Join in the Casual Friday fun!

Casual Friday with a Guest, Megan originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

You can check out my 411 at the EA Sports Active website and the article I wrote for cafemom about how EA Sports Active helped my family learn to be healthier.

I am much better at showing you how excited I am about this, so here was the first vlog I did on Day 1:

I wasn’t going to do a second video right away, but I was so excited, so I did this one:

Yes, I really did that!!! So, unlike me. Day 3 was a killer. It was a lot of arms and an abs workout where you raise both of your legs up in the air. I am still sore today and today was my day of rest. I know that this challenge is really working because I wake up sore every morning so I’m working muscles that I haven’t worked in a long time. It’s a really good hurt.

For Thanksgiving I am all prepared to do my workouts all week and I plan to do an extra workout on Thursday before dinner. I do plan to eat my dinner and have dessert and I’m not going to worry about the calories or fat. I will do an extra workout and probably run twice this weekend.

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EA Sports Active More Workouts First Impressions

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Digital Soul Hour: EA Sports Active More Workouts 6 Week Challenge Show Replay

May 31, 2009

My EA Sports Active News Report Video

EA Sports Active More Workouts Update originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Here is Jason & I answering our Monday Mingle couples questions:

So, go over to Eighty MPH Mom, grab your hubby/partner and give Monday Mingle a whirl.

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November 6, 2009

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May 19, 2009

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May 18, 2009

My Monday morning Vlog post

Monday Mingle Couples Style originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but I’m not a total Halloween Scrooge. I just save it for the day of Halloween. I have my Winnie-the-Pooh Halloween sweatshirt on (I wear it every year). Here is my casual Halloween video.

And here I am in my Halloween outfit:

Now, we are going to go carve some pumpkins and then get ready to go Trick-or-Treating. My kids are going to be (from oldest to youngest) Indiana Jones, Female Gangster, Pink Minnie Mouse & The Terminator. I’m hoping the rain holds off til about 8pm when the kids are done. My job every year is to hand out the candy. I eat candy while I give it out and then I’m done.

What are your Halloween plans?

Join in on the Casual Friday Halloween Vlog at Bantering Blonde’s blog.

Casual Halloween Vlog originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

I am so excited to be in my office now. I even created a space where a 27″ iMac would look perfect.

Do you find that you get less work done when your office is messy?

Before and After Vlog of my Office Clean Up originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

The hardest part of vlogging is getting started. and the best advice is to just do it. I love vlogging because you can see a persons actions and expressions and get to know them better. When I go to a conference, I have an easier time finding vloggers because I’ve seen them in action already.

If you have any other suggestions, please put them in the comments and I will update this post with a link to your website.

Shoot & Share Camcorders

We discussed several options

Kodak Shoot & Share – I have the Zi6 and it is the one I use all the time now. The quality is excellent. The battery does not last very long, but it does take 2 AA so I can easily change the batteries. I need to try the AA batteries that are for electronics and see if that gives me better battery life.

Sony Webbie PM1 – The design of the Sony camcorder is unique. You can have the lense facing you so you can see yourself as you are recording (for personal vlogging) or you can face it away if you are recording others. The quality of the Webbie is not that great though. I find it to be very grainy and washed out.

Flip Mino HD – I am waiting for my Flip to arrive (hopefully today). I have read that the earlier HD Flip camcorders were not the best, but that the newest one is much much better. I will update once I check it out.

Creative Vado – I have not tried this one at all. This is the one I would really like, but costs a bit more than the others so I’m not sure I’m ready to invest in this one.

Digital Camera – If you have a digital camera that takes video already, that is a great way to get started.

Web cam – The web cam for your computer works well to get started vlogging also. It’s just a little harder to move around unless you have a laptop.

Video Editing Software

iMovie for Mac – This comes with all Macs and it is what I use. It is very easy to learn to get started and has a lot of advanced features. Every time I create a new video, I find something new that it does.

Windows Movie Maker – This comes with all Windows computers and is also easy to get started.

Adobe Premiere Elements 8 – Windows Only. This software offers some advanced features.

Final Cut Express 4 – I just purchased this a few weeks ago so I can take my videos to the next level. I’m working on it, but I have not even begin to scratch the surface of what this software can do. I’ll do a full review once I understand it better.

Online Video Tools

Animoto.com – My videos on Animoto – You can create really professional looking videos with music, animation, effects, pictures and your videos here. I just paid to upgrade to the Full Access Pass for $30. I can now create full length videos. You can try it out for free and create short videos. I love the way the videos look after using Animoto. I look like I used a professional service to create my vids.

embedr.com – A tool to add a custom playlist of your videos to your blog. (per Jen Hinton)

mixandmash.tv – another online editing tool to create mashups of your videos.

Masher.com – Mash up your videos and pictures along with their gallery of BBC videos and pictures. My Masher.com post.

A few other I have not tried, but look interesting:

Jaycut

One True Media

Pixorial

Uploading Your Videos

Youtube – The most common one. It’s good to always put your video up here. Easy to add the link to your blog also. ScrappinMichele’s YouTube

MomTV – You definitely want to upload your videos here and earn reward points.

Vimeo – You can upload for free or pay for unlimited use. The interface is much cleaner than youtube. ScrappinMichele’s Vimeo

Viddler – Jen Hinton suggested this site. I do have a profile here, but I have not uploaded any videos. ScrappinMIchele’s Viddler

Facebook – I personally do not use Facebook very often for videos. I will usually upload to youtube and then link to Facebook, but this is an option.

Flickr – Up to 90 sec of video can be uploaded here.

Photobucket -another great option if you like to keep all your pics and videos together.

Live Streaming Video

Jen Hinton discussed several live streaming sites available. Anyone can create their own live stream on any of these sites.

Stickam

Ustream.tv

blogtv

Livestream

Twitter Video

bubbletweet – You can create a video message for your profile page on Twitter with bubbletweet.

vid.ly – Upload video to Twitter.

Video Chatting

tinychat – This is great for having small video conferences or chats. I use this one a lot and it’s very reliable.

tokbox – Another good options for small video conferences and chats. With tokbox, you can watch youtube videos and view documents together .

iPhone 3gs Video Apps

These links will take you directly to the App store in iTunes.

Reel Director – You can now edit video right on the iPhone for $7.99. I’ve tested it and it works really well.

Animoto - You can create short animoto videos using pictures on your iPhone. Free.

Video Memes

Casual Friday - Every Friday, Bantering Blonde does a casual vlog post. You can vlog about anything you want. Be sure to link up too.

Monday Mingles – Every Monday, Eighty MPH Mom has some questions that you can answer in your vlog. Add your vlog post to the MckLinky.

The Budge Bunch 5 Random Facts – Not a weekly meme, but a great way to get started if you do not know what to vlog about.

Other Helpful Links:

Video Blogging from Blogging Tips site

Video Blogging Toolbox

Complete Guide to Video Blogging Mashable

Thank you to @BarryMadden for the next 4 links:

Top 5 Ways to Share Videos on Twitter

Six best video editing applications

400+ Tools for Videobloggers & Podcasters

Youtube annotation tips

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• iMovie 8.0.5 features Apple’s iFrame format (ubergizmo.com)
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• Say It Face To Face (5minutesformom.com)
• Casual Friday ~ Work Work Work (banteringblonde.com)

Get Your Geek On: Get Started Vlogging Links & Info originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

After completing the 30 day challenge, I felt much stronger, healthier and I’d lost 10 lbs. The biggest change though was not in just me, but also in my family. My kids were so excited to play the game with me or to do their own 30 day challenge. We had to go out and buy a second set of bands so 2 of us could play together. (Sidenote: do NOT try to save money and buy the generic bands, purchase the ones made by EA. We found out the hard way.)

Now, almost 6 months later, we are still more active and using the EA Sports Active AND we are training for a 5k. Both my 10 yr old daugther and my 13 yr old son are going to run the 5k with me. My husband is going to run the 1k with my 5 yr old daughter and 6 yr old son. I’m so excited that we will be participating as a family. These changes don’t happen overnight, but the EA Sports Active has definitely helped our family become more active.

We have 1 week left until the 5k. Our goal is to complete the 5k together. I will post pictures of our training and 5k next Saturday.

Now here is my original review and the video review I did (it’s a silly video because I was playing with some new software I bought).

May 25, 2009 Post:
On May 19, when the EA Sports Active became available, I went to Toys ‘R Us and picked up mine. I have been waiting for this for a few months. I went right home and started my 30 day challenge. I have been having so much fun and I can’t wait each day to workout. I even fit a quick workout in on very very busy days which is something I have not done in a long time. Working out is usually the first thing dropped off the daily schedule, but not anymore.

The benefits I’ve noticed so far:

• I lost 5 pounds
• I am eating better because I feel healthier
• My arms and legs feel tighter
• Exercise has become a fun activity instead of a chore
• DH enjoys looking at my behind more

I’ve been meaning to write up a post about the EAS Active, but every time I sit down to do it, my words just don’t give it justice. So, instead, I created a fun little video. The actors are not professionals, so please excuse their performance. They did their best. Enjoy!

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• EA Sports “I’m Active” Campaign (bizzia.com)
• Baby (Finally) Got Back with the Ultimate in Wii Fitness (jessicaknows.com)

EA Sports Active Review & Vlog 6 Months Later originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Mom's Day Out Vlogging originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

To join in the Casual Friday fun and see all the others, stop by Bantering Blonde.

Casual Friday Vlog – Overwhelm originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Family Musical Adventure at Best Buy Vlog originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.