5 Ways of Culturally Communicating

All forms of communication have positive and negative outcomes. Communication can often be lost through technology or just misunderstood.

Memes.com
Yoda knows best!

Communication is a two way street, sometimes multiple streets are involved and messages must be sent, received and perceived in the accurate, intended manner. 



In order to communicate effectively, the sender must accurately communicate their message to the receiver and the receiver must interpret and perceive the message accurately. That's where communication gets tricky and sometimes leaves us confused or irritated.

Source-Blackframeframe

There are many ways to effectively communicate within our culture, from in person, over the phone, to personal hand written letters and most importantly, social media.

Here are five ways to culturally communicating through social media:

• Twitter
• Upload pictures, "Like," "Re-tweet," get involved 
• YouTube
• Learn new skills, share blogs, leave comments, network
• Instagram
• Upload pictures, "Like," "Tag" pictures, leave comments & sometimes "Borrow"

Newslinq

• Facebook
• Upload pictures & videos, "Like," "Tag" pictures, leave comments & sometimes "Borrow," communicate with friends, family & coworkers, network

• SnapChat
• Upload ridiculous videos

What's your favorite way to communicate? Are you solely a memes person, or do you throw in a couple of your own words also? Let me know below!

Inspirational Quotes

Motivation

: a force or influence that causes someone to do something

What is motivation? According to the merriam-webster dictionary, motivation is "the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something, a force or influence that causes someone to do something."

Everyone needs to feel motivated and inspired and we find it from different forms. Music, "To-Do lists" and art are a few things that motivate me. Another motivator I find helpful is quotes.

Here are my top five motivational and inspirational quotes! Hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do and find them to be helpful!

photo cred: self
Just Being Me

This sassy quote by Marilyn Monroe not only motivates me, it inspires me to be myself, love myself as I am and feel comfortable in my skin. I'd rather be known as loud, ditzy and entertaining, than dull.

photo cred: self
Freshly Grown Vegetables From Our Garden

Aspiring to better myself and build my future is important to me. This quote by Og Mandino motivates and inspires me to simply always do my best. To give it my all, 100 percent of the time. The decisions I make now, can and will effect my future.

photo cred: self
Memorial Service for a Fallen Angel

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel has inspired many people across the world and continues to daily with her brand of fashion and beauty. This quote motivates me to be the best version of me and to always focus on being irreplaceable. This picture is in memory of Major Taj T. Sareen, USMC.

photo cred: self
Road Trip to WI

Who doesn't love a good quote by Dr. Seuss? He's actually quite motivating, and this quote is important to me because it reminds me to always speak the truth and to be the true version of myself. Thank you Dr. Seuss for always keeping me on my toes!

photo cred: self
La Jolla Cove

There he goes again, teaching us valuable lessons! I saved the best for last. This quote resinates with me and motivates me because it reminds me to take good from the bad, learn a lesson in all situations and to stay positive at all times. That's usually easier said than done, but I always try to see the light.

What quotes motivate or inspire you? Share them in the comments below. I'd love to read them! Thanks for stopping by!

Check out my reviews on YouTube! - Stubb Your Toe

Google Search

"Traditional" Search

For quite some time, Google has dominated the desktop search, meaning people have been using Google browser to search from their desktop at home, school or work. It's been the traditional search people have been comfortable using. The new way to search is through the direct use of apps, known as "vertical search."

"Vertical" Search

According to comScore, the ratio for current time people spend on their smartphone versus desktop is 60 : 40, meaning people are using their cell phone devices far more frequently than a desktop/laptop. In such a fast past, technologically savvy world mobile use is dominating our lives and how we search for things we want and need. 

This becomes a dilemma for the advertising industry and Google. Google search lives in our browser, but if 88% of people are spending their time on phone apps versus searching from Google browser, what does that mean for the world of advertising and Google?

Mobile Domination

Revenue comes from advertising within the search browser. Advertising through mobile apps is a challenge and often leaves the consumer feeling overwhelmed and clutters the appearance of apps.

Marketers will have to explore new advertising options and ways to reach their target market. The challenge to learn how to reach their target market through apps will be time consuming. The paid organic ads that pop up at the top of your Google search are at steak.

Current Classroom Environment

Millennials are used to using apps within their cell phone device or tablet. Even at school our youth is being taught using tablets instead of desktops. This poses a threat to advertising revenue and Google search within the browser.

Even though Google still holds first place in the Desktop Explicit Core Search ranking at 64%, browser search, advertisements and revenue are still at risk.

Marketing Through Social Media

3 Easy & Successful Ways

Marketing has been done through print advertising for centuries. Consumers used to read hard copies of books and magazines. Even though research swore print would go away, it's clearly here to stay.

As technology continues to grow, the tangible desire to possess paper copy's of books and magazines has become almost null. Consumers are becoming more compatible with today's technology and trends, even Generation Y.

As customers struggle to keep up with the latest and greatest, marketers continue to follow and find ways to reach their target market. There are many platforms and tactics to use when advertising through social media.

Depending on your target markets age range, these are the top three social media platforms to advertise on with the most daily/monthly users:

• Facebook
• June 2015 - 968 million users daily
• Twitter
• June 2015 - 500 million tweets daily
• Instagram
• June 2015 - 300 million monthly users

Of the twenty something marketing tactics, these are the top three easiest and successful ways to advertise on social media:

• FAB - Features, Advantages, Benefits
• Features: What you/product does
• Advantages: Why you/product is helpful
• Benefits: Emotional connection; how you/product make the consumer feel

Facebook Ad

• BAB - Before, After, Bridge
• Before - Problem
• After - Solution
• Bridge - How the customer gets there

Twitter Ad

• SCH - Star, Chain, Hook
• Star - Product/service
• Chain - Facts, Benefits, Sources
• Hook - Call to Action (get customers info, invite them to the store/website, ect.)

Instagram Ad

Many advertisers use these techniques for brands on social media. They're more discrete on social media than in print. I created these advertisements for a Lush campaign in school. 

Thanksgiving Dinner

Vegan and Luscious

As an animal free and cruelty free community, Lush lives to be vegan at work and home. It's a lifestyle we admire and encourage.

lushusa.com

The holidays are coming and Lush would like to extend a vegan, but luscious Thanksgiving Day guide to all of our plant-based family and friends!

There are many reasons to try Veganism. Saving animals is a big reason and probably the most known, but there are other reasons that benefit us as humans as well.

Some reasons to go vegan:

• Trim excess fat
• Become energized
• Decrease climate change
• Avoid contaminated food, GMO's, trans fat...

Here's a couple of recipes to make a scrumptious vegan Thanksgiving feast:

Apple Chestnut Cornbread Stuffing

mayihavethatrecipe.com

Boozy Cranberry Sauce

makinglifedelicious.com

Green Bean Casserole

Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with kale & Cranberries

lesliedurso.com

Cornbread (Vegan)

Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Truffles

Pumpkin Pie (Vegan)

thespunkycoconut.com

Hummus Mashed Potatoes

If you're a Lush fan, but also a meat eater, give these recipe's a try. You might end up liking the vegan diet. ...Maybe have someone bring back up options just in case!

For more combinations, check out These 29 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes.

Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment below if you have vegan recipes to share and visit us at lushusa.com to check out our seasonal bath bars!

How to Accessorize

different metals & styles

Accessorizing can be overwhelming and pricey, but sometimes spending the extra money on a piece of jewelry is worth the splurge. That saying "Get more bang for your buck" goes a long away.

Spend more money on sterling silver or spend hours scrubbing green marks off your skin. 

Here's a few tips on accessorizing and places to purchase good quality jewelry:

Earrings

• Choose a simple pair of studs:

Angelina Jolie does it best!

• pearls, diamonds/CZ, silver, gold or a solid colored stud

Tip - Pick one accessory to be your focal point (earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces). Wearing multiple bulky/bold pieces will create an unstructured and confusing look. 

Necklaces/Bracelets

• Mix Metals & Textures
• Different textures add different vibes to your look
• Adds character & originality
• Sleek & mod looking
• Can be elegant or bold
• It's fun & looks great

HRH Collection

Rings

• Keep it simple and classy if you're already wearing other pieces

Simple & Elegant

Simple & Edgy

• Or make your rings the focal accessory

Midi Rings

Ring Wrist Bracelet

Types of Metals

• Gold Plated $
• Sterling Silver $-$$
• Gold Filled $-$$ (better quality than gold plated)
• Real Gold $$$$ (yellow, white, rose)

Places to purchase:

• Artbeads.com      $-$$
• HRH Collection    $$-$$$
• Kohl's                   $$-$$$$

If you have a budget, costume jewelry will work, just take care of it and you might get some mileage out of it. Accessorizing is fun and a unique way to express yourself. Just have fun and remember, you don't have to wear every piece you own at once. Check out bloggers, magazines and Pinterest for fun, fashion ideas and other ways to accessorize.

Repair Tarnished costume jewelry

Successful Salary Negotiation

5 Ways to Avoid Low Salary Rate

I recently interviewed for a position in my field of expertise and found myself in an uncomfortable offer mid interview. I was offered a couple of dollars below my requested rate (from my application) in front of my interviewer and a vendor.

In shock, I heard myself blurt out "Okay." I could feel my puzzled expression and dissatisfaction immediately. I asked myself "What? Did you really agree to that low offer?"

As I sat there filling out "new hire" paperwork, I began feeling nothing but disappointment. I couldn't feel happy knowing I was offered a rate so much lower than what I'm worth. I even texted a couple friends saying "I got the job, but at ten lousy dollars an hour."

salary.com

After talking with my husband and a couple of friends, I decided I had to call my new employer and tell her how I felt. I knew I would never be happy there and perform to the best of my abilities if I wasn't getting paid what I'm worth.

Long story short, I called my boss the next day and told her how I felt. A couple of days later she called and offered my requested rate per hour. I was thrilled and thanked her!

There are 5 ways to avoid a low salary rate.

     5.  Research

• Know history of the company 
• Current revenue & profits
• Current salary rates

     4.  Flexibility

• Ask. Is there room to counter offer?
• Negotiating is a test of your confidence & experience

     3.  Put yourself in someone else's shoes

• If you don't feel comfortable negotiating for yourself, imagine you are negotiating for a loved one
• Take yourself out of the equation for a moment. It's easier that way.

salary.com

    

     2.  Know Your Value

• Know your self worth & value to the company
• Express what you will bring to the table & how you will improve the company
• Be confident
• Don't settle for less

     1.  Patiently Wait

• Wait to hear from your interviewer
• Don't become scared & start offering lower rates before you've heard from them
• Backing down shows lack of confidence & weakness

Employers will generally offer 10-20 percent below the company's budget for salaries. It's very common for people to say "Okay" and accept the first offer. Don't. Negotiate first and you'll be happy when you make the extra couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars later.

You should always negotiate your salary. The worst a future employer can say is "No." It's better to ask and be denied, then not ask and always wonder.

Thanks for stopping by and if you'd like to connect, leave a comment below!

Instagram @stubbyourtoe