Don’t Sacrifice Your Pineapple - A Day In The Life Of A Working Mom & Entrepreneur

Lately, one of the most common questions I’m asked is “Wow, you are a super woman ... how do you do it ALL?” After all, I work as an Animal Control Officer, a Realtor, a Brand Ambassador, and … to top it off ... I am starting a shiny new marketing company. Now, let’s add my roles as mother, wife, and circus wrangler of four dogs and a cat. For the most part I shrug it off and say something to the effect of “Oh, it’s no big deal.” 

I am here to share with you, whether you are a working or stay-at-home Mom or Dad … it is a big deal. Kids are NO JOKE. Especially toddlers. They will take you on and leave you begging for mercy. 

A few weeks ago was particularly interesting. Fridays are my day “off.” (It’s ok, you can laugh. I think it’s a joke, too.) Anyway, other than my goal to write a blog post, I didn’t have too much on my plate. We were having dinner guests over but the house was already pretty clean so I thought Savannah and I could go on a quick mommy-daughter shopping trip. I may have had the selfish intent of wanting to indulge in perusing Marshalls but regardless, you catch my drift. I should have known though. Savannah had that special … wait, I mean sassy ... twinkle in her eye before we even left the house. I should have listened to my gut but I didn’t. 

I am sure you know where I am going with this. Everything was going fairly well outside of a few unwanted items in the cart. Then she discovered the shiny bottles of room spray. Nope, not the stuffed bunnies or the Halloween costumes ... not the makeup or fun games … the room spray. I think it was lavender-scented, which I can appreciate. It was what happened after that which was the issue. She dropped the glass bottle. By some grace of the Marshalls God, the bottle didn’t break. However, I am not a fool. I said my Hail Marshalls and asked Savannah to not touch them anymore. She begrudgingly agreed for a moment but then went back for more. It was like the lavender put a spell on her. She refused to leave that shelf! I played along for a good ten minutes but it was time to go. And now that we had spent so much time playing with room spray, I knew I was flirting with nap time. That sassy twinkle mixed with a lack of napping ... oh, I was asking for it. And that is precisely what happened. 

I told Savannah we needed to leave. Even offered to buy the stupid spray bottle. But no. Full. On. TANTRUM. To the point a Marshalls’ employee asked if everything was ok. “Yep, everything is just fine and dandy.” [Insert sarcastic A-Okay emoji here.] I promptly abandoned my entire cart of gorgeous goodies, hoisted the screaming kid over my shoulder, and made a run for it out the door. When we got home, Savannah promptly informed me she was NOT taking a nap. She then proceeded to go on a full out spree of pushing my buttons (including trying to kick the dogs, which is an absolute no-no in our house). 

For whatever reason, I thought Google might help. I mean, come on, Google knows it all. I quickly Googled “how to handle a defiant toddler.” I was directed to babycenter.com where I was presented with, “Defiance: Why it happens and what to do about it.” I mean, I guess I get it. Toddlers are crazy little rebels … testing boundaries and trying to find their place in the world. BabyCenter assured me it’s normal. Thanks … I felt better now. However, I was still stewing about that gorgeous pineapple candle holder I had to sacrifice at Marshalls. Was that normal too?

Don't give up.

And don't sacrifice the pineapple.

I know we have all been there. We have all had these embarrassing moments. I just want you to know you aren’t alone. I think it’s cute that I come off as so well put together. I think it’s great that you think I am an all-star mom with 75 careers and my days are flawless. Well, that’s what Facebook says … and Facebook is real life after all. (I’m winking.)

Here is the truth. That day I was on the verge of tears thinking that I must be a bad Mom. I questioned whether I was the problem because I am not a stay-at-home mom. I wondered if I was out of touch on how to handle my own kid because I have so much going on. Then I re-centered and realized I was letting the crazy in. I am a GREAT mom. Perhaps not a Mom that has time to make Pinterest projects or document every milestone but, at the end of the day, I am who I am. And I love my daughter with every morsel of my being.

I get up each day with a dream in my heart and a mission in my mind. I hustle because I want to create a better life for my family. I play this whacky game of a balancing act because I refuse to give up on my dream of using creativity to pay my bills. I sometimes lock myself in the bathroom for a moment of peace so that my daughter doesn’t smell my fear. (Don’t act like you’ve never done it.) Guess what though? I am super woman. I don’t know how I do it all but I do … and that’s what matters. It will pay off. 

So to you, my friends. Don’t give up and don’t sacrifice the pineapple. You too will survive having a toddler and a career. At least that’s what Google told me. 

I will have you know that I did finally get my daughter to take a nap. We won’t talk about the fact that it didn’t happen until 3:40pm. In addition, I wrote my blog post, too. While it wasn’t on the topic that I intended, this seemed way more appropriate.

How To Run A Successful Fundraising Campaign: Bubbles For Madden Case Study

Do you remember your first lemonade stand? Perhaps you might better remember your first catalog fundraiser selling wrapping paper and pies? Whether you had your eye on a Cabbage Patch Doll at the store or were raising money for that year’s school field trip, there was an ultimate goal that drove you to make the most out of your campaign.

In this case study, I'm going to share the key elements to running a very successful fundraiser and achieving your campaign goals.

INTRO

It’s pretty safe to say that fundraising is a simple concept and one that we learn at a very young age. As we grow older, the concept remains the same but the purpose behind each campaign is likely to become a tad more complicated than purchasing the latest trend at the toy store or exploring the local children’s museum.

When you think of fundraisers as an adult, what is your initial thought? Probably something like a 5K to raise money for Breast Cancer research or maybe a car wash for your daughter’s cheerleading squad to buy new uniforms.

You see, regardless of the goal, fundraising is a pretty basic concept. But what really sets one fundraiser apart from the others? You guessed it. Marketing. How are you going to move people to hand over their hard earned money to support your cause?

In today’s world, fundraising is very easy to do online. You can set up a Go Fund Me Page and Facebook is an excellent tool for spreading the word. You can, of course, keep it old school and hit the pavement … waiting outside grocery stores or leaving jars at the local donut shop. Whichever avenue you wish to take, are you giving thought to your target audience? Are you really maximizing your efforts to yield the greatest results?

I have participated in my share of walks for Alzheimer’s, Breast Cancer research, and eating disorder support. All of which I raised a modest amount of money for by doing minimal amounts of posting online or just talking about it with people during coffee breaks. Nothing spectacular but every little bit helps. I never gave it much thought until I created a fundraiser of my own for a cause that was extremely important to me.

MADDEN

My senior dog, Madden, had been diagnosed with several ailments … one of which was a cancerous growth on his spleen. At the time, it was recommended that the growth be removed and that the other diagnosed conditions be continuously treated. He also would need weekly physical therapy.

I know everyone’s feelings towards their dogs is different. Everyone makes the personal decision as to what level they are willing to go for their dog and how much money they are willing to spend. You see, Madden was my best friend. He had been by my side for the last 12 years. He walked me down the aisle at my wedding. He welcomed our daughter into our home when she was born. He was my boy and I wasn’t about to give up on him based solely on financial constraints.

After the veterinarian gave me the estimate for the planned surgery and I calculated how much his continued supportive care would cost, I knew our family simply didn’t have that kind of money. However, I didn’t feel right about starting a Go Fund Me Page. I much preferred to raise money in a way where the people who donated toward Madden’s care would know they were getting something in return. This was how “Bubbles for Madden” was born.

#BUBBLESFORMADDEN

With the help of many supportive friends and professional contacts I had made over the years, I was able to orchestrate a fundraising campaign for Madden that included a dog wash and T-shirts.

First thing was first ... I needed a logo. Logos are not just for businesses or organizations. They are your brand. They tell a story. They make a first impression. I needed a logo for Madden’s campaign so I reached out on Facebook to any graphic designers who might be willing to design one for me. I was beyond thankful that my friend, now business partner, Jamie was so willing and excited to donate her services and create a logo for me!

Since the campaign centered around Madden, I wanted to incorporate his picture somehow. The end result was a logo that had personality … it was fun and, without a question, it was Madden. From a functional standpoint, it was clean and clear. Perfect for print and eye catching for social media.

Unlock the rest of the secrets to fundraising by downloading a copy of the full Case Study!

Get Case Study

A Little Marketing Agency For Small Businesses Launches In Middlesex County

The Little Marketing Genius Offers A Range Of Services Geared Just For Small Businesses

EAST HADDAM, CT  Local entrepreneurs Jamie Tomassetti and Katie Ehlers have begun a mission to provide exceptional marketing services to small businesses with the launch of The Little Marketing Genius. Based out of East Haddam, CT, this new little agency has big plans to collaborate with small businesses all across the state. Their full menu of marketing services (which can be found at www.littlemarketinggenius.com) includes graphic design, website design, social media management, copywriting, consultation, and much more.

The concept is unique. Small business owners have the option of selecting services from a comprehensive A La Carte menu or retaining hours to use however they desire. Services and plans then get added to their online Cart for purchase. Many of the A La Carte services can be quickly fulfilled within just a few business days. Easy, fast, and affordable.

“Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside.””

— Unknown

“Marketing can be a real struggle for small businesses. There are many big agencies that cater to big companies. So we’ve created a small agency dedicated to small companies. Our primary goal is to provide extremely high quality marketing at an affordable rate,” explains Jamie.

Regarding the pricing structure, Katie says, “Our A La Carte Menu and Partner Plans were all carefully designed with the small business owner in mind.”

With Jamie’s 15-year marketing background and Katie’s proven track record of successful social media management, this duo plans on delivering powerful results to small businesses throughout Connecticut. Read their full story at littlemarketinggenius.com/team.

How To Take High Quality Photos On Your iPhone

I call this masterpiece: Bama in a Brewery. This photo was taken (on my iPhone) at our favorite Middletown brewery, Stubborn Beauty. I then used Instagram to apply some funky effects.

Keeping projects within budget is a common priority for most small business owners. That said, sometimes hiring a professional photographer isn’t conducive. However, if you own an iPhone, you can take some pretty fantastic shots all on your own. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Focus.

Focusing is an important thing to do in many different scenarios … but especially photography! If you have a blurry photo, you essentially have nothing to work with. When taking pictures on your phone, focusing can prove to be a challenge. To improve the clarity of your shots, you need to be as steady as possible (so for starters, go easy on the coffee). Be sure to look at your phone screen before snapping. Then tap the subject of your image on-screen to bring it into focus. (Pro tip: If you’re using an iPhone, you can use the volume controls to snap a picture. This can be a very useful technique when you’re trying to keep a steady hand.)

Be sure there’s good lighting.

Equally as important as focus is lighting! Trying to take a photo in poor lighting will not do your subject matter any justice. If you’re taking pictures outside, schedule your shoot when the weather is optimal. The sun will create a variety of shadows so consider a time when daylight will be optimal. If you’re taking pictures inside, be sure the space is well lit. To avoid dark shadows from blacking out your subject, make sure the light source is shining toward your subject and not coming in from behind. (Pro tip: Sometimes shadows can become a visually interesting part of the scene so don’t be scared to get creative with them!)

Keep it simple.

We get it. Sometimes there is just so much awesomeness that you want to encompass it all in one photo. However, too many visual elements in a single photo can actually take away from the beauty of the shot. Keep the scene simple. Stage the area by removing any unnecessary clutter. Focus on a particular element and make it the star of the photo.

Shoot from an interesting angle.

You can dramatically change the entire vibe of a photo just by shooting at an interesting angle. Hold your phone at different angles and from varying heights to see how the scene and subject matter transform with each perspective. You will be utterly amazed.  

My fiancé took this picture of me while we were out in California. He’s not a professional photographer but he’s definitely got some skill! How? Because he puts into practice these 5 tips I taught him! ;)

Follow the rule of thirds.

Time for a very quick lesson in Photography:101 … the Rule of Thirds! Here’s how it works. Imagine breaking an image up into nine equal parts (horizontally and vertically, using four grid lines). The principle behind the Rule of Thirds states that if you position your important elements on any one of these grid lines, your photo will become more balanced and compositionally more interesting. To utilize this principle when taking pictures on your iPhone, be sure to enable the grid on your phone’s camera (Settings >> Photos & Camera >> Grid).

Use photo editing apps.

Last but not least, there are a number of amazing editing apps available to help take your photos to the next level! Basic techniques that used to take hours to accomplish in PhotoShop can now be applied to your photos with the click of a button. Instagram, VSCO, and Whitagram are a few that we’d recommend experimenting with.

Don’t ever settle for posting subpar blurry shots on your website or social media. With a little practice, you CAN become a good photographer.

-J

Love Your Logo - 50% Off Small Business Logo Design

Pictured here: Cupcakes from one of our favorite local bakeries, Nora Cupcake Co of Middletown, CT. We’re not only obsessed with their Irish Car Bomb, but with their boldly stated brand as well! The hot pink and black color scheme plus big, blocky letter “N” equals a logo done right!

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Your logo is a face of your small business. Does it accurately capture the essence of who you are? If not, now is the time to freshen it up! Fall back in love with your logo by letting us revamp and energize the design! From now until 11/30/17, you can save 50% off* this service. Just select Logo from our A La Carte Menu and use discount code LITTLE50LOGO at checkout. 

On the fence? Use our checklist below to see if your logo passes the test. 

The Clutter Test: Does your logo look too busy? While it’s important to convey a message and differentiate your business through your logo, cramming in a whole bunch of colors, text, and design elements is not the solution. Simple and timeless works best.
 
The Versatility Test: Can your logo easily be printed on a T-shirt or a small item like a pen? What does it look like in black and white? Or how about just a single color? Logos with overlays and background imagery do not translate across different printing applications. Your logo should be versatile and have the ability to be placed on a variety of back drops without losing its integrity.
 
The Resolution Test: A logo should be designed in a program like Adobe Illustrator and saved as a high-resolution .eps or outlined .ai file. What all this jargon means is that with the right type of file, you can blow your logo up to fit a billboard if you wanted to and it won’t become distorted, blurry, and crappy looking. 

If your small business logo needs a makeover, now’s the time to redesign it at a savings! 

*One per client. Offer is for new clients only. Expires 11/30/17. 50% off discount applies to a logo design service off our A La Carte Menu. Incidentals are not included (i.e. purchased fonts, printing, upgrades to service, etc.).