January 28, 2012 Every now and again a new online craze seems to come out of nowhere and grab a hold of us. First it was Facebook and Myspace, then Twitter, and now we have Pinterest. Pinterest is more than just an online social media outlet – it is a virtual pin board that has…
February 6, 2012 In recent weeks I’ve talked to three women bloggers who actually had their Google Blogger or Blogspot accounts mysteriously disappear – possibly for policy violations or other unknown causes — two of which were permanently deleted representing years of hard work. That’s not even to consider what might happen if a blog…
March 21, 2012 Having a baby calls for many resources, which can seemingly pile up in all corners of your nursery. Many new and expecting parents acquire an enormous amount of clothing, baby bedding, toys, baby blankets, bath, baby care and grooming items. Don’t let your closet turn into a hoarding frenzy. There are several…
February 7, 2012 Some people write an awesome blog, but then wonder why no one is reading it. Well, how do readers know it exists? Why should they read it? Sure, you can promote you blog online, but getting out and meeting your blogging peers will make them remember you. And depending on your niche,…
March 30, 2012 In today’s economy, many families are looking for ways to spend less money without making sacrifices. Easier said than done … but it only takes a little effort up front to save time and extra expenses in the long run. Check out these tips for saving money and having a happy family…
February 16, 2012 Gaining nearly as much acceptance as going green, shopping smart has become the new normal and a practice that is gaining in popularity; even the reality television explosion includes shows on saving big. Whether you are a novice at couponing or a certified coupon queen, there are significant savings to be had…
February 17, 2012 A Modern Woman is one who advocates or practices a departure from traditional styles or values. You can count me among those women, with one caveat. However much I want to keep up with the times, I still don’t want to sacrifice the traditional values and good manners I hold dear. I…
February 20, 2012 Whether it’s vampires (the undead), zombies (the really dead), or ghosts (the haunting dead), the fascination with paranormal books and dead people overall in children’s fiction has boomed over the last few years. And it doesn’t matter the age. You can find dead characters in middle grade/tween books like The Graveyard by Neil…
March 1, 2012 As a parent, you are aware how crucial reading is to your child’s future. It helps them develop speech and language skills, build vocabulary, stimulates their creativity, and sets them up for later academic success. With all this riding on you, what can you do to foster a life-long love of reading…
February 23, 2012 Blogging and social media has expanded further than anyone could have imagined. We all know the power of the written word, but it may be time to start thinking about the power of the spoken and visual word. Many bloggers and social media enthusiasts have started to transition to vlogging, or creating…
February 28, 2012 A growing number of men and women are turning their backs on the corporate 9–5 positions and are opting instead to work from home. In making this change, doing your homework is a must. Assessing the skills you possess that may be used in a work from home business is a good…
March 12, 2012 It’s blatantly horrifying. Seven-year-old Brittney Baxter was standing in the toy aisle of Wal*mart when she was scooped up by (allegedly) Thomas Woods, who covered her mouth and attempted to take her. While we can wage a debate as to whether she should have been alone in the toy aisle of Wal*mart…
March 19, 2012 Learning about various cultures is always fun and enlightening, not just for adults – but kids as well. This spring, people around the world will participate in activities and fun. From the ancient to the modern, these spring traditions and festivals may inspire something new you’ll want to try with your family….
February 19, 2012 Congratulations to Little Tech Girl: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Kris Cain is a Chicago area mom to 2 sets of twins, photography nut, gadget addict, web designer, and blogger who has worked in IT for over 13 years. She’s also one of our contributors and we’re happy to feature her as our…
March 7, 2012 What if you could make homework and learning easier for your child? Memory is one of the key skills involved in learning, studying, and doing well in school. Once your child can better retain information, it’s easier to learn harder concepts and complete homework on time. But how to teach your child…
February 20, 2012 Parenting Country by Country? How about Just Doing What’s Right for Children? With Pamela Druckerman’s new book Bringing Up Bébé extolling Gallic parenting, parents can now choose between parenting the French way or the so-called Chinese way presented last year by Amy Chua’s sensational Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Druckerman wants…
March 14, 2012 Is it ok for your child to say “No” to an adult or parent? As moms concerned about raising polite children, the gut reaction is, “No, it’s not.” But that may not always be the case. In an interview with Oprah, Elizabeth Smart’s Dad made a statement about how we teach our children…
February 22, 2012 Even if you only watch the Oscars for the red carpet fashion, inviting your besties over and watching it together makes an okay night into a memorable one. Here’s how to throw an Oscar party your guests will look forward to on an annual basis: Get inspired. Sure you could go with…
April 9, 2012 You have a URL, you have a site, now how to make the most of it? Building a brand is easier than you think. Your blog is the perfect platform to engage readers and build an audience. Here are the best tips to brand your blog successfully: Find your Niche Your blog…
February 24, 2012 Welcome! We’re glad you’re here, and invite you to become a part of our fast-growing community of women who are active in social media. You’ll earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points you can redeem for great stuff, like Amazon.com Gift Cards, spa treatments, charitable donations and an expanding list of great, new stuff…
March 16, 2012 I don’t know about your child’s school but at ours … it is project time; which we know is really mom’s project time. When my son was in kindergarten it was easy. We had to cut and paste pictures of objects to represent letters of the alphabet using animals that run, fly or swim. First grade…
April 17, 2012 Studies show that homeschooling can be more effective in developing a child’s intelligence, compared with traditional schooling, says the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). Children who are homeschooled are found to outperform their peers on standardized tests, and their ACT and SAT scores are higher than those of public school students. It would…
March 5, 2012 SocialMoms, meet happiness and beautiful simplicity, personified. Lisa Workman, 36, a married mother of three living in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke, Virginia, leads what sounds to me like the idyllic rural lifestyle. She and her husband made an “intentional decision” to move to the area from Houston 13 years ago,…
March 5, 2012 In case you missed it, Facebook introduced Timeline for Fan Pages on February 29th. This announcement included some major changes to the look and feel of Fan Pages. The format will be similar to Timeline for personal pages, including a cover photo at the top of the Page. Also similarly, the main…
March 14, 2012 As a mom, you understand the necessity to make guests welcome, so that sense of comfort and greeting should also be applied to your email marketing campaign. Once a subscriber has signed up for your site’s newsletter, the content of the welcome letter is key. It can either tell your customer they…
March 20, 2012 The Federal Trade Commission says millions of Americans have their personal identities stolen each year and that as many as 9 million are victimized in the U.S. alone annually. Though there is still no 100 percent fail-safe solution to this growing problem, there are a lot of easy things you can do…
March 26, 2012 It may seem ironic in modern times, with all the advances in technology, but identity theft continues to be a real problem. Sure, there are simple and essential precautions you can take to prevent cyber identity theft, but the sad reality is that this type of crime continues to spiral out of…
March 23, 2012 The best thing about the Internet, despite the fact that one person can Google anything in the world and become an instant expert, is that you can connect with anyone you want through social media. Social media is “web based technology and applications that turn communication into interactive dialogue” – the perfect…
April 6, 2012 Spring sports season is upon us, and that means soccer, basketball, and an array of other sports activities. It also means bumps, bruises, and bandages. It’s okay to let your child play their favorite sport, but proceed with caution. Yes, your child will probably get hurt, but you can help minimize their…
March 26, 2012 All too often today, children are clueless when it comes to finances and budgeting – but I want my children prepared. My husband and I have set down guidelines to help teach lessons about money and spending. We also use everyday situations as real life examples. For instance, when we go shopping we…
April 26, 2012 As parents, we have all been there. We’ve reminded our child, for what seems like hundreds of times, to remove their elbows from the dinner table. We’ve felt embarrassment creep up our face while watching our child throwing a temper tantrum at the front of a crowded grocery store. We’ve felt the evil…
April 3, 2012 Social media has changed how we communicate, learn, and share our lives with each other. From one vantage point, the emergence of social media has been a positive tool in our society. Unfortunately, there is a darker side to this medium. Anything good in the wrong hands can bring negativity, and in…
March 29, 2012 Whether you’re blogging for fun, as a part-time side income, or as a full-time business – participating in social media can boost your efforts by helping more of your ideal readers find you. Unfortunately, many bloggers fear that using social media for marketing will consume too much of their time. Though there…
March 16, 2012 Last week, Facebook revealed one of its newer features called “Interest Lists”. Very similar to Twitter Lists, which have been around for almost three years now, Facebook’s Interest Lists will allow users to customize what information gets included in their news feed. According to TechCrunch, Facebook will be rolling out this feature…
April 2, 2012 Sure, it was a mild winter. But aren’t you ready for a break from the daily grind and the chance to sit back, relax, and let your thoughts drift like the overhead clouds? Not to spoil your fantasy, but if your spring break vacation plans include spending quality time with your kids at…
April 16, 2012 It’s tough as a parent to get your child to fall asleep and stay in bed all night. They need a glass of water, want a tissue, have to go potty, want another kiss, or are afraid of something under the bed. The excuses can go on and on. As a parent…
April 23, 2012 It used to be that parents enrolled their child in kindergarten based on the cut-off date. But now they are faced with a big decision … start kindergarten at 5 or wait an extra year and enroll them at 6. This concept of holding a child back on purpose is called redshirting (the term comes…
May 17, 2012 Working from home can be a dream come true for most mothers. You get to be home with the kids, save time on commuting, save money on office wear and childcare, and most importantly – have a job. Yes, life can be good. However, it can be lonely too. No around-the-water cooler…
May 23, 2012 Make some amazing memories this summer by exploring new places and spending quality learning and sharing time with your family. And guess what? You don’t have to break the bank to do it. Here are great summer fun ideas for your family, that won’t cost a fortune: Library There are many great,…
March 28, 2012 Rachel Dratch was a Saturday Night Live regular between 1999 & 2006 – best known for her hilarious roles as Debbie Downer, Abe Scheinwald, and many other characters. Wondering what happened to her? Check out her new memoir, GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR. The book follows Rachel as her life changed after…
March 29, 2012 Parties, BBQs, and reunions are the perfect time to gather friends and family and enjoy some tasty snacks. Whether your celebration is in honor of a birthday, sporting event, holiday or theme party you want to host a memorable event for your guests. How do you spice up your parties and create…
August 17, 2012 Kids and their clothes … it seems I’m constantly buying new items. Whether it’s shoes they’ve outgrown, jeans with holes in the knees, stains on their favorite shirt, or a sudden requirement for a social function, it can be tough to keep up. So how do you meet all the wardrobe demands…
May 1, 2012 If you have children old enough to be on Facebook, then you’ve probably had plenty of opportunity to use the platform to create “teaching moments” for your kids. There are the obvious lessons – “don’t post pics of yourself you don’t want your Grandma to see” and “don’t use foul language.” Other…
May 3, 2012 It’s the dream of many stay-at-home moms to find a little side work they can do from home while children are napping or in school. Who couldn’t use a few extra hundred dollars a week – or even a month – to help with expenses? But you have to be careful when…
April 1, 2012 Congratulations to Dear Button: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Dear Button is a place where K and her husband document the trials and tribulations of parenting their new baby (Button). K shares their adventures–in becoming parents, navigating the city, trying to maintain an urban lifestyle, being a freelance designer, crafting, starting a retail…