9. February 2009 by Tara.

You might not think of desk calendars when you think of going green, but green desk calendars do exist, and I was asked to review one of them found here:

 http://www.greenofficestore.com/details.asp?id=AAGSK117000

What makes this product green? Well, the website states that it is made from recycled materials, 30% post-consumer waste and 30% pre- and post-consumer waste.

This is not any more special than a desk calendar you’d purchase at your local office supply store, but the fact that it’s green and is priced very reasonably makes me lean toward using this product over a similar choice that might not be made from recycled material. The description is accurate…it is a nice-sized calendar for your desk.

I would have preferred to have the weekend days set apart somehow so I wouldn’t think Saturday was Friday. I ended up using a highlighter and making marks on Sat and Sun so I’d keep the weekdays separate. I do appreciate the “look ahead” lines on the right so you can fill in activities for the upcoming month. The boxes are large enough to write several activities in per day and there are lined boxes underneath the current month for notes.

The papers for each month are not bound at the top–they are looseleaf–so no extra glue or cardboard was used there. When I first opened the box, one of the vinyl corners fell off from lack of glue, so I had to reattach that myself.

Another big plus in my book is that the calendar was made in the USA! There aren’t many items that can proudly display that fact anymore, so it’s nice to see in this case.

I am not compensated for my reviews, nor is the link I provide an affiliate link, so I do not receive any monetary compensation for the sale of any products. I am given the product free of charge in exchange for my use and review posted on my blog. Green Office Store is a great company so I’m happy to provide this service for them.

Posted in Going Green, Grand Rapids Reviews | Print | 1 Comment »

12. September 2008 by Tara.

Last month I received a sample “green” product from www.GreenOfficeStore.com and promised to review it, which I am glad to do since this was a quality product that I would consider purchasing myself.

Here’s what I reviewed:

http://www.greenofficestore.com/details.asp?id=STOG2430W70

These are biodegradable, 13-gallon EcoDegradable kitchen trash bags made by Stout, the same color and size that I usually purchase from my local grocery store. I get the store’s generic brand because I don’t believe the fancy trash bags are all they’re cracked up to be and I hate the thought of literally throwing my money away!

I would have to say, after testing all four of the bags I received, that the bullet points on their web page are all true. They performed as well as any other garbage bags, they were the same as (or maybe better than) any other standard white kitchen bag, nothing leaked or punctured through, and they seemed to be sturdy enough to hold up to my moderate load of kitchen waste, post-recycling.

As for the price, it’s very reasonable considering that using these bags will be helping the environment if your trash goes to a landfill. They claim to be bags that will biodegrade in approximately 36 months depending on the available oxygen and microbial activity present. They are made of totally recycled content, 100% recycled resins (30% post-consumer).

All in all, I was quite pleased with this product and for anyone who is endeavoring to live a green lifestyle, this would be a very wise purchase.

I am not compensated for my reviews, nor is the link I provide an affiliate link, so I do not receive any monetary compensation for the sale of any products. I am given the product free of charge in exchange for my use and review posted on my blog. Green Office Store is a great company so I’m happy to provide this service for them.

Posted in Going Green, Grand Rapids Reviews | Print | 1 Comment »

6. February 2008 by Tara.

Penzey’s Spices
2901 28th St. SE 
(616) 954-7077

www.penzeys.com

Tara:  Beep, beep, beep-beep, beep, beep, beep.
Penzey’s:  Penzey’s Spices, how may I help you?
Tara:  How late are you open tonight?
Penzey’s:  Until 5:30.
Tara:  Oh no! It’s 5:20! Waaaahhhhh! I can’t make it on time!
Penzey’s:  Are you having a spice emergency?
Tara:  Yes, I am!
Penzey’s:  Do you have a checking account?
Tara:  Yes.
Penzey’s:  Okay; what do you need? I will leave your spices in our mailbox. When you come to pick them up, just leave your check in their place in the mailbox.
Tara:  Really? You would do that for me? That’s great!!
Penzey’s:  It’s no trouble. What can I get for you?
Tara:  I need a small jar of ground cloves and a bag of whole Madagascar cloves.
Penzey’s:  Okay, they’ll be ready for you!
Tara:  Thank you so much! I really appreciate this. I’ll be there as soon as I can tonight.

Yes, this is a true story. Although not word for word, this is essentially how the conversation went down that fateful Friday evening. I was having friends over the next day to make orange-clove pomanders and needed more cloves! (Don’t mock me…it was a real spice emergency!!)

I can’t guarantee that the friendly folks at Penzey’s would do this for everyone, but I was amazed and so happy that they did it for me. The lady at Penzey’s didn’t ask for my name or for collateral…I could easily have taken the spices and run! But I would never do that, being an honest person, and was so impressed that in this day and age, where trust is at a minimum, someone would put her blind trust in me as a customer.

I was thrilled with Penzey’s before, since they carry just about every spice known to man, and then some, at very reasonable prices, but after that experience, that lady who answered their phone has earned Penzey’s a customer for life.

If you’re in Grand Rapids, visit Penzey’s at the above address. Anywhere else, visit their website to see if there’s a location near you…or you can order from their website or mail-order catalog. If you come and visit me, I’ll take you there myself so you can see for yourself how amazing this place is, and how great their customer service can be.

Posted in Grand Rapids Reviews | Print | 1 Comment »

6. February 2008 by Tara.

I used to have a great client who would send work regularly. He even struck a deal with me that instead of asking for a volume discount since he sent so many audios, he would pay the regular price if I would just turn his transcripts around faster. It was a great deal and he was one of my favorite Internet Marketers to work with.

I felt comfortable asking him for help. I learned about his family-wife and kids-and even sent them a gift when their second child was born. He just seemed like an all-around nice guy. I made sure that each and every transcript of his was polished and professional, and even went the extra mile by designing a layout, complete with graphics that matched his websites, so that his readers would be even more impressed with the products he created.

This person’s mentor had been a very demanding person, another Internet Marketer who claimed to have made over $1 million online. When I was a partner in another transcription service, we had the mentor as a client and although he offered us a lot of work, he wanted us to always keep his projects a top priority and we worked sometimes day and night to try and keep him satisfied. He was always asking, “Where is this? Where is that? Is this done? Is that done?” even though we were keeping up with the agreed-upon time schedule. He demanded that things were on time, yet it was like pulling teeth to get him to pay his invoices. I hoped that my client would not turn into his mentor.

My client had also been very generous with his list members and customers, giving away hundreds of dollars during teleseminars through contests. He was coming into his success with Internet Marketing and I thought it was so refreshing to see someone sharing with others, not just claiming to have made so many thousands online, but possibly helping others to fund their online dreams of independence too.

Well, something changed one day. I hadn’t heard from my client since his last project and I knew he had others coming up and would need audios transcribed. So I decided to send him a friendly email, asking how he was doing since I hadn’t heard from him in a while. The reply I received stunned me since I thought this guy was different. He was going to be someone who wasn’t always looking for the cheapest deal and would appreciate quality over saving a few bucks…

He told me that he had found another transcription service that charged about 1/4 of my rates, and that although he had to do more work on his end to fix their errors, he decided to go with them because of the lower price.

Where’s the loyalty? Why didn’t he ask me if I would give him that volume discount he never wanted before? What happened to making those thousands upon thousands online and paying for a high-quality transcription service so he could work on expanding his business, rather than having to correct poor-quality transcripts?

I know that things happen for a reason, but it really gets me about certain Internet millionaires who brag about all the money they’ve made and their lovely homes and sports cars, but they ask, “Do you give a discount?” While here I am, struggling to make ends meet, working hard every day.

Since my business has grown exponentially over the past year, I had all but forgotten about this former client. My current clients have shown me that they do appreciate quality, and some of them have stuck with me for years…which I appreciate so much! So for whatever reason this guy turned to being a cheapskate and sending his business elsewhere, it turned out to be a blessing for me. I have the best clients from all over the globe and I appreciate them too.

Posted in Transcription 101 | Print | 1 Comment »

13. December 2007 by Tara.

Does a person necessarily have to type really fast to be a good transcriptionist? My answer is: NO! I really don’t care how quickly a person even hunts & pecks…if the finished product is not accurate, it means nothing that you can type 200 WPM.

I will admit that I’m not the fastest typist on earth, but my finished product is very accurate–word, spelling and punctuation-wise. I’ve had people working for me in the past who turn in transcripts that they’ve created by using speech-recognition software, thinking it will enable them to crank out a million transcripts a day and make them lots of money. Wrong! Most of them were so inaccurate, I had to basically type them over myself. I don’t work with those folks any more, needless to say.

In order to be in tune with the speakers on an audio, a person needs to actually listen to what is being said and not type mindlessly, or grievous errors will surface. I like to pretend that I’m typing the script for a play and I want to convey to the actors the exact way the words should be spoken, so using the correct punctuation and the correct words are very important.

A person could type quickly but not know the difference between “your” and “you’re” or between “affect” and “effect” or “patients” and “patience”…need I continue? There are a lot of those homonyms to be deciphered. Sure, someone could turn around a 3-hour audio within one business day, but how accurate is it going to be? How many errors will they miss, even if they proofread–which will probably also be a quick job.

If you’re fast and accurate, know how to spell, know your grammar and punctuation and can add those special nuances that make a great transcript, then you’re one in a million. Hey–you’re me! I am very proud of the knowledge I’ve gained and of my ability to use what I learned in school as far as using the English language correctly along with punctuation and formatting, to turn out the best transcripts in the business!

Bottom line: Don’t come to me and say you took a typing test and can type 150 WPM with 93% accuracy…that was probably by copying from something that was already typed and formatted for you. To be an excellent transcriptionist, you have to be able to take a blank page and make it into a beautiful, typewritten document, using an audio recording, and have the finished product be understandable and readable.

Posted in Transcription 101 | Print | 1 Comment »

1. December 2007 by Tara.

I’ve been a YouTube junkie lately–boy, what a lot of stuff and what a way to stay up all night, even if you don’t intend to. It’s time for me to hit the hay again, but before I do, I wanted to share the skit that got me hooked on Smosh…a couple of the funniest dudes online:

Posted in Funny Bone | Print | 1 Comment »

19. November 2007 by Tara.

I must say, my web design skills have come a long way. Now, I’m not claiming to be the best designer on the planet, but I am very proud of how much I’ve been able to change and improve the look of my site. When I first launched it back in 2005, I got comments ranging from: “Really unprofessional,” to: “Very homey feeling and inviting,” so whose opinion do you trust? I went with my own! I really loved what I had done with the site and even though it might have been very amateurish, it was my very own, bought and paid for!

This year I had my friend Alaina design a logo for me and she rocked it out! I gave her my ideas and she put in some of her own to make it really awesome. She’s just starting out and would love another job, so if you’d like to take advantage of her graphic design services, let me know and I’ll put you in touch.

My next endeavors will be to include audio and video on the site, which I’m working on now. It’s been difficult with a heavy workload (which I am so thankful for!) but I’m really excited to move on to that next step.

I welcome your thoughts and comments, so please check out my site and tell me what you think.

Posted in Transcription 101 | Print | 1 Comment »

29. October 2007 by Tara.

DONATE 

Calling all animal lovers…I’d like to introduce you to two little doggies that could use your help and generousity right now:

This is Daisy…

She’s a 7-year-old Maltese mix who’s been through a lot in her short life! She had 6 different homes before she found her forever home with us when she was 2 years old, and she’s had a lot of health problems that we think were because she came from a puppy mill. We never confirmed it, but all the signs point to that being the case…

Click here to read more about Daisy.

This is Cuddles…

She’s 3 years old, 5 pounds soaking wet, and a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. We adopted her from our elderly neighbor who had to go into a nursing home and leave her behind. Little did we know, but Cuddles had some health problems that needed to be addressed and we were not prepared for the expense…

Click here to read more about Cuddles.

If you’re already in love with these two sweet faces, they would appreciate a donation toward the cost of their surgeries, which combined, cost around $1,000 including medications. Any amounts donated above the cost of the surgeries will be donated to the Humane Society of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

DONATE 

Both Daisy and Cuddles say “Thank You!” for your generosity.

Posted in For Generous Folks | Print | 1 Comment »

19. October 2007 by Tara.

Pop’s Restaurant
1339 Walker Village Dr NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
 

I remember when I was a kid, my parents would sometimes take us out for breakfast at what they called the “greasy spoon,” which was a little family-owned restaurant within walking distance of our house. Since then, that has been our term for the type of place where you can usually get breakfast all day, the meals are greasy and wonderful, and the atmosphere is laid back. The waitresses have worked there forever and love it for some reason, and they always recognize you when you come in.

We’ve got a great greasy spoon here in town called Pop’s, which is in an older strip mall by where they closed down a thriving D&W store and haven’t put anything back in there yet. So I think Pop’s might be hurting for business since last week, they had a coupon in our mailer for 20% off the total check. Of course, Jeff and I went in since we usually end up going there once every couple months anyway, and they serve breakfast all day, which is what Jeff wanted. It was dinner time and I needed something salty and greasy!

Jeff got their signature Jumbo Breakfast with 3 eggs instead of 2, scrambled, with bacon, toast and American fries with onions. It’s a heart attack on a plate, but so good! I ordered the 8 ounce boneless chicken breast dinner, and had my chicken batter fried. My 2 sides were a house salad and mashed potatoes with gravy. Another heaping plate full of comfort food in all its greasy goodness.

They offer a wide variety of meals, from breakfast including steak & eggs, lighter lunch foods like sandwiches (a great rueben), along with Mexican dishes like a fantastic wet burrito, and comforting dinners like meatloaf and fried chicken. To end your dinner, as if you could eat any more after their generous portions, they always have pie or cake and other yummy desserts to go with your after-dinner coffee. Check the board by the door when you come in or the ones up by the kitchen for daily and weekly specials.

My next visit is going to include their new appetizer sampler–fried mushrooms, chicken strips, fried green beans and more! I usually have the sweet potato fries with my dinner, but this last time the mashed potatoes sounded better, and they did not disappoint!

The only downside is that they still have a smoking section along the south wall, with no barrier in between them and the non-smokers, so we usually leave there smelling like smoke, but if you end up going when they’re not so busy, there’s a good chance there won’t be any smoking patrons there, so it’s not as bad.

My friend had moved from Michigan to Tennessee and missed the variety of restaurants we have here in Grand Rapids, so I took her to Pop’s when she visited, since she had never been there before. She ordered the mini meat and bean wet burrito and couldn’t get over how great it was. So next time you’re in town, Pop’s is a great place to check out for some local flavor. If you come and visit me, I’ll take you there myself! My treat.

Posted in Grand Rapids Reviews | Print | 1 Comment »

11. October 2007 by Tara.

Well, it happened. But not because a plant closed down or a huge corporation moved their operation to Mexico. No, my husband was “laid off” from his job a couple weeks ago merely because of nasty office politics. He won’t be called back, but who would want to work with such dishonest, ruthless people? Anyway, due to the lack of manufacturing jobs here in Michigan, he’s hard-pressed to find something else. Fortunately, the unemployment will kick in and he will have time to weigh his options. By the way, if anyone knows of a company that needs a talented, experienced, seasoned tool maker, let me know!

Having this happen makes me appreciate what I do so much more. I have the Internet as an almost endless source of contacts and clients from all over the United States and also from different countries like the U.K. This new era of virtual assistance and digital products opens up so many opportunities for someone with an online business! Granted, I work hard for my pay and I’m not a millionaire, but it’s fulfilling work and I’ve learned a lot from it.

So now I’m trying to get my husband to remember his 8th grade typing class well enough to pitch in and help with some projects. He gave it a try…finished about 3 minutes of a 60-minute audio! I think it took him a good part of an hour to do that, so maybe everyone isn’t cut out to transcribe, but now he knows that for sure!

Posted in A Day in the Life | Print | 1 Comment »