DIY : Snack Bags

You know how I LOVE a great DIY project and even more so when it helps the environment.

Last night I found this great tutorial by Jerilyn of French Sleep Deprivation Study and had to share!

I'm looking forward to making my very own snack bags and saying goodbye to plastic sandwich bags for good!  . . . the only problem is that we rarely eat anything in mylar bags. Chips and bagged snacks are a rare treat in our house as we are moving away from processed food and eating more and more farm fresh veggies!

If you are in the same boat and do your best to stay away from processed food - you can substitute and old vinyl tablecloth like from The Cheap and Choosy or iron-on vinyl like Fawnda and Jeannine of Fireflies and Jellybeans did . . . and if you want a cloth version for the non messy snacks, this fabric snack bag from Fly Away Home is just for you!

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What ways are you reducing your plastic waste?

Andy Rooney : Death of America's Everyman

As with any introduction to someone who will have a profound influence on your life - you never forget the day that it happens.

I remember the first time I heard Andy's distinctive "Did you ever notice?". . . it was a Sunday evening and the living room was thick with the lingering smell of dinner. As an 11 year old I did not watch a lot of TV, I was more of a book worm like my Mother and preferred to read or draw after dinner and my homework.

As I got older, I began to watch T.V. with my Father (and he did not watch much T.V.) . . . CBS evening news with Dan Rather, Lawrence Welk, Nova, Jacques-Yves Cousteau's ocean adventures on the Calypso and anything National Geographic.

Later I found out that one of the reasons my Father enjoyed Andy Rooney, was that Andy once wrote for the Army Newspaper the Stars and Stripes during WWII. It was a connection to a bygone era.

One ritual I could always count on was that every Sunday after dinner, we watched 60 Minutes. As I began to learn more about current events in school and watch more of the nightly news, I found that 60 minutes was a more personal and in depth look at national news stories, with Andy Rooney as my favorite 'commonsense' humorist. (I still like to believe that they had his segment last so that we would tune into the whole program).

From dictionaries and design, to bathtubs and neat people - Andy had a way of voicing his opinion in a way that at times made you giggle. I admired his way with words and that even though he had given up his 1920-model Underwood for computers, he had a great sense of humor about it. "Actually, I've written on a lot of computers. I had one typewriter for 50 years, but I've bought seven computers in six years. I suppose that's why Bill Gates is rich and Underwood is out of business."

The first book I purchased by Andy Rooney is beside me now and I am thumbing through it to find, in his words, an appropriate thought to leave you with. As Andy said in his final 60minutes segment My Lucky Life : "I haven't said anything here that you haven't already known or haven't already thought, that's what a writer does. There aren't too many original thoughts in the world. A writer's job is to tell the truth."

excerpt from :: And More by Andy Rooney . . . pp 294 Life, Long and Short

". . . I look around at the evidence of the day to day things I've done and life seems long. Just looking at the coffee cans I've saved makes life look like practically forever. We only use 8-10 tablespoons of coffee a day. Those cans sure represent a lot of days."

Celebrate Andy's life by heading over to CBS and watching The best of Andy Rooney. You'll see why my Father and I liked him so much.

Andy had it right . . . writer's never retire.

Andy's work will always have a place in my family's library and for as long as I live he will continue to inspire me to be a better writer, one truth at a time.

3 Simple Ways to Change Anything : A Lesson from Molly Katchpole

Molly Katchpole showing her cut up Bank
of America Debit card. (via businessinsider.com)

This afternoon I received a call from Tanya Rivera of WFMY News 2, an anchor for our local CBS affiliate, and she was interested in 3 simple things I could share that could effect change locally and globally using social media.

I'm sure by now you've heard the story about 22 year old "David" Molly Katchpole, a DC graduate of Roger Williams University who is working two jobs and living pay check to paycheck. She started a change.org petition to address the outrageous $5 per month debit card fee the "Goliath" Bank of America wanted to implement in 2012.

Molly just couldn't believe that after receiving billions of U.S. taxpayer funds in the great bank bailout and touting a 6.2 billion dollar profit last quarter alone that Bank of America would have the gall to charge a $5.00 monthly fee for simply using a debit card to access her own hard earned money. I myself was shocked to learn that this fee was waived for those clients who had more than $20,000 in combined deposits or who had a mortgage with BofA - effectively targeting only the lowest income clients who could least afford the fee.

Molly and the 306,894 people who signed her petition WON! Bank of America has published a statement saying that they would no longer pursue the $5.00 Debit card fee. Many, including Molly, have stated that regardless of this new statement - they will no longer choose big banks, but instead choose local credit unions and as Move Your Money folks would say 'invest in Main Street not Wall Street.'

Molly has proven that you don't have to have high price lawyers or be a political or social media heavy weight to take on big business - you just have to have the focus to stand up for what you believe, a cause that will appeal to a wide audience and an internet connection! In her own words "David can still conquer Goliath."

Want to make a difference? Here are 3 Simple Ways to Change Anything:

1. Identify your cause for action : Understand the issue and have a clear goal of what you want to achieve. Don't be disappointed if the hideous pink flamingos you would like to see removed from your neighbors yard doesn't get the support that say . . . trying to Protect the Roanoke River's Clean Water from Uranium Mining does. Understand that successful campaigns appeal to a broad range of people, and it will take your time and attention to be successful.

2. Create a petition : Concentrate your efforts in a central location. Change.Org is a great place to create your petition and educate people on why your cause needs their support. Once you have your petition created it will be your hub of information and will need to be continually monitored. (Useful tips on creating a successful online petition)

3. Mobilize your efforts : With social media, getting your word out is easier than you may think! With email, social networking sites, blogs etc. there are numerous ways to easily spread the word about your cause. If you truly want your petition to gain ground, be sure to continually reach out to the community by commenting on blog posts, liking, sharing and tweeting with the supporters of your cause.


What ways have you made a difference in your community using social media?

Do you sign online petitions? If so what compels you to sign and support them?
:: Want to keep in touch? Follow them on Twitter :: 
 @tanyariveraon2
@mollykatchpole  
@change  
@moveyourmoney

Are You Open To Business?

While walking around High Point Furniture Market exploring all of the buildings of design, I noticed this space. . .



While many spaces are open and encouraging visitors to step inside - this particular set up struck me and made me wonder if they really wanted the traffic.

One if the two narrow openings were blocked by a salesperson sitting at a table chatting with another person and a full trash can was front and center and distracted from the amazing items they had.

I stopped and peered inside, loving what I saw, but sadly I did not go in (I had goodie bags that would not allow comfortable navigation of their space).

This experience made me think of what I may have that could be blocking my business entrance.

As we all grow and change, both personally and professionally, sometimes it's the simplest of actions that can make all the difference in our success.

Now, if you'll excuse me - I need to clear a path and take out the trash.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Recipe: Sweet Potato Mash

By now y'all know I love to cook. This was a recipe I tried recently that even has my "I don't eat sweet potatoes" husband asking me to make it. Seriously!

I was informed that this recipe will definitely be on our holiday menu's!

If you are looking for more great recipes like this one, be sure to pick up your own copy of The Quick Recipe Cookbook by White Cap Books. It has become one of my favorites for quick and healthy family meals.


Sweet Potato Mash

Prep :: 15 minutes
Cooking :: 20 minutes
Serves :: 4

:: ingredients ::

1lb 8oz sweet potatoes, chopped
3 tablesspoons butter (or if you live in the south, the whole damn stick!)
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons soy sauce
fresh cilantro sprigs to garnish

:: directions ::

Boil water and add salt and sweet potatoes. Cook until tender (about 15 minutes)

Melt butter in frying pan and add garlic and ginger. Reduce to low and cook for a minute or so.

Mash sweet potatoes (I prefer using the wire hand masher) and add garlic/ginger mix, cilantro and soy sauce.

Put in your favorite bowl and serve hot with a few fresh cilantro springs on top!

Voila!

What is your favorite cook book?

Spilled Milk

“A true friend sees the good in everything, and brings out the best in the worst of things.” - Sasha Azevedo

As I was reading over CityChiconaFarm's post Soooo Done! this morning over coffee, (full disclosure : client of Experience Farm) I was struck by how a heartfelt story about spilled milk could bring people together from across the country as if we were all sitting at the kitchen table lamenting together over all of those "Soooo Done!" moments we've all have had and finding solutions to life's little curve balls together.

Each day I am grateful for the blogs posts people write and I am lucky enough to discover. It's the fact that they have taken the time to share an experience that inspires me, encourages me to comment and keeps me to keep coming back to my own keyboard. (Thanks Sherry, you are a great inspiration to me!)

Personally, I don't want to be a 'Blog Vomit' machine - only posting dry work related stories. Though they are helpful and have their place . . . I really believe that finding and following our passion, is the key to our online success. . . warts and all. So it looks like my personal blog will continue to feature my adventures in food, furniture, travel, my listy aspirations, and my own 'lookie at what I did' posts. I want people to know that each day I am learning about the value of social media and where to add my voice.

What posts have you read that have inspired you to write?

What motivates you to leave a comment on a blog post you've read?

TECHiquette : Cell Phones and Book Stores

I'm no Emily Post, but when it comes to cell phones . . . well, I have to admit I am a little bit more than disappointed at the lack of civility in Book Stores.

It seems that over the years cell phone etiquette has become virtually non existent (if it even existed at all).

Seriously, next time you are in a book store . . . take a look around at how many people are having conversations on their phone.

Now, I know that many will say, "It's my phone and my conversation, I'll do what ever I damn well please." . . . and that may be the case but, do you really want perfect strangers knowing where little Jenny goes to school? Or how about where you go grocery shopping and the fact that your husband will be out of town for the next few weeks? Sometimes talking on your cell phone in public spaces is no different than sharing your private information on a billboard.

Here are a few of my TECHiquette: Cell Phone tips for those I've recently encountered . . . .

Hey cute little hipster chic . . . Do I really need to hear every detail about you confronting your boyfriend for cheating with your sister? Nah, didn't think so.

And is it really necessary, dear freshman frat boy, to talk 3-4 times louder than normal when you stand next to me in the sci-fi section and plan that "wicked cool" party that is sure to attract "plenty of skirt"? Dude WTF?

Hey you, yes you, who wanders from isle to isle, never really looking for any one particular book but spreads the "I'm so important" one sided conversation around the store like a smothering wet blanket . . . do you really need attention that bad?

To the guy who had his speaker volume turned up SO LOUD that everyone in a two block radius just learned that you . . . well, let's just say - good luck with that. . . Next time, you may way to head outside to take that call. Pretty sure the girl you just gave your number to isn't going to be calling you anytime soon.

I really do wish that there were telephones booths like the K6 Kiosk . . . even though pay phones are a thing of the past . . . private conversations aren't.


What conversations have you over heard (and wish you didn't?)

What TECHiquette rules do you practice?

Sweet Treats : Popcorn Cupcakes

I found a great link on Reddit the other day where NoJoDeL shared a picture of their popcorn cupcakes inspired from this post on Duhlicious. I also found an older popcorn cupcake recipe post from '08 on Food.com that gave credit to Family Fun Magazine for original inspiration.

Not one to shy away from a foodie challenge, I downloaded the Popcorn Cupcake Wrapper Template from the kind folks at Duhlicious and was off to the store with my helpful husband for the ingredients. Be warned that this little project is a sticky labor of love. . .

What I used :

• yellow cake mix or devils food cake mix (for those who don't have the time to make this delicious mix from scratch)
• mini marshmallows
• vanilla frosting
• yellow McCormick food coloring
• sterile scissors
• x-acto knife
  
• white card stock paper
• printer
• pastry bag / tip

What inspired you to try a new recipe?

Handmade Gifts

One of my favorite times of year is fall.

I love the warmth of handmade gifts and always have a project to work on!

This is a scarf I just finished for a young family member. . .





What do you love to make and give away?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Personal Branding Popular In Job Search - My Interview with WXII

Had a great interview with Bill O'Neil of WXII today about Personal Branding. . . . Perfect timing after the fab article in Piedmont Parent *and my recent presentation to PT CREW on the same topic!

What I really loved, . . . was sharing the Personal Branding success of Experience Farm Client Robin Bodwin! SO HAPPY about her being cast in the pilot episode of “Small Town Big Wedding” even happier that she is able to work for herself doing what she loves!

Here's the segment from today's interview . . .

Personal Branding Popular In Job Search - Video - WXII The Triad

So how are you building your personal brand?