Join Us at She Streams! by Elisa Schmitz

If you’re like me, you may wonder what you did before the advent of technology. Smartphones, tablets and apps help make parenting so much more manageable for us mobile mamas. That being said, it’s still a challenge sometimes, and the 30Second Mom team and I are always on the lookout for great ways to merge technology with our busy schedules. Kids, family, home, work and everything else is a lot to handle, so help is appreciated!

We’re not alone in our love of technology. That’s why we’re so excited to be attending the SheStreams conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this coming Friday and Saturday (March 30th and 31st). SheStreams is a conference that takes the use of technology to the next level, and isn’t that what we mobile moms are looking for?

A number of my 30Second Mom contributor chicas will be attending – Samantha Kemp-Jackson, Jennifer Pereyra, Amanda Heyser, Annette Jett, Joani Plenty and Bernice Wood – and I’m so excited to be there with them. We will be learning and sharing knowledge about how we can use technology to help us in our personal and professional lives.

With all this talk about women and tech, it seemed to be the perfect subject for our weekly Wednesday night Twitter chat! That’s right: Tonight we’ll be gearing up for the SheStreams conference and chatting about everything tech. What works, what doesn’t, learning and sharing – because that’s what 30Second Mom is all about. Don’t forget to register for the chat to be eligible for prizes!

To get us into the groove for the discussion, I chatted with two 30Second Mom featured contributors, Jennifer Pereyra and Samantha Kemp-Jackson. These moms are pretty tech and social-media savvy, so who better than to share some advice and tips?

Here are some quick Q&As they provided on the topic of moms, technology and how the two can work together:

Elisa: You’re both very busy working moms. What are some of your favorite ways of making technology work for you in your day-to-day lives?

Jennifer: You’ve got that right! Life is hectic much of the time, so I make the most of every spare moment I can by using technology whenever I can. One thing that really works for me is to use my smartphone when there are homework or school-related issues. Just having a portable camera ready makes it so much easier to help my daughter get organized with her schoolwork. I wrote a 30Second Mom tip about it because I do it so often!

Samantha: I’m a geek supremo and I am unabashedly in love with my smartphone! I don’t know what I’d do without it because as much as I’m a tech nerd, I’m also pretty scatterbrained and my smartphone is my go-to item for scheduling, organization and so much more. It’s even saved me from being lost in an unfamiliar parking lot on more than one occasion!

Elisa: Many moms would love to use technology but are not convinced that it can really make their busy lives easier. How would you convince them that technology can be a timesaver?

Jennifer: By using technology, moms will not only save time but money as well! There are so many instances and examples of how a smartphone can provide not only tips (such as those found on www.30seconds.com) but discounts and more. For example, I use my smartphone to find discounts, coupons and deals all the time, and it’s often on the spot, at the spur of the moment. Use technology to your advantage and you’ll definitely come out ahead!

Samantha: My smartphone is my calendar, organizer, schedule and so much more. I make lists on my phone, make notes, text my husband with dinner plans and send pictures of the kids to my friends and family. Those are just some of the things that the phone can do. There are some other pretty nifty tricks that I’ve figured out as well. I couldn’t do without technology in my everyday life.

Elisa: What’s your best advice for moms who would like to embrace technology but are not sure where to start?

Jennifer: I would say “just go for it!” It may seem daunting and overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never turn back! There are also so many online supports and tips that you can find that will help you along the way, such as 30Second Mom!

Samantha: I would say that having a close friend who can help you through the steps to your feeling comfortable will really help you towards having a positive experience with technology. As well, finding a supportive group or site online for like-minded moms really helps. Of course, I would also suggest 30Second Mom! It’s a great place for connecting with other moms just like yourself who have found simple and workable solutions to a number of topics.

Thanks so much to Jennifer and Samantha for giving me a flavor of what the Twitter chat will be about tonight! I’m so looking forward to chatting with everyone about women, mom, technology and SheStreams, where all of these topics and more will come together. I also hope you will join us on Friday night, when 30Second Mom will be sponsoring the cocktail party/Twitter party at SheStreams! Even if you can’t be with us in person, you can join us live for conversation, prizes and fun live from Fort Lauderdale!

Join us for the chat tonight and every Wednesday at 8pm CDT, 9pm EDT. By registering for the chat, you can be eligible to win one of the weekly prizes! See you tonight, and see you Friday live from SheStreams!