I was on vacation last week, so this morning I flipped my Daily Dog calendar directly to September 7th.  I always treat September as my “Resolution Month,” a chance to reflect on the year so far and the months to come.  (January is so cliche!)  As the hectic summer months wind down, use September to take a step back.

Here are some things you can ask yourself:

• Work – Am I on target with work goals I set earlier this year?  Do I need to ask a coworker for help and/or feedback?
• Health – Am I incorporating exercise into my daily routine?  Perhaps try something new in September, like yoga, in honor of National Yoga Month.  Cold and flu season is fast approaching, get your immune system in shape now!
• Personal – Am I challenging myself enough?  Perhaps it might be time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.  I’m doing just that and taking a class at Emerson College, starting tonight!  Very excited to learn new things and meet new faces.

With only four months remaining in 2010, it’s never too late to set new goals and make changes.  Remember that these changes do not have to be drastic.  It can be something as simple as agreeing to blog an extra day each week.

Here’s to September – fresh air and a fresh start!

Next month, she departs Boston for an incredible teaching experience in Spain!  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her because she shares a passion for travel and the Spanish language and culture.

On behalf of the March team, we wish you the best of luck in Spain and thank you for your hard work throughout the years.  You’ve become a true asset to the agency and will be greatly missed.

Today’s her last day with us, as she’ll soon be returning to Boston University to complete her final year as a journalism student.

Rachel was a true asset to the agency this summer, bringing her passion for PR and amazing writing skills.  Her cheerfulness was an added bonus and she’ll be missed greatly.

We wish you the best of luck in your senior year!

Today, we welcome Sarah Love to the agency.  She hails from Los Altos, CA and is a recent graduate from Northwestern University in Illinois.

Sarah joins March with extensive PR and marketing experience after interning with various agencies across the states, including Eastwick Communications in Mountain View and Big Shoulders in Chicago.

We’re excited to have you on board and look forward to working with you.

Towards the end of the day, I asked what game they’d like to play, hoping they’d respond with Monopoly Junior or Operation (they disable the buzzer because it’s too loud).  One of the girls responded with, “Let’s play Mail!”

I immediately thought “Mail” referred to email and wasn’t initially excited…until I learned how to play!

First, you need to decorate your mailbox, which consists of a small, white envelope.  You have your choice of markers, crayons, stickers, etc.  The only rule is that your name must be visible.

Second, you write a letter to the recipient of your choice, asking them a question, placing it in the corresponding mailbox.  Sample questions included, “Did you have a pet when you were little?  What was his/her name?” and “What is your favorite color?”  (Answers – Yes, a dog named Rufus and green.)

Lastly, you retrieve your mail, responding to the letter on the other side (the twins informed me that this is the “green” way to play Mail because paper isn’t wasted).  You then place the responses in the original sender’s “inbox.”

And that’s how you play Mail.

I returned to my home in Beacon Hill last night with a few takeaways:

• Most of us rely on email correspondence during the work week because it’s fast, easy and reliable.  It was refreshing to receive a hand-written letter in the same time it takes to hit ‘Send/Receive’ in Outlook.
• Stepping away from your iPhone for an hour really does wonders for your stress level.  The emails and texts can wait.
• My handwriting (especially my cursive) could use some fine-tuning.
• Markers are underrated (as I washed away the pink and green smudge on top of my wrist).

I recommend hanging out with youngsters from time to time.  They can really teach you a thing or two about life and what really matters!

So grab your markers, design your inbox and start playing Mail.

People know where you are at all times (and when you’re not home) with GPS-enabled applications, like Twitter and Foursquare.

But, thanks to a tweet from a Red Line commuter, Boston’s MBTA Transit Police are using social media to crack down on subway system crime.  This T Tweeter took a photo of a man exposing himself, then posted to his Twitter account using #MBTA.  This image was then cross-checked with subway surveillance cameras and later led to an arrest.

According to a recent Boston Herald article, “I believe this is something we will see more of in the future,” said Deputy Chief Joseph O’Connor, whose officers already were experimenting with Twitter. “It’s clear that a number of our riders will communicate to us in nontraditional ways. Rather than pick up the phone and call us, they use smartphones or computers to contact us.”

Is this new crime-busting system invasive to your average subway rider or helpful in keeping everyone safe?  MBTA’s tagline is, “If you see something, say something.”  By having another communication outlet, like Twitter, are we allowing citizens to effectively “say something” in a way that’s comfortable for them?

I certainly hope the Red Liner deleted that photo from his phone…

So what comes after dinner?  Dessert, obviously.  Personally, I’m a huge frozen yogurt fan.  It’s delicious, nutritious and the perfect snack on a hot, summer day.

My favorite yogurt shop in Boston is Red Mango, located on the corner of Mass Ave and Huntington, near the Symphony stop on the green line.  I first heard about their grand opening earlier this year via Twitter and continue to follow their social media pages to learn about new flavors, discounts and events.

While checking in to Red Mango last weekend via Foursquare, it got me wondering.  What exactly does Dan Kim, CEO and founder of Red Mango, think about social media?  I was fortunate enough to have the chance to interview him via email.  Check it out!

Liz Swenton: The frozen yogurt market appears to be booming across the nation.  In Boston alone you compete with shops like BoYo and Berryline, and nationwide competitors such as Pinkberry.  How are you using Facebook and Twitter to actively promote Red Mango?

Dan Kim: Facebook and Twitter are our favorite ways to communicate with our customers and fans.  We love sharing photos, handing out coupons, informing people about upcoming events, and letting them know about our new flavors and products. More importantly, we love hearing from our customers as well. We enjoy asking for their opinions, learning more about their Red Mango experiences, and just providing them with an interactive forum to engage with our brand.

LS: What are your views on Foursquare and do your customers actively “check-in” when they are at a shop?

DK: I really, really like Foursquare. I’ve tested the app for about four months to learn all of the ins and outs of it, and finally decided to provide Foursquare users with special offers when they check into Red Mango stores. We are testing it in a few locations right now in the West Coast. Foursquare is fun for users – I’m hooked on it, and am proud to of my 50 mayorships and 20 badges! As a business, Foursquare is a great way to reward your most loyal fans.

LS: Red Mango was recently featured in Crain’s New York Business, TIME and The Wall Street Journal.  Where would you ideally like to see Red Mango featured next?

DK: Maxim, so I could finally buy a copy without feeling like I’m doing something wrong.  J/K.

Dan is a true entrepreneur, taking an idea from his own kitchen table to the corner office and beyond.  After thousands of recipe trials in his own kitchen, he perfected a healthy, all natural frozen yogurt recipe in 2006 that has become the cornerstone of a growing empire known today as Red Mango.

He successfully utilizes social media tools such as Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter to promote his company, which spans the United States with more than 70 locations and is continuing to grow.

Thanks for your time, Dan, and congratulations on such a great, delicious business.

March Communications is on the lookout for a dynamic intern to join our exciting team of PR professionals.

Daily responsibilities include industry and media research, media list building, writing, maintenance of social media sites and much more.

If you have what it takes, please submit your resume and availability to my attention at jobs@marchpr.com.

However, there’s been some buzz this week on how Comic-Con may be getting “too corporate.”  Entertainment editor, Ed Martin, reports in The Huffington Post, “As I walked around taking it all in, it occurred to me that if the Con were to get any bigger — as it is likely to do with more studios, networks and entertainment media barreling in every year – it might lose some of its appeal, not to mention its effectiveness as the best platform from which to publicize and promote popular entertainment to dedicated and/or potential fans.”

With thousands of companies competing for attention, it becomes more and more difficult to avoid getting lost in the Comic-Con shuffle.  But some companies have the marketing down pat.  According to Martin, Warner Bros., Syfy and Showtime were a few of the media outlets that stood out more than others.

I’d love to get views from those who attended Comic-Con and from others, like myself, who followed news stories relating to the show.  Has this event become too corporate?  Should it stick with the San Diego location moving forward, or switch to a larger city such as LA or Vegas?

Summer Restaurant Week 2010 has been announced for the weeks of August 15-20 and August 22-27.  Two-course lunch menus will run for $15.10, three-course lunches for $20.10 and three-course dinners for $33.10.

Earlier in the year, Cheryl discussed Winter Restaurant Week in a blog post, mentioning how social media plays a huge part in promoting this event.  You can view new eateries and sample menus on Restaurant Week’s Twitter and Facebook pages.  And if you already have a dinner destination in mind, you can also check out reviews on Yelp.

Some tips from the Restaurant Week pros:

• Make reservations early as they tend to go quickly.  I recommend using OpenTable, it’s easy and you get dining points!
• If you need to cancel, do so as early as possible.
• Try lots of new places!

What restaurant will you check out in August?  First on my list is Noche, a new bistro in the South End.

So eat your heart out, Boston.  An event like this only comes twice a year.