Happy Meals ban in Santa Clara County - latimes.com

What is our country coming too? What is the government thinking by controlling what me and my kids eat. I understand that people need to become more conscience of what they eat, but there is no way in heck the government should be telling me I can't have a friggin' Happy Meal! He-l-lo Big Government! Start looking at yourselves and the dept you're in and stop controlling my life! What are your thoughts?

Happy Meals ban in Santa Clara County - latimes.com

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More from Eyjafjallajokull - The Big Picture - Boston.com

What incredible photos! While we were experiencing earthquakes in California, Iceland was dealing with this ashy mess. One of my co-workers was visiting France and had to stay an extra couple of days due to the explosive cloud of ash impeding plane travel. From France, she took a train to Spain, where she was able to fly home. Artists and musicians had to cancel or postpone trips to the U.S. due to this event. Our earth is constantly changing; sometimes it's good to have a reminder that we are simply visitors on this planet...

-Rachele

More from Eyjafjallajokull - The Big Picture - Boston.com

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Great Post on That's Fit

Great Post on That's Fit

How to Market Smart

Things You'll Need:
* Prospect List
* Client List
* Opt-outs or Unsubscribes
* Third Party Mailing List Management Company (optional)

Have you ever received multiple "new customer" credit card offers for a card you already carry? How about "new customer" offers for you current internet or cable company? Amazingly enough, companies are forgetting to update their prospect lists with their client list. Not only is this a waste of time and money for that company, but it makes the customer feel less then special knowing they are just a name on a list. Maybe you are that company, sending out offers to existing clients without even realizing it. Follow these simple steps and you can start marketing smart and reducing cost.

Step 1: "Scrub" your prospect lists. This means removing current customers, duplicate mailings, and deleting unsubscribes and opt-outs. Yes, it may be time consuming but in the end it saves you money and resources.

Step 2: Review your target criteria and scrub your lists again. Are you marketing to 20 somethings but have prospects over 40 or visa verse? Remove those prospects who don't meet your current criteria or marketing strategy.

Step 3: Value your time and hire a 3rd party mailing list management company. Many direct mail service companies offer mailing list management services. Do your research and look for companies who are willing to update your lists at least every 90 days as well as pass it through the National Change of Address database. A good company will do your additions and deletions for you as well as use USPS approved software

Warnings: When hiring a 3rd party company be sure to research their privacy standards. If you have sensitive customer data, you want to ensure it's protection.

Resources: Smart Marketing: Prospect your prospects, not your customers

Action Mail Marketing and Direct Mail Service

News of the Day: Huge Quake in Chile

As I have family in South America and friends in Hawaii, this news struck me as rather important. With all the earth quakes occurring around the world, what is in store for California. Here in Cali, we are taught to fear, "The Big One," practicing as early as preschool to "duck and cover." Some may say this rise in tectonics is a sign of the times. Is it? Or is it simply the earth doing what it does best: changing?

Quake in Chile

Fresh & Easy

For those of you who know me, I have been a strong advocate for Fresh & Easy market for some time now. They make shopping a pleasant experience, and even on my most indecisive days, I am in and out in an hour or less. The F&E brand foods have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and the prices are fantastic. Their floors are cement and their lighting is LED and minimal (of course you can see but it's not like the high energy using halogen lights in most grocery stores) which keeps prices down for us consumers.

Being the shopper in our family I have driven out of my way to shop at Fresh & Easy for almost a year now. It's worth the time and money I save to drive a little further to their store. To my surprise, a new store is opening closer to my home. Still slightly out of the way, but closer then San Carlos, Fresh & Easy is opening a store in Lakeside on February 24th. I know I shouldn't be so excited, but I am. Less driving time means I save even more money every week and can continue to provide my family with fresh, home cooked meals. Yea me!

For more information on the Fresh & Easy near you, check them out at www.freshandeasy.com

Do you shop at Fresh & Easy? What is your favorite buy?

Finding Time to Play

While scanning some of my e-mail I came across a link to San Diego Family Magazine. Clicking on it I found an article about a couple who began a website for other couples who need a little help in the romance area. So many of us settle for a dinner and a movie when it comes to date night, but Molly and Adam, founders of Playable Hours, insists it can be more. With dates serving both the budget conscience and those with a little more money to spend, Playable Hours offers a wealth of information for those seeking to expand their outings beyond AMC. Specializing in returning romance and play to the overworked married couple, the Playable Hours website offers "a one-stop resource to help you maximize your playtime with pre-designed, purposefully planned date and play concepts!" Everything from dinner recipes (for those looking for a little romance at home), to Venitian gondola cruises through Coronado Waterfront mansions (for those who really want to spice things up). They offer ideas for first dates to marriage refreshers. Check them out for yourselves at http://playablehours.com/index.php! I hope it brings some romance your way.