I love social media

(source)

Many people I know are quite naive about social media - and the internet in general. Scared in fact. They think sharing updates and photos about their lives on Facebook is dangerous. They don't understand the perceived mundane tweets of Twitter. "Why do you want the world to know about what you had for breakfast?" people have asked me. And "what's a blog?" is the question I get asked when I speak of my blog. "An online diary" I say.They freak out at the thought of me sharing so much of my life online, and some have commented they think social media is a waste of time. For me social media is the launchpad for my writing career. It has also brought me so many new friends. I've put so much of my life online and nothing bad has happened to me - in fact I get less harassment online than I do 'in real life'.

This week I've had a few social media wins. I don't know whether these wins will influence those that are scared about social media to start using it in any way, but I hope they can see that social media can be for good.

First up - I was a the supermarket last week, looking for washing up gloves. I am allergic to latex and cannot use the regular rubber gloves. There were no latex free gloves in my local Coles. So I took a photo of the wall of gloves, and tweeted Coles.

 

Coles responded really quickly to my first tweet, and true to their word, on Wednesday, send me a follow up tweet.

I thanked them and included Chux in my reply. Chux make the gloves I can use. Within minutes I received this tweet from Chux.

 

And on Saturday a huge parcel was waiting for me at the post office - full of Chux goodies. It was the first time I was excited about cleaning products!

I received seven pairs of latex free washing up gloves, two boxes of food preparation gloves,a stack of different cloths and sponges and some other cleaning products! My cleaner will be pleased! The hamper also came with a lovely letter apologising for not being able to send me gloves in size small.

I was SO impressed! Impressed with Coles' tweets, and Chux's prompt service. Wow :) Thanks Chux!

Follow Coles and Chux on Twitter.

Next up is something that has been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks now, but it was confirmed officially last week. You may notice I have a disclaimer on my blog. 

This blog represents my personal opinions and experiences. It does not reflect those of my employers'.
The information I provide about ichthyosis is mostly based on personal experiences. Please seek medical advice or counseling before trying any new treatments I've written about.

After seeing that someone from my organisation's IP address had visited my blog a high number of times, and coming across an updated social media policy, I gave the Australian Public Service Commission's (APSC) ethics helpline a call to discuss whether I should put a disclaimer on my blog. After our conversation, I researched some different disclaimers, and put my own together.

A few weeks after that conversation, I received an email from the APSC asking me to speak on a panel about the responsible use of social media as a public servant. So while many of my fellow bloggers will be at the Digital Parents Conference next week, I'll be in Canberra speaking to a range of government employees and stakeholders about how I keep my blogging and social media activity separate to my day job. I am so pleased to be recognised for my blog in the workplace. I have asked whether I can blog about the event, and they don't see a problem.

Another thing I am pleased about is the spread of my my blog entries and lovely comments, particularly from the medical community after my post about responsible social media use as a patient. 

And there have been two other (quite frivolous) social media wins.

A tweet from Bob Evans at 4 am telling me I was amazing!

 (Patience from The Grates suggested that I must be amazing given he tweeted me at 4 am!

And this - the only time I will be featured alongside model Erin McNaught in a magazing - my tweet in Shop Til You Drop mag.

Finally, I received an email from the Sydney Writer's Centre telling me I've been nominated for the Best Australian Blogs Competition for 2012. Whoever nominated me, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot that people come to read my blog, and value my writing enough to nominate it in this national competition.

So from all the criticism that social media cops, it's been pretty good to me, especially this week. For the doubters out there, give social media a go. You may make some really good networks and friendships.

Share your social media good news stories with me and my readers.

Frugal February. Radio. Tanning. Photos.

Trips the the chemist are a sure way to empty my wallet. It's not unusual for me to spend $50 there, around three times a month. Today I needed to stock up on bath (shower) wash and Zyrtec (antihisthamine). I went to my regular chemist - the girls there are so very helpful, give me advice when I don't want to go to hospital, and always make me laugh. I was thinking about how good it is to have a little community in the big city - the people who run my grocer, deli, cafes and chemist are all so lovely and friendly. Anyway, the pharmacist's assistant told me I was in luck as Zyrtec was on special! I usually take one a day, to stop the daily itching and hayfever in the spring months. I buy whatever's cheapest, though if I get stuck without it, I pay top dollar. Today the chemist had a pack of 30 on sale for $9! So I bought two packs, enough to last me two months. Hurrah!

I am unofficially participating in Frugal February - not because I am a joiner, but because I need to save for America and pay off this very expensive washing machine. I predict my frugality will apply to all months of the year - to July at least...

This afternoon I went to my local Coles and deli to pick up some staples. At the checkout I had a conversation with the sales assistant about how surprised I was that quite a substantial amount of groceries came in under $40. She laughed, and sang the 'Down Down' jingle to me. I corrected her, saying there is now the new jingle, and told her how I was tweeting Coles' social media department about how I think there needed to be a transition period between jingles because the new one wasn't easily identifiable as Coles - it's to the tune of 'There's no business like show business'. I have been extremely impressed with Coles' social media department - they are engaging and quite funny.

 I picked up a pre-cooked chicken at Coles. I try my best to buy local free range and organic meat at markets, or source it from my parents, but sometimes on a hot Saturday night, a pre-cooked chicken makes things easier. In the spirit of Frugal February, I used the ingredients in my fridge/pantry to make some Mexican inspired wraps with the chicken. Cabbage, carrots, a squash, spinach and a very spicy red chilli, plus Greek yogurt, mayo and lime. Yum! Plus I have enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

 

 Another way of making money go further is to make cocktails like my peach, ginger and wine concoction. I spent around $15 and so far have had four drinks, and there is still half a bottle of each drink left! Plus there is no hangover that I've come to expect from inexpensive white wine!

 

As I ate breakfast, I caught up on the tabloid paper.

I was excited to see two of my favourite women in media - Chrissie Swan and Meshel Laurie - Melbourne based radio and TV darlings. When I grow up I want to be just like them. I think they are clever, funny, engaging and very true to themselves. Chrissie starts a new radio show with Jane Hall on Monday. After nine years of being a loyal Nova breakfast radio listener, I am making the switch to Mix FM to hear Chrissie and Jane take over the airwaves. Although the music on Mix will definitely not be to my taste (though there is a high chance of hearing Darren Hayes on Mix) - and Nova hasn't catered to my music tastes for quite some time - I am looking forward to hearing the warmth and humour Chrissie and Jane will bring to my morning. I tweeted them last night and they are very excited to hear I'll be making the switch!

I heard on the news this morning that NSW is banning tanning salons by 2014. While this is welcome news, and I hope my home state and the rest of Australia gets on board, I wish the ban could be implemented immediately. The Australian states up to 43 people could die from solarium caused skin cancer if the ban is not implemented immediately. And while it's impossible to legislate going out in the sun, it is a big step to ban companies from selling a means to get skin cancer.

Last night after my meeting with the CEO of Changing Faces, I had a leisurely night in - icecream and Sex and the City. Tonight I will still be relaxing, but doing some important research while I still have time - uni returns soon and I want to get on top of other things so I can give my thesis full attention.

Finally, I am taking part in Fat Mum Slim's February Photo A Day challenge. Lots of people are taking part, and the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram is #febphotoaday. It's fun! It is new for me to think about visual interpretation and presentation, and I can honestly say I am enjoying this iphonography thing! I am displaying my pictures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram if you want to see. Are you taking part in it too?