Christmas Fun w/Family!

Our Tree!

Christmas this year was great and rather different from other years. Graduating from college, having to grow up and pay bills, and truly learning to rely on God gave me a new view of Christmas and life all together. I've always knew that Jesus was the reason for the season, but this year I just had a greater appreciation for spending quality time with family. I brought gifts for my family because I was blessed financially to be able to do so and it made me happy to see them happy. I truly enjoyed Christmas this year. 

One thing that was extremely different was decorating. My family loves to decorate the house. We put Christmas cards everywhere, hang our stockings, decorate the tree right after Thanksgiving and are glued to the abcfamily 25 days of Christmas cartoon shows. This year life happened differently. We didn't get our tree until roughly 6 days before Christmas and didn't decorate it until Christmas Eve. And actually my mother decorated the tree all by herself while I watched from the couch and my little sister watched from her dreams...she was sleeping...LOL!! That was all the decorating we did. Not quite sure how things went so differently, but I must say my mother did an awesome job and everyone was happy!! 

Brunch in the living room! (L to R: Me, Mom, Little Sister)

Christmas Day started off early yet late for us. My mother was the first awake and me and my little sister was still in bed and it was hitting 8am so for us that was late. The day started early due to church starting 2 hours early, but it was well worth it. Church service was A-Ma-Zing!! Once we got home we enjoyed a homemade brunch made by me(the homefries & scrabbled cheese eggs) my mom(the pancakes) and little sister(the orange juice & plates). Brunch didn't take long to make and was sooo yummy!!! We pulled our little table in the living room and ate while watching Four Christmases and then opened our gifts! 

We then visited more family and ate more food and laughed even more and just truly enjoyed each others company! I love my family because there is truly never a dull moment. Someone is either going to say something backwards, get to serious, spill something...we all talk too loud..lol, but it is great!!! I love my family and wouldn't trade noone!

Christmas this year was a year to remember and I hope you enjoyed your Christmas holiday as well! Feel free to share your Christmas holiday as well!

Sincerely,

Small Business Saturday Sale!!!!

Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC is having a Small Business Saturday Sale from now until Dec 1, 2011!! Shop small and save BIG by shopping at your local small businesses. We have created amazing specials for you!! Our sale begins today at 12 noon and continues on until December 1, 2011 at 12 noon. 

Click here to save big:  http://beautifulbeyonddreamssalesbs.eventbrite.com

::Things you need to know::

Payment Plans are available!

All packages listed are based on 150 guests or less.

SBS Special is valid on ALL packages, including customized packages.

Customized Wedding Planning Packages must start at $1000.00 for sale price to be valid

Customized Event Planning & Hosting Packages must start at $500.00 for sale price to be valid.

Contract must be signed by 12/1/2011 for sale price to be valid.

Non-refundable must be paid by credit, paypal, check, or cash by 12/1/2011 for sale price to be valid.

Wedding or Event must take place by 12/31/2012

Click here to save big:  http://beautifulbeyonddreamssalesbs.eventbrite.com

Thank you for shopping small with Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC!!

Sincerely,

Where Are You Going??

Hello bloggers near and far! 

Today I came across an article that really motivated me. I am 24 yrs old and really enjoying all that life has to offer. At my age that's wonderful..but at my age it is also the time to really benefit from all that life has to offer. So it made me wonder to myself..."Where Am I Going??", "What do I want out of my life and how am I going to accomplish it??" 

It's a topic that I feel many my age think about but don't act on it. Check out this great article and get motivated about where you are going in life and the measures you will take to get there!

"What to Know When You're 25ish"

After reading the article create a list of goals short-term and long-term and accomplish them all!

Don't look back and say "I wish"..but be able to look back on life and say "I did!"

Share with a friend..keep the motivation moving!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Final Day To Play!

Over the past twelve days, many Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC Fb fans across America (California, Florida, Philadelphia and more) tuned in to play and win! It was a lot of fun, kind of time consuming, but overall a great experience!! Today's giveaway is awesome because not only will one lucky person win something FREE, but everyone will get the chance to save 50% OFF on this great product!!

The My Memories Suite is a digital scrapbooking software that does so much more than scrapbooking. You can truly customize this to create anything fabulous! Today you could be the lucky winner of this software!! To play check out the pic below. Answer must be submitted on our Fb Fan page wall! 

As an added bonus:  Just for being dedicated, you can save big on this product!! To get 50% Off the My Memories Suite v2 insert this code when checking out--> STMMMS21955!!

This is the final giveaway of our 12 Day Giveaway!! Enter to play by visiting our Fb Fan Page Wall and submitting your answer on the specified post! 

To get 50% Off the My Memories Suite v2 insert this code when checking out--> STMMMS21955!!!

Follow & Like My Memories

Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/MyMemories/140359372717593
Twitter- http://twitter.com/mymemoriessuite

Thank you for playing. 

Good Luck!! 

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveawy - Day 11: $240.00 Gift Certificate!!

Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway is coming to an end tomorrow! It has been a great process and I hope everyone truly had fun playing. Today's giveaway is specifically for those that have been inquiring about the services of Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC! In honor of the Owner & Executive Planner (me) of Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 24th birthday tomorrow (Nov 12th), today's gift certificate is our way of saying thank you!

To win this amazing prize you must submit your answer to our Fb Post that lists the question. Since I am such a great mood about turning 24 there is a chance that more than one $240.00 Off Gift Certificate can be given out! Check the pic below and submit an answer. 

This $240.00 Off Gift Certificate can be used for your own needs or given as a gift to a friend! Beautiful Beyond Dream, LLC offers several payment plan options and offers customized packages to meet the needs & wants for your upcoming wedding or event! To schedule a Complimentary Consultation you can contact us via phone: 267-702-3037, email: info@beautifulbeyonddreams.com or by submitting an inquiry!

Win big by submitting an answer on our Fb Fan Page Post. :-D

Good Luck!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 7!!

Wow only 5 days left in Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway!! There has been 6 awesome prizes won and there is more to come starting today. Visit our Fb page wall to submit and answer to the question posted. 

Actual 10" Ipad/Kindle Laptop Sleeve

Visit Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC Fb Fan Page to answer today's question! This is great for yourself or to give away as a gift for the upcoming holiday!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 6!

Today's giveaway is sure to make you feel good & smell good!! Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC is having a 12 Day Giveaway to say 'Thank You' for all of your support!! There's 6 more days left to play starting today at 10am!! Today's question is below...

Actual Picture of Lilac Bath Gift Set!!

Visit Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC Fb Fan Page to submit your answer to the question above! Remember you can play daily to win daily!! :-D

Good Luck! 

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Winners Day 4 & Day 5!!

Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway has been so much fun!! If you're not sure what it is click any of the links that direct you to our Fb page and start playing today!! 

The Day 4 Winner Is...

Congratulations Latanya!! :-D

The Day 5 Winner Is...

Congratulations Cydne!! To claim your prize send an email to info@beautifulbeyonddreams.com with your full name and address! :-D

The 12 Day Giveaway - Day 6 continues today at 10am!! Tune in to our Fb Fan Page to play and win!!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 5!

Today's giveaway features Empress Footwear, a styling boutique in Fort Lauderdale, Florida! This company has an amazing collection and with today's prize you just may be able to buy something fabulous!! In order to play you must first "Like" Empress Footwear on Facebook and leave the following comment ("Thanks for participating in Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway!") on their wall. Then answer the following question under the post on our facebook fan page wall! 

Check out the picture below for today's question!

To win this awesome gift certificate, visit our Facebook fan page to submit your answer! Remember you must first like Empress Footwear on Facebook and leave this comment ("Thanks for participating in Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway!") on their wall!!

Good Luck!!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 4!

We're up to day 4 in the Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway!! So many awesome prizes have been won so far and there is lots more to come!! Today's prize will absolutely **BLING** out your upcoming event, wedding or special occasion! Remember to submit your answer to the our FB Fan Page Wall by 12 midnight tonight! Check out the picture below and Good Luck!! :-D

To answer this question and have a chance at winning all this **BLING**, visit our FB Fan Page and submit your answer today!!

Good Luck!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway Winner Day 3!!

The 12 Day Giveaway has another lucky winner!! I truly do hope you all are enjoying playing and do hope you continue to play because the prizes get better and better as we go along. Remember you must be a Facebook Fan of Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC in order to be eligible to receive a prize! Anyone who is a fan can play and can play daily and win daily! :-D

So the winner of the Basket of Holiday Ribbon is....

Congratulations Latanya! You are going to LOVE the holiday ribbon as it has some great pieces in the basket.

Day 4 continues today at 10am...Visit our Facebook Fan Page to answer today's question! Today's prize will definitely help *BLING* out your special occasion.

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 3!

Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway is well underway and I hope you all are having so much fun! I love the participation..so keep it up!! :-D It's time to announce the Day 3 giveaway question. Check out the picture below and then head to our Facebook Fan Page to answer! 

Click here to see the rules and remember as long as your a fan of our Fb Fan Page YOU can play everyday!!

Good luck to you all!

Here's the Holiday Ribbon Basket!

If you know the answer visit our FB Fan Page and write it under the Day 3 Post listed on our Fan Page Wall!! Good luck and I hope you win! :-D

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway Winners Day 1 & Day 2!!!

The 12 Day Giveaway has taken off and we already have 2 winners!!! Now I know I said I was going to wait until Nov 13th to reveal who won but that would kill ALL the fun!! So below are both winners. The winner was selected by the Random Number Generator at Random.org to assure all fairness!!!

And the winner of the $25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate is.....

And the winner of the 1.5" Sticker Maker is....

Congrats to both of you!! You have 24 hours to claim your prize. Please email info@beautifulbeyonddreams.com with your full name & address so your prize can be sent to you! :-D

Again, Congratulations ladies!!!

See it is so easy to win Big during our 12 Day Giveaway!!! Every day up until November 12th you can visit our Facebook Fan page to play big and win, win, win!! So head over now as Day 3 begins at 10am!!!

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 2

The Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Giveaway continues with question two! To read the rules prior to playing CLICK HERE! Remember that you must be a Facebook Fan of Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC in order to win any of the prizes. 

Question two is posted below:

All winners will be announced on November 13th and will have 24 hours to claim their prize via email! Submit answer by posting in the blog comment section or on FB under the Day 2 question.

Good luck and tune in tomorrow for Day 3 of the 12 Day Giveaway!! 

Sincerely,

12 Day Giveaway - Day 1

Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC 12 Day Facebook Giveaway starts today!! In order to win you MUST be a Facebook Fan of Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC. If you are not make sure you become one if you want to win any of the prizes. View the following slides below to learn about the 12 Day Giveaway Rules and to answer the first question (This one is super easy too)! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay so now that you know the rules, let the fun begin!!!

Question one is listed below..it truly is easy and requires you to post your answer on either facebook or in the comments section on the blog. Check out the slide below.

Question two will be posted later today since we missed the Nov 1st post. 

Tune in later to win that prize too!! All giveaway posts will be done in this format We received our LLC in May of 2009. Good luck to all and remember to have fun! :-D

Sincerely,

The Wedding Planner & The On-Site Coordinator--"Two Are Better Than One!"

Often times I read great blog posts, articles, statuses(on FB), tweets & more. Recently within the past week I've seen a surplus of comments related to "not needing a Wedding Planner because you have an On-Site Coordinator". This statement boggles my mind because it is a misleading thought that can ruin a Wedding Day!

This post is not to bash in any way, but to educate and inform! Don't get offended.

Let's begin...

As a Wedding Planner, I find that it is important to have a good relationship with the On-Site Coordinator at any venue. The On-Site Coordinator is great because he or she knows the ins & outs of it's own venue. The On-Site Coordinator has a list of preferred vendors that are associated with it's venue that will provide you with an amazing service to assure your wedding day goes smoothly. The On-Site Coordinator & The Wedding Planner should have a sound relationship because as a Wedding Planner you are stepping into their house. The rule that ALL Wedding Planner's should follow is to ALWAYS RESPECT the On-Site Coordinator's house (meaning the venue)!! The On-Site Coordinator is there to meet the Bride & Grooms needs while at the venue. The On-Site Coordinator tends to not be as involved in the planning process outside of the general wedding planning searching needs.

"I'm not a wedding planner but an onsite coordinator and caterer seems very impersonal..somebody who is providing a service but no feeling behind it...A coordinator really just organize the ppl and order of service but what about floral arrangements, various venue options, etc.. They are only there to advertise their employer not assist in the desires of the couple..#my opinion" -Jugga (Beautiful Beyond Dreams, LLC FB Fan!)

The Wedding Planner is the "Genie" of Wedding Planning! It is thee Wedding Planner that is truly there from beginning to end. Most Wedding Planner's will educate you, laugh with you, disagree to agree with you, cry with you, break-up family arguments with you, guide you, budget you so you have a life after the wedding day, fight for you (being your voice to make it happen) and so so much more! The Wedding Planner brings a personal touch that wakes up and greets you the morning of your wedding and stays with you all day until the car is all packed and everyone has driven off. Then the Wedding Planner will even return rentals for you while you are away on your honeymoon. Once you return the Wedding Planner is still there to assist you with sending out thank you letters, doing the name change process & more!

The Wedding Planner & On-Site Coordinator are both essential and crucially important to a successful Wedding Day. One without the other just doesn't make sense (this is mainly for a full service venue or a venue that does have an On-Site Coordinator...All other venue types without one is not related to this comment).  Together the Wedding Planner & On-Site Coordinator will work together to assure that each guests finds it's correct table, the bridal party are where they need to be when it is time for introductions, your cake topper is packed away safely so you can enjoy it on your 1yr Anniversary & more! The relationship between the two, again; is crucial. None the less...The On-Site Coordinator does NOT replace the Wedding Planner. 

"Why choose a Wedding Planner over a Onsite Coordinator? The answer is so easy…… A Wedding Planner is a mediator, consultant, sounding board, organizer, an artisan and a financial advisor all rolled into one package. When nerves are frazzled, they may even turn out to be a punching bag, “figuratively speaking.” A wedding planner can work with you from your initial engagement to the honeymoon departure. A Wedding Planner is there to guide you through the rough waves of wedding planning." -Justin S. Brown (CEO/President of Creations By Brown)

Many times the Wedding Planner becomes the On-Site Coordinator for the venues that do not have one. Mainly non-traditional locations (parks, community centers, FOP halls, etc). Therefore to replace your Wedding Planner with the On-Site Coordinator again, just doesn't make sense. If you cannot afford a full service Wedding Planner then bring some relaxation to the busy of planning a Wedding & hire a Month Of Coordinator, which most will provide their services 6 to 8 weeks prior to the Wedding Day. This provides you the ease of knowing the day you have been dreaming of for however long will be beautiful! Your Month of Coordinator will be able to bring your On-Site Coordinator up to date on anything that needs to be known. The Wedding Planner is the middle man, the go-to man, THEE MAN or WOMAN that makes your dream wedding a reality and keeps ALL vendors in the loop!

Dear On-Site Coordinators,

         Wedding Planner's do you respect you and understand that you are the head of your house. It is offensive when you inform clients that book your venues that they do not need a Wedding Planner because they have you! You are indeed misinforming them and potentially causing them undesired Pre-Wedding Day, Wedding Day and Post-Wedding Day stress. In the Wedding Industry it has been taught that planning a Wedding involves a team of vendors, one of those being The Wedding Planner. The Wedding Planner is here to help all vendors have a successful Wedding Day by making sure everyone stays on time, hence the very detailed timelines that are often produced and emailed out! The Wedding Planner wants to work with you and work together to assure a happy Bride, Groom, Parents & Guests. Working together is the main goal!

Sincerely,

The Wedding Planner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Brides & Grooms,

        Planning a Wedding is fun, exciting, life-changing, time-consuming, at times stressful, emotional and all around magical. The Wedding Planner & On-Site Coordinator wants to both provide you with a memorable Wedding Day. Do remember that the On-Site Coordinator is the coordinator for the venue, he or she will not be able to be by your side during the whole process. The Wedding Planner is there to guide you from beginning to end no matter the location. He or She will be there months before the Wedding and months after the Wedding! Always do your research and remember to hire a Wedding Planner, as he or she will work together with your On-Site Coordinator!

Sincerely,

The Wedding Planner

Planning a Wedding is absolutely amazing, but a lot of work! Don't get stuck in the stress of planning because you chose NOT to hire a Wedding Planner. Think about it! 

Do you have any success stories that you would like to share about your On-Site Coordinator & Wedding Planner?? Post your stories below in the comments section!! 

"Sharing is caring and it really is fun!" :-)

Sincerely,

It's Friday...Let's Have A Cocktail!!

Happy #FollowFriday my dear bloggers!! Today is Friday and after discussing networking for the past week or so I think enjoying a nice yummy cocktail will be a good way to end our week off right!!

What better way to enjoy a delicious cocktail, then to join Cocktails & Conversations tonight on twitter for a party! Yup, I said we're going to party tonight!! What's great about this party is that ALL are truly invited!! Single ladies, married ladies, over age 18 ladies can all join in! Find a warm spot on the couch, bed or your favorite chair and make a fun cocktail (virgin or strong). The @CocktailsnConvo party is kicking off at 8:00 pm est. Be sure to use hashtag (#CnCParty) so you can keep up with the convo!!

The Diva's: Event Diva & Style Diva will be chatting with all you awesome ladies about networking, recipe sharing and more! So make sure you follow them on twitter --> @CocktailsnConvo and chat with the Diva's tonight at 8pm est using (#CnCParty) hashtag!! Since we love social media so much, don't stop there..make sure you like them on FB-->Cocktails and Conversations & follow their Blog:-->CocktailsandConversations.blogspot.com as well!!

Also every Saturday at 8:00AM these Diva's bring to you an awesome blog talk radio show. This Saturday it is featuring @meetjuliet <-- Follow her on twitter too! MeetJuliet.com will be discussing saying "ByeBye to Bad Relationships Revolution! This is one convo you don't want to miss!

Enjoy this beautiful Friday and hope to see you at the #CnCParty tonight on twitter!!

Sincerely,

Part 3: Network with Confidence!!

Over the past week we have been discussing "networking vs. netwatching" & the "signs of being a netwatcher". We discussed the different "types of networking event styles" and what to do at these particular events. 

Whether you are in the netwatching phase or a blooming networker it must be done with confidence. Wondering how you can be a confident netwatcher?? --> If you're in the netwatching phase and you begin to have confidence within yourself it will allow you to move up and out and continue on your journey to become a successful networker!!

Today I want to discuss how to network with confidence, by describing a networking technique I like to call...

"Maneuvering-The-Room"

Learning how to maneuver a room at any kind of networking event, whether educational or social is very important. You do not want to become bound in one area and miss out on creating new relationships. So follow these 10 simple rules and you will be awesome at maneuvering no matter the occasion.

So let's maneuver...

#1. Enter with confidence, (enter with a smile!)...

                                                                                                     #2. Find a familiar face and strike up a convo. (not required..this is just what I do.)...     

                                                          #3. Walk to grab a drink or bite to eat and engage with another person doing the same...laugh, find something great to talk about!...

                                                                                                                #4. Find a table, sit and enjoy your food..a table that has someone at it...discuss something...

....By now you have circulated the room...you've seen a familiar face which has already boosted your confidence and made you more comfortable. Don't stay with that person too long as you want to meet others. People love to talk over food & drinks so creating small talk over food is like an ice-breaker. (Talk about the food if you can't think of anything else.) By step three you have began to settle into your self. So finding a table that already has people will be a good idea because you want to keep the flow going..don't isolate yourself! When sitting at a table and engaging your able to now 1. Eat, 2. Find your business cards and 3. Make a new friend. (because when people are sitting at a table they are kind of forced to talk to each other for at least a few minutes, which in return can end up in a great convo!)...

#5. Continue to mingle, grab another drink, introduce yourself with a hand shake & smile...

                                                                                                                   

                                                                              #6. Find a semi-full table and jump in the conversation...

                                                    #7. Be a conversation starter by asking questions and being excited about the other Pros!...

#8. KEEP IT POSITIVE, talk about social media: twitter, facebook, etc...

                                                                                                                        #9. Say hello to the person/company that put on this great event!...

                                                                                         #10. Don't leave without saying bye! Walk out with someone that you met keeping the conversation going all the way to the parking lot!

If a connection was made, reconnect after the event! Remember that a networking event is a room full of wedding/event industry related pros that want to sell you their services after the event is over! We all want to be of assistance to another pro as long as it's a good fit! Remember to stand out and to continuously attend local events. Become a face people remember when they walk into a room.

What's great about networking is that it doesn't have to happen only in person. Network via social media, via webinars, skype, oovoo, etc. Technology has advanced so greatly that there is truly no reason to not make any connections. Expose yourself to all that is available!

Share a tip! How do you "Maneuver-The-Room"??

Sincerely,

Part 2: Let's Discuss Networking Styles!

Networking is crucial to any business that desires to grow and expand! FACT. 

Last week we started discussing Are You "Networking!!" or "Netwatching??" it was the intro to a 3 part series! This past Friday we discussed {Part 1: 5 Signs You Are Netwatching!}. If you missed either of these discussions then read those prior to continuing.

Networking comes in many styles. You have Target-Market Based networking events, One-on-One meetings and Casual Networking events. Because networking can be applied to any of these I will be giving examples of all! Today's post is all about the different styles of networking events & what to do at the networking events. To begin let's start with target-market based networking events. 

ABC New Jersey State Conference 2011

(Sadly I wasn't at this one..)

Target-Market Based networking events for me fall in the category of Bridal Shows, Industry educational related events, etc. At these type of events your goal is to make your business known, discretely. I say discretely because you want to say hello, without screaming it..if you get my drift. You are attending on the basis of learning, but also to meet & greet new businesses that can help your business grow. At these kind of events you should dress professionally. A nice button down top w/business jacket/blazer, a pin-striped skirt and 3 inch heels (black preferably!) You should look classy & fit-in. <--- I technically don't follow this rule, however for those that like rules this is the typical industry look. I like to be a little bolder and stand out. So you will find me wearing bold colors, especially when it comes to my shoes! Be prepared to hand out a business card if it comes up in a conversation. When cards are given out (especially at educational based networking events) it happens at the end of the event. So don't walk in throwing cards at people..get the education, socialize and distribute then! Sometimes networking means being at the event and learning and socializing. Not necessarily saying this is who I am, utilize my services. This is the start of a network connection.

(Meetings can take place at Panera Bread, Starbucks, Olive Garden etc!!)

One-on-One meetings are great and are usually formed after attending an educational networking event, bridal show, etc. This is the next step to continue a connection made. This is your opportunity to create a long-lasting relationship or just a social media based relationship. Networking is great, and one-on-one meetings are crucial because it allows you to know if you want to actually work with this new connection. 

"You won't work with everyone, some are just nice to chat with on social media." -UrDreamPlanner

I love One-on-One meetings because you learn a person's personality, goals, desires, etc and see if they match up with what your trying to present to your clientele. When at a large target-market based networking event you don't get to know the person, you just see the surface. Therefore having this personal one-on-one meeting can give you a feel for your next move. I have had good & bad one-on-one meetings. Some meetings have created long-lasting relationships, while others are some of my coolest social media friends!! {{Now being a social media friend is NOT a bad thing! My main social media friends are those that don't live within 150 miles of me. These are friends that I only see on fb, twitter, blogger etc unless we both attend a national or regional networking event. I usually do not work with these people not because they are not amazing(because ALL my friends are amazing :-)), but because at the moment I don't have a clientele in their specific area. Having social media friends is equally important as local colleagues because you never know where your next client may come from and it's great to have connections all over the world!}} Be yourself when attending one-on-one meetings, dress professional during these meetings as well, every impression makes a difference! This is your time to shine and show who you are and how you can help the other business!  

::Awesome Tip::

If you're the one setting up the meeting be prepared to treat the other person (& yourself, no one likes to eat alone) to some Food!! It's a kind gesture that goes a long way. :-)

I Do Brunch 2011 for Wedding Planners!

Lastly, and one of my favorites are Casual Networking events! Casual Networking events are awesome!! When attending these networking events you tend to be more comfortable. I find that when I attend these it is because I am apart of the organization, I am attending with someone else, and I am just comfortable at going out there and talking with random people that I don't know and catching back up with those social media friends and local colleagues!!  Casual Networking events can be professional attire and is usually fun professional attire. Because of the fact that you ARE a professional you should always dress accordingly. Depending on the event, you can dress it up or dress it down as long as your camera ready. You may not think you are in the picture but if you happen to get in a side shot that you weren't expecting you need to be dress nicely!

Always carry business cards and try to remember names! At Casual Networking events, you tend to see some of the same faces over and over. If you don't remember someone's name and they remember yours (this has happened to me..Shhh o_O) it is okay, ask them what their name is. Just don't let it happen twice. I one time found myself looking on Fb so I could figure out who I was talking to..it happens..but try not to make a habit of it! People like to be remembered especially at these type of events. Be yourself, dress nice, hand out a few cards and enjoy!

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So we discussed several types of networking events! I decided to save discussing how to be a confident networker for the last post because people tend to remember most what they read last. So this Wednesday we will learn how to be a confident networker. 

If you attend networking events, which do you find to be your favorite style? Do you follow any of these rules? Feel free to add some tips on anything listed above!

Sincerely,

Part 1: "5 Signs You Are Netwatching!"

Today I will begin the three part series on the subject of:

Are You "Networking" or Netwatching"?? <-- Click to read more..) 

Part 1 begins with netwatching. Netwatching is what I described as, "watching others network". Netwatching is normally not something done on purpose, but tends to be how most people start out when they begin to explore the area of networking.

5 Signs You Are Netwatching:

• #1. You are not attending any networking events.
• #2. When you attend you don't talk to hardly anyone.
• #3. You don't bring business cards to hand out.
• #4. You wait for others to acknowledge you.
• #5. You leave networking events early.

If after reading these five signs, you feel that they were describing you; then you are netwatching and NOT networking. You're getting all dressed up and no one is noticing your awesome accessories or nice hair cut. Bummer. Networking is about stepping out and being remembered. If you are serious about your business and want to see it blossom and expand then stop netwatching. 

Okay, so you know you're a netwatcher...now what?!? What is the next step that needs to be taken?? It's "easy"...you need to begin networking! Easy, I really like that word because often times when it is used, it's used in an area that is not very easy to most. Networking can be "easy", yet it takes the right characteristics to make a great impression! 

Don't know how to do "easy" networking? Then tune in for the rest of the series, which is continuing on Monday to learn what networking is all about and how to become a confident networker!!

Before you go read one of my netwatching experiences. (Yup, I admit that I use to netwatch..Guilty!)

...It was a June 2009 networking event and I was going solo (scared..lol) I drove roughly 30 minutes talking to myself about how I will be confident as I walk in. So I arrived in my business attire and lucky me the weather wasn't the greatest (so my hair began getting frizzy). There went half the confidence that I gave myself in the car..lol (all over my hair!! smh) So I go in and I get my name tag and all this information. I walk into the room and I know not one person. So I smile and nod my head here and there from afar. As I walk from booth to booth I come across a cake booth and two young ladies asked me for my business card after a few minutes of conversation. (I was sooooo happy...lol) So of course I am like yes, that would be great. As I struggled for almost five minutes to get my plain--white--one sided--basic business cards (remember your business card is a representation of your business, so if your business isn't plain and boring then your business card shouldn't be either--make the needed investment from the start!). While searching for my business cards (dropping the papers I had in my hand) I eventually took theirs and handed them mines and don't you know a pen busted in my purse and got all over my already plain business cards o_O...I didn't notice until they brought it up which was even more embarrassing!! I couldn't wait to get out of there..lol...the story is almost over...I then continued to walk around and I saw another group talking about blogging (which at that time I blogged all the time..lol) so I figured I would jump in the convo...didn't happen!! I think they were offended that I tried to give my input. Or maybe I had extreme newbie written on my face ;-)..who knows..lol. Needless to say I left early and more scared of networking then when I had arrived. Luckily I didn't stop there. I will share more successful stories later in the series. ;-)

Netwatching is a phase of networking that many go through. It isn't a negative thing. When you notice that you are doing it, it's UBER important to make the changes to start networking!

Until next time..Share a story of a netwatching experience that you had!!

Sincerely,