If you’re reading this in an email, you need to click over to see the fancy, high-tech graph I’ve created to show the status of my blog goals for 2009.

I set three goals for my blog at the beginning of 2009: to get to 50,000 page views per month, reach 3,000 subscribers/followers, and earn $500/month. I did all three, which is great, but I’ve also seen a real problem in the amount of time I’m spending on the computer, mostly fooling around on Twitter and reading other blogs, versus other things I used to do–like standing, stretching, walking, moving. I wish I was kidding. I wasn’t in great shape at the top of the year, and I can tell things are worse now. I have problems with the circulation in my legs when I sit at the computer for any amount of time, I have a nice callous from the mousepad, and I get a sore shoulder from too much typing. It’s time to make a change.

My goals for 2010?

1) Be more active. Hard to do with three small children in a winter climate, but I vow to move around my house more. Go up and down the stairs (instead of sending a toddler to fetch things for me), dance with the kids, walk when I can get outside, try the Wii Fit again, etc. Sit at the computer less (see #2) Since I’m a numbers person, the easiest way to make this measurable for me is to wear a pedometer.

2) Sit at the computer less. This is tough. I love the computer. I love my blog. I love writing. I love reading blogs, laughing at blogs, getting inspiration on all things decor, crafts, cooking, parenting, etc. I love zoning out to computer games. I love chatting on Twitter when I’m stuck in the house with three little ones and 20 inches of snow and there’s no other adults around. Sigh. But I need to decrease my computer time, so here’s my plan. I’m going to schedule work time, use my time wisely, and learn to write faster. I’m not a fast writer. I go off on a tangent, edit while I write (you’re not supposed to do that), spend time clicking around looking for coupons, etc. I need to get better at this and my work time will be much more effective.

I will write out some real, tangible goals for the blog this weekend, so look for those Monday along with all my highfalutin’ plans. I like to have a combination of numbers-reality and fantasy-crazy, just to keep me on my toes. Have a Happy New Year’s Eve!

I really appreciate all of my readers! I’m working hard going into the New Year to make Moneywise Moms even better–for you and for me. One of the things that would help right now would be a little bit of data. If you’re a regular reader, could you please give me 2 minutes of your time and answer 11 quick multiple-choice questions? The survey is completely anonymous, and it would help me in my planning for 2010.

Thank you so much!

*Image courtesy of Redstamp.com

Good Morning from beautiful Asheville, North Carolina! It was a long drive, and I got some very odd looks from people, since I was having a one-woman party in my car, singing at the top of my lungs. I did get a little confused when I saw this sign, but apparently I was going the right way, because I made it.
And I had been nervous about coming, seeing as this is my first work-related (albeit fun) activity in more than six years. But I’m doing fine. People are very friendly, very welcoming, and it’s been great getting to meet bloggers face-to-face that I’d only met on Twitter or email before.

I’m rooming with Dana from Frugal in Virginia, and we knew we had a lot in common, but oh my we were up till 2:00am chatting about blogs, kids, being here, etc. Ridiculous.

On tap for today–lots of sessions on blogging and more networking. There are companies here learning how they can get involved with bloggers to promote their products, and they give away things–I have some GREAT gifties to share with you when I get back–hee hee!

Some of you know, because I’ve seen you there, that MoneywiseMoms (meaning me, Gina) is on Twitter. And some of you don’t even know what Twitter is. Here’s my layman’s explanation of what it is, then how and why you might use it:

What is Twitter? It’s like a giant IM (instant messaging) party. You can send a little “tweet” out telling people what’s new, where you are, what you’re doing, etc. You can tweet back and forth with one person or a whole group, an instant online conversation. If you need a visual explanation, here’s a great video that explains how it works.

Why would you use Twitter? Let me share the ways I’m using it so you can get some ideas:

As a blog reader, I use Twitter to enter contests; sometimes tweeting about a contest or re-tweeting (cutting and pasting) the blogger’s tweet counts as your entry (you know how I love blog contests). I use Twitter to be part of larger conversations, like ResourcefulMommy’s Sitewarmings. She hosts discussions such as this one on child safety. I also enjoy hearing personal tidbits from the bloggers I read; I know that’s not everyone, but I feel like it puts a personal face to the written “voice.”

As a blog writer, I use Twitter to share deals and information that doesn’t make it onto my MoneywiseMoms site. Sometimes a deal comes up late at night, is very temporary, or I simply don’t have time to write up a full post, but I can tweet it quickly. I also use it to send reminders when I’ve put up a blog post ahead of time; for example, I shared today’s Lowe’s Build & Grow event on Tuesday, but I tweeted a reminder on Friday. I can share articles and blog posts that I read online that I think my followers might like. I can also use Twitter to ask questions. For example, I was writing a blog post about bartering so I tweeted, “Does anyone have a story about successful trading/bartering?” to get stories other than my own.

Twitter isn’t for everyone, but I enjoy how it serves as micro-blogging, both as a reader and as a blogwriter. It’s helping me promote MoneywiseMoms and spread the word about shopping smart and saving money.

Today I’m honored to be joining the THAT Family Tree Society. You have to be really special to get into this club. Your kids have to destroy grocery store property, loudly proclaim their potty prowess while you’re doing a phone interview with a reporter, and generally make you laugh every day.

If you’re not reading Kristen’s blog, you should. It’s as funny as it is inspirational, both in parenting and homemaking. She’s the hostess of Works for Me Wednesday and an amazing mom of three who makes me happy to part of the blogworld, both as a writer and as a reader. Thanks, Kristen!

Guess where I’m headed this September? It’s my first blog conference–I’m so excited!

Why don’t you join me? Since so many of you are bloggers, this is a great opportunity for us to network while we learn more about blogging and how to manage our blogs alongside our families.

Type-A Mom Conference is a unique mom blogging conference designed to help you take it to the next level. The conference will feature some of the most influential, admired and insightful mom bloggers talking about topics like power social networking, branding, blogging, finding your voice, and turning your passion for blogging into a real paycheck. The conference will be held September 24-26, 2009, in Asheville, North Carolina. One of the most exciting parts of Type-A Mom Conference is that you can bring your children. They’ll be experiencing their own Kid Con while you’re attending your sessions.

Super Early Bird Registration is $100 and ends Wednesday night. Early Bird Registration will then be $150. That’s a great rate for two full days of panels, sessions, breakouts, and food. See all the schedule details, then go and register. Let’s get a big caravan of Maryland, DC, and NoVA Bloggers going down to NC!