The Business of Drawing: It's Not All about the Ink

Although drawing is a significant part of map-making - the business end is equally important (as any small business owner will agree.)  Some might even say it's MORE important!  For me, I always keep in mind what my experience was like as a bride, on the other end of the wedding-planning process. 

I was lucky in that I really liked most of my wedding vendors - I mean, that's why I hired them!  However, what pushed me from "like" to LOVE was their communication skills.  My DJ was freaking fantabulous in the communication department.  Without fail, my DJ would email me within 15 minutes of any email I sent him.  I'd email him in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, more often than not at midnight after a long day at work.  That dude would ALWAYS hit me back right away.  For someone who has the attention span and neuroses of a gnat (that's me!) I felt I had landed in Vendor Heaven.

SO, when I started making maps, one of my biggest directives to myself was to be a timely emailer.  My aim is to email each client, inquirer, and secret admirer within half an hour, fifteen minutes, if I can - even if it's just to say "I received your email, and I'm working on getting answers to your questions."  Obviously, sometimes this isn't possible because I am busy dying on a long marathon-training run or in some sort of Blackberry Black Hole (Hi, T-Mobile!)  I am proud of the fact that nobody has to wait long to talk to me, and I am dead positive none of my clients have ever had any asthma attacks brought on because they were waiting for me to write them back.  Brides are stressed out enough.  Sista please.

Vendors, do you have any tips and tricks to keep that inbox clear?  Brides, what do you wish your vendors would do better?

A Pantomime Papers Map of Your Very Own - Fo' Free!

It's true.  :)  Get thee to The Broke-Ass Bride's blog right away!  The bodacious blogger is giving away $11,000 worth of wedding products that you or someone you know needs and wants - don't miss out... 

Even I am getting in on the action by contributing a custom Pantomime Papers map - I can't wait to meet the winner!  Click HERE to enter.  Hint: You'll want to brush up on your haiku skillz!

Healthy Habits: Getting Started

For the last couple weeks, I've been especially working on getting back on my fitness track!  I am using Weight Watchers as a way to keep my nutrition up and my marathon training to continue working on my fitness.  My summer 'o fun was AWESOME, and though I did let some of my healthy habits fall by the wayside a bit... I was shocked when I stepped on my scale for the first time since June...

I only gained five pounds!  I totally felt like I gained more.  Thinking about it, my body has grown so used to healthy foods that the summer influx of beer and French Fries made me feel icky so I THOUGHT I gained a bunch of weight.  Apparently, spinach isn't just for Popeye!  This made me feel good that I've conditioned my body to crave the good stuff.

Even though I only gained five pounds, I am still going to work to get rid of it.  I lost 20 pounds last year, and there is no way I am letting that weight come back for a repeat visit!  Sometimes, people lose weight and then gain it all back, plus some.  No thanks.  As I said before, heart disease runs in my family, so it's really important to me to eat healthy (which I like to do anyhow!) 

OK!  So I will give you guys regular updates on my progress: how I'm running; how I'm eating.  I will also always include some sort of recipe or tip that has made a big difference for me.  I know many of you are on your own fitness journey - I'd love to know how YOU'RE doing, too and what works for you!

THIS WEEK'S HEALTHY HABIT: Breaking Up with my Soda Boyfriend

If you've been reading this blog for more than, oh, a WEEK, you know I struggle mightily with soda.  I drink the regular stuff because I think Diet Coke is grody.  Every time I drink a soda, I think of this ad...

Argh.  My albatross.

If I want to stay healthy and not gain weight, the soda's got to GO.  I find that I need lots of structure - I need rules to be successful in my fitness goals.  One of my rules is that I can only drink soda on Sundays.  The rest of the week, I gotsta get my fizz from other sources.  SO, I test-ran some sparkling waters to see what I like best.  Meet the contenders - Perrier Citron, Canfield's Lemon Seltzer, and La Croix Lime:

Let's see how they did!

#1 CANFIELD'S Lemon Seltzer - My FAVE.  Hannah over at The Rose Garden recommended it to me, and I love it.  Fizzy and yummy, and at $.65 per 2-liter, you'd be crazy to turn this one down! A+ all around.

#2 PERRIER Citron - I thought this option was the fizziest, which I like.  The flavor was really great, too!

#3 LACROIX - I do love me some LaCroix.  Lime and Grapefruit are my favorites, but I wish the flavor was a titch stronger.  I do like to put just a tiny bit of juice in it to up the taste.

What's your favorite healthy drink?

Are You a Bride and Do You Like to Save Money?

If the answer to the first part of this question is "yes," I suspect you will answer in the affirmative to all of the above.

In case you haven't heard, my buddy The Broke-Ass Bride is giving away $11,000 worth of wedding loveliness all this week!  We're talking dresses, photography - You even have a chance to win your very own custom Pantomime Papers map - for FREE, ladies!  Get over there, NOW - I mean, unless you don't like saving money.  Harumph.  ;)

I can't wait to see all the winners (and there will be a lot of them.)  Good luck!

Get It: Josh Jakus

Recently, me and mah girlies had one of our regularly scheduled Girls Night Ins.  We kept it small and low key this time, with lots o' food and drink, per usual.

However, if you look closely at the picture above, Colo brought a special little visitor: a Josh Jakus felt purse.

How ADORABLE, right?  It's a bit pricey at $95, but... I may have to save up my allowance for this one.  We all went nuts for it.  He also makes other cutie-pie bags:

I have a birthday coming up, hmmmmm.  This may have to be my present to myself!  YOU can buy your very own HERE.  Thanks for the tip, Colo!