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Phone Photo Fun

Posted on April 16, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When we got our new Android phones, I knew that it was going to be a whole new world. Little did I know that only days after getting Violet, the one app that I was intrigued with for iPhone would be released for everyone with Android. Hello, Instagram.

I love that Robyn, from Robyn’s Online World keeps people posted about apps for not only iPhone, but also Androids. Thanks to her and others using Instagram, I knew it was something I wanted to try. What’s not to like about an app that allows you to take photos, share them on multiple platforms, and play with fun filters?!

Of course, once I was on Instagram and really paying attention to the photos from friends, I wanted something else. I noticed some were making collages to post multiple images within their single Instagram. I read one that was suggested and went to check it out.

PhotoGrid was put onto my phone and right away I was able to make a collage of scenes from my day. Here it is:

I’m sure there is a lot more that I can do with this, but it was still fun. After a day at a birthday party with my son, I decided to use some of my photos from the day to make another collage with my phone. This was the first one:

I like that I can flip photos around and move them within a frame. This is certainly not the limits of the app. With one push of a button, you can change the layout of the collage as well. Here is another version:

Are you an Instagram fan? What other apps do you like to use for photo fun on your phone? Please share any in the comments below.

It's Me

Disclosure: These were all free apps that I decided to test on my own. I enjoyed them and wanted to share my experience.

Categories:
bloggy friends fun me moments Phone Apps photos

Time for UBP 2012

Posted on April 12, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It’s that time of year again. Welcome to all coming from the 5 Minutes For Mom Ultimate Blog Party to The Angel Forever. I have been participating in the UBP for many years now. I started to follow Janice and Susan when I was home with my then infant son. JSL is now about to turn five and head into kindergarten this fall. Time sure flies when you are blogging and having fun.

If you are new to the UBP, pull up a seat and start blog hopping (linky on 5M4M goes live at midnight on April 13). It’s a great way to get to know new people and hang out with long time friends from around the blogosphere. Earlier in the week, I wrote about my UBP memories.

Let me introduce you to my boys. TechyDad is my husband and also blogs. NHL is my third grade son and JSL is the little guy who wants to be known as Supper JSL Buzz Lightyear.

So who am I and where am I above? Typically, I am taking the photos and rarely seen in them. I am constantly wearing different hats. I am a teacher that is currently a work at home mother. I miss being in the classroom, but I wouldn’t trade the time with my boys and not having to worry about being there when they need me. If you look around my blog, I write about books, crafting (love to knit), travel, all things Disney, parenting, and beyond. Topics like religion are usually about how we celebrate holidays and politics is something I try to stay out of here.

Are you participating in the Ultimate Blog Party? If you are, please let me know your post link and I will be sure to stop by. If not, why not join the fun? Of course, before you go here is a cupcake to enjoy while looking around.

Hope to see familiar faces and get to know a lot of new people. If this is your first time here, welcome again and I hope to see you again soon.

It's Me

Categories:
Blog Hop bloggy friends family jsl me moments nhl photos TechyDad

Ultimate Blog Party Memories

Posted on April 9, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It’s that time of year again! Yes, on Friday bloggers from all over will participate in the Ultimate Blog Party 2012, or UBP12 for short.

The ladies at 5 Minutes For Mom are inviting everyone to participate and share memories from past UBPs. I know I have been participating in the Ultimate Blog Parties for quite some time. I think I found them five years ago when I was very pregnant with my youngest son. It was a fun way to get to know new bloggers. Of course, as social media increased over the years, so did the number of people participating.

In 2010, the party had extra special meaning to me. It was the year that I really got into the spirit. I wrote my Ultimate Blog Party 2010 post, did lots of blog hopping, participated in Twitter events, and more. I had taken the year before off because of so many things going on at once. It felt great getting back into the swing of things. I had a great time meeting new friends and even wrote about it for the After Party celebration.

Of course, I would be lying if I didn’t mention that the 2010 party also is special to me for another reason. You see, I am sitting here typing away my post on the Grand Prize from that event. YES – I was the winner! Of course, the way I found out was pretty funny. I had gone to sleep early that evening because I was not feeling too well. I knew that the party was ending that evening, but was too tired to follow along.

I fell asleep, but when TechyDad went to go to check on one of the boys, I heard a text message (used to get Tweets via SMS messages) come to my phone. By this time, it was very late. Then, before I knew it my phone kept beeping, beeping, and more beeping. The Tweets were coming in so quickly that I could not even stop to read any of them. I had TechyDad check on his computer to see what was going on. That is when I read everyone congratulating me.

The timing on this prize could not have been better as my old laptop was dying. It was so nice to have the new Toshiba. My laptop has now gone with me to BlogHer, Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, SheStreams, and beyond. So many memories and many more to come as I get ready for The Ultimate Blog Party 2012 – thank you 5 Minutes For Mom for another fun party starting later this week.

Will you be participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2012? I hope to see you there! For more details, click on the button from 5M4M above.

Disclaimer: I wrote this post because it was a lot of fun to participate while getting ready for the Ultimate Blog Party 2012. In addition to this, there is a possible prize via Rafflecopter for sharing my UBP story.

Categories:
Blog Hop bloggy friends BlogHer DisneySMMoms fun looking back me moments photos TechyDad

Some Favorite Disney Adventures

Posted on April 2, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up at Disney world and then going there on my honeymoon with TechyDad means that I have a lot of memorable adventures. While in high school, we had the Food and Fun plan that included things like parasailing. Yes, I went parasailing at Walt Disney World. We got onto the boat at The Contemporary Resort and traveled around the Seven Seas Lagoon. While up in the seat next to my brother, we listened to music and could see The Magic Kingdom. I need to find these old photos one day soon.

On our honeymoon, TechyDad and I had another amazing plan that also included extras. We were able to do behind the scenes tours, boat, do a fireworks cruise, and more. This was also the trip that we had our first Cirque du Soleill adventure. La Nouba was new in Downtown Disney and we made sure to snag tickets to see the show.

Of course, last year while at Disney Social Media Moms I was able to go on an even bigger Disney inspired adventure. I signed up for the African Trek at The Animal Kingdom.

This tour takes you behind the scenes where you can see the animals even closer, cross over rope bridges, and eat at a beautiful Boma. Here is the group of bloggers that I went on the trek with.

Once we were set up with equipment, it was time to see some amazing animals, cross some bridges, face fears, and live out a magical dream.

One of the last items on the trek is time to sit, relax, have a meal, and watch the animals on the gorgeous Boma.

Of course, this also meant spending some time with some old friends and getting to know new ones.

Before we knew it, the time was up and we were heading back to get our things and go back to our families. Of course, we stopped for one last group photo.

What Disney adventure have you been on that was beyond magical? Please share below or share your link with me to read.

For more on my Wild African Trek adventure, check out these posts:

P.S. A huge thank you to Mariana from The Domestic Buzz for creating this magical Blog Hop! The link will be within this post the day after it is published.

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World, we were given an incredible deal thanks to Disney. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

Categories:
animals Blog Hop Blogging Conference bloggy friends Disney DisneySMMoms looking back me moments photos travel vacation

Tuesday Tales – Walt Disney World Books for Kids

Posted on March 27, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As I have mentioned before, my oldest son can sometimes be a reluctant reader. It took him a long time to accept chapter books and not be intimidated by lack of pictures. NHL is a third grader and loves to read about science, people, and places. If we have tour books around the house for an upcoming vacation he will read them. I have absolutely no complaints about this. As a reading teacher, I applaud almost any type of reading a child will do.

Last year, while at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I briefly met Tracie A. Cook. Tracie, who runs Vacation Field Guides, is a veteran teacher and Disney fan who is also an author.

When these books arrived the other day, the boys were so excited. I explained to them that both were books about Walt Disney World that were made just for kids.

Vacation Field Guides – Kids Tips for Walt Disney World

Kid Tips for Walt Disney World: Touring Advice by Kids for Kids is just that. The book contains thoughts, via quotes, from children ages 7-15 about Walt Disney World.

There were things to know before you go, specific items to see/do while in each of the parks (with specifics about some rides), dining suggestions, and many other items. NHL enjoyed reading these and weighing in on what his views were since he has been to Walt Disney World multiple times now. I also know he’s excited to possibly help Tracie by filling out a survey for upcoming books. I think the kid connection will help get kids involved in planning your upcoming trip.

WDW Adventure: A Field Guide & Activity Book for Explorers

Walt Disney World Adventure: A Field Guide and Activity Book for Explorers is an interactive book for kids to learn while exploring the magic that is Walt Disney World. As an educator, Tracie has packed this book with a lot of items to make children think while completing their exploration. As I have said forever, there are so many EduMICKational experiences within Disney World if you take the time to look for them.

The book begins with a letter to the explorers, key to navigation symbols used in the book, and some tips before they head into the parks. From this point, there are pages filled with items to complete, locate, find, and research in fun ways while touring. Yes, you will want a pencil to write down items as they are located. Here is one of the pages that caught my son’s attention when looking at it.

I have to admit, I am a little jealous of this book. I want to head into the parks and try these out. The teacher in me thinks that it looks like a great hands on learning exercise while having a lot of fun. NHL will definitely be reviewing this after he tests it out on our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World.

I would love to know if your children (or you) have tried either of these books and you have any tips for children testing out the adventure. As always, please share what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: We received these books from @WDWFieldGuide in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for the books mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the books through these links.