Ali Bytes: Bullet-sized strategies for modern living

For the sixth blog-off with Dudgington Post, the topic is Zucchini Blossoms. Have you ever cooked with these? Neither have I. While I enjoy cooking and eating quality food, when I add up the time and cost (and factor in eating alone usually after 10pm when I get home from school), I often opt for simple, picking up something from Whole Foods or eating out.

There is another dinner option - home cooking in someone else’s kitchen - a concept I first heard about from my former colleague Kevin who gave it rave reviews. Though I can’t promise these alternatives offer zucchini blossom recipes, I would bet you’ll be more than satisfied. Leave a comment if you’ve tried any of these.

1. Founded by chef Harriet Dupree Bradley in 2003 and based in KY, Entrée Vous’ mission is to “set the standard for quality of food in the meal assembly industry” and is guided by the principles of quality, convenience and value. “We’ve shopped for fresh ingredients, chopped, sliced, diced, seared off meats at our stove, blended marinades and simmered many sauces from scratch.” There are 3 ways to enjoy an Entrée Vous meal in one of 17 states they have shops: you can just walk in and pick your meal (”Fresh Take and Bake”), schedule a pick up order, or schedule a cooking session.
2. Interestingly also founded in 2003, by Ruth Lundquist and Darcy Olson in MN, Let’s Dish is now in 11 states with most of their shops in MN, VA and MD. Though they seem to offer essentially the same options as Entrée Vous, they do a handful of things better - at least online: much more clear pricing (an in-store session will cost $100 if you make 4 dishes), short
   videos explaining how it works, a Refer-a-Disher reward program and the ability to buy a gift card.
3. Though Corner Cuisine is a small business based only in Lorton, VA, it offers the same value proposition of the others: “In today’s fast-paced world, providing delicious home cooked meals for your family is not always easy. Now, your busy family no longer has to compromise between time and quality when it comes to dinner.” I couldn’t find out too much about this company except that it is an independent business designed and developed by Lorton residents.

Have you heard of someecards.com? With the slogan “when you care enough to hit send,” this site has brilliantly captured the tackiness that so often characterizes e-communication using the tool that started it all: the ecard.

You can search through dozens of categories including, “cry for help” and “somewhat topical,” and even create your own. I just made this one to try it out and confirmed that it only takes a minute.  Consider yourself warned though: I imagine it could quickly turn into a battle of wit - with yourself.  Here is a sampling of some of the best I read but there are plenty more where these came from.  Which one is your favorite?

1. “Let’s force a jaded wait staff to go through the motions of singing you ‘Happy Birthday’”(send)
2. “Labor Day is a great opportunity to reflect on what you failed to accomplish this summer” (send)
3. “I still haven’t decided why I can’t come to your party”(send)
4. “Sorry your country has won fewer Olympic medals than Michael Phelps”(send)
5. “Let’s takes things to the previous level”(send)
6. “Sorry I spent three seconds reviewing the wedding invitation you spent three months on”(send)
7. “You must be excited to try convincing people you’re excited to move to Brooklyn”(send)
8. “Sorry your outdated religious views dismantled our perfectly fine relationship”(send)
9. “I’m leaning towards voting for the presidential candidate not endorsed by the worst president in American history”(send)
10. “I wish you’d taken the time to Google me”(send)
11. “You’ll never guess what I got you from your registry of pre-selected gifts”(send)
12. “Your Starbucks drink order embarrasses me”(send)

I was working on a post about creative websites and got a little carried away with this one: YearbookYourself.com. Though I can’t remember where I learned about it to give due credit, I thought I’d at least share the amusement. The site is a combination of Facebook and ElfYourself complete with music accompaniment.

It’s simple: upload a photo, pick your mall and scroll through your yearbook photos from the last 5 decades. The only thing I can’t figure out is the point. They highlight the fashion trend of the year with tips to “go get yours” with specific store suggestions, like Bloomingdales and H&M, but no links to the actual stores. Successful marketing campaign or not, it’s worth at least 20 minutes of entertainment (and a new Facebook profile picture of course).  And yes, I realize this is a little creepy.

1. This one is from 1966, a year known for knee-high-go-go boots.
2. In 1984 neon colors were hot, though you can’t tell from this black and white picture.
3. This one is from 1996 when doc marten combat boots were a symbol of fashion.
4. The year is 1952, a time when many women sported pearls.
5. All trends come back around as have oversized sunglasses originally popular in 1968.
6. Apparently overalls went out of style after 1990.
7. And finally, saving the best for last, my favorite and the most realistic looking, 1960, the era of the “little black dress.”

This is the fifth installment of the weekly (ok, well every Friday when we get around to it) blog-off with Dudgington Post. This week’s topic is entrepreneurship, which I chose after recently learning more about the Grameen Bank, taking a New Venture Creation course (which my professor has acknowledged is a redundant name) and brainstorming with friends about potential ideas on the horizon.

What I’ve discovered is that once you get thinking about it, business ideas begin to flow like wine. (Today on the way to the metro I thought it would be useful to have a spoon that can flatten into a knife so you can measure peanut butter but then spread it without losing any.) Have you ever thought about what business you might start? Here are some questions to get you thinking. For many, many more you might check out the book 401 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask.

1. What are you the best at? My answer could be making lists. Check out this post for more ideas.
2. What do people go to you specifically for?
3. If you didn’t have to work ever again, what would you do?
4. What would other people consider “hard work” that is pure fun to you? For example, my wonderful new roommate just told me that she likes cleaning bathrooms.
5. What about your personality makes you unique?
6. What are your favorite things to do that you find yourself getting completely absorbed in? Stalkbooking people you aren’t real life friends with doesn’t count.
7. What do you do better than anyone you know?
8. What really drives you crazy that you think you could fix for yourself and others?