Last fall, I took a three-week journey across New England to experience the beautiful autumn foliage. I visited Montreal, Quebec, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. From colorful mountains to rolling hills, each place had something unique to offer. Every day was an adventure filled with natural beauty that can only truly be appreciated in person. Here are some of my favorite photos from my trip!
Montreal, Quebec
The first stop on my journey was Montreal in Quebec. The city is known for its old-world charm and bustling nightlife scene, but there’s so much more to explore beyond the hustle and bustle of downtown Montreal. I spent an afternoon wandering around Mont-Royal Park in search of the perfect spot for a picnic lunch—and I wasn’t disappointed! The view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking—I could see for miles in every direction.
New Hampshire
From Montreal, I drove south into New Hampshire where I stayed for several days. One morning, I woke up before sunrise to drive towards Mount Washington—the highest peak in northeastern United States. Although it was too cold and dark for me to hike up the mountain at this time of day (which is highly recommended!), I still enjoyed the spectacular views from afar. Not only were the colors vibrant and alive during this time of year, but there were also some snow-capped peaks that made it even more beautiful!
Maine
My next stop was Maine where I stayed along the rocky coastlines of Acadia National Park. After spending a few days exploring all that this area has to offer—from hiking trails to quaint coastal towns—I decided to spend my last day driving along Route 1A which winds through picturesque fishing villages and offers beautiful views of both land and sea. The sunrises here are particularly stunning as they stretch across Penobscot Bay illuminating lighthouses perched atop rocky outcroppings—it was definitely one of my favorite moments of my entire trip!
Exploring New England was an unforgettable experience that I will never forget! From colorful mountains in Montreal to snow-capped peaks in New Hampshire and lighthouses along Maine’s rocky coastline, this three-week journey offered me so much more than just stunningly beautiful foliage—it allowed me to take a deeper look at what makes each region unique while also connecting me with nature on a deeper level than ever before. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway filled with breathtaking sights and sounds then consider taking your own journey through New England this fall season; you won’t regret it!
There’s nothing quite like a good breakfast taco. Whether you’re looking for something quick on-the-go or you want to sit back and savor every bite, there’s a breakfast taco spot in Austin that’s perfect for you. Here are some of my top spots to get your morning taco fix.
Taco Deli
Taco Deli is an Austin classic, offering up some of the best breakfast tacos around. Their signature tacos include The Migas Taco, which is made with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, jalapeños, and cheddar cheese topped with avocado cream sauce; The Potato & Egg Taco, which is filled with diced potatoes and scrambled eggs; and The Chorizo & Egg Taco, which has chorizo sausage and scrambled eggs. They also offer vegetarian options like The Frijoles & Queso Taco and The Fresca Taco.
Veracruz All Natural
Veracruz All Natural's tacos are unique because they use handmade corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Their signature breakfast tacos include The Migas Taco with egg whites and roasted potatoes; The Barbacoa Taco with shredded beef barbacoa; The Papas con Rajas Taco with potatoes, poblano peppers, onions, queso fresco, crema Mexicana; plus plenty more. They also offer vegan options like their Bean & Cheese Tacos or their Tofu Scramble Tacos.
Picnik
Picnik is an all-day cafe that specializes in healthy eats. Their breakfast tacos are made with organic eggs, organic black beans and grass-fed beef or chicken sausage topped off with a delicious avocado crema sauce. They also have vegan options like a cauliflower scramble taco and vegan chorizo taco that are just as tasty as their non-vegan counterparts!
El Primo
El Primo is one of Austin’s newest breakfast hotspots. They specialize in Tex-Mex cuisine and serve up some seriously delicious tacos in both classic and inventive flavors such as chorizo & potato or barbacoa & egg. Make sure to get there early; they often run out before lunchtime!
Juan in a Million
This is one of Austin's most beloved breakfast taco spots. It's no wonder why—the tacos here are packed with flavor and the portions are huge. The eggs and potatoes are cooked perfectly and there's always something new to try on the menu if you're feeling adventurous. Plus, they make their own tortillas daily!
Joe's Bakery
If you're looking for something slightly more traditional than Juan in a Million, then Joe's Bakery is your spot. They're known for their migas tacos, which are made with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cheese served on two homemade flour tortillas.
Where is your favorite?
No matter what kind of breakfast taco you're looking for—whether it's classic Tex-Mex style or something more unique—you'll find it in Austin! From Taco Deli's classic migas tacos to Torchy's creative takes on Tex-Mex cuisine to Veracruz All Natural's handmade corn tortillas filled with fresh ingredients—there are so many great places to get your morning taco fix in the ATX! So go ahead and give one (or several!) of these spots a try—you won't be disappointed!
It’s no secret that mobile devices are becoming more and more popular for website browsing. In fact, according to the latest statistics, 56% of all web traffic now comes from mobile users. With this in mind, it’s essential that your website is optimized for any device—which is why responsive design is so important. Let’s take a closer look at how it works and why you should consider implementing it on your website.
What Is Responsive Design?
Responsive design is an approach to web page creation that makes use of flexible layouts, images, and cascading style sheets (CSS). This type of design ensures that no matter what device a user visits your site on—desktop, laptop, tablet or phone—the content will display correctly. In other words, your site will automatically adjust itself to fit the size of the device being used to view it.
Why Is Responsive Design Important?
Put simply, having a responsive website means you can accommodate all types of visitors—not just those viewing from a desktop computer or laptop. A responsive design also helps improve usability and user experience by providing easy navigation for visitors regardless of the type of device they're using. Not only does this make browsing easier for them but it also helps boost engagement and encourages return visits as well as increasing your overall conversion rates.
How Can You Implement Responsive Design On Your Site?
If you don't already have a website with responsive design then it's time to get one designed! At Metric Marketing we have years of experience creating custom websites tailored to our clients' needs. We can help create a beautiful, functional site with responsive design capabilities so you can start getting the most out of your online presence right away.
Do I need a Responsive Website?
Responsive design is essential if you want your website to be accessible across all devices. With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile users these days, having an optimized site is key if you want to maximize conversions and increase engagement levels with potential customers visiting your site. If you don't already have a website with responsive design capabilities then contact us today so we can help get you set up! By working together we'll ensure that no matter what device someone uses to visit your site they'll be able to easily find what they're looking for and engage with your business in an efficient manner.
If you have a small business, it's essential to have a website that is easy to use and provides customers with the information they are looking for. But how do you make your website stand out from the competition? One way is by integrating social media into your design. Let’s take a look at why social media integration is an important factor in small business website design.
The Benefits of Social Media Integration
There are numerous benefits to integrating social media into your website design. Perhaps one of the most important benefits is that it increases the amount of traffic coming to your site. By integrating social media buttons into your webpages, visitors can easily share content on their favorite networks, which can lead to more people seeing what you have to offer. Additionally, having a presence on social networks makes it easier for customers to provide feedback or reach out with questions or concerns.
Another benefit of integrating social media into your website is that it gives customers insight into who you are as a company and what you stand for—it helps create connection between them and you as a business owner. This is especially true if you are active on social networks; customers will be able to get an idea of what kind of person runs the business, which can make them feel more comfortable doing business with you.
Finally, integrating social media also allows customers to show their support for your brand without directly buying something from you; this could mean leaving comments or sharing posts about your products or services on their own accounts. Having this kind of customer loyalty will help boost credibility and trust in your brand—both key factors when it comes to getting new customers!
Is it Right For Me?
Social media integration should be an integral part of any small business's website design plan—and not just because it looks good (although, let's face it, that's definitely part of it!). Integrating social media into your webpages will help increase customer engagement, boost visibility online, and create loyalty among existing customers and potential ones alike. So if you're looking for ways to make sure that your small business stands out from the competition, then don't forget about adding some cleverly designed social media integration elements!
In today’s digital world, having a website is no longer an option for small businesses. It’s an essential part of doing business. But to be successful, you need more than just a website. You need a website that stands out in the crowd and captures the attention of your potential customers. Here are 5 tips on creating a website that stands out and gets noticed.
Tips for Optimizing Your Website
1) Quality Content - Quality content is key in creating an engaging website that people want to visit. Take the time to create content that is well-written and informative, and make sure it contains keywords related to your industry so that it shows up in search engine results. If you don’t feel confident writing your own content, hire a professional writer who specializes in SEO-friendly web copywriting.
2) Optimize for Mobile - More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, so it’s important to optimize your site for mobile users if you want them to stay on your site longer and take action. This means making sure all of your pages load quickly and look good on smaller screens, as well as ensuring that all clickable elements are big enough to be easily tapped with fingers instead of mouse clicks.
3) Easy Navigation - Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to find what you’re looking for on a website. To ensure this doesn’t happen on yours, create easy-to-navigate menus with clear labels and intuitive dropdown menus if needed. Additionally, include breadcrumb navigation links at the top of each page so users can quickly jump back to previous pages without having to start their search over again from the homepage.
4) Strategic Design - Aesthetically pleasing websites tend to capture users’ attention better than bland ones do, so make sure your site has a strong visual element as well as engaging content. Choose colors carefully; limit yourself to two or three main colors plus accent colors for emphasis; use high quality images; keep text formatting consistent across pages; and use white space generously throughout your design so everything isn’t cluttered together on one page.
5) Call-to-Action Buttons - Every page should have at least one call-to-action (CTA) button or link prominently displayed somewhere near the top or bottom of the page—whichever location makes more sense depending upon its purpose—so visitors can easily take action when they land on any page of your site. The CTA should direct visitors towards signing up for newsletters or downloading free resources like ebooks or whitepapers relevant to their needs.
How to Succeed in 2023
Creating a great website takes time, effort, and expertise but it's definitely worth it in terms of increased visibility for small business owners who are trying to stand out from the competition online!
By following these tips you'll be able create an attractive, engaging website that will draw customers in and encourage them to take action--all while boosting your brand's recognition among potential customers! Best of luck!
In the business world, there are a number of important roles that need to be filled. But what happens when those roles become too expensive for your budget? This is where fractional CPOs come in. A fractional CPO is a part-time or “fractional” Chief Product Officer who can help you with everything from website design to technology and digital marketing. If you’re looking for a cost effective solution to help take your business to the next level, then read on!
What Does a Fractional CPO Do?
As the title suggests, fractional CPOs provide their services on an as-needed basis.
This means that they do not need to be hired full-time and can instead work part-time hours on whatever projects they are needed for. Depending on the size of your company, this could mean anything from designing an app or website, to providing digital marketing guidance and lead generation strategies.
The Benefits of Hiring a Fractional CPO
There are many benefits to hiring a fractional CPO over a full-time one. Firstly, because you only pay them when you need them, it is much more cost effective than hiring someone full-time with similar experience and qualifications.
Plus, since they are working part-time hours, they have the flexibility and freedom to work on other projects simultaneously; meaning that you get access to their expertise without having to commit longterm or invest in payroll taxes. Finally, because these professionals specialize in product development, they are able to bring fresh ideas and perspectives which can help propel your business forward even faster!
Does Fractional CPO Make Sense for Me?
Fractional CPOs offer businesses of all sizes the opportunity to tap into the skills and expertise of experienced professionals without having to commit longterm resources or make hefty investments into payroll taxes.
Whether it’s website design or digital marketing strategies that you require assistance with, hiring a fractional CPO is an excellent way to ensure that your business grows quickly and efficiently while still keeping costs low.
If you think this could benefit your organization then why not contact me today? I am an experienced fractional CPO with over 10 years’ experience in the industry – ready and willing to help take your business further!
Project Selling at The Home Depot
UX Manager, UI Design, Creative Direction, Marketing
Gibson joined The Home Depot in 2018 as Sr. Manager, User Experience at Global Custom Commerce, focusing on selling the complete project in store and online. The Home Depot uses mature UX practices to lead as the number 1 retailer online for User Experience (view the list).
UX Manager at The Home Depot
The UX Team manager is responsible for UX Research and UI Design. The team partners with Product Managers and Engineers to create experiences that are straight-forward for customers and associates to use. The UX Team focuses on selling complete projects, giving the customer the right type and amount of products needed in one easy experience to have delivered or picked up in store.
If you want to view more of my work at The Home Depot, contact me.
Top Highlights
Leads UX “Project Selling” department with talented UX Researchers and UI Designers for top eCommerce store in the US
Responsible for driving user tested designs to HomeDepot.com and the mobile app
Improving HomeDepot.com with KPIs driven by In-Store & Online Sales
Grows the UX team with A/B testing, Usability Studies, In Person Moderated Testing, and Analytics
Regularly hosts workshops for Design Thinking and leads Design Studio sessions
We’ve all been spending a lot of time in solitude lately and one of my favorite ways to pass the time is through making art. I’ve been working on drawings related to Houston, and decided instead of coloring in the art work, I will keep it black and white and share with others to color.
I encourage you to download, print, and color any of the pages below. Share with your friends and family, and see what great art work you can have around your house for spring time.
To Use: simply right click on any image and click save. Print the image to fill the paper and then begin coloring with crayons, pencils, or markers.
I will continue making more coloring pages so let me know what you’d like to see more of in the comments below!
Houston with a rocket ship flying over rainbows with stars.
Houston Spring Time with Butterflies and Flowers.
Houston Easter Spring time with Bunnies and Eggs.
It’s great to see the home team make it to the Baseball Playoffs again this year. I was able to go to Game 2 against Tampa Bay Rays and the place was the loudest I’ve even heard.
We stood the entire game, high fived after every strike, and hugged when the team won. It’s great to see the baseball spirit alive and well in downtown Houston.
Sweater Weather took me all of the way north to New York and Connecticut where I went Apple Picking for the first time.
I spend the afternoon at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in Westchester NY drinking cider and picking apples to later bake.
We were able to explore the entire orchard, and taste a variety of different apples.
After spending the summer in Houston, I was in need of getting away and enjoying some sweater weather. I took a trip to the north to visit some friends in New York City, and then took a train even further north until I could finally find some fall weather.
My favorite part of visiting NYC was waking up early on Saturday, walking to the High Line, and then following it all of the way down to Chelsea Market followed by yoga in Midtown.
I took a weekend trip Austin to visit the motherland: Black Swan Yoga in Austin. Black Swan is celebrating their 10 year birthday since first opening up in Austin (and then Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Denver, and beyond).
I first visited Black Swan while visiting Austin several years ago for SxSW and loved the experience they created. I remember loving the loud music, dark lights, and very calming vibes from the teacher.
As soon as Black Swan opened in Houston, I was one of the first students to sign up for a monthly membership, and once teacher training was offered by Black Swan, I took the leap and then started my yoga teaching career.
I owe a lot to Black Swan and grateful for its culture, offering donation-based accessible yoga, and always promoting community through city-wide events.
Pictured in this post are my teachers from Black Swan Teacher Training, Joy & Claire, and one of my fellow Swans, Mel.
Have you been to Black Swan? What was your experience like?
It’s the time of year where we all are a little apprehensive about the rain fall, and this storm didn’t let us up easy. Living near the Bayou Means I put on my rain boots, poncho, and set out to explore the area.
I often explore the “Unique Homes” on Airbnb and ended up finding some pretty special places in Texas. Some of my favorite unique places to stay have been Tiny Homes in Dripping Springs and outside of Sealy.
The Tiny Homes are around 100 square feet. One of the homes offered a kitchen sink and shower, and the other just had a hose at the top of the hill for washing off.
Both experiences are “Glamping”, since I still got to sleep in a bed with air conditioning, which is much needed in Texas summers. I can’t wait for the weather to cool down so I can spend more time camping.
Travel only 60 minutes northwest of The Heights and enter Chappell Hill Texas. Chappell Hill is one of my favorite places in Texas because of it’s proximity to Houston and the ability to see so many stars in the sky.
The last few trips to Chappell Hill have resulted in shooting stars… I haven’t had much like trying to take photos of stars, but did find a magical white horse that was being friendly for photos.
Have you been to Chappell Hill? Where were some of your favorite places to visit?
My 2019 goal was to create more art, and I’ve been following up on this by taking Art Classes at Art League Houston, drawing on my iPad, and sketching and time I can.
Over the year, I’ve taken art classes focusing on fundamentals of drawing (shapes, hues, colors) as well as oil painting. There was a lot of prep and set up work that goes into Oil Painting, that makes me want to spend some time, have a dedicated space to paint, and opportunity to keep coming back to the same piece.
Since I live a mobile, millennial, traveling life, I’ve found it easiest to practice art just by having my sketch pad handy. I’ve filled 2 books of sketches so far this year, and look forward to taking more classes around pottery and watercolor.
Do you like making art? What are some of your favorite pieces of art to make?
Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors opens this summer at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. I’ve done some creative work with MFAH in the past, and they reached out to see if I could help them create an “Instagram Influencer Meetup”.
I was able to get 10 local influencers to the museum, where we all posted stories of the experience, posts of the event, links to the event, and helped drive traffic to the event with our total 100,000 Instagram followers.
Thanks to the influencers that came out: @AshtonVerrengia, @StRaineJewelry, @TheresaThuy, @lineofsight_photography, @PaigeTilly, @FreeNative, @LizzieDelacy, @IvanaInkovic1
While visiting the museum I was also able to visit the Icons of Style: A Century of Fashion Photography where I’m standing next to James Harden.
One of my favorite places in the world during the summer (or any time of year) is Colorado. This past week, I spent time hiking, biking, and enjoying the weather outside in Beaver Creek Colorado.
Some of my favorite experiences included hiking and finding a Texas flag, high in the mountains, sighting people living in vans by the lake, and taking electric bikes for the first time.
The first day we rode bike (without electricity), we went 6 miles. The bike was great, but definitely left us exhausted because of all of the hills. The next time we biked, we went the same route but ended up going 35 miles. The electric-assist helped get us up hills with ease, and enabled us to go much further.
The best part of the vacation is always relaxing, which I found plenty of time to make art and practice drawing Mandalas.
This summer, I was able to lead over 100 yogis during a flow outside at Raven Tower. This was the first time I’ve taught to so many people in one space, first time I needed to use a mic to have my voice reach all of the people, and the whole experience left me feeling full of love.
It was great to see so many friends, practitioners, and dogs join in for the fun while I was able to teach my first class at Raven Tower.