Things I learned while researching something else. . .

I'm sure many of you have done that - found something cool when you were looking for something else. There's a word for it - serendipity.

Yesterday I made a very short presentation on blogs at a networking luncheon. Although I all too often put off my research to the very last minute, I spent a significant amount of time over the weekend on this. I did a similar presentation several months ago to another group and I wanted new info for yesterday's.

One of the most interesting things I discovered is how powerful blogs can be - there are lots of employers who now check the blogosphere (cool word, huh?) for information on prospective employees - people really need to be careful what they say - you never know who may someday read it.

It's probably much more difficult to fire somebody because of what they may have posted on a blog site, but I'm sure it's possible and probably been done.

Just this past Sunday, it was reported that a blogger, of all people, discovered a mistake that NASA had made on the most recent space journey.

And the most interesting blog site I stumbled upon is http://www.isawyournanny.blogspot.com/.

Anyone who's witnessed a nanny at work who has done or said something that a parent may want to know about can post all of the details. I'm sure that there are watchful parents who check this out regularly.

Think twice, Miss Nanny, before swearing or swatting at that kid.

You're reading this, so you have internet access. Search out an interesting blog and then tell me here what you've found. It'll be fun.

Does this woman look familiar ?

That's because I already introduced you to her a few blog posts back. I promised to highlight her most unusual business.

Meet Margie Sparks

Got great old stuff? Found a great buy at an estate or garage sale? Do you just love to buy stuff as an investment? Inherited some ugly old stuff that doesn't sync with your tastes?

Margie Sparks of www.bornagainvintageclothing.com may be able to help you. Her expertise is selling valuable items on e-bay for other people, particularly antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing and sporting equipment. She is both an ebay Power Seller and a Registered Trading Assistant so naturally has a "store" on ebay.

Margie and her husband started their business in 2003 and were featured in a Toledo Blade article last September. If you follow the links on the website above, you can view the huge amount of items she sold and what they sold for. And they have an excellent feedback rating, which means a lot to potential bidders or buyers.


Margie is also always in need of packing/mailing material - plastic peanuts, bubble wrap, sturdy boxes, etc. Please contact her if you have items you'd like to give her.

And I love Margie's tagline or memory hook:

"Empty your attic and fill your wallet."

See the comments under my blog post about last weekend.

Emme on her birthday shopping spree funded by Uncle Uncle.

Emme and Uncle Uncle at the Mud Hens game.




Emme helping Uncle Uncle with his birthday desert at dinner at Ansara's.

A lesson learned from a new friend

I recently had a one-to-one meeting with a woman who has so many admirable traits. I like to think of myself as a “good” person, but every once in a while, I get my comeuppance.

I don’t know how the conversation started, but Margie and I were talking about gossip. I told her I love a good juicy story. She said she hated gossip and refuses to not only repeat it, but she also won’t listen to it.

Then I said, “…unless it’s true.” Her immediate reply, “No, especially if it’s true,” really made me think. When I asked her why, I so admired her moral code.

She said, “Just think if there was something (true) about you that you really didn’t want other people talking about. How awful it would be to have that story being repeated to other people.”

I had never thought about it in that way - I guess I used to think if a story was true, that it was okay to repeat it.

Thanks, Margie, for a lesson learned. I will highlight your business in my next blog post as another way to say “thank you.”

What lesson have you learned lately from a surprising source?

What a weekend!

Mommy, Daddy, Me, Aunt Angie, Uncle Uncle, Mimi & Papa

Those of you who know me well know how much I adore my 2-year-old granddaughter Emme. She is the light of my and my husband's life. We waited a long time for her - her daddy is 40 and has been married 15 years.

She is so worth the wait. They live northwest of Seattle so we don't get to see her as often as we'd like. So we try to make the most of every minute we have with her.

She may be in the throes of the 'terrible twos' but most of the time, she is a loving, hugging, kissing machine. She is so happy that you can't help but smile when you're with her. And we did just that for four days - plus the zoo, a Mud Hens game, a family reunion, a shopping spree at Toys 'R Us ( a birthday present from her "uncle uncle." (Don't ask.)

So there's no message here - other than I'm

a happy grandma right now. Let me show

you a few reasons why . . .

Networking really does work!

I recently had the opportunity to help someone in need of making some connections in the medical community. I was able to personally introduce two area physicians to a woman producing a play about childbirth. The four of us met for a relaxing breakfast just to get acquainted. I know the pediatrician because of my store and I know the OB/GYN because she's a member of my Toledo Maternity Network.

I had another meeting to attend so after about 30 minutes, I had to move on, confident that the three of them would do what needed to be done. I'm happy to report that every thing went as planned. After the play (being presented on September 15th), there will be a "talkback" session where audience members can ask questions and get more information. Both physicians agreed to be part of this panel. And one of the physicians is going to lend financial support to the production.

It feels so good to be able to do this - it cost me nothing and it didn't require any real "work," just a few phone calls and some of my time. Did it make me look good? I hope so. Is that why I did it? Of course not. I did it because I could and because I know people. To me, that's what networking is all about. If I didn't take the time to get to know so many people, I wouldn't have known how to help in this particular instance. It's not something I would have been comfortable asking my own physician because I don't know her on the same level as I do these others.

When was the last time you were able to hook up people simply because you knew the right people?