June's Velata Recipe - Raspberry Brownies

I have Gluten free recipe options if you are looking for Gluten free, let me know.

June's Scent of the Month "BananaBerry"

We are in love with this scent.  Truly its so delicious!! Smells great throughout my whole house!  I still have a few left if you're interested let me know!  Or you can order it directly from my site www.vancouverlovescandles.ca

It's one that you will definitely want to stock up on!!!

Gluten Free Chewy Chocolate Brownies with Walnuts & Coconut Oil - REVIEW

I wanted to try making some recipes with Coconut Oil as I found a great deal on a huge tub of it at Costco.  Its the real deal.  The Organic Coconut Oil.  We all know how amazing Coconut Oil is for us.

After searching on the net I found a few recipes and thought I would try them out.

This recipe sounded fabulous!

I took a shortcut and used a Brownie mix like the recipe called for.  I might have used the wrong Brownie mix?  I used the Gluten Free Brownie Mix from Trader Joes. 

The bake time in the recipe says 20-25 minutes but I found that it took almost 20-25 minutes longer.  Of course I checked it each time after about 10 minutes.

The consistency seems to be a sponge like and not so much like a dense Brownie.  It seemed more like a chocolate cake than a Brownie.  It is very good and tasty but wasn't what I was expecting.  I lined it with Parchment paper instead so maybe that had something to do with it? 

It is yummy don't get me wrong.  Matt and I both really like it!

It looked great coming out of the oven and I highly recommend eating it right away with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream!!!

MY RATING:  6 out of 10

If you have any Gluten Free with or without Coconut Oil and would like me to test out and rate, feel free to forward to me:  ljenniferkaiser@gmail.com



Is Chivalry Dead? Or Are We Just a Rude Society?

This morning, just like any other morning I am driving into work.  I pull into the parkade behind a car and he stops just on the other side of the gate.  OK he's obviously concerned about security issues and, although my parking decal is clearly displayed in my rear view, and my window is open, and my hand is out with my garage door clicker that I'm frantically clicking, he still doesn't realize that I also park there.  I get the security issue.  But come on, its 9am on a weekday and the cars are piling up behind me. 

I get inside and I park and then I head towards the stairs.  The same guy is ahead of me again.  He walks thru the door, and it literally slams in my face as I almost go to walk thru.  The door falls right on my arm as I try to quickly grab the door and leaves a nice little bruise.  Geesh!  REALLY???!!  he saw me.  He looked right at me when we both approached the door. 

Maybe my title on this entry is wrong.  Maybe it's not "chivalry" that I should be talking about.  Yes its 2013 and women have equal rights.  But I admit I like it when guys hold doors open for me.  Hell  let's be completely honest......I like it when people hold doors open for me.  I don't expect it but I think its nice just to be courteous to each other.  I like when people are nice to each other!  And find that there are way too many rude people these days for my liking.

We continue walking up the stairs and I'm still right behind him.  Second set of doors coming up.  He sees me (still) and he goes thru the door, and he pushes it really wide open this time just so that I can get out behind him without getting hit with the door.  He didn't "quite" hold it open for me just opened it wider for me to squeeze thru.  So I say "THANK YOU!!" and he turns and gives me this weird look like I've got two heads. 

This isn't the first time its happened to me.  One time at Starbucks I had my hands full of coffee for an office meeting, and a lady walked right in front of me, cutting off my path and out the door ahead of me.  Me being naive and thinking that she saw me struggling with my hands full and she was coming get the door for me.  Nope!  UGH  Coffee all over me and my nail ripped off by the door.  She didn't even look back, let alone apologize.   At least the people in Starbucks stopped to help me. Nice people there.

We have become a society where when you accidentally park 10 minutes prior to allowed parking time on Davie Street, people pull up and scream disgusting and vulgar words at you.  A society where in the same situation a guy on a bike kicks and punches your car while screaming obscenities about what he is going to do to you!  Yes its true it happened!

Everyone seems to be in a rush.  But are we in such a rush that we have no time to be kind to others?  For those of you who know me, I am very friendly to other people.  I try to help others when I can.  I smile at people when I pass them and they make eye contact.  And believe it or not I get a lot of weird looks when I do that.  I hold doors open for people if I see their hands are full, or if they are walking behind me.  I wave people in front of me in rush hour traffic if its safe and if someone lets me in I wave back.  I say please and thank you and bless you if someone sneezes. (and I cover my mouth when I sneeze - that's another blog for another time!) I say excuse me if I sneeze or if I need to get by someone.  Is it so much to ask for others to do the same?

These days communication is lacking on so many levels.  I was taught in HR that the source of most conflicts is lack of communication.  That's a huge part of it.  Working with teams is a frustration in itself.  There is lack of ownership, and then there is too much ownership.  Have you ever worked on a team project and you have someone who always uses the words "me, mine, my, I?" but yet its a project that the whole team has ownership in and the whole team contributes?  I'm all for taking credit as a team, its people who take credit for themselves that drive me nuts.   People who don't communicate with other team members before they make decisions that affect the team, makes other team members feel alienated and left out of the group.  It's frustrating to say the least.  All this really boils down to being courteous and considerate doesn't it?  Take credit where due and don't where its not.

I was just outside for lunch and saw a man that was standing on the corner.  He was mumbling street names to himself and pointing like he was lost.  Seemed apparent to me he was lost anyhow.  So I stopped and said "Excuse me are you lost? do you need directions?" and he laughed at me and told me no, he is a glass contractor and trying to figure out where the glass is that he needs to change.  But then he wouldn't leave me along and stop talking to me and started following me around.  I think he thought I was hitting on him!! LOL this happens to me a lot.  My husband laughs at me for this reason.  But yet I will still continue to talk to people and be nice and try to help.  I just think the world could always use more nice don't you????

Being Well Organized

When it comes to organizing a workspace, relaxation and comfort aren't the primary goals. Work is about efficiency and productivity. ... The more neat and logically organized your workspace is, the better you will be at your job."
~ Peter Walsh  ~

I used to work with someone whose desk was literally covered from top to bottom in papers. I made a comment one day that if his desk was more organized that he would be so much more productive.  He quickly pointed out that he knew where everything was, as it was his "organized chaos".  Ok I had to give him credit at least he was right.  Whenever I asked him for anything he was able to locate it instantly.   That being said, could you imagine how much more productive he would be if his desk was tidier and not as messy?

Let's face it sometimes I can be a bit of a neat freak.  Sometimes I am a bit of a slob.  I waiver between being both.  There has to be some middle ground doesn't there?  We all have junk drawers, junk storage areas and what have you.  I don't claim to be the picture perfect organizer.  I do wish I could get things more organized in my house and my workspace.  Organization shows that you have an eye for details.  It let's people know that you have it all together.  That you're on the ball.

I dislike it when there is something that I need and I have to tear my house apart to look for it.  If I had only put it back where it belonged in the first place, I wouldn't find myself in this awful predicament.  Meanwhile I'm making more a mess digging thru everything in my hasty search. 

Being organized makes it way easier too when you have guests coming over.  You're not running around trying to clean and tidy at the same time.

There are so many tools these days that help to keep yourself organized.  I love surfing Pinterest and seeing every one's organization skills at their finest.

 

 

OK why just limit to the workplace.  What else could use an overhaul?  My jewellery is the worst.  I could only wish that my jewellery drawer looked like this one.

 

I remember seeing years ago something that someone had pinned up in our kitchen at work.  It totally made sense.  Although we never did figure out who put that up in the kitchen....nobody ever removed it, we all thought it was great!

This is it!!! I vow to you my loyal Blog followers that I will be more organized and neat and tidy!

Where shall I start???? lol I'll keep you posted!!

Help Find Tigger a Forever Home

This boy's faith in human kind has been let down way too many times.  Help us to restore Tigger's faith.  He needs your help.

Name: Tigger
Age: 8 yrs young
Sex:Neutered Male
Color: Brindle
Dogs: Yes
Kids: Yes OLDER
Cats: Yes

Tigger is an chilled out older dude who has found himself without a home due to no fault of his own.
He was dumped in a shelter because his owner felt that he was too old.  Yep Tigger is considered a senior, but don't tell him that!! He's as spry and active as a young puppy!! And still has plenty of love to give.

Tigger deserves a nice retirement home to call his own. This boy would love to be your forever guy. Don't you want to love him forever?

Tigger is doing amazing in his foster home. He has come a long way. He has learnt to walk very nicely on a leash and enjoys going out for his daily walks to say hello to everyone in the neighbourhood. He has learnt many new commands. He knows sit, stay, come and lay down. He is such a really good boy and just needs some where to call home. This boy is ready to go home!

If you are interested in adopting Tigger, please visit our site and fill out an adoption application www.wbbr.ca and a volunteer will be in touch.

What's In My Purse?

Here is a list of my must must haves.  These are the things that I simply cannot live without and I always have them on hand in my purse:

• Mascara - no matter what ,a girl always needs a good mascara.  Right now I'm using the "Dior Iconic Overcurl".  I love this mascara!

• Lipbalm - I'm addicted to "Burt's Bees" natural.  For added color I use my "Clinique Lip Gloss" in a nice neutral color.  Neutral so that I can wear it all year round.

• Hand cream!  The worst feeling ever is having dried up hands.  I love "Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion" (unscented).  Another that is quickly becoming my favorite is the "Scentsy Layers, Sugar Cookie".  Ahem.... yes shameless plug. LOL :)

• Hand Sanitizer is a must!  But I hate the way that my hands feel after using the traditional hand sanitizers. The alcohol is so drying and I worry about Parabens. So I use the "Scentsy Antibacterial Spray" Perfect for me they have it in "Sugar Cookie" and "Sunkissed Citrus, as well." Scentsy Layers contains no Parabens and no alcohol.

• Smart Phone.  I love my phone.  For those of you who know me, YES it is BIG!  I have the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  I love it.  Now I wouldn't recommend it for the average guy, if you want to slip it in your pocket.  For myself it's great because it fits nicely into my purse.  But I do find it a bit cumbersome if I have to stick it into my pocket.  I have a rubber case on mine (which makes it even bigger) because I drop my phone at least 10 times a day! I love it because I can see it.  YES say what you will....my eyes are getting old :)  I use it often as an E-Reader or my GPS in the car so it's large screen works great for me. 
  

• Change purse.  I carry my little Coach change purse for all the extra change that I get.  So glad that we are no longer doing pennies I was getting blogged down with so many!  But I still find that I get way too much change and it really wears and tears on my wallet. 

• "Refillable Buffing Brush by Bare Minerals".  I love the whole Bare Mineral line.  I use the "Primer", the "Mineral Veil" and the "Foundation".  The minerals are perfect for my fussy Asian skin :)  The refillable brush is my touch up kit to go.  I keep it in my "Grace Adele" plastic zip pouch.  Every "Grace Adele" bag comes with this awesome plastic pouch to put things in that you want to keep clean or to help keep the inside of your bag clean!  I also keep an extra one with business cards in.  (inserted shameless plug again - see how I did that? lol)

• Speaking of business cards - ALWAYS carry lots of extra business cards with you.  You just never know where you are and who you might meet.  Your next recruit or best customer could be around the corner!!

• Other things that I carry is my sunglasses.  I cannot live without them all the time.  Especially being susceptible to migraine headaches and to light sensitivity sunglasses are a must have.  Make sure you get quality UV ray protection glasses.  Nothing worst than not having your glasses and squinting!  Squinting makes wrinkles!!

• Other things in my purse is a pen, dental floss, Advil, tampon, nail file, and Kleenex.

What's in your purse???  What can't you live without?

 

 

 

My Quick Tips on Working your Business on Social Media

Today Social Media marketing is the buzz.  Everyone is doing it.  And the best part about it is that its free! I am no means an expert in Marketing or Social Media.  Everything I have done is by trial and error.  And probably like everyone else out there I've read a ton of information on what to do and not what to do.

I'm a big believer in learning by experience.  I've had good experiences and bad experiences with Social Media.  And some non experiences! 

I have a Facebook page for myself (personal) and a Facebook page for my businesses.  I am careful about what things I post on both my pages.  Not only because its the internet....and face it whatever you put on the internet is out there and anyone can take it or use it for whatever they please.  And just in case I decide to run for Premier one day I don't want any crazy party pictures coming back to haunt me!  hahaha just kidding:)  Just keep in mind that you shouldn't post anything anywhere that you don't want your customers, your boss, your co-workers, your mom or anyone to see! Keep things professional in your business pages.

 

Find out what your customers want.  Do a survey and call your customers and ask them what they are looking for and what interests them about your product.  Take the time out to talk to your customers and learn what they need.  Post things about your customers and their needs/wants.  Focus more on them than you.

Take your time and think about what you are posting.  Keep it interesting to keep people's attention.  It's much better to post quality content than posting just for sake of posting.  Make sure that you are energized and always upbeat.  The more upbeat and excited you are about your post the more it is interesting for others.  If you feel that you have lost your zip then do something to find it.  Chat to others, read books, articles, training, find anything to get inspired again.  It's hard sometimes to keep that enthusiasm but for your business to succeed you have to love it!

 

Be consistent in posting.  You ever notice that some people will post 10 things in a row and then nothing for the next three days.  If I'm following that page then I get annoyed with all the posts all of the sudden blogging down my news feed.  It looks to me like your bored and just posting things right now because you have nothing else to do.  I recommend that you use an Auto Scheduler.  For Twitter I always use HootSuite.  Its awesome and its free!  I take about an hour in the morning (before work with a cup of coffee) and I think about what I would like to post.  I schedule them anywhere from 1 -3 hours apart.  This spaces out the posts throughout the day.  I post something about my business 3 to 5 times a day.  I sometimes do quick posts in between too from my phone (using things such as Instagram, etc.)
Another brilliant thing about an Auto Scheduler is that I can take my time and make sure that whatever links I put in, work and that I don't have any spelling mistakes because I am rushed.  Spelling mistakes drive me nuts especially when its related to your business (ugh I better triple check this blog entry!) Posting anything in a rush only shows that you don't have attention to detail.  You can schedule posts in your Facebook Page, Blogger you name it there is probably an Auto Scheduler for whatever you use. 

Isn't technology wonderful?  But do you get confused with all these Social Media mediums?  There's another great tool that you can use to keep them all organized.  There are great apps out there that allow you to link all your Social Media together.  So for example you can post on your blog and set up a gadget that will also automatically post to your Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn.  You don't have to worry about posting all separately.  I'm just going to write this blog entry and post it and in about 30 minutes later it will land in my LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook.

Has anyone ever asked you to like their Facebook page and they would like your's in return?  We've all done that I'm sure.  They are called Facebook Ladders.  I'm not a huge fan of this.  I know that I will probably get raked over the coals for this one but here goes.  Let's say for example that you make Christmas balls.  And that you belong to a Christmas ball club.  The people in your club suggested that you do a Facebook Ladder.  You have 250 people who follow your page.  Once you like another Christmas ball page your 250 followers will see that you like that page.  Some people might get confused and think that you are the same company and then they will also like it and before you know it, you have lost your annual order for 1000 Christmas balls because your best customer thought that they purchased it through you because you liked another page.  Ok maybe bad example but you get the point:)  You worked hard to get 250 followers you want to keep them.  Another thing to remember is that just because someone likes a page on Facebook doesn't necessarily mean they agree with it, maybe they are just following the page for interest sakes. 

Don't use acronyms that are common in your business.  Even though you know what they stand for, don't assume that your customers do.  For example:  "Get your May WOTM on sale now!"  Everyone who works with Scentsy knows WOTM means "Warmer of the Month" but to the average consumer they have no clue what this is.  Be clear and specific.

Do you have a Marketing Plan?  Make sure that you sit down and write out a plan.  Everyone needs a plan.  Even if your the only one that reads it, you need to have a goal or goals and how you will achieve your goals.  Think about the Canucks.  They get out and play hockey to win the game, but they have a plan on how they are going to achieve that.  The Coach draws out a plan and the players play it out.  Well they are supposed to lol :)  Your plan should be simple and to the point.  2 - 5 pages is fine.  It doesn't need to be fancy, just something that you can work with and understand.  This plan is not written in stone.  You can change it as you go.  Many people do that.

 

Remember, the main idea is to bring people to your website.  Drive traffic to your site. You can't purchase anything through Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.  

Notes:

• Always be professional, don't post anything on your personal or business pages that you don't want your customers to see
• Find out what your customers want
• Be interesting post to keep your audience
• Take your time, check for spelling, 
• Post quality content
• Autoschedule
• Have a game plan
• Drive traffic to your site