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Baking Cookies, Instagram Style originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

I have flown out to San Francisco several times, but I guess I never had a window seat because I don’t ever remember seeing this view. It was such a gorgeous view.

Photo taken with my Olympus PEN E-PM1 from the PEN READY Project.

I arrived at the Hotel Sofitel with a few hours to spare and I decided to rest. I was still recovering from my 3 weeks of pneumonia.

That evening we met in the hotel lounge for some appetizers, drinks and to catch up. Getting together with a small group of tech mom bloggers is so much fun. It was great catching up with everyone and the desserts were yummy!!

Small Cheesecakes

Chocolate covered strawberries.

PlayStation Family

The next morning we headed over to the PlayStation Headquarters where we met with several of PlayStation’s employees and got a super secret tour. The sign outside the conference room welcoming the PlayStation Family.

Eighteen tech bloggers who are also Moms make up the PlayStation Family Group (#PSFamily). Sixteen of us were able to make the trip out to San Francisco.

Meeting Jack Tretton

In the past 4 years, I have attended many brand summits and I can only remember one other time where the CEO of the company came in to talk with us. As a brand ambassador, I realize the importance of what I do, but when the CEO takes time out of his schedule to talk to us personally, then we know that the company values what we do. That was really exciting! I love learning about the history of a tech company, why they do what they do, future plans, their vision and how the products go from idea to being in my home.

Here is Jack Tretton, President & CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment talking with us about PlayStation’s story and where we fit into the picture. This was a conversation where he listened as much as he talked.

PS Vita In Person!

One of the highlights for me was getting to see, hold and try the new PS Vita. I will do a whole post on the PS Vita, but I wanted to give you a glimpse of it. The touchpad on the back is AWESOME. I wasn’t sure about it, but after trying it out, I love it. PlayStation has some awesome features that tie the PS Vita into your entire Sony Entertainment system.

PS Vita will be out in the US in February

Isn’t it beautiful?

We also learned a lot about all that the PlayStation has available on the PS3 in terms of entertainment. You could spend weeks on it and never do the same thing twice I think. Don’t worry…I will have lots of future posts covering many of the different features.

Here is a picture of the #PSFamily group with Jack Tretton.

Super Secret Tour

After lunch, we had a super secret tour of the audio department at PlayStation. I could tell you all about it, but then I’d have to kill you! But seriously…I’ll just say it was AWESOME! I will have a post in a few days with some of the highlights that I can share. I never realized all that went into a game and in particular the audio of a game.

Playing at PlayStation!

A trip to the PlayStation headquarters would not be complete without some game time. Since I was getting over pneumonia and was having a hard time breathing, I left the playing to the others while I watched!

Kris & Amy playing Everybody Dance

A Little Cha Cha Cha!

We ended the day with a little Cha Cha Cha (not Slide), but Cuban food.

This was the private room in the basement where we ate. The decor was so interesting.

I took the red-eye home straight from dinner. The event was very interesting and I loved catching up with everyone and learning about PlayStation.

Disclosure: Playstation covered my expenses for the trip to the headquarters. All opinions are 100% my own.

Let’s Talk About PlayStation Family!

Is there anything you would like to know more about PlayStation? Anything you would like me to write about? Let me know!

Related articles

• Meet PlayStation Family (connectwithyourteens.net)
• PlayStation Vita dated for Feb. 22 (examiner.com)
• Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US (games.gearlive.com)

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Meeting The PlayStation Family; See PS Vita originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

My review of the momAgenda Desktop Calendar explains how I use my momAgenda calendar to keep my family of 6 organized. I have now added the momAgenda Mini-Daily in pink to my daily organization system. The momAgenda Mini-Daily has become my daily to do list and is helping me stay sane with all the details that the holidays bring.

momAgenda Mini-Daily Review

When I have a blog assignment or a new to do, I add it to the day it is due along with a reminder note 2 days in advance. If I am on a call or in a meeting and I have a note to remember, I put it in my momAgenda Mini-Daily. All those holiday details that I remember at odd times, get written in my momAgenda.

Traveling with my momAgenda Mini-Daily

When I travel, my momAgenda Min-Daily comes with me. Each night I write down expenses that I need to remember for my business. If I’m in a session at a conference and I come up with a brilliant idea, I jot it down in my momAgenda Mini-Daily. The Mini-Daily has become my back-up memory. Because each page is a full day, I can add a lot of notes in a day.

The vacation planning section helps me plan for our holiday travels. There are so many details to remember around the holidays. Any help I can get is a plus!

Long Term Planning

A planning calendar is at the end of the momAgenda Mini-Daily and I use that for ideas for blog posts. A long-term editorial calendar. Holidays are already written in the planning calendar so I can plan posts around the holidays to stay current.

The Mini-Daily also includes the momEssentials book in the back with pertinent information that doesn’t change often. The momEssentials is moved to a new planner each year. The beginning of the Min-Daily includes helpful information like holiday dates, websites URLs and toll-free phone numbers.

Using the momAgenda Mini-Daily along with my momAgenda Desktop Planner has helped me stay more organized and remember all the little details I often forget.

momAgenda Mini-Daily Giveaway

ENDED! As a member of the momAgenda COMM Team, I have one(1) momAgenda Mini-Daily to give away to one lucky reader. The giveaway will end at 10:00 pm ET on December 15, 2011. One winner will be randomly chose using “And The Winner Is” WordPress plug-in. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. The retail value of the momAgenda Mini-Daily is $41.

To Enter, tweet the following:

I’m getting organized with @momAgenda for the holidays! I entered the #giveaway @ScrappinMichele http://bit.ly/tzbExY #momAgendaCOMM

Leave a link to your tweet in the comments below.

Disclosure: As a member of the momAgenda Comm Team, I received the momAgenda Mini-Daily. All opinions are 100% my own.

Be sure to follow @momAgenda and Like the momAgenda Facebook Page.

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Getting Organized For The Holidays With momAgenda Mini-Daily originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Back to my tech gift guides… If the techie in your life is a tech mom, blogger, tech kid, gamer, fitness techie, grandparents, tween, tween, family or digital scrapbooker, then I have a list for you. If you have any ideas or would like your product added to the list, send me an email (michele@scrapsofmygeeklife.com)

Without further adieu, my tech gift guides….

Tech Gift Guide

for Tech Moms

If your Mom is like me and prefers digital to diamonds and gadgets to gold, then the Tech Moms Gift Guide is for her. There is nothing like the smell of a new gadget or unwrapping that brand new laptop.

for Bloggers

Bloggers need to use gadgets to capture pictures, videos and to keep on blogging. Here is my Bloggers Tech Gift Guide.

for Kids

Our kids live and breathe digital. It is second nature and they don’t even think twice about using technology. It is their reality and I feel it’s my job to teach my kids how to use technology to enhance their lives (and use it safely.) Here is my Kids Tech Gift Guide. There area a few non-tech items that my kids LOVE too.

for Gamers

It’s kind of obvious that gamers would be into technology, but if you are not a gamer and have a budding gamer or seasoned gamer on your list, here is the Gamer Tech Gift Guide.

for Fitness Techies

I am not just into fitness, but I’m into fitness technology. The only way I run is if I can use my Nike+ AND Runkeeper to track my runs. If I can’t use technology during a workout, it’s no fun. If you know someone like that, there is the Fitness Tech Gift Guide.

for Scrapbookers

Whether you are a digital or paper scrapbooker, technology will help you tell your family’s story. Here is my (Digital) Scrapbooking Tech Gift Guide.

for Families

Each year we buy a tech gift for the whole family. Something everyone gets to enjoy. Here are a few of the tech gifts we have enjoyed. My Family Tech Gift Guide.

for Teens and Tweens

I have both a teen and a tween in my house, so I asked them what are the MUST HAVE items on their list. My Teens & Tweens Gift Guide.

for Grandparents

Are your grandparents tech savvy at all or do you need to help them upload the pictures from their camera? My Grandparents Tech Gift Guide has gifts for both.

There you have it. A tech gift guide for everyone on your list. Let me know if you have a gadget I can add to the list. I’m always looking for good idea.

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Tech Gift Guide for Moms, Bloggers, Grandparents & Many More originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Some Grandparents are very tech-savvy and some are not so tech-savvy. My Grandparents Tech Gift Guide has a few for both.  At the end of this post are all the affiliate links, just click on the small picture of the item you are going to buy and I’ll get a little back from Amazon.

Do you have a gift that you would give to a grandparent (or would like to get as a grandparent)? Leave me a link and I’ll add it.

Disclosure: I received some of the products in exchange for reviews, but it was my choice to include in my Grandparents Tech Gift Guide. You will see #spon next to the items I received. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Grandparents Tech Gift Guide Affiliate Links

Following are Affiliate links to the grandparents tech products in the list above.

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Grandparents Tech Gift Guide originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Do you have a gift that you would give to a family (or would like to get as a family)? Leave me a link and I’ll add it.

Disclosure: I received some of the products in exchange for reviews, but it was my choice to include in my Family Tech Gift Guide. You will see #spon next to the items I received. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Family Tech Gift Guide Affiliate Links

Following are Affiliate links to the family tech products in the list above.

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Family Tech Gift Guide originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Wii Family Game Night 3 Games

The Wii Family Game Night 3 video game includes the following Hasbro games:

• Clue
• Life
• Mouse Trap
• Twister
• Yahtzee

The best part of the Wii Family Game Night 3 video game is its rating, “E” for Everyone. It’s hard to find fun games with an “E” rating.

The Game of Life

My favorite game is Life. I have loved the game since I was a kid and we have the board game and we all play it on the iPhone. We loved the Life game just as much. It is a long game, so if you don’t have a lot of time, play the Quick version of the game.

The familiar spinner from the game of Life.

Mouse Trap

My kids enjoyed playing the Mouse Trap game also. They had fun seeing if they could get the marble to the right place. They were yelling and screaming, “Go there, NO! Not there!”

Mouse Trap Game

Twister

Twister is very different from the board game and while it is fun, it isn’t Twister. Instead you copy the movements made by using your controller. We had fun seeing how far we could get, but it isn’t Twister.

Twister, video game style.

Family Game Night 3 Giveaway

ENDED! EA has provided me with one (1) copy of the Wii Family Game Night 3 to giveaway. The giveaway will end at 10:00 pm ET on Sunday, December 4, 2011. At that time I will randomly choose one winner using “And The Winner Is” plugin. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. U.S. Entries only.

To Enter: Leave me a comment below with your favorite board game you played as a kid.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Wii Family Game Night 3 from EA in exchange for this review. All opinions of Wii Family Game Night 3 are 100% my own.

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Wii Family Game Night 3 Review originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Sid the Science Kid

On Monday, June 20th, the new Sid episode “Sid’s Backyard Campout” debuts and will feature Sid and his dad spending a fun-filled day answering questions about the outdoors while camping out in their backyard. My family will be doing the same.

Sid the Science Kid is an animated television series on PBS Kids aimed at teaching kids that science can be fun. I mentioned to my daughter that we were going to have a backyard campout just like Sid the Science Kid and she told me they watch some of the episodes during science in school. She thought Sid was cool!

Sid’s Backyard Campout

We will be making some fun campout foods like pigs in a blanket and s’mores while exploring our backyard. My family is so excited about starting our summer with a Sid the Science Kids backyard campout. We are going out over the weekend to buy a tent. We’ve been talking about it for year, so this was the reason we needed to do it.

Check the PBS site for Sid the Science Kid time and station near you. Then plan a backyard campout just like Sid the Science Kid and his dad. If you are curious about the show, you can catch a few clips of Sid the Science Kid on YouTube. Here is a clip about Exercise.

Disclosure: I received a Sid the Science Kid backyard campout package in exchange for this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Let’s Talk About Sid the Science Kid!

Do your children watch Sid the Science Kid?

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Kick Off Your Summer with Sid the Science Kid Backyard Campout originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

There are some games that are available for free, but to get the full access to all the online educational games, you will need to become a paid member. For this review, we received a complimentary paid membership so we could try the full game out. Signing up was very easy. I chose to connect my Facebook account to JumpStart for easy access and within minutes I had my two younger kids (6 & 8 yrs) signed up with an account.

JumpStart Online Educational Games

From my perspective, the parent, I like the JumpStart game because no names are ever exchanged and they can not randomly chat with anyone. The kids can only choose from canned chat phrases and each child is given a code to give to someone else if they want to become friends. I can log in and see all of my kids friends and check up on them. Even though I’m watching what they play, I like the extra safeguards taken by JumpStart to keep my kids safe while playing.

I asked my kids to help me with this review since they spent much more time with the game playing part than I did. We found some screen prints of the portions of the games that were their favorite and I asked them to tell me a bit about the game. At the end, there is a video we created the other day when we had a few free moments in the carpool line.

Kids Love JumpStart

The next sections are the words of my kids (mostly in their own words, but edited a bit by Mom to make sense.)

My daughter couldn’t wait to create her character and build a house. She loved adding things to her house like the windows, doors, steps and even a garden next to your house. You can change your mailbox and your gate too.

This is the Jumpee Builder. The Jumpees are the characters in the game. You can decorate them anyway you want. My daughter liked that you can pick your own face, eyes, hair, mouth and change the colors too. You can choose if you want it to be a boy or girl too. My son liked that you can design your own name. His had army man pants, black shirt and spiky hair.

This is a big water slide and this was my daughter’s favorite game. You can go backwards which is more fun and you have to swim in the water after you are done on the slide to get back to land.

This one is a water slide where you go backwards and you have to swim. She liked that she had to figure out for herself how to do each of the games.

JumpStart Video Review

Educational Value

When my kids were playing the game and when they were describing the game to me, not once did they mention that they were learning at the same time. This is a plus because they just had fun and I felt better about them playing because I know they were learning also. Who ever said that learning shouldn’t be fun?!

When I was checking the parents section of the JumpStart site, I found some really awesome educational resources. There are a lot of worksheets and lessons and they are broken down by subject and grade. With summer coming soon, this is a great place to find some extra work if you want to have your kids do some lessons over the summer (or print them out for long car rides.)

Let’s Talk About Online Educational Games!

Do you let your kids play games online? Do you prefer online educational games?

Disclosure: I received a free membership in exchange for this review. All opinions are 100% my own (and my kids.)

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JumpStart is a Fun Online Educational Game for Kids 3 to 12 originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

I love the words gourmet popcorn. The idea of taking a simple snack like popcorn and making it gourmet is very exciting. Our family eats popcorn daily. My kids can not watch a movie without popcorn. So when The Popcorn Factory box arrives with gourmet popcorn, my kids go nuts.

Every year for Christmas we send The Popcorn Factory gourmet popcorn tins to our family and I purchase small popcorn gift tins to give to teachers as a gift. Everybody loves getting the tins and gift baskets.

For the SuperBowl, The Popcorn Factory had Green Bay Packer popcorn tins. This is an awesome way for my family to celebrate the SuperBowl win and remember it.

The Popcorn Factory gourmet popcorn tastes so fresh. I was always worried that ordering popcorn would mean it would taste stale. But it arrives in a plastic bag and the tin is sealed. Even after a few days if you keep the tin closed tightly, it still taste really good. The Popcorn Factory has the typical popcorn flavors, butter, cheese and caramel popcorn. They also have some exotic flavors like jalepeno, ginger teriyaki, s’mores, chocolate popcorn and many more. I have tried the butter, cheese, caramel and jalepeno and they are all really good. As a kid, I never liked caramel popcorn, but The Popcorn Factory caramel popcorn is so good.

Next time you need to buy a gift for a teacher, boss, neighbor, friend or anyone, check The Popcorn Factory. They have so many different choices of popcorn gift tins and popcorn gift baskets, I’m sure you will find the perfect gourmet popcorn gift.

Gourmet Popcorn Giveaway

I have a $25 gift certificate (plus free shipping) for The Popcorn Factory to give away to one of my readers.

• Please leave me a message below telling me what the strangest flavor of popcorn you have tasted.
• Please tweet out this post letting others know about the giveaway for an extra entry

The contest will end at 9:00 pm ET on  Wednesday, March 16, 2011. I will choose one random winner and you will have 24 hours to respond or I will choose another winner.

My kids enjoying popcorn from The Popcorn Factory.

Disclosure: I received the Green Bay Packer tin in exchange for this review. However, I have been buying from The Popcorn Factory for years and I personally LOVE the product and the company. All opinions are always 100% my own.

Let’s Talk Gourmet Popcorn!

Have you ever tried gourmet popcorn? Who would you buy a popcorn gift from The Popcorn Factory for?

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The Popcorn Factory Gourmet Popcorn is Perfect Gift for Any Occasion originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.