Ellanyze

Sending you joy, love, peace, and all the good things this holiday season 🌺 ❄️ 🌲

Did you know that you’re influencing others all the time? When you smile at a stranger, they’re more likely to smile at someone else that day. When you put your shopping cart back where it belongs, someone who watched you do so is more likely to return theirs as well. When you stop to drop a dollar in the tip bucket of a performing street musician, others are more likely to do the same. The average person makes between 33,000 and 35,000 decisions per day (many of us have heard this statistic). But often forgotten (or simply not known) is the fact that we’re all influencing others’ decisions all the time. The above three examples are just that – small examples. Influence also happens in larger ways. I’ve seen it myself, and so have you. I saw it when so many others commuting on bikes in my community inspired me to do the same. I saw it when, being surrounded by Michiganders as opposed to New Yorkers, I began to dress in more comfortable down-to-earth clothing. I saw it when my 11-year-old nephew’s newfound passion for playing music made me want to find that again for myself. And I’m sure you can think of many examples for yourself as well. One of the songs on my singer-songwriter album, entitled “Choices,” includes the lyric: Choices, choices every day Light and darkness as we make our way Choices, choices, gain what we give A million choices add up to a life well lived It can be hard, particularly at a time when a lot of really bad stuff is happening in our country and the world, to choose light over darkness. I write this blog today from a place of wanting to remember, and wanting all of you to remember as well, that every time you choose to do something good, to be kind, to do the right thing, to make the world a better place in a tiny or huge way – it’s not just you that you’re making that choice for. It’s all of us. So the next time you’re faced with a choice: to take the high road or the low one, to be kind in the face of adversity or succumb to cold bitterness, to smile at a stranger who looks like they’ve had better days or simply look away – remember that your action is a drop in a large pond indeed, and you never know how far those ripples will go <3

Hey business owners: How do you make sure and unplug for yourself during the holidays?

What's ONE thing you want to do in 2025?

TONIGHT! See you at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in downtown Ann Arbor (on Washington St.) at 7pm for one set of original music by yours truly 💕

What makes a gift truly special isn’t how much it cost but rather how thoughtful it is – how loved and seen it makes the recipient feel. So in that spirit of that, here are five ideas for thoughtful gifts that won’t break your piggy bank. A Tin Filled With Homemade Treats 🍪 What kind of treats are their favorite? This gift will let them know you know what they love. It could be an array of classic Christmas cookies (here are 85 Christmas cookie recipes to choose from), chocolate dipped macaroons (which also happen to be gluten-free), or if sugar isn’t their thing, my favorite spiced nuts recipe or even cheddar chive scones! It’s a fact that humans feel love in their stomachs, so have at it. For a charming tin to hold your treats, get a modern and stylish tin at Target, Meijer, etc., or a classic (even vintage!) tin at a thrift store like Salvation Army. A Framed Photo 📷 In our ever-increasing digital era, who prints photos anymore? You do! The fact that not many people get photos printed anymore makes it all the more special when you give someone a special photo of the two of you (or your families, etc.) in a nice frame. I like Target’s collection of nice-looking and inexpensive photo frames. And for getting your photos printed, Shutterfly offers prints for literally pennies each. A Homemade Tree Ornament 🎄 If you’re the crafty sort (or even if you’re not – they’ll be extra impressed!), a homemade ornament is always a win. This collection of 74 DIY ornament ideas lets you choose something that’s right up their alley. Because let’s face it: nothing says “I love you” like homemade. Certificate for a Home-Cooked Meal 🍗 In the spirit of connection, community, and getting together in the real world, a certificate for a home-cooked meal at your place is about as thoughtful as it gets. For added personalization, make it their favorite meal i.e. lasagna, tacos, steak, etc. If you’re artsy, you can make the certificate with a piece of paper and markers or crayons, or you can print it from your computer using a free certificate template on Canva. A (Gently) Used Item 👕 If your recipient is open to something that’s not brand new, you can find some fabulous items in great condition at thrift stores, consignment shops, and the like. I often find items at thrift shops that are unworn i.e. the store price tag is still attached. In the SE Michigan area, it doesn’t get much better than Kiwanis. However, a tip: if you’re planning to look for gifts, arrive right when they open so you can have your pick of the very best stuff. Beyond just clothing, you can find wonderful dishes, flower vases, books, CDs and vinyl, and many other items for sale at a fraction of what they’d cost new. Happy Holidays! ❤️ Giving gifts that make your recipients feel seen and loved is the kindest thing of all, and just remember, you don’t need a sack full of money to do so <3 Any other ideas to add to our list? Please let us know in the comments below 👇

True story! I had one last week. Sometimes you just gotta throw your hands up and say "Well, let's try again tomorrow" 🤗

Meet my client: Blue LLama Jazz Club! This jazz/music/food destination in downtown Ann Arbor has quickly created a swingin' reputation for itself among jazz fans and musicians worldwide. I'm thrilled to be beginning work with them on their new website wearing hats as both web designer and fellow musician 👍 👍 Stay tuned for more...

I like this one today 🥰

Continuing the celebration of the launch of my NEW WEBSITE this week, I wrote a blog about my five favorite parts of the new look - and how you can implement each on your own site! Enjoy 😀 --- Prioritizing Mailing List (Short & Sweet) Sign-ups If there’s one thing I’ve learned over 15 years of blogging, it’s that writing great content and growing your reader base are two VERY different things (in other words you can do the first amazingly and not have any of the latter). Thus, on my new website, I decided to make my Short & Sweet (weekly blog) sign-up a real priority. What does this mean? It’s on the homepage. It’s in the footer on every page. It’s at the top of the blog page (see above). It’s in the sidebar on every individual blog. In other words, you can’t visit my website without having the option to sign up. WIN! Do it on your website: What’s a priority for you in your business? Mailing list sign-ups? Or something else? Whatever you decide is a priority, make it visible in more places than one so you make sure it gets seen. Authenticity and Warmth with a “Hello” From Me On the Homepage I tell my clients all the time: Your audience wants to know you. This is exactly why I decided to put a warm welcome from me right on my new website’s homepage (and not at the bottom of the page). It’s concise and to the point – just sharing a touch of my story with an invitation to learn more. I hope that this will personalize and humanize my company and website a lot sooner for visitors. Do it on your website: Are “you” the business as I am in mine? If so, say hello to your visitors from the heart right on your homepage. It will engage and delight new and old visitors alike. (keep reading on the blog...)