Branding

I have become fascinated with the concept of individual branding. Corporations have done it for decades, and it’s only become mainstream by celebrities over the past ten years or so, and still many are derided by critics for pushing their brand onto consumers or just being too full of themselves. But they are masters at marketing themselves (hence, their celebrity status) and for that I think we are all a little jealous.
But I want to concentrate on the microcosm of branding, for us regular folk, because in reality, we all have to brand ourselves nowadays. I don’t care how smart or talented we are, if we don’t stand up and toot our own horns, we aren’t going to be noticed. There are just too many horns blowing nowadays, and individually, we get lost in the cacophony.
I’m on the verge of re-entering the work force. When I left the job market to raise my first child in 2004, there was no Twitter and Facebook was still an infant.
Job searching was so much different than it is now. I’m trying to get a grasp on the new way of job searching, but sometimes it’s like I’m broke down in the middle of the road with faster, newer cars whizzing by me.
But this brings me around to the concept of branding again. So important is a person’s ability to market their abilities, education and experience as much as their niche, their brand.
I worry sometimes that the time that I took to raise my children will be considered a detriment, time away from the real work force, rather than an enriching experience that taught me patience and time management, taught me that I can manage and teach my “subordinates” (although they could be insubordinate at times).
I know that in order to go back into my chosen field of journalism, I’m going to have to start near the bottom. In about a year I will be going up against people at least ten years younger than me, people that also don’t have children who can probably climb the ladder faster than me because they don’t have family obligations.
Right now my brand is “mom,” maybe it won’t be such a bad label to go with.

Living Vicariously Through Other Bloggers

I’ve expanded my reading lately to include other blogs. It not only helps improve my own writing to see what else is out there, but an unexpected benefit is reading about the exploits of other people’s lives. Especially the single people.
I love being married, and after being in a committed relationship with my husband for the last 15 years, I forgot what it was like to be a single person.
To be honest, I’m glad I’m not. The game has changed so much. In the anonymity of the Internet, the dating game seems so much harsher. although I wish it were around 15 years ago, it would have been nice to get feedback on all the crappy dates I went on back then! Makes me wish I had kept a diary to recall all the mistakes I made I could share them with you. I’m sure I could recall a few if you are interested.
But reading other bloggers also helps me realize that I’m not alone when I feel like I’m the worst mom in the world, or if I want relationship or fashion advice. So, thank you fellow bloggers, your input is invaluable.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I’ve never been a been a big fan of Oprah, and I think her “List of Favorite Things” is kind of ridiculous, because the majority of her targeted demographic cannot afford most of the items she gets paid to peddle. Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to be a member of her audience that got it for free. But remember that one time she said how every woman MUST HAVE a pair of Louboutins, but then would turn around and have Suze Orman on to chastise women who weren’t saving for a rainy day? Many of us with limited discretionary income would rather just listen to Suze, thank you very much.

So here are some of my favorite things that won’t break the bank, but will make you feel like you spent a million bucks. By the way, I’m not getting paid for these endorsements:

Favorite Chocolate: Chuao Chocolatier, San Diego, CA http://www.chuaochocolatier.com/

When we lived in San Diego, I had the blessing of discovering this brand of Chocolates. They carry some of the bars here in Orange County in grocery stores, but the shops in UTC La Jolla , Encinitas or Del Mar are a must visit. Their Firecracker truffle is their signature creation. Caramel fudge, chipotle, salt & popping candy is a singular sensation you must experience.

Favorite Perfume/Cologne: Jo Malone http://www.jomalone.com

I have really bad allergies, so I resigned to a life sans perfume. When we came back to Orange County and visited my favorite place in the world, South Cost Plaza, I was immediately drawn into their beautiful, clean, gleaming boutique and the delicious scents floating out of it. Their colognes are made from pure essential oils, not synthetic scents, so I can not only enjoy smelling them, I can finally wear a scent again.  My favorites so far are English Pear & Freesia and Pomegranate Noir. If you go into the boutique, you can ask them for some samples if you are trying to find your signature scent. They will give you up to three for free.

Best Workout: Bikram Yoga http://www.bikramyoga.com to find classes world-wide

Working out in a room heated to 104 degrees is not for everyone. In fact, you would best consult your doctor if you have any health concerns. I am a devout Bikram student because the technique teaches the same 26 poses each and every class. I know that I can go to a class in any studio in any city and get a consistent yoga practice every time. Also, I can concentrate on deepening and improving my posture in each pose each time I practice. Hot yoga prevents straining your muscles during practice and the poses (asanas) themselves target anatomical functions to improve your respiratory and circulation systems and metabolism. Classes are between $15-$20. Look for http://www.yelp.com deals for big savings on class packages in your area.

Favorite Beauty Care: Aveeno

I have relied on Aveeno products for over 15 years now. One of the reasons I like them so much is that I can find them in just about any convenience store anywhere I go. Second, It’s affordable. When I was in college and wanted to take care of my skin, I depended on the affordability of these products.  And now that I am a stay at home mom and we still need to prioritize finances, I don’t feel like I’m taking away from something for my kids in order to take care of my own skin. I’m 38 but I get mistaken for early 30’s very often, so I know it is working well. My favorite line is Positively Radiant, especially the moisturizer with SPF 30. It has done a wonderful job at keeping my face, neck and chest from freckling and wrinkling. The upper chest area is one of the places that shows a woman’s true age. Keep it moisturized and keep it covered in sunblock, no matter where you live, but it is especially important in sunny climates like Southern California. Third, I I have very sensitive skin, and I do not like harsh chemicals on my skin. Aveeno is hypo-allergenic and soothes the skin. My new favorite product from Aveeno is the Positively Ageless Firming Body Lotion. I started using it about six months ago, and I swear it has significantly firmed up the skin on my thighs.

Favorite Hair Care: Organix

I was looking for a vanilla scented shampoo for awhile, and a few years ago stumbled upon Organix Vanilla Silk at a Ralph’s Fresh Fare store in San Diego. I used to have a hard time finding Organix products, but now that the line is expanding, they are pretty readily available at grocery and convenience stores. They are affordable too. The Vons in Laguna Niguel will often offer a 2 for 1 promotion and I stock up on different shampoos and conditioners then. My husband thinks I overdo it, but as a Leo woman, my hair (or should I say my mane) is my thing. The Vanilla Silk line smells so delicious, and my hair is so shiny after I use the silk protein serum (and much cheaper than BioSilk). I rarely get split ends. Other scents I’ve fallen in love with is Awaphui Ginger, Cherry Blossom Ginsing, and Acai Berry Avacado. For those of you who love a sleek blowout, their Brazilian Keratin Therapy works wonders and you don’t have to worry about harsh additives or straightening chemicals. Most shampoos and conditioners are around $7 each and I haven’t seen any product over $20.

I’ll add to this list, so keep an eye on this post for more updates.

New Direction (For Now)

Hi Readers,

I’m going in a new direction with this blog for now. I’ve always found it awkward to talk about my personal life, so I’ve decided to keep my blog alive by writing reviews and helpful hints about living in Orange County with kids. So, whether you live here or are planning to visit Southern California, I hope some of my posts will help.

Thanks for your continued support!

Aimee