

HeatherB rarely gets asked to do product reviews at No Pasa Nada but if Coach were to call? She'd be all over that.

(Editor's note: In the spirit of full disclosure, BlogHer sells advertising products that include review programs. More here about BlogHer's Special Offers and Editorial Guidelines.)

The Politics Online Conference: My dream come true

2009-04-25T12:08:56-05:00

Here is where I confess the true depths of my nerdiness and then we will never speak of it again. Right? Right. I love politics (like really deep nerd love where I watch C-SPAN all day long) (I also once cried in the House gallery because I was in the House gallery). I also love social media because of how it can bring a community together. Both politics and Internet tools have flaws but my love transcends the bad because so much good can be brought from both.

Now, given those factors it has been my dream to see the two meet. There have been some bumps in the road like interns using blogs to write about affairs with the DC elite (coughJESSICACUTLERcough) but the use of social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and blogs has helped a number of candidates on the left and the right get their message out to a much broader number of people. In return the more people who know the more are likely to donate and donations via online forms have sky rocketed since Howard Dean's netroots organizing during the 2004 campaign.

Earlier in the week George Washinton University held their Politics Online Conference which brings politics and the Internet together (If you could see my face right now. it's full of glee). Though it's been held for several years this is the first year that Internet geeks and politicians really got it. Over the last several months the number of congressional members and candidates using Twitter and Facebook to reach the masses is overwhelming and exciting. All the while the current administration has invoked a spirit of accountability and transparency to a public who has often felt like what happens inside of the Beltway is only controlled by those that live within those walls.

Most people like to know what is going on but they want to be talked to like people and like they're equals not talked down to. People crave that transparency from government to feel apart of things and to know what is going on and where their dollars are headed. In the meantime, we Millennials (those in their 20's - early 30's) like for things to be instantaneous. It's also comforting to know that those in power are thinking of us and aren't completely aloof. They're like real live people or something.

While I didn't get to attend the conference, C-SPAN has coverage up on their website. My favorite session was with members of Congress discussing Twitter - Elected and Connected: Uses, Dangers and Benefits of Being an Elected Official in a 2.0 World. Members using Twitter. My cup runneth over. All of the participants - Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Steve Israel, Tim Ryan, and Claire McCaskill -have a Director of New Media position in their office to help converge the political with the online world. Commendable for all but I do have a soft spot for Claire McCaskill's twitter stream which she started in response to comments of her being not very approachable as a new member of congress. She now has a following of over 21,000 individuals who she engages during the day with her whereabouts - committee meetings, on the floor - to which basketball team she'll be rooting for. Members of Congress! They're just like us!

Of course for every Claire McCaskill or web page from the administration showing exactly where recovery funds are going, there are people who still find the Internet to be creepy. There are still organizations who are dragging their feet at moving into a 2.0 World. Though unsurprising, the movement by the above politicians and political campaigns - from political races to ballot measures - shows an improvement on the part of politicians who are more known for doing things behind closed doors and being cold and distant from their constituents. So it is my hope upon hope that conferences like this bring everyone in the political movement this way: Not left or right but forward.

Here are some recaps from the conference: Writes Like She Talks, Don't Gel Too Soon, George Washington's Internet and Politics class

And because I'm ~~nosy~~ curious: How do you all feel about politicos using the Internet? Too much transparency? Enough transparency? Or too little?

HeatherB Twitters here and writes here.

Why You Should Join a Credit Union

2009-04-22T21:11:38-05:00

I'm not one to get all excited about the act of banking. Actually I'm the girl who does every transaction via ATM because why go inside and like talk to actual people? No, give me my ATM card and the ability to make a deposit from anywhere and I'll be pleased as punch.

But do not let my ambivalence towards banking fool you. I seem to have developed very strong opinions about my bank. Strong opinions that have lead to long and bitter diatribes about a certain very large bank that is so big and powerful that it has no problem robbing their customers blind. Then again, that's probably while as the rest of the financial system tanks, Big Bank manages to keep things afloat.

Needless to say Big Bank and I sometimes don't get along. Yes, it's convenient and literally everywhere but the fees and the customer service leave much to be desired. So I joined a credit union. Oh it took a lot of hemming and hawing and whining because I had to go all the way to the bank and I had to deal with people but the pros far outweigh the cons. Pros like the ability to get a loan or a mortgage with a lower interest rate and being able to speak to a real live person and the overdraft fees (whatever, everyone has accidentally overdrafted before so don't give me that tsk tsk look) those are just some of the perks.

There's this ease that comes with being a member of a credit union. I remember the day I went in to open my account and instead of leaving feeling like I had just been impaled, I was smiling. It was refreshing to go in and be treated like an individual as opposed to one of 500 million. I like knowing that despite the sense of fear in the air that my money will be handled with care. Right now I want a little kindness to go along with money security. Is that too much to ask?

Related Readig on why sometimes credit unions are best:

Ditch Your Bank for a Credit Union

You're sick of getting socked with fees, or tripped by hidden
penalties, or earning lousy interest rates. You're tired of being
treated like a nuisance rather than a customer. And yet you have little
hope that the bank down the street is any better.

But who says you have to settle for a bank? Relief could be as close as the nearest credit union.

What's the Difference Between a Bank and a Credit Union

The biggest difference between the two is that credit unions are
nonprofits owned by the people who belong to them. Because its
customers are partial owners, it tends to produce a high level of
customer satisfaction. Unlike banks that will often push their products
despite possibly better available options, credit unions aren't focused
on profits and recommend what they think is best for the customer and
not for the institution. Credit unions are exempt from paying most
state and federal taxes and are therefore usually able to offer higher
savings account rates and lower rates on loans.

Credit Unions Are a Safe Choice: Financial Cooperatives Make Good Financial Sense

Credit unions have a reputation for being limited in the services they
offer. This may have been true in the past, but as competition in
financial services has increased, credit unions have diversified their
product and service offerings greatly. Some offer insurance brokers,
investment planners, business loans and counseling, even wireless phone
service.

HeatheB also writes at No Pasa Nada

How to Escape a Recession: Television is not the answer

2009-04-17T16:28:23-05:00

Despite my opinions of Patti Stanger, I feel like mindless reality television or even smart sitcoms are a nice route for the escapist type who needs a break from dealing with the scrolling headlines of doom on CNN. So it was last week when I had these high hopes of settling down for an hour of The Office and during the commercials I would remove myself from the television to get away from GM and their rally caps. And then there was 30 Rock.

I went to the tube in preparation of having my sides split by the rapport between Jack and Kenneth and instead I'm greeted with Liz Lemon being told that due to financial constraints in these economic times she would have to start letting employees go. Enter an older man about to get laid off and poor Liz feels that it would be impossible to fire this older gentleman because what will he do for healthcare? When the recession starts affecting my favorite shows that's about when I'm ready to tell the recession exactly what to kiss and where to go.

Layoffs are very real as is the choice that employers have to make as to who to layoff and the knowledge that these are people with lives and health issues who wouldn't be able to afford already unaffordable healthcare if it weren't for the insurance provided by employers. Then again, they are the lucky ones and to wrap my mind around the incredible financial constraints that more and more are finding themselves trapped under makes my head ache.

Which is why I like to escape every once in awhile by spending an hour in front of utterly mind numbing reality television though even that is becoming tainted as most recently on The Real Housewives of New York Jill Zarin commented that "...considering the economy right now, I don't think it's appropriate to be spending all kinds of money on my birthday". And then she complained about her brand new Mercedes Benz because there was no way to plug in her iPhone. Seriously.

So I suppose the only escapist route left would be The Hills. Where I'm pretty sure that Speidi wouldn't know the affects of a recession if it smacked them in the face and poured a shot of tequila in their mouths. Who knew that I would one day find them to be somewhat useful.

Related Reading:

Subprime Time

The subject was the sudden surge of recession-themed comedies this pilot season. Among them is ABC’s Canned,
starring Amanda Bynes, about young bankers after they all get, you
know, canned. Kelsey Grammer stars in an unnamed ABC pilot as a
laid-off Wall Streeter who must—quelle horreur!—spend time with his family.

30 Rock: Cut Backs

Oh yes the recession, it's even
hurting our beloved fictional employees these days and TGS is no
exception. Well, that is of course, everyone who is not a "special" aka
Jenna and Tracy. Poor Jonathan is the first to be let go, but he does
not go quietly as he serenades Jack on his way out embodying the spirit
of early 90s Mariah Carey.

Bravo Network says, "What recession?"

So what people really want to see while they are losing their jobs and homes is a network devoted to the rich and spoiled? Go figure

Heather B. watches A LOT of awful reality television. She blogs at No Pasa Nada.

Recession Hair

2009-04-10T11:17:37-05:00

In 2004 I decided to cut my hair. And it wasn't like 'Oh, how about a trim' it was like, 'Oh, how about I lop it all off and go natural'. It wasn't a big deal or a life changing moment, it was just that one day I scheduled my life around hair appointments and the next day I was free to do whatever I pleased, whenever I please and hot damn! It felt good.

I cannot write about hair without bringing race into the discussion because as a black woman there are so many schools of thought when it comes to hair, especially natural hair: A political statement meant to stick it to The Man, unprofessional, but...but WHY? You should straighten it. You should keep letting it grow. You should put a little chemical in it. Call me crazy but it is my thought that it's a personal decision. Some women feel that they can make the jump others do not. And I really have never understood the statements and backlash that can come a black woman's way - from her peers - about the state of her hair. Then again it wouldn't be a day that ends in Y, if we didn't have some sort of controversy over something.

So, the real reason behind The Big Chop was because I was leaving the country, headed to Spain and I didn't want to spend time searching for someone who could give me a relaxer without burning my scalp and I didn't want to spend however many Euros on it when those Euros could be better spent at a sale at TopShop. It was two-fold: Ease and cost. After cutting it off, I remember thinking screw ease and cost effectiveness, I look like Pam Grier circa 1974! But without the foxyness.

This was five years ago and since then, I've found product that works and my hair is past my shoulders and I can put it up with four bobby pins and not give it a second thought. I love my hair. Really and truly. But there are still those days when I've half-contemplated getting a relaxer and then I think about the time and the cost of upkeep. It's the latter that keeps me up at night because a) You shouldn't have be beating your hair into submission and b) DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO GET YOUR HAIR DONE EVERY SIX WEEKS? I'm talking $80 a pop, plus upkeep and regular cuts and visits for a wash and a trim and a little something extra to keep it looking right.

The cost of my hair? 80$ every four to five months. This includes hair product and price gouging at CVS for bobby pins of various sizes. Other than that, I trim it myself and I don't really think about it. Ultimately it has been the right choice for me and I've totally blocked out the three months when it was a horrible frizzy mess and I wore a headband every single day.

In times of economic uncertainty people are looking for more creative ways to save money like being less militant about the upkeep of their hair. It's pretty laissez-faire and thank God, hair trends and styles are taking the same approach; to just go with it. I really don't think much about the economics of hair care. That was until the lovely Susan Wagner notified me that she wouldn't be getting her hair cut because of the cost. Then days later, I found this article on The Root: The Economics of Hair. It's just a landing page for articles on what a recession does to a black woman's hair (read the stories; you'll either find them fascinating or you'll think, "Mmmhmm, I'm right there with you". Finally, Kelly Wickham recently 'amended her life' and her hair.

With all of these people suddenly chopping off their hair and worrying about the cost, well...suddenly I'm feeling like I've been ahead of the curve. I feel like the Magellan of hair. Though really, it makes me want to shout from the rooftops: I LOVE MY HAIR and it's cheaper than my J.Crew habit! So, are you doing anything different with your hair to save money?

HeatherB also writes at No Pasa Nada. And her next BeautyHacks post will be about how she does her hair since that seems to be the burning question.

Urban Interns

2009-04-07T18:14:08-05:00

Saying that I have very strong feelings about what interning can do for one's career is a gross understatement. While I can only base this on personal experience but I do think that internships and those first jobs - even the most inane that include 'Xeroxing' as a skill - are a solid foundation for a career. Living in DC for six years all of which were spent attempting to build some sort of career even if it meant enjoying hors d'oeuvres at fundraisers because they were free and free lukewarm calamari is way better than Ramen; presented me with options. I mean it didn't feel like it at the time as I was mindlessly giving completing flag requests but still, I got a career out of it. And that's what really matters.

Lauren Porat and Cari Sommer are two former interns who became successful in their respective careers. As a child Lauren knew that she wanted to work on Wall Street and her first job was at 15 years old as a bank teller because it was the closest a 15 year old could get to the power of Wall Street. She ended up doing internships in accounting and banking and worked her way into a position on Wall Street. All the while viewing her work as a progression to getting to where she wanted to be. Cari viewed her internships leading up to a career in bankruptcy law as Lauren did; as the natural steps to build her resume in a meaningful way that gave her experience and insight into her eventual career. Earlier this year Lauren and Cari - longtime friends - started the site Urban Interns. A site dedicated to matching busy employers and prospective employees all the while hoping that those just entering the oft dreaded real world would have great experiences starting out just as they did.

It's probably needless for me to say that I love the idea of Urban Interns and what these two women have done in terms of creating a good internet business; especially a small internet business with a focus of bringing other small business owners together with people who are looking for jobs or new ways to jump start their careers in such awful economic times. Lauren and Cari both agree that right now people are looking to build their resumes and to be creative with what they can do because many traditional jobs are no longer available. Urban Interns not only helps people find jobs but also promotes the growth and sustainability of small businesses by allowing owners to be more efficient with their hiring strategies without the financial commitment of a full-time person. Of course that opens up an entirely different set of issues of part-time vs. full-time and the loss of benefits, etc. But the bigger picture here is that Lauren and Cari have started a site that benefits busy professionals and the small business community by offering a different approach to solving unemployment in New York City.

For now the site keeps its services in the NYC area but Lauren and Cari hope to move onto other cities in the near future. You can find the Urban Interns site here and perhaps one day, I'll write about my own internship experiences and the very first time I figured out how to use a fax machine (HINT: take out the staples and face up).

This year, this economy, even more college tuition hikes staring them
in the face for fall semester, I feel downright guilty touting the
high-brow virtue of internships. Maybe I should be sneaking a call to
their parents and asking how they’d like me to play it. (Not a bad
idea.)

Should Job Seekers Settle for Internships

As they collected checks I gathered experience that I hoped would make
me competitive in the job market. Even at times when I really needed to
generate income, I convinced myself that the peanut butter enriched
diet that I had succumbed to thanks to work with no pay would pay off
in the long run.

Adult Internships: Real World Solutions to Real World Problems

But I guess that's my problem with adult internships. It's that you get
the real world problems, but you don't actually have a real world
solution (except for maybe your credit card, which isn't actually a
real world solution; it's more of a "I'll think about this later,"
right?). I mean, sure, my boss may love me. But is he/she going to pay
my rent, make food for me, etc?

Internships are not just for kids

With hiring slowed to a near-standstill, job seekers are finding that
internship programs are one of the best ways to land a full-time job
down the road.

The majority -- 59% -- of employers who plan to hire interns said
they are likely to hire their interns as full-time, permanent
employees, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey.

HeatherB writes about all things not work related at No Pasa Nada.

90 Days of Not Shopping: Become one with your closet

2009-03-18T22:24:32-05:00

At the start of the year my friend Susan decided to do a 90 Days of Not Shopping (The Wear Everything Challenge) initiative. And because I am a sheep (baaaah) I had to join in. Though really it was an impetus to get off my arse and do something about the mountains of clothing around my bedroom and with no dresser to speak of, I figured hell, why not.

The point of the not shopping was to shop from your closet. I cannot speak for everyone but I know that I've made many superfluous purchases just for the sake of shopping. Not to head into 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' territory but sometimes it just feels good to shop and to play dress up and to make up outfits. I like being a girly girl and I like having those moments. Things can quickly descend into mass closet hysteria because no one needs that much clothing and it's good to reassess and take note of the dress from 1996 still collecting dust in your closet.

Not only did I find a sweater type dress purchased in the 8th grade but I also found a number of items that I either didn't ever wear or or hadn't worn in years. But I kept pushing through, determined to wear EVERYTHING in my closet. I got to day 37 when I wore the most ill-fitting outfit known to man. I remember the day specifically because I was meeting with a potential congressional candidate and when I dreaded sitting down for this meeting because of the excruciating pain due to a waistband that was cutting off my circulation. I wore a pair a pants so awful that I not only sported puckered pockets but...my God...probably some camel toe action.

I told Susan about my fashion troubles. She winced and said, 'Oh honey' a few times but then told me that was the point of not shopping: To become one with your closet and realize what works and what doesn't work. And a lot isn't working for me right now and the extra 30 lbs. that have graced my frame since last spring. I've started to get my shopping mojo back and have posted a few photos of some of my purchases as of late with more to come. I realize that it's probably a little ostentatious to post photos of shopping purchases, especially right now when so many people are hurting badly. But with not shopping comes an awareness of how to shop properly while saving money. And most importantly the beginning of an understanding of how to buy stuff that fits properly, useful and necessary not just because it's cute, on sale and comes in your size.

What are you buying this spring? Where are you shopping? And have you ever tried not to shop? Was it as painful for you as it was for me?

HeatherB writes at No Pasa Nada and finds bliss in shopping at J.Crew, Target, Anthropologie and TJMaxx.