HELMET HEAD
PRIDE & JOY
Monday, September 15, 2014
JUST MY OPINION: BACK TO A LIFE TIME AGO - but with a REMARKABLE fi...
JUST MY OPINION: BACK TO A LIFE TIME AGO - but with a REMARKABLE fi...: I recently moved back into the neighborhood where I pretty much grew up. I went to junior, intermediate and high school in this district...
Saturday, September 13, 2014
BACK TO A LIFE TIME AGO - but with a REMARKABLE find...
I
recently moved back into the neighborhood where I pretty much grew up. I went to
junior, intermediate and high school in this district. I had my first crush, my
first curfew, my first part time job, my first kiss, my first .... well there
were a lot of firsts here. It was also where the biggest part of my singing
background, where heavy activity during these particular years, took place. My family was
unique not only because we were on television regularly, (which held few fond
memories for me), but my Mother, in addition to being a music teacher, also ran
a Saturday night dance for teenagers. Now you might think this would be
mortifying, but as it turned out - my Mom was actually cooler than I ever could
be. The kids loved the dance, and they loved her. But all of that is another
story.
Settling in, I have been trying to find a decent convenience store and a good take out/delivery food spot. It is astounding to me that every corner store, which I was quite looking forward to being able to frequent, seem to be run by the same policy. Stock nothing, try to make it look like you are stocking everything and generally convey that you really don't give a shit. This formula persists amongst several - strike that - ALL of the variety stores in my proximity. How they stay in business is a complete enigma to me. They have a remarkable skill for lining up in a single row, one of a number of products on their shelves. One box of Cheerio's, one pack of Bounce, one packet of tea, one roll of tin foil, etc.. And, milk - milk, don't even get me started on milk. The one thing that I would have expected these stores to not only have plenty of, but to have reasonable expiry dates on a regular basis, is no where to be found. And when they do have it in, it is very costly, as are the single product items. Stymied.
Thinking that I had made the worst mistake ever by moving back here; I was getting quite down about my walkable prospects - which isn't the end of the world as I love my ebike, but... A couple of days ago, out for a stroll, I find "The Oak Park Deli". It is a little hole in the wall corner bakery, deli and home cooked food - err, you name it spot. Everything from fresh, out of the oven sweet pastries, (muffins, eclairs, home made rice pudding, fresh tart cheesecakes, brownies and more); to home made hamburgers, Lasagna, Souvlaki - to full on breakfast, including eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, westerns, home fries - the works - and with "fresh fruits". Did I mention that they also make home made Pizza??? This place is a remarkable find! I've only tried a couple of items so far, - Lasagne and a perfect corn beef on rye, and they were delicious! I'd have tried more, but they are quite busy, and I am a little impatient. They will, however, make food to order for you if you give them a few hours notice. Otherwise, you have a huge selection of clearly fresh food.
It seems to be family run - and to be candid, "Deli" doesn't quite cut it. It is a fabulous fricken' little miracle food outlet. I believe it is a son and Mother team. Each time I have been in there they are both working in harmony on a number of freshly created meals. It is fascinating in that they do not seem to be in any kind of hurry. They are synchronized, efficient and expect the customer to realize that it is going to take as long as it takes. Everything is made on the spot. It is really an incredible little place. Personally, I have not seen a small "deli?" that carries such a wide variety where you can actually watch them prepare the dishes. I'm looking forward to catching them without a full house so that I can inquire as to their relationship and history.
So, may I highly recommend The Oak Park Deli! This one little find is making me feel a whole lot better about my decision to move back here. Very intense memories of these formative years. Enough to fill one entire lifetime.
I'm digging my new digs!
One
further thing. They are so affordable, it makes it difficult to even think of
cooking for myself. And I love to cook. It is worth the wait if you have the time, and I do plan to make the time.Settling in, I have been trying to find a decent convenience store and a good take out/delivery food spot. It is astounding to me that every corner store, which I was quite looking forward to being able to frequent, seem to be run by the same policy. Stock nothing, try to make it look like you are stocking everything and generally convey that you really don't give a shit. This formula persists amongst several - strike that - ALL of the variety stores in my proximity. How they stay in business is a complete enigma to me. They have a remarkable skill for lining up in a single row, one of a number of products on their shelves. One box of Cheerio's, one pack of Bounce, one packet of tea, one roll of tin foil, etc.. And, milk - milk, don't even get me started on milk. The one thing that I would have expected these stores to not only have plenty of, but to have reasonable expiry dates on a regular basis, is no where to be found. And when they do have it in, it is very costly, as are the single product items. Stymied.
Thinking that I had made the worst mistake ever by moving back here; I was getting quite down about my walkable prospects - which isn't the end of the world as I love my ebike, but... A couple of days ago, out for a stroll, I find "The Oak Park Deli". It is a little hole in the wall corner bakery, deli and home cooked food - err, you name it spot. Everything from fresh, out of the oven sweet pastries, (muffins, eclairs, home made rice pudding, fresh tart cheesecakes, brownies and more); to home made hamburgers, Lasagna, Souvlaki - to full on breakfast, including eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, westerns, home fries - the works - and with "fresh fruits". Did I mention that they also make home made Pizza??? This place is a remarkable find! I've only tried a couple of items so far, - Lasagne and a perfect corn beef on rye, and they were delicious! I'd have tried more, but they are quite busy, and I am a little impatient. They will, however, make food to order for you if you give them a few hours notice. Otherwise, you have a huge selection of clearly fresh food.
It seems to be family run - and to be candid, "Deli" doesn't quite cut it. It is a fabulous fricken' little miracle food outlet. I believe it is a son and Mother team. Each time I have been in there they are both working in harmony on a number of freshly created meals. It is fascinating in that they do not seem to be in any kind of hurry. They are synchronized, efficient and expect the customer to realize that it is going to take as long as it takes. Everything is made on the spot. It is really an incredible little place. Personally, I have not seen a small "deli?" that carries such a wide variety where you can actually watch them prepare the dishes. I'm looking forward to catching them without a full house so that I can inquire as to their relationship and history.
So, may I highly recommend The Oak Park Deli! This one little find is making me feel a whole lot better about my decision to move back here. Very intense memories of these formative years. Enough to fill one entire lifetime.
I'm digging my new digs!
Oak Park Deli
(416) 424 DELI (3354) Open Mon-Sat: 7am-7pm
If you visit it, I would love to know what you think? My best. Bonnie
Friday, January 31, 2014
JUST MY OPINION: THE BEE'S KNEES. HOW A COMPANY STANDS OUT!
JUST MY OPINION: THE BEE'S KNEES. HOW A COMPANY STANDS OUT!: BILLY BEE ROCKS Up until recently, I was not very active on Facebook. That is not to say I didn't visit it for five minutes a day to e...
Thursday, January 30, 2014
THE BEE'S KNEES. HOW A COMPANY STANDS OUT!
BILLY BEE ROCKS
Up until recently, I was not very active on Facebook. That is not to say I didn't visit it for five minutes a day to eavesdrop in on my friends and see what they were up to. (What was I missing and how much more fun are they having than me). Not that I am complaining, I have a wicked amount of fun in my head as well as on the occasions when I am social.
Presently, I am becoming more active on Facebook, as I have perhaps a deluded opinion that it might affect my Klout score; and perhaps a further misguided notion that one's Klout score means something. You see, after selling my product design business, I decided to take a well needed vacation. I have utilized this time to write a script. Script is finished. I am ready to re-enter the world of the working.
But I digress. This Blog is about Billy Bee Honey.
I love Billy Bee Honey. I use it daily. I use it in my home made tea/lemonade; as a substitute for most sugars, in baking, cooking and sometimes I can be caught just pouring it into a spoon and simply devouring it. In short, I am crazy about it and always have at least two full bottles on hand for emergencies.
Being a honey lover, I have tried several other brands. More expensive brands, but I always come back to Billy Bee. It is pure honey and just tastes better. I tend to buy their large bottle which costs almost $10.00, but with this one bottle, I break it down into four smaller Billy Bee bottles and add cooled down boiled water so that it will mix easily when I add to my glass of lemonade. I drink about 10 8oz. glasses of this a day. Remember, I always have at least two back up bottles for other usages.
While in my eavesdropping mode, I would see Billy Bee on Facebook. I could never resist adding a comment as I am truly a fan of this product. Billy Bee always responded. Some faceless, kind, often funny and always appreciative person at Billy Bee would comment on my comment.
Which brings me to the crux of this blog. About two weeks ago, Billy Bee contacted me via Facebook, and asked me for my address. I was surprised and pleased. I thought they might send me a coupon or two for Billy Bee Honey.
Au contraire. A box arrives at my house, and in it is two bottles of Billy Bee Honey, (my new two back ups), a very cute plush Billy Bee, and two Billy Bee pens. I was quite taken aback.
To me, that is good business. It was an anonymous gift. They didn't plaster it all over Facebook - heck, they didn't even mention it. I believe to my core that it deserves to be mentioned. Of course I responded on Facebook that I was extremely grateful; as much for the gesture as for the products. This kind of gesture requires sharing.
If I had one complaint, it would be that they might have been wise to mention it - but in fairness that could be a catch 22. Would this prompt everyone to comment on Billy Bee? The "fake" honey lovers, even the real honey lovers? I can honestly attest that I am a "pure" Billy Bee lover.
Would Billy Bee have to go out of business by sending everyone who said nice things about the product the same kind of box to me? I could not bear putting Billy Bee in jeopardy.
But, (and I know you are not supposed to start a sentence with but, but) I do believe there are many opportunities to capitalize promotionally and in retail.
For instance, when I get this cute plush Billy Bee doll, I decided to adapt it to an idea I had a couple of years ago when I was designing hundreds of products. I think it is a good idea, but then again, I think most of my ideas are good. Thankfully, I do listen when people laugh at some of them. I do heed advice.
In any event, my idea was to put the alphabet onto a plush bee for pre-school children. They would press a letter of the alphabet and the sound of that letter would come out of the "Spelling Bee". When I saw the plush Bee that Billy Bee sent me, I knew it would work. Moreover, you could fit a large bottle of the Billy Bee honey into the back of the plush toy.
Here is the Billy Bee Plush toy they sent to me.
Isn't it just the cutest thing?
And here is my suggestion on what to do with it either as a promotional item, or retail item - that I, of course, would love to implement:
Up until recently, I was not very active on Facebook. That is not to say I didn't visit it for five minutes a day to eavesdrop in on my friends and see what they were up to. (What was I missing and how much more fun are they having than me). Not that I am complaining, I have a wicked amount of fun in my head as well as on the occasions when I am social.
Presently, I am becoming more active on Facebook, as I have perhaps a deluded opinion that it might affect my Klout score; and perhaps a further misguided notion that one's Klout score means something. You see, after selling my product design business, I decided to take a well needed vacation. I have utilized this time to write a script. Script is finished. I am ready to re-enter the world of the working.
But I digress. This Blog is about Billy Bee Honey.
I love Billy Bee Honey. I use it daily. I use it in my home made tea/lemonade; as a substitute for most sugars, in baking, cooking and sometimes I can be caught just pouring it into a spoon and simply devouring it. In short, I am crazy about it and always have at least two full bottles on hand for emergencies.
Being a honey lover, I have tried several other brands. More expensive brands, but I always come back to Billy Bee. It is pure honey and just tastes better. I tend to buy their large bottle which costs almost $10.00, but with this one bottle, I break it down into four smaller Billy Bee bottles and add cooled down boiled water so that it will mix easily when I add to my glass of lemonade. I drink about 10 8oz. glasses of this a day. Remember, I always have at least two back up bottles for other usages.
While in my eavesdropping mode, I would see Billy Bee on Facebook. I could never resist adding a comment as I am truly a fan of this product. Billy Bee always responded. Some faceless, kind, often funny and always appreciative person at Billy Bee would comment on my comment.
Which brings me to the crux of this blog. About two weeks ago, Billy Bee contacted me via Facebook, and asked me for my address. I was surprised and pleased. I thought they might send me a coupon or two for Billy Bee Honey.
Au contraire. A box arrives at my house, and in it is two bottles of Billy Bee Honey, (my new two back ups), a very cute plush Billy Bee, and two Billy Bee pens. I was quite taken aback.
To me, that is good business. It was an anonymous gift. They didn't plaster it all over Facebook - heck, they didn't even mention it. I believe to my core that it deserves to be mentioned. Of course I responded on Facebook that I was extremely grateful; as much for the gesture as for the products. This kind of gesture requires sharing.
If I had one complaint, it would be that they might have been wise to mention it - but in fairness that could be a catch 22. Would this prompt everyone to comment on Billy Bee? The "fake" honey lovers, even the real honey lovers? I can honestly attest that I am a "pure" Billy Bee lover.
Would Billy Bee have to go out of business by sending everyone who said nice things about the product the same kind of box to me? I could not bear putting Billy Bee in jeopardy.
But, (and I know you are not supposed to start a sentence with but, but) I do believe there are many opportunities to capitalize promotionally and in retail.
For instance, when I get this cute plush Billy Bee doll, I decided to adapt it to an idea I had a couple of years ago when I was designing hundreds of products. I think it is a good idea, but then again, I think most of my ideas are good. Thankfully, I do listen when people laugh at some of them. I do heed advice.
In any event, my idea was to put the alphabet onto a plush bee for pre-school children. They would press a letter of the alphabet and the sound of that letter would come out of the "Spelling Bee". When I saw the plush Bee that Billy Bee sent me, I knew it would work. Moreover, you could fit a large bottle of the Billy Bee honey into the back of the plush toy.
Here is the Billy Bee Plush toy they sent to me.
And here is my suggestion on what to do with it either as a promotional item, or retail item - that I, of course, would love to implement:
This plush doll can be made not only to repeat the letters a toddler presses, but also form words. It could also be designed as a "Time Out" Billy Bee doll. Instead of the alphabet on the bee, a clock could be put on to it. Kids will sit in "time out" more easily when they have something to distract them.
Billy Bee, I want to thank you for inspiring me to write this blog and for your very kind gift box. I sure would love to head up your PR department. And, you guys should be on Twitter.
Your friend. Bonnie
ps: Will this be a monthly submission, like fruit of the month? (kidding of course) :)
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