It’s no secret here at FletcherPR we think girls rock! This is why we’re so excited to be working with Girl Scouts of America and the Roland Corporation U.S. on a fabulous new initiative, Girl Scouts Rock! Powered by Roland. The project, which recently kicked off in Los Angeles, involves a series of interactive workshops that puts musical instruments into the hands of Girl Scouts ages 8-14 and offer them new opportunities to learn about music, while making some of their own at the same time.

The star-studded premiere workshop included none other than girl rocker Charlotte Caffey, of the groundbreaking all-female rock band, the Go-Go’s. As a female singer/songwriter and mother of a 16-year-old daughter, Caffey was happy to get involved with the project to help provide young girls a greater access to music and music education. Girls and moms alike jammed out to the Rockin' Roland Girls Band rendition of We Got The Beat while Caffey cheered them on. Also in attendance was Disney darling Shelby Spalione, previous lead singer of the all-girl teen rock band KSM and former Girl Scout. Spalione, who says she was inspired by the Go-Go’s, performed for the workshop participants and met many of them as well.

The high-energy project goes on the road this month, crossing the country for workshops to be held in Chicago, New York and Miami. In a recent Billboard Magazine article, Roland U.S. president Chris Bristol states “I want to give young girls a positive, hands-on experience playing musical instruments and making their own music.” The goal of the initiative is to empower young girls through music, while offering them the chance to learn something too.

With the budget cuts schools are facing these days, music programs get pushed further and further to the bottom of the priority list. Having majored in music and worked in the area of performing arts, I know the extent to which music can have a positive impact on peoples’ lives. Seeing the smiles on the Girl Scouts’ faces as they were jumping up and down, getting excited about music brought tears to my eyes. We believe this initiative will have life-long benefits for the Girl Scouts involved and we are so thrilled to be part of it!

Many of the celebrities and personalities marketed to young girls are also young, ranging from pre-teen to early 20s. Some find it difficult to make the transition from teen idol to adult while maintaining popularity. However there is a certain 52-year old who is as beloved today as when she was 16…Barbie.

Apps, short for applications, was the word of the year for 2010. According to a recent story on the popular show CBS Sunday Morning, apps are changing the world as we know it. Apps allow us to use our mobile devices as mini-computers and the development of new apps each day acts as a driving force behind tech companies and how they design devices. Now that apps can also be used on tablets and in cars, they really have the potential to saturate our daily experiences.

Most women are quick to grab a cup of coffee or tea as a pick-me-up, but we are less inclined to enjoy a huge muffin or cookie with it, as much as we might want to. Coffee mega-chain Starbucks has taken a new approach to our dillema with its new petite sweet menu, one that will probably be quite a hit. Eight new petite treats are now available, each just 200 calories or less. By offering adorable treats in smaller servings, Starbucks is reaching out to its female audience, though not blatantly. Studies have shown that women are more likely to indulge in treats while spending time with their girlfriends, i.e. cheat on their diets and splurge a little. Starbucks' new treats gives them the opportunity to have a small treat, without feeling guilty.

Our society and the practices we adhere to are constantly evolving with the times. With the advances in technology, everything seems to move at a quicker pace. Online dating has become as much or more popular than traditional methods and distance education via virtual classrooms now provide students with the same degrees they previously obtained only by physically attending courses. We want everything and we want it now. Curious about some song lyrics from the 80s? Google and many other search engines are only a couple of keystrokes and a click away. Can't decide what to have for dinner? From recipes to restaurants, the web is a seemingly unlimited resource for all our queries. One site that has gained popularity lately certainly appears to cover many bases when it comes to our questions. Girls Guide To...is a free online forum where members can post and answer each others' questions dealing with a wide range of topics, from self, love and health to college, finances and gadgets. Brette Borow is the president and founder of this venture, currently at 140k members and growing.

You may have seen this poster (or sillier variations of it) as it has gained popularity lately in the blogosphere and also in the realms of interior design and stationery. Produced in 1939 by the British Government to raise morale of the people during the war, rumor has it that the Queen herself first uttered this statement. Doesn't it sound like a queenly thing to say? With the stress of the holidays behind us (hopefully), we now face 2011. Many of us have made resolutions, some of us may even keep them. As women, we have a lot on our plates. Trying to juggle our fabulous careers, family adventures, love lives and still have time for ourselves is often exhausting. But honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. We are born multi-taskers, destined for great things and always looking forward to what is to come. The next time you feel overwhelmed by life, why not take a moment and repeat this slogan to yourself. Heck, do it while wearing a tiara if you have one. The queen would approve! You might find that in the midst of a crisis, all you need is a little calm and you will indeed be able to carry on with gusto.

All it takes is a few minutes scanning the marketing section at your local bookstore to become aware that the times, they are a' changing. In a field where everything was once black and white, there are now infinite shades of gray. Paco Underhill is one marketing expert who is taking notice of the differences between men and women when it comes to how and why they make purchasing decisions. Don't you want your business to be one of the ones he refers to here...and get there first?

As we enter a new year, it is the perfect time to take a look at how your organization is implementing marketing strategies to reach a greater, more defined audience and ultimately grow your business. Maybe you are having trouble getting the word out about a fabulous product or service your company offers. Maybe you lack a web presence. From public relations to marketing, press releases to blogs, Twitter to Facebook fan pages, here at FletcherPR we have the knowledge and experience to meet all of your needs and do it in great style. We are excited for what 2011 has to offer as we continue doing what we do best...Reaching women through the power of media.

Lots of things are synonymous with professional football, but sparkling jewelry probably isn't on that list. However, when millions of Americans tune in weekly to watch their favorite teams go head to head on the gridiron, national retailer Kay Jeweler's is front and center. The company returned this season to sponsor the NFL Network's Kay Jewelers Postgame Show featuring Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders and others. This move by Kay Jewelers is strategic in that it gives the company a chance to be in the spotlight. While it might seem strange because the majority of football viewers have always been predominantly male, there are several reasons why this is a smart marketing move.