MotherTalk Product Reviews

NetSmartz

Teens and tweens today have grown up as digital natives. I know when my teens talk about what they're up to online, I feel as though I could use a translator. But just because our kids grew up familiar with the Internet does not necessarily mean they have learned safe online usage, which makes it important to find sites that can help.

NetSmartz, a leading online resource of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children,  used their expertise to develop NSTeens to educate, engage, and empower kids as Internet users,  The website, www.nsteens.org includes bios, comics, and videos of seven teen characters. Their comic How Much Is Too Much illustrates the consequences of improper Internet use and shows the power of impact teens can have when they use their network to empower people. Videos cover important topics such as social networking, cyberbullying, and offline consequences. Each cartoon video also portrays interviews with teens talking about their Internet use.

Read below for what Moms are saying:

Double Bugs: "I think this is a terrific way to tell your teenagers about being safe on the Internet.  It teaches them in a very non-intimidating fun way so they might actually pay attention!"

Robyn's Online World: "It is imperative that parents stay up to date on technology to understand what is available and not just bury our heads in the sand and pretend our kids would never search out questionable things online or be foolish enough to meet a stranger in real life.  As the mom of a teenager this is a big part of my job as a parent."

Fefyfomanna: "I think that no matter how often we tell our kids to be safe they still forget.  I know that using NSTeens can help us all as parents to keep our kiddos safe.  Oh and there's also NetSmartz Kids for those of us with younger kiddos!"

Spark Plugging: "Kids today will grow up using the Internet.  However, my concern is that they will grow up too fast using the Internet since there is so much adult content readily available.  That's why I'm happy to share a website created on behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, whose mission is to protect children."

Fractured Toy: " If you're a mom of a kid that's online, you know how important internet safety is. I think that if you allow your child online, you need to be teaching them internet safety. My son has yet to be taught about online safety in school.  It's our job and NSTeens can help."

My Thoughts, Ideas and Ramblings: "The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has really stepped up to the plate to the challenge of educating our children."

Mother of Bun: "Much of the info is very basic (Don't use your real name or address. Be careful about the photos and stories you post online.) but that's exactly what a lot of kids need to know. The basics. Just those few tips can go a long way."

A Frog in My Soup: "This website does an excellent job of educating and equipping our youth for a safe and fun Internet experience."

Modern Mamma Marvels: "Quite honestly, when my kids reach internet usage age, I hope to be able to use a site like this to reinforce the rules that we will have set up in our home. I hope that this site is still around when it comes time for our family to deal with these very important issues."

Blessings of Love: "Good thing for us moms and dads there are so many places we can go to find out how to keep our kids safe, especially tweens and teens who are allowed to play games without us by their side every moment."

In Search of Balance: "I am already very excited about the potential this site has to offer my students, and I have not even had a chance to see everything on the site."

Mommy Perks: "With the digital world consuming the lives of our teens and tweens, a great deal of responsibilty presents itself: protecting these still vulnerable young adults from the world of cyberbullying and social networking."

Mommy Bits Reviews: "I am so glad it's there! It was developed because as you might notice, our kids are a lot more computer and Internet 'hip' than they think we are."

Every Day is a Miracle: "I recently discovered this really great site that focuses on educating parents and kids about safe use of the internet. It has educational videos and blogs, and it also has a site with information an real-life profiles of teens and tweens, written and presented in a way that appeals to them."

Dawniemom: "Created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to empower, engage and educate kids, to encourage them to become responsible online users, NetSmartz and nsteens.org should be your first stop when introducing your children to the Internet."

Busy Mommy: "Internet safety has to be a priority if you want to keep your kids safe in this crazy world we live in. "

Diary of an Unlikely Housewife: "I dread the day when she will discover chatting, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, the works. Because it's not like I can just hover in the background, watching everything she does. So I figured the best thing I can do is educate her."

Suburban Turmoil Reviews: "I have visited the site and it is engaging, eye catching, hip to teens, non-preachy, and extremely easy to navigate. It would be most appropriate for tweens- those who are just beginning to learn about social networking. Look at it NSTeens with your child and talk about the issues. You'll be glad you did!"

Mom E Centric: "It is that important for our youth to learn how important they are to our society and how their every action has an equal reaction.  It’s essential for them to know what it means to be an important part of modern society.  And teaching that….that falls on you, the parent."

Wisconsin Mommy: "These days, we have another fear to add to our already long list - danger on the Internet. We have to stay one step ahead of our kids, technology-wise, and make sure that they are safe. NetSmartz has developed a website designed to educate, engage, and empower kids as Internet users."

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.: "NetSmartz addresses some of the things kids probably don't even think or care about right now. How colleges they may apply to someday can find the information they've put online. Employers can find it. Your choices online can affect your life outside the computer." 

Parenting Our Children: "I think this site should be reviewed by all tweens and teenagers and ideally should be viewed with your children and make sure they realize the seriousness of this topic and that they don’t have any questions. It is a great resource all parents should use."

A Box of Chocolates: "As they use the Internet more and more, I can't help but begin to think about the danger lurking there. While my children do not go to sites that host chats, yet, I am already wondering how to handle it when they begin to become interested in them."

So a Blonde Walks Into a Review: "As a mother of three, Internet safety is a huge worry of mine. As much as we think we as parents know, there is always more to learn."

The Rogers Family: "While it is tempting to keep the kids as far away from the internet as possible, I think the more sensible choice it is to educate them on how to use it safely."

Get In, Hang On: "So sometimes you need tools to use as conversation starters. NetSmartz Teens is meant to be one of those tools."

Random Thoughts About Pressing Mess: "The internet if a wonderful place, however, it is a dangerous place. So how can we get our children to recognize that they need to be more conscientious of their behaviors on the internet? NetSmartz.org has offered some solutions. NSTeens.org offers a valuable service."

Not So Average Mama: "The world has changed a lot with all of this technology, and our kid’s are right there in it. It’s become a part of life, and now it’s our responsibility to make sure they are responsible online."

Living with Multiple Personalities: "Our children need to know how to stay safe online and sites like these can give us easy guidelines to follow so we don’t get lost in the shuffle of information."

All Rileyed Up: "NSTeens incorporates graphic art to emphasize the importance of not giving out too much personal info online, and for anyone out there with teen and pre-teen kids, you might check out ths NSTeens website, and maybe, just maybe, get a couple extra worry-free hours of sleep at night." 

Nature Moms Blog: "We all need to be careful what we put on the Internet and especially kids. This is an awesome, not cheesey way to share that message with them. So foward the site on to any kids you have that use social media to meet and make friends."

Riding With No Hands Reviews: "I’ll definitely continue to visit NetSmartz and NSTeens in the future, because as technology develops, new perils arise, and I want to be prepared!"

The Way I See It: "Children like boundaries. Boundaries make them feel safer. Boundaries also let them know we love them."

24/7 Moms: "So, if you need help in your mom world to create discussion about Internet safety, check out NetSmartz!"

Secret Burning: "Children need to know the risks of letting it all hang out online, not for their immediate safety so much as their long-term reputation."

Redneck Diva: "Abby, my tween, declared it "cool". Do you really need more of an endorsement than that?"

The Dirty Shirt: "For parents, some of the things your children talk about may seem alien to you when it comes to online but your main purpose remains the same, to protect them. For me with a 16 year old and an almost 10 year old that want to protect is even stronger now that they are both online. That’s why I am so pleased to have found NS Teens through Mom Central."

Cowgirl Critiques: "They have visual cartoon characters and video educating in online social networking, cyber bullying and more. There’s some great footage of teen interviews. Definitely something you should sit down with your teen and watch, read and learn about.

Kimmy Lou Who's Musing: "have sat them down online to check out NSTeens and NetSmartz, a leading online resource of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, for Internet use: www.nsteens.org"

TechLife: "Aside from being a minefield of potential social faux pas (like, say, spamming all your social contacts to grub for votes!), today’s online teens face serious issues like cyber bullying and identity theft....That’s why I wanted to be a part of the Mom Central blog tour to promote NSTeens, a new Web site from the people behind NetSmartz aimed at educating teens about the potential risks and dangers that exist online and how to deal with them."

Living with Multiple Personalities: "I have two children, ages 11 and 17, and both are highly involved in Internet gaming, social sites, and activities. I keep a close watch on their actions but you can never be too safe NetSmartz.org was introduced to me by MomCentral.com and I’m excited to share the site information with you."

In Search of Balance: "As a mom and teacher, safety on the Internet is a big concern. I was really interested in looking into a resource from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NSTeens, a division of NetSmartz. While I do not worry about my girls right now, my sixth graders are definitely already at a stage where Internet can pose a potential danger."

Kimmy Lou Who's Musings: "Technology is so fast-paced and critical in today's society - my kids have far outpaced my interest and ability, and they're tweens and teens! I worry about their youthful trust being broken in the Cyber word - especially Cyberbullying....".

TECH Life Post: "Even as a fairly savvy and sophisticated Internet user, I found some great information on these sites. Definitely worth a few clicks!"

Cool Moms Rule!: "Now, in case your teen is looking over your shoulder, reading that description and stifling a yawn, you should both know that NSTeens.org is really laid out well, with a comic, videos and bios of the NSTeens to keep you both interested (and aware)."

Crafts 'n things

As the winter season sets in, many of us settle down into indoor hibernations. Staying inside away from the cold allows us more time for creative inspiration. Crafting with family, friends, or even on your own, can provide hours of enjoyment, relaxation and memories. Although, sometimes we could use some helpful hints for projects.

Crafts 'n things free, monthly newsletter provides members with unique project ideas for home decor, gift giving, and gardening. Once you sign up at www.craftsnthings.com/Newsletter, the newsletter arrives to your email providing a first look at special offers, products, and more. In addition, each subscriber has an opportunity to sign-up for "Win It!" - a prize program that gives participants a great chance to win fantastic craft-related prizes.

Read what other Moms are saying about Crafts N Things :

Girlfriendology - "Crafts ‘n Things is packed full of creative ideas from painting to paper crafts, budget crafting to decorative decor - perfect for all kinds of ideas! They even have recipes and general how-to info, like embroidery stitches."

Mommy Bits Reviews - "Gift baskets for friends birthdays and hand painted cookies to my brother when he was in Iraq. You can't buy that feeling that comes from doing it yourself. The time, the love. Crafts `n things has a new newsletter you can sign up for filled each month with scads of crafting ideas and how-to's."

Moomette's Magnificents Reviews - "Whether you’re a lapsed crafter, skilled crafter or looking for inspiration to introduce new experiences for your own daughters,  granddaughters or nieces, be sure to check out the Crafts ‘n things informative site: www.craftsnthings.com/Newsletter"

So A Blonde Walks into a Review - "I love experimenting with a wide variety of ideas and projects. Ideas aren't always easy to come by though, and that's where Crafts 'n things free newsletter comes in handy. Created by the makers of Crafts 'n things magazine (which is one of my favorite magazines), the newsletter is filled with fabulous ideas, tips and more."

The Full Mommy - "The Craft 'n things magazine has such a wide variety of projects, from knitting to scrapbooking and everything in between. Not only will you find great projects, complete with supply lists and detailed instructions, but you may also find inspiration to create your own projects."

Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews - The winter months are some of the best crafting months for me. I hate the cold, so I stay inside as much as possible. Crafts 'n things offers a free, monthly newsletter that provides members with unique project ideas for home decor, gift giving, and gardening."

Life as Lou - "We just started getting this magazine at the BX on base called Craft’s ‘n Things. I had never seen this one before but it is a really fun one to flip through if, like me, you like to dabble in several different areas and get inspiration from different crafty mediums."

SAHM Reviews - "I flipped through the magazines when I received them and was amazed at the detail of the projects.  For example, it wasn't just a picture of a blanket to crochet.  It was a picture, a list of required supplies, a legend of abbreviations being used and step by step directions."

Tales from Oakbriar Farm - "I guess we're all hibernating indoors and we have more time for being creative. Plus, Rachel loves crafts, too. We could spend hours (um, actually we do spend hours) just talking about projects! But sometimes I need a little help and inspiration. That's why I was excited to hear about Crafts 'n things free monthly newsletter."

Portrait of a Writer - "I love the Crafts n Things Magazine. Filled with beautiful photographs of the projects and detailed instruction, even someone like me won’t find it hard to tackle the more intimidating crafts. From party foods and decor to gift baskets, knitting, and stamping projects, each magazine is unique and focuses on a different theme."

ReadKiddoRead.com

 As avid readers (and bloggers!) ourselves, we all appreciate the value of the written word. Yet convincing kids that reading is not just meaningful – but actually fun – can sometimes pose a challenge, especially as they get older and start to believe they read enough in school. In fact, according to the 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report by Yankelovich and Scholastic, despite 80% of parents wanting their kids to read for fun, most kids claim there aren’t enough really good books for their age group.

James Patterson has taken this issue to heart. A father himself, he knows that one of the main obstacles for young readers is a lack of books kids can truly connect with,  those rare stories that draw you in and keep you reading until the very last word. We  can all remember the joy of a great book from our own childhood; begging to stay up ten more minutes to finish a chapter, then hiding under the covers with a flashlight to read “just one more.” Patterson has made it his mission to give this experience to children everywhere and instill in them a love of reading.

To that end, he recently launched a new website, www.readkiddoread.com, in order to give kids of all ages access to truly great books. Whether you are still enjoying picture books with your baby or have an older child reading at an advanced level, ReadKiddoRead acts as a resource for finding the best books. Each featured book, hand-selected by Patterson, includes a synopsis, related themes, quotes from critics, links to find the book in any number of locations (including local libraries), and even similar suggested reads. In addition, the website provides resources for finding book discounts and promotions, features interviews and contributions from authors and celebrities, and even allows members to connect with each other via a Ning community. Providing kids with a love of and appreciation for books gives them something that will remain with them throughout their lives, and this resource helps make that possible. Plus, if anyone can get even the most reluctant readers interested in great stories, it’s James Patterson.

Read what other Moms are saying about ReadKiddoRead.com:

tnchick.com says: "I just wanted to help get the word out about this site and Patterson’s valuable mission. So, check it out! Maybe use it when shopping for gifts!"

Bookroom Reviews says: "I was always a huge reader.  But my older son never wanted to read.  The popular author, James Patterson, has started this wonderful website, READKIDDOREAD.COM to give parents tips and books ideas to help your child learn to love reading."

NatureMoms Blog says: "For my son for instance, I like the Real World Fiction section for kids ages 5-9. This gives me a list of great real world stories he can relate to and that will be fun for him. The descriptions are long and tell me exactly what the book is about and what lessons it teaches (if any) and I can determine if he will like it."

5 Minutes for Books says: "To me this is what makes this site stand out. The books listed are not only fantasy along the same lines of City of Ember, but some non-fiction books as well. If your child enjoys non-fiction, perhaps you could go the reverse route and click on some of these very popular titles and whet their appetite for that title with some of the non-fiction titles recommended here."

Quiverfull Family says: "Applying the same concept Patterson used with his own son, titles that tickle the imagination have been carefully selected to spark a life long love of learning in children."

Booking Mama says: "His latest venture is ReadKiddoRead, a program which helps parents and educators connect children with the books that will give them a lifelong appreciation of books."

Mom of 2 Dancers says: "In order to give kids of all ages access to truly great books, James Patterson has started a wonderful site called Read Kiddo Read. The site covers picture books that you are still reading to your baby/toddler to advanced reader books."

Red Sox Mommy says: "I know once I started loving to read I was begging for new books all the time. I wanted the next in the series, I wanted to start a new series I'd heard about, I wanted to go to the library all the time and it just kept going on."

Fefyfomanna says: "She brings at least one with her everywhere we go and I currently have a stack of about 6 books to return to our library. WE LOVE BOOKS! And this website has so many great recommendations on what books we should read next. It is AWESOME!"

Three P's in a Pod says: "What's really cool is that you can read reviews by authors and publishers, giving both parents and their children a great place to find an exciting new story lines your kids are sure to love. Along with the book recommendations, he includes related themes, links to find the book in all sorts of locations including your local library, quotes from critics, even similar suggested reads."

A Wrestling Addicted Mama says: "The ReadKiddoRead website is a great resource for both parents and educators. It enables you to look for new children's books, research them and get ideas for every age level whether you have a baby or older children you'll find something for all of the children in your life."

Big Blueberry Eyes says: "What a wonderful resource this is! The site was started by best-selling author James Patterson. Read Kiddo Read acts as a resource for finding the best books."

All Because Two People Fell in Love says: "I have already spent a lot of time on this site searching for the perfect book for some of my reluctant readers in my 5th grade class. The list of books are grouped by age and then divided into categories! The organization of the site helps you to quickly find what you are looking for!! Just an all around GREAT site!! We LOVE it!!"

Cutie Booty Reviews says: "His site Read Kiddo Read is a great resource for parents looking to enhance their child's library. He recommends books by age and also provides links for places to obtain the book. I think my favorite aspect of the site is the ability to search for the book at your local library! Love that!"

Mama Pajama says: "I remember reading constantly until I was in middle school. Suddenly reading just lost some of it's pizzaz.  At this age, kids tend to be more involved with extracurricular activities, and have less free time. Plus, with cell phones, television, and video games, reading might seem boring to a lot of kids."

Tara's View of the World says: "I LOVE reading and one of my parenting goals is to pass my love of books onto my kids. I want to tell you all about a great site introduced to me by MotherTalk. It is called ReadKiddoRead and it was developed to bring the joy of reading to kids!"

Seven Dogs and a Baby says: " I must have picked up thirty books but I just couldn't seem to find what I wanted. Read Kiddo Read is a new book review service that allows you to get a real perspective on books you may already be interested in or find new books!

Sassy Frazz says: "Not all kids are into reading especially since our world is so overpowered from media overload. Many parents struggle with getting kids interested in reading when the video games are calling their names. Reading just may not seem "fun" to kids of today."

Jason. For the Love of God says: "That's why I was so pleased to find out about Readkiddoread.com, James Patterson's website resource for finding fabulous books for kids of all ages. There is even a special section specifically for boys! Rock on!"

A Wrung Sponge says: "Patterson is dedicating it to helping parents, teachers and librarians find the books that kids latch onto and can't put down."

Lisa Reviews says: "It is a great site to find out about books you were wondering about.  It is also great for books that you’ve never heard off.  After seeing the cover of the book to the left and reading its review, I now want to pick that up for my kids."

A Book Bloggers Diary says: "Providing kids with a love of and appreciation for books gives them something that will remain with them throughout their lives, and this resource helps make that possible. Plus, if anyone can get even the most reluctant readers interested in great stories, it’s James Patterson."

Just a Mom's Take on Things says: "It’s hard for me sometimes to remember that reading for fun isn’t something that everyone likes to do. And I’m happy to see my two older girls following in my footsteps of becoming avid readers themselves. But there are many kids out there who don’t enjoy reading, or who think that they read enough in school so don’t need to read any more at home."

Gotcha Baby says: "ReadKiddoRead.com is a great resource for searching out good books when leisurely browsing the bookstore or local library isn't really an option (toddlers in tow, anyone? anyone?). Each book listed contains all the information you will need to find it at the local library, or just click on one of the many booksellers listed to the right of each book listing."

Bloggin' 'bout Books says: "If you have a reluctant reader, you have a friend in best-selling author James Patterson. He's all about getting kids to read by offering them good, entertaining stories."

SMS Book Reviews says: "There is also an accompanying ning community where you can chat with other people who are concerned about their children's reading habits and get even more suggestions and support."

Mommy Brain says: "There is so much to see at this site, starting with the book suggestions. They are broken into Great Illustrated Books, Great Transitional Books, Great PageTurners, and Great Advanced Reads. My local librarians are probably wondering what’s up - what with all the holds that I’m placing on their web site."

24/7 Moms says: "Today 3 of our 5 children have become avid readers, Their idea of a vacation is packing as many books as they can and laying around for hours reading and reading. our two youngest are still in Avid reader training, however Nate daily quotes to me that he is learning to read because it is the window to the world."

Not So Average Mama says: "If you give your kids great books that they enjoy reading you will get a kid who loves to read. The Read Kiddo Read site can help us all pick out some great books to help our children along."

Get in, Hang On says: "But the aspect that I really appreciate, is that he has also included a list of similar titles for each of the books.  So, say you have a child who loved The Lightning Thief, well he’s now given you a list of nearly 20 books that are similar.  So, you can go down the list and find a couple more for your child."

Moomettesgram's Musings says: "If I felt like getting out of the house, one of the few alternatives I had besides going to a friend’s house was walking to the library. Consequently, I spent many hours browsing through the stacks. My love of books and reading therefore led to my holding high aspirations of some day becoming a librarian."

A Box of Chocolates says: "Teaching a child to enjoy reading is the best gift we can give. Through books they can learn anything, go anywhere, and become anybody. The adventures and knowledge is endless. Providing kids with a love of and appreciation for books gives them something that will remain with them throughout their lives."

Major Bedhead says: "It's a great little website. And it needs more traffic to really get the conversation and suggestions rolling in. So if books get you all worked up, if you want to talk books with other parents or grandparents, get yourself over there and register. Have a look around. Anything that can get kids more interested in reading is, in my opinion, a Very Good Thing.

Postcards from the Mothership says: " I love reading and by all things holy, my kids shall love to read as well. James Patterson, one of our generation’s most prolific authors, has taken to heart the cause of getting kids of all ages to love reading. To that end, he recently launched a new website, ReadKiddoRead.com, filled with recommendations to truly great books for kids."

Miserable Bliss says: "When I visit the library, I recall many of my old favourites and have definitely taken the opportunity to share them with the kids. But there are SO many new books, new series, new authors and new plotlines that I haven’t read or even heard of.. how do I choose something? Enter ReadKiddoRead. I really, totally, truly love this site. And I recommend it to all parents - or anyone tasked with purchasing a book for a kid. It’s really quite fabulous."

Artificially Sweetened says: "This site was put together by author James Patterson to give parents, teachers and librarians recommendations for books that 'kids would absolutely,  positively love… [that they] will gobble up and ask for more'."

Our Little Slice of Heaven says: "I have added this link to our favorites and can't wait to use it the next time my crew is whining about wanting a good book! "

The Adventures of Leelo and His Potty-Mouthed Mom says: "If your kid is anything like my kid, and not content to have books on hand, or to go to the library on Mondays, or to surf the Amazon.com "also boughts" for recommendations, if your kid wants more more more book recommendations all the time all day long, and isn't satisfied by Newberry credentials then ReadKiddoRead is a godsend."

Actual Unretouched Photo says: "Don’t take my word for it.  Go check out ReadKiddoRead.com.  I can’t wait to examine every link on that site.  As a voracious reader myself, I am constantly searching for intriguing and addictive books to pass along to my kids so they will grow to love reading as much as I do."

Production, Not Reproduction says: "I'm glad to help spread the word about it, because I hope it succeeds in its mission to introduce more children to the wonders of pleasure reading. Every kid who grows up to join our bookworm ranks is a thing to celebrate."

Verbatim says: "In the meantime, Patterson has gone one giant step further in his quest to instill in children his own love of reading: He launched a website, Read Kiddo Read, in order to help kids of all ages (and their parents) find that one great book that might be the magical key to turn a kid on to reading."

Crunchy Granola says: "All in all, a good site. I'll be browsing it when looking for good book suggestions (especially for kids who are much older than CG, where I'm not so familiar with the new literature). So put Read, Kiddo, Read! into your bookmarks."

Barefoot Stories says: "Though it's still in it's infancy, I hope READKIDDOREAD will grow to fill its niche as more people join, add reviews and discuss the joys of reading."

PCOS Baby says: "I want to make sure that we've nurtured this love of books in both of our kids.  Several of the books on the list are ones we have already read and enjoyed; I look forward to reading the rest of them!"

She's Becoming DoughMessTic says: "Take a look, parents and grandparents. What better gift than a book? Maybe, just maybe, one of these days your child or grandchild will thank you for it. In writing."

Sticky Feet says: "There is no doubt that I'm an advocate of reading. I love to read and I love to read to Bo. Reading is an activity we do together every day and he already loves books."

BBM Review says: "It was never a problem for me to find another captivating book to read, but today, in such a fast-moving world, it's hard for kids to settle down enough to find something that draws them in. Author James Patterson has taken this problem and provided a solution."

Suburban Turmoil says: "Sometimes, it feels like a battle. With all of the distractions out there for kids, it has never been tougher to convince them to pick up a book. Luckily, I'm not the only one fighting."

TokBox

These days it seems harder then ever to keep in touch will all of our friends and family members.  Many of us have turned to the internet to keep in touch, but trading emails seems so impersonal and catching up on phone (especially long-distance) can quickly get expensive. TokBox is a new service that lets you talk with your friends over live video.

TokBox is free and simple to use; you simply sign up on tokbox.com and they provide you with a link. When you want to talk with someone, simply give them the link - they click and you chat. Another great thing about TokBox is that you can put it on your social network profile, blog, or personal webpage. Anyone can come to your page and see a "Push to Talk" button. They click it and connect to you in real time using live video and audio. With nothing to download, no costs or prepaid minutes, and complete privacy control, TokBox solves a number of the problems we all have staying in touch. Plus – video is so much more fun than simply talking.

Here's what MotherTalk reviewers are saying about TokBox:

Big Blueberry Eyes says: "We used Tok Box with the grandparents and it was really easy to use. I like that there wasn't anything to download. You just click on "call anyone" and then "invite/add friends." If they're not already on your friend list you click on "share URL" and it sends a link to that person's email. When they click on the link it connects and you're chatting! The other person doesn't even need to sign up and make an account."

Cutie Booty Reviews says: "TokBox is so convenient – I just send an email from Tokbox to my family and friends with my user info. Once they sign up calling me is just a click away. If I am away from my computer a video message can be left for me to view later. After trying TokBox this weekend, I can tell you that it will be getting a lot of use in the Cutie Booty household."

Just a Mom's Take on Things says: "It’s hard sometimes to keep in touch the way I’d like – and to be able to share and show them how much the girls are growing and how much they’re learning. However, staying in touch will get just a little bit easier, now that I’ve discovered Tokbox!"

Seven Dogs and a Baby says: "Go check out Tokbox for yourself I promise its pretty cool and the perfect place to start for those of you who have webcams but just don't know what to do with them yet."

A Bookworm(mom)'s Diary says: "TokBox is free and easy to use; you simply sign up on tokbox.com and they provide you with a link. When you want to talk with someone, simply give them the link - they click and you chat or you can click on their name from your buddy list and call them directly. With nothing to download, no costs or prepaid minutes, and complete privacy control, Tokbox solves a number of the problems we all have staying in touch."

Mom Giveaways and Review says: "My favorite part though was how easy it was to import your friend’s lists. You can import from four different instant messaging services. I quickly uploaded my AIM and Windows Live Messenger friends."

Mama(e) in Translation says: "That she was able to get registered and that we quickly got in touch with each other as soon as we were both connected to the site is a definite advantage of ToxBox over the other services. It is quite easy to use, even by people who are not as experienced internet users like my mother."

The Rogers Family says: "Being far away from family and friends just got a little bit easier. You must check out TokBox, a free (yes, I said free) online service where you can send video email messages and make video calls."

Our Seven Qtpies says: "The fun thing is that you can also add Tokbox features to your websites, like facebook, and see people through the chats there! It is easy to set up and easy to use. You can make videos to post on your website or blogs. Video conferences are now simple. You can make video cards to send to family and friends, like talking through the belly of a turkey."

Dawniemom Review says: "With nothing to download, no costs or prepaid minutes, and complete privacy control, TokBox solves a number of the problems we all have staying in touch. Plus – video is so much more fun than simply talking!"

Lisa Reviews says: " When I found out about Tokbox, I was pretty excited to try it out.   Now, this is super easy to use.  I tried it out with a few people, and they were all impressed with the clarity of both the image and the audio." 

Riding with no Hands says:  "To sum it up, I really like TokBox. The interface is so easy to use, and the fact that there’s nothing to download is a huge selling point. Now my mom can see her granddaughters LIVE from her computer at work."

Knitty Reviews says: "Before we moved, my in-laws gave us a web cam so that we could have H call and say hello. I don't know if you've tried to wrangle a toddler in front of a computer before, but it's less than successful. How fun, then, to have the ability to get them to say a few words in a video email? That's just one of the options available with the program TokBox."

Moogies World says: "It's really simple to use (both of my girls, 10 and 12 tried it) and the best part about it is that it is FREE. I lurvs me the free stuff. All you need to do is point your browser to TokBox and sign up. You then immediately get a link, and you can share it with others so they know how to contact you."

Secret Burning says: "My daughter went on to create some silly dancing videos, which she can send to people in our family via email. They will receive a direct Web link to her videos and can marinade in the cuteness without having to download a huge file or set up an account."

Rockin Mama says: "Jason’s parents don’t see as much of us or my son and they would like.  We talk with them on the phone all the time but that’s not enough for them.  They want to see their only grandchild.  Because we both have webcams we’ve been video chatting which has helped them feel more connected to us and my son."   

Dirty Little Secret says: "But I wish my in-laws would get the internet because I’d love for them to use it. It’s called Tokbox and it’s a FREE way to have video chats and calls with anyone. You can even do conference calls. And did I mention that it’s FREE?"

Mom's Favorite Stuff says: "TokBox works with many of the popular chat programs, like AIM, Yahoo, Google Talk and MSN messenger. We have found it to be one of the easiest to set up as it automatically detects our camera and microphone."

Life of a Home Mom Says: "I plan on using this even more if the hubby does get sent overseas. I think he'd just love this feature. I will be using it a lot more now though, once the kids see this they'll probably want to call their Aunt J, cousins and grandparents. Another thing I love....it is FREE, no long distance bills for anyone."

Momsational says: "So instead of staring at a photograph when you miss someone this holiday season, or anytime throughout the year, head on over to TokBox.com so you can see your family and friends on your computer whenever you want!"

Qlubb

As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter’s sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam- packed days.

Enter Qlubb.com, which makes organizing your homeroom parent meetings, playgroups or book clubs incredibly easy. Qlubb is a web-based service that helps organize your real-life groups online, providing all the functions needed to easily and actively participate within a group. Qlubb allows you to connect, plan meetings, assign responsibilities and share pictures with all of the members of your group at once. Features include an event calendar, sign-up sheets, member rosters, a task reminder service, and bulletin boards, which every member of your community can access and update from their home computers.

Accessing and using the site is incredibly easy for even the least computer-savvy members. Qlubb’s secure sign-in protects group information, so only members of your group have access. However, participants don’t have to individually register and can simply sign in using the group password. For more information go check out qlubb.com.

 

Read what some other moms have to say about Qlubb:

Mommy Goggles: "As a newly stay at home mother to two young kids, it is hard enough to ‘get out there’ and make friends. When you are finally able to get a friends network started, there is a way that you can keep in contact with those friends and the activities that you may have going on. With Qlubb.com, you can keep up with all your activities from play dates to outings." To read more, click here.

Adventures in Mommyland: "As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter's sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days." To read more, click here.

Amanda: "Qlubb , makes organizing your homeroom parent meetings, playgroups or book clubs incredibly easy. Qlubb is a web-based service that helps organize your real-life groups online, providing all the functions needed to easily and actively participate within a group. Qlubb allows you to connect, plan meetings, assign responsibilities and share pictures with all of the members of your group at once." To read more, click here.

There is a Frog in my Soup: I am so very excited!  I simply cannot wait to tell all of you … and all of the other moms from my boys’ sports teams about a truly great site just in time for fall and all of the hectic events it brings.  Today I’d like to introduce all of you to Qlubb! To read more, click here.

A Bookwork(mom)'s Diary: "As I recently wrote, I'd been in school-searching and enrollment hell. Not that the process itself was so painful - not at all. But the path of realization towards it certainly was. It's only pre (pre-) School, but the list of things to bring, events forthcoming, supplies, volunteering, driving etc etc already has my time so tied up that I worry how I'll cope as Kiddo goes to higher classes and the activities and events only multiply." To read more, click here.

An Ordinary Life: "Qlubb , makes organizing your homeroom parent meetings, playgroups or book clubs incredibly easy. Qlubb is a web-based service that helps organize your real-life groups online, providing all the functions needed to easily and actively participate within a group." To read more, click here.

Tara's View of the World: "I must admit that I am slightly annoyed by the ABUNDANCE of "social networking" sites around these days. How many do I really need to join?? The thing is, I LIKE to be connected. I ENJOY knowing what is going on. I WANT to know that there are other people out there." To read more, click here.

Parents with Style: If you are like us Mommy bloggers you participate in so many groups and activities that can be hard to keep up with, let alone keep straight. Family life can be very hectic from school events, doctors appts and volunteering. Enter Qlubb.com, which is a fabulous organizing tool for parents or anyone who is busy!  To read more, click here.

Random Thoughts: "I don't know about you, but as a working mom- I have a hard time keeping everything organized. Heck, as a mom, I have a hard time staying organized. As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight." To read more, click here.

Superdumb Supervillain: "Qlubb is an online utility that allows multiple members of a group to share information, connect with each other and get tasks accomplished all in one place. Some of its handy features include event calendars, member rosters, reminder services, bulletin boards, and sign-up sheets." To read more, click here.

Close to Home: Join the club! With so much of our life made easier online, there is another thing you can add to the list- at  Qlubb.com you can  organize your real-life groups online, like parent meetings, book clubs, play groups, and even Mom’s Night Out! To read more, click here.

Mama Pajama: Do you ever feel like you'll never be able to keep all of your children's activities straight?  As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be difficult to remember everything. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter's sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days. To read more, click here.

Freebies for Moms: What groups does your family belong to? When you start to think about it, you probably belong to lots of groups like sports, scouts, church, moms, playgroup, bunco, scrapbooking, volunteer, and many more. How does your group stay organized? Welcome Qlubb to your group and the organization and communication just got better.  Better yet, Qlubb is a free resource that you can utilize to it's fullest without paying a dime. To read more, click here.

A Cowboys Wife: If you’re looking for an organizer for your family, school or even your community, you should check out Qlubb. I think it’s a great online organizer that allows you to add photos, tasks, and even invite people. To read more, click here.

Red Sox Mommy: Let's face it, moms are busy, busy, busy. We're running from school, to sports, to music, to any number of activities for us and our children. It gets pretty daunting. That's where Qlubb comes in. This is a web-based service that helps your organize all your activities. You can organize events, plan who does what and everything else you need to do to plan your real-life groups, all online. To read more, click here.

Mom of 2 Dancers: Being a mom means having a busy schedule. When they are little, there are tons of doctor appointments, visiting family, playgroups, etc. When they enter school you have all those school functions, after school activities, doctors, friends. Trying to juggle all those things plus all of your own things can get overwhelming. To read more, click here.

Lisa Reviews: As a work at home mom, I often feel like I am going in 20 directions at any given time.  Add in extended family and you really think your life is a circus.  My kids are only 4 and 1 so I can only imagine how much worse this gets. Qlubb is one of those organizing sites that allow you to not feel that your life is a circus. To read more, click here.

Bookroomreviews's Weblog: Qlubb, makes organizing your homeroom parent meetings, playgroups or book clubs incredibly easy. Qlubb is a web-based service that helps organize your real-life groups online, providing all the functions needed to easily and actively participate within a group. To read more, click here.

Seven Dogs and a Baby: If your from a large family, have had to plan an event for more than five people, or even participate in a playgroup you can appreciate how hard it is at times to get people together and all on the same page. To read more, click here.

A Wrestling Addicted Mommy’s Blog: Mom’s today have a lot on their plate, besides keeping the home and family organized you have to think about all those extra activities that go on throughout our lives. Families today seem to participate in so many different groups and activities I cant understand how some people keep everything organized and know who does what at what day and what time. To read more, click here.

Desperately Seeking: Communication is super important to me.  I can’t begin to stress to you how important it is. For most of the people I know, communication is important.  And when you have multiple children, involved in multiple sports and activities, things can get hectic. To read more, click here.

Coming to a Nursery Near You: So you already know I’m a geek. I love anything new, different, geeky.  So, when MomCentral asked me to check out Qlubb.com, I – of course – jumped at it. To read more, click here.

Big Blueberry Eyes: What is Qlubb? It's a neat and easy-to-use website to stay organized with different groups you might be involved in!  To read more, click here.

Green & Clean Mom: I wrote about sleeping and being busy and mentioned how important time management is but I never really touched on how I manage my time. Today I’m going to share with you a little secret called, Qlubb.  There’s calendars, planners and post it notes but those consume paper and waste resources. Why use them when you can use Qlubb and green your time management? To read more, click here.

I Know Everything just ask my Hubby…: Do you have a child on a sports team? Are you a member of a PTA? Maybe you or a member of your family is involved in some sort of club or group? If any of these apply, you’re all too familiar with the difficulties in trying to get one group of people together all at the same time. It’s almost impossible. To read more, click here.

A Mom Speaks: Are you a member of a mom’s group? How about a book club? Or maybe a faith group?  Are you sending out a dozen emails and trying to keep track of calendars and events and members?  If so, then Qlubb maybe for you. To read more, click here.

The Dana Files: As a mother, my biggest problem is managing time and all the tasks I need to complete in one day. Twenty-four hours indeed pass too quickly. To read more, click here.

Mom’s Favorite Stuff: If you’re a part of any groups or clubs, you know how difficult it is to keep everyone organized and events coordinated. It may take phone trees, phone calls, emails, and loads of reminders at meetings and yet things seem to fall to pieces quickly. You have to wonder if things can be easier…and they can be with Qlubb. To read more, click here.

All Because Two People Fell In Love: As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter’s sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days. Qlubb.com, which makes organizing your homeroom parent meetings, playgroups or book clubs incredibly easy. To read more, click here.

Chic Shopper Chick: Are you the super organized type? Or, are you more like me, the super great at wanting to be organized type? Well, no matter your "type", Qlubb can help you! Thanks to Mom Central I've discovered that Qlubb is the go-to website for staying organized. Qlubb can help you organize homeroom parent meetings, playgroups, fundraising committees, faith based groups, etc with ease! To read more, click here.

Fictionary: As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter’s sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days. To read more, click here.

Did You See That?: Busy, Busy, Busy. Ironically, I’m a bit late posting about Qlubb.com because I’m so darned busy. Raise your hand if you can relate. As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as Room Mom (I did that last year!) to coaching your son or daughter’s sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days. To read more, click here.

All Rileyed Up: Are you a homeroom mom? A book club leader? Do you run a scrapbooking club? Or are you the ringleader of the monthly girls night out for wine and tasteful debauchery? To read more, click here.

Moomettesgrams Musings: One might think that my once-hectic Mom Extraordinaire days are over.  As a Baby Boomer with a full-time job, I’ve raised 2 daughters and experienced my share of Uber-organizing, micro-managing their activities.  I’ve seen it all from PlayGroups; Pre-School; Daiseys; Girl Scouts; Day-Care Emergencies; Orthodontists; Gymnastics; Dance Lessons; Soccer; Softball; Recitals; Lacrosse; Cross-Country; Principal Office Visits; Emergencies; College Tours; College Orientation; Move-In/Move-Out day; Bridal Showers; Wedding Planning; Baby Showers; Babysitting the grandkiddos ~ OK, I’ll stop there ~ you get the idea.” To read more, click here.

Portrait of a Writer… Interrupted: I’m always looking for new ways to organize my life. With homeschool, school, sports, music, dance, plays, church, a home to sell and with four kids in all different activities at different times, there’s a lot to manage!” To read more, click here.

Dirty Little Secret: On Friday as Lovebug and I were driving to pick Ironflower up from preschool, I realized that I had forgotten about a playdate. A playdate that had started at 10:30 am. A playdate that we had completely missed. Since I had just been complaining about how much I disliked it when playgroup members signed up for playdates and then didn’t show, I felt like a complete asshole. Especially since the person I had been complaining to was the hostess of the playdate that I had just missed. To read more, click here.

Blog That Mommy: If anyone has read my blog, you know that I am about the least organized person on the face of the earth. I try so hard to stay organized, so anytime there is a new tool out there to help me, I get very excited. To read more, click here.

Wesnlani: It's a fabulous place to help you keep your family, clubs, play groups, and classrooms organized. I signed up and started my very own Qlubb for my new play group that I just joined. To read more, click here.

Mommy Cracked: Keeping up with groups of people just got a little easier thanks to Qlubb. It's an awesome new website that allows you to create online groups to stay in touch with the people you need to communicate with on a regular basis while keeping the information easily accessible to your group members. To read more, click here.

Kimmy Lou Who’s Musings: Now that fall is in full-gear the scheduling insanity has struck! Lots of running and transporting the family to various activities and obligations is creating some serious havoc at the Fritz House. After doing some research I've located a great resource to help us "keep it together" in the face of all the chaos... To read more, click here.

You Ott 2 Know: As Moms, we all participate in so many groups and activities that it can be hard to keep everything straight. From volunteering as a classroom Mom to coaching your son or daughter's sports team, getting groups organized can feel like managing the unmanageable, taking up time in already jam-packed days. To read more, click here.

Spark Plugging: I know I just said today that we shouldn’t overcommit ourselves. And that’s true. But I also said that there are a number of things we’re all involved in because we want to or need to be. For example, I want to be the editor of the newsletter. My hubby wants to be the coach of our daughter’s soccer team. I want to organize the church picnic. Well, actually I don’t, but I’ve already committed to do so this year. Next time I’ll use one of my ten ways to say no! To read more, click here.

Look it! I Spy…: So, what is Qlubb? Qlubb is a web-based group utility that enables real-world groups to easily connect, share and get stuff done. Qlubb brings all aspects of group interaction to one simple and intuitive place and uses event calendaring, sign-up sheets, photo sharing, member rosters, task reminder service, and bulletin boards to provide all the functions needed to easily and actively participate within a group. To read more, click here.

Lessons from the Scrapbook Page: Found a great new site for busy women and moms. It's an online "club" that lets you post photos, make plans, and even arrange family reunions. It can help you remember birthdays and anniversaries! I definitely need help there! To read more, click here.   

After the Bubbly: When I was asked to review Qlubb.com, I was thinking it would be great for back-to-school season stuff - organizing kids activities, trips - basically Room Mom and family stuff. Then I read this on their About page… To read more, click here.

Timbuk2 Review and Giveaway

Just because we’re moms on the go, doesn’t always mean we travel light. In fact, between the usual items (wallet, phone, keys), beauty accessories, things for our kids (bottles, diapers, toys, changes of clothes), papers, our laptops, a book, snacks for the road, and the list goes on – we barely have room to fit all of the “necessities” in our bags. And that’s without even considering daytrips to Grandma’s or the beach!

Which is why I love Timbuk2 . These bags are way more than stylish. They’re incredible roomy, feature compartments for everything you need compartments for, and are so sturdy that they can go, literally, anywhere, from the office or the classroom to the gym to the beach – and even on a mountain climb!

The company has everything from backpacks and messenger bags to computer cases and totes, making them perfect for every member of your family. (I have a feeling my husband and kids will be shopping for computer bags and backpacks soon!) You can also buy a number of fun and useful accessories, from cell phone holders to bike bags. Yet my favorite thing about these bags (if forced to choose just one): they not only come in a wide variety of fun and stylish colors and patterns, they can be customized.

With the “Build Your Own Bag” feature, you select one of five bag types and then decide between numerous styles, mixing and matching colors on different parts of the bag to create one that is uniquely “you.” Honestly, I have never had so much fun with a bag, and I’ll never again have to leave something home that I wish I had room to carry along with me. A stylish bag that holds everything and goes everywhere is exactly what every mom needs. For more, visit the website here.

Want your own? Mom Central has one to giveaway! To enter to win your own unique Timbuk2 bag, simply leave a comment below by Tuesday, August 26th. Good luck!