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
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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.
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Yes. Especially if your marketing currently sounds like ChatGPT wrote it.
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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.
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People in marketing, hospitality, branding, retail, wine, or anyone who secretly judges restaurants by their menu design before reading the food list.
Wine Country Music Festivals with Kids {How to Do it Right}
The Spring and Summer music festivals in Wine Country are about so much more than music. See how parents and kids can enjoy these festivals together.
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.
How You Can Learn How To Trust Your Gut As A Parent
Parents can question everything. There's a helpful parenting instinct that develops. When you feel overwhelmed, try to remember to follow your intuition.
That One Time When My Toddler's School Closed Down Indefinitely...
I know I’m going to trust my gut as a parent much more now when it comes to his health, safety, and education.
Why I Bring My Child to Political Marches
This debate was brought up this past week as I shared images of my husband, 3-year-old son, my friends, and me at the 3rd Annual Women's March on January 19th, 2019 in downtown Santa Rosa. I shared the same images to both my Instagram account and Facebook page (and the latter received comments from friends, likes, hearts, and one angry face from a cousin with whom I’m not actually Facebook friends)... Instagram was a completely different experience.
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.
How to Create a Toddler-Friendly Christmas Tree {A How-To Fail Guide}
How to have a Toddler-Friendly Christmas.. aka how to childproof your Christmas Tree So your kid doesn't runin it.
Rainy Day or Smoke Day Activity Survival Kit for Kids and Parents
Now that wildfires are a regular part of the fall season in Northern California, a “Rainy Day and Smoke Day Survival Kit for Kids and Parents." is needed.
How to Manage Pregnancy Diabetes When You Love Food
Pregnancy Diabetes looks very different for every woman, but for me, it meant I had to manage balancing my food and focusing on a schedule
The One Gift for Everyone On Your List
A letterboard is the best gift to get any blogger. So much fun to customize for any holiday or event.
I Wasn’t Bullied As A Child, But I Got Made Fun Of A Lot
I have been reflecting on my friendships over the years and how it has affected me throughout adulthood. While I was not bullied as a child, I did get picked on for being short.
Summertime Treats with Clover Sonoma Ice Cream
From ice cream floats, to grilled peaches with ice cream and honey, to dessert pizzas topped with a scoop of Clover Sonoma Ice Cream, there are so many out of the carton ways to enjoy ice cream this summer.
How Troop Beverly Hills Made Me a Better Writer
A movie from the 80s made me realize I wanted to become a writer when I grew up. Technology taught me how to become a better writer. And the rise of apps using voice has taken my writing to the next level.
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.
I Bought a Toddler Leash for My Child. Yes I am THAT Mom
I broke down and bought a toddler leash/safety harness for my child. I care about toddler safety, and I love being social, so it makes sense for me.
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.
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!
Whole Foods Beauty Sale (find my face in Sonoma + Napa)
Whole Foods Market in Sonoma County, Napa Valley and Marin County is hosting a Beauty Week sale and using Influencer Marketing to share the news in the Bay Area. Here are some of my top beauty picks for new moms.
Staycation in Santa Rosa
My husband and I took a Staycation in Downtown Santa Rosa at the Astro Motel, and enjoyed life without the toddler for a night.