Scheduling Made Easy with CoSchedule

As many of you know, I run two parenting websites in my local city. I loved being able to do this for almost four years, and the second site just turned one!

It can get a little crazy running multiple sites, and that's why I had to enlist the help of CoSchedule to keep my head on straight and also to be able to be a HUMAN PERSON and not attached to my computer 24/7. (You know the feeling!)

Have you used CoSchedule? After I started KMB, I was ALWAYS glued to my computer and social media trying to make sure I was continuing to grow this local resource. I would seriously wake up and post on Facebook every day. It took so much of my time away from my family, and it was something I worried about ALL.THE.TIME. I would worry did I schedule that post, how far did I schedule in advance...and the list just goes on and on.

Finally some other sites in the City Moms Blog network suggested using CoSchedule so I gave it a shot with the trial period. My life was forever changed!

Not only did it allow my Managing Editor to actual edit in WordPress while she was actually editing it a post, she could schedule to multiple outlets without having to leave WP at all. For us, it was a game changer and freed up time that we desperately needed. I was also eventually able to add a social media manager to my team, and now her and the Managing Editor can see the same information that they need to complete their tasks.

Blogging can be fun, but it can also be cumbersome with all the social media that goes with it. We all know that's part of the gig, but it doesn't have to rule our life.

CoSchedule from Garrett Moon on Vimeo.

CoSchedule also has handy tutorials that show you step-by-step how to use the program. They are also very responsive with any questions you might have. Sometimes that is hard to find in a very web-based world!

They have many features including a marketing calendar, social media scheduling, workflow management, WordPress, Google Docs, Evernote, and Chrome Extension.

I love connecting with friends on social media, but it's also nice to actually step away from the computer and enjoy life away from technology. CoSchedule has allowed me to find a balance and have the best of both worlds!

I also can access both my sites very easily by toggling the calendars. This is a great feature when you have three little ones on the go with not a lot of time. We all know that time is of the essence!

They are always adding cool features, and now we've starting scheduling to Pinterest, and you can even schedule to Instagram (well you know, as far as you can schedule with a reminder to push your Instagram photo). It's also nice to see the calendar layout with all your social media scheduled out in one convenient place!

I hope you give it a shot and happy scheduling my friends!

Natalie

Well Hello There November

Ahh...it's finally fall in my neck of the woods. We've been dealing with high temperatures this time of year with 80's and 90's...but not I finally have the 70's with some crispness in the air.

November is my favorite time of year for a multitude of reasons--my birthday (I'm forever 29!), fall my favorite season is usually in full effect, and KMB's third birthday. We plan a huge bash for KMB, and once that party is over my season of life slows down a tad as far as planning goes.

This year we celebrated on a yacht, and it was AMAZING!

 We also received our team photos back, and they are my favorite yet!

In October I was at the CMBN conference in San Antonio, and I was able to hang out with the other site owners in other cities. These ladies are awesome!

It's a busy couple of months, but hoping that I'll be catching up here and sharing about Nolan's birthday, and sweet baby Foster who is now 4 months old!

Natalie

The Life of a Blogger

Many of you have followed my on my journey of this small personal blog, and I've made some incredible friends from it.

Not to mention, I met a gal in New Orleans who also had a small family blog but then launched the New Orleans Moms Blog site. She encouraged me to launch KMB, and now I've expanded to CMB.

I never would have thought that this small blog would have opened so many doors of opportunity for me. I've been running multiples sites/blogs since 2013, and I've loved every minute of it.

This space does get neglected from time to time, but I hope you follow me over at KMB.

It can get a little crazy running multiple sites, and that's why I had to enlist the help of CoSchedule to keep my head on straight and also to be able to be a HUMAN PERSON and not attached to my computer 24/7.

Have you used CoSchedule? After I started KMB, I was ALWAYS glued to my computer and social media trying to make sure I was continuing to grow this local resource. I would seriously wake up and post on Facebook every day.

Finally some other sites in the City Moms Blog network suggested using CoSchedule so I gave it a shot with the trial period. My life was forever changed!

Not only did it allow my Managing Editor to actual edit in WordPress while she was actually editing it a post, she could schedule to multiple outlets without having to leave WP at all. For us, it was a game changer and freed up time that we desperately needed.

Blogging can be fun, but it can also be cumbersome with all the social media that goes with it.

CoSchedule also has handy tutorials that show you step-by-step how to use the program. They are also very responsive with any questions you might have. Sometimes that is hard to find in a very web-based world!

They have many features including a marketing calendar, social media scheduling, workflow management, WordPress, Google Docs, Evernote, and Chrome Extension.

I love connecting with friends on social media, but it's also nice to actually step away from the computer and enjoy life away from technology. CoSchedule has allowed me to find a balance and have the best of both worlds!

I hope you give it a shot and happy scheduling my friends!

Natalie

Birthdays and Babies!

Wow what a week! I've been planning a lot for the KMB second birthday party, and I'm happy to report it was a huge success! It was a country/western theme, and I absolutely fell in love with our cake!

So glad that planning is done! Now it was time for my actual birthday! I headed to a baby shower, and a weekend of friends and shopping! 

My friend put together this fun collage of all the first baby showers together!

Hard to believe the first shower was for Nolan in 2010!

Oh and I can't leave out the boys' Halloween costumes! 

Happy Monday!

 

Natalie

From Dallas to a 5th Birthday Party!

Hello October! Right now the leaves are changing colors, and there is a briskness in the air which means my favorite time of year!

I started the month off at a conference in Dallas for KMB and spent some quality time with the City Moms Blog Network owners! Many of the ladies I met last year, but I was so happy to meet some new faces this year!

Then yesterday we celebrated Nolan's 5th Birthday a little early with our playgroup friends! He asked to have it at the house, so we had a Lego party with pizza!

Happy Early Birthday my sweet boy!

Natalie

Summer Adventures

Wow it's the end of June already? It's hard to believe the summer will be over before we know it!

We've been busy going to the pool, the local science museum, visiting with friends, the trampoline park, a cooking class, and for Nolan a few camps. (Unfortunately camps here don't take children less than three, so Conley is out of luck! Or is it me out of luck?) On a side note, I think I've potty trained Conley officially.

We've celebrated Father's Day and my husband's birthday.

And just like that I feel like we'll be hitting Conley third birthday in August. I can't believe by the end of this year I'll have a 5 year old and 3 year old! When did that happen?

This past weekend we had a HUGE family KMB event at the local splash pad. It was a big success with lots of fun and food!

What adventures have you been on this summer?

Natalie

Random Tidbits

Wow it's been another crazy week at our house! (Feels like I say that every week right?)

It's really warmed up here (almost 90 degrees!) so we pulled out the baby pool to cool off. Conley is having so much fun just playing in the water!

I was on TV again for KMB in honor of Mother's Day. This time they didn't even tell us anything about what we would be doing! Luckily it was like a Mother's Day tea so we didn't have to do much!

And Nolan had a small Mother's Day program at his school. It was so cute, and he was such a sweet by saying it was the best day ever!

I also finished an AWESOME book by Kate Morton The Forgotten Garden. You should definitely put it on your reading list!

Have a great weekend friends!

Natalie

Spring Weather Fun!

Last week was rain but now we are feeling some sunshine and 70 degree weather! I seriously could live all year long with the weather just like this.

We had some yogurt fun at a KMB playgroup where both boys enjoyed seeing their frog, "Cookie."

On Sunday, we took Nolan to a birthday party at our local science museum, and he had fun dressing up like an astronaut!

I also had a Mom's Night Out with KMB...it was a reschedule from a snow day but at least the weather was perfect!

I recently finished reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, and now I'm moving on to book #7 in the Outlander Series. I have to really gear myself up for these as they are super long. I'm almost done with the series though.

What are you reading and are you getting some of this spring weather?

Natalie

Early Valentine's Day Celebrations

It's finally Friday! We've had some cold temps this week (boo!), and I'm ready for warmer weather and a beach somewhere.

The boys had Valentine's Day party at school and Nolan said, "It was the best Valentine's party ever!"

Here's the simple GoGo Squeez Valentine's I did for the boys---I'm sure you saw it on Pinterest. Oh my word the chocolate these boys came home with!

 

The husband and I had an early Valentine's Day dinner since we didn't want to fight the crowds. We went to a fairly new place called Knox Mason, and it was delicious! Here's a photo of the banana pudding:

 

We then had some yummy coffee at The Remedy Coffeehouse. Coffee and dessert, yes please!

I'm also on KMB talking about keeping the "you and I" in marriage.

Valentine's Day holds a special place in my heart since it was the first official date with my other half. We had been seeing each other around campus, but this was the first "big date" to a restaurant and dressing up nice. He also was so sweet and thoughtful with his Valentine's gifts even though we both had ZERO money.

Are you doing anything special this Valentine's Day?

Natalie
 

February Randomness!

Hello February! How is 2015 treating you so far? It's flying by for us!

KMB made an appearance at a Preschool Fair and displayed our new huge vertical banner!

We had a little snow, but nothing to play with really.

Then I was on TV for KMB! It was a great experience, and all the news people were SO nice!

The boys have been silly as usual. Conley giving one of his many expressions.

 

And the boys dressing up for crazy clothes day!

 

 

And my co-ed volleyball team won the social tournament after 3 games and 4 hours of play!

 

 

 How's your February going?

Natalie

Capturing the Small Moments

It's been a gorgeous week here so far, and we are soaking up the SUN! After a very dreary and rainy December and early January it's been a relief to see the sunshine. Today it reached over 60 degrees!

(On the way back from a gorgeous day from the park with a little pit stop for a snack. These boys have to get waters in a cup just like Mom and Dad!)

I need to get around to writing some updates on the boys since Conley is approaching 2 1/2, and Nolan will soon by 4 1/2 in April. SAY WHAT? Seriously I still can't fathom that I've been mom for four years.

I can't believe I've also had a blog for almost 4 YEARS!!! In March, I'll be celebrating that anniversary. As I don't post over here as much as I like, I'm still thankful to have this as an outlet and a journal for keeping up with the boys. If it wasn't for this blog, I would never had KMB!

Speaking of KMB, we had a Photography Mom's Night Out and the photographer was sharing with us to embrace our phone as our camera. It's with you and quick to use. My biggest takeaway was her saying take photos of everyday life---photos that evoke emotion in you. Not your ones where everyone staring at the camera but those small tidbits in life that you want to remember. Little baby toes and whisps of curly toddler hair. Those are the moments you want to capture and hold close to your heart. Jenny our KMB contributor wrote a great piece about it after that night. Be sure to check it out!

Just trying to catch the little things...because sometimes those are what mean the most!

Natalie