Disney on Ice Frozen

We kick off this week’s speedlink with some fun for the whole family. Mike Granek of Top Daddies got to go behind the scenes at Disney on Ice Frozen, taking an inside look at all logistics and complications that are involved with putting on such an elaborate production. In particular, he looks at some of the special effects. Just let it go, Mike. Would you like to build a snowman?

Venturing back to the everyday life of a regular parent, Tamara Goyette explains the many reasons why mommy both loves and hates Costco. It’s true that you can save a lot of money by buying your household goods and groceries in bulk, but dealing with the insanity of the parking lot on the weekend can make you question some of your choices in life.

Even though Tyler Cruz is well respected as a success Internet entrepreneur, he tends to be a late adopter when it comes to a lot of technology. He only recently joined Facebook and now he’s experimenting with TwitterCounter follower advertising. Building up your presence on social media is very worthwhile and people tend to follow users who have large followings. His experiment yielded over 250 new followers.

Sticking with social media, Bevan Bird explains why it’s so important for brands and businesses to interact with their fans online. It’s not enough to simply use these platforms to shout our your message, even if social media turns out to be a form of marketing. You need to connect and engage with your audience if you want to get more sharing too.

And finally, Connie Mei offers some financial tips as we look toward the end of the year. She lists five things to do before the new year, including maximizing your retirement contributions, donating to charity and reviewing your annual budget. The article is geared toward Americans, with mentions of FSAs and 401ks, but the general advice is applicable to everyone.