Grubarazzi

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A Book Review: The Dragonfly Effect

As a blogger and social media addict I often wonder how we can use the influence of these relatively new forms of communication to create social change. I use social media to connect with old and new friends, share pictures, post tidbits about my life, and to simply stay in touch with the world around me. But what if each person made the effort to to use social media to create social change and make a difference in each other’s lives? The Dragonfly Effect by Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith sheds light on the power of social media and how it can be used toward the greater good. The authors discuss how social media users and organizations can use social media to drive social change in small, impactful ways as well as on a massive scale using a simple four-pronged method. Below is a brief video synopsis of The Dragonfly Effect by its authors: As Andy Smith and Jennifer Aaker discuss in the video and in the book, the effective model to create an integrated effort towards soc

Top 5 Social Media Tips

The pressure to keep up with communication practices can be an intimidating task, especially in the ever-growing world of social media. Over the last few years, it is becoming more and more obvious that social media is a requirement in order to expand professional networks, attract clients, and generally be more marketable. The professional objective: to stay in the know, expand in to new realms of communication, and never be afraid to go with the flow. As social media becomes a more visual tool for companies to express themselves and connect with the community at large, consider these steps to stay ahead of the curve. One by One New social media platforms are being created every day, and experts are never quite sure what will become the next Facebook or Twitter . In order to keep up, choose one or two new social media platforms and immerse yourself in the culture for a week. Become part of the community, learn how to get noticed, and study the types of people and organizatio

A Book Review: Your Brand: The Next Media Company

Like an old oak tree, Grubarazzi has grown very slowly and with intention over the years. I sway back and forth in the wind. Sometimes, I want to use this blog as a personal space to share recipes and nurture my hobbies, but the communication practitioner side of me wants to use the blogging platform to grow my brand. Grubarazzi could very well be that kind of blog. It already encapsulates me, my unique brand, and provides content that people share across social media. But I have so many questions. Can I utilize what I am learning in grad school to turn Grubarazzi in to the next food media company, like Food52 or theKitchn ? Can my content be more rich and provide my readers with relevant conversation? And, do I want to? These are the questions organizations ask themselves every day, and it’s becoming increasingly important in this oversaturated marketplace. Your Brand: The Next Media Company , by Michael Brito, reviews how social business strategy can enable better content,

Reflections

It’s been very quiet around here. So quiet I can hear a pin drop. Poink. Poink. Although Grubarazzi has been flying under the radar, my life is full of wonderful things and exciting developments. And real life stress. Let’s recap. The list of wonderful things and exciting developments: My kitchen is shiny and new. I spent one year scrupulously redesigning the awkward space/layout that was my 1984 kitchen. For two months I searched high and low for a custom kitchen designer willing and able to work with my design, and three months completely gutting and renovating it. I have so many posts regarding the kitchen remodel process that I will be creating a new section on the blog solely for that. Stay tuned! A preview: I am now a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, and it has been a nerve-wracking yet exciting process. I am working towards my MA in communication with a concentration in digital communication. It’s a perfect fit. I couldn't be happier. I have a

Watermelon Feta Bites

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby to spoil! My sister-in-law is due in December and I can’t wait to meet my new niece. Until then, we have been showering the momma-to-be with affection, and threw her a baby shower I hosted alongside my mother-in-law and soon-to-be-sister-in-law. We went with a tea party theme smothered in pink for our sweet baby girl. This was the most organized baby shower ever. We had spreadsheets, conference calls, and clearly divided responsibilities. We don’t mess around. I provided the house and organized the food along with my SIL, and my MIL handled the desserts and decorations (which were out of control… just look at that ombre cake). Our tea party themed baby shower went off without a hitch! One of the most popular bite- sized nibbles were these beautiful Feta Watermelon Bites (pictured above) doused with olive oil, fresh mint, and a dash of sea salt. They are wonderfully easy and perfect for any party, especially one ex

Perfect Roast Chicken

Anyone who follows me on Instagram or Facebook might know about my obsession with Thomas Keller and finding the perfect roast chicken recipe. When I discovered Keller’s super easy recipe a few years ago, my heart melted. Three ingredients will, every time, without fail, make the best roast chicken you will ever eat. Don’t mistake my love for simplicity as a renunciation for other, more difficult, methods of chicken roasting. There is something god-like about a chicken slathered in butter, stuffed with aromatics with fresh sage or thyme delicately pressed underneath the skin for added flavor. But if you can create the best roast chicken ever with just three ingredients, would you at least try it? Would you make it at least one night a week and then use the leftover carcass for chicken stock the next day? Yes. You would. And you will. I made two of these simple birds last night and coupled them with asparagus, whipped butternut squash, and pan gravy. Pa