This post contains affiliate links.

So- this book is geared toward kids and it is fantastic.
It is called Help Your Kids with Computer coding: 

Initially, I saw the beauty of this, teaching our kids about computer coding… and then I began to think:

 WAIT!  I NEED HELP WITH COMPUTER CODING!  

Which then lead to…

MAYBE YOU NEED HELP WITH COMPUTER CODING, TOO! 

And so this post & giveaway were born.  haha!

WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT? 

With over 1.4 million computing jobs predicted by 2020, computer programming is one of the fastest-growing industries to date. Parents who want to keep their kids up-to-date and prepared for the future will want to read Help Your Kids with Computer Coding.

This unique guide is full of fun exercises and helpful tips that will help children learn all aspects of coding. Step-by-step explanations make the complex art of programming clear, teaching the basics of Scratch and Python, and eventually progressing to projects where children can build their own games. Help Your Kids with Computer Coding is perfect for kids looking to take their first steps into programming or for those already interested and excited to learn more.

They actually have a ton of helpful books~ you can see them here.
HYKSeriesPraise and you can purchase them on amazon. 

So- do you want to win this awesome book?! 

Enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post GIVEAWAY: Help your kids with COMPUTER CODING (or help yourself!) appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Do you have any rhyme or reason for your posts?  How do you balance sponsored posts vs. non-sponsored posts?   Do you have a schedule for your posts?  Do you just post what is on your heart?

I do both on my blog, Your Modern Family.  I like it this way- sometimes I will be laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, and something will be laying on my heart, so I’ll jump onto my computer & write out a post (of course I wait to post it until I proof read it the next day, when my emotions aren’t quite as hooked to it and I can re-read it with a more clear mind).

I wanted to share how I organize my posts and ideas for my blog – I keep an editorial calendar online and also on paper- the online one is how I set up my posts to be published once they are written (via a plugin).   My paper planner is where I keep the rest.   I write in post topics on some days and I keep a few FREE days.

So, I take my planner and I will write down what I have coming up for the week- I write it in pencil in case something comes up that I want to talk about instead.

For example, I know that every Wednesday, I have my contributors writing on my page.   I am sure to add my link-ups (Thursday is my Social Media Hop & Saturday is our Pin-it-Party) as well as other things that I’d like to talk about.

I also keep an ongoing “topic” list in the back, but I wait to write it on my calendar until I am sure that I want to post about it at that time.

The timing of my topics are mostly geared off of what I think would do well (get shared a lot) at the time (next week’s Tuesday post will be all about this topic- what to write about and when to do it.) 

To keep myself organized, I use a Personal Planner.  They make customized planners that you design yourself. A planner is essential for you to stay organized, and now is a perfect time to get one with 2014 just around the corner!  (I have this one & I love it!) 

We wanted to help you get organized, as well, so we are giving away ONE FREE PERSONAL PLANNER, with the help of Personal Planner. 

You design your planner yourself and that includes:

 Outside

• Upload personal pictures or a design (or choose from their designs and images) for front and back cover from desktop and Instagram
•  Change background, size, font, lining, images

• Pick what month you want your planner to start
• Design writing space details; “work”, “workout schedule”, “sponsored posts”, “link-ups”, “to-do lists”, “goals”
•  Include personal calendar dates as birthdays and holidays
•  Add extra pages in the back for addresses, lined pages, coloring pages

The post Organizing my blog posts – WIN a personal planner!! appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Paula and I are so excited to present our first FREE blogging on the side ebook… just for you!
We made this book with you in mind!  We want you to be encouraged to keep your blog running well, keep your family happy, and keep your mind stress-free.  We want to give you some quick tips to help you keep everything balanced and keep your blog on the side.

Do you want a copy of our FREE ebook? 
Just enter here: 

Here are the chapters of our (short… because you don’t have the time for a 70+ page book!) ebook!

Get this book when you subscribe to our encouraging & helpful newsletter, made just for you!
Just be sure to hit verify in your e-mail!)
You can enter your e-mail right here: 

*****IMPORTANT: IF YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED TO OUR RSS, THIS IS DIFFERENT!  This only comes once a week or whenever we have something extra-special to share with you.

The post FREEBIE – Free ebook for you! 10 tips to keep your blog on the side. appeared first on Becky & Paula.

” Do you want to build a snowman?”   oh- wait… wrong audience!   The four kiddos behind me are singing that one!   haha!

How about this:
“Do you want to win on hundred dollars?”    Better, right?

We are giving away a $100 gift card to Staples.  You can use it to organize your blogging things (or to fix up a room.. they have really great furniture items & baskets.)

Ok- enter below.  Good luck!!

PS- we will be adding ONE MORE way to enter (for 10 points!) so stay tuned… its coming in a few days, along with a freebie!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Do you want to win $100? GIVEAWAY! appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Short, sweet and to the point…

Sometimes all that we need is a little TIME AWAY to get our work done, so that we can be 100% present when we are at home!

Paula is so smart- she goes to Starbucks once a week to get her blogging work done.   I try to go to the gym and blog instead of working out at least once a week, as well.    Both of us are doing the same thing- spending time alone to blog… writing without distraction.  This is how we can give more time to our families…  our kids do NOT want us to be half-there and half-with-our-blog.

So, today we want to give you $5 to go to Starbucks, get your favorite drink (I love their Fat Free Vanilla Fraps & my husband loves their tea), and sit down and write…

Ps- how to find time to write

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post $5 Starbucks gift card for you appeared first on Becky & Paula.

I wanted to offer someone a $50 gift card to use towards building a home office.  I was given this opportunity on my personal blog and asked to extend it to our Blogging on the Side page & they said YES!!

Paula and I have both blogged about organizing our homes or cleaning our homes on our personal blogs, but today we are going to talk strictly about YOUR OFFICE.   I was recently given the opportunity to blog (sponsored posts) about two things:

1– Home Office (here is a non-sponsored link to how to organize a home office)

2- Saving money & energy on your home with these 10 tips (one of my sponsors for one of the posts that I mentioned above)

I think that they go hand in hand.  If you can blog IN AN OFFICE or in a designated space in your home, you will be more disciplined about keeping your blogging time limited.

I find that when I am all over the place (in my home) with my laptop, I am looking at my email here and my FB groups there.  I am editing a post here and linking up there.

When I can keep it in my home-office (at my desk), I work on my blog during my designated two-hour time spot in the evening and have the rest of the day to play with our kids by balancing my blog & family time well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post $50 gift card giveaway to build a & home office appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Every day new blogs are started. People sign up for accounts, they begin posting their ideas and stories, and then… well, they get stuck. They need more readers and better ways to share content. They need to find a network of other bloggers they can bounce ideas off of.

Based on her years of experience as a mentor to new bloggers, Becca Ludlum looks over your shoulder and answers the questions you haven’t asked yet. She gives you tips about setting up your blog, connecting with others in the blogging community, and making a few dollars in the process–Becca’s giving you everything but the posts. By the end of the book, you’ll be ready to use the templates she provides to pitch brands for reviews or conference sponsorships and even create your own media kit to present with your pitch. If you have questions, Becca is just a status update away in the Everything but the Posts Facebook group, which you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of after purchasing this book.

It’s time to get started! In no time you will have the design, knowledge, and support you need to create an amazing blog or kickstart your existing one. Let Becca help you improve every aspect of your blog!

Well, everything but the posts.

WIN one of Becca’s books, valued at $12.99:    (Or purchase one here) 
Enter below!!

ENTER HERE to win or you can enter using the rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Everything but the posts… GIVEAWAY! appeared first on Becky & Paula.

Kristy from Stella & Dot is giving us $50 gift card to Stella & Dot to give to one lucky winner!  I am so excited!  They have a lot of great products!

Here is a picture of Kristy (thanks, for the giveaway!) 


I, Becky, have a great bag from Stella & Dot and I love it.  I just received my ‘blogging bag’, as I call it, a few days ago.   I use mine to keep my blogging things all in one place.  I often have to run around and I take my blogging bag with me to get some blogging done in my free time.    (See a few of my tips on how to keep the kids busy while you blog – you will see why I need my blogging bag)

Here is the one that I have (I LOVE navy & white stripes!) 

The “how does she do it” bag is valued at $89- it hold so much and it is big enough for all of my blogging materials!  Click the picture to see a video about the bag. 

You could also use your credit to buy an iPad or mini iPad case or a cell phone case  or even one of their BEAUTIFUL pieces of jewelry!
Here are a few more things that I love…
PS- if you are interested in selling Stella & Dot, you can sell it from your blog, just ask Kristy about becoming a Stylist.

Good luck!  ENTER HERE or enter using the rafflecopter form below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post GIVEAWAY!!! $50 gift card to Stella & Dot for you (or give it away on YOUR blog!) appeared first on Becky & Paula.

I am always on the hunt for great organizing tips.  Blogging is certainly no different.

Here are a few organizing tricks:
1). Get an editorial calendar plugin & keep your posts scheduled several days (even a week) in advance.

2).  Keep a list of post ideas.  I just write them into my “notes” section as soon as I think of something.  My list is SO long right now!

3).  Keep an actual planner & use it.  Highlight sponsored posts so that you don’t forget to do them.

I find that when my own home & life are feeling organized, my blogging is much smoother, as well.  (I also did a post on my personal blog called 40 days to an Organized Home, where I walk you through each room of my home as it is organized.)   It is important to keep your home life first and being organized in your home, for your family, is just one small piece of that equation.

Here is a great leather-bound (hardback) book that I read, called Organize Now.  Today I want to give away a free copy of this.

From Organize Now:
Can you picture a day where you wake up feeling refreshed from a good night’s sleep and feeling excited to start your day because you know you are living on purpose and following your passion?

Your full spirit keeps anxiety and worry at bay.

Do you dream of a like like this?

Guess what- it’s possible, and this book will tell you how to create it!

Good luck!!  Enter Below… 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Saturday Giveaway: Book ~ Organize Now (& how I stay organized with my blog) appeared first on Becky & Paula.

It is hard work to blog, take care of your home, take care of your family, etc…

Thankfully, we have a few resources to help! Of course, this awesome resource, GROWING YOUR BLOG WHILE MANAGING YOUR HOME. (Its a must-have for bloggers) 

Another one is Energems – its a great little supplement to get you moving! These candies are filled with the ‘energy’ of a few cups of coffee. They have Vitamin-B & Caffeine to keep you moving. They were given to us (to give to you) by the company, Energems 

(Thank you for that!)

My husband has come to love them, as we tried them in our house as well. They taste like little candies & only have 15 calories each. They look like little M&Ms.

Enter to Win Energems to keep at your house!

a Rafflecopter giveaway – click here or wait for it to load.

The post Energems Giveaway appeared first on Becky & Paula.