For On the Web the scope is obvious: it’s social media. For At Home, I need 3 or 4 words to capture the essence of the blog. I am hesitating between 2 options right now. I want your opinion. Answer this Twitter poll that I created with twtpoll.

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In fact, this is the second reference to the walking closet I saw today. The first was a print ad with a happy mother with her little girl from The Container Store to announce their 30% off sale on Elfa closet system.

SOURCING:
+ Heineken: Walk-In Fridge
+ The Container Store

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+ A one-of-a-kind hammock designed by Karin van Lieshout in collaboration with Rachel van Outvorst. It took an immensible amount of work to produce this handmade hammock. Their monkish work also includes several pendants, a huge chandelier and a cool sea urchin chair. Via ROOM & Serve

+ Certain fabric colors for the Nurseryworks Storytime Rocker are at 50% off at Zac and Zoe. The idea to look for it came to me after reading about the best scavenger finds on Ohdeedoh. Do not bother to check the ad since the Craiglist listing has now expired. Via Ohdeedoh

+ If you like to buy local produce, check out What’s in Season for August in sunny California by Sabina of Barefoot in the Orchard. Look at the tasty figs on the chocolate cake.

+ Read a review about the Flip & Tumble reusable bags. Megan of Not Martha compared it to the Envirosax and the RuMe shopping bags. I personally prefer using my Flip & Tumble bags.

+ I realized this weekend how useful the iPhone 3G could be for blogging. I see it as a productivity enhancer and a marketing tool. I could post pictures on Twitter as a trailer to an upcoming post. And reading my RSS on the go would better utilize my work time. To see how other bloggers use their iPhone for blogging, read the review on Problogger.

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A Montreal Girl Geek told me last week that At Home with Kim Vallee is featured on The Nest magazine. As far as I know, my blog is the favorite blog of their readers and staff in the Entertaining category. Sadly for me, this magazine is not available in Canada.

I just sent an email to a Public Relations Manager at The Nest Magazine. We will see what they answer. In the meantime, I am asking for help from my US readers.

Did you read that article? Can someone send me a copy of the Summer 2008 edition of the Nest magazine? I will send a thank you gift. If you interested make sure to fill the email text box (not published) and write a comment.

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: The Nest

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It is now official. Sk*rt became Kirtsy. The look of the Web site is identical. They just updated the logo and the URL.

If you use FeedFlare by FeedBurner, you need to remove the Sk*rt this personal flare you created before and add kirtsy to your FeedFlare.

Via: Kirtsy Back in Business [Chris Brogan]

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I could not resist sharing the girlie ad with you. It sums up what I was telling you about the broader audience of the DS versus other game consoles.

Even if your mother is not a gamer, she could enjoy these games: Crosswords DS, The New York Times Crosswords, Sudoku Gridmaster and Brain Age.

Then, you can give her more playful video games, I am playing The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass right now. Animal Crossings: Wild World is amazing too. I passed so much time playing that game.

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I do not know if you heard but the Digg for Chicks is changing its name. You can read of all the details on sk*rt corporate blog.

In true sk*rt fashion, sk*rt hosts a fabulously fun contest and turn the naming decision over to you, their clever readers.

With 235 comments so far, 9 names are still in competition. Names that get too few votes were discarded today. A new name was added today. The vote will be wrapped up by Friday May 2 at midnight PST.

I have already casted my vote. Since I did it through the comments, my opinion is already public:

1. First place; SheSaw
2. Runner Up: Kirtsy

Visit sk*rt, the blog to see the entire list and vote.

>>> Sourcing:
Via: Sk*rt is Over, Long Live Sk*rt: Women’s Site Holds Vote for New Company Name [ReadWriteRead]

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My blog is about harmonizing décor and beautiful things. This post does not fit the bill.

The idea of transforming a train into a showroom is cool. Sadly, IKEA did not convince me with the décor they put on. Maybe, it is a cultural thing.

Showroom On Rails

For the opening of its new store at Port Island, IKEA did a huge promotion. The Kobe Portliner Monorail was decorated with fabrics of the new IKEA collection. Each wagon featured a set of bright seating. They even add a small drape panel on every window.

Frankly, it does not really look good. IKEA fails in trying to show too much. There are too many clashing patterns in my opinion. The showroom would have been more effective if they limit to one color family. And show several ways to incorporate it into your life.

Remaking the train interior is quite an achievement. It is also a test for the quality of their fabric. Japanese trains are extremely busy. I have not read a story on who these temporary showrooms wear off. I am curious to know.

Still Running

Bold patterns were painted on the outside of the monorail. You can ride the IKEA showroom Monorail until May 6, 2008 if you happen to travel to Japan.

Q. What do you think about the IKEA showroom on rails?

>>> Sourcing:
Via: IKEA decks out Kobe train on [pinktentacle]
Photo credits: Kiyo

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It has been a week since I spoke at the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner, an offshoot of the London Girl Geek Dinners started by Sarah Blow. These monthly events provide a welcoming atmosphere and a platform for learning in an informal environment, typically a local restaurant.

If there is a Girl Geek Dinner chapter in your town, I invite you to join. These meetings are not about hard core geek stuff. The proof, I was invited to speak for what I am doing right now.

That is one of the marvelous things about blogging: you do not need to be technologically savvy to succeed. But knowing about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), statistical tools, online advertising and social networks can grow your brand faster.

My personal story

For me, the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner talks are about sharing experiences. As a blogger I aim to inspire my readers. It is now possible to earn a living as a professional blogger. I am not there yet but every month I am closer of my goal.

For the past 5 years, I dreamed of building my own home living and shopping magazine. Because I was stuck in the old media business model, I failed until last year to see that I could do it with a blog. A chain of events led me to take the steps for realizing my dream.

To make a story short, this is my third career. I am finally working by passion. Because I believed in following our dreams, I decided to discuss how I am building my online brand. I gave tricks on how to generate traffic through simple SEO techniques that take a few seconds per post, how real-time statistics can sometimes shape your editorial plan and I demonstrate the power of social media. I talked about design issues and the need to be active in and out of your own blog.

I encourage you to read the report of Tanya McGinnity, the organizer of the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner on the MGGD blog. You can see on the blog what the other girls talked about at previous events. If you want to talk, do not hesitate to contact Tanya. Most of the communications are done through Facebook, so join the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner group or your local chapter (Toronto, Bay Area, international listing).

I am grateful

I want to say thank to Tibetan Om Restaurant for accepting that we do a presentation at their restaurant. It is special experience because they were other customers. If you never tasted Tibetan cuisine before, it is really good. It was my first time. I ate a lentil soup, a sampling of dumplings and a beef stew served with vapor bread (that is white the bread is still white). My husband, my official event photographer, ordered a plate of shrimp dumplings that were delicious.

I also wanted to thank all the participants for listening, asking good questions and giving me many sound advices. Finally, thank you Tanya for asking me to talk. Preparing and doing the speech allowed me to put my goals and my achievements into perspective which give me a chance to move further. The Girl Geek Dinner event is really a two-way street.

More Marketing Tips

I want to share two blogs that gives excellent, down to earth advices on generating traffic and blog monetarization. If you are serious about blogging, make sure to add those to your RSS daily feed.

• Problogger – do not miss his Best of Problogger
• ReadWriteWeb – useful tips on how to write an online publication

I also suggest you follow a couple of blogs from specialists in communications or marketing. I do not give you any names because it is a matter of personal style.

I will go back to my regular editorial on my next post.

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I invite you to an event on March 26th, 2008.  I would like to meet you at the next Montreal Girl Geek Dinner. That night, I will be speaking about how to create your online brand identity from my own experiences.

If you are a blogger, you realized that blogging has made it possible to “become a media”. The concept of my speech is to share my experiences, be inspirational and exchange ideas with the group. See you there.

For more information and to confirm your presence, check out the March Montreal Girl Geek Dinner event on Facebook.

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Every time a chapter of your life, short or long, finished you feel its impacts. That is what makes living so exciting.

As my frequent travel run ended last night, I am getting back to my regular schedule. What this means for you is that:

• You get more daily posts – more tips, more inspirations
• I will have time to create instructional videos
• I can participate more in the blogosphere.

There will be more posts on the amazing things I did or I saw plus my guides on better living in style. Stay tuned; it should be exciting.

Coming soon: an improved Web site

In the upcoming days / weeks, I will deploy:

• a new signature for At Home with Kim Vallée – the time has come to get a real identity for my brand
• a revised, more relevant category system
• new features to get to my content

What type of tree?

I took the pictures last week at Peju, a small Provencal family-run winery in Napa Valley. Since I forgot to ask, does anyone know what type of tree this is?

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