Word & Mouth Blog

Where food, hospitality, branding, and human behavior all crash into each other. I write about restaurants, wine, placemaking, customer experience, and the small details that make people talk about a business long after they leave.

For even more snarky takes on marketing, pop culture, branding, and the internet, visit my Substack, Burnt Popcorn & Branding: Substack

A mix of hospitality, branding, customer psychology, hospitality culture, and internet behavior from someone who’s worked behind the scenes in marketing long enough to know what feels authentic and what feels painfully forced.
Yes. Especially if your marketing currently sounds like ChatGPT wrote it.
No LinkedIn thought leadership energy here. Just strategy, storytelling, and occasional side-eye toward trends, Chat-GPT written branding advice, and “disruptive” ideas that all look the same.
People in marketing, hospitality, branding, retail, wine, or anyone who secretly judges restaurants by their menu design before reading the food list.

Shana Bull 5/13/22 Shana Bull 5/13/22

Self-Care for Moms is an Act of Protest: 3 Reasons Why Moms Matter

Self Care is an act of protest for moms - When moms prioritize their own mental health they are sending a powerful message to the world that they matter. That moms & women matter... And that makes others believe it as well. And that’s when change can happen.

Shana Bull 4/19/21 Shana Bull 4/19/21

So, I'm Now a Published Author of a Children's Book

Randall the Blue Spider loves the ocean and the waves that go crash. Today, he wants to enter the surfing competition to win an ice cream prize, but he is nervous that he might fall in front of everybody watching him. With the help of his friend, Chester the Caterpillar, Randall learns how to cope with these difficult feelings and take his chances at winning.

Shana Bull 6/21/19 Shana Bull 6/21/19

Top Spring and Summer Finds on Amazon

Loving Amazon for Spring Cleaning Supplies, Easter Brunch Dresses, Surprise Eggs, Sunglasses, Boots, and Even House Cleaning.

Shana Bull 4/24/19 Shana Bull 4/24/19

4 Ways Being a (Working) Mom Has Allowed Me to be More Productive

With less hours to work, I don’t stress the little details as much. I have learned to be more productive as a mom, by planning ahead & taking time off.

Shana Bull 12/17/18 Shana Bull 12/17/18

Roundup of My Favorite Sonoma County Articles of 2018

A roundup of my personal favorite articles I have written this past year about wine, food, social media, music and mom life in Sonoma County.

Shana Bull 6/3/18 Shana Bull 6/3/18

The social media mom versus real life

We’ve all seen it: the perfect pictures on Instagram with someone using the hashtag #blessed. Or the gorgeous DIY second birthday party for a toddler, complete with crafts that belong in the pages of Martha Stewart or on Pinterest. You may know one of these moms in person, and secretly – or not so secretly – look up to them...or judge them. This is a blog post dedicated to real moms.

Shana Bull 4/20/18 Shana Bull 4/20/18

I'll Take My Coffee With all the Stuff

Coffee culture is not just a MEME for moms. Especially new moms when they are up several times a night with a small infant - need a little extra help.

Shana Bull 4/3/18 Shana Bull 4/3/18

The Best of Spring Cleaning at Target

Fresh air, new blooms, and a new backyard. These are some of the things I am most excited about this Spring. We are rehauling our backyard so we can have more space for new flowers and plants, as well as a new toddler playhouse and place for Ryeson to ride his new tricycle. Here are some of my top spring cleaning picks from Target to buy right now!