Friday, November 18, 2011
I always stress, work, home life, money! That seems to be my life right now.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Anyone a new Hotel and Restaurant has opened up the street last night, and I went for a cocktail, pretty, new modern, and packed! Definately, huge competetion for our restaurant and for me personally, a big barn for weddings and I have already lost a wedding to them for next year. I am so upset!!
The person up there is from this town and has had her own wedding business, I feel this is going to be even harder closing. The husband is telling me to just do my job and stop worrying about them but for me its personal.. I do not mind competetion, I just get scared..
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Sallie Krawcheck’s departure earlier this month from Bank of America Corporation is just one more example of the ongoing difficulty women executives have had securing, as well as maintaining, C-level jobs in the hospitality, finance and real estate fields. Krawcheck—whose job was eliminated after running the wealth management division of the nation’s largest bank for the past two years—leaves a noticeable void of women holding senior-level positions in the aforementioned industries. One could definitely say that Krawcheck’s untimely departure is a classic example of “taking one step forward and two steps back.”
I was curious to know more about where women executives from hospitality, finance and real estate ranked in comparison to their counterparts from other industries. As a result, I turned to FORTUNE magazine’s current “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” rankings and what I learned surprised me. Aside from a few non-commercial banking and asset management executives being ranked (including Krawcheck at number 26) no other women from the hospitality, finance and real estate industries cracked the Top 50. According to the FORTUNE data, women realizing the most success worked in the technology and branded company industries.
Coincidentally, the same day I learned of Krawcheck’s ouster from Bank Of America, the September 7th issue of HOTEL BUSINESS® was being put to bed and page layouts were beginning for the edition you’re reading right now. Both issues include coverage from the Hotel Business Executive Roundtable Series. The theme of September 7th event was “Redefining Luxury: New Tactics for a New Decade” and on page 2 of this issue, you’ll find coverage beginning of the “Unconventional Wisdom: Identifying Brand Opportunities” Roundtable. Despite my involvement in the events, I was a bit surprised when I came to the realization that of the 22 executives featured in the Roundtable coverage there were only two women.
My initial reaction was to figure out what we were doing wrong. I wondered aloud, “could these lopsided figures be accurate and reflective of what’s really going on the marketplace?” Then I took into account the male versus female ratio at any of the hotel industry investment conferences: Enough said. Anyone who has attended ALIS, NYU, or the Lodging Conference can testify that these events are overwhelmingly dominated by men. Right or wrong, it made sense our events would skew similarly.
It seems that as an industry we could do a better job of recruiting, promoting—from both a career progression and public relations standpoint—and most importantly, retaining, the best and brightest female executives. There’s little question that our industry has a tremendous amount of female talent within its ranks, nevertheless many don’t seem to be staying for their entire careers or advancing at a reasonable pace.
Are women perhaps forced to deal with situations that men do not? Do they face some sort of ceiling as a result of an “Old Boys Club”? Are top graduate schools advising their best female students to go explore industries other than hospitality, finance and real estate? I don’t proclaim to have the answers but as an industry we owe it to ourselves to at least ask these difficult questions.
Saturday, November 05, 2011
I was mentioning this at work and no one seemed to know what I was talking about, so I found articles about "Transfer Bank Day", and found one I liked, so here it is below...
Article on www.broowaha.com; Tony Berkman
Facebook Page makes it clear that while they appreciate what OWS protestors have done Bank Transfer Day movement was neither inspired by, derived from nor organized by the OWS movement.
While enrollment in Credit Unions has skyrocketed, according to the Chris Bowers a reporter for the Daily Koss, it would be invalid to conclude that this was the result of the Occupy Wall Street Movement.
The Facebook Page of "Bank Protest Day" which is to be held tomorrow November 5th specifically reads:
"While the Bank Transfer Day movement acknowledges the enthusiasm from Occupy Wall Street, the Bank Transfer Day movement was neither inspired by, derived from nor organized by the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the Bank Transfer Day movement does not endorse any activities conducted by Occupy Wall Street."
While the organizer, Kristen Christian, credits Edddie Cola for Use of the "Guy Fawkes" image ( http://www.facebook.com/eddie.colla ) it is interesting to note that Guy Fawkes has become the "offical logo" of the hackster group, Anonymous.
Kristen is clear that, however, that she has no association to Anonymour and neither to Occupy Wall Street. According to her Facebook "Kristen Christian, a private citizen and small business owner with no affiliations to Anonymous or Occupy Wall Street. While she's now a proud member of Coast Hills Credit Union... and Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, she's not a credit union employee. She's received no public or private donations for her efforts or costs associated with this movement. Every bit of work on BTD is a testament to her love for her community & neighbors. She genuinely believes we can pull ourselves out of this economic mess the big banks caused by investing in local not-for-profit credit unions."
According to Kristen anyone can join. To join visit her page on Facebook and she has a list of instructions about what to do including:
Research your local credit union options
Open an account with the one that best suits your needs
Cancel all automatic withdrawals & deposits
Transfer your funds to the new account
Follow your bank's procedures to close your account before 11/05
More people joined Credit Unions since the Bank of America Fee debacle, according to the Huffington Post, than in the entire year of 2010:
"At least 650,000 customers opened new accounts at credit unions since September 29, the day Bank of America announced it would charge customers a $5 per month fee to use their debit card for purchases starting in 2012, the Credit Union National Association estimates. If that number holds true, it would be more than the 600,000 consumers that joined credit unions in all of 2010."
Credit Unions around the country clearly are major beneficiaries of this move and are enticing customers to make the switch. While many in the Occupy Wall Street movement will claim that they are the cause of this move, it seems apparent that the connection between Bank Transfer Day 2011 and OWS and Anonymous are tenuous at best.
Friday, November 04, 2011
Is this man insane? Being in the wedding business for over 20 years, I have seen brides and grooms get insane over some pretty petty things but this is definitely the most ridiculous you are not even married to this woman anymore so why should you care? 2nd are you trying to get a "Free" Wedding Photographer? You signed a contract, get over it!! I believe he is a scam artist, where is your ex-wife? Does she care is she willing to come back and do a "mock" for your pictures?
Its founders, Curt Fried and Harold Gillet, just back from serving in World War II, decided to open a photography studio in the Bronx, right as the marriage rate skyrocketed. Business boomed, and after decades of celebrated work, they handed the business down to their sons, Dan Fried and Larry Gillet.
Meanwhile, equity research analyst Todd J. Remis had his own taste of the fairytale life during his wedding to Milena Grzibovska on Dec. 28, 2003, at Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, N.Y.
But when Remis and H & H Photographers hooked up, the result was an entrepreneur's nightmare.
Unhappy that the company had not taken photos of the last dance and bouquet toss which took place in the last 15 minutes of the wedding, Remis has filed a lawsuit against H&H Photographers as well as its original founders, who are now both in their 80s. He is suing for $4,100 for the cost of photography and $48,000 to bring back the principal attendees and recreate the wedding so new photos can be taken. What Remis failed to disclose in his legal papers is that he got divorced in 2008 -- and he doesn't know the address of his ex-wife, who returned to her native Latvia. "Honestly, I think the whole thing is an abusive lawsuit," Dan Fried told The Huffington Post. "Having to go through this along with my dad and partner and partner's dad is a real shame. We have a lot of pride in our work, a love of photography and thousands of happy clients over 65 years. The whole thing is a shame."
According to Fried, Remis came to the office in January 2004 to pick up his wedding proofs (though in legal papers, Remis denies getting any pictures). "He complained to us right away," says Fried. "And the company made an effort to try to find a common ground with him. We said if we missed something, we would be happy to offer another type of shoot or do touchup on some images and make some changes for the prints for the wedding album. But that was not enough for him."
Remis continued to file complaints but never picked up his wedding album or paid his final balance. After years, H&H sent Remis a bill for the outstanding amount due. "He responded with a threatening letter and then shortly thereafter, he sued," says Fried. That was in 2009, six years after the wedding, a year after the couple separated and a few weeks before the statute of limitations would have expired.
So far, the Frieds and Gillets have spent about $50,000 in legal fees. And it's not over yet. Justice Doris Ling-Cohan of the State Supreme Court in Manhattan dismissed most of Remis' claims, including his claim for infliction of emotional distress, but has allowed the case to continue. At a hearing on Thursday, a court date was set to meet with the judge in December to discuss a settlement. "A settlement is not something that sits well with us, but we have to obey the judge's orders," says Fried.
Though the judge's original opinion contained references to lyrics from "The Way We Were," and Remis' lawsuit is being likewise mocked in blogs and social media, this is no joke. Another recent lawsuit that raised just as much widespread ire ended up practically putting a small business out of business. Roy Pearson's $54 million lawsuit against a Washington, DC, dry cleaner for losing his pair of pants ended up lasting two years before getting thrown out in 2007. A few months later, Jin and Soon Chung, the financially strained owners of Custom Cleaners, were forced to closed two of their three locations.
"That's the reality of being an entrepreneur today in a society that has so much litigation -- you never know what might be around the corner that could make you a defendant," says Fried. "And it can eat your time and energy and money. You can have all the pride in your work and passion and good intentions and happy clients like we do, but you can run into one rotten egg that gives you a nasty education about our legal system."
Sunday, October 30, 2011
October 30, 2011: Yes last night it snowed! I can not remember a snowfall so early then before Halloween!This was our driveway, the plower came right after this picture and my husband shoveled out our stairway and walk way. Our neighbors were not up so early so besides having the snow on their cars then the plow basically plowed them into their spots.
Today, I got tickets for "Little Shop of Horrors", the husband is not going to like it but will go for me..
We were up early, so I could go into work and make sure my staff was there for the breakfast and Lunch group, my staff stayed over at the hotel so that was perfect. Made sure the Master Invoice is all set for when they are ready to leave... Rest of the day is us, only 8am and up and ready to have a great day.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
We just put our snow shovel away along with the Melt away back in May, and now they are back out and sitting on our porch ready for the storm. Work has been busy today, so it makes you wonder what is going to actually happen. We were going to have a Booze Cruise on the Lake tonight for the end of the season but instead we will be having it at the bar in the Tavern. Do not really want to be on the Lake in a snowstorm, we went out in heavy rains and wind, but this just seems worse...
The husband is going to the store just to make sure we are all set with groceries and supplies for the storm watch nothing happen, but at least we will be prepared....
REALITY TV UPDATE:
Teresa (NJ Housewife) is just out there, does she really believe she is famous and worth losing her friends? Delusional....
Project Runway: I love Anya do not get me wrong but really believed Victor or Josh should of won, they are both so talented and I believe in them so much!! You just never know, I give her credit for just learning how to sew and taking it all the way that is some feat...
Kim and Kyle ( Beverly Hills Housewives) does it make you feel better about being "mean girls" to Brandi does that make you feel better about yourselves?
I am looking for Project Runway All stars.
American Top Model All Stars, I think it is great that Lisa and Domique are doing so well but I admit I am for Allison, something about her besides her eyes makes me thinks she can be incredible..
Friday, October 28, 2011





Ok, so we are in the middle of the World Series, and last Friday I took some wonderful fall pictures, and last night it snowed! What is that? Now being from New England there is an old wives tale, if it snows before winter, that is how many storms you will have throughout the winter.. Seriously?
Well a number of years ago, I was in a car accident due to a snow storm on Nov 15 and we had 20 something storms that winter, so it was kind of right with a little more...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday/Monday with the hubby, on Sunday we went over to O's in Laconia, one of our favorite restaurants, first went to the movies then over there for appetizers and 3 oz wines, it was so much fun. Monday, just hung around the house, when you eat every meal at home it is amazing how many dishes you have to keep washing, I miss my dishwasher from NC, and that was in 2007.
This weekend, we are low of funds so it will be a quiet weekend, I of course must come in on Sunday, only for a few hours, then home for the rest of the day. Still not loving my job, but it is more tolerable then it has been.
Didn't win the lotto, so of course, have to keep working. Hubby is working hard to get his own business off the ground, and we are just tightening our belts, and of course, Christmas is coming, so we will see how that plays out... I want a real tree but realized from Dec 23-Dec 26 we will be in a hotel in Mystic, I am thinking "no" to a real tree.
Just rambling a bit.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Project Runway : I love Anya, and am so impressed with how far she has come, but I am routing for Vicktor he is so talented and you can see it throughout the season. Josh McKinley is talented but not my taste, and his attitude for me makes it worse.
Real Housewives of NJ: Theresa is a b****, Caroline and her family has been nothing but nice to you and take you in, when your own family can see what kind of person you and your awful husband are. Melissa is a sweetheart and all she wants is her husband happy, and you pick and choose what you think is right who the hell do you think you are?
Real Houswives of Beverly Hills: Last season, Kyle was my favorite, but after her and Kim picked on Brandi and then were offended after she made a comment about Kim's drug use, really? You can't see that something is really wrong with KIM? Maybe it was approiate but you two treated her awful ( we don't want to play with her) are you 12 or adults? Seriously? Lisa, get a new wedding planner, he only wants his vision not yours!!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Today, she threw one of her supervisors under the bus, he was so mad, he called the GM and told him he does not appreciate it and will not take it. She obviously, feels threatened, after talking to the staff, they all are scared of her, because she is so close to the GM, and she is a manipulative crazy b****, how long before the GM realizes he made a mistake? Well he is a democrat so he most likely will not admit it even if the realizes it. I want to file a complaint but guess what his wife is the HR Director for the company, so for me, it is best to sit back and CYA my own butt and make sure he knows every screw up she does...
Friday, September 23, 2011



This are different images around Vermont. We went to Burlington, VT this weekend to get away and to celebrate my birthday.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Now, I have to keep my mouth shut and not say anything because it will look like I am petty and vindictive, which I can be, but right now I will just keep my mouth shut. She will hopefully hang herself as they say what comes around goes around.
Sunday, September 11, 2011

This is me, Thomas and Seth August 2001. We were on our way to a wedding, so happy!!
Then on September 11, 2001, Seth went to work at the local airport at 5am, and I went to work at 7am, due to a Pfizer meeting was taking place at the Inn at Mystic ( my work) and I went in got breakfast out for them, making sure room all set. Then around 8am or 830am went up to my office and my Director of Sales Debbie started yelling turn on a tv. She had just called NY to make sure we are all set for our February bridal show in NY.
Turned on the TV to see the 2nd plane hit the Towers. I had to go downstairs and let the group know what had just happened. Then Thomas called upset and told me to come home. For me
there was no question I was going home. Thomas and I sat and watched the news, and then Seth came over and the 3 of us watched as the whole world did to see other Americans being attacked and using our own plane system.
It was heartbreaking, and the 3 of us just bonded. Seth and Thomas have both passed away, and I always remember them, but especially today, what we shared that day.
My heart goes out to all the people and families affected personally by 9/11
Please everyone send a prayer out and do not ever forget 9/11
Friday, September 02, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Since, my husband is a "HUGE" reader and collector of books, I thought this picture was perfect.. This is a wedding "vegan/gluton" Cake.
My wonderful husband has decided he has had enough of the "Inn" and has handed in his resignation, his last day is Sept. 8, what is irritating me is he has needed help since July, but instead the powers that be, just kept adding more things to his list and we found out have been trying to oust him without to many issues.
On Tuesday, I saw a tag line of the owner to my General Manager and the tag line: "How to extradite the smiths", so I knew it was not only him they were planning on getting rid of, makes me not want to work hard for that next sale if they are planning on cutting me loose.. I did what I needed to do in case it comes tomorrow.. My desk and area are completely void of any personal items.
I told my DOS because knew she would find out, and it wasn't to get rid of me, it was if they let him go what would I do? At this time, I am staying but we will have to wait and see, I am frustrated too, but also know we need the paycheck and I have worked hard on the upcoming weddings and events and do not want to pass on the commissions coming in when I put all this work into them. Selfish on my part but you know what business is business.
My hubby is so excited, he is going to try to get his own business back up and running and maybe pick up some wait shifts at different places around here for extra money. It does mean we have to be careful with our money and tightening our belts and not go out so much but we can do it. I have been asked many times since it came out yesterday if I am leaving, I don't think anyone remembers I was hired first, and he followed me not the other way around just pointing it out...
I am jealous that he is following his dream, but this job was killing him and he was not himself and it was hurting "us" so this is perfect for now. I am back doing the schedule and so is my boss, but this year, we have more staff to pitch in, and a General manager who wants to help solve problems not ignore them. So we again, start a new season with a whole set of issues, what will we do or how will we do is the question.




