Moms Love "Me" Time

Social media-savvy moms and dads gathered last Thursday night, November 13, for mom.me's inaugural "'Me Time' Before the Holidays" event at The Mark for Events in Los Angeles.
While sipping POM-infused cocktails, Spanish wine and noshing on tasty hors d'oeuvres, Southern California-based parenting bloggers and social media influencers mingled with mom.me editors and the marketing team while also helping a worthy cause.
The night also served as a fundraiser for the Venice Family Clinic's new Children's Health and Wellness Center, which is scheduled to open in spring 2015.
Read on to see who attended!

Mom.me editor Esther Carlstone (from left); Micaela Shaw, general manager at UrbanSitter</a>; and mom.me editor Angelica Lai enjoy quality time at The Mark.

Mom.me lead editor Cerentha Harris greets one of the Los Angeles-based bloggers.

Daily Hot Guy founder Mary Kay Holmes gets cozy with Mommy Tonk co-founder and performer Shannon Noel at mom.me's "Me Time" event.

Mom.me general manager Anne-Marie O'Neill (from left), social media manager Jen Pastore and senior editor Laura Clark show off their awesome mom.me T-shirts. (Teamwork!)

Latinamom.me editor Maura Wall Hernandez smiles for the camera with Paty Soto, who runs the fashion blog Guapología.

Here's a peek at The Mark's gorgeous crudité bar, a focal point for the event, before guests arrived. Decorations were provided by party design shop P.S.XO, founded by Soleil Moon Frye.

Mom.me lifestyle editor Andie Huber, right, and assistant editor Olivia Van Iderstine toast during the big event!
Check out their Happy Hour feature on mom.me.

Lead editor Cerentha Harris mingles with mom.me contributor Monique Ruffin, who writes about parenting children with special needs.

You might know Jamie Lynne Grumet, who runs the blog I Am Not the Babysitter, from that famous Time magazine cover. Her husband Brian attended the "Me Time" event with her.

Guests sipped delicious cocktails that included a mix of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice and varieties of Voli Vodka. Cheers to that!

Laura Clark, mom.me senior editor, with Latina lifestyle writer Vanessa Diaz of The Queen of Swag.

Allison Stein, founder of Spa Connections (from left); Linda Perry, founder of Peachhead Families</a>; Jen Berson, founder of Jeneration PR</a>; and Hyesun Ahn for P.S.XO get cozy at The Mark while chatting and sipping cocktails.

In addition to cocktails, guests toasted the night with glasses of Spanish wine from Ribera del Duero and Rueda.

Sonia Kang from the Venice Family Clinic attended the mom.me event in support of the new Health and Wellness Center for children.

Comedienne Amy Anderson (and mom to this famous face!), left, and mom.me contributor Marsha Takeda-Morrison enjoyed some "Me Time" at The Mark.

Comedian, author and mom.me contributor Dani Klein Modisett joined Jennifer Miyagishima, of Real Mom of SFV, for a few moments away from the kiddos.

Mom.me contributors Sarah Maizes, author of "Got MILF?" from left; and Christina Simon, of Beyond the Brochure, join senior editor Laura Clark at the mom-tastic festivities.

Erin Harnisch, from left, Tiffany Tse and Kaylie Alexander from the Venice Family Clinic mingled with bloggers at the mom.me event and discussed plans for the upcoming Health and Wellness Center for Children.

Girl's Gone Child blogger and mom.me contributor Rebecca Woolf, center, chats with mom.me contributor Monique Ruffin, left, and Bad Sandy blogger and mom.me contributor Meredith Gordon.

Lead editor Cerentha Harris, alongside Erin Harnisch, announced the raffle, which raised funds for the Venice Family Clinic.
The winner received a complimentary stay at the historic Culver Hotel in Culver City, with breakfast and parking included.

Latinamom.me editor Maura Wall Hernandez chatted with Latina bloggers Rachel Matos (The Art Muse), from left, Eva Smith (Tech Food Life), Ana Flores (Latina Bloggers Connect) and Yvonne Condes (Moms LA).

Charlie Capen, co-founder of How to Be a Dad, joined the moms for a fun night out at The Mark.

Amanda Williamson, Whalerock Industries' brand marketing director, right, and guest Megan Berrard got silly at the photo booth.

Mom.me contributor Michelle Murphy chats with other writers at the "Me Time" event.

Mom.me contributor Amy Wruble, who blogs at Carriage Before Marriage, had some of our guests in stitches at the event.

The mom.me photobooth was a big hit, as guests donned everything from oversized colorful glasses to, yes, plastic turtle shells.

Mom.me contributor Natalie Myers joined Expressing Motherhood co-founder Lindsay Kavet, center, and lifestyle editor Andie Huber near the T-shirt bar, which featured tops for kids and parents.

Tiffany Tse, from left, Erin Harnisch and Kaylie Alexander from the Venice Family Clinic showed off their adorable photobooth pic.

Funny ladies Dani Klein Modisett, left, and Stamie Karakasidis go for more laughs at the mom.me photo booth.

No mom.me event is complete without adorably colorful balloons!

Congrats to Dani Klein Modisett, who won a night's stay at The Culver Hotel!
Lead editor Cerentha Harris announces the win, as Dana Glazer of Whalerock Industries' integrated marketing department, far left, and Venice Family Clinic's Erin Harnisch celebrate, too.

Thanks to our event sponsors and sponsors that contributed items to our hefty gift bag, given to guests:
Babyganics, Belly Bandit, Chuao Chocolatier, Fiji Water, Guinot, Little Giraffe, Mabel's Labels, Net Nanny, The Orange Rhino, Physique 57, Piyo Piyo, POM Wonderful, Poncho Baby, PowerCrunch, P.S.XO, SIGG, Sole Serum, Stride Rite, UrbanSitter, UrgentRX, Glam Squad and Voli Vodka

Mom.me contributor Michelle Murphy shows off her packed gift bag.

Tina Lifford, author and actress who stars on NBC's "Parenthood," was all smiles during the event.

Mommy Tonk founders and musicians Stacie Burrows, from left, and Shannon Noel join Expressing Motherhood's Lindsay Kavet for a mom-friendly photo op.

Erin Harnisch, left, and Kaylie Alexander from the Venice Family Clinic say goodbye for the night.

Latinamom.me contributor Dariana Cruz, who blogs at Strong Vida, added more smiles to the evening.

Alexandra Bower, who blogs at Beverly Hills Mom, left, joins Sarah Maizes in gift bag fun.

We loved meeting up with new and familiar faces, and look forward to our next mom.me event.
Stay tuned!