Facebook

The truth is - people do use facebook! I admit, I was a skeptic. I did not want yet another place to update information and another virtual place to keep up with. However, my office mate Genya with Vue Photography and her studio manager Wesleyanne kept telling me to do it. So, half reluctantly, I did. Surprisingly enough though, it has been pretty fun. I have been in touch with some people I have not talked too in ages! I even was able to make a page for my business. So, if you want to look me up you can find me by typing in Sarah Beth Powers, or my business name Sarah Powers Media. If you have not signed up and want to see what the hoopla is about - well you have nothing to loose and it's free.

If you are a business owner, you can make a free business page. You never know who may find you!

I got an iPhone!

I had to write that title in all caps because it is really awesome! The iPhone has taken me hours to set up properly because I did not use my address book in my computer and such, so had to get my act together and set-up my phone how I wanted it. Let me tell you though, for any of you who have At&t (formerly Cingular) having an iPhone will only cost you $30/month to have web access.

Developers are making widgets for it everyday, so you have a resource of great little programs for your phone at your fingertips. You download them to your phone straight from iTunes.

For anyone with an iPhone (or anyone who is going to run out and buy one) here are my favorite widgets for my business thus far:

#1: SaiSuke
This lets me view and update my Google Calendar right from my phone. It also gives me options on how I view my calendar. I personnally like viewing a list of my events.

#2: MiGhtyDocs
I moved all of my documentation online and use Google Docs. This widget does not let me save or update my documents but I can view them. This is great if I need to review a production script, a contract, or invoice for some reason.

#3: Pandora
Not "really" work related, but I like to work while listening to cool music and Pandora exposes me to all different types of artists - and it's free!

#4: Google Mobile App
You can just speak into your iPhone to do searches. How cool. This is way better than typing it in!

#5: Say Where!
This let's you speak into your phone and say a place and name (like 411) and your phone will find it.

#6: Lose It
OK, I have not used this yet I just downloaded it. But I would like to be in better shape this year, and since I will be doing a lot of shooting on the beach in the spring, I'm hoping "lose it" will help me "lose it." Apparently you can track calories and workouts... not sure yet how great it is, but it looked cool.

That is a quick review thus far. I just got my phone yesterday. For pricing, it cost $199 for the 8 gb phone with a 2 year contract or $299 for the 16gb phone with a 2 year contract. It costs $175 to break the contract if you need too. You have to have the data plan with the phone - which means you will spend an additional $30/month. I have unlimited minutes because I never know how long I will be on the phone for. I had to ask for that, it is $99/month. So, after taxes and all, I will be paying about $150/month for Unlimited calling and Unlimited Internet.

Have a good one!!!

Jeweler for the Day Website is Live!

Sarah Powers Media had the fantastic opportunity to work with Joshua and Nick at their Design Studio at Creative Gems. Joshua and Nick create artistic, beautiful, and unique jewelry every day and help clients create their own custom jewelry. We were able to spend the day with them and create a virtual Jeweler for the Day program just for their clients.

This site is very different from our others, as in it does train and educate you on the jewelry making process. You will need to turn your speakers on, listen, and don't be afraid to use your mouse, this is one of the most interactive sites we have developed!

Thanks for Jeweler of the Day first goes to Creative Gems for giving us such a wonderful opportunity to build such a fun site! Second goes to Beth Yeselevige for graphic work and still photography of the tour. Next is Alex Dutton who helped me out with some Flash ActionScripting when it got a little hairy!

Along with visiting the virtual Jeweler for the Day site, check out their portfolio site at www.creativegemsinc.com.

Good times in the Pittsburgh Zoo

I'm on vacation in Pennsylvania visiting my family, so I thought it would be fun to take the gang to the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Apparently, this zoo is the 3rd most kid friendly zoo (I've just been told this - it may not be accurate)! It was big fun for the 4th of July weekend! Here's some photos of my family!

My bro Mike and his daughter Maggie (Mag Pie) checking out the lions.


Zack has some fun on the log flum and driving the jeep!


I think he's going to be pro soon!


There goes Dylan!




The kidos get to pet a cool snake.

There goes my dad, David, and Morgan.


Davy has his turn.

I think a gator was checking Davy out!



Dylan and Davy in the aquarium tunnel.


I think everyone had enough fun for one day! There goes my sister and Morgan. They are done for the day!


I fly out tomorrow and my sister's family thought they would stay the night in Pittsburgh so I offered up my hotel. I gave them the king bed, big enough for them I was hoping, and took up the hideaway for myself. I am not so sure I'll get much sleep tonight!

We're watching "Total Drama Island" on the Cartoon Network (their version of Survivor), we are currently on the 3rd show in a row - apparently there is a marathon. OK, I admit it, I am diggin' the show!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I guess staying busy is a good thing, but wow did we get busy!!! Though we would love to work on your projects, we are only able to take new website clients starting the 3rd week of July. Feel free to call us though so we can meet with you as soon as we get the chance. We want to be sure we can focus the necessary attention each project needs so we give the utmost quality and customer service to our clients. That said, we have been very busy working on some very cool client work and hope to place it on our website. We know we have not done a great job updating our blog because of our schedule- but we'll post some photos soon. Karen (copywriter extraordinaire) and I went to New York City the 3rd week of May to work with some very awesome people there that have the coolest non-profit agency that help kids develop in their early years of education. We'll write about that when we get the chance!

!!! UPDATE !!!

Check out IncludED's new website, videos, logo, and overall company branding!
www.includednyorg.com

Paperless Fax Machine!

I was speaking to my accountant Ben Golden awhile ago and he forwarded me some information about an online faxing service called Faxmicro. Faxmicro has online fax machine services starting as low as $4.95. The awesome part is that you do not need a fax machine or an extra line! Every aspect of faxing is done through a computer - someone can even send you a fax but you will receive it through email, not through a machine. Here are just some quick points that I copied from their website:

		Receive your faxes in your current Email address
		Fax broadcast; send faxes to multiple recipients
		Print-to-Fax software; fax files directly from the program you used to compose the file
		Online Control Panel; send faxes from any computer with an Internet connection
		Secure transmission and receipt; FaxMicro encryption keeps files confidential

Maybe someone will find this useful for their business!

Sarah

Beware!!!

I found the video below so disturbing that I just have to share it with anyone that visits my blog. Normally, I have really uplifting posts, or vacation posts, or client raves. This time though, I am going to share a video. Anyone that knows me knows that I love to travel. This will warn you about using the hotel glasses that are in your room. I will tell you that this video will gross you out if you have ever drank out of one.

Hotel Glasses Video

I promise my next post will be better! I just have to make sure people see this thing! It's crazy!

Sarah