Our summer has been go, go, go! Non stop planning, packing, having fun at our destination, unpacking, then planning the next trip. We started the kid’s summer break off with a 4 day stay Callaway Gardens in East Georgia, then we stayed at a beautiful beach house in Gulf Shores, Alabama for a week, now we’re preparing for a 5 day stay at The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia this Saturday and then I’m going to New Mexico for a business trip for 3 days, then we’re going to Callaway Gardens again for 4 days again. A week after that trip I am scheduled to have surgery so I guess you could say that I’ve been trying to squeeze a lot of fun into a short summer break because my surgery is recovery time is cutting two weeks off of potential travel and fun time with the kids.
While my husband is not able to travel with the kids and I on all of these trips this summer and thus can’t read to her every night, which he and my daughter both love, I came up with the fabulous idea of using Skype to allow him to be right there with her in bed and read to her at night even though he’s hundreds of miles away.
Skype gives my kids the ability to see and talk to their dad while we’re away without him. Seriously, Skype is a life changer for me. Having my husband help put the kids to bed even though he’s hundreds of miles away is great and couldn’t be done without Skype.
Skype Tip #1: How to put a child to bed via Skype
I get my daughter all ready for bed. She brushes her teeth, flosses, rinses, goes to the bathroom and washes her hands and face.
Then I tuck her in bed.
Next, I put my laptop in the bed next to my 6 year old and connect to Skype.
He picks up from wherever he is, via his iPhone or laptop.
He talks to her about her day then he asks her to pick three stories from her pile of books by the bed.
He reads the three books to her and then he SINGS to her like he always does at home.
This is just one way that Skype allows my daughter and husband to have a normal bedtime routine even during summer travel!
Skype’s new anti-shake video feature for iPhone makes video chats even more pleasant than they were before!
Skype Tip #2: Have a Skype group chat to help plan your summer vacation
Because our summer vacation trips often involve family members in other states, it is helpful to have a group ‘meeting’ before we arrive at our destination so everyone is on the same page regarding where we are going to go while we’re there, where we want to eat, etc. It’s a great idea to set up a time when all of the adults involved in the vacation can chat via Skype and go over the details of the trip. Skype Group Video Chat is available with a Premium subscription.
Here is a fun infographic that illustrates how 1,200 Moms think technology brings them closer to friends and family.
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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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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Do you wonder what the differences between Skype and FaceTime are? Why should you use Skype over FaceTime?
When I was approached about becoming a Skype ambassador, I thought to myself “why would I want to use Skype regularly instead of FaceTime?”.
Just by asking myself that question, I realized that I had subconciously blocked all of my PC owning family and friends, from my video call list. Most of my family members own PC’s and do not own an iPhone or iPad. Let’s just say they live simple lives. Therefor, I can’t FaceTime with them. I have cousins who have children that my kids would love to video chat with but until it clicked for me that we can all use Skype, I didn’t even consider it. With Skype, my kids can chat with any family member who owns a PC, Android device, iOS device, or Mac.
While I love FaceTime for video chatting with my Dad and Sister who both own an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, FaceTime does not allow me to chat with my PC loving friends and family.
Skype vs FaceTime Feature Comparison
Skype
FaceTime
Video chat from PC/Windows
Yes
No
Video chat from iPhone/iPad/Mac/iOS
Yes
Yes
Video chat from Android
Yes
No
Let’s you know who’s available
Yes
No
Chat function
Yes
No
Group video calling
Yes (Premium feature)
No
Send files while you chat
Yes
No
These comparisons are valid as of May 2012.
Situation when using Skype rocks!
If you have a child who is graduating school soon, Skype is a great way to help grandparents celebrate with you!
Include relatives in your child’s birthday celebration
Your kids can video chat with Mom or Dad when they are traveling
Read a bedtime story to your child when you are traveling
Bloggers, catch up with your blogging buddies between events via Skype!
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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.
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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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.
