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lovemesomesurveys · 10 months

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[joybucket @ bzoink]

How long has it been since you moved out of the house you grew up in? A little over a decade ago.

What color shirt are you wearing? It’s like a periwinkle color.

The last time you ate leftovers, what was it that you were eating? It was the last time I had pizza.

What was the last flavor of ice cream you ate? I had Reese’s ice cream just a bit ago. So good.

Do you regret anything you've done in the last 24 hours, and if so, what? I don’t think so.

What is your favorite type of soup? 🍜 I don’t have one. I used to be obsessed with ramen as some of ya’ll may remember, but I don’t know everything got all weird when my health really declined and my tastes changed.

When was the last time you saw a beautiful sunset? 🌅 I have no idea.

What is your favorite song at the moment? I don’t have a particular current favorite.

What are 5-10 things you love about being you? Mehhhh.

What is your favorite board that you've made on Pinterest? I have various boards that I enjoy.

Do you get on Facebook or Instagram more? Facebook, but I really don’t spend much time on there either. I just rarely go on Instagram, so. Not sure about this Threads thing, but to be fair I fought against Facebook when everyone started ditching Myspace for it and even my very first post on here says something like, “I don’t know how much I’ll actually use this.” That was in 2009, by the way.

What color is your favorite sweater? Black.

What are three things people would never guess about you just by looking at the photos you post on social media? -Well, I have a friend I chat with in a tiktok live for someone we both obviously watch, but also someone we mod for. Anyway, she was apparently shook when I told her I was turning 34 soon. She claims she legit thought I was 21. I was like omg nice, good people do exist thank you so much lmaoooo.

-You couldn’t know what health struggles I’ve been struggling with physically and mentally just based off a selfie.

-Uhhh, you couldn’t guess .... I don’t know, there’s a ton of things you couldn’t guess just based off a photo.

What is one thing you have too much of? Stuff. But I waaaaant it.

What was the last thing you ate or drank that was blue raspberry-flavored?A slushie quite awhile ago.

What are three of your favorite scents? Patchouli, cedar wood, sandalwood.

What was the last flavor of tea you drank? ☕️ Chamomile.

When was the last time you wore your hair in a fishtail braid? I’ve never worn my hair that way. I don’t know how to do that type of braid myself and I’ve never asked anyone else to do it for me.

What is one annoying thing your computer does? It’s getting a bit laggy. It’s my brother’s that I’ve been using ever since mine went kaput last April, for which I am extremely grateful for. However, it’s full of stuff and it’s super unorganized, so it drives me nuts but I can’t just go cleaning out his laptop and shit. I’m gonna have to ask him if he can clear stuff up, though. I feel so bad I like took over his laptop. It was especially nice to have when I was in the hospital. He’s been really cool about it cause he really didn’t use it anymore once he finished school, but still. He’s furthering his education and going for his master’s, so I think he may need his laptop back. Although, I honestly kinda think he’ll just buy a new one.

What type of fruit do you eat the most? I very rarely eat any fruit or consider myself a big fan, but I do like bananas.

How often do you go out to eat? I haven’t been out to eat in SO long, but I get takeout all the time.

What would your dream wedding dress look like? 👰‍♀️ I’ve never thought about it, honestly. I don’t see myself ever even getting married to be honest.

Which fall flavor do you prefer: pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon? Apple cinnamon.

What is the most annoying thing about your life right now? Being stuck in this damn bed. It’s beyond annoying.

Which holiday treat do you like better: candy corn or conversation hearts? I like them both. I know, so controversial.

What is your favorite apple-flavored treat? Apple fritters are good.

What are you counting down the days to right now, if anything? My birthday, kinda. I’m not able to go anywhere again, but at least I’m home and not in the hospital this year. Oh, so since the Barbie movie comes out near my birthday and I was obsessed with Barbies as a kid, I kinda joked about having a Barbie cake and wanting a Barbie, right? Well, it became a thing and now they’re looking for one and I think are getting me Barbies lmaooo. Anyway, so that’s something fun.

What was the last book you read about? It’s a murder mystery FBI type stuff.

Have you been daydreaming a lot lately about a scenario you wish would happen? Yeah. I really want to travel. I need a vacation. I neeeeed the beach. I need a change of scenery. Can I be on bed rest at a nice beach rental overlooking the ocean? ha.

What are three of your favorite things about camping? ⛺️ Nothing, I’m not a camping person.

If you could choose what month to be born in, what month would you have chosen as your birth month, and why? October would be cool.

...and what is your actual birth month? July.

What are three of your favorite things to do on a rainy day? 🌧️ I don’t do anything different, but I do love the rain.

Would you rather eat strawberries 🍓 or watermelon 🍉? I like both.

Do you prefer smoothies or milkshakes? 🍹 Milkshakes.

Do you prefer hamburgers 🍔 or hot dogs 🌭? Hot dogs.

When was the last time you felt nauseous? Earlier. I feel that way a lot.

What was the last thing you ate that made you feel nauseous? I always feel sick after getting my formula in the g-tube.

Do you enjoy going to your local county fair? I have never been. Not my thing.

How far away do you live from the place where you were born? Like 10 minutes.

Do you prefer zebra print or cheetah print? I’m not a fan of either, honestly.

#personally #text #survey #surveys

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amphtaminedreams · 5 years

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All The Tattoos I Couldn’t Really Afford

Hi to anyone who’s reading!

I thought I’d write about my tattoos a lil bit.

Partly because I’d like to talk generally about tattoos and what they mean for people who have dealt with self-harm and poor body image and partly because I get questions now and again about the more practical side of things; who did them, how much did they hurt and probably the most frequent one, how much did they cost (I mean, only my entire livelihood and every last spare pound I had for about 2 years but nbd)? The point being that I can put all this information in one place, especially as I don’t plan to get any more in the foreseeable future.

See, as much as I get tired of people I don’t really know commenting on them, I suppose I did kind of bring it upon myself. Facially, I probably look about 15. I get told I'm exaggerating when I say that BUT I WAS STILL BUYING CHILD’S TICKETS ON THE BUS UP UNTIL LAST YEAR BC AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR £2.60 SINGLES. Where do you live for a bus single to cost £2.60 I hear you ask? In a tory heartland, my friend.

Anyway, the point is that I look pretty young to have a sort-of sleeve and tbh, I am. I’d say that for a lot of people, a sleeve is something you build on kinda throughout your life, not something you plan on getting pretty much the minute you turn 18. That isn’t exactly how it was for me either. I was more like 20 when I started on my left arm, lol. I started on the rest when I was 18 and had known most of the tattoos I wanted to get since I was about 14/15, so for quite a while. I think I always associated a tattooed version of me with a version of myself I liked and respected a lot more than the girl I saw myself as at that age, but I didn’t realise just how true that would be. The tattoos definitely aren’t the reason I’m so much more body confident than I was back then; I’m at a weight I feel more comfortable in, I’ve learned how to do my makeup better and I think I’ve grown into myself more. Plus, I got my braces off, which helps. The constant fear of having food in my teeth hardly conjures up a sense of nostalgia, lol. On top of that, seeing a wider and more diverse range of faces and body types celebrated online and in the media has definitely helped me too.

But one thing that I noticed is how much more respect having tattoos gives me for my own body. When you have talented men and women’s art all over you, it makes you feel like less of a body and more of a blank sheet. I think the attention moves away from the parts underneath that you might not like so much to something you don’t necessarily associate with yourself. It helps me to notice myself more objectively, with appreciation taking the place of scrutiny. And with regards to self-harm, on a practical level, I don’t want to damage somebody else’s hard work.

The first tattoo I actually got, about a month or so after I turned 18 was pretty simple. I found the studio by way of recommendation from someone who’s tattoo I liked, which imo is probably the best route to go down for your first one. Word of mouth is generally a pretty good indicator of what to expect.

The 5 planet formation on the back of my neck was based on a Tumblr photo I’d saved on my phone, though in the original design I believe the planets were on the person’s chest.

PROTIP: If you’re getting a tattoo based on something you found on Pinterest, Google Images or Tumblr, the best thing to do is first to probably make a note of the artist and ideally ask them for their permission. This is something I wish I’d done at the time; the majority of my tattoos are based on images I found on the sites I just mentioned and saved without thinking and I generally deleted the photos once I sent them to the tattoo artist. Understandably, artists see it as respect thing to credit them and if I do ever come across the designs some of my tattoos are based on, I will of course make sure to add their details to this post, BUT to be completely honest, nobody outside of the internet is that bothered if you copied a tattoo you saw on Pinterest one time.

I think the best thing to do is to ask your tattoo artist to put their own spin on a design and add to it, which is what I’ve generally done, and that way you should avoid anyone feeling like their work has been stolen. I like that approach anyway, especially if you’re going back to the same person for all your tattoos; it adds a consistency to them.

This being my first tattoo, there wasn’t really much of a deeper meaning behind it. I liked the way it looked and wanted something simple that could easily be covered. I got this done by dclxvi.tattoo on Instagram, and it cost around £40. In terms of pain, there wasn’t much at all. I thought it was going to be a lot worse from what others had told me, and more than anything I could feel the vibration of the needle. I’d give it a 1/10 on the pain threshold.

My second was the quote on my left side over my ribcage which reads “think deeply, speak gently, give freely and be kind”. This came from one of those cheesy typical middle class white people signs we usually put in our kitchens; we currently have about 6 and counting in ours. The full quote is “Think deeply, speak gently, love much, laugh a lot, work hard, give freely and be kind” but I thought that was a bit long winded so I kept the parts I liked. I suppose the meaning meaning of this is pretty self-explanatory, lol! When I was younger and still even now with the people I’m close to, I worry way too fucking much what people think of me. It’s a very cliche saying but at some point, I learnt that what others say about you says more about them than it does about you. From then, I started realising that as long as I know I do my best to treat people well, that’s the important thing and this tattoo is kind of just a reminder of that. IIRC, this one cost about £60 and was with the same artist as my first. She was really lovely and made me feel very comfortable so I went back to her for this one, and my next couple too. Again, even though it was on my ribs, I’d give it a 1/10 for pain.

I kinda lose track but I’m pretty sure it was over the summer of my 18th that I got the 3 you can see in the photo above, all still by the same artist. The first on this area of my arm was the quote “love yourself so no-one else has to” inside the heart/feminine symbol hybrid. Similarly, it’s quite self-explanatory but if I had to expand on it, it’s just a reminder that it’s not about what other people think and that as long as I’m happy in myself and BY myself, that’s what matters. This was around the £40 mark and I vaguely remember tattoos getting slightly more painful around this point as we’re getting into musclier territory. Not to make out I have guns or anything, lol, but I’ve always found that tattoos that are on top of muscle are the most difficult to sit through, still though I’d give it a 2/10 for pain. Shortly after I got the crystal ball with the quote underneath. The crystal ball is pretty much a copy of a tattoo I found on Pinterest by the tattoo artist Emily Malice/@emilymalice on Instagram:

I then chose a quote to add underneath it to make it my own which was: “it’s not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”. It’s the modernised version of a quote from the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar, and basically sums up the idea that if we want something, we have to go and get it ourselves. I’m not really a believer in fate or destiny or the idea that the universe has a bigger plan for us and though that might sound really pessimistic, I find it empowering in that we can go out and make our lives into anything we want them to be. Of course there are things that are out of our hands but for the most part, it’s down to us; I’m on that inner locus of control shit. And yes I remembered that from A-level psychology, lol. On the pain scale, also a 2/10.

Next was my Lana tattoo. Imagine copious amounts of the heart eyes emoji here. It’s based on this drawing:

Which I cannot find the artist of fucking ANYWHERE. The image is all over the bloody internet and returned about 30 different results on TinEye but I can’t for the life of me find the original version so if anybody knows, lmk!

Anyway, it was my first of 2 Lana tattoos and it’s probably my favourite of them all. I’ve been a hardcore stan of this woman since I was about 12 and Video Games went viral (yes, I was a very pretentious 12 year old/general human being) and her music has been my soundtrack to EVERYTHING for the last 7/8 years. I’m a basic bitch and so Born to Die: Paradise Edition and Ultraviolence are still my favourite albums of hers but I wanted to pay tribute to the Lust for Life cover with the flowers in the hair because it represented her moving towards inner peace and contentment and I loved that.

COST: approx. £70

PAIN: 2/10

That was my last tattoo for a while until about November 2018, from which point onwards I was getting them pretty much constantly up until a few months ago. I was no longer at uni, had a part time job and for the first time had proper disposable income, so I got my first proper “piece” tattoo:

This one I very shittily designed myself, though the lip part was based on this tattoo by Heidi Kaye/@heidikayetattoo on Instagram:

The lips were always going to be the centrepiece though it was originally a much bigger design. The idea was that it would be a piece based around the elements, water, earth, air and fire, with the things that represents each being something sentimental to me. Well, apart from the lips which would represent the passion of the fire signs; I just thought they looked cool, lol. On a less shallow note, the butterflies, which represent air (along with the moons), I associate with my mum as she’s always wearing butterfly patterned outfits and jewellery. Yeah, I don’t know how you can claim a whole ass insect either but apparently they’re her thing! And similarly, the scorpion is for my sister; it represents water, scorpio being a water sign. She and I used to watch Orphan Black together and took to affectionately calling each other “sestra” instead of sister like the Ukranian character Helena pronounces it in the show. At one point, I believe it’s season 3, her character hallucinates a scorpion (don’t ask, that show was pretty wack at times), hence the scorpion tattoo. Lastly, the flowers and the agate rock represent earth, which is the home of my sun and moon sign. There were originally going to be a lot more details to the piece but I wanted to keep it on the back of my arm and when I showed it to my new tattoo artist, Matt Cassy (cassytattoo on Instagram), he simplified it for me so that it would fit. It cost around £140 and took the longest time yet, but I’d give it a 1/10 for pain and it’s my favourite tattoo after my Lana one, probably because it’s the most individual.

Next after this was my sunflower and it took me to one of kindest and most talented people I’ve ever met! I’m pretty sure this was the first one she did for me and from this point onwards, I went back to Bianca Kidd (biancakiddtattoo on Instagram) for 90% of my tattoos. It’s a pretty basic piece but I really wanted a tattoo on my shoulder and preferably something that will never really go “out of style”. Flower tattoos are so simple but the absolute prettiest imo and I don’t think I’ll ever look back on this one and be like “what was I thinking?” I got Bianca to add the stars which were SUPPOSED to be in the form of the constellations of my sun, moon and rising signs, Capricorn, Virgo and what I thought was Scorpio but turns out is actually Cancer. Shoulda known considering how much of a needy, over-emotional twat I am, lol. On the one hand, it seems kinda contradictory to my crystal ball tattoo quote to believe in astrology but on the other, I think there might be something to the time of year a person is born and the environmental factors that come with that (climate, financial patterns etc.) affecting a person’s temperament slightly. It could all be a load of BS, considering the vagueness of most star signs and our tendency to want to agree with positive statements about ourselves, and I DEFINITELY don’t believe in the stars having any impact on your future or fate but it’s still fun to read about either way. Would be even funner if I didn’t have regrets about getting my natal chart wrong and being sure enough that Scorpio was my rising sign to get a tattoo referencing it every time I did, but there you go. If anyone asks, the placement of the stars is TOTALLY. RANDOM.

COST: approx. £140

PAIN: I find that even if a tattoo isn’t in a super painful position, your skin begins to get a little raw and thus more sensitive when it’s under a needle for a long period of time so 3/10

Next was the snakey boy on the inside of my right arm which I got just before Christmas, again by Bianca:

I don’t have much to say about this one other than it’s pretty much a copy of one I saw on Pinterest that I’d saved quite a while before (unfortunately I can’t find it anywhere now but if anybody does know the source lmk!) because I fricken love snakes and think they’re cute and misunderstood af. Not as cute as cats but definitely up there. Bianca changed it slightly by adding the dots around the rose and we went from there, and the main thing I remember is that this one actually hurt. Close to the armpit and on top of the muscle is a bad combination and I’m totally in awe of the madmen that go right into the pit itself. It cost £80 and for pain I’d give it an 8/10.

Cop the exact same pose only with the other arm instead, but I also got my mermaid around this time:

She was done by Polly (biffinx on instagram) who’s an apprentice tattoo artist. If you are looking for a slightly cheaper tattoo, apprentices are a good shout, as they usually charge slightly less, though in Polly’s case are equally as skilled at what they do; you’re also helping them build their portfolio so it’s a win-win situation for both you and the tattoo artist. That being said, make sure you do your research and get someone who’s good at the style you’re looking for before you commit. Instagram is often your best bet, and if not, tattoo shops often have websites with photo galleries showcasing each artist’s work. It might take you a while to find what you’re looking for but you really can’t compromise when you’re talking about something that’s probably going to be on your body forever. NBD. I got the mermaid as a nod to both growing up by the sea and how much I loved to swim when I was younger. I feel like I’m going to end up saying this far too many times but she’s one of my favourites.

COST: £60

PAIN: 8/10

I also got the other 3 tattoos on my upper right arm during this time. Bianca did the satanic kitty (can’t find the source of the tattoo it was based on! again, if anyone does lmk!), because of course I had to have a cat tattoo, and that was around £50 and a 3/10 on the pain scale. The two shells, which again are a reminder of where I grew up, were done by Terry Weeks (terryweekstattoo on Instagram) and cost £70 for both. I’d give them a 2/10 for pain.

Next were my knee and calf tattoo in February of this year, for which I went back to Matt Cassy:

He did the two of them for £140 and it took around 3 hours. Palm trees always remind me of California which I absolutely love, and the spider’s web was kinda just because...spooky, ya know? Honestly, I hate spiders and I equally hate that it gave the old man on the bus the inspiration to make the joke (imagine this being said in a strong Dorset accent) “you’ve got ae spiderr on yerr leg” at me that one time on the bus. Plus, I’d give my knee tattoo a strong 9/10 for pain. Realistically, it probably wasn’t any more painful than the inner upper arm tattoos but you have the added burden of suppressing your reflexes; when somebody is carving into the skin on your leg, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that your knee jerk reaction is to...well, kick that person in the face. Or away from you at least. I also got the elbow pit tattoo on my left arm from Bianca around this time for £160. 8/10 for pain on that one.

And then, there was the 10/10 in March. The things I do for Miss Lana Del fucking Rey.

Because the Just Ride tattoo above my knees HURT. I wasn’t expecting it at all but BLOODY HELL. My tattoo artist actually had to get the numbing spray out for this one. It was, again, the combined effect of it being on top of muscle and the need to resist my reflexes so that I didn’t flinch, which clearly I didn’t do a very good job at, hence the spray. I think my reaction at the time was kind of, what the fuck, has this stuff always existed? But the more you can put off asking for the spray, the better, because used in large quantities it can be pretty dangerous. This was the only tattoo I felt I did need it for because I literally couldn’t sit still and there was a risk of me jogging the tattoo artist, Megan, the amazing @bunnystattoos on Instagram. Her stuff is adorable and she has such a strong vision and brand and if I was going to get another, I’d love to just give her a starting point and see where she’d take it from there. Like, I’m not a Star Wars fan but LOOK at this set she designed for someone else:

I also got my Dream On tattoo with her in the same session and in total she charged me £110 for both which is pretty reasonable considering how in demand she is (and how much of a total baby I was about the Just Ride tattoo). I chose lyrics from Ride because lyrically, it’s probably one of my favourite songs of hers, plus the opening 30 seconds are pure magic.

Megan also did the linework orchid lady on the back of my arm around the same time:

I suppose you could say this is my most “meaningful” tattoo, because it was inspired by something my care-coordinator said to me about my diagnosis of BPD. In amongst all the other less than complimentary comments, she told me that it just means we need a little more care and sensitivity than others, like orchids do in comparison to other flowers, but that that doesn’t make us any less deserving of care or less beautiful. Basically, in the right circumstances, we can bloom too. And I liked that.

This one cost £80 and was about a 3/10 for pain. I can’t find any photos of the tattoo it was based on so for the millionth time, if you do know, hmu.

From April-May I got a shitload of tattoos and to be honest, I can’t really remember what order it was in so I’m going to group them into artists. First, the ones I got from Polly:

The anatomical heart I got in March and was based on this tattoo by Harry Plane (@harry.plane on Instagram):

COST: £50

PAIN: 7/10

And the sun and moon kissing was also around £50. 2/10 for pain.

Bianca did a few for me too, starting with the floral design on my lower left arm around March, which was probably my biggest piece yet:

The floral piece started off as a 4/10 though it creeped up to a 6 the closer it got to my wrist. Going over raised scars is also slightly more painful, something to bear in mind. Along with the Keep It Cute tattoo (6/10) on my wrist:

It came to £180.

Bianca also did the linework of my favourite GIF, like, ever.

Yes, it’s Go Go Yubari from Kill Bill about to try and maim The Bride, who don’t get me wrong I am perennially rooting for, but come on. It’s an iconic moment in film history Once Upon a Time in Hollywood wishes it could replicate. 4/10 for pain due to it being over scarring, otherwise we’re talking about the kind of placement that’s a reliable 2/10. I also got wrapped into the whole renaissance inspired trend and got Bianca to do me a little cherub gap filler based on this flash sheet I found on Google Images (link to the image found here https://creativemarket.com/Sonulkaster/280110-Angels-and-Cupids-collection.?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=CM):

I suggested the cigarette as a cheeky little addition, lol! I’d give it a 5/10 for pain, being close to the inside of my arm n all and it set me back around £40. Unfortunately, I don’t have any great quality photos of it that I haven’t already used in the post but here’s one where you can see it a little bit (idk why my hair looks so brown and basically my natural colour in this photo but I DO NOT APPROVE, it is not at all fitting with my wannabe mildly goth aesthetic):

Finally, we have my last 2 tattoos.

See, getting my finger tattoos done was an absolute necessity before I went inter-railing and not because I’m an over-dramatic bitch who wanted a little something to make my multitude of me-holding-food photos more aesthetically pleasing (though of course it helped on that count), but because I made the fucking huge mistake of trying to stick and poke them myself. To be fair, they weren’t THAT bad at first. Like I was pretty pleased with them. Buuuut they faded super quickly and I guess that’s the issue with stick and pokes, especially on your fingers, where even professional tattoos are a bit of a flight risk anyway. So, after having to go over them a million times and spilling Indian ink all over my laptop keyboard, I decided to admit defeat and get Bianca to go over them for me. It cost £30 and I’d only give it a 4/10 on the pain scale. After months of having to explain my shitty faded finger tattoos to everyone and convince far too many customers at work that they weren’t just drawn on with a sharpie, I’m finally happy with them. Lesson learnt. Don’t stick and poke kids, especially not near your laptop.

Lastly is my “Wouldst Thou Like to Live Deliciously?” quote that Polly did for me:

The cost of this tattoo? £30. Having to explain to every person who hasn’t seen The VVitch what it actually says and then what it means too? Priceless. Hotel? Tri-

I joke. It’s actually very annoying having to explain what it says and vague what it means, not because I don’t EXACTLY know but also because I feel like a snobby film hoe (which is quite an accurate description of me) every time I do. The VVitch is super good, guys. Please watch if you’ve got the patience, it’s a slow burn.

Anyways, I hope anybody who read to the end enjoyed the post and found it informative! If you have any other tattoo questions, shoot me a message and I will definitely respond. I think one of the most common things I get is people saying they’re too indecisive to get a tattoo and that they want one, but are worried they’ll go off it. What I think is that once you get your first, getting a tattoo starts to feel like less of a momentous decision. Like there are tattoos I have that I probably wouldn’t get now but that doesn’t mean I regret them because, although it sounds cheesy, they sort of become a part of you and represent what you liked at the time. The more you have, the less significant one individual tattoo is. At the end of the day, are you ever going to regret getting a tiny rose? Worst case scenario, you can always get a cover up or if you’re brave and rich enough (lol), get laser removal. In terms of aftercare, I’ve always been kind of sloppy. Follow the instructions your tattoo artist gives you but also, if you don’t get time to moisturise them, it’s not the end of the world. TRY not to itch them but one tiny scratch isn’t going to permanently damage your tattoo.

One thing I will say, though, that’s probably kind of obvious to everyone but me (being the dumbass I am) is that you should NOT go in the sea right after getting a tattoo. It is literally the equivalent of pouring salt in an open wound and whilst it didn’t ruin my Lana, it really fucking stung for about 3 days afterwards. I’m an endless treasure chest of protips, didn’t you know?

Thank you for reading!

Lauren x

#tattoos #ink #lana del rey #lana #lana del rabies #inkaddict #tattoed girls #ewwhatacringeyhashtag #spooky #spoopy #personalstyle

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heliumrelish1-blog · 5 years

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Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw (Video)

posted by Kalyn Denny on March 27, 2019

Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw is one of my go-to-salads to make for parties. If you’re not a cilantro fan, use a little more thinly sliced green onion in this tasty low-carb salad. Use Salad Recipes to find more recipes like this one.

Click here to PIN Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw!

Watch the video to see if you’d like to make Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw.

Years ago I spotted this Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw recipe in The Sunset Cookbook and made a slightly adapted version of it right away. The salad turned out to be a big hit on the blog, despite the original photos which were a bit boring. It was also a hit with my huge extended family, although when I make this salad for a Denny Family Party, I always make two bowls (with or without cilantro) so everyone can enjoy it. And I’ve made this salad quite a few times for friends as well. No matter who I serve it to, this low-carb Napa cabbage slaw is always a hit.

Salads like this that are a jumble of ingredients can be a challenge to photograph well. But recently I decided to make the salad and see if I could get some photos that really showed off how tasty it was! And I am happy to have better photos, and even though Napa Cabbage is probably not on sale during March in the same way that regular green cabbage is, I’m featuring this as the last recipe in the string of Cabbage Recipes I’ve been crushing on this month!

If you don’t like cilantro, or you have family members who don’t like it I recommend adding a little more thinly-sliced green onion to the salad, and it will be just as tasty! And it’s the soy-mayo Asian dressing that’s partly what makes this salad such a wow, so you might want to make extra dressing if you like the sound of that. I hope everyone who likes these flavors will try this favorite salad!

(This recipe updated with better photos and a step-by-step video March 2019.)

The original recipe made 14 cups, so I cut it down quite a bit to get this version which makes about 6 servings. The slightly-spicy soy-mayo based dressing is one of the things that make this salad, so you may want to make extra dressing. Start with one small head of Napa cabbage, about 3-4 cups of thinly shredded cabbage.

I trimmed both ends of the sugar snap peas and then sliced them thinly on the diagonal. My radishes were fairly large so I trimmed the ends, sliced them in half lengthwise, and then sliced them in half-moon shaped slices. I also sliced up a bunch of green onions, and chopped the cilantro.

Toss together the Napa cabbage, sugar snap peas, radishes, green onions (and cilantro if using), then toss with enough dressing to coat the ingredients. Toast the sliced almonds in a dry pan over high heat for 1-2 minutes (just until the nuts start to become fragrant; watch them closely so they don’t get too brown.) Add the nuts and gently toss again.

This is best served right away, and you probably won’t have any leftovers to worry about anyway!

More Tasty Salads with Napa Cabbage:

Gluten-Free Asian Slaw from Elana’s Pantry Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Salad with Dijon-Ginger Dressing from Kalyn’s Kitchen Spicy Asian Slaw with Napa Cabbage, Carrots, and Ginger Dressing from Cookin’ Canuck Napa Cabbage and Red Cabbage Salad from Kalyn’s Kitchen Asian Napa Cabbage Slaw with Peanut Sauce from Sarah’s Cucina Bella

Crunchy Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw with Sugar Snap Peas, Radishes, Almonds and Cilantro

Yield: 6 generous servings

Total Time: 27 minutes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw is a perfect party salad!

Ingredients:

1 small head Napa cabbage, thinly sliced then coarsely chopped (about 3-4 cups shredded cabbage)

1 C thinly and diagonally-sliced sugar snap peas

1 C radishes, sliced into half-moon shapes

1/2 cup sliced green onion

1/2 – 3/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional, but if you’re a cilantro fan I would use it)

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Dressing Ingredients:

1 T white wine vinegar

1 T sweetener of your choice

1 tsp. soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)

1/2 tsp. crushed garlic puree

1/4 tsp. Asian sesame oil

1/4 tsp. ground ginger puree

1/4 tsp. (or more) Sriracha sauce or other hot sauce

1/3 cup mayo or light mayo

Directions:

Thinly slice Napa cabbage, then coarsely chop to make 3-4 cups shredded cabbage.

Trim both ends of sugar snap peas, then thinly slice on the diagonal to make 1 cup sliced peas.

Trim both ends of radishes and wash if needed, then cut in half lengthwise and cut into half-moon slices.

Slice green onions to make 1/2 cup.

If using cilantro, wash, spin dry or dry with paper towels, and then chop enough to make 1/2 – 3/4 cup chopped cilantro.

Put Napa cabbage, sugar snap peas, radishes, green onions (and cilantro if using) into salad bowl.

In a bowl or glass measuring cup stir together the white wine vinegar, Splenda or sugar, soy sauce, garlic puree, sesame oil, ginger puree, and Sriracha sauce.

Whisk in the mayo until ingredients are well combined.

Toss salad ingredients, add enough dressing to coat ingredients, and toss again.

Toast the sliced almonds in a dry pan over high heat for 1-2 minutes (just until the nuts are fragrant).

Add almonds and toss gently.

Serve immediately.

At my house this didn’t last long enough to know whether it will keep in the refrigerator!

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glytemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions: If it’s made with an approved sweetener, this Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw would be approved for any phase of the South Beach Diet and most other types of low-carb eating plans. Light mayonnaise would be recommended for South Beach, but honestly I personally wouldn’t worry about using full-fat mayonnaise for better flavor, since there isn’t a huge amount of mayo compared to the crunchy salad ingredients, and other low-carb diets would prefer full-fat mayo.

Find More Recipes Like This One: Use the Recipes by Diet Type photo index pages to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to Follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Nutritional Information? If you want nutritional information for a recipe, you can sign up for a free membership with Yummly and use the Yum button on my site to save the recipe and see the nutritional information. Another option is entering the recipe into this Recipe Nutrition Analyzer, which will calculate it for you.

posted by Kalyn Denny on March 27, 2019

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Source: https://kalynskitchen.com/recipe-for-crunchy-napa-cabbage-asian/

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vacationsoup · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/owners-area/our-blog/vacation-rental-marketing-the-bookdirect-blueprint/

Vacation Rental Marketing - The #Bookdirect Blueprint

Reinventing The Wheel

#bookdirect day won't bring you direct bookings - This article will

Tomorrow (February 6th) is #bookdirect day but there's a lot more to getting direct bookings than sharing an image on your website or social media once a year.

In this article, I outline a strategy that you can adopt that will bring you direct bookings.

I also share a case study and real data that shows that this strategy works.

And I share why this is the only viable option going forward.

In many cases vacation/holiday rental businesses are unlike other businesses.

The majority of owners already had a second property that they used as their own vacation/holiday home before they decided to rent it out.

They read about the possibilities of earning extra income by joining the likes of VRBO and before they knew it, they were in the vacation rental business.

How we got to where we are now...

The first evolution of the wheel

As I said, most owners had a home and decided to list with a listing company. It was that simple 5 or 10 years ago - List it and they will come. People literally did just that. They joined VRBO, Stayz or Ownersdirect, paid the subscription and waited for bookings. And booking came. 'All you had to do' was deal with inquiries, meet and greet, handle cleaning and changeovers and you were in business.

The thing is, this isn't really a complete business model. All of the marketing was done through the listing site and if you don't control the marketing you don't control the business (as many have come to learn).

You can see this in the graphic below

The wheel represents the business and it's supported by a single spoke (in this case just one listing company).

Any wheel with just one spoke is vulnerable to bumps and potholes along the road and when Homeaway/VRBO introduced 'best match' and traveller service fees a lot of owners ended up with a bit of a business wobble caused by a buckled wheel.

The second evolution of the wheel

Owners quickly reevaluated their marketing strategy and they spread their offering by signing up with other listing sites and supplemented that with some social marketing.

These additional spokes made the marketing wheel more stable and less prone to catastrophic bumps in the road. They had spread the marketing risk but still didn't control any of the marketing itself. The marketing was just handled by more platforms.

This wheel was also pretty unsafe and as the big listing sites increased costs, added their own cancellation fees and took control of the money the wheel started to shake. Again, it became unsafe and it caused problems.

The third evolution of the wheel

By this stage, owners were beginning to see that this model of marketing was posing a danger to their businesses so many, if not most, started to add more and more spokes in order to spread the risks posed by any one platform changing it's rules or model.

The wheel below shows where many owners are today

The above wheel shows a mixture (clockwise from 12 o'clock) of Facebook marketing, email marketing (to past guests), booking(.com), Pinterest marketing, VRBO, Houfy, Local listing sites, Tripadvisor, Twitter, Airbnb, nurturing guests (with content marketing, extras and offers) and Homeaway.

Because this is a more stable wheel (with more spokes) it's a much safer to use than the two previous versions but it has a major flaw, and that's the hub.

The hub is the most important part of any wheel. it connects all of the other parts. It holds those parts together. It's where the power comes from.

The hub of any online business (and we're all running online businesses) is it's website and, believe it or not, around 50% of owners still don't have a website. The bad news is that even for those that do have a website the above wheel is flawed in a major way.

A lot of the spokes point outwards in a marketing sense and the main listing sites do everything in their power to stop any traffic arriving to your site.

Reinventing the wheel

There is a relatively new type of wheel that lends itself perfectly to this analogy. It doesn't have spokes and it has built in suspension that make rocky roads less bumpy.

It's called the Loop Wheel and whereas spoked wheels are constantly under tension, this wheel is relaxed and much more flexible. Just as before, the hub is the most crucial part and without it the wheel will fall apart.

As you can see, by using the Loop Wheel approach we've broken the marketing channels into 4 sections. An owners or managers website is the hub of the marketing wheel. Nearly all of your other touchpoints point back to your website. This is key.

Your marketing channels break down into 3 categories.

Guest Nurture (GEO)

The most important of the 3 categories, by far, is the guest nurture category, after all, it's the guests that pay the rent. I see lots of owners and managers talking about search engine optimisation (SEO) but very few are spending their time on GEO (guest experience optimisation). GEO covers the pre-stay, in-stay and post-stay aspects of the entire guest experience. Most owners and managers currently spend their time chasing bookings through third parties and very few focus their attention primarily at the guest and this is a big mistake.

Pre-stay

Pre stay marketing takes the form of content marketing. Owners spend their time creating articles that answer potential guests frequently asked questions. Once these are added to the website they sit in the search engines and drive traffic back to the site.

These can then be shared on our own Vacation Soup where we collect, collate and syndicate them for much-increased exposure (see the case study below for evidence of how this works).

In-stay

In stay nurture takes the form of great customer service. This can take all forms from a stocked fridge to an extra change of bedding half way through the booking. You can provide fresh flowers on arrival or an interactive iPad guide. The simple idea is that you simply offer a higher service level than your competitors.

If you are on Vacation Soup, then you can refer guests to the content on your website and they can access your recommendations through a map-based experience while they are out and about (see here for an example of how this works).

Post-stay

The cheapest cost per guest marketing is repeat guests. So up your game by sending regular newsletters that tell guests about new content on your website, last minute discounts and what upcoming events are taking place in your region. These also point back to the website and keep past guests engaged with your brand.

Adopt some form of customer relationship management (CRM) system and send Christmas cards, birthday cards and the like.

All of this keeps you and your property front of mind.

Social Platforms

The second part of the wheel applies to getting your message out on the social platforms. Each of these also point traffic back to your website.

I spoke about Facebook in a previous post so won't cover it here.

Youtube is much underused by owners and managers but you don't need to be a big marketing agency in order to leverage traffic from it (it's the second biggest search engine).

We all carry a smartphone that can take video, so consider shooting short recommendations (less than 3 minutes) when you are out and about. Just include a "For more information visit (yourwebsite).com" - Add the videos to your website content.

Pinterest is another great source for driving traffic back to your site. Create a business account (this is quick and free to do) and create boards for your location. Base your board titles and content around things to see, things to do, places to eat, photos, guides, etc. Include your destination in each boards title.

Every time that you share your website content to a board, Pinterest will automatically add a link back to the article on your website. You can drive a surprising amount of traffic this way.

3rd Party Sites

I recommend trying to wean yourself off of the big listing sites due to over saturation, fees, cancellation policies etc. That, and the fact that in reality they sit outside of the marketing wheel as they bring no traffic to the hub.

Local sites generally offer fewer properties so you have better odds of getting a booking. Many, if not most, don't add service fees so you will appear to offer better value and most allow direct communication with potential guests.

Many new sites like Vacation Soup, although we aren't a listing site per se, provide direct links back to your website, the same goes for Houfy, Florida rentals by owner, Emerald Coast by owner and others also link back to the owners' websites.

Proof Is In The Pudding

A case study

Meet Laurie,

Laurie and her husband, Jeff, own a condo on Maui. Before we go any further I should mention that there are over 21,000 competing rental properties on Maui and the island isn't even 40 miles long. There's a hell of a lot of competition.

Anyway, Laurie has adopted the Loop Wheel approach to her marketing and she created a website via our free website giveaway and video course.

She then followed our destination marketing course and started adding great articles to her website. Laurie has been kind enough to share her results with us and you can see them below.

First off, let's look at some examples of what she's been doing

Read 1,879 times on Laurie's website

Read 1,560 times on Vacation Soup

Laurie's Post Views On alohacondorentals.com

Laurie's most popular post has been read 1,879 times in the last 6 months. Her 5 most popular posts have bought 5,878 visitors to her site in that same time. All of her posts have resulted in over 18,000 site visitors

Laurie's Post Views On Vacation Soup

Laurie's top 5 articles on Vacation Soup have also been read another 3,150 times in the last 6 months. So, just her top 5 posts on her site and the Soup have been read over 9,000 times.

It's also worth noting that the average time spent reading each post is over 8 times longer if it's read on Vacation Soup.

You can also see (below) how traffic to these articles is growing, month on month, as the articles rise in Google's organic search. This graph shows traffic for the 'Best happy hours, Maui article which currently sits on the first page of Google in +/- 5th place.

Best happy hours Maui Traffic growth

Laurie's Overall Traffic For The Last 90 Days

Here are Laurie's stats for the last 90 days. Once again, you can see how this is growing.

Site Visitors

Here's a list of site visitors by channel.

As you can see, aside from Google there is a lot of direct traffic. As a brand grows this direct traffic grows as people search directly for the site by name. This is the advantage of building a Loop Wheel with everything pointing to your website.

You can also see good numbers coming from Pinterest and Facebook underlying the value of these social channels.

People coming from Vacation Soup spend more than double the time on the site than the average visitor. These leads have already been browsing Vacation Soup, and have looked at her property, so by the time they come through they are genuinely looking to book.

Bookings

Here's the proof that all of this works.

Laurie doesn't list with any of the big listing sites.

Laurie's had 46 Bookings in 18 months from a standing start

Laurie's website was launched 18 months ago today

Here is the breakdown of bookings taken, by channel

You can visit Laurie's Maui Guide here

The real reason that you need to do this...

You don't need to adopt this method because I say so. You don't have to adopt this method because it works. You have to adopt it because the method that you are currently using is failing - and it's going to get a lot worse. I'm not scaremongering here, this all comes down to simple math(s).

When I started a villa rental company in Algarve, Portugal in 2003-4 there were 3,000 competing properties in the area. There are now 59,000.

That's a 20 fold increase in competing properties in 15 years

Tourism to Portugal has 'only' doubled in that time.

The fact is, that only five years ago there were between 3 and 6 million rentals worldwide (depending on which data source you believed).

There are now 16 million rental properties listed on Hometogo alone.

I think it fair to say that that number could well double again in the next 5 years so no matter how you look at it that's going to result in fewer and fewer bookings per property.

There is NO escaping this fact

In Summary...

Those of you that don't have your own website really need to do something about that. You'll really struggle to get direct bookings without one.

If you have your own site then make every effort to point all of your marketing back to it.

You can't get direct bookings without traffic - Traffic doesn't just arrive at a website, you have to drive traffic and the most successful way of doing that is to produce great content. The more traffic that you drive to your site the more booking you'll get.

Don't focus on SEO too much because as you add more and more content to your website the SEO will come with it.

Pay attention to GEO instead. Great GEO will bring direct bookings, repeat bookings and social word of mouth.

I would love to know your thoughts on this subject so please share your ideas in the comments section below.

More Like This

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#BookDirectday #BookDirect #GEO #Guest Experience Optimisation #vacation rental marketing

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spektijim · 7 years

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Hello everybode!

A month ago I ran the Derby 10k for The Trussell Trust, who run food-banks in the UK.

A little more than a month ago I posted a blog about the fact that I would be dressing as a Unicorn to do it.

Well, never let it be said that I let my public down, because that’s exactly what I did, and here is the picture evidence!

1. Ears and Horn

The ears were the first thing I made, using some felt I had acquired during a mad felt-buying spree (fellow craft addicts – you know how these things happen) several years ago.

Nearly finished ears!

Being me, a lot of the felt was pink, and so it was an easy start.

Next was the horn – I decided early on that the basis of this, the most important part of the costume, should be an alice band, as many people on Pinterest had shown the way with their own unicorn horns – onto this would fit a ‘head-dress’ with horn and ears.

I used the time-honoured cereal box and toilet roll tube as a base. There really should be some kind of tribute – a poem or song – to these crafty stalwarts which have saved many a parent (and even more so their children) every end of term, Halloween or birthday party.

These were covered with tissue paper (first white, then pink) and decorated with acrylic paint and plastic gems. The inside was painted purple and eventually it was hot-glued to the alice band – hooray! My horny head-dress was my pride and joy.

Getting shiny…

Grumpy, craggy unicorn.

My pink horn. Ooh err missus!

I was just putting some extra gems on two days before the race when I realised…I nearly forgot to add the ears!

Because I’d started on them so early they had completely passed out of my memory – sadly the full ears were a little too big to work with the head-dress, so I trimmed them in half and glued them on. A sad fate but the result was pretty good, if I do say so myself!

2. T-Shirt

This T-shirt was one I bought last year for a costume, but I ended up using a long-sleeved on instead- it seemed perfect for this task, just needing some careful applique. This was my first time using applique and I have to say I am now hooked. It was much easier than I first thought and produced some great results.

I cut the pieces I wanted out of paper first, then ironed a rectangle of the bondaweb on a piece of material, slightly bigger than I needed, then traced around the original paper and cut out the shape. This worked well because, like interfacing, the bondaweb makes the material slightly stiff and easier to cut through. Then I ironed each piece onto the t-shirt – it looked pretty darn good. Sad to say I think I spoiled the perfection by securing each piece with some stitches, as it cause the fabric to ruck up in places, but I suppose it was worth it knowing they wouldn’t fall off mid race.

The lettering was in the always unpredictable 3D Pearl paints – it work eventually but the mix kept on going wrong and sinking into the fabric, hence why it’s not quite as neat as it could have been! I added extra stars with some acrylic paint and it was all ready for running!

The colours might also give a subtle clue to something. Maybe.

3. Tail

The tail was a relatively easy build – using strips of felt sewn together and then sewn into a tube (and sealed), I more or less cut of random sections of gauze to put in – finished off with a couple of hot-glued gems, of course!

On the day of the run it was attached using that age old tail-attached- safety pins!

At this point in the making I got a chance to visit the local Trussell Trust food bank in Sawley to make a food drop – a wonderful friend of mine very kindly drove me there and took some photos of the nearly-finished cozzy…

My donation to the trust!

Posing with a lovely volunteer at the foodbank!

Posing with Twilight Sparkle!

4. Finished Article

The finishing touch to my look was, of course, makeup.

I have been getting pretty good at day-to-day makeup recently (though I don’t actually wear it day-to-day, more’s the pity) but I thought I should go one better for this unicornage. Of course, sparkly was the order of the day with the majority of the leg-work being done by eyeshadow (isn’t it always?).

I used four different colours, starting with a dark blue in the corner of the eye, working through purple into pink, with silver below the eye, topped off with liquid eyeliner and mascara. So sparkle, much glitter!

5. The Race Itself

The Derby 10k took place on the morning of a lovely sunny day – thankfully it started at 9am so it wasn’t roasting (as it became at midday) but mild. I have to be honest, I wasn’t at my best – my right knee had been giving me some problems after my last 10k practice and I hadn’t run in about a week – that is a sensible part of the ‘tapering’ process common to running but it meant that I’d had no opportunity to test my leg, and was worried it might go wonky at the starting pistol or – even worse – halfway round!

I arrived a little late (thanks to putting on my makeup – damn my vanity!) and had to join a queue of about 10 million to put my bag into safe storage, as I would be starting all on my own.

The moment I dropped it off I had to hot-foot over to the starting line which was already bustling the four top tiers of runners – A-D. I was group B – as I’d waited to put my bag away I’d found myself worrying if I’d been perhaps a bit ambitious – perhaps even hubristic – as I saw much more keen looking runners in groups C and D.

It was barricaded all along the side with such a press of people I had no idea how to get over and into the fray. Eventually I was naughty and hopped over the barricade, there being no wardens around to either advise me or prevent my scandalous behaviour.

Although 10k is enough distance for you to find your pace by about mid-way and join the runners who are your natural speed-mates, it is frustrating to have to start in such a tightly packed knot that you lose valuable seconds at the off.

Still, all this aside, I tried to give it my all – I smiled at the wardens and the cameras, gave high fives to a couple of kids, waved at people pointing to ‘the nice lady dressed as a Unicorn!’ and kept up a decent pace. As I drew in they announced my time but I was wearing headphones (safe ones, I promise!) and missed it – all I knew was they were calling 58 by the time I’d collected my bag and gone to meet my friends.

I had to wait until that evening to discover that I had come in 892nd of 3208 at a time of 49:57 – my goal of being under 50 minutes was reached, if only by a hair!

I sadly don’t have any pictures of me actually running in the 10k (there were some by a professional photographer by I haven’t got the money to buy one right now – maybe another time!) but I do have one right after – as you can see, I was quite tired. Most of my makeup melted.

6. The Aftermath and What’s Next

Thanks to the generous support and donations from friends and family, my running with a pink sparkly horn managed to raise (drum roll please)….

£365!

Not too shabby! Way off my target of £1000, but I knew that goal was over-ambitious anyway. So, what’s next? Well, I plan to continue supporting the Trussell Trust in whatever way I can – I haven’t had a chance to volunteer for them yet but I have got my papers so I will be signing up soon!

If you feel that my banging on about it for ages has made you care about people who need food-banks and more, please do start a monthly donation for the trust or bring stuff for a food parcel – trust me (groan) it’s worth it! Depending on the result on the election on June 8th, we may sadly find ourselves needing them more and more.

On the running side I am planning to do the Wilne 10k in September, a nice break before a new challenge, and am also signed up to my local Park Run at Markeaton parkMarkeaton park – join us there every Saturday at 9am! Although I won’t be dressed as a unicorn there, sadly.

Thanks once again to all my lovely pals who contributed, you are awesome and I love you.

Spekti out!

Flight Of The Unicorn Hello everybode! A month ago I ran the Derby 10k for The Trussell Trust, who run food-banks in the UK.

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relishsky77-blog · 5 years

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Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw (Video)

posted by Kalyn Denny on March 27, 2019

Click here to PIN Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw!

Watch the video to see if you’d like to make Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw.

(This recipe updated with better photos and a step-by-step video March 2019.)

This is best served right away, and you probably won’t have any leftovers to worry about anyway!

More Tasty Salads with Napa Cabbage:

Crunchy Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw with Sugar Snap Peas, Radishes, Almonds and Cilantro

Yield: 6 generous servings

Total Time: 27 minutes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Crunchy Low-Carb Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw is a perfect party salad!

Ingredients:

1 small head Napa cabbage, thinly sliced then coarsely chopped (about 3-4 cups shredded cabbage)

1 C thinly and diagonally-sliced sugar snap peas

1 C radishes, sliced into half-moon shapes

1/2 cup sliced green onion

1/2 – 3/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional, but if you’re a cilantro fan I would use it)

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Dressing Ingredients:

1 T white wine vinegar

1 T sweetener of your choice

1 tsp. soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)

1/2 tsp. crushed garlic puree

1/4 tsp. Asian sesame oil

1/4 tsp. ground ginger puree

1/4 tsp. (or more) Sriracha sauce or other hot sauce

1/3 cup mayo or light mayo

Directions:

Thinly slice Napa cabbage, then coarsely chop to make 3-4 cups shredded cabbage.

Trim both ends of sugar snap peas, then thinly slice on the diagonal to make 1 cup sliced peas.

Trim both ends of radishes and wash if needed, then cut in half lengthwise and cut into half-moon slices.

Slice green onions to make 1/2 cup.

If using cilantro, wash, spin dry or dry with paper towels, and then chop enough to make 1/2 – 3/4 cup chopped cilantro.

Put Napa cabbage, sugar snap peas, radishes, green onions (and cilantro if using) into salad bowl.

In a bowl or glass measuring cup stir together the white wine vinegar, Splenda or sugar, soy sauce, garlic puree, sesame oil, ginger puree, and Sriracha sauce.

Whisk in the mayo until ingredients are well combined.

Toss salad ingredients, add enough dressing to coat ingredients, and toss again.

Toast the sliced almonds in a dry pan over high heat for 1-2 minutes (just until the nuts are fragrant).

Add almonds and toss gently.

Serve immediately.

At my house this didn’t last long enough to know whether it will keep in the refrigerator!

posted by Kalyn Denny on March 27, 2019

Don’t Miss a Recipe!

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We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Source: https://kalynskitchen.com/recipe-for-crunchy-napa-cabbage-asian/

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hangonimevolving · 6 years

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Sewing Table Refurb: The Backstory

I’ve got a little less than an hour to spend today, updating all you lovely people about a project I’ve had going on for some weeks now.

So, I sew sometimes. I would like to sew more than I currently do, and I’ve decided that this is the year it’s gonna happen. I believe I have talked about sewing on this blog before, namely with regards to various reupholstering and quilting projects I’ve taken on in the past. I think I’ve even introduced you to two of The Girls - - i.e my sewing machines. I’ve got a 1964 vintage Sears/Kenmore sewing machine that I purchased off of Craigslist back in Boston for $60, which included a beautiful midcentury solid wood cabinet that conceals the machine when not in use (talked about it here and here).

It had its original midcentury-era drawer pulls when I first purchased it, but I switched them out to more updated knob pulls back in 2007 because I was being anal-retentive and wanted the hardware to be brushed nickel, to match other crap in our condo.

I also have a substantially more modern, and in “like new” condition (but actual age, maybe 20 years old) Husqvarna Viking serger (discussed here). I remember feeling like a frigging rock start for scooping it up at $100.

Last year, during a giant Slipcovering Bonanza undertaken by me and my mom to guard my ginormous, beautiful double-sectional West Elm sofa from my destructive children and cat, my old Kenmore started giving me a little bit of grief.... my mother convinced me that I owed it to myself to buy a new sewing machine, if I was serious about continuing this hobby. She said all the right things about how I deserved a newer machine with a few more features and a little less of the wheezing and attitude of an older machine. I took the bait, and bought myself this Gorgeous Lady: a Janome HD 3000.

I’m incredibly pleased with this machine. I paid under $500 for it on Amazon, and this included a bunch of “free gifts” and accessories like a bunch of special presser feet, extra bobbin set, and some other doodads.

I love the machine. But. (there’s always a but, isn’t there?).... I am a brat. After sewing on my old-school Kenmore machine in the built-in cabinet for so many years, I got accustomed to having my needle plate sitting flush with the tabletop while I sew. To those of you who have no idea what the #$%^ I’m talking about - -the short version of the story is, I missed the ergonomics of how my old vintage machine was set up. Here is a graphic that might explain:

(I stole that image from someone on Pinterest, but I’ve left their handle name up there in case someone wants to go search for it)

Here’s another image that might allow a non-sewing person to understand what my problem was. This is also from IKEAhackers on Pinterest.... in summary, see how this machine has been set INTO the table a bit, instead of just having its base sitting on top? This allows you to work fabric through the machine’s needle without having to hunch your shoulders.

Anyways. Thus far, I had been working on my new Janome machine either at the dining table or on my desk in our home office, or sometimes, on top of my old Kenmore machine’s cabinet with the hinged tabletop still shut. All of these setups were making my shoulders and neck pissed off at me, but there wasn’t much I could do about it unless and until I was ready to start thinking about coming up with a proper furniture solution.

Somehow, about a month ago, I got a little fed up with my shoulders and back muscles hurting, and after my second round of Botox injections in my levator scapulae muscles in as many years, I decided I really ought to do what they say in my MMA classes... “protect ya neck.” It was time to find a sewing table with a drop-in shelf that would allow my machine to sit with its needle plate flush to the work surface.

Naturally, my first thought was to buy a table that was ready made for this purpose. So I perused the interwebz.

I found a number of tables like this and this and this. And these are perfectly fine options.... for someone else. NO judgment if you own and love one of these tables. But they weren’t for me. They either looked too flimsy, too particle board-y, too not my style, or too expensive for me. As I said before, I am a spoiled, spoiled brat, who lucked out and got a wonderful vintage machine in an almost MORE wonderful solid wood cabinet many years ago, and it happens to be EXACTLY from my dream design era of the midcentury modern years. So I was totally ruined on any kind of commercially-available table that was out there to be purchased.

It was time for me to do things MY way. And we all know what way that is. The way that starts out exciting, unique, and very cheap, but then snowballs into some giant, physically-involved and exhausting project that in the end costs more than one of those readymade tables would cost. HAHAHA :) I am so extra, as the youngsters say.

So off I went! I spent hours and hours on the internet trying to brainstorm ideas, educating myself on what it would take to buy a nice solid wood console table or desk, and DIY a cutout and drop-shelf for my machine. I did a daylong “research” trip to some big box home furnishing discount stores in my area, to see if I could find an inexpensive but solid wood table that I could modify. But I came up empty-handed - -nothing was my style, in my price range, or - -a dagger - - easily modifiable. Bummer.

Stop #2 on my sewing table option train was to spend hours on Pinterest reading with great curiosity how there’s a whole world of sewing people out there who have successfully, and relatively easily, converted this one particular table from IKEA into a sewing table: the IKEA Ingo dining table. A woman at the blog Blue Dinosaurs was the pioneer of this conversion, and since then, many (she speculates thousands) of others have followed her awesome tutorials. I considered this briefly, but was always put off by the dimensions of this Ingo table, which, sadly, would be too wide and cumbersome in the sewing space I have in my home (our guest room, which also houses a queen sized bed, two side tables, and a long 6-drawer dresser, as well as my old Kenmore cabinet and the serger table).

Then, I sat and thought about it: hmm, if I was willing to entertain the idea of converting a table, but I didn’t want to do a dining table....what kind of table would be the easiest to convert into a sewing table? Duh, maybe a SEWING table. Now one might wonder why I didn't think of this earlier. I didn’t immediately think about finding a vintage sewing table because I was stuck on the notion that the cutout for a vintage machine wouldn’t fit my newer machine precisely. But I realized, if I was willing to learn how to cut into a solid tabletop, I could probably teach myself to modify and elongate an existing cutout even more easily. SO! I was newly energized. This time, I took to the app Letgo, which is the newfangled and more mobile device-friendly version of Craigslist. It also happens to be relatively popular in my area. It only took a few days for me to stumble upon a BEAUTY, listed for $55. I contacted the seller, she replied within hours, and by 10 am the next morning, I was in possession of My New Baby:

Ain’t she GORGEOUS! Look at those amazing drawer pulls! Look at those GAMS! I was smitten. It was love at first sight.

Okay, warning: I’m about to nerd out for a second. If you have no interest whatsoever in sewing machine history, please feel free to stop reading here, and stay tuned for my next installment of the Great Sewing Table Refurb!

Nerd time: She’s a vintage Singer sewing cabinet. I happened to meet the seller and her mom (the former owner of the table), and talk with them awhile. The seller didn’t sew herself, but she tried to sell me a box of accessories that went with the original machine that was housed in this cabinet, including a shitload of switchable stitch discs. I declined because I knew they would serve precisely zero purpose at all to me, with a brand-new modern machine of a different brand - - but I was fascinated, looking through the box of stitch discs and interesting accoutrement. She also showed me - and I could just KICK MYSELF that I didn’t take photos of it, or even ask her to give/sell it to me!!! - the original catalog and manual for this cabinet and the machine that went with it. I’ve been haunted ever since that I didn’t note down the information, but here is what I do remember and have been able to piece together.

This table housed a vintage Singer sewing machine. I have been able to deduce that it was likely either a 401a, 500 Slant-O-Matic, 503 Slant-O-Matic (the “Rocketeer!!!") or possibly a 513 Stylist. I think I recall seeing the date 1957 or 1958 on the catalogs and manuals she showed me, which would mean it couldn’t have been the Stylist, which only was released in the late 60′s-early 70′s. Also, the fact that she had a box full of stitch discs that she was trying to sell me corroborates the fact that it may not have been a 513 Stylist, because the Stylist didn’t use removable stitch discs, I don’t believe (but I could be wrong?) - - so I’m super excited b/c that means this is a true MCM (midcentury modern) piece of furniture. I distinctly remember that the catalog showed several cabinet models, including the well-known Singer “Copenhagen” cabinet, which was produced from about 1957 for a few years, and was almost identical to this table, except it had different cabinet hardware and a stabilizing cross-beam on the right legs. However. The only exact photos online of my particular cabinet all have 513 Stylists mounted in them. Hmm. This may mean NOTHING to anyone out there, but if you know anything about antique sewing machines, this is all sorta interesting. Dude. Sewing machine history is VERY INTERESTING. I’ve been learning a lot through getting to know my new love interest.

History buffs, or those willing to hang in there with me: check out these pics!

Original hang tag off of a Copenhagen cabinet, published 1961. Also, helpfully for my purposes, listed the precise materials used in the construction of the cabinet (walnut wood and walnut wood veneer)

Helpful screenshots from the encyclopedic website of the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society (ISMACS).

This is all evidence that my cabinet dates between 1957-1962 or so. However, I found a few images online at auction sites like this one that give me reason to feel some doubt, that perhaps my table is newer, and originally held a Singer Stylist??? Hmm.

But ACK! I just found another one, and this table is housing a Singer 306/306K, which ISMACS tells me dates to 1954-62, so overlapping the 401/500....

So, yeah. I dunno. Now. Does it even matter what frigging model of machine this table once held, or when it was built? Does it even matter if it truly dates to the midcentury modern era?! I love the styling, and its going to fit my needs. I know. That’s all that should matter. But I am A NERD, and nerds die hard. Nerds love nothing more to do than nerding out. So this has given me something new to nerd out about for awhile, and its been delightful.

And... since I’m still, specifically, a liberal arts research nerd at heart, here are some screenshots and a link to an awesome article on the importance of the Singer Sewing Machine company to the history of American (and world) furniture production. Read it here!

Teaser screenshots:

Alright. Laters, people! This is just the first part of my long-winded refurb story, and I look forward to bringing you the rest soon!

#sewing #upcycling and repurposing #vintagesewingmachines #midcenturymodern

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minnievirizarry · 6 years

Text

12 Ways to Boost Brand Awareness on Social Media

Social media doesn’t feel very “social” when you’re just another face in the crowd, does it?

And then we look at the likes of GoPro, Wendy’s or Starbucks with their rabid followers and wonder how we can replicate just a fraction of their performance.

The reality, though? If you’re struggling to stand out as a brand, you’re definitely not alone.

No, seriously.

Based on data from Sprout’s 2018 Social Index, brand awareness represents social marketers’ top priority right now.

But given how competitive the modern social landscape has become, perhaps this isn’t much of a surprise.

With more and more people taking to social media to research and sound off on brands, getting your target audience’s attention is easier said than done.

So what does an effective brand awareness strategy look like, anyway? How do you become a familiar face within your followers’ feeds versus someone they just scroll past?

We’ve highlighted twelve strategies businesses of all sizes can take to boost their brand awareness. From fine-tuning your profile to experimenting with your content, any combination of these tips are fair game.

And with that, let’s dive right in!

1. Give Your Social Presence Some Personality

First thing’s first: your social media presence shouldn’t look like everyone else’s.

And while this may seem obvious, many brands fall into the trap of becoming robotic.

They play it totally safe. They post a picture or link, tack on a few hashtags and call it a day.

Here’s the deal, though: that’s not how you stand out. Not by a long shot.

Moonpie is a shining example of a seemingly “boring” brand that’s exploded in popularity because of their distinct voice and sense of humor.

Tips for a safe and fun Fourth of July 1. Do not eat any fireworks 2. Eat a MoonPie – the American Classic! 3. Respect the heck out of some bald eagles 4. You may also eat hamburgers and a hotdog

— MoonPie (@MoonPie) July 4, 2018

Sure, it’d be easy for them to post generic promos. However, it’s their off-the-wall personality that’s made them so endearing to followers.

And “personal” is the keyword here. Followers want to see more than promos and links: they want personal, human-centric content. That’s why selfies and story-driven posts typically perform so well.

On this Rio history walk, your host Thais will share the long past of the Afro-Brazilians. She's spent years learning about traditional communities like Quilombos. Get ready for an eye-opening experience, photo opportunities at historical sites like the Pedra do Sal and a new dear friend in Thais. For more #AirbnbExperiences created by locals like Thais, click the link in our bio.

A post shared by Airbnb (@airbnb) on Jul 7, 2018 at 9:05am PDT

Instagram pages like that of Humans of New York post almost exclusively story-based content. They’ve amassed nearly 8 million followers solely through tugging at the heartstrings of their fans.

“A couple weeks ago we were coming home from visiting my brother in Long Island and we stopped at a burger place off the highway. He had a Junior Whopper. I had a Whopper. We split the fries. And while we were eating, he said: ‘You know what Daddy? You’re a really great Daddy. I love you Daddy.’ And that got me. I almost choked on my burger. Because it wasn’t bedtime. He wasn’t leaving for school. It was just off the cuff.”

A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on Jun 17, 2018 at 7:46am PDT

Marketers are told time and time again to create “unique” content. It might sound corny, but the person behind your social presence represents a one-of-a-kind voice.

Before you hit “post,” make a point to ask yourself: “Does this sound like something a bot would say?”

2. Fine-Tune Your Profiles

Recognition is a key element of building brand awareness.

When followers glance at your social profiles, they should be able to understand what you’re all about. Likewise, they should recognize that you are, well, you.

From social bios to profile images, how you set up your profile determines whether or not people recognize you. Check out how ThinkGeek has a clean logo and nerdy Facebook cover photo to match…

…while boasting the same logo and branded bio copy on Pinterest.

Spoiler alert: people’s attention spans are microscopic. You only have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention and say “Hey, this is who I am.” A clean, well-optimized profile and photo is key to spelling out your brand to someone who might not know you.

3. Make Your Posts Pop

Here’s a common thread between most of our brand awareness tips: a bit of creativity can score you major brownie points with followers.

For example, check out how oVertone makes bold use of color throughout both their Instagram bio and content.

This sort of content does double-duty of highlighting their brands’ voice and making scrollers stop in their Instagram feeds to drop a “like.”

casual. @deathcats in #overtoneextremeyellow

A post shared by oVertone (@overtonecolor) on Jul 1, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT

Not taking eye-popping images featuring your products? No problem. The principle of making your posts pop rings true in content marketing, too.

Notice how Sprout’s blog posts are all coupled with these colorful illustrations instead of generic stock photos?

Pinterest’s users are far-reaching and high spenders. Did you know: 55% of users use the network to shop? Keep this in mind as you plan your next marketing campaign! https://t.co/dW2eAP1YhT

— Sprout Social (@SproutSocial) July 10, 2018

Or how brands like Hubspot couple their Twitter chats with image macros instead of just using text?

Question 4: Do you think in quantity or quality? #HubThoughts pic.twitter.com/a7hPODqB6c

— HubSpot (@HubSpot) July 10, 2018

Anything you can do aesthetically to make your posts stand out is a point in your favor. Even if you’re not a design master, there are plenty of image creation tools to help you whip up some eye-catching imagery.

4. Tag Others to Get Them Talking

Tagging (@ mentioning) is a brilliant brand awareness strategy because it only takes about half a second and instantly amplifies your content.

Think about it. Anyone you tag via Twitter or Instagram instantly receives a notification, meaning you win an extra opportunity for engagement. Not only that, but it’s a surefire way to make positive impressions on others players in your industry.

If you have an opportunity to give someone a shoutout, go for it.

So many metrics, so little time. In this nifty list, I broke down some pretty sweet #social monitoring tools including @simplymeasured @BuzzSumo and @Brandwatch (and of course, @SproutSocial !): https://t.co/Z6bC3L4ULC #smm

— Brent Barnhart (@brentwrites) March 5, 2018

5. Harness the Power of Hashtags

In our guide to how to use hashtags, we note that social posts with hashtags receive more engagement than those without them.

While each network has its own best practices, hashtags don’t have to be rocket science. Hashtags instantly make your posts searchable and smaller, niche tags help introduce your brand to dedicated communities of potential fans.

Awesome Dr Strange project by #Repost @billybolt ・・・ Some people asked if I was going to make the green time spell from Doctor Strange. I already made those haha . . . . . #cosplay #cosplayer #drstrange #marvel #craft #marvelcomics #drstrange #mcu #magic #comiccon #green #spell #dnd #anime #fullmetalalchemist #fma #manga #otaku #drfate #zatanna #dc #dccomics #batman #cosplayprop #lit

A post shared by SparkFun Electronics (@sparkfun) on Jun 16, 2018 at 5:25pm PDT

Also, consider how creating your own hashtag is a smart move from a brand awareness perspective. Smaller, local brands can use their own branded hashtag like bigger brands: it’s all about reinforcing your identity and encouraging others to engage with you.

This is our Elvis doughnut but a filled version. Chocolate Bavarian Cream filling, with banana icing, chopped peanuts and banana chips 🙂 We also have: Fruity Pebz Cotton Candy Caramel choc chip Strawberry Lemonade Passion Fruit Strawberry Blueberry Sprankle Glazed Churro UFO Apple Fritter Don't forget to tag us in your photos! #valkyriedoughnuts #dairyfree #eggfree #notglutenfree #tonsofgluten #orlandogoods

A post shared by ValkyrieDoughnuts (@valkyriedoughnuts) on Jul 5, 2018 at 4:07am PDT

6. Creative Commenting

Not unlike tagging, people receive notifications in real-time for social comments.

Let’s be honest: most social comments aren’t exactly compelling. This spells good news for brands who are willing to put a bit more thought into comments beyond “Nice! or “Cool!”

Posting creative or thoughtful comments is a great way to break through such noise. It’s also another opportunity to show off your brand’s personality to potential followers.

7. Repurpose Your Content

If you’re like most marketers, you’re probably trying to boost brand awareness across multiple networks, right?

In that case, it’s important to repurpose your content to fit in with the best practices of each platform. After all, what works best on Instagram might not be prime for Facebook or Twitter.

For example, let’s say you publish a killer case study. Rather than post a mere link, taking the time to package it into an infographic is a surefire way to score shares and links alike.

Where are the world's self-employed based? https://t.co/tuJN9xzLUt pic.twitter.com/tPmwOGA3LR

— Forbes Asia (@ForbesAsia) July 10, 2018

As such, one-size-fits-all content and captions aren’t going to win your brand much attention.

Photos. Videos. Blogs. Your stuff. Other people’s stuff.

To keep your feed from growing stale, you should always have new social media ideas on the backburner to keep your feed fresh.

8. Break Your Own News

According to Buzzsumo’s current state of content, the best performing pieces on social media are those that people can reference.

Stats. Case studies. Surveys.

If your brand is conducting any sort of original research, it can be a huge authority booster that does wonders for brand awareness, too.

THE 2018 SPROUT SOCIAL INDEX IS HERE! See it for yourself and find out why @SproutDarryl is doing the data dance. https://t.co/qW8ODNDAPc

P.S. If you're as excited as we are, send us a video of your own data dance! #SproutData pic.twitter.com/GrvkHMCeRD

— Sprout Social (@SproutSocial) June 5, 2018

And if you’re not in a position where such research is possible, don’t panic.

Consider how you can comment on industry trends and happenings from your point-of-view. The takeaway here is that you should be contributing to the ongoing conversation of your industry at large versus just sitting on the sidelines.

9. Experiment with Your Captions

Social captions are yet another opportunity to let your brand’s voice be heard.

Again, no big brand or influencer simply drops a link without some sort of commentary. Captions can pique people’s interest and encourage engagement, giving a sort of taste to readers before they click through.

Seattle, we have a serious, insidious problem. https://t.co/oAmOJJGOxN

— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) July 4, 2018

As evidenced by the wealth of creative Instagram hashtags and captions out there, creativity counts. Whether through emojis or cracking jokes, captions are prime real estate for connecting with followers and letting them know exactly who you are.

Waffle cones are scientifically proven to taste better when eaten with friends.* 👯‍♀️🍦 *we don’t actually have any data to support this claim but trust us.

A post shared by Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) on Jun 29, 2018 at 12:20pm PDT

10. Use Social as a Tool for Teaching

In the marketing world, the brands that tend to stand out are the ones that strive to teach their audiences.

Educational and “how-to” content is widely sought after on just about every social network. Posting such content regularly positions you both as a positive resource and a thought leader.

I've always been a side projects person because it helps me avoid burnout. Do you have a side gig that helps keep you creative? https://t.co/X1nG9RHe96

— Kaleigh Moore (@kaleighf) May 30, 2018

This principle applies to non-marketers, too. The more opportunities to show off your brand’s product or know-how, the better. Just think about how popular tutorials are on Pinterest to see the power of educational content in action.

11. Don’t Be Afraid of Being Opinionated

According to our own data, people want brands to take a stand.

Parroting what everyone is saying might be “safe,” but doesn’t do much in terms of brand awareness. The previously noted Buzzsumo study also highlights that “political and tribal” content performs particularly well these days.

That’s not to say you should go out and alienate your audience, but you should stand by your brands’ principles and beliefs. Wearing them on your sleeve can get people talking and serve as a way to stand out against your competitors.

You almost surely haven’t budgeted time, energy, or dollars for “whatever it takes”. That’s also code for “at all costs,” and when you stop discussing costs, you know they’re going to spiral. #ItDoesntHaveToBeCrazyAtWork

— Jason Fried (@jasonfried) June 25, 2018

Of course, the key here is to tread lightly. The name of the game is being bold for the sake of your brand, not stirring the pot just because you can.

12. Show Up Consistently

Finally, consider that nobody can truly be aware of your brand if you don’t post consistently.

Based on Sprout’s own data on the best times to post on social media, brands are expected to push content out multiple times per day across multiple networks.

And if your brand isn’t, there’s a non-zero chance that someone else in your space is.

To help you save time and to make the process of showing up easier, having a scheduling tool such as a Sprout on deck can be game-changer.

The more ground you and your brand can cover, the better. It all comes down to having a specific strategy which makes the most out of the time you spend on social media.

And with that, we conclude our list!

What Does Your Brand Awareness Strategy Look Like?

Building buzz around your brand might take a bit of experimenting, but having a dedicated awareness strategy remains the number one concern of businesses today.

And by following the principles outlined above, you poise yourself toward becoming a brand that sticks out in the minds of your audience.

We want to hear from you, though. What makes a brand stand out to you on social media? If you’ve been struggling to figure out how to increase brand awareness, what’s been tripping you up? Let us know in the comments below!

This post 12 Ways to Boost Brand Awareness on Social Media originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/brand-awareness/

0 notes

jessette20 · 6 years

Text

Brand Awareness

Social media doesn’t feel very “social” when you’re just another face in the crowd, does it?

And then we look at the likes of GoPro, Wendy’s or Starbucks with their rabid followers and wonder how we can replicate just a fraction of their performance.

The reality, though? If you’re struggling to stand out as a brand, you’re definitely not alone.

No, seriously.

Based on data from Sprout’s 2018 Social Index, brand awareness represents social marketers’ top priority right now.

But given how competitive the modern social landscape has become, perhaps this isn’t much of a surprise.

With more and more people taking to social media to research and sound off on brands, getting your target audience’s attention is easier said than done.

So what does an effective brand awareness strategy look like, anyway? How do you become a familiar face within your followers’ feeds versus someone they just scroll past?

And with that, let’s dive right in!

1. Give Your Social Presence Some Personality

First thing’s first: your social media presence shouldn’t look like everyone else’s.

And while this may seem obvious, many brands fall into the trap of becoming robotic.

They play it totally safe. They post a picture or link, tack on a few hashtags and call it a day.

Here’s the deal, though: that’s not how you stand out. Not by a long shot.

Moonpie is a shining example of a seemingly “boring” brand that’s exploded in popularity because of their distinct voice and sense of humor.

Tips for a safe and fun Fourth of July 1. Do not eat any fireworks 2. Eat a MoonPie – the American Classic! 3. Respect the heck out of some bald eagles 4. You may also eat hamburgers and a hotdog

— MoonPie (@MoonPie) July 4, 2018

Sure, it’d be easy for them to post generic promos. However, it’s their off-the-wall personality that’s made them so endearing to followers.

A post shared by Airbnb (@airbnb) on Jul 7, 2018 at 9:05am PDT

Instagram pages like that of Humans of New York post almost exclusively story-based content. They’ve amassed nearly 8 million followers solely through tugging at the heartstrings of their fans.

A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on Jun 17, 2018 at 7:46am PDT

Marketers are told time and time again to create “unique” content. It might sound corny, but the person behind your social presence represents a one-of-a-kind voice.

Before you hit “post,” make a point to ask yourself: “Does this sound like something a bot would say?”

2. Fine-Tune Your Profiles

Recognition is a key element of building brand awareness.

When followers glance at your social profiles, they should be able to understand what you’re all about. Likewise, they should recognize that you are, well, you.

From social bios to profile images, how you set up your profile determines whether or not people recognize you. Check out how ThinkGeek has a clean logo and nerdy Facebook cover photo to match…

…while boasting the same logo and branded bio copy on Pinterest.

3. Make Your Posts Pop

Here’s a common thread between most of our brand awareness tips: a bit of creativity can score you major brownie points with followers.

For example, check out how oVertone makes bold use of color throughout both their Instagram bio and content.

This sort of content does double-duty of highlighting their brands’ voice and making scrollers stop in their Instagram feeds to drop a “like.”

casual. @deathcats in #overtoneextremeyellow

A post shared by oVertone (@overtonecolor) on Jul 1, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT

Not taking eye-popping images featuring your products? No problem. The principle of making your posts pop rings true in content marketing, too.

Notice how Sprout’s blog posts are all coupled with these colorful illustrations instead of generic stock photos?

Pinterest’s users are far-reaching and high spenders. Did you know: 55% of users use the network to shop? Keep this in mind as you plan your next marketing campaign! https://t.co/dW2eAP1YhT

— Sprout Social (@SproutSocial) July 10, 2018

Or how brands like Hubspot couple their Twitter chats with image macros instead of just using text?

Question 4: Do you think in quantity or quality? #HubThoughts pic.twitter.com/a7hPODqB6c

— HubSpot (@HubSpot) July 10, 2018

4. Tag Others to Get Them Talking

Tagging (@ mentioning) is a brilliant brand awareness strategy because it only takes about half a second and instantly amplifies your content.

If you have an opportunity to give someone a shoutout, go for it.

— Brent Barnhart (@brentwrites) March 5, 2018

5. Harness the Power of Hashtags

In our guide to how to use hashtags, we note that social posts with hashtags receive more engagement than those without them.

A post shared by SparkFun Electronics (@sparkfun) on Jun 16, 2018 at 5:25pm PDT

A post shared by ValkyrieDoughnuts (@valkyriedoughnuts) on Jul 5, 2018 at 4:07am PDT

6. Creative Commenting

Not unlike tagging, people receive notifications in real-time for social comments.

Let’s be honest: most social comments aren’t exactly compelling. This spells good news for brands who are willing to put a bit more thought into comments beyond “Nice! or “Cool!”

Posting creative or thoughtful comments is a great way to break through such noise. It’s also another opportunity to show off your brand’s personality to potential followers.

7. Repurpose Your Content

If you’re like most marketers, you’re probably trying to boost brand awareness across multiple networks, right?

In that case, it’s important to repurpose your content to fit in with the best practices of each platform. After all, what works best on Instagram might not be prime for Facebook or Twitter.

For example, let’s say you publish a killer case study. Rather than post a mere link, taking the time to package it into an infographic is a surefire way to score shares and links alike.

Where are the world's self-employed based? https://t.co/tuJN9xzLUt pic.twitter.com/tPmwOGA3LR

— Forbes Asia (@ForbesAsia) July 10, 2018

As such, one-size-fits-all content and captions aren’t going to win your brand much attention.

Photos. Videos. Blogs. Your stuff. Other people’s stuff.

To keep your feed from growing stale, you should always have new social media ideas on the backburner to keep your feed fresh.

8. Break Your Own News

According to Buzzsumo’s current state of content, the best performing pieces on social media are those that people can reference.

Stats. Case studies. Surveys.

If your brand is conducting any sort of original research, it can be a huge authority booster that does wonders for brand awareness, too.

THE 2018 SPROUT SOCIAL INDEX IS HERE! See it for yourself and find out why @SproutDarryl is doing the data dance. https://t.co/qW8ODNDAPc

P.S. If you're as excited as we are, send us a video of your own data dance! #SproutData pic.twitter.com/GrvkHMCeRD

— Sprout Social (@SproutSocial) June 5, 2018

And if you’re not in a position where such research is possible, don’t panic.

9. Experiment with Your Captions

Social captions are yet another opportunity to let your brand’s voice be heard.

Seattle, we have a serious, insidious problem. https://t.co/oAmOJJGOxN

— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) July 4, 2018

Waffle cones are scientifically proven to taste better when eaten with friends.* 👯‍♀️🍦 *we don’t actually have any data to support this claim but trust us.

A post shared by Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) on Jun 29, 2018 at 12:20pm PDT

10. Use Social as a Tool for Teaching

In the marketing world, the brands that tend to stand out are the ones that strive to teach their audiences.

Educational and “how-to” content is widely sought after on just about every social network. Posting such content regularly positions you both as a positive resource and a thought leader.

I've always been a side projects person because it helps me avoid burnout. Do you have a side gig that helps keep you creative? https://t.co/X1nG9RHe96

— Kaleigh Moore (@kaleighf) May 30, 2018

11. Don’t Be Afraid of Being Opinionated

According to our own data, people want brands to take a stand.

— Jason Fried (@jasonfried) June 25, 2018

Of course, the key here is to tread lightly. The name of the game is being bold for the sake of your brand, not stirring the pot just because you can.

12. Show Up Consistently

Finally, consider that nobody can truly be aware of your brand if you don’t post consistently.

Based on Sprout’s own data on the best times to post on social media, brands are expected to push content out multiple times per day across multiple networks.

And if your brand isn’t, there’s a non-zero chance that someone else in your space is.

To help you save time and to make the process of showing up easier, having a scheduling tool such as a Sprout on deck can be game-changer.

The more ground you and your brand can cover, the better. It all comes down to having a specific strategy which makes the most out of the time you spend on social media.

And with that, we conclude our list!

What Does Your Brand Awareness Strategy Look Like?

Building buzz around your brand might take a bit of experimenting, but having a dedicated awareness strategy remains the number one concern of businesses today.

And by following the principles outlined above, you poise yourself toward becoming a brand that sticks out in the minds of your audience.

This post 12 Ways to Boost Brand Awareness on Social Media originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from http://bit.ly/2NObEfq

#Social Media Marketing

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jadeshannonmccann · 7 years

Text

Hey there babies,

HAPPY HUMP DAY! I hope you’re all doing well and slaying your daily goals. A few of you over on my Snapchat have requested this post as a result of me begging for some immediate skin remedies a few weeks ago and trying some new products. But ultimately what I decided to do was to go back to the products that were my holy grail in adolescence. And now, I’ve deciding to share them with you.

The reasons behind why I love and care for these products varies but mainly, they work and I can afford them. Not only can I afford them, I can afford to use and replace them- which is most important. It’s all well and good ‘treating ourselves’ to a skin care routine. The hard part arises when it works and we love it but can’t afford it again. These top products I’ve chosen (and definitely am using, by the way, not by sponsorship or collaboration but just because I like them) are available in ANY supermarket or pharmacy and can be bought for under 15 euro. Yes, you read that right.

I also want to state that what works for me might not work for you. And although I am certified in beauty and am well aware of the routine things should be done and how certain ingredient affect your skin blah, blah, blah… Sometimes I just enjoy convenience and immediate results. I work three jobs and am always on the go and these products fit that- FOR NOW. This skin routine isn’t perfect and I do not claim it to be. But for the moment, it’s keeping my skin absolutely lit. And that’s good enough for me. Now, as the weather changes and as my diet might (probably will, let’s be real), my skin will, too. And that’s alright. I’ll get back on track or find something else. But for now, this is what I have to share.

Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Facial Scrub

I used to use this scrub when I was a really young teenager and to be honest, up until recently had just completely forgotten about it. But as you Snapchat fam know, I’ve been bangin’ on about my pores for ages. I’ve been trying everything to shift really stubborn blackheads around my nose and cheek area and it has been driving me demented. And I did not consider this product out of passion or nostalgia. I was strollin’ through Tesco and there was a sale. Yep.

Its consistency is a bit like toothpaste. It exfoliates in quite a subtle way and doesn’t hurt or tear my skin- ever. But it is effective. A lot of people think, and I used to think, that in order to exfoliate your skin you have to really scrub it and leave it raw. This actually doesn’t help at all. You’re not supposed to move your skin while scrubbing it, you’re supposed to keep a flat surface. A more subtle scrub is the best option. And I find that this scrub does that for me. It also lifts blackheads- FOR REAL. And it leaves a great squeeky shine, too. I just keep this bottle in my shower and use it when I can. It is perfectly fine to use daily- it says so on the bottle. But I have other products that I’ll list below that tie me over. I use this scrub about three times a week and worth noting: I started to see results after just one use. I paid less that 5euro for this product and it does last a good while. Each use requires a pea-sized amount of product and the bottle is 150ml- PLENTY! Definitely recommend!

Alternatively, you could try the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub at this link. I’ve also included a picture of the Clean & Clear 60 Second Shower Mask because I have heard brilliant things and do believe it is worth trying along side this product- you can find out more about this product here. And alternatively again, I have included a picture of the Garnier (Skin Active) Blackhead Eliminating Scrub– which I have not tried but if for any reason you cannot use Clean & Clear, this could be a go-to for you. Click here for more info on that product.

Johnson’s Makeup Be Gone Refreshing Wipes (for Combination Skin)

There are pros and cons to this product, I will be honest. The main con being that each packet of wipes alone cost almost five euro. Which, let’s face it, is expensive for face wipes when you can pick some up in Penneys for A LOT less. BUT, lemme argue a case here. The product is worth it. That’s my case. There is moisture LOCKED in to each individual wipe and they smell delicious. They leave my skin not only squeeky clean but super moist- without contributing to oily skin. I use the the wipes for combination skin mainly because my skin can be any way on any given day. But also, I feel like they have the best balance. For some reason, whenever I use products that are designed for sensitive skin, I have a bit of a reaction. So for me, combination skin is the best option. But of course, that varies from person to person.

Along with using these products, I have completely minimized my makeup wear. I really try not to wear makeup on my skin at all now. I allow myself about two days a week with foundation and the rest of the time, I’m fresh faced with a bit of brow product and mascara. So, I carry these wipes in my bag. I use them morning, mid-day and night. Basically, whenever I think of it. They have a decent amount of moisture in them and are SO satin so you can literally see the dirt lift- even if there is nothing on your face! I love that because it really makes me feel like the wipes are working deep into my skin rather than just at a surface level. And the best part- there is NO ALCOHOL in these wipes. Which is super, super important. To find out about the effects that alcohol based products have on your skin- click here. ANYWAY, although these wipes are a bit pricey, I do think that they are definitely worth it. If you’d like to find out more about this product, click here. I picked mine up in Dunnes Stores but you can definitely find them in any good supermarket or pharmacy.

Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Moisturizer

Holy grail! This is probably my favorite product out of this list. Basically because not only did it surprise me, it rescued me. For the last few months I was using a Benefit moisturizer that I did find really good I have to say, but it was more of a night cream as it was just too heavy and thick for my skin. It took ages to absorb and left my hands a bit sticky. But this product (for a fraction of the price) is everything I’ve ever wanted. Again, I used it as a teenager but had completely forgotten about it and came across it in a supermarket sale, decided to give it a second bash. At the time, I was with my cousin who swore that it was like satin on the skin and was really effective. I took a leap of faith and went out on a limb spending a whopping 3 EURO in the sale at the time and have not looked back since. It is really light on the skin and can be used both morning and night (which is so convenient), it really locks in moisture and leaves a gorgeous dewy glow WITHOUT looking oily or feeling greasy. It has a really subtle scent that is gorgeous but not too strong- which I think is really important in a moisturizer. There’s nothing worse than accidentally putting a strongly perfumed moisturizer on your lips, licking you lips and realizing that this might be how it ends. This product is the perfect balance and I cannot recommend it enough. I basically just massage this product into my face using my ring fingers in upward circular motions both in the morning before I leave the house (can be used before makeup application) and at night before I go to bed. This product can be bought in any good supermarket or pharmacy. Click here to find out more!

Although I do not use the cleanser, I have heard brilliant things so have included a picture as a recommendation for a sister product. If you’d like to find out more about the sister cleanser, click here.

And last but not least, my favorite lip product at the moment…

Maybelline Dr. Rescue Baby Lips in Menthol

If I’m being 100% completely honest, I actually bought this product a decent while back and did not realize or appreciate that I was sitting on absolute gold. I think I picked it up because I’d seen a pretty picture of it on Pinterest or something ridiculous and just forgotten all about it. I bought it in my local pharmacy for something like 2 or 3 euro. So, it was totally affordable. And, is TOTALLY WORTH IT.

I personally love the menthol flavor because it tingles my lips and kind of makes them feel that little bit more plump because of that. But the reason I love this product goes beyond tingly lips. It is full of moisture. It has changed the dry lip game. It literally makes my lips feel like silk. And I understand that this product isn’t exactly considered skin care, as such, but with the lack of makeup lately I’ve been wearing a balm rather than heavy product on my lips and I’ve been really trying to focus on rehabilitating my skin rather than drawing out of it all the time and expecting it to run on empty. It’s like a little promise I’ve made to myself. Mainly because I was sick of dreading up close no makeup photos or snapchatting on my makeup days off. I would definitely consider this lip balm a treatment. It does say on the label that it is a medical balm and focuses on bringing lips up to a healthy standard. It also just looks really cute! It leaves a really decent, non-greasy shine on the lip and does not look cakey or thick. I keep this product in my bag and just use it all day long. I even pop it on before bed and let it work some magic while I sleep. If you’d like to know more about this product click here. Alternatively, I would use Vaseline- which cannot be doubted or questioned in life, EVER.

What I really love about these products is that they are affordable and accessible and can be used by any skin type or age group. In my opinion, they’re almost universal and they really don’t put you out of pocket to try. I find that the hardest thing about finding the right products these days- a lot of them are just not affordable or realistically priced and are almost impossible to keep a constant supply of them. So, give it a bash. What have you got to lose?

Anyway guys & gals, as requested, that is my current, affordable skin routine. Please do drop a comment and let me know if you have used any of these products or anything similar. If you go ahead and try any of them- let me know how you get on! Even if you hate them and think I’m wrong- lemme know what your alternative products are. All I’ve done with this whole skin experience is go back to basics with skin care. Instead of trying really expensive and crazy products, like I have been doing since I left these ones behind, I just decided to try these again. For the price range that they are at, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. A few weeks ago, my skin was rough and dehydrated. I had fine lines and really dark circles and freckles, I also had a yellow tone to my face. Today, my skin tone is more even, my dark circles have reduced and my fine lines are gone. I will admit that in addition to using these products, I have been drinking water with lemon slices in it (as an anti-oxidant) and exercising regularly. It’s really important to note that because more than anything, your skin reflects your health on the inside. Your skin is you largest organ is a complete mirror of your diet. So just to note that sometimes, rather than a new skin routine, a new diet or multivitamin is required.

If you have any questions about any of these products or anything else about my current skincare routine please do not hesitate to get in touch! And if you’d like to join in on daily vlogs, daily posts and so much more ultra-fun times, just click on the links below. Thank you for reading!

Until next time,

J X

Follow Not Another Beauty Blog on Snapchat- add ‘jademccannx’.

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MY CURRENT SKIN ROUTINE- Affordable, Accessible & EFFECTIVE Hey there babies, HAPPY HUMP DAY! I hope you're all doing well and slaying your daily goals.

#Advice #blackhead scrub #clean and clear #clear skin #derma #facial scrub #garnier #holy grail #Irish Beauty Blogger #Irish Blogger #irish skin #simple #skin #skin products #skin scrub #skin treatment #skincare

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