Gadget Guide: Mobile Work Accessories – The Must-Have Gadgets for Working on the Go
Let’s face it – as a work-at-home mom you need the ability to ‘set up shop’ in the local Starbucks or the hallway of the dance studio. The reason is simple: when you are squeezing a full-time job (building a business) into part-time hours (between preschool drop-offs and swimming lessons), you need to make EVERY minute count!
The Must-Have Gadgets for Working on the Go!
Power Bar – Ever do battle for the ONE available outlet or have to choose between a comfortable seat and a plug-in? Pack along a power bar and the problem is solved. Get one with an extra long reach so you can bridge the gap between the coveted comfy chair and juice for your laptop!
Mi-Fi – Mobile + Wi-Fi = Mi-Fi! Mi-Fi is a mobile wireless hotspot that can support up to 5 devices. Perfect for those on-the-go workstations that lack a wireless hotspot!
Noise Canceling Headphones – Jet engines aren’t the only annoying sound that needs canceling out! If you need to work in the waiting rooms of the various and sundry kid lessons, consider adding noise-canceling headphones to your mobile workstation. That way when Jen and Jessica launch into a loud gossip session, you can continue working in peace.
Neoprene Cases – Protect your laptop and phone from the bumps and bruises of being tucked into a diaper bag or shoved in with lumpy sporting gear.
Reusable Go-Cup – Nothing says serious mobile worker like bringing your own Starbucks cup! Plus it’s good for the environment!
Screen Guard – Tired of nosy parkers looking over your shoulder to see what you are typing? A screen guard allows you to clearly view your screen, but anyone sitting to the right or left of you can’t see anything! Especially perfect when mobile work takes you on an airplane.
Auto Exec File Tote Bag – Sort, store and tote everything you can imagine in your own grab and go workstation, including hanging files! Sized just right for storing in the trunk or passenger seat!
Evernote – Stay on top of to-do’s from your desktop to your mobile devices with Evernote! It’s the perfect tool for capturing, sorting and finding your ideas, and sources of inspiration – like an electronic sticky note that never gets lost!
Mobile Power – Tiny USB Power Adapter for gadgets and phones, and a Smart AC 120 USB Power Inverter for everything else! Very handy for road trips when you need to charge your phone, plug in the DVD and power-up your laptop!
From our Readers: What is the Best Decision you Ever Made for your Business?
Decisions, decisions, decisions! When running your own business, there are a gazillion decisions to make. Some are minor (what style of business cheques to order) and some big (deciding on a business name), and then there are the ones that catapult your business to the next level! So, we want to know: What is the best decision you ever made for your business?
Angela Hancock-Madeiros Angela’s Attic
“Best decision? Buying the business. I had never even worked retail before I bought my boutique. I just jumped in knowing it was part of my new path and I would learn as I went. What a ride.”
Felicia Shaw Simply in Your Purpose
“Including my young child in the business, so he feels empowered and a part of something great, which is his legacy. He is now a great supporter of mom’s business.”
Wendy LugoSantiago eAssistant-Worldwide
“Continuously learning. The internet never stops. Every second something new comes up. I like to learn and it is necessary for my business as well.”
Leah Chevallier bo bebe
“Learning to delegate and let go of some of the details that any entrepreneur feels only they can do. Learning to trust in yourself, your talents and your ability to train, mentor and mold your key staff and then believing in them enough to TRULY step back and let them fly. There will be mistakes and there will also be triumphs, after all, I didn’t make it to where I am with no mistakes, how I can I expect that of others?”
Alisha Brignall Room to Grow
“To partner and advertise with other mom businesses that hold the same philosophy. We all have the same clients so why not share the cost?”
Amanda Barker Edamame Kids
“The best decision (so far) was opening a brick and mortar and breaking down barriers so that organic and eco-friendly items are more affordable and accessible to parents.”
Valerie Gale Chinook & Hobby West
“I added a clearance center to our store. I expanded up above our store and now new and current is on the main floor and discontinued hobby, craft and dollhouse items are upstairs.”
Sheri Harke Bruneau Get It Together Professional Organizing
“I added workshops/classes as a service. It’s easy for people to read “How To” books, but what most people need is the one-on-one support to follow through. Whether it’s a group of stay-at-home moms, or a group of investment bankers – having someone there to give that extra advice or push is what gets people motivated to move forward.”
Angela Grinde Handbury Raising Miss Daisy
“I’’ve just started my business, Raising Miss Daisy but the best thing I’ve done so far is creating a website where customers can look at what’s new, as well as put in an order!”
Want to be one of our readers featured in an upcoming From our Readers? Visit our Entrepreneurial Moms facebook fan page on Wednesdays for the next From our Readers question of the week!
Gadget Guide: Top Picks for Traveling to Conferences – Conference Survival Essentials!
Want to make the most out of your conference attendance? Add our top picks for conference survival essentials to your packing list! We go WAY beyond the basics of business cards and comfortable shoes!
Top Picks for Conference Survival Essentials
iPod – Load up your iPod with your favorite podcasts, teleseminars and audio recordings and use your solo travel time to catch up on learning while waiting in those long airport lines.
Conference Hashtag – Okay – so you can’t actually ‘pack’ a hashtag, but it is handy to know it. Beforehand, tune in and use it to determine who you want to network with and during the conference, use it to communicate via social media with other participants and share relevant tidbits with your followers.
Refillable water bottle – Find a ‘purse-size’ stainless steel water bottle for toting around and tucking away while power networking during session breaks.
Power snacks – Somehow between the early start and the line-up at the lunch buffet, you neglected to eat! Sneak a few of your favorite toddler snacks for when mommy gets a little hungry. Fruit leather and trail mix are our portable favorites!
Flip Video Camera – Tuck your Flip video camera in your purse for impromptu interviews and video blog posts from the event. It’s a perfect way to recruit guest bloggers to contribute without extra effort on their part!
Stylish Scarf – Use it to add a splash of color to a plain Jane outfit for a style upgrade, or sling it around your shoulders when the air conditioning kicks into overdrive.
Business Card Scanner App – Maximize your networking efforts by scanning and following up immediately.
Mini stapler – Use it to attach business cards to detailed networking notes, bundle together conference handouts and sort your tax deductible receipts for travel expenses.
Sticky Notes – Between the speakers and talking to other attendees, often you will be brimming with ideas. Use sticky notes to structure the random ideas and create a idea map for immediate implementation.
Thank you cards – Take 15 minutes every evening to write a handful of personal thank you notes to the most interesting, influential or helpful people you met that day so they are ready to pop in the mail when you return to your office.
Backyard luxuries: You don’t have to be a millionaire to have a backyard worthy of a queen
There’s nothing – nothing in the world – better than enjoying a crackling fire outdoors. If you can’t afford a backyard fireplace, and just don’t like fire pits, this might be an ideal solution. This Tuscan teak round table features the ultimate centerpiece – fire! It’s sort of a hybrid camp stove/faux fireplace fire. Beneath ceramic logs, gel fuel containers produce dancing flames that will snap and crackle, but not spark. It converts easily into a standard table between uses.
Or, as we like to call these – the Princess Arch. Whether over a pathway or tucked in among the bushes and trees, a vinyl arbor arch adds distinction and charm to any yard. Even better, they never need painting, staining, or sealing – and come with a 20-year warranty to prove it.
There’s a certain serenity that comes with the gentle sounds of running water. There’s another kind of serenity that comes with enjoying those sounds without taking out a second mortgage on landscaping. This self-contained pump-and-fountain system is portable and weather-resistant.
Nothing ruins backyard paradise faster than a swarm of pests – and not just because they’re annoying. There are health risks associated with mosquito bites, so it’s best to minimize their impact on your yard. The Insectivoro (which sounds like a Spanish anteater) attracts all sorts of pests from horseflies to mosquitoes with UV lights and bright, flower-like yellow blades. Their curiosity aroused, the bugs are sucked in by a powerful fan, and held inside. You and you alone can determine their fate!
It’s not just named “Manta” for its unique, ray-like shape. It’s also marine-grade, which means it can hold up to even the toughest of sea storms. A smooth and easy-to-use pulley and marine cleat system unfurls and keeps the parasol in place, with enough room to fit over a standard table.
#6 Weatherproof Outdoor Television
Talk about your guilty pleasures. How many times have you rolled your eyes at the sight of your kids (maybe even your husband watching a baseball game) and said “it’s beautiful out there – get outside!” Well…now they –and you – can have both. This LCD TV sacrifices absolutely no picture quality in the name of being all-weather safe.
#7 Hatteras Large Quilted Hammock
Three words: built for two. That’s right, this hammock is designed for cuddles – whether with your little one(s) or that other, late-night kind of cuddling. This quilted hammock is the dictionary definition of summer comfort.
Don’t forget to leave us a comment–we love to hear from you!
Healthy, portable summer treats: What to pack or prepare for summer fun in the yard, the park, the beach, the fair, the playground
#1 Frozen Juice Pops Who doesn’t love popsicles on a hot summer afternoon? You may not appreciate the artificial petrochemical taste, but there’s no denying they’re refreshing. If you don’t want you or your kids to miss out on all the frozen fun, consider making them yourself. Simply freeze your favorite juice or drink with these handy moulds and have all the fun with less sugar and calories.
#2 Frozen Yogurt Granola Bars What MOMeo could object to this? Strawberry low fat frozen yogurt, topped with a layer of strawberry fruit filling and crunchy granola. Cover in a tart (not too tart) vanilla yogurt coating.
#3 Fruit Kabobs A summer twist on fruit salad that has the added bonus of keeping fingers from getting sticky. The “recipe” is so simple, we decided to put quotation marks on “recipe.” Slice fruit, and skewer it. That’s it. You can serve with fruit or plain yogurt as a dip, or roll in coconut flakes for taste and fun.
#4 Pita Chips If your summer cravings include crunch, pita chips are a light alternative to potato or corn chips. They tend to be thicker than potato chips in particular, making them great for dipping. Stacy’s Pita Chips are baked twice for extra crunch and use nothing but natural ingredients.
#5 Terra Chips Are a fun, exotic twist on potato chips. They’re made with a host of exotic root vegetables, including yucca, sweet potato, blue potatoes, parsnip, taro, ruby taro, batata, kabocha squash and candy striped beets. They’re also lower in fat than “traditional” potato chips.
#6 Healthy Chocolate You heard me. Xocai Healthy Chocolates contain no caffeine or refined sugars, but real, natural chocolate, raw cane sugar (pure chocolate is quite bitter) and acai & blueberry for antioxidants. Xocai also contains probiotic cultures. Coming in single-bit packets, they’re perfect afternoon fodder.
#7 Popcorn Another classic treat, which ordinarily is by no means good for you. But done right, popcorn can be reasonably good for you (it’s just heated corn kernels, after all.) Without all the artificial flavors and fatty, oily butter, it’s also very light. Oogie’s makes all-natural popcorn snacks with zero sugar, zero trans fats, and no artificial colors or flavors. They come in exotic tastes, such as Smoked Gouda, Spicy Chipotle & Lime, and Caprese.
Do you and your family have a favorite healthy summer treat that we haven’t listed here? Drop us a line and let us know–we love to hear from you!
MOMeo Yummy-O’s Contest: Win a $50 prize pack to Bugalug
Win a Bugalug Prize Pack valued at $50!
Need a hip, trendy accessory for your little boy or girl that helps keep their pants up?
Introducing the CINCH Belt! Available in sizes 0 to 6T in 3 colorful and fun prints for girls and 3 for boys, the reversible belts are the perfect solution to the problem of droopy drawers!
Enter by filling out the form below!
Participants must be MOMeo Community members to enter!
MOMeo Gadget Guide: Top 10 Blackberry Applications for Busy Mompreneurs!
If the phrase “Work virtually anywhere” is music to your ears, check out this week’s Go-go-gadget guide to the top 10 Blackberry applications. From tracking your time to dictating speeches, these handy-dandy applications will let you keep going while on the go!
For your work life…
#1: Nice Office LITE – Make your whole office mobile. Store forms and documents, send items directly to your client, track sales, manage your schedule and chart your workflow. Nice Office makes it easy to take your whole office with you wherever you go. Free
#2: Exgis Expense and Mileage Tracker – If business has you bouncing around the city or country, use Exgis to track your mileage and expenses. Customize your client list, projects, currencies, locations, payment methods and export all that data as a neat spreadsheet perfect for when you file your taxes. $9.99
#3: Personal Assistant – Every business owner loves having an assistant to handle the details. The Personal Assistant app does just that. Now you can find bank account statements, investment portfolio info, mobile minute tracker, travel itineraries, shopping lists, bills and frequent flyer miles in one convenient place. Free
#4: ProMobile Light – Let your Blackberry do the typing while you dictate ideas, reports, observations, emails or speeches. Each file includes a menu which makes sending and accessing documents really easy. $9.99
$5: My Timesheet – Keep tabs on all your billable hours, costs, meetings, tasks and expenses with My Timesheet. At the end of each day, you can create a report to see what you’ve accomplished and what still needs to be done. $9.99
For your family life…
#6: Healthy Recipes – Dish out something new and exciting tonight. Healthy Recipes has 200, 000 recipes to choose from and for the health conscious, each recipe includes calories, carbs and other useful facts. Free
#7: Happy Family Shared Grocery Lists – There’s no reason why you need to do all the shopping. Sync and share your grocery list with family so they can swing by the store while they’re out. $9.99
For finding a little playtime for mommy…
#8: Calmbiance – Go to your happy place after a long, hectic day to the sounds of a babbling brook, light rains, or waves washing over the sand. Calmbiance features 12 soothing sounds that will help you unwind and recharge from your demanding day. $3.99
#9: Make a Mess - Finger painting fun without the mess. The Make a Mess app lets you (or your kids) finger paint on your Blackberry and share your masterpieces with friends and family through an online gallery. Free
#10: Mobile Bartender – Try something new when you’re out for dinner or out with the girls. Mobile Bartender gives you quick, interesting information about various cocktails, shots and drop shots. $2.99
Did we miss your favorite Blackberry application? Tell us what it is and why you love it!
MOMeo Gadget Guide: Top 10 iPhone Applications for Busy Mompreneurs!
Not to sound like the iPhone commercials, but if you want to book a table in your favorite restaurant, there’s an app for that. If you want to entertain the kids on the go, there’s an app for that. If you want to boost your bottom line productivity, you guessed it – there’s an app for that.
From the mundane to the marvellous, there’s an iPhone application for just about everything a busy mompreneur does in a day.
For your work life…
#1: Evernote – Create text, photo and audio notes and auto-sync your notes to your desktop! Use it to clip and store articles from the web, jot down quick notes or dictate to-do lists. Favorite feature is the ability to make text within snapshots searchable!
Free
#2: 1Password – Store your countless usernames and passwords, login details, personal information and any other sensitive information in a secure encrypted format. Favorite feature is the double defence of the Unlock Code and Master Password to gain access to your information!
$6.99
#3: iMindMap – Turn 10 minutes into a power brainstorming session with this mobile version of the popular mind mapping software. Create complex picture maps of your ideas and export via email as an image, PDF or iMindMap File.
$2.99
#4: Dragon Dictation – A must-have application for the moms who love to think out loud. Capture ideas, dictate emails or rattle off your to-do list and let Dragon convert it into text for export into an email, or clipboard.
Free
For your family life…
#5: Grocery Gadget – Forget paper lists, Grocery Gadget lets you to create, manage and organize your grocery list. Handy recipe import features and coupon reminders make stocking up and saving money a cinch! Love the Share feature that lets you send the latest grocery list to your husband!
$4.99
#6: Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner – An answer to “What’s for dinner?” in an instant. Spice up your dinner routine with thousands of recipes from Allrecipes.com. Use the spinner or shake your iPhone to let the fates decide what’s on the menu.
Free
#7: Blowfish – A simple, but fun game where you grow the little blowfish before the prickly sea urchins pop them! Handy in case of emergency situations where you need a distraction for the kids (or husband) to finish your latte or try on that oh-so-fabulous pair of shoes.
Free
For finding a little playtime for mommy…
#8: Lonely Planet Travel Guides – Plan the next family trip (or girlfriend weekend) with helpful tips, reviews and images from Lonely Planet. Access over 75 travel guides and audio phrasebooks and prepare to say Bon Voyage.
$3.99 to $5.99
#9: iDreams – Because mommy needs a bit of mommy-time! Relax and refresh to one of the 25 soundtracks designed to help ease frazzled nerves. Love that you can set a timer to have the soundscape stop after a certain time in case you want to catch a few zzz’s!
$0.99
#10 Urbanspoon – Plan your mommy playtime with the help of Urbanspoon. Using the GPS, it helps you find a restaurant near you. Favorite features include the filter by neighborhood, cuisine or price and ratings and reviews.
Free
Do you have a favorite gadget that makes your workday oh-so-much easier (or just a lot more fun)? Let us know and you could be the next reader featured in The MOMeo (favorite) GADGET Guide!
Portable Games : Diversions and Distractions for Back Seat Passengers
Diversions and distractions for your backseat passengers, from diapers to college tuition
HIGH-TECH
Nintendo DSYeah, it’s a portable video game system. But if you ever take long car trips with kids, you know these can be a godsend. At the risk of over-generalization, Nintendo game titles tend to be a little more family-friendly – less blood, more cartoony – and the DS does more than just play games. They’re not unlike little palm pilots; each model comes with a stylus which kids can use to write, spell, or draw to their heart’s content.
Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)
Sony’s series of handheld video game systems is more “traditional,” if you like, than the DS. Sony’s market is geared more toward gamers than is Nintendo, and if your kids are more interested in the latest, hottest titles they see advertised, the PSP might be a smarter choice. Gaming’s not just for boys anymore, Check out the Limited Edition Hannah Montana PSPEntertainment Pack. Aspiring divas can book, plan, and perform in concerts around the world.
Chances are either you or your kids have one. If you don’t feel like shelling out for a(nother) video game console, there’s an ever-growing library of downloadable games for your iPod. Some are multi-player family games, like Monopoly and Uno, and some are standard issue Italian plumbers jumping on mushrooms. Most cost $5.99 to download.
OLD SCHOOL
Scrabble: game folio edition
Come on, who doesn’t love Scrabble? It’s fun, but it’s also a great lesson in spelling, vocabulary, and thinking on the fly. Due to the dozens of small woodblock letter pieces, Scrabble’s never been a travel-friendly game. The game folio edition has snap in place tiles – which stay in place even if you have to fold up and take a break midgame.
Carcassonne: travel version
Forget Risk, this is the ultimate in strategy games – yet it even toddlers can enjoy it, with some direction from you. Essentially, Carcassonne is an intricate tile-laying game, which requires strategic and forward thinking. Carcassonne, a walled city in the south of France, is famous for its beautiful and striking fortifications. The players develop the area around Carcassonne and deploy their followers on the roads, in the cities, in the cloisters, and in the fields.
Yahtzee: game folio edition
Yahtzee is another board game classic (well, dice game classic) that never really leant itself to travelling. The game folio edition changes that – it’s easy to play and incredibly fast to set up and put away again.
Othello: travel edition
Also called Reversi and Reverso, Othello is a simple, classic game. Two sides: white and black. The object: finish with more pieces than your opponent. It’s basic, yes, but that just makes it all the more absorbing.
Here’s another game you thought you’d never play – or relax as your kids play – while travelling. Jigsaw puzzles are the very definition of Not Portable. The pieces are small, easily lost, and once one is gone, the whole thing is ruined, or diminished at the very least. The Portable Jigsaw is poster-sized, yet fully vacation-friendly. A collapsible felt roll-up serves as both piece storage and a table to solve the puzzle on. Puzzles are perhaps the best way to acquire a few hours’ worth of uninterrupted silence from the back seat.
ON THE CHEAP
From drawing games like connect the dots to tic-tac-toe, down to “group” games like license plates, 20 Questions, and word games, there are dozens of free game “sheets” and ideas to print and hand out when the time is right. Punch buggy, no returns!
100 things for little children to do on a journey by Usbourne Publishing
More a collection of activity cards than a book, there’s far more than 100 things to do in here. Specifically intended for toddlers, these games, puzzles and quizzes will delight and distract for hours.
Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games and Activities by Carole Terwilliger Meyers
If you don’t want to print out sheets, spend a few bucks and get a bound book absolutely full of them. There are dozens of books like Miles of Smiles out there, and there’s something to suit even the pickiest six-year old backseat driver.
Survival Essentials for the Cold and Flu Season
It’s that time of year…cold and flu season and if I’ve learned anything from the Boy Scouts (and truth be told this is probably the only thing I’ve learned from them), it’s to always be prepared!
Essentials for the Wee Ones
#1: First Aid Kit – Stocked with the fever fighting, tummy calming, and general ickiness stopping essentials!
#2: Electrolyte Drink (or Powder) – Because dehydration is one of the biggest threats to sick little ones.
#3: Sleepy Time Bath – Find a commercial product or just add a few drops of lavender and eucalyptus essential oil to the tub!
#4: Gummy Vitamins – Look for whole food vitamins instead of synthetic.
#5: Throat Pops – Kids love suckers so why not use that to sooth a sore throat?
#6: Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child – An amazing resource loaded with information, tips and how-to’s for every type of ailment.
#7: Warm Buddy – Because there’s nothing more soothing than a warm (or cool) teddy when your little buddy isn’t feeling well.
(And for Mommy, there’s a Warm Buddy Shoulder Wrap)
Mommy Essentials
#1: Neti Pot – Ahh…instant relief from sinus congestion! (Yes, we know it’s kinda gross, but it works)
#2: ColdFX – One of the only natural remedies to undergo scientific testing that proves its effectiveness at fighting colds and flu. How cool is that? Oh…and it works.
#3: Ginger Tea – Even better if you have fresh ginger to make your own ginger tea. And while you are at it, throw a
tablespoon in a hot bath before bed.
#4: The HOT Stuff – Cayenne pepper tablets, fresh chilies, salsa…whatever clears your sinuses!
#5: Buckleys – What can I say, “It tastes awful, but it works!”
#6: Muscle Rub – And a loved one to apply it to your achy muscles!
#7: Ingredients for Sickie Soup: chicken stock (or bouillon cubes), noodles, soy sauce, minced garlic (fresh or from a jar, but none of this dried business), Worchestershire sauce and cayenne pepper!
And just in case…a stash of your favorite chick-flicks to watch propped up in bed!
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- I love that @AlyPain tells it like it is --> STOP Blaming Your Children - Why YOUR Failure Isn't THEIR Fault - http://t.co/LPo51mgI
- Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, "Make me feel important." ~Mary Kay Ash
