carol’s blog

Small businesses can lead us to new and better ways of working and thinking. What do you find inspiring about the small businesses in your community?
Sponsored by American Express in association with NBC Universal for Shine A Light.

Without the brand to back them up, small businesses really have to rely on offering something worthwhile to bring in the customers and keep them coming back.  I've found that (usually) small businesses offer more quality products and are more attentive and friendly.

What are things you can do today because of technology that you couldn't do five years ago?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

Look up directions WHILE in the car.  So crucial when you have no sense of direction.

What vacations would you most like to take in the next five years?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

Korea to finally meet extended family members.  I just need to practice my Korean in the meantime and probably learn all my family members' names.  Backpacking through Europe would be nice too...

just watched call + response, a documentary about human trafficking and slavery, and walking out of the theater, i was pretty much shocked and speechless.

i knew it existed.  i've heard about it, read about it... but it just didn't seem very "real" until i saw the film.

• Slave traders made $32 BILLION last year alone.  That's more than Nike+Google+Starbucks combined.
  
• There are 27 million slaves in the world today.
• The Federal Government estimates that up to 17,000 slaves are trafficked into the U.S. every year.
• There are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in human history.
  

and it really is something that happens in our own backyard.  for four years, i walked past the restaurant pasand in downtown berkeley with no idea of its connection to sex and labor slavery.

and it's very likely that i have something in my closet or refrigerator or inside my cell phone that was made by a slave.  slavery is literally an industry.  it's a lucrative business.

the commodity?  humans.
the consumers?  all of us, whether we know it or not.

my friend tiffany (a.k.a. the CEO of our event planning venture) sent me pictures last week of a special event she planned as a bridesmaid.  she made the bride-to-be choose between two envelopes, one for dinner at a nice restaurant and the other for a manicure/pedicure.  whichever envelope was chosen would be the location of their date.

dinner invite

invite1

invite2

invite3

invite4

my friend tiffany planned a great bridal shower at our house on saturday and now she wants us to start up an event planning business on the side.  hmm... it actually sounds like a really good idea.  and now i would have an incentive to start my own typepad blog (*cough cough* shameless plug).

some pictures of the tea-party themed event:

sign-in table

food table

food table 2

food table 3

scones and muffins

mini sandwiches

biscuit sandwiches

cheese and crackers

veggie platter

cupcakes

cupcakes 2

iced tea

hot teas

tea favors

tea favor close-up

tea favors 2

What’s a simple thing you could do to save money, but are unwilling (or unable) to put to practice?
Sponsored by Microsoft Small Business.

Eat out less.  But I think it's worth it if I'm eating with other people because, then, it's not just about the food.

I also know I spent a lot on concerts and CD's this past summer.  I doubt I'll be spending as much now that summer is over but I am considering buying a ticket to see Phantom of the Opera in December...

finally posting something... on my third day working here.  i love it already.