Life Online

Everyone knows that I am all about making money through blogs and through video in particular today. I heard about a new site called Graspr that just received some pretty major funding. It looks a lot like Revver except that it isn’t obvious to me from the outset how to make money off of it.

Apparently you can make money either by uploading your own videos or showing the videos of others. Given all of the news that we are hearing about people watching more and more videos online, it’s clear that it is the next new way to make money. The question is which platforms are going to be the ones that work?

If you are interested, click over to Graspr.com and create an account. I haven’t uploaded any videos yet but I was having a ball watching some dancing videos like the one below. I just keep trying to picture myself at a Nightclub doing this dance.

http://www.graspr.com/videos/Night-Club-Two-Step-Mickael-Kiehm-NC2-Step-Lesson

As a work-at-home-mom, I never know what the summer will bring. Depending on our activities and the ages of my girls, each summer is different.

I have to say that I am totally loving this summer! We planned in advance a good variety of things for the girls to do–a couple of weeks of summer camp, a week with my in-laws, a week here with my mom, some parties and social events, etc. We take a weekly trip to the library for both books and movies. In addition, a sitter comes and teaches them swimming a couple of afternoons a week.

Although every day is different, we are really enjoying family time. Sometimes it is something simple like a craft. Today it was a movie. It’s just nice to be relaxing and enjoying the kids.

That’s not to say that there are not challenges. I work even stranger hours than before because I have less dedicated work time. But the girls have even started helping me out a bit with my work by making videos for my websites and giving me contest ideas. This week they will help me stuff envelopes full of Disney gift cards.

I’m sure by August 10 I will be completely ready for them to go back to school. But for now, I am enjoying the time that we have and the opportunities in front of us.

I was on a blog this morning and notived them using Disqus for their comments. I’m curious as to how it works because I am new to it. I went ahead and signed up for it and added it to this blog, but I am not sure whether the Disqus plugin will work with Wordpress Mu. I guess we will see!

Do you Disqus? What has your experience been with it? You can learn more about it at www.disqus.com.

It was only a matter of time before one of our family members ended up on YouTube and not because we put ourselves there. We found out the other day from my husband’s mom that his uncle (I think actually his great uncle) was found on YouTube singing Old Man River on an airplane. It’s totally in character from what I know of his uncle. Apparently someone just found him amusing and started recording him. A family member stumbled upon the video months later and recognized him. Since then, the video has been passed along from family member to family members.

It’s actually kind of funny. And definitely a warning that we all need to be careful what we do in public because we have no idea who might be recording us and putting us on the internet! As small as video cameras are these days (not to mention video capability on cell phones), any one of us may unknowingly become a “star.” Here’s Uncle Allen!

My younger daughter, Cassie, graduated from preschool tonight. While a preschool graduation doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, this really was a huge milestone for our family. Cassie had attended a private school/daycare part-time for the last 3 years. Tonight was the end of an era for our family.

For Cassie, it means moving from the school that she has known for 3 years and the “family” that has surrounded her there to a public school with all new friends and teachers. It means no more nap or snacks in the afternoon. It means getting up early every day of the week instead of 3 days. It also means more independence and structure.

For me, it is the last day that I make the choice to be a working mom with a child in daycare. This has been a huge struggle for me since I started sending my older daughter to a babysitter part-time when she was a year old. The guilt and the feeling of inadequacy have been a much heavier price for me than the money that it has cost to send them. Honestly, I’ve just been holding it all in and waiting for this day with all the patience I could muster.

As a surprise to their teachers, the kids performed “Landslide” tonight. I’ve never really thought much of the song before until I heard my five year old singing “Well, I’ve been afraid of changing, cause I’ve built my life around you. But time makes you bolder
Children get older, I’m getting older too.” She could have been singing about either her or me just as easily.

Here’s a little video the solo performance she gave for us when she got home. I’ve watched it 5 times now and cry everytime. This is one of those days that is going to stay in my heart forever.