Archive for the 'Trying to be Cool' Category

My Life Scoop: Top 10 Wired Mom Blogs

Well, I am blushing. I was on vacation with my family last week, and began my Thursday with a Twitter check where I discovered some great news. Turns out that Laptop TV Mom made the list of Top 10 Wired Mom Blogs by My Life Scoop. Even better, I am listed with some great company including some of my friends and co-bloggers. Thank you so much, I appreciate the nod.

Top 10 Wired Mom Blogs

The list is designed to highight the blogs that share how everyday moms are using the Web and mobile devices to manage our crazy lives. Whether we have one kid or a dozen, whether we work outside the home or not, we all use technology to keep our families (and sanity!) in check. And heck, we even use technology to create a source of entertainment.

The List

There are some high-powered moms on this list, including the ladies from BlogHer and Silicon Valley Moms Blog (where I also write). I also am a personal fan of list-makers TechMamas, TechSavvyMama, Who’s the Boss, Cool Mom Picks, and Rox and Roll. I’ve also recently discovered Topsie Techie and Help Me, Obi-Mom Kenobi, You’re My Only Hope! and hope to meet them soon!

Other new lists from My Life Scoop include Top 10 Home Office Idea Blogs and Top 10 Homework Help Blogs. A complete list of their Top 10 lists can be found HERE.

About My Life Scoop

My Life Scoop is a blog dedicated to showing how people use technology to run their lives. Yep, this is my kind of blog. I use technology to run my household, keep track of my family, manage my paying job, and (you guessed it) entertain myself in my spare time.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: My Life Scoop

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on February 22, 2010
in Laptop Television, Silicon Valley Moms Group, Technology and Trying to be Cool
. 1 Comment

Wordless Wednesday: My Kid and Travis Wall from SYTYCD

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on February 17, 2010
in Laptop Television, SYTYCD, The Kid, Trying to be Cool and Wordless Wednesday
. 1 Comment

Dear Girl Scouts: “Thank U Berry Munch!”

Since launching this site, I have had some dream opportunities in my life. I have interviewed celebrity chefs, A-list journalists, television stars, and even First Ladies. It’s mind-boggling that this former journalism student turned mom-blogger can have such opportunities, even 20 years after graduation.

All that said, every once and a while, I receive an opportunity that makes me giddy. Thanks to the power of Twitter (and the Girl Scouts in Garden City, NY, I was offered the chance to test and review the newest Girl Scout Cookie, just pulled out of the oven this year, called “Thank U Berry Munch.” (Um, you had me at Girl Scout Cookie.)

While I was excited to test-drive the newest treat, I must be clear about my loyalty to the Thin Mint and Samoas (which are called Caramel deLights in Northern California). I buy boxes and boxes of those cookies as soon as I see Girl Scouts in front of my Safeway grocery store. Honestly, I can eat an entire sleeve of Thin Mints in one sitting.

My family shares this love for Girl Scout Cookies (adding Lemon Cremes to my husband’s list of favorites), so we decided to make this taste-test a multi-generational experience. Today’s taste-testers are: LTV Mom, LTV Dad, LTV Kid (age 5), and our Granny (age 90). Here’s a recap of our taste buds:

LTV Mom: Thank U Berry Munch is a shortbread cookie with tiny bits of dried cranberries. I equate the cookie to a Pecan Sandie, with cranberries instead of pecans. I expected the cookie to be chewy, but it’s nice and crunchy. Honestly, the cookie is better than  I expected and paired nicely with a cup of tea. Thumb’s up!

LTV Dad: Excellent. This cookie has nice flavors, in fact, better flavors than some other Girl Scout cookies. I still prefer the Thin Mint, Somoas and Lemon Creme. [Note: he made this statement as he reached for a second helping of Thank U Berry Munch.]

LTV Kid (age 5): Very good, and I love it til my heart.

Granny (age 90): Very good! Very! Very excellent! This is my new favorite. My daughter was a Girl Scout.

I am happy to report the Thank U Berry Munch cookie was a big hit in my family. While it did not displace the Thin Mint or Somoas, it certainly is a welcomed addition to our annual Girl Scout Cookie feast!

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: www.GirlScouts.org


Published
by
Stacy Libby
on December 6, 2009
in Food, Laptop Television, Project Runway and Trying to be Cool
. 3 Comments

Next Iron Chef: Chef Jose Garces

Iron Chef Jose Garces

Iron Chef Jose Garces

It’s no secret that I am a Food Network junkie. I’m addicted to the network’s line-up of foodie shows including Food Network Challenge, Next Food Network Star and Chopped. But, I have to say, my recent interview with the Next Iron Chef was a highlights for my blogging career.

If you are new to Food Network and the Iron Chef franchise, The Next Iron Chef is a TV show that has ten super-star chefs competing to achieve the status of Iron Chef. The few who achieve this status then cook and compete against the best chefs from around the world on the show Iron Chef America. The dramatic show features “kitchen stadium” (which is a completely tricked-out kitchen), a surprise theme ingredient (which ranges from eggnog to eggplant), and lots of drama (including a time-clock and feisty judges).

The winner of this season’s Next Iron Chef is early-season-favorite Chef Jose Garces, an Ecuadorian-American who was raised in Chicago and owns famed restaurants in both Chicago and Philadelphia. A handful of bloggers were invited to speak with Chef Garces the morning following his victory, including yours truly. Here is a snapshot of the conversation:

Q: I am a big fan of Chef Freitag and was disappointed to see her leave so early. Whose early exit was most surprising to you?

A: “Chef Appleman was most surprising to me.” Chef Garces said that Appleman was a strong chef from the beginning, and then added he was both “surprised and alleviated” when Appleman was cut from the show.

Q: There are moments when the “secret ingredient” is unveiled and I think to myself, “I would never eat that!” Throughout the season, what secret ingredient or menu-theme made you cringe?

A: Chef Garces quickly pointed to the episode where the Chefs had to cook with challenging ingredients including un-laid eggs, stinky tofu, dried grasshoppers and duck tongue. He reminded us that this episode was all the worst ingredients rolled into one heinous menu. [LTV Mom: I would rather cut off my right arm that eat those dishes.]

Q: Whose food would you most like to try?

A: Chef Garces said, “Chef Mehta’s food… I never got to try his food!” Note: Chef Mehta and Chef Garces competed head-to-head until the show’s finale! [LTV Mom: I am heading to NYC this week and hope to try Chef Mehta's Graffiti.]

Q: What’s the most important thing you took away from this competition?

A: Chef Garces said, “The show triggered my creative juices, I proved to myself that I can cook on the fly.”

Q: What was your favorite gadget in Kitchen  Stadium?

A: Chef Garces likes the “blast chiller” which helps you quickly chill food. [LTV Mom says "I want one too!"]

Q: How will you be preparing your Thanksgiving Turkey this year?

A: I was shocked to learn that even Chef Garces will brine and fry his turkey this year. He says, “the product comes out the best.”

Q: Last and most important question: Chef Garces, you are from Chicago, so I have to ask: Cubs or Sox?

A: Cubs! [LTV Mom: Go Cubbies!]

At the end of the day, I have to say Chef Garces came across as a very kind, hard-working, down-to-Earth person. I hope to dine at one of his restaurants in the near future. In the meantime, I will root for him during his premiere on Iron Chef America on Sunday, January 17.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Food Network


Published
by
Stacy Libby
on November 30, 2009
in Food, Laptop Television and Trying to be Cool
. 1 Comment

BlogHer 09: Mommy Needs a Cocktail Party

MNACP in person button

The 5th annual BlogHer conference is right around the corner, and look who’s having a party in Chicago!  I’ll be attending the bash… see you there?!

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on June 22, 2009
in Trying to be Cool
. 2 Comments

Happy Father’s Day!

My Family

My Family

Behind the sass and attitude of LTV Mom, you will find a wonderful husband and father.  He and  I have been together for 19 years, married for 15.  I’ve always loved him as a partner in crime, but today we celebrate him as the best daddy I know.

We had a pretty mellow day. He chose BBQ for lunch and family games in the afternoon.  But Daddy asked for a special meal for dinner.  Here’s what the Kid and I  whipped up:

Dinner was followed by a dance routine with MC Hammer (U Can’t Touch This), Black Eyed Peas (Boom, Boom, Pow) and Billy Joel (You May Be Right).  Good thing I was wearing a sports bra!

– LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on June 22, 2009
in Laptop Television and Trying to be Cool
. 1 Comment

Wordless Wednesday

Dance Recital

Dance Recital Glitz and Glam

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on June 18, 2009
in The Kid, Trying to be Cool and Wordless Wednesday
. 4 Comments

The Alzheimer’s Project on HBO

First Lady Maria Shriver

Calif. First Lady Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver calls it “an unprecedented television event” and “television at its best.”  As a mom who spends hours writing about unimportant television, it is my honor to raise awareness of the new documentary called “The Alzheimer’s Project” which begins on HBO starting May 10, 2009.

Last week, writers from the Silicon Valley Moms Blog network were invited to join a private conference call with California First Lady Maria Shriver, who is raising awareness of the disease and the impact on patients and dedicated caregivers.  Ms. Shriver appears in the four-part HBO documentary to help parents explain the effects of the disease to their children.

Maria Shriver is no stranger to the issue; in fact, she wrote the book called “What’s happening to Grandpa?” when her father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.  She speaks with conviction, passion and reality. Not only was I moved by her, but also by the story she shares:

  • Alzheimer’s claims a new victim every 70 seconds.
  • 70 percent of patients are living at home.
  • 76 percent of caregivers are (uncompensated) women, many of whom also have small children in the home.
  • Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is overwhelming — financially, personally and spiritually.
  • Alzheimer’s could bankrupt the American healthcare system as we know it.
  • This is a family disease, and there are no survivors.

The part of Ms. Shriver’s story that struck me the most — and has stayed with me for days — is this: Alzheimer’s is an old person’s disease, but a young person’s burden.  I never thought of it that way. As our parents are getting older, many will become ill.  It will become our challenge to take care of them both physically and financially, regardless of healthcare aid that is available or not available.  Equally important, we need to solve the health and financial issues of Alzheimer’s before my generation goes from caregivers to patients. As Ms. Shriver said, “we don’t want our children to spend their lives — or their life savings — taking care of us.”

The documentary will appear on HBO or on-demand for everyone to see. For more information, click HERE.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s, visit the Alzheimer’s Association web site or call 1-800-272-3900 (24 hours a day).

– LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on May 11, 2009
in Current Affairs, Laptop Television and Trying to be Cool
. 2 Comments

LTV Mom in a Snapshot

Wordle Graphic for LTV Mom

Wordle Graphic for LTV Mom

I recently found this great Web site called Wordle that turns Web site context (or plain text) into a cool graphic.

I went to Wordle, plugged in my URL, and with one click, received this graphic.  I think that’s a pretty cool representation of my blog!  What does your Wordle look like?

– LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on April 19, 2009
in Laptop Television, Trying to be Cool and Weblogs
. 1 Comment

Taste This! by Gina von Esmarch

Taste This! by Gina von Esmarch

Taste This! by Gina von Esmarch

I had the pleasure of testing a new cookbook written by San Francisco-based chef (and mom blogger) Gina von Esmarch.  Gina comes from a foodie family; in fact, her grandparents founded, and her family still runs, the famous Aliotos on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Gina’s new cookbook called Taste This! is perfectly suited for this working-mom who would love to be on Top Chef, but is content cooking for her family and friends. Gina’s collection of recipes for appetizers, entrees, salads, drinks and (amazing) desserts are both flavorful and (hallelujah!) easy to prepare.

Let me just say this: when it comes to a dinner party, I am an appetizer girl because I believe the appetizer sets the tone for the evening.  We always open our best bottle of wine first, so it’s important to serve good food from the moment a dinner party begins.  Gina provides some great ideas, here are my favorites:

  • Red Grapes & Red Onions – roasted grapes and onion, served on goat cheese, with crackers or bread.  This dish is super-easy to prepare, with delicious flavors and perfect texture. Rave reviews at my last dinner party! (Recipe is on page 11of the book.)
  • Cucumber Pillows — cucumbers, bread, spices (think funky finger sandwiches).  Light, refreshing and beyond easy to make. (Recipe is on page 15 of the book.)
  • Parmesan Crisps — bread, cheese, garlic, olive oil.  This recipe makes little slices of cheesy-Heaven.  (Recipe is on page 21 of the book.)

If you are intrigued, check out posts from other foodies:

Author Gina says: “The goal of Taste This! is simple, bring good food and good flavors back to the table.  Whether you are a working parent or a career individual that wants to bring people together at the table, you will find ideas to inspire your inner cook.”

Thank you, Gina. I am inspired!

Click HERE to purchase Taste This! for $30 (includes S&H).

- LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on March 11, 2009
in Food, Product Reviews and Trying to be Cool
. 12 Comments