A subscriber recently commented that she’d love to use this community as a way to make real life social connections. In her words, “many of us are like-minded, similarly aged, and probably have similar interests since we all follow you. Maybe actual friends can be made. Your timing of branching off into focusing on yourself independent from children might prove to be an excellent springboard for us as well.” She suggested Mommy Shorts/Apparently meet-ups centered around major cities and then maybe splintering into more local areas.
That all sounds amazing, but I feel like my fear of throwing a party and nobody showing up would majorly hinder this plan. So let’s start small. Let’s figure out where we all overlap in location…
Leave a comment below with your city and state. Include your country if you are outside of the US.
Put your location first in your comment so that others can scan and see it easily. Before leaving a comment, please read through everyone’s responses. If your city has already been mentioned, leave your comment under that thread instead of starting a new one. This way I can see how many people are in each place and you can feel free to talk amongst yourselves!
Will you use this to meet up in real life having nothing to do with me? That is up to you. Will I consider doing a post-Covid meet-up in the city with the most comments? Maybe! Am I interested in having a super awkward meet-up with one or two new mom friends in NYC? Yes, for sure! Would I hop on a plane tomorrow if I discover I’ve got a plethora of followers in the South of France? Most definitely!
I think when the idea of meet-ups around social media presences first started popping up, it was hoards of fans surrounding huge personalities like DJ Khaled and Jake Paul. I thought, I would never attract that many people which might make the meet-up feel unsuccessful. But recently, I saw a tiktok with four women having brunch, each with an identical looking pug in an equally adorable outfit. In the comments, someone said, “How did you find a group of friends with such an identical interest?” And the answer was, “We met online!”
In my old age, I no longer desire a party filled with adoring fans. I just want four friends with identical dogs eating brunch.
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Ilana, I think I would jump on a plane for a MommyShorts girls weekend somewhere! You could host them in different places for women to fly to for a make-new-friends girls weekend somewhere new. And those subscribers who live in that city can curate the itinerary!
So I technically don't live in NYC anymore, but we still have a place in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights to be specific), and my family is there, so I come in often (more so pre-pandemic). Will comment elsewhere with my regular location.
Marin County is amazing. I lived in Tiburon within a 5 minute walk to a grocery store, Peet’s Coffee and other little shops. Mill Valley was great too, but depending on where you live it can be colder and far from things. Go explore and get a feel for what areas you like.
Hi Lorna! Thanks for making the connection! Being new in a year with masks and limited parents in the building has been hard for me to feel connected yet, so I especially appreciate this!
I completely understand. I have one in Angie’s class and one in Rebecca’s who are both “yours” (but extremely low maintenance, thankfully!) I’m in Rebecca’s class every Friday 12-12.30 so feel free to say hi!
Same here! Aptos, specifically. I grew up here, moved to the DC area for a decade and just moved back to start a family near family, our son is eight months old.
I lived in OC for 9 years- Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest- and have been back in upstate NY for a decade now. Sooo Miss the beautiful weather and amazing food!
So excited to see you all on here! I live in Urbandale if any of you want to meet for a coffee or a drink I always enjoy meeting new people (no MLM or sales of any kind 😂. After I wrote that I felt like it sounded like I was trying to sell something).
Hi Everyone! With Ilana's permission I made the FB group "Shorties of DSM" I've never made a group before so I am not 100% I did it correctly, but if you are interested in meeting up or just having a local group to chat please join! Ilana said the only rule was if we meet up we have to send her a picture :)
Ilana, I think I would jump on a plane for a MommyShorts girls weekend somewhere! You could host them in different places for women to fly to for a make-new-friends girls weekend somewhere new. And those subscribers who live in that city can curate the itinerary!
I love this idea! Where do you live?
I live on the Gold Coast in Australia. An Australian MommyShorts adventure? Or I’d go to NYC again in a flash!
I’m in Canberra, Australia so we’ve got beaches and the nation’s capital covered 😂
Adelaide, South Australia 🇦🇺
I
Adelaide, South Australia too. Come on down to Australia Ilana!
This is a great idea! And we could get a huge group rate!
I am soooo down for a shorties weekend!
Wait, is Shorties our official name? I like it. :)
YES YES YES! 🙏🏻 Miss you so!
This is another Lucy ;-) xxx Miss you too!
🤣🤣🤣
I love this idea, too!!!
This would be awesome!
Same!!
NYC!!!!!
If you comment here- tell me what part. Tribeca for me.
Tribeca and have we got any British ex-pats?!
NYC, Battery Park since 2014, but born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark
Bayside, Queens
My parents are in Douglaston!
Same!
:) enjoy the snow day!
Brooklyn!
Yay, Park Slope, Brooklyn here!
South Slope/Greenwood Heights
South Slope here!
Also Park Slope!
Brooklyn Cobble Hill
Boerum Hill - Brooklyn
Also Brooklyn, Fort Greene/Downtown Brooklyn! Kids go to school on the LES, though.
I'm also in FG
Same
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Also Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens/Boerum Hill!
Kew Garden Hills, Queens
Kew Gardens! Just across Queens Blvd from you!
Forest Hills, Queens.
Same! 🙌🏼
I’m also in Forest Hills! Can I add you on Facebook?
Just down Austin Street from you, I’m in Kew Gardens!
Ozone Park
South Slope/Windsor Terrace
Upper manhattan/ Washington heights, anyone?
Upper UWS here!
UWS
UWS! I'm 25 and childless but I'n a great babysitter!! :)
Same !
UWS too!
UWS as well!
Riverdale (Bronx)!
I’m in Riverdale too
Also in the Bronx
UWS
Hudson Square (between Tribeca and The West Village)
Columbus circle!
Queens! (Jackson Heights)
I'm in Jackson Heights too! (Also is this Natalie, Norah's Mom??!!)
haha, yep!!
I’m from Jackson Heights also. Hello neighbor!
Hi! Also in Jackson Heights :)
Also Queens, but Kew Gardens!
Queens!
Also Queens, but Floral Park
So I technically don't live in NYC anymore, but we still have a place in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights to be specific), and my family is there, so I come in often (more so pre-pandemic). Will comment elsewhere with my regular location.
Upper East Side, NYC
Noho/ Village
Upper East Side
Upper east side too!
NYC! UWS after 10 or so years in Chelsea
Uws!
Carroll Gardens Bk
Wellington, New Zealand 😎 But my ♥️ is in New York!
I’m in Wellington too!
I love how quickly this took off! I hope it’s indicative of interest.
Thanks for inspiring the thread!
I know, the comments are moving so quickly!!
Hi from Montevideo, Uruguay, a small country between Brasil and Argentina.
Yo soy de Pilar, cerca de Buenos Aires, Argentina. En el 2011 conocí a Ilana cuando vino a grabar un comercial a Buenos Aires, that was cool!
San Juan, Argentina
También soy de Montevideo! Pero llevo 19 años en 🇺🇸
My mom is from Ecuador. ❤
My mom is too <3
Hola Elisa! Soy Maria Paula de Bogotá, Colombia. It’s nice to see a fellow South American in the community.
Bay Area, CA
Bay Area - San Jose, Ca. Interested in a meet up!
San Jose!
Sunnyvale
San Jose!!
San Jose!
Former San Josean (born and raised but now we live on the Central Coast near SLO)
Hey!!! Los Gatos!
Bay Area - Antioch, CA
I’m in Brentwood!
Bay Area - Lafayette
Hey I am in Moraga!
I didn't think I'd see another Lafayette.. :-)
Bay Area (Belmont), CA
Oakland (we moved here 8 months ago from Connecticut) so I’m still learning the Bay Area.
Also newish here (pre Covid)
We are moving that direction this summer. Any recommendations for great neighbors for three kids where mom can walk to awesome coffee??
East Bay Area: Berkeley, CA!
also Berkeley!
Piedmont, CA. Right next door.
I’m a stone’s throw away from Piedmont. Not too far from the Montclair area.
Marin County is amazing. I lived in Tiburon within a 5 minute walk to a grocery store, Peet’s Coffee and other little shops. Mill Valley was great too, but depending on where you live it can be colder and far from things. Go explore and get a feel for what areas you like.
Mill Valley in Marin County!
Danville, San Ramon or Pleasanton
San Carlos, ca (Bay Area)
There are a couple locals in another thread in Belmont, Palo Alto and Redwood Shores!
Bay Area (Redwood Shores), CA
Redwood City, CA here!
San Bruno, Ca (Peninsula)
East Bay! Tri-Valley ❤️
I’m in San Ramon!
Dublin, CA! Hi 👋 neighbors!
Pleasanton, CA!
I live in Colorado, but my family is spending the summer in the Bay Area, if there are any summer meet-ups I’d love to join!
Hi Robin, fairly certain you teach both my kids. We’re that one Scottish family at the school!
Hi Lorna! Thanks for making the connection! Being new in a year with masks and limited parents in the building has been hard for me to feel connected yet, so I especially appreciate this!
I completely understand. I have one in Angie’s class and one in Rebecca’s who are both “yours” (but extremely low maintenance, thankfully!) I’m in Rebecca’s class every Friday 12-12.30 so feel free to say hi!
That’s awesome, will do!
Pacifica
I'm in South City
Bay Area! (Walnut Creek ish)!!
Bay Area- Vacaville
Santa Cruz!
Santa Cruz here :)
Santa Cruz!
Same here! Aptos, specifically. I grew up here, moved to the DC area for a decade and just moved back to start a family near family, our son is eight months old.
I live in SF now, but my husband and I are UCSC graduates. ❤️
South Bay!!
South Bay as well, near San Jose.
North East SJ (Berryessa)
Me too!
San Jose here too! So now what do we do lol
Half Moon Bay. Would love join a meet up!
Any interest in gathering - East Bay peeps?
Yep!
Belfast, Northern Ireland
My favorite city ever.
Orange County, CA
(more specifically Mission Viejo)
Finally, some locals! Costa Mesa, CA🤘
Costa Mesa as well 🙋🏻♀️
Costa Mesa too!
I’m in Rancho Mission Viejo. Yay! I found it!
San Juan cap
I’m in San Clemente
Laguna Niguel, CA
Aliso Viejo, CA
Me too!
Awesome!
Placentia, CA, not too far away
Mission Viejo! Me, too! 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
I lived in OC for 9 years- Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest- and have been back in upstate NY for a decade now. Sooo Miss the beautiful weather and amazing food!
Irvine, CA
We lived in Irvine for over 14 years before moving to AZ. I miss the food!!
Ladera Ranch here!!
Yay! Rossmoor, CA
Hooray! I live in the city of Orange
I live in Anaheim Hills!
I’m in Orange too!
Me too!
Des Moines, IA
So excited to see you all on here! I live in Urbandale if any of you want to meet for a coffee or a drink I always enjoy meeting new people (no MLM or sales of any kind 😂. After I wrote that I felt like it sounded like I was trying to sell something).
Also Urbandale, didn’t expect many from Iowa
West Des Moines!
Same!
I was wondering if I’d end up the first… that was a long way to scroll to find all of you! I’m in Ankeny.
Right I didn’t know if I would find any other Iowa folks
I’m originally from Dubuque Iowa! Live in Saint Paul, Minnesota now.
We moved here from savage, MN last year but live in Ames now
I moved from savage last year too! I'm in West Bloomington now
Just moved to Des Moines from Iowa City!!
Des Moines too!
We are in Ames!
Des Moines, IA! (Altoona)
Hi Everyone! With Ilana's permission I made the FB group "Shorties of DSM" I've never made a group before so I am not 100% I did it correctly, but if you are interested in meeting up or just having a local group to chat please join! Ilana said the only rule was if we meet up we have to send her a picture :)
I searched for the group and don't see it. Is it set to hidden?
Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to make the FB group work 😅
I made a Facebook group for us. It should be searchable (but private.) Here's the direct link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/900095691367303
Bettendorf, Iowa! Lived in Ankeny too!
Accra, Ghana
Ete sen! I did a study abroad in Accra!
Rome, Italy
Nashville, TN! (Well, technically Madison but it's juuuuust north and east of Nashville proper.)
Hi! Born and raised in Nashville, but now I live on the UWS of Manhattan. Love that there are Nashville peeps :)
Nashville TN also!
I’ll also claim Nashville, but technically Murfreesboro! 20 miles east of Nash.
I’m in Franklin, TN!
My brother is in Franklin!
Nashville area here as well (Mt. Juliet).
Nashville proper, also!
Nashville, TN 12 South area
Love that area!!!
Nashville area! (Spring Hill!)
I am in Spring Hill too!
Nashville here too!
Middle Tennessee! I’m in Franklin.
I would go to Nashville!!!
Salem, MA
Hingham, MA!
Hey south shore neighbor! I’m in Duxbury.
Duxbury also!
South Shore too!
I'm nearby in Lynnfield.
I’m right next door in N. Reading
I’m in Reading and work in Salem!
Woburn/Peabody!
Dedham, MA here
Salem, MA as well 🙂
Marblehead, MA!
Wellesley, MA