Kirtsy.com has teamed up with the cool, smart people at Microsoft Office Live to do 100 Hands On Small
Business sessions in October and November.  The free hands-on sessions will offer practical advice and instruction in using online and social media solutions to help small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Charlotte sessions will be held October 5, 14, 21, 28 and November 4 at different locations across the city, and facilitated by yours truly & Crystal Dempsey.

Normally, I'm not too concerned with my appearance. At 32 I've accepted that I peaked physically at 19 and one's body can only be 19 once. My body does everything I ask of it, I'm quite comfortable in my skin. However, when planning a vacation with approx. 200 of the most connected people in social media, I can't help but think there is room for improvement. I mean, for every picture I avoid being in, another 3 will wind-up on Flickr, Facebook & Twitpic for all the world to see.

So here's what I'm starting with: just under 5'7", 150lbs & one iffy knee. At 1" taller and 5lbs. heavier than when I graduated high school (though the fat/muscle ratio is nothing like it was) I don't have any major weight-loss goals in mind. I just feel like I could be better, faster, stronger... (ooo! time for some Daft Punk!)

Since my fave personal trainer is pre-occupied with the business of creating life this fall and can inflict her usual torture (and by that I mean questioning my ability to operate a motor vehicle after a mere hours workout), I had to find an alternate method of kickstarting my regime. So this past Saturday I started Fitness Together's Boot Camp at the US National Whitewater Center. Eventhough my workout had to be modified because me knee decided to take the day off, trainers Jeff & Joe made sure I still got more than my money's worth (Only $15 a week). It's Monday and my quads, hams, glutes, pecs, triceps & biceps are still reminding me we had an awesome workout this weekend! Best of all is, this is the kind of workout you can do at home. No equipment, no spotting, just you.

These are my fave workouts. No planning, no prepping, no clean-up, and they can be broken down and used throughout the day. Like last night while watching the season finale of Defying Gravity, I spent the commercial breaks doing wall sits or planks. It's nothing major, but it keeps the blood pumping and, well, anything is better than just sitting there for an hour.

So, the plan is to build a better me. Not because I'm ashamed or embarrassed by what I am today. Or to look good in a bikini (my Victorian sensibilities would never allow such displays of self). I honestly doubt that I'll even put a swimsuit on. My place is with books not pool boys, and books can get heavy, so I need to buff up.

How lucky am I to be able to make this kind of assessment and change while still in the first 3rd of my life?!

charlotte.twestival.com

I am admittedly a creature of routine, functioning most happily within a known structure. For years lunch has been a random mood/weather/company dictated decision I had to actively make each day. More often than not I found myself frustrated by the decision making process and lack of options that spoke to me.

Several weeks back, while wandering down S. Tryon trying to get myself excited about Quiznos, yet again, I noticed a sandwich board advertising blynk organic, so I decided to change course and check it out. I tried the Thai Sky wrap and was hooked. Why was I hooked from one sandwich? It was a tofu wrap - I do not like tofu, never have, but it was SO good! It had flavor, a varied texture so unlike tofu that if the label hadn't already informed me that it was, I never would have guessed. I figured, if their tofu could impress me so greatly the rest of the menu should knock me on my rear.

I was right (usually am)! The very next morning I was back, opting to try blynk's organic, fair-trade coffee instead of hitting up Starbucks or the Dunkin Donuts in my building's lobby. Golly gee! Pour me another one PLEASE! My workdays now begin with a CATS bus ride immediately followed by a large dark roast.

Lunchtime saw me back again to try another sandwich, the Caprese. This is one of their Crysp panini sandwiches, which they serve in an awesome little pop-open box/ plate. I tried out most of the original menu found some faves, and then... the menu changed. This is one of the rare instances when a menu update was exciting. Several items remained but there were a host of new wraps, sandwiches, paninis and soups to try. The new items were just as exciting and delicious as the originals and a new batch of personal faves were formed.

Even though I literally go to the same place everyday for coffee and again for lunch the diversity of the menu allows for each trip to be completely different. Somedays I'm feeling like Italian, some days Asian or Mexican, on occasion, even vegetarian.  No matter my mood, the menu meets my needs.

All that said, what makes blynk so addictive for me are the people and the sense of community they are creating there. I don't just stand on line for my coffee in the morning and then hustle on to the office, I chat with Liz and Ernest about anything and everything from politics to dog parks to graphic novels. We have become friends on Facebook we share books and trade music recommendations. They also know there menu and products from ingredients to compostability of the utensils.

Even though blynk is on the first floor of one of the many office buildings in Uptown Charlotte what has been created there feels more like a small town business than urban niche restaurant. Familiar smiles greet you each day from behind the counter and next to you in line. You don't feel like a customer at blynk, but more like a good neighbor who just popped by to borrow a cup of sugar. It's that feeling that will keep me going back.

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Amazing what a haircut can do