Talking To Myself Always

Being someone's Social Media "HOSTAGE"

2012-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:00

Today I had to Dislike someones page on Facebook.

I felt like I was being held hostage by this person's postings for about the last week on both Facebook & Twitter.

It seems this person has decided to "cancel" their Facebook & Twitter accounts, as they feel they just don"t feel they are reaching the amount of people they think they should be.

Of Course this person won't be "canceling" their accounts IF they get so many Likes by 12:00AM Wednesday.

I have no problem with wanting to get your "brand" your name or even your ideas out to a larger audience.

I do however have a problem with someone holding my Facebook & Twitter Feeds Hostage with postings that say "Just Click Like" & "I like your page how come you don't like mine?" "Page will Self Destruct in 1 day."

I have never used Facebook or Twitter as a measure of My Personal Popularity. I only Follow about 40 people/businesses on Twitter, and have under 200 people on my Facebook page. When I do get a friend request I consider it sometimes for weeks before I confirm it. I have even been known to send an e-mail to the person & ask them why they have sent the request.

I guess I should have taken note when I suggested this person follow a well known musicians Twitter feed & I was told "If they don't follow me back I will have to drop them" & when I noticed they were following some of the same people who I do & there's really no reason for them to have any type of an interest in those particular posters.

Honestly I felt relieved after I clicked that "Dislike" button today. I now can enjoy reading my pages without being held hostage by a grown person wanting to be the winner in their own popularity contest. .

Think'n Pink

2010-10-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

It's October AGAIN and along with that comes the Emotional Marketing towards us women to BUY the packaging with the Pink Ribbons on it...

As I sit here watching the Packers/Lions game I am being blinded by the Pink Cleats, Coach McCarthy's Green & Pink Hat, Pink Towels & Gloves, the Pink Ribbon Logo printed on the Ball & the Ref's Pink Wrist Bands. Let alone the option of buy'n a Driver or Rodger Jersey in the color Pink made to fit a Woman - It makes me wonder just how much money the NFL is giving for research or has it already been achieved & they are just doing it so people believe they are a charitable organization?

In one of my first blog posts I wrote about knowing what your charitable money is going towards when buying the Pink Ribbon Logos.

The saddest part about it is after 2 yrs. the Statistics haven't changed much at all, out of 8 women that you know and love 1 of them will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Now ask yourself what have you done to help in the search for a cure? Did you buy the $55 Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Compact? How do you know all your $55 went towards the research? the Cap for Estee Lauder's Contribution to research is $500,000. M&M's caps their contribution for the Pink M&M's at $850,000. Kitchen Aid caps at 350,000 PLUS if you buy the Pink Mixer you need to go to the website and register it otherwise no money is given. When you see that pink Ribbon maybe you should ask yourself some of these questions before you purchase & ALWAYS read the labels. http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=13

See what I mean about emotional marketing as a means to make the company money?

There are companies that do actually do good - This year the WI Kohl's Stores will be marketing items to give 7 million to WI based Breast Cancer Foundations. Just make sure the Kohl's Cares Logo is on the Pink item you buy and you will be helping. Kohl's has always been very generous with the giving to State Children's organizations and I do believe that this campaign will be just as good. (for those of you not in WI you can buy the items online)

Avon always gives 10% with no cap whenever you purchase one of their Pink Breast Cancer items. The Yopliat Put a Lid on it is also NOW a good way to donate, As they are rBGH free in their products along with Dannon. (rBGH is believed to be a cause of Breast Cancer)

Don't get me wrong the wanting to good is NOT the problem here, the misinformation given by the companies by using emotional marketing as a means into thinking you are doing good but instead they are making a profit off of you the problem.

Just Think Before You Pink & by doing so you will be able to save lives.

Remember also to check yourself properly EVERY MONTH for lumps. http://www.checkyourboobies.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=35&lang=en

an Interesting Weekend...

2010-09-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

On Friday I posted on Facebook "Off to Door County for my 2010 LARK - this can go 1 of 2 ways.. Lets hope it all goes well..." My friend Nachista responded with "I expect a full blog...with pictures!"

I went with my Friend M.G. up to Door County, WI as his guest for his cousins wedding.

The wedding was held at Gordon's Lodge in Bailey's Harbor which is a beautiful resort between North Bay & Lake Michigan.

Friday nite when we arrived they had a tiny get together for the families & friends to enjoy. after the get together a bunch of us decided to head into town to go the Bar called the Blue Ox, all I can say is DO NOT go to the Blue Ox, it a very very bad place to go to. It can get you into a bit of trouble. As a result of our little visit to the Blue Ox, I can only state for the Public Record, I cannot drive a Stick Shift, whether it's 4pm or 4am.....

Of course on Saturday we all had to go visit Wilson's to get a bit of Root beer , alright it's more of a 1/2 gallon of Root beer, but it was a great cure for my headache left over from Friday nite....

The Wedding took place outside by the lake, and the wind stayed down & the sun came out at 4:30pm so we could all enjoy a Lakeside wedding. the Guys M.G.& N.B. taught the Bartenders how to make a Whisky Old Fashion of Press & we all just talked, and danced and laughed the evening away...

The weekend went very well, (at least I think so) I had a a lot of fun & I enjoyed meeting talking and learning from people who all came from different ends of the U.S. for the weekend.

the only picture of Me, M.G., N.B. & A.B. taken this weekend. we all clean up pretty well don't we?....

Talking To Myself Always: New loves thanks to the Generosity of others

2010-09-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

Talking To Myself Always: New loves thanks to the Generosity of others

New loves thanks to the Generosity of others

2010-09-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

When I got home from work on Thursday I opened my e-mail box to find out that my Friend Nachista From Utah had sent me a $25 GC to a Utah based online clothing store named "The Shabby Apple" http://www.shabbyapple.com/

At first I thought someone had hacked into her e-mail account & that it was Spam mail, but upon farther research I found that it wasn't hacked into & that I am IN LOVE with almost ALL that they sell.

The mission statement from Shabby Apple says it all -

"We’re an online dress boutique selling women’s dresses, casual dresses, skirts, and women’s apparel. We recognize that finding the perfect dress can sometimes be challenging, which is why strive to design highly fashionable dresses for all types of women. So please, feel free to have a look around. Whether you’re looking for evening dresses, blouses, or the perfect skirt, we should have something that is right for you! And keep in mind that we are always designing new dresses for women, as well as coming out with entirely new fashion lines.So if we don’t have the perfect dress for you right now, we should very soon! Thanks again for stopping by."

It's different Feminine and Classic. It's PERFECT for a girl like me...

Now the only problem is deciding what dress to put the $25 GC towards.....

Check them out & always remember to try to support the local & independent businesses in your City & home states & also those from around the U.S. you NEVER know what treasures you may find...

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

As you all know from the 3 posts I have done on this Blog I follow a daily blog called "the Petermans Eye. Done by J Peterman himself the topics range fron language to politics to everything else. Well today's topic is Father's day. you can read it here @ http://www.petermanseye.com/ Mr. Peterman decided to use an old "Twangy" Country song by Conway Twitter as today's topic, called "That's my Job" a song that I had heard while grow'n up numerous times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_-lh8GoGQs?

For the record I was brought up on "Twangy Country" Conway Twitty was a staple in our household.

I haven't thought about this particular song in years & forgot about it until I read today's posting by Mr. Peterman.

This particular song has actually followed my relationship with my own father so far. The teenage yrs. seemingly to have lasted FOREVER.... and to be almost autobiographical...

Yet it when it comes down to it I can't and really don't want to imagine having a different dad or my life without him. I don't know what I would do without my Dad. I have been and am FAR from the PERFECT daughter, Yet as I have matured I find myself saying more & more that "I am My Father's Daughter" and seemingly proud of of that fact.

My dad is amazing to my sister (dad always liked HER BEST LOL), He is an amazing Grandpa to my Niece & Nephew, he is an amazing Husband to my mom, and even though the Teen Yrs where VERY rough between he & I he is amazing to me also. He knows that despite the fact that these past few yrs for me have been pretty rough for me that I will land on my feet, and that he will be there to see it. It says a lot about one of the people who brought you up can tell that when life throws you a curve, they have the faith and confidence that you will be able to handle it with a little help & Will nor be jump'n in until asked.

I LOVE my dad and even though I have taken some wrong turns on the path he has never left my side and has allowed me to follow it while offering his bits of guidance and support throughout..

In the last 3 years I have lost an uncle who was my dad's best friend and who our family adored, my paternal & maternal grandmothers, my marriage,and my full time job. Yet thru it all I have never had anything but support,understanding and faith from my dad & my mom. As a teenager I would have never thought it possible to have reached such a place of respect and unconditional love from my dad and on the other hand I can't imagine how hard life would be if I didn't have that in my life.

THE Baseball Game

2009-05-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

On Sunday May 17th I will be here

(Busch Staduim St. Louis, MO)

To see:

Play baseball against the

( I will buy a drink for the 1st person to post the name of the Brewer who wore #19)

There are 5 people going on this trip ~ 3 of them are Brewers Fans 1 is a Cardinals Fan & I well I happen to be a fan of this team:

Which also makes me kind of the Swing Vote for the day... So I am letting you all decide:

Should I be a Brewers fan or a Cardinals fan for a day? Please keep in mind though the Cardinals fan commited a "Cardinal Sin" this weekend by sitting at Wrigley Field & talking Smack about the Cubs.... So Maybe it should be payback time from me?.... Or maybe I should be a gracious person & help cheer for his team for the day?...

It's all up to you ~ There is a poll question on the right sid of the screen, please vote and/or comment about which team I should support. Should it be 2 fans against 3 or 4 against one for the day?.. You can vote until Noon on Sunday May 10th. I am cutting it then because I will have to order one of these to wear to the game:

You all didn't REALLY expect a Lady like me to go to the Ball park & not wear the J peterman Authentic Sleeves Baseball shirt to the game now did you?...

I can't wait to see what the outcome is going to be...

THE LARK ADVENTURE

2009-03-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

In November of 2008 I went on a LARK ADVENTURE.

I was invited to be one of 5 people to go to the Art Institute of Chicago & see a particular painting housed there. The only catch ~ I had never actually met the other 4 girls who also were going to be on this trip.

I met the "Ringleader" MissIve through a daily blog site called the Petermans Eye ~ She whipped onto the site & made quite the impression on our lovely host Mr. J. Peterman himself as well as the rest of us "regulars" with her very first post ever an all of them ever since. (you can check out Missive's Blog at http://sandinmyswimsuit.blogspot.com/)

She proposed to Mr. Peterman to send us dresses so we could all go to the Art Institute of Chicago & see Jules Bretons painting entitled "Song of the Lark" Mr. Peterman being a World Adventurer himself & understanding that being proper dressed while adventuring is of great importance graciously sent us all dresses for our LARK ADVENTURE.

For me personally the LARK ADVENTURE was a grand adventure in facing my worst fears of being alone. I had begun the journey in doing so in early September by doing this:

"One of my Greatest Fears was eating alone, in a restaurant, a hostess seats you to a table, wait staff tells you the specials type of a restaurant. Don't really know why cuz I do the Movie or shopping thing alone all the time... Anyway on Labor Day I decided to face this fear of mine, (I know its not like a fear of sharks but hey I live in the Midwest the closest thing I have to sharks are Lampreys & I already caught one those) so I got all dressed up I'm talking dressy top & skirt, heels, make up, & clutch purse and drove around town until I found a place that I felt like eating at. Walked up to the two 16yr olds at the hostess stand & said table for 1 please. (WITHOUT FAINTING, it was Shocking I tell you) It was not that busy but I was left waiting for 10 minutes.... Then the table they led me to was never even close to having been occupied at all that evening... I think the hostess thought maybe someone would show up & I wouldn't be alone. I ordered a drink ordered off the menu, people watched, had dessert paid the bill & walked out. The funny thing was that I had the feeling that the staff was trying to rush me out. That having someone eat alone was a bad for their image or something. Nonetheless to my GREATEST SURPRISE I ENJOYED it & can't wait to do it again. Of course this time it will be at a different restaurant."

So the LARK ADVENTURE was a HUGE 2nd step for me ~ as the other 4 girls were arriving together from the MI area I was coming from WI. I decided in order not to pay for overnight parking I would take Amtrak from Milwaukee to Chicago & back. Walk to the Palmer House from the Station ALONE on the streets of Chicago (I'm really a small town girl at heart) & meet face to face with the other LARKS.... It was one of the GREATEST things I ever decided to do. In doing this I got to spend time with some of the most funny, interesting & smart people that I have had the pleasure of being able to spend time with. You can also watch the trip at MissIve's website...

Today at the Peterman Blog is the mention of our LARK ADVENTURE & discussion as to what just being CRAZY or being on a LARK means to everyone. Please Log on check it out http://www.petermanseye.com/ Heck on a LARK just signup & stay for awhile Mr. Peterman has saved you all a seat at his table & there is plenty of room. You'll even learn at least 1 new or interesting thing everyday... really you will...

Enjoy,
Erika

The "Ginger Gin House"

2008-11-27T16:36:00.000-08:00

I have a Nephew "Quasi Q" he is 3.5 years old. I love him to death, but he is a Creative Handful to say the least.

So while on one of my shopping trip to Trader Joes in Milwaukee I came across a Gingerbread House Kit while there. So I bought it, thinking that it would be a great activity to do with him.

We put it together last Saturday he keeps calling it a Ginger Gin House & I promise you by the time it was actually over I WISHED it was a Gin House!

But here are the results ~ of Quasi Q's Ginger Gin House, He did it all with just a tiny bit of help from me. The only casualty of the event happened to my Mom's kitchen. Who knew a 3 year old could get the Ginger Gin House + everything else in the kitchen frosted at the same time?

Isn't he Adorable?...

Think Before You Pink Campaign

2008-09-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

Think of 7 women you love ~ are you aware that out of those 7 women at least 1 of them will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer? Pretty Scary isn't it.

Knowing there really is not a cure & by funding the research of this awful disease we possibly help the 1 in 7 statistic to decrease.

I readily admit that I am one of those people we will buy into a gimmick at the drop of a hat, especially if it Cute & and if its especially an article of clothing like this:

I happen to go CRAZY for all the Pink Products that are out there, I'm these companies dreams, spending my hard earned cash to help find a cure because every year there's something that is SO CUTE, or different that I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!!! Like the shirt pictured above.

This year with the way the economy has been & such I have decided that I need to seriously take a look at where my "Heart Money" (AKA Charity Contributions) are actually going to....I was guided to this website ~ http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/ & I was SURPRISED ~ then I read this article http://bcaction.org/index.php?page=newsletter-98f

Then I was upset ~ You mean buying those 15 bags of these

and the $8 for these

That all of that cash may not have mattered at all to help fund the Research for Breast Cancer? How can that be? For the past 2 years now I have been checking into the Think Pink Site & making my Contributions matter, PLEASE do not get me wrong if you want the M&M's then buy them just don't buy 15 bags & think all the $ is going to help in Research. BE INFORMED!!!! and spend your "Heart Money" wisely.

Call you local AVON lady & buy this

Buy 7 of them & hand them out to people I asked you to think about in the first sentence.

Avon's Breast Cancer Crusade give 71% of its profits from their Pink items towards research.

When you are overwhelmed in the Pink "Gimmicks" this October please refrain form buying the item until you have checked out the Think Before You Pink website, make sure your hard earned cash is actually going towards the cause.

Here's the list of companies that most likely make more $ on placing the ribbon on their packaging than handing over the dollars to help in Breast Cancer Research:

3M (Pink Ribbon Post-it Notes)
BMW (Ultimate Drive and Accessories)
Cartier (Roadster Watch)
Dole Fresh Flowers (Cause for Hope Awareness Bouquets)
Essie (Pink Ribbon Limited Edition Nail Polish)
Ford (Pink Ribbon Silk Scarf)
Hansen's Natural Soda (Help Find a Cure Campaign)
Karen Neuberger (Signature Pink Ribbon Collection)
KitchenAid (Cook for the Cure Campaign)
Kodak (Pink Ribbon Products)
La Mer (Crème de la Mer)
Lee Denim (National Denim Day)
Meredith Books (Limited Edition Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book)
M&Ms (Special Edition Pink & White M&Ms)
Origins (A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian)
Georgia Pacific (Quilted Northern Ultra)
Ralph Lauren (Pink Pony Products)
Sutter Home Winery (Capsules for the Cure)
Tommy Hilfiger (Tommy True Star Eau de Toilette Spray)
Tweezerman (Breast Cancer Awareness Tweezers)
Waterford Crystal (Pink Ribbons and Heart Bowl)
Wilson (Wilson HOPE Golf Balls)
Yoplait (Save Lids to Save Lives Campaign)

PLEASE do your research before you buy

Also VERY IMPORTANT remember to do self checks EVERY SINGLE month.

Starting out

2008-09-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Opening Blog Entry

Doing this, I have no idea why but it seems to be the thing to do after you set up your Face Book Profile.

Have had Face Book Profile for awhile now, so now one needs to get started on this little "project".

This Blog will most likely be updated sporadically to say the least & spelling errors will occur.... I make no apologizes & have no idea how to stop the ten zillion things rattling around that brain of mine at any given time....

Enjoy & Comment at will...

Later,
Rings90