Book Review: The Only Negotiating Guide

I'm a big fan of win-win outcomes where no one walks away empty-handed and resentful from a negotiation - where important relationships remain viable and are not sacrificed in the zeal of winning. I picked The Only Negotiating Guide You'll Ever Need by Peter B. Stark and Jane Flaherty out of curiosity and here are a few things I learned or had reconfirmed.
For win-win outcomes, it's important to avoid narrowing the negotiation down to just one issue. It's better to keep your mind open to related options. 
Your win does not have to be the other person's loss because you might not have the same wants and needs. 
Better ask than assume what your counterpart wants. Also try understanding the needs that are not being openly expressed. So, listen well and pay attention to nonverbal expressions.

There are 13 chapters each focusing on a specific aspect of negotiation making reference quick and easy. Definitely a book worth going back to for anyone who wants to negotiate better and fair.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
 

How to color a beach bag

Let's color a beach bag today!

Pick a few bright summer-y colors and go for it. Watch the video for inspiration.

And if you want to color one yourself, you can find this image and 29 more in my newest coloring book  At the Beach.

Have fun coloring!

New Coloring Book: At the Beach

When we lived in Florida, I didn't think I could miss summer... ever! But when we moved north, I found cold weather for most of the year. Even though we have pretty beaches here too, the drive is longer and the water much colder. All of a sudden summer days and our trips to the beaches became a lot more precious to me. 

As I washed sand off the beach toys, I felt that soon this summer too will be a thing of the past and we can only hold on to its memories. And I wanted to re-live these moments and cherish the fond memories we made. To do so, I compiled my drawings inspired by our beach vacations - things we saw, things we shopped for, things we did, and created a coloring book named At the Beach. 
 
At the Beach is a printable coloring book of fond beach memories. It includes a fun collection of 30 hand-drawn images that bring back memories of carefree sun-soothed, surf-soaked beach vacations. Plus, there's a bonus section of inspiration to help you bring the black-and-white pen drawings to life in full color!

In this coloring book, you'll find cute flip flops, stylish swimsuits, the dyed woven straw beach bag with raffia fringes which we ended up not buying as it wasn't big enough, the rose colored sun glasses I bought at St. Maarten and many more. At the Beach will surely help you re-live YOUR beach vacations and enjoy the special summer memories a while longer.

I’ll email you the printable PDF within 24 hours of purchase. No shipping fee, no waiting for the mail to step into coloring bliss!

Card Tutorial: A Bow tie for the Gentleman

Cards for the guys don't have to be hard if you got the right stuff. Hi everyone! In today's tutorial, I'll show you how just one piece of patterned paper and a stamp set can making a card for a gentleman quick and easy!

Let's start by looking at the supplies.
You'll need - 
RG Days Stamp/Die set - The Details 
RG Days Printed Paper
Denim Days True Color Fusion Ink Pad  
Berry Black True Color Fusion ink
Cool Pool 12 x12 Cardstock
Dark Roast 12 x12 Cardstock 
River Stone 12 x12 Cardstock
Summer Days 12x12 Cardstock
Whip Cream 12x12 Cardstock
Easy Glide Permanent Adhesive Runner
Journey Foam Squares - Small
Amaze machine 

Trim Whip Cream cardstock to 8.5" x 5.5". Fold in half to make 4.25" x 5.5" card.
Trim bow tie patterned paper to 4" x 5.25". Attach to the card.
Stamp the polka dot bow tie on Cool Pool cardstock with Denim Days ink pad.
Die cut the bow tie using the Amaze machine.
Attach the bow tie die-cut to the card with Journey Foam Squares.

Stamp the sentiment 'Complete Gentleman' on Summer Days cardstock with Berry Black ink pad. Cut it into a block. Mat the sentiment block with Dark Roast cardstock.
Cut a 4" x 1.25" strip of River Stone cardstock. Attach it to the card.
Mount the sentiment block to the strip to finish.

Hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and will give this cute stamp/die set a try!

A DIY Easel Frame

Make the most of your favorite vacation photos with this easel frame using the Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 16PK - Chalkboard Easel Card.

You'll find the tutorial right here. And there's a great sale going on right now. Just use the coupon code Back2School for 30% discount and free shipping on $99 or more.

Book Review: Thank You for Arguing

Arguments often have a negative connotation. But what if that negativity could be diffused and we could argue without it turning into a fight or a blame game? Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs explains how to persuade others to see your point of view and even switch to your side without aggression. With use of humor and anecdotes, the author explains how rhetoric should be one of the essential R's and calls it 'the art of influence, friendship and eloquence, of ready wit and irrefutable logic.' Throughout history, great leaders have used rhetoric to inspire and move audiences into action. This book will teach you those secrets of the art of persuasion. If language is your area of interest, you'll love this book. It might even help you win some arguments!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Home Decor Tutorial: Succulent Arrangement

Create a lovely succulent arrangement that you can't kill following this tutorial for your home or to gift using these newly released Sizzix dies -

• Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2PK - Barrel Cactus, 3-D
• Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6PK - Succulents, 2-D & 3-D
• Sizzix Big Shot Machine Only (White & Gray)
• Sizzix Accessory - Cutting Pads, Standard, 1 Pair (Mint)
• Sizzix Accessory - Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies

This is the PERFECT TIME to get all your favorite Sizzix dies, machines and accessories taking advantage of the fab Christmas in July sale over at Sizzix.com