Burn, Baby, Burn Out

If there really is such a thing as social media burnout then I have definitely achieved it. Twitter, Facebook, Ning, etc...you name it, I was there. Always there. This went on for weeks, months, until one day my friend, Victoria, posted a blog about what is really important. I realized I was neglecting something. My life.

OK, for starters, social media IS a large part of who I am and what I do. But it is not all of me. It had become an addiction. If I didn't check constantly I was missing something. But I wasn't missing anything except my days. They all blurred into one. It got to the point where I really didn't know what day it was. And I didn't care. Two computers going constantly. Tweetdeck for Twitter on one, Facebook and other business sites on the other. In between, I worked. Do I remember what I did during that time? No. Was I trying to escape from something? Maybe. But what really? That was the question I couldn't answer.

I finally realized it was time for me to take a step back and reassess my life, my work. To really figure out what was most important to me. And when I did this I found a whole new world in front of me. Me. I realized I was an actual person, not a robot programmed to follow a specific set of instructions on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong. I've met some amazing people and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But it's time to cut back, get back to where I need to be for me, and move ahead.

Dorinda Duclos is the owner of Favors by Dorinda - Personalized Candy Bar Wrappers, Candy Cakes & Cupcakes, Unique Gifts for your wedding & all occasions!

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A Special Candy Cake for A Special Young Man!

There is nothing like the pure expression of a child receiving a gift they never expected.

I recently had the pleasure of creating a very special candy cake for my dear friend Angie's grandson's 9th birthday. He's a huge WWE fan so it was easy to decide what the cake should look like. I sent out my best people (my daughter Alyssa & husband Neil) in search of the perfect cake topper and wrestlers to adorn the cake.

I decided to have some fun with this on Facebook. I posted a picture of just the chocolate on day one and asked people to try and guess what this was going to be. We had a lot of great responses but no one could guess! Day two saw the bottom layer of the cake and still more attempts at trying to figure it out. Day three revealed a little more and finally someone figured it out...a candy cake!!

Day four revealed the cake so that everyone could see what they had been trying so hard to figure out. Here is a picture of the finished cake:


It was such a pleasure to create something that brought so much joy to a very special young man.

If you have a special occasion in your future and would like a candy cake made, please visit our web site.

Dorinda Duclos is the owner of Favors by Dorinda - Personalized Candy Bar Wrappers, Candy Cakes & Cupcakes, Unique Gifts for your wedding & all occasions!

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The Tuxedo – Classic vs. Comfort

Congratulations! You’ve popped the question, she accepted and now the plans begin. What date do we want to get married, where will the reception be, what will we wear? The bride to be will shop with her bridesmaids and of course she’ll shop for her gown. This is an exciting time for her. But wait. This is an exciting time for you, too! Why should you be left out of the fun? Gather your groomsman and head to the tuxedo shop.

Today’s man has more say in the way his wedding day will play out. Years ago the planning fell on the bride’s family to make all the arrangements. In fact, the bride was usually the one who picked out the groom’s tuxedo. He rarely had a say in the process.

Wedding styles today have made major changes and some are actually moving away from classic tuxedo in favor of a more comfortable suit. I say why not both? A well-fitted tuxedo is just as, if not more, comfortable than a plain old suit off the rack. Classic tuxedo styles are making a comeback. And let’s face it; you want to shine just as much as your bride. Yes, they’ll be looking at her, but they can also be looking at you. And they will be.

Paul Pannone from 1800MyTuxes has this to offer, "From experience, many not-so-happy tuxedo stories can be attributed to shops that import their formal wear from wholesalers, some times called sub renters. Always try to find a store that own and maintain their garments. A place where you can see, feel and try on what the outfit will look like before the big day is always advisable."

Whether you’re choosing the classic black tuxedo, with or without tails or going with the softer colors of gray or maybe even white, the choice should be yours! This is your big day, too. Check out these tuxes by Cardi International and Styled by Paul Pannone of 1800MyTuxes. This is what your wedding should look like. Save the suit for business.

Special thanks to Paul Pannone for his help in writing this article. Your time is greatly appreciated.

Dorinda Duclos is the owner of Favors by Dorinda - Personalized Candy Bar Wrappers, Candy Cakes & Cupcakes, Unique Gifts for your wedding & all occasions!