A Sense of Community

A Sense of Community

Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

**What's fabulous is when you schedule a post to go live and you're very in tune with what YEAR the post will be going live. ::facepalm:: This was supposed to be live yesterday so I'm backdating it for sanity's sake. Unless you'd all like to read it in 2013...

There are a limitless number of ways to give back to our communities. Physical or electronic, there are communities formed all around us at any given moment. Nurturing and contributing to the well-being of these communities is imperative to their longevity.

I've been involved with many different types of community over the years. Serving a brief stint in the LDS church, there was an overwhelming sense and need for community support on any given day. From meals to those who had endured a surgery or childbirth, to quilts for elderly homes, there was always on opportunity to give back. Since I've left the church, I'll admit that my physical contribution to the community around me has decreased, but is far from extinct.

Becoming a mother gave me the insight to what a dire need there is in the maternal community for love and support. Over the past three years, and honestly through this here space, I've developed lovely relationships with fellow mothers interested in sharing our wealth of talents with those mothers in our community who may not have the same opportunities as us. We've delivered sandwiches to local women's shelters, as reluctant as we could have been considering the location of a new leaf. Sometimes, though, it's a matter of stepping outside of our comfort zones, allowing our senses to be completely uninhibited, and taking the simple action of a donation here or an ear there.

I've noticed a transition over the last few years as well when it comes to the communities in which I can contribute my time and/or talents. There's this thing called the "internet", y'know, the thing you're reading this here post on? I have become a part of some pretty phenomenal online communities that, without the support of so many, would have floundered and flopped by now. It's great to see us forget our differences and embrace our similarities in a variety of ways. Whether it's fundraising to fight Lupus or offering a cyber hug in the midst of tragedy or celebration, this virtual community is just as important and thriving as the tangible one in which I live everyday.

So get out there, or stay in here, and do your part to give back. We all have unique and valuable talents to be shared with our fellow community members. Also? Rock on.


Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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Guest Post: Do's and Don'ts of SEO

Guest Post: Do's and Don'ts of SEO

I'd like to welcome Tim to my space to share some quick tips from the ever evolving world of SEO. As the search engines refine their definition of appropriate optimization and ranking, we too should always be brushing up on our do's and don'ts. Thanks for your input Tim! 

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The Kitchen: Where a Woman Belongs

The Kitchen: Where a Woman Belongs

Tonight I start the barter part of one of my newest clients: cooking classes with Le Cordon Bleu trained JoAnne Groot of JoAnne's Kitchen.

I hear there is bread making and bananas involved....but not together.

I couldn't be more stoked about this you guys. I spent all last Friday helping my sister bake twenty dozen cookies in five different varieties for, what turned out to be, a stellar milk & cookies themed, kid's birthday party. And I savored every damn second of my time in front of my mixer.

Cooking classes will be such a great personal release for me. It always is a time for me to decompress and get my hands dirty in a good recipe. Because, and let's be honest here, all the best recipes require you to get a bit messy. Am I right?

I'll be posting about our adventures come Wednesday. Why the suspenseful day break, you ask? Because Tim will be guest posting in this here space tomorrow about the do's and don'ts of SEO. I think we all need a refresher course from time to time and I'm ecstatic to have Tim share his expertise. You can follow him on Twitter if you want'n'stuff.

*The title of this post is totally sarcastic. Why I feel the need to clarify that I don't really know, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm nowhere near burning my bra (at least not for reasons of women's liberation) but I surely do not feel like the only place for a woman is in the kitchen. I'm just witty and inappropriately uncomfortable like that when it comes to my personal humor. Hardy. Har. Har. UNFOLLOW!

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hello there! house Early Bird Pricing Throwback

hello there! house Early Bird Pricing Throwback

Over on the hello there! house blog, we recently announced that we are throwing back to the early bird pricing for full event passes! That’s only $150 for the full event pass, dudes! Can I just say holy shit?!

The full event pass includes four gourmet meals by The Center Bistro, two full days of classes and hands-on workshops with some of the most paramount influencers in the sphere, and more swag and take-aways than your brain could probably handle right now.

This is a conference type event, so prior registration is required for attendance. Head on over to register today.

We are less than a month out from the official “big day” so help us spread the word, get yourself registered, and get excited up in those pants! It’s going to be tons of fun, yo.

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Assorted Rosettes Now Listed

Assorted Rosettes Now Listed

I just opened up shop yesterday.

I've already received an overwhelming response (thank you thank you!) and have made an addition to the shop based on the feedback I have been getting.

There is now a listing for an assortment of rosettes in the shop for your buying pleasure. I suppose it sort of makes sense to sell a bunch of different styles so you don't have 10-20 of the same shirt/wreath/project floating around your house or shop. I'll still be keeping the single style postings up in the event that shop owners want to make a stock of all of the same product...hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge ::cough shop owners cough::

So there is my shameless plug for the day. I promise to make one whenever there is something new in the shop to drool over. If you ever want to just peruse for yourself, there's that nifty little button on the sidebar just over there, you aimless wanderer you.

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Announcing the Crafting Arizona Boutique

Announcing the Crafting Arizona Boutique

One of The Other Projects has me getting geared up for an all day craft-a-thon and boutique market.

This will be the third Crafting Arizona this year and the first with a boutique market. Vendor spaces are only $20, which is such a rad deal since there will be no dipping into the profits you make on October 1st. Oh right, the market is from 1p-8p on Saturday, October 1st.

Read my post over here for more of the juicy details.

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My shop: the creperie

My shop: the creperie

So today I launched my handmade supply shop on Etsy.

the creperie.

That's what I'm calling it. Because, it's a word I sort of made up and I like the handmade ring it has to it. And it reminds me of French food. So there's that.

Right now it is home to a few types of fabric rosettes that can be ordered in bulk. If you have a project that you'd like to use them for, but don't have the patience to sit there with your glue gun and twist and glue and twist and glue and repeat, you're in luck. I am patient enough and actually really enjoy making them.

Bear with me as I make my way through my personal fabric stash to list all of the rosette possibilities and don't hesitate to email me at (jess {at} shuggilippo {dot} com) to place a custom order to fit your current or upcoming project needs.

Go. Drool. Buy. Repeat. (I'd sort of like that. Lots.)

And if you don't visit today, I've got a nifty little link over there on my sidebar for you. ----->

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i need a break.

i need a break.

today has done me right in.

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