Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Want To Chat With Me Real-Time? A Invitation To Skype With Me...


Do you Skype?

If you'd asked me that a few months ago I would have probably replied "I beg your pardon!"

I get it now.

And it's great.

WAY better than Twitter.

Sorry Twitter-lovers...

I won't go there again, about all my reasons why I just don't get Twitter...

When my daughter was in China, we Skyped quite a bit and it was just like chatting with her here!

Basically, it's like texting -- but via computer. You sign up, create contacts with your friends/family (they have to be on Skype, too) and anytime you're online and they are online, you can chat them up -- even video chat with a friend or loved one across the country or across the world!

And it's FREE!

I just love it. You can Skype via your iPod Touch or your iPhone, too. It's just way cool and I'm so glad I added it to my communications options.

For a while now, my hubby has been pestering me to post my Skype info and an "invitation" to my blog readers to Skype me anytime you find me online (which is like... ALWAYS....).

Up until now, I haven't been totally on board with the idea, thinking "why in the world would someone want to Skype with me when they can read the blog or look at the shop online??"

He has a point -- again ...

(Yes, honey -- oh how you are always right...)

Say you're shopping on The Beautiful Life.com and want to know a detail about something or want to talk to "a human" about exactly how a candle smells before you buy it ... well, there I am, usually always online -- why not ask the owner?

If I'm online (and 9 times out of 10 I will be) and you have a quick question -- why not ask me right then and there?

Even if you don't have a question, but you just want to say "hi" -- go for it! :)


So... if you have a Skype account (and if you don't, you should!) Skype me sometime!

If I'm available, I'd love to say hi!

Now.... there's one little thing I want to make clear right off the bat, though, regarding this whole Skype thing....

I.
DO.
NOT.
VIDEO.
CHAT.
EVER.

Well, for now anyway...

I am painfully shy about cameras and don't even talk about video cameras!

So, that neat little feature on Skype where you can video chat??

Don't even bother pressing the "Call" button and ringing me up... ;)

I'm just saying...

I mean talk about the pressure, ladies!!

Think about it!

We'd ALWAYS have to make sure our hair was perfect, makeup and lipstick on, cute outfit picked out...


Oh the pressure! ;)

My hubby has visions of me video-Skyping with all my customers and blogging friends, even has visions of me launching a whole series of video "spots" showing the new products in the store and giving little demos of them all as they arrive here on site...

I guess kind of like "The Beautiful Life TV"...

Yeah....

Because it doesn't matter that it took every ounce of courage for me to snap these pics of me in my dining room:

Me, testing out how to snap a picture of myself while holding the camera off enough out of view...

Me, finally remembering to also SMILE while snapping the pic...


He always says things like

"You know that fancy Danish magazine -- whatever it's called -- (Jeanne d'Arc Livng, hon...) -- well, you should be videoing yourself holding up a copy of it, showing it to your blog friends. None of this just putting-pictures-up-on-your-blog stuff... you need to video yourself showing them the actual magazine!"

or

"You know those giant French bottle drying racks you have?? You need to be showing those on video so people can get an idea of how big they are in person! And you could demonstrate all the different ways you can use the rack for displaying mugs and for other things!"

or

"When you get new aprons in stock, you should be modeling them and wearing them on the videos so everyone can see how they fit and how great they look! Same goes for all the jewelry and handbags!"

The guy has some great ideas, girls --
if only:

#1) I had the time to implement them all,

and

#2) I had the guts for some of them -- like the videos...

So, for now or until somehow I overcome my camera-shyness, wanna chat with me during the day or even the evening?
(because truth-be-told, I never seem to stop working...)

Just keep in mind that I am on the east coast,
so if you're in Cali or Seattle and you're looking for me at 11PM or midnight YOUR time,
well... I do try and get some sleep...

:)

Well, If you don't have a Skype account and want to join the masses -- or just join me....

Click over to the SKYPE website
and download the software, create a screen name and password and in just a minute or two we can be chatting online!!

We'd have to accept each other's invite to be each other's "contact" first, but after that -- easy street!

Chat-o-rama!

Skype-heaven!

Okay, my Skype screen name is (and this was really creative on my part...) -- you ready? --

TheBeautifulLife.com

Wow. Can you imagine the amount of time I put into coming up with that??

I amaze myself sometimes... ;)

I just created my biz screen name a few minutes ago (I've had my personal one for a few months now, but I think I'll keep that screen name to myself....).

Come on -- I'd love it if YOU were my first contact added!! :)

It could be fun -- I hope you'll join me!

If you have any trouble getting started, let me know and I'll try to help you -- but trust me.... If I can do it.... YOU can do it. Truly.

;)

~Ruth~

21 comments:

Anne Lorys said...

Ruth, you are an absolutely beautiful woman! I agree with your husband, you should definitely be photographed more. Ooooh, how about a series of pictures of you posing with all the fab new Jeanne d'Arc Living items you're carrying? Does that sound like blackmail, LOL? ;-)
Off to download skype now...

Anne

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Blackmail, indeed, Anne!!! :)

I am SOO psyched that you are going to sign up for Skype! Your family/friends on there, too, will make it even better! It's amazing! I use it way more than I ever thought I would!

Can't wait to chat! :)

~Ruth

Nice and Easy Antiques said...

We totally Skype!!! We talk and see! our friends in Argentina, England and Australia and FREE!!!
No Twitter..no Texting for me though!
Marcela

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Yay! Another Sister-Skyper! :)

Hope to see you online soon!

~ Ruth

Anne Lorys said...

It's my bedtime (sucks getting old!), but perhaps we can skype tomorrow? What fun!
Have a great night!

Anne

*The Beautiful Life* said...

You crack me up! I need to indoctrinate you into the world of LOTS OF CAFFEINE! :)

So glad you joined the Skype Sistahs! :)

Ruth

TeriGigi/Girl Meets Paris said...

I don't know if you remember this...but when I discovered Tracy TV, I told you how you should TOTALLY do this with your products and stuff. I know it would require a lot of prep...but I feel sure it would be worth it business wise. Just set up a day, and do a bunch of short and sweet videos. I agree with Doug 100%.

Now, about Skype...are you saying I could Skype talk to you from PARIS for free? Can I see you or is it just typing? Could I scan my iPod Touch around and show you the Eiffel Tower LIVE? Oh....the possibliities!

I will look into Skype immediately. I leave in 15 days~ Shhhhhhhhh, don't tell Scott...he loves to be in Paris technology free!

Teri

*The Beautiful Life* said...

YES! You sure could Skype with me (and your family) from ANYWHERE in the world where you can get onlline. And yes, if you happen to be Skyping from your laptop, we could video Skype and I could see the inside of your Paris Apartment (wow, that sounds amazing to even just say....).

If you are Skyping from your iPod, you can only "chat" with no video since the pods with cameras aren't out yet...

Cool stuff, huh?

Ruth

north pal said...

you are absolutely correct,Ruth. skype is great and you can be off on another site and skype will bleep and let you know someone is skyping. so, girls go ahead and do it. i just now have to figure how to put the beautiful life on skype. have to admit,my son helps me with much of this. just to get ahold of him,cuz he is married and away from home. go for it bloggers! bestest,Denise

The Flying Bee said...

This sounds so cool! I should do this when I go to Seattle! Teri should definitely do it from Pairs! Fun stuff!

Adrienne

Anonymous said...

absolutely,SKYPE. it's great! and if you are line, it will bleep you to tell you that you are getting a message. and don't you love spur of the moment things? bestest, Denise

Lana Manis said...

Lovely photos! I don't do skype (but I do the yahoo messenger ~ is that something like skype?). I finally started doing facebook in the past week. I blogged a bit about my goofs there already.
Your blog (and shop) are wonderful!

Joy @ The Vintage Rabbit said...

I may give it a try.....will see...don't hold your braeth though!!! (wink)

The Flying Bee said...

I signed up! Yay!!!

sylvia said...

oh so beautiful blogg you got,have a nice day,from sylvia

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Oh my goodnesse,you are as cute as a button Ruth!!! I am like you,I hate having my photo taken,hate it!!Your SKYPe thing sounds neat I must say!! Hope your weekend is wonderful my friend,all the best,Chrissy

Rebecca Lewis said...

Ruth sounds like fun ~ signed up already!

LuLu said...

I have to give this a go! It sounds fun, I totally don't twitter... never interested me, this however sounds so much better,
xo,
LuLu

Jeanne Oliver said...

I don't twitter...I will look into this. I just never understood twitter...

Kasey said...

I love twitter!
but i also love skype.

Tulsi said...

I happened onto your blog from blogstalker. I always feel strange commenting on a blog that I don't know the person. Although I've been commenting on blogstalker for awhile. I love skype. We discovered it when my husband was in Afghanistan. I swear, that's how we made it through. My mom lives in Switzerland, and has for years, but we haven't gotten on board since my husband came home 2 years ago. Fun blog. I've not tried any of the beauty things you have mentioned. I'm a little afraid of mascara that moves.