Sometimes, you really do get a PR pitch that is right on the money. I wrote about that on my review page today. You should check it out because you could win a prize of your very own.

I’ve also been meaning to tell you about a nice email I received after my cranky post about how I like to do my OWN crosswords, independently. The people behind CRUX Crosswords for iPad gave me a code so I could check out their app. It is a nice collection of crossword puzzles from many sources, from my beloved New York Times to the Onion’s AV Club. You still need a membership to access some of these (that darn Times), but if you already have one, you can enter your info here and get puzzles through the app. It was just awfully nice to receive a totally no-pressure email from someone who really had read my post and acted accordingly.

This would all be a great segue into a BlogHer wrapup post, but since this isn’t 2009 there aren’t many stories to tell of either bloggers or brands behaving badly … at least, as far as I know. I saw lots of good friends, met some new people (still going through the cards and following/subscribing; I will get to you soon, I promise!), attended some sessions and parties, enjoyed the San Diego weather. I wrote about my brush with fame (Bob Harper!) at my fitness site. I missed a few things that I later regretted, and a few people who couldn’t be there.

As always, my favorite favorite thing was the Voices of the Year community keynote–and I love this post about it, and all of BlogHer11, from Liz at Mom-101, “You get what you give.” It’s a smart takeaway for all of us.

I don’t usually think of myself as a scientist or even someone who has much knowledge of or interest in science. During my junior and senior years of college, I roomed with an engineer and a pre-med student. While I sat on the couch thumbing through a paperback copy of Frankenstein or O Pioneers or Madame Bovary, they were at their desks surrounded by problem sets and towering stacks of thick, heavy textbooks. I took astronomy for dummies to fulfill my science credit requirement.

This morning, though, David Wescott pointed out that I do think and write about science now, as a mom and a blogger and a mom blogger. At my fitness site, usually on the blog, I write regularly about scientific research on health and fitness. I report on these short posts just as I would a longer article for an on- or offline outlet. I get a copy of the original paper (no lifting info from press releases). Sometimes I interview the principal scientist. When necessary, I link to reliable definitions of words or concepts.

Most of all, I try to draw out the study’s most relevant, actionable, or interesting elements, and share them, accurately, with my readers without falling back on scare tactics or headline hype. I’ve even written about the process of responding to research.

And then there was the time I let my children set stuff on fire in the name of science. So thank you, David, for reminding me that I am a #scimom. If you are, too (I bet you are), write about it and let David know for his collection of mom blog posts about science and science blog posts about parenting.

Both Julie and Liz have written recently about their passion for writing, and how their blogs provide an important outlet for that writing.

Me, not so much. I can write. I do it all day long, in fact, and I like my job. But on this blog, writing isn’t about perfecting my craft, or even working through thorny problems or surging emotions.

It’s about telling stories. Five years’ worth, and counting. I’ve saved up a few from the last few weeks (when I’ve been busy doing who knows what, instead of blogging), if you’d like to hear them.

*

Jeff and I went to an event at a local community college, a fundraiser put on by the culinary students. Five teams presented five different themed buffets. I’m not sure who decided on these themes: Europe (that’s not at all broad and sweeping, or anything?), Mexico, Hawaii (but not, like, poi and pu pu platters; it was all desserts), Las Vegas (truly! have a crab cake), and … wait for it … Jersey Shore. This turned out to mean mini corned beef sandwiches, cheesesteaks (scandal! I refuse to eat cheesesteaks outside of the city of Philadelphia), and some kind of chowder.

So the Mexican food was the clear winner, and the volcano surrounding the chocolate fountain at the Hawaii table was a nice touch. But better than all of that was one fellow diner/buffet grazer. Although Mayberry is a small town, it is by no means cowboy country. But this man was fully committed to Western wear. He wore a cowboy hat, boots, jeans, huge belt buckle, string tie, and one of those leather jackets with the triangles on the back. But that wasn’t all. He also had the longest handlebar mustache I’ve seen on someone who wasn’t a cartoon character. It extended several inches out on either side of his face and was waxed to a fare-thee-well.

Come to think of it, his name might have been Rusty.

This happens to me alllll the time. As I am dropping off to sleep, I think of something I really, really want to blog about. A stupendous, monumentous idea. I draft practically the whole thing in my head. I consider getting up to write it down, but I am too close to sleep. Anyway, this is like a fully formed post. I will totally, totally remember it in the morning!

And of course, you know that come morning, it’s all gone. Goodbye, prizewinning, world-changing post.

This morning, however, I remembered. I remembered that the thing I really wanted to post about, that everyone would read and love and Stumble and tweet. The topic was a recipe that I had invented, something so good that my daughter and I were almost coming to blows over who would get to eat it.

Are you ready for the recipe?

Cottage cheese with cinnamon and vanilla.

I hate cottage cheese!

At our small blog session at BlogHer, someone (wish I knew who!) made this lovely comment:

I think maybe if you have a small blog you have a tendency to think it’s because you’re lazy but maybe it’s quite the opposite. Maybe your blog is small because you’re living. You’re throwing parties for your kids and not so your blogging community is impressed by it. You’re living the life other people are just trying to document.

To that end, here’s what I’ve been doing instead of blogging … posts to come soon, I hope.

• My little sister got married and it was beautiful. Worth every minute of the 22 hours it took to travel from Mayberry to northern California.
• We went to Disneyland and spent approximately one million dollars. Also worth it.
• We went to Legoland California and spent a couple hundred bucks so my son could play with a big bucket of Duplos. Just like the ones he has at home.
• We came home and landed amid the circus that is “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” filming right here in Mayberry.
• Somehow our little one became old enough for kindergarten. Who allowed that?

P.S.: I dragged my family to Pinkberry twice in California to make up for not going there in NYC. However, I’ve since learned that Yogurtland may be better. Opinions, Californians?

Let’s revisit the to-do list and see how I did.

1. Present session: Check! And, WOW. This was really wonderful. My co-presenters, Celeste and Nora, were a dream to work with. We had a good crowd and the questions and comments really made the session both informative and empowering, if I do say so myself. See for yourself at the liveblog or at one of the recaps/discussions I’ve come across: Alma from Marketing Mommy, Megan from Acorn Dreaming, Rita at Surrender, Dorothy, and Emily Rosenbaum (read the comments too!).

2. Cheer for the Tutus for Tanner runners. OK, so I did this virtually instead of in person at 6 in the morning.

3. Take a yoga class in Bryant Park. Check! This was so fun. I’ll post about it separately.

4. Play “Blowfish” with Monica and Olivia. (And follow their rules of swag: Take only what is truly useful and portable.): Not really to part A (how did I forget to show you two the iPad?), but yes to part B. I didn’t get very far in the expo halls. I was too busy going to sessions and chatting.

5. Avoid emergency rooms and hospitals: Check! Not so much as a blister or hangnail!

6. Blithely ignore any drama: Check. I think there was less of it this year, and whatever there was, I remained blissfully unaware of it. The whole conference felt more positive and friendly than ever.

7. Have some Pinkberry yogurt. NO. Sadly.

8. See some old friends: Check!

9. Meet some friends for the first time: Check!

10.Make some new friends: Check!

11. Miss some friends who won’t be there: Sad-faced check.

12. Find some time for non-blogging NYC friends and family too: Check!

My contribution to the annual influx of BlogHer conference posts! I made a tentative schedule for myself the other day and … wow. There’s a lot. But here are my musts.

• Present the session that YOU helped select! Saturday, 3 p.m., be there! (Please.)
• Cheer for the Tutus for Tanner runners.
• Take a yoga class in Bryant Park.
• Play “Blowfish” with Monica and Lady O. (And follow their rules of swag: Take only what is truly useful and portable.)
• Avoid emergency rooms and hospitals.
• Blithely ignore any drama, pre-, post- or during.
• Have some Pinkberry yogurt.
• See some old friends.
• Meet some friends for the first time.
• Make some new friends.
• Miss some friends who won’t be there.
• Find some time for non-blogging NYC friends and family too.

I am so pleased to announce that the BlogHer Room of Your Own session that I proposed, with help from Nora of Nonlinear Girl, has been accepted! (See “Little Fish in a Big Pond,” the second session in the Personal  Identity track.) It’ll be my fifth BlogHer and my first time speaking. Many, many, MANY thanks to those of you who voted and commented and tweeted and were just generally very kind and supportive.

I’ve already been collecting posts and questions on this topic, but if you have any wisdom to impart or burning questions to pose, please do pass them along–whether or not you’ll be in New York on August 7.

Actually, vote for you. For us.

A few months ago I cryptically asked anyone who was reading, who considered their blog “small,” to raise a hand. I had an idea for a BlogHer’10 session on small blogs. Now is your chance to help me bring that session to BlogHer. Whether you plan to be there or not, please vote for my Room of Your Own session! To vote, you must be a member of BlogHer and be logged in; then you’ll see links at the top saying “I would be interested in presenting on this topic” and “I would attend this session.” Click on one or both and you’ve voted. Comments are optional but appreciated.

You can see the whole list of Room of Your Own ideas here. I’m thrilled that mine is one of the top 4 right now.  I would love your help to keep it up there. Thanks!

I saw Julie & Julia last night. I wish I could have seen it with someone who blogs, but my local friend C. is something of a foodie, so that helped. And what can I say about a movie that combined blogging, droolicious food, Paris, Julia Child, and Meryl Streep? I loved it.

Afterward, my friend and I attempted to get a glass of wine and something to eat that involved either cheese or chocolate. Guess what: In Mayberry, on a Sunday night? NO CAN DO. Disappointing. Having a drink at home by myself didn’t really seem worth the calories.

Like everyone else, I wish I could think of some amazing blog-to-book-to-movie concept. Not even for the money. I just think it would be a cool challenge. But so far, I haven’t come up with anything that’s quite right. I’ve considered, then discarded the following:

• My One Houseplant: How Long Can I Keep It Alive?
• The 365-Day Shred
• Potty Training Tip of the Day
• Finding My Inner Martha Stewart
• One Mom’s Quest to Become a Champion Sturgeon Spearer
• Super-Size Mom: What Happens If I Eat a Dozen Doughnuts a Day?
• That’s Doctor Spiderwoman to You: Pursuing My PhD in Entomology
• Tattoo-a-Day Diary
• The Cathy/Katharine Project (I remake all of Hepburn’s movies, starring myself)

Any suggestions? I’m open. We could make it a group project.