Today I was going to unveil the 2nd book in my new Children’s Book Giveaway.  Instead something else has been running through my brain.  So I’m asking for a little patience and I promise I’ll bring back the Children’s Book Giveaway next week.

A few weeks ago I visited Blue Sky Factory’s website.  As most of you know, I’m moving to Baltimore in June and was doing some research on companies in the area that intrigued me.  I was curious to see where they were located and clicked on their Corporate Office Directions Page.  What I loved, made me laugh out loud and stuck with me was at the bottom of the page there are walking directions from the parking garage to their front door.

Here’s why it stayed with me.  With this one paragraph I understood that they really heard their clients.  They were giving their clients something that they wanted, needed and probably asked for.  I loved it because it’s so rare to actually see a company go that extra step – give their clients what they want/need.  More often than not, companies (me included) put out what we want, what we think you need, like and desire without really listening to what your telling us.

Last year I changed the name of the business to Lil Blu Dragonfly and put up a “temporary” blogsite.  With the move coming up I knew I wanted to make changes and upgrade the site.  I’ve spent the last few months making lists of things I want to change, add, delete etc… After that visit to Blue Sky Factory I realized I was thinking only about what I wanted and haven’t taken the time to ask you what you wanted.  So here it is (I find this frightening beyond belief but I truly want to know) what do you want from me?

I’m asking all you mommies, bloggers, friends and past clients for your help.  Do you want more images, better service, video on the blog, specials, a forum that focuses on local events and mommies, etc… I’m open to all suggestions and ideas.  When faced with something new or a challenge I often ask myself “How am I getting in my own way.”  So I’m stepping aside and asking for your help.  What do you want from me?

Thank-you to everyone who participated in Lil Blu Dragonfly’s first book giveaway!   The final number of comments came to 13 which I totally loved!

I have always been partial to the number 13.  I was born on the 13th and missed turning 13 on friday the 13th by one year!! (Thanks Mom…) So when I saw that the final comment number was 13 I thought “How cool!”  My next thought was “Wouldn’t it be even cooler if the winning number was 13?” I put the total number of comments in a random number generator on Random.org and I kid you not the winning number was 13!!  Here’s a screen shot of the results:

This completely made my day!  I’ll be contacting the winner shortly and sending Mr Popper on his way.  I hope they enjoy it as much as I did!

I’d love for you all to come back in a week and check out the next book giveaway.  Please spread the word to your family and friend too!!

I’ve been on the road for 19 days now – 3 more to go…  This image, taken with my point and shoot, is the view (bug marks and all) I have become most familiar with in the last few weeks.

I have been to Baltimore, Wilkes Barre PA, Englewood NJ and Merscerbeg PA.  One day I went from Englewood to Baltimore then back to Old Lyme CT – arriving at the wee hour of 2am.  I literally got out of the car, walked up the stairs and fell into the bed that night!  I have longingly remembered my college policy of owning more than 30+ pairs of underwear.  I only had to do laundry once a month in those days!!

I have found that when traveling through PA on a Sunday your most likely only going to find Religion or Nascar on the radio – to some they are one and the same!  I’ve been endlessly fascinated by I-78 with it’s huge Cabela’s, Chrome Palace and massage parlor that boasts big rig parking and new showers.  They set my imagination aflame and I swear some day I’m going to have to check them all out – well maybe not the massage parlor…  I have also passed the exits for Hereshy Park and Crayola 5 times in the last 2 1/2 weeks!!  Each hold their own appeal and eventually one of these days stops will have to be made there as well.

I have learned that my smart phone is a wondrous thing – gps, internet and phone all in one.  I wonder how I ever ate a meal in a restaurant alone before this wild piece of technology.  I still haven’t figured out the best way to eat well on the road and I feel horrible for leaving the crew in a kennel for 21 days!! But all in all I believe I have officially become a “Road Warrior”