My iRISH Twins, the blog, was born back in March of this year.  Like many other Moms out there, I started this as a way to connect with other parents and share my “Mommyhood” with others via the web. 

From writing personal stories or posting photos about life with my husband and children (the iTwins), or sharing great products I’ve used/love and offering giveaways – this blog has become my outlet, my favorite hobby and my portal into the online social world.  If you haven’t heard, this “Internet thing” is kindof a BIG DEAL and I’m kindof a geek, so it works for me.

I was already using and enjoying Facebook and Twitter when I started this blog, but social media (blogging included), as a whole, had (and has) yet to be fully understood by me.  I soon found other social outlets and Mommy networks like, Mom Blogger Club and Everything Mom where forums and groups were limitless.

So great, now I’m making tons of new friends and getting traffic to my site…where do I go from here to turn a Mommy-hobby into something more beneficial to both my readers and myself.

I found IZEA.

IZEA is a company that connects bloggers (Mommy bloggers too!) with advertisers through “sponsored conversations”. 

Wait…what…how does ME advertising HELP YOU? 

Well, through IZEA and their Social Spark network I’ve been able to find companies that I share a common interest with and in turn share their value with YOU!  They may be companies that I’ve never heard of and like you, are learning about for the first time…or they may be long-time favorites of mine, that I’m able to gather up information in one place and again, pass along to you.

100% of what I write about is true to my hands-on-experience as a Mom, and most of my blog posts are sponsor-free but through Social Spark, I’m able to give you THAT much MORE specific information on a product as compared to simply my user-experience alone.

IZEA is bringing together the BEST of both worlds.  Blogging at it’s core and advertising in it’s cleanest form.  IZEA prides themselves on disclosure…as to NOT be sneaky advertisers.  That is the main reason I trust IZEA to work with and faithfully share my involvement with you.

I ALWAYS let you know if a post is “sponsored” by disclosing that prominently, as I do when I accept children’s products for reviews.

As a Stay-At-Home Mom who blogs as a hobby, if I’m paid a few pennies for being provided with MORE information on a product, I don’t see anything wrong with that.  It’s always YOUR choice to follow me, read my posts and glimpse at my personal life with the iTwins.

Advertising via this Social Media has been getting a lot of controversial “press” lately.  Maybe it’s the celebrities that are making millions off of their fame that give it a bad name, but I’m simply a Mom who blogs (far from the ranks of Dooce) and is making a few dollars off of a post or Tweet or two.

Here is a recent story I was published in, at Time Magazine Online (and in Time Magazine on the newstand TODAY!) about my involvement with Sponsored Tweets – a new platform of Social Media/Twitter Advertising that was launched by IZEA.

The thing I love about Sponsored Tweets is that I can filter sending out tweets that could be considered off-topic for my followers.  For example, I’ll gladly tweet about K-Mart’s patio furniture on sale (that’s something YOU may just want to check out!), but will reject a tweet that is about a no-name phone company wanting you to sign up with them (I too would find that scam-y & spam-y).

You can also read about my take on Sponsored Tweets here in one of my previous posts.

With all that being said…next Thursday, my Hubby & I will be heading down to SeaWorld in Orlando, FL for IZEAFest!  My husband works in the world of Interactive Marketing for some of the world’s leading companies, so social media is quite a go-between for both of us in our own ways. 

We decided (with the help of a ticket-win from the lovely IZEA Insiders and Twitter Pals Corrin & Laurie) to make this both a Mommy/Daddy getaway and bloggy/business event.

I passed up BOTH BlogHer and Type-A Mom conferences (snifle snifle) to budget in IZEAFest this year, so it better be good!  I mean it’s taking place IN SeaWorld, Orlando with opening night being at Bush Gardens for their Howl-O-Scream event…I mean, how fun is that? 

So beyond their sparkly logo…which is quite fun to look at…I’ve been drawn to IZEA Inc. for awhile now and am interested in their take on Social Media, what’s next and what they have to say about their upcoming secret project.

I’m hoping to take my little blog here to the “next level” and learn from the TOP Social Media experts what their secrets are so I can return and share them with YOU.

*This is the first time I will be parting ways with my little ones since they were born.  My parents and sisters are going to be watching the duo while we’re away – for four. whole. days.  Don’t think I’m not a wreck because I am.  I know they are in THE BEST hands, but still…*sigh*…it’s going to be tough.  On the other hand ICEBAR, Orlando – here we come!  Yes please, I’ll have another.

Have a great weekend…we’re off to NJ for Birthday Parties galore!