Monday, October 31, 2011

Hallmark: Life is a Special Occasion


Hallmark has been the, uh, hallmark of quality in the world of greeting cards since I can remember. Getting the mail and seeing the familiar gold crown seal was usually the precursor to something awesome, like a birthday or holiday, and it amplified the excitement.


Hallmark's kid encouragement products at the beginning of the school year but, to me, they're even more meaningful now that classes are in full swing. I love their motto: Life is a Special Occasion It's easy to get caught up in the grind of everyday life and everyone, even kids, can use a little pick-me-up. Roo has really loved finding a special note in her lunchbox every day. Sometimes I'll add a handwritten post script or silly doodle but it's ridiculously simple to tear one off of the pad on days we're running late. Several even have check-off boxes to personalize, which Roo finds hilarious. The current in-store version, If You Love 'Em, Bug 'Em - Fun Notes for Kids, features cute bugs and sweet sentiments to brighten up the lunchbox.


I'm also crazy about Hallmark's huge selection of recordable books and keepsakes, which take personalization to a whole new level. These are so sentimental without being syrupy sweet and are perfect for holidays when you can't be with far-away loved ones. I especially like the idea of new readers recording themselves reading the book as a keepsake for posterity. Wouldn't it be cool to hear yourself or your spouse, as a child, reading a favorite story?!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received the lunchbox notes pictured in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Last Minute Halloween: Angry Birds Costumes


My first exposure to the world of advertising came at a very young age. Our neighbor in Maunawili was a Dutch guy who worked for an agency, I think as a creative director. They always had cool stuff at their house, in retrospect perhaps because they had no kids and a great deal of pakalolo. Lots of artsy types, designer furniture and magazines. It was fun to hang out over there and I think they liked having me around for my childlike wonder or some such, which is funny because I was a freakishly intellectual little kid. Don't laugh, I think it wore off as I grew up.

At the time, I was mildly obsessed with the Ed Emberly doodle books and showed them to Nick, who promptly lifted the concept and turned it into the "Zippy Doodles" campaign for a local restaurant chain. I was in the TV ads, drawing on the iconic orange Zippy's square with a marker. My payment was the Donny and Marie TV show playset. Obviously, I was born to be a marketing muse. But I digress…

Why was this relevant? Well, fast-forward a couple of decades, to about this time last year when I was at eBay for their holiday campaign. The entire trip was a whirlwind of awesomeness but I was particularly thrilled to meet Dennis Goedegebuure, who is one of the few people I've ever encountered who can make analytics remotely interesting to me. We ran into each other again at EVO last summer and apparently like to give each other grief. So, yeah, he's a Dutch marketing guy and that's how my train of though works. Now you know, lucky ducks.

Anyhow, Dennis is busy testing a new concept and we're going to help because it involves the ever-popular Angry Birds. Jasper was delighted that they released a Halloween upgrade and word on the streets is that Angry Birds Costumes are among the most coveted this year, for kids and adults alike. To that end, Dennis has agreed to pose for me in a very fetching Yellow Angry Bird Costume:


Cute, right? Well, it gets even better. On Halloween, he will be wandering the streets of San Francisco dressed up in the golden glory of the Yellow Angry Bird Costume, with matching yellow ensemble underneath. I wish I could see that in person!

I kind of think the Black Angry Birds Costume would look great modified into a minidress. Although I'd be afraid someone would try to pick me up and throw me up into the air… Which Angry Birds character would you most likely dress up as?



Friday, October 21, 2011

CitiBlocs: Creativity, Unbound


My kids are both builders. Like their parents, they're scavengers and collectors. Thankfully, they take after their dad and actually manage to put all those bits and pieces of ephemera to use, making cool stuff. They are both very adept at storytelling and I love to watch them make up plots for their creations to act out. The fact that most toys nowadays are character or show branded really depresses me because it hampers their play, limiting them to what's supposed to happen. CitiBlocs are a refreshingly simple toy concept that Roo and Jasper both love: unit blocks of uniform shape and size that can be mixed together in infinite ways to create innumerable projects. Each non-toxic block is precisely cut from Grade A Radiata Pine from certified renewable forests in New Zealand, making them an environmentally-friendly toy option, too.

The CitiBlocs Camouflage 100 Piece Set is a great kit to start with, featuring twenty blocks in each of four colors: green, olive, brown, khaki and natural wood. I like the all-natural colored sets, too, but Roo and Jasper gravitated toward the colors, using them to create patterns and boundaries.






My kids have already added the CitiBlocs 1000 pc Collector's Edition Building Set to their holiday wish lists, should you run into any elves…


I'm also crazy about the CitiBlocs 100 pc Glow in the Dark set, which features the same sustainable wooden blocks decorated with safe, non-toxic glow paint. Perfect for Halloween!


For kids who prefer a little more representational play, you can always add the Citi Cars or my personal favorite– the Citi Trees set:


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received the CitiBlocs set pictured in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Find out more about CitiBlocs on Twitter and Facebook.

My First Car Crash


The good things:
  • the kids weren't with me
  • no one was hurt
  • damage to the other car was minimal
  • it was about two blocks from a police station
  • the weather was lovely
  • insurance should cover everything

The bad things:

  • my very first ticket (never had a parking or speeding ticket in my life, ugh)
  • my car is so old (1999) that the insurance company may very well consider it totalled
  • $1000 deductible
  • going to have a rental car for a while
  • ruined a perfectly nice day
  • my poor, poor beloved SUV looks like this:


I swear, it's all because I was cheating on it with the loaner last week. I can't tell you how bummed out I will be if they decide my car is totalled. They don't make the same body style anymore and I love it. It's my second car, ever. Sigh.

On a brighter note, the insurance guy said the lady I hit said I was "a sweet young lady" and assumed I was in my early '20s. Only off by a couple of decades. So at least my vanity had a little ego boost…

Cross your fingers and toes that my car is fixable and that I'll never be distracted by couches sitting on peoples' front lawns again.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

National Rock Your Socks Day! (giveaway)


Hear yea! Hear yea!
LittleMissMatched declares THIS Friday, October 21st National "Rock Your Socks" Day !


In celebration of this day, throughout the month of SOCKtober (October), LittleMissMatched will be donating funds to support creative projects in local schools across the country through DonorsChoose.org. From earthworm gardens to tumbling mats, classic novel collections to theatre supplies, LMM will support kid's creativity everywhere.





Roo and I are longtime fans of LittleMissMatched and their mission to spread creativity and fun. To that end, we are proud to support them by celebrating Rock Your Socks Day. Join us on Friday (and every day!) by dressing to express the special style that is yours and yours alone. Feel free to mix and match or mis-match to your heart's content! Color-coordinate or clash- it's all about you.

Take advantage of special deals like a free campaign button with every purchase, flat rate shipping on orders of any size and the incredibly adorable (and perfect for hostess-gifting!) Knee Highs Holiday Pack which features 6 single girls knee-high socks that don't match, but perfectly coordinate.



To enter and win a super fantastic surprise gift pack of assorted socks (adult womens' size) to mix or match as your heart desires, please comment on this post with your favorite item from LittleMissMatched AND how you're planning to celebrate Rock Your Socks Day.



Entries will be accepted through October 29th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. 


For additional entries: 
Follow LittleMissMatched on Twitter
Like LittleMissMatched on Facebook

- Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) 

Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.



Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received some socks to celebrate with and that I am using the majority of them for the giveaway. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Wordless Wednesday










Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Miista Lust


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Miista chunky shoes
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Miista nylon shoes
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Miista platform shoes
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Real Steel Giveaway (Quick!)


Real Steel has been the #1 movie in the country since it opened last week. We haven't seen it yet because I was worried the PG-13 rating and live action would render it too scary for Jasper (never mind that my parents took me to see Jaws when I was his age, when we had just moved to Hawaii and I was about to start swimming lessons…) but a bunch of friends who've gone said that both kids would really enjoy it, so I think we'll go this week. Jasper has been obsessed with robots since he was a baby, so I am sure he'll be totally engrossed. Roo would probably enjoy it more if Hugh Jackman sang and danced, but I don't think there are any musical numbers in Real Steel. (And there's no way mommy's taking her to see a rehash of a certain '80s movie that kind of sucked even back then. I mean, a town that forbade dancing? C'mon…) Anyway, the whole family can agree on the awesomeness of robots.


See more clips on the Real Steel YouTube Channel.


Have you seen Real Steel yet? Are you going to? Scroll down to see how you can win an amazing Real Steel gift pack, including adult sized t-shirt, bottle opener, set of sticker sheets and temporary tattoos. FYI- I'm not a big fan of logo tees but I think this one is super cute! Wish I could enter to win one…




To enter and win a Real Steel gift pack as shown above, please comment on this post with your favorite robot or boxing movie.


Entries will be accepted through October 21st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US/Canada readers are eligible.


For additional entries: 

- Follow Real Steel on Twitter
- Like Real Steel on Facebook
- Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) 
- Follow my blog 
- Follow @superdumb on Twitter 
- Like Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook 
- Fave me on Technorati 
- Subscribe via email 
- Subscribe via reader 


Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.



Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Jimmy Choo ICONS Collection




ICONS is a capsule collection of shoes inspired by the most significant creations from the Jimmy Choo archives. Among them are the famous ‘Feather’ shoe immortalized by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City when she anguished, “I lost my Choo!”.
“I wanted to create a modern capsule collection inspired by memorable styles from our history that represented milestone moments for the brand and embody the DNA of our house style,” says Tamara Mellon, OBE founder and Chief Creative Officer.
JIMMY CHOO XV is a commemorative coffee table book which highlights these 15 iconic, archival shoes and anthologizes their creation through design sketches, editorial images, red carpet shots and house photography.


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a sneak peek and a chance to win a copy of the book mentioned above via the Vogue Influence Network. I was not compelled to write about it and I did not receive any monetary compensation or a pair of Jimmy Choos, which I would have welcomed in a size 8.5, by the way. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Heart of Haiti: Trade, Not Aid


Heart of Haiti is an amazing collection of handmade goods at Macy's that lets you feel good about shopping. Not just because you have fabulous taste– which is obvious, dahling!– but also because the Haitian artisans who create the collection receive half of the wholesale price from each piece. This initiative, a partnership between Macy's, Fair Winds Trading and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, allows the artisans to foster self-sufficiency and helps them to become an important part in rebuilding the economic infrastructure of Haiti. Much of the Heart of Haiti collection is steeped in folklore and tradition, so showcasing it in select Macy's stores nationwide makes the artisans de facto cultural ambassadors for their country. I hate the term "win-win" but it definitely fits, in this case!


I have long been a fan of folk art and handmade goods, so I was really excited to be asked to review an item from the Heart of Haiti collection. They have a wide selection of jewelry, sculpture, housewares and textiles so it was hard to choose one thing! I remembered an intricately carved firescreen in a magazine years ago (before I had kids…) and being impressed that something so ornate and delicate could be made from repurposed steel drums. Incised metalwork is a craft that has a long history in Haiti so I decided to choose the Heart of Haiti Songbird Picture Frame for my review. In person, it is even more lovely than I had hoped.


Choosing a photo to encase in this frame was hard! I didn't know if I should use it on a snapshot or a Gocco print from my collection. I decided I would put one of my favorite pictures of Roo in it, showing her as a toddler, leaning against one of her daddy's big wooden sculptures. It seemed to strike a nice balance between art and home life, what do you think?


I love the way it looks against my chartreuse office walls!

The process the artisans use to create the metalwork is really interesting. They make a template on a flattened sheet of metal and then pierce it and emboss it to render a dimensional effect. This video gives you an overview:




See more videos on the Heart of Haiti site at Macy's about metal working, painted wood and papier mache artisans.


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the frame pictured above to facilitate this review, which is part of a Fair Winds Trading/Heart of Haiti awareness campaign by EverywhereRest assured, however, that all opinions are– as usual– entirely my own.


Friday, October 07, 2011

My Super Deluxe Loaner Car


All right. It's incredibly unlike me to take photos of a loaner car but I just had to document the luxurious ride that was bestowed upon me when I took my beloved car in for routine maintenance after our recent impromptu 3000 mile+ road trip. They gave me a new Jaguar to drive. For real. I don't know what they were thinking, either.




Isn't it pretty? So shiny. Even inside. The interior felt like a cockpit. Take that how you will.


It has push-button ignition, which triggers the electronics to power up and the brushed steel air vents pop open like something from a sci-fi movie. 


Off.



On.

Note the funky knob. It lays flush to the console when the car is in park and then pops up because you dial the gears. How awesome is that? Pretty awesome, my friends. Way more fun than I'd like to admit.



Meow!

I was sorry to have to give this bad boy back, although my SUV is cozy and well-loved. Someday, we'll meet again…


Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - More Halloween Options










Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?