How to get by

When I started this blog I wanted to dedicate it to good news in the area. I would find a story about something positive in our region and share the link. My original goal was to find the stories that were not already part of the main news stream. Unfortunately, I have not been out enough to hear what is happening on the street. I had a great idea last week, I wanted to encourage everyone to shop local and put the money back in the local economy - the next day the Cool Cleveland newsletter had already done it. I'm still going to provide that info and maybe someone that didn't see it on Cool Cleveland will see my blog and buy locally.

I am going to change the focus of my blog going forward. I haven't been updating because I didn't want to just regurgitate what is already out there. I've been out of work since February, trying to build a business of my own, raising 3 kids, doing side work and some days just barely hanging on. The GOOD news is that along the way I've found some very helpful ways to make it through. I will be sharing my experiences and the resources I have found along the way. I am very good at searching, finding, sharing, and connecting. It's time to pass this info along, and maybe help someone else hang on for a little bit longer.

As I said earlier, I am going to share the shop local information. This is what I was able to find, do you have your own local business you would add to this list? Please share!

Gary Baney, CEO of Boundless Flight pulled together this list last year. I've copied and pasted the details below. http://realneo.us/content/boundless-flight-blog-invest-local-companies-close-home-holidays.

As I mentioned, Cool Cleveland came out with an incredible list of local and sustainable shopping opportunities. Check out their latest issue. http://www.coolcleveland.com/index.php/Newsletter/Current. I was having trouble accessing their holiday gift guide link, I will try back later. One I wanted to point out is the Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe. Check out their essay contest too.

One of my favorite local businesses is Fezziwigs Baby Gifts and Gear. I'm not aware of too many eco-friendly baby stores offering natural and organic products. This place is awesome!

Happy Holidays and Happy (Local) Shopping!

Here's the list from Gary:

1. We will only buy American Greetings/Carleton holiday cards. If we don't see one of these brands on a card, it isn't going to be purchased. If we don't find what we want on those shelves, I'll be giving my IT compatriot Doug Rommel, one of their marketing gurus, Art Bergstresser, or my former student Kyle Ludwick a call.


2. One of the corporate gifts we will be giving will be Malley's giftbaskets. Adele, if we don't find what we want, I will be giving you a call. Remember me, I used to be a friend of Dianne Walsh ... 'nuff said. (;>)


3. For my friends with children, I will be buying STEP2 products. STEP2, by the way, enormously supported the efforts of our own Nivi Engineer's Summer Santa project by donating TRUCK LOADS of toys the children in Iowa during the summer flood disaster.


4. Two of my friends are doing remodeling. Paint? ... Sherwin-Williams. Tom, if my friends give me push back, I'm giving YOU a call.


5. Adult gifts for those around me who might (or might not!) appreciate such? I am told Ambiance has quite a selection. Again, if I can't find a reasonable stock of tasteful and reasonable items, I'm calling Jennifer Downeyto let her know.


6. One of our favorite corporate gifts is to send our customers packages of high-quality coffee with the tag line "Call Boundless Flight for GREAT Java!". Corny, I know .. but I actually had a fellow board memeber of the CITe Board at Akron U. tell me he thought it was really a nice idea. Our favorite local coffee? PHOENIX !! We love their roasting, their bean selection, and their staff. We even like Sarah Wilson-Jones .. but will not hesitate to hold her accountable if the goods aren't up to our expectations.


7. I know lots of folks in the Smucker's senior IT team and will specifically select their products from here on out .. but also let them know if I get any negative reviews.


8. Know any teenage girls who need a something special under the tree?? Bonnie Bell - you can't go wrong. As a father of three daughters, they LOVED their lip smacking products and would be really upset if they couldn't find them. We've been to the top of the marketing group at Bonnie Bell; no problem walking right over there and making a point if needed.


9. Pat Catan's has always been one of the area's class acts. I will be going there for all our decoration and crafty goodies this year. You can still find several of the Catan family directly involved in the business. Even going back to Pops, I could always get his ear with recommendations if I could keep up with him bringing in carts from the parking lot!


10. Holiday food preparation? It will be Heinen's for us this year. We have had a Boundless Flight check cashing card from Heinen's almost sinceday #1 - we just haven't used it enough. Jeff, if anything doesn't look quite right, I'm coming straight to you.


11. Brewski's ... we are going with Great Lake Brewery . My son, Ben,is the "President of the Great Lakes Brewery Club" at Illinois State University. He graduates from there this December and when he leaves, that whole school is going into depression because there won't be any more Papa Baney Dortmunder beer trains coming in from Cleveland. Papa Baney will also be going through withdrawal ... there are some cute, cute, CUTE girls at that school that I will lose contact with ... . Anyway ... Mark Hunger, if the quality EVER starts slipping, we will let you know right away!!


12. Candles? LOTS of people have never heard of AI Root down in Medina. It is one of the most memorable browsing experiences you will ever have as the place ALWAYS smells perfectly heavenly!


13. Having been born in Walla Walla, WA, I have always supported the outstanding wines of the Columbia Valley. This year, though, we will be focusing on our OHIO vinyards . If the taste isn't quite competitive with a CA syrah or WA merlots, I am going to bite my tongue and remind myself that my dollar only went 60 miles away and not 3,000.


14. Last but not least, we will be buying lots of gifts this year from the artist community in Cleveland. This has *nothing* to do with our recent hiring of Bridget Ginley! (;>) The Don Drumm Gallery is a GREAT collection of local artwork. River Arts is another and maybe the best is the Museum of Contemporary Art . As these times get tougher and tougher, let's do our best to see that our local creatives stay well fed!I think you get the idea.