Share Your Holiday Plans & Traditions This Tuesday at Our #gno Twitter Party!
November 3, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 41 Comments
Have fun holiday traditions you are excited to continue or start this holiday season? Any upcoming trips planned? How will you capture, share, and archive your fun memories with your friends and family?
Join Whrrl and Mom It Forward gals Tuesday, November 3 as we discuss answers to these and other questions at a fun #gno party to kick off the holiday season before we’re actually in the thick of it!
Check out the first #gno Whrrl story! Click here to join, contribute to, or view.
- What: Whrrl is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, November 3, 9-11 p.m. EST
- Where: Click here to party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtags #gno and #whrrl.)
- Topic: Capturing Holiday Traditions and Memories
- Who: @houseofprince @jeffholden @jkimlosangeles @lolita @momfluential @momspark @scrappinmichele @troypattee @whrrl
- Party Favors: Win a $250 Visa cash card and create a Whrrlable holiday memory this season. Click here to enter!
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
Two Giveaways—The Cute Kid Gift Package & Free Admission to SM4SB Conference
September 5, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 57 Comments
This week, we have two amazing giveaways—one from our sponsor, The Cute Kid, and another from one of this week’s #gno panelists and one of the organizers of the Social Media 4 Small Biz conference, Ciaran from @momfluential.
Not only that, but if you are interested in attending the SM4SB conference, all #gno gals can take advantage of a $50 savings now through Sunday, September 20. Just click here and use the code “GNOSTAR” clicking on “enter discount code” when you register.
Prizes
Two lucky winners will receive one of the following. (See entry requirements below.)
- Giveaway 1: The Cute Kid Gift Package, including:
- Free entrance to The Cute Kid contest
- Judy Goss’s Book: Break Into Modeling for Under $20
- An 11 x 14 canvas portrait
- A “Major Cute Kid” onesie
- Giveaway 2: Free admission to the SM4SB conference (Social Media for Small Business) October 23-24 in Orange County, California ($395 value)
Note: This conference takes place in southern California. The giveaway includes admission only (not travel or lodging).
Entry Requirements for Giveaway 1—The Cute Kid Gift Basket
To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do two things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries). This giveaway is separate from Giveaway 2 and completing these requirements does not qualify you for that giveaway.
Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.
- Become a fan of the Mom It Forward Facebook page and share your opinion about child modeling on the wall.
- Post these messages on Facebook and/or on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:
Join #gno Tues 9/8 from 9-11 ET 2 chat child modeling & young hollywood w/ #thecutekid RSVP: http://bit.ly/52gwR PLS RT
GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 a chance 2 win a #thecutekid gift pkg, including a canvas w/ur kid’s pic on it! http://bit.ly/ZnyEY PLS RT
Entry Requirements for Giveaway 2—SM4SB Conference Admission
To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do three things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries). This giveaway is separate from Giveaway 1 and completing these requirements does not qualify you for that giveaway.
Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.
- Become a fan of the SM4SB Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Social-Media-4-Small-Business/120836146363.
- Follow @sm4sb on Twitter.
- Post messages on Facebook and on Twitter including which session on the conference agenda looks helpful to you and your biz and leave comments here, linking to your messages. Make sure to include both #SM4SB and http://bit.ly/TUIOn in your messages. For example:
I’m looking forward to learning how to use facebook for my biz at #SM4SB http://bit.ly/TUIOn PLS RT
Extra Entries for Both Giveaways
You can earn up to five extra entries for this week’s giveaways. These extra entries count for both giveaways. You do not need to repeat them twice!
- Leave a picture of your cute kid(s) on the Mom It Forward Flickr group.
- Join the Mom It Forward Facebook group.
- Post the “Mom Is a Verb” button on your blog. (See right-hand sidebar for button with code.)
- Join the Mom It Forward Google Friend Connect. (See right-hand sidebar.
- Post these messages on Facebook and/or on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:
- GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 a chance 2 win FREE admission to the #sm4sb conference ($395 value) http://bit.ly/ZnyEY PLS RT
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. The Cute Kid and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, September 13 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. For the Momfluential giveaway, winners must be able to travel to and arrange lodging in southern California during the time of the conference. They will have until September 30 to arrange these components. Winners will not receive their conference admission until travel and lodging are booked. In the event the winner is not able to arrange travel and lodging, the prize will be awarded to another winner.
Capturing Kodak Moments—Like Birthday Smiles!
June 25, 2009 by Kodak · Leave a Comment
Whether it’s your baby’s first, your daughter’s sweet sixteen or your husband’s 40th, these photography tips will make sure you always capture the perfect birthday smile:
To capture the light from those burning candles, turn off your flash. Hold the camera extra steady on a railing, the back of a chair, a table, or against a door frame to prevent blurry pictures.- Get Close. Fill the camera’s viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest.
- Red eye is easy to remove these days with picture editor software or at a Kodak Kiosk. But why not prevent red eye in the first place? Ask your subject to look at your shoulder rather than directly at the camera. Turning on all the room lights also helps.
- Stay within the flash range. The typical digital camera flash range is 6 to 10 feet, up to 15 feet for film cameras. Subjects that are outside the flash range will be either too dark or too light. Check the camera manual and make sure your subject is within the flash range.
The Easiest Random Act of Kindness—A Smile!
June 20, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
10 Ways to Make a Difference This Week By Smiling
1. Smile inside to give yourself a compliment or a pat on the back for a job well done.
2. Start your day out on a positive step by smiling at yourself in the mirror as you are getting ready.
3. Smile at each family member first thing in the morning.
4. Have a “best smile” contest with your kids to see who has the silliest, funniest, prettiest, nicest smiles. Have each child vote and win prizes in the different categories.
5. Have a “smile stare down” contest with your kids, family members, or friends to see who can stare the longest with a big grin on his or her face.
6. Go on a walk with your family members or friends and count who can smile at the most people. As an added bonus, count how many people you can get to smile back at you.
7. Take pictures of your kids doing their “best smiles.”
8. Make a smile photo album, where you capture each person in your family, smiling in several different settings.
9. Keep a smile log of how many times you smile during a single day and how many times someone else causes you to smile.
10. Keep a smile journal for a day. Write your thoughts and feelings about what smiling at others and others smiling at you does to your mood, your emotions, and the overall tone of your day.
How Will You Be Prepared This Week?
Please share with us:
- What other ideas do you have for smiling?
- How smiling made a meaningful difference this week?
This week’s SOS Challenge is sponsored by Kodak.
How Else Can You Make a Difference This Summer?
Make a meaningful difference this summer by taking the Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how you can participate:
- Commit to do one act of kindness/service based on the week’s challenge.
- Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
- Grab the SOS button in the sidebar and put it on your blog or social networking site.
- Enter to win each week’s giveaway. Check out this week’s prizes from Kodak by clicking here.
- Join #gno this Tuesday to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge.
RSVP for #GNO Where We’ll Be Talking All Things Photography
June 20, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 15 Comments
#GNO is talking photography and we have a terrific panel lined up, including amazing gals from Kodak, among many other fabulous photog bloggers. Join the #gno gang here this Tuesday night to share in the discussion.
- What: Girl’s Night Out (What’s GNO? Click here to find out!)
- When: Tuesday, June 23, 9-11 p.m. EDT
- Where: Click here to join the party! (Use hashtags #gno and #kodak.)
- Topic: Photography
- Who: @kodakcb, @shuttersisters, @greeblemonkey, @tostina, @secretagentmama, @traceyclark
- Party Favors: Remember to enter to win this week’s giveaway sponsored by Kodak.
- RSVP: Enter your twitter URL/ID in the list below (e.g., http://twitter.com/jyl_momIF).
Giveaway—Kodak Digital Camera & Wireless Digital Photo Frame
June 20, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 75 Comments
One of the most uplifting random acts of kindness is a simple smile! A smile can be the start to a meaningful relationship. It makes friends out of strangers, welcomes loved ones, and makes others feel right at home. Smiles are reassuring, loving, and giving. They are appreciated in the present and enjoyed again and again in the past through photography.
As part of this week’s Summer of Service Challenge to “Smile,” Kodak is giving the gift of photography.
Giveaway Prizes
Two lucky winners from this site will be selected to win one of the following prizes: a Kodak digital camera (click here to see specs) or a Kodak wireless digital photo frame (click here to see specs).
Entry Requirements
To enter to win, you are required to do the following two things:
- Join and post a picture of your favorite “smile” picture to the Mom It Forward Flickr group.
- Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, June 28 at midnight PDT, including your e-mail address and links to/information about your extra entries, if applicable.
To receive extra entries (for a total of three extra entries):
- Take this week’s SOS Challenge to Be Prepared by completing one of the post’s 10 suggestions or an idea of your own that fits within this week’s theme and leaving a comment on that post.
- Click here to join the Mom It Forward Facebook Page. (This is different than the group!)
- Post about this giveaway on Twitter and/or on your Facebook wall.
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Kodak employees and Mom It Forward family members are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, June 28 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.
Family Picture Stolen and Then Found 5000 Miles Away. Copyright Infringement?
May 31, 2009 by Danielle Smith · 2 Comments
My family is…well…kind of noticeable in the Czech Republic. And not because we asked for any notoriety, but simply because we posted family pictures on the internet.
Here is the basic story…
This is a family picture we took this past October. I posted it on my blog and Facebook to share with people I care about. We loved it so much, we used it as our Christmas card.
Apparently someone else loved it so much, they swiped it, and used it to advertise for a high end grocery store—in THE CZECH REPUBLIC. That is nearly 5000 miles away from where I live. Note the langauge at the bottom of the ad.
An old friend from college (who I’m recently back in touch with thanks to Facebook) lives in Prague—and nearly scared his wife half to death when he yelled out in surprise as he drove down the road. The picture is life size—maybe even bigger.
I have felt a variety of emotions about this….this intrusion into my life. I have been alternately flattered (really? Of all the pictures they could have stolen, they chose ours?) to confused (how did this happen?) to offended (who do they think they are?)
But what has been most amazing to me since I shared this story is the outpouring of opinions, shared thoughts and feelings, suggestions and offers of help.
Some moms offered to ask husbands/cousins/friends for advice on what I should do. Some didn’t wait to ask if I needed anything, they called ‘people in the know’ and then emailed me with advice and additional help. Many suggested I laugh it off, some yelled SUE!, others said, “I’m not sure there is anything you can do, but it is a good picture.”
Ninety-eight percent of the people (mainly moms) who contacted me are not people I have ever met—they are people who reached out, hoping I wasn’t too scared. They wanted my world to feel small and comfortable again—not big and unknown. This is what moms do, don’t they?
For that, I am grateful. I’m proud to be a mom. I’m proud to call so many of you friends.
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward – as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children
Mom Donates Her Gift of Photography to Families, Children, and Charities
May 21, 2009 by Danielle Smith · Leave a Comment
Inspiration comes in many forms, but for me, right now, it has taken the shape of a petite brunette. She is sitting across from me calmly drinking ice tea as she talks about her drive to ‘give back’. Photographer, Gina Kelly works with more than 20 charities in the St. Louis area. That’s right, 2-0.
The questions are galloping through my mind, leap-frogging over one another to spill out of my mouth first: How does she find the time? How does she choose who she works with? Does she have a favorite? How does she give…is it time, talent, or money? Why does she do it?
Gina Kelly’s story is amazing. Any given week you can find her photographing (for free) a Mother-Daughter Tea or Bowling Event for little girls with Down Syndrome, flying to the Dominican Republic to document and participate in charity work with the Albert Pujols Family Foundation, (Gina will head to the Dominican for the third time next week) snapping priceless family moments, taking pre-school class pictures, catching a bride and groom in their perfect moment of love, or donating her time to tell the stories of previously homeless teenagers.
But to understand Gina, you need to know where she has come from and how hard she has worked to get where she is.
In the 1990’s, under the tutelage of several well-known photographers in the St. Louis area, Gina explains, “I got a great foundation.” She learned the ropes, paid her dues and honed her own innate talent for getting the best shots, developing a special rapport with her subjects and working quickly. But the chance to use this talent professionally was jeopardized by her personal situation.
A victim of domestic violence, she survived an abusive marriage, only to fall in love with a man who would eventually kick her and her two young children out into the street. A mere 8 years ago, Gina was a homeless, single mom.
The photography business she had started on her own had to close as she needed to make money to support her family. Gina says, “Prayer was huge. I did whatever I could. I painted baby rooms. I gave piano lessons. I worked part time at a local deli.”
But, she continues, “I started thinking about getting on my feet. I was absorbing like a sponge – (trying to understand) how is he or she successful?” Gina began working with another local photographer, “(This woman) enabled me to financially get on my feet and try out new stuff.”
This new beginning for Gina allowed her to blossom into the mother, photographer and giver she had always wanted to be. She explains, “I needed someone to light the fire within.” Her epiphany: the realization that ‘to give would be to receive’. “Prayer was huge. I prayed about my husband, about my home and it all happened,” she says with reverance.
Her philosophy for photography became, “It happened and you caught it (on film)”
This philosophy, combined with her desire to give, paved the way for Art by Gina, which opened in 2001. With this company, Gina has focused mainly on children, maternity and family portraits. Early on, she began ‘doing little things’ to help others. She realized, through work with her daughter’s Girl Scouts, her son’s day care, and a few local preschools that many families couldn’t afford pictures. She wanted to help. Gina explains, “I started throwing in coupons, giving some portraits away for free.”
She continues, “Almost all of my giving is kid based. I did that purposely. I donate where my heart is.”
And her heart continues to grow. Her life has become a beautiful circle. As she has continued to ‘give’, she has been blessed with more work, amazing connections and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. For Gina, this means, a greater opportunity to give of herself.
To continue this giving tradition, to allow for opportunities to help others and to continue sharing her talents, Gina started a second photography company in 2003. Lace Images focuses mainly on weddings, corporate events and charity. Each photographer who works at Lace knows ‘giving back’ is part of the job. They regularly donate their time and talents to charitable events around the city.
This is a woman, a mother, a photographer who gives back, not by writing checks, but with her own time and talents. In keeping with her desire to help kids, Gina was recently walking through The Covenant House, a home taking teenagers off the streets. She noticed that the walls were bare. When told that there was not yet enough money to put anything up, Gina did what she does best, she offered to help. Her suggestion: use photographs to tell the real-life stories of the teens that had been saved from the streets. Gina did it for free. One by one, she has taken these teenagers to the areas of the city where they were found, photographed them, and documented their current triumph.
Also, touching Gina’s heart: The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Kurt Warner Foundation, the Pujols Family Foundation (benefitting Down Syndrome), Young Moms of Down Syndrome and the St. Louis Family Church (benefitting inner city kids).
I think we could all take a page out of Gina’s book to begin a new chapter in our lives.
Know a “Mom It Forward” mom—someone who inspires you, gives back to others, is changing the world one mom at a time? Nominate her to be spotlighted in our “Be Inspired!” section by writing us at momitforward [at] gmail [dot] com.
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter and ChicksWhoConnect. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward – as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children.
What To Do to Prepare for Your Wedding Day Photography?
March 12, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · Leave a Comment
Choosing: Choose a photographer that has a similar style as you. Do you want someone who does formal photos or do you want a mix of photo journalistic type candid shots and formal photos of your wedding as well? Will the photographer take pictures of the details of your wedding such as your shoes rings and your decor?
Share: Share your vision of your wedding with your photographer. At Sweet Life Photography we have a complimentary consultation session with the bride to get to know her and her wedding better. Share some of your favorite photos that you have cut out of magazines etc. Talk about things like locations time of day. These things will help you photographer create wonderful meaningful memories for you.
Price: Most of the time the old saying you get what you pay for applies to photographers. A photographer who charges more is charging more because of their education experience and equipment. I offer a custom package for every bride since every bride is an individual with different wants and budgets. A good photographer will also have a contract of services that out lines expectations and prices.
Time: At Sweet Life Photography we ask our wedding couples to plan for 5 to 10 minutes per group shot. This allows time for the members of your bridal party to gather. A typical wedding will need to plan on 45 minutes of formal wedding photos with the wedding party. After the wedding party photos are taken schedule another 30 to 45 minutes to spend time as a couple. Sometimes couples like to schedule a session before the wedding in their wedding attire for formal couple photos so they are more relaxed during the session. The day of the wedding can be hurried and stressful.
Make-up: In photos wearing a little more make-up is better. Avoid high sparkle and shimmer make-up. It shows up in the photos as white spots.
Most of all have fun. Enjoy your day. A good photographer will capture those sweet moments for you. My philosophy in my photography is that the real moments the sweet moments are the photos I take in between the posed shots.
I am currently booking limited Wedding Bridal and Engagement Session for 2009. See more of April’s work and photography at her website April Atwater Photography.
How Can You Tell Stories Through Photos?
March 4, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Tara is a mother of 5 and Founding Consultant for Cherish Bound . She has a blog called Family Traditions…One Story at a Time where she shares traditions, stories, and fun ideas for families. In her spare time,she loves sports, writing and publishing her family’s stories, baking, and crafts.
Take a look at this photo….
You probably have no idea who those people are, right? Well, that’s my father-in-law. An amazing father to my husband, a perfect FIL to me, yes, I’m a lucky girl, and a man that my children are completely in love with. That was the day he met our twins and the last time we ever saw him. There is a beautiful deep story behind this photo, this man, and this day. It’s a story that needs to be told and shared so my children will remember and know who their grandfather was.
I could simply upload this photo with a few other snapshots into a photo book or throw it up on my wall in a frame. That would be easy, picture preserved and nicely displayed. But who will tell my children and grandchildren about him when I’m gone? What about my babies who won’t remember him? How do we keep his memory alive?
It’s simple…through story.
Story is powerful. When we start telling stories, we connect, teach, and often heal. We relate in a way that brings power and purpose to our lives. Stories change people’s lives. That is why it is so important to take the time to record and write the stories of our lives. Photos are simple beautiful images that help us relive single moments in our lives, but they’re subjective, they can be lost, and simply don’t tell the whole story.
Here are a few simple steps and tips to help you organize and begin storytelling through photos.
- Get your family involved. Have your spouse, children, parents, everyone in your family begin writing down simple details of their lives.
- It’s not always about dates, times, and places. It’s about lessons learned, traditions passed on, and leaving a legacy of who we are. Let everyone tell their story.
- Break it up into bite-size chucks. Start with the now. Start with recording one week at time. Simple moments that define who we are….a sweet husband leaving a love note, a toddler whispering I love you for the first time, a child’s struggle to fit in.
- Remember that it’s impossible to share every single picture we take. Pick out your favorite two or three from each event or memory and then put the rest in words.
Photos are priceless, but the stories that accompany them are a treasure. A treasure that will be worth more than anything else we leave behind for those we love. As you create your albums, scrapbooks, and photo books keep in mind one simple rule; if I wasn’t here to share this book would they know who the people in these photos and the stories behind them?
Looking for a re-cap of this week’s #GNO? See below and read these:
