As you may know, the husband and I have been trying to conceive our second child. I’m happy to share with you that we are expecting a fourth member of our family and will be welcoming him or her in December! Earlier this week, I announced our good news on our pregnancy blog. You can read more information there about how I’m currently feeling, how far along I am, and the big sister’s reactions to the news.

We’re very excited and I’m looking forward to the next few months and preparing for our new baby. I won’t be posting much about the pregnancy itself on here, so if you want to follow along the next few months, make sure to subscribe to the feed for 40weeks Plus and stay updated.

Survey

As I mentioned before, I was working on a survey to gather more information about you, the readers. Please help me out and take this quick and short survey so I can learn more about who you are, what you like about this blog, and how you think it can be improved. I promise it’ll only take you about 2 minutes to complete it. Thanks so much!

I’m ecstatic to let you know about the first-ever Latino themed party at a BlogHer conference! This year, there will be a Social Fiesta kicking off BlogHer, hosted by some wonderful Latina ladies (including yours truly) and the BlogHer organization.

If you’ll be attending the BlogHer conference this year, then come join us as we celebrate Latinas and Hispanic culture at the Social Fiesta at BlogHer ’10 on Thursday, August 5th.  We’ll be reveling in the different Latin flavors, music, colors and art, with plenty of food and drinks, and of course, lots of dancing!  What better way could there be to kick off BlogHer ’10?

You’ll need to RSVP in order to attend the event, but, don’t worry, that’s just a formality. The fiesta is open to anyone attending the BlogHer conference. Everyone is welcome to RSVP and all will be part of our familia! It’s sure to be a fun night!

Details

What: Social Fiesta at BlogHer ’10
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010
Time: 6 pm EST
Where: Hilton New York
On twitter: #socialfiesta

How to RSVP: Visit the Social Fiesta Eventbrite page and “register” to RSVP for the party. You’ll need your BlogHer conference ticket confirmation number.

Hosted by BlogHer and the following Latinas in Social Media:

• Ana Roca Castro – premiersocialmedia.com
• Silvia Martinez – mamalatinatips.com
• Melanie Edwards – modernmami.com
• Carolyn Gonzalez – caroincarolina.blogspot.com
• Monica Vila – theonlinemom.com
• Jeannette Kaplun – todobebe.com
• Lisa Perez – newyorkchica.com
• Lex Esparza – laprimerablog.com
• Migdalia Rivera – latinaonamission.com
• Mariana Perez – ridingwithnohands.com
• Denisse Icaza – ahorrosparamama.com
• Daisy Sutherland – drmommyhelpsyou.com
• Julie Diaz-Asper – dbestof.com
• Ana Lilian Flores – spanglishbaby.com

Blog Bling

If you want to let everyone know you’ll be at the Social Fiesta, use these buttons on your blog! Spread the fiesta love people.

160×300

Copy and paste the following code:

<a href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″ mce_href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″><img src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_160x300.gif” mce_src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_160x300.gif” alt=”I’m going!” /></a>

125×125

Copy and paste the following code:

<a href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″ mce_href=”http://www.modernmami.com/blogging/blogher-party-social-fiesta-2010″><img src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_125.jpg” mce_src=”http://www.blogher.com/files/Fiesta_125.jpg” alt=”I’m going!” /></a>

I can’t wait to see you at our fiesta!

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a productive and fun week. For me, it’s been a good mix of the two, which is great because that’s how I define balance.

I’ve been busy working on a couple of Blogher 2010 Room of Your Own sessions as well as a new blog. So, today, I want to share my new projects with you.

BlogHer 2010

BlogHer has Room of Your Own sessions that you can submit a proposal for, then people can vote on whether or not they’d attend such a session, and hopefully your room is accepted and added to the conference agenda. It’s a way to get different topics on the agenda that may not have made it to the main track sessions. This year, I am excited to be a part of two sessions with some great friends.

Cross Cultural Encounters of the Virtual Kind: Achieving Understanding, Tolerance and Maybe Even World Peace Through Blogging

This session will focus on how in addition to multiculturalism, the blogging community also creates and sustains “cross culturalism” through blogging. I was approached by the lovely Faiqa of Native Born to speak with her in this panel. It’s great because there’s diversity between her and I – from our cultural background, our lives, and even our blogs. It’s sure to be a great conversation…if it gets accepted.

Latinas in Social Media: Are we out there? Let’s start the conversación!

Focusing on Latinas as a group and how we are using social media to develop relationships and promote our businesses with a distinct flavor, this session will feature a great group of Latinas:

• Dr. Daisy Sutherland (@DrMommy) of Dr. Mommy Helps Moms
• Monica Vila (@theonlinemom) of The Online Mom Network
• Jeannette Kaplun (@jeannettekaplun) of Todobebé
• Silvia Martinez (@mamalatina) of Mama Latina Tips
• Lexi (@laprimera) of La Primera Blog
• And…me!

How can you help?

If these session topics sound interesting to you, then click on the titles of each session above, login to the BlogHer site (free, easy registration if you don’t already have an account), and click on the link at the top that says “I would attend this session.” That will count as your vote for the session and will help it have a better chance of being accepted to the conference agenda.

New Blog

Ahhh…yes. My new baby. I’ve started a new blog and am launching it today! It’s a great topic, and I’m already having tons of fun with it. I hope you’ll join me in the fun and become a reader. I’d love to have you!

Want to know what it’s about? Well, you’ll just have to click on over to find out!

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Have a comment? Let’s hear your thoughts on these BlogHer sessions or share with us any fun and exciting projects you have going on. Just add your comments below!

And don’t forget to visit my new blog!

I cannot believe it’s already the middle of October. And here in Florida, it’s still in the mid-90s most days! It definitely doesn’t feel like fall. Yet, many stores around here already have their Christmas sections up. Unbelievable.

Anyway, I wanted to take the time to share with you some recent and upcoming events going on in the blogging community.

Article Republished

• My post on Latino terms of endearment and cultural differences has been republished at MyBrownBaby. Denene has shared my post with her readers and I’m so glad that there’s so many out there that can relate.

ModernMami part of Community Site Warming Party

• This Friday, there will be a #community site warming twitter party hosted by the queen of twitter parties, Amy from Resourceful Mommy. You can RSVP for the party here and join us on Friday night as my site is one of the blogs featured!

Tastemaker Challenge

• The U.S. Potato Board has partnered with nine bloggers, who have officially been deemed the “Tastemaker” Challengers. And guess what? I’m one of them! You can read all the details here, but just know that I’ll be playing Iron Chef a bit. Only thing is, we already know the secret ingredient…potatoes! Follow the conversation on twitter with hashtag #tastemaker.

Got any news to share yourself? Go ahead and let us know in the comments. I’d love to hear about it.

And don’t forget to join the twitter party this Friday! See you there.

OH MY GOD! It’s finally here!

Blogher 2009 starts tomorrow. And though I leave in the morning, I still haven’t packed or prepared myself. I’ll be the one freaking out on twitter tonight as the excitement and nervousness hits me all at once. In the meantime, I sit down and write this post for you. See how much I love you all?

I’ve seen a few posts here and there from people introducing themselves in time for the conference. It seems like a good idea so that fellow BlogHer attendees can get to know you. Here’s my attempt.

Quick Facts

• I’m 29 years old. It hasn’t hit me yet that I’ll actually be turning 30 next year and will no longer be in my 20s. As far as BlogHer participants go, I think I’m on the younger side of the spectrum.
• I live in Orlando, Florida and no, I don’t go to Disney every day. But, I might start going more often now that I’m a part of the Disney Florida Magical Moms group.
• I’m originally from Puerto Rico. This is an important part of who I am.
• I’ve been married 6 years and have a 3 year old daughter.
• I love to dance. Love. In a future life, I would like to be a professional dancer. Until then, I’m happy to dance in my living room, car, and the upcoming BlogHer parties.
• I’m short. I know this. You don’t have to point it out when you meet me.
• I don’t like socks, coffee, or okra. The coffee bit shocks people the most.
• I’m shy most of the time. I may not come up to you and introduce myself, but if you start up a conversation with me, I’d be happy to talk.
• I’m attending BlogHer for the first time. Be easy on me.

Be sure to look for me at BlogHer. I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as I can. Find a picture on my about page.

Leave a comment so I can get to know you too!

I am beyond ecstatic!

I woke up this morning and found myself as a finalist on the Scholastic Parent & Child magazine Mommy Blogger Awards!

Thank you to those of you who nominated ModernMami™.com and continue to offer support!

The news has been spreading on twitter and facebook and many of you have already voted and retweeted the information. For that, I say THANK YOU! You have no idea how awesome you are.

Now…if you enjoy my content on being a working mom, parenting, motherhood, or just my occasional rant, then please vote for ModernMami™.com at http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogcontest.

Please?

Me love you long time.

On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of meeting and hanging out with some great local mommies.

To be honest, this was really the first time I got together with a group of moms since I had my daughter. Most of my friends don’t yet have kids and those who do, don’t live close-by.

Since I’m a working mami, I don’t often get to share in the “typical” mommy outings that a lot of stay at home moms attend, such as play dates, mommy & me time, and other mommy meetups.

And, since my daughter doesn’t attend day-care, but is instead taken care of by her abuela, I don’t even get to meet other moms with kids her age.

So when I heard that Ted Murphy of Izea and Wendy Piersall of Sparkplugging.com got together with the folks at Seaworld to offer some local moms a chance to hang out for the day, I jumped!

Want to hear the best part about it all?

They were all bloggers too! Ok, that’s probably the second-best part about it.

The BEST part of it was that it was FREE!

Who did I hang out with?

• @missbritt – Miss Britt
• @morningsidemom – Morningside Mom
• @Military_Mom – Blog 4 Mom
• @eggmarketing – The Marketing Eggspert

All great women, with great families.

The kids were well behaved and the husbands did a pretty good job too. I have to give a special thank you to my husband who was very supportive and took one for the team when he climbed up into the nets & tunnels in Shamu’s Happy Harbor so that the other mommies and I could have a chance to chat.

It was a very fun day and I had a great time sharing with other mommies who had very similar interests, complaints, and celebrations.

Thanks again @tedmurphy and @emom!

Miss Britt and I
image via @eggmarketing

I was recently asked by a co-worker about which blogs I follow. She reads a few blogs, but is fairly new to the blogging world and was curious to see what my list consists of.

I subscribe to many blogs, but there are a few out there that I consistently read.

In no particular order, 10 blogs you should consider reading:

1. Problogger
   • Site: http://www.problogger.net
   • RSS Feed
2. Simplemom
   • Site: http://simplemom.net
   • RSS Feed
3. Sparkplugging
   • Site: http://www.sparkplugging.com
   • RSS Feed (for entire network)
4. JessicaKnows
   • Site: http://jessicaknows.com
   • RSS Feed
5. Rapid eLearning Blog
   • Site: http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning
   • RSS Feed
6. Just Creative Design
   • Site: http://justcreativedesign.com
   • RSS Feed
7. Moms At Work
   • Site: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_momsatwork
   • RSS Feed
8. The Bloggess
   • Site: http://thebloggess.com
   • RSS Feed
9. Mutha Mae
   • Site: http://muthamae.com
   • RSS Feed
10. Visit the Coqui
    • Site: http://www.visit-the-coqui.com
    • RSS Feed

As you can see, it’s a diverse list with a variety of topics. But, it’s reflective of me…currently at least.

Let’s hear from you. Which blogs do you enjoy reading? I can always add more to my reading list.

P.S. If you want to share articles, resources, and links in general, add modernmami to your Delicious network.

I got an email over the weekend from a ModernMami.com reader. It truly made my day and put a smile on my face.

It’s great to know that there are real people out there who read ModernMami.com and appreciate it. And more so, that there’s folks who can relate to my content.

What better way to end the year than to celebrate those who appreciate what you do?

Here is the email I received from Beckie in San Francisco, CA (re-posted with her permission, of course):

Hi Melanie:

My name is Beckie and I live in the San Francisco, CA area.  I am originally from Ponce, PR and I really miss the holidays there.  I have two daughters and I consider myself a modern mami too (I am a ballet teacher).  Although I have been assimilated into the American culture a lot (my husband is American – English heritage), I try to keep my heritage intact as much as I can.

I just wanted to tell you that it is women like you who inspire me to continue to instill my heritage to my girls in spite of it being so hard to do in my community.  At least you have Cubans and Puerto Ricans around you.  The closes I get to it is my dear Mexican friends.  Although they are near and dear to my heart, there is a bit of a culture gap there.  Anyway, I’ve gone on too long.  I just wanted to let you know that you are truly an inspiration.  I wish you a very Happy Holiday and a very Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
Beckie

Thank you Beckie for being a part of the Modern Mami community and for the very kind words.

May 2009 bring great things for all of you.

Happy New Year!

l’ve been tagged twice this week!

Chris Marsden (@cruciformity) of ChrisMarsden.com and Melissa (@WebBetty) of The Web-Betty Blog have both tagged me to tell you 7 things about me.

It’s actually the same meme I did back in April.

But, let’s give it another go-round and see if I can come up with 7 new things to tell you about.

1. I’m actually pretty short – only 5’1″.
2. I have an Industrial & Systems Engineering degree.
3. But, I currently work in e-learning and have taken a keen interest in it.
4. I used to dance to commercials when I was little. (In Puerto Rico, commercials have actual songs in the background, not just jingles and such. Well they did back when, at least. Don’t know if they still do.)
5. I still love to dance and miss going out clubbing. Not for the club scene, but just for the dancing.
6. I never had an Easy Bake Oven as a girl, even though I wanted one. I’ve contemplated buying one for myself. I mean, for my daughter. When she gets old enough.
7. I cook good. So I’ve been told by friends and family. And the husband.

Now I get to tag 7 bloggers so I/we can learn more about them.

• Philippa – http://pchanner.blogspot.com – @pchanner
• Chris Channer – http://itsbasic.blogspot.com – @chrischanner
• Jai – http://mamistimeout.com – @JaiMami
• Coqui – http://www.visit-the-coqui.com – @coqui2008
• Lymari – http://besitosdecoco.com – @lymari
• Nancy Nally – http://www.scrapbookupdate.com – @ScrapNancy
• Melody – http://feistfamily.blogspot.com – No Twitter?
  

To quote Chris:

Check out their sites. Follow them on Twitter. And if you want, consider yourself tagged as well, follow the rules below, and leave a comment here with your blog address and twitter address. And don’t forget to follow me on twitter too [@modernmami]!

THE RULES:

• Link to the original tagger(s), and list these rules on my blog.
• Share 7 facts about myself in the post – some random, some weird.
• Tag 7 people at the end of my post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
• Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter.

Do you feel like you know me a little bit better? How about you share some information about yourself?

Leave a fact about yourself and/or a link to your post in the comments so we can all learn more about each other!