A Fur-ry Trend for Fall and Winter

I've previously mentioned a special website I had discovered for fashion trends, Alexis and Gianni.
According to them,

"Fur this season is everywhere and has become both elegantly casual and casually elegant ... Accessories are HUGE this fall. Little stoles and shrugs are being shown for both casual days and black tie evenings. A wonderful fur scarf or shawl adds that perfect touch of fur."

Well, with that trend in mind, I'm showcasing a number of genuine fur collars, stoles, scarves, and fur-trimmed items in my eCrater store. Here are some of these pretty fur items:

• Mahogany Mink Fur Stole Vintage
• Leopard Mink Fur Notched Collar
• Chocolate Mahogany Mink Fur Collar
• Tanuki Raccoon Fur Collar Shawl
• Black Fox Fur Collar + Cuffs Set -- Sold!

Update: I removed those authentic fur items from my eCrater store because of extremely nasty emails I was getting. Today, it is not a trend or trendy to wear real fur items!! Think about the little animals.

Online Fraud - Exercise caution with online auction sites

If you've read my other postings, you'll note that I was a victim of credit card fraud which is believed to have come from an online transaction. I didn't take a back seat, but was extremely active in working with the proper authorities to apprehend some of the alleged "crook(s)."

Undoubtedly, you've either gotten or have definitely heard of the plethora of spoof/phish emails which have been blasting people's inboxes claiming to be from PayPal or eBay or your financial institution. I get those almost daily!

Here are some helpful links to additional information regarding spoofing, identity theft, and what to do to if you have been a victim, courtesy of eBay and PayPal.

• Information from eBay about websites impersonating them.
• eBay's Account Theft Overview.
• eBay's Identity Theft.
• PayPal Protect yourself from fraudulent emails.

Now, on to that other auction site, Bidz.com. On June 2, 2005, I received a e-newsletter from BizRate claiming, "Amazing Deals on Jewelry - $25 Off Your First Purchase." They were promoting Bidz as the auction site with the $1.00 auction. It was on that date, June 2nd, that I signed up for their Certified Merchant Program and shared my credit card information. The very next day, June 3rd, is when I got my first unauthorized, fraudulent charge to my credit card.

I have emailed Bidz customer service and BizRate to advise them of the fraudulent activity on my credit card that coincided with my registration on Bidz. However, neither Bidz nor BizRate has responded to my emails or acknowledge the receipt of same. I've done searches on Rip-Off Report and found several complaints against Bidz which date back 5 years. Unfortunately, I didn't check out the Rip-Off Report before I decided to share my personal information with Bidz.

Because of my personal experience, it is my opinion that I cannot recommend Bidz as an auction site that you would care to buy from OR sell on.

P.S. By the way, speaking of Rip-Off Report! Many years ago, on eBay, I dealt with an online seller who was living in Texas. He had listings for brand new electronics. I purchased a digital camera from him through eBay. When it arrived, it was not brand new, but remanufactured. I then started the process of trying to contact him through every means possible. For two weeks he ignored my contacts. Then, when I heard from him through a Paypal dispute, he said I had waited past the return period to contact him. Next thing you know, through the eBay dispute process, he pretends that he is his mother and replies that the guy has died! Oh my. Not the end of the story -- we found he had moved to the Northeast and was once again selling medical devices. To cap it all off? The dude later files a bogus complaint against me on Rip-Off Report. He made the whole thing up. If buying medical products and devices online, please do a background check on the company!!!

Be sure to take some time and check out my true story, To Catch a Thief : Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft.

Online Fraud - Who the heck is Steve Collins anyways

And why is he "using" my credit card to purchase pay-as-you-go check service from Qchex.com ??? That's what I want to know. And, if Neovi / Qchex.com is such a SECURE service, why didn't they verify this fraudulent transaction? I surely wouldn't want to be using them if that's how they operate. They are just inviting online fraudulent activity.

In June 2005, I was again victimized by online fraud ... this time, a person's name of Steve Collins was used. If you search on Google, I filed a RipOff Report regarding this unauthorized transaction in which I feel Neovi / Qchex.com took no steps to verify that the charge was legitimate. Luckily, the amount was only $20.00 which was fraudulently billed to my credit card.

About my ripoff, here's what I wrote:

I received a VersaCheck Form 1000 from Qchex.com aka Neovi dated 6/3/05 in the amount of $20.00 stating that Steve Collins had purchased one of Qchex.com's plans, to Pay-As-You-Go, for monthly online checks. They NEVER bothered to check that the information of the credit card used MATCHED this supposed STEVE COLLINS. He used a bogus email address of toast_luv@yahoo.com. When I called Qchex.com at the 800-303-2620 to dispute this charge, the customer rep seemed to be expecting my call. I will be filing an FBI fraud complaint along with Police Report on this suspicious and fraudulent activity. Qchex needs to be MORE vigilant in using other people's credit cards to pay for their services. What's interesting is that the name of STEVE COLLINS turns up in Google as a name that is often used by con artists online.

Read more rip-off reports about Neovi / Qchex.

Read more about my experience in To Catch a Thief! 

Online Fraud - Abercrombie & Fitch $50.00 Gift Cards

In June 2005, I was the victim of online credit card fraud which was investigated, almost immediately, after I reported the incident to the proper authorities, including my financial institution, the police department, Attorney General, the FBI, and the FTC.

In one of the transactions, the alleged "crook(s)" used my credit card to purchase from Abercrombie.com eight [8] Abercrombie and Fitch Gift Cards in the denomination of $50.00s. These were mailed to the alleged "crook(s)" in Oak Lawn, Illinois, to a drop box. Unluckily for the "crook(s)," the drop box had been under surveillance for some time, due to the variety and quantity of packages being received. The postal inspector secured the drop box key and detained 2 college students. Supposedly, the students had already obtained false IDs and were busy reselling the merchandise on auction sites, and sending a percentage of the profits back to a Nigerian connection!

You too can make a difference if you have been a victim of online fraud. I did not waste any time contacting all the proper authorities; time is of the essence.

For filing a report online with the FBI, here is the link: http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp.

Read more about my experience in To Catch a Thief!

Get to Know Lalo Orna - Made in Europe Designer Resin Collection

Get to Know Lalo Orna !! What I personally can say about each of these pieces ... Each and every piece is actually a designer piece, or a WORK OF ART ! I personally love each one!! When I pick them up and hold them, I say, "Oh my goodness this is BEAUTIFUL !!! " In the words of a recent customer, who purchased the Funky Green Bird Keychain, "I just got this and it's beautiful. I almost hate to put keys on it. I want to make it into a brooch or something!!! It's quite unique." Lalo Orna's jewelry, giftware, and accessories are gaining recognition worldwide. Be the first to own a Lalo Orna creation.

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN HEART + BEADS DANGLE CHOKER. This is such a SWEET and CUTE resin heart and beads choker with translucent satin ribbon ! Of the two chokers I have, this is my FAVORITE ! Look at how the light purple heart is inset into the larger heart ! There are 2 beads at one end of the satin ribbon with a stretchy metal loop closure and oval metallic piece with Lalo embossed on the other end. The 2 beads give you the option of adjusting the length or having one bead as a dangle down your neck. Measurements: Dangle: 4" long x 1-3/4" wide. Choker Ribbon: 1/4" wide x ~14" to 16" in circumference. Colors of a spring green, gold, yellow, pink, light purple.

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN STAR DANGLE CHOKER. This is such a SWEET and CUTE resin star choker with translucent satin ribbon ! There are 2 beads at one end of the satin ribbon with a stretchy metal loop closure and oval metallic piece with Lalo embossed on the other end. The 2 beads give you the option of adjusting the length or having one bead as a dangle down your neck. Measurements: 4" long x 1-3/4" wide. Choker Ribbon: ~14" to 16". Colors of turquoise, purple blue.


DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN PRAYING MANTIS BROOCH PIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE resin praying mantis brooch or pin ! The wings are fashioned with wire and ruby red beads which look like jewels. Measurements: 2-3/4" long x 1-1/2 to ~ 2" wide wingspan. Colors of green, gold, ruby red.

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN DRAGONFLY BROOCH PIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE resin dragonfly brooch or pin ! I personally love it! Measurements: 3-1/2" long x 2-1/4" wide. Colors of green, orange, turquoise, gold, translucent blue.

This is such a SWEET and CUTE resin dragonfly brooch or pin ! Measurements: 3-1/2" long x 2-1/4" wide. Colors of orange, deep red, gold, white, translucent "clear".

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN DANCER KEYCHAIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE little resin keychain ! Measurements: 4-3/4" long x 1-3/4" wide. Colors are so pretty !! Yellow, pink, green, blue.

This is such a SWEET and CUTE little resin keychain ! Measurements: 4-1/2" long x 1-1/2" wide. Colors: Gold, ruby red / cognac, turquoise, pink/orange, brass.

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN CLEAR HEART + BEAD KEYCHAIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE little resin keychain ! Measurements: 5-1/2" long x 1-3/4" wide. Colors: Gold, brown, ruby red / cognac, brass.

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN ORANGE HEART + BEAD KEYCHAIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE little resin keychain !The keychain looks like brass. Measurements: 5" long x 1-3/4" wide. Colors: Gold, brown, green, vivid orange, pink, brass. Look how cute the 3 triangular hanging beads are!!! They dangle by thick brown threads!

DESIGNER LALO ORNA HANDCRAFTED RESIN GREEN BIRD KEYCHAIN. This is such a SWEET and CUTE little resin keychain ! Measurements: 5" long x 2-3/4" wide. Colors: Gold, ruby red / cognac, brown, green, yellow, orange, brass. It is just awesome how the colors of the translucent BIRD and 3 triangular feet are!!! The bird is edged in pretty gold. The round bead has two stripes of gold. The feet dangle by thick brown threads!

Get to Know Lalo Orna !! In the words of Lalo Orna, “I always think about the person who will be using my products. I want my colorful creations to smile at you and make you feel good.” To create objects with a friendly feel and cheerful appearance, she adds, "The materials I use are man-made, but I create the illusion of a natural organic material with the use of color, translucency, opacity, and design and a variety of medias, allowing for plenty of imagination to take place with the end user."

Well, let me tell you just what her creations do for me !! They make me smile and feel oh so good as they will for you!! Even my husband LOVES her creations. All of her artistic jewelry and giftware items are so beautiful and imaginative, it is not easy to pick a favorite. I personally love all her designs which utilize the hearts and stars plus her brooches are to die for! Her Dancer Keychain is a definite 10.

So who is Lalo Orna anyway? She is one of Israel's most distinctive and imaginative artists who has been designing and producing jewelry and accessories made from resin for over two decades. She is a fashion designer and graduate of Shenkar College for Fashion and Textile. Her unique look and imaginative eye have brought her a considerable amount of worldwide attention from leading fashion designers for custom runway work.

Lalo uses industrial resins plus natural and recycled materials to create her unique hand crafted pieces. She has a design studio in Aseret, Israel, and a factory in Sofia, Bulgaria, where all products are hand crafted, finished and undergo a strict quality control process. What’s so interesting about the final production process is that she later takes her designs to the local villages surrounding the factory and teaches the local women, young and old to assemble the pieces. Imagine owning such a precious designer piece as hers!

I still have a few pieces of Lalo Orna that I have kept in my personal inventory and not sold. It's hard to part with such incredible artisan pieces of resin jewelry.

I Love These Hearts Square Flap Fashion Purses

I personally LOVE the Hearts Square Flap Purses !! I loved them so much, I bought them in a variety of colors -- pink, white, and black -- and in a variety of sizes. They sold like hotcakes. Allow me to share these adorable handbags with you!


It is accented by pretty small multicolor hearts on the chrome metal buckle on the flap with magnetic closure. It is lined with the prettiest pink fabrics and there is an interior zippered pocket. The leatherette shoulder strap has a 8 inch drop.

• 8 inches wide x 5-1/2 inches high x 4 inches deep
• 9-1/2 inches wide x 4 inches high x 3 inches deep
• 12 inches wide x 4-1/2 inches high x 3-1/2 inches deep

Super Bowl XXXIX Commercials - The Day After

Just a little buzz on the Super Bowl XXXIX commercials! Don't want to feel left out of the opinion sharing! I really wasn't too bowled over by what I saw, and generally I don't laugh too often. American Idol tryouts make me laugh if that tells you anything!

FRIES MAKE ME NAUSEOUS! I personally did not GET THIS commercial about the Lincoln Fry. You've got to be kidding me that this would be a legitimate offering; i.e., a french fry with the profile of Abraham Lincoln! Give me a break! I guess this is something geared towards the younger generation. And, what about that strange grilled cheese sandwich on eBay! Hmmm. "The first commercial to score with searchers was a McDonald's spot about a french fry resembling Abraham Lincoln. Playing off a web trend of auctioning famous faces found in food items, the spot spurred a flurry of searches on 'Lincoln Fry'."

The WORST !! "FedEx turned its Super Bowl marketing playbook back to 1998, when it won plaudits for a witty commercial by BBDO Worldwide in New York, part of the Omnicom Group, that mocked the conventions of Super Bowl commercials. The 2005 version, also from BBDO New York, crammed into 30 seconds the 10 ingredients purportedly guaranteed to insure Super Sunday success. They included an obligatory celebrity (the actor Burt Reynolds), a bear (the required dancing, talking animal), two lissome cheerleaders (representing attractive females) and, when the bear became a film critic, one of those surprise endings so beloved by copywriters of Super Bowl spots. The best moment: When Mr. Reynolds paused to deliver a pitch for FedEx, it was identified on screen as Item No. 8, 'Product message (optional).' "

Oh My GOD!! It was Burt Reynolds again ... and in a really dumb commercial ... looking stiff [that mask thingy] and dancing? Burt -- Burt -- Burt ... you've got to quit while you're ahead!!! Give it up!!!

YUMMY!! I enjoyed the buzz on Batman Begins.

CLASSY! Personally, I've enjoyed the Budweiser commercials over the years and agree that "despite the timidity of many advertisers, Garfield said there were a few standouts. He called a Budweiser commercial featuring the signature Clydesdale horses "charming," and another Budweiser ad saluting U.S. troops 'tasteful and poignant.' "

IS THAT A BANANA IN YOUR POCKET?? I also went slightly bananas over Careerbuilder.com's monkey business ads, having worked in similar company in my vast career! Sorry, no names please!

HA HA HA!! The top of my list, and my husband's who viewed the Super Bowl at a separate location from mine, was Ameriquest's cat in the kitchen commercial. "The top of my favorite commercial list was Ameriquest's ad showing a man cooking a surprise dinner by way of an ominous-looking knife. The man's cat walks along and knocks over a pot of red sauce. The man picks up the sauce-covered cat just as a woman walks through the door. The last shot shows the man holding a threateningly large knife in one hand, and the cat covered in sauce in the other hand. Coincidentally, the sauce is the same color as blood. The words 'Don't Judge Too Quickly' flash on the screen, and the advertisement continues to assure customers that the insurance agency wouldn't judge too quickly either. This shockingly funny commercial nearly caused me to miss the following commercial."

Victoria's Secret - Brand is ON TARGET

Victoria's Secret - Brand is ON TARGET - Sexy, Red Hot Fashion! I personally love to check out Victoria's Secret stores, catalogs, and online offerings on a regular basis. And, no surprise, so does my husband! I also wear many of their items, love those intimates, and I am a reseller of their fashions. Well, it was no surprise to read in a latest Brand Channel e-newsletter that VS gets high marks for their branding efforts.

The following is from a recent article in Brand Channel.

"Want (her) to be sexy? Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and brands are offering up a plethora of "in your face" material to wake the dead. Among those brands, Victoria's Secret catalog returns each year to remind one of the coming date with a scream. (Gentlemen, it's February 14.) This year, the scream is a pants' bursting bright-red lacy double D push up bra.

With three distribution channels-stores, catalog and e-shop-and marketing communication to match, Victoria's Secret has consistently delivered its brand message at each contact point with the customer. In particular, a visit to VictoriasSecret.com shows an attention to details that has been hitting the right balance between branding and usability for years.

Not only is the first impression on target, with the screen dominated by a picture of a voluptuous model, but all the elements of a branded e-commerce are present: From color-palette, to thumbnail pictures to promotions.

In sum, Victoria's Secret has developed a superb customer-focused marketing tool-at both strategic and operational levels-that is undoubtedly a benchmark for its lingerie category. Its brand focuses on a lifestyle that teases, shocks, and woos our deepest feelings. Far from lagging behind the stores and catalogs, the e-shop is nicely integrated with the other distribution channels and reinforces the brand presence in a sizable fashion."

Jaguar Julie First Hand Experience of Super Bowl Week Activities

On Friday, February 4, 2005, my husband and I opted to take a "vacation" day to attend Friday's Super Bowl activities dowtown Jacksonville ! For him, it was a birthday holiday from work at Fuji Hunt. For me, I had to tear myself away, literally, from my online business as Jaguar Julie Designs both selling on eBay and Overstock. Quite a full time adventure, I might add ... but that's fodder for another article !!

We researched the best way to get downtown. It was decided we'd pay $5.00 for an all-day transit pass. The deal was that you find one of the authorized park and ride lots as advertised in the Times-Union. However, once we found our lot, there were several of us who got confused and parked on the wrong side of the shopping center. After a good 30 minute wait, I suggested to my husband that he was perhaps in the wrong area! You know, husbands don't usually succumb to taking or asking for directions well !

We ventured over to the other side of the shopping center and lo and behold !!! there was the trolley car and a few buses. Ambling up to the transit car at 12:30pm, we were abruptly told, "NO tickets until 2pm!!" "Say What???" asked my informed husband. "I read in the paper that the buses started at Noon!" Well, that was some misinformation. OK, we're off to a not so good start! We called our friends who were at another lot experiencing the same confusion. After hooking up, we all drove down to the Southbank area and opted to ride in the Tram. That was fun!!

Once we arrived at The Landing in downtown Jacksonville, we encountered a hopping place! I actually got a die-hard Eagles fan to hoot, holler, and growl at me because of my Jaguar garb! OK, that was fun . . . but my stomach was growling and I was hungry. We finally found a cool little spot, Mongo's, to have a Mongolian lunch. That was my first time for such a cool place! You fix a bowl of meats, fishes, spices, oils, vegies, and a separate bowl of sauces . . . then you proceed to a grill area and watch your food being grilled! I loved it !! Specially with all the jalapenos I added.

So, what was so special about this place?? Well, glad you asked. We were finishing up lunch and spotted an interview about to get underway out on the patio deck area. JOSH GRACIN . . . remember this country singer from American Idol ?? Well, I was one of those millions with speed dial who actually voted for this talented young Marine. I waited patiently with pen and paper in hand and then went up to the young man, introducing myself as "Jaguar Julie" who is one of your oldest fans and had speed dial . . . and would be attending your Pepsi Smash concert that evening. Now, I GOT HIS AUTOGRAPH. Yikes! You'd think I was a teeny bopper. I don't think I've ever gotten anyone's autograph before. OK, either a sheltered life or much too reserved???

Well . . . we continued to enjoy the goings on on the St. Johns River. Heading over to the stage area, we saw Tom Arnold, he looks better in person! Then, Bert Reynolds showed up with Chris Rock and Adam Sandler. After these 3 "gentlemen" were interviewed, they were squired past all us "admiring" FANS to be led over to the Adams Mark Hotel. Excuse me while I dis, dish the dirt, on Bert! OK, I'm not one for being rude or unfriendly [ Hello Bert, did you hear me calling your name? ] . . . but, Bert, stop with the plastic surgery already!! I didn't say this, but someone standing nearby said something about a Mask and I don't think they were talking about Jim Carrey's movie. I understood that a reporter was dogging you and you wanted NO INTERVIEWS, but you had admiring fans . . . I'm way too old to be shouting your name and waving! Did you forget your contacts? Time to retire!

Now Chris Rock, not much better! Has fame gone to your head??

OK, now it's time for Adam Sandler . . . I've always watched your movies, but wasn't necessarily an A+ fan. BUT, my opinion has changed based on your cordiality that you expressed on Friday at the Jacksonville Landing! You took time to acknowledge your fans, hey you even smiled and waved! Thank you!
Well . . . several hours passed, my tootsies were getting tired in my black fringed Durango cowboy boots. We bought two shirts from a licensed Super Bowl seller and one beer bottle holder. YIKES, our charge tab came to $102.00! Way too much for this merchandise! Hey you guys, that's pretty near price gouging . . . especially since I can buy things off eBay at better prices. Oh well, part of the NFL, SUPER BOWL experience.

Finally . . . it was time for the Pepsi Smash Concert !! at the new Jacksonville Arena. All in all, this was an enjoyable experience . . . once my husband surrendered two Monster batteries from his high-end FujiFilm digital camera to Victoria at the gate. We got to our seats, but I could have used binoculars or another Lasik touch up. So, we moved to the seats that my husband initially purchased. Once the concert got underway, we were definitely impressed by the talent of Josh Gracin. Next up was Chris Cagle . . . WHO?? I can't say that I've heard of him, but he did a great job with his performance! And mighty engaging with the audience. Then came Jo Dee Messina! "WOW," said my husband. "She looks like a biker girl." Well, that meant he found her hot and sexy. And, VERY TALENTED!!! I thoroughly enjoyed her singing and performing. For a little person, she sure could belt out the tunes. Last was Dwight Yoakum. I wasn't terribly impressed with this country singer . . . he's got to stop mumbling when he sings and talks. Unfortunately, we opted to leave near the end of his performance.

YIKES . . . my tootsies were soooo tired! We had to now search up our bus to take us to the park and ride lot. This was absolutely a most miserable time for me! As we trudged quite a walk to find the right bus waiting area, we had to wait on a good 3 buses before one pulled up. It was chilly, dark, and a long wait. This is one challenge for the SUPER BOWL COMMITTEE!! The Jacksonville Transit Authority needed to do a better job with the transportation! The lines were monstrous at Midnight! That made for more than a 12 hour day for us.

A final word . . . Pepsi was literally "throwing out" small red/white/blue squeeze balls on key chains as specialty give-a-ways at the Jacksonville Arena front door. The young people enlisted to perform this task were having way too much fun rifling these balls at old fogies such as myself! But, I did catch the two that were aimed my way, much to the surprise of the youngsters! ;-) This didn't negatively influence my opinion of Pepsi. Pepsi-Cola has always been my #1 choice over Coca-Cola. I love the way Pepsi-Cola tastes and have never acquired a taste for that syrupy sweet taste of Coke! Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, we'd drink Pepsi or often R.C. Cola -- Royal Crown Cola . . . which was the favorite of my grandparents!

Rating Super Bowl Ads - Bloggers Exercise Power

Bloggers' newest power: rating Super Bowl ads ... By John Boudreau, Market Researcher, Mercury News

"Everyone knows about the Super Bowl.

Now there's the Blog Bowl. What better sign that blogging has gone mainstream than this: The popular act of online journal writing by anyone with a PC or laptop is now part of the Super Bowl ad sweepstakes. Market research company Intelliseek will be monitoring the blogosphere for the buzz on Super Bowl ads to give their clients instant feedback on their ad extravaganzas. Intelliseek, a Cincinnati company that owns blogpulse.com, also will set up a panel of 50 to 100 bloggers to offer comments on ads during the game for its clients."

A convergence of factors -- the near-religious fervor in which Americans identify with, and talk about, their favorite products, the mass appeal of online communication and the buzz factor tied to Super Bowl ads -- has led marketing experts to focus more closely on what consumers are writing in blogs and on other Web forums . . . A well-read blog gives its creator, or those who post opinions on it, a global audience. 'Suddenly, instead of an audience of just a couple of colleagues, someone can have an audience of tens of thousands,' said Jonathan Carson, president and chief executive of BuzzMetrics, a word-of-mouth research company in New York."

"The Super Bowl, in a sense, becomes the ultimate buzz-platform, said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management . . . That's why companies are willing to pay a premium -- $2.4 million a 30-second spot -- to get their message across during Super Bowl commercial breaks, he said."

"Intelliseek's Blackshaw and others believe monitoring the blogosphere is a good way to measure whether a Super Bowl ad is a bust or buzz. For instance, Intelliseek declared the last Super Bowl a low-buzz ad event because most of the blog chatter was about Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction,' not about an innovative commercial." Read more about this.

Latest Trends - Fashion News From Alexis and Gianni

Here is the latest "scoop" from Alexis and Gianni . . . I just found this website this morning and will definitely be a customer when I'm in the market for new, hot, fashionable furs!! Why don't you check them out and see for yourself.

What’s the color? Earth tones, black and pastels. That’s what’s hot for fall 2004. Call it back to nature, perhaps it’s because animal prints remain strong, but calm, soothing rusts, beiges and browns are “in” this year. Black still holds a monopoly, but pastels are the other colors to talk about. Women who gravitate toward color are going to find baby blue, pale pink, light apricot and winter white strong in the selection to choose from.

What’s everyone showing? A touch of fur is a must this season. Whether on a vest or jacket, a handbag or hat, a shoe or boot, this little accent will give everything is adorns the post treatment. Fur trims are being shown in every design and ready to wear collection affording all a little luxury.

What’s new? Laser cutting and carving ran the gamut, appearing on mink, sheared beaver, rabbit and shearlings. The use of laser carving gives the ability to add patterns resembling floral and crocodile, while cutting through the skin adds a perforated, lacey, feminine quality to already lightweight fashions. The use of
lightweight and reversible skins, both with and without laser enhancements, still prevail for the season.

What’s hot? Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles, that will be the must have to complete your outerwear wardrobe this fall. Whether on the hem, fronts or sleeves, or on all, ruffles are shown adorning shearlings, sheared and long hair minks, knits and leathers. Feminine and flowing, these flounces of fur and fabric are a winner!

What’s in? Call it a shrug, a stole or a capelet; the shoulder wrap is the hottest item on everyone’s shopping list this year. Having become younger and more artistic and unique, this small accessory is shown in fur and fabric combinations and knitted and crocheted designs. These little pieces are anything but ordinary.

What’s for him? Fur and shearling in the men’s collections have hit an all time high for fall 2004. Men, having finally realized the warmth of fur, will be seen in the latest looks from coast to coast and continent to continent. Cool and conservative, hot and urban, stylish and sleek, all looks in men’s fur and shearling outerwear.

Check out FOXY BROWN collection! It's hot. Go shopping and see what HOT furs you can find here.

The Buzz on Mobile Aromatherapy AromaPods

Now, why didn't I think of this? AromaPods ... mobile sniff inhalers to carry aromatherapy with you ! These "flavors" sound familiar ... think I've seen the candles in these themes and now Downy fabric softener may be more into aromatherapy!

"Mood swings. Anxieties. Anger. Fatigue. No wonder aromatherapy has become such a massive success. However, until now, it was definitely something that was enjoyed (or should we say applied) in the confinements of consumers' homes or in expensive spas. New Zealand 's AromaPod has come up with a mobile solution: twist and sniff inhalers in four functional 'flavors': Awake, Calm, Energize, and Focus."

"AromaPod was developed by senLab, which itself is part of the Healthcare Manufacturing Group. Dubbed 'mood-management devices', the AromaPods are being distributed via large New Zealand retailers, supermarkets and BP gas stations. They sell for NZD 9.95 (USD 6.95) per pod, and last for about a month if used regularly ... they don't contain calories, caffeine, alcohol or other fun stimulants."


This article was featured in the January 2005 issue of Springwise's free, monthly newsletter. For more new business ideas like this one, please visit their archives.

The Buzz - Prague Pink Lizard Embossed Barrel

What is HOT in handbags? What's all the buzz? The Prague PINK Lizard Embossed Barrel -- This little bag is the rage and a definite must have for all you fashionistas out there! I LOVE my bag!

When I found mine, it was available through Overstock, the Big O. Overstock advertised the pink barrel as "lizard embossed" although the manufacturer's tag says "genuine leather." From what I can find, the buzz is that the Prague line of designer handbags are reportedly designed in New York City, the fashion capital of the world, and made in China! Prague handbags boast a distinctive New York style with European designer touches and Chinese manufactured quality!!

Prague handbags are constructed of high quality fabrications, yet moderately priced to fit in anyone's budget. These handbags reflect the sense of modern style that keeps evolving in today's fashion industry. They're tastefully designed and appealing, as well as easy on your pocketbook. This little number lists for $70.00, but can be had for 50% list. If this compact little bag carried the Louis Vuitton, Chanel, or Prada, the price tag would be MUCH higher!

Features: It's Pink Genuine Leather. Dimensions are 7.5 inches wide x 3.25 inches deep x 3.25 inches high. It has a removable 15 inch carry strap with 8 inch drop, zippered enclosure, one zippered interior pocket.

As an eBay Seller Looking for What's Hot

As an eBay seller, I'm on the look out for what's "hot." And, I don't necessary mean "hot" as in those prolific knockoff or replica handbags, which are seemingly the rage. I can't tell you just how many sellers on eBay are selling knockoffs as the real genuine thing!

However, "eBay.com has rules posted forbidding the sale of counterfeit goods, but it's not unusual to see Louis Vuittons on the site for less than $100."

I personally would rather sell the real, genuine article. So, I'm sticking to selling designer women's apparel with recognizable, authentic brand names.

• Look for my listings under my eBay seller name: JaguarJulieBuys.
• Check my positive feedback.
• Purchase and pay with confidence as I'm PayPal verified and ID-verified on eBay.
• My eBay store is Jaguar Julie Designs which just happens to be the name of my new company!

P.S. I stopped selling on eBay and only buy something once in a while. Being retired and a single senior, my life has changed significantly and I no longer have the energy to be a seller.

Best Blog Awards 2004 from MarketingSherpa Readers

MarketingSherpa Readers' Choice Best Blog Awards 2004: Chosen in April 2004 by 173,000 readers, mainly marketing execs at medium-large businesses and the agencies who serve them, and selected by 826 judges from 29-nominated blogs.

• Individual's blog, marketing and advertising: Adrants http://www.adrants.com; Honorable Mention: Seth Godin's Blog http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/blog.html. 

• Group weblog, marketing and advertising: AdLand http://ad-rag.com; Honorable Mention: MarketingVOX http://www.marketingvox.com/. 

• PR: CanuckFlack http://www.canuckflack.com; Honorable Mention: PR Machine http://prmachine.blogspot.com/. 

• B-to-B, marketing: Dana's Blog http://www.danavan.net/weblog/; Honorable Mention: B2B Lead Generation Blog http://blog.startwithalead.com/. 

• Small business marketing: Duct Tape Marketing http://www.DuctTapeMarketing.com/weblog.php; Honorable Mention: re:invention Blog - Biz and marketing soundbytes for women entrepreneurs http://www.reinventioninc.blogspot.com. 

• Online marketing: Search Engine Lowdown http://www.searchenginelowdown.com; Honorable Mention: Adverblog Web & wireless advertising in a Blog http://www.adverblog.com. 

• Top readers' choice write-in vote: Strategic Public Relations http://prblog.typepad.com.

Best / Top Blogs Cited in 2004

Curious about what's the Best Blogs, I did a Google search this morning for "best blogs," yielding results of 13,400,000 for "best blogs" in 0.14 seconds. Big Eye, http://www.bigeye.com/blogs.htm, has highlighted BlogPulse as "best of 2004."

BlogPulse, http://www.blogpulse.com/2004_review/BlogPulse2004_review.html, lists the following, as the Top Blogs cited in 2004:

1. BoingBoing
2. DailyKos
3. Instapundit
4. The Drudge Report
5. Slashdot
6. AndrewSullivan.com
7. Talking Points Memo
8. Eschaton
9. Washington Monthly
10. Power Line
11. Albino Blacksheep
12. Little Green Footballs
13. engadget
14. The Smoking Gun
15. MetaFilter
16. Wonkette!
17. Gizmodo
18. The Command Post
19. Captain's Quarters
20. Wizbang!
21. HughHewitt.com
22. The Volokh Conspiracy
23. Michele Malkin
24. Penny Arcade
25. Informed Comment
26. J-Walk Blog
27. Protein Wisdom
28. Blogs for Bush
29. Kottke.org
30. Belmont Club
31. Lileks.com
32. Buzzmachine
33. A Small Victory
34. Dean's World
35. Crooked Timber
36. The Scepter of Angst
37. Allah is in the House
38. Scobleizer
39. VoidStar
40. INDC Journal
41. Democratic Underground
42. Outside the Beltway
43. Gawker
44. Pandagon.net
45. Gothamist
46. Tim Blair
47. Roger L. Simon
48. Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal: a Weblog
49. VodkaPundit
50. TalkLeft
51. Unconscious Mutterings
52. Daniel D. Drezner
53. Blackfive
54. Mad Science News
55. Oliver Willis
56. Cox and Forkum Editorial Cartoons
57. Matthew Yglesias
58. This Blog is Full of Crap
59. Windsofchange.net
60. Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
61. Billmon
62. Joi Ito's Web
63. Waxy.org
64. Hullabaloo
65. Jihad Watch
66. Marginal Revolution
67. Scripting News
68. IMAO
69. Iraq the Model
70. The Official Kerry-Edwards Blog
71. ScrappleFace
72. MyDD
73. This Modern World
74. Defamer
75. Lessig Blog
76. Maud Newton
77. Kuro5hin
78. Questions and Observations
79. The Blue Lemur
80. techdirt
81. Chrenkoff
82. Right Wing News
83. Rathergood.com
84. Ace of Spades HQ
85. Argghhh
86. Dan Gillmor eJournal on SiliconValley.com
87. Filling a Much-Needed Void
88. USS Clueless
89. Wil Wheaton dot Net
90. Reason Online Hit and Run
91. The American Prospect: Tapped
92. The Truth Laid Bear
93. Backcountry Conservative
94. The Jawa Report
95. Polipundit.com
96. dooce
97. The Politburo Diktat
98. Baghdad Burning
99. Jeremy Zawodny's blog
100. Orcinus 

BlogPulse Trends is the one-click answer to the simple question: "What’s the buzz?" BlogPulse Trends identifies the topics and subjects that people are talking about in their blogs.

"The BlogPulse Showcase is a sandbox for our researchers, developers and collaborators. This is where we offer an early peek into new and cool things related to blogs, blog searching, blog analysis and more."

I am a Blogger x5!

1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
2. Blondes that DIY
3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
5. Topicability

Six Apart, LiveJournal Merger Creates Blogging Powerhouse

"There's money to be made," blog expert B.L. Ochman, author of "What Could Your Company Do with a Blog?," said. "As soon as that becomes clear, you'll see more mergers in the marketplace. This acquisition will certainly help Six Apart, which is starting to see quite a few competitors."

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/39463.html

Six Apart, a developer and provider of blogging software and service, has acquired Danga Interactive, operator of LiveJournal, an online community organized around personal journals, for an undisclosed amount. The merger of the two blogging pioneers makes the new company a blogging powerhouse serving up 6.5 million blogs, with thousands more added daily, according to the companies. Analysts said it puts Six Apart in a better position to capitalize on the revenue-generating aspects of blogs.

Six Apart now has a complete package of blogging software and services.

• TypePad offers bloggers a hosted service with more flexibility and power than free services.
• Moveable Type offers corporations and institutions a server-based blog publishing platform.

Blog Shares Blogshares - Fantasy or Reality

OK ... me again with the Google searches. I live to LOVE Google searches. I honestly don't know what I did before Google!! Really. And, I'm much too old to be carrying on this way. I'm sure my husband would say, "It must be men o pause!"

Well, I just searched "Blog shares" and yielded 24,700 for "Blog shares" in 0.19 seconds. Without the quotes, you get 1,290,000 for Blog shares in 0.27 seconds.

The most obvious result is http://www.blogshares.com/ -- a fantasy stock market for weblogs. Players get to invest a fictional $500, and blogs are valued by incoming links.

As I am new to fantasy and to Blogshares ... much more into reality ... I was surprised to find Jaguar Julie in Blogshares. In reality, I nominated my blog as Best Small Business Blog for the 2005 Blogging Awards.

I am a Blogger x5!

1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
2. Blondes that DIY
3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
5. Topicability

More about Make Meaning

If you do a Google search, you get 79,500 for Make Meaning in just 0.25 seconds.

• Google returned a site that really wasn't pertinent, but nevertheless, it's a cool site to check out for definitions: Think Exist.


• "Purposeful Leaders Make Meaning." --Jim Clemmer.


• "Making meaning, understanding the world, gives us control over our lives and empowers us to make good decisions, to be the kind of people we would like to be. Understanding is always good. Meaning, by definition, is useful." --http://lightshedder.com/learning*life/WritingProcess/meacom.html.


• “Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength.” —GuyKawasaki.


• "Guy, you have a Top Five list of things an entrepreneur must accomplish. At the top of that list is Make Meaning. What does that mean, and why is it so important? Kawasaki: It means that if you start a company to "make money" then you'll probably fail. Great companies start because the founders want to change the world ... not make a fast buck. Call me a romantic, but I think entrepreneurs should try to change the world. This comes from working at Apple ... old habits die hard ... However, if you make meaning, you'll probably make money. If you make money, you might not make meaning. At the end of one's life, hopefully you've done more than simply make money." Forbes Q&A with Guy Kawasaki.


• "The most important thing in creating any venture is to make meaning. Have you ever fallen in love with someone without sharing a meaningful experience with that person? Of course not. It just doesn't happen. Kawasaki says by making meaning, entrepreneurs will be inspired by what they're creating as they're creating it, virtually falling in love with it, ensuring the venture's success." http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/12/201610.php.

Resolve to Make Meaning Your One Decision

I haven't yet stated any of my resolutions for 2005 in this forum, but will share a few quotes that I found which, to quote a Meatloaf song, "You took the words right out of my mouth..."

• Here's a great quote that I found on www.anchorsaway.us:

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant flame than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." --Jack London.

• Anchors Away is all about US! 

• "This year, make a 'One Decision' ... your commitment to living a life of MORE ... To make lasting change in our lives, we need to commit to one way of living versus another. This is not just a decision. It is the One Decision that determines the quality and direction of our life ... By making a One Decision, you choose to pursue the greater MORE in life: more connection, meaning, fulfillment and satisfaction. And along the way you find more time, money and energy." --Judith Wright

The Buzz on Word of Mouth Marketing or WOMMA

In case you haven't heard, WOMMA is the official trade association for the word of mouth marketing industry. So, what exactly is word of mouth marketing?

"Word-of-mouth is more about farming than it is about hunting. Building your business through word-of-mouth is about cultivating relationships with people who get to know you and trust you."

"Word of mouth is the passing of information by verbal means, especially recommendations, but also general information, in an informal, person-to-person manner, rather than by mass media, advertising, organized publication, or traditional marketing. Word of Mouth is typically considered a spoken communication, although web dialogue, such as blogs, message boards and emails are often now included in the definition

A very successful word of mouth promotion creates a buzz. A buzz is a highly intense and interactive form of word of mouth. Word of mouth is essentially a linear process with information passing from one individual to another, then to another, etc. A marketer has successfully created a buzz when the interactions are so intense that the information moves in a matrix pattern rather than a linear one. Everyone is talking about the topic."

If you've got pertinent case studies, reports, research, and white papers, the WOMMA's new blog/library/newsletter, The Womnibus, is building their repository. Contact them at http://www.womma.org/contact.htm or email editor@womma.org.

Top Ten Most Trustworthy Industry Sectors

Internet Companies, Banks and Healthcare Organizations Cited as Most Trustworthy Industry Sectors. A consumer-focused study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and the nonprofit TRUSTe revealed that eBay is the most trusted company for privacy in America while companies in the hospitality and retail food store industries are not considered as trustworthy.
The top ten ranked companies:

1. eBay -- FYI ... Jaguar Julie is an eBay seller ... so this is a "good thing!" that eBay is #1.
2. American Express -- yes, our family supports AMEX daily.
3. Procter & Gamble (all brands) -- a great family of brands.
4. Amazon -- what a wonderful online experience for buying books!
5. Hewlett Packard -- well, I tried their multifunction printer, but now have an Epson. ;-(
6. U.S. Postal Service -- wonderful integration with PayPal for eBay shipments! + carrier pickups!!
7. IBM -- yes, Jaguar Julie was a marketing contractor with IBM in Atlanta and Tallahassee!
8. Earthlink -- this was my IP choice when I used a MAC previously.
9. Citibank -- again, we support this company monthly.
10. Dell -- yes, Jaguar Julie made a major Dimension 8300 desktop + flat screen purchase recently!

The study, which polled more than 6,300 consumers, also reveals the three top criteria that consumers apply to gauge a company's trustworthiness.

1. The most important factor is the company's overall reputation for product and service quality,
2. followed by a company's limits on collection of its customers' personal information.
3. The third criterion is the use of advertisements and solicitations that respect consumer privacy.

"Privacy is a key component of trust, which is crucial to the success of the eBay marketplace," said Scott Shipman, privacy counsel, eBay Inc. "We work closely with the eBay community to maintain the transparency of the marketplace while protecting the privacy of our users."

Most of these top ten companies above have provided consumers with links to make donations to the American Red Cross's Tsunami Disaster Relief. You can visit the American Red Cross directly through one of the links below.

As I mentioned in a previous blog posting, our family has made a significant cash contribution last Saturday and I am donating all the proceeds from my Jute Tote Bags that are advertised on eBay. Thanks for your heartfelt support.

http://www.redcross.org/index.html. You can make a donation through the American Red Cross to support the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund.

eCommerce: Online Consumers Spent the Most on Apparel

eCommerce: Online Consumers Spent the Most on Apparel / Clothing; Jewelry #1 in the Fastest-Growing Categories

"The latest holiday eSpending Report from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive(R), and Nielsen//NetRatings revealed that online shoppers in the U.S. spent $23.2 billion during the 2004 holiday season, excluding travel. This reflects a 25 percent increase from the $18.5 billion spent online during the same timeframe in 2003.

According to the 2004 eSpending report, based on weekly surveys of more than 1,000 respondents, online consumers spent the most on apparel/clothing, totaling $3.8 billion, or 16 percent of total online revenue, during the 2004 holiday season.

Categories generating the highest year-over-year growth in holiday dollars included jewelry ... Jewelry jumped 113 percent to $1.9 billion during the 2004 holiday season compared to the $888 million spent in 2003."

Source:

• Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive, and Nielsen//NetRatings eSpending Report, 2004.

• Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries:
  London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris (http://www.novatris.com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide (http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com), a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com.

• Nielsen//NetRatings, http://www.nielsen-netratings.com, a service provided by NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT), is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis and is the industry's premier source for online advertising intelligence with its NetView, AdRelevance, @Plan, WebRF, LemonAd, MegaPanel and SiteCensus services.

Tsunami Relief Fund - Have you Donated

I am donating proceeds from the sale of my two jute totes which were handcrafted in India. On Saturday, January 1, 2005, our family made a significant cash donation to this relief fund. We encourage you to do your part to contribute.

You can purchase the Yellow Jute Snail Tote or the Yellow Jute Turtle Tote through my online eBay store. Thank you.

P.S. I was selling jute totes in 2005. Some of my remaining totes were actually donated to First Coast No More Homeless Pets and the Goodwill in Jacksonville, Florida. It is now late May of 2019. I am a retired single senior gal living in Leesburg, Florida navigating my retirement. So, I am no longer an online auction seller.

Have Blogs taken over the world

Several searches on Google returns some surprising MONSTER results!

• "Blog" yields 154,000,000 results in 0.19 seconds !
• "weblog" yields 40,200,000 results in 0.15 seconds.
• "Blogging" yields 9,560,000 results in 0.14 seconds.
• " 'web log' " yields 4,140,000 results in 0.12 seconds.
• "blogosphere" yields 1,380,000 results in 0.15 seconds.
• "blogrolling" yields 655,000 results in 0.19 seconds.
• "blogsphere" yields 122,000 results in 0.23 seconds.

Additional Google searches yields some EMERGING terminology.

• "Blogophile" yields 385 results in 0.09 seconds.
• "Blogphile" yields 156 results in 0.15 seconds.
• "Bloggerphile" yields just 5 results in 0.24 seconds.

What is the history of blogs? They aren't as new as you would think!

Mallory Jensen writes,

"They have actually been around since the early days of the Internet. In the strictest sense, a blog is someone's online record of the Web sites he or she visits. Today's blogs, of course, are much more than that. In 1999 there were dozens of blogs. Now there are millions. What happened?

Simply put, some of the blogging pioneers — in an effort to make their own work easier — built tools that allow anyone, no matter how little Internet savvy he or she possesses, to create and maintain a blog. All you need to get started is a name, a password, and an e-mail address. The most popular of these tools is the aptly named Blogger.com, which was launched in August 1999 by Evan Williams, Paul Bausch, and Meg Hourihan and quickly became the largest and best-known of its kind.

Part of Blogger.com's appeal is that it lets people store blogs on their own servers, rather than on a remote base. This allows them to have a personalized address (like www.yourname.com), whereas with other blogging tools your address starts at the remote server."

I love Blogs and Blogging

That makes me a BlogPhile ... So, "What's a BlogPhile? " you ask? Blog a.k.a. blogger -or- blogrolling -or- weblog -or- Web log -or- blogosphere

• A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web.
• The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger."
• Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
• Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.

-phile or -phil suff.

1. One that loves or has a strong affinity or preference for: audiophile.


• Loving; having a strong affinity or preference for: Francophile.
• [New Latin -philus, from Greek -philos, beloved, dear, from philos, beloved, loving.]

I am a Blogger x5!

1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
2. Blondes that DIY
3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
5. Topicability

Humor Quickies - Momerisms

Starting off New Year 2005, my mother has shared some quickies ...some of her momerisms [that's momisms with the "er" in the middle]:

• Two peanuts walk into a bar. One was a salted.


• A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."


• A sandwich walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry we don't serve food in here."


• A dyslexic man walks into a bra.


• A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."


• Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The ceremony wasn't much but the reception was great.


• Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"


• "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home." "That sounds like "Tom Jones syndrome" "Is it common?" "It's not unusual."


• Two cows standing next to each other in a field, Daisy says to Dolly "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," said Dolly. "It's true, no bull!"


• Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."


• A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet and says, "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?" "Well," says the vet, "let's have a look at him." So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to put him down." "What, just because he's cross-eyed?" "No, because he's really heavy."


• I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.


• I went to the butcher's the other day and I bet him $50 that he couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. He said, 'no, the steaks are too high.'


• I went to a seafood disco rave last week.... and pulled a mussel. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly; but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your
  kayak and heat it too.


• What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.


• Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, dam." 

Check out more from my mom on this page entitled Momerisms and dedicated to her!

Fashion Trend Talk - Faux-Fur Accents

Fur ruled the runways this season, showing up on everything from jackets to sweaters to accessories. And while real fur is out of the question, faux fur taps into the luxe trend in an affordable, humane way. To help you take advantage of this fuzzy look, check out our favorite faux-fur-adorned items for winter and our tips on how to wear them:

Sweaters: The tailored, classic '50s-feel cardigan gets an update when its collar is wrapped in fuzzy faux fur. Look for a cardigan that's fitted, with a faux-fur collar in a color that complements the sweater's weave. For an ultra-feminine look, pair your faux-fur-collared sweater with a pencil skirt, patterned hose and heels. Avoid cardigans that are boxy or shapeless.

Ponchos: The poncho is still hot for winter, and does double-fashion duty when it's trimmed in fake fur. One great bet: a poncho with faux-fur trim along the hem, or with faux-fur pom-pom ties. Ponchos look great when worn over classic, casual clothes, like a sleek turtleneck and slim boot-cut jeans. Add cowboy or stacked-heel boots for a finishing touch.

Jackets: What's way better than a real fur coat? A fun, faux-fur jacket! This season, many toppers combine two trends: animal prints and fake fur. Look for a jacket that's shaped by princess seams to accentuate the waist, and that falls to mid-thigh. Also be sure the faux fur is thin and sleek, not shaggy (otherwise, the silhouette will be too big). A faux-fur jacket in an animal print can work for lots of occasions: over a suit on the way to work, or topping an evening dress at night. Another option: Try a parka with faux-fur trim around the hood.

Handbags: Even totes and purses take on the fur trend this season! Sporting a faux-fur bag is an easy, risk-free way to wear this fun look. To keep it chic, look for a bag that's structured, to contrast the relaxed feel of the material. Satchels, structured totes and bucket bags look great in faux fur. Stick to neutral shades of black, brown and cream, and pair with sleek clothes to put the focus on your bag.

Source: Lisa Kovalovich

What’s the Buzz About Buzz Marketing

"There's a new marketing catchphrase that's getting rave word-of-mouth reviews. From articles in the popular press to conversations in the classroom, huge companies to boutique marketing firms, suddenly it seems you can't talk about new products without addressing 'buzz marketing.'

'People are buzzing about buzzing,' says Wharton marketing professor Barbara Kahn. 'People think it's cool. There is something almost empowering about the idea of being able to 'buzz' your way into the products people buy.' " http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/1105.cfm

These two trade associations give fuel to the growing phenomenon of BUZZ:

• Word of Mouth Marketing Association
• Viral + Buzz Marketing Association

From Knowledge @ Wharton

Get Blog Inspired

Thinking about starting your own blog and want to get some ideas on what to write about? Are you making meaning with your blog?

Check out these Blogs for some blogging inspiration:

• A VC
• Engage
• VC Ball
• Blog.org
• Blue Sun
• eblogsky
• Beyond VC
• Amy Jo Kim
• Jeff Nolan
• Madeleines
• Clay Shirky
• David Allen
• TJ's Weblog
• Section One
• Trader Mike
• CorporatePR
• Media Culpa
• PR Opinions
• Common Craft
• Mathemagenic
• Susan Mernit
• Venture Blog
• Dave Pollard