by Nicole Ouellette | Sep 30, 2009 | Too Cute Tuesday
Too Cute Tuesday often shys away from crafts that take more then a few hours to complete, let alone multiple days. We have short attention spans and like the instant gratification of having accomplished something (anything!) between 7 and 9 pm on a Tuesday night.
All that said, We made a special exception for limoncello. You may remember that we got the party started with zesting lemons and Shakira just two short weeks ago. Tonight, it was time to see how it all came out.
Spoiler Alert: It doesn’t suck, which both surprised and delighted us.
by Nicole Ouellette | Sep 28, 2009 | Marketing Monday
Is your business or non-profit promoting itself in a cool new way? Contact me; I’d love to write about it!
I’ll know I’ve hit the big time when I am written about in the New York Times or the Huffington Post…or both! (Until then, I bask in my small-though-significant-to-me internet fame.) It’s probably a bit easier, however, for a national broadcasting agency to get this national press coverage.
by Nicole Ouellette | Sep 26, 2009 | Good For You
Recently, a local school district has closed off a computer technology program open to high school students. Their reasons cited were low enrollment. My old boss Chris wrote an excellent letter about his experience with the program in the local paper. It got me thinking, beyond the impact of one individual student, how do these programs effect the world beyond the classroom?
Schools exist to make productive members of society. And when you look into the data, a lot of these technical programs end up being pretty effective. They increase graduation rates and beyond that, students who go through these programs earn more money, have lower unemployment, and lower rates of substance abuse.
So subjectively, these programs are fantastic. But what is their actual return on investment, beyond preventing bad things from happening to teenagers?
by Nicole Ouellette | Sep 26, 2009 | This Week In Business
This week, I’ve driven at least 500 miles, 400 of which was to attend a cool conference in the hip city of Portland. Here’s what’s new on the business front:
I went to a social media conference and networked my butt off.
I (and about 200 other people) attended the Social FTW Media Conference in Portland Maine on Wednesday (hence the lack of posts the last couple days). I learned a little and mostly found it was fun to 1) meet people in real life who I’m ‘friends’ with on the internet and 2) feel like I actually understand social media and how and why businesses should use it. I certainly learned some cool stuff to take home but it’s always nice to know you might actually be good at what you do….Also nice to get to Portland and spend time with friends!
For those of you who want to continue the networking (I certainly do!) check out #ftw09 on Twitter and/or check out the Flyte blog. There’s also this article on the event via the NXT and this one via Maine Business.
by Nicole Ouellette | Sep 22, 2009 | Too Cute Tuesday
Too Cute Tuesday allows at least one interesting thing to happen to me every week.
I stopped by Annie’s Pride Farmstand in Ellsworth. If you haven’t been, it’s a good stand/general store/bakery and you should totally go to it if you are in Downeast Maine.
Apples are definitely in season and those sweet ones fresh off the trees are perfect for homemade applesauce. So this Tuesday, we sure got cooking!
This week, I’ve driven at least 500 miles, 400 of which was to attend a cool conference in the hip city of Portland. Here’s what’s new on the business front: