so excited to be 5! ...and some words of thanks

Sometimes we get so busy, we forget to acknowledge those who have helped us get through the day to day  "To Do" list and who inspire us to reach for those stars...  Celebrating our 5th year in business is a milestone, but also gives us a chance to reflect. It's such a privilege to be here. To serve you. To make your day easier. And to be by your side.


With that, I'd like to have the honor of sending shout outs to these unique individuals, who although I've not had the privilege to meet personally (yet!)...they've made my day, pushed my boundaries, and made me think in new directions to help me make this thing called "entrepreneurship" even better. Kudos to:

• Seth Godin -- for a daily blog post of insightful nuggets I just can't wait to devour   (http://sethgodin.typepad.com)
• Marie Forleo -- for inspiring videos that go down smooth as molasses ( http://marieforleo.com/ )
• Mike Michalowicz -- for a damn good new  read, "the Pumpkin Plan"  (you must go harvest...!  http://www.amazon.com/The-Pumpkin-Plan-Strategy-Remarkable/dp/1591844886  ) 
• Peter Shankman -- for birth fathering HARO (what more can I say? THANKS for your vision ...andyour humor ;) (http://www.helpareporter.com/ ) ...

and... speaking of humor...

• Hugh MacLeod -- for the joy of that daily gapingvoid in my e-mail box ( http://gapingvoid.com/ )

All of you have been a part of our journey here, whether you know it or not.  I am grateful for the ways that you have shared, have taught, and have offered your help to those of us still trying to figure it all out (yet never giving up)... 

Thank you for being you. 


xoxo

it's not IF it will happen...it's WHEN

Got a letter from a gal the other day... on our website.

she said she wanted to explain herself (...not that she needed to!) but she said she had been ordering our products over and over again in the last few months so wanted to share why...

Of course I'd noticed her and appreciated it, but glad she felt like sharing...

ANYway...

she said the reason she kept ordering is that she liked PortaPocket so much she kept coming back to get more pieces to add to her collection. And if she'd known how much she was going to like it at the start, she would've just ordered everything at once.

But she also shared how she found out about us in the first place...

She and her husband and friends were robbed.

At gunpoint.

She said the guy took everything -- credit cards, keys, phones, etc.

It was horrifying and scary but was so glad she was ok...

But, given that experience...at that point she vowed to never ever ever carry ANYthing of value in her purse ever again. So she went looking for an answer on-line. Didn't find what she wanted at Magellan's. Didn't find what she wanted at TravelSmith. Kept looking...looking...looking....and found US!

yay!

I was grateful for her kind words, and glad to be of service.

But it just goes to show....this world is a difficult place right now.

And these kinds of things are bound to keep happening.

Please don't let this kind of thing happen before you think of ways to protect yourself.

After all...it's not a matter of IF....

it's WHEN.

So who hasn't been to Chicago?

okay okay...I know....MIA, right??

I've been just a teensy bit busy, so once again forgive my ever-expanding time lag between posts *ack!*

I'm gonna kick off 2011 with some good 'ole hometown cheerleading...

If you've never been to the Windy City....here are some great places to visit in Chicago that are unique to us here & well worth the time:

1. Even though no longer the tallest in the world, the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) has an observation deck on the103rd floor that is impressive to see...

At 1353 feet, the building is still a sight to behold and the 3rd tallest on the planet. There's now a glass box Skydeck ledge that juts out over 4' from the building...only for the brave!

I used to work in that building back in the early 1990's (on 26th floor) and actually experienced an earthquake while working there. Fortunately it was a tiny one ;-)

2. Take an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. It's an awesome way to experience the beauty of the city from a different vantage point and they operate at many times of the day. Plus, they run up & down the only River in the world that actually flows BACKWARDS! Wendella and Shoreline are a couple of those who offer these sojourns, and are easily accessed off of Michigan Avenue in the heart of the city.

3. Speaking of boats, our renovated Navy Pier is a treat with outdoor cafes, concerts, shopping, rental bikes, boat tours of Lake Michigan and things like a giant Ferris wheel, mini golf, and current home to the Chicago Children's Museum. You can spend a full day here and never run out of things to do.

4. Take a Michigan Ave stroll. For the shoppers among us, and even for those who aren't...there is a worthy promenade down the Gold Coast and passing the likes of Millennium Park (check out the BEAN sculpture, fountains and the Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion among other treats), the famous Art Institute, Orchestra Hall, and more. Grab a horse drawn carriage ride and enjoy the views.

5. Museum campus. For any taste, this swath of culture can deliver. This is a compendium of the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History, each of which can be enjoyed from a central space although there wouldn't be enough hours in your day! Soldier Field is also nearby for the Bears fans among us.

I could think of at least a dozen more, but perhaps in another post ;-)

In any event... we'd welcome you to see our beautiful city and are certain you'd enjoy your visit!

Spring break, anyone?

ahhh spring... mid March already and alot of young adults will be heading off to Cancun or Florida or somewhere else warm... flexing their muscles for independence and freedom! Let's just hope they're all going to act responsibly and with prudence. Can't say those are the first qualities that come to mind when speaking about 18 to 22 year olds, but we can dream a little, right?

Fortunately my daughter has quite a few more years to go before I go gray with worry...
but when it IS her turn, you can be sure she'll have her valuables safely & discreetly out of sight yet ON herself... Strap on your PortaPocket sweetheart, and you're always good to go! ;-)

...and for those who are on the cusp of having some fun in the sun, go ahead and pick your own pocket, here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1268948518/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=portapocket&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aportapocket%2Ci%3Asporting

A few reviews...

wow where does the time go?
Since my last missive, there's been a lot of really nice reviews and write-ups about PortaPocket products we'd so love if you take a read!

from Practical Travel Gear, Oct. 27, 2009:
http://practicaltravelgear.com/staying-organized-pockets-and-more-pockets/

from Yak About It, Nov. 3, 2009:
http://www.yakaboutit.com/page/yak-nation/dates/2009-11-03/

from Examiner, Nov. 6, 2009:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2163-Hotels-Examiner~y2009m11d6-Holiday-gift-guide-Pick-pockets-undress-in-Europe-and-squirt-mustard-in-South-America

from MacTribe, Nov 17, 2009:
http://www.mactribe.com/macbeta102.php

from TopTrips, Nov. 9, 2009:
http://www.toptrips.com/travel-interests/international-travel/a-pick-pocket-proof-travel-accessory

from Elfster, Nov. 18, 2009:
http://blog.elfster.com/2009/11/18/elfster-recommends-accessories-to-make-your-life-easier/

from Lucky Canuck, Nov. 26, 2009:
http://luckycanuck.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-gift-guide-portapocket.html

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving :-)
Now it's time to gear up for Xmas, etc...
Of course in this kind of economy with increasing thefts, you know just the right place to get a really cool, useful and inexpensive holiday gift in the next few weeks, right?
Keep your stuff ON yourself and don't be a victim! ;-)

PortaPocket around the world...SEND IN YOUR PHOTOS!

thinking of getting a new feature on my site about people using PortaPocket products in all different countries and circumstances --
as of now, they've been in Italy, up Mount Everest, in Spain, Rio in Bazil, all over the roller coasters at amusement parks, and soon to visit Germany, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Send me your great shots & the best one per month'll get a FREE PortaPocket kit! e-mail jpg files to: kendra@portapocket.com