Conferences

Feb

This Blissdom Blogging Conference Session was Saturday morning and taught by @JulieCole, @youcanmakethis, @LisaLeonard, @Dooblehvay, @KimbaASPTL, and @JesseKateDesign.

Building a Social Media Community can Help Promote Your Business - photo by Davide Guglielmo

1- Build the buzz
You want people to start talking about it now

2- Be Yourself
Don’t be afraid to be imperfect – just be YOU

3- Be Specific
Sign up for the newsletter; ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT (Go and register, get the free ebook, subscribe to the feed, leave a comment, etc.)

4- Bring on the Bookmarks
Social bookmarking. Put it on product pages and posts, etc

5- Be Appreciative
They don’t have to give you anything – thank them for their trust with their email, etc.

What social media tools have been most important to promoting your business and why?

Kris – Know your audience. We survey our audience quite a bit – surveymonkey.com. When surveying you have a better feel for which social media tools they are using. Their audience = 80% using Facebook vs 9% MySpace. Their niche had a lot of audience using yahoo groups.

How do you manage social media?

She does ALL the social media for the business herself – thinks it’s really important because she wants it to be very genuine and doesn’t know how that would happen if she were outsourcing that work. (Angela’s Note – When I have worked as a personal assistant I usually sort the emails, do the “office tasks” that don’t require the boss’s unique voice. Her advice is spot on, in my opinion.)

Building relationships to build relationships is key.

How much time is the right amount of time?

Kimba – Since my blog is my business I probably spend a higher percentage of time than some of the others. There’s a balance but she spends a couple hours a day on the blog usually.

Caitlin – Social Media for Mabel’s Labels means that social media IS my full time job. Reply to everyone, thank everyone. “It’s all about spreading the love”

Most successful social media campaigns?

Amy – Twitter has been very successful. Has a personal blog too. Contest to name the new bear, etc having the audience interact and have a personal role in what’s going on.

Can you share an experience with unsuccessful social media campaigns in the past?

Caitlin – Transparency is KEY. If someone posts something negative you need to address it personally to THAT PERSON but make it public in that same public space. You can change that situation around and creates an impression about how you handle things. Loyalty is important and vital – small readerships, small businesses, etc. Who knows where they will be in two years.

Network up, network down and network side to side – but NETWORK OFTEN.

“One ad and one giveaway does not a business make.” You have to build up your brand awareness over time through multiple efforts.

How do you find your voice and do you have rules?

First and foremost – a writer and not JUST a toy-maker. This panelist wasn’t afraid to put herself out there as a PERSON in addition to a business.

How do you monitor your business in the Social Media arena?

I had to stop trying to police the internet and put that energy into creating something new and to help my audience.

Google Alerts helps you monitor what others are saying about you. Address what needs to be addressed and leave the rest behind you.

Service selling vs product selling via social media?

Learn to talk about our service more objectively – sell your SERVICE, not yourself as yourself.
Sell yourself as a person PLUS your service.
Add your professional activities on your Linked In profile to build up your online resume.

Entertainment + Education = Engagement

Feb

Problogging Session Notes – Blissdom 2010 Recap

By AngEngland | Conferences, Problogging

Leave a Comment

This session was presented at Blissdom 2010 on Saturday afternoon with @AlliWorthington, @BarbaraJones, @kimmoldofsky, @AudreyMcClellon, @SSmirnov, @nancydsmith

Earned media – traditional – not paid. via pitches and open.
Paid media – Content that is paid, sometimes video, articles, campaign, consulting, etc.

Sometimes one thing leads to another. Just because an opportunity doesn’t pay, doesn’t mean it won’t lead to something else. Think of everything as an evolution and as a stepping stone.

You need to be YOURSELF when you’re blogging. Working with the PR rep about the best possible way to reach your readers might be.

Nancy – Paid Media – If I am paying you I am giving you talking points. The content is MY choice. You’ll get talking points and you can’t stray from your talking points.

Alli – “Rock what you got – find your own way”

Real life meet-up to host a party for a brand. Paid content, sponsored posts, etc.

Nancy says – we’ll need to know the Return on Interest. There are things that are valuable – influence over readers, a new segment that can be of value to tap into and raise awareness to, reach, etc.

In a focus group – prior to the event. Nancy got enough insight to feel it was worth the price of admission. If you offer something special to the brand like an event meetup, a focus group, etc

Have a case study ready – Barbara says “what was the objective. What was the solution. What was the results” We wanted to do this. We did this to get there. And this was the result of the campaign.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO SHOULD HAVE METRICS ATTACHED TO IT

Companies are looking for a social media footprint – a social media mom. Can you do a twitter and a flickr and a facebook and your blog AND youtube. Overall knowledge. Overall reach. Everything counts beyond the traffic number on your one blog post review.

Invest in your strong relationships with companies and social media folks, etc. Sometimes these PR companies they are still lobying and pioneering these recommendations and trying to convince the others of the importance. THEY are the ones that are fighting for you. Don’t make them look bad when they have been putting their necks out for you.

When you reach out to PR’s be specific. Not “Hey I want to review your product and here’s what I’ve done in the past”. Mention the brand, your plan, what you have in mind.

Build a resume for yourself in terms of your social media footprint. Prove your worth. Expand what you have out there and your reach.

Be aware of who you are speaking with. The PR is usually not the person who has the budget. ASK THEM who the right person is to talk to for a paid media campaign if you think you have something of value to offer.

There’s always a way to make money for good ideas. It should feel full and integrated and robust. When pitching an idea make sure you present a complete overview and be prepared to wait to hear back.

With a paid content the product has to be vetted and approved. You can’t say whatever you want (Angela’s Note – Watch for future posts on treating your writing like a business. Writing for money, whether you are generally a blogger or not, makes you a FREELANCE WRITER or copywriter…know what that means and entails!)

Present an honest and balanced viewpoint. It’s tone. Don’t go to Twitter and post some passive-aggressive rants. Nancy keeps a list of the vindictive and purposefully hurtful. A negative is totally ok – it can be a helpful post even with negatives or “things they could be improved upon”.

Everything that you do online creates your digital landscape.

Angela’s Note – I think this was a really important session that left some things out because it was SO MUCH information to cover. I’m working on a post in my “Blogging by the Book” series with some additional pro-blogging tips. I was glad at the end to hear Alli remind everyone to READ THEIR CONTRACT and look it over carefully. Web content writers are used to checking out what rights, if any, they retain. Most of the bloggers that I have talked to personally, are NOT. That’s not a bad thing – just an area to be aware of. It’s also one of the reasons why on Untrained Housewife I do not take any rights from a writer at all. Because I AM so aware of these issues.

Anyway – more on all this is to come, as well as additional Blissdom session recaps. So if you aren’t subscribed yet, put your email in the sidebar widget on the right!

Feb

Content is Queen Blissdom 2010 Session Recap

By AngEngland | Conferences

15 Comments

Content is Queen Blissdom Session Notes 2010

This session was presented by @debontherocks, @emilychats, @amberrunsamuck, and @isabelkallman on Saturday afternoon at #Blissdom 2010

Deb called us “Digital Publishers”. I love that. Love it.

Emily – Chattingatthesky.com – no ads, writes for the writing.

AlphaMom – it’s an online parenting/blog with evergreen content written in a personalized way.

Amberrunsamuck – “My blog has become a good place to come to meet me.” She meant even for HERSELF to meet her and I love that mental picture.

How do you bring out your authentic voice and personality into the blogosphere?

@isabelkallman – Lots of evergreen content – about 90% Wants to be relevant two years from now. Wants people to find you and then stay!

It takes a lot to write well and write well consistently. I look for people who can make a shopping list interesting. Who can write well and write with personality and truth and passion.

How do you create consistantly high quality writing?

Amber – Good writing is truth writing. Writing often helps to develop your own personal voice. To have an authentic voice you have to LIVE LIFE.

Find those other writers and bloggers who’s content is authentic – whether you agree with them or not you can definitely study the writing. The good writing.

Emily – questioned who she was – do I need a niche? Do I need a specific focus? Isn’t it enough to JUST WRITE? (Angela’s note – I LOVED THIS. I could very much relate to this questioning and I have determined that part of the reason I chose “Renaissance Woman” as a tag line is because I have the niche of many niches. And I’m ok with that. Now. I OWN myself, my tendencies and my personality traits. No limits!)

Quote – Howard Therman – “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs is people who are alive. ”

How do you “edit” yourself to that high quality? How do you promote to that high quality?

Writing a series and knowing what your plan is. Creating that expectation. The Linky thing – setting the expectations. Having a passion about the story. Writing for yourself and challenging yourself to push the next level. Approach those topics and be raw about those things.

@emilyspeaks – Some people don’t edit but I do. I want my writing to be well-presented and I’m very economical with my blog posts. Does each sentence say something unique.

Does it add value to the reader is the main question that Isabel asks because the site is NOT a personal blog. Has it been posted a LOT already? Or should it be re-presented because it’s an important topic. Does it add value to the reader. Does it have value. Period.

Amber suggests Aholyexperience.com – Controls her readers breathing. She continues – I don’t have “great thoughts” – if I’m not prepared as a writer to jot down a note to myself out and about, I WILL forget it. It gives me the cue for when it’s time to write and I’m not stuck staring at a blank computer screen.

Creating content throughout the week that has a designated entity or identity. Having a purpose and identity to my blog is key for knowing what to put there.

“I can’t be mother-in-law conscious when I write”

Which post do you write that your finger quakes before hitting publish?
Which post are you exciting to share with others?
Which posts are you interested in reading what other people comment about your post?
Which posts feel like WORK?
If you could write about ANYTHING without any readers at all, what would it be?

Lindsey’s Snuggie Review is suggested by Deb (I think it was) as a review that was amazing and creative. Creativity can be an amazing review – any kind of content can be creative and interesting.

NEVER LIMIT YOURSELF – any time you think “this is supposed to look like THIS” you are limiting your writing and your content will be less creative and less memorable.

What do you see up ahead in the struggles?

Amber – If I click on a link from my cell phone and the post is huge it’s hard to read. Being a reader of other blogs will keep you in touch with trends and changes.

Commenting on other blogs will feed the community.

In our attempt to monetize our efforts we cannot lose what made us powerful in the first place – our unedited voice. Our authentic voice. Our person and personality BEHIND the information!

Isabel – Knowledge is not the same as understanding. We have the knowledge – putting the voice with that, it helps increase UNDERSTANDING.

Emily – “I’m seeing mothers emerge as writers. Crafters emerge as small business women.”
Said she felt it an honor to see the growth in the community.

Angela’s Thoughts

I loved this session. You guys know my background is web content creation. Yet even through that I’d like to think that my personality comes through. I was thinking about all my sites – the Untrained Housewife, this blogging/writing how-to site, my coming Pregnancy and Infant site…..what is the common thread through them all.

I think the driving passion – what makes me feel alive as Emily shared – is EMPOWERING OTHERS. I love to see others take a tiny spark of fire from something I shared, and turn it into a raging powerhouse of force and energy to drive some kind of change. It is the common silver thread that connects the many-colored tapestry of my various interests and passions.

I wonder. How can I help empower you more? I want to know.

Sep

Saturday at the Type-A-Mom Conference

By AngEngland | Conferences

Leave a Comment

Saturday really highlighted more than anything else, how much Type-A-Mom conference offered us as a community in general, and me as a writer specifically. I found the weekend strangely validating in a way that surprised me, as I am already a fairly confident person. It was interesting to get up to share what I had to share, and there – sitting in the audience – were the people I had come to listen to and learn from what they had to share! It was like the Twilight Zone Type-A style.

Giving away the coolest organic clothing in the world, @KikaPaprika. Photo by AlwaysAlli.com

Giving away the coolest organic clothing in the world. Photo by AlwaysAlli.com

The first thing that happened Saturday morning was the Boiron Mom Market. Major kudos to Boiron for seeing the power of, and supporting the creativity of, mothers in general. All the booths at the Boiron Mom Market were mom-owned, mom-run or small, mom-interest companies. Really a complete delight to see the variety that showed up to display their creativity with us.

I helped out at the KikaPaprika table where we were giving away free burnout tees – these amazing shirts that are 50% organic cotton and 50% recycled water bottles. The colors available in this style are so varied with true-shade colors that any skin tone could be paired with a shirt sure to amaze. What I love best about the entire line is how comfortable and beautiful the clothes are.

Fielding questions and comments from a very interactive audience. Photo by @Mooshindy

After helping Stacey (@ecochicdiva) with the giveaways I went immediately into my first of two sessions. Joanne (@PunditMom) and I were sharing on Understanding the Long view Payoff of Blogging and I loved how we approached that session from two very different, but equally valuable, directions.

While I’m very new to building up myself as a platform, that has been Joanne’s main focus for awhile now. Meanwhile, my original focus was on web content production and creating a long-term, steady stream of income for my family so I could be home with my children and not put them in day care. Great!

Both goals are very valid reasons to continue doing what we are doing online and it was neat to hear how we both are seeing those months of work payoff. In fact, Joanne has signed a book deal and will be releasing her book in near the end of 2010. If you aren’t following her on Twitter yet, you want to be sure to do so! I feel fortunate that @CutestKidEver took detailed notes during the session for anyone who couldn’t attend.

@WritingRoads and I chilling at the Problogging Session - pulled off a great session w/zero prep time! Photo by Kris Cain

The second session I did immediately after that was with Julie of @WritingRoads about Problogging - that is creating web content for other people. Harnessing your expertise as a web writer/blogger to do what they cannot or are not willing to do for themselves. She and I were totally on the same page in that we both feel this is a SKILL that should be paid for and compensated fairly. While our rates varied just a little bit (the cost of living in my area is much lower) they actually weren’t too far apart, and I think it probably surprised most of the people in the room that we feel confident charging that much.

Confession: Sometimes, I DON’T. I DON’T feel confident asking that price for my work. But I know in my head, even if not always in my heart, that it’s worth it. A company will spend MILLIONS on a 60 second commercial spot. I refuse to feel guilty second-guess myself about asked a few hundred for WELL-WRITTEN web content that will be with them forever. My prices reflect the level of my work. (Repeat that like a mantra if you must – My prices reflect the quality of my work….my prices reflect the quality of my work…)

The truth is if a company wants cheap content they can easily hire out $5 per article content from mills in India. How do I compete with that, do you ask? I DON’T. I don’t even TRY to put myself on that playing field because the game I am playing is so far above that it would be like asking a used car salesman for a customized Porsche. Apples – Oranges. There are companies out there who are willing to pay a FAIR price for excellent writing. Are you willing to provide it to them? (Whew! Now you guys got me preaching. Who took notes on this session and wants to write them up?)

After lunch was the Blogger Townhall Meeting where I spent much of the time chatting with @MoneywiseMoms about blogging in general, Mommy-Blogging specifically and how loosely defined it is and why some are so “protective” of the term and how I am not really, truly a “Mommy-Blogger” in the truest sense but I don’t care. I write what I write, when I write it and charge what I charge unless it’s going on one of MY websites and – well – I am totally ok with that. It was an interesting conversation.

Every conference I've ever attended w/my mom I have been "Karis' Daughter". Here she was "Angela's Mom". Cheers to tables turning! Photo by Kris Cain

Then came the Keynote address – great information – great consensus about the fact that it is ok for each of us to have unique goals, unique voices and unique methods of operation because WE ARE EACH UNIQUE.

Isn’t that the point? If I could do it exactly like you with exactly the same motivations and the same style, why would I be necessary? I wouldn’t! And that’s ok, right? Would you really want me to look just like you anyway?

Had a great time hanging out at the Wine and Cheese reception at the end, although I didn’t get to taste any of the wine everyone else raved about. I did get to sing my cool Type-A-Mom Blogging Parody. Someone let Blogher know that I’ve already started working on a Blogher rendition of R-E-S-P-E-C-T just for them so….. *grin*

I also finally met @MomSpark in person – someone I’ve greatly enjoyed tweeting with and commenting on her blog….definite plans to hook up at the zoo or something sometime. SO great to find a blogger within driving distance of where I live!

What about you guys? In what ways were you challenged at Type-A-Mom? What stood out to you as something you were glad you heard? Who were you thrilled to meet? How will your blogging and writing change as a result of what you learned?

Sep

Thoughts About The TypeAMom Conference – Friday

By AngEngland | Conferences

Leave a Comment

I couldn’t decide what to do for my recap because of how crazy things have been since I got home. My laptop bugged out, my laundry needs to be done, and my husband started back to work. See the Blogging Song Post about how I’ve not seen the desk in over year.

So you guys are going to get the boring, chronological recap, but what I really want to touch on are things that stood out to me and thoughts I have about the conference after two days to process.

Micah in a Happy Kids Con Moment - Photo by @secretagentmama

Friday morning breakfast started out rough for me because Micah did not cooperate going into Kid’s Con right away. No biggie – he came to breakfast with the rest of us. I wore a pretty red shirt from KikaPaprika and their classic fit black pants since Friday was ALSO my Speaker Dinner night. I wanted something that would look good while I was speaking and then dress up for the dinner as well.

My necklace and bracelet were from KikaPaprika as part of their fair-trade support for

Sporting my KikaPaprika clothes and Rebecca Green earrings. Photo by @rbucich who was sent to the conference by tinyprint.com.

women’s shelters overseas, and my earrings were an original design by Rebekah Green and didn’t involve any blood diamonds or other unfair practices. I love being able to draw attention to mom-run businesses that not only support other mothers, but support world-wide commerce that is BENEFICIAL instead of damaging.

The session I spoke at on Friday was about the million-bajillion hats of a “Mommy Blogger” and I spoke with Tara (@FeelsLikeHome) and with Shannan (@slpowell) on the panel and it was great to hear their words of wisdom. Each had a different view point or thought to bring to the topic.

Tara talked about writing on a schedule, which helps her cut back on time wasted figuring out “what will I write about today?” because she already knows. Plus, of course, we all know how much more valuable written goals can be in terms of being able to then accomplish what we need to accomplish. If it’s written and scheduled it has a proven worth and priority level.

Shannan shared about how often we as mothers take on these many, many hats all at the same time. Blogging and web writing can involve so much more than just the content production, but also the networking, PR side, marketing, website design, graphics, etc. If someone isn’t

Listening intently to the other ladies on my session. Photo by @Rbucich brought to conference by tinyprints.com

skilled in a certain area, can you trade out with someone who is? Why do we feel like we HAVE to do everything on our own and cannot ask for help from our community?

I touched on the need for an occasional purging. Like a closet full of high-school-hand-me-downs, our to-do lists can sometimes become cluttered with the unflattering, needless, never-worn or outdated. Sometimes you have to let go in order to embrace that next step. I shared how I’d recently done that myself in order to make room The Untrained Housewife in my schedule – since my “online hours” are finite.

Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. In one column write down everything you are committed and in the other column jot down everything you gain from that position (monetary or otherwise). Place stars next to the things you are truly passionate about. The carefully consider the list and weed out anything that doesn’t really bring you a return AND you aren’t passionate about. If you don’t love it, and don’t benefit from it, why are you doing it?

Hugging my mom after the announcement. Thanks to @MrsCrumley of http://alwaysalli.com/ for this amazing photo.

And of course – at the beginning of this session I made my big public announcement – the pending arrival of Baby England #4. I was honored to have my mother, @KarisCM attending the session (and the conference!) so waited to tell her in public. She was so excited she cried, and then she was mad that she was crying in front of strangers. But it was a fun surprise and she is thrilled at the news of Grandbaby #6.

Friday’s take away for me personally was from the session @AlliWorthington and @JaniceCroze did about branding yourself. I already KNEW – but the reminder that everything we do online can be beneficial in building up our brand and presence was a timely one for me. A reminder that it’s ok to focus and hone in things. That it’s ok to approach something new that will help us move forward to where we want to be.

The Little Debbie cupcake break, and the Creative Memories photo walk were great events from two large sponsors as well. The speaker dinner I went on that night was FABULOUS and I met some really great people. Met Mr. @Suburban_Farmer and Mr. @Frelle as well as connecting with two NEW kindred spirits in @AmberRunsAmuck and @SaraSophia. All in all it was a fabulous first day to a great conference experience.

Sep

Type-A-Mom Conference – Thursday

By AngEngland | Conferences

Leave a Comment

Cute Toys Outsided Heaven's Rain Store - Look for Them at Mom Market!

We arrived at the hotel rather late on Wednesday and by the time we has washed the road out of our hair the fun was basically over. @KarisCM and I managed to get some great chocolate anyway.

Yesterday we walked around Grove Arcade for awhile, ran into Heaven’s Rain, a sponsor at Type-A-Mom and very, very cool maternity and children’s store and headed back to the hotel to help get her swag bag goodies there for everyone.

Registration was chaotic but I worked the desk for about 2 1/2 hours and it was an AWESOME way to meet everyone and put the faces with the Twitter handles finally. What a great group of women we are, seriously.

Then came Speed-Dating – totally awesome. Not only did I get to share more about The Untrained Housewife and how excited I am about that site, but I got to learn more about what everyone else was doing. Great idea, Kelby! That was totally fun.

Micah and I are both styling, although only I am wearing organic fabrics. Drool becomes Micah a little more.

Finally connected with @Suburban_Farmer – who writes for Untrained Housewife AND is working on her own book right now, and @ecochicdiva – a gal who is affiliated with KikaPaprika, the eco-friendly clothing line I am wearing all week. This picture is the shirt, pants and tank top I wore while shopping Thursday morning. Totally comfortable and one-of-kind looking, but organic fabrics and clothing made in the United States. Fun!

At the reception I was also able to connect with @midwifeamy as well, who is here representing Lamaze. She is also working on a book and pregnancy blogging site. Such brilliant people, eh? Sidney (my handsome husband) came along to the reception with me and I had so much fun talking and chatting and chilling out I ended up being the mom they had to call to come pick up their kids from Kids Con. Um – whoops! Is a big mouth a good excuse? Lol!

Now I’m up earlier than should be possible and totally excited to meet up with some of my other friends that I missed yesterday. Breakfast, Sessions, Speaking (Woohoo!) and more today! If you didn’t find me yesterday, please find me today. Give me your card and let me know what you do – I am interested.

Sep

Feeding a Family Well on a Long Car Trip – What to Eat?

By AngEngland | Conferences, Family, Fun Stuff

Leave a Comment

So, what DO you feed a family with young children when in the car for many hours, anyway? If you’re like me, you feed a lot of the same items you would if you were home! We packed an ice chest, and this morning when we stopped for breakfast we picked up a few extra items to last the kids through the conference. Fresh fruits, milk for their cereal, one-day-left-rack banana nut muffins, etc.

We let them run wild around the park and play and slide and swing and get dew covered and get lots of the wigglies out and then we ate. By the time we finished our leisurely breakfast the morning traffic through Memphis had cleared out and we made excellent time. We had snacks provided by Plum Organics which came in handy when we didn’t want to spend money at the gas station on JUNK.

The Plum Organics has a mix called Mish Mash of fresh, organic fruits, that Micah can squeeze out for himself. He REALLY like the Banana flavored one. The bag reminded me of a space bag of food like what you can buy at a museum except it isn’t freeze-dried (thank goodness). Once you twist off the cap it just squeezes through the plastic end and Micah was able to do it on his own, for the most part. VERY cool.

Mish Mash - Check it out - I'm a big boy!

For the preschoolers we had a box of Fiddlesticks – the cookie like treats from Plum Organics which are a great finger food. Again, all natural and organic so you feel good giving it to your kids, but easy for them to handle and non-messy for the car. Here you can see that Evan is devouring his Fiddlesticks. I asked him what they tasted like and he said, “They are like apple cookies on my tongue”. A poetic four year old, what can I say.

The blurry Fiddlesticks just proves we are really on the road.

For a late lunch after nap time we stopped at – ahem – McDonald’s. It’s those blasted play places, I’m telling you – they suck in road weary parents with the promise of decreasing energy levels in the vehicles and you just buy into it. We were though, the only patrons in McDonald’s who carried in their own water bottles and sippy cups to fill with water. Lol! I’m not sure they knew exactly what to do about it, but oh well. We ended up just all sharing a snack-type-lunch of 5 chicken nugget packss for $10 bucks. Cheap.

Yep - Wear yourself out. Way to go!

We finished it off in the car with apples that I had packed for the to eat along the way and a few strips of beef jerky for me to help keep my blood sugar issues under control (I am rather hypoglycemic and tend to graze and eat lots of small meals throughout the day).

Now it’s 4:22 and we are only 60 miles from Asheville. I’m excited to arrive and even more pleased that we’ll be there before the kids get too hungry for dinner. I have meat, organic cheese and whole wheat bread for sandwiches when we get up to the room so that’s totally covered. Whew!

Sep

Traveling Games for Kids – Excited2Learn

By AngEngland | Conferences, Family

Leave a Comment

Since the children were awake and full from breakfast they were feeling a bit restless. I thought this might be time to go ahead and pull out one of our traveling games. Out came the Magna-Doodle and the “What Did You See Today?” game.

The Magna-Doodle is something I picked up from Wal-Mart for only $5 and it is proving to be more popular with than the Etch-A-Sketch. I think it might be because of the dexterity needed for maneuvering the two knobs on an Etch-A-Sketch vs the easy, pencil-like use of a Magna-Doodle.

The “What Did You See Today?” game is one of the mom-made products of the company Excited 2 Learn, run by two, twin sisters Amanda and Sarah. I love the home-made feel of the water colored art work of the game but the pieces are durable and sturdy. How do you play the game? There are about 3 dozen pieces of common sights that children can look for on the drive; a horse, a bulldozer, a flag, a yellow car, etc. Parents choose six of the pieces and velcro them on the six spaces on the back. Then as your child finds each one they can move it forward to the front space and when they’ve filled each of the six spaces they “win”.

Searching for the items on her game pieces....hmmm....

My kids enjoyed it although Brianna got impatient looking for her last item – a police car. Goodness knows we had seen enough of them earlier in the trip I thought it would be an easy gimme but….no. *laughing* Oh well. You can see in the picture how content she was for a good 30 minutes so that’s pretty good indeed. When it was Evan’s turn to play it was easy to just select a DIFFERENT six pieces for his round and make it a whole new game.

This got us through the mid-morning wigglies until we were ready to stop for another tank of gasoline. Having a variety of games came in handy. Grammie’s Dollar-Tree binoculars were a big hit too and came in handy for playing the I-Spy game.