Coloring Outside The Lines - Keywords and Tags

I check from time to time to see what keywords or tags someone used to find my blog. There have been times I have laughed out loud (monkey butt, slip on banana) There have been times I have scratched my head (enter super confusing phrase of someone who has no clue what they are searching for and were highly disappointed when they landed here) Lately though it seems a huge keyword or phrase has been, "When will my child color inside the lines" I bet they are pretty disappointed when they land here.

Coloring inside the lines...really? As a parent that is a milestone you are concerned with right now? I do searches more along the lines of:

• when will a child quit putting things up their nose
• when does a child understand the concept of too much toilet paper and a septic system
• how to enforce a strict no smearing poptarts on the tapestry couch rule

Coloring outside the lines is a must for children and adults! I do not encourage or enforce using the lines for "rules". I want my children to look at a piece of paper with a line drawing of an elephant holding a balloon and see something bigger, go wild with possibilities and then make it happen! Likewise, when they become adults and they see a "life situation" I want them to see something bigger, go wild with possibilities and then make it happen.

Perhaps it is an important milestone. To watch your child gain enough control to curb their creativity and conform to the rules of the lines. (alright....maybe I worded that a little strong) It's just not my thing or style of parenting. I parent with strict moral core values but no hands on the reigns of creativity, intellectual learning or the desire to be a concert belcher. We don't just "dream big" but we "live big".

Back to those keywords though...All of you who actually searched for "The Crayon Wrangler", you have made me feel a little bit famous for a while in cyberland!

I have had some issues with blogging lately, so it feels good that you are still looking for me. Just as we face things in our lives and change with each life lesson; sometimes all areas of our lives need a change. This blog is an extension of me; my life. Just as I have begun to change, it needs to change. I will be focusing on new directions with the same theme (same ole' me) as the year draws to a close.

I would like some input from YOU though...what are some topics that I touched this past year that you would like to hear more from me on? What are some features that I have done that you would like to see more of?

testing

Just uploaded the Blogger for droid to see if the darn thing works and will allow me to blog from the backyard, bathroom or store. Wherever a good idea comes to me.
We will see how well this works...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Social Media And The Mom - 5 Ways Moms Use Social Media

Yesterday I went to a SEO and Social Media conference that was led by Bill Seaver and John Ellis. I have a huge notebook full of chicken scratch where I noted all the important things that they were saying about SEO and Social Media. The majority of the conference was geared towards more of the corporate thought process, but there was plenty for the "mommy blogger" to glean and apply;

I am going to give you a list about how the average mom can use social media, but the first thing to understand is...

What IS Social Media?

Guess what?!?! If you are reading this blog right now, you are using social media. If you found this post through my FaceBook page or because of a Twitter message I sent out, you are using social media! Congratulations! You are now using and understanding social media!! See...it wasn't rocket science.

5 Ways The Average Mom Uses Social Media

1. Blogs - This is a huge form of social media for a mom that is growing so big daily that they no longer can easily keep track of the numbers of blogs. The average mom doesn't need to be a techno-guru-geek to create her own blog in minutes where she can share a journal of her life, kids, pictures, recipes, introspective moments, news, politics or entertainment. Blogs are also becoming more interactive as the author responds to her readers and dialogue is begun.
2. Social Networking - Sites like FaceBook, Cyworld and MySpace are available to join, create a profile and in minutes be networking with not only friends and family, but also used to connect with people with similar interests or demographics.
3. Microblogging - Twitter, Tumblr or Foursquare are some of these sites. Twitter appears to be the most frequently used and it goes beyond the social networking connection. Many companies have jumped into Twitter (and FaceBook) and are now using it as a resource to connect with their customers. Moms are starting to pick up on this and in no time are talking back and forth with the brands that they use most; getting questioned answered, customer service issues handled or just being able to rave about what they love most.
4. Multimedia - Services like Photobucket, Flickr, Skype, YouTube, Stickam, etc. are available for moms to use to upload photos or videos to share, store or use to create slideshows or mash-ups, talk to family/friends face to face through the use of a webcam or create your own video to put on YouTube to show the world how to make homemade butter.
5. Reviews and Opinions - More than ever businesses are wanting to get your opinions and the explosion of social media has made it easier than ever to get your opinions on their products or services. Since way back when, moms have shared with each other their thoughts on products and services and used that information to affect sales of products/services. Thanks to sites like epinions, yelp.com and Wikianswers moms can still sound off about their views, but businesses can monitor these sites and see what is being said.

So in what ways are you using social media?

Anyone Got A Map?

My dearest Readers,

First I want to thank all of you for following along with me over the past 4 years of blogging. From my very first (and most loyal) reader, Knitter; to the hundreds of others who have joined up and laughed along with me.

Since day 1, this blog has been a way for me to journal about our kids, pregnancies, frustration with late talking children, marriage, friendships and everything in-between. I have never really had a direction in my writing, just whatever was on my heart that day. In bloggy terms this is called a "niche". A niche is a place where you belong and other than just being another "mommy blogger", I never really had a niche.

Now that our move to Crayon Ranch is complete, we (you & I) are going to be moving in a new direction and we might need a map. I have always been fascinated by farm life, homesteading and the like, but it never made much sense to do it when we lived in the city with a postage stamp sized yard. We are in wide open spaces now, my friends. A space where you have to journey into town for "provisions".

We are not going to have to buy a buckboard wagon and a team of mules, but we are going to follow the dirt road of our farming hearts. As we move into a new niche of blogging, I will still be writing about our kids, discussing late talking issues, taking care of elderly parents, doing sing-alongs and all the stuff that you are familiar with. Here are some things on the way that you and I will be doing:

• moving into more of a vlog format
• learning to can things (butter, veggies, fruits)
• making our own soap and candles
• starting a garden
  
• raising a farm animal (this will be held off until fencing is in place)
• food blogging more traditional/home cooked meals
• and much much more

I am excited to take this journey with you and share what I am learning on my way to becoming the Ultimate Farm Woman (not to be mistaken for Pioneer Woman whose shoes are way too big for me to fill...not saying she has big feet or anything...ah...never mind!) Some of these projects will be things you can do in your own house and many of them I will be vlogging so you can watch my mistakes and learn with me.

Also during this time, because I have vowed to be open and clear with you; I will be enriching my knowledge of social media and blogging through attending conferences and working really hard to make a paycheck with my blogging. I do promise that as we transition together, that I will be no different than I was 4 years ago when I started. I will always deliver you honesty and laughter in all things.

Once again, thank you so much for coming with me in this direction. I am always open to your suggestions of things that you would like to see, get more information on, etc.

Now....BIG HUG....

I Get By...

...with a little help from my friends.

Alrighty, I would love for some of you to shoot my an email and offer to do some guest blogging. No particular topic (unless you would love to make up a song, Real Moms Of Genius or some lessons learned) In the next 3ish weeks, my blogging is going to be pretty scarce. We are down to the wire with the moving, my laptop is dying (never fear...one is being shipped as we speak) and my brain has seriously HAD enough. So if you want to guest blog, hit the "Contact Me" button and let me know!

It has been so stressful these past few months...come to think of it; it's been stressful since September when we officially put the house on the market. In addition to trying to sell our house, The Grays moved in with us, Bitsy was born, we found the dream home...the list seems to go on and on.

To top it off, these jerks (Yes, they are jerks and you will see why) who put a contract on our house have been unbearably dumb. Our closing date was set for May 25th with our move-out date set for June 4th. They agreed to this...THEY SIGNED IT! Wednesday I get a call from our realtor telling us that they purchased some kind of "early closing packet" and want to close the next day.

Ummm....did you forget what you signed?

Well, we ended up agreeing to the early closing and then they decided to turn into toddlers. You know....crying, being irrational, stomping their feet and not caring about anyone else.

They decided that they weren't going to sign the closing papers at all unless we agreed to let them move in on June 1st.

Once again, did you forget what you signed?

It seems that their landlord wanted them out on the 1st and they didn't have anywhere to live. So to them, it made complete sense to kick out a family with 3 small children so that they weren't inconvenienced.

Here's the deal. The "Dream Home" is a short sale. It does not follow the usual rules of real estate and we don't have a closing date set in stone. All we know is that it should be before the 28th. However...we don't KNOW that. It could very easily take a few more days depending on when everyone gets their John Hancock's on the bottom line.

How could I possibly agree to allow them to move in early if I don't know when I will have somewhere to move to? Follow my thinking here?

Our agent called and said the girl (Yes, a girl...not a woman. A woman has more class than that) was boo-hooing at the closing table because she didn't plan ahead on the original move in date of the 4th. It made perfect sense to her that we should be forced to move out early, regardless of if we had somewhere to move to.

They basically held us hostage over this closing contract. We had to sell this house, because we have a contract on another one. They have finally caved and signed, but if history is any judge with these people, this will not be the last we hear of it. They have been a thorn in our side since the very beginning. Sending inspectors and appraisers without consulting with us on our schedule. Coming to see the house, but showing up late and having a temper tantrum because we were in the house. Then there have been at least 20 calls (this is not an embellishment) trying to convince us to move out early. They even sent a termite inspector who claimed there were termites, but if we would just let them go ahead and move in; they would take care of it. We got two other termite companies to come look at the house and there was no evidence of termites. Just a little game they were trying to play.

Now do you see why I call them "Jerks"?

So anyways...I need some guest bloggers to fill in while I am up to my armpits in wrapping paper, boxes, packing tape and finalizing when we move to the Dream Home.

Help me get by with a little help from my friends.

An Impact Is Felt

After the NY Times published THIS article that caused "mommy bloggers" around the world to unite against the attack of the importance of their voice; someone has finally gotten it right.

Diane K. Danielson of Forbes writes and article titled "What business can learn from 'mommy bloggers"

She praises "Mommy Bloggers" for:

They have a collective voice and are not afraid to use it to tackle corporations. Take the Motrin Moms, for example, who got McNeil Consumer Healthcare to stop running an ad that they found condescending. Imagine if that clout was used to demand they promote more women into higher management? Or to elect more female politicians?

They've built a powerful network. The Mommy Bloggers seem to be more about supporting one another than competing with one another.

They've convinced corporate America that women are an important voice when it comes to kids and products aimed at their demographic. Now that we have women giving opinions from the outside, perhaps they can help us get more women on the inside.

They've developed their own flexible employment. Yes, these women are building their brands around the fact that they are parents. But at the same time they are selling ad space and products via blogs and affiliate programs.

They are learning marketable skills. Sure they are not making the huge salaries, but they are developing skills beyond what traditional unemployment outplacement services are offering. Technology, blogging, Web design, video editing, marketing, communications, PR, advertising, writing, journalism ... Yep. They're doing it all and learning it all.

They are making the world a better place. The transparency they are bringing to child care and product safety and the rapid dissemination of information is a huge benefit for all. They are not making decisions based on shareholder value but on their own personal values.

Read more: http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/technology/story.html?id=2778553#ixzz0kuhUPo3I

Thank you Diane for recognizing this hard working group of women!

Shaking Up The Crayon Box

There are some exciting changes going on around here.

Heavens no...I am not pregnant again.

What I am referring to is some blog changes. OK so maybe you want to hold onto your confetti, but as for me...I am throwing mine!

First thing you will notice is a nice little row of crayons at the top of the blog. These are navigation buttons to take you to different pages in my blog. Cool, huh?

• Home button - Duh...really folks.
• Crayon Box - This tells a little of me and The Scribblers.
• Bright Crayons - This section will be devoted to a new blogger each week. I want to showcase YOU! There will also be a widget in the sidebar listing your blog name and directing visitors to the "Bright Crayon" button to read more about YOU! This will start on Feb 1st.
  
• Giveaways - I have some exciting giveaways coming up. The first one will start on the 1st of Feb. and run until Feb 7th. It's a Valentine and Food type thingie...so if that is your kind of "thingie" check it out!
• Reviews - I am working with some super neat people with some super neat products. Not only am I reviewing these products but some of them will be available in the upcoming giveaways. Some are just so neat I am keeping them all to myself.

The next change is my domain name. If you found me through the usual .blogspot.com, you can still reach me through that for now, BUT you can also now find me by typing in www.thecrayonwrangler.com How cool is that??? The move will eventually be permanent and painless (So the fine folks at GoDaddy.com tell me) Hopefully you won't notice the change at all, unlike a really bad hair plug job that EVERYONE is going to notice!

Changing also is my BlogFrog community. You can find this cool joint on the top left sidebar. It's the pretty blue box up there....see it now? Good. Here I will be asking you questions and you can ask me and other reader questions or have some rockin' good discussions. I ask that we keep it family friendly and respectful. This is a way that I get to interact more with YOU!

I am also making the move to Disqus comments. This is another way to interact with you and your comments. It says to log in to leave a comment, but don't let that scare you. You can be a guest and comment just fine! I don't know if I will keep this feature premanent or not, we will just see how it goes and give me some feedback on it, mmm-kay?!?