One of my favorite photos from 2011...shot from a moving car through the window!

Things are a bit different around here aren’t they? If you’ve been reading Rockin’ Mama for any length of time, you know the many changes that have occurred throughout the years.  What started out as a very personal online journal read by no one except my immediate family, has become a lifestyle website with an emphasis on photography, food, film, travel, and more…all with a mind towards the environment.

I love the new direction the site is taking. You may have noticed an increased number of recipes and my new photography series called iCapture. In addition to the diversified content, I want to get back to the basics of blogging, so you’re definitely going to see more of me.  I want to engage with you…learn from you…share with you. I want to talk about the “pretty” things in life one day and flesh out those day to day struggles we all face as women and moms the next.

I love working with brands….I love the opportunity to give you back something through giveaways…..I love giving you a preview of experiences so that you can decide beforehand whether those experiences might be a good fit for your own family. I simply need to incorporate more of myself into the site this year, whether it be through photography or recipes or short stories and quips.

What changes are you making this year?

It’s like I blinked and in a moment, one week went by.  It’s so hard to believe that last Friday I was hangin’ with Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby…gleaning photography tips from Laurie and Amanda…dancing at Sparklecorn.  This was my fourth year attending the conference, and from my previous experiences, it had a very different vibe.

With over 3000 attendees, it was huge….bigger than I ever remember.  But despite it’s size, BlogHer felt more relaxed than previous years.  I actually had time to sit down for conversation and meals with friends I hadn’t seen in over a year, network, dance, and enjoy a bit of San Diego’s sunshine.  And of course, I apparently haven’t learned from previous years and attempted to do the entire Expo Hall in one short Saturday afternoon.

Last week I wrote about my BlogHer Plan… I always have so many aspirations about what I’m hoping to learn and accomplish and this year was no different.

On Thursday, I attended BlogHer’s Life Well Lived, which entailed an entire day of nurturing, personal development, and networking.  Despite the fact that there was a heavy emphasis on brands, a lot of wonderful information and experiences arose out of that day.  It helped that I started off the weekend with a relaxing leg massage. As a side note, this conference was all about the spa treatments…massages and pampering were abundant. Perhaps that’s why the vibe was so different than New York City…

The highlight of the day (in my opinion) was the keynote lunch by photographer and blogger Penny De Los Santos. I loved her perspective on photography as lifestyle.  Much like her, I always have some type of camera in tow. Whether it’s my smartphone, my point and shoot, or my SLR, I’m constantly ready to capture those significant moments. Along with learning more about what makes a good photograph (light, color, composition, subject, connection), she talked about how to grow as a photographer:

1.  Look at photography daily

2. Practice

3. Keep a visual journal

4. Find mentors

5. Surround yourself with people who challenge you

6. Show your work to anyone who will give you feedback

The session was informative and inspirational and I only wish I could sit down with her one-on-one and chat about all things photography.

Along with attending subsequent sessions on photography, I moderated a discussion with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Cookie Monster on How To Infuse More Fun Into Your Blog (video coming soon).  Along with gleaning some adorably insightful tips from the Sesame Street Muppets, I experienced something unique and memorable.  How many people do you know who have rehearsed and performed a session with Kevin Clash, David Rudman, and Leslie Carrara? I only wish I had a camera rolling while we rehearsed because it was laugh out loud funny.

Saturday was the most relaxed day and I spent a significant amount of time networking.  While I admittedly conversed with a ton of brands (we all did), I’ll only share those that I feel are most relevant to you and the types of topics I regularly cover on the site so as not to bore you.

So what did I take away from the conference?

1.  Women are using social media in ways I could never imagine

2. This space is still so vast and there truly is “room enough for all of us”

3.  Community and relationships are at the heart of social media

4. Authenticity is your credibility…it’s also what makes you real…and relateable

5. At the end of the day, your blog is your brand…keep it real…real professional

I’ll leave you with this quote from Penny De Los Santos…

“If you love what you do, it never feels like work”

Did you attend BlogHer? What did you come away with? I’d love to hear your insights on why 2011 truly was so incredible.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Invitation Consultants. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to BING Social Search for sponsoring my post about social media. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

[From a conversation I had on an airplane a few weeks ago]

Fellow passenger: “Do you live in LA or in Chicago?”

Me: “Neither.  I actually live in Orange County.”

“Are you traveling for business or pleasure?”

Me: [pauses to think for a moment] “Well, both…sort of.”

Fellow passenger stares at me with a puzzled look

Me: “I write a website…a blog.  I’m flying out to Chicago to meet with a brand I’ve been working with.”

Fellow passenger now looks completely lost.

“What exactly does that mean?”

I then dive into an explanation of  social media in an attempt to give her some understanding of what I we as bloggers do.

It was 2006 and my husband and I were living out of two backpacks, traveling from country to country on the Eurail.  This was our European Adventure and we wanted to share all of the joys, struggles, and funny moments (and boy were there many) with our close friends and family.  So we started an online journal…a blog.  I still go back and read about the time we ended up staying in a hostel with a twin bed in Innsbruck Austria, our high tea at Kensington Palace in London, and how we were inspired to one day open up a tea or coffee shop after a stay in Malaga Spain.  While we can relive those memories through photos, it means so much more to read through our thoughts and adventures on the blog.

Fast forward to 2007…we had just returned home from our 8 month stay in Europe.  I was 4 months pregnant and shortly ended up on bedrest for a complication.  Not only was I alone during the day while my husband worked, I was scared.  I originally turned to the internet for answers.  I wanted to know what had caused this complication…what the typical results were…how women coped with it.  I found support, answers, and so much more.  While this wasn’t my first experience with social media, it was the first time I used the internet for something other than information.

I spent a lot of time online during those long months of waiting and bedrest.  Once I made it past the point of concern, I started researching baby products.  I wanted to purchase the safest car seat, the lightest, most durable and functional stroller, and a baby carrier that wouldn’t hurt my back.  I happened upon a blog.  It was called Classy Mommy and I loved it. I learned about trendy, fashionable, functional baby gear that I would have never seen in stores. As it goes, Colleen had links to her favorite blogs (there was more than one?) and I started reading those as well.  But at that time, I simply read blogs.

My son was born that June at almost 7 pounds via unplanned C-section.  He was healthy and beautiful, and after a few months, we moved into our own apartment.  Hormones, sleep deprivation, and life transitions made it very difficult.  Again, I felt alone, and overwhelmed.  I was still reading blogs when my husband suggested that I start my own blog.  Writing is cathartic, I was told.  Since we had so much fun writing our travel blog, he thought it might be a way to keep our family involved with our son’s development while providing a bit of an outlet.  Thus began, Jason & Caryn.

I’m sitting here with my children, asleep next to me as I do on many nights…writing.  This site has evolved into so much more than I could have ever imagined and I’m constantly amazed.  The experiences I’ve been able to provide you, my readers and my family with are invaluable.  Through the blog, I’ve rediscovered my passion for writing and begun to explore my photography skills.  I’ve also taken the knowledge I have about green living and shared it with thousands of you.  I’ve been perfecting my culinary skills and experimenting with my foodie side.  The site is a reflection of those beautiful life experiences.

But do you know what I cherish most at the end of the day?  The relationships that have been built because of social media. Aracely, Liz and I talk daily about everything from our jobs to our busy lives with two small children.  Katie is hooked on the raspberry mochas at Peet’s because of our Friday afternoon coffee dates.  Shannon and I laugh and cry over life and all of it’s craziness.  Amanda’s girls watch out for my little boy when we’re together.  I could go on and on about these friendships…friendships that would have never come to be if it weren’t for social media.

Yes…there have been trips and products and experiences.  But if that were to all go away tomorrow, I know without a doubt that Aracely, Liz, Jen, Kara, Katie and I would still be getting together for our once a month-ish girl’s day out…that Shannon and I would still be giggling and crying on the phone…

Social media…Wikipedia defines it as “a medium for social interaction…the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.”  Whether it’s a brand attempting to reach their customers or a blogger desiring to connect with his/her readers, communication and interaction are key.

How has social media changed your life?

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend’s wish!

As many of you know, I’ve been blogging for over 3 years.  Before “Rockin’ Mama,” my husband and I travel-blogged our way through Europe for almost one year.  Having always found enjoyment and fulfillment in writing, it seemed only natural to blog about life as a mother.  These past 3 years have taken me so many places (both literally and figuratively).  Blogging has prompted me to delve into my “green side,” deepened my love for travel, inspired me to explore the world of photography, and allowed me to reflect on my role as a mother.  But what has surprised me about the world of blogging are the women who inspire, encourage, and support me through this venture.  I read many, many, many blogs. But the five I’m about to list are women I know “in real life” in some capacity.  As I continue to work on my site, I’ll update my blog roll to introduce you to my favorite bloggers.

Aracely from Daytripping Mom: Before our kids hung out at Disneyland, I frequently visited Aracely’s site for tips on the best places to take my son to in Southern California.  Not only is she genuine, giving, and kind, she’s ultra-knowledgeable about all things SoCal.  But it gets better because she has co-authored a Disneyland blog in both English and Spanish with another of my BFF’s, Liz Cerezo!

Stephanie from Metropolitan Mama: Stephanie is one of the most talented women I know. She’s smart, creative, authentic, and compassionate. She has an incredible way with words and sees the best in people.  I’ve been honored to hang out with her and her family on a few occasions and it’s simply not enough. Were it not for distance, I imagine we’d hang out regularly.

Shannon from The Mommy-Files: Shannon and I were meant to be friends. We have similar quirky senses of humor, are both chocoholics, and are each other’s personal cheerleaders.  Shannon is so transparent about the ups and downs of life as a woman and a mom and her site is an incredible resource (be sure to check out her incredible giveaways, yummy recipes, and photo journal).

Amanda from Mommy Mandy: Amanda, Tanya, and I were like the 3 Stooges. A day wouldn’t go by without us chatting about life, parenting, and blogging.  Amanda is one of the original “mom bloggers” and her site is truly a journal of her life with her two beautiful daughters.  She’s a mom first and then a blogger…and that’s so evident on her site.  We could go months without hanging out and get together like no time had passed at all.  Tanya is one of the best photographers I know.  She’s also one of the savviest bloggers I know. If you want to know anything and everything about a product (especially tech products) check out her site. (I know…that’s 2…shhhh!)

Cooper from The Motherhood and Jennifer from Mom Bloggers Club: There I go cheating again!  Cooper and Jennifer just get it. They are smart, savvy, authentic women who understand that community (which they are both excellent at ) is the heart of social media.  They value women and have truly helped to make our voices heard.  I respect these women tremendously and am constantly in awe of how they “do it all.”  I had the privilege of sitting in between them in Michigan last fall and just *hoped” that some of their awesomeness would rub off on me!  I could spend hours on their sites learning and gleaning inspiration from them.

So there you have it…the five-ish bloggers that inspire me.  So many have been left off the list.  I hope you’ll stop by and check out my blogroll so I can properly recognize the women that have influenced me in the past three years.

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend’s wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

I’m still in the process of re-designing the button and am hoping to have it done this week if you’re interested.

Lots more to come in 2011!

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, then you know what to expect when you see a product review on my site. You know the approximate ages and genders of my children and therefore the types of products I do and don’t review.  What you may not know is that I receive numerous pitches from interesting companies that simply don’t make a good fit for our family. But that doesn’t mean that the company or the product is without value. Sometimes the products are too mature for my children (this JUST happened with a very well-known company I’ve been working with for some time now).  And other times, I am in the middle of a themed series on my blog and the product is not a great fit for that series.  I can list reason after reason as to why I turn down more than half of the pitches I receive.  But that’s not the point of this post.

My question of the day is this…IF I were to start a program where you (my readers) would have the opportunity to develop relationships with companies (which would involve product reviews) would this be of interest to you?  Would you prefer to have the review written on your own site or on my site with links back to your site?  What thoughts do you have about this kind of opportunity?  I welcome any feedback you can provide as it will weigh heavily into this decision. : )

Just in case you’re wondering why my site, at times, looks a bit awkward.  By the way, it’s a work in progress…

As a little girl, my mother used to encourage me to write in a journal.  She always thought I’d write a book (so far that hasn’t come to fruition…yet).  All through grade school, high school, college and into grad school…I’d hear the same thing over and over….Caryn writes so well (or something along those lines).  This blog of mine…is like a precious journal to me…it’s a written and visual account of my life over the past 2 and a half years.  One day, I want to print off all of my “personal” posts and bind them…or scrapbook them…or somehow preserve them (any ideas on how to do this?).

In just a few weeks, I will be on a panel with some amazing women at Child’s Play Communications’ Third Annual Blogger Brunch in Los Angeles.  The topic at hand…Connecting With Moms In Social Media.  Here are the women that I am so honored to be speaking with:

· Jill Asher, Silicon Valley Moms Blog
· Ciaran Blumenfeld, Momfluential
· Maryanne Conlin (MC) Milker, The Not Quite Crunchy Parent

The written word becomes spoken in just a few weeks!

Two years ago, when I started my blog (on blogspot), I had no idea that it would evolve into the site it is today.  I started a blog to keep my family members across the country in the know and up to date with the happenings of our family.  I had no idea I would meet celebrities or serve as a spokesperson for a major company.

Do you know how I started doing product reviews?  It began with a little (not!) company called Mom Central.  I even remember my first blog tour…  Needless to say, I never imagined I would have to keep track of the products I reviewed because I honestly never imagined I’d be reviewing them regularly.  But I’ve come to a point in my blog, where I must decide…is this a business or a hobby?  Now for all practical purposes, my blog started as a hobby.  While I absolutely love running this blog, I do have a part-time nursing job that I don’t anticipate giving up anytime soon.  But when it comes to taxes, the question begs…Is my blog a business? It has truly turned into one over the past couple years.

Today’s post is brought to you by H&R Block Tax Institute and written by Brenda Schafer.  If you have further questions on the matter, be sure to tune into their webinar on Tuesday March 30th from 8pm to 9pm. More details can be found on their Facebook page.

Special Rules Surrounding the Business of Blogging:

A) Is it a business?

The determination of whether your blogging activity is a business or a hobby is an important one. Whether your blog is a business or hobby directly affects how you report income and expenses from the activity.

Your blog may be directly related to a business activity, and that case, the decision is easy. All blog-related income and expenses should be reported along with the other business income and expenses.

If you’re blogging as a separate activity, though, things can get a little murky. As a general rule, to be a business, the blog should be done regularly and continuously (not just when you feel like it) with the intention and possibility of making a profit. It’s important to note, however, that you don’t have to actually make a profit to be in a business. It’s also important to note that even though you may be making some money, that blog of yours may still be considered a hobby in the IRS’s eyes.

You can find more information on hobby vs. business on the IRS website. The next section gives you some pointers about the kinds of things that help distinguish a “real” business from something you just do for kicks.

B) Operating like a business

There are some pretty straightforward things you can do to demonstrate you mean business – literally. Here are some of them.

• Contact other successful bloggers for tips on how to increase your blog’s exposure and get site sponsors. As successful as you may be, there’s always someone out there doing it better.
• Set up a separate business account at the bank
  • Use this account for all business transactions
  • Keep records of what makes up each deposit and  keep receipts and invoices for each check that you write
• Get a separate credit card for your business if you find that you prefer using a credit card to pay expenses
• Store your records in the order that the transactions occur
• Store paper records in a safe place such as a safe deposit box or a fireproof record box/cabinet
• Back up and firewall your computer records
• Complete and accurate records are necessary

• For financial statements and tax returns
• For proof of income and expenses if audited by the IRS

C) Income

Money you receive in your business or hobby is taxable. Period. Generally, the fair market value of a product or service you receive related to your activity is taxable as well.

1. 1. Fees – If another website pays you include your blog on its website or you sell a blog article to another website or publication, that income is taxable.
2. 2. Advertising income – Other websites may pay you to include a partner link on your blog page. Taxable!
3. 3. Product trials/endorsements – Manufacturers and service providers may ask you to try their product or service in the hopes that you will blog favorably about your experience. Even though they may give you the product or service for free, the value of what you receive is taxable. This is because the company expects something in return (the endorsement).
4. Isn’t there such thing as a gift? Yes, but not of a vendor’s product. Gifts are along the lines of a box of chocolates or a cute calendar that are sent as more of a warm and fuzzy for the vendor than a product push.

• So what if you chuck the product in the trash instead of using it or kindly decline the offer of a free oil change? No worries. This time it’s not taxable.
• What if you use the product or take advantage of the service and hate it? This time, it’s taxable. You got benefit of whatever was offered, as lame as it may have been.

D) Expenses

Every business (or hobby) has its expenses. Here’s a discussion of some of yours.

1. Blog hosting fee – Unless you use a free blog hosting site, you may be paying upwards of $100 month to your site host for such things as storage and/or data bandwidth. Fees are generally paid monthly and are deductible when paid. If you pay for several months ahead, you can only deduct the fees paid for the months during the year. In other words, assume you pay $300 for a one-year hosting contract from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011. Two hundred dollars (8 months/12 months x $300) is deductible for 2010. The remaining $100 is deductible on your 2011 return.
2. 2. Computer equipment – Here’s a sticky wicket. Chances are pretty good that you use your computer for non-blog-related things. A computer is an example of equipment that is expected to last longer than a year, so it generally has to be depreciated. If you’re using your computer for business and personal reasons, I hate to say it, but you should be keeping a log of the use. Come tax time, you’ll need those records to determine the depreciable business use percentage.
3. 3. Internet access – More bad news, I’m afraid. It’s likely that you are paying any more for Internet access than you would be if you weren’t blogging, so forget about writing off your Internet bill. You may, however, carry a separate data plan that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Now that we can talk about.
4. Other expenses – There’s no end to the kind of expenses you may incur. Keep track of them. Claim every deduction to which you’re entitled!

• Marketing and advertising – maybe you’re the one sending out the chocolates or the cute calendars!
• Books and magazines – More blog know how!
• Bank fees – for that separate bank account
• Legal fees – It could happen.
• Accounting fees – when things really get rolling
• Tax preparation – let the experts answer your questions and prepare your tax return that got a lot more complex when you started bringing money in

1. 5. Office in home? – If you have an office in home, it can mean a pretty nice deduction, but the rules are very strict, and the IRS tends to scrutinize home office claims. To qualify for a deduction, the office must, in a nutshell, be:

• In a room in your house
• Your principal place of business
• Used regularly and exclusively for business.

If you blog in a separate room, but use your computer for personal purposes, no office in home deduction. If you sit on your couch, your deck, and your bed to blog, it would be very hard to say you used anyone place in your home exclusively to blog. You get the picture. Check out IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home or talk to your favorite tax professional.

E) Your Tax Return – It had to happen. We had to get to the tax return. I won’t bore your with a lot of detail, but here are the basics.

If your blog is a hobby, you’ll report any income you receive on Form 1040, line 21, as other income. Just the income. The expenses you get to report are limited to the amount of income you have – and to top it off they are reported on Schedule A as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to a 2% of adjusted gross income limitation. Wowsers! Special rules apply to depreciation and a home office deduction, too.

If your blog is a business, things are different. Assuming it’s a one person venture and you didn’t incorporate or form an S corporation, you report your income and expenses on Schedule C. Good news is that your expenses directly offset your income and you can show a loss. Bad news is that if you make more than $400 net profit, you’ll be paying self-employment SE tax.

The SE tax equals 15.3% of net earnings, but it’s credited to your Social Security account and can help you get more $$ from Social Security when you retire. Also, you can deduct half of your SE from your taxable income even if you don’t itemize. Hey, it’s something.

Because you’re getting income that doesn’t have any withholding, you may want to consider making estimated payments. You can pay with Form 1040-ES or make electronic payments. Sure, it’s tough to part with the cash, but you’ll have it pay it in eventually, and if it means avoiding an underpayment penalty, it’s worth it. Your tax professional can help you determine if you need to make estimates and how much you should pay in.

Win It! I’ve already filed my taxes with an accountant, but I would like to offer two readers the opportunity to win a copy of H&R Block At Home Deluxe Software ($59 value).  Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on the site or something you learned from this post.  Comments will close on April 2, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST (please note the short duration of this giveaway).  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.

I’ve just signed on to be a Buzzmama…which basically means I get to tell you all about Mabel’s Labels, a company I’ve been working with for a long time now.  But you already know how fab they are right? As an ambassador for the company I’ll be sharing my experience with their products and give you an insider’s look on up and coming products.  But why wait?  You can get your read on right now:

Holiday Gift Tags (#2)

My 411 Wristbands

Custom Neat Freak Combo

Holiday Gift Tags (#1)

Sticky Labels

With a new baby and a toddler in the house, I’m excited to share with you my personal experience with Plum Organics, an organic, all-natural line of foods for babies, toddlers, and children.  My son was raised on their frozen baby food and my daughter will follow suit.  These days the company has expanded their product line to include finger foods and snacks for toddlers.  As a Plum Parent, I’ll be sharing more about the company’s products and why I’m raising my children on food free from harmful pesticides, chemical additives, and overly processed, genetically engineered ingredients. For more information, you can friend them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and take the Generation Organic Pledge.

For your reading pleasure:

Plum Organics Tots

I have much more to tell you about my involvement with Bumble Bee Foods as a member of their Bee Squad.  Stay tuned as I’ll have more exciting product and company news next week.

My Favorite Tuna Recipe

Finally, if you’re looking for an effective way to use Twitter, check out the 75 Top Twitter Tips from Today’s Small Business Moms.  Twitter is an effective way to network, build relationships, market, and promote your brand.  If you look closely, you might recognize one of the tips listed.    : )

If you have questions about any of the companies I’ve partnered with, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment or email me.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  As a a brand ambassador for the above companies, I do receive product information and samples in order to provide feedback.