latest discoveries...

"My favorite answer to a question VCs get every time they sit on panels was from Gordon Moore...."

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:29:10 -0500

“My favorite answer to a question VCs get every time they sit on panels was from Gordon Moore. “When is it a good time to start a company?” someone asked. Moore shook his head incredulously and answered, “When you have a good idea!””

- When Is the Right Time to Start a Business? Now. | Fast Company

Woman Warrior, Washington Post, Thankfulfor = Sweetness!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:02:18 -0500

thankful4:

Yesterday, tech startup-businesswoman & Washington Post blogger Alexis Rodich featured Thankfulfor in her blog post, inviting everyone to join along in a 2 month Gratitude Challenge. The gist of it is this: for the months of November and December, challenge yourself to write down 3-5 things you are grateful for each day (or each week if you are really under time constraints).

The holidays can be a tough time for many of us, and writing down a few things we are grateful for each day has been proven to help various aspects of our lives - including our general sense of happiness and well being. Give it a shot and then send us your stories on how your daily gratitude practice changed your holiday experience. We’ll feature some of your stories in this blog.

Be on the lookout on Thankfulfor - soon we’ll be launching more about this challenge and other things you can do to have your best season of gratitude ever.

Big THANK YOU to Alexis for her kind words and support! Do you have someone in your life who always lifts you up and makes you feel good? Make sure you thank them today.

Open a Bottle of Wine with Your Shoe - Drinks - Lifehacker For...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:09:32 -0500

Open a Bottle of Wine with Your Shoe - Drinks - Lifehacker

For some reason I wasn’t expecting that outcome. Might have to try it for myself, just to see if I can do it (but I’ll try it when I’m sober, unlike this guy).

No Magic Bullet: 5 Ways to Harness Real Time Feedback by Jen...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:54:00 -0500

No Magic Bullet: 5 Ways to Harness Real Time Feedback

by Jen Consalvo

So you launched your product.
You’re a modern woman who understands the need for creating feedback mechanisms so people can reach you. You set up Twitter, a Facebook Fanpage, your blog, email address and even forums for discussion. But here’s the rub. Now you’re launched, trying to work on marketing, engage new partners, work on future product requirements, answer press inquiries and the feedback is pouring in from your new users.

What do you do?

First, let me remind you that you signed up for some late nights the second you learned to spell entrepreneur.

That’s the bad news. The good news is, people are using your product and are now an “extended” part of your team! Learn to utilize them. I happen to be in the thick of this right now, so I’d like to share some thoughts from my personal experience.

read the rest of the article here.

Conversations with Small Business Experts, Women Entrepreneurs and Business owners

"Those who prevail in difficult times are the ones who steadfastly refuse to allow negativity to form..."

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:50:18 -0500

“Those who prevail in difficult times are the ones who steadfastly refuse to allow negativity to form a barrier to their success. They instead deliberately and diligently take multiple constructive actions every single day. Doing so helps sustain a positive attitude, increases resilience, and reinvigorates a commitment to success and your business.”

- Francie Dalton at Women Grow Business - Conversations with Small Business Experts, Women Entrepreneurs and Business owners

First WaPo blog post

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:46:07 -0500

First WaPo blog post :

woot! congrats Alexis. Looking forward to reading all your posts.

alexismichelle:

The Washington Post asked me to blog about success while working for a start up. Here is a link to my first post (note I did NOT pick the name, nor the title on this one ;)

Do You Need a Happiness Hat?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:57:24 -0500

thankful4:

Ok, in our last post we said “no pain, no gain” but this is taking it to extreme measures to find happiness. Let’s all practice smiling a little more today, sans metal spike in hat forcing it upon us.

HAPPINESS HAT 2009

A wearable conditioning device that detects if you’re smiling and provides pain feedback if you’re not. Frowning creates intense pain but a full smile leaves you pain free! The first in a series of Tools for Improved Social Inter-Acting.

Watch the video…

happiness hat from Lauren McCarthy on Vimeo.

Happy Halloween!  We went out as Thank You notes - sponsored...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:49:52 -0400

Happy Halloween!  We went out as Thank You notes - sponsored by Thankfulfor.com of course.

The Great Pumpkin

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:07:53 -0400

Peanuts: Specials: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Ep. 101)
Uploaded by Peanuts. - Check out other Film & TV videos.

I had to watch this today.

woot! love the boots and the sweaters. big thanks...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:34:40 -0400

woot! love the boots and the sweaters. big thanks Jaclyn!

jaclynday:

Jennifer e-mailed me with the following:

I’d love to know the best option for refreshing my winter wardrobe on the cheap! All I need are a couple sweaters and maybe leggings or cool tights and possibly a pair of boots. But I want to spend under $100 -$150.

Well, Jennifer, I went very slightly over your budget (by about $10), but feel free to eliminate any of the above items from your shopping list to compensate!

Here are my picks:

Forever 21 Jacket - $40 - Chic enough for work, but relaxed enough for the weekend too. Wear it with everything in your closet.

Forever 21 Military Cardigan - $23 - Military motifs are still on-trend and cardigans are perfect layering pieces. Wear buttoned over a black dress, over a tunic, with skinny jeans or leggings. Tons of options with this.

Target Chunky Sweater - $9 - A chunky sweater is a winter must-have. These look great with skinny jeans and leggings as well.

Target Converse Wrap Sweater - $12 - The print and colors are subtle enough to pair almost anything. This would be also great over a dress.

Forever 21 “Carlita” Booties - $19 - Booties are huge this winter! This brown is the perfect shade, since you can still pair it with black—the darker the brown, the harder it is to wear with black. The laces add a nice trendy touch. These will look great with the striped sweater and coat.

Charlotte Russe Over-the-Knee Boots - $40 - Over-the-knee boots are going to be all over the place. A flat, slightly slouchy pair is easiest to wear. This pair will also be great in the snow, but be sure to spray them with waterproofing first.

Forever 21 Black & Gray Leggings - $4.50 - These are the ideal length (ankle) and the most versatile. You can pair these with endless outfits over the winter. Exchange your tights for leggings and you’ll keep warmer too.

Forever 21 Mesh Tights - $6.80 - Textured tights are a great way to spice up plain LBDs.

Forever 21 Lace Ruffle Blouse - $5 - On sale, so grab it quick! Pretty and perfect to wear with your new sweaters.

Do you have any pressing winter wardrobe questions? Send me an email!

I’ve had 3 little flat stones stacked like this in my...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:45:27 -0400

I’ve had 3 little flat stones stacked like this in my bathroom for a looong time. love them.

fuckyeahzenmind:

unedited-peace: constantflux: (via McCoy352)

"You can’t be grateful and not be happy. Gratefulness is a sure route to happiness."

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:20:52 -0400

“You can’t be grateful and not be happy. Gratefulness is a sure route to happiness.”

- -Robert A. Emmons, a UC Davis professor of psychology and author of the following superb books on the science of gratitude and how it relates to happiness:

Words of Gratitude for Mind, Body, and Soul

Thanks! How the new Science of Gratitude Can Make you Happier

Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier

I’ve read Thanks! How the new Science of Gratitude Can Make you Happier and really liked it. It really is about the science and studies… not fluffy at all.

(via Gratefulness Equals Happiness by Christine G.K. LaPado)

(via thankful4)

dreameveryday: (via papertissue) gorgeous photograph - great...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:18:39 -0400

dreameveryday:

(via papertissue)

gorgeous photograph - great perspective and depth of field. love.

october’s local tech events

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:02 -0400

october’s local tech events:

fall is my favorite season.. but it seems to fly by the fastest. probably because it’s so jam packed with events. there were many others but here are just a few photos from some recent local tech…

Bill and Melinda Gates took the stage to share tons of stats,...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:27:06 -0400

Bill Gates at the Living Proof Project

Melinda Gates at the Living Proof Projec

The Living Proof Project

The Living Proof Project

Bill and Melinda Gates took the stage to share tons of stats, charts and personal stories that had me on the verge of tears throughout the event. Overall, the event made me want to keep doing what I’m doing with an eye on how I can help where ever I can, personally. Maybe it’s because we’re entering what I like to call the “season of gratitude” but between the Living Proof Project, watching Scott Harrison of Charity:Water talk last week or the Tweetsgiving mtgs I’ve had lately, I’ve had “social good” on my mind nonstop. Fortunately, I have a feeling Shiny Heart Ventures will have plenty of opportunity to work with many great causes.

One highlight of the evening was when they brought a Namibian vocal group out on stage called “Vocal Motion” - they were terrific. Photography wasn’t permitted (drat!) so I had to keep my Canon in it’s bag and just sneak a few pics with my iphone.

somewhatfrank: Last night, I attended the Bill and Melinda...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:16:22 -0400

Melinda Gates discusses HIV/AIDS

Bill Gates discusses Malaria

Bill Gates shares The Living Proof

Bill and Melinda Gates Share the Proof

somewhatfrank:

Last night, I attended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s The Living Proof project presentation. It was a very moving presentation that described how the Gates Foundation and U.S. Taxpayer dollars are making a big impact on the improvement of global health. They cited a number of examples from vaccinations to bed-nets to drugs that have helped less fortunate countries to improve their condition and in part their economic situation. One nugget of information that sticks out in my head is that the $130 Million dollars spent on vaccinations saved us $17 billion dollars in health-care, not to mention the savings in lives and suffering. Great stuff.

It was a great experience seeing a couple like Bill and Melinda Gates work together to accomplish some great things, especially when there are lots folks out there that are against couples working together in business endeavors. This is a great showcase of how it can work. It also made me realize how down to earth Bill and Melinda are in person. Special thank you to my friend Howard W. Buffett for the invite.

A Surprisingly Healthy Breakfast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:13:37 -0400

SO GOOD - zucchini & dark chocolate

bodysoulconnect:

Follow the instructions on her site - it’s super simple. The muffins are little, but sometimes great things come in small packages. Oh - have one with some sliced banana and tea..it’s a great combo. Enjoy!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:00:34 -0400

““Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.””

- Henry David Thoreau (via kari-shma)

I like this. And I like to think that’s the way I live.

"When you make your life better, you are making the life of your friends and family better as well."

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:40:26 -0400

“When you make your life better, you are making the life of your friends and family better as well.”

- James Fowler author of Connected at PopTech (via somewhatfrank)

and what could make you feel better than that?

Peter Slutzky of Ning at BlogPotomac talking about community....

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:49:40 -0400

Peter Slutzky of Ning at BlogPotomac talking about community. Nice vantage point from balcony at the State Theater.