I’ve been working hard behind the scenes and created a Facebook Fan Page.  It’s still in the beginning stages but I have big plans for the future!!  I’d love for you to come over and be part of it!  See you there!!

Pocket Change is my new blog within a blog – it’s nestled right here inside the regular Lil Blu Dragonfly blogsite. (www.lilbludragonfly.com/pocketchange)

Why a new blog?

You started a new business and you thought clients and money were going to come pouring in. You quickly realized that even though your product is INCREDIBLE no one knows about you (well no one other than your mom and best friend). Something has to happen and fast!! You discover you have to tackle this whole other full time job called marketing. It can be a very daunting beast!
I came to marketing through the above scenario. Took up the sword and charged full speed ahead – books, blogs, seminars etc…  It was an epic battle of smarts between the beast and I! Somewhere in the middle of the brain spinning I fell completely in love with the beast. I also found that I have a lot to say.  Mixing the photography site with the marketing site really wasn’t an option – they have two very different messages. But I found I really wanted to share and have my voice heard and this desire to talk lead to the birth of Pocket Change!

What’s with the name?

I see Pocket Change as being a place where I share tidbits of information and ideas to help others – hopefully in a way to side step some of the mistakes I made! Just like change in your pocket a few pieces can get you where you need to go!

What can I do?

Come over, join in the conversation and if there is a topic you’d like to see covered drop me a note. I can’t promise I’ll know the answer but I can promise I’ll try to find a way to lead you in the right direction!

See you on the other side

At the end of 2009 I found myself pondering these questions – 1) who do I want to give back to and 2) how do I want to give back.  I knew pretty quickly on that I wanted to help women and children.  I ended up choosing two organizations – Save the Children and Grameen Foundation.  Both of these organization currently have an A rating with Charity Watch.  Save the Children was an easy decision for me – I’ve been involved in the lives of children – be it babysitting, nanny, juniors rowing coach or photographing them since I was 11 years old – perfect fit!

Grameen came on my radar when a Facebook friend referred them to me.  In regards to helping women I wanted help them in power and better their circumstances.  I started researching micro loan organizations.  The majority of the people helped by these organizations are poor women who want to make a change in their lives and the lives of those around them.  Hard part was finding a micro loan organization that truly did what it said it would.  With the combination of my friend’s referral and their Charity Watch rating I’m confident Grameen Foundation is an excellent match.

Here’s my plan for donating:  Complete a session with me this year and I will donate $25 to either Save the Children or Grameen Foundation in your name.  I would like you to help me choose which charity you would like the money to go to.  For those that have no preference, in December I will evenly divide the money and donate to both organizations. I’m really excited to start giving back in this way and thank-you for helping me make it happen!!

We’re already putting our thinking caps on for 2010’s card. What do you think we should do?

PS – Yep the boys do look a ton like my nephews but no we’re not related

Check out my new MacBook Pro! The last few months not just one, but both of my computers died – so sad, so painful. For a variety of reason I decided to go with the MacBook. My old computers were 4+ years old so no matter what I went with it would be amazingly faster than what I had. The set up process was painful – only in that neither of the old computers turn on – so I had to manually transfer everything from the backup drive – thank goodness for the backup drive!! I’ve also got a swank new external monitor for the big retouching work. Only problem is I think my new computer is sexier than me!