Now I Understand

For the past week I've been intrigued with a very popular personality test, the Temperament Character Intelligence Test by David Keirsey.

I have done so many personality quizzes in my life, but often they have answers that can be said about anyone. This is by far the most accurate personality test I have ever done. The testing is very intense, with 70 questions to answer. It then tells you which temperament you are, and even more specific which of the four types within each temperament you are.

After you find out which temperament you are, you can read all about yourself. The book , "Please Understand Me" goes into details on everything from your most likely parenting traits, the ways you deal with stress, best job fits, and even mating compatibility (arguing patterns, etc).

My boyfriend and I each did the test. I was declared an Idealist, more specifically a Teacher. Wes was diagnosed (yes I sound medical) a Guardian, more specifically a tie between an Inspector and Protector.

Even though the test doesn't say we're the most compatible pair, it helped us understand each other's patterns, such as our romance and time management habits. I was amazed at how accurate the test was. Many are doubtful of how accurate the test is, but it fits my boyfriend and I to a "T".

I suggest you try it out, and see for yourself! But obviously take the compatibility tests with a grain of salt! (Aka. Don't dump your partner because you don't fit in the most compatible pair section, unless it's a coverup for the real reason you've been wanting to break up) !

Bud Light. Just Right.

Yesterday I watched the Cannes Lions ad winners at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. I was impressed with the incredible display of creativity like usual. I didn't laugh as loud as last year but there were more well done serious ads and PSAs this year.

I do enjoy watching serious ones if they make you think or make you emotional. Many of them this year tugged on my heart strings and made me think again about certain issues. I was ecstatic to see the Canadian Cancer Society's Fight Back campaign in the winners because it is one of my favourites. Beware if you watch it though because it is very emotional and heart wrenching.

On to a lighter note! Bud Light had some really funny ads on the winning list! This campaign promotes their beer as "not too heavy and not too light...just right!" This one is my favourite of the campaign and I don't think it was a winner at the Cannes but it is hilarious! Check it out! And if you have time check out the rest of the campaign on YouTube!

A Walk On the Waterfront

This fall I designed a calendar in my desktop publishing class. My theme was a walk in the Exchange District, but more specifically, on the Waterfront. I had fun shooting photos in the Exchange and thought I would post some of them on my blog!

Hair Grows Like Weeds

In my advertising class at Red River College, I created a campaign for a local client, Berns & Black Salon & Spa. My target audience is female RRC students who want to look good, but can't afford to get their hair cut and styled often because of tight finances. Since I fit into this target audience, I developed a campaign that would attract me to the salon. Out came my "Hair Grows Like Weeds" campaign. Here are some of the creative pieces included in my campaign. Oh and thanks to my gorgeous models, Melissa and Jenn. You were fantastic!

Kleenex Launches Cute PR Campaign

I am really excited to write this post on Kleenex's latest crack at public relations and their newest brand image. I saw Kleenex's new ad campaign on TV tonight. Take a look:



The "Softness Worth Sharing" campaign is really cool because it encourages you to go to the Kleenex website and send a specially designed Kleenex box to anyone across North America! FOR FREE! It's a "pass-it-along" campaign where you can trace how far the chain reaches.

Last night I sent a cute Kleenex box to my mom! And hopefully she'll follow suit and send one to someone else and so on... it's a cute idea, and 623841 packs have already been sent across North America! I love this sort of thing so I am excited to tell all my friends and watch the chain grow!

This publicity stunt is a great idea by Kleenex, and it definitely positions their newer brand image in consumers' minds. It makes me feel that Kleenex cares about relationships and spreading friendship this holiday season. After seeing this campaign, I feel Kleenex is "cute","caring" and "fun", oh and it makes me feel sentimental sending a surprise to my mom! I can't wait to hear her reaction!

Way to get the public involved, Kleenex!!

Standing Strong & True

Since today is Remembrance Day, I decided to post this video of a song called "Standing Strong & True." It features cameos from many great Canadian country artists, and it is a wonderful song. It's the perfect way to think about our Canadian soldiers right now and those who fought for our country years ago.

Beyond the City Lights

Since I attend Red River College in downtown Winnipeg, I had to move to the city for school. I'm not cut out for the city life and I really miss living on a farm. I miss the smells, the beauty, the solitude and mostly the peacefulness of nature. When I get the chance to leave the city lights and head for my hometown, I take it! I took these pictures on the way out to my boyfriend's farm a few weekends ago.

If an Ad Gives You Shivers, it's Fantastic

Last week I did a speech on "Alcohol in Advertising" and it reminded me of quite possibly one of my favourite ads of all time. I may be biased because a. I'm patriotic, b. I love hockey, and c. I love the outdoors. But this ad gives me shivers every time I watch it. It makes me so proud to be Canadian and I know this is what they were going for, but why fight it? It's the truth, this ad works. And I'm not ashamed to say this, I love this ad for Molson Canadian. To prove how great this ad is, I'll let you in on a secret. My boyfriend is an avid Bud fan and he admitted to me that when he saw this ad he loved it so much that he bought Molson Canadian the next time he was at the vendor. But...that was the one and only time he bought Molson.

Word of Mouth Works?

Last Monday, I did a market research assignment for my advertising class at Polo Park Shopping Centre. According to my teachers, this is still an important part of any ad campaign. In this case I wasn't working on a campaign, but just observing shoppers' habits and how stores advertise in the mall. As part of my market research, I spent about 45 minutes in David’s Tea observing the customers’ behaviour and watching how the store clerk sold products to consumers. I learned a lot about the company, David’s Tea, and the marketing they rely on.

The store clerk informed me that David’s Tea does absolutely no print, radio, or TV advertising. David’s Tea relies on word of mouth and the internet, which is definitely working for them. David Segal opened the first store in 2008 in Toronto and now there are over 35 stores across Canada.

From my personal experience, I know that word of mouth marketing is proving to be successful for their company. I heard about David’s Tea through a friend and also through Twitter. Many new companies starting up are taking this fresh approach and spending less money on paid advertising. David's Tea can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and also a site called Steepster.com where people can rate teas. David’s Tea also has a website that is consistently updated and interactive. They encourage people to buy tea online.

Since the company does no print or TV advertising, it is important that the salespeople are very helpful and leave a good impression in consumers' minds when they leave the store. It made me think that the company probably spends more time and consideration on the hiring process. I tested this theory out to see how good the salespeople were. I didn’t know anything about the brand so I asked many questions and sampled several teas. The woman working was very helpful and very persuasive. I had to try very hard to leave the store with no purchased tea in my hands. The store clerk’s knowledge of the products and her friendliness really made my shopping experience at that store.

This market research has led me to believe that this method of marketing can obviously work, but the company has to be confident in their store’s service. It also made me think about specialty stores versus franchise businesses. For example, Walmart does an ample amount of advertising on TV, print, and radio. But, they don’t offer the exceptional one-on-one service to consumers that David’s Tea does. Therefore, consumers won't feel compelled to refer others to the store.

Autumn Colours

Here are some pictures I took at the Seddons Corner gravel pits a few weekends ago. The trees were all changing colours and it was so beautiful with the lighting, I couldn't pass the opportunity up! Autumn is one of my favourite times of year and I'm sad that it's almost over.

"The Paraben Shop" and "Bath & Paraben Works"

Since working on a campaign for an environmentally friendly hair salon, Berns & Black, my eyes have been opened to the terrible world of parabens. I had never heard of parabens before I began this campaign for a school project.

I always hear people say they use organic hair and body products, but I never know exactly what that means and I have never heard someone say they use "paraben free" products. So I have done some research and looked into the research that my peers Jenn and Megan have done. So to sum it up for you in layman's terms, I've learned that parabens are harmful preservatives used in cosmetics to make them last longer on the shelf. But, they have been linked very strongly recently to breast cancer.

This is not something to take lightly because breast cancer claims the lives of about 100 Canadian women every week, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. So, for those of you that are thinking "well everything is linked to cancer" as you read this, remember there have been studies done and they have research to prove that parabens are harmful. So why take the risk? Why not choose to use paraben free products in hopes that it may be one more thing preventing you from getting to know the scary disease known as cancer? It's not hard to do.

Okay, I'll admit, it is hard to do. But it will be worth it if it's what stops you from taking a seat in the chemo chair. But, I feel for you and understand how hard it is to find out your favourite cosmetic is loaded with parabens and have to part with it.

I did a bathroom scan tonight and found out that my FAVOURITE perfumes and lotions contained the harmful preservatives. Every single Bath & Body Works and Body Shop product I own has parabens in it. This was like taking a punch to my stomach because I am a total scent person. I LOVE SMELLS. It is my favourite of the five senses. Unfortunately, I found out tonight that my favourite smelling products, Chanel and Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom both are both on the paraben hit list.
So afterwords I felt regret and wished I had not done the bathroom scan. But, I know in the long run it will benefit me and if anything raise my awareness.

One more thing before I sign off: I was SHOCKED that every single Body Shop product I own has parabens in it because they are always boasting about being natural and good for the environment! BOGUS! In their defense though, I have heard that most of their newer products don't contain parabens. So the best advice I can give you is always look at the labels when purchasing cosmetics and GO DO A BATHROOM SCAN! You'll be shocked!

Would you recognize Warehouse One's new logo if it didn't have their name beside it? I didn't.


I remember their older logos:




Yes, I think it was smart of them to rebrand themselves and choose a new logo. It almost makes them look like a new, more hip brand. This could be very helpful for them because many people don't think of the store as trendy. People that have never heard of Warehouse One might look at their logo and website and find it appealing.

The reason why I'm blogging about this is because I saw a billboard on Notre Dame Ave in Winnipeg for Warehouse One and I had no idea what the ad was for. The billboard just had the logo and if you looked hard enough you could tell the background was the texture of jeans. I was completely boggled. Yes, I was intrigued and it did catch my attention, but how is it effective if there was no way I could find out what it was for. If there was a website that would have been effective. But, there was no way I could look up the logo online. It was frustrating. I'm assuming that was what they were going for because yes now I'm advertising for them by blogging about it.

Oh, and to finish the story, the way I found out what it was for finally was simply by driving past their store on Portage Ave. If someone saw this ad and didn't drive past the store, they would have no idea what the ad was for.

Oreos Touch my Heart

This is an ad for Oreos that I keep seeing on TV and I love it! When I first saw it it almost seemed like it was an ad for Skype or another online chat system, but nope it was for Oreos! It's a smart ad because it strays from the obvious and works on tugging the viewer's heart strings instead. Also, it gives the viewer a positive image of Oreo, which is great for the brand! I think it's a very cute and smart ad, what do you think?

My New Haircut

I know this blog post may seem very self-centered...because in a way it is, it's about my haircut. But, that's not the point of this post. The reason I posted my new haircut on here is because in my advertising class I am creating a campaign for Berns & Black Salons & Spa on Main Street. And today was part of my research stage, the fun stage! I booked a hair appointment with one of the salon's newest hairdressers and went to Berns & Black after school to experience the magic!

So you ask me: was I impressed?

Drumroll please.... ding ding ding, YES!

I was very happy with the results and even more happy with the Future Professionals program where they offer Red River college students haircuts for only $20! With the extra $20 I would normally have spent on my hair, I bought an environmentally friendly parabin free smoothing balm, by Kevin Murphy.

So all in all, it was a good experience. The scalp massage was SO good while she was washing my hair and it was a very welcoming environment. I encourage you to check out Berns & Black, especially if you are a Red River student (because there's nothing students love better than a discount!)

The Smell of Fall

Now that I'm living in Winnipeg again for school, I am missing my farm and the country life terribly. But, when I do get a break from the homework and a chance to drive to East Braintree it's even better because of the wait.

Two weekends ago I had the chance to head out to the place I grew up and since my boyfriend was bow hunting I jumped on the opportunity to spend the sunny afternoon shooting. I hopped on a quad, grabbed the camera I borrowed from school and created my own adventure. Here are some of the pictures of my farm that I was able to capture.

Inspired for the Year Ahead!

Cutting out magazine pictures and creating collages (or in ad speak: mood boards, improv, and charades. Sounds like grade eight all over again for me! Today I realised that I made the right choice in choosing advertising as my major in Creative Communications.

I feel like I can breathe and smile at the same time after today. I am really enjoying being a part of the 2011 advertising class. Now that we're immersing ourselves in the major campaign project of the year for Berns & Black Salons & Spa I am reminded of why I chose advertising. It is so interesting and I love brainstorming with others who also love thinking creatively to come up with brilliant and successful ads! Whether we're learning about ways to force ourselves to use the right side of the brain or playing improv, advertising has been fun and exciting so far! I

Today for the first time ever I was encouraged to have disorganized, shmozzled notes! I never thought I'd ever hear that! (I am constantly apologizing for my messy notes) Apparently it's a useful method to get your right(creative) side of the brain working! Who knew!

I just had to share my enthusiasm for the year ahead, and with that I will share with you an ad I keep seeing on TV that I really enjoy, tell me what you think!

Advertising: may cause more accidents than texting

Often I hear myself thinking, "unfortunately we don't get to experience the hilarious, risky and controversial ads like Europeans and many others around the world get to do. Some are mind boggling, others downright comical and even make you want to blink and look again to reassure yourself you're not seeing things. An example is this Burger King ad.

But, this time I find myself thinking, "fortunately we don't have the wild ads that are found in other parts of the globe, like this new billboard found in Britain."

Yes, it's an ad for Wonderbra. And yes, it is in 3D. The same technology James Cameron used in Avatar was used on this billboard to make the model's "TaTas" jump out at the motorist. We're told texting and driving is dangerous, but ogling at a monster sized airbrushed model with perfectly shaped "TaTas" while driving isn't?

Okay, you got me! I am being ridiculously extreme and if you want my real opinion I don't think it is that distracting, but then again I'm a woman and don't see it the way men do. But, I do think it's a pretty smart ad done by Wonderbra. There you have it, now what do you think?

i-What?

iPad.
This is the first Apple product I have had the fortune of getting my hands on. EVER. Yes, sometimes I feel like I live in the stone ages. I have never owned an iPod, iPhone, or Mac computer...

I was an Apple virgin until this week when our advertising class was given iPads. I know what you're thinking, "You were given an iPad??" In one word, yes. Well, okay it's not mine but for this whole school year I get to share an iPad with my friend Megan (also an ad major).

Megan is also in the same boat as I am. We both own PC's and don't live in a Macintosh world like the rest of our peers. So we are going to learn how to use the iPad together!

The shared iPad has been in my possession for three days now. I have to admit I have only used it three times in those three days. But, it is fairly neat and even more fun now that I have downloaded some apps for it. I don't have much to say at the moment because I am still in the learning process, but I am shocked at the types of apps you can buy! You can buy an app for absolutely EVERYTHING.

And let's just say I wasn't expecting to have "explicit" apps show up when I searched for free ones... and even funnier yet is the fact that I didn't know what I was doing and clicked on an app called "Unlimited Sex Facts". Yes, it downloaded. And two minutes later my room mate whose iTunes account I use (no, I do not have iTunes, I know I'm in the stone ages) laughed and said to me, "watch out what you buy on that iPad, I get receipts emailed to me for every app purchased, or free"!

She was unaware of the free app that I just downloaded, but instead of confessing to her I giggled to myself and thought, she's going to have a chuckle when she reads her emails!

Chicago Architecture Continued..

These fountains in Millenium Park were so fun! They are very large fountain towers that have video footage of Chicago residents' faces on them at all times and they spit water out of their mouths!











This is the largest commercial building in the world, don't ask me what is in it because I didn't get a chance to ask but it is HUGE! We saw it along the river on the architecural cruise.


Of course, the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower, but don't call it that in Chicago) is the most spectactular piece of architecture in the beautiful city. On 103rd floor of the tower you can see four states!









And of course, my personal favourite piece of architecture in the 'Little Apple', the Blackhawks Store!