Fashion Dream Come True

Have you ever read a magazine like Vogue or Lucky and wished you could buy something you saw in a spread?  But by the time you finish the magazine you don't remember what to look for in the back pages to ever be able to find where to buy that amazing jacket or killer pair of stilettos?  

Well, as magazines move onto the web, things are easier to find.  However, there is no longer a need to go through magazines to find those fashion gems.  Introducing fashion brilliance: POLYVORE.

This online site - that encourages visitors to "Express Your Style"- operates like a collection of magazine spreads but is a user-generated site.  "Sets" (like one-page spreads) are created by dragging backgrounds, accessories and outfits from a list of already there items or from the web in order to create the look you desire.  When Polyvore users surf the Web, they use a tool called the Clipper, downloaded and saved on the toolbar, to select images and save them to Polyvore, where anyone can use them in a collage.  

This can be the perfect way to exercise your inner stylist.

OR, the site can be used to look for inspiration from other fashionistas.  "Sets" are arranged by Top Sets, Top Products, Brands We Love, Hot Trends, Top Sites, and Celebrity Styles.

Here are some examples of Mary-Kate and Ashley inspired looks:

When you click on the items in the set, you are given an image of the item alone as well as a link to purchase it.  Started by three ex-Yahoo engineers, this site makes money by gaining a commission from the items purchased because of their use on the site.  The company is now trying to forge relationships with clothing and accessories sites in return for uploading their product catalogues to the site.  (Read more about the Facts in this NYTimes article.) 

This is a very interesting concept - based on magazine fashion journalism, integrating users to create content, making the internet smaller once again by making it one big boutique.  Registration is free to make your own set, or just use the site to explore, get inspired and shop.  

Check out my Rock N Rose titled set (all the items are from the site):

Tennis - On the Rise or Just a Good Effort?

One of the most influential teachers I've ever had once told me that a successful ad sells what the consumer wants most - not necessarily the specifics of the product/service, but the way it will best change his or her life.

Well, now the competition ridden US Open is selling a heart-filled group of athletes that wish to entertain you to the best of their ability while playing the purest game of tennis achievable - not just the facts of their 10 tournaments.  

The campaign for the Unites States Tennis Association, a handful of 30-second spots, was created by the Martin Agency in Richmond, VA - part of the Interpublic Group.  

The "It must be love" campaign (explanation following) features a dozen of the tennis celebrities that will play in the United States series in the US Open.  The ads, which encourage viewers to "tune in all summer" to ESPN2 (clever), aim to humanize the pros thereby expanding their viewing audience.  (Explanation: America loves celebrities; they do not need to understand the game to be obsessed with someone.)  

Tennis players play a year-long season and devote all of their energy to their passion from a young age to get to the pros.  

In a NYTimes article, Rob Schapiro, creative director at Martin says: 

So we asked ourselves, ‘God almighty, why do they do this?’ ”

The answer, “It must be love,” became the campaign’s tagline. 

The goal of the campaign is to increase the viewing market, as well as increase recreational tennis in the United States - down 34% since 1970.  Tennis has become a niche interest that this campaign attempts to change.  

What do you think?  Will you watch ESPN2 all summer long?  Will you buy a racket?      

MORE.

        

 

"Cross Your Fingers"

Have you ever said "fingers crossed" and hoped it worked?  Why do you place so much trust in your fingers to bring you great amounts of luck?  I've been wondering this a lot lately as I'm resting my future in the hands of my two fingers.  

Well, this old superstitious adage, for those of you who need some reassurance too, comes from early European, pre-Christian times.  It is meant to bring luck and ward off evil spirits.  Back in the day, people believed that a cross was a symbol of unity and that benign spirits dwelt at the intersecting point.  (Hence people crossing themselves, wearing crosses, etc.)  

Then, people began crossing their index and middle fingers to bring their own good luck towards a wish of their own.  (Much like me.)

This gesture is global.  The UK's National Lottery uses crossed fingers in their logo.  So does Virginia and Oregon - talk about a good time to call for luck!      

PS.  You should know that just as lucky as crossing your fingers is, it is equally as unlucky to cross fingers on both hands.  Also, crossing fingers is a sign of lying - so always make sure you can see both sets of hands when someone is promising you something (maybe hold your grooms hands during the 'I Do' part of the ceremony).  

WISH ME LUCK!  (my fingers are getting sore).

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle?

On July 20, 1969, the NASA's Eagle landed on the moon making Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin the first men on the moon. 

Neil, the first to speak up there famously said: 

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Aldrin may not have spoke first, but undisputed sources say he was sure the first man to pee on the moon. 

This landing has endured a lot of speculation about whether or not it's true over the years - since it happened in the midst of a 'space race.'  Now, it's up to be criticized once again.

On Thursday, July 16, 2009, NASA announced that they have LOST the moon-landing footage.  

Umm... are you kidding me?! Shouldn't these be in some tripple-thick glass case somewhere?! Like a museum?  The Space Museum perhaps?  

Apparently not.  In an effort to be a little GREENER, NASA has begun magnetically erasing tapes in order to save money.  Hello, isn't this our advanced, money-bloated government?  Can't they switch the tapes over to digital footage before fancily erasing history?  I don't think my tax money is going to very good use if you're just going to erase it!  

So what now?  A Hollywood-based company Lowry Digital is re-creating them using old CBS news footage.   Yeah, that will keep the conspiracy theorists at bay... not.  

Goodluck smoothing this one over NASA.  A word of advice?  Before you get cheap and follow trends, try keeping up with the times and go digital before you erase history again.  

Installations

Gabriel and Tiago Primo displayed their installation of an outdoor home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday July 9, 2009:    

I love the contrast of the bright colors with the traditional walls along side them... the shots of the people below... the action of them climbing from furniture piece to furniture piece with indoor rock climbing tools... the nonchalant attitude of the artists in their space.  Gotta love people who live for their art, or in it.    

Homemade Tortillas?

Mexican food in Boston is a BIG deal.  So when my BF and I decided to grill some carne asada one night, I decided we might as well go all out.  The meal included the meat, fresh avocado slices (fresh = from Trader Joes on the East Coast), homemade jalepeno/cilantro pesto, black beans with bell peppers and HOMEMADE TORTILLAS!  

It's not like we didn't have any in the fridge already, but I had been holding onto a recipe for DYI tortillas for some time and decided that this dinner, more than any other, called for the extra touch!  Dinner was almost ready when I looked up the recipe and I'll have you know, it took me 10 minutes to make 15 mid-size tortillas, which we happily ate right off the stove.  YUM. 

The key to the tasty goodness - a perfect compliment to spicy foods - was to cook them without any oils on a SUPER HOT pan.  I used a cast iron skillet and made two at a time.  

The recipe is perfect.  I say, if you get it right the first time, try whole-wheat, try mixing in some garlic or some lime zest next time.  That's my next kitchen adventure!    

All it's Chalked up to be

Nike's Livestrong campaign is getting millions involved once again with their Tour de France Chalkbot.  This robotic device was created to 'chalk' (in the signature yellow hue of course) inspirational messages of hope to the athletes while raising spirits, awareness, hope and money for Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation.  

Like the yellow bracelet that so many own, the chalkbot lets you 'own' a piece of the race by encouraging people to TEXT messages that they want to show up on the floor of the race.  They have vehicles delivering the message:

a microsite,

AND a viral video explaining it all and encouraging people to get involved:

People seem to love seeing their texts on the 'big screen' - like on the Jumbotron at sports games- so this will no doubt be a success if enough awareness is raised.  The campaign recognizes the human want for publication with the tagline: 'It's all about YOU.'  Clever.  

The messages sent in (100,000 plus predicted) will look something like this: