Last week I read an ‘article’ called “McDonald’s to shower bloggers with parties and gifts for positive posts”

BARF.

You can click here for the ‘article’ of wish.

I rarely get so outraged but if you are a blogger, you should be upset as well. Even if you HATE Mcdonald’s.

For one, if that is what McDonald’s is doing EVERY BRAND THAT IS AWARE OF WHAT “THE TWITTER’ IS, IS DOING THE SAME FREAKING THING. It’s just that it is so much more fun to attach a controversial band to it and like usual BLAME THEM!

I’m torn between being outraged that MY integrity as a blogger and person was personally attacked as I had personally been at or involved with many events mentioned in the article and quoted in The New York Times   article the author of this post, Rachel Tepper, wrote about and wondering if we had been hurled back in time to 2003 when this was actually a new conversation.

Nobody buys my opinion.

NOBODY.

(Ok, I GUESS if Mike Rowe batted his eyes at me and asked him to come and dredge a sewer with him and write that  it was the most glorious experience of my life I MIGHT consider it, but write something I don’t believe in just because someone flew me somewhere and gave me some nail polish? Sorry. Wrong girl.)

I went to an event in New York last week for the day.

It’s the type of event that is thrown all the time by brands. In this case it was Mcdonald’s “Flavor of Summer” event and they were debuting their summer line of new ‘berry’ foods. Namely their Blueberry Banana and Walnut Oatmeal and their Cherry Berry Chiller.

They paid for my airfare. transportation while I was in the city, they had a dinner for all the bloggers the night before and then the next day they had a fun event where we sampled the oatmeal and the chiller and also had some fun things like chair massages, mani’s, makeup  and fashion consultation all with a “Berry” theme.

 There was music and mingling and lots of photo taking and networking.  Then we picked up a small brown paper ‘swag’ bag full of information about their product and some fun berry nail polish, lipsticks and blush.

Then we were taken to the airport and flown home. (And I went straight to bed because it was a LOT for my back. But due to everything going on lately everyone thought going to NYC for the day would be good for me.)

I’ve been to several events like this and I started thinking in my head and looking over my notes about what I would write about and what opinions I would issue.

THEN I got a letter from Molly telling us that an article in the Huffington Post had come out about McDonald’s and their relationships and she wanted to clarify that McDonald’s TRULY wanted our honest opinions and they would continue working with us, even if we had negative opinions.

AND THAT IS TRUE OF EVERY BRAND I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK WITH.

Ms. Tepper quoted, “Many who did take part, however, wrote positive things.”

This doesn’t really surprise me.

For one, I am VERY picky about what brands I work with. If I think we aren’t going to be a good match, I won’t do it.  For example, I have LOVED Oreck vacuums for years. Their company contacted me back in November before my back went out and asked if I would like to review their new Magnisium vacuum because they did their research and saw a post I wrote in 2006 (For free) about how  much I loved my Oreck. They are not paying me to write this post other than supplying me with a vacuum to review AND ONE TO GIVE AWAY TO MY READERS. (I’m posting the giveway next week, so stay tuned.) The very first question that I asked when I was contacted

was if I could give my honest opinion, even if they were negative. They responded that not only could I give my honest opinion but that it is policy that they encourage honest opinion of their product. It’s how they improve. And guess what? There are some things that I would improve about this vacuum and I told them all the ways I felt they could improve and they were glad for the feed back. That is what I have found with most companies.

And that is what I have found with every reputable brand I have worked with….they want honesty.

I DID work with a brand I didn’t have much knowledge (GE’S Lighting and appliance center) about simply because I was (again) going through a hard time and a trip to Louisville and a banquet at The Downs with hats custom made by a top Kentucky Derby milliner sounded uplifting, I went determined to give my honest opinion.

And guess what? I had a GREAT time and even rediscovered my funny when we were asked to reveal our laundry “secrets”.

They showed us a  product called “Clean Steel”. It looked exactly like stainless but could handle Butterlump’s many, many handprints without a mark? GUESS WHO BOUGHT ALL CLEAN STEEL APPLIANCES FOR HER NEW HOUSE?!!!!!  And I love them all. Especially my fridge. But the ice maker is on the fritz and that is disappointing but I am being honest about it. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong and the warranty covers it.

So it’s not just YOU that we are learning for and about. I would have gone for a mismatched jumble of the cheapest appliances out there if I hadn’t gone and except for the ice maker thing I am so, so, so, SO happy with my choices.(They have an AMAZING product called an Advantium oven that I would KILL FOR, people. We tried to make it work but my appliances had already been put in and it was too tricky to try. (ALTHOUGH AT THAT TIME I HAD FORGOTTEN THEY MADE IT IN A MICROWAVE SIZE. EHEM. ;P)

And I had SO many more examples of positive brand work but it’s probably time to stop (Just don’t miss my Oreck giveaway peeps, you will KICK yourself)

I’m sorry if this post seems “ME! ME! ME!” but I HAD to give you my personal opinion on this. This article thinks that just because people throw parties for flights or dinners or gifts that we’ll lie and mislead YOU. YOU, the people WE LOVE.

I would never do that.

And I don’t only write about things that people pay me to. Heck, I have a post planned about the miracle of WEN shampoo, the best nightlight for toddlers ever and a book that  Ree recommended to me when my poor puppy died called, Dog Heaven, so that we could better explain to Aaron why “we put his puppy in the mud”. i have written and written and written how much I adore Lisa Leonard’s jewelry and Diet Coke has NEVER compensated me and I have their image on the bottom of my blog. I am writing about all of those things because I love them.

If you hate big corporations, or consumption of animals or fast food, then that’s fine. We’re never going to agree. But I have NEVER seen a company like McDonald’s work SO HARD to stay WHAT THEY ARE (They are a fast food restaurant, people.) and ALSO try to improve and make everyone happy and still take SO MUCH CRAP. (And if you think it’s all roses and rainbows to stand up and say I AM PROUD TO WORK WITH MCDONALD’S!!! Than you are even more drugs than I am. The president of their company has to have a ton of security to go EVERYWHERE with her JUST TO DO HER JOB. That is so, so, WRONG!)

I like working with brands. I do like the perks that blogging has brought me. While I swear this blog will NEVER be a walking commercial, I need the work. I’m out of a job, have medical bills and frankly, I am VERY grateful for the times I’ve been able to buy groceries for my family from the money my blog has brought me. (I should clarify I have never taken money directly from a brand other than the product I review or the trip I am on. If i work with my Ad Affiliate is when I am usually paid for my time and I get money every time someone loads this page or I do other freelance work.) BUT…this blog will NEVER be a commercial. And you can call me out if it is. And try to avoid turning your nose up at me just because I chose to work with brands and your blog doesn’t even have ads. We Blog differently, that’s all.

In my opinion there’s room for us all.

And I am not just talking about as a kid.

She gets better and better the older I get.

For 8-months of  Butterlumps life she and my father came over  at 5 am to have one of them to do laundry or dishes or the like and one to keep their eyes on Aaron (We know it was probably just to help us feel better but Matthew dying of SIDS made having another baby more frightening than I can tell you. We had shifts so that eyes were on that baby 24-hours a day untill the end of his 8th month. It was a huge sacrifice.

She has helped paint the interior and exterior of my homes more than I can tell you. She let my husband and I live in her homes, charging us no more than the mortgage. She has helped us  move and get ready for more parties than I can tell you.  She’s a WONDERFUL grandma and my love of reading definitely came from her.

She has given my family money to survive and would give the shirt off her back to help me.

She always told me the if she was my age I would be one of her favorite friends and that Jesus is my best friend.

She helped me dress my baby at the mortuary and held me as I sobbed.

She prayed for me in the car as we rushed our puppy, Pinkie to the vet and prayed harder when she died in my  arms on the way there.

And when she could’t stand the crying and sobs from her little girl who had so many traumatic memories come back from another small and loved thing dying in her arms she  bought another little puppy to help mend my heart.

She had back surgery this year and never believes me that it was an honor to take care of her in my home. Butterlump loved playing “UP & DOWN” and helping her take her brace on and off.

And she will never know what a god send she has been through MY back problems and surgery. She takes my children to school. She drives out just to be with me in case I fall or curl up next to me and watch an episode of Matlock, just because I am so lonely in my bed confinement.

She has done countless loads of my dishes.

And today when my husband was so exhausted from the day that he couldn’t make my breakfast SHE brought me a TON of my much craved apple juice so that I would have some.

Of course we have some major disagreements and radically differing points of view on things. I have made choices she would NEVER make and she has made choices I could never make, but at the end of the day, I finally believe her when she says she’d want to be my best friend is she were my age.

In many ways?

She already is.

Happy mother’s day, mama.

I had to deal with the death of my puppy and due to the way she passed, the memories that it brought up of my little boy dying.

It was rough.

I went to New York for a day to get away from my sad.  It killed my back but was great for my soul. (Thank you, Emily and Chrysula and McDonald’s. I love you all.) I will write about that trip a bit later, now is not the time.

I also had some changes in my personal life. I’m on a ‘break’ from a friend. Who knows what exactly that means, but I wish her well and will always love her to bits. (I realize it seems like I lose every friend I make, but it’s really just one friend who is on and off. Just so you don’t think I am an individual that can’t maintain friendships. I can.)

She and I are just…well…I truly believe they would always have my back or be there to listen to me if I needed, and know she loves me, which I love and appreciate.  She is crazy busy right now and I am HUGELY proud of her and want her to succeed in what she is doing.  But…When you update your facebook eleventyhundred times but don’t have time for a few words to a friend? It’s spells out ’they just aren’t that into you’ anymore, if you get my drift.

And I don’t do that kind of friendship. One sided or begging for attention just doesn’t work for me. And really…it wouldn’t for them, either; As much as I love her and miss the friendship.

You know?

So, I just point blank asked if the friendship wasn’t working and if they needed a break.

And like I said..while they’ll always be there for me if I need them, I could almost feel the relief pour through the screen.

So, that’s that, I guess.

I’m good, though. Who knows where it will go, anyway.

I have a LOT of good things that have happened lately.

For one, I was quote in The New York Times. It’s a small quote but as the daughter of a career-long newspaper man I am over the moon happy. (It will also be in this Sunday’s edition, I believe.)

And…

I am hesitant to share this news because well…I don’t want ANY misunderstanding that I loved my puppy Pinkie with every ounce of love I had to give.

But…

My arms aren’t empty anymore.

My parents couldn’t stand watching my pain over Pinkie anymore and they bought me a new little Maltese.

I wanted to name her Merciful and call her Mercy because that is how I feel but the boys didn’t like it. So, I named her “Lady”. I figure I already have a little “Bug”, I might as well have a “Lady”.

And we ALL genuinely love, adore, and worship our new little blinking cotton ball with all our hearts. I’ve only had her 3-days and I would do anything for her.

She loves her mama and I love her.

I hope you all can be happy for me.

Because while I still tear up and ache for the puppy we tenderly buried in my back yard, my heart beats for the warm little fuzzball curled up asleep on my pillow by my ear.

For this moment, I am happy.

And that is enough.