If I hear that pig one more time...

Ever since I was little, I have considered myself something of a commercial critic.  I would commentate with my dad about the quality of the commercial and if the marketers were accomplishing what they had intended.  At a young age, mostly we were discussing the level of annoyance.  Now that I am older, have some knowledge about "branding," and am married to a man with a marketing mind, my commercial critiquing has reached a whole new level.

Chic-fil-A are marketing geniuses.  The slogan and the mischievous cows are clever, but the manner in which the company uses them is utter brilliance.  I cannot recall a single advertisement for Chic-fil-A that does not incorporate the cows.  They have cow plush, cow calendars, cow table decorations and cow ads throughout the restaurant.  When Chic-fil-A introduced the new spicy breakfast sandwich, they didn't draw up a whole new marketing plan; they gave the cow a coat.    They have truly branded themselves and their marketing techniques.

Geico on the other hand... how many mascots and marketing schemes can they create?!?  First it was the gecko- a good idea I thought.  Then they introduce the caveman with new slogan.  I was not a fan particularly because they already had a marketing plan, but I also found these commercials annoying.  I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe they were introducing a new advertising strategy and phasing out the gecko.  Nope.  Next thing I know, they release another commercial series with the man in a suit and cut-aways.  Seriously?  To give Geico credit, the Abe Lincoln ad was entertaining and the piggy going wee wee wee all the way home was funny.  But it diverted from their original branding strategy.  Now I find that all the gecko commercials with the ignorant old man indicate the company's own ignorance, I rarely see a caveman commercial, and if I hear that pig one more time I'm going to choke somebody.

Has my dining at Chic-fil-A increased because of their marketing?  Probably not, but it does cause me to give their billboards a second look.  Will I ever switch to Geico?  Not on your life.

Heroes: Stage Design

This past Sunday was the first of a 9 week, church wide series at Southern Hills called "Heros."  Each week we are looking at a hero from the Old Testament leading up to Jesus on Easter Sunday.  Several weeks ago I began building the stage set for the All Stars, our children's ministry.  After the volunteer's banquet on Saturday night, I began setting it up.  With a few hitches, help from Corey, and some much appreciated insight from Kevin Jarrett, it all came together.  Here's a few pictures to give you an idea, but the depth of the set is lost.  To get the full effect, you'll have to come check it out personally!

For those who might find it helpful, here are the logistics of the set- The Pow, Bam, Boom, and Batman logo are made of insulation foam board.  I used foam board because it is light, easy to work with, and adds a dimension to the piece.  You can purchase this at Lowes or Home Depot.  It comes in varying thickness.  Your project (and budget) will determine what thickness will be best.  For these pieces I used 3/4 inch foam board.  I projected the images onto the board, traced it, cut it out using a hot knife and jig saw, and finally painted it with your basic acrylic paints.  (Most insulation foam board has a plastic sheet on it that needs to be peeled off prior to painting.)  Pow, Bam, and Batman are hung with fishing line from the frame of the ceiling.  For the Batman logo, I simply used duck-tape to attach the fishing line to the back of the foam board.  The Boom is actually 3D itself, with the "Boom" and yellow explosion each being two pieces thick and the black background is one (which I should have also made two thick so that it would be more stable, but hindsight is 20/20).  Foam board glue must be used with insulation foam board; other adhesives will eat through the styrofoam.

The city silhouette is cut out of thin plywood.  (I believe it's called polywood, but that might not be right.  It's whatever the cheapest 4x8 sheet of wood is at Lowes).  It is 10 inches away from the wall, screwed into a 2x4 that we nailed onto the floor.  It stands on its own fairly well, but to add stability we added a 10 inch piece of 2x4 towards the top and middle.  The lit windows of the city are mailing labels that we printed all yellow and cut into squares.  The starburst behind the city is the back of a canvas we used for a previous series.  It is hung from its grommets with picture hooks.  Behind the city is a rope light that adds another dimension to the set and makes the city "glow."

I miss you still.

Two months after moving, I continue to miss my MACU friends.  I really enjoy being in Georgia and am making friends fast, but there is nothing like a college campus.

Living on campus, people are always around.  If we wanted to be with people, we simply walked across the field.  We thoroughly enjoy having people over and at MACU our apartment was hang-out central.  Once we had 30 some people over throughout the entire night, 20 at one time.  I don't miss having to restock my fridge all the time, but I do miss the campus atmosphere.

I miss the banquets, play practices, evening services, quality chapels, open dorms, basketball games,... There always seemed to be something going on.

Students would often drop by my office throughout the day seeking advice, a listening ear, or just to chat.  I enjoyed listening to their thoughts and miss the random conversations.

Wandering the halls of the women's dorm, I never knew what would happen.  Would I stumble into a hot mess of drama that needed a mediator?  Would a student need encouragement to get off the phone and get on her homework?  Would I find myself with a group of girls giggling ourselves silly?  Would a random group of us block the entire hallway as we sat on the floor talking about everything and yet nothing at all?  I miss the MACU ladies.

I miss eating lunch in the Dining Hall, hearing people laughing, singing "drunken" birthday wishes, and witnessing the future of the church interacting with some of the greatest minds I know.

I miss the professors.  I miss Dr. Fields' quirky personality and vast knowledge.  I miss McKinney's genuineness, accurate empathy, and unconditional positive regard.  I miss Dr. Bob's heart for the students.  I miss Amanda's encouragement and ability to brighten any day.  And Larsen was just getting comfortable with me!

I especially miss the crew, the handful of students with whom Corey and I spent the majority of our free time.  The few who even when I needed to get away from people I still wanted around.  I miss how all our individual personalities meshed together and interacted; we all had our own oddities that kept things interesting.  Fitting everyone into our small living room was always a feat.  Deciding what we were going to do was practically impossible, but lent itself to adventures we couldn't have planned.  Home-made boats, exercise ball battles, Nerf gun wars, wrestling matches, walks on east campus and around town, putting together a puzzle, board games, weird crafts, standing in the kitchen discussing theology and life and generally sharing in it together.  The crew became my second family and I miss them dearly.

As much as I continue to miss the MACU community, I am glad to be here in Georgia.  I know God has called Corey and I here and I am confident that He has a plan for those still in North Carolina.  I'm glad we were all together for a time and look forward to getting together again to talk about how God is working through each of us.

Creeper?

Tonight I went to a fundraiser at a local shop called The Nest.

My friend introduced me to the owners, a mother and daughter, when I first moved to the area and I finally stopped in last week.  I was surprised that they remembered me and was enthralled with the shop's quaint and artistic atmosphere.  On display was a skirt that I couldn't stop thinking about; two days later I was back to get a closer look and I talked to the daughter who actually made the piece.

Over the weekend Corey informed me that The Nest was hosting a fundraiser event for the local hospital.  It was a girls only, bingo, pajama party and I didn't want to miss it!  I invited one of my new friends to go with me, but due to circumstances beyond her control she had to cancel.  At first I was hesitant to go alone, but the thought of meeting new people and having a good time with other ladies from the community overcame my fears.  I donned my leopard print fleece pants and headed out the door.

I had a great time!  I exchanged small talk with the owners, wandered around the store, ate a few snacks, learned about heart disease in women, and played bingo.  When I got home, I posted a few short video clips from the night on Facebook to share my adventure with my friends.

The night went on.

Then I'm laying in bed, recalling the evening and I stop...

and I wonder...

Could they think I'm some type of creeper?  Because from their perspective...
I came in twice in one week.
And then a third time for their after-hours fundraiser.
I was the only person who commented on their Facebook post about the event.
I came alone.
I didn't say much to really anyone but them.
I posted two videos within an hour of the event.
I sent them a friend request.
And I blogged about it at 1am.

Hmmm...

Yeah... maybe.

Or maybe I'm just really good for business.

Girls Only: Part Two

Check out Part One before reading Part Two!

Love your hair

Ok, this I certainly know something about.  If you know anything about me, or even just see me, you know I care about my hair.  I could be dressed to the nines, but that doesn't amount to a hill of beans if I'm having a bad hair day.  A bad haircut and I feel in the dumps for two weeks.  Hair is important!  Now, it may not be as important to you as it is to me, but no one can deny how a good hair day lifts one's spirits.  And if you are one of those ladies who couldn't care less about your hair (and trust me, we know who you are) you should try loving your hair and see if it changes your confidence level.

First and foremost, find a hairdresser you like and stick with her.  She will come to know your hair intimately, how you style it, what products you use and what products may work better, how much volume it has, what other styles may be better suited for your hair and face shape, how much you are willing to "risk" and change when it comes to your most important accessory.  A knowledgable hairdresser is one of your best fashion tools.

Communicate with your hairdresser.  No one knows what you want better than you.  Bring in pictures to give her an idea of what you are looking for and don't be afraid to ask her to change something.  Even if she is totally offended (which she won't be), you will leave the salon and she won't give your haircut a second thought.  You on the other hand have to face yourself everyday so leave happy.

Beauty magazines instruct women not to care about the price of a good haircut and to some extent, I agree.  However, not all of us are rolling deep in the green and have no choice but to consider the cost.  So instead I suggest that you find a hairdresser you like and tip her generously.  A happy hairdresser will make time for you, be more open to criticism and requests, and be willing to take the extra time to ensure your happiness with your do.

You wear it everyday so love your hair.

Love yourself

All the clothes in the world and the perfect hair day won't do squat if you first don't love yourself.  Sure, those things may help make some days better than others, but it is only temporary.  The root of the issue is women accepting themselves.

I know this is easier (MUCH easier) said than done and I still have to grow in this area as well.  A lot has been said on this topic and I'm sure the typical advice, cliches, and mantras are already running through your mind.   So instead of giving you the run of the mill answers here, I'd like to share one practice that has helped me overcome a lot of my own insecurities.

Early in my marriage, I began getting ready for the day in the nude.  A book I read suggested such and I thought I'd give it a try.  At first it was weird and awkward; I felt exposed (obviously) and vulnerable (can you feel vulnerable with yourself?).  But slowly I became comfortable with myself.  Without trying I focused less on what I viewed as imperfections and began seeing the whole.  I noticed little unique features I wouldn't have otherwise and gained an appreciation for the body God gave me.  Then one day I found myself struggling to find an outfit that did my naked figure justice.  I certainly don't feel like this every day, but through this practice I have become very comfortable with my body and have shed a lot of my insecurities.  I now know my body very well and that knowledge has impacted my confidence more than I could have imagined. At times I still lack confidence, I still compare myself to others, I still become jealous, I still feel undesirable, but the frequency is less and has become much more manageable.  I owe it all to the 45 minutes I spend with my bare self every day.

Love others

God designed us to be others focused.  When we love on others, when we compliment and encourage our girlfriends, when we take a friend out who couldn't otherwise afford to, when we listen to someone in need, when we take the focus off of ourselves, God fills us with an unquenchable joy.  Being a servant is fulfilling.  One of the simplest ways I do this is by complimenting strangers.  Being caught off guard, they welcome my compliment and smile.  I'm glad to bring a little joy to their lives, but I believe I get more out of this small act than they do.  What is something you can do on a regular basis to take the focus off of yourself and love others?

As I said, I am no expert when it comes to being comfortable and confident in my own skin, but I've learned a few things, read a few books, picked up a few tips from magazines, and over time overcome a lot of my own insecurities.  I hope that something I've put into practice over the past few years can assist you in your journey.  And I could still use some improvement so if you have other confidence boosting practices, please share!

By the way, you look amazing today!

Girls Only: Part One

This is just for my female readers.  Seriously guys, stop reading.  I promise if you keep reading you'll find yourself bored and wondering if you were reading my blog or Cosmo.  Go back to your sports while the ladies and I have a heart to heart.  Thanks!

When it comes to confidence in our bodies, the female gender is lacking across the board.  We don't accept compliments well, we shy away from anything that may bring our physical "imperfections" to light, we pay boo-koo bucks on cosmetic surgery and items that will cover, tuck, lift, enlarge, decrease, darken, smooth, accentuate and understate our features.  Men are attracted to confident women (not conceited, confident).  I believe all women want to be confident not just for the guys, but for ourselves.  I don't claim to be an expert by any means when it comes to fashion, style, or feeling comfortable in my own skin.  However, I have picked up on a couple things in the past few years and adopted some practices that I find to be helpful in my own confidence level and I would like to share these with my sisters.

Love your wardrobe

Don't buy an article of clothing that you aren't in love with.  It shouldn't matter if the price tag is $100 or $1, if you don't love it don't buy it.  You aren't getting a "deal" on a $15 top marked down to $3 if you'll never wear it.  Don't trick yourself; that "deal" top that doesn't fit just right but you feel you can't pass up because of the savings is cluttering your wardrobe and bringing you down.  Once it's in your closet, the price tag doesn't matter.  You don't stand before your clothes and think, "I only paid a dollar for this top!  I'm totally wearing it today!"  You care about the fit and how it makes you feel.  The top that makes you feel fantastic (heck even the grungy yet comfortable hoodie) will always win over the "deal" top that cuts circulation off to your arms.

(Side note- I am not advocating spending astronomical amounts of cash for your wardrobe.  I always go straight for the clearance racks at stores and look at the price tags before I try a thing on.  Price does matter when it comes to my bank account, so I try to prevent myself from falling in love with something I can't afford.)

Wear cute underthings.  Stop buying the cheap grannie panties and buy something that you will feel good in.  It doesn't matter if no one will see them.  This is not for some man; it is for you!  Buy bras you like and that fit properly.  I used to spend a pretty penny on "good bras" that I never felt attractive in and if later decided I didn't like, felt guilty for not wearing.  Now I shop for my bras at Ross, spending only 6 to 12 dollars.  If I later find I don't like the way it fits, no big deal.  But more often than not, I love how they fit and how I feel in them.  And as an added bonus, I can purchase more for my money and they last just as long as my other pricey brassieres.  So treat yourself to something that will make you feel beautiful/girly/cute/sexy/desirable.  Actually, treat yourself to a whole drawer full!

Remember, it's for you!  You dressed up today just because you felt like it.  You curled your hair because you wanted to feel exceptionally pretty today.  You wore stilettos and lace underthings with your jeans and hoodie because you wanted to feel comfortable and sexy.

**Stay tuned for Part Two!**

Google Shout-Out

Corey and I have become strong google advocates.  Why?  Where to begin?!?

Two words- Google Chrome.  Google Chrome is an amazing browser that you should download right now!  Google Chrome allows multiple tabs to be open at once along with the ability to change their order.  The user can move a separate window into a tab on another window.  Google Chrome remembers the most frequently visited sites and when a blank tab is opened, shows them for quick access.  Closed tabs can be reopened.  Bookmarks are easily accessible.  Google Chrome eliminates unnecessary browser features providing more screen space.  The url navigation and search bars are one in the same.  There are LOADS of short cuts and it is generally faster.  Have you still not downloaded it?  What are you waiting for?!?

After downloading Google Chrome, you should create a Google account.  With one log-in and password, you will have access to a myriad of services.  For example, with a google account you now have a youtube account, which will track your history and you can make playlists with.  You have the potential to have a blog.  You have a calendar, which you can share with others.  You could have a g-mail account.  My favorite (and the real inspiration of this post), you have a reader.

With Google Reader, all the sites you go to individually to check for updates you can follow in one location.  Just plug in the url and not only will your reader notify you when the website updates, but it will also post the update on your reader so you never have to navigate away from the site.  I follow 10 blogs with my reader.  Corey follows 56 different sites!!!

Of course I could go on and on, but why waste your time when you could be discovering it for yourself.  Go, get a google account and explore the possibilities!