Things Girls Say...

Last week while in my office, I began working on a video project to use for recruitment purposes and I was having difficulty getting the clips to import into iMovie.  There happened to be a student working in the mail room (which is located next to my office).  I figured he would be more tech savvy than I, so I ask, "Hey, can you do me a favor?  I need help with my computer..."  His response?  He showed me this video:

As much as I didn't want to admit it, a few of those phrases come out of my mouth on  a daily basis.  I guess I just fit into the gender norms on this one.  As do, according to this, many other American women.  How do we as a collective pick up these sayings?  Is this from the media?  I know I typically ask... "can you do me a favor?" as a nice way of prefacing something rather than using a command statement.  Yet, this clip makes a good point - we've been gendered to speak in a particular way and reflecting upon it, I'm not sure if I'm proud or embarrassed that sometimes I speak in this fashion.  Regardless, this clip does a decent job encompassing the things girls say... because I know I'm not the only one who uses these phrases, it was through observations of a number of women that this video had to be created in the first place.

A Festivus Miracle

Today, December 23rd, many Americans celebrate the holiday of Festivus.  On this day, many celebrate the traditions of the airing of the grievences as well as wresling the host after the Fesitivus Feast.  For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about - check out the link above.  Or watch some Sienfeld.

Festivus is also marked with many miracles... or things that are totally ordinary on any other day, but because it takes place on Festivus, it's a mircle.  I witnessed one of these miracles today and I thought it was important to share.  As my father and I were at the check out counter at our local market, the man in front of us experienced some difficultly having his credit card swiped.  After multiple cleanings of the magnetic strip by the check-out lady, who very much so reminded me of the Target Lady, made the sign of the cross (no joke - I am in Western Michigan right now, ya know) to the register and behold - the transaction went through!  It truly was a Festivus miralce!

One Tiny Detail Can Change It All

The other day, out of the blue, I received a text message from my best friend that stated, "I wish Sirius and Lupin killed Peter Pettigrew.  Then Sirius would of been a free man.  Would of been more interesting and less frustrating."  


For those of you who have no idea what she was referencing, I suggest you look into reading the Harry Potter Series.  For those who know what I'm talking about - doesn't that short message say a lot?  For many of us, Harry Potter was a huge piece of our childhood.  I know that I for one re-read the series at the very least 5 times.  And although these characters are just that, fictional, I can't help but to think of how such a small detail could have changed the course of the series.  Now, for those of you familiar with the story line - I know that if this did happen, then He Who Must Not Be Named would have never been fully brought back and the looming thought of his return could have lasted much longer than Harry's 7 years at Hogwarts.


This message got me thinking - how many times could one little detail change the course of something already set in motion?  Just some food for thought. I know we can never change what has happened, but it is important to know the power of our choice.  As in the case of Harry Potter, it could have changed the story line in a very important way.  And all because of a choice.

Really Wisconsin? Say yes to Michigan.

As many of you know, I am a Pure Michigan enthusiast.  I love going home to Grand Rapids and exploring downtown, or love taking a trip to the shores of Lake Michigan to spend some time walking the sand dunes.  It's pure heaven.  I mean, who doesn't want to hang out in a state shaped like a mitten?


So, when I was informed that my current state of Wisconsin wanted to steal the mitten idea for their latest winter tourism campaign, I was a bit upset.  Note: If you have no idea what I'm talking about, look at the above map of Wisconsin compared to that of Michigan, they look nothing alike.  A short while after I moved here, a friend of mine (born and raised in WI) tried to explain where something was using her hand.  I was a bit confused as often times I too use the hand - to form a mitten of course - to display where I'm from.  When I told her about this tourism campaign she said - oh no, WI is not shaped like a mitten, more like a hand.  At least she somewhat agrees with me on this one.  And even though she agrees... I just don't see the hand - do you?


I can't help but to be proud of where I'm from and if we can't get the title of warmest state (temperature wise, of course - this is the Midwest after all), or the state filled with the most celebrities (I think California wins that one by a landslide - get it?  It's punny.).  So, I just say - say yes to Michigan and let us take complete ownership over the Mitten.

Brand Loyalty

Pepsi or Coke?  Walgreens or CVS?  Jimmy Johns or Subway?  Papa Johns or Pizza Hut?  McDonalds or Burger King? Gap or Urban? Starbucks or is there anything else? 


Every day we're given choices of pretty much the same product.  Yet, time and time again, we choose one over the other. Why?  I argue that those working in marketing have done their job - I'm loyal to the products in which they have advertised.  And I really can't choose otherwise.  If asked why I choose one over the other... I just can't.  I feel like my typical answer is somewhere along the line of... "I just like it."  Marketing firms have done their job so well, I don't think I can properly think for myself.  And that's what I call brand loyalty to the max.


Tonight, I stopped over to my friend's apartment to quickly chat about life.  The X factor was playing on TV and the judges were each drinking out of Pepsi cups.  Even if they weren't drinking Pepsi, I bet a few people will pick up a two liter.  The power of advertising.


We started talking about bran loyalty and how it controls what we as consumers choose to purchase or even choose to shop.  This made me pose the question of where would they rather go - CVS or Walgreens.  Their response: CVS.  My response: Walgreens.  I can't tell you why, but I prefer 9 times out of 10 to shop at that establishment.  When I asked my friends they said they thought they could get better deals over the competitor.  In addition, one of them stated that their old apartment had both a Walgreens and a CVS nearby.  The CVS was right across the street, whereas the Walgreens was two streets over and you had to walk through a parking lot.  And by two streets, I mean where two streets merge together, not two blocks (for those of you who know MKE - I'm referring to the spot on Brady and Farwell).  Now, that's American.