upon checking my inbox this morning, i came across an email from an ad agency (which shall remain nameless) making me aware that williams sonoma inc., owner of pottery barn and PBteen, requests that i remove their ad for bedding by pottery barn kids from my sidebar due to the content of the other ads that are currently running (and will continue to run) on my sidebar.

i emailed back, making the agency aware that my webmaster will remove the link as soon as possible. i added in this email that i couldn’t help but laugh at how ludicrous a situation this was, but, no harm no foul. the ad will be removed.

having that text ad was literally “pocket change,” so this was never about the money… though i now fully intend on using that $30 on wine, thankyouverymuch.

once i had a chance to marinate on this, it dawned on me that this action, asking me to remove their ad due to my content was perhaps… insulting?

the feminist in me kicked in… i began to wonder “what would betty say” about this debacle? “what would gloria do” with this tasty information?

the ad agency and i have emailed back and forth for a good part of this morning. the representative of the ad agency who initiated the pitch was profusely apologetic and cordial. i emailed back, making it clear that i found no fault with their agency, but was extremely curious about williams sonoma (as the agency’s client) and what this request of theirs meant for myself and for my readers (mainly women, mainly mothers).

dudes, i’m not discounting you. ladies without kidlets, i’m not discounting you either. i’m calling it what it is and it, my blog, is a mom blog. there, i said it… begin casting your stones.

i emailed the ad agency numerous questions…

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do these “certain words” that are “not to be associated with their brand” include “rape”?? i am an (almost) 10 year survivor and discuss sexual assault frequently on my blog.

do these “certain words” include “alcohol”?? because i really enjoy my wine, have written wine reviews, and discuss that on my blog as well.

and what about expletives? i drop a curse word in nearly every one of my posts.

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suffice to say, i have come to my own conclusions about what has taken place today… these conclusions are mine and mine alone and do not represent the ad agency that originally contacted me.

it is my personal belief that williams sonoma inc. is neglecting the fact that mothers are sexual beings. guess what? moms buy sex toys. some of these same women also buy children’s bedding from your store.

where on earth do you think children come from? let me answer that for you… SEX!!!!!!!

it is also my personal belief that williams sonoma inc. is negligent in educating themselves on the bloggers they pitch to… case in point, me. this is why i do not blame the ad agency. i believe the agency was the middle-person in all of this and that it is the responsibility of the company who is desiring ad space to be aware of the content of the blogger they are pitching to.

in all honesty, i don’t give two shits about my ad space. the two ads i currently run belong to two amazing women who have befriended me and i am proud to support their companies and their work.

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in the last hour, i took a quick twitter poll and asked the following question…

within seconds i received A LOT of responses, some of my faves including…

i then summed things up with the following tweet…

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according to my webmaster and dear friend who runs the same ads on her blog that i do, “you totally should write a post on ‘advertisers knowing their audience’ and how not all mommy blogger are created equal – some of us give better blowjobs.“

so basically that is what this all boils down to, i suppose.

that, and williams sonoma inc. needs to realize that it is currently 2010… people buy sex toys AND some of these people are parents.

now please excuse me while i go into the kitchen and bake some cookies while wearing my williams sonoma apron… and nothing else.

 

UPDATE 1: holy cripes ya’ll… treat yourselves…

THANKS TO THE EVER-SO-AWESOME @maniacalmom for this kickass discount!!!

also, make sure to check out the latest BlogherAtHome post and enter to win a basket of goodies from the uber generous @maniacalmom.

(why do i feel like so many will be starting a collection of toys, if not adding their already existing one??? enjoy!!!)

 

UPDATE 2: thanks to my fantastic sponsor @nipplecharms!!!

ladies what are you waiting for? go! shop! then… well, you know what to do.