Successful Blog

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: We’ll Be Talking about Web Design

by

Join Us Tonight

What Do You Care About?

I know. It’s a problem. We all think we’re designers. On the other hand, we all know what we find attractive and comfortable — and what gets in our way. So let’s see how alike we are. Tonight we’re talking about web design:

  • What blogs and websites know your socks off?
  • What do you think are the qualities of a good design?
  • What do you find major irritants?
  • If you could tell designers one thing, what would it be?

    • ahem . . .

Oh, and bring example links of great designs to share —

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

About Being Shiny, Are You Listening?

by

Ever been shiny, golden, glittery — the top of the social media set? Ever had a day go almost perfectly? Ever felt like the sun was shining just for you? Bet it’s happened at least one time. It’s usually something like this . . .

Every conversation is just the right amounts of smart and witty. Every word communicates and moves to action in a nice way. Everyone seems so appealing. Caffeine and chocolate aren’t necessary, but they’re available. Cooperation is the weather all day.

Ideas appear without reaching, like poetry in motion.

Everything anyone touches turns golden. People behave in the most extraordinarily generous fashion. Even that guy you dislike looks to be doing things right.

It’s a symphony. Hmmm. You check that you’ve not fallen asleep laughing.

Life is a breeze, piece of cake, easy as pie. Wishes are horses and beggars are riding.

Except, of course, for the traffic or the slow Internet connection. But who cares about those? Really.

It seems only right to savor a day like that.
Actually, it seems only right to savor every day. I mean really.

Imagine kicking back with the ones who fit this description . . .

old_bears

. . . our understanding of each other
           had reached that sweet depth
where two people
     communicate more often in silence than in words;
         an affectionate quietness replaces the tensions,
  the unrelaxed chatter and chasing about
  that produce a friendship’s more showy,
       more, in the surface sense,
               dramatic moments.
–Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

. . . the ones who listen to what we’re not saying.

We don’t need to be shiny.
It’s the dull old bears that we hold onto.
Are you listening?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Image: sxc.hu

Mind if I Ask Your Network to Help Me Beat Your Car with a Sledgehammer?

by

Social Media Is Connecting People with People

insideout logo

Would you stop connecting people to people for one small second?

Put down that shiny object and consider these statements.

Mind if I ask your network to help me beat your car with a sledgehammer?

I’m hoping you’ll personally help me throw a puppy off a high building.

I’m about to shamelessly self-promote my new money-making seminar.

Repeat after me.

Just because you say you’re going to do it,
doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it any more appealing.

Social media is about connecting people to people, not people to products.
The joke about shameless self-promotion isn’t funny, because it’s meant to be promotion, not a joke.

And when someone follows it with . . .

If you help me run over this puppy now, I’ll help you when you want to run over a puppy in the future.

Get my point?

Don’t ask folks to be shameless with you. Ew.

I value the people in my network and hope they trust me.
False jokes about shameless self-promotion devalue that.

If you want help promoting your product . . .

Give me a reason to feel proud to pass it on.

It takes more effort to offer a reason to show off what you do, but I’ll love you for it.

The real question is: Why would anyone have to joke about shameless self-promotion if the product is worth talking about?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

How to Make Everyone and Everything Nicer Without Lifting a Finger

by

Find the Answer in You

Reflection_Nebula

Want to do a nice thing for your friends? Here’s how to make everyone and everything nicer without even lifting a finger.

Close your eyes.
Unplug. Untie. Relax.
Turn off the words, sounds, and pictures in your head. Fade to black.

Look for the faint blue light by the hole on the back your eyelids. It takes a while but you’ll see it. Then look through the hole and you’ll see the stars. You can see the universe right there from wherever you are.

It’s the strangest thing, but you can be inside and outside at the same time. It takes patience and practice to find that hole. It’s hard to stay that relaxed. It’s about letting go. It’s finding out that it’s okay not to be in control.

I found it by accident when I was trying to sleep one night. I thought it was a memory of the sky. But it’s not.

Your cells are smarter than your brain. Let them show you.

Just put yourself out there, sit in the space, and trust.
No words, no sounds, no ideas.

People and stars are made of the same stuff.

It’s not hard to know what you know when you give yourself space.

You’ll come back feeling more relaxed, smarter, and happier.
And the people you meet and everything you see will suddenly be a whole lot nicer.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Image source: NASA Image http://www.nix.nasa.gov

Related
The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life
How to Be Alive and 10 Ways to Celebrate It!
Top 10 Ways to Become a Miserable Blogger
Desperado: The 7 Payoffs of Making Your Blogging Relationships Suck

Karen Putz on the Chicago Moms Blog Donors Choose Challenge!

by

Call to Action

Our friend, Karen Putz, is changing the world again. As part of the Chicago Moms blog, she wrote to let me know about the Donors Choose Challenge. I asked if she’d let me interview her about it. She agreed.

Listen in. It’s very cool!

Hi Karen! I hear you’re up to something special. Can you tell me In five sentences, what’s this spectacular challenge I’ve been hearing about?

The Chicago Moms Blog is joining with our sister sites in promoting the Bloggers Challenge for the month of October. We are raising money for schools through DonorsChoose.org, an organization that has been featured on Oprah and Fortune magazine: It Takes a Blogosphere. Last year, the Challenge made Internet history and raised $420,000 in one month. With the collective efforts of bloggers all over, it’s possible to break that record this year and raise even more money for school projects all over the world. This project has a special place in my heart because there are projects aimed at deaf and hard of hearing children.

Oprah and Fortune! How cool is that?!! When does it start? How long does it last?

The DonorsChoose Bloggers Challenge is for the entire month of October. Throughout the month of October, Chicago Moms Blogs and our sister sites will be featuring different projects and highlighting this important fundraiser. We know that teachers often dip into their own pockets to support classroom activities or that students go without basic supplies–this is our annual chance to make a difference in the lives of students all over.

How does it work?

Each time you visit the Chicago Moms Blog or our sister sites, you’ll find a donation button in the top left corner. Clicking on the button will take you to a list of projects that are set up by teachers all over the world. Each of our sites is highlighting different projects which cover different schools. For example, on the Chicago Moms Blog, we’re highlighting projects such as the Writer’s Workshop for Students with Diverse Needs and Bugs, Crystals and More for Deaf Scientists. You can donate to any of these projects by clicking on the DonorsChoose button and donating any amount, from a dollar to a few million.

Is it only in Chicago?

The Bloggers Challenge is taking place all over the web and covers projects that are worldwide.

Are there hands-on ways we can participate?

You can set up your own Bloggers Challenge, pick a few projects and promote this fundraiser on your blog or website. Check out the DonorsChoose.org blog for instructions on how to participate. Of course, the easiest hands on way to participate is to make a donation through the Chicago Moms Blog and help the Mom Bloggers kick some butt!

Are there ways we can spread the word?

Help spread the word by blogging about this event, setting up your own fundraising challenge or posting the links to current blogging challenges via social media sites. You can also encourage teachers to go to DonorsChoose.org and post a project that they would like to see funded. Thousands of dollars have been raised in the first two days– I can’t wait to see how much more we can raise in the upcoming days. Come and be a part of making a change for education. Together, we can impact the lives of children all over.

One last question . . .

How do we support our favorite Mom Blogger (you) the most?
Oh that’s easy, give me some link love! Help me spread the word about this fundraiser. And of course, one of the best ways to show support is to make a donation using this link and help Chicago Moms Blog rocket to the top of the Mom Bloggers list!

Last year during the 2007 Blogger Challenge, they made Internet history. More than 100 bloggers raised $420,000 for school projects on DonorsChoose.org. This year, they’re aiming to do Internet history again.

Bet we could make that goal happen . . . just like that.

C’mon let’s change the world!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Spring in the Southern Hemisphere

by

Beach Notes by Guest Writer Suzie Cheel

Our southern hemisphere spring has come late this year,

The purple flowers of the jacaranda tree are just emerging

The winds of August still blow this October

Yesterday I took my first plunge into the salty sea

I shivered as the cool water touched my skin.

Then I dived into the clear blue sea and swam

I emerged feeling alive and reenergised

The healing power of the sea.

What is your response to the energy around you?