If you have 6 minutes today, watch Tom Brokaw explaining Canada to the Americans. Makes you proud to be Canadian.
Our fieldtrip to watch Steven and Chris
We decided to take an afternoon off to go watch the taping of Steven and Chris. Interesting experience.
Our name didn't end up being on the list, but we got in anyways. So wasn't a full house. Everyone was treated really well in the waiting area - getting makeup done or makeup touchups. (See photo of Lisa getting hers touched up)
On Set with camera guys:
Waiting for taping to begin (Danica and Lisa):
Segments featured handbags, nutrition, herb gardening and carpet dying. The handbag segment was loved by all as they showed bags from Zellers at $19.99 to Valentino and Chanel with pricing in the $1000s.
As in all shows, there are always a few disappointments when you get to understand the behind the scenes action. For example, the "Fashion Expert" with the handbags - wasn't really more than an actress - the producer had shopped for the bags, and handed her the Q-cards with the script.
All in all, it was a fun afternoon.
Thomas Bata remembered
Thomas J. Bata, Shoemaker to the World, died on Monday in Toronto at the age of 93. This isn't normally something I would mention on here, except that he is such a big part of my personal history.
At the age of 15, I worked in a Bata store in Ottawa. When I moved to Toronto for school, I transferred to the Eaton Centre location. Upon graduation,I accepted an industrial design job at the Bata head office designing athletic shoes. This changed into a trend forecasting/ marketing job over the years. On my decision to start my own agency, they quickly became one of my first clients, where I continued to do product development and brand marketing.
I have often said that Mr. Bata basically paid my way through school, allowed me to see the world, and gave me every opportunity to be successful.
I liked Mr. Bata's optimism - He saw people not wearing shoes in Africa - he saw this as an opportunity and not as a stumbling block.
I remember sitting in a meeting one day, where Mr. Bata was upset about a marketing campaign that was being presented. It was a campaign showing "lifestyle" instead of product. He was adament - "WE SELL SHOES not PEOPLE". But I learned something that day - customers ALWAYS want to see their product come to life in their ads and marketing materials. Don't try and be so clever that you forget what you are selling.
Thanks Mr. Bata. You will be remembered.
Beijing_Olympic Stadium
As a Canadian, I am mortified at our lack of medals, ... but despite all that, I am still intrigued with how China puts on an event - especially with all the controversy that surrounds it.
But what really intrigues me is the architecture of the stadium - very well done!!
wow....look how far we have come.
I really have not much to say, other then wow.....I'm glad tech toys have come a long way in 20 years.
I really have no purpose to this blog, other then I can't believe at one point in time that this would have been the "ideal" set up!
WOW.........we have sure come a long way.
Amazing Resort on Nauri
Beautiful resort opening in 2010 on Nauri which is northeast of Abu Dhabi city.
These are some of the private residential estate
Living in one of these would be amazing, those blue waters. Maybe not so much privacy and a huge price tag though! €20millon, which is like $31 Million Canadian.
something cool for the summer heat...
Cool Shooters - Ice Shot Glasses
If there's never enough ice in the glass for you, here's the perfect solution. Shot glasses made of ice! Simply fill the silicone mold with water, freeze, and then pop out four fully-formed frozen shot glasses.
Available from the Spoon Sisters
This would be fun for a summer party, beat the heat a little!
Decorative Door Knobs
Everytime I am in LA, one of my first stops is on the Santa Monica Boulevard to see Anthropologie. (and now their online store ships to CANADA!!). Not that I have ever really bought a whole lot, but it is a great place to get creative inspiration for all types of projects.
One example are these door knobs:
New trend.....?
Ummmmmmm..... not sure if i will get into this kind of trend but you never know.
Seems that Italian design firm SugarKane is putting out new styles of glasses that are asymmetrical.
Not much is said online about them, but I can bet you big bucks that these will be BIG cash!
