Amplify’d from www.v3im.com

Want to Sell More Stuff? Humanize Your Brand Posted by Shelly Kramer on October 23, 2010 · http://www.v3im.com/?p=1868">View Comments (Edit)  Share I love Zappos. I have twin girls. And, while I’m not so good at math, here’s one thing I do know: Zappos + Twin Girls = LOTS of Shoes Why do I love Zappos? I love their selection, the fact that they remember what I like and let me know when they’ve got more of it. I like Tony Hsieh and the culture he’s created. He’s a smart guy who’s built an empire based on common sense and being real. And managing to grow Zappos to over $1 billion in gross sales annually, while also regularly landing on Forbes’ list of Best Companies to Work For list are no small accomplishments. Gini Dietrich wrote a great post about Tony. it’s here if you’d like to read it. She likes him, too. I really like Zappos because they make me smile. On a crazy busy day, when I’m wading through hundreds of emails and see an ad like this, well, I stop. After all, it’s about SHOES. And we chicks, we’ve got shoes in our blood. But when the ad copy actually makes me smile, that’s what I call winner winner, chicken dinner. That’s when I know that my love for Zappos is deserved. They get me. And I want to buy more of their shoes. Note to: Zappos Marketing Department + Ad Agency → Mission Accomplished! Read more at www.v3im.com

Star Light, Star Bright, first star I see tonight,

Wish I may,

Wish I might,

Have this wish I wish tonight,

I wish ........

Funny how the voices from our childhood, and the memories associated with them, stay with us throughout our lives. And how we pull them out as we age, and replay them again and again.

I don't know about you, but I love stepping outside on a random dark evening, tipping back my head, looking up at the sky and saying this poem - a simple verse that I've known since the time I was a little girl, and making my wish. Of course. You can't ever forget the wish, you know.

My wishes have changed over the years. The days of self-absorption are gone and these days, my wishes are for my beautiful children. I squeeze shut my eyes and say this childhood poem, and wish them lives filled with health, love, happiness and good things.

It's a little thing, but something I love doing. What about you? What are the voices from your childhood and how do you use them? Think about it, while you listen to this song - a treasure that I just discovered tonight.

This weekend for Family Dinner on Sunday night, we wanted to try something new. That's not unusual, because we're a family of foodies and always experimenting. What was unusual was that our experiment of choice was with a beverage. We found a wonderful watermelon at the Farmers' Market on Saturday, which reminded us of a recipe we'd seen for Watermelon Margaritas. Say. No. More.

Watermelon Margaritas (courtesy of Cooking Light)

2 teaspoons sugar

1 lime wedge

3 1/2 cups cubed seeded watermelon

1/2 cup tequila

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon Triple Sec (orange flavored liqueur)

Lime wedges or watermelon balls

1. Place 2 teaspoons sugar in a saucer. Rub the rims of six glasses with 1 lime wedge, spin the rim of each glass in sugar to coat, set aside.

2. Combine watermelon and next 4 ingredients (through Triple Sec) in blender, process until smooth. Fill each prepared glss with 1/2 cup crushed ice, add 1/2 cup margarita mixture and garnish with lime wedges or watermelon balls.

While we liked this drink, we thought that we might like it even MORE if we substituted vodka for tequila. So, for the next batch (and of course there was a next batch, people), we did. The tequila was great, the vodka stupendous! 

What a great summer drink. We're glad we discovered and even more glad that we experimented with it. If you try it, let us know!

And if you want to know more about the watermelon that started this drink, head on over to http://www.v3im.com/2010/08/vlogging-it-just-gets-easier/ and check us out.