Posting Number 1

My idea for this blog came about because of all of the high fructose corn syrup information that has been on the news. I was amazed at what we are actually eating and feeding to our kids. This subject of eating healthy and providing my family with healthy options has been on my mind for a while. I just have not made a complete transition as of yet, but I hope to get there soon!

It is not cheap to eat healthy. It also takes some planning. So, as I go through this journey, I thought I would keep track of it through this blog. I am certain there are other parents with the same thought in the back of their head as far as how to feed the family in a healthier way. My hope is that as parents we can bounce ideas off of each other about how to influence the decision makers about our food system. We have to reinvent the way we think about the food that goes in to our bodies. It affects everything from our health to our quality of life.

So, feel free to join the holistic parenting movement.

Finding Balance

Is it just me or do our lives seem busier now then when we were growing up. It seemed like there were more hours in the day then there are now. I know that this is not true, but it is hard to find that much needed balance. Family, work, personal time, spiritual well being do not come easy. In order to fit all of these elements in our daily lives, we must plan, schedule, keep some sort of calendar, and plan all over again….

I think there is a lot of power in saying the word ‘No.’ There are times when we just take on too many task (especially women) that we want to accomplish in a short time frame. Sometimes we need to take just two steps back in order to move mega leaps forward.
Many of us feel guilty for having to say ‘No,’ but we shouldn’t. In order to live a life of purpose and a life that you are passionate about, you must first be willing to find balance.

Are you a Facebook User????

If Facebook is not currently in your marketing mix, it should be. Right now, it is unclear how best to use this communication tool as a means for growth and value generating activities. But, with some thought, there are several ways that you can test the social network.

At no cost, you can send messages out to your current and previous customers. You can create a group or a fan page that will also allow you to develop a better relationship with your customers/clients.

For example, a hair stylist can create a group that discusses new styles, colors, products, etc. This is information that the customer base of a stylist may not mind receiving on an occasional basis. As a stylist, you may want to run specials for your current customers, create a referral program, or have a customer appreciation event. These are items that can all be promoted through Facebook for free. This methodology can be used for all types of businesses.

Here are the facts:

– 1 in 5 web users have a Facebook account
– Facebook lured 222 million unique visitors in December (twice as many as MySpace)
– Facebook has grown at a rate of more than 10% each month since September
– Facebook had an estimated 300 million dollars in ad revenue for 2008 (and this was not their focus)

Hope to see you on Facebook! Let me know how you plan to incorporate Facebook into your marketing mix…