Hey JCPenney...It's great to be a smart girl!

Update: A reader shared that according to NBC's Today Moms, JC Penny is pulling the shirt from its site and issued an apology which can be found at the bottom of the Today Moms post.

As a teacher and mom of a 7 1/2 year old who loves school and learning, I am livid about this JCPenney shirt shared by Mommyality.

Yes, in fact it DOES say "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me."  

And yes, the description just says "Who has time for homework when there's a new Justin Bieber album out? She'll love this tee that's just as cute and sassy as she is."

Sorry but that's not messaging that I ever want our daughter, her friends, or her classmates to hear or see.

It's great to be smart and attractive and it's not anything to make fun of or be ashamed about.  I want my daughter to embrace being intelligent while being well rounded enough to be up on the latest pop songs that she sings along to in the car on the way to dive practice and listens to as she plays Legos with her brother.  

I don't ever want her to think she's not as smart as the boys or to have her self esteem suffer.

While this shirt has caused a social media firestorm and generated publicity beyond belief, it's reminded me of my commitment to provide both of my children with the knowledge they crave so they can be as smart as they want to be.

Show Your Tech Savvy Love with a Vote!

I'm for Parents.com Best Mom Tech Blog and as much as I hate voting contests because they are often seen as popularity contests, I am going to shamelessly ask for your vote.

By Best Mom Tech Blog

It's not too hard to vote- they do ask for you to sign up or sign in using Facebook or Twitter and it's an easy one click on the little turquoise vote button.

Thanks so much and I promise to return the vote love in the future!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with eBay to Declutter and Reclaim Money

How often do you eBay and when you do, are you a buyer or a seller or both?  Regardless of how you use eBay, it is a great way to be green because buying and selling both help reduce, reuse, and recycle items that otherwise might be destined for the landfill.

Over the years that our family has used eBay, we’ve bought everything from antique dinner plates featuring my alma mater, put our daughter’s favorite stuffed Gund bear on our watch list to build up a stash in case of disaster, various computer components for rock bottom prices especially when compared to the cost from local retailers, to my most recent purchase- a rockin’ light purple wig for the Clever Girls Collective I’m With the Brand party at BlogHer. Yes, really!  My wig was from eBay for less than $5!

We also rely on eBay to reduce the clutter in our house by finding a new home for our items.  It’s always nice to get the satisfaction of sharing the gently used things that we no longer need or new-in-box items that were never a great fit and are just taking up space.

Since I’ve always been an eBay user, I’m excited to join the eBay Parents Panel.  The goal of the program is to help parents find extra money with items they already have in their homes – clothes the children have outgrown, tech gadgets, computer accessories, toys, and more. 

We all have those items lurking around our homes and it isn’t hard to sell them on eBay.  If you’re an eBay newbie, start with the seller information page. If you want to know what to sell when, the fashion selling guide (PDF) has what you need for clothes and accessories.

If you’re wondering what to sell first, the answer is anything!  Now is a great time to list Halloween costumes because even though school just started, it’s right around the corner!  Now is a great time to dig those items out of your attic, photograph them, write a witty description, and list them on eBay!

Come to think of it…We have a couple of costumes to list.  Anyone want a Disney Flounder or Nemo costume?  I’ll be putting ours on eBay soon!

I am part of the eBay Parent Panel and am compensated for my participation in the program.  All opinions about my eBay experience are my own.

Dara Torres’ 3 Pillars of Life Inspire Me to Reclaim Healthy Habits

I’m a firm believer in healthy habits like a well rounded diet, screen time limits, regular exercise through lots of outdoor activity, and a set bedtime for my kids but I feel like the biggest hypocrite due to my own lack of exercise and my 2 am bedtimes.

In the past year as I’ve transitioned from my role as a classroom teacher into a work-at-home mom with a growing consulting business, I’ve found that my sleep habits have suffered.  On one hand, working at home has allowed me to tailor my schedule around the needs of our children but at the same time, it also means that I work when they’re at school and also late into the night after they’re asleep which leaves me too tired to get up and run like I used to.

This fall as my kids enter elementary school I’m vowing to return to healthier habits.  I’m determined to go to bed earlier so I can start attending boot camp.  My first class is Friday at 6:15 am! 

Regaining healthy habits like a better night’s sleep and regular exercise are things I’ve been meaning to do for a long time but must admit to being inspired by Olympic swimmer and mom, Dara Torres, who I met while in Miami for SheCon in April. 

Me with Dara Torres!

Having followed Dara’s career as a 5 time Olympic champion, meeting her in real life was amazing.  She was genuine and nicer than I ever could have imagined.  She took the time to talk with us, answering questions we had about topics ranging from her training schedule, balancing being a mom and an athlete, and sharing her 3 pillars of life— diet, exercise, and sleep.

Dara emphasized the importance of getting a better night’s sleep. As an athlete who is constantly traveling, she often sleeps in a bed that is too small or on a mattress that doesn’t feel right. She suggested finding a spacious and comfortable bed and admitted to always traveling with her pillow.  Her favorite?  A Sleep Innovations Rejuvenation Pillow.  I took one of these home and have been sleeping with it ever since!  The contoured shape of the pillow improves the positioning of your neck and air flow to provide a deeper sleep that truly seems to be working for me!  I also sleep on a Sleep Innovations gel-infused memory foam mattress topper that contours to my body for a great night's sleep.

Dara shared 4 additional tips for a better sleep which included:

• Be active during the day. As an athlete, Dara’s job keeps her more active than most, but even on her recovery days she goes for a long walk or takes her daughter to the park to get outside and moving.

• Go to bed healthy, not hungry. Dara avoids eating large meals late at night but never goes to bed hungry. She prefers a healthy snack before bedtime to cure her hunger and believes that little dessert never hurt anyone!

• Stick to a sleep schedule. With Dara’s training schedule and a young daughter in school, her family has a set schedule for most days of the week. Even on their days off, she ensures that they wake up around the same time to enjoy the day and keep to a consistent bedtime to make it easier to fall asleep at night.

• Find time to relax.  As an athlete and busy mom, Dara’s days are full from start to finish. She makes it a priority to find time to relax and unwind whether reading a book or catching up on a favorite TV show. By doing this, she allows her body to have some down time to let her body recover before getting ready for bed. 

What is one healthy habit you are trying to reclaim?  Leave a comment below for an extra entry into my Fill the Backpack giveaway that includes a Sleep Innovations REMedy Bed Twin Bed Upgrade kit valued at over $90!

I was invited to an event as a guest of Sleep Innovations to meet Dara Torres at SheCon and was given a Sleep Innovations Rejuvenation Pillow, their gel-infused memory foam mattress topper that I love, and won a copy of Dara Torres' Gold Medal Fitness.  Sleep Innovations is also a sponsor of Splash Creative Media's Fill the Backpack campaign but all opinions are my own.

Friday Faves: Fab Products from Mom’s Fashion File Secret Style Suite, BlogHer 2011

Remember how I wrote about wanting to break out of my boring black conference wardrobe?  Not only did Fresh Produce accept my challenge and provide me with an incredible wardrobe for Type A Parent, but my post won me a makeover in the Mom’s Fashion File Secret Style Suite at BlogHer!

After a tech filled brunch with The Blogging Angels, Jessica and I headed over to the Hard Rock Hotel to be styled.  Not quite sure what was in store for us and a little nervous, we brought along Grace, a fab friend and my wonder tech twin, for emotional support.

Arriving with Jessica @Kikarose

First up— makeup! Johnson’s Baby brought celebrity makeup artist Tia Dantzler who made me feel relaxed in her chair as she went to work. She’s done President Obama’s makeup for the cover of GQ and a ton of other celebrities so I figured I was in good hands!

Oh la la! False eyelashes rock!

Next up— wardrobe! Jo-Lynne had been sending me Tweets about how fun it was to pick out clothes so I couldn’t wait to see what she and the other stylists had selected!  I walked into the bedroom where I found items to outfit me from head to toe, under and over!  Christine from Everyday Mama showed me shoes from Dr. Scholl’s, undergarments from Bali Intimate and Yummie Tummie (a fave!), and clothes from Ann Taylor Loft!

Clothes from Ann Taylor Loft await me!

Then hair! I wasn’t sure that San Diego’s hottest salon, Detour Salon (courtesy of Plum District) would be doing anything to my super straight short hair but I was wrong!  I admit to sitting in the chair and slightly freaking out inside that the birds’ nest on my head wouldn’t be the look I was going for as our How to Write a Kick A$$ Proposal panel moderator but all turned out ok!

Holy high hair Batman! Not exactly the look I was
hoping for during my panel but all was ok!

And nails! Scotch Naturals makes the most amazing line of natural nail colors that are designed to return your nails to health rather than stripping them of their moisture that makes them dry.  Founder Ginny Cardenas buffed my nails and applied a base coat before putting on the most amazing black polish called Black Tartan. Even when I got home and removed the polish, my nails were shiny.  It’s been 3 weeks since BlogHer and they are still amazing.  Thank goodness Ginny sent me home with a gorgeous red from the collection!

Scotch Naturals has an amazing line of polish in gorgeous colors!

Finally, it was time to choose a bag from Namaste before being sent on our merry way with a Lands’ End canvas tote filled with items to get me through the rest of the summer: a swimsuit, coverup, beach towel, sandals, and aviator sunglasses!  I also received a bag of Johnson’s beauty products!

Namaste bags = true love!

Gifts from Lands' End and Johnson's 

Jessica & I wonder if a sherpa service is part of our styling!

After 2 hours of glam in the style suite, we returned for the night’s reveal at the Moms Fashion File party was swanky and fun.  

Walking the red carpet during the reveal

Held on the balcony of a rooftop suite of the Hard Rock Hotel, we had a 360 view of San Diego including the bridge to Coronado all the way to downtown and beyond with some fireworks over the water thrown in to cap off a wonderful day.

Enjoying a rooftop sunset during the party

Huge thanks to Nicole @MomTrends, Andrea @SavvySassyMoms, and Alison @SassyMomChicago for such an incredible event!

A great night capped off by fireworks!

Special thanks to fashion partners:  Namaste Handbags, Scotch Naturals, LOFT, Kiyonna, Dr. Scholl's Shoes, BALI intimates, Lands End, Payless Shoes, Stella Dot and the sponsors: Plum District, Ciao Bella Gelato, Johnson's, Stokke, Trop 50, Windows Phone.

I received products for my participation in the Moms Fashion File Secret Style Suite.  All opinions are my own.

Marble Jar: App Now Free for Back to School

Did you ever have a marble jar in one of your classrooms? I remember our marble jar from second grade quite well. We eagerly anticipated a single marble to be dropped in to reward stellar behavior and for it to be filled for a class reward.

Now there’s an app for that!

Marble Jar is an easy-to-use app that bridges education and fun by empowering families to meaningfully collaborate with their children. It breaks everyday tasks into small, achievable steps for families to track progress, instill confidence, and recognize a child's accomplishment. I love that it eliminates counterproductive negotiations yet reinforces independence and responsibility.

Just like the real marble jar in our classrooms of years past, the Marble Jar app allows parents to add marbles every time the child practices a positive routine until the jar is full and the celebration is unlocked.

It's easy to customize a jar with a picture and assign any goal or expectation. A goal may include simple routines like earning a later bedtime, or larger expectations such as taking responsibility for a given task or learning manners. With each positive routine accomplished, a marble is earned, allowing parents and children to recognize improvements, and achieve long term personal growth.

It’s a great app for back-to-school routines that you are trying to reinforce and for the many other behaviors that would benefit from positive rewards.

Marble Jar is $2.99 from the iTunes Store but is currently FREE as part of a back to school special!

For more information on Marble Jar, please visit their website.


For an extra entry into the Fill the Backpack giveaway, share a goal that your child is working on that the Marble Jar app might help with. Include your email or Twitter handle in your comment for your entry to be valid.

Marble Jar is a sponsor of Fill the Backpack. All opinions are my own.

Just.Be.Enough. Announces Link Up to Provide Pampering Resources to Breast Cancer Survivors

Today I have the honor of sharing a post by my friend, Elena, who always inspires me both personally and professionally. She's a teacher, mom of a darling little girl, cancer survivor, triathlete, blogger, and recently started the site Just.Be.Enough. Just.Be.Enough was designed to celebrate the ourselves.  As Elena says, "It's time to carry the weight of empowerment instead of the weight of our flaws on our shoulders."  

Through her new site she shared a new partnership between Bellfower Books and Crickett's Answer to provide pampering resources to women facing breast cancer. It's a powerful campaign that celebrates Elena's mission and I'm thrilled to share it with you.  

Be Enough Me 4 Cancer by Elena of Just.Be.Enough and C.Mom

Let’s be honest. Cancer is a rotten, no good, six letter word that nobody should EVER have to deal with. No one should have to be the patient. No one should have to be the family or friend taking care of the patient. No one. Anywhere.

But cancer, like many other illnesses, is real.

I have had it. Chances are good that each of you reading this has known someone who has it, or might have even had it yourself. And although calling myself a survivor ROCKS, I will always live with the elephant in the room, wondering….waiting, crossing my fingers that the second line cancers from my high dose chemotherapy or radiation fizzle into molecular dust never to come together.

I was lucky.

Very lucky. My Hogdkin’s disease gave me a good fight over the course of six months and then again later when I recurred. I fought it, it fought me and, eventually, after a bone marrow transplant, I won. Victorious over the evil cells that had taken root in my body.

But more than the fight that my own body had inside me, there were family members and friends around me who wanted to fight in the battle as well. They wanted to be my warriors. My army. The ones that would keep me strong and make me remember the better days.

Fast forward to now… Today I am OVER THE MOON EXCITED to announce a collaboration between Just.Be.Enough, Bellflower Books, & Crickett’s Answer for Cancer to help women struggling with breast cancer and their families remember the better days. Because those better days are what get us through the really rotten ones.

Be Enough Me 4 Cancer

Bellflower Books creates stunning and unique memory books that are literally works of art reminding you of why you are loved, supported, and appreciated. They are perfect for any occasion. But to get one as a reminder of the good? To get one as a way to cope with illness?

That is priceless.

Crickett’s Answer support the self esteem and morale of women by providing pampering resources to women facing breast cancer. Put the two together and you get the Be Enough ME 4 Cancer campaign. Our goal is to provide up to TEN women fighting Breast Cancer a Bellflower book made by their family and friends, a work of art that will make these women smile and remember, and a treasured piece of family history for generations to come.

To do this we will need YOUR help. Bellflower Books will be sponsoring the Be Enough Me Monday link ups for ONE month, starting on August 22nd. For every 20 people that link up with a story of how they lived the Be Enough Me “feeling” that week, Bellflower will donate ONE $75 gift certificate to a family identified by Crickett’s Answer for the creation of a 20-page memory book. We will keep a running total of links over the four Mondays and hope to reach our goal of 120 links, which would provide TEN Bellflower memory books.

Not only will people who link up their Be Enough Me story feel confident, stand taller, and carry the weight of empowerment on their shoulders, but they will be helping women and families around the country remember the good days, the moments, the and the people who inspire the all-out war on this debilitating and demoralizing disease.

A Special Dedication

AND – in case there was not enough emotion in me for this announcement – I am dedicating this campaign to the fabulous, the stunning, the brave and courageous Susan Niebur (aka @Whymommy).

Susan was actually the one who introduced me to Crickett’s Answer earlier this year through another campaign bringing awareness and help to women needing Lymphedema sleeves. She was recognized at the Type A Parent conference for her bloganthropy work. Susan is a mom, an astrophysicist, a writer and a friend…and she is fighting metastatic breast cancer in her spine, hip, and ribs – STILL after four years. Susan is a woman who through her quietness and personal strength supports other women, supports research efforts, and is truly a phenomenal advocate.

Are you ready to Be Enough?

So for each of us as we work on being enough and the amazing women fighting breast cancer everywhere who need to remember the good days, please link up right HERE…..next Monday and each Monday after that for a month.

Photos.com for High Quality Royalty-Free Professional Photos (w. giveaway)

Regulars on my site know that I prefer photos as images for my posts and since I’m often asked where I get my photos, I thought I’d share my secret— Photos.com! I personally prefer photos because they add a polished touch to my writing and I can always find the right images on Photos.com.  With over 2.6 million royalty-free stock photos and illustrations available, I don’t ever have to worry that I’m infringing on someone else’s copyright when obtaining an image from their site.

About Photos.com

Photos.com is a division of Getty Images and provides professionally shot and user generated content. Photos.com offers images for any work related project from advertising and sales brochures to presentations, websites, blogs, newsletters, brochures, scrapbooking, and more.

Affordable Images

Usually high quality images cost a lot of money but there are a variety of ways to purchase images from Photos.com thanks to different pricing plans.  I have an image pack which is a specified number of pre-paid downloads that can be purchased in quantities of 1, 5, 20, 25, and 50.  They can be used to download any photo(s) you select over the course of one year. 

Subscriptions can be a smart way to save when many images are needed over an extended period of time. The 3-month, 6-month and 1-year subscription plans provide substantial savings ($0.19-0.23 / image) and the ability to access image sizes that best meet your needs. 

Image sizes are determined by how you will be using your image. Here’s a quick guide to the image sizes available and what they’re best for:

• Web- websites, mobile apps, blogs
• Web plus- Presentations, websites, mobile apps, blogs
• Print- publishing, brochures, presentations, websites, mobile apps, blogs 

What you plan to use your image for dictates the download quality.  When in doubt, buy the better image quality.  Images can always be made smaller and look fine but if you purchase a lower quality image and try to enlarge it, it won’t look as good.  You can never make an image larger than its original size without experiencing pixilation (seeing those little dots that make up the picture) and loss of clarity (fuzziness).

Using Photos.com

Photos.com couldn’t be easier to use and thanks to their vast library, it’s easy to find the right image quickly. Here’s a quick how to:

Log in and enter the key words of the images I’m searching for.  Just last night I did a search for earthquake related photos following the quake that shook the East Coast.  I typed earthquake into the search field and the following results came up quickly.  I paged through the images using the arrows on the upper left until I found the images I wanted.

Clicking on Add to Lightbox below the image puts the photo in an image tray that can be saved while I locate the best photo for my project.

Save photos as you browse to your Lightbox 

When I’m ready to review the images I love, I can access them in my Lightbox through the link in the upper right corner of the screen. 

Photos.com Lightbox saves your favorite photos for downloading later

When I’m ready to download, I click on the link and select the quality of image my subscription or image pack allows.  The image downloads to my computer and is mine to use!

Choose from various download sizes depending on where you
plan to publish your image

It's that easy to get high quality royalty-free images for your print or web publication!

Would you like to try Photos.com? Win a 50 image print pack valued at $134.99!

To enter: Leave a comment about the most challenging image that you have tried to find and what the image was for.  Keep it clean and you must include your email address or Twitter handle in order for your entry to be valid. Also be sure to read the giveaway terms and conditions at the conclusion of this post.

For additional entries, you must complete the above and are welcome to do any of the following:

• Follow @Photosdotcom and leave a comment that you have done so below

• Tweet this daily and leave a link to your tweet in your comment: Win a 50 image print pack w/ royalty free images from @Photosdotcom & @TechSavvyMama! Enter here: www.techsavvymama.com #giveaway

• Subscribe to Tech Savvy Mama via email, through your feed, or via the Google Followers gadget.  Leave a comment for each way you follow for an additional entry.

Giveaway Terms and Conditions:

• Prize cannot be substituted for cash. 
• Prize cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts, or promotions being run by the sponsor company (in this case Photos.com).
• Prize must be redeemed using a promotion code for a 100% discount at the time of checkout on the Photos.com site.
• Winner will be selected from all eligible comments on Friday, September 2 using Random.org.  Winner will be contacted by email or Twitter and must reply within 24 hours or another winner will be selected from eligible entries.

I was provided with a 50 image pack for review purposes.  No additional compensation was received for this post or hosting a giveaway.  All opinions are my own.

Talking to Your Children About Earthquakes: Resources & Links

This afternoon at 1:51 pm a 5.8 earthquake with an epicenter in Virginia- between Charlottesville and Richmond- shook the entire East Coast.  The rumbling from the ground was reported to be the second most powerful earthquake in Virginia’s history.  Online friends from as far south as North Carolina into Toronto felt the earth move underneath them.

An earthquake is a hard concept for children to understand. Growing up in California, I was subjected to earthquake drills for preparedness purposes.  We knew the lingo about earthquakes since it’s part of everyone’s vocabulary that lives along major fault lines.  If you reside in an area that is not prone to earthquakes, the idea of the ground shaking can be terrifying and difficult for children to understand.

Here are some resources you can use as you sit around the dinner table tonight to talk about the day’s events and use to answer questions in the days to come.

Start by teaching your children vocabulary words associated with earthquakes such as epicenter, fault, richter scale, plate techtonics, aftershock, and magnitude.  I like the University of Maryland Department of Education’s vocabulary page because it makes each of the terms easy to understand even for young ages.  Upper elementary ages through teens will appreciate additional vocabulary relating to earthquakes and has animations of earthquake terms and concepts on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website.  

Elementary ages can develop a good understanding of what an earthquake is and what makes them occur with the University of Maryland’s Journey Through an Earthquake webquest.  It describes plate techtonics, boundary separating along plates, seismic waves, and shows past quake damage through diagrams, photos and language that most elementary students can understand. 

Test your knowledge about plate techtonics with matching games or concentration and print out flashcards and a word search from Quia or test your quake knowledge with an earthquake themed crossword puzzle.

View a map of the latest worldwide earthquakes over the past 7 days on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website.  

Have more questions about earthquakes?  Ask a geologist from the USGS your question by emailing them at mailto:Ask-a-Geologist@usgs.gov


Image courtesy of Photos.com

4 Quick Breakfasts for Healthy Children & Healthy Minds: Our Fill the Backpack Motto

Weekday mornings are hectic and can leave us scrambling to get out the door but that's no reason to miss breakfast, the  most important meal of the day. This year’s Fill the Backpack theme of Healthy Children, Healthy Minds theme resonates with me because of having the experience of trying to teach kids who came to school hungry. 

My first year teaching first grade was not easy. I had a kid fall off the play structure at the end of the first day of school and fracture his arm and another child who plotted to set the school on fire with a fourth grade student.  But my most difficult child was a boy named Shawn.

Shawn was a child who came to school angry each day. He’d walk in the door and kick something. Or someone. He’d get in trouble after exhausting his warnings and have to sit at a desk removed from others but he’d never sit. He’d stand on the desk. Or he’d crouch underneath it while yelling. He was a disaster. Dealing with his behavior was taxing and detrimental to the other kids along with any learning that should have been going on in my room.

Two and a half months into the school year we somehow learned that Shawn had been coming to school hungry. His mom was in dental school and would leave early in the morning to get to class and leave the boys with a neighbor. Somehow in the transition, they missed breakfast.  Once we figured this out, Shawn stopped in the cafeteria each morning to eat before coming to the classroom and it made a world of difference.

Shawn turned out to be one of my best students. He was artistic, creative, a great helper, wonderful listener, and finished the year with flying colors. He just needed food in his belly to feed his mind and to fuel his body enough so he could function during the school day.

I know mornings can be hectic and it can be a scramble to get out the door to meet the bus or get to school but here are some ideas for quick and easy breakfasts.

Fruit, yogurt, and granola

• Fruit, yogurt, and granola- Whether spooning yogurt into a bowl to eat at the kitchen table or grabbing an individual container to go, the protein and calcium in yogurt combined with carbs in granola and a handful of freshly washed berries provides a nutrition packed breakfast that takes little time to prepare. We buy the 32 ounce containers of Stonyfield French Vanilla yogurt for at-home breakfasts and throw fruit and granola on top of the individual Oikos containers for on the go! Or make some fruited muesli the night before.

Egg sandwiches

• Egg sandwiches- Scramble an egg and slide it on some toast. Put a slice of cheese on top for some melty goodness and slap a piece of ham on before you top it with the second piece of toast.  Wrap it in some foil and you have hand held breakfast!

Yogurt smoothies

• Yogurt smoothies- Blend vanilla yogurt with frozen fruit for a quick delicious and nutritious breakfast.  We like vanilla yogurt with any combination of berries. Sometimes I add in a little orange juice and banana too.  If you’re looking for inspiration, Stonyfield has an entire smoothie recipe section on their website or grab and go with one of their Super Smoothies.

Oatmeal with lots of toppings!

• Oatmeal- Quick oats are just that. Add some dried cranberries and/or raisins to get in a serving of fruit, a handful of almonds for some protein, mix in some milk to make it smooth and creamy, then top off with some brown sugar.  Or stop at Starbucks.  I love their oatmeal!

What’s your favorite quick breakfast during the school year? Share your favorite in the comments below and feel free to link up a recipe if you have one for an extra entry into my Fill the Backpack giveaway!

This post is sponsored by Splash Creative Media as part of the Fill the Backpack campaign.  Click here to enter the giveaway, worth over $750 in prizes and product! Stonyfield Yogurt is a giveaway sponsor of the Fill the Backpack campaign and while I received coupons for product, we spend plenty of our own money on Stonyfield yogurt throughout the year! Images courtesy of Photos.com.

Tips for Choosing a New Notebook PC for Back to School & AMD Twitter Party Wednesday 8/24

According to the U.S. Census, 66 percent of elementary and high school students in the U.S. use a computer at home to complete homework assignments, and a Kaiser Family Foundation Study found young people ages 8 through 18 spend an average of an hour and a half a day on their computers.

Technology is a significant part of every student’s educational experience and a notebook PC is a must-have item on any back-to-school shopping list. There are so many options for a new PC that it’s difficult to select the right one for the job.

Understanding the right questions to ask yourself about how the laptop will be used can help you find a computer that will facilitate homework, while also acting as an entertainment hub for music, movies, games, surfing the Web and social networking. To demystify the process and help you get the most bang for your buck, consider these tips for choosing the right laptop:

• Size Matters: How often will the notebook be carried? What screen size is the best fit? A larger screen and keyboard is great for watching movies and homework, but a smaller system is more portable.

• Battery Life: Today is seems “my battery died” is the new “the dog ate my homework.” Make sure your student’s laptop will stay powered throughout the day—from the classroom to the library to the desk at home. Consider choosing a machine like the HP Pavilion dm1z, which is based on technology that enables up to 12 hours of resting battery life. 

• Usage: Besides homework, what are the other activities the laptop will be used for? Students today are doing more than ever before with their computers, and often doing several different activities at the same time – from homework to playing games to creating and editing videos and chatting with friends. Laptops powered by VISION Technology from AMD are designed for multi-tasking and can keep up with your scholars needs. 

• HD Graphics: Will the laptop be used to watch videos or play games? Considering that forty-eight hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute according to comScore’s U.S. Online Video Rankings chances are the answer is yes – which makes graphics quality important. Look for VISION Technology from AMD to know you’re choosing a laptop that provides a combination of performance and video power for brilliant and beautiful high-definition video.

• Comfort: If you have smaller children who will use the laptop, look for touchpads that will be easy for small hands to use, or consider getting an external notebook mouse. Also, pay attention to how hot the laptop is when shopping, as well as the noise level.  

Join AMD and Me for a Twitter Party this Wednesday 8/24 for a chance to win an HP Pavilion dm1z laptop and $25 gift cards throughout the party!

Want to get all your back-to-school questions answered? Join Bob Grim from Advanced Micro Devices, myself and the other AMD Tech Moms for a Twitter Happy Hour next week! We will be discussing ways to save money during back-to-school computer shopping and sharing tips to help you choose the right computer for your family’s needs and lifestyle.

• What: Back-to-School Twitter Happy Hour party with AMD & AMD Tech Moms!

• When: Wednesday, August 24 at 6 pm PST/9 pm EST

• Who: @AMDNotebook @TechSavvyMama @HomeEverAfter @LittleTechGirl @ScrappinMichele

• Where: On Twitter using the hashtag #AMDSchool (Tweetgrid: http://is.gd/0FOFWi)

• RSVP: Leave a comment about how you're getting your computers ready for back to school along with your Twitter handle.  Then be present during the Twitter party on Wednesday for your chance to win! Good luck!

I am an AMD Tech Mom and receive a conference stipend and products to review for my participation in the program.