Time to Mobilize your blog, Let’s do this!

• Have you noticed that a blog really needs to be mobile friendly?
• Have you noticed that everyone has a smartphone lately? — Even my mom has one!
• Have you noticed my little QR code over in the sidebar? ——–>
  (you want one don’t you?)

Have you noticed NoticedSoftware?

NoticeSoftware is a mobile software development company – for today let’s call it that cool place where Wayne works.

Why do you need to notice Wayne?

Because he will set you up with your very own mobile app for your blog!

Features of a NoticeSoftware Blog Mobile App:

• List your website in the Android/iphone markets, bringing in new readers.
• A downloadable easy to read, version of your site with one click home screen access to mobile friendly blog posts.
• Keep your readers aware of new posts, via a text notification.
• Your readers can read and keep up with your site where ever they go (it’s mobile!).

… and the best part….

• NoticeSoftware will revenue share (50%) of the ads that run on the mobile app version of your site.

You’re wondering what this will cost you right?

**NOTHING.

How can you get your site noticed for free? Simple.
Email Wayne at noticesoftware dot com and tell him Carissa sent you!

Disclosure: Carissa received a free mobile app version of her site. Oh wait. It’s free to everyone! Carissa is also being compensated to help you and the folks at Mom2Summit get their sites noticed in a mobile app from NoticeSoftware.

I’ve been busy this week.

Travel. WAY too much travel.

And a whole lot of writing!

• First…

A post about my family’s upcoming Spring Break Staycation over on Travelingmom.com. I’ve come up with 12 different ideas for making a staycation worthy of your spring break. Don’t think of it as simply a way to save money, think of it as quality family time your family won’t forget. And TREAT yourself like you ARE on vacation…. !

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• Next up..

Teach a Brand to Fish! Not sure what I mean by that? Check out my article on GigCoin.com about helping brands understand Social Media. There is a big difference in doing it all for them and teaching them so the personal part of social media stays SOCIAL!

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• And saving the best for last of course…

Did you know National Volunteer Week is coming up in April? It is! And maybe it’s the Luck ‘O the Irish this week but it turns out SpaWeek (Hosted by SpaWeek.com) is ALSO the same week as Volunteer week! What does that mean? Click over to VolunteerSpot.com and find out for yourself! (A hint tho? $50 will buy you as much as $75-500 spa treatments!!) April 11-17th, are you ready??

I finished reading the book: ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett last week.

It’s an amazing story, and you find yourself cheering for the women struggling to have their voices heard. Hard to believe one short generation ago there was such turmoil over which bathroom to use of all things!

But my thoughts right now aren’t about the civil rights or Jim Crow laws.

One of the main characters in the book writes down her prayers each day. It was her way to keep up on her writing skills because as a young black girl, she was forced to leave school to begin working as a house maid. Each evening she writes out her prayers for herself and for others. In fact in her community she is known for her prayers being better than the average Joe’s. People beg to be added to HER prayer list.

Last Sunday in church it was suggested in my women’s Relief Society meeting to find a way to be more specific in our personal prayers. While it’s all good and well to ask Heavenly Father to bless the sick and the needy, isn’t it much better to ask for specific help for your brother who is struggling, or your neighbor who’s child is ill? I pulled out my journal that same Sunday afternoon and thought about the people in my life I would specifically pray for and what their needs are. And I wondered. Would writing those prayer-full thoughts down help me help them?

I tried it. And while it’s only Thursday this week, I find I wake each morning thinking of those 2-3 people and their families. I feel prompted to call them or email or make a connection. I feel prompted to pray for them more.

Can I make a difference with a friend’s sickness, or help when there is a financial burden? Not directly. But I know how I feel when someone calls me out of the blue to tell me they were thinking about me that day. I know there is a spiritual link between all of us. And I know God watches over us and inserts a gentle hand when needed. It’s nice to be part of the process sometimes.

Tell me something? Do you pray? What do you think of writing down your prayers?

SkinnyScoop is a great tool to help you add survey content to your site. I’m testing out their widget on my sidebar as well. No compensation involved.

Ta DAH!

The 2 random.org generated winners from the iVillage Facebook App writing contest are:

• Angie from Seven Clown Circus

AND

• Laura from Celebrate Women Today

Congrats! I loved all the posts, thanks so much for participating!

I practically knocked iVillage over begging them to let me join in this great project!

The topic of teaching our children financial skills while still young enough to make mistakes and LEARN from them, is super high on my mom priority list! I realize it’s a crazy busy time of year, (do I EVER!) but that’s sort of the point, THIS TIME of year is the perfect time to have ‘the TALK‘.

I would love if you jump in and join me for this iVillage Facebook Sharing campaign!

I’m helping iVillage spread the word and I want YOU to join in too!The holidays tend to bring out the me me me syndrome in our kids… Have you taken the chance to sit down and have ‘the Talk’ with your kids? Not THAT talk! The financial talk! Help your kids understand what’s most important this year, take a minute and #HaveTheTalk.

I’m hosting a GIVEAWAY for anyone who wants to join in on the blog writing portion of this campaign.

TWO $100 Amex Gift Cards
Two winners!

The iVillage #HaveTheTalk campaign is super important especially during the holidays.
Right now if you have ‘the TALK’ and share it via the iVillage Facebook App:

iVillage will donate $1 to Junior Achievement for every Facebook Share! With the goal of raising $5,000!

Giveaway Details!

• REQUIRED:

Write a post about having ‘the TALK’ with your kids. Mention the iVillage Facebook App.

Chance to win one of TWO $100 AMEX Gift Cards
If you are interested in writing about having ‘the Talk’ this holiday season, I’d love to add you to our creative list of bloggers sharing how they #HaveTheTalk. Come back and link up to this post to be entered to win one of TWO $100 American Express gift cards. TWO randomly generated writers who submit by Midnight Eastern, Monday, December 27th will win!

• Here’s a list of prompts to get your creative juices flowing OR you can jump in and tell us a story about teaching your kids financial skills during the holidays.

-Not ‘EVERYTHING’ under the Christmas tree is for you!
-Ways to give back during the holidays.
-Saving and Giving.
-The True meaning of Gift Giving.
-Stuffing Other’s Stockings.
-Time = Money, But Service is the best spent time.
-Create a Vlog of your kid’s thoughts on ways to give back during the holidays.

Hurry the article needs to be submitted by Midnight Eastern, December 27th!

• LINK AWAY!

Thanks so much! I can’t wait to see your stories!
Please email me with any questions!

• THE FINE PRINT

Canada and US bloggers are welcome. Must post and link your article by Monday December 27th Midnight, EST.  Must be 18 years old+ and no purchase necessary to enter. Winners chosen by random.org.

Don’t have a blog? No problem, open a posterous.com account and write it there! Then link your posterous URL back here. You can do it!

This is a compensated post.

The beginning of the end?

This is the first Christmas where none of my kiddos really want TOYS under the Christmas tree. My oldest just turned 13. She wants um… clothes and music and jewelry and movie tickets and stuff to decorate her bedroom and… (Yeah right!)

The next kid is nearly 10, and while she still LOVES her Dolls, she doesn’t really play with them, she’s more about making clothes and creating ‘stuff’ for their world. She’ll be getting an inexpensive sewing machine this year with doll patterns!

And my little boy is 6 ½ this year. He still plays with Legos, and Hot Wheels and all that.. but honestly only when he has a friend over or Mom sits down with him to create a cool ‘car/Lego obstacle course’. His Christmas wish this year? A Nintento DSi (I wrote about it on Technorati). See his funny quote there!

So what’s a mom to do when the kids don’t want to sit on Santa’s lap anymore?

“I’m too old for that stuff mom!!”

Not to worry, that’s when you remind yourself you still have oodles of Nieces and Nephews!! I have 9 siblings, and I come in at number six, so there are still 4 kids younger than I, and they still have kids in all the fun-toy age ranges.

Here’s a great toy idea!

Fisher Price has a new toy out this year called BigFoot The Monster. (You can win one!)
It’s a robot talking toy and this video is hilarious…

But even better is the Facebook BigFoot Moods app.

What’s your mood today?

Click over to win a BigFoot Monster every week!

If I win the only problem I’ll have is deciding which Niece/Nephew to give it to!!

• What are your kids asking for this year? Will they still sit on Santa’s lap?
• Do you hold a family cousin gift exchange??
• What kinds of family service projects do you participate in?

Stock Image from Shutterstock.com
Compensation for this post from Big Fuel.

Roadtrip to the Worldseries to Help Cure Cancer?

Heck yeah!
What a great idea!

We’re Yankees fans in this house. And we were um… let’s just say… disappointed when the Texas Rangers kicked the crap out of the Yankees this year. Not ones to dwell on the negative, we figure we’d simply become Rangers Fans for a few weeks!

Go Rangers!

And how BitchinCamero can you get?

CarWoo.com has painted a pink racing stripe down the center of a ’78 Camero and they already drove it to San Francisco for the World Series. They are raising money for the Susan G. Kommen foundation. And everyone who donated got to sign the car!

Over the weekend the CarWoo team RoadTripped to Dallas to meet up and fundraise with the Rangers fans. Depending on which team’s fans raise the most money will determine which city’s chapter gets the money!

Of course you can get in on the fundraising as well!!

• Donate any amount via the WePay link on the CarWoo website! (choose your Team)
• Tweet out the #Camero tag via Twitter and chat up the fundraiser with your friends, then follow @CarWoo !
• Share the CarWoo Facebook link with  your Facebook friends!
• Tell your friends who live in Dallas to go sign the #Camero!

Let’s get this #Camero Rolling!!

Images courtesy of CarWoo.

Disclosure: As part of a GigCoin Team of bloggers I received compensation for joining in the #Camero Campaign. I will be donating my whole compensation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation via WePay (Someone sign that car for me!!!!!!). pink out.

Martha save me!

A shared girlie space battling out the differing tastes of two polar opposite tween daughters?

See that white stripe up there…? I want to find the perfect phrase(s) to put up there in vinyl lettering…

Help, what would you put there??

Read about how we made the transformation and see the suggested phrases over on BlissfullyDomestic.com!

You know how you leave a meeting thinking, “What have I DONE!”?

Last fall I attended the last Parent Teacher meeting of the year. I wanted to congratulate the people who had done a fabulous job, and I was willing to throw my hat in for a nice simple job. Teacher Appreciation? Back to School Night? Read-A-Thon? Perfect for me.

Instead.

I had to go home and whisper to my husband:

‘Um, I’m the new PTO Vice-President’.

He didn’t seem surprised. After all we’ve been in our neighborhood for 2 years and yes, I’ve helped in my kids’ classrooms during parties and math time and reading time but managed to stay away from any leadership roles.

I guess it’s time. Only, I was imagining a ‘helping’ role… not an IN CHARGE role!

In a few weeks, my kiddos will return to school. This is the second year they will all three officially be IN school more than they’re home. And I’ll be joining them in my own way as I figure out my new job. What needs to be done exactly? How much time do I need to spend? How has it been done in the past? Who do I report to?

There are a few things I’m super passionate about and other things I’d kick out completely if it were up to me. (Good thing it’s not, eh?!)

• First on my list are fundraisers. Hate ‘em. Door to door is seriously not for me. We’re looking into a NON-fundraiser fundraiser. Where we simply ask families to donate a minimum amount per child and if we raise over a certain point, no wrapping paper/cookie dough sales will be needed. One idea we came across was the idea of a “Social,” basically a fundraising party, which is great for building community as well as raising funds.

• Next is getting my school to end the deluge of papers sent home daily. Each of my kids in elementary school receive the same set of fliers/papers/reminders EVERY day? What a waste! Both financially to the school’s paper budget and in green-think to the planet! There has to be a way to send home one set per family. And then wouldn’t it be great if we could get more families to accept a paperless/internet option for newsletters, lunch calendars, and half-day closing reminders?

• Another problem I noticed is the kids have no playground supplies for recess. I asked my 3rd grader last year why she doesn’t play kickball, or jump rope during outdoor time? Her answer: “We don’t have any ropes or big red balls.” How sad is that!? I have big plans to work on a specific funding project just for recess and PE supplies.

• One more biggie for me, is that our school’s drop-off/pick-up scene is a nightmare. It’s chaotic, it’s crowded and it’s NOT safe. There has to be a better way, and I’m sure parents have plenty of ideas.

Here’s to a back to school experience where more parents are involved and the educators are more willing to listen to their suggestions! At next year’s final meeting, I look forward to going home and whispering to my husband: “It was a great year, I loved going back to school with my kids.”

Plus! I’m excited to share this great contest… for YOUR kids’ Teacher!

Register at VolunteerSpot.com before October 1st, 2010 using promotion code “TeachersSave” for a chance to win $100 in free classroom supplies for the teacher of your choice from ClassWish!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.

The CountDown is ON!

See the cute little Counter on my sidebar? It’s counting down to August 10th.WHY?

Because starting in August I will begin running my own little GoodNCrazy Store Front! How dang cool is that? In fact I REALLY need some help here… what shall I call it?

• GoodNCrazy Store (sheesh… boring)
• GoodNCrazy Shop (ditto)
• Ye Olde GoodNCrazye Shoppe (Juste kiddinge)
• GoodNCrazy Bazaar (Or should I call it Bizarre??)
• Chez GoodNCrazy(while I wear paisley)

Crap I’m in a hurry here. What do I call it??

OpenSky is an online ecommerce site perfect for bloggers to incorporate directly on their own sites. When I find a fabulous product (and I have several items I’m totally in love with and dying to share with you) I’ll simply beg OpenSky to create a relationship with the new product/brand. If they do, I get to list it in my shop. Making it easy for you to locate the same item.What better way to shop than to get a recommendation from a friend right?

Think fun and funky items that maybe don’t sell at giant retail outlets. Small companies making great products. I’m talking THE perfect gift ideas for your picky mother-in-law!

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not doing all of this for free. OpenSky is creating a business partnership with me. Here’s how it works: Pretty much they do all the work and I get to have all the fun! When an item is purchased from my shop directly, they split the difference with me. So yes, when I’m suggesting an item I’ve listed in my shop, I will receive compensation if the item is purchased.

Um. Isn’t that how a store works?? Yeah I know, just making sure you understand…

Here’s what I like the best.

First. OpenSky has been awesome to work with.
Second. They are serious about authenticity.
Third. This is in their Mission Statement, and I totally agree.

WE WILL

• Create goodness for everyone that interacts with us.
• Introduce only products that we love and believe are the best.
• Work only with passionate people who share our vision.
• Do well by doing good.

Amen huh?

Wait there’s a fourth reason… Their RETURN policy. Feel free to read all the details directly on their website. But the bottom line is a 365 day return policy. Think about that for a minute? A WHOLE year? And they will even pay for the shipping. Srsly. Can’t beat that with a stick.

Would you like to get involved? You can! Tweet with the #opensky community. Follow them on Facebook: The OpenSky Project. Or even sign up to become a shop owner yourself! OpenSkyProject.com.

(And don’t forget to help me with my shop name… I promise I’ll help you someday!)

Photo credit: laffy4k