Keeping it Simple

Although this blog is dedicated to money saving, budgeting, charitable giving, and the like, in the past I've snuck in a few posts about my day job -- copwriting. I did that mostly because I didn't have anywhere else to put that kind of information that I thought was really interesting.

However, I know that not everyone who reads this blog is on the edge of their seats waiting to hear about the exciting world of copywriting. So, I recently created a blog as part of my business website that offers more marketing/copywriting/business type content (as if I don't have enough social media channels to manage already).

So, keep coming back to Happily Ever Clever for all things personal finance, and if you want to read more about my business, please visit JenLyons.com.

I have a couple of new, fun Happily Ever Clever posts coming your way soon, so stay tuned!

Exciting Blogging News!

First, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Second, I'm VERY excited about a new chapter in my life as a blogger. I've recently been selected by Girl Power Hour to be a featured blogger on their site!

Girl Power Hour is a local Seattle (and now San Francisco) women's networking group that brings together professionals from all over the city for monthly networking, cocktail-ing, and educational opportunities. I have been to some of their events over the last few years, and they really bring together some of the city's best movers and shakers (and, as a small business owner, networking is KEY)!

I'll be blogging over at Girl Power Hour on the same topics as I do here -- personal finance, saving money, charitable giving, etc. -- even with the same name!

But don't worry, I'll still be blogging here as well. I'm hopeful that blogging with GPH will bring some more readers to this blog, and connect my business ventures with more potential clients.

Stay tuned in the next couple weeks as my first blog with Girl Power Hour comes out!

Perhaps off topic, definitely right on

My apologies that this blog posting is a little off topic, but I had to post this somewhere, and this seemed as good a place as any. As you probably know, I'm a freelance copywriter. I write everything from ad campaigns to emails, sales trainings to magazine articles. I write for an agency in Seattle and one of my colleagues posted a link to a really cool blog called "Letters of Note." The owner of this blog posts letters, postcards, and telegrams from famous and/or notorious people in history.

The particular link she sent was a letter that David Ogilvy wrote to a colleague in 1955. Ogilvy would become founder of Ogilvy & Mather, one of America's most storied advertising agencies. Sidenote: Even if you aren't a big advertising/marketing/copywriting nerd like me, you have at least heard Ogilvy's name mentioned a million times on Mad Men. 


There's something about the way he describes the writing process...and the way that it starts out organized, strategic, and methodical, and devolves (or evolves!) into something instinctive, passionate, urgent, and emotional.

Take a couple minutes to read his letter here: I am a lousy copywriter

WPIG of Seattle

Earlier this month, I wrote about volunteering and giving back. I love volunteering, and I've recently joined the Women's Philanthropic Investment Group (WPIG), a group of talented, capable, and generally bad-ass women. I'm so proud to be part of this organization. Every two years, we pick an organization to support both financially and with volunteer hours. Every organization we choose has to meet the qualification of taking women and children from places of need to self sufficiency. Our 2011 partner was Ryther, a truly amazing Seattle organization that provides support to some of our region's most vulnerable children.

Additionally, each year, we do a fun event called PIGture Perfect, an art show and auction. Our most recent event was a few months ago, and we raised over $29,000. And, we got the amazing video made that introduces you to our organization. Please take a couple minutes to watch this video and learn more about WPIG.


WPIG of Seattle 2011 Pigture Perfect from Campfire Creative on Vimeo.

If you want to know more about WPIG, friend us on Facebook here. Or follow us on Twitter @wpigseattle. (Can you tell I chair WPIG's marketing committee?)