Interview

Two weeks ago, I opened a new series on Pepper Design Blog by being the first interview Morgan did with a blogger. Follow her blog if you wish to spice up your home and your party. Last Friday, she interviewed Chris of Celebrations at Home. Chris gave wonderful tips to style your place to the party theme.

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I have been so busy lately that I just realized that At Home with Kim Vallee is a nominee for the BlogLuxe Awards organized by SocialLuxe Lounge in the Most Inspiring Blog Category. You can vote once a day until July for the first round. The five finalists will be announced July 6th, 2009. The two winners will be announced July 23rd, 2009 at the Swiffer SocialLuxe Lounge.

Nominations will close on June 23. Voting will remain open until July 6. You may vote once per day, per person, for your favorite blog in each category. The 5 blogs that obtain the most votes will become a finalist.

These awards are organized for BlogHer 2009. The winners will be publicly announced at the pampering party to kick-off BlogHer ‘09. The hostesses for the SocialLuxe Lounge are Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant, Jennifer Sbranti of Hostess With The Mostess, Jane Maynard of This Week For Dinner, Marie LeBaron of Make and Takes, Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential, and Beth Feldman of Role Mommy.

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A quick note to tell you that I was interviewed last week by Susan Semenak for an article she did for the main English speaking daily newspaper in Montreal, The Gazette. I shared my knowledge about moms who blog. If you are into it, read the different points of views of a group of moms who likes to blog. They did this article for Mother’s Day.

+ The mommy diaries by Susan Semenak on The Gazette

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How they did it?

Michelle Blanc, Bruno Guglielminetti and Dominic Arpin compiled their own list of 25 Web celebrities and from that they produce the top 10 list.

I am happy to report that two bloggers from our circle made the Top 10. At the 3rd position is Martine Gingras of banlieusardises.com. Martine pioneered the mom blog in Quebec. She is very good.

M-C. Turgeon is an artist, blogger, podcaster and crafter. She runs a Web design and communications  studio. She founded Creacamp, a meeting for creative women  in Montreal. M-C Turgeon writes either in French and in English on her blog. She is very active online and offline.

It did not stop there. Several bloggers from the women and mom blog circle were chosen in the top 25 lists, including me. I wish a express my warmest thanks to Michelle Blanc and Bruno Guglielminetti for giving me this honor. Women in other spheres also appear on the Top 25 lists. Slowly but surely, the Web stops to be a gentlemen club.

Upcoming Talk

I wish to remind you that I will be talking about Women and Mom Blogging and Marketing at the next PodCamp Toronto at 2:45 pm on February 21st, 2009. The topics covered are all exciting. In you are in Toronto that weekend, come to visit. It’s free.

MORE:
+ Top 25 of Michelle Blanc
+ Top 25 of Bruno Guglielminetti
+ Top 10 on Christiane Charest

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Today, I will interview Elaine Griffin, a leading New York interior designer, author and editor in a live streaming video interview. It will be a new experience to be on the other side. I will be the interviewer instead of the interviewee.

It should be interesting. A recognized tastemaker, Elaine Griffin is a contributing editor of Elle Décor. She designed the Good Works Makeovers for Oprah’s O at Home, and is ranked as one of House Beautiful’s Top 100 American Designers. Her first book will be out in Autumn 2009.

The Interview Topic

Elaine will share her design ideas to enhance the exterior of your house. You will learn how you can add curb appeal on a budget. I will ask her about the latest trends in front entryway.

The live streaming feed will be up from 12:45 to 12:55 pm EST today (February 4th, 2009). I know it is at last minute, but check if you can add it to your agenda. If you are unable to make it, I will publish the video later this week.

MORE:
+ Live Video Stream of the Interview
+ Elaine Griffin

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In the News

First, Deena Waisberg interviewed me a few months ago about women blogging. Her article is published in Reader’s Digest. Deena introduced the world of blogging through the eyes of a few Canadian bloggers.

She asked me if she could interview one of my readers. After asking permission, I referred her to Sabina DeShazo of Barefoot in the Orchard. I wish to thank both for their collaboration.

Session at PodCamp Toronto 2009

I posted my session on the wiki. It will be a follow-up to the session I did in Montreal. Last time, I did an introduction to the world of women and mom blogs. Now the scope will be an Updated Look at Women and Social Media.

The core of the session will be on what is happening in the world of women and mom marketing and blogging. We will look at the latest metrics. See how blogging and social media enhance the life and the daily activities of modern women. I will share great initiatives but I also want to hear about yours. So if you are in the Toronto area, I wish you will come.

• What: PodCamp Toronto 2009
• When: February 21 and 22, 2009 (a weekend)
• Where: Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
• Cost: Free!

PodCamp Toronto is made possible by the generous contributions of our sponsors. Visit podcamptoronto.org for more information and Free Registration.

MORE:
+ The Feminine Side of Blogging in the Reader’s Digest
+ PodCamp Toronto 2009 blog

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When we say that the Web has no frontiers; it is true. I am so glad to report that my blog is featured in an interior design magazine from Singapore. I am on the December 2008 issue of Singapore Home & Design. I want to thank Ruth Chan for this honor.

By the way, seeing the Queen clock inspires me to find a cool red silhouette clock for the office. Inform me if you see something similar.

No More International Boundaries

On that same article, I found out about vPost, a service provided by Singapore Post. No more disappointment because your favorite online shops do not ship overseas; like it is the case for the Queen clock. The service gives you access to a US, a UK, an European or a Japanese shipping address. vPost will forward your packages to your Singapore address within a week. I wonder if and when a service like that will be available in Canada.

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A cool thing about doing TV interviews is that you discover new shows and new places. I watched last week episode before my interview and I like it.

About the TV Show

Ciao Montreal is a show hosted by young dynamic Italian women about what is going in Montreal that can interest the Italian community. The show covers lifestyle, nightlife, music, fashion, and entertainment. Natasha Gargiulo interviewed me about Halloween party ideas for grown ups.

Ciao Montreal also recorded from a different location in Montreal. This week, it was at a fabulous cooking, mixology and wine tasting school in the heart of Old Montreal called Ateliers et Saveurs. The calendar is mostly filled with workshops. The concept is to learn while having fun.

The décor of Ateliers et Saveurs also impressed me. I captured the lights to give you an idea of the place. An event was taken place. I did not photograph the rooms by respect to the attendees. Do not worry I am planning to go back at Ateliers et Saveurs. I wish to experience their workshops and tasting events.

Custom-made lighting

Lighting artist François Legault of UNIK Sculptural Lighting designed the three light fixtures I am showing you. They were designed especially for Ateliers et Saveurs.

The spiral chandelier features 260 spoons in three sizes, and 15 incandescent bulbs. In the wine tasting room, 476 spoons and 21 Champagne flutes were used to create an impressive 7 foot-long pendant lamp over the table.

The Bar wall sconces are made out of barware. A bunch of spoons hanged from a cocktail strainer. Metal stems hold three shooter glasses at the base. The Kitchen sconces are built on a similar concept than the bar sconces. But in the kitchen, three ladles and whisks drop below the 50 spoons.

I invite you to check UNIK Sculptural Lighting online to admire the entire lighting collection at Ateliers et Saveurs.

Mark October 12th, 2008 on your Calendar

The show with my interview is supposed to air October 12th, 2008 on CJNT Montreal. I will tell you more when I received the confirmation. I wish to thank the team of Ciao Montreal for this opportunity.

MORE READING:
+ Ciao Montreal
+ Ateliers et Saveurs custom-made lighting by UNIK Sculptural Lighting
+ Ateliers et Saveurs

A couple days before Apartment Therapy published a post about Organizing With Magnetic Boards, I spot the Wooden Memo board by Jette Scheib at MoMA store for a guest post I did for Style Sheet.

For the rest, our selections are pretty different.

More Magnetic Bulletin Board Options

I almost select the sisters and brothers of the Bird Shape-Up! Magnetic Bulletin Board by Three by Three: the Flower Dry-Erase Magnetic board for a little girl room and the Arrow Dry-Erase Magnetic board for a boy bedroom.

Remark the Three and Three does two models of magnetic board shaped as arrows and flowers. You can write with a dry-erase pen on one of the model.

About my guest blog on Style Sheet, my selection takes the form of a simple memo board up to an elaborate organization system. Check out the eye-catching memo board for your grocery list on Style Sheet.

SOURCING:
+ Wooden Memo board by Jette Scheib – price: members $81, others $90
+ Three by Three Shape up! Bird Magnetic Bulletin Board – price: $24 USD
+ Three by Three Shape up! Flower Magnetic Bulletin Board – price: $24 USD
+ Three by Three Shape up! Arrow Magnetic Bulletin Board – price: on sale at $18 USD at Velocity
+ Via Style Sheet

I compiled a list of attractive decorative items for people on a budget. I wrote this for Style Sheet, the blog of HTGV.ca.

My guest post goes beyond the college and university students who wish to decorate their dorm. The list suits anyone who moved out of his or her parents’ house for the first time.

Because I prefer buying stuff that can stay with you for a while, I selected items that would look great in your subsequent homes.

To prove it can fit in a grown up home, the first item is an IKEA hack done by one of my girlfriends in her apartment. I want to thank the photograph Elizabeth Delage for taking the pictures.

I invite you to have a look at my finds and to share your opinions on Style Sheet.

Style Sheet, the blog of HGTV.ca, published my latest guest blogger post this morning.

I went on a hunt for three desk chairs that would look great in a home office.

I selected three styles that suit three budgets from home furniture stores across Canada. If you enjoy, leave a comment on Style Sheet.

If you wonder, I sit all day on an Aeron chair by Herman Miller. I felt for this icon ergonomics chair ten years ago. I feel that it is money well spent since I passed long hours at my desk.

Via Style Sheet

I will go sidetracks today for my first post. I wish to talk about what is happening in my life.

Some of you may be aware that I worked for 15 years in the IT and Web industry. I gained a pretty good understanding of the challenges and processes governing the online and offline universes.

I coupled my Web expertise with my design skills to build and operate At Home with Kim Vallee. My husband is a bright system architect and Chief technical officer. So I am still connected to that previous career. All this brings me to my participation at PodCamp Montreal this fall.

What is Next?

The world of social media is so exciting. For the first time in the history, non technical people, like most of the bloggers in our circle can participate actively and build a business around their passion. The female and mommy blogs are booming at an accelerated rate. It is normal that women embrace social communities because we like to converse.

I am reflecting about that because I am preparing for the two sessions I will give at PodCamp Montreal on September 20-21, 2008

1. Beyond the Blog – How to Better Serve the Woman Market Through Social Tools: I am really excited by this topic.
2. Managing the PR Beast : Building Relationships With PR Practitioners While Maintaining Credibility With Your Audience. This is a panel made of Michelle Sullivan, Rayanne Langdon, Eden Spodek and Kim Vallee. I am lucky to sit on a panel with these three talented women.

August 22, 2008 Update: The PodCamp Montreal schedule is out. My first talk (Beyond the Blog) is at 3 pm on Saturday and then at 4pm, it is the panel. So I got a busy afternoon.

Register for PodCamp MTL

The line-up is incredible at this unconference. So register, the event is FREE and you will get to visit the beautiful Montreal. The weather will still be nice but bring a light coat as nights are colder.

Love Links

Since I am talking marketing and bloggers, why not share blogs I enjoy reading but that are in a different sphere.

I feel guilty that I did not respond earlier on my blog to Renée from En Direct Des Iles who awarded me an Arte y Pico at the beginning of the month. I do not follow the rules on her award but I respect the spirit. Here are five blogs outside the niche of my blog that I enjoy for their creative thinking.

• Six pixels of separation by Mitch Joel: I listen to Mitch’s podcasts while I do my daily exercises. If you see me smile or laugh at the gym, this is why. Mitch Joel has two upcoming sessions. His company, Twist Image is a major sponsor of PodCamp Montreal. First Mitch will talk with David Usher, the singer about the music industry. Then, his second session will be with C.C. Chapman, a new media maven living in Boston.
• By the way, David Usher has a blog on art, technology and the communications revolutions called CloudID. There are good discussions on David’s blog.
• Problogger by Darren Rowse: I go there for tips on how to build a more successful blog.
• Innovation Playground by Idris Mootee: I enjoy his blog because it talks about innovation, brand development and consumer experience in an easy to understand way. It is easy to read.
• Community Divas: Introducing a newcomer by veteran bloggers. Community Divas is the new podcast started by two of my friends from Toronto, Eden Spodek of Bargainista and Connie Crosby. Eden and Connie are doing a session at PodCamp Montreal about her podcast.

I will go back to my original programming now. But first, do not forget to register for PodCamp Montreal if you are free for a week-end of great networking, sharing and learning. If you there, please come say hello.

SOURCING:
+ Sessions at PodCamp Montreal
+ Fall foliage – 4×6 print by sixhours on Etsy – price: $10 USD