Tag Archives: improve

Boo To You!!

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Boo To You!!

Howdy!! Once upon a time, I received a Stanley mug as a gift and it was glorious. It was a beautiful shade of sea foam green and no one could tell me NOTHING while I toted my gigantic mug of ice water around. Then, my niece came over for a slumber party a few weeks later. I didn’t have any sipper cups for her drinks or straws so I improvised and offered her my Stanley mug. She delighted over the fact that she could drink her chocolate milk “like a big person” and it was just the cutest! I put my mug in the sink for Johnny to wash and then he… didn’t lol. For some reason, he bypassed the mug and by the time he opened it up to wash, it was filled with mold and he proceeded to throw it out so no more Stanley for me. SMH.

Since then, I wasn’t bringing any type of tumbler mug with me as I went about my day and opted for bottled water instead. Then, my niece came over for a slumber party recently and the same song and dance of no straws or sipper cups played. I browsed my options in the cabinets and stumbled upon this mug that I had all but forgotten and we were in business!

I purchased this mug from our local discount store, Marc’s, during the Halloween season. It was a steal for three dollars and I considered it my replacement Stanley – until I brought it home, couldn’t open it, and chalked it up as a three buck loss. Oddly enough, the top opened up so easily when I used it for my niece and I have been using it ever since! Not only do the spooky ghosts make me smile but I cannot recall the last time I have drank so much water regularly. It’s so nice to have the mug with me so I can sip away whenever I need to wet my whistle and I couldn’t even tell you the amount of times I refill it per day. It’s a lot!

Drinking more water in and of itself is a positive and I have definitely noticed the benefits as I increased my normal intake. I feel like I fall asleep so much easier at night and that has decreased my morning dose of caffeine significantly, which is something I have wanted to change. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my coffee and Diet Coke but I am no longer slamming them back to back lol. From a beauty standpoint, my skin looks fresher and clearer and it’s like getting a free skin care treatment every time I fill my mug back up. Why didn’t I start doing this sooner?! I guess I just needed the right mug. 😀

This is your friendly Lil Red Reminder to stay hydrated. Get yourself a fun mug and you will be amazed at how quickly drinking more water becomes part of your daily routine!

What is your favorite mug to use? How much water do you drink per day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

7 Upgrades Your Kitchen Needs

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7 Upgrades Your Kitchen Needs

Did you know that minor kitchen upgrades, often more affordable than massive changes and renovations, can actually add more value to your property? While renovations are great if your kitchen isn’t fit for purpose or you need more space, for some people, it’s the smaller changes you make that can offer you the most value in terms of functionality as well as boosted value. Let’s take a look at some of the kitchen upgrades you can make to make your life and your kitchen better:

Kitchen countertops can be made from a range of durable and aesthetically pleasing materials, offering you a wide array of options to suit your style and needs. Ideally, you want to choose countertops made from granite, quartz, porcelain, or even butcher’s block. You can also find a variety of colors and styles to suit any kitchen. Not only will granite countertop installations make your kitchen look more stylish, but they will also modernize it and enhance functionality, enabling you to use your kitchen while giving it a mini facelift. High-end kitchen countertops can add 5 to 6% to a property’s value, so if you’re only investing in one new aspect of your kitchen, new countertops could be a great investment.

Kitchen islands are highly sought after by buyers, and if this is a factor in any upgrades you are making, it’s definitely a worthy consideration. This is an extremely practical addition for any kitchen if you have the space, providing additional storage and counter space, and even housing appliances. You can expect to spend anywhere from $3,000 upwards for a custom-fit island; this is preferable over a prefabricated one, which might not fit your kitchen as well, but you can expect an ROI of around 70% on your investment.

New flooring is an excellent investment. You should opt for more durable flooring such as stone, LVP, or tile. These materials are made to withstand lots of foot traffic and can give your kitchen a more aesthetically pleasing look that is easy to clean and maintain – especially if you have pets or kids.

This can be the paint on your walls, around windows and doors, on doors both internally and externally, and on your cabinets if you wish. If you want to update your look but don’t want to rip cabinets off the walls, you need to look into the different color options available for painting your cabinet doors. How much this will cost depends on the scope of the work, the surfaces you’re painting, and how much prep work they need to deliver a high-end finish.

A new backsplash is a worthwhile investment for any kitchen. Tile backsplashes are visually appealing and give a deeper sense that the homeowner was invested in the small details and quality of any renovation work they carried out. Subway tile is a timeless classic that can be adapted to many homes and styles. While there’s no set in stone rule, generally, subway tile is more appealing to prospective buyers.

Updating the hardware in your kitchen can be relatively inexpensive and easy. This includes your door handles, any hooks you might have on cabinets, light switches, pull cords, faucets, etc. These small details might seem insignificant, but a simple upgrade can be really impactful and give your kitchen a new dimension.

A workstation sink isn’t a normal sink; it’s a sink that has much more space and is multi-functional. It can have additional features such as a chopping board, drain boards, flexible taps you can move around to help ease prep work and cleaning, etc. The more features your sink has, the easier it will be to clean up and get jobs done without taking up too much space.

When it comes to updating your kitchen, it’s not always about ripping everything out and starting again. It’s about finding upgrades that will enhance your kitchen, benefit your life, and add value to your home.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Floral Flounce OOTD Bloopers

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Floral Flounce OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Floral Flounce OOTD! I have had a bit of extra free time on my hands (I will explain eventually!) and want to make the most of it. This has involved a lot of housework and shooting a lot of content. I even made a TikTok and you can follow me at lilred6794 !! The OOTDs that I have created this past week have all been shot using a tripod. It is a process that I have been getting used to and it can be quite time consuming. Normally, I am done in five minutes when my blog husband takes my pictures! Despite being slightly annoying, it is fun to try something new and, of course, check out some yikes shots:

The Floral Flounce OOTD was the very first look I shot on a tripod in years. I think I might have done one or two tripod shoots a few summers ago when Johnny was out but you get the point. All I know, is that my conclusion after those shoots was that it sucked and that Johnny would take my pictures for forever lol. In the bloopers above, you can definitely see my frustration with the tripod process because it was annoying. That’s the only word I have for it: Annoying. Put the timer on the camera, run into place, strike a pose, evaluate the picture, rinse, repeat. And repeat, and repeat, and repeat. I must have done that at least fifty times and I was just done at the end of it.

But, you know what? It got easier! Since the Floral Flounce OOTD, I have shot two new looks with the tripod (Peep those soon!). The second outfit was still a learning process. However, I was ON FIRE with the third look. I hate to toot my own horn but toot toot! I had a plethora of shots to choose from in under ten minutes, I was able to place the tripod in the best position on the second or third try, and only had a few lighting issues to tend to. Not bad at all considering it took me a good half an hour to shoot the Floral Flounce fit. In fact, after my successful third tripod attempt, I found myself wishing that I had brought more outfits to shoot!

The moral of the story? Try and try again. I am stepping outside of my content comfort zone. The tripod experience is brand new to me and my own TikTok is something I never thought I would make. I’m having fun, though, and am proud that I decided to blaze a new trail instead of thinking of reasons not to!

Have you tried something new recently? How did it go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Are You Ready For A Big Change?

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Are You Ready For A Big Change?

Hello!! Whether it is a change that is expected or not, change can be really hard. However, change is necessary and, more often than not, the risk is worth the reward. I have some big changes coming up in the next few months and despite feeling a little stressed, I am mainly excited! After spending a lot of time mulling over my decision, I was able to reach a conclusion that was best for me. Here are the approaches that I took that I found to be the most helpful and maybe they will help you too for your next big adventure:

Are you currently feeling unhappy with where you’re at? Then, I invite you to time travel! Go back and think about the last point in your life when you were feeling fully content. What was your situation back then? What changed between then and now? Can you make the changes to get those feel good feelings back? When you can pinpoint that moment in time, you can really start to evaluate what was working for and against you. Even if you can’t make a huge change immediately to get your life on a more positive trajectory, you will have a place to start when the time comes.

Of course, making major life changes requires a lot of planning. In my situation, I made my perfect world plan as well as several backup options that I would be happy with too. When you have a Plan A, a backup plan, and a backup to your backup plan, you are well set to implement them anyway you see fit. It could be a combination of the three or you might find that one plan has everything and you are going for it. Putting all of your eggs in one basket definitely means betting on yourself but, remember, sometimes compromises will need to be made to get you to where you want to be!

Does simply the thought of making a change make you happy? Or maybe you have a gut feeling that a shift in your life needs to be made? Don’t ignore that! No one but you can tell you what’s right for you so listen to yourself. What’s best for you might not be the decision a partner or loved one would make and that’s okay because it’s your life. Only you can direct where it’s going to take you so if you are experiencing that desire for change, work with it.

A big life change can sometimes feel like a grieving process. You are switching up the norm and that can be difficult to wrap your head around. However, implementing a necessary change is going to be a lot harder if you are constantly going back and forth about it in your head. Be firm and confident in the decision you arrived at and challenge those wishy washy thoughts. This is why it is so important to plan, plan, plan because solid next steps can allow you to go forth knowing without a doubt that you made the right choice.

If you feel ready for a big change – go for it full steam ahead. You never know where it will take you but the chances are high that you’re going to feel a lot better!

Have you had a big change in your life recently? What helped you during that process? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

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Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

Howdy! During my last bout of Spring Cleaning, I had a GREAT SUCCESS because I located one of my favorite tank tops that has been missing for literal years. It was a simple black tank top by Rachel Zoe but it fit so perfectly, went with everything, and was one of my go to tops in the summer. I truly thought it was gone to the world and was beyond happy when I uncovered it amungst the clutter. I have to admit that, since then, my cleaning only went as far as necessary chores but I got back into the swing of things this weekend, baby! I have been using the Small Doses approach to get my apartment back in tiptop shape and this is what has helped me because, let’s be real, Spring Cleaning can be kind of overwhelming:

Sometimes, you just might not have the energy to clean and that is okay! If you planned on deep cleaning after work and had a long day, relax instead. At this point, one more day or two isn’t going to make a difference and you can get back at it better rested. This is something that isn’t worth beating yourself up about so take care of you and you can take care of the rest tomorrow. I have been really worn out recently and every intention I had of cleaning after work went out the window. At first, I was definitely mentally berating myself lol. However, this wasn’t doing me any favors and I made plans to clean this weekend and followed through.

I have been cleaning little by little and I love the instant gratification I feel from it. It’s so rewarding and it makes me want to clean more! I also find that I achieve a deeper, better clean when I focus on one thing at a time. I start by targetting one area that I would like to see improved and go from there. This past weekend, there were three things I wanted to do: Clean the bathrooms, clear off my catchall kitchen table, and clear through and consolidate our bedroom closet. I did two of those tasks on Saturday and completed my list on Sunday. Despite the fact that these were smaller chores, the difference was so noticable and it felt good!

What is your spring cleaning goal? Is it a sparkling home from top to bottom? Getting your yard in pristine condition? In my case, my main goal is clearing clutter. Listen, Johnny and I are packrats lol. After being together for over five years, we have compiled a lot of stuff and we simply don’t need it. By establishing my objective, it definitely made it easier to add to the trash/donate bags and create more tasks with my goal in mind. This is why my next items on the To Clean list are going to be clearing off our coffee table and TV stand as well as going through our multitude of clothing to donate.

I like the Small Doses approach because I think it’s totally easier, but also because it gives me a chance to make better choices with the upkeep. Doing a little bit at a time helps me establish good habits with what I have already done and gives me the opportunity to practice them before adding something new. For example, after getting home from work I put everything back in its proper place rather than all over my catchall table. I am also putting all of the clothes away immediately after doing laundry to prevent any pileups. Once again, small chores but a big effect!

Spring Cleaning isn’t just about cleaning, but about making better habits too. I am really happy with my progress so far!

Have you started any spring cleaning? What is your least favorite chore? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Most Important Meal Of The Day

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The Most Important Meal Of The Day

Hello!! Something that I actively suck at has got to be eating breakfast. It sounds stupid, but it’s true lol. After taking care of the bunnies and getting cleaned up early in the morning, I’m never particularly hungry. So, I begin the next part of my routine which is work online and slam ALL of the coffee. There comes a point during my mornings where hunger just hits me like a load of bricks and I either answer the call or put it on hold because I could have an early lunch. They say madness is doing the same thing and expecting different results and, honestly, this current system leaves a lot to be desired. So, I have made a conscious effort to incorporate some semblance of a normal breakfast into my routine compliments of a random craving.

As I was completing a curbside order online last week, I got the most intense white girl craving for avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning. I’m not sure why because I’ve only had it one time before. My sister made it for me a few years back when I was over at her house, it was the bomb, and that was that. I figured I was onto something with this out of nowhere hankering so I went ahead and added all of the fixings for avocado toast into my order. I actually just had some prior to writing this and it was just as bomb as I remembered it being. And *shocker* I actually feel awesome!

I am one of those people who absolutely NEEDS a routine and once I have one established, it is really hard for me to change it. Even if it is just one small thing like making breakfast every morning, I have to adjust all of the moving parts in my day to accommodate it and that is stressful. My routine comforts me and once the mental gymnastics starts, that security blanket feels like it got ripped to shreds. I have to admit, I had some butterflies in my basket when making my brekkie – but my entire world didn’t implode and that initial discomfort was quickly satisfied with something yummy that I wanted to eat. Not only did I feel like I worked better, but I had the sense of pride that I took care of myself by stepping out of my comfort zone. It might be a small step, but it was a big one!

Incorporating monkey wrenches into my work flow and challenging my own made up rules might be stressful, but I often find that the stress relief after the fact outweighs any cons. I have some big life changes coming up soon and adding little blips in my day to day will be a great stepping stone to making that shift easier.

What is your favorite food to have for breakfast? Are you structured or go with the flow during your day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Spring Cleaning Surprise

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Spring Cleaning Surprise

Howdy! I got home from work way earlier than normal on Monday and had three or so hours to kill before Johnny’s shift was over. I’m not really sure why, but out of nowhere, I got a strong desire to clean. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, it can be very difficult for me to find the motivation to clean outside of necessary chores. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted just seems to be the norm for me as of late and it sucks. It’s not like I don’t want to clean but the energy to do so is nowhere to be found. So, when this overwhelming urge hit me to clean, I went for it!

I decided to tackle one room before clocking in again to work from home and that was mine and Johnny’s bedroom. I cleared up any trash, did several loads of laundry, and organized the closet. I also was able to put Johnny’s clothes in some semblance of order because he needs a freaking dresser lol. As I was doing that, I found an incredible surprise: One of my FAVORITE tank tops that I thought I left in the Poconos when we went on vacation a few years prior. I looked everywhere in my apartment for it and came up empty so leaving it behind seemed like the most reasonable explanation. I guess I didn’t look everywhere, though.

After finally having found my black Rachel Zoe tank top, I was elated. The motivation to clean was there and I was rewarded for it. In fact, after this find, I found myself looking forward to tackling my office next! I genuinely thought that the cherry on top was being reunited with my beloved tank top. However, the cherry on top came after the bedroom was clean as a whistle. I had open access to an outlet again and I was eager to put a new Bath & Body Works wallflower into my Halloween plugin. The room looked so fresh and good that I decided to accentuate it with a Fiji White Sands wallflower. The spotless room combined with the crisp, beachy scent made me so happy!

I guess the moral of the story is, that if you are lacking motivation for a deep cleaning session – it really is okay. However, my first hand experience is that you will start feeling fantastic as you go through the process. Even if it is one room or one task at a time, you are accomplishing something that needs to be done and that is rewarding. There is no need to beat yourself up if you don’t have the energy to clean. Do what you can, revel in your success, and you are on your way to forming a good habit.

I really am proud of myself for getting an early start on my spring cleaning and giving the apartment the love it deserves doesn’t feel nearly as overwhelming. In fact, it is a welcome change of pace!

What is on your spring cleaning agenda? Have you found anything recently that you thought you lost? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Gym Bunny Update

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Gym Bunny Update

Howdy!! In November of 2024, I began making weekly visits to the gym with my brother. It was the first time I stepped foot in a gym since I was a teenager and, I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. However, my brother wanted to improve his health and I wanted to support him so we became gym buddies. We have been going every week since our first visit and I am crushing one of my New Year’s Resolutions of maintaining that. I look forward to our work out every week and I am so happy that my big bro and I are committed to branching out of our comfort zone together.

My goal for going to the gym isn’t about getting jacked but toned, instead. I can most definitely feel the difference, especially in my upper body. Prior to working out, I had no upper body strength whatsoever and using the machines that targeted those areas felt like torture. But guess what? It got easier every single time. In fact, I have increased my reps to twenty-five on each machine I use and it was so exciting to have that undeniable evidence that I was making progress. The shoulder press still gives me a lot of grief, but I felt really proud of the fact that my reps on the other machines that I used to dread were completed with ease during my last visit.

I never had any interest or desire to go to the gym prior to making this change with my brother and it truly has become a source of fun. We love to see the familiar faces as we make our rounds and it’s encouraging to be in a place where everyone is there to improve themselves. If you are considering going to a gym or if you would rather chop your arm off than step foot in one – just give it a try! If you don’t like it, you don’t like it but it never hurts to try something new. I certainly fell under the “would rather chop my arm off” category and I ended up surprising myself.

As an extremely goal oriented person, the gym has turned into something incredibly appealing to me. I have found that the goals I have been setting are achievable and it feels great to meet and surpass them. The jury is still out on when I will try to increase the amount of weight on the machines. So, my focus remains on steadily upping my reps. My next number I’d like to get to is thirty-five and I know, without a doubt, that I can do it. And that is a beautiful thing!

As soon as the weather warms up in Ohio, we will begin incorporating some laps in the pool into our work out routine. I simply cannot wait but the first order of business will be finding an excellent swim cap to protect my colored hair!

Do you like to go to the gym? How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Stayin’ Alive

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Stayin’ Alive

Hello! As an Independent Provider, it is required to get recertified in CPR and First Aid every two years. I am always more than happy to do so because not only is this certification beneficial for my clients, but it can help my family, friends, and perfect strangers too. This past weekend, I had my in person skills assessment at a church in Akron. I am pleased to report that I didn’t burst into flames and that I passed with flying colors! 😀

I have been working in my field for a decade, which means this was my fifth CPR and First Aid training. In my group, a majority of the people had never taken a class before and I became the guinea pig of the day. I could tell that everyone felt pretty nervous and, honestly, it made ME nervous to be the first one to perform skills because what if I suck lol. I vividly remember my first CPR and First Aid training. There was SO. Much. Information. and it was incredibly overwhelming. The anxiety for me was palpable that day and I could literally feel it in the air at class this weekend. Thankfully, everything went without a hitch and it made me feel good to help ease some nerves and encourage and guide others.

CPR and First Aid are life saving skills and can be one of those things that you lose if you aren’t doing them often. I was SO glad to be able to have a refresher because our teacher for the day was excellent. I was incredibly appreciative of the fact that she really took the time to pinpoint areas of improvement with each student, myself included. She was also very calm and collected, which I liked a lot. By employing the pro tips she taught and trying to emulate her cool as a cucumber demeanor, it made performing the skills more natural and increased my confidence. You never know what the scene will be like during an emergency situation and it was such good practice to be able to match her energy and maintain a level head with each skill.

If you have never taken a CPR and First Aid course, I truly can’t recommend it enough. These aren’t just skills for people in specific jobs, they are for everyone to learn. Hopefully, you will never encounter a situation that warrants using these life saving techniques. However, should it happen, you will be well equipped to help.

Do you know how to do CPR? What song do you use in your head? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Digital Marketing Tips

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Digital Marketing Tips

The world of digital marketing is vast and, honestly, can be a bit overwhelming! Creating a healthy and successful online presence whether it be for your business or yourself takes time and work. It also takes trial and error because every online presence is different. What works for your best friend’s brand might not work for you. Thankfully, some constants in digital marketing remain despite an ever changing online world. Let’s take a look at what you can focus on in this moment to take your brand to the next level:

We all know that what we put out online whether that be through social media or your own website has the potential to go viral. Of course, going viral is an excellent goal to strive for – imagine breaking the internet with one single piece of content! Is this achievable? Sure! Many people have done it. However, your page may not be as healthy as others if you are simply focusing on a viral status. Rather than a “do it quick” mentality, take the time to truly cultivate your page and allow it to grow naturally through your content and interactions. Viral status can be short lived but a stable platform with true fans, followers, and customers lasts forever. Don’t forget the importance of that, even if it is taking longer than you would like to see growth. Good things take time!

Creating meaningful content is the name of the game and if you are a business owner, you might not have the time or staffing to commit to this crucial aspect of marketing. If this is the case for you, patiently waiting for when you can squeeze in a few posts or run a handful of ads is not a virtue! Until you have the resources to handle your marketing in house, you might benefit from a digital marketing agency NZ (or your local area) to help you get started on the right foot. The team you choose will work with you to help bring your visions to life so you can focus on the priorities of your business.

Let’s take a moment and think about all of the different websites and social media pages that exist. It’s too many to even put a number on! Knowing that, you must develop a marketing plan that showcases yourself and your vision. Out of all of the places on the internet, people are on your page so what makes it unique? When you can pinpoint that special something, the magic happens and your marketing can revolve around it. This could be with clever social media campaigns, a total website overhaul, or allowing your niche to branch out and cover more topics centered around your key interest. Regardless of what route you take, make one hundred percent sure you are happy with what you are putting out. What people see is their first impression of you even if they live halfway across the world and you want that impression to be a good one.

If you are creating amazing content but find that your website is lacking visual appeal, you might want to get help with its design. The appearance of your page is a direct reflection of your content and you will want it to look as high quality as what you are creating. Consider the help of Pacific IQ Shopify Marketing Services to assist with the design of your page. You will be amazed at the difference a fresh, beautifully designed layout can make!

As your pages develop, you will be able to have a much clearer picture of where your viewers are coming from as well as their age demographic. This. Is. Huge! With this information, you can better curate your strategies to improve the experience for your current audience as well as have the insight to expand the demographic even more. For example, if your primary audience is senior citizens, the chances are high that they are only on Facebook for social media. They also might prefer email marketing like alerts and newsletters. Younger viewers are all about that in app experience with short and sweet video content, bold graphics, and eye catching statements. Your digital marketing should be all encompassing no matter the age or location of your audience so find ways to tap into each demographic with strategies that can be accessed in a variety of ways.

Feeling lost when it comes to SEO? Not sure where to start with building a website? This might be the perfect opportunity to explore how a marketing agency can support your efforts. The key is finding an agency that specializes in your industry – after all, a fashion website has completely different needs than a car dealership site. For instance, if you work in insurance, you could benefit from services tailored specifically to insurance broker seo. Partnering with specialists can fast-track your progress and give you the confidence to tackle more ambitious marketing goals as your business grows.

When you consult with a digital marketing agency like Dragonfly Digital Marketing, your goals for your website will be front and center. It’s a good idea to have some milestones you are hoping to achieve in mind before a consultation so the experts can put together a plan to help you meet them. Working with a marketing agency could be just what your page needs to expand your audience even further.

Digital marketing is strategic, yes, but it should be fun too. This is your chance to put your big idea front and center so develop a comprehensive plan, seek help as needed, and have a blast creating!