Dominos: Great Marketing Strategy

It's not that often that a commercial actually grabs my attention. Don't get me wrong, I still watch commercials. Some are hilarious, others are moving, but in the end, those commercials don't bring me closer to using the product or service.

Last night, the hubby and I were half watching TV as we were working on other stuff. Both of us were stopped in our tracks with Domino's Pizza new commercial. They basically come right out to say that our pizza sucks -- quite the bold and interesting move. So instead of hiding behind inferior product or trying some marketing ploy to distract from it, they actually took their product back to the drawing board and re-invented a new pizza. Wow. They shared harsh focus group feedback in this commercial (ie. your crust is void of flavor and your sauce tastes like ketchup - ouch!).

I thought the commercial was very effective because we now want to try this new pizza. This is huge for me and my husband. We hate Domino's Pizza and since we are lucky enough to live in New Jersey where pizza is divine, we never buy it. This commercial has peaked my interest though. As a marketing professional, I was curious to see what else Domino's is doing. They have a whole website dedicated to this new campaign -- www.pizzaturnaround.com -- and I think it's well-done. They have social media integrated into it, and here I am blogging about it.

Kudos to Domino's. You've produced a smart marketing strategy that has intrigued this non-customer. However, a successful marketing campaign should always be backed by good product, especially when you have a strong social media component. So, ultimately, the proof will be in the sauce...cheese...and of course, crust.

An Official Apology To All Moms

Once upon a time, I was a childless woman who sat in judgment of "those moms" who could not keep their children in line, who raised their voice to them, or worse. Well, I now have to apologize to those mothers (and fathers), because I am now one of you.

Today, in a mommy and me class, My Little Man (MLM) was not happy with using the hoola hoop we picked out for him to use. So, he took it upon himself to take the teacher's hoop while she was showing all of the other children how to use it. Wow. I tried to reason with him (a waste of my breath), I tried to "sternly" tell him NO (a waste of my energy) and I tried to threaten him (he called my bluff).

I felt so useless. I picked him up and he did the old "limp body trick" -- an effective and utterly annoying toddler defense that surely drives any parent mad. He thought he owned every hoola hoop in the room. Rationally, I know this behavior is completely normal. The whole "me/mine" phase is part of being a toddler. But when you're living this delightful experience as the parent, you just feel like all eyes are on you. You can smell the "judgment" in the room. Of course, I know I'm in a class full of parents of toddlers who go through this daily just like me. But there has to be a few who feel that MLM is being a complete brat (besides me of course).

I think to myself, I was that person once. Passing judgment on people I had no right to judge. But not anymore. I'm a changed woman. When I see another child melting down I just look at that parent with a heart full of empathy. I try to communicate to them through my eyes that I competely understand how you feel right now and you're doing a great job. Then, I think to myself "Thank The Lord That Is Not My Child Right Now!"

The Absent-Minded Blogger

Well, I blew it. I started this blog to give myself an outlet for self-expression, to take a break from the my mundane schedule and put my thoughts to the keyboard. After a four-month hiatus, the hubby asked me when I was going to get back to this. I was tempted to give this up completely, because let's face it, blogging is not a now-and-then activity. It's a commitment that I have neglected and frankly I don't know how well I can keep this up moving forward.

This is not a new occurrence for me. It's my M-O in life. I'm always starting new projects, new exercise routines, new books, new commitments and after a short period, I lose steam. I snap right back to my day-in, day-out routine and by the end of each day, I have no desire to work on "my stuff".

I can make excuses for myself, but they're just that--excuses. I lack discipline when it comes to setting personal goals. One day, I'm going to look back at this time, and hit myself for not doing what I set out to do. Or, I could just do it. I could finish what I start and feel proud of it at the end of the day. Take action. Stop talking. Yeah!!

Okay, I've motivated myself. I'm off to work on one of my projects.

Until we meet again!!

Sympton: Mommy Guilt; Diagnosis: Overwhelmed; Cure: Need Help!

I am suffering from a huge dose of "mommy guilt" these days. I'm working from home which is proving to be much more trying than I had anticipated. Perhaps I was naive to believe that I could do it all--watch My Little Man (MLM), take care of the home, and work part-time. Sorry sister. You don't have superpowers. Instead, I feel like I'm doing each job substandard, making me a bad mommy, a bad homeowner and a bad employee.

To alleviate my mommy-guilt symptom, I'm now on the hunt for a "mommy helper." Someone who can come in to watch MLM while I work or get other things accomplished. This is going to be a good thing, because I am certainly running out of tricks to perform. MLM is at this rough age (20 months now) where he's no longer amused by baby toys and games and is just grasping toddler activities. His oral fixation has turned into biting and eating dirt. Oh, did I mention that my dog has taken a fancy to his diaper, leaving me to clean up shredded pieces of it off the floor while MLM laughs his naked butt off? Like is said, getting some much needed help is a good thing. I will have some peace of mind knowing that MLM is getting the interaction he deserved and I'll get some peace and quiet to do a job of which I can be proud.

The Cost of Eating Well

I love to cook. I love to look for new and interesting recipes that tickle my taste buds. I love to experiment with new ingredients (or atleast as many as my family will tolerate). I love to watch the Food Network for helpful tips about how to properly cook fish or cut an onion.

However, my skyrocketing food costs are putting a damper on my cooking spirits. With only two and a half people in my house, I can't believe how expensive my bills are each week. I'm trying to eat well by buying fresh produce and lean meats, and organic foods (especially milk and eggs). As most people know, the healthier the food, the more expensive. A can of string beans is far cheaper than fresh ones and I can buy non-organic eggs for 99 cents, on sale. Although, I don't like the idea of the caged chickens pecking each others' eyes out, never mind the hormones and chemicals they pump into them.

So, where does this leave a middle-class family trying to trim monthly expenses? I try to buy on sale, buy local and in season. I've also tried to be a disciplined coupon user, but I find that process exhausting. I think you need to be a special person to do that. With an already packed-schedule, I can't devote enough time to finding creative ways to eat well for less. In short, I just get to the checkout counter each week with a knot in my stomach, hoping that the damage is manageable. If this steady increase continues, I'm just going to have to start rationing my family's food portions. No seconds for you tonight dear...that's dinner for tomorrow...and the next night.

One Door Closed; Another Opened

I had the unfortunate pleasure of being let go from my job earlier this month--the second time this has happened to me in less than a year. Like the last time, it wasn't unexpected. Let's face it. The market is beyond rough and companies and families all over the world are treading water to stay afloat. Rationally speaking, I know that my termination had nothing to do with me, but rather the bottom line. However, you can't help but develop a complex after two lay-offs. I'm trying to regain my professional confidence and find new opportunities out there that suit my needs.

As a twist of fate, the woman who watches My Little Man (MLM) decided to go back into the workforce, leaving my husband and I to search for new childcare--such a stressful event. This happened two weeks before I received my pink slip. I look at these two events as fate. I think this is a higher power telling me it's time to spend more time at home. My husband and I were also beginning talks of baby #2, so it seems like the stars have aligned.

In short, I'm looking for a job with less hours, so I can stay home with MLM and focus on my family more. I know I can find something to fit my schedule. I'm glad to be living in a time when people like me can find flexible work options that keep them stimulated professionally without having to work 50 hours a week at a desk in a stuffy office.

My Hubby, My Best Friend

I am so excited to welcome my newest little niece to the family. I had the privilege of being in the delivery room when she came into this world. It was an incredible experience. My sister was a true hero and champ.

It brought back all of those wonderful (and not so wonderful moments) of when I delivered My Little Man (MLM). In particular, it reminded me how amazing my husband was during the whole process. From my first labor pains to the last push, to my post-recovery in the hospital to months later when my recovery wasn't going as well as it should, he was my rock. He was so supportive and loving. I couldn't have asked for a better partner in life and parenthood.

Babe, if you're reading this, thanks for everything. Can't wait to do it all over again one day. How quickly we forget all the bad parts and how eager we are to relive all of the good ones. ;)