Life has been ultra crazy, productive, inspiring, challenging, and fulfilling lately and I owe it all to this wonderful world of mom blogging. I get to create content I love, with people who get me and share my passions (you!), and I can be a happy, albeit a bit frazzled, mom and wife who can be an active part of her family’s life. Aside from that, I get to attend amazing blogging and social media conferences where not only I get to hone my craft, but also meet other mom bloggers who are confident enough to share with me their know-how and a helping hand.
I’m on my way to one of those conferences—Mom 2.0 Summit in Key Biscayne, FL. I get to go there thanks to the sponsorship from the Microsoft Windows team who have been nothing short of supportive of all we do. And, as working moms who are putting everything into this labor of love blog, we need this support from brands that get us and you.
I’ll be capturing all the Mom 2.0 Summit action on my stylish and lightweight Lenovo IdeaPad U300 and using my Windows Live Suite to blog with Live Writer, jot notes and action steps with OneNote, edit my pics with Live Photo Gallery and keep it all safe in Sky Drive.
But since we hate to brag and be all me-me-me, we’ve hooked up a second Lenovo IdeaPad to give away to one ultra lucky SpanglishBaby amiga in celebration of mamás!
A busy mom like you who’s on an important mission of raising bilingual and bicultural kids needs to stay super connected to technology that can help you access the best online tools for learning and interacting.
Check out HERE all the cool features the ultraportable and fast Lenovo IdeaPad U300 has so you can get ridiculously excited…it’s ok…I’m excited too!
Also, just in time for Mother’s Day, we wanted to share some great tools for you to connect with the mujer (madre, abuela, tía!) you love!
· Tip #1: Use Windows Live Messenger (Window’s free video chat service) to say ‘Te quiero’ to Mom!
· Tip #2: Create a custom Mother’s Day card in Microsoft Paint, a feature in Windows that you can use to draw, color, and edit pictures.
· Tip #3: Show her the latest and greatest in your life by sharing your photos with friends and family via Windows Live Photo Gallery and SkyDrive
· Tip #4: Share images on your Pinterest boards using the Windows Mother’s Day photos. If you’re on Pinterest, you can also enter the Say Thanks to Mom contest where you could win an Acer Aspire S3 laptop. More info here.
The Giveaway!
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner: Stacy !
We’re giving away one Lenovo IdeaPad U300 to a lucky winner!!
To enter, all you have to do is tell us who this laptop will be for and which of the Windows Live Suite products you love the most.
That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you’ve completed the step above):
**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.
1. Subscribe to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you’re already a subscriber. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post, @SpanglishBaby and #WindowsChampions hashtag. Copy the link to the tweet in an additional comment on the giveaway’s post.
Click to Tweet Ex: Need a new laptop? @SpanglishBaby is giving away a stylish Lenovo IdeaPad U300. Go here to enter: http://bit.ly/J6ZyZk #windowschampions
3. Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook and join a thriving community of parents.
This giveaway ends Sunday, May 13, at midnight PST and is open to everyone over 18 years of age in the continental U.S. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Check out the Giveaway Rules.
I like you on Facebook!
Missy Bates-Roberts
I’m a subscriber!
Liked on facebook!
I think Skydrive is awesome. I also think I’d snag this laptop for my work and gift my current one in precarious condition to the kids.
following on twitter; @ginette4
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/ginette4/status/200674369960280064
This would be for me and I would love to use Windows Live Photo Gallery to view my photos for my photo classes.
Subscribed to this site via email.
Followed you on twitter (@CSaulpaugh) and tweeted.
https://twitter.com/#!/CSaulpaugh/status/200801338555240448
Liked SpanglishBaby on Facebook. (Chelsea Saulpaugh)
https://twitter.com/#!/AStarrAMama/status/200901989113151488
This would be for me…It would be so great to have a laptop!
Also, I like Skydrive
I subscribed via email!
Followed you on twitter (@clovermunro)
https://twitter.com/#!/CloverMunro/status/201051408890462209
I liked you on Facebook (jemima puddleduck)
I would win this laptop for my husband. my favorite program is windows live photo gallery.
This would be for me. I need a lightweight laptop to make my business more portable.
And I love Windows Messenger
Follow on Twitter and tweet https://twitter.com/#!/LuckyKrys/status/201155102688550913
Subscribe via email
If I were to win it would be for me and my daughter to share since my oldest lent us her laptop to I can stay in touch with everyone, and I love that it has long life and live windows messenger and especially the photo gallery since I love my kids and they send me lots of pictures of there activities. So we can stay in touch no matter how far some of them are this would be a great help.
What a fabulous prize! I would love to win this to give to my sister. She is a single mother of two and could really use this! Thanks for the chance!
Following and tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/annedoggett/status/201305358818480129
Esta Lenovo IdeaPad U300 es para mi familia! We would love to explore Microsoft Paint.
For my mom – Windows Live Messenger
Honestly it would be for ME…I need a new one BAD!!! I love Photo gallery!!! I am obsessed with photos taking them editing!!!!
Follow you on Fb
Email subscriber
Follow you on twitter
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/christibwillie/status/201397780512636929
This would be for my husband. And I like the Messenger!
I subscribe to your emails.
I like you on Facebook.
This laptop would be for my daughter. I like the Windows Live photo gallery.
email subscriber
follow you on facebook
Facebook Name: Leslie Galloway (www.facebook.com/GallowayLeslie)
follow you on twitter (@GallowayLeslie) and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GallowayLeslie/status/201435238415601665
This would be for me and I love the ida of the live photo gallery
I am a new subscriber to your blog
I follow u on twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/sawstrunk
I am a follower on facebook too
https://www.facebook.com/#!/sawstrunk
This would be for my mom who needs a computer!
Following spanglishbaby on twitter! @machina328
Following on facebook (Amy Lee)
I subscribe to Spanglishbaby
I would definitely give this to my mom. She needs a laptop. She only has access to a computer at work.
My favorite windows Live Suite …is the Live Photo Gallery. We have this on our computer at home and I love it. It is so easy to download images from our cameras and phones and then edit them .
Thank you for the chance!
I follow you on twitter
@zebastyandylan
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/zebastyandylan/status/201491276573589504
I like you on FB
Dana J Valle
I am already an email subscriber.
zippieee@msn.com
This laptop would be for me, and I love the SkyDrive storage!
Subscribed to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email
Follow you on Twitter under @Chellesy1
Tweeted – https://twitter.com/#!/Chellesy1/status/201507141528461312
Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook – Facebook Name is: Chelles Yvonne
I think I would probably give the laptop to my dad. I love messenger.
I subscribed to your blog updates via email.
I follow on twitter (@Sleepyheadedmom) and tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/sleepyheadedmom/status/201539525628018690
The laptop will be for me. I like the movie maker. Thanks!
I Liked SpanglishBaby on Facebook. Thanks
https://twitter.com/#!/AStarrAMama/status/201766623781195776
I would like to nominate Shelbie Huff for the computer. Shelbie is a mom at only 19. She is incredibly dedicated to her 2 year old daughter, Nora, and works tirelessly to provide for her. Although Shelbie comes from a rough background, she has truly come a long way and has grown tremendously in a very short period. Nora is the reason for this. She has been Shelbie’s saving grace and guiding light since the day she was born. If anyone deserves and needs to be recognized as an amazing mother, it is Shelbie.
I first met Shelbie in Nov 2010, when she began training as a dental assistant at my practice. It was her first job. Although she lives an hour away from my office, she was always one of the first employees to arrive to work and one of the last to leave. She consistently maintained a cheerful attitude and never once complained when she was asked to do something. These personal qualities allowed her to grow incredibly quickly as an employee and as a person, in the short time she was with us. Now, at her current office of employment, Shelbie is acting as both a dental assistant and front office representative. One look at the numerous duties she performs is a testament to how hard working and dedicated she is.
Now, to be honest, the previous paragraph describes many moms, not just Shelbie. So what sets her apart? Considering her background, Shelbie, by all accounts, should be a failure. But she isn’t. Life has given her reason after reason to give up. But she hasn’t. Growing up, Shelbie had a very unstable childhood, as troubles between her parents affected her in many ways. As a young teenager, Shelbie got into a lot of destructive habits (drinking, drugs, partying, etc), which got her into a lot of trouble. She cared very little about school. Her life was rapidly going in a very scary direction. Becoming a mom at 17, however, changed all of that.
When Nora was born, I believe Shelbie was, herself, reborn. Since her parents were either unwilling or unable to help her much financially, and Nora’s father was denying her as his own, Shelbie knew she would be almost solely responsible for caring for her daughter. So, while many at her age were busy being kids, Shelbie took summer classes so she could graduate high school early and begin working. She took out a loan to attend dental assisting school. Once finished with school, she began training at my office, as I described previously. Shelbie’s story doesn’t end there, however.
Since meeting Shelbie, I have come to know her extremely well. Throughout our friendship, I have seen her constantly pushing to make herself a better person, for the sole reason of providing a good life for Nora. As an employee, she is always looking to enhance her skills and knowledge in order to put herself in a better position financially. She is also planning on taking online college courses when she’s not at work, so she can get better educated and open up more opportunities for herself.. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the money for a computer, so that’s where I hope you are able to help her! Just as important, she is working so hard to improve herself personally. She has completely cut drugs from her life, doesn’t party anymore, and rarely drinks any alcohol. Every day she simply goes to work, then comes home and takes care of Nora, that’s it. She has become completely dedicated to her daughter. And she has also had some success in getting Nora’s dad to make his own changes, and to be a consistent part of Nora’s life. Shelbie has truly had to fight tooth and nail to achieve this, and I admire her greatly for what she put herself through in order to get to this point with Nora’s father. It truly proves just how devoted Shelbie is to her daughter.
In the end, Shelbie’s life is still very difficult. She still has many struggles financially and personally. Amazingly, even when times are tough, she still always puts Nora ahead of herself. When money or food is low, Nora eats first. Nora is clothed first. Nora is cared for first. Shelbie is certainly not a perfect mother (and who is?). But she works so hard every day to be as good a mom to Nora as she can be, and she does great! Unfortunately, she is virtually never recognized for it. And this is ultimately why I feel she should win this nomination. Not just because she’s deserves to be recognized, because many moms out there deserve recognition. But because Shelbie needs to be recognized. She needs to know that she is a good mother, an amazing mother, and an awesome person. Nora is what changed Shelbie for the better, and Nora is what keeps Shelbie going. Though she doesn’t talk about it much, I know Shelbie sometimes fears that she isn’t good enough for Nora or isn’t doing enough for her. This is obviously not the case. And for Shelbie to know this would mean so much to her! As I said before, Shelbie doesn’t have the money for a computer. She’s found financial aid to help cover the cost of the courses, but it won’t cover a computer, which is such a shame! So, if she were to get this laptop, it would make a huge impact for her as it would remove the biggest obstacle for her beginning online courses.
Shelbie has inspired me, probably more than she realizes. Because of her, I appreciate my own parents, my own life, so much more. I see how lucky I am to have the life I have. And I have a great deal more respect for young moms, like herself, who struggle everyday and work so hard at life. I am so inspired by her (as you can probably tell by my long post, sorry!) and I hope her story inspires you too!
My favorite suite would also be Photo Gallery. I also enjoy Movie Maker. Both of these programs allowed me to make a slideshow of Shelbie & Nora for Mother’s Day that turned out great!
This would be for me. I am planning on going back to college to prepare myself for going back in to the workforce after being out for several years due to being a caregiver for a family member and this would help me soooo much as right now I have an old desktop computer. The Microsoft Live Suite product that I think would be my favorite is the Messenger because most of my family is out of state and we im each other alot.
email subscriber
I like using windows live messenger to chat to far away family and also video chat to them.
I subscribed to emails and confirmed. I forgot answer the other part of the first question – If I won it would be for me.
following you on twitter with @krazykabbage and tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/krazykabbage/status/201870570185437184
I like spanglish baby on facebook.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I ‘like’ SpanglishBaby on Facebook. Constance Vann
I tweeted about this giveaway on Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/TodayzFashionz/status/201872520985587713
I follow you on Twitter. @TodayzFashionz
I subscribed to this blog via email.
If I were to win this laptop I would keep it for myself, and here’s why. I had a desktop Mac computer fully loaded with software that I gave to a relatively who is involved in ministry. That left me with an acer netbook that has no working keys. Seriously, it’s true! The family member I gave the computer to was decent enough to buy me a keyboard to plug into my laptop. It is so tacky, and it sometimes over loads my computer system. I have to walk around with a key that is bigger than my netbook, and that is supposed to be used on a desktop computer which I no longer have.
I think the Window’s Live for video chatting. It is great to have when you need to chat with family members face to face. My family actually uses the video chat for family meetings from time to time.
Thank you for hosting this very generous, and much needed giveaway.
This would be for my son…he really needs this for school!! Also, the messenger is my fave. We have family in different states so it’s great to keep in touch!
I’m subscribed via email!
I follow on twitter & here is my tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/DeftonesGirly81/status/202514628419395584
I’m a FB follower!
I subscribed via e-mail
https://twitter.com/#!/njsunbunny/status/202522567217655808
I Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook
This laptop would be for me and I would give my current laptop to my daughter. I think I would like Microsoft Paint and would have some fun with it!
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