Take Small Business to the Next Level

Since I’m from New England, normally I travel up north to Vermont a few times a year, and visiting the King Arthur Flour company store or taking their baking classes is on my bucket list. My friend from New Hampshire keeps saying she’s going to take me there one of these days.

Supporting small businesses, especially a local small business, has always been a priority of mine. Just recently I participated in Small Business Saturday on Facebook. My mother-in-law was a local small business owner of a cheese and gourmet shop back in the 70s, although the most she tried to expand her reach was to open a second brick-and-mortar store in an adjacent town.

As a Tastefully Simple independent consultant small business owner, I have a website where I sell specialty beer bread mixes, dips and sauces. Since I’m a mompreneur, I rely on social media networking communities such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to help with the web sales and internet marketing end of my mom-owned small business.

On the internet marketplace Bonanza, I’m also a small business owner and have a boutique website where I sell and offer vintage sewing and craft patterns and other home items for families.

Like King Arthur Flour, as a small business owner I’m trying to expand my reach via social networks, gain name recognition and develop a national customer base.

To attain my goals, I recently switched to using the Google Chrome web browser as my primary internet browser. After experiencing multiple browser crashes when using Firefox, I’ve found Google Chrome to be much more reliable than any of the other browsers I’d been using.

If you’re a small business owner, make it a New Year’s resolution to let Google Chrome help take your business to the next level.

This post is sponsored by Google Chrome

New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Farm Barn

If you plan a road trip travel vacation to Vermont this summer, be prepared to not only enjoy the beautiful mountain views, but also the different styles of farm barns.   What’s a farm without a rustic, red barn?  In fact, if you’re planning a wedding in Vermont, there’s even rustic farm barns that you can hold the wedding reception at!

We just visited the Vermont Brattleboro North KOA on a family reunion camping trip.  This farm was literally in our “back yard.” We could walk to the general store where they sold fresh vegetables, fresh baked homemade breads, pies and other assorted Vermont crafts.

Late in the afternoon the farmer would hop on his tractor and till the soil or fertilize the plants he’s growing this season.  My grandson Slugger, who’s going to be turning 3, was totally fascinated and we watched for about 10 minutes each time.

We had a grand time trying to decide what was being planted in that field and hope to return to the campgrounds  later in the season to find out!

New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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I was Granny Daycare, and drove 4 hours to Vermont for the privilege while my daughter and charming son-in-law were attending a wedding for one of his cousins.

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour

Although I’d been up to the Stowe area many times and my daughter was married up there, I never managed to visit one of Vermont’s finest tourist attractions.

Graveyard of Flavors

Ben & Jerry’s White Russian Ice Cream

Playscape

I found my very favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, White Russian, in Graveyard of Flavors.

Our tour guide showed us a brief video of the company history and then led us around the factory plant.  At the end we were treated to the sample flavor of the day.

There’s also a playground area for the kids to stretch their legs.

Put Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour on your list of fall foliage leaf peeping things to do in New England

What’s your favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor?

© 2010 C. Matthews

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New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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In Connecticut, most folks try to get their cottages and beach house all gussied up and ready for Memorial Day, the official start of summer. Aren’t we all on the lookout for gardening tips and decorating ideas?

I think this swan flower garden container with the pansies is such a cute idea.

Up in Vermont, where my charming son-in-law is originally from, lake cottages are called “camps.”  I still can’t get used to that phrase!

As much as I enjoy a lake every now and then, I’m still a beach gal – I can smell the salt water already!

Are you a beach person, or a lake person, tell my WHY!
© 2010 C. Matthews

Don’t forget to sign the Linky!

New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Isn’t it amazing how everything is greener in Vermont?  No wonder they call it the Green Mountain State!  Although it’s beautiful in winter, I can’t wait for spring to get here!

If you ever get a chance to vacation in Vermont and drive north up Interstate 91, make sure you stop at the Vermont Visitor’s Center – there are beautiful displays of all the artisan crafts – Bennington Pottery, woodworking, handwoven yarns and more!  You can walk the dog, or picnic on the lawn or tables that are provided.

This photo is from one of Vermont’s lovely rest area stops along Interstate 89.

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New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Everywhere I go in Vermont, no matter what season – there’s always a photo opportunity waiting for me!

The state recently received over 30 inches of snow from the monstrous blizzard last week that affected the East Coast.

My BFF from kindergarten lives in Enfield, New Hampshire. She owns Bearly Used Books, a really cute used book store, complete with pellet stoves, and recently sent me a book on how to shoot scenic photography.

This scenic picture was taken on the way to Northfield, Vermont – home to Norwich University.

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Before I met my son-in-law, I think I’d only been up to Vermont once to go skiing when I was in high school.  My husband and I would travel up Interstate 91 to go to New Hampshire for vacations, but we never really left the highway to see this beautiful state.

My oldest daughter’s husband is a Vermonter.  I’m so excited that I can now experience the beauty of the Green Mountain state’s four seasons through the eyes of locals, and not as a tourist!  My daughter’s in-laws know all the back roads with a magnificent vista!

Winter Wonderland

This photo was taken on our way to a birthday party outside Montpelier, Vermont’s capitol.  My charming son-in-law’s cousins live atop this spectacular mountain!  The view will take your breath away!

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Located in Central Vermont, Floating Bridge in the Town of Brookfield is famous for it’s winter ice harvest festival, but is especially N pretty with itsew England fall colors.

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My daughter recently celebrated her wedding anniversary. They got married in Stowe, Vermont over a Columbus Day Weekend, and the reception was held at the Stowehof Inn. The view from our balcony of Mt. Mansfield and the fall foliage was breathtaking, as was the day!

Stowe Vermont

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Down By The Sea

When my kids were little before they started school, we always took a vacation in September after Labor Day.  The tourist crowds were usually thinner, and the hotel and motel rates rates were lower.  We’d usually go to The Cape (Cape Cod), or down to the Virginia shore.

We haven’t done that in many years.

This year, we went to Olgunquit, Maine for a long weekend with our oldest daughter, charming son-in-law,  his parents, sister and her family, and our grandkids.  The inlaws all came from Vermont, and we came from Connecticut and met in Maine.

It’s been many years since we’ve been to Maine, but have never visited Ogunquit.  It was wonderful! Although it rained on Saturday, we still found a lot to do.

We drove up to Kennebunkport in the morning, and stopped and saw the Bush summer residence.  Of course there was the obligatory shopping at all the quaint stores in town – and then on to lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants.  All specialize in Lobster Roll sandwiches and the famous chowder!

Sunday we spent the morning at the expansive 3-1/2 mile long Ogunquit beach, and then on to breakfast.  Later in the morning we walked the 1.10 mile famous Marginal Way which abuts the ocean and ends up in Perkins Cove.

Picturesque Perkins Cove with it’s adorable drawbridge was so much fun with the lobster boats in the harbor, little boutique shops, and plenty of places to eat -  seafood again – clams and more lobster and chowder.

We had parked our car in one of the many parking lots, and took the famous Trollies that run throughout town back to the lot.  The grandkids really enjoyed that!  More shopping for soveniers before we left for home.

It was our final hurrah and a beautiful ending to summer before leaf-peeping season starts in New England.

We all enjoyed our time together and hope to make it a yearly occurance!

For More Information Visit: Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce

New Year’s Resolution for Small Businesses | Internet Marketing Help | Chrome Google Web Browser is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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