The Simple Solution – Blog

About this blog

The simple solution will answer questions, share secrets and tips, plus we will throw some entertaining stuff in the blog as well. Thanks for reading.

6 Oct. 2009

BuddyBoo Stationary

If you like to send your friends and family cards or fun notes, you’ll love BuddyBoo Stationery. Recently the simple solution had the opportunity to chat with Jean Tate of BuddyBoo and ask her a few questions. You can find BuddyBoo on the web at http://www.buddyboostationery.com/.

SS:  When did you start BuddyBoo Stationery and what was the inspiration behind it?
BB: BuddyBoo Stationery was started in April of 2008 with the thought that it would be a side gig for me and a reason to play with cool paper and express my creativity. A short couple months into it I decided it would make my heart happy if I could make it something more than just a side gig and that's been my goal ever since. The inspiration behind the name is very simple - Buddy is my son's nickname and Boo is my daughter's.

SS: What types of stationery do you offer? Do you just do wedding invitations?
BB: BuddyBoo designs wedding stationery (invitations, programs, save-the-date cards, thank you cards), birth announcements, holiday greetings, graduation announcement, and personalized stationery. Right now I'm working on corporate thank you note cards, a soccer club manager thank you cards, a wedding invitation, and a 30th birthday party invitation. The sky is the limit.

SS: Do you do all the printing or is it outsourced?
BB: The wedding invitations I definitely have printed. I work very hard at keeping my costs reasonable and for smaller quantities I may print projects on my own laser printer.

SS: Do you offer "green" options?
BB: If possible, I will opt for purchasing recycled paper. All scraps from production are recycled immediately.
                                     
SS: What is one piece of advice you give brides who come to you for invitations?
BB: Always be comfortable with any vendor you work with for your wedding. It's a very important day and you don't want to have hassles at any stage of the planning. I aim to make the stationery process fun and unobtrusive. When I work with a couple or any client, I set up a personalized page with the project and all drafts and changes on it. That way I'm not clogging up someone's email box with photos and PDFs. That page can also be shared with anyone the couple or client wishes to show it to for extra feedback and extra eyes. I highly encourage everyone to have another person check over the project for correct spelling.

SS: How much time do you need to create an invitation for an event?
BB: I actually have a link on my site that has a handy calculator to figure out the optimal time for design and production. It's very cool. If we're on a time crunch, no problem. The calculator chart is a starting point.

SS: BuddyBoo pays it forward. Would you like to tell folks about that?
BB: BuddyBoo Stationery donates a portion of all profits to autism charities and awareness. I'm excited to announce that BuddyBoo is a 2010 sponsor of the Autism Society of Minnesota's Steps of Hope walk event in late February. It feels good to give back to the autism community.

14 Sept. 2009

Fruit Flies abound…

How do you get rid of drosophila melanogaster, which is Greek for dark-bellied dew lover or more frequently known as the common fruit fly?

Fruit flies can be a problem year round, but are especially common during late summer and early fall because they are attracted to ripened or fermenting fruits and vegetables.

The best way to avoid problems with fruit flies is to eliminate the source of attraction. Produce which has ripened should be eaten, discarded or refrigerated. 

Ah, Katie you say, "What if they are already swarming?"

Good question and here is my answer: Clean the infected area well (counter compost bin, fruit bowl or that banana you forgot about) and set out a trap.

Here is a simple and eco-friendly fruit fly trap: take a cup or jar, fill it about 1/4 way up with a squirt of dishwashing liquid, a little water to make it bubble up and a splash of red wine vinegar or cider vinegar. Place plastic wrap on top, secure with a rubber band and then poke a few very tiny holes in the plastic.

They will fly in, but cannot figure out how to fly out. Place the cups where there are infestations. You'll be surprised how many you'll catch.

1 Sept. 2009

What do you do?

When I tell people that I am a personal and corporate concierge, they often ask:
“What is that?”

Until recently, people who were familiar with concierges associated them with the individuals in 5-star hotels who directed you to the best restaurants and then made your reservations. Or, they helped you to locate tickets to the theatre.

In recent years, concierge services and errand services have been growing beyond the scope of hotels and are developing into more commonly used services for businesses, families and individuals. A concierge is a person who assists with simple tasks and chores at home, the workplace and anywhere in between. Concierge services are a luxury to some, a necessity for others and beneficial to all.

The simple solution is here to support you in taking good care of yourself. We believe that peace and harmony begins with the individual. The more content and healthy we are, the more we spread those qualities around, making the planet a happier and safer place to be.

My hope for this blog is to touch on many different subjects. We will interview our service providers for handy tips and tricks for everyday life.