I’m working on the launch of two new blogs this week. The first is live: Mothers Against Government Intervention and Control. Interested in blogging for the site? Contact me.

Coming this week: Launch of “The Present Professor” site; The Great Preschool Experiment; and PHAT Daddy gets a blog.

Apparently I am an over-protective mom who needs to cut the cord before my kids rebels and turns into a serial killer. Chime in with your comments over at New Jersey Moms Blog.

I seem to have some bad luck when it comes to contests. A year or more ago I tried to give away a Cars DVD and the first winner chosen did not answer my emails. Last month, I offered a free blog design to someone who subscribed to my RSS feed. Again - the winner is not answering. I just picked a winner in the Build-A-Bear gift card contest and - can you guess? - the winner is not responding to my emails. The emails are not bouncing back, so I’m at a loss for what the problem could be.

So perhaps a little public shout-out? The winner of a free blog design is Christine of Big Pink Cookie. And the winner of the Build-A-Bear gift card is Shena (no URL given).

Please contact me by Monday 8/25 or I’m passing the prize on to the next randomly-chosen person.

And now, please to enjoy some amazing photos of my children?

This could be the best photo I’ve ever taken.

My nephews.

The PHAT Family is visiting relatives this weekend and meeting my new nephew for the first time. He is 3 weeks old and sweet as can be. More photos to come later, but now we’re off to see the Clone Wars movie and later, PHAT Daddy (who has started a blog - OMG - more details to come) and I are going out to a nice dinner with ADULTS ONLY.

Over the past couple years a lot of bloggers have bashed public relations professionals. They don’t get it. They send us form letters blatantly demonstrating that they do not read our blogs and often don’t even take the time to discover our names. They ask for something for nothing and the mommy bloggers for free.

But I’ve been seeing a shift lately. Bloggers are hot commodities and companies who want to reach our audiences are figuring out how to do it.

Case in point: Build-A-Bear Workshop. I got an email from their Social Media Strategist (love that title) which I will reprint in part below:

Greetings on behalf of Build-A-Bear Workshop®! You’ve mentioned that you’re a big Disney Channel fan, and we’d like to send you a Beary Limited® edition High School Musical Bear to keep for FREE – before it arrives in stores! Plus, we’ll send you a $25 gift card to give away to one of your blog readers in any way you choose.

Yes! First, she addressed me by name. Second, she did some research because we are indeed Disney Channel fans. Third, she did not say “I love your blog” or “I enjoy reading your blog.”  (Um, PR peeps? We KNOW you don’t read our blogs regularly so just stop trying to pretend you do.) Fourth, she’s not asking for a review. She’s giving me a gift card to give away and that adds value to my blog and helps me get more readers and traffic.

The Social Media Strategist from Build-A-Bear gets it. And my daughter loves the bear.

So now for the best part… YOU can win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop. And all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.

UPDATE: This contest is closed. The winner has been chosen and will be announced shortly.