Melissa Balmer's Page

I keep forgetting to post here that I haven't stopped blogging on this site, I've just moved my blogging to here:

http://blogs.wineandhospitalitynetwork.com/index.php/connecting/

I think one of the most important things we can remember as human beings is that each of us has our own reality, our own way of seeing the world. Most of us cling very tightly to our views unless something comes along to shake us to the core, like the current saggy economy. For better or worse we think our way of seei… Continue

We are familiar with that old saying, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" but as we continue to see bad news on t.v., and the Internet and the nightly news, I've got another phrase I'd like you to consider - "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Creative, Generous and Clear."

One of things friends have reminded me lately is that people don't stop spending money in a down economy, they just become more careful and frugal because, well, they have to. They can no longer to afford… Continue

I am starting to dream of food, or to be more specific vegetables. I've always dreamed of cake and freshly baked sweet things, dreamed of finding that perfect little sweet shop (of which are popping up all over places like Silverlake in L.A., and exist in New York and San Francisco but alas *sigh* we don't seem to have here in Long Beach) with scrumptious layer cakes and fruit tarts, but now I'm dreaming of things that are good for me - like asparagus. Last night I dreamed I bought a beautiful n… Continue

Oh sure the topic of "Green Thinking" is hot these days, we see it all over the progressive news, but what if you're new to the movement, or live in an area of the country where the green movement hasn't really taken off yet? Creating your own local "Green Drinks" chapter is a great way to jump in and begin to build a social network of like-minded locals to help you kick start things.

Describing itself as an… Continue