Lip-Sticking

Friday Musings: Hungry?

by Yvonne DiVita

In reference to the title today, have you read The Hunger Games books? Have you seen the first movie?

Well, I have. Read all three books and seen the movie. And, I'm left... unimpressed. Actually, I'm left feeling sad. THIS is what passes for good reading today? THIS is how low our expectations of novel and movie greatness have fallen?

Let's look at the big picture - first of all, the plot is absurd. The first job of any fiction story is to overcome the reader's disbelief. In other words, the reader needs to believe in the story. The deeper I got into the hunger games, the less I believed. 

Harry Potter Grows Up with Social Media

By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk

This past weekend the final film in the super successful Harry Potter film franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2, opened in the United States. It not only set a box office record for midnight showings ($43.5 million), it totally crushed opening day box office records ( $92.1 million on Friday). That’s not only the biggest opening-day draw of all time, it’s the highest-grossing single day in U.S. box office history. Then it went on to become the highest domestic opening weekend ($169.2 million), and highest global opening weekend ($478.2 million). All told, the film earned a remarkable $542.5 million worldwide in just four days.

Now I've been writing about this magical film and book series since I started blogging back in 2007. In July of that year I wrote this post and reviewed the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which follows the 5th book in the series, as well as the release of the latest book at the time, Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 1. So if you've read any of these past posts of mine you would know that I have two daughters who are huge Harry Potter fans. They have both grown up to be avid readers, especially my older daughter Kelsey who has consumed most of these books in one 24-hour period.

7-Eleven launches Super 8 Check in to Space Campaign to Send a Fan to Space

By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk

The Super 8 movie from Paramount Pictures released in theaters earlier this month poses again the age-old question: are we really alone? 7-Eleven is taking this opportunity to give a lucky fan the chance to find out for themselves with the Super 8 Check in to Space promotion.

The movie, written and directed by J. J. Abrams, most recently known for creating the TV series Lost, and produced by Steven Spielberg, takes place in the summer of 1979, where a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a Super 8 mm film and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local deputy tries to uncover the truth.

7-Eleven will award one of the most unusual prizes ever, a trip to space. Just by checking in at a 7-Eleven through Foursquare, the location-based social media tool, participants can unlocked prizes in increments of 8 for chances to win.

The Instant Win game component will award every 88th person a free movie ticket. Every 88,888^th person will win a ticket on the Zero G Experience, a zero-gravity flight which simulates the experience of being in space. The grand prize unlocks with the 888,888^th check-in, and one fan will have the chance to travel to suborbital space 62 miles (100 km) above the Earth. The once-in-a-lifetime flight is offered through the private space-exploration company, Space Adventures, Ltd., with an estimated value of more than $100,000.

You are what you read

By Amanda Ponzar

A friend just sent me this post "Girls, pick your bedtime reading with care" by Samantha Ellis. Jane Austen has had a tremendous impact on my idea of love, romance and "happily ever after." Add to that all the Disney movies I watched about Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmin, Sleeping Beauty, etc. (you can even take a quiz "Which Disney Princess are You?"), and I was pretty much doomed to believe in fairy tales. It probably didn't help that I majored in English and loved medieval lit. And yes, momma put me in a pageant. Once. I only did it once and decided I wanted to use my brain rather than my...uh...other parts.

Ellis talks about the books and heroines that influenced her, the women in the stories that became her role models -- from Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind) to Jane Eyre to Cathy Earnshaw (Wuthering Heights). She even mentions the Little Mermaid who "exchanges her voice for legs to get a man". Wow, never thought about it THAT way.

Did Ellis choose the right role models? Did I? Did you? In some ways, the stories (whether on the page or silver screen) taught me to believe in perfect men, perfect love and perfect lives (as least, after you get married, right?) as well as to favor the wild, unpredictable Lancelot over good King Arthur. Time to grow up and get real. Would I marry Lancelot now? Not a chance.

What I've learned over the years is that the women I admire most are not headstrong heroines or beautiful princesses, but rather women who work hard, never give up, love their families, serve their communities and the poor, and are incredible friends and mothers. (See my posts on "Women you won't see in the Hall of Fame" and "Here's to all the Mommas".) Maybe that's why I like the fairy tale Shrek, because Fiona chooses to be an ogre raising kids in a swamp rather than a princess taking tea in a castle. Now that's an interesting twist. Do we really need more princesses? Most days, my life sure feels more like the swamp, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Marketing to Women Online with Holly Buchanan

Holly Buchanan is a top-notch women's marketing professional. It's not just because she's a woman or just because she's been in the profession of marketing long enough to establish an expertise that far surpasses my own. It's because she doesn't limit her thinking to the usual "woman" focused content or advice.

I recently read a post on her blog about her attendance at the Athena Film Festival and what it taught her about marketing to women online. A visit to her blog to review that article is time well spent, IMBO.

How far are any of us from being "heavy"?

by Guest Blogger Robbi Hess

Spoiler alert. This is not my usual writing-type blog post. The other day I was sent an advance copy DVD of a new A&E program called, "Heavy." My first thought at watching and reviewing the show was, "I am not a reality show type person" and I've always thought, "If you don't want to be where/who you are, then change it." After watching this show, though I realized that sometimes even if you want to be somewhere else or someone else, it isn't as easy as just willing it to be so.

I found myself drawn into the stories and struggles of Rickywayne and Jessica and, honestly as I sat there munching on a brownie I wondered, "how far are any of us from being in that situation?" Who hasn't been a downward spiral where all you wanted to do was sit around the house in sweat pants and wallow? And now with the "invention" of Pajamajeans, well I can have the illusion of getting dressed without actually having to.  

You don't even have to be struggling with a weight issue as monumental as Rickywayne or Jessica, just being "a little overweight" puts you at a disadvantage in life in general in some situations. Children are more obese now than they ever were in the past. Why is that? Easier access to fast food? Parents too busy to cook healthful meals? Sedentary lifestyles? Well, yes, to all of it.

As I sit here writing this post today, it's 5 degrees outside, the windchills are below zero, the snow is flying. Do I have any desire to get outside and walk? Heck no! Can I afford to go to a gym? Not really. Do I struggle with some of the painful mental pasts that Jessica and Rickywayne have dealt with? Thankfully no. But after watching this show -- my first reality program, ever -- my heart went out to the two of them. When they were weighed in at the end of the episode I fought back the urge to cheer right along with them at the weight they'd lost. When Rickywayne struggled with his shopping list and trying to but healthy foods instead of sliding back into bad eating habits, I was so glad he called for help on which lunch meat to pick. I never thought something that I take for granted -- knowing what to buy and what not to buy (even though I don't always do it) would be such a cause for celebration, but it was.

I'm honored to be part of a Q&A that A&E is hosting on Monday, January 24. It's an online special fan chat and live online Q&A session via streaming video with participants from the hit original series “Heavy.”  Starting at 10 PM ET/9c viewers can log on to the “Heavy” facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Heavy) or AETV.com to chat with fellow fans during the episode’s premiere. I get to write in and ask a question of either Rickywayne or Jessica or their trainers. What will I ask? Haven't figured that out yet. Will I be rooting for the continued successes of these two strong-willed individuals? You bet I will.

What women want: the 6 Rs of Jane Austen

By Amanda J. Ponzar

It’s a truth (almost) universally known that women love Jane Austen.

I dug out my marketing books to write a groundbreaking post on what Jane Austen teaches us about marketing to women –- you know, the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Promotion, Place…and Pride and Prejudice?

Then I realized, this is much more than just marketing. It’s about who women are and how we are wired.  

So, here's what I’ve learned about “what women want” from Jane Austen –- my 6 Rs:

• Relationships. Whether it’s Elizabeth Bennett and Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice or Emma Woodhouse and Miss Taylor in Emma, women friendships are invaluable. And success building and sustaining relationships is crucial now just as much as then -- in social media, prospecting new business, dealing with coworkers, and of course with family and friends.
• Romance. (And Mr. Right.) We want the happy ending –- the fairy tale. We want to believe in true love and be swept away -- and not by the dirty kitchen broom. Everyday life never seems quite so magical as it does in these period movies. (Though honestly, how romantic could it be without indoor plumbing?)
• Respite/Reprieve. Women love beauty. The gowns. The dancing. The music. The breathtaking scenery. Every friend that watches Pride and Prejudice or any of the movies falls under a spell and barely breathes until the end, then it's a soft, audible sigh.
• Real. We want to be real, and I think most of us applaud when the confident, witty Elizabeth Bennett with her not-so-perfect family gets the guy instead of the snooty, aristocratic Miss Bingley with her expensive gowns. And we feel the real pain of Persuasion’s protagonist Anne Elliott who nurses the wound of lost love and wonders if she’ll ever get a second chance.
• Rich. Well, most of us would rather not be poor, right? (Notice how the dashing male leads –- Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Knightley, Captain Wentworth –- all tend to be wealthy.) We at least want to be comfortable and able to shop. At least a little.
• Relief. And a little rest and relaxation (R&R). Whatever it is, we love a good story. And a good cry. It’s cathartic and a lot cheaper than therapy.

How does that relate to marketing? Whether you’re a business or nonprofit, it’s about understanding what drives and motivates people. It’s about reaching people with your story and making them feel something so they take action. They give, advocate or volunteer, or they buy your product or service (Starbucks has got me all figured out; I practically live there). And International Justice Mission tells powerful, compelling stories about the girls saved from trafficking that inspire me to aid their cause.

So while you determine what story YOU have to tell, check out these Jane Austen "Resources" –- the last  R (that makes 7!):

• Choose your favorite Highbury bachelor from Emma: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/emma/quiz.html
• Vote for the best Jane Austen male lead: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/menofausten.html
• Check out Jane Austen's novels: http://www.janeausten.org/ or http://www.pemberley.com/
• View a list of the movies: http://www.janeausten.org/jane-austen-movies.asp
• Learn about Jane Austen’s life: http://www.austen.com/
• Watch film clips from Masterpiece Theater: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/

(Photos: Pride & Prejudice; my 3 versions of Pride & Prejudice -- oh yes, you must see all the versions; a stack of my Jane Austen movies)

Believe

By Amanda Ponzar

“I don’t want to lose heart.  I want to believe as he does.”

-- Robert the Bruce in the epic film BRAVEHEART about William Wallace, a commoner who inspired the Scots to rise up and fight.

I want to believe too.

 I want to believe that what I do matters. That my actions are helping people, alleviating suffering, ending poverty, bringing hope, and making the world a better place. That’s what I think, dream and write about. 

  Monday I was home sick which gave me, the working mom with no free time, a few minutes while not knocked out on Nyquil to start reading “The Hole in Our Gospel” by World Vision President Richard Stearns. So there I was blowing through even more tissues because I was crying about 25,000 children who die needlessly every day just because they are poor. (See his Sept. 17 blog entry “Outrage”.)

 Earlier this year, I joined International Justice Mission to advocate for the Child Protection Compact Act (see photo with Congressman Jim Moran). After my son was born, it was like a switch turned on in my soul and I had to fight child trafficking (check out the movie TAKEN with Liam Neeson!). It’s hard to believe that in this day and age, little children are still prostituted or forced into slavery -- and that we allow it to happen.

Children should not starve to death or be enslaved. I believe we have the power to do something about this. And although I’d like to be out there on the front lines, for now, I do what I can to give, advocate and volunteer, supporting the people and organizations that are out there fighting the good fight. 

John Stuart Mill said, “One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 with only interests.” Ninety-nine? Is that all? 

I believe one person can be a powerhouse.

One person can change a family, community, country and even the world (all six billion people). Just imagine what a bunch of us could do.

Yvonne just posted that leadership in the 21^st Century begins with women – and I’d like to see a lot more of us leading the way.

So, what are you going to do?

 

 

 

 

Forget Black Friday madness. Momma’s shopping online!

By Amanda Ponzar

Unless you’re traveling by private helicopter with a security team, who needs the stress, crowds, traffic and frantic mall panic of Black Friday shopping? Being a busy working mom, it’s just easier to compare prices and products online and have boxes magically show up at my front door.

Since women make 85% of all consumer purchases, both online and brick & mortar retailers need to pay attention to what we want. As my two-year-old told me last month: “Men go to work. Ladies don’t go to work. Ladies go to Target and Walmart.” You got that right.

So, here’s MY Christmas list this year (note it’s mostly online); you may find something you like!

1.) Zettie’s Confections: Zettie’s double chocolate browneez are my absolute favorite, but the almond butter crunch (toffee), frosted sugar cookies and award-winning ultimate chip cookies (three kinds of chips) are pretty amazing too. Always good to support a woman-owned, start-up business – everything’s handcrafted with gourmet ingredients. 

2.) Avon: I like pomegranate mango Naturals, Total Radiance eye gel, Totally Twig Perfect Wear lipstick, etc. but everything’s on sale and my rep often sends me free shipping codes.

3.) Lana’s handmade jewelry. 

4.) Speaking of jewelry, I love 10,000 Villages fair trade shops, which offer beautiful necklaces, children’s gifts, wonderful-smelling soaps, and other site best-selling gifts.  

5.) Starbucks gift cards are good for peppermint mocha or java chip frappachinos…and maybe a chocolate chip cookie.  

6.) I don’t get out much so prefer to buy movies on Amazon rather than attempt to find a babysitter plus pay $12/ticket –- and that’s not even counting the mega popcorn tub. My son only watches Veggie Tales; however, my favorite movies include Pride and Prejudice (all versions), Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter or newer releases like Avatar, Robin Hood, Prince of Persia, etc. Plus, based on the chocolate addiction readily apparent in this blog, I’m getting a treadmill from Amazon.

7.) One of the best chocolates I’ve EVER had in my entire life: the Chocolate Truffle Fudge Bar.  Watch out Godiva! I recently discovered this treat at the Sugar Cube, a woman-owned candy store.

8.) Activities with the family like Medieval Madness (nothing beats eating meat with your hands while a jester dances and wenches serve) or Hershey Candy Lane. Just plain FUN. See what’s going on in your community.

9.) I asked my brother what else he wanted besides “How to Train Your Dragon” on blu-ray (surprise! that’s what you’re getting), and he requested a charitable contribution. Many charities offer alternative gift ideas/cause marketing as well, and it’s a GREAT way to give back:

• Carpenter’s Shelter alternative holiday gift giving
• International Justice Mission’s Freedom catalog to help rescue victims of trafficking and oppression
• Microsoft Photo book to benefit United Way
• Green Gift Monday from the Nature Conservancy
• Samaritan’s Purse, Heifer International, World Vision, Oxfam and others have gift catalogs online (donate a goat!)
• Nonprofits.org charitable gift ideas
• Marie Claire’s holiday gifts that give list
• Redbook’s charitable gift list  

According to Cone’s holiday trend tracker, 89% of Americans expect companies to support causes during the season and 78% expect to get involved personally.

So, what are your gift recommendations this year? Share and I’ll post!  

(Pictured: mall crowds, Zettie's double chocolate browneez, Lana's green freshwater pearl necklace, Medieval Madness wench taking ale orders)

LinkedIn: social networking to get noticed

By Amanda Ponzar

Whether you're a nonprofit business or individual you almost don't exist if you're not online and in social networks.

A few weeks ago, a nonprofit development director asked if I could help raise her profile on LinkedIn. You know the world's about to end when Amanda Ponzar becomes a social media guru. When I first started using LinkedIn three years ago, I didn't post a profile photo because "it could fall into the wrong hands." I quickly realized I don't get to choose whether or not I'm online, but I can be proactive about controlling my information.

Fast forward to 2010, and I'm a LinkedIn junkie, networking out the ying-yang which benefits me personally (five recruiter calls this year) and helps advance United Way's work and recognize our corporate partners. No offense to Facebook with its 500 million users, but I'm just not that interested in posting personal weekend plans or reconnecting with high school crushes. "This is business not personal" to quote The Godfather.

My five LinkedIn Tips: