If you are a blogger, or anyone really, who uses Word Press, you are probably familiar with WordCamps.  If not, WordCamps are basically one or two day conferences held all over the world where WordPress users meet to learn, connect, and share.  It’s a great way to increase your knowledge of WordPress and discover how to take your blog or website to the next level.

I’m attending WordCamp Atlanta today and so far, it’s been kind of a slow start.  I missed the first day yesterday and today’s sessions are really not that appealing to me.  The content is good, it’s just that I’m feeling a little lost.  Maybe it’s because I missed yesterday, maybe it’s because I’m feeling a little disconnected from social media right now… who knows?  Either way, I’m still glad I’m here and I totally think the time and investment are worth it.

Have you ever attended a WordCamp?  What were your thoughts and what did you learn?

I’m at WordCamp Atlanta 2012 is a post from: Mommy Reporter

This week’s vlog topic is all about our very first job. Watch below and I’ll tell you about mine.

Weekly Vlog: What was your first job? #vlogmoms is a post from: Mommy Reporter

Just got an advance copy of the book I co-authored.  It’s titled “The Art and Science of Success, Vol. 4″ and is set to be released Spring 2012.  This was a fun project and I am so happy to finally see it all come together.

Wordless Wednesday: I’m a published author! is a post from: Mommy Reporter

This past weekend was a fun one.  Not only because I found some amazing deals, but because I did a bit of organizing for my makeup collection (video coming soon).  But I went “browsing” at T.J. Maxx on Friday and here’s what I got:

4-pack minis of my fave nail polish!

I was so excited to get these mini packs of Essie nail polish!  If you don’t know, ONE bottle of this stuff sells for about $8, so to get four different colors in one pack for almost the same price is definitely a deal!!!

One pack was even marked down to only $8!

I also got this cute little organizer for my makeup brushes.  It’s made by a company called Umbra (I LOVE their stuff!).

The perfect solution for storing my makeup brushes!

This cute little organizer was only $2.99!

Next, was a stop at the mall to return some items, but then of course I ended up bringing home some new stuff… this!

I am so into rose gold jewelry right now, so I was immediately drawn to these at Macy's.

And of course I found some matching rings...

Then at Dillard’s, as I was walking through the cosmetics section, I spotted this on a clearance table:

This Too Faced Naked Eye eyeshadow palette on clearance at Dilliards for only $13!!! (Original price $36)

Beautiful neutral colors.

Finally, on Sunday, I had $15.00 worth of CVS Extra Bucks just burning a hole in my purse, so of course I picked up this:

This is something new I had to try... a self-adjusting lip gloss that automatically detects your pH and creates a custom color for you!

And after searching for YEARS, I finally found a tinted moisturizer that matches my skintone and DOES NOT have a sunscreen (I'm allergic)!!! Thank you Salma Hayek!!

So that’s what I got over the weekend.  Not too bad and not too much money spent.  And how was your weekend?  Did you pick up anything interesting???  Please share your weekend haul in the comments below!

Weekend shopping haul: Essie, Physicians Formula, Too Faced… is a post from: Mommy Reporter

A new weekly vlog that I will do addressing a question or topic about mom life.  Wanna join in?  Leave a link to your video post in the linky below!!

Weekly Vlog: Am I still on track with my New Year’s resolutions? is a post from: Mommy Reporter

Yesterday afternoon I had the chance to try some of the new healthy and low calorie entrees that will soon be appearing on Applebee’s new menu.  All of the dishes were delicious and filling and each meal option can be modified to fit specific dietary preferences (for example, no nuts, etc.).  Below is some video from the tasting event, enjoy!

Video: Sampling the new 550 calorie entrees at Applebee’s is a post from: Mommy Reporter

So Paula Deen announced yesterday that she has diabetes.  Not really a shocker to me considering the fact that she is overweight and created an empire by cooking a bunch of fattening food that was made with loads of sugar, butter, and other not-so-healthy ingredients.  But I don’t feel sorry for her because to me, her diabetes is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.  It’s obvious that she’s made poor choices in the past in regards to her way of eating and living.  Remember how she would jokingly tell us on her show that “real down home cooking” wouldn’t be “real” if it didn’t have all the fatty ingredients?

The interesting thing about this is that Mrs. Deen was diagnosed three years ago.  So that means during the past three years, she continued to feature fattening recipes on her show and in her books that were NOT diabetes-friendly.  And she continued to let us all believe that she was actually preparing and promoting recipes that she herself would eat.  This just goes to show that she was more concerned with selling her show, books, magazines, etc. than she was about being honest about the true state of her health.  Now, I understand that her health is a private and personal matter.  But how can you hide something that affects your life so profoundly?  And how can you mislead and deceive your audience by continuing to push such unhealthy recipes without realizing the true impact it would have?  So, whatever Paula Deen… I hope you get healthy and change your life for the better.  But in the mean time, I won’t be watching your show or buying your books.  Not because I don’t enjoy the recipes, but because I don’t want to support your intention of promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.

I don’t feel sorry for Paula Deen… is a post from: Mommy Reporter

After seeing so many beauty gurus showing off their Birch Boxes, I decided to finally jump on the bandwagon and sign up for the subscription myself.  If you’re not familiar with Birch Box, it is a monthly subscription that costs $10 a month and each month you receive a little box filled with 4 or 5 beauty product samples.  Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not, but overall, the goodies you get seem to be worth the ten bucks–at least that’s what I’m hoping.  The video below shows my first box and I have to say that I am fairly pleased with the stuff I got.  I know that some months will probably be better than others, but if I get at least one thing that I feel is worth the ten dollars, I’m alright with that.  Wanna learn more?  Visit the Birch Box website here.

I got my first Birch Box is a post from: Mommy Reporter

Continuing on in my ultimate quest for organization, I have decided that I want to get rid of HALF of everything I own.  I know, I know, sounds extreme but it needs to be done.  I have some big plans and big changes coming up in my life and I truly believe that the best thing for me and my son is to par down on the stuff.  Probably the only thing I won’t “cut in half” is my makeup collection… ha ha ha!!!  My cosmetics are one of the few things that truly bring me joy so I won’t get rid of anything that I don’t have to–and that means my makeup!

But, as you can see, I do have a ton of clothes that my son can no longer wear so I’m getting ready to tag ‘em up and haul ‘em down to the largest baby and kid consignment sale in the state of Georgia, Tykes, Tots, and Teens.  I’ve got most of the clothes neatly hung and ready to go, the only part left to do is the laborious task of pricing and tagging each item… sigh.  But as you know, nothing (even decluttering) comes without a price.

So what about you?  What are you getting rid of this season?  I’m sure there is something you can let go of… let me know what it is in the comments below!

Cash for clutter – Getting ready for a consignment sale is a post from: Mommy Reporter

Picked some stuff from The Container Store since I’m newly obsessed with organization… I know, it’s crazy.

Video: I went shopping at The Container Store is a post from: Mommy Reporter