Introducing TECHMOM SOLUTIONS

Introducing TechMom Solutions, my newest business venture! Offering Social Media Implementation and Maintenance Packages for all companies! We work with all budget sizes to help all companies build and maintain a necessary social media presence.

TechMom Solutions offers a wide variety of Social Media Strategy and Implementation Services for companies of all sizes. Our affordable packages give you the freedom to choose what level of social media is right for your business. We can do everything from setting up your social media services, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc., to maintaining your social media platforms on a daily basis. No matter what package you choose, you can trust that your company will benefit on numerous levels.

In this day and age, small businesses must fight for exposure and customers, both locally and online. Gone are the days of the actual Yellow Pages. Now consumers search online, even for local businesses. Whether you are a small one person office or a multi level company, studies have shown that your business can and will benefit from social media.

Social media is a serious passion of mine, and so is helping others! I have decided to combine both of those, to help others create a dynamic social media presence!

Please check out the official TechMom Solutions website at http://www.techmomsolutions.com
You can also "like" us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/techmomsolutions & follow us on Twitter @TechMomSolution

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My Upcycled Store Display!

When I got the news that my gratitude jewelry line, Take Time, was accepted to be sold in BeachCrafters, I was beyond excited, and then scared as heck knowing that I needed to come up with a fantastic display! And immediately I knew that my display had to be unique and upcycled!

First step was finding a display that was the right size and right look for what I was going for. Instead of going out and buying a shelving unit, I chose one that has very personal and significant meaning to me: a shelving unit that once belonged to my grandfather, someone who was like my surrogate father, someone who was the one of the most important people in the world to me.

Our house is filled with many people and many boxed memories. We found the shelving unit in our garage, and it just so happened it was the perfect measurements! I was excited and overwhelmed. I know that my grandpa is immensely proud of me.

Next step was to clean it up and make it unique! Cleaning the metal was a simple process of my mom and I scrubbing it down in our front lawn. She was so excited to know I was using this specific unit.

The shelves were made of pressboard. The unit is probably from the 1960s at our best estimate. Years of storage and use means the shelves were slowly starting to disintegrate. Keeping those boards was not an option!

Mom and I measured the boards and went to Home Depot, which turned into quite a fun trip. We purchased plywood, not too thick but very sturdy. I chose a paint from the Martha Stewart collection, black with tiny flecks of gold in it. The paint wasn't glittery, but it was was shiny and unique.

I spent a few hours over two days, painting the boards. They turned out fantastic, especially considering I haven't painted a single thing, art or otherwise, for quite a few years!

The end result was a beautiful upcycled shelving unit that would look beautiful as a standalone piece in our house, and also looks amazing as a display unit that shines but lets the pieces shine brighter.

The display unit looks beautiful in the store! You can stop by and see for yourself at BeachCrafters, 4244 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach CA.

What has been one of your favorite upcycling projects that you've done or you've seen?

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"Help Us Help Kids" Charity Auction!

We're only FIVE DAYS away from the start of the "Help Us Help Kids" Charity Auction at the Brianne's Basics FB Fanpage!

Our first auction will run from March 16-23, and 100% of the proceeds go to Walk For Kids benefitting the Ronald McDonald House!

We're still accepting donations of collectibles, handmade items, jewelry, gifts, autographed items, you name it! If you have something you'd like to donate, please email us at info@briannesbasics.com for more information! We'll be promoting the auction and our donors all week to our founder's 3000+ followers on all social media platforms!

We have a second auction planned in April as well, for the American Heart Association!

This is our 4th consecutive year for Walk For Kids, and my mom is a survivor (double bypass/valve replacement). I look forward to two fabulous events & promoting the heck out of the wonderful businesses who are participating! THANK YOU again for your continued support!

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My Charity Memoir, FREE This Weekend Only!

TWO DAYS ONLY! My charity memoir, My Work Of Heart, is available for FREE Kindle download this weekend only!

Why? Plain and simple! I wrote this book for inspiration, for those who want to get back but think it's only giving your money, for those who think 5Ks are the only ways to raise money, for those who would benefit from the 50 tips and tricks I list in the back!

My charity memoir is FREE until Sunday, March 10, at 1159pm PST

About the book: "This charity memoir, told from the point of view of a mother, wife, and avid volunteer, chronicles a journey through one family's year of giving. Through the difficult times, medical issues, and much more, one family kept giving back to others. That one year changed their lives, and touched so many others.
..........This heartfelt memoir includes tips and tricks for your family to give and volunteer without going broke."

Don't have a Kindle? Check out THIS article about Kindle apps for your smartphone or tablet!

I hope you enjoy the book! Please leave a review and let me know your thoughts. Thank you as always for your continued support!

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Find Us At BeachCrafters Starting March 1

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! Take Time Jewelry is EXPANDING and will be sold in BeachCrafters Long Beach starting March 1!

Our beautiful and unique items will be sold in BeachCrafters, a place for books and handmade gifts, a local Long Beach CA store selling only handmade unique items by local artists and crafters in just a few weeks! Get your favorite design before they are GONE!

The address is:
4350 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
(next door to Reptiles Unlimited; old location of Roy Robbins Gifts)

This is a huge step for our business! We're getting more and more recognized locally, and we are very excited to be a part of this amazing collective and store! We have visited the store a number of times, and every time we are amazed by all of the unique and beautiful items. This store truly is a gem, and we are honored to be included!

Most of our current designs will be taken down and put in our display at BeachCrafters in Long Beach. So be sure to get your designs before they're gone!

What Does This Mean For Our Etsy Store? Our etsy store is located at www.etsy.com/shop/taketimejewelry For the next 2 weeks we'll be making many NEW pieces to replace our current pieces. Every day, some of our stock will come down and be replaced with NEW items! We'll make an announcement the day before as to which pieces are being taken down, so you, our fans, will have a chance to purchase them first!

Remember, 75-100% of ALL of our sales go directly to our ongoing charity work! February is National Heart Month, so our profits are going to the American Heart Association and Compassion International! Our March profits will be donated to Walk For Kids, benefitting the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House!

As always, we thank you all for your continued support! This is a BIG deal for us, and we are incredibly excited!

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Join Us For LB First Fridays March 1

Come visit the "Take Time Jewelry" at the EXPO Arts Center during First Fridays on March 1! Your favorite pieces will be available for purchase!

As we previously posted, Take Time Jewelry was chosen for the "People, Places, And Things" Exhibit at Gallery Expo, March 1-23. Take Time Jewelry will be at the EXPO Arts Center to help celebrate First Fridays, selling our beautiful OOAK items and raising money for our charity work! During March, our profits will be going towards Walk For Kids
, benefitting the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House.

EXPO Arts Center and Gallery Expo is located at 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA 90807. The event begins at 6pm, so be sure to stop by and support local Long Beach vendors!

Please like TAKE TIME on Facebook, and you can also like Gallery Expo on Facebook as well!

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TAKE TIME Accepted For ART EXHIBITION!

AMAZING NEWS! We are very honored to have our artistic Take Time jewelry chosen as a piece for the "People, Places, And Things" Exhibit at Gallery Expo, running from March 1 to 23. Located at 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA 90807 (located in the EXPO Arts Center).

Exhibit Description: "This is an opportunity for artists to highlight their favorite portraits, places and destinations, and favorite things in artistic fashion."

We created a piece that focuses on what you TAKE TIME for when you're with your family, friends, and loved ones. Creating those memories is so important, and we wanted to create piece that truly reflected that. This OOAK special piece with display will be available for purchase at Gallery Expo during the exhibit!

From the creation of the very first Take Time piece, we have often been told that our OOAK pieces are works of art, and this proves it!

Be sure to like TAKE TIME on Facebook, and you can also like Gallery Expo on Facebook as well!

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Join Us At The BE MINE ROCK & ROLL VALENTINE BOUTIQUE

We're excited to announce that we will be a vendor at DIPIAZZA'S BE MINE ROCK & ROLL VALENTINE BOUTIQUE!

DATE: Sunday, February 10
TIME: 12-5pm
LOCATION: DiPiazza's, 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach CA 90804

Come experience the sizzle, the handmade goodness, and the awesomeness of yet another boutique hosted by DiPiazzas in Long Beach! Heart & Soule designs and DiPiazzas is proud to bring you a shopping extravaganza just in time for Valentines Day! Enjoy a day of incredible vendors to shop from, fabulous food and treats, wicked cocktails, some bubbly champagne, and a little bit of rock n' roll, the way only DiPiazzas can do it! Free entrance and a glass of bubbly is how we will sweeten the deal for you, and leave it up to our great vendors to sizzle your senses with all their great gift ideas. Enjoy a naughty or Sweet photo session, live music, and more for your enjoyment...couple welcome ;)

We'll also be a vendor at an upcoming USC Craft Fair at the Health Sciences Campus on February 11. We've participated in their craft fairs a number of times, and we're so excited that we were once again asked to come back! Details coming soon!

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Give Us Your Input, & Win A Michaels Gift Card!

We have a very big announcement coming within the next week or so! For this big project, we need your help, and you could win a great prize!

We need you to finish this sentence: "I take time to..." Breathe? Pray? Laugh? Dance?

When you take a moment for yourself, what do you do? It can be deep, philosophical, entertaining, funny, whatever it is you do. It can be about family or fun. It can be about your faith or even your favorite hobby. It can be as simple or as in depth as you wish.

The submissions will be turned into a large collage to be displayed at our next big project.

As a thank you, we will choose one random person to receive a Custom Take Time piece and a $25 Michael's gift card!

To submit your answer:
1. Leave a comment on this blog post
2. Leave a comment on the Brianne's Basics FB page http://www.facebook.com/BriannesBasics
3. Leave a comment on the Take Time FB page http://www.facebook.com/TakeTimeJewelry

One winner will be drawn on January 31 & posted on the Take Time Facebook page. Good luck to all & thank you for your help!

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Rock N Roll Holiday Boutique Part 2

Join us for another awesome ROCK N ROLL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE!

DATE: Saturday, December 15, 2012
TIME: 12-5pm
LOCATION: DiPiazza's Restaurant & Lounge; 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804; (562) 498-2461

Brianne's Basics will once again be selling our TAKE TIME Jewelry, which was a HUGE hit at the first boutique!

* Santa will be on hand to have your picture taken, all proceeds will go to charity
* Photo booth fun will also be available for you and your friends to capture this experience!
Art, Christmas Decor, Jewelry, Handmade Crafts, Vintage Clothing & More!

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Meet Me At The Depot!

Come meet me at the Long Beach Depot For Creative Reuse and do some creative shopping!

I will be at the LB Depot on three separate dates this December! Come by and purchase your Take Time Jewelry or a copy of my charity memoir, My Work Of Heart, browse around, and find some unique and fun gifts!

LOCATION: 320 Elm Avenue, Long Beach CA 90803

DATE: Saturday, December 1
TIME: 12 - 4 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, December 8
TIME: 4 - 8 p.m. (during Second Saturday ArtWalk)

DATE: Friday, December 21
TIME: 10am - 4pm

Come join us, avoid the mall, & find UNIQUE & fun gifts!

The Depot is currently collecting new socks for the Socks For Souls Drive, benefitting the folks at the MHA Village. If you bring in 3 pairs of brand new socks, you get a sweet discount from us!

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HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 11/29

Join us for a unique Holiday Boutique combining Rock n' Roll & Shopping! Can't get much better than that!

DATE: Thursday, November 29
TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.
LOCATION: diPiazza Restaurant and Lounge; 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach CA 90804

Brianne's Basics will be there with our Take Time Jewelry!

Plus you'll find Art, Christmas Decor, Jewelry, Handmade Crafts, Vintage Clothing, & MORE! Guests receive a FREE glass of champagne.

Come join us, avoid the mall, & find UNIQUE & fun gifts!

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Operation Gratitude & Soldier's Angels Update

I've been hard at work on the scarves for Operation Gratitude and the Blankets of Gratitude for Soldier's Angels.

So far I've made 2 scarves, and 4 granny squares. I try to do at least 1 scarf per week, & 1 square per night.

I'm also helping my friend Mommy LeBron & her adorable daughter LeBella with their Sweet Dreams: Pajamas 4 Patients Project. I currently have 4 squares for her blanket.

So I'm slowly getting there! I may start posting a nightly total to keep myself on track LOL

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Soldier's Angel Blanket Underway!

I’ve completed my first granny square for my Soldier’s Angels Blanket Of Gratitude! I hope to complete at least one by the end of the year, hopefully more. I’ll keep posting pictures as I finish more squares.

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Operation Gratitude Scarf #1: DONE!

I’m pretty excited that I finished my first Operation Gratitude scarf! I have it listed on my Day Zero Project list to complete 10 scarves this season. I’m well on my way!

About Operation Gratitude: Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions. Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member’s face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 550,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.

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