This one minute, 28 second video that I filmed while on board a NY Waterway Ferry between Port Imperial Weehawken NJ and NYC won the Grand Prize in the Video Category of a NY Waterway photo and video contest on Facebook last month (August 2011)
The original video was posted on the NY Waterway Facebook page. I’ll be uploading the video to YouTube some time this month as well.
Here is the original posting (contest entry) and comments:
Thanks to all who commented and supported the contest! Special thanks to Anthony Quintano who inspired me to enter the contest after he posted several photo entries, one of which was chosen as the Grand Prize winner in the Photo Category; congratulations!
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On another topic, I’ve been working on several video segments for a new hyperlocal website http://www.EverythingEdisonNJ.com. Here’s a sample:
I think YouTube is the new Myspace, but with a twist. What do you think?
Baby Boomers are the Sandwich Generation, responsible for raising children and caring for aging parents at the same time. It is important to understand their specific needs and potential buying power. They all face challenges in today’s uncertain economy, with many going through the process of reinventing themselves. Some are computer savvy, while some have resisted new technology. As they continue to increase their online presence and search the Internet, you may be in the position to provide the answers they need.
We will review current statistics and case studies of brands using blogs and social media tools to connect and engage with consumers over 50. We’ll also investigate the attitudes of non-tech savvy consumers to help you have a better understanding of their love-hate relationship with technology.
In this dynamic session with social media marketing pro and creator of BoomerTechTalk.com, Linda Sherman and social media columnist and teacher, Eva Abreu you will:
- Understand the unique needs of the Baby Boomer generation, their buying power, and the current trends in online behavior
- Learn strategies and new ideas on how to reach the over-50 marketplace for your niche
- Get new ideas for content creation that will engage Baby Boomers and their parents
To register for the conference, visit BlogWorldExpo Registration Page ( or copy/paste URL http://www.blogworldexpo.com/2011-nyc/registration-travel/register-to-attend-2 ) and as my special gift to you, use Discount Code: DEB11 to receive 20% off Conference pricing.
Hope you can join us! I’m also planning to cover the event on all three days; let me know if you plan on attending Blog World Expo in New York maybe we can arrange to meet there and chat.
Many things happening, life at laser warp speed, but it’s all good. How about you? What’s going on in your part of the world?
Many people have asked about the book; it’s taken a long and winding detour, but is definitely not grounded, just docked in a temporary holding pattern. I’m afraid to make any further date commitments and would rather surprise everyone and just release it when it’s finally ready to take flight, and then I’ll announce it. Question to all: Should I make it available as just an e-book only, or e-book and paperback? Please leave a comment below email eva {at} evaabreu {dot} com with your thoughts.
Currently planning the first NJ Social Media Conference on Friday, June 18, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza - Somerset. Lots of details to take care of, if you’re interested in helping behind the scenes, I’ll gladly accept your help and hopefully, give you the opportunity to learn some new skills and add some experience to your resume. Contact me for further info.
Hoping to have the chance to catch up with you soon, so you can update me on where in the world you are these days : ) Drop me a note, or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook to fill me in.
One of the many hats that I wear includes one that represents the Organizing Coach part of me.
(in fact, that’s how I got started in learning about today’s Social Media, when I started experimenting with writing blogs for my organizing coaching business and moderating a network that I created on Ryze, called Sort Thing Out - Getting Organized which has since faded into the background, with the advent of Twitter and Facebook and who knows what’s next!)
Recently I’ve been doing a series of presentations about Decluttering and Organizing, including a 10 week course at OLLI-Rutgers Continuing Education and several workshops at the Edison Public Library and Sayreville Public Library.
We’ve been covering a whole host of topics, including decluttering and organizing electronic files.
So, I figured I better walk the walk… especially after experiencing a system meltdown. What better time to do some much needed e-cleaning?
In digging through e-archives, here’s an blog post that I wrote back in 2005 from a blog that is no longer active:
Thursday, October 13, 2005
“Living with Less”
As a follow up to my previous post on gift-giving, here are a few thoughts, coming from a local Holistic Moms group meeting and from other sources that I’ve read about in the past, regarding how to curb the excess materialism and prevent the “buy me!” syndrome with your kids:
1. Ask your relatives to cut back on the number of presents they give to your kids (this is a tough one, especially with “old school” family members, or long distance grandparents).
2. Ask for clothes, instead of toys.
3. Request gift certificates, savings bonds, or money for college fund.
4. Suggest giving books, instead of toys.
5. Donation Birthday Party, where guests are asked to bring either new or gently used books, videos, etc. to donate to a local charity. I did this with my kindergartener, for two years in a row. It wasn’t easy, he wasn’t too happy about it, but I did remind him, quite often, that he would be getting the toys on his “list” from us, and from his aunts & uncles.
6. For every new toy received, an old toy has to be donated.
(There are definitely more ideas out there, this is just a quickie summary).
Otherwise, as moms, we find it very frustrating to try to fight the Media, the Mega-toy stores and the Message that society conveys: “gotta have that! I NEED to have that!”.
What are your thoughts or suggestions on how we can make a difference with our children to curb the excess toy syndrome? What is the “little something” we can do every day, to try and reinforce this change of habit with our kids, to “Live with Less” stuff? Feel free to post your thoughts in the Comments section.
Is this still relevant today?
With today’s economy, can we learn to live with less, regardless if you have kids or not?
What can you clean out today? (Got any old hats or baseball caps like the one above that have lived past their prime?)
Let me know if you do any releasing, clearing, or decluttering today.
…leaving you with Eva’s Edict: “Throw It Out Thursday”
Take 10 minutes and sort through a pile to release today. Leave a comment or tweet me back with what you’ve released.
New! We’re working behind the scenes on a new show, Making Connections Using Social Media. Let me know what you think about this sample opening title sequence featuring Sam, the Social Media Seagull (Sam_SMS for short):
Social Media: Do You Get It? Sam, the Social Media Seagull doesn’t get it either
Do you feel like you’re the only one who just doesn’t “get it”? That you’re left standing on the shore alone? That you’re landlocked and everyone else is flying miles ahead, way beyond you in understanding this thing called Social Media?
We’re here to help guide you across the vast Internet ocean, and we’ll make sure to stop and visit an island or two along the way, so that you can learn to enjoy the trip and eventually navigate on your own through the unchartered waters of Social Media.
Don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s smooth sailing as we lead you in a basic introduction to learn how to make connections using Social Media.
We’ll take you on a group tour, where you’ll get a chance to visit new places, meet new people and maybe find other birds of a feather to flock together. Visit our Tour Schedule to see where we’ll be live in your area. Read about our first event, covered in MyCentralJersey.com here and in Leora Wenger’s blog.
Your Host and Social Media Tour Guide is Eva Abreu, who’ll encourage you to walk down to the water’s edge and dip your big toe into the sea.
And when you’re ready, it’s perfectly fine to make a splash and create waves online. In fact, we encourage you to; we want you to have some fun!
Ready to begin? OK then! Our Social Media Tour will leave port in a moment…here’s your Social Media Life Jacket. Come on in…the water’s fine! (P.S. Sam Seagull, you can come along with us too!)
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