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Tuesday Tales – Pinterest For Dummies

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

Alright, it’s time to confess – have you gone to the dark side yet? I am not talking about Star Wars, although a lot of pins for related items will be found there. I am referring to Pinterest. As I have mentioned before, I joined Pinterest at the end of December and have written about it multiple time.

What I never mentioned was how I was hooked. Back in September 2011, I went to SheStreams in NYC. One of my roommates happened to be Kelby Carr.

While in our hotel room one evening, we got talking about Social Media. Yes, we are geeks at heart. Kelby, @Typeamom, was trying to sell Shannan and me on Pinterest. It was just a whisper at the time. I kept saying that I just did not have time to devote to another something. I was clueless and Kelby should have slapped me.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve. I was bored and mentioned something on Facebook. Kelby immediately told me that I should just join Pinterest and go to the Dark Side already. I made an excuse about not having an invitation. Seconds later, I had one in my e-mail from my dear friend. Yes, I was the Jewish girl learning, exploring, and pinning her way through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Kelby Carr, the evil one that hooked me on Pinterest, is now an author of a book all about Pinterest.

Why yes, Wiley knew the real deal and asked Kelby to write Pinterest For Dummies which was released May 8. I was even in Florida when she received her first copy from Ellen.

Like other books from the Dummies line, Pinterest For Dummies really does take a new user step-by-step and explain the ropes. You learn what to do to get started, including getting an invitation, linking profiles, and adding a bio. Once that is settled, you venture into creating board. I love that Kelby shows how to name, pick a category, and then walk you through how to rearrange and edit things later on. The other chapters include:

Pinning and Repinning <—Beware this can become addictive, but great to organize
Socializing on Pinterest <—Always fun to see what friends have pinned.
Using Community Features
Finding Ways to Use Pinterest <— I think it is a great tool for parents/teachers!
Going Mobile with Pinterest <—Still sad it is not Android friendly.
Understanding Pinterest Etiquette <—Hot topic within the social media world.
Controlling Privacy and Other Settings
Self-Promoting on Pinterest
Ten Companies Using Pinterest Effectively
Ten Power Pinners to Follow

What I really enjoyed while reading and browsing around Pinterest For Dummies was the Where’s Waldo effect within the book. Seriously, Kelby’s use of photos for examples in each step show cases some pretty cool people. Check this one out from page 68 in the book.

If you are new to Pinterest or really want to learn how to maximize the power behind it, I highly recommend this book. More related to the book can also be found on the Pinterest For Dummies board on Pinterest of course!

Are you a fan of Pinterest? Do you have thoughts on Pinterest For Dummies? Let me know where to find you on Pinterest and I will catch you there.

As always, Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books and learning. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something that you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: I received Pinterest For Dummies from Wiley in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. One Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned and another is coming next. Kelby Carr’s second book Pinterest Marketing For Dummies will be coming out July 24, 2012 and you can already preorder it from Amazon. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy any of the books through my links. I know I am looking forward to the next book.

Categories:
Blogging Conference bloggy friends books interesting looking back me moments photos Pinterest social media Tuesday Tales

A Whoopee Cushion Parenting Moment

Posted on May 18, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Alright everyone, it’s time to fess up on something. Do you often cringe when your child has the opportunity to pick something from a prize box? It may be a prize after having a shot at the doctor, doing something well at school, or trading tickets in at an arcade. Let’s be real here – none of the prizes are usually meant to last forever and can often be annoying to those around them after they come home.

Case in point: This is a prize that my son picked our after an appointment the other day.

No, I am not kidding you. This came home with us and I cringed. I did not want to be THAT parent that said no, so I allowed it. Soon after we arrived at home, the fart jokes, loud blasts, and laughing began. It was cute at first, but then it got old quickly. This lead to me sending out a Tweet. The Tweet was replied to by Janice Person. As I was Tweeting, the boys were trying to figure out how to make a bigger, louder, and more impressive fart noise from said Whoopee Cushion.

Almost immediately after I sent that last Tweet out, I heard a giant BOOM from where the two boys were playing. I knew it was not a good sign, well not for the Whoopee Cushion at least. Tears, screams, and more Tweets followed.

After the kids calmed down, and I gathered my composure back up I eventually took this photographic proof:

So my question to you this week:

What is the most annoying prize that that your child has ever won or received and why?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #203

Categories:
Aloha Friday doctor jsl laughs me moments nhl photos social media twitter

Hello from Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2012

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

This year, TechyDad and I were both lucky enough to be invited back to the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World. The memories that we have from the past and the ones we are making right now will last a life time.

Last year at DisneySMMoms, the speakers were amazing, inspiring, and truly taught me a lot that I have used in life and the Social Media World. In 2011, I listened to these magical individuals:

This year the line up is:

Amy Jo Martin, Digital Royalty @DigitalRoyalty
Ramon DeLeon, Domino’s Pizza @Ramon_Deleon
Peter Shankman, The Geek Factory @PeterShankman
Lisa Druxman, Stroller Strides @LisaDruxman
Chris Brogan, Human Business Works @ChrisBrogan
The conference Host will be comedian Maryellen Hooper @MaryellenHooper

While at SheStreams in September, I was able to snap this photo of Rene Syler and Lisa Druxman after they spoke to us there.

So my question to you this week:

Who would you love to hear talk at a conference and why? It does not have to be about social media, it could be about any topic of interest to you.

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we were given an incredible deal from 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. To see past posts about DisneySMMoms, you can head here.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #200

Categories:
Aloha Friday Blogging Conference Disney DisneySMMoms fun looking back me moments photos social media travel

For the Love of Cookie Dough

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

I am definitely my father’s child. I LOVE cookie dough. Give me cookie dough ice cream and please hold the vanilla ice cream. Admission: I am the adult that actually keeps all of the cookie dough chunks from the ice cream to savor at the end. For my last birthday before becoming a mother, TechyDad skipped buying me a cake. Instead, he surprised me with a tub of cookie dough.

On one trip to Walt Disney World as a child, I remember eating at Hollywood Studios and getting a Cookie Dough pie. It was the most amazing creation. When I went back next time, it was not there. Tears were shed, hopes dashed, and we had to move on.

Thanks to Pinterest, my cookie dough fever is back. People keep pinning recipes for sweets that involve none other than cookie dough. Just looking at them seems to keep me happy and smiling. One day, I do hope to try a few, if not all, of these goodies.

My first repin was for this Philadelphia 3-Step Cookie Dough Cheesecake. I love the concept of the Cheesecake Factory cookie dough cheesecake, but do not like the chocolate crust. Way too much for this girl. So check out how delicious this looks:

Source: evalawrie.wordpress.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Soon after this some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles caught my attention. They were also pinned to gawk, stare at, and dream about.

Source: eat-drink-smile.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

I am not too sure how I feel about Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies. As someone who is not really into chocolate, it may be a bit too much for me. No doubt, many others would adore it.

Source: recipegirl.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Locally, I have tried Cookie Dough cupcakes at Fluffalicious. They were very good, but I was curious about baking them at home. Thanks to Pinterest, I found just that item.

Source: alli-n-son.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

I know that if I head over to Pinterest now, I will find many more amazing pins for things with cookie dough, and lots without.

If you have any cookie dough recipes or pins that you adore, I would love for you to share below. Let me know in the comments and I will come find you on Pinterest.

Categories:
food glorious food looking back me moments photos social media yummy

Preoccupied with Pinterest

Posted on January 6, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, I was trying to avoid things and got distracted by all things Mickey Mouse”

What am I talking about? Just before Christmas, when I was busy with all things Chanukah and beyond, my friend Kelby Carr, aka @TypeAMom, mentioned something about Pinterest. This was far from the first time she had mentioned an addiction to it. I heard about it while in NYC during SheStreams. Of course, I tried to stay away. Why? Not because I didn’t think I would like it. I knew I would and didn’t want another item in my bag of tricks.

Well, Kelby brought me to the dark side that evening. When I said I was avoiding it, she sent me an invite. Within minutes, I was a sold. What’s not to love as a mother, geek, social media person, and crafter? Seriously, WAY too much to offer.

The beauty of Pinterest is you can personalize in any way you want. So far, I have organized my pins into 16 boards. My topics include:

Disney Life For Me – Recipes to Try – Sweet Goodness – Knitting Things – Crafts for Kids – Geek I am – Need to Read – For Those Eeyore Kind of Days – Chanukah Oh Chanukah – Recipes that we Enjoy – Bullying Be Gone – Books from Tuesday Tales – Just for Laughs – Around the House – <3 Day Items – Birthday Party Ideas

On Type-A Parent, Kelby has shared 5 Pinterest Tips for the Beginner. This post does a great job summarizing things for the newbie getting to know Pinterest. Now, let me share a few fun pins.

From “Disney Life For Me” – a favorite Dreamfinder and Figment post from Zannaland

Source: zannaland.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

A funny saying that several fellow Geeks shared and I loved for my “Geek I am” board:

Source: nerdquirks.tumblr.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Of course, there are lots of sweet temptations in my “Sweet Goodness” board. Here is one with cookie dough that is taunting me to make it one day:

Source: recipegirl.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

There are SO many other goodies out there, but I will leave you with those three pin examples. If you are on Pinterest Type-A Parent also has a Pinterest Profile Linkup that they are running to locate more people. Oh one more thing, congratulations to Kelby. While I sit and type this, she just announced that she was signed on to write a Pinterest for Dummies book.

So my question to you this week:

Are you on Pinterest yet or not? If you are, what do you like using it for? If you are not, I would love to know what you are waiting for.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #185