MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

There are really so many “community” based sites out there geared toward women that it becomes hard to pick and choose one that could really be considered a favorite.

I have been lurking around Capessa.com and I think…I have found my favorite. I’m not looking to score brownie points here, believe me (and yes, there is a contest going on right now if you blog about Capessa). I have been out here, online, voicing my thoughts, opinions and embarrassing moments for a few years now. I have joined community sites and attempted to participate but quite honestly, I never became “hooked”. There was never anything there that really lured me back in. I knew what I was looking for. I was looking for real people, fresh content and something that would put a smile on my face.

I have browsed through all of the different sections on Capessa.com. In my opinion, the site is laid out quite nicely. It’s manageable and not too clustered. It has just enough bait to keep me coming back. What really piqued my interest is Capessa’s video content. Seeing and hearing real women talking about everyday average stuff. The “seeing” and “hearing” parts are really what did it for me.

A team of Capessa editors travel around the country, conducting interviews with the average Jane at parks, stores, homes, etc. There is content for all women out there and I like that. I’m really into parenting but hey, sometimes I like to hear others options on sex and relationships too. Maybe I’d even like to comment on these opinions. Capessa is like snippets of reality t.v., on the internet.

You have the ability to register at Capessa.com and use the site like you would any other social networking community site; by starting a blog, uploading pictures, adding favorites, making friends, etc. I merely enjoy reading the articles, like Alison Drury’s 10 Pound Challenge and watching video clips like adorable engagement stories (ie: If you have just over nine minutes to spare - are you laughing at me?) watch the second one down on THIS page. It had me smiling from ear-to-ear and made me want to hit my husband for not proposing to me in a cute, creative way.

So, I hope when you have a spare moment (are you laughing at me again?) that you will check out Capessa.com. Hopefully you will feel inspired to express yourself like I do after you spend some time there.

Are you savvy? Are you an auntie (or a godmother, or a mom who’s an auntie, or a friend of an auntie)? You MUST check out Savvy Auntie! Our gal Melanie has created such an amazing website. You just have to check it out for yourself! Savvy Auntie will help you network with other aunties, find fun things to do with your nieces & nephews, and of course, things to buy them!

Give a shout to Melanie and be a Savvy Auntie!

PS: Amy met Melanie, the Savvy Auntie herself in NYC this past April (thanks to Twitter).  They visited with Katie Couric at the CBS Studio together.

: )

Is that really even a question? Come on, FREE SHIPPING. We love it and when we love something here at MumsTheWurd, we’re GOING to tell you about it.

Cue FreeShipping.org. Just a suggestion, we think you should bookmark this site and visit everyday. If you do any sort of online shopping or are thinking about doing it, FreeSshipping.org should be your first stop for free shipping codes to your favorite stores. You can’t afford not to, as they have hundreds upon hundreds of free shipping deals and discounts. Check it out…they have deals listed like: JC Penney free shipping, Old Navy, Toys R Us, Amazon.com, Target, The Children’s Place, Babies R Us, BabyCenter Store and so on and so on.

I don’t know about you but if I can avoid the mall, I do. Too many distractions and the cost of gas is crazy expensive and I’m not always in the mood to deal with a crowd (or my toddler’s behavior). I’ve done a lot more online shopping lately and my experience has been a pleasant one. Knowing about FreeShipping.org is just the icing on the cake. I’d much rather spend money on the product I want than waste it away on shipping charges or gas getting to the mall.

There’s always some kind of great deal going on with the many stores listed on FreeShipping.org!

ParentSphere is here.  ParentSphere is an all-around informational site geared toward the modern parent.  We have articles, blog posts, product reviews and giveaways.  Book mark us at: http://www.parentsphere.net

(Amy and her husband, Eric, are the owners of ParentSphere).  Now, you finally get a view from BOTH parents.

Right now, three boxes of My Fruit Roll-ups are up for grabs over at ParentSphere.  Go enter to win!

Soon, very soon, there will be some cash up for grabs…to put toward your BlogHer registration.  Oh yeah, there’s a lot more where that came from.  Just you wait and see.

ParentSphere loves The Mums and The Mums love ParentSphere.  Double the fun.  Double the giveaways.

*Follow ParentSphere on TWITTER.

*Follow MumsTheWurd on TWITTER.

Peace out.

MumsTheWurd was mentioned in a post at the Silicon Valley Moms blog, written by the Techmama herself, Beth Blecherman!

Thanks, Beth!

In case you weren’t already aware, I am a contributor at the Chicago Moms Blog, which is a part of the Silicon Valley Moms Group. Here are the links to all of the fabulous mom blogs around the country:

Be on the lookout because more of the Silicon Valley Moms Group blogs are popping up everywhere - hopefully in a city near you! Do you live in or around LA or St. Louis? These cities are next on the list! Feel free to email me if you want the scoop.

With summer quickly approaching (temperature-wise in TX, we’re practically there already. UGH.), you may be looking for things to do with your children. Our friends Ann & Sarah have come up with a brilliant new website, What to Do, Poopsy-Woo?, where you can find all sorts of great ideas for games, crafts, learning, etc. Check them out, and tell them the Mums sent you!

Want the opportunity to win some great Boon products? Boon has teamed up with Chronicle Books, publishers of the new book The Toddler Cafe, to bring you this terrific contest. Readers can enter to win by submitting their best ideas for getting kids to eat. The top ten entries will receive a signed copy of The Toddler Café and one of the new Boon feeding items. One grand prize winner will receive a complete set of Boon feeding items, plus an Animal Bag stuffed animal storage, and an assortment of parenting books form Chronicle Books including the signed copy of The Toddler Café.
Want to enter? Go HERE and tell them your best ideas for getting your kids to eat. Good luck!

Tonight, January 27th, at 7 PM CST, Olive Kids will be featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! We’re so proud of OK! In celebration of this amazing opportunity, Olive Kids wants you to win!

How to win:

Watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TONIGHT and send email to contests[at]olivekids[dot]com. Let us know which room we help to decorate and for a bonus entry tell us what Olive Kids Product they saw in the the room.

Winner will be selected by random selector.

Prize: Olive Kids will be selecting 2 winners. Each will win a $150 gift certificate to Olive Kids.

Contest ends on Tuesday January 29th – winner will be chosen on Wednesday January 30th

Good Luck, and be sure to congratulate Kim when you enter-Horray for Olive Kids!

Before I discovered One True Media, a creative online photo and video service, I was using Window’s Movie Maker or PhotoShow to create photo and video slideshows. The downside of those programs are, Window’s Movie Maker does not have all of the great effects like One True Media and it’s not online and PhotoShow does not allow you to use your own music, which I highly prefer.

You can use One True Media for free with limited access to all of the fantastic features they offer. Free version features are:

• Quickstyles, effects and transitions

• Premium quickstyles $2.99 each

• Storage space: 200 photos and/or 10-15 min. of video (up to 200 MB)

• Montage song limits: 3 per montage

• Personal TiVo Channel/2 anytime TiVo shares

That’s still not a bad deal but with One True Media’s Premium service, the features you will have access to include:

• A free pro-quality DVD worth up to $24.99

• Quickstyles, effects and transitions

• Premium quickstyles

• Premium music

• Unlimited Storage space

• Unlimited montage songs

• Personal TiVo Channel/2 anytime TiVo shares

• 5 monthly TiVo shares

• Custom embeddable online players

• Download to your PC/Mac or video iPod

The service is very easy to use. One True Media offers a high quality DVD of your montage and photo books, among other personalized items as well.

Here is a little montage I put together to show you how much fun all of the different features are:

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

WIN IT!

• We have TEN - 1 year, ONE TRUE MEDIA PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTIONS (with a free DVD included - up to a $65 value) to giveaway to TEN lucky MTW readers!

TO ENTER:

Send and email to mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com with “montage” in the subject line. Ten winners chosen on Sunday, January 20th at 10pm CST will be notified via email.

Good luck!

Christine who runs “From Dates to Diapers” was featured in her local newspaper (uh, last month - we know, we’re late to the party again)! Check out the article in the Lincoln News Messenger that features Christine and her family HERE.

Congratulations from The Mums, Christine!