Scraps of My Geek Life » Relationships

Project Balance Month 3 Update

Michele — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:07:45 +0000

I bet you thought I had forgotten all about my Project Balance. I didn’t forget, but had to put it on hold. If you were following my last month, I ended up with bronchitis for about 5 weeks. I don’t think I got bronchitis 3 times, but rather, the med were not taking care of it, so it was coming back each time.

This last time I was on 10 days of strong antibiotics and I seem to have finally gotten rid of the bug (fingers crossed!)

Last month my focus was on relationships and I read a few books. I will review them in the next week.

This month, my focus is on fitness. One thing that I haven’t mentioned is that I had started Weight Watchers right before I got sick. I have lost 8 pounds so far and that is without any exercise.

This month, I am adding in the exercise. I plan to run another half marathon in September, so I’m starting by getting back to running regularly. I have really missed it (did I just say that?)

Yesterday I went out for 5.5 miles. I walked 1/2 mile, then ran 1/2 mile. It felt so good.

My goal for March of Project Balance is to make working out a priority again. Are you with me?

Project Balance Month 3 Update originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

6 Relationship Books I’m Reading This Month #ProjectBalance

Michele — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:44:29 +0000

Relationships can be with anyone. When I’m speaking of relationships for Project Balance in February, I’m referring to relationships with your spouse, kids, friends, parents, siblings, neighbors and even with yourself. In order to learn more about relationships, I plan to read 6 relationship books this month.

I love reading books on everything. My Kindle has a large selection of books from all sorts of topics. Each month I plan to read at least 5 that pertain to the life topic of the month. After I finish the book. I’ll write a more thorough review.

Side Note: Today is Read in the Bathtub Day.

6 Relationship Books

Here are 6 relationship books I’ll be reading on my Kindle this month.

Love Your Body

by Louise L. Hay (I purchased the Kindle version)

I truly believe that before you can love someone else, you have to love yourself. Part of that includes loving your body. I struggle with this every single day. I’m trying very hard to say good things to myself but every day I find myself being so mean to me.

I feel guilty that I let myself gain weight. I’m mad at me for not stopping it sooner and for not having control. I’m constantly telling myself that no one is going to like or love you when you look so fat. Yes, not nice, but reality. So, this is the first book I’m going to read.

Love Your Body is $.89 for the Kindle version now.

Choosing Me before We

by Christine Arylo (I received a copy of this book to review and I bought the Kindle version)

This book teaches women to find the relationships they want by exploring what they want in themselves.

Power Friending

by Amber Mac (I purchased the Kindle version)

Power Friending is about building authentic relationships in social media. Think of your audience as your friend.

The Self-Centered Marriage; Screamfree Marriage

by Hal Runkel (I purchased the Kindle version)

Hal Runkel wrote the Screamfree Parenting book which I love, so I’m very curious about his book about marriage.

The 30-Day Sex Solution

by Victoria Zdrok Wilson (I purchased the Kindle version)

I think the title pretty much says it all.

Relationship Saboteurs

by Randi Gunther ( I purchased the Kindle Version)

Helps you overcome some of the toxic emotions and behaviors that do not equal a healthy relationship.

Let’s Talk About Relationship Books!

Do you have any suggestions for other relationship books I could read? Have you read any of the 6 books above?

Project Balance Books on Amazon

Amazon.com Widgets

6 Relationship Books I’m Reading This Month #ProjectBalance originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Project Balance Update – January 31, 2012 – Month 1

Michele — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:25:16 +0000

This month is a great example of why I need to find some balance in my life. I spent the month focusing on getting my life and house organized and I neglected my blog. All my good intentions of sharing my process with you went out the window once I focused on life outside my computer.

Not that it’s good or bad, but I need to find a balance between the two. Both are very important to me and part of what keeps me sane.

And once again I am sick with pneumonia so my body is telling me that I need to rest now. So that is what I’m doing.

I will have a better recap and plans for February later this week. February I will focus on relationships, all relationships…with my hubby, family, friends and even with me!

Stay tuned!

Project Balance Update – January 31, 2012 – Month 1 originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

PR and Blogger Relationships Blissdom

Michele — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:18:10 +0000

PR-Blogger Relations

Dina Freeman, Kelly Olexa, Presenter: Anna Lingeris

Bloggers are incredibly valuable. Online Influencers are essential part of PR.

Goal today is to make it better.

What’s behind the Corporate/PR curtain?

Current situation

• Evolving

• Rapid growth

• Experimental

• New frontier

PR deal with

Budget
planning process/timing

brands

Value
Quality
Reach
Resources
Legal
Approvals and More Approvals

Both sides need to have trust

Have to start somewhere

Things to include in Pitch

1. Who you are?

2. Why are you interested in working with us?

3. What sparked your interest?

4. What is unique and differentiated about you vx others? Let your personality shine

5. Short & Concise

6. Follow Up

It’s all about the approach.

Remember to

Same thing you ask of us…we ask of you
Know who you are contacting
Give them a reason to believe
Attempt to understand their business
Cultivate a relationship
It’s a 2-way street

Sometimes no means no now, but may still work together in the future.

To find out who the PR person is, Google the product or look for a press release. Name often on press release or media section of website.

It’s all about relationships. Keep in touch.

PR teams contacting you for editorial purposes.

Digital agency is more from a advertising purpose. Educate them on your blog. You write editorial pieces and they could purchase an ad (if you accept ads).

Bloggers Being Paid

Each case is different. If have proposal, send the full plan and fees. Yes, should be paid for time. Pay-for-post can be dicey. In the beginning stages of figuring out where the money comes from. The PR people get this and understand, but they are having to translate all this to those in the company who don’t get it.There are companies that can not get the money internally to pay for this stuff. But if you want to build the relationships now, do it! The money could come down the line when the budget is there.

No idea is too small. PR look for good ideas. Want you to write about experiences. If you have a good idea, pitch it (well).

ROI when dealing with bloggers – Need objective & goals. No magic numbers (of blog posts or impressions).Goal was to provide experience and create buzz.

If given a pitch and you are not happy with the dollar amount, provide a counter offer. Give the specifics of what you can do, offer stats and what you want. May or may not get that, but doesn’t hurt to try. (Be prepared to lose the opportunity)

Paid media vs Earned Media

PR job is to sell their story because it’s good and unique. PR want someone else to cover it. You are more willing to believe if coming from 3rd party than from company. In the PR world, they do not want to pay for media. The higher ups think that paying bloggers means you tell them to write a good post abuot the product whether you like it or not. They view it as paying for good reviews. These are the reasons it’s sometiems tough for PR to pay bloggers. It’s the hurdles they run into in their companies.

PR want to know:

Who are you? What sparked your interest and What do you want?

Yes, brands do look at stats, but it is not all they look at. Keep doing what you are doing. PR are watching. Consistent posting, comments, community, Twitter, Facebook, references and many other things factor in.

We are all figuring this out together and there is still a lot of confusion.

Things that make you say No, not going to work with that blogger:

Bad spelling in pitch
Doesn’t fit the character of the company or brand
Poor quality of posts (press releases just copy/pasted into post)
Bad pitches
Gimme Gimme Gimme from the blogger and it’s not a 2 way street. Should be give and take on both sides.
Unreachable
Entitlement
Drama
Not professional
Not following deadlines

Controversial is different than being dramatic.

What PR does want? Be unique! Be ambitious, respectful. Be YOU! Keep Working at it! PR needs bloggers.

Blogger Outreach Remains Crucial for PR Pros (socialtimes.com)

PR and Blogger Relationships Blissdom originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.

Monday Mingle Couples Style

Michele — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:26:02 +0000

I love Monday Mingle because I have a set of questions to answer so none of the “ahhh, what do I say next” moments. This one was a lot of fun. It was a couples Monday Mingle with questions for both my hubby and me. I wasn’t sure if Jason would be willing to participate, but he didn’t hesitate and it was a lot of fun. Love you, Dear!

Here is Jason & I answering our Monday Mingle couples questions:

So, go over to Eighty MPH Mom, grab your hubby/partner and give Monday Mingle a whirl.

Monday Mingle Couples Style originally posted at Scraps of My Geek Life.