Escape 2009

Crazy busy moms have made the Manic Mommies Escape the mom-event of the year! Escape 2009 sold out in one week with over 150 moms coming to Napa Valley from 28 states and Canada.

The Manic Mommies gathered at Embassy Suites in beautiful Napa Valley, California. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, the hotel is a fantastic destination, whether you are touring the local vineyards or indulging in retail therapy.

• Click here for the final agenda (.pdf)

Friday, November 6

4:00pm – REGISTRATION OPEN

5:30-7:30pm – MANAGER’S RECEPTION at Embassy Suites (free drinks!)

8pm–RECEPTION AND LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCE with Dena Blizzard Sponsored by Dove Chocolate Discoveries

“One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy” is an uproarious, truthful look at the daily life of the American woman.  Dena’s comedic perspective on marriage, motherhood and the unrealistic perfection that is thrust upon women is hilarious.  Through stand-up, music and video Dena describes a life that you will swear is your own.

Saturday, November 7

7am – COOKED-TO-ORDER BREAKFAST

8am – MAMA GROOVE
Darcy Novo-Albrecht, founder of Lullaby Exercises, will lead a high energy “groove” class to get you moving. Groove, squat, kick, crunch, sweat, stretch and relax. You’ll also learn the official “Mama Groove” line dance that you can show off tonight after wine tasting. (You go girl!) Join us for a fun-filled 45-minute workout. Feel good. Feel happy. Get groovy.

8am-12:30pm

• CHEVY JOY RIDES  Grab the keys and go!
• SOY JOY TASTE TESTS

9:30-10:30am – KEYNOTE: I WAS A REALLY GOOD MOM BEFORE I HAD KIDS
sponsored by SOY JOY

Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile, authors, “I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids” and “I’d Trade My Husband for a Housekeeper”
After the births of their first children, Trisha and Amy made a discovery. Motherhood is hard, but no one was talking about it. Five kids and three best‐selling books later, the women are sharing the tools and perspective they’ve gained on how to be a happier mom.

11:00 -12:00pm
Mom U. Table Tops (advance sign-up at registration)

• Manic Mommies Book Club —A discussion with Meg Waite Clayton, author of “The Wednesday Sisters,” moderated by Mari Partyka. Thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books for supplying copies of “The Wednesday Sisters” to all of our guests.

• Enhancing Your Digital Life —Test the latest netbooks, PDAs and Internet Mobile Devices with experts from INTEL.
• Time Management 101—Meet the women from Mead who are behind the Manic Mommies calendars. Learn tips and tricks for managing your crazy busy schedule.
• Siblings Fun—Discover some simple activities to foster sibling bonding. Find out how to welcome a new baby and deal with any less than positive reactions from the other kids. Learn new strategies for creating sibling harmony among the younger set (non-verbal children).

12:30pm – DEPART FOR VINEYARD TOURS (meet in lobby)

1pm-4pm – VINEYARD TOURS AND LUNCH

• Rutherford Hill Winery & Cave: Private Tasting & Tour
  Nestled high in the eastern hills, Rutherford Hill Winery commands a spectacular view of Napa Valley’s Rutherford Bench. From a handful of the most select Napa vineyards Rutherford Hill continues its tradition of crafting legendary wines.  A distinctive aspect of Rutherford Hill is the extensive hillside cave system. The mile-long caves contain over 8,000 French and American oak barrels in which all of the winery’s harvests are matured. This unique, natural environment enhances the wine-aging process and produces wines of consistent, notable character. In addition to their award-winning Merlot and Merlot Reserve, Rutherford Hill also produces superb Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Sangiovese, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel Port.

• Flora Springs Winery & Cave:  Private Tour & Tasting
  At the end of a country lane, over a covered bridge, around the bend, and tucked against the hills, you will find Flora Springs Winery in the same beautiful spot since 1978. Here you will taste the fruit of the vine while you watch the wonders of nature. At Flora Springs, the Komes family believes wine is more than a luscious beverage to enjoy with food. It is a total sensory experience that begins with the slant of the sun on soil and the scent of grapes ripe on vines. Flora Springs is a wine experience to the last drop, deep red against every glass.

4:30pm – RETURN TO EMBASSY SUITES FREE TIME AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN

8:30pm – LIPSAPALOOZA 80s Party sponsored by Xbox 360
Room design by Lisa Kothari of Peppers & Pollywogs

Take your love for music to a the stage with the “Lips” and “Lips: Number One Hits” singing games exclusive to Xbox 360.  With Xbox 360 Wireless Microphones, sing your heart out to a wide range of hits from great artists like Rihanna, Coldplay, Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat and many more.  Warm up your vocal chords because it’s you, your friends, and your music that turns “Lips” into the ultimate party experience.  Come get the party started and compete for great prizes!

Sunday, November 8

7am – COOKED-TO-ORDER BREAKFAST

8am – MAMA GROOVE
Darcy Novo-Albrecht, founder of Lullaby Exercises, will lead a high energy “groove” class to get you moving. Groove, squat, kick, crunch, sweat, stretch and relax. Join us for a fun-filled 45-minute workout. Feel good. Feel happy. Get groovy.

9am – SEARCHING FOR SIBLING HARMONY
Heather Kempskie and Lisa Hanson, authors, “The Siblings Busy Book”

How much does birth order factor into your kids’ personalities? Why do they fight over the most trivial things (who has the most grape juice, sand, purple clothing)? Will they ever get along? How should you handle the constant bickering and knock ’em down fights? Is this relationship really that important to their long-term happiness and health? Identical twin sisters Heather Kempskie and Lisa Hanson, authors of The Siblings Busy Book, explore the joys and challenges of raising siblings and explain how to create harmony among your kids once and for all. (Believe it or not, they’ll even clarify how your own experiences as a sibling impact how you’re raising your children).

10am – TEXTS, TAGS & TWEETS, OH MY: DEMYSTIFYING ONLINE SOCIAL TOOLS FOR PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL GAIN
sponsored by INTEL

Kelly Feller, social media strategist, Intel’s Social Media Center of Excellence

Now that Oprah has discovered Twitter, social sites like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn are no longer merely teen trends but are indeed changing the way we connect with family and do business online. However if you’re still dazed and confused by the myriad and seemingly endless list of these social sites you’re not alone. This session will cover some basics on the growing list of online social tools including some best practices to help you gain confidence in using them to your benefit. Whether you’re a beginner or a master social networker, this session will offer tips on how to use these cool tools to enhance your professional & personal life. Come with questions because, like the tools themselves, this session will be social.

11am – OUTSMART YOUR PICKY EATER
sponsored by Cabot and Coleman Natural Foods

Janice Newell Bissex and Liz Weiss, authors, The Meal Makeover Moms

The Meal Makeover Moms, serve up tips, tricks, and recipes designed to bring better nutrition to the family table. If a green vegetable has never passed your child’s lips, if you’ve become a short-order cook, or if mealtime complaints have sent you off the deep end, this is the session for you. Liz and Janice, dietitians and moms who blog about healthy meals with kid appeal at Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen, share their best-kept secrets for putting the kibosh on mealtime moans and groans.
They also identify the foods kids should eat more and less of and prepare a veggie-filled recipe your kids are sure to love.

12pm – ESCAPE 2009 ends. See you next year!

Thanks to our sponsors & supporters!