Your social media accounts speak for your brand - does it look like your brand? These tips can apply to influencers or any brand or business with a social media account. These tips work on any social media platform - Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter. Branding your brand starts with your website and your logo. Many of us spend a lot of time making our website look beautiful and our social media accounts should mirror the look and feel of your website. Versatile Logo - Is your logo versatile? Will it work on all of your different platforms? You'll likely need several different sizes and orientations of your logo. You may even need it with a transparent background. If you're working with a professional designer they will be able to guide you to creating these different versions. If you are starting small and creating your own branding and logo you can use websites like Canva or PicMonkey to look professional and high quality. These websites can give you ... [ Read More ]
My Creativity This Week – Episode 1: Funky Florals
Are you a creative person? Do you struggle with finding your inner creative spirit? Sit there staring at the blank canvas or journal page wondering what you'll work on next? This series is something new to me where I'll share what I'm working on this week. I feel like my creative spirit is ALL.OVER.THE.PLACE and I'm always trying something new each week. That doesn't have to be a bad thing because it's broadening your inner creativity. This week I've been working on Funky Florals. One of my favorite Instagram creatives to follow is Megan (@MakeWells) and her awesome Funky Florals. I love the bright colors and the use of mixed media in her work. I love that she works on canvas, paper, wood, walls, and more! She is seriously inspiring to follow. View this post on Instagram I’m thoroughly convinced that I will never run out of ways to paint flowers. The possibilities are just endless people! I may have a ... [ Read More ]
Last Minute Gift Ideas for Toddlers and Kids
Are you looking for one more gift for your toddler or small child? Looking for a cute stocking stuffer? Here are a few items that my kids (or I) would love to unwrap on Christmas morning. iPieces Air Hockey - I found this several months ago while attending the BlogHer conference. You download an app on your iPhone or iPad to use with these game pieces. It instantly turns your iPad into an air hockey rink! Kids and adults will love this game. I just wish it had a small carrying bag so I wouldn't lose the pieces. Handstand Kids Cookbook Kits - If you have a young child who likes to help out in the kitchen this would be a fun gift to add for them. In addition to the cookbook the kit also includes some kid sized kitchen tools. Both my son and daughter would love one of these. Jellystone Designs Owl Pendant - Do you have an owl fan in your family? Kids and adults will enjoy this adorable pendant. Moms can use it for teething babies. Older kids will enjoy showing off ... [ Read More ]
Update on Positive Parenting and Kid Pointz
It's been 12 days since I installed the Kid Pointz parenting app on my iPhone and iPad. I'm a tad bit excited about how well it's working for us and thought I'd give you an update. My kids both love the award and reward system. They actually look for ways to earn a few more points each day. At the beginning my son was so excited that he woke up before me and completed his daily chores so he could earn his reward points sooner. They both have the opportunity to earn about 7-10 points a day, with a few extras that I can apply for really good (above average) behavior. Below are a few tasks my kids can earn points for (not a complete list): Practicing karate (my oldest) Brushing their teeth (both) Cleaning their room (both) Placing their clothes in the hamper (both) Doing the dishes (my oldest) Eating all their food (both) Feeding the pets (my oldest) Getting dressed without help (my toddler) Having a good day at school (both) and a few other random chores ... [ Read More ]
Must Have Kids Apps
Does your child use your iPhone or iPad (or other mobile device)? I think our iPad has begun to look like a child's toy more than it does an adult tool. My husband is actually regretting setting it up with his account because everything we download on the iPad ends up clogging his iPad too. What are some of your favorite kids apps? I have a few new apps that my kids are enjoying. Scholatic Reading Timer: I don't need to encourage my oldest bookworm to read but this app is nice because it allows us to log our summer reading hours. It lets you create accounts for each child, provides parents with useful tips, and gives kids some suggested books to read based on their age. Cost: Free Storia: Another fun app for kids by Scholastic. This is a eReader app just for kids. It includes 5 free ebooks. While this app is free the additional books do cost a few dollars each and can add up if you have a kid who loves to read. Cost: Free + cost of additional books. WATCH Disney, ... [ Read More ]
Branding Your Blog for Conferences
Do you consider yourself a blogger? If so do you make money blogging (0r hope to at least)? Do you consider your blog a business? How do you market yourself? I've been blogging since Sept. 2007 and I don't think I officially considered my blog more than a hobby until about 2 years ago. Today I look at it (and treat it) as a business. I have my own tax ID number and everything. While I still don't make a steady income from my blog it did lead me to my current full-time job(s) as a social media and marketing coordinator. To me that is a huge success but I often wonder; what's next for The Eco Chic as a blog (and as a business)? I always have plans to make improvements to my blog and the way I treat it but it still remains somewhat of a hobby to me. I try not to put myself into deadlines that I know I can't keep. I try not to take on too many projects when I'm overworked. I try to keep my projects aligned with my primary mission (helping others protect the planet as I ... [ Read More ]
Gearing Up For BlogHer ’11 – One Month Out
My countdown clock has been rolling along very quickly and it now says that I have only 33 days until BlogHer '11 in San Diego. Where did this year go and how did it go so quickly? Gearing up for BlogHer '11 With only one month left I have a lot of planning left to do. I scheduled a phone call with a friend (and designer and techie guru and all around support person) Mommy Doodles this week to be sure that we were aligned on some projects I want to complete for BlogHer. While I 'could' do some of these things myself she can get them done in about 1/4th the time and they will look much more professional than anything I would ever create. Here's just a snippet of my list of projects: Fix Eco Chic Parties blog that I messed up (i.e. deleted - yes all of it!) last week while trying to clean house. Back up The Eco Chic blog properly since I realized we've been doing this wrong the whole time and I lost all of Eco Chic Parties past posts. Clean house on The Eco Chic blog. ... [ Read More ]
Technology & Our Children – Where do you stand?
This post is sponsored by Club Penguin & "This is My Story...and I'm Sticking To It" (an iPad app). Both companies contacted me recently to ask me to share the news with you about their products so instead of the hum drum reviews you're use to reading I'm going to talk about how we use technology with our children. Let's start the discussions... ...oh, and there is a giveaway at the end if you are interested. If you've never visited me before I have 2 kids. Big B/Big Brother is 8 years old and just finished 2nd grade. Lil' B is our darling red-headed tot who is 2 1/2 yrs old. It's hard as a mom who is ALWAYS online to shun your children from technology. I think there is a lot of value in letting your children explore and learn with the help of all these fabulous tools we have available these days. We have plenty of options around our house for the kids to explore with - the Wii, the DS, multiple laptops, 3 iPhones, 1 iPad, television, and a Kindle...did I miss ... [ Read More ]