*Call your Dad
*Check your voice mail
*Move some random files on your computer desktop to the correct folders
*Refold your sweaters and stack them by color
*Floss your teeth!
*Water the plants and wipe dusty leaves with a damp towel
*Sew on a button
*Pitch three old items from the refrigerator
*Put to-be-donated clothes in a bag by the door
*Untangle a necklace
*Cancel one appointment you just really don't want to keep
*Find that evening bag, scarf, or top that got lost in the closet
*Test pens or markers and toss the dead ones
*Arrange your hangers so they all face the same way
*Pick up five things and put them where they belong
*Wash the dog's bowl
*Brush the cat
*Clear off the top of the refrigerator
*Remove gum wrappers, receipts, and ATM slips from your purse/wallet
*Get rid of shoes that kill your feet
*Scan your medicine cabinet and throw out any expired prescriptions, vitamins
*Test your smoke alarms
*Shred something - anything
*Write a thank-you note that you've been putting off
*Walk around your home with a small can of white paint; do touch-ups
*Create an emergency kit w/bottled water, batteries, flashlight, canned foods
*Download the pictures in your digital camera to your computer
*Paint your toenails
*Throw out all expired coupons
*Gather valid coupons and stach them in the glove compartment
*Set up a PayPal account
*Look through a box of photos and frame one that speaks to you
*Empty the bathroom wastebaskets
*Scan your sock drawer & put any one-offs in a basket
*Open your file cabinet and get rid of five old files
*Transfer dates from invitations and school flyers to the calendar
*Return that Netflix movie
*Locate all your critical pot tops and nest them together
*Check your stack of magazines and eliminate half
*Polish your favorite boots
*Read an old journal entry
*Adjust all the bills in your wallet so they face the same way
*Look in your shower stall, ditch any shampoos/body washes you haven't used forever
*Neaten up the freezer
*Do two yoga poses
*Move worn-out towels to the highest shelf of the linen closet
*Answer 3 pressing emails
*Charge your portable devices
*Sweep under the kitchen table
*SMILE, SMILE, SMILE!
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL :)
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Simple List
$16,000 - The approximate value of a can ok Krueger's Finest Beer or Krueger's Cream Ale-the first mass-produced beers sold in the United States. Manufactured by the New Jersey-based Krueger Brewing Company, the flattop cans(a.k.a. beercantiques)debuted on January 24, 1935, and a church key(an opener with a triangular head)was needed to crack them. Stay-on tabs were introduced in 1975, and they've been ruining manicures ever since.
$6,761 - The average number of mail pieces-credit-card offers, catalogs, letters to Justin Bieber-processed each second by the United States Postal Service. Add your own contribution to the mix and send a note in honor of National Letter Writing Week, which begins on January 9. And if you need another reason to put pen to paper, then do for John Hancock, whose birthday is the 12th.
6 to 13 - The average number of minutes a drill is used in its lifetime. If yours did more hanging out than hanging up in 2010, unload it on DiggersList.com, a free construction and home improvement classifieds site that puts sellers and buyers of excess supplies(drills, paint, tile)in touch. Don't miss the site's blog, which includes helpful how-tos that will prove handy for your latest New Year-inspired project.
18 Million - Roughly the number of flowers used to decorate the floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California. Each float contains more stems than an average American florist goes through in five bloomin' years! The 122nd festival, themed Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories, gets going at 11a.m. EST on New Year's Day with Paula Deen serving as the grand marshal y'all.
$50,000 - The amount former Miss Wyoming Bernann McKinney paid a cloning lab to bring her beloved pit bull, Booger, "back to life."(In 2008 five boogers were born, marking the first successful commercial canine cloning.)To learn more about the controversial subject of cloning since the days of Dolly, check out the new book from investigative reporter John Woestendiek. Dog, Inc.(Avery, $26)is out now now now now now.(Sorry, we couldn't resist.)
767 - How many milliion gallons of wine Americans drink over the coursh of a yearrr. If you have ever fallen for a bottle at a restaurant and been unable to find it later at a local wineshop(or, more likely, forgotten its name), now you can snap a pic of the label with your iPhone and the new Snooth Wine Pro app($5, iTunes)will decode the image to locate the cheapest bottle available in your neighborhood or online. Also cool: You can collect snapped wines in a "cellar" for future reference.
YAY! it's SMILES-ALL-DAY-SATURDAY :) TAKE MOM TO LUNCH DAY!
$6,761 - The average number of mail pieces-credit-card offers, catalogs, letters to Justin Bieber-processed each second by the United States Postal Service. Add your own contribution to the mix and send a note in honor of National Letter Writing Week, which begins on January 9. And if you need another reason to put pen to paper, then do for John Hancock, whose birthday is the 12th.
6 to 13 - The average number of minutes a drill is used in its lifetime. If yours did more hanging out than hanging up in 2010, unload it on DiggersList.com, a free construction and home improvement classifieds site that puts sellers and buyers of excess supplies(drills, paint, tile)in touch. Don't miss the site's blog, which includes helpful how-tos that will prove handy for your latest New Year-inspired project.
18 Million - Roughly the number of flowers used to decorate the floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California. Each float contains more stems than an average American florist goes through in five bloomin' years! The 122nd festival, themed Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories, gets going at 11a.m. EST on New Year's Day with Paula Deen serving as the grand marshal y'all.
$50,000 - The amount former Miss Wyoming Bernann McKinney paid a cloning lab to bring her beloved pit bull, Booger, "back to life."(In 2008 five boogers were born, marking the first successful commercial canine cloning.)To learn more about the controversial subject of cloning since the days of Dolly, check out the new book from investigative reporter John Woestendiek. Dog, Inc.(Avery, $26)is out now now now now now.(Sorry, we couldn't resist.)
767 - How many milliion gallons of wine Americans drink over the coursh of a yearrr. If you have ever fallen for a bottle at a restaurant and been unable to find it later at a local wineshop(or, more likely, forgotten its name), now you can snap a pic of the label with your iPhone and the new Snooth Wine Pro app($5, iTunes)will decode the image to locate the cheapest bottle available in your neighborhood or online. Also cool: You can collect snapped wines in a "cellar" for future reference.
YAY! it's SMILES-ALL-DAY-SATURDAY :) TAKE MOM TO LUNCH DAY!
Holiday Gift Buying Guide Part II
PUSHES YOUR LIMITS:
Map A Run-The inclusion of a GPS chp in Timex's Ironman Global Trainer GPS Watch allows you to track location data(including elevation and speed) & create virtual breadcrumb maps of any route. That info can be uploaded to your computer and analyzed by performance software.[$300; timex.com]
Heavy Metal-There's no law that says a man has to wait until January to make good on his resolution to get stronger. So if you're an unrepentant couch potato or just bored by a monotonous workout, you'll develop muscles you never knew you had with a few two-handed swings of this 35-pound cast-iron RKC Kettlebell.[$88; dragondoor.com]
Lights Out-In honor of the iconic brand's centennial, the Everlast 100 Year Kit lets you gift the sweet science to anyone in training. The lucky recipient gets hand wraps, hook-and-loop training mitts, and a 70-pound heavy bag. All he'll need now is an equally well-outfitted sparring partner.[$100; everlast.com]
A New Skin-Twohunting buddies from Idaho developed the First Lite Chama merino-wool base layer(it's available in black and three patterns), but it's not just for the marksmen. Whether your pal runs for pleasure or to escape rampaging boars, he'll appreciate how merino keeps out the winter chill while letting his skin breathe and sweat evaporate.[$100; firstlite.com]
Little Drill, Big Power-At a feathery 3.1 pounds, the Rockwell H3 pulls triple duty as a drill, driver and rotary hammer, satisfying all your weekend DIY needs. But don't let it's compact size fool you: This tenacious multitool packs enough punch to drill through concrete, so that shed you've been meaning to build should be a cinch next spring.[$180; rockwelltoolsdirect.com]
Huge Cans-Quincy Jones's resume spans six decades, meaning he's spent more time wearing headphones than Dr. Dre has spent hating the police. Jones lent his pitch-perfect talent to create AKG's Q70I Reference-Class Premium Headphones, which have been tuned to re-create the wide dynamic range usually reserved for the maestros behind mixing boards.[$480; akg.com]
Winning Set-These sinister Bicycle Guardians Playing Cards eschew ruddy-cheeked cherubs for glowering gothic angels. Color-coordinate with two-tone White Metal Clay Poker Chips, and get ready to steal your buddies' money.[$5 per deck, theory11.com; $11 per stack of 25 chips, pokchips.co.uk]
Roast & Toast-Drew Estate's fragrant, oil-infused wrappers intrigued aficionados upon their arrival in 1999. Its most anbitious entry, Acid One Cigars, elevates that flavor exploration to new heights. Wrapped in cask-cured leaves from Cameroon, with a rich and chocolaty flavor, they're a dessert you can puff.[$230 per box of 24; drewestate.com]
MAKES HER SMILE:
Cold Runner-Title Nine's Victory Jacket combines nylon, wool, and warm poly fleece into a versatile piece that lets her sweat evaporate during workouts and looks stylish even when she's running errands. Bonus: Built-in mitts mean she won't need to shove her cold hands in your jacket pocket anymore.[$149; titlenine.com]
Country Cool-When snowdrifts threaten to ruin the pumps in her closet, she won't have to sacrifice her footwear(or sense of fashion)if she pulls on Hunter's Regent Savoy Boots. The quilted rubber, with its patent leather-like sheen, lets her tromp through the freshly plowed sludge at the bottom of the driveway in style.[$175; usa.hunter-boot.com]
Couture Cap-After a long day running moguls, women looking to stay warm apres-ski will need the Nobis Ms. Glam hat. It improves on the traditional trappor in a few ways: Faux fur means nothing was harmed in the making of the togue, while feathers and oversize pom-poms add a feminine touch. Plus, it'll make her a couple inches taller, no heels necessary.[$75; nobis.ca]
Retro Bling-The Aveen Liv Necklace works because it's delicate and original: a long, gold-plated chain accentuated by tiny gold-plated leaves and three purple Swarovski crystals, with that just-big-enough lens, refracting both the light and her friends' jealous looks.[$44; aveendesigns.com]
HAPPY SHOPPING! TGIF & SMILE AT SOMEONE TODAY :)
Map A Run-The inclusion of a GPS chp in Timex's Ironman Global Trainer GPS Watch allows you to track location data(including elevation and speed) & create virtual breadcrumb maps of any route. That info can be uploaded to your computer and analyzed by performance software.[$300; timex.com]
Heavy Metal-There's no law that says a man has to wait until January to make good on his resolution to get stronger. So if you're an unrepentant couch potato or just bored by a monotonous workout, you'll develop muscles you never knew you had with a few two-handed swings of this 35-pound cast-iron RKC Kettlebell.[$88; dragondoor.com]
Lights Out-In honor of the iconic brand's centennial, the Everlast 100 Year Kit lets you gift the sweet science to anyone in training. The lucky recipient gets hand wraps, hook-and-loop training mitts, and a 70-pound heavy bag. All he'll need now is an equally well-outfitted sparring partner.[$100; everlast.com]
A New Skin-Twohunting buddies from Idaho developed the First Lite Chama merino-wool base layer(it's available in black and three patterns), but it's not just for the marksmen. Whether your pal runs for pleasure or to escape rampaging boars, he'll appreciate how merino keeps out the winter chill while letting his skin breathe and sweat evaporate.[$100; firstlite.com]
Little Drill, Big Power-At a feathery 3.1 pounds, the Rockwell H3 pulls triple duty as a drill, driver and rotary hammer, satisfying all your weekend DIY needs. But don't let it's compact size fool you: This tenacious multitool packs enough punch to drill through concrete, so that shed you've been meaning to build should be a cinch next spring.[$180; rockwelltoolsdirect.com]
Huge Cans-Quincy Jones's resume spans six decades, meaning he's spent more time wearing headphones than Dr. Dre has spent hating the police. Jones lent his pitch-perfect talent to create AKG's Q70I Reference-Class Premium Headphones, which have been tuned to re-create the wide dynamic range usually reserved for the maestros behind mixing boards.[$480; akg.com]
Winning Set-These sinister Bicycle Guardians Playing Cards eschew ruddy-cheeked cherubs for glowering gothic angels. Color-coordinate with two-tone White Metal Clay Poker Chips, and get ready to steal your buddies' money.[$5 per deck, theory11.com; $11 per stack of 25 chips, pokchips.co.uk]
Roast & Toast-Drew Estate's fragrant, oil-infused wrappers intrigued aficionados upon their arrival in 1999. Its most anbitious entry, Acid One Cigars, elevates that flavor exploration to new heights. Wrapped in cask-cured leaves from Cameroon, with a rich and chocolaty flavor, they're a dessert you can puff.[$230 per box of 24; drewestate.com]
MAKES HER SMILE:
Cold Runner-Title Nine's Victory Jacket combines nylon, wool, and warm poly fleece into a versatile piece that lets her sweat evaporate during workouts and looks stylish even when she's running errands. Bonus: Built-in mitts mean she won't need to shove her cold hands in your jacket pocket anymore.[$149; titlenine.com]
Country Cool-When snowdrifts threaten to ruin the pumps in her closet, she won't have to sacrifice her footwear(or sense of fashion)if she pulls on Hunter's Regent Savoy Boots. The quilted rubber, with its patent leather-like sheen, lets her tromp through the freshly plowed sludge at the bottom of the driveway in style.[$175; usa.hunter-boot.com]
Couture Cap-After a long day running moguls, women looking to stay warm apres-ski will need the Nobis Ms. Glam hat. It improves on the traditional trappor in a few ways: Faux fur means nothing was harmed in the making of the togue, while feathers and oversize pom-poms add a feminine touch. Plus, it'll make her a couple inches taller, no heels necessary.[$75; nobis.ca]
Retro Bling-The Aveen Liv Necklace works because it's delicate and original: a long, gold-plated chain accentuated by tiny gold-plated leaves and three purple Swarovski crystals, with that just-big-enough lens, refracting both the light and her friends' jealous looks.[$44; aveendesigns.com]
HAPPY SHOPPING! TGIF & SMILE AT SOMEONE TODAY :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
6 Newfangled Social Media Tools Worth Discovering | Social Media Today
6 Newfangled Social Media Tools Worth Discovering | Social Media Today Hoping you all find this helpful :)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Holiday Gift Guide 2010 Part I
The Perfect Gift...Brings the Fun!
KNOCK IT IN: The 18-inch-tall Trifle Design Offside Football Coffee Table features a mirrored glass "field," a body handcrafted from solid oak, and a brushed stainless-steel trellis - an homage to classic grounds like Stamford Bridge, home of the Premier League's Chelsea-that looks cooler than anything in the Ikea catalog. [$785; libertygames.co.uk]
OFFLINE GAMING: This Hannibal Large "Shesh Besh" Backgammon Set channels the game's artisan heritage with inlays of walnut, lemon, olive, and rosewood, and, on the lid, mother-of-pearl. Which is to say: This board is for the man who knows his pips from his points. [$350; hannibalenterprisesinc.com]
FRESH CREAM: Crafted from sturdy New England white pine, the White Mountain Ice cream Maker churns a gallon of ice cream or frozen yogurt in about 30 minutes. So gather the family and enjoy a Manhattan while Junior cranks up some dessert. [$170; whitemountainproducts.com]
INSPIRES CREATIVITY: Writer's Set; The brass zipper surrounding Manufactum's Leather Writing Case opens to reveal pencils and an eraser perfect for sketching the Champs-Elysees. But it's the plant-tanned Bavarian leather-which assumes your grip's imprint-that adds a sense of legitimacy to even the quickest doodles. [$125; manufactum.com]
GET DIRTY: When fisherman approached designer Bill Bartels clamoring for tough-as-nails aprons, he scavenged the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard for heavy-duty canvas. Designed for craftsmen from coast to coast, Bartel's Field House Trusty Workshop Apron gives your pal a reason to get off his ass and back to work. [$165; blackbirdballard.com]
PHOTOG'S KIT: After honing his chops alongside Andy Warhol, photographer Ari Marcopoulus infiltrated America's nether regions, documenting rappers and snowboarders. Appropriately, the Ari Marcopoulos x Incase Camera Bag, which is bundled with a book of unpublished Marcopoulus snaps, boasts a canvas exterior suited for tough in-the-field assignments. The bag's magnetic clasp facilitates quick access to a cell phone or film, and Velcro dividers let you customize the inner compartment. [$200; goincase.com]
LITTLE DRILL, BIG POWER: At a feathery 3.1 pounds, the Rockwell H3 pulls triple duty as a drill, driver, and rotary hammer, satisfying all your weekend DIY needs. But don't let it's compact size fool you: This tencious multitool packs enough punch to drill through concrete, so that shed you've been meaning to build should be a cinch next spring. [$180; rockwelltoolsdirect.com]
BURN ONE DOWN: If you've seen The Man With the Golden Gun, you're familiar with Colibri-its lighter doubled as a principal component of the film's title prop. This Colibri Flask Lighter can't kill a man with one shot, but its wind-resistant torch ensures you'll have no issues lighting up at late-season tailgates. [$35; shoptcgbrands.com]
PAGE TURNER: From the earliest burlesque shows to pornography's golden age, Taschen's Sexy Books pay homage to the cosmic perfection of our anatomy. Overflowing with Freudian implications and interviews with erotic artists like Robert Crumb and Tinto Brass, these hardbacks stand as testament that nature knows best. [$60 each; taschen.com]
SAVE THE DATE: Spare your vino-loving friend the wasted money and a mouthful of vinegar by giving him A Date With Wine, the stainless-steel stopper from visionary designer George Lee. The twistable date rings let him know when he first uncorked that bottle, presuming he was sober enough to set them properly. [$45; shop.gessato.com]
SMILE! & buy someone's coffee today :) Part II coming soon...
KNOCK IT IN: The 18-inch-tall Trifle Design Offside Football Coffee Table features a mirrored glass "field," a body handcrafted from solid oak, and a brushed stainless-steel trellis - an homage to classic grounds like Stamford Bridge, home of the Premier League's Chelsea-that looks cooler than anything in the Ikea catalog. [$785; libertygames.co.uk]
OFFLINE GAMING: This Hannibal Large "Shesh Besh" Backgammon Set channels the game's artisan heritage with inlays of walnut, lemon, olive, and rosewood, and, on the lid, mother-of-pearl. Which is to say: This board is for the man who knows his pips from his points. [$350; hannibalenterprisesinc.com]
FRESH CREAM: Crafted from sturdy New England white pine, the White Mountain Ice cream Maker churns a gallon of ice cream or frozen yogurt in about 30 minutes. So gather the family and enjoy a Manhattan while Junior cranks up some dessert. [$170; whitemountainproducts.com]
INSPIRES CREATIVITY: Writer's Set; The brass zipper surrounding Manufactum's Leather Writing Case opens to reveal pencils and an eraser perfect for sketching the Champs-Elysees. But it's the plant-tanned Bavarian leather-which assumes your grip's imprint-that adds a sense of legitimacy to even the quickest doodles. [$125; manufactum.com]
GET DIRTY: When fisherman approached designer Bill Bartels clamoring for tough-as-nails aprons, he scavenged the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard for heavy-duty canvas. Designed for craftsmen from coast to coast, Bartel's Field House Trusty Workshop Apron gives your pal a reason to get off his ass and back to work. [$165; blackbirdballard.com]
PHOTOG'S KIT: After honing his chops alongside Andy Warhol, photographer Ari Marcopoulus infiltrated America's nether regions, documenting rappers and snowboarders. Appropriately, the Ari Marcopoulos x Incase Camera Bag, which is bundled with a book of unpublished Marcopoulus snaps, boasts a canvas exterior suited for tough in-the-field assignments. The bag's magnetic clasp facilitates quick access to a cell phone or film, and Velcro dividers let you customize the inner compartment. [$200; goincase.com]
LITTLE DRILL, BIG POWER: At a feathery 3.1 pounds, the Rockwell H3 pulls triple duty as a drill, driver, and rotary hammer, satisfying all your weekend DIY needs. But don't let it's compact size fool you: This tencious multitool packs enough punch to drill through concrete, so that shed you've been meaning to build should be a cinch next spring. [$180; rockwelltoolsdirect.com]
BURN ONE DOWN: If you've seen The Man With the Golden Gun, you're familiar with Colibri-its lighter doubled as a principal component of the film's title prop. This Colibri Flask Lighter can't kill a man with one shot, but its wind-resistant torch ensures you'll have no issues lighting up at late-season tailgates. [$35; shoptcgbrands.com]
PAGE TURNER: From the earliest burlesque shows to pornography's golden age, Taschen's Sexy Books pay homage to the cosmic perfection of our anatomy. Overflowing with Freudian implications and interviews with erotic artists like Robert Crumb and Tinto Brass, these hardbacks stand as testament that nature knows best. [$60 each; taschen.com]
SAVE THE DATE: Spare your vino-loving friend the wasted money and a mouthful of vinegar by giving him A Date With Wine, the stainless-steel stopper from visionary designer George Lee. The twistable date rings let him know when he first uncorked that bottle, presuming he was sober enough to set them properly. [$45; shop.gessato.com]
SMILE! & buy someone's coffee today :) Part II coming soon...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Using Social Media to Boost your Business or Advance your Career
Being socially savvy online can help every professional or entrepreneur. James Andrews, a managing partner of the Atlanta-based social media communications company Everywhere, blogs and tweets as the "Key Influencer" while helping companies develop social media strategies. Here are his tips for creating your own:
1. Understand the goal: People question the value of social media because it's hard to monetize. That's missing the point. "Do you have an ROI for your telephone? Can you monetize that?" Andrew asks. "It's a tool. The return would be picked up in search, gaining brand recognition, and being able to talk to your consumers. And you don't have to wait on traditional media to validate you, nor do you have to buy it".
2. Have a plan: You should have realistic expectations of what you want to accomplish, and make sure that your strategy is sustainable. "People get what I call social media fatigue. They get really excited, they dive in, they add tons of people on Twitter, tons of people on Facebook, and then it becomes overwhelming," Andrews adds.
3. Listen first: Social media gives you an unmatched opportunity to hear what your customers, colleagues, and competition are saying. "The brands that are doing it well are the ones that are deploying listening tools first and foremost. And the best marketers are the ones that actually listen first," according to Andrews.
4. Watch your tone: "One of the mistakes businesses make is that they look at social media as a place to replicate advertising. You don't want to transfer your marketing language over to your Facebook fan page," Andrews says. Ask yourself: How do I sound? What's my persona? Do I sound like a human, or do I sound like a press release?
5. Be consistent: Building a faithful following won't happen if you don't dedicate the time to talk to your audience regularly. "You want to make sure that you have the internal resources to be consistent. That doesn't mean you must post 12 times a day," Andrews says, "but you want to be engaging."
BE NICE, SMILE & LET THE OTHER PERSON GO FIRST :)
1. Understand the goal: People question the value of social media because it's hard to monetize. That's missing the point. "Do you have an ROI for your telephone? Can you monetize that?" Andrew asks. "It's a tool. The return would be picked up in search, gaining brand recognition, and being able to talk to your consumers. And you don't have to wait on traditional media to validate you, nor do you have to buy it".
2. Have a plan: You should have realistic expectations of what you want to accomplish, and make sure that your strategy is sustainable. "People get what I call social media fatigue. They get really excited, they dive in, they add tons of people on Twitter, tons of people on Facebook, and then it becomes overwhelming," Andrews adds.
3. Listen first: Social media gives you an unmatched opportunity to hear what your customers, colleagues, and competition are saying. "The brands that are doing it well are the ones that are deploying listening tools first and foremost. And the best marketers are the ones that actually listen first," according to Andrews.
4. Watch your tone: "One of the mistakes businesses make is that they look at social media as a place to replicate advertising. You don't want to transfer your marketing language over to your Facebook fan page," Andrews says. Ask yourself: How do I sound? What's my persona? Do I sound like a human, or do I sound like a press release?
5. Be consistent: Building a faithful following won't happen if you don't dedicate the time to talk to your audience regularly. "You want to make sure that you have the internal resources to be consistent. That doesn't mean you must post 12 times a day," Andrews says, "but you want to be engaging."
BE NICE, SMILE & LET THE OTHER PERSON GO FIRST :)
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