Please go over and tell Sarah and Nick congratulations, and welcome sweet baby Henry to the world.  You can see the video of when Nick told their family that it’s a boy (sooo cute) and also check out Henry’s official birth announcement.  So g’won then – head over and leave them some comment love!  Congratulations again Sarah and Nick – I wish you all the happiness in the world as your family grows!

Sarah’s blog, Bio Girl, was the first blog I ever read.  It has remained my morning go-to blog, and one I read daily just to keep up with her life.  She and her hubby are expecting their first baby in early June, and she is just glowing with excitement.  Seeing as how Little AG is turning 2 on Monday, I figured it might be time to enlist the help of a new mom to review infant products.  Sarah immediately came to mind, and I was thrilled when she agreed!  So please welcome Sarah, CSC’s newest contributor!  I’ll shut up now and let her tell you about herself in her own words.  Look for her product reviews rolling out in the next few weeks!

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Hi! My name is Sarah and you will usually find me writing over at my personal blog, Bio Girl. I have been writing there for two years now, and when it began I had no idea it would become such an important part of my life. It has gone from a place for me to write random stories about my life, to being a personal journal of our struggles with infertility and now the joys of our first pregnancy. Bio Girl is full of day to day randomness nestled in beside the most important moments of our lives. I couldn’t be happier with what it has become!

I was born and raised in Kentucky (Southern enough to be addicted to gravy and biscuits…Northern enough to get all four seasons!) My real job is working as a Biologist in an environmental laboratory, which in my opinion is one of the best jobs around. I have a wonderful husband and a pretty perfect dog and cat. Lately we fill our days with friends and family, or getting our little house ready for our sweet baby to come home in early June! I am so excited to be joining Erika over here at Chic Shopper Chick to work on infant product reviews. It is an amazing opportunity for me to allow myself to get all wrapped up in the newest baby products and gear, and share what I find with all of you!

1)  I was so excited to discover that I have been recognized as one of the Top 10 Classy Bloggers of 2008 on the Classy Closet Radio show last week.  Thank you so much to Jen (who is the epitome of classy) and all of the other great girls on the Classy Closet Radio show for choosing me as one of the winners  – I am honored!  My fashion idol, Coco Chanel, said that “A girl should be two things:  classy and fabulous.“  I agree!

Yay!  My mom is going to be so proud…

2)  MomDot released their list of the Top 50 mom blogs of 2008 and yours truly was included!  That’s right folks — Chic Shopper Chick graces the list at #34!  The list is pretty extensive, and pretty fantastic.  I am honored to be included in a list with such amazing women – many of whom I consider mentors!  Go check it out and find some new blogs to add to your reader!

3)  I’m hoping to incorporate a weekly “Style” section into Chic Shopper Chick this year, though I am still hammering out details on the exact direction I want to go with it.  However, it seems that great minds think alike, because my friend Audrey from Mom Generations has started 365 days of Fashion on her site – and it’s aimed specifically at moms!  Audrey is a great writer, very witty, and knows what she’s talking about (she spent several years working in the fashion industry).  Trust me, I’m a fashion snob and I would not send you to just anyone!    So, while I’m working out the details on MY style section – go check out her blog and be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss a single day of tips!

4)  Are you looking for something to do with all of the Christmas Cards that you received over the Holiday?  If you are anything like me, you feel positively guilty throwing them in the trash.  Well, this year, how about bundling them all up and sending them to the St. Jude’s Ranch For Children Card Recycling Program?

From now until February 28, 2009, you can donate/send your holiday or your all occasion cards to:

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

The children there create new cards from the ones that you send them, by using the front of the ones that you send and adding a new message on recycled paper to the back.  It teaches the children there the importance of being environmentally responsible, and the children earn a payment from the cards that they make.  The program has been in existence for over 30 years, and is really great, in my opinion.  Cool, right?

5)  I wanted to let you know that I changed my Twitter name!  If you were already following me you actually don’t have to do anything – I just wanted to give you a heads up that I am no longer tweeting as @ChicShoppaChick, but you will still see my tweets from my new name as @ErikaLehmann.  I haven’t changed my avatar – so you should still recognize my mug!    If you aren’t already following me on Twitter, well, you should be!

Riiiight.  So, I think that should wrap it all up.   Have a fantastic day!

PS — Gossip Girl is back on tonight!  Wooo hooo!    I’m so excited – it’s been a month!

]]> http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2009/01/a-few-things/feed/ 6 http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2009/01/2008-oh-what-a-year/ http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2009/01/2008-oh-what-a-year/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:28:42 +0000 Erika http://www.chicshopperchick.com/?p=957 2008 was a fantastic year for me, as it marked the start of my stint as a stay-at-home mom.  Notably, it also began my foray into the world of Social Media, and my love-affair with blogging.  I went from a high-school French teacher on a semi-permanent hiatus to a Hot Blogger Calendar Girl in a mere 6 months.  Not bad for a small town girl from Louisiana, right?  Read on to discover some of my favorite posts and products from 2008!  (All links will open in a separate window.)

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In April 2008 I woke in the middle of the night, unable to sleep.  Thinking that some reading or internet shopping would help me get back to sleep faster, I discovered an alternative to my internet shopping — writing about internet shopping!  So, on that sleepless night in April I set up my new account on Blogger and wrote my inaugural post – short but sweet – and 2 hours later crawled back into bed with a tinge of excitement.  That month proved to be my most prolific month thus far, and some of my favorite products from that month were the French Lullabies CD, Wooden Stacker from FAO Schwarz, and my ultimate favorite Dior Show Mascara.

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In May 2008 I fell in love with Dyson Vacuum cleaners and the satisfying lines that it creates on my carpet.  I also had the distinct honor of being added to the Shopping Section of Alltop, and confessed that I am completely enamored with the fabulous bath products from LUSH.  Little AG and I had a “ball” in this awesome indoor playset which we still play in every day.  To top it all off, I had my very first custom blog design created for Chic Shopper Chick, and introduced the little illustrated gal in the pink dress who has since become a personal brand of sorts!

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Then June 2008 arrived and brought it’s typical sweltering Louisiana heat, but hubby swept Little AG and I away with him on a business trip to Washington DC, where we actually needed a jacket at night.  We fell in love with our new CARES Harness which kept Little AG safe on the airplane, even though we got hassled while trying to use it.  I discovered the most amazingly soft, comfortable, and stylish organic clothing and lusted after the perfect bathing suit.  I also confessed my slight obsession with cosmetics and fashion when I told you about my beauty bible.

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July 2008 was the month I had been waiting for – we went to Europe!  I still have a folder on my computer full of hilarious videos that I took with my adorable Flip Ultra that are waiting to be uploaded to Facebook.  Our first stop was in London where were saw the musical Wicked.  While we were making our way to Paris and then the French Riviera, Sarah weighed the pros and cons of Crocs, Jen told you about some adorable personalized creations, and Kristin helped you figure out some ways to make traveling with kids a little bit easier.  When, sadly, I was forced to pry my body off of the pebbly beaches and leave the bliss that is the French Riviera, I returned home to share with you some of my experiences in Europe, including finding these adorable French plates for kids, and my take on the perfect stroller to travel to Europe with.

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In August 2008 you could find me Blogging the Recession along with others across the blogosphere.  I re-discovered my love of quirky French products, celebrated my 26th birthday, suggested a few cool gadgets for your kitchen, and asked for your nominations for the Hot Blogger Calendar.  I was thankful on the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, even though I was in the midst of making preparations to evacuate with my family away from Hurricane Gustav.

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September 2008 had me begging asking for your votes, and then discovering that I had indeed won a spot in the 2009 Hot Blogger Calendar.  We returned home from our Hurricane Gustav evacuation and I discovered a cool, tech-savvy way to keep myself organized.  I debated the pros and cons of having a personal blog though I’m still not sure what conclusion I’ve come to. We flew out to Las Vegas so that I could attend Blog World Expo, and, in what is by far my funniest post to date, managed to lose our “Sexy Mini Van” in the parking garage at the Venitian.

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In October 2008 we wrapped up a big family trip to Disney World (though I neglected to blog about it), and I flew to New York City for the Hot Blogger Calendar Photo Shoot.  When I arrived in New York, I discovered that Jet Blue had lost my luggage and I sat in a McDonalds in Times Square, twittering my plight and just generally being a blubbering mess.  They did find it eventually, and I soothed myself by shopping for toys for Little AG.  I confessed my secret to perfectly styled hair, professed to the world that I’m a Mac user, gave away a Pink Dyson, and daydreamed about being back in Paris.  Oh, and I finally moved my blog over to WordPress, though I lost most of my comments in the process.

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November 2008 was the month when I finally got around to posting all of the details of the Hot Blogger Calendar Photo Shoot, including meeting some of my favorite people for the first time.  It was also the month of Christmas Gift Guide craziness, but in the process I found the most fashionable ear buds ever, the most stylish grocery bags, and the coolest book on the planet!  I shared my favorite Yule Log recipe, admitted to using only natural bath products for Little AG, and was so excited when our new Elf on the Shelf joined our family at Thanksgiving.

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In December 2008 I helped a friend find the perfect nursery bedding for her new addition when I spotlighted an adorable new line.  I also discovered the most gorgeous jewelry line, some modern, stylish lunch bags that will make your handbag jealous, and found a smart toy that really grows with your child.  Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye, and then we rang in the start of a new year – 2009!

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I want to thank you, my readers, friends, and family for your support and for making Chic Shopper Chick such a success in 2008.  Here’s hoping that 2009 is just as great, if not even better!

What an all around great day.  Tomorrow it’s back to the healthy food, clean house, and normal routine – but for now I still have 32 more minutes of Christmas, so I’ll enjoy what’s left.  Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Hi Everyone!  Happy Thanksgiving!  I’m taking the day off (sort of, because I am here posting, aren’t I?) to be with my family.  I’ll be back tomorrow, but in the meantime I wanted to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  For all of my non-American readers, thanks for stopping by, I hope that you get to eat as much delicious food today as I will!

Oh, and check out this article on Yahoo News that Hubby sent me about the Pardoned Thanksgiving Turkey that gets to fly first class and ride in a parade.  And, no, it’s not a joke, but it will make your day! Enjoy!

We have great news! An old friend of ours from our beginning stages of blogging has been chosen as one of America’s Best Baby Boutiques! Freckle Face Baby Boutique is a taste of Manhattan in Wisconsin — the most unlikely of places! If they win the contest, they will be featured in Pregnancy Magazine! However, Freckle Face needs your help to win — so you need to go vote!

Don’t worry, there is something in it for you — if you go vote then you will automatically be entered to win a 1,000 dollar shopping spree at the finalist boutique. So please go vote, and support Freckle Face!