The Birthday Boy and Belgian Chocolate

Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. He’d been in Brussels, Belgium since last Saturday, and the girls and I were very excited about him making it home in time to celebrate as a family. Here’s my to-do list to prepare for his special day:

1. Make Red Velvet Cake, including icing, from scratch
2. Purchase additional gift (I say additional, because he’d already purchased himself some expensive clip-on something or other for his bike and new running shoes) – something exciting that he might not buy for himself, like more of his favorite running shirts
3. Prepare his favorite home-cooked meal: fried pork chops, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole and buttered rolls, and sweet iced tea (we’re from the South. Doesn’t matter if it’s freezing cold outside, we take our tea iced. And sweet.)
4. Make a welcome home/happy birthday banner with artistic direction and assistance from the girls (ie, give them the poster board and some paint and let ‘um have at it.)

Then I got sick. Quite sick. Like drop the kids at school, drive directly to the doctor’s office and demand any and every kind of medication to MAKE ME FEEL BETTER sick. The morning of the planned birthday celebration. The very same day I’d planned to execute the above task list.

Soooo … I went to Plan B.

1. I purchased a Red Velvet cake from the bakery (and no, he didn't turn 15. But we felt 30-something candles was too much for this small cake so we tried to fashion a "3" and a "7" with the candles. It just doesn't translate well in the photo.)
2. I procured a gift certificate so he could buy lots of his favorite post-workout beverage.
3. We went out to eat.
4. There was no banner, but the girls substituted with hugs and kisses.

And … he had just as good of a birthday with list two as he would have with list one.

Here’s my question: when your perfect plans get sidetracked for whatever reason – whether you get sick, your car won’t start, your computer crashes or your great-aunt Bertie calls and your caller ID failed to warn you – what’s your Plan B? What’s your secret for getting your to-do list to the bare minimum so at the end of the day you’ve accomplished what you set out to do?

Leave your Plan B in the comments section of this post so we can all learn and enjoy!

XO – Amy Mac (PS - Isn't this little container Jake brought back filled with Belgian Chocolates extremely cute? I thought so!)

I Heart Magazines (Especially Ones With Hearts on the Cover)

This being February, the month of love and whatnot, I thought I'd confess - I love, love, love magazines. Love them. Love the waterfall of colors jumping out from each page, love the way a funky font can set the tone for a whole story, love the inspiration from well-written editorial.



That giant stack you see above? Those are just the magazines in the family room by the fireplace ... there's another stack on my bedside table, yet another in a basket in the living room, and a couple in the front seat of the car to entertain me while waiting in the carpool line.

Magazines are also a wonderful spot to get a little inspiration for stories to pitch. It's like a little focus group, free of charge, about what your target audience is reading.

What's your favorite magazine for inspiration?

My Blue Sky

I don't know about you, but I am ready for a little less of this.....And a lot more of this...

I think the girls having strep throat makes the skies a little more gray, but am plenty thankful for fast-acting antibiotics that have them on the mend already (and I find it curious that a sore throat doesn't reduce noise-making whatsoever. Hm.)

Happy Weekend! -- Amy Mac

The Anatomy of an Article

First, the rough sketches of an idea.

Next, a plea via Facebook for help generating ideas....



Then, seeking some creative inspiration in the form of this very yummy painting I found at quite the bargain (love, love, love Ballard's Backroom in Roswell, Ga.) ... okay, maybe it's more creative procrastination....



Finally, typing out a first draft. Photo compliments of Hadley Dawson, second grade photographer extraordinaire.



Now ... a sneak peek at the final version.

XO -- Amy Mac

Free PR Tip of the Week: Snow Days and Breaking News

Everywhere you turn these days you hear about the chilly (okay, freezing) weather – from the barista at your local Starbucks to Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News. In Atlanta we’re experiencing a long stretch of record lows, something we’ve not seen in these parts since the mid-1980s.

Small business owners take note: this is the perfect time to pitch a timely story to the media by connecting your product or service to the weather. For example, if you own a store that features knitting products, knit some toasty hats for local senior citizens and send a news release about your contribution to the community. If you’re an accountant gearing up for tax season, hold a “Cocoa and Coffee” seminar to answer basic questions from your neighbors with the angle “Banish Cold Temps and Taxes.” Send a news release to your local reporter regarding why it’s the perfect time to organize your taxes, and you’ve got a great story hook on your (cold) hands.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to the days I can prompt those of you who sell flip-flops, beach bags and frozen margarita machines with a weather-related story.

A Clarification

I got a note from a reader wondering if Louis came home.

I can see how my last post might lead you to believe Louis went missing. Not so. He just found our office a little chilly, so he found a nice, warm, sunny spot on the (inside) stairs and tucked himself in for a long nap.

Trust me, that dog know he's got it good around here. Do you see the sassy, smug look on his face? He wouldn't leave for all the fancy doggie treats in town. Well, maybe for all those treats, but he'd come right back.

Looking for Some Sunshine on a Cold, Winter Day

Louis, our family dog and my constant companion in my home office, disappeared on me today.

Guess I can't blame him for seeking out a little sunshine on this 18 degree day in "Hot" lanta.

Stay warm!

XO - Amy Mac