Momathon Blog

My Luck, My Fate, My Fortune {The New Sexy Face of Chanel No.5}

What influences your decision to buy a fragrance? Do you ever buy a perfume because of the spokesperson? When I think of fragrance ads I see lovely women like Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Catherine Deneuve, and Marilyn Monroe. I have to admit I don't automatically think of a male spokesperson, but the right guy matched with the right campaign might convince me check out a new fragrance. 

Chanel's signature Chanel N°5 is iconic, it was launched back in 1921 by French designer Coco Chanel. Do I have a bottle on my dresser? Not currently, but I am rethinking my opinion about the fragrance due to a new ad campaign. And that is probably just what Chanel wants. After 93 years, Chanel is switching things around a bit and has hired Brad Pitt for their new ad campaign.

After watching the new Chanel No.5 campaign with the seriously sexy—and scruffy—Brad Pitt a dozen times, I'm still not sure if he has convinced me to buy it. However, I am more interested than I was a week ago. Is it time for a man to tell us why we need this fragrance? Yes, according to a Women's Wear Daily interview with the President of Chanel Fragrance and Beauty, Andrea d’Avack:

"To keep a legend fresh, you always have to change its point of view. It is the first time we’ve had a man speaking about a women’s fragrance. We think very much that the perfume is a seduction between a man, a woman and the perfume."

If you're like me and can't stop looking at Pitt's dreamy eyes in the ad, then maybe you don't even hear the monologue he delivers (for around $7 million for the gig) in poetic recitation with dramatic pauses:

It's not a journey, every journey ends, but we go on.
The world turns and we turn with it. 
Plans disappear. Dreams take over. 
But wherever I go, there you are. 
My luck, my fate, my fortune. 
Chanel No. 5. Inevitable.

Is a bottle of Chanel No.5 destined to appear in my house one of these days? Inevitable or not, check out the There You Are - CHANEL N°5  video below. And talk amongst yourselves in the comment section.

The mysterious mood of this campaign has me hooked... Be sure to check out the CHANEL brand page on Facebook because as they tease: "The story continues on October 17th, 12.01am Paris time."

Images: CHANEL NO.5 images via Chanel. 

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Hello, Monday!

Early breakfasts. School drop offs before dawn. Ok, I exaggerate, but setting my alarm this early makes me grumpy. I have the back-to-school blues. AND it's a Monday! I definitely need a couple extra shots of espresso today. So I thought a little combo of fantasy + humor is required this morning. Here's a post about an ad George Clooney did for a Norwegian bank. First a few of my favorite images from the ad... You can watch the entire commercial in a video at the end of the post. 

So what does George Clooney have to do with a Norwegian bank? And why cast a committed bachelor to be the one getting married? Talk amongst yourselves... But if you want my highly opinionated opinion, Clooney is the perfect fantasy husband. And in the ad, Clooney is looking more charming than ever. 

Watch the Norwegian Bank DnB NOR ad below:

 

I've got some more Clooney goodness on the blog here with a house tour. 

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Image: VANCOUVER MORNING photo at the top of this post is by me, Chris Olson, from a recent trip. I created the two CLOONEY ad diptics that feature the Norwegian Bank DnB NOR ad. Feel free to Pin them Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

 

Nice to Meet You {A Linky Party for Bloggers}

Yay! It's Friday, and the 'Nice to Meet You' linky party officially begins. Today's question is: 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AT HOME?

OK, now it's your turn. Come and join the blog fun. Not sure what a linky party is? I think blogger Lindsay at Shrimp Salad Circus sums it up best:

"Well, it's party one of my very busy Friday, and it's a collaboration with a super-creative group of ladies I 'met' at one of the Alt Summit classes I told you about. We decided to try to introduce our readers to the whole group and get everybody together for some blog hopping. First, I'm going to show you six pictures of how I love to spend my time at home. When you get to the end, I'll tell you how to share your own blog!"

Do you like Alt Design Summit and their classes? I L-O-V-E them. Each class truly inspires me and I am meeting so many creative bloggers and designers. If you would like to meet some awesome bloggers in the ALT community, come join the fun. Browse the links below and join the fun. Directions for joining the party at the end of this post.

So go link-up! Visit some new blogs--see the list below. Meet some new friends! If you like someone's post, be sure to leave a comment saying, "It was nice to meet you!" If you link up, be sure to let your readers know by sharing the button below in your blog post or on your sidebar! And say HI and connect on my Facebook page and on Twitter.

One of the amazing things about blogging is the opportunity to meet interesting people in the blogging community. This summer I finally met my nephew's lovely bride Suzannah—she writes the splendid blog Adventures in Dressmaking—and I was so excited to find out she likes ALT too. This week Suzannah and some of her clever blogging friends are hosting the first link-up for the 'Nice To Meet You" group.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

In addition to Suzannah and Lindsay, Erika over at Foxtrot Press, Jeanette at Artchoo! and Lauren at Elleby Design have posts with lovely images to inspire you too! You can find a complete list of bloggers that are hosting the link-up party listed at the end of my post.

 

You can find out more about this linky party below.

You Have Permission to Act Your Age

At 90 years young, fashion and design icon Iris Apfel gives all of us permission to act our age—and perhaps most importantly—to also be proud of your age.

Known for her round oversize glasses and pairs of bangle bracelets, Apfel obviously loves expressing herself creatively through fashion and creating a signature look.

Although we may live in a youth-obsessed culture, a shift is beginning to take place in fashion and beauty. The self-proclaimed "geriatric starlet, " Apfel has become a hot new rock star in the cosmetic's industry with the limited edition Iris Apfel collection with MAC Cosmetics. Apfel also has her own line of jewelry, scarves and beads at HSN.

(Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photos: MAC Cosmetics)

Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

"How can you handle work on a day like today?"

"Life is packed with things you have to do, but sometimes you gotta live a little..."

Sound familiar? Matthew Broderick plays himself with a nostalgic nod to his movie character Ferris Bueller in a new Super Bowl ad that has gone viral on YouTube. 

I love the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  Even 26 years after the movie was made I still see a bit of Bueller in Broderick. So why is Broderick in the Honda ad? And how can Bueller's wild day in the borrowed 1961 Ferrari 250GT California ("less than a hundred were made") ever begin to compare with the mass-produced Honda CR-V?

Purrrfect design starts with a sketch (video)

The smartest--and smallest--details start with a sketch. Watch the design for a new fashion line come to life with a whimsical cat in the Jason Wu promo. Purrrfect!

 The sketch of Milu the cat comes to life on the desk of fashion designer Jason Wu. 

Equal parts mischief and cute, Milu the cat is the muse for this new line at Target. Perhaps his feline inspiration comes from the two cats Wu adores at home named Jinxy and Peaches.

The new Target collection by Jason Wu will be available from February 5 to March 6. His stylish and affordable items range in price from $19.99 to $59.99 for clothes and $19.99 to $49.99 for accessories.

(Photos from the Jason Wu for Target promotions.)

It's so Etsy: New Esty App for the iPhone

If you love handmade crafts and vintage stuff, then the new Etsy app is a must-have app. Fun app features include: amazing photos of popular items in Treasury Lists, search function that almost reads your mind, access to your personal Etsy account, and much more. I just opened a new Etsy shop yesterday with another designer so this app has perfect timing!

My thoughts on the app:

• Easy to use.
• Sleek design.
• Eye candy for crafters.
• Addictive window shopping.

You can watch the clever Etsy video about the new app here.

Photo: Etsy promo photo on Etsy.com.

George Clooney Gets Hitched – In an Ad I Can't Stop Watching

 

Proving one more time that he really is every woman's fantasy husband, George Clooney gets married in a new ad for Norwegian Bank DnB NOR. Forget about the fact he is a committed bachelor in real life, this ad fantasy all about marrying Clooney makes me think the dream could come true at least in the minds of clever advertising folks.

Spruced up my illustration digs online

My friends over at Pikaland gave me the much-needed push to fix up my illustration website. Now the site has a nice, clean look with improved navigation. Hmmmm. Sounds like I am describing a newly designed car. Anyway, you can check it out here.

A glimpse of a portion of My Portfolio page.

Don't be a Sue (Video)

“Don’t be a Sue. Do something good instead.”

The American Express Members Project

 

You gotta love Jane Lynch who plays her iconic character Sue Sylvester in the "Don't Be a Sue" ad for the American Express Members Project.

The American Express Members Project encourages cardholders to take volunteer opportunities, donate to causes, or vote to give money to various charities.

Yummy colors on TRIWA watches make telling time a delicious treat

Although the makers of the colorful TRIWA watches from Sweden don't recommend eating their watches--I think their watches are simply delectable. Here are just a few of my faves.

 

 

The TRIWA watches were featured on Martha Stewart today. According to her webiste:

TRIWA, an acronym for "Transforming the Industry of Watches," designs two limited-run collections of 30 watches each year that are inspired by art, music, and movies.

 

Photos: Triwa.com 

 

Inspiration from Maeve magazine

 

 

The new online magazine MAEVE aimed at the "conscious consumer" looks fascinating. According to their website: "MAEVE is an observatory on human kind, incorporating a plethora of ideas and inspiration to bring life to your life and your family."

Thanks for the tip via Design Mom on Babble.com: 

"The second issue of Maeve Magazine just came out and you can count me as a fan. Maeve is a quarterly online publication published from Australia. It’s free and it’s a treat to scroll through — interesting content and excellent photography. I love the tagline: Raising An Inspired Generation. And I love how the about page describes the publication.

Menus from NYC (and more) on your iPhone

 

Where do you want to go for lunch or dinner today? Now you can use your iPhone or iPod touch to check out restaurant menus using the free MenuPages app. You can search for restaurants by type, or location. One of the best features is skimming a list of nearby restaurants to decide where to dine. Once you decide on a restaurant, just tap the icon to bring up the menu as well as restaurant hours and location.

 

 

Cities included on MenuPages
MenuPages includes the following cities: 

• NYC
• San Francisco
• LA
• Philadelphia
• Washington DC
• South Florida. 
• NEW: Restaurant recommendations for travelers in London and Paris.

If you don't have an iPhone or iPad you can access MenuPages.com on your laptop.

MenuPages is also on Twitter.

(MenuPages artwork above from MenuPages.com.)

We are obsessed with it, but three out of four wear the wrong size

 

 

You love them and you hate them. Maybe that's because approximately 75% of us are wearing the wrong size bra. 

The multi-billion dollar bra industry started out 100 years ago with two silk handkerchiefs held together to form the first bra. And today the bra, once called the "gilded cage," is so popular that fashion trends move the intimate wear into outer wear.

Remember getting your first bra? Next time you go bra shopping ask a fitting specialist at the store to measure you and help you find the right size. 

News flash: A bra can expand as much as four inches after only a few washes and with wear. Yikes! Next time the bra you try on at the store feels snug, it just might feel better in a very short time.

And remember this bra sizing adage: down in the back and up in the cup.

Happy 100th Birthday to the bra!

(Photo: Victoria's Secret - Racerback bra)

Tobacco Mints? New to a classroom in your school...

The slogan by Camel for the new tobacco mints is: Enjoy them Anywhere. Anytime. Anyplace.

R.J. Reynolds might as well have added "For ANYONE." 

And "Share them at SCHOOL!"

The slick candy package (that is easy to hide in a pocket), the cutesy Tic Tac shape, and all the candy marketing makes the Orbs look like they are perfect for your kids. 

The Camel Orbs come in kid-friendly flavors like mint and cinnamon. You might think they would be the perfect treat for kids, that is for one minor detail: they contain finely ground up tobacco. 

Small Tic Tac shaped Camel Orbs mix mint or cinnamon with tobacco and promise a nicotine kick just like smoking a cigarrette. Since nicotine is highly addictive, seems only logical that Orb addicts will crave a smoke too. Or worse... An innocent young child thinking they are candy--BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE TIC TACS--will eat too many and get poisoned!

 

 
(Photo above from an article by iVillage: Are Those Mints or Tobacco Pellets?)

Momathon Fave: New cuddly stamps help homeless pets

 

Starting April 30th, helping shelter dogs cats can be as simple as buying the new USPS stamps to raise awareness of the plight of homeless pets. During the launch Ellen DeGeneres's natural pet food company Halo will be donating a million meals to animal shelters. A pane of 20 stamps with 10 animal images is $8.80

To find out more about the US Postal Service's "Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet" stamps go to this link: USPS Stamps to the Rescue. 

How to get the cuddly stamps: 
Stamps will be available at post offices April 30th. You can pre-order them at www.stampstotherescue.com, or calling 1-800-STAMP -24 (1-800-782-6724).

About the pets featured:
The images of the five shelter cats and five dogs on the 44-cent stamps were taken by photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce. All the pets featured have been adopted! 

(Stamp photo: USPS Stamps to the Rescue.)

Geeky Mom: Got iPad?

Apple calls the iPad magical and revolutionary. Without test driving it myself, I'm not so sure. Yes, the new ad shows the variety of ways the sleek iPad can be used. The features look pretty wonderful in the short ad. But an ad is only an ad. Has anyone heard from anyone who has played around on this device? All the mystery surrounding the launch makes it not so surprising that the ad above first appeared during the Academy Awards. 

Here's what I do know...
• I love the big multi-touch screen. 
• The Kindle killer e-book feature will definitely make this gadget a go-to device for students
• The plethora of amazing apps--150,000 and counting--is, well, amazing.
• Not so sure about how the iPad performs as an iPod too. And this seems odd since the iPad seems like an iPod on steroids. Too bad the new ad doesn't say much about iTunes or music features. What's up with that?

Pre-sales for the iPad begin next week. Sales of iPad begin April 3rd. Starting at $499.

Remember to spring ahead Sunday!

I love the art directors at CB2. Check out their clever reminder to change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time that begins on Sunday, March 14th.

 

Now maybe I should get one of pretty CB2 clocks to help me remember. 

(Photo: cb2.com)

Valentine's Day spending trivia

 

Budgets are tighter this Valentine's Day and just like the saying goes, it's the thought that counts. Jewelry, fancy bouquets, and chocolates have been the staple of Valentine's Day spending for decades. But this year more people are shopping for more practical gifts. Does that mean your bouquet of red roses will be a bouquet of tulips? 

The average American consumer is expected to spend $103 on Valentine's Day this year according the NRF in a report in Current.com. Sounds like a lot to me, but in 2008 consumers on average spent $20 more. 

I love the fact that Valentine's Day falls on a three-day weekend this year. A perfect time for travel and dining out. But the timing is not so good for the flower industry, which is often closed on Sunday.

Why do women love Cupid's day so much? Could be the fact that men do the bulk of the Valentine shopping. The NRF says men spend twice as much as women on gifts.

The day of hearts is special for our other sweethearts too. Researchers found that even though couples are planning to spend less on each other this year, they are spending more on their pets, friends, and co-workers.

(photo: Claudia - Assad)

 

Betty White in a Super Bowl ad? You go girl!!!

 

If I'm even half this cool at 88, I'd be sooooo happy.

Betty White is unstoppable. 

Watch the sneak preview below on YouTube.

Who knew from pap-schmears!

Okay. I already know this CBS Cares PSA is controversial. But in this case, I think that's a very good thing.

See what you think...

Just a schmear could save her life. 

Wow, Santa really outdid himself this year!

Kudos to all those Santas who are smart shoppers. Even when buying electronics!

I know Target has gotten more than a few complaints about their new holiday ad campaign. Is it anti-Santa? Is it sexist? In my highly opinionated opinion, I don't think the ad deserves to be the subject of controversy. In fact, I love it. Power to the smart shoppers--Santa included! 

You can check out the clever ad from Target below. 

I want to go to there

I'm planning my next mommy escape  
 because happiness is too precious to postpone--literally in this case.

 

(image by Four Seasons Resort)

I have simple tastes.

A beach, some sunshine, and a cabana.

Unfortunately I also have very bad timing...

The resort pictured above just closed.

If only I hadn't postponed my travel plans.

When I grow up I want to be an old woman

This Kaiser Permanente commercial has been around for a year now, but it still makes me smile. Although I sometimes feel almost invincible, the ad reminds me to take care of myself and get the proper medical screenings if I want to grow up to be an old woman. 

We live in a youth obsessed society. It's refreshing to see examples of how wonderful and healthy you can be when you grow up into an old woman. Kudos to Kaiser. 

Grab your pom poms and sing along to the song by Michelle Shocked.

"When I grow up I want to be an old woman

 When I grow up I want to be an old woman

 Oh, an o-o-o-o-old, an old, old woman."

    

The older I get, the more I wonder when are you ever old? Is it just a state of mind? If I could do a cartwheel at 70 like the woman in the ad, then I will be doing much better than I am doing now!

Take good care of yourself. Remember to get your mammogram!

Looking for a Creative Spark?

Creativity is elusive. You can try to cultivate it, you can try to grow it. But just as easily--and innocently--you can destroy the "creative" idea you worked so hard to nurture. 

Some say creativity can solve almost anything. I have dabbled in the creative side of business since my college days. I love coming up with new ideas with words, art and design. I also worry too much. A new movie, Art and Copy, sums it up best:

"The frightening and most difficult thing about being what somebody calls a creative person is that you have absolutely no idea where any of your thoughts come from and especially that you have no idea where they will come from tomorrow." -- Art and Copy, the movie.

Smart Shopping: School Clothes

At my house this year, shopping for school clothes involves looking for the best deals. If you want a little help finding your favorite brands on sale, then check out Shop It To Me. This website is almost as good as having your own personal shopper--and a savvy shopper that knows the inside scoop on bargain shopping at all your favorite stores. 

Video: Roller Skating Babies

So cute. If only Evian had the same effect on me...

The Zen of Soccer Moms and Juice Boxes in VW Ads

Never underestimate the power of a soccer mom--or any mom on a mission. Meet the passionate self-proclaimed "#1 soccer mom" Deb (played by Mo Collins of MadTV) on her mission to deliver the MLS Cup to L.A. in her brand new VW Routon. The new ad campaign "VW Road to MLS Cup" features webisodes that follow the eight-day cross-country trip. Never fear. Deb remains in charge even when the MLS cup's offical handler is a bit grumpy and the MLS players that tag along drink a few too many juice boxes. 

MLS player: "Are we there yet? ... We need to go to the bathroom."

Deb: "Sorry Sweetpea, but if I pulled over every time someone had to use the biffy, we'd never make it to L.A."

Sound familiar?

Finally VW got it right. This new soccer mom campaign is hilarious and a big improvement over the funny but also kinda creepy VW ads featuring Brooke Shields that urge women to "have a baby for love, not for German engineering."

You can watch the webisodes in the YouTube clips below.  

"It Begins," Episode 1

"Juice Boxes," Episode 2

"People's Pickup," Episode 3

"Lost," Episode 4

More webisodes coming up. Episode 5, "L.A. Sleepover" is avaliable tomorrow (11/21) and episode 6, "Game Tape" on  11/21. You can find these episodes on Major League Soccer: VW: VW Road to MLS Cup.