Printing 2.0

Started on slick and colorful calling cards for the social networking circuit, Moo has quickly become an international stationery brand.

When people hand you a Moo MiniCard, they don’t surreptitiously slip the business card into your hand; they splay out their set of cards and let you choose your favorite one. Then they tell you about the image on the back, whether it’s a photo from a vacation, a product shot, an avatar or an innovative digital design. And though the pint-size cards may not fit neatly in your Rolodex–they’re only half the size of traditional business cards–their colorful appearance and slick, high-quality feel make you take notice.

[Read more at Entrepreneur.com]

The PlayHousing Market

There’s no slump here: Barbara Butler’s company thrives by donating its fanciful houses.

Giving away up to $55,000 a year in merchandise has become a tradition for Barbara Butler Artist-Builder Inc. The 21-year-old high-end play structure company — which boasts celebrity clients like Will Smith and expects to bring in $2.3 million in 2008 — makes charitable donations in lieu of having an advertising budget. “We get a lot of publicity, and we try to raise the most money possible,” says Barbara Butler, 51, who owns the 16-person business with her husband, Jeffrey Beal, 52, and her sister, Suzanne, 58.

[Read more at Entrepreneur.com]

First appeared in Entrepreneur magazine

While in London, I wrote for the popular city blog Londonist, part of the Gothamist blog network. I covered daily news stories about the city, mostly focusing on transportation, nature and news of the absurd. I wrote more than 50 posts for the blog between February and June 2008.

Below is a sampling of some of my earlier posts, but you can see all my blog entries on my profile on the Londonist site.

[Visit my Londonist profile]

While in London, I spent six weeks working for Sugarscape, Hachette Filipacci UK’s teen website, which is a spin-off of their popular Sugar magazine. I covered celebrity gossip, fashion, film and beauty, writing more than 60 posts for the website, and I also helped write copy for competitions.

You can see all my articles on Sugarscape from my profile on the site.

[Visit my Sugarscape.com profile]

Is It Really Natural?

Want to green your grooming routine? Study up on the ingredients to avoid…

It isn’t always easy being green. And when it comes to buying beauty products, just seeing that a product is labeled “natural” or “organic” isn’t always a guarantee that it’s 100% good for you. Even trusted brands like The Body Shop and Aveda aren’t always as green as they appear when you stop to study what they put in their products.

[Read more at Sugarscape.com]

What Your Keyboard Says About You

Don’t look like a Luddite–invest in a keyboard that’ll get potential customers peering over your shoulder.

Sitting at a corner table in a pub crowded with social media fiends who come together for a weekly networking event, Justin Peer pulled out his Nokia N95 phone and his iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard. He opened up the sleek metal-and-plastic contraption, which was only slightly larger than an index card when folded up, leaned his phone against its small stand and started typing away.

He didn’t get far on his blog post, though, before a crowd had formed, curious about his little gadget, wanting to try it out and asking where they could get one, too.

[Read more at Entrepreneur.com]

Going Green This Summer

You know you should start living a greener life, and summer is the perfect time to start.

Summer is the perfect time for you and your family to become a little greener. Whether you’ve never thought about how you’re impacting the ecosystem or you’ve already installed solar panels on your house, we have some tips that can help your family conserve more energy, reduce your environmental impact and help you live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

[Read more at Hitched]

Summer Fashion for Under £25

With these inexpensive and fun pieces, you’ll be looking stylish all summer long…

Worried that you’ll spend all your money on a summer wardrobe? You don’t have to with these amazing high street finds — all less than £25.

Take a look at the tops, dresses, shorts, skirs, accessories and sandals we’re loving, and find out where to buy them…

[Read more at Sugarscape.com]

Who’ll Win the Golden Popcorn?

Check out the stars and films nominated for MTV’s movie awards, then go vote for your favourites…

Start looking forward to another funny evening full of your favourite stars — the MTV Movie Awards will be handed out June 1. Hosted by Mike Myers, there’ll certainly be lots of laughs, and you get to have your hand in handing out the awards — you get to vote!

[Read more at Sugarscape.com]

Festival Beauty Secrets

Get ready for this summer’s music festivals by picking up these beauty must-haves…

California’s Coachella festival went off over the weekend, with performances from Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, Duffy and a host of other artists. Not far from LA, lots of stars headed out to the desert to check out their favourite bands, including Paris Hilton and Benji Madden, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Kelly Osbourne, Sienna Miller, Agyness Deyn and Cameron Diaz.

The trends of the weekend included comfortable summer dresses with flowing fabrics and a hippie flair, and hair cut short, tied back or left messy and wavy. Must-have accessories included big plastic sunnies, wristbands, big slouchy bags and comfortable shoes that could be worn all day. And makeup was kept to a minimum, mostly consisting of sunscreen, mascara and lip gloss.

[Read more at Sugarscape.com]