Jumat, 29 Juni 2012
Kamis, 28 Juni 2012
Social Media: A Conversation Between Friends
I was visiting with friends over the weekend and as we were chatting about everything under the sun, the conversation turned to social media. They were a littled baffled as to what to do and why! They also commented, as I've heard with countless others, how overwhelming it is! I think in the beginning, it is overwhelming! There's really just no way around it! If you're a small business owner, social media is something that you want to be involved in. No, excuse me, you have to be involved in! It's not going away! It's only going to become more and more challenging! And when I say challenging, I mean there are going to be even more platforms to be familiar with in order to decide what's the best fit for you and what your goals are. Even if you are able to outsource this, you still want to have some degree of understanding of the basics!
When I think of Facebook, I think of it like going to a party. If you go to a party and everyone knows you're there, but you're in the corner, alone, and not engaging with others, then you're likely to be alone. Now, if you go to the party and you're laughing and talking with everyone and having a great time, people are going to gravitate to you and you'll not stand alone! Facebook is no different! When I first joined, I literally did nothing! I didn't do status updates, I didn't comment on the updates of the few friends I had; I did nothing! However, when I decided to put forth the effort and send friend requests, accept friends, and just really engage with everyone; oh my, things changed drastically! In a nutshell, what I have found with Facebook, it is a platform where the more engaging you are, the more engaging your friends will be! And yes, this does mean spending time there! Now, as to how much, well that depends on what you're trying to accomplish.
Twitter! Tweet, tweet, tweet! I have actually grown to really love Twitter! I remember signing up for it and not having a clue as to how to tweet, what to tweet, when to tweet, or even why I should tweet! Here again, if you're a small business owner, tweeting is a great way to get out a quick message about a service or product you offer, or even just a tidbit of information. Afterall, you only have 140 characters to do this in, so it must be short, sweet, and to the point! You can tweet links to a website or a picture. You can re-tweet a tweet of someone else's that you want to share with your followers or just browse the timeline to see what's going on! It is a great way to stay connected in real time without using a lot of your time! I have learned so much by monitoring the timeline of everyone I follow! You may have guessed that most of those that I follow are in the design industry; interior design, architecture, fashion, photography, etc., etc.! I do follow the few friends that are on Twitter, although a great many of them have not embraced it, I'm sure, for one of the same reasons it took me so long to begin tweeting!
So, the conversation was placed on pause after explaining the "why" of Pinterest! They, again, were wondering where did I get some of the images that I feature on my blog! Well, I've always used Pinterest as one of my resources because it was just easy to be on a website, or people that I'm following, see something that inspires me, and click the "pin it" button! Pinterest is just a great way to keep up with and organize images that are inspirational onto different boards that you compose. I liked that it also captured the origin of the image so that the source would be cited to eliminate the dilema of copyright issues. There are times when you need to search for the origins of the image, but since Pinterest has made some adjustments, the need isn't there as much as it was before. However, if you run into not being able to know the original source to cite, Google image search is a great place to start!
I've only scratched the surface of these three social media platforms! There is so much more to it; especially as it relates to how it can benefit the user! And oh my gosh, there are so many other social media services to choose from! My iPhone and iPad are full of apps that I use to quickly access all of the ones that I use! Maybe we can talk more another day about social media! It is mind boggling!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*Images via Google and my Pinterest
*Some other Social Media Platforms I utilize: (4) Linked-In (5) Blogger (6) Tumblr (7) Google+
(8) Instagram (9) Olio Board (10) Polyvore; and trust me so many others!!!
Rabu, 27 Juni 2012
The Joys Of A Great Kitchen!
I'm sure all of us have hosted friends or visited with friends where the kitchen just felt so warm, inviting, and comfortable to where you sat for hours chatting and enjoying the time! When considering how you want your kitchen to function, obviously you must consider meal preparation, storage, lighting, appliances, and the like; but not to be neglected is how you want to feel in the space whether you're entertaining friends and family or just enjoying a quiet cup of coffee or tea. Give consideration to those elements that make it feel like more than just a space where meals are prepared!
What comforts would you like to include? Do you have space for a nice arm chair and ottoman? Or what about a banquette with comfortable pillows? Whatever your mind can imagine and the space can accommodate, take that leap and make it all that you want it to be! Budget is always a deciding factor, so be clever and innovative in how you go about accomplishing your goals! It has taken me a little bit of time to get a grasp on how I want to arrange and decorate my home because I want it to "feel" a certain way! But it is well worth it when hours have passed and everyone is too happy to care or to even noticed!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*Images via myPinterest Kitchens board
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*Images via myPinterest Kitchens board
Selasa, 26 Juni 2012
I Love It! But Really?
I am a subscriber to The Coveteur, an online publication that gives you glimpses into the closets of some of the most interesting people around the globe! One of my favorites was Mary Alice Stevenson! If you haven't seen the posting about her in The Coveteur, you should really take a peek! Her closet is so much more than a closet! Back to where I was going with this! I decided that since I enjoy The Coveteur so much, I would follow them on Pinterest so that I can keep up with what they're pinning as well. As I was perusing their Interior Inspiration board, I came across the following image...
I love this! I so do! But really? A tree, in the middle of the living room! First, I'm thinking, oh my gosh, when that thing begins to lose leaves, what a mess to have to clean! Secondly, can it really survive and thrive in such an environment? So, me being the researcher of all things interesting, I set out on a quest to find the origins of the photo and to find out more about this room. I was disappointed on where my search led me! I found it on a couple of indoor gardening sites and a couple of blogs where they spoke about the benefits of having such plants and gardens inside the home that improves ones health as well as the aesthetics; but they didn't speak to how to plant and grow a tree inside your living room, SUCCESSFULLY! Although, I suppose one could easily do further research to find out the how to's! I was kinda more interested in who this living room belonged to, why they decided to plant a tree there, how they care for it, and what is the cleaning maintenance like! What are your thoughts on this? Would you do this? Or, I guess more importantly, do you even like it?
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
Senin, 25 Juni 2012
Monday: A Late Start To My Day, And It Is Okay!
If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you pretty much have a good sense that I try very hard not to stress and "sweat the small stuff"! I got a pretty late start to this day. I over-slept by a couple of hours! I made my two lovelies their breakfast of choice, and proceeded to get ready for my day. By the time I'd fired up my laptop, poured myself another cup of tea, and settled in; this time at my dining room table because my desk is an absolute mess and I just don't have it in me to clean, straighten, and organize right now! Oh, where was I? Oh, oh, oh, I was just sitting down to compose today's posting when the doorbell chimed and it was my post woman, mail woman, postal worker...I'm sorry, what should I call her? Is there a proper name? Anyhoo, she was delivering a parcel that I had just ordered on Friday and didn't pay the $18 bucks for expedited shipping! Whew! What a jip that would have been! I'm rambling aren't I? It was Monica Pedersen's newly published book Monica Pedersen Make It Beautiful. I'm always excited when I received new books, magazines, and catalogs! It's the anticipation of fresh inspiration!
Monica and I met years ago while modeling in Chicago and San Francisco. We were both with the same agencies and were booked on a couple of jobs together. Wow, as I think back on those times, for me, I wish I had reveled in them more and not been so eager to move on to the "next" thing! Not that the next thing wasn't and hasn't been wonderful experiences, but what fun times they were then! I'm glad to see Monica doing incredibly well and extremely happy! Cheers to her continued success in every area of her life!
One of my favorite sections in Make It Beautiful! This book is chocked full of lovely photos for different entertaining occassions! It would be a fantastic addition to your library to refer to for awe inspiring ideas!
I do a lot of reading! A lot! And ninety-five percent of it is research and work related in one way or another! Right now I'm currently reading about the founders and the beginnings of The Gilt Groupe. Inspiring! I love it when people come up with innovative ideas, but also put together dynamic teams, where each individual brings that important piece that turns those ideas into realities. They are always one step ahead because they're not spending a lot of time mulling over what they see right now! They are forecasters and influencers of what's coming down the pipeline, and are able to tap into their resources and make things happen! It is a great read for anyone!
Always adding a new book to my library of resources! Good Bones, Great Pieces is a fantastic resource of seven furniture pieces that should be in everyone's home and how to select them! This is one that you will refer to time and time again, as you shop for furnishings to live with now and for years to come!
And finally, work! I've decided with this new project that I am working on, I would try my hand at creating the inspiration board on Olio Board. I love how I am able to go to different websites and grab whatever element piques my interest and pull it onto the board, while Olio Board saves all of the pertinent information for me to refer back to and purchase if selected! It really is a great tool for designers or anyone who is putting together ideas for a new decorating project! I've been signed up for quite a while, just never sat down to take the time to learn how to use it! This is kinda how I've started with every social media platform I'm on! Oh well, anyhoo! Better late than never, eh! I will post more on this project as it evolves!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*None of the books mentioned above are paid advertisers! They really are resources that I am excited about that I wanted to share with you
Jumat, 22 Juni 2012
Happy Birthday To Me!
Today is my birthday! I'm, surprisingly, at a loss for words. The only sentiment that springs from my heart is to give my God, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, all of the glory and all of the praise. Thank you! Please don't interpret my "silence", if you will, for sadness over turning a year older. On the contrary, I am so humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude that I have been given another opportunity to live, to do better, and to get it right; words truly fail me. Thankful is what I am!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
Kamis, 21 Juni 2012
Lazy Days And Outdoor Living...
Who knew? I've been reflecting a lot here over the last few months about how much my tastes, preferences, and attitude has changed regarding various things. Nothing in particular and definitely not because of anything in particular! I guess I just have those moments! One of my fondest memories of growing up in Arkansas is when my aunt Jean (my dad's sister), and a friend of hers took my cousin Erica and I camping in the Ozark mountains. We camped out in tents, cooked our food over a little propane grill, and even took little bird baths! I know if any of my friends are reading this, they are in total shock! I'm laughing as I type this!!! We canoed and swam in the Buffalo river, hiked a bit, and just had a really great time! Oooh! It rained one evening and I remembered watching an episode of the Andy Griffin show where Opie had touched the inside of his tent while it rained, and it began to leak; so of course I had to try this! It leaked! I was excited, but that quickly got old, as you can imagine! Ha! Oh Lord! Anyhoo, I love nothing more than being outside when the weather is warm. I love the feel of the sun on my skin and the ocassional breezes that washes a sense of abandon and relaxation over me... Hmmm, didn't know I was gonna go there, but I'm awfully glad I did! That was the bit of inspiration I needed to move forward with the work ahead of me today! I so hope you enjoy yours!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*Images via my Pinterest Outdoor Living board
Rabu, 20 Juni 2012
How Beautiful Is This...
I'm writing this posting while sitting in a shaded spot at the park. I thought instead of enjoying another gorgeous day from a window, the kids and I would get out and experience it first hand. As we were walking, to my hand-picked spot in the grass, my son says to me "it's a beautiful day, Mom". I say to him, "yes, it is isn't it!". I love that at twelve years old, he appreciates the beauty nature bestows upon us. For the next eight weeks I will post daily during the week and ocassionally on weekends, and I will try to post by noon eastern time; however, if I should not make this time, please understand that I am either working on a couple of projects that are still underway or spending time with my family. I will always share with you whatever is inspiring me that day, for you see, as many of you can tell, I love to talk! And I love being able to express whatever is going on in my head with those interested in reading it! Thank you so much for stopping by when you do and making me apart of your day! It is so appreciated, and with that being said...
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
Selasa, 19 Juni 2012
Staring Out My Window, Daydreaming...
It's beautiful days like today, when staring out my window induces visions of lazy days spent lakeside, either out on the boat drifting along, or canoeing down the Buffalo river (Arkansas), lounging under the trees (in my parents backyard), feeling the tingly cool breeze on my face and skin, eating, drinking, laughing, and talking with family and friends. But alas, work has to be done! My time will come!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
via my Pinterest boards
Senin, 18 Juni 2012
With A Man In Mind
Ask ten different women what are some things that come to mind when they think of their ideal man, and you will get probably, hmmm, seven to eight times out of ten, some of the same answers. Now some may be a little more specific than others. And some maybe more simplistic. And yet, still others may even be just totally unreasonable and living in some fantasy world that they only have access to! These are the ones that I think are trying to overcompensate for not being happy with who they are! Just my opinion! Anyhoo, when the rubber meets the road, we all want to be happy, treated well, and respected for who we are, what we have to offer, and what we bring to the table. That's both men and women. Outward appearances don't always get the prize! I have met some men that aren't necessarily what I would call attractive, but they have this charm, charisma, I guess what they now call "swagger" that is well, hmmm, intriguing!
As I was compiling images for this post, some of the things that came to mind were a simplistic elegance, an appreciation for art, travel, great food, beauty and well, just nice things as a whole, a knowledge of current events, and a confidence of who he is so that he can hold his own when handling someone like me! Oh, and he must smell good! These are my inspirations behind With A Man In Mind! This is my fifth posting, I believe, on this topic so be sure to check out the other postings that can be found under the label For The Guys!
Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda
*Original image credits via my Pinterest boards
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