“Most of us are just about as happy as we make up our minds to be.”
-Abraham Lincoln
My mother has taught me all sorts of lessons over the years – ranging from how to find the first step of a huge task to how to dye my hair… the importance of Thank You cards and the perfect pair of shoes.
As a kid, whenever we were packing for a trip or outing, she would ask me if I packed my “Positive Mental Attitude.” Cheesy, I know… but it’s a life lesson I carry with me to this day.
In any situation, the only factor you can always control is yourself. So make the decision to take on the challenges and make the most of every day.
And if you ever need an extra boost, there’s always that perfect pump up song. I used to have a pre-exam ritual in college where I would listen to a certain classic to get me ready to kick some tail.
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s
the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger
Yes, paintball is a sport. It’s more commonly thought of as a hobby or just a recreational game. And that’s how it all starts…
There’s not a day that goes by that the word paintball is not heard in my house. My 13 year old son is consumed with it. He eats, sleeps, and breathes paintball. It’s because of him that I have learned these lessons to pass on to you!
Types of paintball games:
Woodsball – the original form of paintball played in the woods. Fields consist of trees, bushes, and other natural resources. Sometimes you’ll find other things like old cars and buildings too. But it’s all played in the woods.
Speedball – the most common form of paintball that uses bunkers of equal size and distribution on the field. Also called recball.
Scenarios – paintball games in which players participate in a scenario or story, often a re-enactment.
What you need to play paintball:
A paintball marker (gun)
Ammunition (paint balls)
Mask or goggles
Protective clothing (if you’re a noob)
Common paintball terms:
Staging Area– the area where the players store their gear and rest between games. It’s also where they hang out, talk smack and challenge each other.
Barrel socks – a “sock” type device that fits around the barrel of the gun and captures a paintball in the case of accidental firing. Trust me, when hanging out in the staging area, you are grateful for barrel socks!
Masks on – this means you better get that mask on and now! Masks are required on the field even if you’re not playing.
Hit – when the paintball leaves a solid mark on your clothing or equipment. Splatters do not count, it must be a solid mark.
Wiping – players sometimes “wipe” the paint to make it look like they didn’t get hit. We call these players CHEATERS!
Ramping – This one still confuses me. I think of it as automatically changing the mode of fire from semi-automatic to fully automatic. The gun goes pop, pop, pop, then badadadadadada, sort of like a machine gun mode. And while it’s legal in some leagues, I think of it as another form of cheating!
Bonus Balling – this occurs when a player continually shoots his opponent knowing that they already have a hit. Again, CHEATER!
Go, Go, Go!!! – the start of a game. You’d better be ready or you’re hit!
As a parent, I often wonder what I have to look forward to with Austin’s paintball obsession. Well, the PSP World Cup games are held close to Orlando, FL so that’s pretty cool. The NPPL World Championship games are held in Las Vegas, even better! And with high school right around the corner followed by college, who knows, maybe there’s a future in paintball for Austin…
Shameless plugs: Thanks to Tanks Paintball for helping Austin with the sport and Pro Edge Paintball for assisting Austin with his gear. And to both, for taking my money!
I’m a serial self-critic who recently transitioned from relaxed to natural hair.
I have an eye for detail.
I’m a chronic nail-biter and known smartass who loves rap music, dancing, video games, puppies and high heels.
Most days that’s an awesome, adorable combination! (If I may say so myself.)
Other days (particularly bad hair days/laundry days/break-up days), it’s flat out obnoxious (or funny). And I know it.
So what’s a girl to do?! Own it.
When it’s all said and done, we can only be ourselves. Sometimes we get it all right. Sometimes we get it all wrong. The important thing is to forgive yourself your shortcomings; then appreciate, sharpen and share your gifts.
And of course celebrate people who do the same.
Here are my Own It champions (Shoutout to Facebook! Thx for the pics.)
I got an email in my in-box last week from Schipul’s own Ms. Katie Laird with a quick note letting me know the up-coming NetSquared Houston Meet-Up might be of interest to me… let’s just say, long story short… HappyKatie knows me well indeed.
For those who have not heard of NetSquared before:
NetSquared is focused on the intersection of technology and social impact. We create opportunities for all those involved in creating change to connect: whether you are a nonprofit or a foundation, a designer or a developer, a changemaker or an entrepreneur.
The Houston NetSquared Meetup is focused on ‘Social changemakers and technological forerunners coming together at Net Tuesday events to mix, swap stories and ideas, build new relationships, and reinforce the online NetSquared community.â€
Ryan (Ryan Marsh, president of the Layla Grace Foundation) speaks geek and can talk to the more technical challenges facing online non-profit organizations from a technology and a human perspective.
Having spent a lot of time over the last 15 years involved with Non-Profits, I can say the way they function has changed substantially over the last 3-5 years with society’s rapid adoption of new technology and the introduction of Social Media into the mix. In order for a NPO to stay viable, I believe they have to passionately embrace technology and the social-sphere in order to overcome challenges, meet goals, and, most importantly in today’s economy, do more with a LOT less.
The Layla Grace Foundation was founded by Ryan and Shanna Marsh in April 2010 in honor of their daughter Layla Grace Marsh who gained her eternal wings on March 9, 2010. You can learn more about the foundation at their site: http://laylagrace.org/ . With more than 16 thousand Facebook Fans, I was keen to hear what a very successful and VERY young Non-Profit had to say about the technology choices they had made.
Ryan did a wonderful job of balancing the very tender topic of childhood cancer with talking about the tech tools the Layla Grace Foundation has used to serve their mission:
“The Layla Grace Children’s Cancer Research Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on the discovery of new treatment options for children with high-risk cancer. We empower parents with the tools to become effective advocates for their children and raise public consciousness about our cause.”
In fact, Ryan offered up such a phenomenal top 10 list for Non-Profit Technology choices’ I was taking notes like a mad woman in order to be able to share them here. What I really like about this list is that it came from someone who has a history in the Tech Industry and has also tested, evaluated, tried and failed fast with a lot of the technology options out there today. This is a tried and true list of options that have floated to the top of the list for a functioning Non-Profit Organization and it can save other organization out there a lot of time and money.
So, without further ado, here is the Non-Profit Top 10 Tech Tools Recommended by the Layla Grace Foundation:
Gathers and stores audience information from everywhere
Want to know who you are talking to? Check them out in Flowtown.
My biggest take-away from the evening was not actually one of the items on Ryan’s list. It was a suggestion for what Ryan referred to as essential reading for any organization looking to raise funds online (who is not?!)… I will be ordering and consuming Jakob Nielsen’s ‘Donation Usability: Increasing Online Giving to Non-Profits and Charitiesâ€
For any Non-Profit out there looking to hone their technology skills or wade through the over-whelming options… the above list is great way to getcha started.
Looking for more helpful tech tips and tricks to help your Non-Profit succeed? Well, come on and join us at Net Tuesday!
If you are an Admin on a Facebook Page you may have noticed already the new ‘Spam†option on your pages. You may also already seen it at work hiding those pesky sales pitches for Magic Acai Berries and the like.
Facebook is now helping Page admins ensure that the most valuable content posted by users on their Page wall is more visible to anyone viewing the Page. We are now offering automatic content filtering on Page walls that will ensure that posts soliciting spam are removed from public view as well as ensure that posts containing good content remain more visible.
If you have your page setting such that posts to your page are separated by your organization’s and then all others, you will see the ‘Spam†link as the 4th option in this list. Not to worry’ only Page Admins can see this link.
Clicking the ‘Spam†link will show you all the content Facebook as deemed spam worthy and moved off your page.
Mouseing over the spam post will reveal a little ‘X†to the top right of the post. Clicking the ‘X†will reveal several options:
1. Remove the post
2. Unmark as Spam
3. Report as Abuse
If the post does really belong in the general content of your organization’s Facebook page… then by all means click that Unmark option. If however the post does fall into that dark side of the internet category called spam, then I suggest you report as abuse and then remove it. This will alert Facebook to the insidious nature of the offending poster and may hopefully save a fellow organization admin a few moments of time later on down the line.
If you have a mixed wall, meaning you show all posts from your organization mixed with other’s post, you won’t see the spam link. You will want to first click the ‘Options†link, then following the same instructions above.
Thanks to popularity of Facebook we can use it connect with like minded people and promote, support and grow our non-profit and for profit organizations alike… and… due to the popularity of Facebook the spammers will start to show up more and more. Thankfully, Facebook is putting measures into place to make the Facebook experience a good one for both admins and users.
Sadly a lot of people will say they don’t like something even though they’ve never tried it.
People will say “I don’t like that…” whether it’s a sport, traveling, a new beer, or even a whole country of people they’ve never met. I can honestly say that I used to be this way too. I have found that by being close minded to new and possibly better things, you miss out on a whole lot of awesome.
Growing up, I used to eat my steaks Well Done because that is how my parents would order them and really, I didn’t know any better. If in early high school and you were to present me with a steak that was Medium or God forbid, Medium-Rare I would of rejected it. It wasn’t until I was in a situation where I had to be polite when offered a Medium-Rare steak that I found what I had been missing for so long. I then took the mindset of “Don’t Knock It Until You’ve Tried It” and applied that to food in general. I have come to find and love many more culinary delights since then and I can trace my culinary “open-mindedness” back to that one experience. Heck, if it turns out that you don’t like something… you never have to eat it again.
This same concept can be applied to your views on people that are different from you. Whether it’s their religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, financial bracket, political preference or whatever else one can conjure up to divide us. If you don’t know someone who is White, Brown, Black, Green, Purple, Straight, Gay, Muslim, Christian, Canadian, American, Protestant, Catholic or whatever else, then it doesn’t seem fair to come to a conclusion when in fact you don’t know.
Don’t be afraid of the “Medium-Rare” because you might just like it.
Anyone that knows me, will tell you I like to tell stories – some make complete sense others are borderline bizarre – but one thing I know for sure, they are best accompanied with a photo. That being said, a lesson I am grateful to have learned was to always carry your camera in your purse, pocket, fanny pack and yes, even that beloved man satchel.
Because let’s be honest, if you don’t carry a camera with you at all times, how can you tell people…
How beautiful your mom is.
That you were there.
That your baby looks brilliant in a Trapper Hat.
That your baby nephew will be the most stylish kid on the block.
How you hugged a giant macaroni.
That you kissed a baby giraffe.
Or that you patted a dolphin on the head.
That you have been a human crayon.
That sometimes, you must forego your Cowboys gear for the one you love.
That it is not a joke how much your family loves miniature schnauzers.
And that you really do have the best friends in the world.
Happy November! We’ve passed the sugar high of Halloween and are focusing our thoughts around the more introspective (and turkey laden) Thanksgiving season.
This month each member of our team is sharing a source of inspiration in their lives – whether it’s a person, a book, a movie or a blog – that has helped guide them to where they are today.
The biggest thanks, of course, goes out to our clients who make everyday at the office possible and exciting. Your feedback, ideas and exciting missions keep our teams in a state of constant growth and development.
We love watching your communities connect, your businesses thrive and your events prosper – thanks for being the biggest inspiration of all!
The goal of the summit was to plan initiatives that will revolutionize the Houston economy. It was held at Rice University and featured a selection of panels and strategy labs that focused on industries from food to nanotechnology to marketing.
After each presenter gave attendees some background on their area of expertise, the lab moderator asked attendees to work in groups to come up with an actionable item that incorporates creativity, technology and community.
And that was tough.
But we worked at it, and when it was all said and done, we came up with an idea for a database that would serve as a resource for people seeking services in any industry available in Houston from film production to design to event coordinating – with the goal of identifying and promoting the brand of the city to eventually increase its revenue.
To learn more about the Houston Summit for the Creative Economy visit them on Facebook or check out the website.
Founded in Texas, AVANCE works with poor and marginalized communities to promote better parenting, school readiness, literacy, health and personal development. AVANCE provides programs that strengthen families in at-risk communities through effective parent education and support programs.
See more at www.avancehouston.org
Also, we were privileged to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of AVANCE Houston’s new Mangum Education center.
AVANCE Mangum Center ribbon cutting
The Mangum Education Center is a 48,000 square ft. facility housing AVANCE education and support programs and Southwest Schools Charter Schools, K -5th grade. The facility is a former boarded up and vacated retail center.
Students from Southwest school singing at AVANCE Mangum Ribbon cutting
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured speakers Mayor Annise Parker, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Houston City Council Member Melissa Noriega – along with AVANCE Inc. CEO Rick Noriega, AVANCE-Houston, Inc. Executive Director Jose Villareal, and Superintendent of Southwest Schools Janelle James.
Also, students from the Southwest School performed songs and poems for the crowd.
Annise Parker at the AVANCE Mangum Center Ribbon Cutting
The ribbon cutting was a great event and was a great showcase of all the hard work the AVANCE team has put in to get this major project accomplished! We are so thrilled to get to work with this fantastic Houston nonprofit!
My mother has taught me all sorts of lessons over the years – ranging from how to find the first step of a huge task to how to dye my hair… the importance of Thank You cards and the perfect pair of shoes.
