Girls Found Alive and Well After 10 Years!

So I'm sure all of you have heard about the three girls who disappeared ten years ago but were just found alive and well. What an amazing ending to a horrific story! Unfortunately, it's not the ending we're used to hearing.

This story hits close to home for me. Not only did this happen in the city I live in, but how awful for them and their families that these girls were taken and held against their own will. It makes me sick to think about it! It also makes me a little scared as well.

I wanted to share a couple of apps and helpful tips to keep all you Mama's safe:

Attack Alarm SMS. This app seems very helpful. Here's the lowdown on it:
Not only is it a big red button that you can tap on and a loud alarm goes off scaring potential attackers, but there's more. You can also pick any number of people in your contact list to have a personalized message sent straight to their phone (my message reads: Help! I'm being attacked!). I picked three people to send this to in case the unthinkable happens. Not only that, but it will also allow for GPS tracking to go to their phones so that they will know your whereabouts. How cool is that?

Walk Me Home. Again, very cool and you don't just need an iPhone for this one. This allows you to notify people of your choosing when you will be "walking home" alone (or feel worried for any reason). It tells them your where you are and it notifies them when you reach your destination. If at any point during your 'walk' you feel threatened at the touch of a button they will be notified. It seems well worth it.

These are just the apps I have, but this website gives a list of the top 5 apps every woman should have- a must read!

Also, for all of you who have kiddos with phones, please check out this website about keeping the family safe. It seems very helpful, there is also an app that helps tackle tough questions like what your kiddo should do if someone offers them a ride, etc.

Of course, I recommend mace to just about everyone. It's very powerful and it'll fit right on your key chain. Self defense classes are also something every woman should look into. The R.A.D. website will help you find some in your area.

Another thing that every Mama should do is talk to your kiddos about strangers. What they are, what they aren't and what they can do in case the unthinkable arises. Preschool age is a great time to start. There are a lot of resources to guide you in what to say and how to say it. Educate yourself!

I liked these ones:
National Crime Prevention Council
Baby Center
Scholastic

Share your tips and encourage one another in the comments below. Knowledge is power!
Please consider giving to the Courage Fund set up in the girl's honor.

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Become a Better Net Worker Now (no matter what you do for a living!)

How funky is this business card? Go on and get creative!
Photo Courtesy of Coolest Business Card.com

Because I just moved somewhere new, I'm trying to meet people. I want to do this so I can make friends, play dates, engage in my hobbies and for professional reasons as well.

Whatever your reason, we all should be networking. It's time to shed the mentality that we 'don't need to' or maybe you're a SAHM and think it's only for people in the 'professional' world. This couldn't be further from the truth!

Did you know networking was originally intended so that we can help others, not the other way around? Perhaps we need to shift our focus to this and we can become better at networking. My point is, get out there and meet some peeps!



Because I have a degree in the entertainment industry, I was actually taught how to network in college. Here are some of my dos on becoming a better net worker:

• Listen, listen and listen. When you approach someone, you're there to find out who they are and what they're all about- professionally and otherwise. Don't start out with a "hi, this is what I do, what do you do for a living." This is phony and it comes off as speed date-y. Ask them questions about what interests them and build off of that. People like to talk about themselves, so listen up and be slow to speak. 
• Before you give your business card to them, ask for theirs first (after chatting with them for a bit of course). This will seem more sincere and less likely to scare them away. We already talked about getting business cards no matter what you do for a living, so use them!
• Make eye contact. 'Nuff said.
• Follow up when you say you will. Even if you say you'll be in touch in a few weeks, do that. There is something to be said for following through with what you say you'll do.
• Wear something that stands out. If nothing else, they'll remember you by that alone. You can even put that in your follow-up email, "I was the one wearing that funky scarf you commented on." I find that this is also a conversation piece. I once had a woman approach me because she liked my big earrings. We got to talking and she worked in film too- small world!

Now the donts and common misconceptions that are associated with networking:

• Common mistake #1- You have to be an outgoing person to network. Wrong. Most people are completely aware that we live in a society that's all about who ya know, not what ya know. It's 100% acceptable to strike up a conversation with someone even if you're not at a networking event (but especially if you are!). 
• Common mistake #2- You have to be a professional career woman/man to 'network' and have business cards. No. SAHMs and college students should always have their own cards. What if your kiddo meets someone at the playground that they really get along with? Give the Mama your card and ask if they'd like to do a play-date sometime. Go on, exit your comfort zone, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. I totally have a very good friend who I met at a Bed Bath and Beyond. True story.
• Common mistake #3- You need to network up. This is the most common misconception in my opinion. Don't ignore your peers. They're going to be somewhere else one day and it might be sooner than you think. It's not fair to discount people on where they're at now. You don't always have to be hitting it off with a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. At my last job I was the internship coordinator, and I always made sure I treated my interns fairly and helped them whenever I could. They weren't just there to fetch my lattes, they were nice people and I may need their help one day as well.

A wise man once told me that by helping others get to where they need to be, you'll be getting closer to where you want to be too. Amen to that!

What are some of your networking tips??? Leave a comment and let me know!

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