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February, 2009

  1. Free Software Compatible with Microsoft Office

    February 27, 2009 by MommySite

    free office software

    Office software too expensive? Try this instead.

    If you’ve recently purchased a computer, or if you find yourself trying to work from home or teach your child computer skills but the cost of business software is out of your family’s reach, you no longer have to worry. There’s a free, open source business software suite that won’t tempt you to copy someone else’s software, and it’s compatible with the software used by most businesses. It’s called OpenOffice.org, and it might be the answer you’re looking for.

    OpenOffice.org is free and open source, and has been tested for the past 20 years. It is one complete package that includes the following:

    • Writer is free word processing software
    • Calc is free spreadsheet software
    • Impress is free presentations software
    • Drawis free graphics software
    • Base is free database software

    Granted, it’s clunkier to use than Microsoft Office or Apple iWork, and the graphics are a lot less polished, but the software can be saved in standard .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. formats compatible with the software most businesses use. We haven’t tried it on a Netbook, but we have tested it on Windows XP and Apple OSX and found it to be stable and reliable. When I was teaching at a private school and was told “We don’t have the budget” for professional business software, even at a reduced educational rate, we started using OpenOffice.org and were satisified with the results.

    Give it a try, and let us know what you think.

    Category Computer Lab, Freebies, Learning | Tags: ,,,,, | No Comments

  2. What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

    February 26, 2009 by MommySite

    “I’ve heard that being a virtual assistant is a good way to make money while staying home with my children. Is that true?”

    Many stay at home moms (sahm) and work at home moms (wahm) are looking for ways to make extra money. One job title that comes up over and over again is virtual assistant. If you have a computer with high speed internet access and are good at multitasking, this might be a good job for you.

    Virtual assistants primarily do administrative assistant work from home. They might proof read, respond to email for their client, ghost blog, do data entry, or any other computer work that is negotiated with their client. Some virtual assistants do website updates or accounting if they have the background. Some make phone calls. It just depends on what the job requires.

    Often we see people advertising their services on Twitter as a way to let people know what they do, or posting on free message board services like Craig’s List. There are also actual job listings for virtual assistants, like this one:



    If you’re reading this and are a virtual assistant, why not add to the comments section and let our readers know what you do and how you got started?

    Category WAHM | Tags: | 1 Comment

  3. Free Typing Games at Dance Mat Typing

    February 9, 2009 by MommySite

    typing games

    Typing is an essential skill for today’s kids. Touch-typing, or being able to type without looking at the keys, will help them complete their reports and assignments faster because, with enough practice, their hands can move at the same speed as their thoughts. Otherwise, they might forget what they are typing before they find all of the letters.

    I discovered Dance Mat Typing from the BBC when I was a computer teacher. I was looking for an alternative to some of the boring, slow-loading programs in the computer lab. Immediately the children started laughing and smiling. Whenever a child types an incorrect key, the program shows a keyboard with the correct key highlighted, and a funny voice says “Type on me!.” It’s non-competitive, meaning the program does not keep score, so it is perfect for beginning typists and for children who are easily frustrated.

    At the end of each stage, the animated characters sing a catchy song. If the child wants to hear the song again, he or she can repeat the stage, which is great practice to reinforce learning. At the end of each level, an award certificate pops up on the screen that you can print out as an incentive to keep going.

    If you want your child to learn to type, give Dance Mat Typing a try. If your child is having trouble with a standard computer keyboard, try a learning keyboard made especially for children and beginning typists. Let us know what you think.

    Category Computer Lab, Learning, Typing Skills, Websites for Kids | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  4. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy

    February 8, 2009 by MommySite

    Good Advice and Funny, Too!

    During my first pregnancy, I really didn’t have a clue what was going on with me. I read every book I could find and managed to get myself very uptight and upset, and found myself worrying about every possible thing that could go wrong. Then I found The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine.

    The author doesn’t pretend to be an expert in anything other than being a mom and surrounding herself with good friends. She gives you the straight scoop on what’s going on with your body, your emotions, your mood swings and everything else that is non-medical. Best of all, she made me laugh, and I think she’ll make you laugh, too.

    Just you wait until everyone around you starts to get competitive with their babies, starts talking about what’s inside those diapers and rehashes horror stories. Then remember to take a deep breath and laugh.

    Category Books, Pregnancy | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  5. Get in Shape with Wii Fit

    February 8, 2009 by MommySite

    Wii Fit: Time to get fit!

    It seems like many moms are getting back in shape with an unlikely tool – video games. The Wii Fit is taking the mom community by storm. Try it yourself and see what the fuss is all about.

    You will need a Wii console, which may be sold separately from the Wii fit package, or as a bundle. Also look at a non-slip mat for the balance board, and a recharger.

    Category Fitness | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments