2011 November

Adventures at BlogWorld LA 2011

November 30, 2011 By MomRN Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I shared with you that I was heading to Los Angeles at the beginning of November for the BlogWorld LA & New Media Expo and would be speaking there about podcasting for parent bloggers. I was so excited to go to BlogWorld for the first time and for my first blogging conference speaking gig. I’ve been a speaker at other types of conferences and events but not a blogging conference so to be asked to speak at the biggest blogging conference in the world was a huge honor and I’m so grateful for that opportunity.

This year BlogWorld decided to try something different from previous years. They used to have one conference a year in Las Vegas. The conference has grown so much over the last few years the organizers decided to split into two conferences, one on each coast. Earlier this year, BlogWorld NY was held in New York and November 3rd – 5th was BlogWorld LA. From what I have heard from past attendees, most have liked the split and opportunity to either attend the one closest to where they live, or if they want, to attend both conferences. Some have expressed missing Las Vegas but overall, almost everyone I talked with enjoyed the conference being in Los Angeles. Even with the split, BlogWorld LA had over 4,000 attendees from over 30 countries. Wow! It was awesome to meet bloggers and podcasters from all over the world.

MomRN speaking at BlogWorld LA on podcasting for parent bloggers

Besides several fun parties and events, the conference sessions at BlogWorld LA were fantastic and educational. There were 307 speakers and 25 different tracks to choose from, as well as several keynotes. As a speaker, it was also nice to get a “peek behind the curtain” to meet other speakers and see them tweaking and working on their presentations in the speaker ready room. I can tell you how hard these speakers worked to make their sessions informative and worthy of the attendees time, money, and attention.

There were several sessions I did not get to attend that I really wanted to, so I’m very grateful for the Virtual Ticket being offered by BlogWorld. If you are a blogger who didn’t make it to BlogWorld LA, the Virtual Ticket is an awesome way to get all the expertise and knowledge shared in the conference sessions. For those who attended, it is wonderful to be able to watch the sessions you couldn’t attend live at the conference. There were so many great sessions scheduled at the same time in most time slots so it was hard to choose just one to attend for each time slot.

Want to attend BlogWorld in 2012? The next one will be held in New York on June 5-7, 2012 and tickets will likely be on sale soon. You can learn more and check for updates on the BlogWorld conference website.

The cute bag tag from Invitation Consultants is perfect for my laptop bag!

Wondering how to afford to attend a blogging conference? Sponsorships can help and I’m very grateful to Invitation Consultants for choosing me, along with a few other lucky bloggers, to receive a $100 sponsorship to help pay for some of the BlogWorld conference expenses. After attending BlogHer in August, I wasn’t planning to attend any more conferences this year and even had to sell my ticket to another fall conference because my budget just wouldn’t allow me to go without a sponsor. So when I was offered the chance to speak at BlogWorld, it presented a financial challenge, but it was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. Thankfully Invitation Consultants helped and they even sent everyone who applied for the sponsorship a very cute Blogger Bag Tag to put on our luggage! As you can see in the pic above, you can personalize it and they offer other choices too so if you aren’t a blogger, they have tons of other designs for the whole family. You can also get personalized stationary, cards for every occasion, invitations, calendars, personalized stamps, and much more at their website.

Thanks again, Invitation Consultants!

Now it is your turn – have you been to any conferences this year or other events? What was your favorite and why?

Filed Under: family Tagged With: blogging, blogworld la, Invitation Consultants, travel

Disney’s The Muppets movie opens in theaters today!

November 23, 2011 By MomRN Leave a Comment

Last week I was given the opportunity to see a screening of Disney’s The Muppets and it was just as fun, campy, and cheesy as I thought it would be! I loved it and so did my family!

As a child of the 70′s and 80′s, I grew up watching the Muppets on television on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street and the first few movies. Kermit has always been my fave so it was a dream come true when I had the opportunity to meet and interview him at Disney World last year!

Starting today, you can see Kermit and the whole Muppet gang in their newest feature film, Disney’s The Muppets!

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet MOVIE tonight!!!

Filed Under: family, Giveaway, parenting Tagged With: Disney, family, fun, Kermit, movie, Muppets, video

Better’n Eggs Fit2Fight Diabetes Awareness Campaign

November 13, 2011 By MomRN 2 Comments

Type 2 Diabetes affects 25.8 million children and adults in the United States. Chances are high that you know someone who is living with this disease or you may have it yourself. In my family, we have a few relatives who are having to deal with Type 2 Diabetes on a daily basis and it affects many aspects of their lives. One example is my grandfather, who was diagnosed a few years ago.

If you were to meet my grandfather, you would see a strapping, healthy looking 84 year old man who doesn’t appear to have any medical issues. He’s a healthy weight for his height, exercises nearly every day by walking outside or at the mall, and takes good care of himself. So it was quite a surprise to all of us when he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Since his diagnosis, he monitors his blood sugar frequently, takes his medication when he should, and eats on a schedule and tries to choose healthy food options. So far it seems to be working for him and keeping his blood sugar in check but it hasn’t been easy to make some of these lifestyle changes. Many people living with this disease have to make major changes in order to maintain their health and prevent the complications that can be caused by out of control blood sugars. For those who have not developed the disease, risk factors can be cut and the disease can possibly be prevented by making healthy food choices.

Fortunately, there are more diabetic and/or alternative food options now than in the past and that can make it a little easier for anyone, diabetic or not, to eat a more balanced, healthy diet. Two such alternatives are Crystal Farm’s egg products: AllWhites Egg Whites and Better’n Eggs. Love eggs but worried about the cholesterol and fat content? These two options give you all the benefits of eggs (protein, vitamins and minerals) without the cons. Both are low-calorie, fat-free, cholesterol free, gluten-free, hormone-free, and 100% natural real eggs.

For diabetics, egg whites can increase recovery time from hypoglycemia by building up adrenal glands. Additionally, lean protein can help balance a diabetic diet while controlling hunger and blood sugar levels and helps you feel full longer, which can help with weight loss. AllWhites Egg Whites and Better’n Eggs can each be used as a substitute for eggs in almost any recipe for both cooking and baking. And if you love to eat raw cookie dough like my husband and kids do, then you don’t have to worry about salmonella poisoning if you use these products because they are also pasteurized to prevent food borne illnesses.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and Crystal Farms is helping to spread awareness through their Fit2Fight campaign. If you follow me on Twitter (@MomRN) you may have noticed the Twibbon across my avatar promoting the campaign. As part of the campaign, Crystal Farms will be throwing a Twitter party with health and fitness expert (and Oprah’s personal trainer) Bob Greene, who will share nutrition and fitness tips throughout the party. The #betterneggs Twitter party with Bob Greene will be held on Wednesday, November 16th from 8-10pm EST. To attend the party, visit http://bit.ly/sa9wmC for more information. (While you are there, be sure to check out the awesome info, support, and advice my friend, Leah Segedie, provides on her Mamavation site!)

Interested in giving Crystal Farms products a try? On their website, there are several recipes using the various products they offer and this one is a yummy and healthy recipe for Mini Turkey Meatloaves that can be enjoyed by anyone, diabetic or not.

: Crystal Farms Mini Turkey Meatloaves

Preparation: 20 minutes

Time-To-Table: 1 hour

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Meatloaves Ingredients:

4 Wasa® whole wheat crispbreads

1 package (20 oz.) lean ground turkey

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/3 cup celery, finely chopped

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup (2 oz.) Better’n Eggs®

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze Ingredients:

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place crispbread in resealable plastic bag. Using rolling pin, crush crackers into fine crumbs. In large bowl combine all meatloaf ingredients; mix well, using hands if necessary. Form into 6 (4×2 inch) loaves. Place on aluminum foil lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

2. In small bowl combine all glaze ingredients; mix well. Spread glaze over top of each loaf. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until no longer pink.

Only 202 calories and 23 grams of protein per serving (see here for full nutritional information)

Sounds delicious, huh? You can find several more recipes on the Crystal Farms website.

What about you and your family? Are you living with diabetes or have a loved one or friend who is? Do you have tips or recipes that make it easier for you to eat healthy and control diabetes? Feel free to share with us in the comments below and don’t forget the Twitter party on Wednesday.

Want to do even more to promote awareness? Upload the Fit2Fight Twibbon to your Twitter profile for the entire month of November. You can find it at: http://twibbon.com/join/Fit2Fight-Type2.

Disclosure: MomRN was chosen by Global Influence to help promote this campaign and will receive a small compensation for the research and work required to share this information with my audience. Regardless of compensation, all thoughts and opinions are my own. MomRN chose to participate in this campaign because diabetes is a disease that impacts millions of lives and in many cases, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with the proper information, resources, and diet.

Filed Under: family, food, health Tagged With: Bob Greene, Crystal Farms, diabetes, food, health, party, recipe, Twitter, Type 2 diabetes

Disney’s Cars 2 Agents on a Mission Tour big hit in Oklahoma City

November 10, 2011 By MomRN Leave a Comment

Cars 2 Lightning McQueen

Disney’s Cars 2 Agents on a Mission Tour presented by State Farm visited Oklahoma City earlier this week and was a huge hit with the long lines of families who were eager to see life size remote control versions of the stars of the popular movie. Kids were mesmerized by the realistic Cars characters and excited to “meet” their favorites – Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, and Finn McMissile.

Cars 2 characters Finn McMissile and Tow Mater

The tour is a combined effort between the Walt Disney Company and State Farm and has toured several cities in North America over the last few months. The Oklahoma City “pit stop” was held at Quail Springs Mall in the parking lot. Unfortunately, the weather threatened rain so tents were used to protect the cars and some of the planned activities had to be canceled, but the kids didn’t seem to mind very much as they stood in line to get pictures made with each of the three Cars characters. A few kids managed to sneak under the barrier protecting the Cars and each of them wanted to touch and “hug” the characters. It was a bit of a bummer that no one was allowed to touch the Cars but after seeing them and reading about all the work that went into building them, I can completely understand why they are protected. It’s amazing that they were built completely from scratch and are not real cars painted to look like the characters but were actually specially made for this tour. They are also remote-controlled. It would have been fun to see them in action but with the impending storms, it was necessary to have them inside the tents.

After the photos were taken by the photographers on hand, parents were given a card so they could receive the free pictures via email after the event. State Farm also had computers set up to allow parents to participate in a quick survey and were given a nice coffee mug with a lid as a thank you for taking the survey. On the way out of the tent, each child was handed a large reusable Cars 2 goody bag filled with fun items to enjoy. Items varied but many contained a Cars 2 beach towel, a shammy, Cars 2 crayons, and magnets and/or keychains.

MomRN had the opportunity to visit the tour and enjoyed seeing the characters, meeting the coordinators, and interviewing the tour’s spokesperson, Christine Perez.

Here is what Christine had to say about the tour and why Disney and State Farm teamed up to bring it on the road.

Disney’s Cars 2 is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie gets two thumbs up from MomRN and her family!

Disclosure: MomRN was invited by Disney to this event but was not compensated in any form for any coverage. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: family Tagged With: agents, Cars 2, Christine Perez, Disney, Finn McMissile, Lightning McQueen, mission, movie, Oklahoma City, State Farm, tour, Tow Mater

Shutterfly Family Photo Days

November 8, 2011 By MomRN Leave a Comment

Ever see someone’s family portrait where every member of the family is posed and smiling happily in their color-coordinated outfits and wonder:

“Why can’t that be my family? When we try to take a family photo it turns into a stressful disaster! The baby is crying, the toddler is covered in sticky drool from the lollipop the photographer bribed him with to smile for the camera, our outfits don’t match because I had to change clothes after the baby spit up everywhere – twice! – and we’re all contorted into these unnatural, forced poses that NO ONE really does except in family portraits. Is it even worth it all this trouble?”

You have? Me too! Or at least something very similar!

Seriously, family portrait day used to stress me out for weeks ahead of time and the day of would be awful. As a true perfectionist, I wanted every hair in place, every article of clothing perfectly clean and unwrinkled, and outfits that matched or went together very well. Yikes, no wonder my family hated getting family photos made.

These days, as a recovering perfectionist with older teenagers (and a very patient husband), I still want our family photos to turn out well, but I don’t stress out as much as I used to about it and it’s okay if they aren’t perfect. We aren’t perfect so why pretend to be? Besides, forced smiles are usually pretty obvious in pictures. Why not relax, have some fun, and just enjoy the process?

Shutterfly wants families to do just that with their Shutterfly Family Photo Days initiative. Shutterfly knows families want pictures that they can be proud enough of to share with their family and friends. Plus many of these families share those photos in their holiday cards and often end up having to settle for using one they don’t really like just because there were no better options. (Been there, done that!)

Fortunately, a couple of years ago we had a family photo taken by a photographer we know. It was taken at a local park and we used it for our Christmas cards that year. I love it because we are all together, smiling and laughing, enjoying the park, and even our “furbaby” was cooperative and happy to pose for the camera (with some incentive of getting treats after each pose).

Photo by Sara Boling 2009 (Used with permission)

How do you get a good family photo to use for your holiday cards? If you have tips to share, please leave us a comment below. Or if you have a crazy or funny photo disaster to share, we’d love to hear it!

Disclosure: I am participating in Global Influence’s Shutterfly Family Photo Days campaign. In exchange for my time and work, I will receive a code for 50 free cards from Shutterfly. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by compensation. I have used Shutterfly’s services and purchased cards and books in the past and am a happy customer!

Filed Under: family Tagged With: cards, Christmas, family, Global Influence, holiday, photos, pictures, Shutterfly

Digital Folio for Smart Comparison Shopping

November 8, 2011 By MomRN Leave a Comment

Okay, raise your hand if you’ve started your holiday shopping already! I have started but I’m nowhere near the finish line yet! It takes a lot of time to shop for the “just right gift” for each person on your list and when you consider the time it takes to comparison shop for the best price for each item then all that shopping can turn into a stressful chore. Enter Digital Folio to the rescue!

Digital Folio is a brand-new comparison shopping tool that simplifies your shopping and takes the stress out of trying to find the best bargain. It helps you find the right item, in the color and size you want, at the very best price available from the retailers it searches (currently Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Sears, with more retailers coming soon). You can easily search and add items to your “folio” folders (by simply dragging and dropping) and let Digital Folio do the work for you of tracking price changes in real-time. Even when your computer is offline, Digital Folio continues to monitor and update prices for you so the next time you shop, you have the latest information ready and waiting for you.

You can even share your folders with other people by allowing them to view the folio folders on their computers, which is great when you want to create a wish list for a birthday or holiday. No more too-small, ugly sweaters or hideous ties from relatives who didn’t know what to get for you. Now they will know exactly what you want and can save money when they buy it. And of course, you can do the same for the gifts they want. No more wondering what to get for everyone on your list.

Once you have used the tool to find that perfect gift and are ready to purchase it, Digital Folio takes you directly to the retailer to check out. After your purchase, you can choose to either delete the item from your folio or you can keep it there to see if the price drops. Many retailers will honor price drops within a specified time frame (some up to a full 30 days) and refund the difference to you. So Digital Folio will continue to monitor for price changes and save you money even after your purchase!

Best of all, Digital Folio is a free service. It can be downloaded onto your computer using IE or Firefox and works on both PCs and Macs. The developers are also working on rolling out apps for Windows, iOS, and Android smartphones. To take Digital Folio on the go with you, check to see if your version is available yet.

I downloaded and tested Digital Folio and found it pretty easy to use after a few minutes of learning how to navigate it. I like the ability to choose an item, such as a digital camera, drag it to the folio folder I created, drop it there and learn very quickly which retailer has that same item in the color and size I wanted and which of those has the best price on it. Since it downloads to your browser, the tool is handy to access but easy to hide if you want it out of the way when it is not being used.

To learn more about Digital Folio and have a chance to win a Target gift card, please join in on a fun Twitter party tonight at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central/5 Pacific. Here’s the details:

#DigitalFolio Twitter Party with Resourceful Mommy Tuesday, November 8, 8-9pm EST. Follow @ResourcefulMom and @DigitalFolio and participate in the party to be eligible to win one of six (6) $25 Target gift cards or the one (1) Grand Prize $100 Target gift card!

Now it is your turn to give it a try and see if Digital Folio helps you shop and save this holiday season and beyond!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Digital Folio too, so please leave me a comment after you have checked it out and tell us if it is something you like (or not) and why. Do you think it will help you with your holiday shopping and year-round shopping?

Also, by downloading and using Digital Folio, you’ll not only get to use it to help you shop, you will also be eligible to win a $200 Target gift card that will be awarded by Digital Folio on Wednesday, November 15, 2011! (All registered Digital Folio users will automatically be entered to win, so you don’t have to take any extra steps to enter – just create an account, download and start shopping! It is fast and easy!) Have fun shopping and good luck in the contest!

Disclosure: I was chosen by Global Influence and Digital Folio to share information and my opinion about the Digital Folio comparison shopping tool as part of a compensated campaign. Regardless of compensation, all opinions and thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way by either Global Influence or Digital Folio. MomRN is committed to offering information and resources to help you and your family and will only recommend tools, products, and services that I believe are beneficial and worth checking out.

Filed Under: family, Giveaway Tagged With: Digital Folio, gifts, Global Influence, holiday, shopping

Disney’s Cars 2 visits Oklahoma City

November 7, 2011 By MomRN 1 Comment

Disney’s Cars 2 is coming to Oklahoma City’s Quail Springs Mall today! Kids in Oklahoma City have the opportunity to see their favorite characters from the movie and participate in fun events for free!

Come out today to see four-time Piston Cup Champion Lightning McQueen and best friend Mater along with the very savvy British spy Finn McMissile! Take part in a variety of Cars 2- themed activities and fun including a video kiosk, e-photo opportunities, games, inflatable obstacle course, giveaways and much more!

When: Monday, November 7, 2011 from 2pm to 6pm Central Time

Where: Quail Springs Mall
(South Parking Lot in front of AMC Quail Springs Theatre)
2501 West Memorial Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73134

Cost: FREE and open to the public

This will be an exciting event so I hope you’ll come out and join us! MomRN will be covering the event and would love to meet you so if you see me, please come say Hi!