My Kid was the Red Robin Denver Broncos Kickoff Kid

Have you ever had an experience that you know, without a doubt, will be something you and your family will remember for the rest of their lives? Something so unbelievably cool that the sounds and smells resonate in your body for days afterward?

I have and so has my family. Monday night football will never be the same for us. This Monday my son, Henry, was the Red Robin Kickoff Kid for the Broncos season opener against the Raiders. Forget that we lost the game. Forget that the screw-ups and penalties were numerous. Henry and I were the only non-staff members on the field, running back and forth with our “body guard” to be close to the action. A member of the Broncos staff was assigned to be Henry’s coach/assistant and his job literally was to make sure Henry was safe and to pull him out of the way if the ball or gigantic players  were in danger of taking him out. I did not have a bodyguard, I had to fend for myself and I was ok with that! This was the best game ever!

Henry’s job for the entire game was to retrieve the tee any time the Broncos had a kickoff. There are some big boys on that field but they are as graceful and disciplined as can be. I created this video because there are no words to describe how incredible it was to be right in the middle of it all.

How on earth was this possible?

You can enter your child (ages 6-12) for a chance to be a Red Robin Kickoff Kid at a Broncos home game. There will be 6 prize packs given away to Colorado residents! If chosen, your child will get to retrieve the tee after each Broncos kickoff and enjoy the game from the sideline. In addition, you’ll receive:

• Two sideline passes with access to the field 1 hour prior to game time.
• Two Broncos jerseys
• Two stadium seats
• One year Broncos Bunch Kids Club membership

Over the past few years, my involvement with social media has brought some incredible opportunities for myself as well as for my family. One of the best brand relationships I’ve had to date has been with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. When they asked me to be a judge for the Kids Cookoff last spring, I was instantly impressed by how much they believed in their brand, but more importantly how much they truly cared about kids. This is a company I feel good about and I’m proud to have been able to participate in another opportunity with them. Thanks Red Robin!

My Kid was the Red Robin Denver Broncos Kickoff Kid

Have you ever had an experience that you know, without a doubt, will be something you and your family will remember for the rest of their lives? Something so unbelievably cool that the sounds and smells resonate in your body for days afterward?

I have and so has my family. Monday night football will never be the same for us. This Monday my son, Henry, was the Red Robin Kickoff Kid for the Broncos season opener against the Raiders. Forget that we lost the game. Forget that the screw-ups and penalties were numerous. Henry and I were the only non-staff members on the field, running back and forth with our “body guard” to be close to the action. A member of the Broncos staff was assigned to be Henry’s coach/assistant and his job literally was to make sure Henry was safe and to pull him out of the way if the ball or gigantic players  were in danger of taking him out. I did not have a bodyguard, I had to fend for myself and I was ok with that! This was the best game ever!

Henry’s job for the entire game was to retrieve the tee any time the Broncos had a kickoff. There are some big boys on that field but they are as graceful and disciplined as can be. I created this video because there are no words to describe how incredible it was to be right in the middle of it all.

How on earth was this possible?

You can enter your child (ages 6-12) for a chance to be a Red Robin Kickoff Kid at a Broncos home game. There will be 6 prize packs given away to Colorado residents! If chosen, your child will get to retrieve the tee after each Broncos kickoff and enjoy the game from the sideline. In addition, you’ll receive:

• Two sideline passes with access to the field 1 hour prior to game time.
• Two Broncos jerseys
• Two stadium seats
• One year Broncos Bunch Kids Club membership

Over the past few years, my involvement with social media has brought some incredible opportunities for myself as well as for my family. One of the best brand relationships I’ve had to date has been with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. When they asked me to be a judge for the Kids Cookoff last spring, I was instantly impressed by how much they believed in their brand, but more importantly how much they truly cared about kids. This is a company I feel good about and I’m proud to have been able to participate in another opportunity with them. Thanks Red Robin!

Moms In Business Unite Denver Conference #giveaway

Women ask me all the time, “How did you transition from being a stay at home mom to a woman in business?”

I’ve heard the question many times but each time I’m asked I still have to think about it. It didn’t just happen, I clearly had a drive and desire to do something with my skills. I began by writing copy and doing general free-lance marketing for small businesses. I helped people I knew or who I’d been connected to by friends or family. Once all three of my kiddos were in school I had already built up a bit of momentum but what really helped was making connections via social media and attending workshops and conferences.

One of the most important people in my network has been Maria Bailey, founder of BSM Media, who just released her 4th book and is absolutely “IT” when it comes to marketing to moms. She has been a strong influence and mentor to me from the beginning. Maria will be the keynote speaker at Moms In Business Unite Denver on September 21st. MIBU is a one day educational conference that offers four different tracks for women in every stage of business or product development. Also, Wendy Robbins, who co-starred with Kelly Ripa in the TV series Homemade Millionaire and currently works for HSN will be present and offering advice to women businesses. The price of the conference ticket is less than any comparable event I’ve seen anywhere. $85 for a full day of education including lunch is pretty amazing. I’ll be there as an afternoon panelist and would like to take THREE of  you with me! I’ll be giving away conference tickets to three lucky BB readers!

The Moms in Business Unite Conference has been designed to provide a unique learning opportunity for all women business owners–moms and non-moms alike. We’ve structured the Conferences to ensure that plenty of networking time is available, and because MIBU offers multiple tracks, we provide attendees with the choice to attend the sessions that are most relevant to where they are in their business.

Breakout sessions are focused on four main areas:

Track A – Getting Started: Perfect for the woman/mom who wants to learn how to start her own business. These empowering sessions will provide a solid foundation for any entrepreneur to get started!  

Track B – Running Efficiently: Ideal for the woman/mom who has her own business, but wants to learn how to run it more efficiently. These sessions are packed with useful information, providing immediate value to any business!

Track C – Next Level: Exactly what a woman/mom with an established business needs when she’s considering taking it to the next level. These motivating sessions will provide valuable inspiration to take the next step!

Track D – Inventor Fast Track: Got an idea? These sessions will give women/moms a tangible action plan to bring their inventions to market, covering all major components to take them from “concept to cart.”

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED congrats to Daria, Tara, and Liz. You will receive an email with info on tickets!

Enter to win a FREE Moms In Business Unite – Denver Conference Ticket!

Just post a comment below letting me know what you hope to learn and why you’d like to attend #MIBUDenver. That’s it!

Winner will be chosen on September 13th by random.org all entries must be received by 12:01am 9/13/11 – winner will receive one free conference ticket *does not include transportation to and from the conference venue.

*This post has been sponsored. I will be attending the conference as a panelist and will attend the event at no charge.

A Picture is Worth How Many Words? ~ Wordless Wednesday

*I can’t take credit for this photo-my friend, Martha, is the genius behind this one!

Be Courageous and Dream Big

Have you ever caught yourself fantasizing or daydreaming? Do you dare to imagine things that might never become reality? It’s harmless fun, really. Allow yourself to feel and experience. Be courageous and brash. Let your mind wander and see where it goes. This is where I like to go….

I’m in Maine and I’m living in a cabin about 100 feet from the lake. I’m spending the summer working at the music camp I went to every summer throughout my childhood. My bedroom window looks out over the water and the porch is where I sit every afternoon watching my kids swim. In the evenings I sit and write until I feel ready to drift off to sleep.

I know this place as if it were my home. I know the sounds. I know the smells. I know the people. The people “get me” and that feels good.

I know the sounds of young people practicing. The sounds of careful confidence and young minds exploring and growing.

I know the feel of the wet grass as I walk up the hill to breakfast in the morning. I can feel the sun on my face and in my eyes as the flag is raised and the bugle sounds.

I know the sound of the orchestra as I sit in rehearsal. The smell of my violin. The vibrations under my chin and inside my soul. I like the sound of pencils being dropped on metal stands.

I know the sound of the milkshake machine. I know the taste of a Moose Tracks Shake, the resistance of my spoon digging through the chunks of caramel chocolates at the bottom.

I know the sounds of the night. The loons call back and forth from one end of the lake to the other and several times a week I listen as a train passes on the other side of the lake. Each night I fall asleep to the lake water lapping against the rocks outside my window.

This is the place I belong. This is where I feel whole.

I am whole, and it is so.

Why not blog it?

Good morning Syracuse! The Blonde family is headed back to Denver.

From where, you ask?

Heaven. A dream. The most beautiful place on earth. Approximate location of Heaven? 40 hours drive time from the other Heaven, Colorado. That’s a long time for my ADD ass to be sitting in a seat, so when I looked at my Facebook update this morning it occurred to me that, not only do I have time to blog this insanity, it might just be award winning material for ye olde bloggie.

HOW does one spend an entire summer in a dream and not blog it? The question is really, “How did I, spend an entire summer in a dream and not blog it?”. I have my theories and the amount of potential blog fodder those theories could produce should keep us busy for awhile this fall. For now, I leave you with my favorite photo of the summer….