The Sassy Steel Magnolia
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  • Archives

  • October22nd

    Mah-velous Magnolia • TMC Style

    Posted in: housekeeping, Mah-velous Magnolia

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    I’ve been waiting for the right moment to send out the Mah-velous Magnolia badge to this very special group. Careful what you wish for….because you never know how it will be sent to you…. ;)

    You’ve heard me mention a few technical gliches the site experienced throughout the week. To put it frankly – The Sassy Steel Magnolia went down Monday night. Completely down. aka: Jennie B was near full blown anxiety attack mode. Luckily a dear friend of mine was online as I instinctively looked for someone to talk me off my technological cliff. (This is all taking place at midnight, mind you, so you can understand how relived I was when one of my friends was still awake!) That friend happens to be the founder of a company specializing in social media and online presence. She contacted her WordPress Wizard who without hesitation dived right in to help me with my problem. (Again – the stars lined up that he was still awake too!)  Long story short, he tweaked a few things here, added a few lines of code there – all things far beyond my small slice of tech knowledge – and got the site back up and running in no time. He’s been keeping an eye on us this week, helping me make sure things are running smoothly, and always having great patience for this less-than-tech-savvy blogger who repeatedly states “I promise, I’m not crazy!” in her emails to him.

    I’m so proud to introduce you all to this great group and so without further ado, this week’s Mah-velous Magnolia badge goes out to Ashley, the fabulous founder, & Hunter, the WordPress Wizard (ok technically he’s a New Media Specialist), of

    The Modern Connection, LLC


    It’s only appropriate that I happened to connect with Ashley through a local Tweet-Up. She was the first individual I had met who worked to really teach businesses and individuals alike the power of Social Media. Her passion towards educating people about the importance of your online identity and how to really take hold of it was completely different from all of these “new media webinars” (“Learn how to double your income online!” blah blah blah) that were popping up left and right.

    Specializing in Social and Relationship Marketing, Email Marketing, Web-Design and SEO, and Web-Video and Commercial Production, The Modern Connection works to empower you and your business in cohesion with any marketing or public relations strategies you currently have in place.

    So what does that mean for you? Well if you are less-than-tech-savvy or just curious what your online presence is (or is not) doing for you, give them a call! Simple as that. TMC can help you develop online programs that are more than a wham-bam-out-the-door type of strategy some of these faux agencies popping up endorse, but will help set you up to continue your online presence in representing you, your company and your brand.

    Did you know that Visiting social sites is the 4th MOST POPULAR online activity…ahead of email?! That’s a pretty big deal factor right there. And regardless if you use flickr, youtube, facebook, or twitter for personal use – do you know how to use it to the best ability for your business? *And without being that annoying business gnat that we all loathe? There is indeed a fine line and The Modern Connection can help you navigate it and empower you to take hold of your online reputation to help boost your offline relationships.

    Social Media’s here to stay, kids, and this group is in it for the long-haul.  Trust me – TMC‘s the real deal. And I’m not just saying this because I know them, but because I hear and see the conversations…online…each and every day.

    A big •Thank You• again to Ashley & Hunter for talking me off my technological cliff and keeping a watchful eye on The SSM this week!


    To keep up with The Modern Connection, visit their new Web site (launching Monday), stop by on facebook , or connect with Ashley or Hunter on twitter.

    -•-

    The Mah-velous Magnolia badge will be awarded each Friday to a selected lady {or a few..or fellas..we’ll see!} who has had an impact on my week.  Who knows — maybe you’ll be up next!

  • October12th

    .no title.

    Posted in: housekeeping, Random

    It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at The Sassy Steel Magnolia and I wanted to take a time out to touch on a few different things, now that there’s a bit of a break in my timeline.

    For starters, a big *WELCOME* to new readers! I’m so happy you’ve found your way here to my couch and hope you’ll stay & lounge around a bit. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, thoughts for a post or anything you think is Sassy Steel Magnolia material.

    -•-

    Two weeks ago, I was chosen to be featured in a Center for Women Member Profile.  I’m truly grateful to be part of an organization of such phenomenal women and was delighted to be featured on the C4Women Blog. Read the post here to find out what I really think about being a Woman…..and when I actually wouldn’t mind being a man.

    -•-

    In the same week, my first set of Calling Cards arrived. Receiving them on the Monday of The SSM’s Birthday Week celebration was absolutely wonderful! I’m excited to start placing orders with a touch of variety and signature Sassy Steel Magnolia sayings. Thanks to Zazzle for making the process super easy. I’m a big fan, what do you think?

    Last Friday I delivered the {birthday week give away} winner her fabulous grab bag of some of my favorite items. *I was lucky I got to deliver it in person and didn’t have to mail this one out. Congratulations again to Carly of soak and simmer and Thank You to everyone who participated in the give away. I’ll be doing another one soon enough so keep an eye out….

    If you don’t keep a watchful eye on Amanda over at Ruffled Blog turn your head that way this week. Her Do It Yourself ( DIY ) contest winners are being announced with great ideas that can be used for much more than wedding celebrations. *This weekend I plan on trying this teaser she sent out a few weeks ago. SSM Soap, anyone?!

    All right ladies {and gents} I believe that about does it for catchup session. I hope your week is starting off well! If for some reason it’s not, I guarantee tomorrow’s Music Snack will make you want to get up off your seat and do a little dance.

    “Good things happen on Tuesdays.”

    - My Sista Sista,  Jessica F. Olewnik

  • August9th

    Sassy Starter :: Housekeeping

    Posted in: housekeeping, Sassy Starter

    Have I ever mentioned I occasionally moonlight as a house cleaner? That’s right, you read correctly. I do indeed clean houses when the need arises. One of my bosses has a few rental house downtown for rent to college students. When they move out, I move in and make sure things are in tip top shape for the next round. Now it only happens once in a blue moon but I never turn down the opportunity to make a little extra pocket change. {being fabulous comes at a price, ya know} And if cleaning a house here and there helps it out, well then bring on broom!

    I personally don’t mind cleaning, I rather enjoy it. I was taught from a young age the proper way to keep house {that age old term for knowing how to clean} as was my sister. But regardless, it would be great every now and then to have someone come and clean for you. This thought that often floats through my mind as I’m cleaning a rental, or when I’m cleaning my own house, as was the case yesterday. Granted it’s followed by a – silly girl, you would have to clean two rentals just to afford having your one rental cleaned professionally. Stop trying to be lazy and just do it yourself!

    Then it hit me – I often splurge on books, dresses, starbucks, etc. for myself, but I feel guilty when contemplating a splurge on something like having my house cleaned. I know damn well I’m capable of doing it and I think that’s why I guilt myself out of having someone come in to clean it. But what if just once, just one really big, deep, over the top clean I hired a cleaning service to come in and do it. Once a year and I’d be stoked. Maybe even as a reward – which is what my sister is currently contemplating, a reward for a huge de-clutter. What if instead of splurging on myself, I splurge on my environment a little.

    And that ladies is exactly what I intend on doing the next time the house needs a good deep clean. Yes, I can do it myself and yes I may be throwing my money away and yes I may just be acting lazy but you know what …. I’m gonna feel really good walking into that house when it’s done.

    And you should too! Spread the splurging around. Even your home needs a little TLC every now and then so why not allow yourself to let it be done, guilt free. Need a little help kicking guilt to the curb? Try my one liner that always works like a charm for me: You’re helping the economy and the cycle of money. Now who can argue with helping the economy these days?! ;)

    :: happy Monday ::

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    photo credit: here

  • June1st

    :: a brand new outfit ::

    Posted in: housekeeping, madam house

    Today The Sassy Steel Magnolia is 8 months old.  And as a present, I did a little shopping .. for a new outfit. And now it’s time to roll the curtains back and

    TA-DAAAA!

    How do you like my new look? *Don’t worry, I didn’t forget the couch. I found a new one to match..

    So, what do you think?  After a week of tweeks, the site is up and ready to step out onto the Red Carpet of the World Wide Web.  Granted there are still a few things here and there that will need adjusting (aren’t there always), but here it is ladies and gents!

    New flair? Of course! (there’s always a little flair, you know that) Here’s the skinny:

    • I finally got that logo of mine figured out
    • photos from my photo shoot are finally being put to great use in the photo sliders
    • an edited ABOUT ME and WHY a SSM pages
    • a new FEATURES tab where you can find a gathering of your favorite regular posts
    • you can now find THE eSTORE right here without even having to leave the site
    • a few new lovely ladies added to the blogroll
    • and one of my favorite things: INSPIRATION in IMAGES – a collection of photos from my phone, from travels of friends, anything that catches my eye and makes me truly love & appreciate life around me! (scroll over image & click the thumbnail for a full size view!)

    So take a few minutes to look around and check everything out. I do hope you enjoy! I know I really do — but I always love a brand new outfit every now and then ;)

    *besos

    Jennie B

    —

    I want to take a minute and say Thank You to the very gracious people who were also quite patient with me while ‘choosing the right outfit’.  My cousin, Tony – the mastermind behind Tech in Hiding, yet again for lending me his knowledge in helping me work out the kinks of this new design – sans cursing, too! Thanks T :) To Christina Mortti for allowing me to use her awesome photography skills and for my first photo shoot. One of the most genuine and coolest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting – Jeff Yurfest – who went to India (I’m jealous.) and let me put a few of his awesome pictures in my Inspiration page.  If pictures of India don’t inspire you, then I don’t know what will! My Sister Jessica & her husband Justin went Out West two years ago and said I could share their incredible pictures here. I’ve never wanted to do a trip like their’s, but after seeing the pictures, I’m quickly changing my mind. A very patient and honest girl who looked through many possible themes via gchat, inspected minute details such as the “email me” button, and also let me use her priceless pictures from her trip to Greece (I’m jealous, again.) for more Inspiration photos, thanks Kristin Bostic aka Kbo. *And of course to everyone else along the way!

  • May4th

    Take a Step Back for a Re-Cap

    Posted in: housekeeping, life, Random

    The past couple of weeks have seemed to go by in a blur.  In reality, they haven’t, I just loose track of time. (But it’s funny that when I do try to track time it always seems to go so slow…hmm.) So here is a quick re-cap of a few things you may have missed in the life of Jennie B.

    • A few weeks ago I spent the Sunday afternoon at Mount Zion Elementary on Johns Island planting a tomato box.  My good friend, Erika, works with Kiawah Island Resort’s Night Heron Park & the KIR Nature Program and they set up a volunteer even to help the Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project work in one of their gardens.  I never miss a good opportunity to dig in the dirt a little so I gladly obliged! (It was also the start of Earth Week – awesome!) Take a look at my tomato box..I was so proud.

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    • Next up was Administrative Professionals Day and at out office we celebrate the entire staff. (Well that’s what the plan used to be.) Anyways, as acting Office Manager, the real one’s out on maternity leave, I tapped into my inner-florist and came up with using bunches of flowers from Publix (who by the way actually has decent flowers, that last!) and put them in Mason Jars for all of the staff. *Mortti got one too.

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    • Next in line was heading back out to Kiawah for the Earth Day Festival and Antique Car Show at Heron Park. I’m such a sucker for antique anything so you know I was all over this situation!  On the way back we stopped at Rose Bank Farms where I found the perfect rose, my new favorite tree, and of course my all time favorite statue!

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    • Gladly this day was followed by a relaxing morning / afternoon spent at cafe medley on Sullivan’s, one of the best finds I’ve discovered in Charleston.

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    • Last Saturday I was a busy little bee as I was out in the morning with my friend Kristin to cheer on Katy as she completed the Try Charleston 1/2 Triathelon! She did awesome – 2nd in her age division! K-Bo and I had perfect timing walking up as Katy was about to switch from Bike to Run. Just in time to yell & hold up the posters. So much fun sitting out there watching all the runners come in to the finish line. *Not to mention the undeniable eye candy that was nearly everywhere!

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    • Off to the strawberry fields at Boone Hall with Shauna for a little strawberry picking and chitter chattering.  I always love a little flair and feel the appropriate accessories are always necessary so this trip called for a new pair of gardening gloves.  Besides, it was Shauna’s first time – you gotta go all out!  We spent the rest of the day / night running around GeoCaching, which is now my new obsession.  Seriously, check it out.  You’ll get addicted. (Thanks Shauna for getting me hooked.)

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    • Sunday morning at 11 a.m. EST I snapped a photo and submitted it to the New York Times “A Moment in Time” global mosaic.  My Sister told me about it a few weeks ago and I couldn’t wait to be apart of it.  The photos from all over the world are awesome, you can see some of them here on facebook.  This is my photo of what I was doing during that particular Moment in Time — I was washing the strawberries from the previous day’s trip to Boone Hall. (I’ll let you know when the mosaic is finally up)

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    So there you have it, that about catches you up to the present I do believe.  I’ve got a few awesome things coming up in the calendar such as finally getting my passport! (I know, I know..it’s about friggin time. But this time is it, appointment made and everything!)

    AND most importantly the 2010 Moms’ Run this Saturday.  Now I know I’m not a Mom but I do believe in supporting a cause that supports the Moms!  This 5k run/walk benefits the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation for Postpartum Depression Awareness.  I’ll be there bright and early at 6 a.m. helping with registration and anything else Angie (who so fabulously put this whole thing together) tells me to do, so come see me!  For more information on the race, the Foundation, how to register or to donate check out the web site!

    *And don’t forget, you can still enter to win yesterdays Give Away! (You can even enter twice if you think of another one later in the week.)*

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