Techmamas

Lifescoop Blog: Kid Desk 2.0 Upgrade - Enter to win $250

The ever so clever Clever Girls Collective invited me (@TechMama) to participate in a back to school challenge on the My Life Scoop blog (powered by Intel). It was great timing because I was in the middle of a challenge of my own: how do I redesign my 11 year old's kid desk to get ready for middle school and to have enough room to hold his technology AND projects?

Take a look at my post on My Life Scoop blog titled "Contest: Kid Desk 2.0 Upgrade - Be In It To Win It": the winning comment/solution will be awarded $250.00 gift card.

I am in need of a kid desk upgrade 2.0 - please share your ideas and enter the contest!

Disclosure: I am being compensated to write the post on My Life Scoop - but am in desperate need of a desk for my tween so I can't wait to read the comments!

Hanging with Yahoo Motherboard and Yahoo Shine

Years ago when I realized I could not use my work email for personal use - I set up a Yahoo email address. I still use Yahoo Mail and view my RSS feeds via myYahoo page.  So when Yahoo created a Mother Board program for outreach to mom bloggers, and I excited to participate.

The first Mother Board Summit was mid-July, I was excited to see the fellow Motherboard members, meet the engaging Yahoo team and connect with a brand that I am already a power user of - to learn more about their applications and properties.

As I de-brief from my trip to BlogHer10 in NYC August 6-7, I can't help but think of the fun I also had connecting with my fellow Motherboard members at conference and spending time at the Yahoo Shine booth.

The theme of the Yahoo Shine booth at BlogHer was "re-invention" - with videos discussing how women re-invented themselves displayed on screens as well as live video interviews being filmed at the booth to share more re-invention stories. I decided to share my own re-invention story with a video interview. Lucky for me, they had a makeup section and artist to help touch up my makeup before I went on. I had been in a hurry that morning at BlogHer10 and did not put my contacts in - so I needed some makeup "re-invention"!.

After I recieved the make-up "intervention" I was ready to discuss my career intervention. Jumping off the "Partner" career track as a Senior Manager at Deloitte to have my twins (I already had an older son) was a hard choice. I always felt that becoming a mom was the right choice - I just could not find the right work/life balance after I went back to work with my first child. I began blogging as a career 2.0 and online social networking to build a new professional network, which I could do on a flexible schedule (and the second shift - which is after the kids go to sleep). Then I did lots of hard work to build an new online brand (TechMama) - all of which helped me re-invent myself professionally.  Here is my Yahoo Shine reinvention video:

Back to the Yahoo Motherboard Summit details:

Apple and Sony Tech Updates Sept. 1

I know many families use multiple Apple and/or Sony products. Today it seemed to be the "day of tech updates" with press meetings for both Apple and Sony. While I did not get to be there live, I felt like I was there because of all the posts I have been reading all day. I decided to curate the links I found using Pearltrees:

 

Apple:

Sony:

A Day of WomenTech: #140Conf SF - Women Talking Tech on the Real Time Web and Huffington Post article

Yesterday I had the honor of being on a panel for one of my favorite tech conferences: @JeffPulver's #140Conf (San Francisco). This was my second #140conf, the first was #140confNYC. Maya Bisineer @thinkmaya invited me (@techmama) to join her #140conf NYC "Innovating for our future" along with @alicewilder and Stephanie Aaronson @SAGalluch.

Our #140conf panel San Francisco was called "Women talking Tech about the Real-Time Web" with a fab panel: @techmama (moderater -thats me), Eliane Fiolet @ElianeFiolet from @ubergizmo, Elisa Camahort page @ElisaC from @BlogHer (*BlogHer also has @BlogHerSupport @BlogHerDeals and other co-founders @lisastone and @jorydj), Kristie Wells @kristiewells from @socialmediaclub and Liza Sperling @lizasperling from @scoutlabs. Even more fun was my virtual panelist Shireen Mitchell @digitalsista that tweeted from DC while we were in San Francisco!

On our Women talking tech panel we discussed the different ways we use Twitter to share our voice and interact with our communities. After the panel I was thrilled to meet an amazing tech voice from (drumroll) Twitter! Del Harvey @delbius spoke on a #140conf panel about Twitter.

As an attempt to organize a list to follow the unique womentech voices/organizations on Twitter, I created a womentech Twitter list (I hope to add lots more to that list as I just created it for the panel). Some of the amazing voices on the list that are also local to SF area are:  @jolieodell from Mashable (and another Mashable socal tweep @jbruin), @magicsaucemedia, @susanmernit,  @leahculver, @techiediva and @sairy. Some of the organizations are @anitaborg_org, @shesgeeky, @gitweet, @women2, @DevChix, @DigitalWoman, @ForbesWoman, @BlogHer, @MomBloggersClub and @WomenWhoTech.

I already have 2 techmom (techmom and techmom2) twitter lists - and growing!

My eyes are going blurry with all of the "@" Twitter names I listed on this post, but it is so hard to contain my excitement at connecting with amazing women tech on Twitter! My next step will be curate my women tech list on Pearltrees.com.

After I got home from the #140conf SF, I was thrilled to see an email that informed me that I was included in a geek girls post on one of my favorite blogs: Huffington Post. Kelly Feller wrote a post called "Despite Appearances, Girls Are Geeky Too" that included my tweep Eliane Fiolet and other women tech voices including Deborah Conrad. Just the day before I was so honored to be included on the Forbes (@ForbesWoman) list of "20 Best-Branded Women on Twitter". Both of these articles are so exciting because I have spent the last few years focusing on a brand built around moms, women and technology. An important part of my goals are reaching out to the community of tech women and moms through social media; and Twitter is one of my favorite social media platforms.

I have to say, other then building Lego's with my boys - I can't think of a better way to spend my day then with Twitter and WomenTech peeps.

If you want to follow any of the fabulous tweeps mentioned in this post, here are the direct links:

Dr Frank Ryan, Texting While Driving and The Microdermabrasion That Will Never Be

While I may be a techie, I am also obsessed with celebrity news. I try to explain it to my friends that reading the crazy trials and tribulations of celebrity life is a great escape from the stress of my own daily life. But while the celebrities all seem to be doing some type of nip, tuck, needle prick and hair extension, my biggest spurlge is a facial now and then.

But just last week I decided "why not try some celebrity sprucing up". I started with jogging - and luckily I have no paparazzi following me. Next I wanted to go beyond a facial - but still stay away from a needle or an operating table. I remembered that a few years ago I somehow ended up with a gift certificate from one of the top plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills for a microdermabrasion. I thought "why not" - so I pulled out the gift certificate a few days ago. I hoped it was still valid. I decided that while I was there I could ask about what else the stars do. Just for curiosity's sake of course...

Then I read the news that a beloved Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon named Dr. Frank Ryan was killed in a tragic accident. I read about the tragic death not only on TechMeme and Mashable, but on People Magazine. I had this feeling that the name Dr. Frank Ryan sounded familiar. So I grabbed the gift certificate out of my draw, and - yes - it was from Dr. Frank Ryan (see photo below).

Even TechMama's Need To Exercise (Says their son!)

After months of non-stop a-working and then a busy but fun BlogHer conference in New York last week, I decided it was time to get back on the exercise bandwagon. As I begun writing my BlogHer post (still in the works), I realized how fun it was to see everyone - but how tired I was. The reason was not as much related to my busy schedule as it was because my lack of endurance (due to lack of exercise).

So - to get my endurance back - I am making a committement (for reals) to get in shape. Writing this post is a way of solidifying that committement, as I am sure my peeps will be asking me how it is going and I don't want to say that I have not got off the couch yet.

I even told my son about my committement to get back into shape and he has taken on jogging with me to (as he said) "make sure I get a good workout".

Day 1:

Today we took a jog. My body hurt... I was out of breath.. I got yelled at: my son TechBoy - who is 11 going on 18 - yelled at me if I stopped.

 

 

 

Story: How 16 Year Old Made His First Million Dollars Via Gizmodo

I was reading TechMeme and I found this article on Gizmodo that discussed how a 16 year old named Christian Owens (yes - that is SIXTEEN YEAR OLD) made his first million dollars inspired by none other then Steve Jobs. This me feel alittle better about the outrageous amount I spent on computer camp for my tween.

Well - reading the post about the 16 year old millionaire Christian Owens - and the fact that my tween son loves to play with anything computer makes me feel better about sending him to a camp where he sits in front of the computer for part of the day. TechBoy (as my tween son also calls himself) is also my defacto cameraman and editor. Yes, he gets paid in points for his hard work. That is how he earned his electric guitar. So for now my son is breaking even for his business venture, or we can call it "re-investing his earnings in business capital".

RE: Twitter Who To Follow Feature - I would rather follow the real Walt Mossberg

I value using Twitter not only as a social media tool but as a way to interact real time with an engaged community.

So I end up spending lots of time each day on Twitter.

I read about the new "Who To Follow Feature" and was curious to try it. Suddenly it appeared on my Twitter screen - so I was excited to view the recommendations. Here is one recommendation that popped up:

Curating BlogHer10

I am excited to be heading to the BlogHer10 (2010) conference. I will be looking for great links/posts from the conference to share on my BlogHer10 Pearltree. The information shared at BlogHer is always so rich with interesting, informative, inspiring and just plain ole fun - that I decided to curate the info during BlogHer.

Here are two posts about I wrote with details about Pearltrees - a social curation tool: Understanding Pearltrees: A New Way To Organize Web Content. There are also updates to Pearltrees functionality that I will be posting about soon. I will also be visiting Kirtsy and BlogHer to find fun content about BlogHer10.

**Please comment or share your BlogHer10 posts or Pearls/Pearltrees with me!***

Here is my main BlogHer10 Conference info Pearltree:

Here is my BlogHer Day One Agenda:

Here is my BlogHer Day Two Agenda:

I will be speaking with two fab mom bloggers (Kimberley Blaine and Susan Getgood) Day One about Online Branding. The title of the session for BlogHer10 is "Professional: ROYO - Social Media is Bringing Sexy Back to Branding -- Do You Have the Social Media Strategy and Tools for Success?". To collect information for my presentation I created an Online Branding Pearltree.

More to come as I add new content to my Pearltrees during the conference.

Disclosure: I am a Pearltrees Evangalist

Project Mom Casting

Similar to MommaSaid.net, I was also once again amazed at my fabulous blogging friend Ciaran Blumenfeld of Momfluential by coming up with an idea about a TV show based on mom bloggers (Project Mom Casting).

I am a big fan of reality TV, I have it on while I am blogging to put me in the blogging mood. Life as a mom of three boys can be crazy, so viewing reality TV helps me realize that I am not alone - that there are many people in much "crazier" situations. I am also a fan of moms blogs, they give me that "I relate to" feeling and regularly inspire me. That is why I will be excited to see what Project Mom Casting comes up with.

But if I take a step back, I sometimes feel as though I am living a reality TV worthy life right now. Here is my true, but crazy storyline:

1. Techie girl discovers her inner geek: Techie Girl discovers that while math was not her strong point in school, she excelled at anything related to technology and programming. Techie girl then decides to become a programmer when she grows up.

2. Techie Woman: After college Techie Girl realizes her dream and becomes a programmer, then a systems project manager. Techie Girl becomes techie woman, then gets a job at a big ole consulting firm (Deloitte).

3. TechMama: Techie woman enjoyed working at family friendly Deloitte and became Senior Manager. She had her first son then had fertility problems (including 5 miscarriages). After she used technology (IVF), she delivered twin boys and decided to jump off Partner track.

4. TechMama "The Domain": Techmama decided that having three boys and a wonderful husband was gratifying in a family sense, but missed having a work life. Techmama also did not like how she was treated by tech sales people when she was with her kids, she kept reminding them "Hey, I run all the technology for our family - so I will be installing that wireless router myself". TechMama started blogging as Career 2.0.

5. TechMama "Social Media Addict": Along with blogging, Techmama started Twittering, Facebooking, Flickr'ing and joining communities online to meet other tech moms.

6. TechMama "The Adventure": TechMama takes blogging to the next level, searching out interesting and adventurous stories of others to share on her blog. She became inspired by the brave men and women on the USS Nimitz, the tech community in Paris, how Vivienne Tam designed her HP Netbook, the technology behind the fabulous animated 3D movie Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, hang out at CES , see a live taping of the Chelsea Lately show, met Katie Couric and fabulous bloggers along the way. Best of all she had the chance to realize a dream, at a red carpet event she not only got a spray tan to help combat her pale geeky skin color, but also met some reality stars live (Real Housewives of Orange County).