Tag Archives: brand ambassador

Marriott Rewards® Final ‘Year of Surprises’ Nomination Period – Nominate Someone For a Surprise Party!

August 11, 2014Travelbrand ambassador, Marriott RewardsAlicia

Imagine this..It’s a Tuesday and it’s your 37th birthday. No big deal, right? You pick the kids up from school, run into the store to grab a couple of things, listen to your kids tell you about their day at school in the car.. at the same time, then you pull into the driveway and breathe a sigh of relief because you hope you’re in for a relaxing, hopefully treat-filled evening with your family, and BAM.. confetti hits your face and you hear screams of Happy Birthday! as you walk in the front door. You can’t help but smile and your worries melt away when you see your friends and family there to celebrate your birthday with you.

Surprising people is fun, don’t you agree? Despite that everyday life gets hold of our natural instinct to make people happy, it’s human nature to want to make people happy and surprise them. A surprise doesn’t have to be BIG or expensive to be appreciated but Marriott Rewards® is going big and is giving you and I the opportunity to throw an amazing surprise party for someone special that will be BIG! The last nomination period for Marriott Rewards’ Year of Surprises is happening now through August 31st! There is still time to nominate a special person in your life to win a once in a lifetime surprise party just like four other people already have after having been nominated! Surely, you can think of at least one person who deserves to be celebrated this year?

Did your child graduate college or high school this year? Did a friend return from a tour of duty or beat the odds after a health scare? These are all great reasons to celebrate! Don’t downplay milestones like these and even birthdays. Turning 40, 50, 60+ is a big deal and should be celebrated. Time isn’t indefinite – celebrate life!

Marriott Rewards Surprise Parties

Marriott Rewards has already announced eight winners in the Year of Surprises contest from the first two nomination periods. Four of the winners have already experienced their unique surprise party! You can see all the parties at http://yearofsurprises.com/latest-parties.

While all of the people who have been chosen to have a surprise party hosted for them are amazing, two ‘Year of Surprises’ parties that resonated with me are Super Dad’s Rockin’ Bash and Courtney’s High School Graduation.

Amanda, a mom of two with a 2-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia at age 2, nominated her husband, aka “Super Dad”. Bryan left his job to be by his daughter’s side at the hospital for 6 months. Amanda nominated her husband for a party of a lifetime because he is truly a “Super Dad.” For Bryan’s upcoming 30th birthday, Amanda gave her husband the surprise celebration of a lifetime at The Baron’s Theatre at Whiskey Row Lofts in Louisville, KY. The night was filled with performances by Bryan’s favorite musicians, including Jalin Roze and the Violet Knives, face painting and dancing for the kids, and a surprise reunion performance by Bryan with his college band, Modern Silence.

Watch Amanda and Bryan’s story:

Dwayne Stevenson was the first lucky Year of Surprises winner and he chose to throw a surprise graduation party for his eldest son, Courtney at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Courtney’s family moved from Texas during the middle of his sophomore year of high school, which was a very hard time to leave his friends. Dwayne wanted to throw his son a surprise graduation party to celebrate the important milestone before Courtney heads off to college in the fall. Courtney’s friends and family came from all over the country to celebrate with him.

Watch Courtney’s story:

Why become a Marriott Rewards member?

Marriott Rewards brings memorable experiences to life for its members. Two of my favorite perks of being a Marriott Rewards member is the late check-out and free wi-fi. Read about and watch a video of me explaining what I love about Marriott Rewards! Marriott Rewards is free to join and has no blackout dates*. Members can earn and redeem points at 14 distinct hotel brands with more than 3,800 hotels in 70 countries and territories. Members can also redeem points for frequent flyer miles, cruises, car rentals, merchandise and more.

Voted “Program of the Year” 7 years in a row, Marriott Rewards has maintained excellence in rewarding members with points to redeem for hotel stays, flights, exclusive events and shopping. Through their membership, guests earn status to receive memorable experiences during their hotel stays with benefits such as priority check-in and complimentary room upgrades. For 30 years, the magic of Marriott Rewards has helped travelers create new memories all around the globe.

To enroll in Marriott Rewards and see all the benefits of membership, visit marriott.com/rewards. And don’t forget to visit yearofsurprises.com to nominate a loved one and get upcoming related updates on nomination periods, winner information and latest parties.

*Hotels may limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption on a limited number of days. All Marriott Rewards program terms and conditions apply.

How to nominate someone for a surprise party

Marriott Rewards is looking for the most memorable ideas you can come up with, so go to yearofsurprises.com and nominate your loved one today for a surprise party. Nominations will be reviewed based on creativity/uniqueness of entry, overall appeal of nomination essay, and feasibility of the surprise party. Four winners will be notified in September and parties will be scheduled throughout the remainder of the year. This is the last nomination period for Year of Surprises so enter now! Keep up with all the winners and their stories at yearofsurprises.com. You could be next!

Limit one (1) entry per person/email address per nomination period. Please see the “Nominate” section at yearofsurprises.com for the nomination entry form and requirements. You do not need to be a Marriott Rewards member to submit a nomination, but if your nomination is chosen, you and the nominee will need to enroll at Marriott.com/rewards. For more details on the contest, check out the Year of Surprises official rules at yearofsurprises.com/rules.

– Alicia

A Skype 1st For Me: I Added E-commerce To A Blog While On A #Skype Video Chat

June 29, 2012Blogger Resources, Brand Ambassador, TechnologyBlogging, brand ambassador, Skype, web designAlicia

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When I started working from home 11 years ago, I tiddled with some web design projects for small businesses and now I design my own sites and help my others, including my Dad, with website/blog design and coding development.

Recently my Dad asked if I could help him upload some software packages to his WordPress.com blog and then allow his customers to purchase the software from his blog.

This would require a few things:

I had to be able to find the software on his computer in order to get in on my server and then onto his website. We used DropBox and his WordPress.com for this step.
Then, I logged on to his PayPal account to create the payment buttons for each version of the software (Mac, Windows, with data, and without data).
I created the payment buttons for the software and linked to each from his WordPress.com blog.
Then, he requested that I change some verbiage on the payment and software landing pages.

This is the result:

Skype video call helped with this design/coding job

By using Skype, I was hundreds of times more productive and efficient than I would have been had he emailed me a list of tasks. Being on a call, better yet a video call, pushed me to get things done right then and there. We were in it together and we din’t quit until we got the job done!

Our Skpye call lasted about 2-2 1/2 hours and by the time we completed the call, all four versions of his software were available for download and each version had its own accompanying secure payment button/link.

He and I agreed that Skype is the way to go when working on design and coding tasks in the future!

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More about Skype:

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

How #Skype Can Make Your Life Easier – and – A Moms and Technology Infographic

June 7, 2012Brand Ambassador, Gadgets, New posts, Technologybrand ambassador, iphone, Skype, technologyAlicia

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Technology has changed the world we live in. Especially when it comes to being able to communicate and maintain relationships where geographical proximity is an issue. One of the leading tools in the evolution of technology is Skype. I live hundreds of miles away from my Dad and sister but they see my kids regularly on the computer or iPhone.
In case you don’t already know what Skype is, it is a program that you download onto your computer, laptop, or mobile device, which gives you the ability to talk to, video chat with, and text chat with others who have Skype.

A painful separation that often occurs for various life circumstances is the distance between grandparents and grandkids. Often grandparent, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends don’t live as close to their loved ones as they would like, thus missing out on milestones such as a baby’s first step or a first homerun. But with technology the way it is today a connection is just one click away, and grandparents can be right there with their family at the ball park or in their grandchild’s home via a Skype video chat. Grandparents don’t have to miss their grandchild’s ball game because of proximity. Skype video chat allow grandparents to cheer on a loved one.

I’ve been using Skype quite a bit the last couple of weeks and have learned how Skype can make life easier and help me reconnect with people in my life like never before.

Here are some unique ways Skype can make life easier (and more fun!):

Have a virtual tutor for your child via Skype during summer break

Use earphones for a more private Skype conversation

Among the unique ways to use Skype also includes the ability to have a tutoring session or study time with someone who would otherwise not be around.

If your child needs to study math or has homework you just can’t help with, Skype with someone who can, for one on one attention. These tutoring sessions can be done from the comfort of your own home and you can save time and money while getting your child homework help or summer tutoring.

Use Skype while shopping – get advice on that fabulous dress or shoes while you’re at the mall

Take a best friend with you as you go shopping. I have been known to send my sister a photo or two while I’m in the dressing room at the mall. She lives hundreds of miles away but I almost always get her advice on the dress I’m trying on or a pair of shoes I adore, before buying.

Here’s a tip: Have your child use earphones during the tutoring session so she can better concentrate on the conversation. Earphones are also great to use while you’re at the mall trying on clothes for your sister via Skype and you don’t want the lady in the next dressing room to hear everything your sister is saying about your choice of clothes. 🙂

Skype is available to on many devices

Another wonderful feature of Skype is it’s accessibility. Skype is able to run on PCs, mobile phones, android devices, iOS devices, iPhones and Mac computers. This means that wherever you are and whatever you want to share with a loved one, you can do it on your mobile phone.

Do you have important timely information that is best communicated face to face? Don’t regret not living close to your family, it’s a fact of life, just make sure you bring your iPhone and your family can be right their with you when you need them most.

There is no comparison to actually seeing the person you are talking to be it your grand parent or your parent. Skype brings someone who may be a world away into your living room via your Mac, PC, iPhone or Android device.

Skype allows users to catch up with mom who you might not haven’t seen since the holidays. Skype makes all these things possible where they never were before, and it can help you connect with the world in a brand new way.

Here are some very interesting research findings around Moms and technology

Skype Moms and Technology Infographic

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More about Skype:

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Skype Ambassador Announcement

May 7, 2012Brand Ambassador, Gadgets, Technologybrand ambassador, SkypeAlicia

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The Mommy Insider is a Skype Ambassador!

Just as I am with any opportunity that comes my way, I am honored to be a Skype brand ambassador for the next few months. As a Skype Ambassador through Mom Central Consulting, I will be sharing my experiences using Skype with you over the next few months. I will be posting about how I use Skype at home, as well as tips, ideas, and stories about Skype. Some funny, some touching.

My First Time and Now:

The first time I used Skype was when my daughter was about two-years-old, over three years ago. She was sitting on my lap and I was experimenting with this Skype program I had just put on my laptop. My daughter got a kick out of seeing herself on the screen and seeing my sister who lives states away. Since then, she’s almost six-years-old, Skype has become more of a household word. I use Skype to talk to relatives as well as for work. I no longer have a land-line because of services like Skype. Great, huh?

When I feel like hiding from the camera/video, I communicate via Skype voice call or chat. On the flip side, when I’m feeling particularly confident or actually have makeup and clothes on that match, I will go for a Skype Video Chat.

I talk to my Dad who lives in Florida pretty regularly on Skype. He’ll buzz in asking for a video chat and I just click the button to accept. We always have a great time video chatting. On the business side, Skype video chats make a huge difference in the productivity of business calls. I am able to accomplish a lot more with a video chat or Skype voice call than I am from a simple phone conversation or email alone.

What is Skype?

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet.
Skype allows people to talk and video chat via their Internet connection, Wifi, Smartphone, and more.

Mac or PC computer
iPhone
iPad
Android device
You can even Skype via a Skype-ready Blu-ray™ player and TV webcam!
There is also a home phone adapter that will allow you to make Skype calls right from your home phone. Use Skype’s FREETALK® phone adapter to make convenient, low-cost calls and Skype-to-Skype calls from your home phone.
More Skype features

As you can see, Skype has an option for everyone. If you have been waiting to get rid of your landline number but weren’t sure about making the change, Skype probably has a service for you.

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Connect with Skype:

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Skype Mother’s Day Video Greetings

May 7, 2012Family Time, Mother's Day, Technologybrand ambassador, mother's day, Skype, Video ChatAlicia

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Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and while I am lucky to live five minutes from my mom, many of my friends mother’s live in another state or even another country. No matter where your mother is though, Skype can help you send her love on Mother’s Day via a video chat and video message. A video chat is so much more personal than just sending a card. I do recommend sending Mom flowers, but a video chat will make her day!

How to prepare for your Skype Mother’s Day Video Chat:

Tell your Mom what time you will be calling on Mother’s Day.
Have your Mom download and set up Skype on her computer at least one day before the call.
Tell your kids ahead of time that you are going to call Grandma and tell her happy Mother’s Day.
Ask your kids if they have anything special they’d like to show Grandma or tell her while on the chat.
Create and rehearse a special Mother’s Day poem or song for Grandma.
Call your Mom at the specified time and enjoy the video chat!

Send Mom a Mother’s Day message via Skype’s ‘Mom, you rock’ Facebook application

Alternatively or in addition to a Skype video chat with your Mom on Mother’s Day, you can create a fun and unique message for her by visiting Skype’s Mom You Rock Facebook page. Skype is celebrating Mother’s Day by offering a free video greeting card through their Mom You Rock Facebook page.

Mom You Rock is a charity campaign organized by Skype. For every ‘Mom, You Rock‘ video message that is sent, $1 will go to Save the Children’s Global Action Fund in support of the new MomsTheWord.org campaign.

Using Skype’s Mom You Rock application you can create a special video message for a mom in your life in about ten minutes. Say more than you can on a greeting card and best of all, Mom will see your expressions, emotion, and just how much you love her, in your message! Your mom will need to be on Facebook in order to send her a special Mom You Rock message. After you click on the Say ‘Mom, you rock’ image on the Facebook page, you will be prompted to choose a Facebook friend (your mom) to send the video greeting to. Next, choose from three rockin’ songs to feature in your video message. Last, personalize your Mom, you rock video with short messages like “Happy Mother’s Day”, “We Love You!” and more. Then send or schedule!

Here is the Mother’s Day Skype message that I created for my mom:

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More about Skype:

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.