CHICKS IN THE CITY!

We did it! Mother Hen and the newly-dubbed "REALITY CHICK" Amy drove 15 hours to the Big Apple; loaded ourselves into Javits like the real chicks that we are; found some free parking in NYC; had a wonderful time with some great old and new friends including the amazing EWA of shainsware; DID NOT see Heidi Klume in Bryant Park; DID meet a very sweet editor/mom @ Parents Magazine and made some wonderful contacts at TOY FAIR 2009! After a great week we packed it back up in the rain and headed home. And just for grins...we checked out how the Amish dry their laundry. Very resourceful folks!

CHICKIN TUNES in the BIG CITY

Chickin Feed's Vice-Chick in charge | Sales, Amy and I are headed up to NYC on Friday to see how the ToyFair likes Chickin Feed!

While we're gone...Check out our brand new CHICKIN TUNE! It will be up on the website Saturday!

Many Many Thanks! to Fletcher, Katherine, Annette & Adam.

Feast or Fowl

Feast or Fowl

CHICKIN TUNES!!!!

How exciting. We just recorded the first rifts to our upcoming "Chickin Tunes" CD... Yet to be properly titled . I must say being pretty much musically illiterate, I was hopelessly blown away by the improvisation of Adam Cole. I've known Adam and his family since our daughters were one (eight years +) and have always known that he was musically talented. I had no idea that he was so darn good at improvising.

A few months ago I contacted my other two hugely musical friends Katherine Moore & Annette Wawerna to see if they might be able to help me with a "chickin tune" or two. Maybe we could squeak out a little jingle to put on the website. Well those two came back at me with a full blown musical that is so creative, funny and I can't wait to get going on it. The idea came up that we could cobble together a little tune that we could get up on the website and that I could take to the upcoming Toy Fair for a little background booth filler.

Annette & Katherine wrote a lovely little tune that throws you right straight back to the day that Western Swing was the thing! The lyrics came soon after and Annette asked Adam to come lay down some piano tracks tonight. (Annette and Adam are in a rockin' neighborhood band called The Wipes together) He sat down at the piano, looked at the sheet music for about a minute and then with Fletcher Moore ready to record (another genius - more about him later) ... Adam riffed on the chickin song in no less than 10 different styles.

I couldn't believe that he had never seen the music before! Our faces hurt after 20 minutes of amazement. What a lovely thing to be surrounded by so many generous and talented folks! Thank you all!!!

Stay tuned for CHICKIN TUNES!!!

Phone-a-Hen

Hiya,

Want to hear our chit-chat last night with Shelley & Co. @ One Roast Vegetable? Just give this a whirl.

Cheers,
Mother Hen

Share the Love!

I just finished up a little article for the Leaping Lizards Newsletter. Pete & Co. have a great indoor playground in Decatur, GA. It's a "jumpy castle in a heated/air conditioned space" concept that seems to be catching on. One of the reasons I liked their place was that they offered healthier choices for snacks. Not that we go for the food but...if we do choose to get something, we aren't faced with candy bars and potato chips! They also publish a little email newsletter that I contribute to - when I don't slack...

The article I just finished is all about Sharing the Love. Teaching our children to share is socially a very important concept. The idea that they need to share their toys, space, TV time, etc. is the focus of many a meltdown but worthy of the temporary rise in blood pressure.

I think it is important to also work a sharing of their treats into the mix too. A healthier way to eat a donut is to share it. Want a little fries with that shake? Just share it with someone else...You'll eat less, be healthier and the beneficiary will like you more. After all... Healthy Hearts Share... (Did I mention I'm about to cut a deal with a greeting card company?)

Inauguration!

Inaugural thoughts in my head, I started to dig around for some pictures to show my kids of an inauguration thirty-two years ago. My mom worked on the Carter Presidential campaign in 1976. In January 1977 she traveled to DC with her friend Merri to attend the festivities! She was about five years younger than I am now. Can't tell if they are whooping it up with Hamilton Jordan or holding him up :)!

Check out this piece on Junk Food...for thought.

>

Chickin Press (a.k.a. poultry push ups?)

Tis January the 13th and nary a blog I've posted. Holidays, New Years, Gift Mart, etc...

The kids and I had a great time this December shopping for groceries! As I stood in the checkout aisle, I got to embarrass the chickins and annoy all the folks in front, behind and beside us. I'd casually grab a copy of Atlanta Magazine's December issue and flip to the piece about Chickin Feed! Then share it with all (un)interested parties. Humility be damned. It's pretty darn cool to be on the newstand! And I didn't even have to have Brad Pitt's baby. Hmmm.
















This month, Mother Hen went national! Next time you are browsing through a Barnes & Noble, check out the magazine rack for HYBRID MOM magazine. There is this beautiful glam shot on the cover...not me. Check out inside the back cover. Tell everyone you know that you know me. Even if you don't - I'll appreciate it. How cool is that!

WANT TO HAVE A PLAYDATE?

Join us at the coolest new store in Atlanta!

FREE SHIPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Yes, That's right we've knocked off the $7 / $9 or more charge that is tacked onto your online order to get it to your door. The FREE SHIPPING is to the connected 48 states and lasts through 12/15/08! Get orderin' folks... www.chickinfeed.com

Also, scroll down the Feed Store page, we've got some really cool Chickin Feed Starter Kits - for a Healthy Future...

CHICKIN LAUNCHING... (No poultry was harmed)

Last week I attended/vended at the Ladies Who Launch Live event in Atlanta. Lots of fabulous women who've launched their own ideas were in the house. It was great to share ideas and glean a little inspiration from all in attendance. Lot's of Mother Hens in attendance that wanted to help their chickins eat healthier! Thank you ladies...

And I highly recommend the Ladies Who Launch Incubator program if you have something you think might be your future but you just aren't quite sure! Get out there... Tell Angela, Montine or Traci that Mother Hen sent you!

AND... You can now get a copy of the CHICKIN FEED Primer on AMAZON.COM! Yeah - just type Chickin Feed Primer into the search bar and it'll take you to us!

Want to shop locally for Chickin Feed this Holiday Season? (We're in Atlanta, GA)
Get some at one of our local retailers! Welcome to our newest, SEED FACTORY, COOKS WAREHOUSE and BOUND TO BE READ BOOKS {And it ain't exactly our target audience but you can find us while you're taking care of your pooch & kitty @ INTOWN HEALTHY HOUND in the Grant Park 'hood}. CHECK OUT THE FEED MILL for additional retailers!

Chef Sheri Rocks!

Along with being our favorite Chick in the Kitchen...


Chef Chick, Sheri's Popcorn Ball Extravaganza! @ Harris & Clark | Thoughtful Grocery in Serenbe Community ... (haven't been yet? Snap to it! It is the coolest place to hang out with your chickins. Great shops, loads of nature trails and trampolines @ ground level for lot's of safe jumping.)




















Sheri also is the Skateboard Club Mom! Way to keep those Chickins Active Sher!

COOL CHICKS & CHICKINS (early Oct '08)
A little photo essay on where we've been & chick(in)s we love!

Willie Chickin made a great healthy snack (Celery boat with tomato pirates) from the prettiest tomato I've ever seen. We get a box of fresh organic produce from a local CSA (community supported agriculture) organization that we joined. Ours is called Mellow Bellies!


If you're in GA - check out Georgia Organics to find one near you. If you're in the wider world check out Local Harvest.












Multi-Tasking Chicks are Never Too Busy To Vote!


Going to Vote? Go Early!

Need some online life support?
go to Kyle Young's cool site - Multi-
Tasking Woman!

Join us both at the Ladies Who Launch BYOB event! Nov 13th!








Cutest Chickin in Alpharetta!

What a cutie pie! This was our biggest fan at the Crossroads at Milton Art & Antiques Show. Held next to a great shop, Broadwell Cottage, that has some unique art and gifts (including, of course, Chickin Feed in the kitchen!)











Chickin/Monkey siting at the Candler Park Festival!
We made a great new friend of Pam Galencamp. This Decatur mom started a biz called Cooking for Monkeys (her name for her little ones!) She sells these very cute Bento boxes and has to coolest blog with photos of how she puts together some amazing food for her monkeys! Way to feed your chickins, Pam!

Chef Sheri and Pam demo Chickin/Monkey!

Cooking with Chickins in the Country!

Come spend a beautiful day in the country. Serenbe is the location for a wonderful organic farmers market, a harvest carnival, and a cooking class for children with Chef Sheri Davis. Come join us! (see flier for details)

It's the ECONOMY silly.

Sounds terribly boring I know, but I listened to the best description of where we are, how we got there and what is being done about it. This American Life is a radio program that did an amazing piece the other night. If you get a chance, check it out http://www.thisamericanlife.org
Giant Pool of Money episode. It's wonderful!

Multi-Tasking ... Again

Our favorite Multi-Tasking Woman, Kyle Young is asking that every woman in the sound of this blog register to vote! Absolutely...We're never never too busy to vote. Listen to a debate - read as much as you can about what is being promised. Do some googling about the issues and then make up your mind and GO VOTE! Check this out! www.NeverTooBusyToVote.com

How much is that book-ie in the window?

Will-da-beast and I went to see big-sister ride in the Girl Scout Float last weekend at the East Atlanta Strut – what a great parade! Go Girl Scouts!! You were fabulous. I also enjoyed the local High School marching band...right up until the point I felt it necessary to distract my five-year old by throwing some candy off to the right for him to chase down. The gyrating maneuvers that the drill team kicked into made me blush want to run for cover! And I am not that faint of heart. Lucy is most definitely attending a convent...

Will and I took a walk up the street afterwards to the local independent East Atlanta book store BOUND TO BE READ (Hey Jeff and Jef). And there in the store window - radiating almost, was... (I asked Will to go look into the store window and tell me if he saw anything. He looked and looked and said, "There's a Spider Man book.")...The Chickin Feed Primer! In it's first store window. I'm so proud of our little book-ie. Will just asked me to unwrap some more candy for him.

A little cross-bloggin'

Click here...

I'm trying to Cross-Blog to this fun "picture essay" of a nice night we had in the lovely town of Milton! Scroll down a little for your chickin fix!

We'll be joining them again for the Crabapple Festival on Saturday, October 4th! Come see the chickins...