Why join Rocketmoms?
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Here's why I joined Rocketmoms.
Why join Rocketmoms? Here is my Rocketmoms experience. It might help you to decide if Rocketmoms is for you.
This lens is about how I came to join Rocketmoms and how Rocketmoms has helped my Squidoo experience.If you are thinking about joining Rocketmoms then this might help make upyour mind.
All profits from this lens are going to Save the Children a charity supported by Rocketmoms.
I came to Squidoo by accident in May 2009. I'd just joined Twitter, and was following some links, and found Squidoo. I'd never heard of Squidoo, but took a look around and wondered if I might possibly be able to make a "lens".
At that point I didn't really know what a lens was. My computer skills allowed me to use emails, and search and buy stuff online. That was fine for what I needed, but I could see Squidoo would need more.
In fact, I found these skills were enough to make my first lens. Then I made a couple more. Then I got stuck.
Luckily, I was looking at the forum one day when I saw an invitation from luvmyludwig, Crystal, asking if anyone wanted to apply to join Rocketmoms for Rocketmoms Session 3.
WELL, I'd seen lenses with the Rocketmoms banner, thought they looked great, and had wondered what Rocketmoms was.
Tentatively, I asked to be considered. I was thrilled when bdkz ,Bonnie said yes, come on, join Rocketmoms,we're starting on Monday 17 August, 2009.
Do you know, I was so excited that Monday morning- I was keen to learn and get started- but I live in the UK- would I be able to start Monday morning, or would I have to wait for US time? Well, Bonnie had thought about that, and the first assignment was already up, at 7am!
Here goes!
This lens is about how I came to join Rocketmoms and how Rocketmoms has helped my Squidoo experience.If you are thinking about joining Rocketmoms then this might help make upyour mind.
All profits from this lens are going to Save the Children a charity supported by Rocketmoms.
I came to Squidoo by accident in May 2009. I'd just joined Twitter, and was following some links, and found Squidoo. I'd never heard of Squidoo, but took a look around and wondered if I might possibly be able to make a "lens".
At that point I didn't really know what a lens was. My computer skills allowed me to use emails, and search and buy stuff online. That was fine for what I needed, but I could see Squidoo would need more.
In fact, I found these skills were enough to make my first lens. Then I made a couple more. Then I got stuck.
Luckily, I was looking at the forum one day when I saw an invitation from luvmyludwig, Crystal, asking if anyone wanted to apply to join Rocketmoms for Rocketmoms Session 3.
WELL, I'd seen lenses with the Rocketmoms banner, thought they looked great, and had wondered what Rocketmoms was.
Tentatively, I asked to be considered. I was thrilled when bdkz ,Bonnie said yes, come on, join Rocketmoms,we're starting on Monday 17 August, 2009.
Do you know, I was so excited that Monday morning- I was keen to learn and get started- but I live in the UK- would I be able to start Monday morning, or would I have to wait for US time? Well, Bonnie had thought about that, and the first assignment was already up, at 7am!
Here goes!
A new Rocketmoms session starts soon
Starting 26 September
I'm going to join in the new fall session of Rocketmoms, starting 26 September. Join me?
Click here to join the new Rocketmoms session
Click here to join the new Rocketmoms session
Rocektmoms Session 3, assignment #1
Write a lens about your favorite Toy.
Monday, 17 August 2009.
My first task for Rocketmoms- write lens about your favorite toy.
My heart sank!
I was a child of the 50s in the UK- no memorable toys for me.
My boys were in their late 20s- nothing seemed very fresh about their old toys.
Was I going to fall at the first hurdle through lack of imagination?
Well, my husband turned up trumps ( sorry for the pun), saying- "what about playing cards?"
Eureka! I've always played cards, my family loves cards, and I try to play Bridge at least once a week ( not too seriously- just for fun!)
I resolved that I would try to learn a new skill, or try a new module,for each new Rocketmoms lens.
The Rocektmoms template had a Black Box module set up, which I'd never used before.
It took me all week to make the lens, and then add it to the Rocketmoms plexo- another new experience, but what a sense of achievement.
I was hooked on Rocketmoms!
Not used the Black Box? Try it out.
Rocketmoms Session 3, assignment #2
Write a product review.
Ho Hum- I've never done anything like this before- where do I start?!
Actually that's been my reaction to lots of the Rocketmoms assignments, and I've found that if I take a day to think it over, something pops up in my mind.
This time, sticking to the mantra "write on a topic you know about " ( always a great tip!), I decided to review the Karen Brown Guides, a series of guide books to great places to stay in Europe and the USA. I know about these, because my own Guest House B & B has been featured for many years, and I always use Karen Brown Guides myself when planning a journey.
This time, I decided to use the poll module for the first time, and was surprised how easy it was to set up.
Not used the poll module? Try it on your next lens.
Actually that's been my reaction to lots of the Rocketmoms assignments, and I've found that if I take a day to think it over, something pops up in my mind.
This time, sticking to the mantra "write on a topic you know about " ( always a great tip!), I decided to review the Karen Brown Guides, a series of guide books to great places to stay in Europe and the USA. I know about these, because my own Guest House B & B has been featured for many years, and I always use Karen Brown Guides myself when planning a journey.
This time, I decided to use the poll module for the first time, and was surprised how easy it was to set up.
Not used the poll module? Try it on your next lens.
Rocketmoms Session 3, assignment #3
Write about your favorite decade
By this time I was really loving the Rocketmoms experience.
I loved the way other Rocketmoms stopped by your lenses and left comments, I loved reading the messages on the ning, I loved reading other Rocketmoms lenses- I was so pleased I'd joined Rocketmoms.
Onwards- lens 3- anything at all about your favorite decade- so I wrote about a special time for me in 1963.
This lens took me a long time, because I'd decided I needed to use some posters, and posters meant joining allposters as an affiliate, and learning how it worked. It took time, and I found allposters.com- the cutest affiliate program by squidoohelp really great. Thanks to Rocektmoms for suggesting this .
Not used allposters? Give it a go- you'll find great pictures for nearly everything.
I loved the way other Rocketmoms stopped by your lenses and left comments, I loved reading the messages on the ning, I loved reading other Rocketmoms lenses- I was so pleased I'd joined Rocketmoms.
Onwards- lens 3- anything at all about your favorite decade- so I wrote about a special time for me in 1963.
This lens took me a long time, because I'd decided I needed to use some posters, and posters meant joining allposters as an affiliate, and learning how it worked. It took time, and I found allposters.com- the cutest affiliate program by squidoohelp really great. Thanks to Rocektmoms for suggesting this .
Not used allposters? Give it a go- you'll find great pictures for nearly everything.
Rocketmoms Session 3 assignment #4
Food for the fall ( or autumn as we call it in the UK)
OK, anyone can write about food- cooking, eating, enjoying, There's almost too much choice.Rocketmoms recipes are famous. There are hundres of great Rocketmoms recipes on Squidoo.
I decided to give my own special recipe, local to Grasmere and the Lake District where I live.
I'm absolutely delighted to say that this lens has been awarded a purple star, on the special purple star day when non Giants could be nominated for a purple star.
Thanks so much to fellow session 3 Rocketmom theraggededge , now a Squid Angel and Giant for nominating this lens.
What new thing did I try with this lens?I used the Amazon spotlight module and the Ebay modules for the first time!
Go on- if you haven't used these modules yet- try them!
I decided to give my own special recipe, local to Grasmere and the Lake District where I live.
I'm absolutely delighted to say that this lens has been awarded a purple star, on the special purple star day when non Giants could be nominated for a purple star.
Thanks so much to fellow session 3 Rocketmom theraggededge , now a Squid Angel and Giant for nominating this lens.
What new thing did I try with this lens?I used the Amazon spotlight module and the Ebay modules for the first time!
Go on- if you haven't used these modules yet- try them!
Rocketmoms Session 3 assignment #5
Travel the world with Rocketmoms.
One of the best things about joining Rocketmoms is that you can draw on the help and experience of lots of mentors and big sisters, who will freely help with advice and suggestions, without in any way making you feel stupid for not knowing something.
The SquidU forum is also very helpful but you might feel embarrassed about asking a very simple question there for all to see.
On Rocketmoms you can ask away and get really good basic help for anything. I was struggling to work out the best ways to use photos, and I got lots of helpful advice, and pointers to useful help lenses.
I put this advice to use in my travel lens about Grasmere. I think the photos look pretty good!
So what did I do that was new to me on this lens- well I improved my use of photos, and I followed a tip to use the Guestbook to try to get feedback to use on the lens-take a look- try it yourself!
Latest news- this lens has now also been given a Purple Star! Wow!
The SquidU forum is also very helpful but you might feel embarrassed about asking a very simple question there for all to see.
On Rocketmoms you can ask away and get really good basic help for anything. I was struggling to work out the best ways to use photos, and I got lots of helpful advice, and pointers to useful help lenses.
I put this advice to use in my travel lens about Grasmere. I think the photos look pretty good!
So what did I do that was new to me on this lens- well I improved my use of photos, and I followed a tip to use the Guestbook to try to get feedback to use on the lens-take a look- try it yourself!
Latest news- this lens has now also been given a Purple Star! Wow!
Rocketmoms session 3 assignment #6
Arts and crafts
Oh dear- I'm not very arty or crafty- let's thinks about this for a day or two.............I know, I can write about a craft unique to my local area.
Bonnie likes to give Rocketmoms tasks that make them move outside their niche and their comfort zones. Lenses must be made for the specific challenge, rather than just using a lens you already made some time ago- this lens really stretched me.
Ruskin Lace making is a very narrowly followed craft, and I wasn't able to get permission to use some of the pictures I wanted to use, but I felt happy with this lens, which honors a unique historic craft.
New module used for this lens? YouTube! Altough I couldn't get the photos I wanted, I was delighted to find a demonstration of Ruskin Lacemaking on YouTube.
It is just amazing what you find on You Tube, and its very easy to add a YouTube module to your lens- have you tried it?
Bonnie likes to give Rocketmoms tasks that make them move outside their niche and their comfort zones. Lenses must be made for the specific challenge, rather than just using a lens you already made some time ago- this lens really stretched me.
Ruskin Lace making is a very narrowly followed craft, and I wasn't able to get permission to use some of the pictures I wanted to use, but I felt happy with this lens, which honors a unique historic craft.
New module used for this lens? YouTube! Altough I couldn't get the photos I wanted, I was delighted to find a demonstration of Ruskin Lacemaking on YouTube.
It is just amazing what you find on You Tube, and its very easy to add a YouTube module to your lens- have you tried it?
Rocketmoms Session 3, assignment #7
Make A holiday lens.
With Halloweeen and Thanksgiving in the USA approaching, holidays were on Bonnie's mind. Then of course, Christmas.
I decided to write about Boxing Day, and British holiday that also has been exported around parts of the world with expat Brits.
It's a fun day and it was a fun lens to make.
Once again, I used a new module. As suggested by Rocketmoms Bonnie, I used the Countdown module. If you're publicising an event this is a great module to use- try it! It looks quite dramatic!
I decided to write about Boxing Day, and British holiday that also has been exported around parts of the world with expat Brits.
It's a fun day and it was a fun lens to make.
Once again, I used a new module. As suggested by Rocketmoms Bonnie, I used the Countdown module. If you're publicising an event this is a great module to use- try it! It looks quite dramatic!
And finally, Rocketmoms Session 3, assignment #8
A Top 10 lens
Everyone loves lists and top tens- so I wrote again about my area, the Lake District, and my Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District.
I didn't use the Rocketmoms template for this lens, as I wanted to keep it very clear ad use the "professor" theme ( you can't use "themes" currently with the Rocketmoms template)
And what new modules did I use on this lens I hear you ask? Well, I added my blog from the Lake District in the RSS module, and also the Twitter search module, as lots of people mention the Lake District on Twitter.
Again, two great modules, so easy to use. i love all the different modules.
I didn't use the Rocketmoms template for this lens, as I wanted to keep it very clear ad use the "professor" theme ( you can't use "themes" currently with the Rocketmoms template)
And what new modules did I use on this lens I hear you ask? Well, I added my blog from the Lake District in the RSS module, and also the Twitter search module, as lots of people mention the Lake District on Twitter.
Again, two great modules, so easy to use. i love all the different modules.
So that was Rocketmoms Session 3!
12 October, Graduation!
I felt so proud! I'd learnt so much, and felt much more confident to go ahead with new lenses.
Along the way I've made lots of great Rocketmoms friends. Bonnie suggested those of us who Tweet shared our twitter IDs so I regularly keep up with lots of Rocketmoms on Twitter. If you'd like to find me on twitter I'm @whitemosshouse
I've kept in touch with Rocketmoms since October 2009, visiting the ning to see what is going on.
I've also joined facebook, encouraged by Bonnie, and try to follow Rocketmoms on facebook- I must admit I've got a lot of learning to do here- I'm a facebook novice! You can follow Rocketmoms on facebook here
STOP PRESS! I have just completed Rocketmoms Session 7- Graduated on 18 June 2010.
Here are some of my lenses from Session 7!
For more information on Session 7 whitemoss, session 7 tells all.
Rocketmoms Session 7- Back for more
In spring 2010 I took up the challenge of Rocketmoms session #7
Back on another Rocketmoms session.
These are some of the lenses I made for Rocketmoms Session 7.
These are some of the lenses I made for Rocketmoms Session 7.
More Lenses for Rocketmoms Session #7
I graduated Rocketmoms session #7!
Phew- I made all 8 challeneges, plus 2 extra- do 10 new lenses in all for Rocketmoms Session 7.
These 10 new lenses gave me the boost I needed to get to the 50 to apply for Giant Squid.
I made Giant at the end of June 2010, and could not have done that without the push from the Rocketmoms challenges.
MY "lavender" lens, which I made as a special challenge over the holiday weekend, as an extra Rocketmom lens, received a Purple Star! I was not yet a Giant, but Bonnie was giving purple stars for this very special challenge- what a boost!
These 10 new lenses gave me the boost I needed to get to the 50 to apply for Giant Squid.
I made Giant at the end of June 2010, and could not have done that without the push from the Rocketmoms challenges.
MY "lavender" lens, which I made as a special challenge over the holiday weekend, as an extra Rocketmom lens, received a Purple Star! I was not yet a Giant, but Bonnie was giving purple stars for this very special challenge- what a boost!
Rocketmoms session #7- read all about it
Rocketmoms #7- all the lenses
For more details about my jrouney through Rocketmoms session #7, this is the lens to check out.
So, if you wondered "Why Join Rocketmoms?" I hope you know now!
"A collection of the smartest women on the web"
At Rocketmoms you can
Get great support, encouragement and advice
Get great ideas for lenses you might not have thought of
Be challenged to try new modules
Get the motivation to make lenses week in week out.
Make great friends
Have a good moan ( we all need that sometimes)
Have a laugh
If you 're a Rocketmom already, I hope you agree. If not, why not join us next time around?
Watch out for all news on Rocketmoms . Go on- take a look now!
Get great support, encouragement and advice
Get great ideas for lenses you might not have thought of
Be challenged to try new modules
Get the motivation to make lenses week in week out.
Make great friends
Have a good moan ( we all need that sometimes)
Have a laugh
If you 're a Rocketmom already, I hope you agree. If not, why not join us next time around?
Watch out for all news on Rocketmoms . Go on- take a look now!
What's next with Rocketmoms?
Rocketmoms session 20 is on the way.
I've had a break from lensmaking, but want to get back. I'm planning to join Rocketmoms Fall 2011 session, which is Session 20. Where did sessions 8 to 19 go? I missed them all.
Take a look at Rocketmoms Fall Session 2011 and see if you could join me and lots of other great Rocketmoms for this new session. It begins on 26 September 2011.
Take a look at Rocketmoms Fall Session 2011 and see if you could join me and lots of other great Rocketmoms for this new session. It begins on 26 September 2011.
Rocketmoms, present and future- please leave me your comments!
All your ideas, thought sand comments would be very welcome.
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WriterJanis
Nov 21, 2011 @ 1:55 am | delete
- This was very interesting and the program sounds like fun. I'm going to look for more info about this.
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spritequeen
Oct 23, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete
- What a great lens! Lots of fun information...My Rocketmoms interest has been piqued!
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Pukeko
Jul 18, 2010 @ 9:30 am | delete
- I really enjoyed the way you personalized this lens.
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VickiSims
Jul 10, 2010 @ 11:19 pm | delete
- What a great lens about how you were able to rise to the challenges of Rocket Moms. Maybe someday I'll muster up my courage to try.
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bdkz
May 21, 2010 @ 5:54 am | delete
- Love it!
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Rocketmoms for Japan
How you can help the children of Japan in a small way
Every little helps following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Support Save the Children though Rocketmoms for Japan, and these Rocketmoms charity lenses
by whitemoss
whitemoss
My home White Moss House was owned by Wordsworth. It's now a guest house in England's Lake District You can stay here!
I'm a Squid Angel for the...
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Hey! I've graduated Rocketmoms Session # 7!
