#Tweetsgiving-What Am I Thankful For?

There really is not a short answer for that question, but I'll break it down into three categories; Family, Business, and Life in General.

Family:
2009 started with the scary news that my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancers are not a new thing to my family, so I am thankful that my Mom is as strong as she is, and that the cancer was caught in very early stages and that radiation was the only treatment that was needed. This incident brought my entire family closer. I am closer now to my Mom than ever, and see how great she is even more than I ever have.

My children, except for a few bouts with the flu, are otherwise healthy and thriving. I am thankful that they continue to do well in school and remain role models for their peers.

Business:
This year has been the biggest year for Squish yet. We moved into our first office after working out of a home office for 4 years. Doors have opened, through networking, that have put us in front of people and companies that have the ability to change and improve everything that we have done in the past. This has been the year that we have learned the most about our business from either mistakes that we have made in the past or just from learning from our peers.

I am thankful for Doc Weesner, Becki Shafer, Barbara Weaver-Smith, Duke Brown and Jennifer Quigley, Robert Glidden, Chad Whaley, Susie Wood and Dan McMichael, Randy Zentz, Jeff Jones Sr and Jeff Jones Sr, Jon Bright, MT and Phil Ray, Doug Karr, Amy Foris, Dan Hill, Jeff Pipkin, Kari Mann, Tom Hirons, and all that have referred business to Squish. I appreciate you.

I am thankful that I was able to be a part of great fund raising, food collection, and awareness events such as the Tyson Foods Hunger Relief , The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, Indy Zoobilation, The Indianapolis International Film Festival, Salvation Army's Homelessness Bites Apple Fest, Mooresville Kiwanis Taste of Mooresville, Ike & Jonesy's Matt Miller Benefit, United Way of Central Indiana's Live United Give United commercial, and various other efforts around Indy.

I was also nominated for my first two awards ever! NOWIB's Indianapolis Woman to Watch and Blog Indiana's BLINDY Social Media Superstar!


Life in General:
Aside from my children and family, I am so thankful to be in my third year of dating my boyfriend, George. Being my business partner and my boyfriend, we've been through a lot together. The best thing about him is that he helps me see the good in me, helps me to focus on the big picture, and to continue to be better no matter what. The best thing about us is that we are an awesome team. He gives the five dollar answer, I give the five cent answer. He thinks deeply, I bring all those deep thoughts together into one short answer. It just works.

I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful that I've not had any major home repairs that have needed to be done. I'm thankful that I can still learn and that I can still teach. I'm thankful for my car that runs even after I drown it in water this deep:


There is a lot more to list. I'm hoping that this blog post helps with the fund raising efforts in Tanzania to help with the building of the orphanage, library, school, cafeteria, classrooms, and entrepreneurs. Everyone should have a life to be thankful for. You can donate now if you would like, by visiting Epic Change.

More about Tweetsgiving
Tweetvite to Tweetsgiving

Other Indy folks that are participating in Tweetsgiving are:
Scott Wise
Angie Six
Robby Slaughter
Nila Nealy
Lindsay Manfredi
Michael Reynolds
Jon Speer
Pamela Reilly
Nancy Myrland
Kenan Farrell
Douglas Karr
Amy Stark

#tweetsgiving (#indytweetsgiving) is a fundraiser of a 5013c us Nonprofit, Epic Change. http://tweetsgiving.epicchange.org/. The schedule for this year is for November 24-26, a 48 hour event created by US nonprofit Epic Change. There are two simple ways to participate: on twitter tag what you are thankful for with #tweetsgiving. The attempt is to get #tweetsgiving to be a trending topic, and thus -- encourage participation and exposure. Last year, Epic Change with only a #hashtag and accepting donations online in a 48 hour period, raised over $10,000 for a school in Tanzania. Tweetsgiving 2009 will go partly to create a dormitory/orphanage, library, school, cafeteria and additional classrooms are needed in partnership with Kamptoni in Tanzania. The other portion will go towards funded future change makers and social entrepreneurs in less fortunate conditions. The second way to participate is to donate. Donations can be made online, or in cash form on Tuesday at the #indytweetup at Scotty's downtown.

Simple answer: raise money for less fortunate entrepreneurs, giving everyone a voice.

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Ruth Rusie-90 Year Old United Way Campaign Nominee

Ruth has been nominated to be the spokesperson for a national United Way campaign. Rusie is a 90 year old retired classroom teacher, but never retired from teaching. Ruth has never halted her campaign to eradicate illiteracy; she tutors, is an active voice and member of the Morgan County Coalition for Literacy (an adult literacy program), and active with the United Way Early Literacy program (targeting youth). Although Morgan County is her home, she reaches far beyond the county.

Please view this video and cast your vote!

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Congratulations to Ike & Jonesy's for 25 Years in Business!

We are very happy to announce that one of our clients, Ike & Jonesy's, is celebrating 25 years in business in Indy! Here are just a few reasons to become a regular at Ike's:

~Several nights of quarter beer and fifty cent tacos on Thursday nights. Where else can you go and order a huge tray of beer for $5??

~Just about a month ago, we were there on a Tuesday night and I got my picture taken with Gallagher, who was just casually enjoying the live music playing that plays EVERY Tuesday and Wednesday night.


~The age of the patrons is the most diverse of any bar I've ever been in. 21-year old's celebrate their birthdays at Ike's and just a few tables over are folks that are literally 70+ years old! It is amazing.

~It's not just a bar. Ike's has some of the best lunch specials in the city! Today was a grilled portabella mushroom sandwich or Italian sampler platter for just $5.95! You can barely eat at McDonald's for that price these days.

~Free wi-fi! You can bring your laptop in while enjoying a meal and beer, and still get some work done or tell your friends about where you are on Twitter and Facebook!

If you haven't been to Ike's, this weekend is the time to check it out. Saturday is the special MetroMix party, including VIP time! The party starts today, and doesn't end all weekend! Tell your friends, and then come back here and leave me a comment to let me know what you thought!

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What a Night-Indy Zoobilation 2009-A Night on Dragon Island

If you've ever thought about attending Zoobilation at the Indianapolis Zoo, let me just say that you should definitely splurge and buy tickets when they go on sale next year in February. You don’t want to miss out.

What is Zoobilation?
It is Indiana's largest one-day fundraiser. Each year, over $1.2 Million is raised for the zoo. Other zoos have Zoobilation’s but Indy’s is the largest. Yay Indy! It is a black tie affair and everyone is fresh to death (a.k.a. gorgeous, beautiful, stunning)! If you’ve ever wanted to go to the zoo kid-free, and have a fun-filled, classy, night like no other, this is definitely the spot. Indy’s entertainment personalities, executives, and other local celebrities attend this event, so you just might run into that star that you see on tv or hear on the radio!

So, how did I get a ticket to the sold out, hottest spot in town? I’m a Twitterer. Yep, that’s right, I Tweet. I’m one of Indy’s top Twitterers too! (totally just tooted my own horn) I was accepted to join the first ever official Twitter Team that was put together by Indy Hub and the Indy Zoo! It was very, very exciting to hold this title. Thanks to Matt Holley and Karissa Rittmeyer for selecting me! Also, thanks to Chad Richards for being such an awesome Twitter partner. You guys rock!

So here’s a bit of the rundown of what we saw. With 4,200+ attendees and over 70 restaurants and 50+ bars, I didn’t get to see everything because of how amazing every step of the way was… Not to mention the time that we spent in the VIP lounge in the dolphin pavilion watching the beautiful and friendly dolphins. Seriously, a night that can’t be put into enough words. It was like prom for adults at the zoo with endless everything. Yeah, that sounds about right…

Entertainment consisted of Cook & Belle, DJ Slater Hogan, Gamelan Orchestra, Governor Davis & the Blues Ambassadors, Henle and the Loops, Housecats, Living Proof, Peace Train, Sarah Scharbrough, and Sizzlin Gregg Bacon. Arthur Murray had dancers giving dance lessons in the Indiana Live Casino tent. It was truly a happening place! Everywhere you looked, there was either music or dancing!

And the food… Oh. My. Goodness. I have never seen so much food. I’ve been to events that had 20-30 food vendors, but Indy Zoobilation had over 70 restaurants! These restaurants weren’t the average Joe Schmo restaurants either. These were Indy’s finest restaurants. Just to name a few-Ruth Chris, Oceanaire, McCormick & Schmicks, Fogo de Chao, Scholar’s Inn, PF Chang’s, and so many more…

Do you like to drink? Then you absolutely must go to Zoobilation. Olinger Distributing, Coca-Cola, and Miller-Coors donated ALL beverages. I’m talking mojitos, martinis, beer… About every fifth booth was a stand that was nearly a full bar. All the drinks you can drink for the whole evening!

View all

Get your own

Indy has some really great sponsors that make this event possible.
• Title sponsor-Indianapolis Power & Light
• VIP party sponsor-Indy’s own serial entrepreneur, Scott A Jones
• Stage sponsors-Ambrose Property Group
• Chairman’s hospitality suite-Indiana Live! Casino
• Restaurants coupon book sponsor-Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
• Limo wrap sponsors-Margaritaville Tequila, Bacardi, and Luxco Pearl Vodka
• Official hotel sponsor-Omni Severin-The after party was held here! (This hotel is absolutely beautiful and is located right smack in the center of beautiful Downtown Indy. Check them out!)
• Beverage sponsors-Coca-Cola, Coors Brewing, and Olinger Distributing
• Restaurant judging sponsor-Indianapolis DINE Magazine
• Zoobilation restaurants Day at the Zoo sponsor-Citizens Gas
• Zoobilation spa sponsor-Woodhouse Day Spa-They were there giving massages AT THE ZOO!
• Event décor-BMG, Eventfull Planning, and Detail & Design
• Event VIP transportation-Exclusive Limousine

We didn’t make it to the Woodhouse Day Spa nor did I ride the roller coaster-Oh yeah, this is the only fundraiser in town that has a roller coaster and a Sponge Bob Square Pants 3-D fun ride, but we did get to see the komodo dragons, which is where the title of the event came from. They are huge! We had so much fun taking it all in. I forgot my camera, but did have my phone to take pictures with, so above you will see some of my pics and below you'll see the live streaming videos that I got of the dolphins that were the highlight of my night, Arthur Murray dancers, and more. Enjoy!

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Indy Zoobilation 2009

I am happy to announce that I am a part of Indy Hub's first ever Twitter Team for Indy Zoobilation! Indy Zoobilation is one of Indianapolis' largest fundraisers, raising over $1 Million Dollars each year for the zoo!

For more info on the event, please visit the Indy Zoo website.

If you are a Twitter user, you can follow the action or even contribute by using the #IndyZoobilation hashtag, and checking out the Indy Zoobilation Twitter stream. Also, if you'd like to follow the official Twitter team for the event, here they are:
@chadrichards
@rachneely
@jhansondtindy
@careyhart
@mediakath
and me: @nickilaycoax

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