Voila, Etiquette Tips from Monica.

In an age of fast changing technology and web services, many times our cultural traditions are left behind.  Inlu.com is the bridge that connects today’s web advantages with the respectful etiquette our celebrations require.  As we say, its all in the etiquette of the ask.

These Etiquette FAQs can help:

1. Is it ok to ask my friends to pitch in money?

Yes, if you do it in a respectful way.  Inlu invitations present the ‘collection’ as secondary.  The primary message – and the first your friends will see – allow you to explain what you’re doing.  The etiquette rule simply says to explain yourself and present the request for a collection as a solution and an option.

For Example:  If you want to invite people to pitch in for your child’s annual ski pass for his/her birthday, you could say:

“A number of you have asked what the Bob wants for his birthday.  Bob is really looking forward to another year of great skiing, so if you’d like to pitch in for his ski pass he would be thrilled!”

Or, if you’re having a dinner party and don’t want it to seem like it’s a hard-sell fundraiser…

“We hope you can join us for a night of wining and dining.

And in lieu of bring anything, you’re invited to support this awesome charity that means so much to us.  Completely optional of course.”

See?  It presents the group gifting as the perfect solution for everyone – your guests know exactly how to contribute to what is wanted and feel like part of something special.  And you look like a solution provider that reduces waste… and hassle. Now that’s polite!

Remember: with Inlu invitations, pitching in is always completely optional.  Guests are more than welcome to RSVP without pitching in.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing Inlu Etiquette, PART 2.

Namaste!

This May, ladies across the country used Inlu to throw Movie Parties For A Cause. Basically, gals set off to see SATC2 with friends and raise funds for charities in need. They had fun while giving back.

Well GREAT NEWS  GUYS! Inlu is proud to announce another Inlu Hollywood hookup: LIONSGATE FILMS gave Inlu & its fantastically fun fans image rights usage for Inlu Invitations– check out the EXPENDABLES IMAGE (below) for Movie Parties for a Cause.

That’s a big thumbs up!

So, get your buds together and go see The Expendables, and raise money for something good.  See this sample, and you can use The Expendables image right in your Inlu -

JUST RIGHT CLICK THIS BADBOY AND

SAVE IT TO YOUR DESKTOP, UPLOAD TO INLU:

Fun. Good. Cool.  Because with Inlu… DUDES CAN  TOO!

(Woot! FIVE FIFTY more trees thanks to INLU users!)

Why TREES?

We figure you’re busy like us. If you are, you’re faced with the everyday challenge: to balance convenience with conscience. It’s like, I don’t single-handedly have time to save the planet, but I don’t want to trash the place either.

With all the oil spillage and the plastic island info floating around (sad pun intended), it’s hard NOT to think, “dang it, we really HAVE TO take better care of this planet.” But how? Where to start?

(Pause to refelect. BAM. real life interrupts sentimental thoughts … phone rings, emails ping and the millions of distractions flood your mind…) dang it. busy…right…planet…ok, so um, well…

Back to the daily dilemma: HOW TO balance RUNNING AROUND with FEELING LIKE YOU DIDN’T DESTROY the place.

Well, we’re not claiming to be green goddesses flying in on our eco-cloud but we DID design a little feelgood element into our service. It’s just a little  something to make that planet part of your brain say, “aaaahhh…”

INLU PLANET POINTS are what we call ‘edutainment’. We’ve concocted a LOOSE yet scientifically based point-yielding formula that will result in a happier planet.

Huh?

Here’s the deal—INLU empowers people to choose the EASY WAY to skip EXCESS GIFTS and SHIPPING (thanks to a group pitch-in process) while conceptually tracking reduced CO2 and wasted “stuff.” After you create an INLU, you and all contributors (who pitched in IN LIEU OF excess, hassle and waste) will receive INLU PLANET POINTS.

Then what?

For every 10k points, Team Inlu makes a donation to plant a tree via American Forests. DONE.

BONUS! We’re so excited about INLU users hitting 50k Planet Points that we’re doing something cool.

We’ve decided to go crazy with our start-up budget and donate to plant 10 trees for every 10,000 Planet Points for our first 100,000 points! We can’t do much but we are doing this together to make a difference. Thank You INLU USERS!

It’s late night. It’s muggy. It’s necessary.

Ok, we’ll admit…we’re HOOKED on  google’s /SEARCHSTORIES. This is a SPOOF on the SPELLING of our name: INLU in lieu of… (increase screen size to see the search story most clearly:).

DANG IT!!! lol…

If you want to have MORE FUN WITH INLU “SEARCHSTORIES” — CLICK HERE.

If you want more inlu FUN — CLICK HERE.

HAHAH… here’s our YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

MAKE YOUR OWN SEARCH STORIES, DANG IT!

photo: creative commons

We know you have nothing more to do all summer than lounge around the kiddie pool with your painted toenails dipped in hose-generated paradise. Martinis on ice, chilled kool-aid in an over-sized pitcher for the kiddos and endless blocks of stress free summer fun are marked on your calendar. Hold that thought. Here’s the typical multi-tasker’s REALITY CHECK – Inlu‘s gotta say it: the following are likely to cloud up the summer-of-fun fantasy.

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES…lots of em. I’d say pencil in at least 4 or 5 emergency runs to the mall during it’s-so-muggy-I’d-rather-be-at-the-beach-weather- for a who-knows-what kind of gift that kids from preschool really wants (or doesn’t already have!). Top it off with $5 in gift wrap, a mylar balloon &  the $2 card. Hmmm…there goes another $30 (x5 = $150!).

COACH GIFT COORDINATION- School’s out but that doesn’t mean the die-hard leagues are anywhere near slowing down. Start brainstorming gift ideas now. Oh, and summer leagues are pretty spread out. Prepare to hunt down gift contribution cash from families in four counties.

SPORTS TRAVEL- On top of the coach gift thingy, the kids are gonna have to sell shtuff in order to make it to that playoff tournament in some far off arbitrary town you’ll likely never visit again. Let’s just say, if you’ve NEVER had to coordinate or raise funds to cover the cost of a soccer bus you are a lucky duck.

WEDDINGS (people you “kinda” know) — Now, which registry are they? Crap, factor in a few undercover telephone calls to random family members to get the scoop on what the lovebirds really want…no sweat.

BABY SHOWER- Your girlfriends are on baby #2, #3 even the oopsies, #4 (kidding!). Well, why not go out and get her something else to add to her cluttered pile? Afterall, you really have nothing better to do, right? (Don’t you think she really just wants a bottle of expensive champagne and a massage for when the baby arrives? Seriously!)

ADULT PARTY- Ok, well, yeah, it’s probably a bit misleading—not that kind of adult party…just a random night out with people over the age of 18—your friends…Remember them?…If not, well, it’s time to get out. Just remember, you’ll spend a lot of time coordinating a time, place and activity—cab ride home and possibly a whole mess of logistics…but it’ll be fun once you get out on the town!

RELATIVE BIRTHDAY! – Ring, ring…”Yes, we’re coming to the BBQ on Sunday, what should we bring? Snacks and a little something – He likes baseball? Just a few appetizers? How many people? Oh ok, thanks!” (hmmmm…)

MOVING FAREWELL PARTY -With every moving neighbor comes the fantasy farewell BBQ—sometimes, it’s a good riddance celebration. Either way, it almost always includes gifts and thingies—just what people who just threw out all their swag want, right?

HOUSEWARMING- For the new couple to now who will now LIVE in the empty house. Brace for the email queu of the check roundup for the welcome gift.

Right, back to that kiddie pool.

FUNDRAISER– Whoa, so-and-so needs to do an emergency fundraiser? Ok, on it. Right.

Ok, phew…where were we?

Oh SNAP! You get it– USE INLU! You can round up funds for anything and have it sent to anyone you’d like– to cover a gift, buy a gift certificate, donate as a group to charity, whatever. Inlu is the MULTI-TASKING MOMMY’s HELPER.

Oh, the end of the school year. For BUSY BODIES and MULTI-TASKING moms & dads, the calendars are FULL and that classroom teacher gift or coach gift (or both) are hovering on the mind.

We have a solution! Simply create an INLU and blast it to your classroom list REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A TEACHER OR COACH GIFT. Let other parents know you’ll get the gift on behalf of the class.  Parents simply pitch-in and it’s a done deal. Oh, and they get to leave a lovely note for the teacher or coach!

MONICA SUGGESTS…

1. Because Teacher & Coach gifts are time sensitive, it is best to think of Inlu as being your “Reimbursement System.”  Remember that funds collected for a gift are issued by check and sent to the person you direct via first class mail.

If you’re a room or team mom like me, you already have a gift idea in mind – and will want to have it at the game or closing circle.  You might want to select a gift/price point that you are willing to pre-purchase on your own, then whatever funds you get from others, great.

2.  IF you collect more cash funds than you needed, you could always put the rest into a gift certificate to a local coffee house or something else at the last minute.

3. You may know from other such class collections, that most people pitch in, but some don’t.  Budget accordingly and modestly.

4. PRINTING your Inlu to send home with kids might also be helpful– it’s EASY:

- Log in, go to your Dashboard, go to ACTIONS, select PRINT. The printed version of your Inlu directs people to www.inlu.com, and provides a “Registry Number” for them to easily find your collection.  This works really well!!

COACH SAMPLE:

TEACHER SAMPLE:

Well, this week we had the chance to get out some heels and attend a SATC2 GNO with the Lovely Ladies of Suburbia. In fact, a mysterious low budget news team was there to capture the event. If you know us, you’ll know we’re joking…KIND OF.

Perhaps the next time we’re on the scene, we’ll recreate this fuzzy FLIP-camera episode on a REAL RED CARPET (with the fabulous SJP;))

CHECK OUT THE NEWS COVERAGE:

Fast Tube by Casper

If you want to host a SATC2 Cause Collection Event, simply CLICK HERE to create an INLU INVITATION.

It works like this:

1. YOU INVITE FRIENDS
2. YOU TRACK RSVPs/
3. GUESTS CAN PITCH IN (DONATIONs WILL BE POOLED IN ONE SUM & SENT AUTOMATICALLY)
4. YOU CAN THANK & MESSAGE GUESTS in ONE CLICK
5. THEN, YOU ALL HAVE A FABULOUS NIGHT OUT!

Done. Get started!

PS — We’d like to throw one more shout out to Sarah Jessica Parker for thinking INLU is a great idea and to all the ladies & gents of SATC2 for being fabulous.

As fabulous as we are, we will never have a ten million dollar wardrobe budget to work with. However, we do (most likely) all have great friends we’d love go see SATC2 with. For our INLU SATC2 Campaign, we suggest people use their “soiree” as an excellent opportunity to get together AND do good as a group. Once it’s decided, the fun really starts with the question:

“what will I wear?”

(and how can I keep the planet happy while looking fantastic?)

1. Let’s start with the hands, shall we? Try eco-friendly nail polish.

May we suggest PritiNYC? Nobody will know it’s eco-friendly— it’s super sexy!

Another, cool yet kid-friendlier option you can hand off to the offspring? HOPSCOTCH KIDS NONTOXIC water-based nail polish.

2. Costume Rings- Hit EBAYor ETSY for fabulous finds.

VIBRANT . Flower Statement Ring (Only $11)

3. Cuffs. GET GLAMMED with glorious vintage restoration pieces from Camille K.

Camille K - Vintage Design

Or possibly a FABULOUS bracelet…via TWINKLE STUDIOS?

Twinkle Studios...Stellar!

4. Clutch…don’ forget the CLUTCH!

Again, hit etsy. Search around for recycled fabric, fun or WILD clutches. Better yet, make your own! For $5, you can get a pattern and head to YOUR closet and make a clutch out of an old dress or costume.

Etsy Bonus? Search by zipcode to keep the shipping quick & close.

5. Necklaces.

For this, we say go fro a run through your LOCAL consignment shop, thrift store or even craigslist ad. Online options ABOUND. Check out Vintage Costume Jewels Upcycled Jewelry or Twinkle Studios for some FABULOUS inspiration.

Vintage Costume Jewels

Upcycled Jewelry

6. Designer Look: Trendy & Upscale (2nd-hand style).

We suggest three things:

• Go to your local upscale / resale boutique.
• We also suggest you send an email around and SWAP dresses, skirts & other clothing with the gals. Who knows, maybe that skirt that you can’t wear anymore will find new life on your cute tiny little yoga mom nieghbor. (OR not…)
• OR, if you’re GOING FOR IT, rent and return designer clothing. Swing by WEARTODAYGONETOMORROW.

If that doesn’t suit yer fancy, swing by the DAILY GREEN for eco-savvy-smarter than synthetic style fashion direction.

7. SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES!

It doesn’t look like an upscale boutique BUT if you step your sweet feet into a PLATOS CLOSET, you will surely find a ONE OF A KIND cute, trendy pair of shoes. Pre-owned does not mean WORN OUT. No busted straps or broken heels– just a TON of hardly-worn heels. Fabulous, without buyer’s remorse.

Another idea?

Celebrity Resale Boutique on eBay

8. Martini Glasses

Find UNIQUE Martini Glasses

Martini Glasses- thrift store galore. rummage in the back of your favorite, local antique or thrift store. Find mismatched, full-of-character martini glasses, champage flutes and cocktail glasses. Make it interesting with a variety of heights, weights, colors and etchings. S

9. Clean Makeup…that benefits a cause!

“Peacekeeper Cause-Metics is the first cosmetics line to give all of its after-tax, distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues”

We LOVE THIS IDEA! How cool…put on your face and make the world a better place. Check it out HERE.

10. Carpool!

There’s nothing really sexy about car pooling BUT in this case, if you can get all the gals together in ONE or TWO vehicles, it saves gas. Does it do much to counter the GULF OIL disaster? No but ever little effort can help. Oh, and did you know there are now clean limo / cars etc? Say whattt? Check out OZOCAR and ECOLIMO.

Whatever you do, have a blast! If you’d like to do an INLU and collect from all the ladies & gents for a CAUSE (or ANYTHING ELSE) please CLICK HERE.

Whoa, folks! We are like, SO excited to mention this NEWS ALERT:

The one & only, FABULOUS, favorite celebrity, Sarah Jessica Parker has given us the nod. Yes (OMG!). She’s given us an official, friendly “Inlu is a great idea” thumbs up.

In fact, she mentioned she LOVES the idea of our ‘Sex and the City 2′ Cause Party Challenge. So, with that, the Inlu Ladies and Sarah Jessica Parker (OMG) invite you to join this effort: TO RAISE FUNDS WITH YOUR SEX AND THE CITY 2 CELEBRATION. Get dressed up. Wear lipstick. Support a cause. (Any cause you want– it’s YOUR party).

For more details or to see a sample, CLICK HERE.

To see the TRAILER and get giddy with anticipation, CLICK HERE. To tell us you’re doing the challenge, share your cause or just become an INLU FAN, click here. CHEERS and thanks a million to Sarah Jessica Parker!

GET STARTED!

10.  ADIOS,  Shoulder Pads. The SATC2 ladies have forever INSPIRED professional women from the constraints of blah, “meh” zzzz…OFFICE attire. Monica would like to personally thank them for removing the shoulder pad pressure. Although, we all know, deep down, Monica misses her shoulder pads…but actually, we’ve noticed…they’re back. But we won’t let her know

9. SJP has 3 Kids. So do we, each. Hey, we’d get the kids together for a playdate anytime. What’s 9 kids in the park while we chat? (That’s how movie star life is right?)

8. Cincinnati- Well, Monica has the Ohio connection. So, high five to the Cincinnati peeps gone Manhattan!

7. Sarah Jessica Parker dresses like she wants to. On any given day, JaMo will be rocking the VT version of eclectic chic (ok, or sweats & yoga crops but whatevs). We like that she owns her style.

6. SJP is a cool mom with fun husband. We’d like to think we’re cool moms with fun husbands. Ask them, they’d likely agree.

5. Our kids think it’s awesome SJP is Ferris Buller’s wife! (Remember: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -Ferris Bueller)

4.  We envy her hair, shoes & legs…so, yeah.

3. We’re kinda like the SATC2 characters in these ways: brash like Samantha, moms like Charlotte, we mean business like Miranda, we’re fabulous on the inside like Carrie (and we all want a date with Mr. Big…right? Nevermind).

2. Carrie Bradshaw’s weekly column has inspired every blogger’s dream. In our case, it would be like Dustbunny goes all Hollywood to become a writer for Desperate Housewives. (Hey, call me.)

1. Carrie & SJP are both savvy, smart and willing to take risks. It’s nice to see a star that can balance family, career, humor and 5 inch heels. Who else can do all that? Really?