Jaunts

Dishing 242nd Birthday wishes to America!

Dishing Independence Day wishes to my fellow Americans!

American Flag waving over Rockefeller Center, NY

Happy 241st Birthday to the USA! Here’s to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Declaration of Independence

242 years ago on the 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted by Congress to formally separate from Great Britain AND the United States was born. The Declaration of Independence, one of the most important founding documents of the United States, is kept safe and sound in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.

On my last visit to D.C., I took an early morning stroll along Pennsylvania Avenue (with my easily portable product invention RestoPresto  the Made in America wearable blanket, of course) and when I happened upon the National Archives, I had an A-HA, very meaningful moment. Here I was, at this striking building that holds a document that bestows life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and I had achieved a very American dream: I switched careers from corporate to entrepreneurship (after the age of 40) when I discovered a gap in the market for a product that I wanted but could not find. I envisioned an easily transportable, multi-functional, soft, water-repellent textile to use how and when I needed it instantly…then through hard, strategic work beset with challenges, accomplishments and several big set-backs, brought it to life! It was subsequently patented and featured on the TODAY SHOW !  As we all know, dreams are universal and not just an “American thing” however when you achieve a business goal in the USA, there is a unique sense of pride since our country is a young 242 years old!

RestoPresto at the National Archives Building

So here’s the thing: since the moment I launched my Kickstarter campaign which also revealed RestoPresto to the market, people have asked me how, what, who and tons of other questions about prototyping, crowdfunding, intellectual property, manufacturing, shipping, branding, PR, social media, marketing and everything in-between. I learned that necessity is the mother of invention with RestoPresto and am now, proudly running a second business…a customized advisory business. I work with innovative people who have an idea, at any stage, that needs to progress. I customize solutions based on individual needs to bring that idea for a product or service to life. WOW – it is a totally different kind of gratification helping people do what I did with the hope of reducing the headaches and adding firsthand experienced value by sharing my “been there done that” expertise.

My doors are OPEN to work with me so please reach out if you are curious how I can help YOU and how we can partner on your project. Of course, referrals are very welcome: candi@candiobrentz.com

 

 

St. Petersburg’s Open Air Post Office

My throwback Thursday is dedicated to one of my favorite landmarks in my hometown of St. Petersburg, FL:
the Open Air Post Office.

This fantastic Mediterranean revival building with a charming highly ornamental design is located at 400 First Avenue North in the heart of downtown St. Pete. It has been in continuous operation since being dedicated in 1916 and became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

It is the nation’s first open-air post office and I fell in love with it as a kid. Interestingly, I worked summers and holidays at real estate, CPA and insurance offices downtown when I was in high school and college so I wound up spending A LOT of time waiting in line at this post office. Fortunately for me, it is a visual delight!

  

 

Photos: My own and Digital Commonwealth

Dishing warm wishes on Mother’s Day!!

 

Dishing warm wishes for happiness to the Moms and caregivers who nurture children across the world!

xo, The Candi Dish

Dishing Chanukah Wishes!

Happy 1st Night of Chanukah to our friends who celebrate!

 

Commemorating a Kickstarter launch & a product reveal at the same time!

RestoPresto was funded with Kickstarter!

This past week I celebrated the anniversary of the RestoPresto & Kickstarter launch! I actually set BOTH into motion on the same day since I had been keeping RestoPresto a secret until I went live with my crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the first production run in the U.S. It was a double whammy of excitement.

Since I managed my own successful Kickstarter campaign, many people have asked me how I did it. In a nutshell, it took strategic planning, brainstorming and input from my trusted advisor group to ensure that I was on track. Because of my experience, particularly knowing what worked and what I would have done differently, I am sharing my “been there done that” advise with my private clients on whether crowdfunding is the right way to go for their own projects and if so, how to properly prepare (and stay sane) for that rollercoaster ride.

Do you have an invention idea and are asking, “NOW WHAT”? Do you have a prototype and are not sure what to do with it? Is an idea for a product or service buzzing in your mind and you do not know how to take the first step? Contact me! I work one-on-one to help others progress their projects, at any stage.

Collaborate. Accelerate. Execute. Hop over to my new website: Work with Candi!

Here is a the celebratory post that I wrote on my advisory business blog to commemorate the day.
https://www.candiobrentz.com/kickstarter-launch-anniversary/

 

It has been rewarding and very special to take the knowledge gleaned from own creation process of bringing RestoPresto to market, being granted a patent and seeing it featured by Kathie Lee & Hoda on The Today Show to apply it to my clients to help them bring their own ideas to life. It’s a win-win!

We rise by lifting others…

Asking for help can be difficult.
 
My lifelong friend, Niki Goodman Ricker, is a strong fighter, a Mom to 2 sons, a Wife, a Daughter and my childhood memory sharer from elementary school at Shorecrest in St. Petersburg, FL.
 
Niki is battling stage IV Colorectal Cancer every moment of every day…and it’s horrible. In order to focus on her treatment and healing, Niki does NOT need the added burden and constant concern about her mounting, overwhelming medical bills.
 
Fortunately, after a lot of convincing, Niki agreed to a mutual friend’s persuasion and gave her the green light to launch a GoFundMe campaign on her behalf. SO we now have an easy way to financially assist my friend.
 
Whether you know Niki or not, you can contribute to make life a bit easier for her and her family.

Here’s how:


2) SHARE this campaign with everyone who you know (there is POWER in numbers)!

3) Reach out to Niki with words of support (or a Duran Duran photo – she’s a huge fan) by messaging me and I will pass it onto her!
Thank you in advance for your consideration in supporting a wonderful woman with whom I have been friends for over 35 years! Niki will be grateful for the kind words and assistance given to her.

Happy 241st Birthday, America!

Dishing Independence Day wishes to my fellow Americans!

Happy 241st Birthday to the USA! Here’s to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Declaration of Independence

241 years ago on the 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted by Congress to formally separate from Great Britain AND the United States was born. The Declaration of Independence, one of the most important founding documents of the United States, is kept safe and sound in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.

On my last visit to D.C., I took an early morning stroll along Pennsylvania Avenue (with my easily portable product invention RestoPresto  the Made in America wearable blanket, of course) and when I happened upon the National Archives, I had an A-HA, very meaningful moment. Here I was, at this striking building that holds a document that bestows life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and I had achieved a very American dream: I switched careers from corporate to entrepreneurship (after the age of 40) when I discovered a gap in the market for a product that I wanted but could not find. I envisioned an easily transportable, multi-functional, soft, water-repellent textile to use how and when I needed it instantly…then through hard, strategic work beset with challenges, accomplishments and several big set-backs, brought it to life! It was subsequently patented and featured on the TODAY SHOW last September.  As we all know, dreams are universal and not just an “American thing” however when you achieve a business goal in the USA, there is a unique sense of pride since our country is a young 241 years old!

So here’s the thing: since the moment I launched my Kickstarter campaign which also revealed RestoPresto to the market, people have asked me how, what, who and tons of other questions about prototyping, crowdfunding, intellectual property, manufacturing, shipping, branding, PR, social media, marketing and everything in-between. I learned that necessity is the mother of invention with RestoPresto and am now, proudly running a second business…a customized advisory business. I work with innovative people who have an idea, at any stage, that needs to progress. I customize solutions based on individual needs to bring that idea for a product or service to life. WOW – it is a totally different kind of gratification helping people do what I did with the hope of reducing the headaches and adding firsthand experienced value by sharing my “been there done that” expertise.

My doors are OPEN to work with me so please reach out if you are curious how I can help YOU and how we can partner on your project. Of course, referrals are very welcome: candi@candiobrentz.com

 

Dishing love for The Florentine, the English news magazine for Florence lovers!!

Best. view. ever. From Piazzale Michelangelo. Firenze, Italia.

I was introduced to the incredible publication, The Florentine, in 2015 when I was in planning mode for a return visit to Florence. I simply wanted access to events and exhibits information and what I received when I signed up for the newsletter and started following The Florentine on social media was beautifully curated insight into the monthly happenings in the city known as the “Birthplace of the Renaissance”.

During my dive into The Florentine’s offerings, I connected with Mary Gray the publication’s Events + associate editor  and Editor, The Tuscan Times. I shared with Mary that I fell in love with Florence during the summer of 1992 when I was a student of the Florida State University International Program and how much the glorious city meant to me as she was gathering quotes and stories from “Repeat Visitors” (like me). Fast forward to my sheer joy as I read the April 2017 issue of The Florentine and saw my quote included in the article aptly titled “The Returners“.

Dishing about being eternally drawn to Firenze!

Click on the hyperlinks to view the article and follow The Florentine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and sign up for the newsletter!

2015 – Il Duomo

For more dishing about Florence, put “Florence” in the search box on the home page of The Candi Dish blog and all articles will pop up!

Overjoyed to have my product invention: RestoPresto with me on this return visit to Florence!

The joy of assembling bicycles for the children of U.S. Service Members during Fleet Week 2017!

I am walking on sunshine today…despite the non-stop rain and fog in Manhattan because I had the honor of volunteering with the USO today!

When my friend of 30+ years, who also happens to be a Veteran, retired Commander in the United States Navy and pilot for Delta, invited me to join the Delta Team to assemble bikes for the kids of U.S. Service Members, I jumped at the chance.

 

The USO’s ” Operation That’s My Ride” at Pier 88 on the Hudson River yielded approximately 500 bikes and tricycles for the children of military families serving on bases and ships.  The USO and its terrific sponsors (see below) made it very easy for a bicycle assembling novice like me to partner up with my friend (who is used to these types of tasks because he has 2 amazing daughters) and the feeling of accomplishment coupled with the thought of the smiles on the faces of the recipients were truly fantastic.

The bike assembly was followed by a tour of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), from Norfolk, Virginia during which I met proud Marines. It was really great.

Here are a few photos from this special event.

    

SPONSORS: Delta, Pepsi, SOMPO International, 21st Century Fox, Blackrock, Citi, Toyota, HBO & PWC.

Remembering the 1966 Florence Flood

2015 - Il Duomo

2015 – Il Duomo

Adoring Firenze passionately is somewhat of a pastime at The Candi Dish! It is a magical city that exudes charm, transcendent beauty and unique history: some obvious (IL DUOMO,) and some hidden (VASARI CORRIDOR). One significant and devastating piece of history occurred exactly 50 years ago today. On November 4, 1966, after a long period of steady rain the Arno River flooded Firenze. The flood took the precious lives of people and destroyed millions of masterpieces.

With RestoPresto on the Arno!

With RestoPresto on the Arno!

At its highest, the water reached over 22 feet in Santa Croce. If you have been to Florence, this statistic is quite shocking.

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Basilica di Santa Croce

Here are 2 photos that I took last year that show one of the “high water mark” signs from 2 different angles on the side of a building in the Oltrarno.

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Close up of the “high water mark” sign that reads: “Qui arrivo la piena dell’Arno”

 

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The “high water mark” sign on the side of a building in the Oltrarno.

My first of many visits to Firenze was in 1992 when I entered the Florida State University International Program Study Abroad Program that summer. I was in love with the city immediately and can honestly say that my 6 weeks in Firenze changed my life in the most wonderful ways. The FSU Florence Program is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as well which means that the first round of students experienced the Arno flood in November 1966. There is a wonderful documentary by Breanna Bruner interviewing former students who were there in 1966 and how they became Angeli del Fango (“Mud Angels) – here is a link to the video: https://youtu.be/Ymf92c4cm0Q

I am proud to be a FSUIP Alum!

So today, 50 years later I honor the lives lost, the generous Angeli del Fango whose speedy volunteer efforts to save damaged pieces led to the restoration of many fine works of art and magnificent Firenze, herself.

If you are interested in a firsthand account of what was happening in Firenze after the flood, here is a terrific article by Jonah Jones via The Florentinehttp://www.theflorentine.net/lifestyle/2016/11/memories-1966-florence-flood/

For stunning photos of the flood, click on this link to the Foto Locchi site which has archived photos taken in Firenze following the disaster: http://www.fotolocchi.it/it/

 

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