mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

How to monitor your usage with Verizon Wireless

So last month I mentioned how much I love using my Bionic to record everyday moments in an effort to make my life easier.  Well, another one of the things that I love about Verizon Wireless is that no matter what nationwide plan you select, they make it easy as pie to monitor your usage to make sure your plan suits you just right.

The usage details can be found on your phone by setting up a "My Verizon Mobile" account.  You can then access it as an app on the phone:

You'll then be taken to a usage overview screen where the app will break down the amount of minutes used to date, as well as the number of text and media/picture messages, and then finally the web usage.

You'll also have the option to click on the various tabs on that screen to access your profile, look at and pay your bill, and check out your current plan.

But, to see the usage details in further detail, just select the button in the top middle titled "Usage Details".

Here is where you'll see a detailed breakdown of your minutes, messages, and KB/MB/GB web data usage.  I love how handy this app makes accessing this kind of information anytime you want to see it!

It's such a great way to keep tabs on what you are using and do upgrade or downgrade your current plans if necessary so that you don't waste money!

 

 

 

{Disclosure: I am part of the Verizon Wireless #MidwestMoms project and am being compensated for this series of posts, however, the opinions expressed herein are those of my own. No one's the boss of me!}

{Giveaway}: NEW Motorola Droid RAZR 4G LTE #MidwestMoms

While most new wireless devices are all about "hype", the new Motorola Droid RAZR is all about "hip"!  The world's thinnest, most durable, and smartest smartphone with Verizon 4G LTE has finally been released!  Even beyond its smart Dual Core 1.2 GHZ processor and its 8 mega-pixel rear-facing camera and High Definition video capture capabilities, are the unique and ground-breaking characteristics of this new device.  "What the heck am I talking about," you ask?  Let me explain.

What busy mom doesn't have room to fit 4 quarters in her pocket?  Well, if there's room for coins, there's room for this super-thin, sleek smartphone.  Perfect for sliding inside the back pocket of your jeans, into the side pocket of a packed diaper bag, or just carrying it along on the morning stroll with the kids.

The new Droid RAZR brings you durability that only comes from Motorola.  It's made with Kevlar® fiber, a material that is 5 times stronger than steel!  Yes, for those of you who are busy moms like me that means no more broken phone when your toddler suddenly drops it from the grocery cart or begins banging it on the floor during playgroup.  I just dare your little dude or dudette to make a dent in this phone!  

It also features scratch-resistant glass and smart technology which makes water particles bead up and evaporate, much like the Rain-X windshield wipers.  How totally freakin' awesome is that??

And talk about smart!  One of the coolest features I love about my Droid Bionic is the ZumoCast app which allows me to access all of my laptop photos, videos, and documents remotely on my phone.  SO cool!!  Well, the Motorola Droid RAZR is taking it even one step further.  With the new MotoCast™ app, you can access all of those remote documents on any other connected device seamlessly.  Yep, that's right. What this means is that you have access to all of those files on your computer and don't have to go through a standalone app to access them either. Sa-weeet!

Another great feature that moms can appreciate is the capability to set "Smart Actions" with this phone.  What does this mean?  In short it will enable you to set various actions based on environments or threshholds that you preset on your phone.  For example, let's say you volunteer up at the kids' school computer lab every Monday morning (like I do) and want your phone to be set to "vibrate" or "silent mode" automatically.  This can be set up on the new Motorola Droid RAZR via the Smart Actions app which can tell your phone to turn off once you reach a particular location (detected via GPS).  Another example of a trigger that can be set is let's say you receive a missed call from a specific number, your phone can automatically send you an email alerting you so that you don't forget to return the call!  Seriously -- genius! 

And finally, one of my most favorite features about this phone include the smart 8 megapixel camera that launches from the lock screen!  You know how big this is!  Think of all those times you've reached for your phone to snap a quick pic only to have the shot long gone by the time you get out of your home screen and get the camera app going.  That will never happen with THIS smart phone! 

Add to all this HD video capture, image stabilization for less blurry photos, a front-facing HD webcam, and  - ding, ding, ding - we have  a winner!

I SO want this phone and I know you will too!  That's why I am beyond ecstatic that our friends at Verizon Wireless are generously making one of your lives easier and more "hip" by surprising you with a new Motorola Droid RAZR with 4G LTE!!!

To enter simply leave a comment here telling me which of this phone's features would make YOUR life easier!

Extra Entries: Do any or all of these for an extra entry! (Leave a separate comment for each entry)

1.  Fall in "like" with Verizon on Facebook
2.  Fall in "like" with Mommypalooza on Facebook
3.  Follow me on Twitter
4.  Tweet the following about this giveaway:

Win a DROID RAZR SMARTPHONE from @Mommypalooza & @VerizonWireless! #MidwestMoms http://ow.ly/7siHQ Ends 11/20

5.  Subscribe to my blog for FIVE extra entries!

CONTEST DETAILS: One winner will be chosen by random.org from among entries received by November 20^th 12pm CST. The winner will be contacted via email and has 24 hours to respond. If winner does not respond within said time a new winner will be selected at random. Winner will need to provide name, email and address for shipment and prize will be shipped out via FedEx. This prize must be shipped to a North American address. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The #MidwestMoms DROID RAZR Giveaway ends November 20, 2011. Verizon Wireless will provide the winner with the giveaway item. Mommypalooza is not a sponsor of the giveaway.

Do you know what tomorrow is?

Ok, well besides there being another fa-ha-byoo-lous edition of {friday finds} tomorrow, it is 11/11/11.  And yes, my kids have been talking about it non-stop since the beginning of the month.  It's actually getting quite annoying how excited they are about it.

{Yes, that's only 2 of my 3 boys pictured, but my oldest who is not pictured, was too darn excited, that I couldn't even get him to sit still for a moment to get into the pic.  For real.}

So, because this date won't come around for another 100+ years or so, and being the wannabe cool mom that I am, I've been planning some fun stuff for them tomorrow to celebrate 11/11/11.   Here's what I've thought of so far:

• Using streamers to decorate their door with a bit "11" on the outside of it.
• Putting 11 of 'something' {probably jellybeans or M&Ms} in their lunch tomorrow.
• Giving them 11 kisses in the morning as they get out of bed.
• Cutting out their lunch notes {yes, I pack one in each of their lunches everyday, NO exceptions!} in the shape of the number 11.
• Give them 11 extra coins {dimes, nickels, whatever} to put in their piggy bank.
• Repeating myself 11 times whenever I ask them to do something.
  
  {that last one's just for me :)  bwahh, hahaha, hahah, ha!}

I'm sure I'll come up with a few more funnies for them.  Do you have any special or fun ideas for me?  I'd love to hear them!

I am the Bionic Woman!

I have had my Motorola DROID Bionic for a little over a month now and have been enoying every waking moment with this phone!  While there are MANY features I could go on and on about, one of the most convenient and mom-friendly features of this phone is the MOTOPRINT feature. 

I'm a busy mom of three and truthfully, I loathe having to go down into the dungeons of my basement office to have to print something.  You know what I'm talking about -- the occasional school form, coupons, photos, forms, and just about anything else I access from my PC or phone.  So, when I first learned that MOTOPRINT comes standard on the Bionic, I was so excited to try it out.  Then a few weeks ago I found this Epson wireless printer on a steal-of-a-sale for just $39.99.   I bought it, set it up, then decided I'd put the MOTOPRINT app to the test.  Let me just say it was easy as pie to print directly from my phone over to my wireless printer!  Talk about making life easier for this busy mama!  I am SO hooked and LOVING this feature!  Here's how it works:

First, you need to have the WiFi connected onto the network on which your wireless printer is on.  Just go into Settings and connect to WiFi.

Then go back into settings and scroll over to the MOTOPRINT icon and tap it to connect and print.

You'll then be presented with options on what you want printed -- documents, PDFs, photos, and more.

So just for kicks, let's assume you want to print a photo from your phone.  You'd simply tap "Picture Gallery" and be presented with your options.

Then, tap your photo selection and the MOTOPRINT will take you to the screen where you can specify your printer by clicking "Add printers" at the bottom of the screen.

And, you'll click which type of network printer you are wanting to connect to.

I, of course, clicked "At Home" to connect to my home printer, and then was presented with the following options to find printers:

You should select the first option, "Automatically find printers" if you are connecting to a computer on your WiFi network.  As you can see, once I click that, my Epson printer is automatically detected.

I then click "Save" at the bottom and MOTOPRINT takes me to the final screen before choosing "Print".  Here is where you can change all of your print options like paper size, orientation, etc. 

And once you hit print your document or photo will be sent to the printer seamlessly and you'll be left with the most awesome feeling in the world that you just printed from your PHONE!  How cool is that?  MOTOPRINT -- just another reason why I'm such a DROID girl!

 

 
 

 

{Disclosure: I am part of the Verizon Wireless #MidwestMoms project and am being compensated for this series of posts, however, the opinions expressed herein are those of my own. No one's the boss of me!}

The perfect back-to-school song + free download

If many of you are like me, your kids are likely back in school either this week or soon enough!  One of my favorite artists, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, has a brand new album coming out in the Spring.  On that album will be one of his new tracks, "Back Home" which is the perfect beat for you and your kids to listen to.  The first time I actually heard it on satellite radio I was by myself - without the kids (yes, I do in fact listen to Kids Place Live even when I'm in the car sans kids).  I have to tell ya'll that I got teary-eyed!  Not because it's a sad song or anything like that but because it's such a REAL song about going back to school that I think even adults can relate to.  Skidoo has an awesome way of connecting the emotion to the most perfect words that both kids and grown-ups can enjoy.

Our family was first introduced to him two summers ago when he performed at KC Jiggle Jam.  I was floored when I heard him live.

I am HUGE fan of hip-hop and rap, and R&B.  You know, music that you can really MOVE to!  When I heard him perform I suddenly realized that I didn't have to sacrifice my musical tastes just to have appropriate kids music on.  We got Skidoo's CD that weekend and listened to it religiously for at least several months.  Now that we are SiriusXM subscribers, we get to hear him (along with loads of other great artists) just about everyday!

Ok, so back to this new track, "Back Home".   Although the new album doesn't release until sometime next spring, Skidoo is offering this brand new song for FREE to all of his Facebook fans!  Seriously!  Head on over and "like" him then get the details on how to download your free track. 

You can listen to it here beforehand.  I promise, you will NOT be disappointed! 

(Secret Agent 23 Skidoo signing autographs and meeting his newest fans (my kiddos) - KC Jiggle Jam 2010)

So head on over, get your free music track and let me know what 'cha think!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Uno game card holder

During a recent game of Uno, the kids and I came up with an invention to make our game-playing much easier.  You see, in the game of Uno each player receives 7 cards each.  Well, as an adult even I sometimes have trouble fanning my cards out so that I can see them all the same time, so of course my 7 and 5 year-old struggle to hold all of their cards out, too.

It was decided we would come up with a remedy for this very serious problem!  Because what you need to know is that we are a family who LOVES to play board and card games together to pass some of our lazy summer afternoons. 

Hmm....perhaps we should add it to our summer to-do list.

At any rate, I'm sure Hasbro will be calling any minute because this cute little card holder makes playing Uno soooo much more fun (especially with little kids)!

First off, we cut 4 box flaps from a large cardboard box. 

Then took a sheet of brown construction paper and a ruler to mark off strips that were about a ruler's width. 

This allowed for about 4 strips to be made per piece of construction paper.

Then we taped two strips of the paper together so that it spanned the entire width of the cardboard piece we'd cut earlier.  This strip would be where the cards would be tucked into.  You'll see how this works later.

After measuring the width of the cardboard, the excess from the strip of paper is cut off.

Then, we side of the strip to the edges of the cardboard piece.  We used just regular Scotch tape on our first card holder, however, we found the clear packing tape worked best for subsequent holders.  Duct tape would probably work just as well!

Next, we took packing tape to seal off the bottom edge of the strip of paper to the bottom edge of the cardboard flap.

Finally, VOILA!  We've got a card holder!

. . . And, two very happy Uno players!

Don't you just love the ideas kids come up with these days?  We ended up making 4 of these card holdersand have used them a few times for playing Uno.  I imagine they will work for other games where cards are needed, too.  Sure beats me having to fan out the cards for my kids every  5 seconds during game play!

{friday finds} 06.24.2011

Two of my favorite kitchen staple items are bananas and cream cheese, so naturally I am very excited about trying this banana cake with cream cheese frosting next time I get the baking urge! {@ The Menu Mom}

I could spend all afternoon printing out these fun summer activity worksheets for my boys.  So many great ideas, all in one place!  {@ Classroom Jr.}

This is some great info about finding the right kinds of clothes for taking photographs in.  Very good read for the summer photo season!  {@ Organizing Made Fun}

I am a pasta salad freak!! I am SO excited to try this version of a caesar basil pasta salad . . . perhaps even this weekend to take along to one of the family barbecues we are invited to! YUM!  {@ The Country Cook}

In preparation for the 4th of July festivities, this DIY patriotic door hanger will get your family ready for the holiday in no time!  {@ AliLilly}

{friday finds} 06.17.2011

I'm not much of a quiche fan, but something tells me this crustless quiche with sundried tomatoes and spinach would be outta this world! {@ Add A Pinch}

This fabulous 100 days of summer listing is great for the days when you need inspiration on what to do with the kids! {@ Mom Advice}

I love this clever take on a great no-spill cup that the kids can use when they are painting!  "Stroke" of genius!  {@ Muffin Tin Mom}

What a dino-mite way to keep the little ones busy learning & exploring this summer  -- Dinosaurs!  {@ Counting Coconuts}

I am a huge fan of great penmanship, especially with my kids!  This fun pen pal kit might be just the thing they could get into that would encourage it! {@ Eighteen 25}

{friday finds} 06.03.2011

Your kiddo will be 'fishing for compliments' with these fun Father's Day cupcakes that are almost too cute to eat!

I love this post welcoming summer and the beauty of a new routine!  My kids and I are having a wonderful time implementing some of these great ideas!

Seriously - a S'mores Pie.  Enough said!

This summer fun chore chart will have your kids waking up excited to see what's in store each day during summer break!

Speaking of summer, these sweet cupcakes in a jar make an excellent summer day activity!

{friday finds} 05.27.2011

I just can't wait till my boys come down for breakfast one summer morning and I have these chocolate chip banana muffins warm and waiting for them!  Yum -- these are two of our favorite ingredients in our house!  {@ Weelicious}

Ok, so I've never actually cleaned the coils on my refrigerator but now that I know it's this easy, I think I just might have to!  {@ Tidy Mom}

This  festive paper ball decoration garland would make the most adorable decoration for all of your summer parties!  {@ Happy Clippings}

When you get stuck in a rut of "what to do with the kids" in just a few weeks, check out this awesome listing of 80 inexpensive or free summer activities for kids!  {@ Crystal and Comp}

 What summer barbecue would be complete without these adorable watermelon shaped cookies?  My kids would be ALL over them!  {@ Glorious Treats}