Authentic, Elegant, The House is You.

Hi again everyone!

Have you ever wished there were little features of your house that looked, or functioned differently.

“I wish the yard didn’t drain back to the garage”

“I wish the porch overhang was supported better so it didn’t sag in the middle”

“I hate the way the siding looks on that part of the house”

“Why does our house look so much worse than the neighbors?  It’s like it just doesn’t fit the neighborhood”

Have you ever had a thought run through your head that sounded something like that?  You probably missed something when you built/designed your house.  Or worse yet, has THIS happened to you?

That is where my referral for today would have come in to help.  If you have, or could find yourself in this situation, I would encourage you to get in touch with Dan, the owner of East Arbor Architecture.  He is out of Mid-Michigan and Working with an architect that appreciates little details will help you be, and ultimately stay satisfied with your hosue.  Oh, and P.S. Dan LOVES older houses, and older buildings.  Once you meet him you’ll see why his work is ‘Authentic, Elegant, East Arbor.’

You can find Dan and EastArbor online at:

http://eastarbor.blogspot.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/daniel-bollman/9/795/997

An Image you Couldn’t Imagine

Today I want to talk about a business woman with an eye for well…everything. Shelley Davis Mielock is the owner of Mieshel Image Consulting, which as the name suggests is an image consulting business which Shelley runs out of my favorite Mid-Michigan metropolis: Lansing!

Shelley not only can help someone with the way they present themselves from a fashion standpoint (a professional suit for a business person for example), but also focuses alot on peoples behaviors, and communication styles as well.  She gives public lectures on various topics as well as private coaching where she can work one on one with someone.

If you are a professional, businessperson, male or female you could benefit from meeting with Shelley.   Check out Mieshel Image Consulting online at:

http://www.mieshelimage.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lansing-MI/Mieshel-Image-Consulting/56145512700

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mieshelimage

At the Movies Armed and Ready

Today I am going to talk about Cinema Soldier.  A blog run by my friend Jeff that covers all things movies and films.  Any page with a whole section called “Awesome” deserves quite the shout out.

Any time I have a conversation with a friend about going to see a new movie, the thought “I should read the review on Cinema Soldier” goes through my head.  Anytime you want to catch a cool new trailer, find fun facts on new films, or a candid review about whether or not a movie meets all the hype or not, jump over and give Cinema Soldier a read.

You can find Jeff and Cinema Soldier online at:

http://www.cinemasoldier.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cinemasoldier#!/cinemasoldier

http://twitter.com/JeffreyVC

Happy Film Watching everyone!

Get your travel on.

Today I am going to talk about a great place to go if you are someone who likes to take trips all over the place. I for one haven’t done a ton of international travel (other than my 2006 study abroad to China)…..yet.  I don’t count my countless trips to Canada to see family.  I have gone all over different parts of the U.S. though, so I do have some travel experience.

STA Travel East Lansing

You could want to just do something as small as book a flight to Chicago for the weekend.  You could want to plan out a 3 month long journey around Europe with nothing more than a backpack and a titanium spork.  As long as your travel plans don’t involve a stop at the moon the folks over at STA Travel in East Lansing can help you get your trip figured out, booked, and in order.

They will do everything they possibly can to make sure your travel experience is everything you want it to be.  From researching hotels, or hostels to stay at, to working with your group that you are traveling with, to helping update stuff as your trip is in progress (hopefully they won’t have to though).  Their staff is very up-beat and friendly.  A friend of mine I sent there recently  said “They were soo nice and helpful”.  That says it all.

So if you want to get in touch with them you can find them on the web at:  http://www.statravel.com/cps/rde/xchg/us_division_web_live/hs.xsl/east-lansing.htm or email them  at: MSU@statravel.com

(and if you are a student, they can really hook you up…. Bonus!)

Happy Travels people!

The (red) workhorse behind the creativity.

Hey all,

Today I’m going to talk about Lisa, who as I put it in my title is the workhorse behind Red Horse Creative.  Lisa is a business woman who has taken her love for horses, art, design and drawing and combined them into her graphic design business: Red Horse Creative.

Red Horse Creative

Whether you just need a logo designed, or help putting together something a small as a brochure Red Horse Creative can help take the thoughts in your head, and visually turn them into a logo, ad campaign, banner, or whatever else may help your business.  Give em’ a try!  you won’t be dissapointed!

You can find Red Horse online at  http://www.redhorsecreative.com/ or on their facebook fan page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Horse-Creative/354644101932

‘Jacktown’ is Getting Connected, One Young Professional at a Time

So if you are in your 20′s or 30′s and you live anywhere near Lansing you probably know what Grand River Connection is.  If not see this previous post from last fall.  Well believe it or not, Jackson has it’s own up and coming young professionals group that has been holding regular meetings for almost a year now!  It is growing and is on a mission to connect young professionals all over Jackson, or even people from Ann Arbor, Detroit, or Lansing who come to the events.

The events are fun, and usually involve free grub from different hot spots all over jackson, so be sure to go check them out!

You can find them online at: http://www.jacktownconnect.org/

Get more than just a haircut.

Today’s post is a COOL idea from what sounds like a great place!  I have been told of this place by quite a few people, but it was when I was able to investigate on facebook today that I was sold on the coolness of this idea.  Today I am definitely suggesting you check out HIS Barber Shop over in Okemos.

Here is the description of the barber shop from their facebook groupsite.

“This is more than just a barber shop I intend with God’s help to remind people of his faithfulness to meet our needs even during what the world calls hard times, also this will give you a comfortable enviornment if you wish to discuss your walk with Christ and I will do the same and together we can all grow as children of God”

How cool is that?! Plus if you know a pastor or a priest he will cut his hair for free!  Talk about an act of faith to start a business and hold your neck out there like that!

So go get your haircut and have a conversation with the owner about the shop!  Sounds like a great idea to me!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=317739726177

Keepin’ the pipes clean. We Salute You.

If you have been in Michigan anytime in the last 200 years, you have probably had some type of plumbing issues.  Whether it was needing a functional sump pump in your basement, having a pipe freeze in winter, or the everyday busted toilet, you know what I mean.  We’ve all been there, done that, and don’t want to deal with it ever, ever again.  

Well today I want to suggest that if you come across any of those types of issues, whether big or small, get in touch with the guys over at Hedlund Plumbing.  They are owned/run by two brothers who have had plumbing in their genes from two generations before them!  (No they aren’t Mario and Luigi).  They are actually Bob and Tom Hedlund.  They are great to work with, and they take their work very seriously.  If something turns out to be wrong with their work, they come out and make it right.  They are confident enough in their work to say that they will guarantee it for sevearal years!

You can find hedlund plumbing online at:  http://www.hedlundplumbing.com/

They’ll get you fixed up right, and won’t make your wallet look like that pipe up there in the process.

The Music Makes the Masterpiece

Today’s referral I want to throw out there to anyone around Mid, West, or Southeast Michigan who may have a wedding, graduation party, or any other party coming up, that could use some great background music.

You want the perfect soundtrack to accompany your live event?  Then call A Mills Masterpiece Disc Jockey Services.

DJ Chris Mills will meet with you to go through the details of your event and help you pick out the perfect songs to match the different pieces and parts of your event.  You can choose your own special song or rely on his years of experience to pick out the perfect suggestion for you.

If you want to check out their humble home on the web you can go to http://amillsmasterpiece.com/ but I would definitely email Chris at ChristopherAMills @ gmail.com

Who Doesn’t like cookies?! Seriously!?

With Valentines Day (or Single’s awareness day as some of us like to call it) right around the corner, guys and gals all over Mid Michigan are probably scrambling to think of a creative gift that their significant others will enjoy.

If you want to talk Jewelry, then see my old blog post about H&H, but if you want a gift that looks as good as it tastes then read on.

Cookies by Design in Okemos has some really tasty treats you can give to that special someone that will not only look alot cooler, more unique, and probably more thoughtful than flowers, but you can enjoy eating them too!  Who doesn’t love a fancy cookie?!

If you want to find out more about Cookies by Design you can visit their website at http://www.cookiesbydesign.com

*A word of warning: if you order online instead of calling or visiting the Okemos store directly you may have your order shipped from Texas instead of being hand delivered. (Use the store)

Enjoy your cookies everyone!