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After last weekend with tons of fun in Houston, I was given an opportunity to check out the main website to get tickets to concerts at the Houston Rodeo .  The first thing that I noticed was the line up while the rodeo is going on.

When I was growing up, I grew up going to the rio grande valley livestock show/rodeo and listening to mostly country music, so I was excited about the concert line up in Houston.  From Alan Jackson, Tim Mcgraw, and Brooks and Dunn, I think I just might have to convince my husband that it’s a good idea to go back to Houston!

I haven’t been to a rodeo or livestock show in a long time, and I think it would be cool to experience something else besides the RGV stock show.  The great part about it is that there are groups for varying tastes of music, including Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez.

From what I can tell, it would be a blast to get tickets to any of the concerts, but if I could only choose two to go to, I would go to Brooks and Dunn and Mary J. Blige.  Not to mention getting to go on all the rides and having unhealthy food like funnel cakes or whatever they happen to have.  Sometimes it’s nice to just let your hair down, let the wind blow through, and have a good time even if it means indulging a little here and there.   Besides, from checking out the ticket prices, it wouldn’t be unreasonable (depending on where you’re willing to sit) to check out multiple shows.  Let me know if you’re going to the rodeo in Houston, or if you’ve ever gone, and what your take on it is.

Yeehaw!

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure- This is a sponsored post brought to you by Teamone and RodeoHouston, but in no way has affected my opinions or words that you have read today.

After two action packed weekends, back to back, I felt the need to take a few days away from blogging to get my brain back, and to let it all sink in (and give daddy, baby and my bed, some special quality time without mommy hacking away.)  WOW!  I had an earth shattering time!  It all started with winning a contest at Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, and I had an AMAZING time!  In the same day that I heard the news about the contest, I had to jump on an opportunity to volunteer for the Mom 2.0 conference and glad that I did.

It all started with everyone dressed to the nines in a Mad Men themed party, and everyone ready to meet and mingle.  I hadn’t been to a party in over two years, so I was afraid I had lost my touch for being social, but I managed…barely.  It wasn’t very hard when there were so many ladies that flashed a warm smile and ready to talk to me and hand me their business card.  AHHHH!  I forgot about business cards!  Rookie mistake, indeed.  I’ll never make that mistake again.

Moving forward, on the first day of conferencing, I was very intimidated by all the super smart and beautiful women, but then after listening to the keynote speakers Gretchen Rubin and Heloise, I knew I was going to get vast amounts of information and fall into place.

After my interview with Heloise, and realizing what amazing and warm woman she is, I found my footing and hit the ground running (still editing video, so watch out for that in the next day.)  I still can’t forget what Heloise said that really resonated with not only myself, but many other women, “Before you post anything online, think twice, because what you write may affect someone…it may also affect you and your family ten years from now.” Another reason why I took a few days away from blogging.

A major theme of the conference was being genuine and authentic.  Sometimes when faced with opportunities, it may be tempting to write up glowing and flawless reviews.  The consensus from all the successful mom bloggers is to be true and authentic to yourself and opinions, and you will be able to hold your readers because they know they will come to your blog not just for a good read, but because your opinion is valued.

The first panel I attended really made me think about how this whole blogging thing has become more than putting words to print and can actually be a full time income, not just a few dollars here and there.  As a stay at home mom, I’m constantly thinking about how I can make the most of my time and how I can stay at home with my daughter and still earn a full time income.  I’m sure that many other mom bloggers are constantly thinking of the same thing, but the first panel really gave much information on how it can be possible.  Being authentic is the first, and maintaining an active voice.  Companies value a real and honest opinion, so if you want businesses to work with you, be genuine and authentic, and don’t fall into the passive voice.

The next, is to figure out how you will make your blogging into full time income.  There are many resources that are out there, and some that were mentioned were small business resource centers, and score.org.  Not to mention, there are many grants that companies and the government accept applications for, that do not charge fees, and are free to apply for.  It’s great to know that there are non profit companies out there, like The National Institute of Small Business Grants that educate business owners and entrepreneurs for free.  If there’s only one thing I took away that I’d like to share to other mom bloggers that was shared with me, is to be S.M.A.R.T in establishing your blogging as a business and what you want to achieve–be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and have a Time-frame.

My personal goal is to be at home full time with my daughter while running a full time business and income by the end of 2010 to bring my husband home as well.  I know it’s possible because there were many women at the Mom 2.0 conference that have achieved such success.  In other panels, there was even a lawyer to answer any and all questions, ready and willing to help.  Many topics hinged around the FTC regulations about disclosing relationships with businesses as well.  (Oh yeah, I also won a stroller from Scandinavian Child, which I can’t wait to get!)

Day two kicked off with the panel: Bloggers, Brands, and the New Publishing Paradigm, with Heather Armstrong, Gabrielle Blair, Maggie Mason and Stephanie Smirnov, and I felt very invigorated by the discussion and words that were shared.  The biggest thing I took away from this panel was that it’s important to maintain your voice, and finding a good fit for your message when working with businesses, and having an active role in communities.  Decide what your readers want, and give it to them.  Many nuggets of good advice, and things that I need to work on.

In the breakout sessions, I think the panel that sticks out for me on day two was the Ready, Set, Optimize Panel, discussing ways to become more user friendly, and SEO friendly.  Biggest thing: Get simple, and organized(think journalistic style,) and track your user actions to better optimize (with keywords) your site for future use.

There’s plenty of information I’m still processing, and I’m still trying to get some video editing done, but just wanted to share some nuggets of information.  I tried my best to attribute where words came from, but if you notice anything I missed, please feel free to point it out.

Also, if you were in attendance, please share something you learned at the conference.  Karma is a powerful thing, and we’re all here to be successful in a healthy and happy sort of way, so if there was something that you learned in a panel, please share it and we will all be smiley and grateful!

In the mean time, stay tuned for behind the scenes interviews from the Mom 2.0 2010 conference.

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure–This is a sponsored post by BusinessGrants.org, but in no way affects my words or opinion of the Mom 2.0 Conference.

Now, I’m all for the natural and gradual loss of weight, but what if you are severely overweight, and are facing life threatening diseases if your weight is not under control?

Well, I know several people that can’t seem to lose weight, and have contemplated getting weight loss surgery because they have been threatened with devastation and risks that come with having diabetes.

It’s a hard call to make, but ultimately each person should decide what is best for them, with consultation from a doctor.   If it comes down to your life and whether or not to get a simple procedure that would help shed weight, it’s probably best to weigh the decision (with the help from a doctor) and see if getting weight loss surgery is right for you.

What do you think?  Have you or someone you know had a weight loss procedure done?  Did the procedure have a positive or negative effect?

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure-This is a sponsored post, but the opinions above are mine and mine alone and have in no way been influenced by sponsorship.

For those of you that know me, I’m no vegetarian, and since I’m breastfeeding, I feel this even bigger need to consume enough protein to sustain a baby that gets an inch bigger every time I look at her.  That being said, I also have to consider the quality of the protein that I put into my body, because after all it’s not only my body that it affects.

One thing that I love about organic, natural meat is that there is a certain care taken of the animals that makes the meat taste just that much better.  I think the part that captivates me is that the animals are fed and cared for to avoid having to give them antibiotics and hormones to beef up their protein content, or to avoid serious infections.

There’s also the fact that most organic meats are raised on farms right in the U.S and are raised on self sustaining farms that are well cared for.  One thing about mass farmed and commercial protein is the conditions that they are raised is actually what leads to contamination risks such as salmonella and e. coli, and with as many recalls as I’ve been reading about, that’s enough to stay on the organic band wagon.

Do you consume organic meats, or produce?  What made you take the plunge and make the extra expense to go organic?  Are there any particular items that you don’t feel the need to buy organically?

If you don’t buy organically, what deters you?  Is it the cost, or is there not enough proof and information to justify the greater expense?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights!

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure-This is a sponsored post and the opinions above are mine and mine alone, and are in NO way influenced by sponsorship.

Having just moved to a new place (and thanks to all those that took the time to comment and send well wishes) and getting all settled in, the home buyer tax credit has been on my mind.  Although I would love to own our own home right now, we just aren’t in the position to own a house.  It’s caused me a lot of sadness to not be able to own our own home, especially considering how much research and reading I’ve done about our options and the tax credit available.

There are so many benefits to the tax credit, and it’d be close to insanity not to take advantage of it.  In case you don’t know about the tax credit, it’s been extended, and is pretty much like getting paid money to buy a house. There is a lot of talk about it all but there are basically two types of credit available. The $6,500 Tax Credit is available to existing home buyers that would like to get into a new home and have been in the home as a primary residence for the last 5 of 8 years.  The $8,000 tax credit is for first time home buyers that have not previously owned a home in the last 3 years.

Seems pretty simple and straight forward, but there are some intricacy that must be known.  First, it must be known that the credit has been extended to April 30, 2010, and all contracts must be closed by June 30, 2010.  Also, the income limits to qualifying for the credit have been increased, as to allow more people to qualify, and is good news for those that were teetering just outside of qualifying.

Additionally, the tax credit applies to all houses valued at $800,000 or less.  To me, sounds like a pretty good deal, and really would help tons of people to get into their own homes.  Unfortunately for us, we won’t be able to take advantage of the tax credit, but I’m hoping by this time next year we’ll be in a better position and will finally be able to find a house that is right for us.

If you don’t know much about the tax credit, check out this video, where I learned a lot of stuff, including the fact that one new job is created for a year for every home that is purchased:

Have you taken advantage of the tax credit this year or last year? Have you thought about taking advantage of the credit? If you have taken the tax credit, how has it affected your family?

~Hale Mom

*Disclosure: this is a sponsored post, however the opinions above are mine and mine alone, and are in no way influenced by sponsorship.