Soft and Warm Pashmina
Friday, November 20, 2009
I am big Pashmina fan. Even the name (that comes from pashm in Persian) sound musical to me and I love that gauzy weave. Just touching soft and warm Pashmina tells you what it is! Pashmina products are all time trendy and stylish. People of class from all over the world use these products - shawl, scarf and many more.
Given my interest, one of the best places I have found to shop for Pashmina is Spencer's Pashmina. Neatly laid out and user’s friendly site has a great collection of Pashmina products. Explore and find what they are offering and how. They have something for everyone. Imagery of the products is good and it gives a feeler of how one will look wrapped in one of those shawls.
What is more, their custom dye option makes them stand out from the rest. Ask for color you want and Spencer's Pashmina will deliver exactly the same.
Some of their shawls are already on my wish list.
posted by Shirazi @ 3:17 AM,
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Bon Appetit!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Claire Carroll is The Domestic Minx
Decadent, darling and delicious and capable of whipping up a domestic disaster in seconds...
A good cook is the peculiar gift of the gods. She must be a perfect creature from the brain to the palate, from the palate to the finger's end." Walter Savage LandorStep into my parlour, dear reader, and allow me to offer you something tasty and delectable, something I have prepared for you myself. Oh, I do hope you find it delicious, for I cook from the heart, my menu instinctive, intuitive, filled with secret ingredients and my own special sauce. There is no set recipe here, for it is the very essence of me that I prepare for your pleasure. And, like all seasoned cooks, I do so like to make it up as I go along, my sifting and splashing, stirring and melding all a delicious alchemy, a wonderful misch masch of creative cuisine. Yes, writing is my primal pleasure and as necessary to me as food to a hungry man.
I love to write, to create, to express in the way that I might create a dish delicious. While this nourishes and satisfies my soul, it is my deepest desire to have my offerings tasted and enjoyed, nurturing others in the most delectable way. There is nothing more delightful than evoking the licking of lips, the closing of eyes, the murmured blessings of brava brava, bellissima from a satisfied customer.
Of this I am certain. For this deep dark pleasure is the reason I write. My bon appetit. My joie de vivre. My raison d'etre.
I want to be tasted and I want to be enjoyed. I want to elicit delight on the deep and primal level that a bowl of mousse au chocolat might. It is my pleasure to fill each plate with rapture, surprise, sugar, spice, warmth and wonder. And most of all, I want the plate licked clean. With cries for "More!"I think this is why keeping my blog is such a delicious pastime. Not only can my creations be so much more bounteous, there is the promise of delightful immediacy, interaction and involvement with those that wish to taste my offerings. I can be le plat du jour!
And I do so love it when there are compliments to the chef!!
For my heart and soul are in each dish, dear reader, each ingredient drawn from my imagination, my experience, my dreams and desires. Oh and there is plenty on the menu for those that are hungry. There is a veritable smorgasbord.
I only hope, in it's ripe and saucy richness, that it does not leave you with indigestion!
Bon Appetit!!
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 3:34 PM,
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Live, Love, Learn, Lead - Help each other to succeed
Monday, November 16, 2009
Bob Glaza
How is simple - taking time to sit and write. Blogging is a little bit like painting and drawing to me. Its a creative outlet. Time must be carved out. And we all have 24 hours and I break mine down in chunks - but have never blogged about it. Pretty boring stuff explaining how hours are spent :) Writing a post is comparable to sitting in a studio and staring at a blank canvas. Or watching a baseball game, grass grow or paint dry. Its an investment. There are days when I seemingly think of things to blog about during most waking moments. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately - many of the ideas I imagine drift away sooner than I can put them into concrete terms. Why blog is one of those questions that will always fuel One Reader at a Time. In answering the question "why"? it is important to recognize the value of building community. We have a natural inclination to be part of something bigger. Community through conversation helps fill this need. Plus, like everyone, I want to change the world! Finally, stating it simply as possible, to blog is to feel good.
I use Blogger and have considered switching to TypePad - but I'm basically lazy. The templates available in Blogger are adequate for me at this time. Redesigning would take a big time commitment. I've been through a few redesigns in my life - lots of details. While I'm something of a detail freak, maybe one day I'll be motivated enough to switch. I play with a number of widgets as promotion tools - if you visit One Reader you'll see them. The best promotion - and community building - tool I've found is commenting on other blogs. Too often people visit blogs and leave without comment. When you find a post that's worthy of a comment - say it! Trust me when I say the poster will appreciate and honor you. The true conversation architect will respond. I like the Daily Fix at MarketingProfs for inspiration - I'm a marketer :) Believe me, there are many fine blogs on which to leave comments. Another good way to promote your blog is participate in a project - like "Advice for Graduates" or "The Age of Conversation". Of course, the "Z-List" has taken on a world of its own :) And Dio's Fine Art of Blogging is a worthy path of promotion.
Blogging matters to me because it is a form of exploration. Organizations are in a state of constant motion. Think of them as part of the ever expanding universe. They are organic in my view. They either grow or enclose on themselves. In order to grow, an organization must reach out - leave the shore that is comfortable. Blogging for organizations is still new when you take a long view - back and forward - of organizational life. My blog viewpoints are mine alone. In a general way, I will post on current topics in my industry. They are in no way intended to be taken as news or a reflection of organization's views. The only connection is I work here. I have been part of this system and culture for over 20 years.
Any comment to a post gets me "high". I think that could be assumed for all conversationalists. There are 3 posts that stand out. First one is probably here - wherein I discover the magic of conversation with David Armano at Logic+Emotion, Mack Collier at The Viral Garden and Gavin Heaton at Servant of Chaos. Second is combination posts. The value of community is recognized in these posts. Meeting Liz Strauss at Successful-Blog as a mystery unfolds plus being named an official SOB. Thirdly, would have to be the fun of the Turtle Meme. The lesson and value of blog sharing is evident in this little game. Fourth - I know I said 3 but the beauty is in breaking the rules - is the book review here on "A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future".
I don't (make money by blogging). I've thought about Google text ads. I've thought about Amazon book links. Never figured out exactly where any of them would fit. I've determined the few pennies aren't worth the effort. I could be wrong :)
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 8:17 AM,
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Mom gadget makes great money
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Gayla McCord
The difference I hope to make through blogging is by branding my name as one that can be trusted -- one that is known as a friendly, honest and most of all approachable name for anyone who would like to explore earning potential online.
Living in Indiana where the auto industry was hit hard with layoffs, I felt it was my calling to help people in my general area find alternatives to uprooting their families and moving out of state. I think blogging is a great way to communicate and to create friendships. It’s providing a means for people to get news and opinions that aren’t just coming from mass media anymore.
I blog from the heart and I blog on what I feel people are searching for. I’ve always felt that if I can’t educate my readers I should at least be able to entertain them. I began working online several years ago and my online presence has just sort of naturally progressed to where it is today.
A blog can be many things – from a resource for family and friends to stay close, to a type of therapeutic effort to means to make a living. It all depends on what the persons goal is when writing. I’d say I let my topics pick me. I have a few websites and news resources that I check out, but most times I develop content from questions I see going unanswered on the web. I think blog templates should be clean and uncluttered. Too much noise makes it difficult to focus on the real message. I don’t use any other means of promotion outside of comments and social networking options like StumbleUpon.
Blogging matters because now everyone can have a voice and it’s not only the college educated or the big name publishers who say whose opinions and stories are important.
Before MomGadget, my primary focus was on patient advocacy. My personal story was published in Marie Claire and Fitness Magazine as well as my name, answers and opinions are featured in the new book by Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
Most recently, my online efforts have provided enough financial security that I was able to tell my husband it’s time he start pursuing his own dream. He was able to quit his job and start doing what he wants to do for a change.
Over the last several months I’ve averaged $3,000; however, last month I broke a personal goal of $5,000. I’ve recently set a new goal and plan to be making $10,000 per month by September.
The difference I hope to make through blogging is by branding my name as one that can be trusted -- one that is known as a friendly, honest and most of all approachable name for anyone who would like to explore earning potential online.Living in Indiana where the auto industry was hit hard with layoffs, I felt it was my calling to help people in my general area find alternatives to uprooting their families and moving out of state. I think blogging is a great way to communicate and to create friendships. It’s providing a means for people to get news and opinions that aren’t just coming from mass media anymore.
I blog from the heart and I blog on what I feel people are searching for. I’ve always felt that if I can’t educate my readers I should at least be able to entertain them. I began working online several years ago and my online presence has just sort of naturally progressed to where it is today.
A blog can be many things – from a resource for family and friends to stay close, to a type of therapeutic effort to means to make a living. It all depends on what the persons goal is when writing. I’d say I let my topics pick me. I have a few websites and news resources that I check out, but most times I develop content from questions I see going unanswered on the web. I think blog templates should be clean and uncluttered. Too much noise makes it difficult to focus on the real message. I don’t use any other means of promotion outside of comments and social networking options like StumbleUpon.
Blogging matters because now everyone can have a voice and it’s not only the college educated or the big name publishers who say whose opinions and stories are important.
Before MomGadget, my primary focus was on patient advocacy. My personal story was published in Marie Claire and Fitness Magazine as well as my name, answers and opinions are featured in the new book by Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
Most recently, my online efforts have provided enough financial security that I was able to tell my husband it’s time he start pursuing his own dream. He was able to quit his job and start doing what he wants to do for a change.
Over the last several months I’ve averaged $3,000; however, last month I broke a personal goal of $5,000. I’ve recently set a new goal and plan to be making $10,000 per month by September.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 11:38 AM,
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Auntie Hattie and her web
Monday, November 2, 2009
In a way, I'm always "on" my blog. I blog between doing other things. I like to look at items on the Internet , link to them, and comment on them. Local news interests me, too, or happenings in the neighborhood. Left politics are a strong concern of mine, and I am a feminist. When I travel I take along my laptop and a digital camera and post "live" on location if I can. I also love to write about books, art, and music.
I'm not a "techno" person at all, which is why Type Pad is ideal for me. I just use a standard template and their easy to use posting features, and that is satisfactory.
Blogging is a good medium for people like me who are living in out of the way places and are therefore isolated from large numbers of like-minded people.My blog is like a journal, except in that a few people besides me read it and in that I avoid writing about specifically personal matters. I have faithful readers from Australia and Scandanavia, and Berkeley (!) for instance, that I would never have been able to get to know in any other way but through blogging. I have made a few very good cyberfriends. One of them is moving soon to my home town, and we are planning a lot of activities!
Alas, I am a big hit on the porn scene, because there is something I call aunty porn that is very popular. Well, those enquiries for "hot aunty sex" and "nude aunties"certainly keep my hit counter busy! I hope the lads are not too disappointed by my political and social commentary!
Google wanted to put ads on my site once, but I turned them down. I did not like the content of the ads, which were mostly for dating services and which I felt were anti-feminist. I am concerned about the tone of my blog, so at the moment, I do not blog for money.
In my pre-retirement life I was a teacher of English to speakers of other languages and a prison educator. I am the mother of two and grandmother of two. I am 67, which makes me one of the oldest of bloggers, but not the oldest! Blogging is a new lease on my writing life and a great pastime.
Labels: Fine Art of Blogging
posted by Shirazi @ 9:47 PM,
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Eyeglasses Fashion
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Zenni is my favorite high fashion eyeglasses where I can buy good quality and fashionable eyeglasses for a reasonable price starting as low as low as $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses. Explore the site and see what they are offering and how. Also see their new arrivals and have a look at Holiday Fun Eyeglasses. They are the best for any taste.
posted by Shirazi @ 3:44 PM,
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Car Reviews
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I love cars; big cars, sleek cars, new models and given chance would like to know all about them (Who doesn’t?). My passion lead me to the Car Connection. What I saw there is simply amazing. Any car lover will love those pictures because they present the emotional proposition present in all cars. I explored the site and read through some useful and in depth reviews that can be helpful for any car lover or buyers.
Have look at Chevrolet and see what you find there. It is amazing to know so much about this dream car. Given the value and satisfaction, Chevrolet has earned a great repute in automobile industry. Stand at any road and you can’t miss seeing that Chevrolets.
Experts from TheCarConnection.com have spent extensive time in the driver's seat driving and testing before writing their observations. I suggest car lover explore the Car Connection and see what they are offering. If the quality reviews and images do not move you, nothing will.
The Car Connection presents one of the biggest collection of car images. Imagery is good and gives the feeler of vehicle being shown. In addition to the images, the reviews at the Car Connection are also informative and interesting. Reviews focuses on design, interior and user experience and performance. What is more, the car reviews are posted often. If you are interested in cars. Visit the Car Connection.
posted by Shirazi @ 11:09 AM,
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How You Read Manuals?
Mostly the brochures are artistically laid out and presented whereas users’ manuals are like government notifications; life less, color less and totally technical. The brochure gets the bigger share of budget as compared to the manuals. This indicates that most concerns treat potential users so much better than existing users and focus accordingly?
I think this should be other way round. I am not suggesting that marketers should stop making the documents to be given away for free. What I am saying is the focus should change. Users should get much nicer manuals, the way they want to, including online. That will help the potential users to buy and existing users to learn?
Paying more attention and better budget allocation to product manuals and support will help everyone. There is no harm in trying to get new customers for anyone, particularly those who are in the market for short term but those who are here for long term must refashion their focus and invest more users’ manuals. It is the users manuals that can bring loyal users, passionate users, repeat customers and can form the bases of what is called customers relationship.
Here is the simple philosophy: Users manuals will get passionate users who will get others. The better users get at something (through learning from freely available manuals), the better the user experience. The better the user experience, the more likely they are to keep trying to use the same product. Nobody is passionate about something they are stuck with. Helping your users learn is the best way to up the odds they'll become repeat customers.
Creating fabulous users’ manuals might be a far better use of the budget than creating fabulous ads and brochures. If traditional advertising and marketing is becoming less and less effective, why not move all that talent including designers, artists, copywriters and others from before the sale to after the sale?
I think this should be other way round. I am not suggesting that marketers should stop making the documents to be given away for free. What I am saying is the focus should change. Users should get much nicer manuals, the way they want to, including online. That will help the potential users to buy and existing users to learn?
Paying more attention and better budget allocation to product manuals and support will help everyone. There is no harm in trying to get new customers for anyone, particularly those who are in the market for short term but those who are here for long term must refashion their focus and invest more users’ manuals. It is the users manuals that can bring loyal users, passionate users, repeat customers and can form the bases of what is called customers relationship.
Here is the simple philosophy: Users manuals will get passionate users who will get others. The better users get at something (through learning from freely available manuals), the better the user experience. The better the user experience, the more likely they are to keep trying to use the same product. Nobody is passionate about something they are stuck with. Helping your users learn is the best way to up the odds they'll become repeat customers.
Creating fabulous users’ manuals might be a far better use of the budget than creating fabulous ads and brochures. If traditional advertising and marketing is becoming less and less effective, why not move all that talent including designers, artists, copywriters and others from before the sale to after the sale?
posted by Shirazi @ 11:00 AM,
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What is a blog to you?
Internet is a lonely place without Blogging; a fine art, science, also economics. Blogs are different to different people. Fine Art of Blogging asks you to share your views on what is a blog to you?
Please contribute your thoughts on blogging in general. In particular, write how you blog? Why? How blogging matters in life and work? Success stories and inspirations. Answer these questions and more (add what you feel is important dimension for you) and email me.
Fine Art Claimer
My blogs are a resource for my writings. More often, I blog informally, sharing impressions, generating ideas to see how they invoke reactions, keeping track of others’ work in the fields of my interest, or simply ranting or pointing out things that come to my attention.
Also, I use blogging as a platform to prune ideas. This is where I meet others and share experiences. “I am neither geek, nor nerd, I am not a hacker, a phreaker, a programmer or any variety of technoid dweeb.”
