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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Email Etiquette


Hey Y'all:

This is totally unrelated to my blog... I love to share information with my peeps.

I just received a work email where the font was tiny and the text went on and on and on. As soon as I opened it I closed it. I wasn't compelled to read it AT ALL.I was so disturbed by this that I went on a quick search for email etiquette and found this great list from www.emailreplies.com. I liked so I'm sharing.

32 most important email etiquette tips:

1. Be concise and to the point
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation
4. Make it personal
5. Use templates for frequently used responses
6. Answer swiftly
7. Do not attach unnecessary files
8. Use proper structure & layout
9. Do not overuse the high priority option
10. Do not write in CAPITALS
11. Don't leave out the message thread
12. Add disclaimers to your emails
13. Read the email before you send it
14. Do not overuse Reply to All
15. Mailings > use the bcc: field or do a mail merge
16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons
17. Be careful with formatting
18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages
19. Do not forward chain letters
20. Do not request delivery and read receipts
21. Do not ask to recall a message.
22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information
24. Use a meaningful subject
25. Use active instead of passive
26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
27. Avoid long sentences
28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks
29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters
30. Keep your language gender neutral
31. Don't reply to spam
32. Use cc: field sparingly

Until next time...
MUAH!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

25 Days of Christmas

Hey Y'all:

The countdown has begun, I know I'm a little late but the 25 Days of Christmas is here! We are just 2 and a half weeks til Christmas. I don't know about you but I'M NOT READY. I haven't purchased gift one but I will say that I'm excited for the holiday. Last year I started a family tradition of putting up the Christmas tree on my oldest son's birthday! So next week the fun begins.

Although I haven't decorated yet, we are enjoying the holiday season with ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas! Last night when I got home from work my son was excited to share with me the box that came in the mail. It was Christmas themed and he was confident that the box contained something for him. Sadly (for him) it was a box just for me :-)

ABC Family shared with me their programming for the 25 Days of Christmas so I'll know exactly when to tune in, along with a pretty cool BPA Free cup with a cute candy cane straw.
Do you remember Frosty's Winter Wonderland or Jack Frost? What about Home Alone 1 & 2 and of course the classic Miracle on 34th Street? Well they will all air this year with so many more wonderful shows on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas, check out the list here which includes some original programming and great movies. Bake some cookies with the kiddies and get into the holiday spirit.


Until next time...



MUAH!

Friday, December 3, 2010

'Tis The Season... TO GIVE BACK


Hey Y'all:




I know that most of you have already started your holiday shopping (it is just a short few weeks until the big day) I do hope however that you have either set aside some funds or some time to give back!




Here's what I'm talking about... if you head into any store you'll see the Salvation Army folks ringing those bells and if you work in a office I'm almost positive that you'll see a Toys for Tot's box in the lobby. Folks it's the holiday season and there are lots of people out there who are in need. Especially during the financial time that we are in. Some people have had to downsize and Hanukkah, Christmas and even Kwanzaa won't be as plentiful this year.




Here are a few great ways to make someone else smile this holiday season.




  1. Drop a gift(s) into the toys for tots boxes you see in the lobby


  2. Give some money that folds not jingles into the Salvation Army bucket


  3. Check out the following sites http://www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer/holiday_volunteering/winter_wishes/ if you live in NYC, http://www.beanelf.org/, http://www.catholiccharitiesny.org/make-a-donation/ways-of-giving/st-nicholas-project/


  4. Work with your kids to collect their gently used now ignored toys and donate them to a shelter or children's hospital


  5. Send gifts to our troops!


Please share your ideas on how you plan to give back this holiday season!



Until next time...


MUAH!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Sleep Happens!

Epic Fail... my 2010 "list"


Hey Y'all:

Hope you are enjoying the final days of 2010. I was thinking about where I was this time last year and figured I'd look at that list I created at the beginning of the year. My lofty list of 10 things I planned to accomplish this year... I shared it here and I'm sad to say many of them have gone undone and will carry over into 2011.

Here was my list of 5 business and 5 personal goals:
  1. Blog notoriety. I want to Blow up! Not like KABOOM but you know what I mean, I want to be known in the blogosphere and turn a profit so Mrs. Deveter can really go on a journey!
  2. Become an Associated Content Provider
  3. Get to writing my first children's book
  4. Incorporate my side business (Bee & Bee Creations)
  5. Become a notary (something I've wanted to do for a while)
  6. Get Life Insurance. I did a whole post on it now I really need to get to it. I want my family to be well taken care of if something should happen to me. You know, for the "If's in life."
  7. Take a Mother Daughter vacation with my Mom and Leah.
  8. Go back to Curves! No more excuses
  9. Potty train the twins
  10. Plan my wedding vow renewal.
I completed ONE thing on this list and truth be told I didn't even do it. Item #9 is done, signed, sealed and delivered and my mom did it! She potty trained the twins this summer.

I know a few more people in the blogging world but I'm no further today then I was when I posted this list on 1/4/10. I haven't visited the Associated Content site since I signed up, haven't jotted down a thing for my first book, I can't help a soul with a notary stamp, and if the "if's" in life happened today I would be up a creek without a paddle. My mother daughter trip is still in my thoughts but no chance of that happening within the next 30 days. Curves is no where in my future and the wedding vow renewal has been pushed back 6 years for our 20th wedding anniversary!

I've always been a 'list' person.

I love them... in theory they help me. They make me feel like I've fully thought out my plans and listed them in the order I would like them completed. For as long as I've been creating these lists or set these goals for the year I've always only been able to check off one or two items. Is it me? I mean really why can't I make things happen?
Oh I know... lots of living gets in the way. I may not have completed this 'published' list but I've done so many awesome things this past year that I feel accomplished and poised to succeed!

So what I didn't complete all of these items; they are still top of mind and will happen in time. I'm just going to continue living (and making lists) knowing that one day I'll look back and see that I've accomplished everything I've had in mind.

Until next time...
MUAH!

3 of my favorite lists:
  1. Reasons Why I love Being a Mommy
  2. Reasons Why I love the Internet
  3. Reasons Why I love Being Married