Showing posts with label Duff's Cakemix. Show all posts

Monday, November 9, 2015

TRAVEL AND SOCIAL MEDIA

True story: On the recent trip to NYC for a Broadway binge (see last post), I was delighted to sign on to FlyFi, the excellent and free WiFi service offered by JetBlue. It was by far the best connectivity I have experienced in the air. The plane was remarkably empty for this mid-week, mid-afternoon flight from LAX to JFK so I promptly took advantage and moved to a completely empty row, if you can even imagine such a thing in today's world!

I decided to share this unique circumstance (room to spread out) and posted the photo below on my Instagram and Twitter feeds with the copy:

travelwithteribAnyone remember a time when you had the entire row to yourself?#JetBlue #toogoodtobetrue #watchingbaseball #upintheair

What's remarkable is that not more than a minute passed when I received JetBlue's response via Twitter: "@TravelwithTeriB All to yourself? You're sitting next to RiRi!" And we communicated a bit more as you can see from the post on the right.

So what is the takeaway?
1) I actually do understand how hashtags work (will wonders never cease??); and 2) If you want to put yourself, your goings-on, your travels out there, it's not that difficult ... but do we really want to???

And why???????????

I think JetBlue is really smart to have personnel committed to social media so as to jump on any mention of the company -- either from direct communication or from reference via hashtag -- in real time and with a sense of humor. If their future business relies on tech-savvy flyers, then best be "on board" and all in.

In my day job as a printing broker (providing printed communications and logo products to different corporate clients via the company I founded in 1999, Print Technology), I have great admiration for two clients who are both incredibly shrewd when it comes to social media (Duff's Cakemix @DuffsCakemix and Olive & June @oliveandjune). While that is used for their businesses, I still learn some "tricks of the trade" for my travel posts.

My quest for staying up on social media is a daily endeavor. My favorite is Instagram for stunning photos, brief(!) comments, and a peek into others' lives and others looking at whatever I choose to share.

At left is a screenshot of an Instagram post from the recent NYC trip. As an aside, I'm so pleased with myself that I can finally create a screenshot from my phone when I actually want to and not inadvertently!

What is noteworthy is I used hashtags to highlight the show titles, among which was: #curiousincidentofthedoginthenighttime

Next to the "heart" symbol are other Instagrammers who saw the post and liked it, among whom is "ty_lea" ... someone with whom I wasn't previously connected but is Tyler Lea, the (phenomenal) star of the show! I thought it was very cool that he found the post and liked it.

So before I lose every reader, I will sign off by saying look for the next post from far, far away as the hubby and I depart soon for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, certainly a first to be over Thanksgiving!

Monday, January 27, 2014

THE FUNNEST BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ANY AGE!

“Who says you can’t turn 60 and eat your cake too?” was the wording on the invitation. Well, certainly not ME -- and now I totally stand by that. And this birthday celebration was indeed all about the cake (and cupcakes, too, for that matter).

Way back in the spring of last year, I was visiting a favorite client and got the idea that this ingenious venue was not just for the kiddies. I have had the pleasure of doing business with Duff's Cakemix since it opened in 2012.

That is a Duff's cake for Hofstra U --
daughter Hannah's alma mater.

You might know the name Duff Goldman -- as in the Food Network's Ace of Cakes. Well, not only is there now a Charm City Cakes West in addition to the original Baltimore location, but there is the most wonderful design studio right next store, at the corner of Melrose and "Sweet"zer in West Hollywood. The only way to explain it is to call it "Color Me Mine" for cake decorating. If that doesn't ring a bell, then I'll explain that people go in and select from different sizes of cakes or a set of cupcakes (already baked), pick their flavor (including gluten free and kosher on request), frosting or fondant, and selections from the goodie bar. How impossibly fun is that? As a side note, Duff's found my company through a Google search (can you say "Search Engine Optimization"?) and it has been a great relationship ever since. I was already a huge Ace of Cakes fan, so I knew this company would be so much fun to work with -- and it has indeed been amazing to watch them grow!

All the tools ...

Frosting colors galore

And why should only the kiddies be doing this? Well, in my mind turning 60 should be nothing but fun ... and this indeed was all about the fun. There were 20 of my nearest and dearest family and friends there for lunch first (love Joan's on Third for catering!) and a bit of rose' wine before we got down to business.

The patient staff had us select 4 cupcakes each (chocolate, vanilla, marble, lemon poppy seed, confetti or GF), with all the accouterments for decorating set out on the tables. They then explained how to roll out the fondant and guided us to the endless selection of cutters, knives, and all kinds of other tools.

Sister #1 Margie rocked it!!

The biggest surprise of the day? The incredible creations from my guests!! Who knew they were such capable decorators? And, boy, did they get into it ... so much intensity and so much fun! After it was all over, each guest was given a box to safely transport their cupcakes home where I've heard they didn't last too long.

Sister #2 Janie going for the Patriots' theme lower right!

Hannah's Olaf (from the movie Frozen)

Friend of almost 3 decades Julie Shuer

So when all was said and done, not only did we have a great time but there was a lot of love felt there. My opinion is that when you get to be a certain age, it is all about the company you keep, and I have become pretty selective. Everyone in this group is very special to me, and I so appreciated them being there and the kind words said and conveyed. Makes the whole damn aging thing not so bad!