Politically Correct Halloween? Get a Grip!

Have you heard about the whole “We’re a Culture, Not a Costume” campaign?  I’m so annoyed that I even have to spend my time addressing this ridiculous topic, but when political correctness starts infringing on my favorite holiday, we have a problem!

They say their mission is:

“to educate and facilitate discussion about racism and to promote racial harmony and to create a safe, non-threatening environment to allow participants to feel comfortable to express their feelings.”

But I contend that their mission is trying to take all fun out of the holiday.  Check out a few of their ridiculous posters here:

You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!!!  If you dress as a geisha girl you’re racist?  C’mon y’all!

Look, I do believe that racism still exists and is something we should all be aware of every day.  Additionally, I do believe that we should be educated about and sensitive to other cultures/customs.  However, Halloween is all about being something else for 1 day.  If I was skinny, I would totally dress as a geisha girl.  Why?  Because the hair/makeup/outfits are beautiful and I’m already so pale I wouldn’t need the white makeup.  Dressing as a geisha girl is not a stereotype.  Why?  Because Geisha girls are real.  The real geisha girls are a legitimate and beautiful part of Asian culture.

Would it be offensive to Spanish women if I dressed as a Flamenco dancer?  It shouldn’t be.  When I was in Spain I saw some truly amazing Flamenco dancers who taught me a lesson about being a strong, confident woman and not being afraid to try new things.  Flamenco dancers are real, not a stereotype.  Idolizing the beauty of a Flamenco dancer or geisha girl and dressing as one for Halloween does not mean you’re stereotyping an entire race.  I don’t assume all Spanish women are Flamenco dancers, and I don’t assume all Asian women are Geisha girls.

I’m white.  Should I be offended if someone dresses as a cowgirl?  How about if someone dresses with a plaid shirt, cowboy boots, daisy dukes, and chews a piece of straw…should I be offended as someone from the Midwest?  No…why?  Because it’s freaking HALLOWEEN!’

Here’s my big question…are you only allowed to dress in a costume that is in line with your own race?  Am I not allowed to portray any character that is not white?  Because if that’s the case, then the world would have missed out on my brother’s all time best costume ever…Mr. T.  He went all out with full body theatrical makeup, shaved his head and added a Mohawk, and even got his ears pierced the day before just so he was authentic.  Was dressing as Mr. T racist or honoring a great character?

If you really want to make an issue of Halloween, how about the over-sexification (yeah, I may have just made that word up) of female costumes?

For example…would you like to go as Nemo…the sweet little Disney fish?  Here you go– Naughty Nemo:

Or would you like to go as a referee?  Sure…but you have to be the Sexy LOVE Referee…

How about a ladybug?  You can’t sexify an insect can you?  Oh yes, there’s a Luscious Ladybug costume for crissakes!  Because when you think ladybug, you certainly assume a corset must be involved, right?

And if you think there’s no way they could make a sexy Rosie the Robot (from the Jetson’s) costume…you’d be wrong:

Here’s a fun game.  Go to any Halloween Costume website and click on Women’s costumes.  What are the sub-sections?  Probably “Sexy, Plus-Sized, and Maternity,” right?  Now click on the Men’s Costume link.  Wait, where’s the “Sexy” men’s costumes section?  Not there?  Shocking!

Let’s go a step further and compare some men’s/women’s costumes side-by-side:

See my point?  But who really cares?  Halloween is about dressing up as someone/something else for a day and having fun.  Here’s the thing…there are TONS of offensive/inappropriate costumes out there, but I truly do not believe that when someone picks up a Geisha girl costume, they are stereotyping the entire Asian female population.

And now I’ll close this rant blog post on a positive note.  Here is my all time favorite Halloween costume.  This is me as Rainbow Brite at age 4.  My mom sewed the amazing costume by hand which would have made me the perfect Rainbow Brite except for the fact that I insisted on putting glittery stickers all over my face, attach the blue sparkly eyelashes to my eyebrows, and spray my hair with silver glitter which actually just made it look gray.  Perfection.  THIS is what Halloween’s about!

What was your all-time favorite Halloween costume?

The Things I Will Miss…

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to the sweetest dog in the world.  She was an absolutely perfect dog and it breaks my heart that she’s gone.  While we find comfort in knowing that she’s no longer in pain, all we can do is look around the house and see reminders of our time with her.  

So, Rebel, here are just a few of the things I will miss about you…

• I will miss opening the garage door with my hands full of bags, and you sticking your head in each one to see if there are any treats inside.
• I will miss you thinking my time in the restroom is the perfect time for a butt rub.
• I will miss the sound of your nails on the tile in the kitchen.
• I will miss the stand-offs you had with Stoli over every bone and bowl of food in the house.
• I will miss seeing you wrestle with Eric and barking/growling like you were mad…and then running back to play some more.
• I will miss you nudging your head under my hands while I was texting on my cell phone.
• I will miss having to bail you out of doggie jail in Baldwin when you went for a swim in the muddy pond.
• I will miss seeing you try to jump over the fence every time you see a cat.
• I will miss how patiently you waited for McDonald’s french fries.
• I will miss seeing how excited you got when we asked if you wanted to go for a ride.
• I will miss seeing you with your ears up when you were waiting for a treat.
• I will miss how you used to trick the little dogs into giving up their bones by getting them excited to go outside.
• I will miss you pushing us aside so you could claim your part of the couch.
• I will miss how you quickly stole Eric’s spot in bed as soon as he got up in the morning.
• I will miss tossing your treat in the air and seeing you catch it every time.
• I will miss hearing you rummage through the trash can and then seeing you try to play innocent when you got caught.
• I will miss the big sigh you would give when I gave you a big bear hug.
• I will miss seeing you rummage through the couch cushions looking for crumbs and spare bones.
  
• I will miss how you would lay next to the table any time a bag of bones was sitting on the edge.
• I will miss snuggling on the couch with you while you laid you head on my lap.
• I will miss you pretending like you need to go outside just because you knew you’d get a treat when you came back in.
• I will miss kissing your forehead.
• I will miss how hot your head would get if I rubbed your ears.
• I will miss you’d get jealous if I hugged Eric.
• I will miss the soft grumbles you would make when we pet you.
• I will miss your soft snoring.
• I will miss seeing you chase and bark at rabbits in your sleep.
• I will miss you drooling on my leg no matter what I was eating.
• I will miss seeing your tail wag when we said you were a “good girl.”

And you were a Good Girl, Rebel.  The best.

Nothing is the same here without you and we miss you so much that it hurts to breathe.

We thank God for bringing you into our lives and know you’re chasing all the cats in heaven.

We love you, baby girl!

_____________________________________________

 

HEAVEN’S DOGGY-DOOR

My best friend closed his eyes last
night, As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain, And it was hard for him to stand.

The thoughts that scurried through
my head, As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH…his many charms.

Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense “I love you gaze”,
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.

But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, “You should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
HE’s installed a ‘doggy-door”!

—Jan Cooper — 1995

_________________________________________________

I ONLY WANTED YOU

They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I’d walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.

— Anonymous —

________________________________________________________

To My Best Friend

The day they laid you down to sleep
I prayed to the Lord; your soul he’ll keep
Until the appointed day and time
when together we’ll meet; and all will be fine

With all God’s; creatures great and small
go run and play now, have a ball
No more aches; and no more pain
just bright sunshine; no more rain

Rest in peace; for now best friend
cradled in God’s arms; to the end
Dream of that special; day and time
when we’ll meet at the Bridge; one last time

Although we’ll be separated; for a long time
we’ll be together then; and all will be fine
We’ll cross Rainbow Bridge; side by side
with a soft warm feeling; deep down inside

Once again then; all will be fine
we’re together forever; till the end of time

John Quealy

Best Cupcake in Kansas City? Sugar Rush in Olathe, KS

I would consider myself a bit of a cupcake connoisseur.  I travel often, and always try to seek out the “best” cupcake in every city.  However, for many years I’ve been disappointed in the cupcake options in Kansas City.  I’ve tried Small Cakes, Cupcake a la Mode, Baby Cakes, Three Girls Cupcakes, and many more (though I have not yet tried any of the mobile cupcake trucks, and I hear those are amazing).  None of them have caught my attention.  They all taste like cupcakes from a box with uninspired flavors (white cake with chocolate frosting…chocolate cake with vanilla frosting…chocolate cake with chocolate frosting…blah).  If I’m going to pay $4 for a cupcake, it better be something I couldn’t bake at home with the help of a Betty Crocker box of mix.

However, last year I found a baker that blew my mind.  Her all organic cupcakes were beyond amazing, baked from scratch with the highest quality ingredients.  We bought 300 for our wedding, and my guests are still talking about those cupcakes nearly a year later.  As wonderful as those cupcakes were, I felt as though I’d been ruined for all future cupcakes because she only bakes cupcakes for weddings and does not own a storefront.  Unless I attended a wedding that she catered, I would never taste her cupcakes again.  I was convinced that no other cupcake could live up to my expectations.

I was dead wrong.

When Sugar Rush Cupcakes opened in Olathe, KS, I was so hopeful that they would have the gourmet cupcakes that I’d been dreaming of!  And they did!!!  Since they opened in March, I have tried every single flavor they offer and have yet to find one that isn’t amazing.  Sugar Rush is family owned, and their cupcakes are made from scratch (not from a mix).  Their recipes have been handed down through their family and are anything but ordinary.  

My favorites are Boston Cream Pie, Banana Nut, Caramel Apple Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Raspberry.

My husband craves the Peanut Butter & Jelly, Carrot Cake, Snickerdoodle, and Butterfinger.

I take a dozen of these cupcakes everywhere I go now (business meetings, to my hair salon, to family gatherings, etc) and people OOOH and AHHH over them every time.   The last time I went to a family gathering, I got a call right before I left saying “You’re going to bring those awesome cupcakes, right?”  I’m pretty sure I would have been uninvited if I forgot the cupcakes.

Their other amazing flavors include Hot Fudge Sundae, Lemon, Coconut, Rocky Road, Red Velvet, Mint Chocolate Chip, Root Beer Float, Cafe Mocha, Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter Cup, Cherry Lemonade, Blue Raspberry and many more.  

Trust me…any flavor you choose will be amazing.  They’re located at 13778 S. Blackbob Road, Olathe, KS 66062 (in the same shopping center as Jose Peppers).  Go check them out and be sure to say hi to them on their Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Rush/117737808295853

Random Collection of Hello Kitty Awesomeness

Some day, when I have a little girl, she will have no choice but to live in a Hello Kitty world.  I loved Hello Kitty when I was little and would spend as much time as possible in the Sanrio store.  My parents would say “Let’s go!” and I’d say “Wait, I just wanted to show you one more thing” and I would search for something else to add to my wish list.  And, despite the fact that I was obsessed with Hello Kitty from a very young age, my parents still call Hello Kitty “My Little Kitty!”

Anyway, I subscribe to several blogs that post random Hello Kitty finds from around the world, and I will share a few of my favorite here:

Hello Kitty Toast Cutter

 

 

Hello Kitty Doggie Jewelry

 

Hello Kitty Race Car

 

Hello Kitty Vodka

Hello Kitty Engine Oil

Hello Kitty Taser Gun

 

Hello Kitty Wedding Gown

Hello Kitty Toilet Paper

Hello Kitty Doc Martens

 

 

 

When I was 14, I totally would have had Hello Kitty Braces

 

Combining 3 of my favorite things: Red Bull, Jewelry, and Hello Kitty

 

Here are some more bizarre items available:

Hello Kitty Urinal Cakes

Hello Kitty Septic Tank

Hello Kitty Tank

 

There are hundreds of crazy Hello Kitty products that I just don’t feel comfortable posting here….but let’s just say that there are some pretty wild HK fans out there!

What’s on your Hello Kitty wish list?

Want to Know How Much I Care About the Harry Potter Saga Ending?

I care thiiiiiiiiiiiis much:

I, for one, am excited the saga of Happy Potter has come to an end.  Granted, I have a special level of hate for Harry Potter because we share the same last name.

To give you some context, one day when I was deathly ill in college, I went to the campus health clinic (where they gave you a pregnancy and mono test every time regardless of your symptoms)  and as I was sniffling my way through the intake nurse’s questions, she gleefully asked “Potter?  Are you related to Harry Potter?”

Yes, moron!  I’m related to a fictional literary character who is a wizard.  Now take my chart and go find me someone who can actually give me some drugs!

This has been the story of my life since 1997.  Every bank teller, customer service rep, and receptionist has had a joke for me for 14 years, and assumed they were the first person to think of such a witty connection.  So, adios Harry Potter.  I don’t know how the book/movie ended, and I don’t care.  But if I wrote the ending, it would have included a fiery death.

Moving on…

Big Brother 13: Episode 1- First Impressions

Big Brother 13 started tonight, and the first episode has left me feeling as excited as I was right before my gallbladder surgery (knowing at some point I would feel better, but not enjoying my current status).

Let’s cover the new cast first.

Lawon

First Impression: Trying hard to get attention.  He will have some good one liners like tonight’s: “My mind is like a Twizzler.” But I don’t think he will have the stamina or mental agility to compete with the Veterans. He just seems flighty. He will likely fulfill floater status for several weeks if he’s able to keep people laughing. If this blog post was a senior yearbook, I’d vote him Most Likely to Entertain During Showtime After Dark

Shelly

First Impression:   She will have a hard time relating to the other girls.  She won’t be into the drama, will tell it like it is, and will be unimpressed by stories of modeling or cocktail waitressing.  My guess is she works for Cabella’s or Bass Pro Shops.  She’s corporate, so hopefully she has a killer “it’s just business, not personal” mentality because people who fall off the banana first and are over 40 never win BB.  I’d vote her Most Likely to (s)Mother Jordan.

Adam

First Impression: He’s playing a caricature, but I will like the real Adam that comes out around week 3.  His metal rawr will get very annoying if he keeps it up, but I find his interests compelling.  Metal music plus 90210?  Seeing Dick in the house is as good as Tori Spelling walking through the door?  Wha?!?! I think it will be interesting to see if Dick will like Adam or crush his super fan dreams.  I’d vote him Most Likely to be in an All-Girl Alliance.

Cassi

First Impression: She looks like Thirteen from House (Olivia Wilde) which is distracting.  She got very little face time in the first episode which makes me question if she has enough personality to warrant attention.  However, I’m guessing Rachel will be most jealous of Cassi because I’d argue she’s the prettiest girl in the house, and that could provide entertainment.  Plus, she sounds more intelligent (so far) than Porsche (and her name isn’t Porsche, so her parents probably did something right).  I’d vote her Most Likely to Float (in the pool and in the game).

Porsche

Speaking of Porsche…. First Impression:  Dislike.  First of all, her name is Porsche.  I understand she didn’t choose her name, but I would have used my middle name if my parents named me after a car.  Second, she’s a “VIP” cocktail waitress, and she lied about her job because people would be jealous of her fabulous lifestyle?  Wait, what?!?!  She’s dumb but doesn’t know it (and not in the endearing Jordan style).  I’d vote her Most Likely to Name Drop.

Keith

First Impression:  Super fan with no skills.  If I watched the first episode on mute, I would have liked him.  He’s an HR Manager with strong faith.  He’s a snappy dresser and has a great smile.  Those are all good things.  However, when you think you have the “perfect plan” before you even get into the house AND draw it on a piece of paper AND name your non-existent alliance “Keith’s Angels” you easily become my vote for Most Likely to Get Blindsided by a Backdoor Vote.

Kalia

First Impression:  She will be this season’s love/hate character.  Half will love her because I guarantee she will start some drama and do lots of smack talking (i.e. not wanting to be paired with Lawon).  Half will hate her because she will be loud and aggressive.  Kudos to CBS for putting a lady with some curves on the show!  However, when you call yourself the “real” Carrie Bradshaw, I’m inclined to dislike you.  Do you know how many love/relationship bloggers there are who sip martinis?  Honey, we’re all Carrie Bradshaw!  Simmer down.  You’re not that fabulous.  I’d vote her Most Likely to Complain About E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!

Dominic

First Impression:  He’s only here because he knows a casting agent.  First of all, he didn’t know who Evel Dick and Danielle were.  Second, he lives with his mom, doesn’t know how to do laundry or dishes?  What?!?!  That will cause lots of problems in this house if he makes it past week 4.  When they get grumpy and stir-crazy they start noticing who cooks, cleans, and washes dishes.  He won’t get by on his good looks (though I personally don’t find him attractive).  If he and Porsche start hooking up, we’ll be looking at a summer of Dumb and Dumber.  I’d vote him Most Likely to Be The First One Voted Out.

As for the Veterans:

Jeff and Jordan

They’ll keep viewers watching because they’re so darn cute.  Jordan will continue to win random challenges, but fail anything physical (and vice versa for Jeff).  They will be the power couple they’ve always been and will distract us from the Brenchel trainwreck that the CBS producers will shove down our throats.  Everyone will want to align with them, and Jordan will think everyone is sweet, but Jeff will have to sort through people’s true intentions. However, we will have to hear about how Jordan doesn’t need the money because she’s already won BB once before (as will Dick).  Notable Jordan quote tonight:  “He makes me feel like chopped liver, and I hate chopped liver.”

Dick and Danielle

They haven’t spoken in 3 years?  Ouch!  But like Jeff said, not talking to each other worked last time.  I will be highly disappointed if Evel Dick doesn’t make Brendan cry by the 2nd week.  Danielle looks good as a brunette, but I’m pretty sure Dick has had some botox on his forehead.  Something isn’t right there.  I think the twist will help Danielle this season.  She may even throw a comp hoping that they are put on the block so she can campaign against her dad.  I’m not saying that’s a good strategy, but it looked like the wheels were turning in her head.  Dick’s put on some weight, so I don’t think he will be much help in the physical challenges, but I think Danielle could have out-lasted Rachel tonight.

Brenchel (ugh!)

Really, CBS?!  REALLY?!?!?  You HAD to ruin my summer with the “uh-huh-huh-huh” laugh?!?!  I intensely dislike them, and hate how the new twist affects voting one of them off early.  Nothing else to say because talking about them makes me lose my pleasing personality!

 

In terms of strategy, if I was on that couch when Chenbot said to pair up, I would have paired with Adam.  I don’t think he will be strong physically, but my gut instinct on him is that he will be super loyal to whoever he friends in the house.  He won’t get into a distracting showmance so he can stay focused on the competition.  He won’t be too into himself and will be able to keep the conversation going on a variety of topics over the next 3 months.

Once the “Big Brother Golden Key” twist was announced, this season got interesting.  I’ll be honest, my overall first impression of the newbies was “meh.”  No one stood out as someone I’d really like or as a clear competitor.  Everyone just seemed average and working to build their modeling/acting portfolio.  However, the twist adds an extra level of complexity to the game.  The question is no longer “Who do you want to vote out?” but “Who can you afford to leave in the house for 4 weeks (plenty long enough to build super strong alliances)?” 

It pains me that Rachel won HoH, but since I like Dick, Danielle, Jeff, and Jordan, I’d have to nominate a newbie.  I think I’d have to nominate Shelly/Cassi first.  I’d want to test them because I think they’ll both float if given a chance, and being on the block is a sure-fire way to expose personalities.  Also, I’m neither impressed not annoyed by either yet, so I wouldn’t feel like I’m making a risky move by guaranteeing them 4 weeks in the house.

So, those were my Episode 1 first impressions.  What did you think?

By the way, I’ll probably keep posting my thoughts/opinions here sporadically throughout the season, but if you want a daily recap of what’s happening in the house plus super witty commentary, go over to Hamsterwatch.com.  I’m a big fan.

 

 

The 4th of July with a 4 Year Old Pyromaniac

Friends and family know I am no fan of fireworks.  I don’t like things that are loud, unpredictable, and use fire.  Then again, I’m a pretty anxious person….always have been.  When I was a kid, I almost choked out my Aunt Kim when she took me through an automatic car wash.  I don’t do loud noises, small enclosed spaces or large crowds (don’t even get me started on why sidewalk sales at the mall were invented by the devil!).

My husband and his family LIVE for fireworks.  I think they would give up Christmas and birthdays just to have a huge fireworks display on the 4th.  So, each year I mentally prepare myself for watching my husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law endlessly light fireworks simultaneously while occasionally throwing them at one another before they explode.  Good times.  As an example of their creative fireworks solutions, see the picture to the right which displays their staging method for a giant roman candle.  Um…yeah….

This year, I triple dosed my anxiety meds because my 4-year old nephew wanted to light fireworks like the “big kids.”  He started small with smoke bombs, snakes, sparklers, and poppers, but soon those weren’t enough to satisfy this little pyromaniac.  He needed FIRE!!!  He loved when “Uncle Eric” set up “tank wars” (when he faced multiple tanks towards one another to see which one would ‘win’).  He quickly learned that after a tank was finished exploding, they sometimes light on fire…..and that’s when the 4th of July really got interesting.  The new phrase of the evening was “Can we burn that now?”  and “Let’s burn this place down!!!”

Keep in mind that when I was 4 years old, someone lit one of those fireworks that shoot out parachutes and I took off running as fast as my little feet would take me because it scared the crap out of me.  My mom couldn’t even catch me (partially because she was laughing so hard).  She said all anyone could see is a streak of blonde hair pass by them and I ran by shrieking.

But Collin, my nephew, is a dare-devil (and a total sweetheart).  Watch the videos we took of him yesterday and try to count how many times he says “fire” or “burn.”

The “Turn That Frown Upside Down” Kitty Post

When I’m having a bad day, all I do is Google cute kitten videos and pics.  You can’t stay grumpy when you see precious little baby furballs playing with strings, sleeping, or running into walls.

So, here is my compilation of the best kitty videos and pics I’ve seen lately.

And here are some fun pictures of all kinds of cute animals!

Every Social Media Statistic I Know

Every time I deliver some kind of training session on Social Media, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc I kick myself for having to re-create the slides about how quickly the industry is growing.

Part of the problem is that these statistics are really only accurate the day they were collected because the social media landscape is changing daily. However, I thought it would be fun to compile every social media statistic I’ve found/bookmarked over the past year.

Enjoy!

First, check out this graphic that shows what happens on social media every 2 hours:

Social Media (in general):

• Nearly one-half of US adults surveyed say they use at least one social networking site, up from the 26% who said so in 2008. (Source)
• Meanwhile, the average age of adults who use social sites has increased, to age 38 as of November 2010, from age 33 in 2008, with women now comprising 56% of the social networking users base (vs. 53% in 2008). (source)
• 62% of small businesses online post 8+ times per week. (source)
• 57% of people talk more online than they do in “real-life” (source)
• 80% of college faculty use social media in some form of their teaching (source)
• 58% of companies are using social media now, and 79% are planning to do so in the future. (source)
• 25% of internet users are more likely to find out about brands via social media (source)

Facebook:

• There were 500 Million users in 2010. That’s 1 in every 13 people on Earth. (source)
• 72% of all web users in the United States are on Facebook (source)
• 41% log in every day (source)
• Fully one-half of Facebook users (50%) are age 36+ (source)
• 92% of social networking users use Facebook (source)
• 40% of users follow a brand on Facebook (source)
• 51% of people who follow brands will purchase from that brand. (source)
• 48% of 18-34 year-olds check Facebook immediately after waking up (me included) (source)
• Mobile Facebook users are twice as active than non-mobile users (source)
• 20 Million users become fans of pages per day (source)

LinkedIn:

• In 2011, LinkedIn reported over 100 Million users, and adds a new one every second.  (source)
• 44 Million of LinkedIn’s users are from the United States (source)
• 73 of the Fortune 100 use LinkedIn Hiring Solutions (source)
• For example, nearly twice as many men (63%) as women (37%) use LinkedIn. All other social platforms have significantly more female users than male users. (source)
• 18% of all social network users use LinkedIn (source)
• In 2010, executives from every Fortune 500 company could be found on LinkedIn (source)

Twitter:

• In 2010, there were 106 Million users (source)
• 27% log in every day (source)
• 25% follow a brand (source)
• 67% of people who follow a brand will buy from that brand. (source
• 41% of users are 36+ (Source)
• 13% of all social network users use Twitter. (source)
• 1 Billion new tweets are posted per week (source)
• 33% of active Twitter users share information about companies and products (source)

YouTube:

• 93% of the Fortune 500 using online video have said they believe their efforts were successful (source)
• 35 hours of video are uploaded every minute (source)
• Over 200 Billion videos are viewed per day
• The average user spends 15 minutes on YouTube per day (source)

Blogs:

• There are well over 156 Million public blogs in existence (source)
• 50% of Fortune 500 companies have a corporate blog. (source)
• 26% of internet users trust blogs written by people they know (source)

Also, here’s a link that shows how to print out your life on Facebook to create a hard copy/yearbook:  http://mashable.com/2011/06/24/facebook-printing-book/

(image source)

Do you have any new social media statistics to share?

The Importance of Filling Your Bucket

I want to introduce you to a concept my good friends/colleagues Heather and John taught me years ago, and it’s called “filling your bucket.”  We’re not talking about your bucket list here, but a whole different kind of life bucket. 

We all have several different kinds of buckets.  Love buckets, energy buckets, fun buckets, creative buckets, positive buckets, etc, and we all have certain buckets that matter the most to us.

The people around us also either fill or drain our buckets.  My coworkers fill my bucket.  After every phone call I’m on, I have a notepad for of new ideas to try, things to research, and challenges to solve.  They fill my creativity and energy buckets.

Today I saw someone on Twitter post “Four requests from different people to ‘pick my brain’ all before noon today.”  Do you know what I call those people?  Bucket suckers!  Don’t get me wrong…there are no ill intentions, but when people want to pick your brain it usually means “you know a lot about X topic and I’d like you to teach me everything you know….for free (or for a Latte)”.  They drain your social energy.

At the end of the bucket sucking session you might feel happy that you helped, encouraged that your knowledge is important, or stronger confidence that you’re a “go-to” kind of person.  But who fills your bucket?  Whose brain do you get to pick?

They key is to surround yourself with people who equally fill each others’ buckets.  Know your friends’ talents and needs and seek out ways to honor their bucket needs.  Boost their social energy when you can!

Also, limit your time with bucket suckers. If you have a friend who constantly calls just to tell you about their life, problems, drama, etc, but never ask you how your life is going, then you need to cut them out.  Life is about give-and-take, and you have to take control of who is taking too much from you.

So, who filled your bucket today?

(By the way, I was going to finish this by talking about how I’m at a place in my life where all of my buckets are wonderfully full, and mention the Bible phrase about “the cup runneth over”….but I realized my dad would probably post something about my “cups” runneth over too, so I deleted it.  But I get much more satisfaction out of beating my dad to a punch line than anything, so there you go!)