Working From Home on the Go

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Everyone knows that my ultimate goal is to work from home in some way or another. I have looked into several different ways to earn money from home. That is why you will see some paid posts and ads on my blog. This is just one way that I am trying to earn a little extra money and stay home with my kid. I have looked into other opportunities, but not all of them can be done during nap time!

My interest in working from home caused this new iPhone app to catch my eye, espeically with a release of the new iPhone 4 on 6/24. Within about 3 seconds after seeing an ad for WeReward.com, I was already on my iphone to Download the App.

I went to the website to learn more and watched this youtube video. Before the video was even over the app was on my iphone and all set up.I have been spending money on this iphone for a couple of months now, and I am happy to see a way for it to pay me back!

The coolest thing about this app is that I don't really have to do anything different, I only need to do them differently. I already go places, and once I am there, I already tweet and facebook about it. It seems like most places are only willing to give a small amount of points per post, but that's okay because it's sure to add up.

I am looking at the places that are on this list and I could have already made a couple of bucks today! I wish I would have downloaded this app earlier in the day! Most places want a picture of the business in your post. That's fine with me! I am sure I can find something wonderful and witty to say about every one of these places. I haven't seen a business yet that requires you to actually consume their product. That's cool! I'll take a snap shot driving by and post it to facebook, I don't care! At 5 cents a pop, my love comes cheap, but just wait til I am cashing in!

The bottom line is that this is a fast, easy, and effective way to make a little money for doing things that I already do. I have also already learned about some businesses in my neighborhood that I otherwise wouldn't have known existed. I can see how the businesses get a lot out of this, and why shouldn't I get a little something too? I have been posting things on FB for years, being a billboard for businesses I frequent, and they haven't rewarded me with anything yet. Until now!

AT&T Netbook

You probably know that Shawn got me a little netbook for my birthday this year. I love it and I take it everywhere with me. The only problem is that it only has wifi and no mobile network. So while I take the computer with me everywhere, I don't take the internet with me.

Another problem is that Shawn just got xbox live and is playing Left 4 Dead all night long. We don't have a wifi set up in our house and that means he is using the TV and the WEB! Boo! I am left looking at the back of his head because he moved out chair directly in front of the TV

My perfect solution is a netbook with wireless 3G internet from AT&T. I have been using it for a couple of days and I love it. There is a counter on the communication manager so you can track how much usage you have. We are on the plan for 5 gigs of usage a month and so far we haven't come close to that. There is also a plan for 200 mb of usage, but I can blow through that in a couple of hours.

I don't think this would be a solution for everyone because the overages can be spendy. If I were to stream music or download a movie on netflix, I am sure we would start to go over our 5 gigs in no time flat. When I am blogging or just surfing the web and checking emails, this thing is great and 5 gigs is perfect.

This product and plan gets a big thumbs up from me!

Where Am I?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been spending so much time in the car lately, that my mom insisted I start using my Bluetooth while driving. It seems like no matter what I am doing, I am doing it while driving. This Summer, Caleb is going to be taking swimming lessons, my grandma and aunt will be in town, and I am sure I will be in the car even more than I am now!

When my grandma and aunt come to visit we like to take them site seeing. Although we have lived here for almost 25 years, some of the places are new to us as well. I find myself getting lost a little... okay a lot. Sometimes I need to pull off of the road to find a gas station because I don't know when the next rest stop or gas station will be.

I've been using mapquest and google maps to find directions, but they aren't always convenient. A picture map or written directions can only do so much for you when you have taken a wrong turn. They can be even less help when you are looking for a place to take a potty break.

When we were in California, my dad used his GPS. It was great! We were able to find anything that we needed. You can look things up by type of business or more specifically, by the business name or address. One trick is that you have to make sure that your map is up to date! http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=304392&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.updateyourmap.com The only time he got lost was when he tried to make up his own directions to a restaurant. Don't ask me why, maybe he was looking for an adventure.

As for me, I prefer to be more time efficient. With a GPS you're able to map out a big trip, but you can also more efficiently plan your errands for the day. Instead of running all over town, you can streamline your trip and make it faster. Another advantage is using less gas because you don't have to turn around and back track. If there is anything out there that saves you both time and money then you know that you can count me in!

If your map isn't up to date, then you could be missing out on some alternative routes to get you to your destination faster. Also, there are always new businesses and points of interest popping up. Having the latest map on your GPS will ensure that you are being the most efficient with your time and your checkbook! You can visit http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=304392&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.updateyourmap.com to learn more about updating your GPS map.

Left 4 Dead

Shawn borrowed the Xbox game, Left 4 Dead from my brother a couple of days ago. This is a zombie killing game that you can play online or offline. I thought it was a game where you get a light gun to shoot at the screen like Duck Hunt, but it's not. It's done in the FPS style and you just use the regular controller. Since Shawn has borrowed the game, he is on it non stop.

He played it all weekend. He plays every night until about 4 am. He plays all day long, only taking breaks to eat and go potty. He even moved the furniture in our living room so that there is a chair directly in front of the TV.

Since he is playing on Xbox live, he has been talking to his team mates on the headset, or as my dad calls it, "The Game Phone". I can hear him late at night, and even now as I type this. He is instructing his team members on how to best carry on their resistance to the Zombies that have taken over the world. He is using military tactics. If only his teammates knew they were playing with a United States Marine!

Hampton Hotels Give Away

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've said it before and I will say it again: I need a vacation. Don't get me wrong, my trip to Sacramento was nice, but there was so much family stuff going on that I didn't get a lot of relaxation time. Plus, our hotel wasn't exactly... how do I say this... accommodating. That lead to some stress.

I'm going to enter the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes, and hopefully, my next hotel stay will be a prize. Oh, maybe I am not being clear. I don't mean that you win a weekend stay in a hotel room... oh no. You win a weekend stay in the HOTEL. 100 rooms for 2 nights.

With 100 rooms for the weekend, you can invite all your friends. You can invite your friends' friends. You can invite the people that you meet where ever you decide to go. You can even invite a frenemy or two. 100 rooms, now there's a party!

Where would you take 100+ of your favorite people? I know exactly where I would go. I would go to the one place where you can really make a 2 night stay count. I would go to Vegas baby! I'd take all of my friends to Vegas and live it up! Without having to pay for our hotel stay, everyone would have so much more time and money to spend enjoying our weekend vacation.

I'd a few family members - the ones who know how to party! I would bring some coworkers, because I think we all need a vacation. I would invite my out of state family members like cousins, aunts and uncles, because I don't get to see them often and I miss them (awww). I'd invite some friends who live less than 20 miles away, yet I never seem to get to spend any time with them. I'm sure that no one will turn down free room and board in Las Vegas.

To enter you go to the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes website and click on "enter now". Sounds simple? It is. You have nothing to lose except the chance to win! Oh, and if you DO win, don't forget to invite me for telling you about it!

Shrek 4

Last weekend, Shawn and I took Caleb to see the new Shrek movie. Shawn normally doesn't like kid's movies, but made the exception for Shrek. We both really enjoyed the first one, and that was even before we had Caleb!

While Shawn wasn't very impressed with Shrek Forever After, Caleb loved it. He talked about it for days after. "Shrek was funny!" "Shrek is an ogre!" "I want to go to the movie store and watch Shrek!" It was so cute that Caleb called the theater "the movie store". I guess he just didn't know what else to call it!

Caleb sat through the whole movie very well. He got a little wiggly at the end, but that was better than I expected. He was so well behaved that I think we will probably go see bigger movies before they get to the $3 theater. My little man is growing up!

Say Ahhhhh

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.

Everyone has that moment. The moment of ahhhhhhh. The moment that you take for yourself. As a mom, I don't get that moment very often, but I try to take a little time each day for myself.

I'm not the only mom setting aside some "me" time. According to a survey done by Dove Ice Cream, 70% of moms take a little time for themselves each day. It's in honor of these hard working women that Dove has launched the "My Mini Moment" contest.

This contest promotes Dove's ice cream miniatures. It seems as if these absolutely delicious treats were made with moms in mind. They are only 70 calories a piece and they come in the most fantastic flavors. My personal favorite are the Java Chip and Cappuccino Flavors. I love coffee flavored ice cream!

To enter this contest, you submit a photo and a short essay sharing your own mini moment of escape. In other words, you ahhhhh moment. Head to http://doveicecream.com/myminimoment/ soon because the contest ends July 7th. One lucky lady could win one of three prizes: a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, Spa services for a year or a mini-home makeover. I can't pick which one I would love more!

So, I am trying to decide which moment I want to write about for the contest. I have pedicure time. I normally go alone, so I can relax and don't have to talk to anyone. I also have my gardening time. I love being outside taking care of my peaceful little vegetable garden. And then there is nap time. Oh how fantastic it is when your 2 year old's nap time comes around!