Cage Free Monkeys

Movin On Up...

PR and Press

Interested in my writing?
click here

Want to see some places we have been featured?

EverythingMom.com - Dispelling Homeschool Myths
News Channel 9 WSYR-- Homeschooling Interview
Family Life Blog Syracuse.com
Meal Make Over Moms Award
Homeschool. Style. Bytes
Bridge Street Morning Show- Fruit Simple and Cricket Azima Cooking Segment





Pitch Policy

You've clicked here because you want to pitch me something, and I'm more then happy to listen. However, just to save us both time, please keep to the following guidelines:-send me a brief, original e-mail, not just a press release. My e-mail address is jenaferlm[at]hotmail.com. Include links to what you are promoting, because I like to check out the items before I reply. At the moment, I can reply to all e-mails so you'll know how I feel either way.

If you wish to advertise on my blog, please email me for prices and policies.

I am not interested in providing free content or syndicating my blog to other websites. However, interviews or contributing as a guest blogger might be something I'd be interested in. Email me. Definitely e-mail me if you'd like to hire me for a job.

I will not recommend products/services that I haven't personally tried, because I want to stand behind what I write. On that note, it's a good idea to send me a sample, to keep. The review will include:
- a stand alone post with photos and links back to your website.
-The review will also go up on my profile page at Everythingmom.com
-The review will be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

I like to give a fair review; what I like, and what I think could be better.
I will also disclose that I am blogging about a sample product that was sent to me, or that I received compensation to blog about a product. If I really don't like the product, I will e-mail you before I post.

Occasionally, I host giveaways and can always use sponsors. I will accept sponsors whose products I have personally tried and enjoyed. These sponsors can be from the USA or Canada. I am most excited about the following categories (don't worry if you're not on this list...it's a work in progress):

Anything of organic and natural nature
Travel (family friendly)
Gadgets (love gadgets!)
Health and Beauty
Healthy Eating/Cooking/Baking
Computers/Media/Electronics/Movies/Music
Home and Garden
Family friendly Destinations, restaurants, hotels, museums
Books! Especially cookbooks or children's books
Tools/ Do-it Yourself
Arts and Cultural Events
Crafts
Photography

Thanks to Notes From the Cookie Jar for a great model of a pitch policy!

Crawling Out of Hibernation

So yesterday was truly one of the first really nice days here in Syracuse in a long while. It was mid sixties with bright shining sun. I bought a few rose bushes and planted them in for what I hope is the start of a great cutting garden. The sight of dirt still stuck under my fingernails is so nice.
As my neighbors all began to crawl out of their dens during the day, they joined us for an impromtu barbeque in our driveway--hot dogs, hamburgers, beer: all delicatly served from the hood of my husbands car since the patio furniture hasnt yet ended its hibernation. Martha Stewart would have been proud, a dinner party buffet for 12 plastered on the hood of a Saturn...makes you envious you werent invited I know.
So my neighbors all collected and chatted up the past 5 months' happenings including the introduction of two baby girls born during the bleak winter--this their first day outside.
The air smelled of a freshly lit grill and sounds of laughter filled the air. A great day all around. Anxious for more spring days on the horizon.

Back to Reality in More Ways Than One

I had a great time--of course. I rested, relaxed and lived for myself for three days. Everything I did focussed around me and i loved it and I love that I got to go. The most beautiful sight I saw was that of my room window overlooking the strip and the mountains from the 23rd floor at the Wynn. The colors of the mountains were magnificient. But no more bragging...I need to vent on Vegas--

If the mayor of Vegas is looking for a nickname or travel slogan how about "Vegas-the most dumb-ass place you can bring your kids". Thats my suggestion. Look I knew what to expect from vegas--and Im no prude but I was overwhelmed with the nature of it all. A rented truck billbaord drove up and down the strip with naked girls with meere letters and numbers covereing only the most 'indescent" parts titled: hot girls delivered to your room, as if it were Little Casers bringing over a peperoni pie.

I walked the strip on two days to 'see it all' and I did...believe me. The sanitation workers used shovels to pick up the three inch deep drift of cards of naked women each promising to be into this and that and just a phone call away. Lillte kids walked hand in hand with thier parents through the muck of cards while the parents took in the sights.

I wont even get into the depravity of the gambling and the stories I overheard by the pool or at lunch about so-and-so- loosing 7,000 dollars last night and now he has to call his wife and tell her.


The most disturbing though--on a deep level for some reason, was waiting for the cab this morning at --3:00am outside the hotel. I watched one man shuttle two TRASHED girls towards his car fro the casino. I dont thin khe even knew their names he kept saying "Comon girls...comon girls this way" like they were puppies. One girl could barely stand and the others dress was already half unzipped off her body. Next a cab showed up with two girls on a job--meeting someone who had summoned them from some ad, they couldnt have been more than 20, skinny like unhealthy skinny-- but very cute, dressed in not much and giggling to each other about being so tired from the third job of the night together. Something about it was so disturbing to actually see this up close. I mean Good God how do you get to that place and how do you get out? I thought of them all morning.

If you get nothing else from this overtired and jetlagged mom today, Please do not bring your kids to Vegas. It is not a family place and you can not seclude them from "Vegas".

I told my husband on the way home, Im greatful I got to see it--but I have no desire to go back.

On Vegas Time....

Yes, those are margaritas...more specifically AGAVE magartitas. YUM.... So I read all about how to run a homeschool co-op, but alas I was drinking a margarita so I forgot. (vacation sacarsm)Oh and Ive had it with the sink hole casino that you need to walk through just to get anywhere--how come everyone else is whootin and hollering? What exactly am I doing wrong with those stupid slot machines? I wont even mention the $20 spin on the roulette table. I picked 33 and 35 (ten on each) 34 came up---no Im not kidding. Thats just my brand of luck.

Eat, Pray, Love is turning out to be pretty awesome but again there were margaritas involved..hmmm..pattern?
I have only called the kids each about 6 times in the past 24 hours. My plan is simple: annoy them so much with frequent disrupting phone calls that they are too annoyed to miss me. I think its working.....

Vacation for the Weary