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.
New Book Out: Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend
Randall the Blue Spider and his friend Joey the Grasshopper want to try out for their school play. But Joey is worried that bullies will make fun of his stutter. Learn about this Children's Book on Bullying where Randall & friends discover how to overcome insecurities and handle adversity with kindness, love, and respect for themselves & others.
Written by mother and son duo, Ryeson & Shana Bull, Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend is a cute easy-to-read children's book that teaches young readers important social-emotional skills like coping with nervousness, overcoming bullying, and being good friends to others.
Beach Themed Deals for Amazon Prime Day
Prime Day 2021 is here, and I rounded up some of my favorite beach and camping-themed deals.
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.
Top 6 Tips for Taking Smartphone Pictures of your Family
Here are some of my top tips for taking smartphone pictures of you and your family. Emphasis on including YOU (talking to moms here) in these photos.
Word of the Year: Embrace 2021
Whether you have kids at home or feel paralyzed by not being able to find a job, there are small things you can do to embrace your goals. This isn’t about jumping in headfirst and hustling (read: burning out). This year should be about taking slow, actionable steps to get you further than where you are right now - and embracing your word of the year like I am.
Tips I Learned During Anal Cancer Treatment
I will say that no matter how horrible the days were, they went by quickly, and there is a light at the end of this tunnel. My type of stage III anal cancer has a good chance of recovery—even if that recovery means that I still have to have surgery in the future.
Responsible Travel in California - Getting An RV
If you are looking for responsible travel options in California, I definitely recommend camping. Whether you camp in a tent, an RV, a trailer, or a cabin – you and your family can be outdoors, social distancing, hopefully staying away from crowds - and making lots of great summer memories that will last a lifetime.
Social Distance Yourself From Social Media: How To Spring Clean Your Social Media Habits
If you feel like you need to social distance yourself from social media, you are not alone. I am trying not to check the news as much, or mindlessly scroll through Facebook or Instagram stories. Here are my top 4 tips for spring cleaning your social media during this COVID-19 pandemic.
How To Create Your Own Virtual Easter Egg Hunt
Connecting with family while being sheltered at home is semi-easy to do with video chat! Here are some ideas on how to create a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt with family or friends in their own homes!
Work From Home Productivity Tips (How To Plan Your Day With Your Partner)
From years of working from home, as well as what we have been doing for the past week, here are some of our work from home productivity tips for planning ahead with your partner.
Virtual Happy Hour - Keeping People Connected through Video and Wine
A Virtual Happy Hour is a great idea for friends and family to connect, even when in quarantine during this coronavirus pandemic. Here are some tools on how to set up your virtual happy hour (wine, and a husband, not included).
Best Work from Home Tools
Now that a lot more people are working from home, due to the coronavirus, here are some of the top work from home tools that have worked for me for working from home. So, check out what I would get for a professional who is new to remote working:
My Word of the Year 2020 - None
Every year I create a Word of the Year to help motivate me for the upcoming year. It's more than just New Years Resolutions or Goals, it's more of a life mantra that I come up with and print for my home office. 2020 feels different though.
So, I am not creating a word of the year for 2020, at least not right now.
Kids, Fake News + Cyberbullies: An Interview with Kerry Rego
Growing up in a world with social media, Kerry Rego teaches kids about cyberbullying and fake news & she tells us why her tween doesn't have a cellphone.
Back to school and back to work
My toddler is back in school and instead of a stay at home mom, I can be myself again - a freelancer writer, East Bay Marketer, and... well, I am not sure what else I am right now. Honestly, I’m learning how to be myself again.
Instagram Jail + FOMO
When I got put into Instagram jail I realize that FOMO on social media only happens if I allow it to.
The Move to the East Bay
This past July we moved from Sonoma County to the East Bay, CA in Concord/Walnut Creek area with the family. We did it for work life balance and to spend more time with my husband now that he doesn't have a long commute. More family time in the East Bay = happy family.
Top Spring and Summer Finds on Amazon
Loving Amazon for Spring Cleaning Supplies, Easter Brunch Dresses, Surprise Eggs, Sunglasses, Boots, and Even House Cleaning.
The Month of May in My Household
National Mental Health Month is also National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, which is definitely fitting – well, at least for my family.