Tech Tuesday: Trello

Hello! Yes I know it's not tuesday and i'm a couple days late but its be a hectic week! I'm going to save my excuses and get straight to it.

Today i'm going to talk about a online project management program i found while running Creative Championships. I needed a management software that everyone could see tasks and deadlines. Most of all it had to be free. I almost gave up but my fantastic research skills finally came across Trello! 

Trello is a free web-based (which is fantastic no clogging up space on your operating system!) project management tool made by a fog creek software.  If your a person that loves your lists or find it difficult to do think about more than one thing at a time, this tool will support you. Whether it's your doing a shopping list, planning a wedding, planning a holiday I assure you ever detail will be documented, most of all fill you with ease. 

 Here's what the user interface looks like. Trello is set up as boards. You can name the board i.e Reception Dinner and then underneath the main heading you would add the tasks onto 'mini cards'. i.e Caterers, you then would click onto that name and put more detail. On the mini cards you can create checklist, deadline dates, add pictures, videos, a voting system,word documents and many more. You can drag and drop the mini cards on any board you like.

If this is a group endeavour you can assign people for different tasks. Once any activity has been made on the card that a person is assigned to, they would instantly be sent an email. You can also add comments and have a discussion. You can colour co-ordinate the task will the label option too. You can have as many boards and mini cards as you like and also projects.

You will be pleased to now you can access Trello through your smartphone. There's no restrictions either like some apps where access is only web based.

Things I would like to see implemented:

1. At this moment in time when you add a label to differeniate tasks with colour it only put a slither of colour on the bottom of the mini card. I would like the whole board changed to that particular colour. Being dyslexic I find it easier when colour is used on the background, my mind seems to see structure better.  
2. Also I would like there to be an option where you can print your project as either single boards or all boards together. 
3. Video calling or instant chat option.
4. Reminders to members or yourself that a deadline is approaching.
5. There's an option where u can do a voting approach, maybe once the voting has finished it creates a mini pie chart that either you can present or print out.

I hope you've found this helpful! Happy projecting managing! 

What's this blog about anyway?

 You may be thinking that my blog posts are pretty erratic. One minute i'm talking about different apps and software technologies I use, the next minute i'm talking about my first interview of the year and my months abroad in Barbados.  Well in essence, I'm trying to do exactly what the title of this blog is called. I'm showcasing to you the public what i'm all about and the steps i'm taking to succeed, my interests and how they could benefit me in the long run. Researching and finding out about new technologies helps me keep in the loop and on top of trends. I have an entrepreneurial spirit so I can use these techniques I've learnt in my self- directed projects.


We envole as individuals everyday, which could lead to different career paths, life paths, love interests. Our wants and needs change constantly, we may have some type of plan in our heads but it doesn't mean it will turn out that way. So it's best to keep your options and mind open to change. People study science at university and end up in business. You just never. Some think they will stay in their hometown for lifetime but end happier on the  other side of the world. There's so many opportunities nowadays, the possibilities are be endless.



I hope this blog interests you in some way, whether that's opening your eyes to a piece of technology you never heard of before, making you think about your career choices or relating to someone in the exact same boat as you.



So i want to open you a dialogue with you guys! Either comment on a post or get in touch

Tech Tuesday!

I've decided to blog about gadget that i come across whether i think they're useless or a must to add to my collection. So today I start it of with this little number..... Would you saying when referring to this: 'good things come in small packages?"




Little Printer

"Little Printer holds a compact, inkless, thermal printer which prints in black on white thermochromic paper. A thermal head inside the printer selectively heats the paper as it passes, turning areas black to produce an image.While the paper required is specially coated, it is readily and cheaply available from high street office suppliers. We always supply and recommend BPA-free paper" 

Use your iPhone, Android or Windows smart phone to add 'publictions' that make you laugh, train your brain, enhance your cooking skills or just give you a fact a day.  Once you've saved the publication you then print it from your mini printer. You can schedule them to print in the morning you have a something to read with your cornflakes, have a light read ready for when you get home or have a night cap before your beauty sleep.

Not only can the app do that but it can connect to you can send a message home, you can send your to do list to print to stick up on your note board.
Little printer needs to sits by your broadband router and wirelessly connects Little Printer to the web. It  could be different to carry it round with everywhere you go.

  I think this would be cute in a cafe etc having quirky things on the back of the receipt.  It's not something that you couldn't go without but if money isn't an option than why not try it out.

The good think about this is that it's inkless! We all know that inks is so expensive to buy useless you buy it in bulk. However the website doesn't mention how much the paper rolls are going to be, how for repairs, how much for a new cable or router if lost or faulty.

This is a very cute product although at £199.99 it's a pretty expensive one. For more information or to order one (launch in April 2013) head to the website.

First Interview of 2013

Yesterday I received an email regarding a job I applied for two day prior! It's a perfect job to gain more experience in my chosen career. For those who don't know what that is it's..... well a mixture and marketing strategies, idea generation with a hint of social media. This job, is a social media assistant role. Its part - time 20 hours which is ok as it gives me time to concentrate on this business idea my friend and I have. 

The company is a registered charity and aim is not encourage disadvantage families and individuals in the community to turn to physical activities and exercise to improve their quality of life.  

I've done what your suppose to do before an interview and that is research the company and also write some questions as all interviewers say at the end ' have you got any questions?'  Never say no always have questions it shows you've really thought about the role and thought about working with them.

Well wish me luck!!! A progress report will come soon! 

To teach or not to teach?

Now for the last couple months teaching has been on my mind. Even when i'm start on the beach with a rum punch in my left hand, my right is scribbling down a rough workshop curriculum. It would kind of be like my course i graduated from the University of Salford. It would be an open class to an array of people who are either design led or business/marketing led. For example on my course there was graphic designers, fashion designers, account managers, UX designers, photographers, 3D designers, set designers. You get the jist. We all were different but we learnt the same principles. How to get from having an idea to conception. This included a full investigate research, from questionnaires, looking at the competitors, interviews, group work, presentations, how we would market it, mock ups and so on so forth. We weren't just creatives', we are creatives' with the ability to investigate which is an asset to a company, we can do more then just design. Unfortunately the course has been cut due to budget cuts which is a real shame.

Are you as confused as me?

I would if i did teach, adults I feel some of the older population has got talent and want to make it on their own. The last 20 years technology has been progressing at a alarming rate (but great) and i feel that they just don't where to begin. I would consider doing after school sessions with secondary children because when i was at school the only 'design' was art class which i was told by the teacher not to take it up as a G.C.S.E because i was bad. charming! I did a SWOT analysis and things that would hinder me starting it up would be not having a reputation and a teaching certificate. But as i said this is just a thought.






I came across this website via twitter called Go-On, their main objective is to get the older generation using this fantastic technology that we have access to. They help the communities around manchester with the help of volunteers to teach them the basic IT skills and also how to use social media. The volunteers range from local businesses or individuals like you and I. I've put my request in to help out maybe it will help me to figure if teaching, if in my spare time or part time is for me.

I have never wanted to be a teacher, i've always wanted to be the one to keep learning. A friend of mine graduated from university the same time and wanted to work with the youth offenders. She tried and tried but couldn't get anyway. September of 2012 she started on a teaching programme and will finish this year with probably a guaranteed job offer. Dont get me wrong she enthused with what she's doing now, its her life and she loves it.  I dont want to be  disingenuous to the teaching profession, as a know a good few people who have gone into nursing and teaching because the majority of the time its guaranteed work.  I want to have the passion and the drive in the profession i choose and not be in it just because. However things are getting hard and it is time to start working and saving up for my pension! Lord knows David Cameron's not going to help with my heating bills!!


Either way i need to start working it been too long now.... lets hope the many jobs i've applied for something comes up!

Get a life: Friends venturing out around the world

The last two years the amount of friends that have gone abroad for either a new life or for a gap year is unbelievable.


All of them have a similar reasons of why they are packing up and leaving everything behind. They believe that there is more opportunity abroad, that more employers will give them a chance when it becomes job propects. Number one reason is lifestyle change. They want to live life instead of existing in life.


It's quite sad to think so many people want to leave the only country they've ever known to go out into the unknown. It sad to think the country doesnt offer what they want which isnt much.

However. one of my friends Josie, left for Hong Kong last year January, but sadly returned to the uk in October. Read why from her person blog. On the other hand Louise  loves Hong Kong and is there for a year as part of her Business course at Manchester Metropolitan Univeristy. She vows to come back to England graduate and find a job somewhere in the world other the England. She's had a taste and wants more.

Others have gone to Australia, France, China, Thailand, America just to name a few.


How do you feel about your home country? Have you took the plunge and left your native country and settled somewhere else?  Did you settle somewhere else and now back in your homeland?
I want to know your thoughts let me know.

Top things you shouldn't forget in your suitcase!

I've coming barbados for many years now and still i haven't got it right. The essentials always seem to slip my mind, yet i dont fail in being over weight by 3kg!  If you're planning to go barbados for the first time or a verteran, i thought i'd write a few things down that everyone shouldn't forget to pack.

1. Sun block-  Wheather you're black white purple or green you need sun screen. The sun is leathal through out the whole day so protect yourself.

2. Rubber flip flop- The majority of accommodation will be tiled through out. If you're a person that slips and slide when getting out the shower, rubber flip flips save the day!

3. Adaptors! They're probably cheaper to buy in barbados than in your home country and espically airports. I bought one for $6 dollars at a shop called bhanas but you buy them pretty much anywhere.

4. Mini deodorants - life savers when u are out and about. I gurantee a sweat marathron in the first 20 minutes you step out the house/hotel.

5.TIP: Take a small trolley as hand luggage. Pack a toothbrush, flip flops(if you're wearing closed in shoes and socks on the plane), a flannel, night clothes. The flight usually land at night and by the time u get to the hotel after flying 9 hours the last thing you want to do is go searching.

6. If you're going longer than 2 weeks and cant bare to be without a phone. Make sure your phone is unlocked to any network buy a sim card ($25) and internet for a month ($35) and keep in contact with everyone aboard.

7. Immac cream- yes i know its  long process and its rather smelly. I'll tell u why you need it. Mosquitos!  they leave really red bumps on your skin and if you shave with a razor they will bleed and scar you.