Coach isn't traveling coach.

As an avid lover of Coach handbags, I was curiously surprised at the uprooting of many anti-Coach blogs and articles I have found recently. In a time of recession, we should all find ways to cut back our spending habits, and I find Coach to be one indulgence that does not hit my wallet as hard as my other favorite lines. But as I read them, I understand the new dislike of not the genuine Coach that we all know and love, but rather the marketer's new demographic reach for the Coach line called "Poppy."

"Poppy handbags, like most Coach bags, come in bubble gum palettes, metallic,
black and white, and signature and carry the ubiquitous logo. A mishmash, too,
of swing packs, rainbow and peace-sign charms and wristlets, "graffiti" scarves,
flower-shaped rings, headbands, and sequined ballet flats, the line in part
recalls '80s-counterculture-nostalgia crossed with Juicy Couture and Hello
Kitty."

Now being 22 years old, I realize not to purchase handbags in the ranges of a 15 year old demographic. As I have gotten older, I seem to like the nice clean patterns of bags I hope to use for years to come (which Coach still designs) instead of the "trend alerts" of the changing seasons. (Although, that's not to say I do not like some trends.)

Not all Poppy handbags are distasteful. Actually, there are only a hand full I can actually say I dislike. The solid bright patent colors of some of the bags could be well worth a teenager having and getting away with. Just please ladies...don't let me spot you carrying a hot pink patent leather Poppy bag over the age of 18. Pretty please.

Special thanks for the Preppy Princess blog in allowing me to find the followup for Reuters blog on Coach handbags.

saving face

As much as women do not like to admit their flaws, I figure for the sake of sharing an amazing product will be worth the expense of personal horror stories.

Like many women, I have oily skin, and I definitely have no control over it in the triple digit weather we currently have in Memphis. It's like my makeup slides right off from even thinking of going outdoors.

That has all changed since I have been introduced to Cosmedicine's Medi-Matte. I found it from a very informed sales associate at Sephora when I explained my problem, and I am dumbfounded from the results. Just make sure you don't use this product with other moisturisers. I was told it counteracts with the product and is already a lotion.

Happy shine free days!

a few of my favorite things

We all have one. Oprah is famous for hers. Well, I've decided to shed light on the little things that make my life even more enjoyable. :) Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

I don't go anywhere without my planner with me at all times. When it comes to knowing where I'm supposed to be (along with two dozen of soon to be new members of my sorority), I have it covered. Organization (including color coding dates) helps me breathe at the beginning of every day.

No one can go wrong with Lilly Pulitzer stationary. It's cute and it's classy. Currently Lilly was happy enough to make quatrefoil stationary for my sorority. It's on my internet-to-buy list.

MAC makeup is something I can't go a day without. I have numerous eyeshadow shades, and I collect them like trading cards. My staple shade is called "Tempting." It's a neutral brownish gold with a hint of shimmer. I would easily recommend it for any eye color.

Givenchy's Hot Couture perfume is my absolute favorite at the present moment. I received mine as a Christmas gift from dear ole Dad, and I have already used half the bottle. The scent is definitely worth going to the beauty counter for a test strip.

My Coach "Trudie" sunglasses were a steal when I found them on sale during spring break vacation. The are very remencent of the Jackie O era, not to mention with the harsh sun Memphis has seen recently, they are easy on my eyes.

My iPod touch is something I listen to EVERYday. Music is definately something that gets me going in the mornings, helps drive my car from point A to point B, and lets just face it, not everything they play on the radio stations are enjoyable.

my dreams are evolving

When I was young and times were easy, I began picturing the stereotypical visions of any typical teenager. I would, even at 18, still consider my life's order after high school as finishing four years of college, marrying a wonderful man, and becoming blessed with children. I never really envisioned my job, what I was doing at my job, or even if I liked it or not. That all changed this previous year of school (currently my last semester).

I found myself putting my future career first for once in my life. Something I knew I could only gain and carry on my own. These unexpected ideas quickly surpassed my previous conclusions. I traded my future husband for a CEO position, babies for publications, and a little white picket fence for the a glossy, company high rise. I even suggested graduate school to my near future.

But, with all futures, nothing is for certain. Never are we promised anything. We must make the best for all things, every opportunity, every twist in the road. For sometimes it takes looking at different options for us to realize what we really want.

It's been awhile. A long while...

I need to continue blogging. If there's one thing I hear over and over again, it's to always continue what you start when you blog. No one likes to go to the same site that hasn't been changed in weeks. I'm sure I would blog from my phone if I actually had the Internet on it (but that's another issue).

Second thing I have learned? DO NOT GOSSIP ON BLOGS. You think that would be a simple, unwritten rule about blogs, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. Embarrassed wrong. And worst of all - fired wrong. Fortunately for me and particular coworkers, friends, family, etc., I am perfect content with my life and those being in my life. Half the time when someone gets frustrated, they vent, get it out of their system, and is done. Doesn't mean you have to post it to hang over you head for life.

Now a lesson I will teach you: the Internet is never private. Forget the goofy pictures on your Facebook or Myspace pages or rude twitter posts. Once you hit enter, it's forever...just like this blog.

Shhh...don't tell....

I absolutely love an article I found on Fast Company's blog today. Entitled "Three Secrets to Make A Message Go Viral," it really hit home with the public relations campaigns class I'm taking. Dan Heath and Chip Heath, who are known for their book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, list three ways companies can reach their audiences with creative, low-cost viral marketing.

Viral Marketing Focuses on Three Things:

1. Emotion: People are compulsive when it comes to sharing emotional stories with many details. These stories, both good and bad, are irresistible to re tale to others, and thus the idea spreads.

2. Public Service: In order for viral marketing to really work, you must have your audience wanting to interact with you. If they like your idea or product, they will tell everyone they know about it for free.

3. Trigger: This is what keeps your audience talking about you and your company. It is a steady reminder of what your audience loved about your company to begin with and begins a need for them to tell others.

Working with my campaign for university sustainability, I can definitely implement these ideas in my group's overall plan.

Plus, it was a fun read.

Stress Mess.

I found an article of the "Six Traits That Separate the Achievers From the Wannabes," and really, at this moment, I am feeling much more like a sad, little, wannabee than those successful achievers. Not to complain, but it is simply for the fact that all my professors love to send me with parting gifts known as finals, and I am way over my head in work. Never have I been so excited for summer vacation.

The one trait Cheryl Dorsey is preaching to me is number four.

"Asset based thinking. 'Most of us (are) deficit based thinkers," Dorsey said. "But
instead of seeing the world as filled with problems, they see opportunities.
They see the glass as half full, and execute against all odds.'"

Maybe I should become more positive in my role as a college student. Why, in fact, most people never even had a chance for a college degree. And all of these projects might give me an insider's taste into the real word of working. And with such a positive attitude, I surely will make all A's.

There. I feel better already.

Not.

Clean cities may not be conclusive

I'm currently taking a public relations campaigns class in order to graduate. I, along with five others, am working on a sustainability campaign for the University of Memphis. I recently reviewed an article of the "Top 25 Least Wasteful U.S. Cities", and naturally, the title of the article caught my eye. What I had hoped would be an insightful view of Nalgene, known for their plastic water bottles, and their findings on what made these 25 cities so spectacular.

I was rudely disappointed.

Lets begin with the numbers. Nalgene concluded research from a mere 3,750 people in a nation that currently holds a population of 306,198,441 citizens. If I did my math right that would mean that for every one person interviewed in the research, they ultimately represented 81,653 people and their sustainability efforts in the United States.

3,750 people is quite a small number when trying to conduct conclusive research.

Another eyebrow raiser would also be the survey used in the research. While San Francisco was rated number one on the list with 86% of citizens stating they "live an "extremely" or "somewhat" eco-friendly lifestyle," it was also noted that the term "eco-friendly" was not properly defined.

Instead of finding useful research to gain insight on, I wasted 15 minutes using my PR research skills from last semester to critique the professionals.

And who says they would never use what they learn in school in real life?

Plain is the New Hip.

I guess Tropicana Orange Juice had it right all along. Now Grey Goose Vodka is following suit.

One of the most popular vodkas on the market has now changed it's design to fit a more generic feel of the market. The new design features simple features of water, feathers and eggs allows the brand label to become more distinct.

Although the bottle itself hasn't changed, it just goes to show that plain is often found to be the new hip look when it comes to marketing.

What will be next? Clothing?

Geez, I surely hope not!

Couldn't have said it better myself

While searching through Fast Company's website, I came across a article of 8 items needing improvement. While I agree with some of the more common ones, I agreed with one I wouldn't necessarily have thought of if I had been asked to write this article - hearing aids.

Understanding hearing loss is not just for the elderly. Deafness is found in my family, and two family members have been through the rounds of testing for hearing equipment. Although the technology has increased since their introduction, they still could use some work today such as improving the static waves coming from the ear piece.

Take for instance the blue tooth phenomenon. My boyfriend has one that doesn't even shake when he speaks from a little piece of plastic attached to it recording his airwaves. Now, why don't we shrink that model to fit in some one's ear who could really benefit from it. The results could be astonishing.