Sharpen your IG skills and learn how to get on your client’s favorite list

Can I be honest? Sometimes, the first thing I do in the morning is checking Instagram. And I’m not the only one. Instagram is a part of daily life for many.

It’s a place where people come to learn, to laugh, to like, and to scroll through their favorite accounts for hours on end. But how do you become your client’s favorite Instagram account?

How these three B’s brought me clarity and influenced my business.

Jeans offer a lived-in comfort, easily, the best pair are the ones that just fit perfectly and hug your curves in all the right places. Somedays they stretch, somedays they give you room to wiggle, and on those occasional “fat” days the baggies fit perfectly, graciously giving the body a gentle hug of acceptance.

Over a brief conversation, I had mentioned I needed to clean my closet, my bestie quickly said… “I can help you”. The thought of her looking in my closet made me feel small. It was a complete mess. Jeans piled 3 feet high on the floor clothes so tightly packed you could barely remove an article of clothing without chipping a tip.

Since my bestie is the ultimate organization queen, she opened my closet door, her eyes became huge, and exclaimed… NO girl needs 80 pairs of jeans. I shrugged it off quickly with a slight roll of the eye and thought to myself… wow, she doesn’t even get me. I truly do. I’m a creative girl and jeans represent my personality. I didn’t say a word out loud because secretly I welcomed the extra girl power of pulling all of this denim and clothing out of a 5×8 hole in the wall, known as my closet, that I also share with my husband.

I think the title should have been “How COVID Helped Me Improve My Sex Life!”  the way to a man’s heart, truly is through his stomach.  LOL, or, I could have gone with “How COVID Helped Me Improve My 30-Year Love Fest, that would have been fun too! Anyway, enough about that… Mr. Squeeze will blush.

 

This was an a-ha, personal project inspired by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Ok, I have to be honest. I really DO NOT like to cook! I’ve been married 30 years and my idea of cooking is doing a pre-cook of 20 pork chops and putting them in the fridge to be eaten as the week rolls on. Occasionally, I would mix it up with a pre-cook of 20 chicken thighs. Mr. Squeeze has never complained. He literally would open the fridge and put a piece of protein on his plate and then open a fresh bag of salad. I would smile, thinking… Ahhh my Mr. Squeeze is having a “healthy meal” and I’m such a good wife! This has been our norm for more years than I care to share.

Well, 2020 the year of COVID hit, and all of a sudden we found ourselves confined to our home with minimal interaction with those we hold dear, so naturally my creative soul needed to be fed. My normal routine was occasional concerts, bobbing my head to some groovy tunes, and hanging with dear friends. With COVID and more time alone with Mr. Squeeze in the backyard, I found myself getting a tad quiet and open to explore a tentative creative outlet to … well… just be creative.

I put on my mask and covered my hands, face, and eyes, and headed to Ace Hardware, my intent was to find a pretty flower to add a spot of color to our backyard. But then…. as I perused the store my eyes glazed upon THE BIG GREEN EGG! I immediately was intrigued and couldn’t figure out what this BIG contraption was and how it worked. I came home and googled until my eyes and fingers were sore from scrolling. The excitement began to build and I joined 3 Big Green Egg forums to learn more and ask questions. Everyone was so kind and answered anything I tossed their way. I was HOOKED! So of course I went back to ACE on my birthday, my big 54, and purchased the BIG GREEN EGG!. MY WORLD HAS FOREVER CHANGED and now I have embarked on a culinary ride that I don’t anticipate ending anytime soon. Thanks to The Big Green Egg, I am experiencing this newfound passion for cooking! … Imagine the excitement Mr. Squeeze is experiencing!

Since I have never really cooked much more than a pork chop on the stove I realized I needed some help and direction with my big beauty. Needless to say, I have become a Big Green Egg cookbook fanatic! Controlling the temperature is a fun process and knowing when to use indirect heat, roasting, grilling, baking, slow-cooking, or even smoking has my attention. The possibilities are endless. If you can do it in the kitchen, you can do it on The Big Green Egg. From appetizers and entrees to desserts, the Big Green Egg will exceed all of your expectations for culinary perfection.

One thing I have LOVED the most about this ceramic beauty is the EASE! I mean no disrespect, as I’m a lover of everyone… If you know me, you truly know my heart can bubble like a pot of pasta turned up on high at any given moment. The thing I love most is the Big Green Egg is girl-friendly. Please don’t hate on me. I tend not to like to get my hands blackened by charcoal or dirt under my nails from cleaning the ash of a traditional charcoal grill… but with this grill, my mani stays intact!!! Some must have EGGcessories are the ash pan and the little pokey to clear out the ash.

I feel as if I’m in a cult now and I LOVE it! I love all the EGGcessories that just seem to be a MUST-HAVE for the full-blown out experience of being the proud owner of a BIG GREEN EGG!

From the EGGnitor, it’s like a Brazillian blowout for charcoal!, to the EGGGenius which controls your meat from your smartphone or tablet and yes, it even connects to Alexa, to the EGGspander, meat claws, and more, I’m addicted! and Mr. Squeeze is pleased! After 30 years I feel as if I may have finally embarked on a new culinary passion that has relit the flame to our 30-year love-fest.

Thank you Big Green Egg for the experience and I look forward to cooking many, many more meals with you to share with family and friends.

And, thank you COVID for inspiring me to embark on a new website featuring Mr. Squeeze’s favorite dishes FEEDINGMRSQUEEZE.COM

A quiet moment getting gas this morning shifted my creative energy into a space of appreciation and absolute gratitude. The love that surrounds us and the expression we can share with others effortlessly but purposefully never ceases to amaze me. I watched a young man, barely 22, counting nickels and dimes at the counter of Chevron on Foothill Blvd in Tujunga, hoping he could put just enough gas into his bright yellow souped-up chevy truck to get up the hill to Santa Clarita. Evaluating the authenticity of his ride, I would guess he’s getting 6 miles per gallon or less. From Foothill Blvd in Tujunga- destination 25 miles North- I couldn’t help but wonder…what’s after the $4.95? What happens in Santa Clarita? What is worth his last cents to get up the hill? …Young dreams? young love? exuberant hope and determination? I asked the sweet lady at the counter to put an extra $5 in his ride.

 

This serene moment reminded me of a quiet space in my own life when every thought, expression, ambition, hope, and the dream was counted out by pennies on the counter when nickels and dimes meant the world.

My thought was, whatever is 25 miles up the hill, maybe another $5 of love, support, and encouragement just might be enough to propel this young mans thoughts to see beyond the here-and-now and follow his heart to go a few extra miles up the hill.

This serene moment reminded me of a quiet space in my own life when every thought, expression, ambition, hope, and the dream was counted out by pennies on the counter when nickels and dimes meant the world. There’s a creative expression that takes place in all of us. We all see each other differently, uniquely, purely, in this space. As I watched this sweet young man, it made me smile. With everything inside me, I wanted to ask him if he was an artist, a singer, a musician; he truly had the coolest vibe! As a mother, I know he will be better than OK. I think what I love most about what I do is to creatively “see” you whether it be counting nickels and dimes at a Chevron counter or presenting a keynote in front of thousands. We all have energy that speaks volumes of who we are. What I love more than anything is expressing that energy graphically.

I’m a believer in sharing a small token of love whenever possible and smiling with a heart-felt spoken, “God bless you,” in moments like today, especially when no one is looking. Priceless!!!
Inspirational graphic design is what we do best!