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What saddens me the most

Posted on March 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment | News

I was visiting with my mother and kids to see my mother in-law on a unusual warm Friday afternoon. After the visit we visited our old neighborhood near Connor and Jefferson in Detroit. We visited my mom’s Goddaughter at her house not to far away.  On our way it was sad to see so many abandoned buildings and vacant lots. When we were visiting her, she mentioned that a woman’s body had just been found the day before in back of an elementary school.

It saddens my heart deeply to see one of my childhood neighborhoods go down in ruins. I remember going to a summer program in a Church on the corner of Jefferson and Essex. When we passed on that day it read “Please pray for us.” And I do every time I think about the conditions that I saw on that day.

I ask you that you please say a prayer for Detroit. I was born and raised in Detroit and I want the best for the city. People, who know me, know that I love to serve and one of my dreams is to create an afterschool program in the city.  That dream is one step closer to being a reality. Last month I’ve started the paperwork and put much time in to create a non-profit, the Neighbor Family Learning Center.  The programs in Detroit won’t start until next year. I’ll be taking the rest of this year and the early part of next year to plan and train in Flint at a teen mother program that I want to include at our center.  Please pray for it to be successful and make a huge impact the community in a positive way.

If you would like to help out I’ve created a volunteer form that you can fill out and we will be keeping in touch.  Later this year, we’ll have an email newsletter going out discussing what is going on.

Thanks again for reading and sorry for the sober news but it has been my heart for a while.

Angela

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Don Cornelius didn’t know how much he was loved

Posted on February 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment | Valentine's Day

I was shocked to learn the death of Don Cornelius. I remember the days when I was a child and we would watch the Soul Train. We even had a local version in Detroit called “The Scene”. I recently read an article on CNN about how his son, Tony, didn’t realized how much people loved him. That story made me think if we are too busy to show people we care and appreciate them?

It doesn’t take that much time to pick up the phone and call someone or send some a greeting card. Have you thought about someone lately and just haven’t got around to calling them? Has someone called you and you haven’t had the chance to call them back yet? I believe that we think about these people for a reason.

I encourage you to not to forget about your relationships from the past. I’m so grateful for Facebook because I have reunited with a lot of my good friends from yesterday. Even if you post that you are thinking about them on their Facebook wall. Something is better than nothing. Let’s not have someone else not see how much they are loved.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Make sure you send your loved one a Valentine’s Card. You can even send one for free on my SendOutCards website.

Let’s stay connected!

Angela

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Holiday

It’s seems like I’m only posting blogs once a quarter. It seems like lately, I have literally have to make time to write something.  Our family went to Chicago for a couple of days, it was way too short but we were grateful for that time away. Bill and I got to go to New Orleans without the kids courtesy of one of my clients. Last time we went to New Orleans was right after Katrina and there was no one around but now it’s alive and well. We loved walking down to the French Quarter and visit the small shops. One day we would love to take the kids. This morning I was reading online about how the fall of the economy has increased the number of homeless children in the US specifically in Michigan. I said a little prayer for those families that are homeless and have to move place to place.  I moved a lot while I was growing up (at least once every couple of years) so I can relate but I’ve never had to live in a shelter and we always had somewhere to go until we could get our next place. I went to a Bible study last night and we discussed the birth of Jesus. It occurred to me that Jesus was homeless when he was born and travelled and stayed with many friends and family during his life in the ministry. If you know anyone that is in that situation please pray for them to have a safe stable home.  

Christmas time is among us again. I’m so glad that I had all my Christmas card contacts in the SendOutCards database. It only took me about an hour to create the card and half an hour to send it to everyone one. This year’s card was the picture we took when we went to see Thomas the train in the summer. I have to explain what Sheldon is doing; we were wondering why his vest was wet because it wasn’t that hot outside. We didn’t realize that he was putting his vest in his mouth until we saw the pictures. We figured out that we recently took his pacifier away and he was using his vest as a substitute. Go figure.

Just some announcements for the new year. I’m streamlining websites so there will be changes in addresses. If you’re getting the blog from my Facebook page then everything should be the same. Same design for now but the web addresses will change. Next year I plan to be more active in blogging on all of my sites so stay tuned.

Our family wishes you a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Sincerely,

Angela

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Encouraging One Another

Posted on September 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment | encouragement, Reasons to Send A Card

With the ecomony the way it is and lack of jobs, people need encouragement more then any else right now. Americans have a lot of pride and many won’t say they are struggling but they are. My daily prayers have included struggling teen moms, the unemployment of many hard working people, the american education system and our political system. My prayer is it to be fixed but I can do it with Him who gives us strength. But what I can do is to encourage someone I know that might be having a hard time or volunteering when I can.  Sending a card won’t get someone a job but it will help them focus on something positive if only for a minute.  Do you have a minute to give someone a call or send a card to? You CAN make a difference in someone’s life even if for a moment. Below is a scripture that was an encouragement to me and I hope it is to you.

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,… (NIV)

Warmly,

Angela

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Where did the summer go?

Posted on August 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Marketing

It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog. Since then I’ve taken on some projects that has filled my time. I’m still working on projects but I felt like I needed continue to write regardless of my time restraints. Summer has gone too quickly. My neighor and I were talking the other day and just saying the time went by so quickly. Last year I took my son to several places in the metro Detroit area, we went on two vacations and etc. This summer it seemed like it was over before it started. In a nutshell, my oldest son, turned 4 in May, my other son will be turning two in a couple of weeks. We bought a Bounceland Castle
for the kids. The whole family loves it, we have it in our basement and let the kids play in it almost everyday. It was money well spent. With the time constraits comes less time to send cards so I apologize for friends reading that may have received a later birthday card. Moving forward, I would want my greeting cards to have a little extra meaning not just Happy Birthday, but something special. Look out for future greeting cards from me that have a special touch. My husband went out of town a couple of weeks ago and I had the kids on my own. When he got back I wanted to have some time to myself. So I decided to go see “The Help” what a great movie. I was still crying when the movie ended. Wow, it feels like I’m writing an old friend that hasn’t talked in a while. The last couple of months I’ve learned so much on the projects that I’ve been working on. I’ll discuss those in future blogs. Preschool will be starting soon, Will is excited to be going back to see his classmates, I’m looking forward to volunteering this year too. He starts soccer this year too. I’m looking forward to meeting new MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) members and seeing my MOPS friends. I’m excited to be teaching at the local community education center on social media. Anyway, my friends it’s time to sign off until next time.

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Don't Forget the Fathers!

Posted on June 12, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Marketing, Reasons to Send A Card

Father’s day is just next week. If you have an incredible dad make sure you tell them that you love and appreciate them. I lost my step dad in 2000 and I think about it all the time what a great father he was. He died unexpectedly so I wasn’t able to say good bye. I was fortunate to have two fathers in my life. As I grew up in an inner city (Detroit) with single mother homes as the majority, many children didn’t have a dad come and visit like my brother and I had. Send them a greeting card, give him a call or visit him. Don’t have time or the money? Send him a greeting card on me. Click here and click #2 to send a free card on me.

P.S. I found this card that I sent my husband. Shh! Don’t tell. : )

 The outside of the cards says “I’m sure, like me, you often feel When all is said and done The job of raising kids today Is not an easy one. I’m glad you’re there beside me To counsel and advise And help me find the answer To their never ending “whys?” I’d be lost without your shoulders So much broader than my own To lean upon when problems Seem too big to solve alone. As long as we’re together We can weather storm and strife And take in stride the ups and downs That go with family life.” The inside says “And someday when our little ones Are old enough to stand Straight and tall without the need Of any helping hand. We won’t recall how hard it was We’ll just be proud and glad We happened to be chosen For the roles of Mom and Dad.”

Angela

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New pricing announcement!

Posted on May 30, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Marketing

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Have you ever received a greeting card through the mail from me? Did you wonder where it came from? I’m a distributor for SendOutCards. You can send greeting cards and gifts through the mail from the computer. I’m a busy mom and I write a lot of my cards at night when the kids are asleep.

I wanted to share some great news! SendOutCards recently changed it’s pricing structure for distributors and customers. Some of you that I have spoken or emailed about the service and didn’t want to pay the program fee starting at $99. Now you don’t have to worry about that any more. SendOutCards had taken about the barriers and has a new PAY AS YOU GO option. See below for specifics.

I hope you would reconsider using this great product on a regular basis. It save so much time! If you haven’t tried it yet go to my site and press #2.

If you have tried it and are ready to sign up on the PAY AS YOU GO option click here and add how much money you want to add to your account. My sponsor ID is 107649.

Angela

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Making an impact in a moments notice

Posted on May 27, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Marketing

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my church’s Facebook page about one of the member’s parents being in the hospital.  The other parent needed some encouragement. When I got the email, I immediately opened up a browser tab and decided to send her a card telling her that I was praying about the situation.

About a week later to my surprise I got a card back from the mother. She expressed how thankful she was that a total stranger would encourage her like that. She said she was making it okay and it will be alright.

Two weeks later I got another email saying that her husband had passed. I felt sad for the mother and it felt like we had a connection through greeting cards even though we never met. Once again I sent her a card but now a condolence card.

Is there anyone that comes to mind that you want to send a card too? Take 10 minutes out of your schedule and uplift someone. Even better send the card on me. Go here to send a card. Skip video and go to # 2.

Angela

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Why I'm Grateful for My Mom

Posted on May 2, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Online Card System

Mother’s day is only several days away. It seems it came up really fast. I remember when mother’s day would occasionally land on my mom’s birthday. I’m writing this blog right after sending my mom a card through my online greeting card website. Sending greeting cards helps me be grateful for others friendship and to think of other people instead of myself. Even if it takes me five minutes, that five minutes was thinking about that person. For mother’s day I wanted to share a couple of things that I’m grateful about my mother with you.

I’m grateful for you mom because…

- You did everything you could to provide us with food, education, housing and medical care.
- You tried to give us things that your parents never give you. (saying I love you and actually loving us)
- You are not perfect and you never will but I love you anyway.
- Even though it was rough as a single parent you never give up on us.
- You were very strict with me (because I was a girl) and less with Jr. I now understand why because the world can be so cruel.

I love you Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day

If you haven’t sent a card to your mom yet, do it now and I’ll even pay for it (skip the video and go to number 2).

Angela

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Drawing customers to you by Inbound Marketing

Posted on April 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment | Marketing

What is inbound marketing? According to David Scott and  Dharmesh Shah in their book Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs (New Rules Social Media Series)is about drawing people to your site (with SEO, free reports, great content) and getting permission to develop a relationship with your customer.

Inbound marketing has been a great book to read. I’m a fanatic for marketing books. It seems like I can never get enough Internet marketing tips. I like the idea of inbound marketing because you’re giving people the opportunity to say “yes” to receiving more information about your ideas or your knowledge. As a consumer you can get tired of the message ads bombarding you trying to get your attention. People want to learn and the more you share your knowledge the more your relationship grows with your customer. 

You might have seen my website change a lot the last couple of months. Well it has been on purpose and I may rearrange it again soon. David and Dharmesh encourages you to change your website to see if it impacts it in a positive way. Positive meaning does it increase your hits or raises your newsletter subscriptions? I’ve made the front of CardShopBlog.com more simpler and instead of three choices I narrowed it down to one. This one choice ($99 plan) is the option that people are interested in the most.

Another point he mentions is getting a website that you can maintain on your own and not call a web designer for. I used to create web sites from raw HTML and image slices in Dreamweaver. Now you have WordPress, Joomla or Weebly that you can setup a website in minutes. You can buy a domain name from GoDaddy.com and have your professional website up in less than a day. I use a variety of all three programs in my professional jobs and personal websites.

My purpose of this article is to share what I’ve been reading and inspire you that it is so easy to set up your own website if you wanted to start a business. This article is one tenth of what is in the book. Come with me on my journey in discovering Internet Marketing for your business.

Angela

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