Go Meet Some Great Guys

Everyone needs to check this out. The guys at Knoxville Overground are really doing a good job of connecting local "work-at-homers". If you work from home and would like to network, or if you need some office space occasionally. Give these guys a try. I've met them and they are SUPER friendly!!!

If you don't live or shop here...you will soon.

Missy

There's a Sucker Born Every Minute

Well, I guess I have to admit it...I have fallen prey. I'm not saying that I am above such things, but...I guess I am saying that I thought I was above such things. I don't consider myself a marketing genius by any means, but I do really make an effort to be aware. I actually think it's kind of fun. I make fun of my husband and daughter as they are sucked into every info-mercial on television. If I didn't watch them closely, the checking account would constantly be cleaned out due to "As Seen on TV" products. 

Anyway, here's what happened to me...the other day I had about 15 or 20 minutes to spare. My daughter and I stopped by the bookstore because I had been wanting to get a book on retail that I had heard about. I couldn't remember the author's name but I knew generally where the book should be and thought I would give it a shot. I go in and start scanning the business books, and low and behold....I'm attracted to the green books. Now by green I don't mean the books talking about the green industry, I mean literally the green books. This is something that I have been making fun of, marketers of everything from cereal to motor oil putting a green colored label on their product so the consumer will get the impression that the product is superior. Here I am...no better than a sheep. 

I hope that I am able to take this experience and learn from it. What do you guys say about this? Take a look in your pantry, or look at the magazines you've purchased recently. Is there a color trend? Don't let me be the only sucker out there!!!

If you don't shop or live here...you will.

Missy

The Promised Review!

Well, first I really have to tell you guys I am sorry. I promised a while back that I was going to give you a book review, and I have been a real slacker. I haven't REALLY been a slacker because I have been very busy with work, which is a good thing, but I have been a slacker as far as reading great books goes. So here goes, my first official book review. 

Here's the back story ('cause it's kind of funny). Not long after I started my blog I got an email from a publisher asking me if I would review one of their new books. "What?" I said, "Are you kidding me? There's nothing in this world I would rather do than review a book!!" If my only job in the world was to sit around and read books, I would be one happy camper!! My husband makes fun of me because I'm either reading on the internet or reading books. I love to learn new things and every time he asks me a question that I don't know the answer to I'm looking it up and reading about it. I can spend an entire afternoon just hanging out at the bookstore. So when I started a blog and then got a free book in the mail to talk about....well, he thought he had lost me forever. But then a funny thing happened, it got warm and the business got busy! I couldn't read my book! Then he started asking me about it every day. "Have you reviewed your book?" I kept telling him I was getting to it....So here's my first review:

I'm an East Tennessee girl through and through. My parents were both born here. My father's parents were born here. My mother's parents were born in Georgia and Texas but were proud to call Tennessee their adoptive home. I've thought a few times of leaving, just to see what else is out there, but I don't think it's going to happen. We really have it all here. Just look at all of the University of Tennessee students who come here for school and never leave. 

William E. Hardy is a doctoral student at the University of Tennessee. He got his bachelor and master degrees from the University of Louisville, so I'm not sure if he is one of those transplants, but I think East Tennessee is in his blood now. According to the book jacket, he is a grant manager for the East Tennessee Historical Society. Now he has written a book titled, "Historic Photos of Knoxville". At first glance this looks like a really good coffee table book...then you open it up. Wow! What a wonderful pictorial history of our "Scruffy Little City". 

When you've lived here all of your life you feel like you've seen most of the pictures of Knoxville, but this book has some unusual photographs that I dare say haven't been seen in years. My 11 year-old daughter has really enjoyed the book, too. So, if you're new to Knoxville this is a great way to learn some history. If you've lived in Knoxville your whole life....I don't have to tell you, you already understand.

The history starts is 1859 and works its way up to 1982. That's a lot of history for one book. Don't expect a lot a background to go with the shots. I don't think you would be able to pick up the book if it had a story to go with every picture!! After all, this book is a history in PHOTOS, not words. Having only the photos is a great conversation starter, especially if you have someone older in your group. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little review. I hope some of you order "Historic Photos of Knoxville". I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

Quick Post About a Giveaway

For any of you guys in retail, my friend Debi Kennedy has posted a giveaway for a book she said we all need to read. Go here and post a comment to see if you win the book. If you win you have to let me read it when you finish.

You are now returned to your regular programming...

Keepin' it in the 'Hood

Do you REALLY realize what all you can do without ever leaving the stretch along South Northshore Drive? Take a look around as you drive down Northshore and around Rocky Hill. I guess I thought about this one day last week when I had to go to my mother's house in Maryville. I felt like I was going to Florida! How long had it been since I had gone beyond my little community? Had I missed anything? I don't think so. It was really funny, because I get on here and tell people to shop local, but sometimes I really don't even think about it. I just do it, because it fits my schedule. The only thing I can't find in this little area is the coffee I drink, so I have to go down the road for that. Day to day, I find I can stay right her and be really happy. I hope everyone else is just as happy as I am. From the looks of the traffic yesterday afternoon, I think everyone has the same idea as me!!!

Oh, I got a great book from a publisher the other day. It is about Knoxville and they have asked me to review it for them. Since I am enjoying it so much, I think I will review it on both of my blogs. Look for that next week. It is filled with great pictures of KnoxVegas back in the day. Stay tuned!

If you don't shop or live here...you will.

Missy

Are You Going Green?

Green, green, green. Is it a fad? I will admit to wondering about some of it. Honestly, there are as many stories against it as for it. It does seem a little funny that snow seems to follow Al Gore around these days. 

I can remember being a little girl in the 70's and hearing all about the "Energy Crisis". I didn't really understand much about it at that time. I remember a commercial telling people to push the gas pedal on their car as if there was an egg between their foot and the pedal. I tried to find that on uTube but couldn't... I also remember talk of turning out lights when you left a room. Then we got the '82 World's Fair in Knoxville, and suddenly everyone wanted a solar panel on top of their house. I don't know about you, but I don't remember too many stories about that working out well. 

Now everything is GREEN! I work in an industry where green is a big deal, so I have been studying up on it lately. Maybe this is the way to go? Now, I still think there is a bunch of trendy garbage out there associated with this green movement, but I'm starting to see the good in a lot of it. It looks like instead of just running PSAs about going green, people are getting organized. The building industry is a prime example. I'm just starting to really dig into this subject, so I don't know enough at this time to speak with any authority, but it looks like I will be learning more. I would love to know what others think about this. Feel free to comment!!!

If you don't live or shop here...you will.

Missy

Second Friday Networking

I don't know if you guys listen to talk radio much, but my husband got me hooked on it. I enjoy it sometimes when I'm spending a lot of time in the car or working from home. It makes me feel like I'm not so isolated.

OK, anyway, that doesn't really have anything to to do with this post....Phil Williams from WNOX is on weekday afternoon drivetime. He is doing a thing now in connection with Everything West Magazine* called Second Fridays with Phil. This week it was a networking opportuntiy at Northshore Brasserie**. They had someone doing some small business seminars. I didn't have time to go to the seminar, but I did stop in and have a drink and mingle a little. I think it went pretty well. As I was driving up Northshore on my way there, Phil Williams was doing a commercial for a countertop company and talking about wanting an outdoor kitchen. So, I went in the door and gave Phil my card and told him to give us a call. In return, he gave me a little plug during the remote. Thanks Phil. That right there was worth the 45 minutes I spent hanging out at the bar. 

So, I did a little networking , had a cocktail, talked to some friends....all harmless. 

If you don't live or shop here...you will.

Missy

* We advertise in Everything West and have been extremely happy with our results. Tom & Judy, the owners, are very small business friendly. They really go out of their way to make their advertisers happy. Give them a call and see what they can do for you. Tell them you heard about them from me.

**If you aren't eating here....what is WRONG with you. Northshore Brasserie is incredible! Brian & Stephanie are a brother/sister team who will make you feel like an old friend as soon as you walk in the door. We love them so much we spent Thanksgiving there eating some out of this world food. Check out their website. They have some great specials throughout the week.