post

Facebook Fan Friday: Meet Donna McCord

January 21, 2011 By Comments

I am excited to introduce my Lou Loves Learning Facebook Fan of the Week – Donna McCord. Donna is yet another of my Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston buddies and one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet. Donna was one of Ann Evanston’s women of inspiration for 2010 (and I was proud to share that honor with her) and, as expected Donna was completely surprsed by the honor as she is totally unassuming. And that is what makes her so special. She’s also an older mum – like me. I LOVE getting to know people like Donna through social media and I hope you will take the time to get to know her to. Stop by her blog and leave her a comment – she gives great car maintenance tips. And friend her on Facebook.

What would you like readers to know about you personally?

I am Italian, Spanish and Portugese in descent, and love good food and good wine! But first and foremost, I love God and His Son, Jesus, and try to live my life in a way that reflects their Love and Spirit. After that, I have to say that it is a huge struggle to try to accomplish that each day, and most days I fail in one way or another! I tend to be a perfectionist, and fairly recently learned that I have a mild case of OCD that I work on overcoming, so I am definitely my own worst critic. My greatest escape and what feeds my soul and frees my anxieties is to write. Ever since I was a child, writing was what I loved to do, and I was always told that I would be an author one day. That is still a dream I have not given up on! But the reality is that after one year of college and a very young, mis-matched marriage that ended after 10 years, I found myself working in the high tech, corporate world as a marketing communications manager. I never thought I would be married again, but God had other plans! And now, being a wife and mom are my favorite things to be. This second marriage didn’t happen until I was 40 years old, and being gifted with our daughter at age 41 was what I consider a miracle! She is the light of my life, and I am so proud of the young lady she is becoming. I also would like to share that I love animals, have two cats (Lucky and Bow) and a Betta Fish (Sammy) that bring me joy each day. And I enjoy gardening, going for long walks and reading good books when I can!

And what do you do?

Since 2003 I have put my marketing skills to work for my husband’s and my auto repair business, and it has been an amazing learning experience on all levels, including how to get along with your husband when you are together almost 24/7! It can be very challenging! I have also been a Stephen Minister for the last 7 years, which simply means I am trained through my church to be someone that meets with other women who are going through some kind of crisis, and walk with them as they go through it by listening, reflecting, praying with and for them. I also belong to Moms In Touch International, a group of moms who get together weekly to pray for their children and support one another.

Who is your greatest supporter in life and work?

I am blessed in that I have great life supporters in my Mom, my Dad and my three sisters. They are always there for me. When it comes to work, my husband and I are definitely each others’ greatest supporters.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by others who just seem to naturally give of themselves without expecting anything in return. My mom is one of those people. And I have always been inspired by the Bible and the amazing stories of struggle, faith, love, failures, forgiveness and redemption. To me it is the one book that encompasses all that life and living is about and holds all the answers to all questions. It took me years to come to understand that, and along the way I was inspired by people that helped open my eyes and mind.

What does the word freedom mean to you?

To me, freedom means being able to live life without worry or anxiety or doubts or fear; to be able to be who you were designed to be and fully use your talents and abilities.

What are your goals?

My goal is to be able to reach a place where I can have the time and energy to focus on what brings me the most joy – my family, my writing, my service – without worrying about finances!

Favorite Quote

The following scriptures have been a real help to me when I find myself feeling depressed or sad:

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things” Philippians 4:8

“Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

I also like this line from a song “In Better Hands” by Natalie Grant:

“You can’t be saved if you’re not reaching out for help.”

How can people connect with you?

www.deansautomotive.com
donnam@deansautomotive.com

Facebook

Filed Under: Facebook Fan of the Week Tagged With: , , , ,
post

Facebook Fan Friday: Meet Heidi Alberti!

January 14, 2011 By Comments

I am so excited this week that my facebook fan of the week is another person who has become a friend through Social Media and blogging – Heidi Alberti. I first ‘met’ Heidi on Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston and loved her blog that she writes in the voice of her dog Atticus. I then got to know Heidi and found her to be a lovely, peace loving woman who shares a love of John Lennon and skiing with me. We have found that we feel the same way about many other things in life as well. I am most honored that she has chosen to reveal some things about herself that she doesn’t often share online and I hope that you will all join me in celebrating Heidi and follow her wonderful, beautifully written blog. And if YOU would like to be featured as my Facebook Fan of the week on my Lou Loves Learning! Facebook page come on over and play – who I choose is based on activity (likes and comments),

What would you like readers to know about you personally? And what do you do?

When I was a little girl and people asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer was always “a writer”. But, of course, life had another direction for me and I pursued a 20 year long career in executive search, which was successful and exciting, but I was yearning to write more creatively than generating high-end resumes. I had my own boutique search firm in San Francisco and then Seattle, serving clients like Apple, Netscape, T-Mobile and Washington Mutual, but I longed to write for a living.

I’ve been writing since I was a little kid (short novels, stories, poetry and commentary) and because of some major life changes I have shifted my career towards writing.

Over the past 2 years I’ve been a ghostwriter and editor, and last year I launched my blog, atticusuncensored.com, with the hopes of gaining an audience for future published works (novels and, hopefully, a real column in a real newspaper).

Writing through the eyes of my English Cocker Spaniel has been immensely therapeutic as I’ve dealt with significant loss and change over the past 3 years. I survived a horrendous marriage (sadly,abusive), a contentious divorce, a move back to California and the grief over my father’s death. Though circumstances can be dark, I have found light and hope by focusing on how Atticus views the world.

Dogs are therapeutic. Writing is therapeutic. And combining the two has proven to be the ultimate cure for facing difficulties in my life.

Who is your greatest supporter in life and work?

My greatest supporter is, and has always been, my mom and I try to emulate her supportive and caring demeanor with others. I have a very close group of lifelong girlfriends who are always at the ready when support is needed. And, of course, my animals (Atticus, Wilbur and Bella) are always there for me.

Who or what inspires you?

Great souls who have taught great lessons about peace and tolerance are at the top of my list. This list includes Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama. Progressive thinkers like Thich Naht Hanh, Gary Zukov, Wayne Dyer and Lama Surya Das move and inspire me to reach for my best self.

Inspiration as it relates to writing is truly endless. A walk in the forest, a poem, a thought provoking article, a movie, a great song, my own feelings and world view are a few of the ways I find inspiration.

What does the word freedom mean to you?

Great question! Freedom has a plethora of meanings for me. Freedom to be myself, to be independent, to freely express myself through writing, photography and music. Freedom is the opposite of fear. Freedom is extracting myself from toxic relationships.

In a physical sense, freedom is what I feel when I’m at the top of Granite Chief (Squaw Valley) ready to conquer the cornice and carve that fresh powder! (I know you can relate to that definition of freedom, Lou!)

What are your goals?

To continue on my path towards greater inner peace through my writing. To finish one of my many starts on my novels and to procure a columnist position with a print newspaper.

Favorite Quote

I seriously have volumes of favorite quotes that I refer to often. A few of my favorites are:

“If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether this anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry; if you cannot do anything, then also there is no need to worry” ~~ Dalai Lama

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” ~~ Winston Churchill

“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy

licking your face.” ~ Ben Williams

How can people connect with you?

blog: www.atticusuncensored.com

twitter: @AtticusUncensor

facebook: Heidi Alberti and Atticus Uncensored

Filed Under: Facebook Fan of the Week Tagged With: , , , , , ,
post

Facebook Fan Friday: Meet Darcie Newton

October 8, 2010 By Comments

Friday seems to roll around awfully quickly and it’s time again to announce my Lou Loves Learning Facebook Fan of the Week. This week I am so excited to introduce one of my favorite women  – Darcie Newton. Again, we first ‘met’ on Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston and quickly became friends.

Darcie is just such an inspirational person. She is passionate about helping women understand investments and retirement planning and she is helping me to that end. Coming from the UK I feel a little lost amongst IRAs and notes etc and Darcie is taking the time to explain what it all means and to introduce me to people who can help me with investments. It makes such a difference to me to talk woman to woman about such things so I can highly recommend Darcie.

She is also a go giver in that she is advertising my Au Pair business as a live in childcare solution in her area so I would like to give something back to her. I hope you’ll take this chance to look at her blog, My Wealthspa, follow her on Twitter and Youtube and friend her on Facebook and get to know this marvelous woman.

What would you like readers to know about you personally?

This is a tough question…I guess the most important thing is that I’m a blissfully happy wife and mother.  I’ve been married for 17 years and am constantly amazed at how much I have to say to my husband.  My girls keep me on my toes and I love watching them as they grow and develop into beautiful, powerful women.

And what do you do?

I empower women to take charge of their financial future by offering a safe and friendly place where they can learn about their options for building wealth for retirement.  Wow, what a mouth full!

Who is your greatest supporter in life and work?

My greatest supporters in life and work are my husband, Stuart and my mother, Beverlee.   Both believe in my gifts and encourage me to spend my time doing what I’m most passionate about.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by creating opportunities for people to go beyond what they thought possible.  I am a possibility thinker and love to find solutions to challenges.

What are your goals?

My biggest goal right now is to show 100 women how to avoid becoming a statistic and taking charge of their financial future.

Favorite Quote

“If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits”

How can people connect with you?

www.mywealthspa.com

www.twitter.com/darcienewton

www.youtube.com/wealthspa

www.facebook.com/darcienewton

Filed Under: Facebook Fan of the Week Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
post

Facebook Fan Friday: Meet Jean Ziola Bentley

October 1, 2010 By Comments

It’s that time of the week again and this week it’s my great pleasure to introduce my next Facebook Fan of the Week, Jean Ziola Bentley. As Jean says below, we first ‘met’ on Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston. I have made some great new friends on that page and Jean is just one of the sweetest ladies I know. She has been really active on my facebook page, Lou Loves Learning, and really deserves to be featured on here. I hope you’ll all take a look at her blog, follow her on twitter and meet her on facebook.

Thanks as always to Ann Evanston of Warrior-Preneur who suggested I start doing this feature on my page and blog as part of the advanced strategies I’m learning on her Social Networking Coaching Club.

Thanks for choosing me as your fan of the week:

What would you like readers to know about you personally?

First, that I am so thrilled to have been chosen as Lou Loves Learning’s fan of the week.  I love reading her Blogs and status updates and watching her videos!  I “met” Louise on Ann Evanston’s Blogger Monday!  Really enjoyed the first blog I read and looked forward to reading her next one so much that I subscribed to it.
Oh yea, I’m supposed to be telling you a little bit about me!  I am a wife, mother, grandmother, who loves the Lord and loves life.  I have a home based business, that brings me great joy and that I wish I had more time for.
I originally got involved with Facebook because my kids where on it.  I wanted to know what was going on in their lives.  It’s amazing the stuff I’ve learned just observing.  I don’t know about you but, Facebook has put a bunch of new friends at my finger tips, like Louise and has reconnected me with some wonderful old friends.

And what do you do?

I am an Independent Distributor with SendOutCards.  Which I feel is the best home based business / MLM  in the world and a perfect fit for me.

Who is your greatest supporter in life and work?

My greatest supported in life and work is my husband.

Who inspires me?

Hmm, that’s easy!  My sister Janice.  She has been fighting breast cancer for 8 years, this month.  It has spread to some soft tissue and is so many places in her spine that the doctor has quit counting. Even with heavy drugs she is on constant pain.  And one of my other sister’s Mary, who lives close to Janice.  She takes time out of her already busy schedule to take Janice lunch, take her to chemo, doctors appointments, or just goes to sit with her when Janice is so sick she afraid to be by herself.

What are your goals?

My goal is to become an Eagle in SendOutCards.  This will enable me to give like I want to do, to travel, and live a life of financial freedom.

How can people connect with you?

I have a new website coming very soon but for now I have my blog:  treatemright.wordpress.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jean.m.bentley

Twitter: twitter.com/SenderOfCards

Favorite quote:

Is from the Bible; “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”  Phillippians 4:13

Thank you Louise for having such an awesome page that’s its easy to be a very active fan!

Filed Under: Facebook Fan of the Week Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
post

WEEKEND GETAWAY – THE MUSIC

September 7, 2010 By Comments

I talked in my last blog post -Weekend Getaway – about my husband’s and my excitement about our trip to New York City without kids. We chose to leave our kids staying with friends because this trip was for ‘us’, for my husbands 40th birthday and also specifically to go and see the band New Model Army in The Bell House in Brooklyn which is an over 21 venue.

We had a blast! We went to see them on both the Friday and Saturday nights and they ROCKED! I’ve always been a bit lot of a rocker and so has my husband. It’s one of the many things that drew us to each other. We both followed bands around in our younger years (before we met) and both have hundreds of band ‘stories’ to tell. I had never seen this band but they were always a favorite of my husbands and, since these were part of their 30th anniversary tour we decided to go and see them.

Funnily enough what I am going to talk about now was also talked about by my friend that I met through Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston. Darcie Newton wrote in her blog about how she wants Raving Fans Like Green Day. I would like to say exactly the same about New Model Army.

The loyalty of their fans is amazing! Not only did we fly 5 hours from Utah to NYC to see them, we met fans who had traveled from the UK, Bermuda and Boston amongst other places. Most of these fans had seen the band numerous times and owned every album they have ever released. The age range was vast with some people having first seen them in their early days (30 years ago!) and some younger fans having discovered the band more recently.

Thanks to the awesome world of Social Media we are now facebook friends with several more people and have invited one or two of them to visit us if they are ever out West. This includes one of the guys from the band as most of the band came out and drank with the fans after the show. What a couple of nights! This band had worked so hard to put on fantastic gigs two nights in a row with completely different set lists on both nights. That’s a LOT of music to rehearse!

Like Darcie, I would like to ask what are you a raving fan about? Would you travel to miles for anything? What are you doing to turn YOUR clients into raving fans such as these? Personally, I am always trying to go the extra mile for both my host families and their AuPairs to turn their experience into the best that it can be. Are you prepared to do that?

Filed Under: Musings in General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
post

Ugly Americans or More Managing Cultural Differences

August 22, 2010 By Comments

After I wrote my a blog post on managing cultural differences I received a comment from Candace C. Davenport who I met through Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston. Candace said

‘I’d also love for you to do another post on the connection between culture shock and ‘the ugly American’ syndrome. When I came back from a year of traveling all over South America, I experienced cultural shock just being in the airplane with all the tourists returning from S. America and all they were doing was complaining about the problems they had on their trips because it was so different than the US.’

I have been mulling this post over as I have grown to like my adopted country and I, as an outsider, don’t want to offend my new found friends. However, I do have to agree that the ‘ugly american’ does exist and can be quite a shock. Though  have to say that you see this phenomenon more when the ugly American is traveling outside of the US..

There is no doubt that some Americans are loud, boorish and nationalistic and that some Americans abroad remain ignorant of local culture and judge everything by American standards. Such people can be very unpleasant and give Americans a bad rap but now, having lived here for two years, this post is going to be a defense of my adopted country.

Have you ever heard of lager louts and chavs? Not exactly the best of British.

And how about the stereotypical German tourist. Pushy, rude and arrogant with a habit of putting their towels on pool chairs before dawn at holiday resorts.

According to an Expedia survey French travelers are the biggest skinflints, the worst tippers and the least able or inclined to speak foreign languages. They also finished next to last in terms of their politeness and behavior.

My point is that there are ugly people the world over and their worst traits seem to come out whilst traveling or living amongst a culture that is not their own. Sure, I think some Americans are very loud but I have made friends with many perfectly nice Americans who are most definitely not loud and obnoxious.

What has been your experience of ugly tourists/travelers? Are you embarrassed by some traits of people from your country? Do you think all these stereotypes exist for a reason or that they are wrong?

Filed Under: International Adventures Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,