Instagram Come To Android-Angels are Singing

I love Instagram...love love love it. I spent great lengths babbling about it here last year. It is the only thing that I missed desperately when I left the iPhone land. Today, they announced the incredibly long wait was over and Instagram is being dowloaded 2K times a minute! Initially, I had some issues finding it initially but the Instagram for Android download is here. 

May I also make another suggestion? Please sign up for Morning Pics! This fun app indexes your Instagrams and sends you one at random each morning. Some mornings it is a nice pick me up! Some mornings it is maddening because you realize with much sadness it has been 211 days since you have been in your most city in all the world. 

Let me see some of your favorite Instagrams! Here are some of mine.

me and my besterton at a Yankee Game (Spring Training)

This picture was taken the day after a really tough situation

Pre Race Pedi

Supermodel Kitty

The most important thing to me.

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What Matters Most

I have been thinking a lot about philanthropy lately. I wonder how people catch the helping bug. Is it something that is instilled in you at an early age? Do you have to have something happen to you before it forces you to give back? Is it a combination of all these factors? I hate to get all Carrie Bradshaw on you, but this got me to thinking...What does it take to make you remember What Matters Most? I do a lot of volunteering and I don't really know how this came to be. If I think of how I grew up, my dad would give the shirt off his back, but we didn't spend a lot of time walking for cancer, or building houses for Habitat. 

Starting in a career in radio gave me a great platform to champion a cause. I have done it for animal rights, and for Veterans, and St. Jude. I then moved on to becoming involved with my downtown organization, the local American Cancer Society and the Junior League. I don't know if this is enough, even for someone who always says yes to a volunteer opportunity. I feel like I am searching for something I can take a stronger hold of, wanting to wake up and say THIS is how I can help and THIS is what I want to do for THIS cause. 

I think all my whimsicalness has to do with my time last week with old friends that I visited in Orlando. They were doing a show with Hard Rock and I had the pleasure of hanging again with an as-old (in friendship years only!) friend of theirs who is the Director of Philanthropy for the Hard Rock...isn't that the most amazing title ever? This girl is the salt of the Earth and works hard hard hard doing good for others, it is quite inspiring. 

The Hard Rock as a whole is pretty impressive for all the work that it does. Yes, it has amazing concert venues all over the world, but the work they do for others is really something I dont feel many people are fully aware of. Maybe that is the silent beauty of doing things for others is not to be so gregarious while doing so. In a social media world of look at me, look at me...quietly changing the world one step at a time is something I think we can all strive to do a little bit more. 

For more of what the Hard Rock does, click here. 

What are things you can do to quietly, eloquently change the world?

YAY! Promo Poster-FUN Show, OLD picture!! 

Soundcheck at the Hard Rock

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March Foodie Pen Pals

I am loving the foodie pen pals!! This month was really amazing the package that I received from Danni from Healthy Kitschy Vegan. Amazing amazing...she really set the bar! Take a look!

How on Earth did she know I love kitties?

Homemade! Healthy!

This is such addicting lip gloss

If I could die happy, it would be this next to me

I ate this is ONE sitting

I was wondering if it was good as it sounds (it was!)

How do you partake in such awesomeness?? 

From Lindsay from the Lean Green Bean herself:

 -on the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. it will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

 -you will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. on the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!

 -the boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! the spending limit is $15. the box must also include something written. this can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

 -you are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

 -foodie penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. if you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. if two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month

If you’re interested in participating for April, please send an email to lindsay attheleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:

 -your full name

 -your email address

 -your blog name/address (if applicable)

 -your twitter handle (if applicable)

 Lindsay needs to hear from you by April 4th as pairings will be emailed on the 5th.

Can't wait till next month!

I'm saving these for a special occasion

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Skinny and Clean...Arugula Salad With Penne, Garbanzo Beans And Sun Dried Tomatoes

I got arugula in my organic Front Porch Pickings basket this week and I went to my favorite websites to find the best recipe to make with it. Again, SkinnyTaste comes through with this one. Please make sure you sign up for her daily recipe emails that have Weight Watchers points assessed to them. Genius!

From her website: Peppery arugula tossed with nutty chick peas, pasta, sun dried tomatoes, shaved parmesan and balsamic vinegar create a simple yet delicious main dish salad – perfect for lunch or dinner

Read full recipe here

Photo Credit:Skinnytaste

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The Nominees Are...Best Laptop Cases

So many choices for laptop cases. I just made the ginormous leap from PC to MAC (I will never look back) and I of course don't need another computer bag, but this sure begs the question what is out there if I did:

Target

Sumdex Fashion Place 

 $27.99

Urban Outfitters

Cooperative Trompe L'Oeil Laptop Case

$28.00

Kate Spade

GRAND STREET JANINE

$498.00

Vera Bradley

Laptop Portfolio in Watercolor 

$84.00

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Pretty Nylon 15" Laptop Case

$128.00

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Facebook is Free, Not A Free For All..

The etiquette of Facebook is a class I am thinking of teaching. At least when it comes to business pages. I just spent the last ten minutes deleting this band of the week who wants to play at my beach bar client, and the yard sale that wants to be promoted on my downtown development page, or the radio station pages who have people have posted  endless amounts of garbage to think that its ok to put on there without permission. I don't mean to be unkind, but that is enough to make me mental. 

It is rude.

It is obtrusive.

You know better.

I hate to be a natzi here but Goodness! Facebook is a free advertising tool that every business should take advantage of. But it is you and your business who should not take advantage of its ability!  It is just a little different on how you promote yourself on here. It is social media... not push people out of the way to get people to buy your product media.

My sister will be happy to get a plug as she thinks I am too cranky (she used another term) when I complain about such issues...but I am actually trying to help through all my frustration by asking you to use the golden rule when using social media. Post undo others as they would post to you...

1. Do not post on someone's business page without their permission. Instead, why not pay it forward and post on your business page news of a business that you associate with. It would be polite for them to reciprocate and then you have achieved your goal for added exposure.

2. Do not comment on someone's post with your own advertisement. I know someone who takes every opportunity no matter what you write on your personal page to promote her business. I saw someone post about beating their personal best 5K and instead of giving congrats to a great feat... one of her friends posted in great length a Herbalife promotion, complete with his phone number for more information.

3. Switch it up, sister! Give us all a little break...talk about your kids, your dog, your industry, your BFF...just not a self plug or promotion. Your friends and clients will appreciate it!

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Skinny and Clean-Kale &Goat Cheese Sweet Potatoes

Photo Credit:LaLoosh

This week's skinny and clean recipe comes from a website that I am obsessed with called LaLoosh. They are now in my arsenal for my new quest to start eating cleaner and more organic. I mean they have some amazing recipes and they all have Weight Watcher points attached. That is a bonus! I picked this recipe because I am really excited to increase my love for all that is kale. We are obsessed!! with Kale Chips. Im just really excited because I love all these things individually, I can only imagine what this combination of goat cheese and kale and sweet potatoes will be!  Recipe is here. Enjoy! Pin It

The Art to Complaining Online

Online Reviews are the new word of mouth. Thanks to sites like Yelp, Urban Spoon, Google, etc. it is now easier than ever to voice your opinion for all the world to see. I don't know if I have mentioned this before but I am a MAGNET for bad service. If I got all my friends in one place the stories would go on for hours of experiences they have had with me at the hands of a bad server. So, I will be first to say-I have written or called more than my fair share of complaints in. Some have been good and worth it (thank you Delta...they dont mess around), others not so much, may they die a slow fiery death.  

I have spent time writing about what to do with a negative review as a business owner, but I wanted to chat a bit about why even though you can go online and blast businesses for their wrongdoing, you may want to rethink that. My company spends time working with different businesses on their social media. Sure, a Facebook presence is important but there is an exciting online review new world out there that needs to be monitored. Urban Spoon has a steady stream of new reviews in my area and I think that people are finally getting in on the Yelp train...I definitely notice an increase in traffic. 

I think online reviews are helpful. Even if they are negative, it is an unbiased view of what people say about your business. But, there are ways that you can address your issue with a business before you take it to the internet. Now that I am on the other end of these reviews, monitoring and managing-I have to say that I have seen some real damaging things written instead of resolving the issue  in a number of different ways like:

1 Ask to speak to the manager-it happens, you get a bad server, your food comes out bad, the check out lady is rude to you...a good manager will acknowledge your complaint or concern and address it without being defensive. They should do whatever they can to rectify the situation to the best of his or her ability.

Review away if the manager is defensive, argues with you while you are discussing the issue or does not offer some sort of compensation for your time and trouble.

2. Send them an email- If you are not a big fan of confrontation, you can find the company's email, send them a detailed email of your complaint. This may also provide therapeutic for you to give you some time to simmer down. Be kind and keep the drama out of it. It is an issue the manager has to address with the staff,  and that puts them responsible, but not at fault. In the email, tell them you look forward to hearing back from them on how they plan on making this right for you. That leaves the door open for resolution.

Review away if within a week you haven't heard a response. Or-

3. Call the corporate office-If you are having an issue with a national brand, dealing locally may not be enough. I will say that some brands don't really have this nailed down. One time I had an issue with a manager at an Italian chain...so I wrote my thoughts to their corporate website and guess what their policy is? To have the manager of the restaurant address it, they forwarded my email to the guy I had an issue with. Because that was a fun phone call as he was defensive and argumentative over every issue I had. Know that you take your chances when you take it to a corporate level. I have also been told that the businesses are franchised and individually owned and there isn't too much at a corporate level can do. To me, if your name is on the door...you as the brand has to hold some sort of responsibility. 

So what have we learned today, besides the fact that I wasn't lying about the many times I have had to address a bad customer service issue? Be kind, be honest do what you can to address it with the proper channels and if all else fails, go nuts on your online resources! If your issue cant be resolved, at least you can prevent someone else from making the same mistake. 

A quick sidenote, if the manager sees the online review and contacts you with resolution options, the proper thing to do is to take down your review and applaud the business for its excellent customer service.

Do you have a good or bad customer service resolution?

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More Facebook Changes Ahead....Sigh

When Facebook rolled out the new timeline, I knew that brand pages wouldn't be too far behind. I would like to gently pat every little one on the head when they complain that it is a lot of work to change to the new timeline for their personal or business page. I am almost finishing moving over 70, yes I said 70 different businesses and projects that I have created a Facebook business page for over the years. I haven't breathed properly since the announcement.

After the move over ,the work really begins, it looks like the logo needs to be adjusted some timeline details should be added and everything in my OCD head needs to be perfect. I also need to change some of my monitoring ways because for some reason Facebook didn't deem it necessary to notify you when you receive a new Facebook page message without physically checking it. I promise you, I am not complaining...in a very nerdy way, I am very excited! I will admit it has taken me these few weeks to wrap my head around it and create a game plan so me, my sanity and most important- my clients are happy. This week, I have made a lot of headway.

So, now that my breathing has returned to shallow inhales and exhales, imagine my hands in the head, cuss word reaction when I saw that Facebook was going to make some more changes to its pages. This new change will give its users five different levels of admin access. According to an Inside Facebook article, by the end of March you will have different options for users on the admin level. This is a godsend for me, because I always thought it was very interesting that at any given time a disgruntled waitress who had access to her place of business Facebook page could remove the owners and highjack the page with no problem. 

According to the article, Product Manager Jeff Kanter said pages will soon offer five levels of admin access. He mentioned full access, publishing-only access and insights access, but did not reveal the other two levels. Facebook did not respond to article's requests for clarification.

What kind of access would you like to see?? What is the level of trust within your organization that will enable you to give different points of access, now that you have a choice? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

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Skinny and Clean-Swiss Chard with Garbanzo Beans and Fresh Tomatoes

My latest goal in life, as they change quite often is to eat cleaner. I am having a lot of fun with it, doing the HCG diet for now, but soon I will be transitioning into a Weight Watchers frame of mind, being very conscious in what and how much I am eating. The Clean Eating Diet is interesting to me, so I am gonna throw a little of that in to the mix as well. The goal is to lose a little weight and eat as healthy as possible. 

Recently, I blogged about Front Porch Pickings and this new service in our household has increased my goals to use all the organic awesomeness they sent me and not to waste anything. This week, I received strawberries as big as my head, cabbage, apples, tomatoes on the vine, and brussel sprouts as part of my basket-but what was interesting to me was the Swiss Chard. As an Italian, I am all about the Escarole, love Rappini, obsessed over kale and kale chips but have never tried Swiss Chard. 

I found a new recipe that I wanted to share. It was easy, quick and even though my boyfriend doesn't like beans...he gave it a thumbs up. I think I am stretching the HCG envelope sneaking in a little bit of northern beans but it was well worth it. Enjoy! 

Swiss Chard with Garbanzo Beans and Fresh Tomatoes  

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 shallot, chopped-I actually used a regular onion in place of shallot and green onions

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup garbanzo beans, drained

salt and pepper to taste

1 bunch red Swiss chard, rinsed and chopped

1 tomato, sliced

1/2 lemon, juiced

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Stir in shallot and green onions; cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft and fragrant. Stir in garbanzo beans, and season with salt and pepper; heat through. Place chard in pan, and cook until wilted. Add tomato slices, squeeze lemon juice over greens, and heat through. Plate, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Information  

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 122 | Total Fat: 7.3g | Cholesterol: 0mg

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February Foodie Pen Pals Reveal!

After the excitement of my first foodie pen pals adventure in January, I could not wait to be a part of it this month! When the names were distributed, I was excited to meet. Beatriz who has the cutest blog with thoughts that I know if she lived closer, we would be in big trouble! Great minds think alike! Before I tell you how you to get in on this fun project...let me tell you how the creative Beatriz made me one happy girl. I thank her for feeding into my Trader Joe's plea!

the handwritten portion of the program with the cutest lettering! 

These scones are so amazing, I need to buy stock in them!

Old Fashioned Donut O's-made me with sour cream  and whole wheat butter!

Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta-sure to amazing with prawns

Healthy but Sweet! So many ways to use these!

Check out the Mardi Gras themed stuff I sent Jeremy from Stellar Path! Looks so much better after you send them!

How do you get in on this awesomeness??

From Lindsay from the Lean Green Bean herself:
 -on the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. it will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.


 -you will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. on the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!

 -the boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! the spending limit is $15. the box must also include something written. this can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

 -you are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

 -foodie penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. if you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. if two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.


If you’re interested in participating for March, please send an email to lindsay attheleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:

 -your full name
 -your email address
 -your blog name/address (if applicable)
 -your twitter handle (if applicable)


 Lindsay needs to hear from you by March 4th as pairings will be emailed on the 5th.
Can't wait till next month!

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SBDC Daytona Beach Marketing Workshop Series

I am so excited! I get to host my first workshop! Sure, I have had a chance to open my big mouth at a couple lunch and learns but this in a bigger capacity! As in, a college! Check it! And Come! I think you may have to click on the image to read all the goodness! Can you tell I am excited?? 

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Organic Groceries Delivered To Your Doorstep...Yes, Please!

Just like a child, I have that eyes bigger than my stomach disease. Sadly, it goes a little further than what goes on my plate for dinner. MAC eye shadows, nail polish, insert craft supply here, LOFT jeans (how many do I need just because they are on sale?)...an understatement, that I am a little obsessive with my buying habits. 

The one thing I am obnoxious is my Farmer's market buying habits, even to me. I go to the Farmer's market like a child in a candy store...tote in hand, so excited to have just a little piece of urban life such as organic goodies. So I buy....and buy...and buy...Then I come home, organize, bag them up in food storage bags (OCD alert!) and then sadly a week later some of it is uneaten and thrown out because it has gone bad...I just have a problem with portion control. Although I probably wont stop visiting my favorite outdoor market, I found a new way to keep my habit in check. 

I was turned on to Front Porch Pickings who weekly or biweekly delivers your choice of basket and size or organic awesomeness to your front porch (get it). Initially, I was a little nervous that I would hate not having the control to pick and choose exactly what I wanted. But after my first delivery yesterday, I think that this is my new favorite thing and I am really excited. A more official description of how it works is here.

On Wednesday, I received an email as to what my basket would be, to ease that whole control freak aspect a little-you do have the opportunity to double up and delete on something you don't like. They are very flexible. I was instructed to leave a cooler with ice and they would see me Friday. Sure enough, when I came home Friday there was a huge refrigerator bag waiting for me! What I liked about the selection and more important the quantity was perfect for one to people with the small basket. 

In my basket, for only $20 mind you there were:

tangerines

sweet potatoes

HUGE green onions

salad greens

mini cucumbers 

strawberries

Brussel sprouts

grape tomatoes

I am very excited to get through this first batch and make some recipes, any ideas? The website for Front Porch Pickings is here, and I am sure that they have something similar in your neck of the woods. Oh, and I found a blog that will help me store the stuffage properly!

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Skinny and Clean-Loaded Turkey Santa Fe Baked Potato Skins

I have made a vow to eat cleaner and really think about what I am putting into my mouth. I will be really clear, I love food, I love to cook and I am excited about the new ways of counting calories, eating cleaner and watching what you eat is the new trend.

No offense to anyone, but for me-I just won't give up meat, eggs, cheese or pasta...I just can't and I just won't. Some of my favorite websites feature healthy recipes that are so good, I can't wait to turn you on to them!

My first recipe is from the Skinny Taste website. I receive a daily email from her website with healthy, yummy Weight Watcher pointed recipes. When we started following each other on Twitter, imagine my delight to find out that she is from Oceanside, Long Island where my whole family is from! WHOOP! Get ready to be very hungry at all these recipes!

Loaded Turkey Santa Fe Baked Potato Skins-Potato Skins filled with spiced turkey, black beans and tons of spices gives this a unique flavor-and guess what? They are Gluten-Free! Perfect for quick entertaining now for a NASCAR race (starts this week!)

From Skinnytaste-
Skinny potato skins loaded with mildly spiced turkey, black beans, corn and tomatoes topped with cheese - you won't be able to stop at just one!

Get Full Recipe from Skinny Taste Pin It

Socially Acceptable-Zip List

Getting organized in all areas is always a goal of mine. I would like to have every facet of my life in a complete organized manner and I am slowly chipping away at it.I am also trying to eat healthier, cook at home more and really be very aware of what I am putting in my mouth (more about that later).

I love trying new recipes and I have discovered a really fun website, app, etc. to keep them all in one place. Ziplist is my new fascination of late. Ziplist is fun because a lot of my favorite foodie websites like Skinnytaste and Lalaloosh have partnered with them to add them to their websites. The idea is with one click you can add the recipes you like to your list and if you want to get crazy make a shopping list with the ingredients you choose. You can search and save from over 100 websites that are partners and once you get your list going you can plan out your week, and sort by ingredient (like you are craving chickens) The list of partners are some of my favorites. Another good feature of Ziplist is that it has a mobile app so you can take your list with you to the supermarket.

The website promises to Plan Weekly Shopping Needs, Organize Grocery Trips and Save Time & Money

Check it out here and please let me know what you think. Sidenote-Why don't you take the partner list and put all those yummy blogs into your Google reader?? I am going to do that right now!! YAY! 

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Budweiser Shootout Fun

My former project Racing Fashionistas was the most fun I ever had in social media. I will say again that it taught me so much how to market a blog, it gave us amazing opportunities within the sport, made us strong advocates for brands on Twitter based on the success we had and I have made some amazing friends and contacts thanks to it. It breaks my heart that it has been one year since we posted on there. There is just no time. I wish there was. However, in order for me to have the best of both worlds, you may get a little #NASCAR action on here this week.
This is normally our view from where we watch the race from our friend's pit box. I thought they were gonna win this race, those Bass Pro boys!

Thanks to the glory of photography, this looks like Kyle is crossing the finish line...sadly its after the win...I am not that good!

Kyle pulling his car in Victory Lane

Kyle out oft he car, a millionaire 

(the purse for this race)

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Highly Acclaimed-Skinnygirl Releases WINE!!!!

I am becoming a bigger fan of Bethenny every day. She is the driving force behind the Skinnygirl brand, books, website, drinks, etc. etc. This is a woman entrepreneur who a girl like me can easily idolize.  Today the adoration just elevated to the kind of worship where one can hear angels sing. On her website and Facebook, Bethenny announced that in April she will be adding WINE to her collection of Skinnygirl cocktails. Wine!! Each only 100 calories and three new varietals-Red, White and Blush! Looks like I have a new food group!

From Bethenny's website

Read, read, read all about it and try to breathe shallow breaths! That is what I will be doing till April!

Wine Spectator Pin It

Daytona International Speedway Gets Social (Media)

Yesterday, in the anticipation of Speedweeks, my favorite time of year-I received a press release that the Daytona International Speedway is vamping up their social media and ways to connect to the track. No matter which way you choose to connect, QR Codes, Facebook, their website or Twitter...they have you covered. 

Read full article from News Daytona Beach, which is a part of Black Crow Media, MRN Affiliates. 

One side note that I dont think they thought about is the length of their Twitter hashtags. As you know Twitter only allows you 140 characters. The benefit of Twitter is that it is brief, and to the point. 

Some I thought were terribly long

#BudweiserShootout

#GatoradeDuel

@NextEra_Energy Resources 250-what is this? Can't be a Twitter name and if they meant it as a hashtag-that is almost 20 characters!

#DRIVE4COPD300

This is when I miss my former project terribly. Every year, we talk about the resurrection of Racing Fashionistas, a fun pet project with my bestertons that taught me everything I knew about blogging and promoting and was the business plan for Little Blog Dress. Maybe I can convince them this year to try again, but it is a lot of work! 

The one event that is bigger to me than any race?? THIS!

Lenny Kravitz will be performing at the Daytona 500 and I will be there!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!  If nothing else, I need an upgrade from this picture, stat!

Check out those pants!!! (It was the 90's... give me a break)

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A Tranquilista Manifesto-What Any Woman Business Owner Should Know

Someone I admire very much, Kimberly Wilson posted this many moons ago. She recently reposted and I feel it epitomizes exactly why I wake up and do what I do every day as a woman business owner.

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NBC's Own Superbowl Promo

NBC is my favorite network....hands down. I always wonder if people take the time to think about why they watch what or is it only  I that is so crazy. I have been watching The Today Show since before I can remember, and a Saturday Night Live fanatic (to put it mildly)...I just love all that is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. NBC is always my network of choice...I couldn't even tell you much about the other three from a news perspective.

This Superbowl commercial was a brilliant marketing nugget. Taking a song from How to Succeed in Business without Trying shows me that NBC knows how to do exactly that. Enjoy the NBC family from your favorite shows and news teams in a fun three minute promo to promote the network the best way they know how. Which part is your favorite?? 

 

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Sunday Musing

This was on someone's Facebook this morning and it really resonates with me. I don't think we say this often enough to ourselves. 

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Jason Wu for Target Plan Of Attack...I mean Action

My OCD in anticipation on the Jason Wu for Target launch tomorrow is almost more than I can stand. I must say that this blog post is so much more for me than it is for you. I have to somehow organize my thoughts and buying strategy like I did for the Missoni launch. 

Thankfully, for this launch I am not leaving an Anthrax concert, (sad but true) talking to my girl friend Nada of Beauty Mommy on the streets of NY freaking out that somehow I have to get back to Brooklyn and try to get on the shoddy internet connection to make these purchases happen. No midnight launch!!! So when I woke up by chance at 4am...yes I told you I am crazy...made three, THREE separate transactions for fear that I would lose the connection. Sound crazy? You obviously didn't hear that the Target website CRASHED at 8:30am...who is the sucker now?? Even my boyfriend understood that I wasn't joking when sources he deemed official reported on the crash and has steered clear of me for my game plan tomorrow. Even my best friend gets it now,  who initially couldn't understand why I cared that MERONA was having a new line.  

Tomorrow 8am, and prob non stop checking online over night I will be front and center at my Target with a plan..hoping my friends Rene and Nada will join because crazy loves company!!! I feel less insane with a partner! I hear somewhere in the heavens my dad saying if only you took your work this serious! Thank you to Nitrolicious for providing me with this canvas of crazy. 

My picks:

Trench Coat in Black, $54.99 

 Flared Dress in Black with Nude Patent Belt, $59.99 

 (Available at Target.com only)

Long-Sleeved Pointelle Sweater in Belize Blue, $39.99 Also Available in Red

Dot-Printed Shirt Dress in Cream, $39.99

Long-Sleeved Pointelle Sweater in Red, $39.99 

Pleated Cap-Sleeved Blouse in Red, $26, 99 (Available at Target.com only) 

Pleated Skirt in Navy Floral, $29.99 Also Available in Solid Black, which I must have

Jersey Dress in Red/Navy Stripes, $34.99 

Cat Tote in Cream, $39.99 (My MUST purchase)

Long-Sleeved Sailor Sweater in Black/Cream Stripes, $32.99

Flared Dress in Cream with Black Patent Belt, $59.99 (Available at Target.com only) 

Also Available in Black with Nude Patent Belt

Cat Tote in Cream, $39.99

Isn't she so so pretty?

Front-Flap Bag in Cream/Black, $49.99

(Because I need another handbag)

Wish me luck! And Let me know if there is medicine I can take for this sickness!

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I Have Bills To Pay Too

For the first time since I started my business , I have been having issues with a couple of clients paying their bills on time. Before I started my business, my whole professional life has been in radio and a sales person for them for over a decade, The radio station is set up that you are paid on what you collect, rather than what you bill. I am eternally thankful for this method. It has made me stronger as a business owner. When your next meal depends on how well you collect on your invoices- you get really good at going to get your money each month. 

A common obstacle for some business owners is asking for the dollar in the first place, and then there is sometimes an issue getting them to pay on time. While I have no struggle with the former, I am amazed at how many of my fellow small business owners are lax to pay my measly tab in a timely manner. I know that business is business but I am a little unnerved that these are the people that know better than anyone else how important it is to be paid in a prompt manner...and they just don't do it. That is why I was drawn to work with them in the first place, because I thought they would be the ones who were most sensitive to these kind of things. While a medium size business can have a $400 or $500 receivable that goes 90 days out without feeling it, that is a huge chunk for me. This week, I had a client texted me, I have many bills due...I will pay you when I can. Because, I don't have many bills due, right?

Although there are policies that I am putting in place, it really shakes my small business morale that people don't do the right thing for one of their own. How do you deal with non paying clients? 

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