Archive for 'Techno Mama' Category
The iPad app your kid is gonna LOVE: Toontastic
As I type these words, my kids are sitting on the sofa in our family room and — instead of mindlessly watching cartoons — they are creating their own. We just downloaded this iPad app called Toontastic from the iTunes store, and I’ve gotta tell you… this thing is pretty amazing. I’m LOVING it. (Click [...]
Fun video: “Goodnight Gadgets!”
Can your preschooler beat you at a game of Angry Birds? Is your house buzzing with gadgets like our homes are? Between our two families alone, there’s an iPad, an HP TouchPad, an iPod Touch, a Kindle, a Nook, an ancient iPod, a couple of iPhones, a Blackberry, two GPS devices and probably a few [...]
Techno Mama: Is Facebook killing your blog?
By Sarah Martin Hood, technology blogger We live in an age of easy, instant information. Have a question? Google it. Wondering what ever happened to that old high school friend? Check Facebook. But are we evolving into a world that’s more interested in headlines than details? If we can’t get what we need in 10 [...]
Techno Mama on Pinterest: A Love Story
By Sarah Martin Hood I heard about it for months, and I resisted. I’d heard it was all about crafts and cooking – which aren’t at the top of my personal list of hobbies – so I didn’t give it much thought. I didn’t need another social networking outlet and I certainly didn’t need another [...]
HeyTell app is the bomb!
The mamas are loving a new-to-us iPhone app called HeyTell for instant voice messaging. It’s free and you’ll feel like you’re a kid again running around the neighborhood with a walkie-talkie. Or like a trucker on an all-night, cross-country trek. “10-4, good buddy!” One of the best things about this app is that it will, [...]
Techno Mama: Technology to help you weather the storm
By Sarah Martin Hood I know I’m not the only one who’s noticed the crazy, crazy weather we’ve had in Northwest Arkansas lately. From two feet of snow to excessive rain and flooding to threat of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, it’s been one thing right after another. And it was during this last round of [...]
Techno Mama: There’s an app for that! A Couch to 5K success story
By Sarah Martin Hood I’m not gonna lie to you – I don’t particularly like to exercise. I know it’s good for you and I know it has all kinds of health benefits and yada yada yada. But I’ve just never been able to get into it. Over the course of my adult life I’ve [...]
Techno Mama: Email tips for the modern girl
By Sarah Martin Hood Sadly, handwritten letters are a dying art. Email is king. Or, around here, QUEEN. Email is how we schedule playdates and appointments with the pediatrician. It’s how we get reminders from daycare about upcoming fundraisers or vacation days. A lot of Mamas are literally carrying email around in their pockets these [...]
Techno Mama: Social media, NWA style
By Sarah Martin Hood I have been a longtime believer in Social Media. It’s a powerful way to keep in touch and an extremely efficient way to gather and distribute information. And if you’re like me, you’re always looking for the best places to get the best info — so here are some Social Media [...]
Techno Mama: Swackett:: A different kind of weather app
By Sarah Martin Hood I have always struggled with translating the weather forecast into appropriate clothing choices. I am always wearing the wrong length sleeves or forgetting my umbrella or wishing I had a sweater. But a few weeks ago, I found THIS. Swackett :: a different kind of weather app. It’s my new favorite [...]
Techno Mama: Is Fayetteville’s new pay-by-phone parking genius or crazy?
By Sarah Martin Hood Have you heard about this yet? The city of Fayetteville is now offering an alternative, convenient way to pay for parking and – hopefully! – avoid parking tickets. Starting this week, people in numbered spaces on and around Dickson Street can pay to park and even add time to the meter [...]
Techno Mama: My baby has an e-mail address
By Sarah Martin Hood I know. I know. It seems nuts. But it’s true. My two year old has his very own email address. It’s free, it’s easy to set up — and unless something better comes along, he may just need it one day. And I may not be alone. Consider these statistics, from [...]
Techno Mama: If my DVR could talk
By Sarah Martin Hood Right this very second on our DVR, there are 104 recordings. The oldest one I could find is dated June 5. This is my life. I rave and rave about DVR — how it has changed the way we live — and yet, there they sit. 104 individual recordings. Unwatched. Don’t [...]
Techno Mama: Must-have tech gifts for holidays 2010
By Sarah Martin Hood Believe it or not, it’s time to start holiday shopping! I know, I know – it’s not even Thanksgiving. So if you’re not quite hitting the stores yet, here are some gift ideas to consider as you’re making your list and checking it twice! For Dad iPad. Are you ready to [...]
Techno Mama giveaway: Shutterfly Cards!
**Be sure to read about the Shutterfly giveaway below. Four mamas will win free stuff!! By Sarah Martin Hood When it comes to Shutterfly, I go a little nuts. Well actually, when it comes to PHOTOGRAPHS, I go a little nuts… I can’t help it! It’s rare that a day goes by in this house [...]
Techno Mama: 4 new websites for mom!
By Sarah Martin Hood We’re all settling back into the school year routine and things are getting back to “normal”, right? Well here are a few cool websites from Techno Mama straight to you – there’s a little something for everyone! The iPhone Mom is ready to save you time (and money!) by hunting down [...]
Techno Mama: Get your Groupon on!
By Sarah Martin Hood What the heck is a groupon? Only the fastest growing company in the history of the internet! Groupon is a new twist on coupons. It all started in Chicago, but Groupon is now available in about 100 cities across the US. The well-organized, sleekly-designed website offers irresistible deals in the spirit [...]
Techno Mama: Blogging 201
By Sarah Martin Hood It’s the not-so-new-anymore thing: blogging. I can almost guarantee you either have a blog or know someone with a blog. It’s fun! It’s free! It’s ADDICTIVE. Right? Well, if you’ve already gotten your feet wet and started a blog, here are some things I’ve seen on the more successful blogs [...]
Techno Mama: 2 Ways for Mamas-To-Be to Stay Connected
By Sarah Martin Hood Text4Baby Back in February, I heard about a program sponsored by AT&T called Text4Baby. This free program provides health tips via text message to expectant mamas. Here’s how it works: Texts will apply to expecting moms as early as 4 weeks into pregnancy (and on through your child’s 1st birthday) [...]
Techno Mama: Is there such a thing as online privacy?
By Sarah Martin Hood Many of us share our thoughts and daily goings on via a family blog or Facebook photos. We post photos of family vacations, school graduations, playing in neighborhood parks, and local sporting events. Often we don’t think twice about what these things can mean for our family’s privacy. And there are [...]