October 31, 2008

what did YOU do today?

October 29, 2008

I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you

Sometimes I forget that you all don’t live in my house, that you’re not here at the end of the day when I recap for Wade what exactly I have done with my time (uh, not the laundry, apparently).  And then one of you asks, “But, really what do you DO to make money? Who pays you?”

Oh, right!  That.

I’m the managing editor at ParentDish, which is AOL’s official parenting blog; I write reports and emails and the occasional incisive post about parenting (of course).  And I write a weekly style column that you should ALL be reading.

Kidding.  Sort of.

I also write for BlogHer, as a contributing editor for fashion and shopping, and I manage BlogHer’s BeautyHacks site (more emails, more reports, plus incisive posts about shoes).

On the side, I juggle various short-term projects, for clients like the Egg Council (resuming momentarily!) or Butterball.  And no, I don’t know why I keep getting food writing jobs, although I love food.  And jobs.

And of course, I write here, whenever the whim strikes or I go shopping or the kids do something really really funny.  In fact, in November I have committed to NaBloPoMo, which means I will be writing here EVERY DAMN DAY for the entire month.

I am an idiot.  Fortunately, I’m an idiot with a camera, so get ready for LOTS of pictures.  Probably of my shoes.

And that’s what I do for a living.  If you can come up with a way to explain that to people, I would much appreciate it.

October 24, 2008

say cheese

I have a hard time explaining what it is that I do for a living.  Most of the time, I say that I’m a freelance writer, but that’s not really accurate — I don’t write for print media (although I would love to).  Saying that I’m a blogger confuses people — they don’t really know what that means, or they assume that I make my living from this blog (which would be fabulous, but is not what really happens).

But it’s not just the job title that’s tough — it’s the actual what do you DO? that stumps people.  What does a blogger do?

This week, Roxanna and Chris and I were in the same fairly small hotel in Chicago. Instead of meeting in the lobby for coffee, we were in our rooms texting and IMing and emailing each other.  Chris took a picture of her shoes and sent them to me — you know, instead of walking downstairs to show them to me in person.

Bloggers take a lot of pictures, of things like our shoes and our drinks and ourselves.  And anyone else who happens to be, say, in the bathroom with us when we’re there.  (Hi, Clare!  You’re such a good sport.)

This week, when we were taking pictures, people asked, “What do you do with all those pictures?”

“We put them on the internet,” we said.  Of course.

No wonder people can’t figure out what I do for a living.

October 22, 2008

the Purple Pea Coat goes to Chicago

And hides out in the bathroom at Butterball headquarters.

Yes, those are cropped pants, and yes my ankles were cold. But socks are against my religion, along with cash money and mayonnaise. Amen.

October 21, 2008

just your normal Tuesday, really

October 20, 2008

I hear Chicago is cold

Congratulations to Erin, who said, “OOH! I like the Thermacheck in the Aruba Aqua because if I have to wear a fleece, I’m gonna be wishing I was in Aruba!”  Me too, Erin.

(Email me and I’ll put you in touch with the Lands’ End people!)

I’m tossing a bunch of random things in a suitcase this morning, because I’m leaving for Chicago this afternoon.   And you will NEVER guess why!

(But you have to go over here to find out.  It’s worth the click — there are PICTURES, you all!)