Making the most of everything...

Pepsi & Bob Dylan

2009-02-03T14:54:00.002-06:00

A favorite from the Super Bowl...

(Ashley. I'm not going to start posting commercials again. So don't even start with me....)

Beyonce & Rifles

2009-01-19T10:56:00.005-06:00

Just a little bit about Christmas before it's way too late...

So picture this: Christmas morning, sitting in the living room exchanging gifts. Ashley and I wow Dad and Judy with our exceptional ability to choose gifts that are "perfect" for them. Then it's time for the "kids" to open their gifts.

I'm always curious when Daddy says, "Now, you didn't ask for this but this is what I wanted to give you." A lot of things run through my mind—another car insurance policy, AAA, maybe some fix-a-flat?

But when I opened a box of ammunition. I thought, "Really?" It was actually a priceless moment between my sister and myself because we can nearly read each other's minds. And we all know that I cannot lie—every single thing I'm thinking comes right out through the expression on my face. Dad immediately said, "Well, I can tell Amy loves it." At that point, I considered reminding him of sugar, spice, and everything nice. But it was too late, he must have heard Miranda Lambert's song "Gunpowder and Lead."

The next box was a pistol. The next box was a rifle. Of course, I asked the obvious, "What am I going to do with a rifle in the city?" I'll just say, that I'm am the least likely person to be packing heat on my street. My neighbors have no idea what's really going on. I was pretty much sitting there thinking, "Crap. I don't want this responsibility."

So we spent the rest of the week shopping for targets and shooting guns, which actually turned out to be a lot more fun than we imagined. Maybe he'll get us a clay pigeon thrower next year?

To sum it up, we ended up with rifles, pistols, and hot pink John Deere gloves. And Daddy got the new Beyonce CD. The rest of the week we heard Daddy walking through the house singing, "If you like it then you should have put a ring on it."

I love life.

The Addys & Those Funny Guys at Google

2009-01-16T08:26:00.007-06:00

Oh, Addy Awards, you kill me with your complicated categories and difficult directions. Even those of us who work in marketing and advertising are bewitched by your verbiage.

Last Friday, my marketing friends and I had to round up our entries for the Addy Awards. It was complicated, to say the least, and left me questioning my own knowledge of the work I'd done—is this a self promotion piece, a sales kit, a direct marketing piece?

I love the look people get in their eyes when they're really confused and they're really nervous. It really is the only thing that keeps you from reaching out and strangling somebody sometimes—seriously, you know you've been there. I liken Addy submission day to tax day. You're trying to fill out your own form and somebody keeps asking you how to fill out their form. I just wanted to yell, "Fill out your own dad-gum form, it's every man for himself."

After hours (and I do mean hours) of frantic coworkers hanging out at my door asking me—the most confused and irritated of us all—if we were doing our submissions properly, Roberta (coworker) and I loaded my station wagon down with the entries from our department. Just as we were walking out the door (boxes in our arms) I asked Berta if she knew where we were going, "No. Do you?" Of course not, I'd never even heard of this place.

Thank you, sweet baby Jesus, for Google. All this time I thought I loved them because of Google Maps, Gmail, Google Reader, or—my favorite—because I can text them a question and they will text back the answer. Just last night, I texted them "Pei Wei Nashville Tennessee" and in less than a minute Google responded with the address and phone number which made picking up dinner as easy-as-pie.

But it's not their functionality that turns me on. I should have known it would be their sense of humor. Just as we were jetting out the door, I entered my work address as my starting place. Please look at how LifeWay Plaza came up on Google maps.

So now I work on Jr. Achievement Street—sure feels like it some days.

Google, you tickle my funny bone with your wit.

Silent Night is not a dog story.

2009-01-05T09:28:00.008-06:00

Christmas is long gone. And I do have to tell y'all about our family Christmas gifts, because it was by far the most randomly wonderful Christmas yet. Second only to the Christmas when we received our beloved family dog, Coleman.

Coleman—he's a lab and we absolutely love that dog. He's almost a person, has his own room in our house, and matches every step my dad takes step for step. For the record, let me state: I'm a friend of dogs, even the ratty dog my sister picked up on the side of the road last Easter who has managed to weasel her way into the family. She jumps on you constantly and isn't very pretty but still, I have found a way to love her. Again, I state that I am a friend of animals.

However, I am entirely OVER Sarah McLaughlin and her animal cruelty commercials. Did you see the commercials during the holiday season? Well, guess what? The commercials are still on the air. Hello. It's January and that means "Silent Night" is out of season. (Not entirely true, but in the advertising world it should be.)

Something about pictures of neglected animals set to the tune of "Angel"or "Silent Night" feels wrong. Silent Night, as far as I can tell, is not a dog story. Each time this commercial comes on I have to look away from the TV or press mute. Obviously, it's because I care about the animals and this sort of public service announcement is ripping my heart out.

I just think y'all need to see this. If you've somehow been spared this for the past two holiday seasons then you are quite lucky. Your luck ends here.

Oh, Coffee. You did me wrong.

2009-01-03T09:16:00.002-06:00

I remember the days when I could drink coffee at night and go to bed an hour later. Those days are gone, long gone. I enjoyed two cups of coffee last night while watching The Dark Knight with Dave and Julie. At 4:30 this morning, I was still enjoying those cups of coffee. After I read three magazines, organized recipes and browsed Facebook for at least an hour, I tried to think of something new to think about and I considered 2009 and resolutions.

What's the point in a new year resolution when you're working on life resolutions—small goals, I guess? Nonetheless, it's come to my attention that I should blog more. So let's make that my 2009 resolution. Since I've been AWOL since mid-fall, there are a few funny stories to recap that'll take care of a few entries.

Happy New Year, Y'all.

Girls Campaign

2008-11-05T14:46:00.003-06:00

As of late, the student marketing team has been working on a campaign pitch for girls' ministry. We do a lot of fun projects on the student team, but I am most excited about this campaign. Girls are precious and we get the opportunity to influence them and provide resources to them that help them understand their worth and their potential. How could I not be excited about that?

Here's a little inspiration from the fine minds at Dove.

I'm a PC

2008-10-03T22:36:00.002-05:00

These commercials are fabulous. As a die-hard Mac user, I've found the "I'm a Mac" commercials to be nothing short of clever. But Microsoft has responded brilliantly with this commercial series.

And I suppose it doesn't hurt to have the likes of Vera Wang, Tony Parker and Eva Longoria in your commercials.

I'm a PC and I'm not alone.

P.S. I think I met the South African woman in these commercials when I was in SA a few years ago.

You think I'm lying. The car said, "What?"

2008-09-23T18:50:00.002-05:00

My favorite show of all time is "The Cosby Show." Maybe because Heathcliff reminds me of my dad. This clip is hysterical. If you're short on time, just start watching at 4:20. Classic Bill Cosby.

A Caffeine Induced Roll...

2008-09-10T00:19:00.002-05:00

That's right. I'm on a caffeine-induced roll right now. And there's one simple explanation: I forgot to say half-caf when I began my Starbucks salutation at the drive-thru. Now, it slipped my mind that I have my own Bunn coffee maker sitting on the counter and a bag of Starbucks coffee beans in my cabinet. But we all know that the real power of Starbucks lies in the cup. There's something about that Starbuck cup—it's my version of "using the force."

And so here it is, 12:@21 a.m. and I'm rewriting a pop-up book that Leigh Ann and I are working on for FUGE camps.

Because we just don't think it's there yet. But it's gonna be there by 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Training Seminars & Promotions

2008-09-03T09:44:00.002-05:00

If only training seminars were voluntary. "Not another all day session"—I have so been there!

As for the Promotion Pit, I love the "I want the promotion" moment.

Such great commercials... and what fun commercials to write.

Do I have to do everything?

2008-08-29T23:58:00.005-05:00

This is what my life is really like. Seriously.

About thirty minutes ago I came strolling in from a night downtown at the Sommet Center watching PBR. Yes, you heard me. I said Professional Bull Riding. Amy C. and I marched ourselves right down to the arena and hooped and hollered with the best of them. It was fun and nobody died tonight--people die in that sport. Have you seen the movie 8 Seconds?

Someone was carted out on a stretcher tonight—oh, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. It seemed terribly bad, like 8-Seconds-the-movie-bad. One assumes it's bad when the cowboy doesn't try to get away from the bull that's stomping all over him and lies there unresponsive. Thankfully, he's OK. Only a concussion.

Anyway, so I walk through the door and Kristin, my trusty roommate looks at me all alarmed and proclaims: There's a roach behind the bookshelf. (By all means let me take off my cowboy boots and formulate a plan of attack.)

Kristin has a phobia about cockroaches—or maybe all crunch bugs. I might add that earlier this week I killed a bug that I have a major fear of—it's this cross between a cricket and a spider. I do not know what they are called only that they jump incredibly high and if you ever have one in your house you are screwed because they cannot be cornered. So the jumping spider-cricket flew out of my work bag and hit me in the forehead earlier this week—yes, I said forehead and yes, I almost had a heart attack. And I screamed for Kristin to get out of bed because I needed someone in the room with me when I killed it. So she got out of bed for the killing of the spider-cricket, however she stood behind me screaming and laughing at me the whole time.

So, the roach is behind the bookshelf. Kristin is telling the truth. And Kristin does not want to deal with this thing by herself. So I did what anybody who's about to wage war on a roach would do. I put on my pajamas and my Crocs.

And here's how our conversation went from there:

A: Well, get the broom.

K: I can't kill it. (Mind you, Kristen is down one arm right now. Her good arm is broken.)

A: Yes, you can. I'll scare it out with this rod (from the swiffer) and you just beat it to death with the broom.

K: I have a phobia. I can't kill it.

Always merciful, I responded with...

A: Yes, you can. It's part of your therapy.

So now I'm some sort of phobia psychiatrist?

We actually had a little bit of an advantage against the roach because of our positioning. We were running him into the corner.

So I moved the bookshelf forward and I've got my eye on this guy and he is HUGE. She was right. He was huge. And my question is, where the heck did he come from? I mean. Maybe be he just walked right in the front door. The bookshelf is right by the front door. I don't know. So I start poking at him.

A: Here's he comes, Kristin, here he comes.

K: (Screaming at the top of her lungs) I can't do it, Amy. I can't do it.

She is literally shaking. And she is frozen. Absolutely paralyzed by her fear of this thing. She's in a face-off with the roach. And she is paralyzed.

K: I'm paralyzed. I can't do it.

A: Yes, you can. Swing the broom.

K: I can't do it.

A: KILL the ROACH. Just KILL the ROACH, Kristin!

We are both screaming back and forth at each other standing about four feet apart.
Kristin is not attacking the roach.

A: Kristin. You are thirty years old. Pick up your broom and kill the darn roach.

At this point, I am screaming at her as if I have some sort of authority over her. I do not know why I am screaming at her like this.

Kristin is not attacking the roach. She is screaming and shaking. No swinging of the broom what. so. ever.

At this point I realize that she is truly paralyzed.

K: I can't handle the crunch.

A: (Yelling violently) DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING?

A: YOU ARE TAKING OUT THE TRASH FOREVER!
(So now I'm punishing her because I'm going to have to kill my second bug of the week? We are almost laughing and crying at the same time. We were both sweating at this point.)

At this point I grab the broom and start beating it. The roach was relentless. I pinned him down and Kristin had to come in with reinforcements with the swiffer rod. Finally, she pounces.

And he still did not die and we continue to scream and yell ugly things—Kristin screamed more and I yelled ugly things more, if anybody's counting.

The broom broke into three pieces. Still the roach is alive.

I just knew the neighbors were going to be on our front steps at any moment. And if they saw any of this going down through the front window there is no telling what they think.

And at moments like this, I really do not know how anyone lives alone. I mean, why would you want to? AND furthermore, it would be nowhere near as funny to kill bugs alone. I mean, you'd only have the fear and trembling and maybe the cursing, but no real laughter.

So the roach—shall I just say that I spoke a strong word over the cockroach as putted him (like a golf ball) out the front door with our broom handle. So strong that I cannot repeat it.

Awake

2008-08-29T08:21:00.002-05:00

This makes me want to get up early, as in before-the-sun-early.
It makes me think there's some camaraderie in the early morning workout, that all across the world people are getting up with me, doing something they don't necessarily feel like doing. But something they'll be glad they did.

My Better Is Better Than Your Better

2008-08-28T07:33:00.003-05:00

My Nike ad series continues...

My sister told me about this commercial a while back—she was looking for the song they use in the long version. If you love it, it's Saul Williams, "List of Demands."

This a fun series. There are two short versions posted and a long version.

My quick and my fast had a baby and named him speedy.

Do I make you nervous?

And, the long version.

Oh, Say Can You See

2008-08-27T08:29:00.002-05:00

It might be Marvin Gaye. It might be the grainy footage from the 1983 NBA All-Star Game where Gaye performed. It might be the moment the bus pulls into the arena. Or the look on Coach K's face. I don't know what makes this commercial so right, but whatever it is, it's right.

My Feet Hurt

2008-08-26T07:43:00.002-05:00

I suppose the smarty pants at Nike expected that we'd need a little motivation on New Years Day. Perfect timing for a commercial about excuses as we're all likely to come up with one or two to get out of those lofty resolutions we set.

And it's just a great ad. Period.

"What better way to emphasize Just Do It than someone who would have all the reasons in the world to not do it." --Matt Scott

He will participate in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, September 6-17. Here's an article about Matt.

We Have Softball

2008-08-25T08:02:00.003-05:00

Let me state the obvious. Nike knows what they are doing when it comes to advertising. Arguably, "Just Do It" is the most identifiable brand slogan in the world. And they continue produce fabulous ads that make you think you can "just do it."

In an attempt to get my groove back, I'm going to post some of my favorite Nike Ads this week. Every single day.

I like this commercial. A lot.
And I don't even play softball.

"Happiest Girl In the Whole USA" and Nike didn't really go together in my head until today. But hey, you can't go wrong with Donna Fargo. I do have this song on my iPod, you know—along with a little "Harper Valley PTA." Wonder what Nike could do with that....

Petit Pierre, a pocket fairy tale.

2008-07-22T12:27:00.006-05:00

I'm such a fan of handmade things. I managed to run across the one of the cutest things yet on etsy.com. And if you've never experienced Etsy, then let your fingers do the walkin' right now because there are endless treasures. Browse your heart out.

For instance, is this the cutest little handmade book you've seen lately or what? And there are gobs of them available at La Pomme's shop on etsy. As if it's not special already, the books are made in France. Who doesn't want to buy something and say it was handmade in France?

The really great thing is, I think we could make these ourselves! All we need is a little thread, a needle, some felt, and a bit of imagination.

Project Runway: Why you should watch it.

2008-07-16T21:02:00.009-05:00

Tonight began season 5 of Project Runway. Before I became a fan of the show I thought it was another lame attempt at reality TV. After all, we have stooped to new ridiculous levels of reality TV here in the United States of America. As in "Celebrity Circus." Yes, it's true. People—I'm sorry—"Celebrities," actually signed up to be on that show. Who is in charge of summer programming? I need to know.

But alas, Project Runway saves Wednesday nights. Lucky for me I stumbled upon a PR marathon a couple seasons ago and discovered this gem of a show. (If there's ever a marathon, I'm a goner. I get sucked in every time. This is exactly how I got lured into the world of "Prison Break." A marathon. I stopped watching when Michael ended up in a South American prison. I couldn't take it.)

For those of you in the Project Runway darkness, let me enlighten you. This is a dress made of corn husks from a few seasons back. I know. I can hardly believe that somebody (Austin) was able to look at corn on the cob and see a dress. That's brilliance.

Season 5 started last night revisiting that challenge: a grocery store, $75, and a short window of time. The contestants came out with everything from mops to fly swatters, and a few went "safe" with picnic table cloths (Such a mistake. Way to easy)

My two favorites. The plastic cup dress. Yes. This dress is made of Dixie cups. He ironed them and reshaped them. Brilliant.

And the dress made of vacuum bags and coffee filters. She dyed and bleached the vacuum bags. The bodice is made of burnt coffee filters. I love her attention to detail. She used gold push pins and then to hold everything together she created hook & eye fasteners—I cannot remember what she used to make those because I was so wowed by how stinking good it looked.

Tune in everybody. Wednesday nights. 8 o'clock. Bravo. You'll be inspired and signing up for sewing classes right and left. I've been sitting here trying to think of what I would choose if I were in the grocery store.

What would you use?

P.S. I may never walk through Kroger the same way again.

Inspiration & Celebration

2008-07-11T09:17:00.004-05:00

Jessica is having a baby today—because that's what the people I know do. They have babies. Constantly. I am not posting about babies again until it's time for Audra's shower.

But, in honor of Jessica, here's a ultra-cute idea for birth announcements. Or I may have just stumbled upon inspiration for Audra's shower--thank goodness there's plenty of time to work through this one!

Blog Ban

2008-06-26T21:39:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged. And here's why: I've had two important writing projects I've been working on that are actually paying gigs and I could not allow myself to write for fun with work hanging over my head. Both projects are at a hault for the moment and I'm in Atlanta, so I give myself permision to blog again.

And, it helps when your little sister sends you a message on Facebook that says, "Please Blog." I always have a fan in her. So I'll post something tomorrow. She even sent me pictures and asked me to blog about specific example of resourcefulness from our lives. So, I can't disappoint her.

Tomorrow!

Monday Night Girls

2008-06-16T12:11:00.001-05:00

If I continue to tell stories about the girls from Bible study, then I think I'm going to have to start using code. I cannot type out "one of the Bible study girls" behind each girl's name. There are 11 of them. And I cannot use an acronym like BSG. We use acronyms for everything at work, so much so that I never know exactly where the meeting is or who I'm meeting with. The joy of acronyms.

So from now on, they are The Girls.

If I didn't label people we wouldn't be having this conversation. (I label everyone--for clarification, of course.) Examples: Courtney, my best friend from college; Larissa, my best friend from work; Jason, my friend from the womb (Our moms were pregnant at the same time. He's been my friend since I was entered the scene.); Lainey, my four-year-old friend, and so forth. All that to say, I have a great need to label the girls as one of the girls.

I adore this picture from Jessica's shower. Here's why, there are four really nice ladies in this picture who are not in our beloved study group. And you can totally pick them out because they are not laughing. They're simply smiling, just trying to make it through this picture posing process with strangers they met a mere hour prior.

Could we be obnoxious? In this shot we are pretty much the equivalent of 7th grade girls at the Homecoming Dance who've just been asked to dance with the cutest guy in school.

The Truth About Packaging

2008-06-13T13:15:00.008-05:00

I love packaging. Packaging is a powerful force in my life. I buy Ms. Meyers Clean Day Soap, not because I think it's necessarily the best soap, but because I love their packaging. The creative genius behind this packaging is Werner Design Werks.

I think my favorite thing about my job is coming up with packaging concepts. I like doing that just as much as playing with words until I find just the right way to say something. So, I'm a lucky girl to get to do such fun things.

I was thumbing through the creativity issue of HOW yesterday when I ran across this smart self promotion piece from Hatch Design out in San Francisco. They printed it on egg carton material--how clever is that?

Fishing Line & Baby Showers

2008-06-12T00:45:00.010-05:00

In case you didn't know, the two go together.

I know this because I have become quite the shower-thrower. This would be because the girls I'm closest to in life, my Bible study girls, continue to become pregnant. One right after the other. Within three years this group will have yielded something like six babies.

Two things I've learned in my party planning: a) Do not use all your good ideas on one shower. b)Bring in special ops.

Exhibit A: Let's call this one "The shower that Martha built." Here's the thing about this shower. It was for Julie, my most loyal and faithful friend, and she has taught me every single thing I know about how to throw an even remotely tasteful party. And because she and I are not Publix cake people (sorry if you are, but I have to ask you: What is special about a Publix cake? Here's the thing I know some of you like the icing (not me) but anything you can walk into a store and have somebody practically spray paint a birthday wish or shower congrats on is not necessarily, shall we say, special. I rest my case.) So for Julie's shower I wanted special, so I went straight to the source: marthastewart.com.

I immediately got on the phone with Melissa, who makes amazing tea cakes and is hands-down my favorite florist in town. She makes everything feel so personal, which is a quality I love in her work. And then I called Jenny, who is quite possibly the classiest and most hospitable person in this town. And she's from Texas, and we all know everything is bigger in Texas--including the baby showers. And we got to work.

FYI: Jenny & Melissa are special ops. I know. This blog is already so hard to follow.

You should all run straight out to the store and get the ingredients for this cake. It is the antithesis of a Publix cake. And you can make this. You really can. Just be patient with the egg-shaped truffles. They are tricky but worth the work.

The shower was successful.

So, last Monday Special Ops, Julie, and I had our turn at hosting a shower for Jessica, another Bible study gal. (Remember, them, the girls who are working with God to help populate the earth.) Now, that I set a standard with the whole bird/nest-themed-shower-that-Martha-built, I wondered what we could do, you know, a little extra touch to make Jessica's shower cute.

This is where the fishing line comes in. We went with a polka dot theme for the shower and because Jessica is one of the most creative scrapbooky types I know, it felt right to make something with paper--a sweet little polka dot garland draped across the window.

It was as easy-as-pie to make, time consuming, but easy. Here's what you need: small plastic rings (sewing section at JoAnn's), fishing line (do not try to find this at Target. May as well load up and drive to the nearest Dick's Sporting Goods), card stock or scrapbook paper. I used paper with adhesive backing so that I could just place the line between two circles to seal it in place. I recommend using a circle cutter, but if you feel ridiculously good about your ability to cut perfect circles, knock yourself out.

Jessica posted pics from the shower. Melissa did the flowers--lovely as usual.

As for the dots, what if you strung them across a playroom, or your creative space. They'd be so sweet in baby's room tacked from corner to corner. Or maybe you could make them for the next shower you throw!

Tomorrow,
Amy

Resourceful...

2008-06-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

People tell me I'm resourceful. I think I'm resourceful, too. I get this resourcefulness from my father. He can figure out a way to make anything work—it's because he's a farmer. So, I get it honest.

When it comes to ideas, I often hear myself saying, "What if we..."

So, as I start a blog—which I have felt much peer pressure from friends to start—my aim is to share ideas. You know, the "what if we painted it blue, or what if you turned the couch in the opposite direction, or what if we used fishing line..." kind of ideas. By the way, I will share my fishing line creation tomorrow in my second blog!

Welcome to my blog, Resourceful Amy. I cannot tell you today whether this will be short-lived or if it will be my new favorite thing to do. Besides, to make a plan would only rail against my spontaneous nature. I only know that I do not want to sit at my computer for hours when I could be living life with people I enjoy, so I will be attempting to keep this low-maintenance. But the thought of sharing creativity, ideas and resources sounds like a lot of fun to me.

By the way, I had nothing to do with the above picture. But I'm not above it, I once briefly considered duct taping my headboard to the roof of my the old Camry in an effort to move into or out of one of the many apartments in which I've lived. After all, resourcefulness is all about making what you've got work.

Tomorrow!
aj

P.S. Leave a comment. It'll make me feel good.