Carolina Mama Writes for BabyCenter's Momformation, SheSpeaks & Kissimmee CVB

Hope your Summer is off to a great start!  We are loving this Season!  It is an awesome Season for us!   Truth is, awesome equals busy for now. :)  Lots of writing!  Lots of Travel Writing and Beauty and Fashion blogging. MomFashion. Life is good!

So I wanted to share with you all some of my latest writing projects so that you can check them out.  I am fortunate to be writing for some awesome sites and you would love reading them any way, any day.

i.SeeKissimmee Blog.  i.seeKissimmee a blog for the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau.  It is about you and the way you experience the wonderful destination of Kissimmee, Florida and the Orlando area of Central Florida.  

This blog is written by Kissimmee visitors as guest bloggers, with a few entries by our staff. Bloggers are paid a daily stipend to share their honest and unfiltered opinions about lodging,restaurants, attractions and eventsbased on actual trips taken to Central Florida. The Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau has not altered or edited these posts. We encourage you to comment on posts by our guest bloggers.

My Kissimmee Story and the Week we Explored the Kissimmee area is live here and  here now. 

BabyCenter's Momformation.  BabyCenter is the voice of the 21st Century Mom® and modern motherhood. Now the Web's #1 global interactive parenting network, it has nurtured more than 100 million parents since its launch in 1997. BabyCenter reaches over 78 percent of new and expectant moms online in the United States, and 7 in 10 babies born in the United States in 2009 were BabyCenter babies.  BabyCenter's popular parenting blog Momformation is  written for moms by moms and keeps BabyCenter parents up-to-date on all the latest parenting news. 

You can check my posts on Momformation here. 

Today's is "7 Big Kid Activities for Boys!" and is live here. 

SheSpeaks.   "Bringing you the best in Beauty & Fashion Blogs."  You can find my Beauty and Fashion Blog posts here.  SheSpeaks was created by a woman just like you who wanted to give all women a forum to express their opinions and connect with others.

It is now a community of smart and insightful women who come together to share our opinions and see the power of our collective voices in action. Love this Tunic style by Fresh Produce! 

So now tell me about your Summer?  What are you up to these warm afternoons?  You see where you can catch me or of course, here at Carolina Mama. Thanks for stopping by!


Warmly,  Carolina Mama

BabyCenter Releases Survey: 64% of Moms Began Smartphone Use in Last Two Years

We love BabyCenter!  I love writing as a BabyCenter Network Blogger and their resources are endless.  They also get the scoop on trends Moms have - like Smartphone use! :)  Check this out: In the past two years, Moms have upped their SmartPhone use 64%.  I'm in that number!  Are you?

SMARTPHONE ADOPTION AMONG MOMS HAS RISEN 64% IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, SAYS BABYCENTER’S “21ST CENTURY MOBILE MOM® REPORT” Nearly half (46%) of moms have taken action after seeing an ad on their smartphone (San Francisco) – March 29, 2011 – BabyCenter®, the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, today released its “21st Century Mobile Mom® Report,” which revealed that mobile phones – and smartphones in particular – have become indispensible to moms, who are 18% more likely than average to have a smartphone. Overall adoption of smartphones among moms has risen 64% over the past two years, and 51% of moms say they are “addicted” to their smartphone. The study captures the opinions and behaviors of more than 5,000 U.S. moms and members of the general population and gives detailed information on how, where, and when moms use their smartphone and the best ways for marketers to reach them. “The smartphone screen is more intimate than any other medium out there today. The majority of moms sleep with their cell phone next to their bed and more than half check their phone first thing in the morning and last thing before they go to sleep. You can’t say that about any other medium,” said Tina Sharkey, Chairman and Global President of BabyCenter. “Mobile isn’t just a media channel, it’s her constant companion that makes juggling easier. It makes her feel like a better mom.” Motherhood is a trigger for mobile adoption More than half (53%) of the women surveyed said they purchased a smartphone as a direct result of becoming a mom. During this transition to motherhood, the most important features of her phone changed from her address book and text messaging to her camera, up 78% to #1, and video camera, which increased by 167% to #2. Apps, which weren’t even on her top ten list of important mobile features before she became a mom, increased 67% to #3 on the list. More than half (52%) of the moms surveyed have ten or more apps downloaded, with nearly 25% of the apps being for her kids. Moms are mobile power users She may never have mastered programming the VCR, but today’s mom knows her way around the smartphone. The majority (68%) know how to use most of the features of their smartphone, and 75% troubleshoot their own phone. The ultimate multitasker, Mom now uses her smartphone to manage more than just the family schedule. One-third(33%) of moms have used their smartphone for health and wellness in the past month, making a mom 50% more likely to do so than average. Their health and wellness activities include tracking their family’s health (60%) as well as researching health conditions (90%). Moms are also 40% more likely than average to use their smartphone for social networking. Her top three social activities include reading social newsfeeds (56%), updating her status (54%), and reading answers to posted questions (48%). Mobile forever alters the path to the register As the primary purchaser in the family, today’s mom seamlessly weaves mobile into her shopping experience by using tools to research, decide, and buy right in the store. The report found that 68% of moms use their smartphone while shopping – meaning a mom is 15% more likely to do so than average. In fact, nearly half (46%) claim the most convenient time to receive information about a product is when they are in the store. Also, 62% of moms use shopping apps to research or compare prices. Mobile addiction changes media consumption Mom’s media consumption has evolved along with her smartphone adoption. On average, she spends 37% of her daily media time with her smartphone, which is double that spent on TV, and more time than with other media, including radio, magazines, and newspapers. With her schedule maxed out, mom is turning to e-mail and text messaging to simplify her life. The inbox has become the new portal, with 78% of moms saying they use e-mail on their smartphone to filter incoming communications on a daily basis. Moms are also 284% more likely than the average adult to text their friends rather than call them. Moms tap on mobile ads When it comes to mobile ads, moms love utility, with coupons, nearby local deals, and bar code scanning rounding out the top three most appealing features of mobile ads. Nearly half (46%) of moms have taken action after seeing an ad on their smartphone. “The fact that mobile is mainstream for moms, and is always on, creates infinite possibilities for today’s marketers. The mobile media inflection point is now. Marketers need to understand this to build deeper and more meaningful connections with Mom,” said Michael Fogarty, Global Publisher of BabyCenter. The study captured the opinions and behaviors of more than 5,000 moms and members of the general population as well as an ethnography study of 23 moms that included over 1,000 text logs, 200 video entries, and 32 hours of in-home interviews. In addition to having mobile optimized sites in all 22 of its markets worldwide, BabyCenter offers a suite of mobile products to assist moms, including the BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today application for iPhone, iTouch, and Android, and the BabyCenter Birth Class for iPad. The company’s other innovative mobile applications include Booty Caller™, the first service to help women conceive by alerting them via text message when they’re most likely to be fertile, and PhonyPhone™, an app that turns a cell phone into a pretend phone so kids can dial away without making a real call. Additionally, in an effort to reach underserved women and empower them to take control over their health, BabyCenter launched a daily text-to-voice mobile program in India and is participating in a number of maternal health projects around the globe including Text4baby in the United States and the Grameen Foundation’s Mobile Midwife project which helps moms in rural Ghana. ### About BabyCenter® LLC BabyCenter® is the voice of the 21st Century Mom® and modern motherhood. It’s the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, reaching more than 10 million moms monthly in the U.S. and more than 25 million moms monthly in 22 markets from Australia to India to China. In the United States, 7 in 10 babies born last year were BabyCenter babies. BabyCenter is the world’s partner in parenting, providing moms everywhere with trusted advice from hundreds of experts around the globe, friendship with other moms like them, and support that’s remarkably right at every stage of their child’s development. BabyCenter also works with some of the world’s most prominent brands and institutions to provide life-stage marketing solutions and a direct line to highly engaged moms. BabyCenter is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. ***VOTE FOR BABYCENTER in the Webby Choice Awars: Best Parenting Site! :)

Warmly, Carolina Mama

Horizons DHA Omega-3 Benefits and Giveaway

Here I go again loving on Colorado Companies! "Horizon milk has a milk line enhanced with DHA Omega-3, an important nutrient that helps support heart, brain and eye health."

Most people who know me or read here or follow there: Twitter and Facebook know that I love Starbucks! It's been my thing since 1992 - really!! As a Mommy, Starbucks has helped to see me through the busy days of mothering twins.


It has been such peace of mind that Starbucks carries the individual Horizon Milk for the boys. Mama can have her Iced Coffee and the Tigers can drink Horizon Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 that has awesome benefits!


So what's all the talk about DHA Omega-3 ...


Renowned Pediatrician Dr. Sears calls it a Brain Food. See his Ask Dr. Sears talks about DHA as a Brain Food article where he shares:


DHA AS A BRAIN FOOD

Fats make up sixty percent of the brain and the nerves that run every system in the body. So, it stands to reason that the better the fat in the diet, the better the brain. So, with all the fat eaten by the average American, why don't we have more geniuses in this country? The average American brain is getting enough fat, but it's not getting the right kind of fat.

Most important to brain function are the two essential fatty acids, linoleic (or omega 6) and alpha linolenic (or omega 3). These are the prime structural components of brain cell membranes and are also an important part of the enzymes within cell membranes that allow the membranes to transport valuable nutrients in and out of the cells.

Our boys love the Horizons Chocolate and Vanilla Milk. You can learn more and stay in the loop and get more information on the Horizon DHA Omega-3 Facebook page.

Follow Horizon on Twitter

You can also get Horizon Coupons for a better value:

Win one of (2) Horizons Goody Bag Giveaway! Giveaway open until March 2nd @ 8:00 pm EST. All the best!


*Easy entry - link to this post so others can learn the good news of DHA and Omega-3 and leave your link in the comments.

Goody Bag contents:

1 Red Chico Bag
1 Red SIGG water bottle (branded w/ Horizon logo)
1 Horizon soft sided lunch box
1 Horizon Rubiks Cube keychain
1 Horizon T-shirt
5 Horizon free product coupons

Extra entry for each:


"Like" Horizon on Facebook;
"Follow" Horizon on Twitter;
"Like" CarolinaMama on Facebook.


Do you children drink Horizon milk? How do you get your children fortified with DHA Omega-3?

Warmly, Carolina Mama

This post is a sponsored post in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network.

BABYCENTER® Names It's Top Baby Names of 2010 - Is Your Baby On the List?

BABYCENTER® HAS MADE ITS LIST AND CHECKED IT TWICE,

REVEALING THE TOP BABY NAMES OF 2010

Sophia and Aiden Top the Annual List, While Glee and Mad Men Make Their Mark

BabyCenter Spots Trends, Predicts the Top Names of 2011, and Picks Baby Names for Pregnant Celebrities

(San Francisco) – December 2, 2010 – BabyCenter^®, the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, today released the results of its annual Baby Names Survey and the Top 100 Baby Names of 2010. Based on the names of more than 350,000 babies born in 2010 to moms registered on the BabyCenter website, Aiden tops the boys' list for the sixth consecutive year while Sophia takes the number one spot on the girls' list away from Isabella. Also making their mark on this year's list are a number of pop culture influences, which BabyCenter has dubbed the Glee Effect, Mad Men Madness, and Disney Princess Magic. This year's list also takes note of two new influencers, sports and politics, with The Olympics and the Palins providing inspiration to many. Additionally, the research shows more modern names for boys becoming increasingly popular this year, even as parents continue to choose classic names for girls.

Using its unique name-preference algorithm, BabyCenter also offers its own picks for the growing number of pregnant celebrities and their soon-to-be headliners. In addition, BabyCenter took a look at the movers and shakers on this year's list, current baby-naming trends, and pop culture influences to predict which names will be hot in 2011 and beyond.

BabyCenter's Top 100 Baby Names list combines names that sound the same but have different spellings, making it a true measure of baby name popularity. The website conducts its Baby Names Survey every year to give parents-to-be a deep dive into the psychology and trends surrounding baby naming. BabyCenter's survey reveals interesting insights, including the fact that although 34% of moms say they hate a friend or family member's baby name, 90% of them would never tell. And 1 out of 3 moms used her mobile phone to decide on a name, whether by browsing the Internet for inspiration (27%) or texting baby name ideas to others (15%).

Top 10 Baby Names of 2010

Girls Boys

Sophia Aiden

Isabella Jacob

Olivia Jackson

Emma Ethan

Chloe Jayden

Ava Noah

Lily Logan

Madison Caden

Addison Lucas

Abigail Liam

Pop Culture's Influence in 2010

Top pop culture influences this year include the TV series Glee, with the character names Finn and Quinn on a meteoric rise, and Mad Men, with seemingly old-fashioned names like Betty soaring in popularity. Moms seem to be as enchanted by the Disney princesses as their daughters are, with names like Demi and Tiana rising in popularity.

Two surprising new trends for 2010 come from very different sources. On the heels of the recent Winter Olympics, the names Bode, Shaun, and Apollo all made significant jumps in the rankings. And with the Palin family grabbing news headlines almost every day, the names Bristol, Willow, and Piper are all trending up.

"Thirty-six percent of BabyCenter moms say they find name inspiration in famous people and characters. This is the first time we've seen parents really own up to the influence of pop culture," says Linda Murray, BabyCenter editor in chief. "Celebrities are our royalty, and consciously or unconsciously, parents want a bit of that shine to rub off on their kids."

Looking ahead

BabyCenter has analyzed the names grew the most in popularity. Though you won't find them on this year's top 10 list, keep an eye out for this unusual bunch as they make their way up the rankings in 2011 and beyond!

Girls Boys

Isla Bentley

Adalyn Kellan

Giuliana Kingston

Olive Aarav

Kinsley Ryker

Evangeline Beckett

Paisley Colt

Vivienne Paxton

Maci Jax

Kinley Lincoln

Celebrity Baby Boom

These days, you can't pick up a magazine or turn on the TV without seeing news about celebrities who are expecting a baby. To help these famous moms- and dads-to-be pick great names, BabyCenter came up with suggestions based on the preference technology in BabyCenter's Baby Name Explorer. (Plug in a name and get suggestions for other names you might like or compatible sibling names.)

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

· Girl: Destiny, Brielle, Desiree

· Boy: Jesse, Tyler, Alonzo

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem

· Girl: Julieta, Paola, Isidra

· Boy: Armand, Emilio, Pedro

Pink and Carey Hart

· Girl: Hudsen, Ace, Blaze, Blaise

· Boy: Couple has selected Jameson

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom

· Girl: Victoria, Madilyn, Veronica, Helena, Viola

· Boy: Xavier, Marco, Jasper, Basil

Alanis Morissette and Mario "Souleye" Treadway

· Girl: Sundari, Soul, Dharma

· Boy: Aspen, Zen, Stage

Eli and Abby Manning

· Girl: Paige, Ava, Claire

· Boy: Archie, Owen, Jake,

Christina Applegate and Martyn Lenoble

· Girls: Lily, Claire, Stella

· Boys: Liam, Henry, Bennett

Vince Vaughn and Kyla Weber

· Girls: Haley, Ava, Skye

· Boys: Wyatt, Dylon, Sawyer

Josh and Anna Duggar

· Girls: Elizabeth, Emily, Abigail

· Boys: Samuel, Jacob, Riley

Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland

· Girls: Mackenzie, Rachel, Samantha

· Boys: Blake, Chase, Jacob

Emily Procter and Paul Bryan

· Girls: Claire, Savannah, Grace

· Boys: Ethan, Joshua, Tyler

Buddy and Lisa Valastro

· Girls: Stella, Isabella, Ana

· Boys: Mateo, Antonio, Tomas

Samantha Harris and Michael Hess

· Girls: Jhasmin, Stephanie, Hannah

· Boys: Justin, Patrick, Robert

Laila Ali and Curtis Conway

· Girls: Angel, Denia, Makayla, Zain

· Boys: Noah, Jackson, Tristan

Craig and Megan Ferguson

· Girls: Millie, Gillian, Maeve

· Boys: Liam, Felix, Finn

What's in a Name?

In addition to compiling the list of Top 100 Baby Names of 2010, BabyCenter surveyed more than 2,000 moms in November 2010 to better understand trends in baby naming. Overall, according to the survey, the attributes of kindness and compassion, leadership, and good looks are becoming more important when choosing a name for both boys and girls. While strength is the top quality moms seek in boy names (68%), kindness and compassion is the top quality (64%) moms look for in girls' names. Choosing a child's name is considered one of the most important tasks for a parent-to-be, and one that is not taken lightly. Most parents (62%) believe that a child's name contributes to his or her success in life.

For more information on BabyCenter's 2010 baby name insights, trends, and online tools for finding your ideal baby name, please visithttp://www.babycenter.com/special-report-baby-names.

With 1 in 4 babies in the United States born to Hispanic moms, BabyCenter did a deep dive into influences and trends among the Hispanic population. In 2010, original names ruled for Hispanic baby boys, and the names were clearly influenced by video games. Three new boys' names in the Top 100 are tied to popular games: Mario (Super Mario Bros), Marcos (Gears of War), and Dante (Devil May Cry).

The name Axel (Guitar Hero) jumped up 24 positions. For Hispanic girls, green is the new pink. Names tied to natural elements either burst into the Top 100 list for the first time or surged in popularity: Rocío (morning dew), Paloma (dove), Violeta (violet), Fiorella (little flower in Italian), Diana (goddess of hunting and associated with forests), Aitana (name of a mountain range in Spain), and Delfina (related to dolphin). A strong Italian influence has also been identified in Hispanic baby names this year for both boys and girls.

For a complete list of the top 100 Hispanic baby names, please visit: http://espanol.babycenter.com/pregnancy/nombres/populares-2010/

To see the trends in Hispanic baby names, please visit: http://espanol.babycenter.com/pregnancy/nombres/tendencias-2010/

###

BabyCenter Baby Names Content Links

Baby Names Special Report: http://www.babycenter.com/special-report-baby-names

Top 100 list: http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2010

What’s Hot and What’s Not: http://www.babycenter.com/0_hottest-baby-name-trends-of-2010_10342708.bc

Movers and Shakers: http://www.babycenter.com/0_hottest-baby-names-of-2010-the-movers-and-shakers_10342709.bc

Momformation Blog Posts:

Today Show clip and announcement: http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/top-100-baby-names-of-2010-released-on-the-today-

Hottest trends in baby names: http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/hottest-trends-in-baby-names/

Press & blog coverage highlights:

TODAY Show video and story: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40461260/ns/today-today_people/

AOL ParentDish post: http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/02/most-popular-baby-names-of-2010/

SF Gate Mommy files story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/detail?entry_id=78222

FB/Twitter ideas

Facebook: BabyCenter just revealed the Top Baby Names of 2010 and the pop culture trends like Glee, Mad Men and Sarah Palin that are affecting this year’s list. Check-out your favorites on http://www.babycenter.com/special-report-baby-names.

Twitter:

@BabyCenter Revealed the Top Baby Names of 2010 today. Is your baby’s name on the list? http://tinyurl.com/39fgx26 #babynames

#Glee #Madmen names hugely popular with parents in 2010. More #babynames trends from @babycenter here http://ow.ly/3iX3s

About BabyCenter® LLC

BabyCenter® is the voice of the 21^st Century Mom® and modern motherhood. It's the #1 pregnancy and parenting destination worldwide, reaching more than 8 million moms monthly in the U.S. and more than 20 million moms monthly in 22 markets from Australia to India to China. In the United States, 7 in 10 babies born last year were BabyCenter babies. BabyCenter is the world's partner in parenting, providing moms everywhere with trusted advice from hundreds of experts around the globe, friendship with other moms like them, and support that's remarkably right at every stage of their child's development. BabyCenter also works with some of the world's most prominent brands and institutions to provide life-stage marketing solutions and a direct line to highly engaged moms. BabyCenter is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.

Warmly, Carolina Mama

CarolinaMama Joins BabyCenter's Momformation Blog Network

In 2000, our world was elevated to heaven when we found out we were expecting Twins! (on our initial ob/gyn visit!)  We were thrilled and I was so fortunate to have this amazing little website BabyCenter to bring me the latest news on the two little Tigers growing rapidly!

It was a thrill to watch the week calendar and learn all about each stage of the pregnancy.  Then I followed along to learn about the milestones of the infant year.  We were in small town Mississippi where my husband was at the University.   I would leave my Estee Lauder Management job soon to be at home full-time with the Twins.  BabyCenter was a comfort zone.  Real time Baby information in small town America.  Internet + BabyCenter = True Love

And a wealth of information!

Today, BabyCenter continues to be the worldwide leader in websites for Moms, Parents, CareTakers and Family of Babies and Children of all ages.  I know because through these 9 1/2 years, BabyCenter has been there all the way!

I especially appreciate it now that the Tigers are the BigKids!   Because I have come to notice, most other sites do not continue to focus on the "BigKids!"

You can see I was doubly :) honored to be asked to become a part of the Momformation Bloggers Network of Bloggers in the BigKid department!  Now, I can give back to other Moms looking for information about the next stage.

Let's face it, the stages come and go quickly - the last thing you want is to be unprepared.  Thanks to BabyCenter and Momformation you can be informed from conception through BigKid years!

BabyCenter just relaunched its Top Blog: Momformation!   You can find amazing blogs there to help you navigate the parenting waters.  Check out the regularly Featured Bloggers you can find at Momformation.  

Sherry and John Petersik of Young House Love                      

Catherine McCord of Weelicious

Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks           
Marie LeBaron of Make and Takes

Whitney Moss and Heather Flett of Rookie Moms                   
Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch of Get Buttoned Up

Elina Furman of Mamaista                                                            
Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant

Kami Bigler of No Biggie

BabyCenter is the world’s partner in parenting, providing moms everywhere with trusted advice from hundreds of experts around the globe, medical advisory board-approved information, friendship with other moms, and support at every stage of their child’s development. We understand that every family is different, and we give parents the information they need to make decisions that are right for them and their family. Our goal is to help them gain confidence, enjoy parenting more, and let go of some of the guilt and worry that comes with being a parent.


***What are some topics you would like to see talked about at Momformation for BigKids?  I'm thinking simple things for Moms... you?  What sounds good?  Get ready because I'm thinking simple for the Holidays too. :)  And you? 

Warmly, Carolina Mama