Monday, July 9

Check it out:


New YP.com App

Find YP on Facebook and Twitter!



In case you've been wondering what ever happened to that beautiful albeit ginormous book that we all used to receive once a year, I've found it!  YP.com (or Yellow Pages) has gone Mobile - in an awesome way.  

I had the opportunity recently to test out some of the features for YP app, and I'm ready to share what I like and other thoughts I have about the app.  

Let's start with likes:  

1.  The app is extremely user-friendly.  It seemed that no matter what option I used, whether searching for a restaurant or uploading a photo, there was only flawless execution.  Everything is designed in a way that is simple to figure out, which is key when it comes to selling me on a new app.  

2.  Ratings and reviews are simple and effective.  There are two different methods of feedback you can give a business via the YP app: a rating - which is basically a quick thumbs up/thumbs down or a review which includes your own written text (made even easier with voice-to-text features on my iPhone).  

3.  Advanced search features: search by menu item and find lowest-gas price.  I love the feature to search by menu item.  I was looking for a good cheeseburger in my area - and voila I plugged that baby in and got a list of several restaurants nearby serving cheeseburgers - I could quickly check their ratings to see which was the best option.  

On that note, though I wasn't doing any driving recently that required it, I had to try out the "find lowest gas price" feature.  First, finding an actual gas station is not exactly easy in New York - the city where mass transit trumps most everyday driving, so its nice to know I can easily pull up a list of nearby stations.  Add the fact that it will show me the current rates at these locations so I can find the most affordable gas while I'm at it, and I'm sold.  Did I mention you can change the grade of the gasoline for the search as well?  Bonus!

Other thoughts:

While I really enjoyed doing the reviews and ratings of several restaurants I've been to, I would like to see the reviews, ratings and photos connect together on my review profile.  I realized after rating a few restaurants that reviews were an entirely different component.  And then also when adding a photo - I'm  not sure it was credited to me as the one who took the picture - I don't see my photos necessarily showing up alongside my reviews.

I do like that all of my reviews and ratings are stored in "My Stuff" so that I can easily go back and check to see what I thought of a place - or what I loved about it.  

Check out my review of Slightly Oliver, Antika Pizzeria or Del Frisco's on YP.Com!
Best Fish & Chips in NYC - Slightly Oliver
You can also access YP on the web - and the cool thing is that your review and ratings sync with the YP app (and vice versa).  Check out the YP App and let me know what you think!  

Thank you to YP for being a sponsor. Check out the latest YP app or YP.com to find food nearby fast! YP is your local companion for making decisions on everything from where to eat to where to find cheap gas. This post is in conjunction with my relationship with the Clever Girls Collective, and all opinions expressed here are my own. #YPcrave

31 33 Flavors


Pinning!


"Pinning!" is a Weekly Pinterest Link-Up
(Share pins, meet others who love "Pinning", get inspired!)

First Time?  It's simple just follow these rules:
 Please follow your hosts: Courtney & Kimberly
& Special Guest Host:  Lish from Imprintalish
then
 Link up your Pinterest finds & account below
and
Make sure you link back to the party!


Each week a winner will be chosen to flaunt the title of "Pinning-est" for successfully wowing us with the best Pinterest find.  The winner will be featured/announced in the following week's post!

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I'm a pretty huge fan of cold hard ice cream.  In fact, it may just be my kryptonite.  Heaven help me if I ever invest in an ice cream maker, that might just be the end of skinny jeans for me.  I must warn you, viewing this collection of pins is likely to set off an intense craving for ice cream.

1. Pistachio  2. Chocolate  3. Cookies & Cream  4.  Coffee  5. Vanilla
6. Chocolate  7. Brownie  8. Marshmallow  9. Caramel  10. Mocha  11. Banana  12. Rolo
13. Blackberry  14. Blueberry Cobbler  15. Fig  16. Pomegranate  17. Peach  18. Creamsicle
19. Popcorn  20. Peanut Butter  21. Samoas  22. Avocado  23. Bacon  24. Green Tea 
25. Nutmeg  26. Peppermint  27. EggNog  28. Guiness  29. Rum  30. Margarita  31. PB&J
32. Coconut  33. Honeycomb

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Which of these crazy delicious flavors would you most want to try?  I think Bacon, Honeycomb or Guiness would be top of my list.  Yum! 



THANK YOU to all who linked up last week!


This week's "Pinning-est" is:
Taylor from Goings On In Texas


WANT TO BE A GUEST JUDGE or HOST? 

Taylor! Feel free to grab the button, and flaunt it!

Are you "Pinning"?  
Come on, everyone is doing it.  
Join us MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

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Link up your PINTEREST INSPIRED POST below:


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Link up your PINTEREST profile below:





Friday, July 6

Make Twitter Work For You!


& Follow Along Friday

YOU CAN BE A TWITTER ROCKSTAR!

Here are some helpful articles for the Beginner to the Advanced:
Twitter 101 via Dot in the City
Mom, This is How Twitter Works by Jessica Hische
Turn your Blog into a Twitter Powerhouse by Triberr
Twitter for Newbies via CNet
5 Twitter Secrets to Become Highly Visible in your Niche by Lauren Dugan
Beginners Guide to Twitter via KissMetrics
Science of Social Timing: Pt.1, Pt.2 & Pt.3 by KissMetrics

And now, let's party - TWITTER style! 
XO, Courtney





we want to connect with YOU!

every other Friday Aimee hosts a Follow Along that lasts until Tuesday. enough time to link. connect. share & enjoy meeting new twitter friends. connecting to each other helps to build community, your blog, your business & your network.

// 5 FEATURED LADIES \\

// HOW TO CONNECT \\

1: "follow" Aimee's Twitter Page AND THE FIVE lovely hosts by clicking on the first 6 linked buttons below!
2: Link up by following two EASY steps! 
  • Step #1: Fill out the "submission" form below & enter your TWITTER PROFILE URL into the "URL" section. // 
  • Step #2: On the next screen, select "Upload from Computer" and choose your image to upload. 
3: follow along with others that you find interesting
4. IF you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “follow along with @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p1yWH4-ha" or you can always tell your lovely Facebook followers too!

thanks for stopping by today. we look forward to following along with everyone that links up!
{don't want to miss another one of our fancy dancy Follow Along parties? email me and getting added to our MailChimp Newsletter!}
please note, by linking up your email will be added to future link parties here at Aimee & Co. using the MailChimp application. you can unsubscribe at anytime, although we hope you don't.









7.6.12


The Weekly Wrap

How was your week?


Winner: R,W&Y Pre-Party


Announcement

The winner of the Red, White & YOU pre-party promotion giveaway: 
Paige from the Eloping Stethoscope
 Paige has been contacted and has claimed her prize!! 

While you are here, make sure you enter my current giveaways - 
I have some great prizes, and a couple have LOW entries! 
 Click on any of the images below to enter the giveaway: 
The Red, White & YOU Festival is still going strong.
Almost 300 Blogs have joined in!
Enter to win a MEGA prize by the co-hosts of the party!
ENDING SOON!
Remember to enter this giveaway to have your blog featured 
via email to hundreds of parents who blog!
It also includes a 30 day ad-space on ABB!
ENDING SOON!
Get a box of Limited Edition Nestle Crunch
Girl Scouts Candybars - delivered to your door!
You will love this super cool Kids clothing line by 
swedish graphic designer Kristin Nystrom.
Enter to win a Harem Pant+Top of your choosing.

Thursday, July 5

A Cute+Cool Giveaway


Gardner and the Gang

We are obsessed quite smitten with the newly released clothing line and online boutique, Gardner and the Gang, designed by the amazingly talented Swedish graphic designer, Kristin Nystrom.

"IT’S CUTE WITH A HINT OF ATTITUDE,
JUST LIKE OUR CHILDREN." 

The garments are all 100% cotton, printed with silk screen printing.  The material is high quality, and didn't lose any of its luster, even after washing in the unforgiving industrial laundry machines of New York City.  I am super impressed by the fabric quality and texture; everything has that "favorite cotton t-shirt" feeling to it.  
Zion is totally comfortable and relaxed while wearing her Helmut Harem pant…while at the same time she looks upscale, modern and fashionable, the perfect combination of cute and cool for New York City.  My husband at first thought the harem pants might be weird, but he actually loves the way they look on Zion, as do I, they are our favorite item from the collection so far.  Did I mention she loves pockets?
The initial collection is based on 4 colors and 4 models, fits boy and girls age 3 months to 2 years, and features limited edition production based on illustrations called Helmut Flamingo and Love Skull.



Gardner and the Gang has partnered with Baxtron{Life} this month to give you an exclusive chance of winning an outfit from the limited edition first production!!  One lucky winner will receive a harem pant + top of their choice!  Enter via the rafflecopter widget below! 

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration between Gardner and the Gang and Baxtron{Life}.  It is part of a customized campaign, compensation and items from the collection were provided.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  

Tuesday, July 3

Red, White & YOU


+Swag Giveaway

Welcome to Baxtron{Life}!
I'm Courtney.
I'm so happy you've come to party with me today!
Allow me to introduce you to my beautiful family: 
Hubs = Jerry & Daughter = Zion
Manhattan, yep.
And despite feeling totally crazy for living in such a place,
it's hard to imagine my life anywhere else!
Baxtron{Life} is a place where I share my heart &
the things that I love and that inspire me;
it's a place where I connect with my freest thoughts &
expose pieces of the pain I've experienced,
but even more so, 
it is truly a place where I have met the most amazing people -
people like YOU.

Thank you for visiting!
&
Enjoy the party (and the Holiday)
&
And of course a little bit of Red, White & Blue!
1. Toddler Bathing Suit, 2. Nautica for the Hubs, 3. Classic Beauty, 4. Nautical Nails, 
5. Mama's Bathing Suit, 6. Adorable Heart Cut-out Toddler Dress

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HOW DOES IT WORK?
Link up on any ONE of the hostess’ sites: 

Our links will be interlinked, which means your post will be displayed on ALL 4 of our sites!

Go to the links on any of the host pages beginning 
Wednesday July 4th!!  

Link up any post you want to showcase your blog!

ONLY ONE REQUIREMENT: 
you must visit each of the 4 hosts sites! 
WE ARE THE FIRST 4 LINKED UP!

Make new friends!!  Increase YOUR readers!!!
GRAB THE BUTTON AND TELL ABOUT THE PARTY!!!!!



It wouldn't be a blog party without 

a little SWAG being given away:


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Link-up your Red, White & YOU blog posts below - make sure you link back to the party!