Digital Parents Collective Archives

OMGTips from Microsoft 365 (A Giveaway)

April 7, 2013 By: mamagrace714 Comments

***Thank you to Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to the Microsoft #OMGTips event and luncheon. This post is not sponsored, however I did receive a free one year subscription of Microsoft 365 to review. All opinions are, as always, mine.***

Lately, I’ve started pondering about paid work. Nothing too drastic or in depth. Once in a while I wonder what my options are. Full time? Part time? Job share? Casual? All the thinking turns into the proverbial headache.

What I am certain of, is the desire to return to the work force in some significant capacity because within, there are the remnants of a career woman screaming to shake some business trees again.

So why don’t I? What’s stopping me?

I’ll be the first to admit that time management skills have somewhat dulled, lately.

When I used to be able to easily fill up my diary with 10 – 15 client meetings every week, I can now barely figure out what’s happening for dinner.

If there’s anything that’s terrifying me about going back to work is the fact that I would have to juggle motherhood, marriage AND having to be all profesh and stuff.

Several weeks ago, Digital Parents Collective kindly invited me to the Microsoft #OMGTips event held at swanky, The Establishment.

There were some innovative speakers, including Melissa Doyle from Channel 7’s Sunrise, celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue, inspirational high school principal, Stacey Quince and Microsoft tech guru working mum, ex-army officer Sarah Vaughn.

If companies and organisations are encouraging employees to achieve work/life balance, there’s certainly the commitment to provide the appropriate technological tools to make it happen.

Whether it was from an entrepreneurial, educational or corporate perspective, the speakers gave valuable tips on how to make working and home life easier and super efficient with a little help from technology.

Since the event, I’ve installed Office 365 on my Mac (for other Apple users, please ensure that your Mac OS X is supporting, at the least, version 10.5.8). I’ve been extremely pleased.

In fact, dare I say, a new found sense of confidence has emerged.

I love how I can now write my posts hassle free on a Word document and link it directly to my blog.

Being able to sync my Outlook calendar with Mr Surfer’s is going to eliminate a LOT of misunderstandings and miscommunication when planning family appointments against my own schedule.

There’s even now the option to use Microsoft’s SkyDrive – cloud storage for all my files accessible from any one of my devices – even my smartphone. (You can install up to 5 devices with the one subscription of Microsoft 365).

The inner geek in me became terribly excited.

While I’m sorting out in my head and my heart what the next chapter of my career will be, I know now that I can be fully equipped and dare are I be completely clichéd, ready to take on the world.

I have one year subscriptions of Microsoft 365 to give away to 2 lucky readers!

To enter:

Follow With Some Grace on Facebook
Subscribe to With Some Grace:

Leave a comment on the blog post telling me how you use technology to make life easier for you.

The important stuff:

This giveaway is only open to Australian residents
Closing date for entries is Monday, 15th of April.
The winner will be contacted via email on the following Tuesday.
If the winner does not reply to my email within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.
Entries will be judged on merit and decision of the winner will be final.
Winners will be sent a copy of Microsoft 365 via Digital Parents Collective

Did you like this? Share it:

Sticks and stones: Keeping your family safe on-line {Norton by Symantec Giveaway}

December 24, 2012 By: mamagrace718 Comments

Earlier this year, Digital Parents kindly invited me to a special luncheon hosted by Norton by Symantec, the internet security specialists.

A frank, round table discussion about the realities and internet usage for the everyday family was not only insightful but extremely educational.

Last month, Norton hosted another lunch and provided us with an even more informative afternoon.

Talks were led by Norton’s Internet Safey Advocate, Marian Merritt, whose role is to offer families and consumers clear, actionable advice on Internet safety, from how to avoid being a victim of identity theft to what parents need to know about cyberbullying.

And with teenage children of her own, Marian had a wealth of information and knowledge to share.

The Norton team compiled this useful list of friendly tips for parents to help children stay safe online:

Set aside time to discuss appropriate online behaviour with your children and create age-appropriate “House Rules” with your children about how you’ll use computers, tablets, smart phones and gaming systems in your family
Show your children how to use security and privacy settings
Be a positive role model and be aware that children like to imitate your behaviour
Inform your children where to turn and how to react in case of a difficult situation, such as online bullying
Make sure you use security software on all your family’s computers, tablets and smartphones

One point that came out strong and clear is that it’s not the parents job to “spy” or to constantly monitor our children’s internet usage and behaviour.

It’s about sitting down and working out what the house rules are when it comes to computers, smart phones and other devices that all the family use.

And as our children are constantly on-line and vulnerable to cyber-bullying, teaching them the “Sticks and stones” theory is no longer viable.

Norton Family is an on-line forum that’s full of tips and methods on how to keep a safe and protected environment.

We all know that the internet is forever changing.

Norton by Symantec are proactive in keeping parents and families to keep up and on track with what these changes are and what kind of impact they can bring.

What are your tips for keeping the on-line environment safe for your children?

I have 2 copies of the Norton 360 Multi-Device software to giveaway. Valued at $129.99, the package brings together powerful PC, Mac, Android smartphone and tablet protection to deliver a single solution that protects you on your various devices.

To enter:

Answer the above question as a comment on this blog post
Subscribe to With Some Grace
Follow With Some Grace on Facebook

The important stuff:

This giveaway is only open to Australian residents.
Closing date is Monday, 14th of January.
Both winners will be contacted via email on the following Tuesday.
If one of the winners doesn’t reply to my email within 24 hours another winner will be chosen.
Entries will be judged on merit and decision of the winners will be final.
The software package will be sent to the winner by Digital Parents Collective.

*I was invited by Digital Parents to attend a Norton by Symantec lunch and was given a free copy of Norton 360 Multi-Device software. I also charged Digital Parents Collective an administration fee to run this giveaway. As always, all opinions are my own.

Did you like this? Share it:

A Matter of Life and Protection

September 18, 2012 By: mamagrace7142 Comments

Fully aware of the time restrictions, our little girly catch-up lunch was turning out to be like a speed dating session. With full-speed motor mouths, the three of us – who hadn’t seen each other in almost a year – launched straight into the nitty gritty of the latest happenings in our lives.

One girl was now pregnant. There was me, the new-ish mum. But it was M’s story that needed our utmost, undivided attention.

She cut right to the chase, without a moment to catch her breath. Racing through the story, I did my best to pick up on all the vital words that were integral to the crushing ordeal her family had just recently been through.

“Husband…”
“Saturday night…”
“Collapsed…”
“Ambulance…”
“Emergency…”
“Hospital…”
“Possible aneurysm…”
“Brain hemorrhage…”

Throughout the entire discussion, I was amazed how calm she was.

Thankfully, M’s husband survived the brain hemorrhage, but even after spending weeks in hospital, doctors had strictly advised him to take another 6 months to rest and recover.

My amazingly strong friend continued to describe the stress in suddenly finding herself as the bread winner. She became the sole provider for their little 4 year old boy. She had to pay all the bills as well as the mortgage of their recently bought home.

Wondering about the toll it took on her, I couldn’t help but ask: “How are you coping ? I mean, financially?”

Matter-of-factly, she replied: “Income protection”

At this particular moment, I stopped to reassess my own circumstances.

I constantly tease Mr Surfer for his over-protective nature, saying if he could bubble wrap his family for an eternity, he would.

All jokes aside, I realised he planned out the next best thing for us. He’s protected me and the boys with life insurance. God forbid we should EVER have to use it, but we take comfort knowing that we have, at least, a financial safety net.

However, while Australians insure their homes, cars and holidays, we tend to forget about our lives.

A 2008 joint survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Superannuations Trustees (AIST) and Industry Funds Forum (IFF) found that:
1. 1 in 2 industry fund members were underinsured by $100,000 or more.
2. More than 50% of respondents were underinsured for death cover by $100,000.
3. For Total and Permanent Disability cover, 74% are underinsured by $100,000 or more.
4. For Income Protection cover, 45% are underinsured by $1,00 or more a month.

Working out an insurance plan for you and your family doesn’t need to be overwhelming, consumed with confusing jargon or biased information.

But we shouldn’t be scared to face what the future might have in store for us, either.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month.

The Australian Life Insurance Movement has been created to increase awareness about the severe problem of underinsurance in Australia.

To check whether your family’s existing insurance arrangements are adequate, visit the life insurance calculator from Life Insurance Finder and then compare life insurance plans to find the right option for you.

It won’t take long. And it could possibly change your fate.

Disclaimer: I am participating in the LIFE Awareness campaign. I received a VISA gift card for this post courtesy of Life Insurance Finder via Digital Parents Collective. I am also in the running to win an iPad3. As always, all opininions are purely my own.

Joining Jess for IBOT.

Did you like this? Share it: