Blog - Life in the DayngrZone

4 Helpful Tips for Bringing Out Your Inner Creative

{ April 18, 2019 } - Trish

Hey bloggers, let’s face it. We’ve all been there. Whether it’s writer’s block or lack of inspiration sometimes you need a little help bringing out your inner creative. If this sounds familiar, here are 4 helpful tips.

4 Helpful Tips For Bringing Out Your Inner Creative

1. Brainstorm

You can do it by yourself or you can do it with some creative friends. Make it a habit!

Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm and set time aside to do it! Grab your planner and schedule some time to sit and come up with ideas.
Give yourself permission to experiment. There’s no such thing as a bad idea. Remember, someone, somewhere pitched Sharknado.
Write every idea you have down. The more ideas you have, the more options you have.

2. Get Outside

Goethe once said, if nature is your teacher, your soul will awaken. I believe that.

Take a brain break. Step outside and get some fresh air – even if it’s just right outside your door, standing on the porch while the dogs howl.
Go for a leisurely walk. There’s something about nature that just soothes the soul and resets creativity.

If nature is your teacher, your soul will awaken. – Goethe

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3. Have a Few Creative Outlets

Seems like common sense stuff right? But how are you feeding your creativity? What creative outlets do you currently have?

Read a good book.
Watch a great movie.
Take a class (think photography, painting, drawing, music, etc).

4. Live Life

You’re probably going to find it easier to be creative if you’re going out and living life to the fullest. Or, fuller than you are right now. Say yes, to new experiences.

Travel whenever possible. Even if that means exploring the next town over.
Go to a cultural event. This opens you up to richer, life experiences.
Surround yourself with a diverse group of friends. Having friends from different cultures and friends who speak different languages really broadens your horizons and changes the way you see the world.

I hope you’ve found some value in the tips I’ve shared. These are some of what’s worked for me over the years and I’m sure if you try a few you’ll find yourself back in the swing of things in no time!

What are some of your favorite ways to get your creative juices flowing again? What would you add to this blog post? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

What the Heck Are Hashtags and How Do I Use Them?

{ April 14, 2019 } - Trish

If you’re new to social media, you’re probably wondering what the heck hashtags are and do I use them effectively. You’re in luck! In this blog post, I’m going to cover those questions and so much more!

What The Heck Are Hashtags?

Hashtags assign topics to your posts, status updates, and articles. Using the pound sign # {or hash} on a social network {think Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and even Facebook}, turns any word or group of words that directly follow it, into a searchable link, allowing you to organize content and track discussion topics based on those keywords. That means, if you wanted to post about your visit to NYC like I did above, you would include #NYC in your status update to join the conversation. Click on any hashtag to see all the posts that mention that topic/subject in real-time.

How to Format Your Hashtags

The first thing you should know is that you don’t want to use spaces – even if your hashtag contains multiple words. But you do want to differentiate those words by using upper and lower case. For example, Pen Island would look better, and make much more sense, as #PenIsland than as #penisland, don’t you agree? Uppercase letters won’t alter your search results so people searching for #abc will get the same results as people searching for #ABC.

Numbers are supported, so #EasyAs123 works. Sadly, punctuation marks are not supported. So commas, periods, exclamation points, question marks, and apostrophes are out. While you’re at it, skip asterisks, ampersands and any other special characters.

There Are No Presets

There isn’t a master list of hashtags, but you can search your social networks {and search engines} to see if there’s a hashtag already in use for a particular subject or topic. You can even check services like HashAtIt, Hashtagify, and Hashtags.org. Remember, every time you add a hashtag in front of a word or phrase, you’re creating a hashtag. Try it out!

How You Can Use Hashtags

Hashtags are supported on Twitter {where they started}, Instagram, Pinterest, and even Facebook, now. There are so many different ways you can use hashtags, the possibilities are almost endless. However, I wanted to give you a few ways you can use them, along with a few tips.

Don’t forget, hashtags turn words into searchable links
Always start with a # and leave out spaces
Use upper and lowercase to differentiate words
Use them during conferences and events
Use them in conversations around specific topics
Use them for Twitter Chats
Use them during television shows (#CNN, #GreysAnatomy, #JurassicWorld)
Hashtags can be used anywhere within your post or update
Use them to find like-minded individuals
Use them to find people discussing the topics you’re interested in
Use them to create a following for your brand/blog/business
Use them to complement photos you share on Instagram (This helps you discover new accounts and pick up followers)
Use them to show off your personality, brand voice or tone
Use them for fun!

Again, these are just a few ways you can use hashtags while you’re using social media. What would you add to this article to help people trying to understand hashtags? How are you using hashtags? Let me know in the comments below!

Experience a Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Tour

{ August 1, 2018 } - Trish

One of the best parts of coastal living and life along the Crystal Coast is getting to experience a wild horse and dolphin scenic tour anytime we want. My kids and I are big nature lovers, so any chance to see wildlife in a natural setting is just magical.

Shackleford-Banks, NCPS, Wild-Ponies, Crystal-Coast-Lady, Island-Express-Ferry Service, Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour

One stallion challenging another – often used to intimidate an opponent to prevent a fight. © NCPS

Why See Less, When You Can See It All!

My friend, Captain George, owns and operates Beaufort’s largest, most comfortable cruise vessel, the Crystal Coast Lady. He offers regularly scheduled opportunities for locals and visitors to experience their Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour. If you’ve never sailed with Captain George or you’ve never seen the wild horses and dolphins, add this to your list of things to do while you’re in Beaufort.

If you’ve never been aboard, the Crystal Coast Lady has a fully enclosed top deck (so you can enjoy your cruise without worrying about the weather), plenty of outside seating, a fully stocked galley on each deck, bathrooms on each level and a climate controlled cab on the main salon. I’ve had some tasty treats when I’ve been on board.

Finger food aboard Crystal Coast Lady, Crystal Coast Lady Food, Wild Horse Tour Food, Dolphin Cruise Food

Experience a Wild Horse and Dolphin Scenic Tour

The wild horse and dolphin scenic tour is a 15 mile, fully narrated tour. On it you’ll cruise by Carrot Island and the Rachel Carson Reserve, you’ll see the NC State Port, Blackbeard’s House, Beaufort’s historical homes, high-rise and drawbridges, Duke Marine Lab, Fort Macon, USCG Station, Radio Island, the Morehead City Waterfront, as well as big beautiful yachts from all over the world with a good chance of seeing the Wild Banker Ponies and Atlantic Bottle-Nose Dolphins. Pony and dolphin sightings are typical but obviously not guaranteed, but either way, you’ll have such a good time.

wild-dolphin, Island-Ferry-Express, Crystal-Coast-Lady, Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tour

Atlantic Bottle-nose Dolphins frequently swim beside the Crystal Coast Lady as you cruise.© NCPS

I’d highly recommend you make reservations rather than trying to pay at the pier. This cruise fills up. Also, you can book just a dolphin scenic tour or just a wild horse tour but why not have it all?

Pick Your Own Tour with The Crystal Coast Lady

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises
600 Front St
Beaufort, NC. 28516

Phone: (252) 728-8687

Website: Crystal Coast Lady

Beautiful Wedding Invitations for the Modern Bride

{ July 31, 2018 } - Trish

My wedding story was quite an amazing one and my invitations weren’t exactly what I’d dreamed of all my life. That doesn’t have to be your story though. If you’re a soon-to-be modern bride that’s chic, independent, and knows what she wants, then Basic Invite is going to be your new bestie!

Let’s be honest, even the savviest prepared brides can get overwhelmed with the tasks, the choices, and the budget. Luckily, being a modern bride also means having resources at your fingertips which can help put some stress at bay. From wedding blogs to online vendors and even social media for opinions and support, the endless resources today’s world provides help brides stay on track and make well-informed decisions easily.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Basic Invite

As a truly modern girl, I’ve teamed up with an online stationery design company, Basic Invite, to give you a peek inside the world of online wedding invitation design just perfect for the modern bride.

Shopping online, designing online, and ordering online is time-saving and simple, but in order to be the most effective in your online invitation journey – you also want to be prepared.

So, for any brides searching for wedding invitations – look no further! Basic Invite has you covered and they’re bringing you three of their favorite modern methods for the ultimate wedding invitation suite – modern bride style.

Seal and Send Invites for the Modern Bride

The newest and most impressive wedding invitations are hands down, the Seal and Send. These are an all-in-one, foldable wedding invitation with a tear-off rsvp postcard included. Guest addresses are pre-printed onto the front of these invites so that no envelope is needed! All you have to do is fold, seal, add a stamp, and send! No envelope licking, no envelope stuffing, and no handwritten addressing!

All Matching Everything

Even some of the most modern couples opt for a more traditional wedding invitation, but to take this old-school style and spin it into the most beautiful invitation – choose a single design and match, match, match!

Basic Invite has over 900 wedding invitation designs from clear to foil and everything in between. Rather than sending out a save the date, followed by an invitation, and some enclosure cards that sort of go together, order a full matching wedding suite with a matching rsvp, save the date, and enclosures for a clean, cohesive look.

Wedding Websites

Wedding websites are a great way to keep things modern and organized when it comes to wedding plans and your invitations specifically. There is no substitute for a hand-delivered invitation straight off the press, but for real-time updates and extra special details, wedding rsvp websites are a great tool. Not to mention, 100% FREE! We call that an added bonus.

Choose a design that matches your wedding invitation or compliments your style. Upload a gallery of images, write a little love story, and invite your guests to upload their contact information instantly through your wedding website. You can even provide day-of details like maps, directions, and accommodation info to keep your guests in the loop right up to the moment you say “I do.”

Sweet friends, whether you had a vision already in mind or the search for invites is finally on, head over to Basic Invite for modern affordable wedding invitations you and your guests will love! Best of all, they’re offering 15% off everything sitewide which means even if you’re not a bride-to-be, you can shop thank you notes, business cards, personal stationery, and so much more at a discounted rate! I know all you stationery enthusiasts will appreciate that!

I can’t wait to hear what you think about Basic Invite and whether or not you take advantage of their 15% discount. Be sure to let me know in the comments below. Happy shopping and if you’re planning on heading down the aisle in the near future, congrats to you!

Hello from Blog Life University 2017

{ September 21, 2017 } - Trish

I’m spending the latter part of this week at the 2017 Blog Life University Conference and I can’t wait to share all the key takeaways from the conference with you later, right here on the blog.

If we met at the conference, welcome! I’m a blogger just like you. I’ve been blogging since 1997 and I’m really excited to share my passion with you the NC Blogger Network.

If you love blogging as much as I do, and you love connecting with other blog bosses just like you, then you’re going to love the NC Blogger Network.

Whether you’re a fashionista or a foodie, new to blogging or a veteran, NC Blogger Network’s got something for everyone – and for every type of blogger. I look forward to welcoming you to our community! We’ve got what you need to succeed.

Blog Life University 2017 Attendees – Grab Your Discount!

It’s all about building community and connecting with your tribes, you know, like minded-bloggers, so I’d love to offer you a discount on our annual membership. Use code BLOGLIFEU now through Monday, 9/25 and get $10 off our annual membership.

About The NC Blogger Network

NC Blogger Network is North Carolina’s premier community for bloggers. We bring bloggers together for events, education, networking and paid opportunities working with relevant brands! Membership to the NC Blogger Network is based on an annual subscription.

Our goal at the NC Blogger Network is to create a strong state-wide community of bloggers working together to support and encourage each other through our network. It is also our goal to provide our members with paid opportunities working with brands they know and love.

About Blog Life University 2017 and What We’ll Be Sharing

Blog Life University 2017 is THE Conference to Learn How to Take Your Blog from Hobby to Business.

These speakers are experts in their fields and ready to share with you their secrets to success. Scroll down to read about each session – you definitely don’t want to miss!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome with Melissa Llado
9:15 – 10:15 am – Getting Paid What Your Worth Through Working With Brands by Jenny Melrose
10:15 – 11:15 am – Organizing Your Day for Maximum Productivity with Aaronica Cole
11:15 – 11:30 am – BREAK
11:30 – 12:30 pm – Expanding Your Reach With Podcasting by Nicole Culver
12:30 – 1:30 pm – LUNCH
1:30 – 2:30 pm – Make Your Photos POP Without Breaking the Bank by Tiffany Dahle
2:30 – 3:30 pm – Jumping Into Videography WithOUT the Fancy Equipment by Christina Patterson
3:30 – 4:00 pm – BREAK
4:00 – 5:00 pm – Grow Your List to Maximize Your Income with Kirsten Thompson
5:00 – 5:30 pm – Closing Remarks with Melissa Llado

Friday, September 22, 2017

9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome with Melissa Llado
9:15 – 10:15 am – Massively Grow Facebook to New Heights with Rachel Miller
10:15 – 11:15 am – Pin It and Win It…Traffic That Is with Cynthia Rusincovitch
11:15 – 11:30 am – BREAK
11:30 – 12:30 pm – The Art of Affiliate Marketing with Dollie Freeman
12:30 – 1:30 pm – LUNCH
12:00 – 6:00 pm – Brand Expo Open
3:00 – 4:00 pm – Protecting Your Financial Future- Creating a Business Budget with Iyanna Vaughn
4:00 – 5:00 pm – Building Abundance Through Product Launches with Becky Mansfield
5:00 – 5:30 pm – Closing

Blog Life University 2017’s Sessions and Speakers

Jenny Melrose takes you behind the scenes of working directly with brands to increase your sponsored post rates.
Becky Mansfield is sharing all about launching a product successfully to increase your income.
Melissa Crenshaw Llado will walk you through adding income through an online store.
Aaronica Bell Cole knows all about increasing your hourly rate by maximizing your productivity and she’s sharing all of her secrets with us!
NC Blogger Network member, Tiffany Dahle, takes amazing photos and she’s going to show you how to take gorgeous pictures without spending tons of money on expensive equipment.
Beloved Women with Christina Patterson started her video blogging with just her phone and she’s going to show you all of her tips and tricks to getting started with video easily.
Nicole Culver is all about increasing your reach with podcasting…growing your audience will bring in more income and she’s going to show you how.
Cynthia Rusincovitch is sharing her secrets to building and organizing your email list for maximum return on investment.
Rachel Miller is a guru at growing your business through Facebook and she’s diving deep with massively growing your Facebook page.
Dollie Freeman knows how to boost your affiliate commissions even if you’ve never done affiliates before…learn the ART of affiliate marketing to substantially increase your income.
Iyanna Vaughn is going to wrap up the conference by showing you HOW to protect your financial future and organize your blogging finances so you can reap the rewards of growing your online business.

Let’s Keep In Touch

I look forward to connecting with you, welcoming you to the NC Blogger Network and I hope you’ll stay tuned for those session recaps and key takeaways.

Help Carolina Locals During the One Warm Coat Drive

{ December 1, 2016 } - Trish

One Warm Coat Drive

Hey friends! I’m a big fan of getting involved at a local level so this year, one of the non-profit organizations I’m on the board for is encouraging everyone who can to donate a new or gently used coat this Winter.

Why Coats?

Health experts report that even a 2-degree drop in body temperature results in reduced heart rate, loss of coordination, and confusion. Adults cannot work effectively and children find it difficult to learn. For most, a warm coat solves the problem. But, for the nearly 15% of Americans living in poverty, a warm winter coat is a budget “extra.”

Did you know?

15% of seniors live in poverty
3.5 million people experience homelessness each year
One in five children is living in poverty

You Can Help Carolina Locals During the One Warm Coat Drive

Gateway Western Carteret Community Alliance and the Crystal Coast Christmas Festival have teamed up with One Warm Coat this holiday season to help our local community members in need. This is such a sweet way to help someone in need, right here in our community, this holiday season.

You can donate a new or gently used coat during the Festival (Dec 2 – 11) and your contributions will go to a local domestic violence center and a local homeless shelter.

You can also bring in canned goods as well, contributions will also go to our local shelters.

Cans and One Warm Coat Drive and Drop Off Location:

The Market At Cedar Point
1046 Cedar Point Blvd
Cedar Point, North Carolina

For more info call (910) 330-7937 or (252) 285-6606

About One Warm Coat

One Warm Coat works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need. We encourage people to keep others warm by donating a new or gently used coat.

One Warm Coat is a national non-profit organization that assists in the donation of coats. We help individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country collect coats and deliver them to local agencies that distribute them free, to people in need.

Key Facts and Figures

WHAT THEY DO ANNUALLY

Support over 3,000 Coat Drive Ambassadors by:

Providing free instructions, materials, tools and resources
Hosting and maintain a searchable database of coat drive events across North America

Assist community nonprofit agencies by:

Listing them on their searchable database
Assisting them in receiving needed coats

Work with business and brands to:

Engage employees and customers in giving warmth
Develop and support marketing goals and initiatives

WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED

They have focused on one specific need for 22 years allowing us to:

Support more than 20,000 coat drives to date
Expand to support coat drives held in all 50 states & 10 countries
Collect over four million coats providing over four million people with warmth

Keep their expenses low (with an average cost of .50 per coat) allowing them to:

Use our funds efficiently with 95% of every $1 supporting our programs
Provided over 300,000 children with new coats of their own

If you have gently used coats and jackets you’re no longer using or no longer need, please pass them on to someone who desperately needs them this Christmas. You can drop them off now through December 11th.

Thanks in advance!

Date Night at Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, NC

{ March 13, 2016 } - Trish

We all have these restaurants we never notice until we’re on our way to somewhere else, right? Well, Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, North Carolina, has been that place for me for quite a while now. From what I can tell, they’ve been open for almost 2 years now, but for some reason, they never come to mind when the hubby and I are ~~fighting~~ discussing where to go for dinner.

The stars finally aligned for me to try out Nu Asian Bistro when a good friend of mine invited us to a sushi dinner date. Turns out she had been there many times before, and it’s one of her go-to places! It was fate. Fate for a sushi date. Fate for a sushi date with some of my mates. Feel free to stop me anytime here.

Great Food and Deals

Now on to the good stuff – We happened to go on a Thursday night which also happens to be one of their BOGO sushi nights! Finally, I could try different kinds of sushi without it costing me an arm and a leg. I’m usually a Shrimp Tempura Roll kinda gal (which, of course, I got because it’s my favorite), but I also got their Volcano Roll, which I was very excited to try. Both were AMAZING, and I almost couldn’t finish them both (I said almost).

My Volcano Roll even looked like a volcano which I loved. I admired it for a total of 5 seconds before I destroyed it. Our friends got an undeniably large platter of sushi rolls that put my little plate to shame, and they loved their choices as well. If you don’t like sushi, they also offer many other dishes, including a special Thai menu that is out of this world. I’ll definitely be sampling that one soon. The hubs isn’t a fan of sushi, but he was super pleased with his Teriyaki Beef. I almost regretted not getting it, but we’re married so of course, I stole a bite or two or three.

As if the night wasn’t perfect enough with our BOGO sushi rolls, the dinner gods continued to shine down on us with $5 martinis… need I say more? There were four of us in our group, so we asked the waitress to surprise us with four different martinis. We spent the evening sampling almost their entire menu of martinis – Death by Chocolate, Sour Apple, Washington Apple – you name it, we probably tried it.

My Favorite Picks at Nu Asian Bistro

My personal favorite was the Lemon Drop Martini complete with sugar on the rim. The Sour Apple was a close second. This chocolate lover was sure the Death by Chocolate martini would rock my world, but I suppose I’m just not a big fan of chocolate with my alcohol. Martinis and sushi; this is my heaven, I’m sure of it! The service was great as was the atmosphere of this cute little restaurant. It’s complete with some nice, low lighting to really set the mood before you chow down on some delicious food.

Perfect Date Night at Nu Asian Bistro in Jacksonville, NC

We had a great time for our first trip to Nu Asian Bistro! Yummy food, great friends, good atmosphere – it was the perfect date night. I may or may not have had one too many martinis… But hey, who I am kidding, it was totally worth it. Word on the street is they have BOGO sushi rolls Monday through Thursday, and different drink specials pretty often! We’ll definitely be returning to NU Asian Bistro for my sushi fix, but also to try some of my other Asian favorites like Mongolian Beef or a Thai Stir Fry. YUM.

If you’re new to the area or a local and haven’t tried this spot yet, Nu Asian Bistro should be on your list of places to have lunch or dinner. You can find them the next time you visit Jacksonville, NC at:

Nu Asian Bistro
2100 N Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546

Loved this post? See more great finds along my Crystal Coast.

What are your favorite local restaurants in North Carolina? Do you have any places you love or haven’t gotten around to trying yet? I’d love to know what tickles your fancy so I can add some new places to my slew of places to visit. Help a sister out.

A Cardinal on the Crystal Coast

{ February 23, 2016 } - Trish

Moving to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast has given the kids and I so many more opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife, especially birds like the Cardinal. All along the Crystal Coast, there are great places for bird watching and if you have a bird feeder like we do, you already know this!

cardinal, winter cardinal, cardinal in snow

The Cardinal is One of Our Favorites

One of our local favorites is the Cardinal. It also happens to be North Carolina’s state bird. Did you know they’re also known as cardinal-grosbeaks and cardinal-buntings? The sexes usually have distinctive appearances with males being bright red, like the one above, and females being a rusty brown.

Swansboro Cardinal, Cardinal, Crystal Coast Birds

Beautiful Cardinal enjoying a little Winter weather in Swansboro, NC.

The kids’ dad snapped the photo above on his phone from the window while he was in Swansboro. It was a brisk Winter morning but the birds don’t seem to mind at all. Of course, we do notice a whole lot of activity at the feeders during the Winter, most likely because it’s harder to find seeds and berries.

Have you ever wondered what a Cardinal sounds like? You can listen to a Cardinal’s song right here. Enjoy!

Inviting Cardinals to Your Yard

cardinals feeding, female cardinal, cardinals and bird feeder

If you’d like to encourage Cardinals to visit your backyard, you can help by supplying some of their favorites like seeds, insects (you can buy mealworms), and berries. That’s what we do. Their diet is quite varied. Most home and garden stores will have a wide variety of seed selections perfect for Cardinals.

Bird in snow, Female Cardinal, cardinal in a snowy tree

Our favorite place to shop for all things bird-related, including seed, is a sweet little shop in Atlantic Beach that acts as a dual purpose store. It’s Kites Unlimited and Bird Stuff, etc. That’s literally the name!

I love that store so much and so do my kids. We’ve been popping in there since we moved here in 2012 and we still enjoy stopping in whenever we’re in Atlantic Beach. It’s one of those stores where there’s always something new to see and they’re so knowledgable about birds.

Kites Unlimited and Bird Stuff, Etc.
1010 W Fort Macon Rd
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina 28512

(252) 247-7011

What’s your favorite bird? Is it one that’s local to you? Kick off the conversation in the comments.

DayngrZone Media Expands to Work with Bloggers and Brands

{ September 14, 2015 } - Trish

I’m so excited to finally share my big news with you! Did you know North Carolina has its own Blogger Network? Founded in the summer 2014, the NC Blogger Network {NCBN} was created as a way to unite North Carolina based bloggers and help them build a better blogging community.

I’m proud to announce that I’ve taken ownership of NC Blogger Network and look forward to helping the community grow. If you’ve ever wanted to learn about blogging or join the thriving and active community, check out NC Blogger Network. NCBN provides education, sponsored campaigns, networking events, and conferences for members.

Expanding our Agency – The Big Benefit For You

If you’re already working with me through DayngrZone Media, my network just grew that much larger. If you’ve been looking to promote your business, product or brand throughout North Carolina, NCBN provides the perfect opportunity to do so. NCBN offers a variety of sponsorship and advertising opportunities.

The North Carolina Blogger Network’s bloggers are seasoned bloggers covering lifestyle topics such as the fashion, beauty, parenting, health, wellness, food, travel and tourism niches – and their audience is far-reaching.

If you’re a blogger, (or know one) or you’re interested in getting started blogging, you can join through the end of September using our discount code, and receive a 10% discount off membership. Just contact me and I’ll send you the code.

The East Coast NC Lifestyle Brand

Another exciting addition to our portfolio is the East Coast NC (ECNC) lifestyle brand. Through it we have a variety of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available as well. When you team up with DayngrZone Media, you also have the power of these two brands to choose from.

I’m thrilled to head up the NCBN team as well as the team at ECNC, and I look forward to all the big changes ahead and ways to better serve you!

Interested in Working with Us?

If you’re interested in having me find the right blogger for your brand, I’d love to help! If you’re more interested in digital marketing, advertising, design or social media for your business, contact me and let’s get started. I’d love to discuss what I have to offer and how I can help you.

Free Marketing Resources

Whether you’re ready to work with me or not, I’ve got plenty of FREE marketing resources here on our website, and on my Twitter account and Facebook page. Pick your favorite place to follow along and enjoy!

Thank You

Thanks so much for being a part of my network. I look forward to working with you and hearing from you soon!

The Influenster TLC VoxBox

{ July 12, 2014 } - Trish

Brands love it when consumers try their products and share their opinions. Social media is a great way for brands to get direct feedback from consumers, and folks like us, who might like their products. One way that they do this is by teaming up with public relations firms or with companies who specialize in blogger outreach.

Influenster is one such company. Recently they sent me their TLC VoxBox for the Moms of the Influenster Nation to try our a few great products. I love surprises and there’s nothing better than getting a surprise box, filled with items to sample in the mail.

Here’s what was in my TLC VoxBox:

A Shell rewards card good for gas discounts. Can’t wait to try this!
A coupon for a free Breyers Gelato Indulgences so we can give it a try. Yum!
Puffs to Go, Which I always carry with me in my purse. My kids and I have seasonal allergies.
Neosporin’s Neo to Go, another staple. I have one in the car and now, one in my purse. I’m a mom and my kids are typical kids.
A beautiful bar of Ivory Soap. Years ago my doctor recommended I use Ivory, and I do! So it’s nice to have this bar on hand.
Avon’s Anew Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother. This is something I’ve never tried, so I’m looking forward to it – even though I don’t have any wrinkles yet.

Here’s how you can reach these brands:

Shell Fuel Rewards Network [affiliate link] Tweet them at @Shell_US using #FuelRewards
Breyers Gelato Indulgences Tweet them at @Breyers using #GelatoLove
Puffs to Go Tweet them at @Puffs using #PassthePuffs
Neosporin Neo to Go Tweet about their products using #NeoReady
Ivory Bar Soap Tweet them at @Ivory using #SudLife
Avon Anew Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother Tweet them at @AvonInsider using #AvonANEW

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you thought about them. Are you part of any blogger outreach programs? Which would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below! Also, If you’d like to become an Influenster too, let me know and I will send you an invite code from my account. Win/Win!