80s bday party.

nicole put together this video for the 80s bday party we had on friday for alyssa, bhavin and i. this is what happens when MAS kids play dress up.

my new car.

sab is currently on a two week jaunt through ireland, but today she sent me this picture. it's the car she's buying me for my birthday.
i hope it fits in her suitcase on the way back on the plane.

my new dunny.

meet my new dunny Mist. i bought her doing research for our interactive class this week for kidrobot. say hi. she's nice.

jess's wedding.

jess's wedding was gorgeous, and the reason i've been mia from mia for the past week. she looked gorgeous and it was at a winery so there was tons of free wine, which made it gorgeous to me.
here's to another one of my bestfriends getting married.

the most perfectist birthday card ever.

today i'm officially old. 23. at 22, you were still just a year from 21, young and crazy. 23, thats officially all over.

miss christy pregont sent me probably the most perfect birthday card ever made. someone obviously had me in mind when they made it.

so here's to 23 and no cute animals.

deep thoughs on hedonism.

lots going on recently. haven't had time to blog between coming home to PA for the weekend for jess's wedding and my birthday, and finishing up my door for review. [also on my birthday] check it out and tell me what you think at:
http://thedoor.miamiadschool.com/portfolio/carren_elizabeth_okeefe

on to a more interesting topic. ad school always has crazy assignments getting us to think differently but develop skills. this week we have to write headlines for SuperClubs Hedonism Resorts in the style of jack handy thoughts. this should be interesting. researching i found a few videos that pretty much say it all. although I shouldn't have too much difficulty getting into the frame of mind considering where the bikini video places south beach and then hedonism.





any ideas. feel free to contribute.

what do you look for in a copywriter? -john mccreery

an article on talent zoo talked about the traits that make a good copywriter. i thought they were interesting and definitely see myself in some, and know that if that's what it takes, i need to work on others. here's the list. what do you think? is it me?

Nishimura lists 34 traits that make up the copywriter's natural gifts:

1. Assertiveness. Must have faith in the copy he or she writes
2. Cockiness. Must be lazy and cheeky. Not distracted. Reluctant to give up first idea.
3. Must be willing to do research. Digs deep into what he writes about.
4. Mental agility. Not stuck in one perspective. Must be able to see things from different angles.
5. Calligrapher. Presents ideas in his own handwriting. Writing shows the person.
6. Good memory. Must remember what other people have written in order not to repeat it.
7. Skillful word choice. A basic skill for a copywriter.
8. A strong stomach. Mustn't get a stomach ache after having ideas rejected two or three times.
9. Neurotic. Neuroses make the man.
10. Team player. Must be able to work with people with different skills.
11. Be able to take a punch. The toughness not to be hurt by a client's criticism.
12. Physical strength. Needs the stamina to be able to work through the night.
13. Easygoing character. Doesn't panic as deadlines approach.
14. Curiosity. Must be curious about all sorts of things.
15. Kanji (Chinese characters). Large vocabulary. Can't always be writing the same thing.
16. Loud voice. You can't be successful if you don't speak up.
17. Strong sense of responsibility. Gets things done on time.
18. Notetaking. Has to be able to listen and take notes quickly.
19. Insight. Nobody is going to tell you exactly what they want.
20. Understands quickly. Doesn't need long meetings.
21. Likes people. You can't be a copywriter without being interested in people.
22. Likes to work. You can't do this work unless you love it.
23. Likes to play. Work is play. Play is work.
24. Gloom. Why is it that most first-rate copywriters are gloomy people?
25. Aesthetic sense. Must be concerned with the quality of the image as well as the quality of the words.
26. Computer skills. Nowadays, if you can't use a personal computer, designers will hate you.
27. Ordinary tastes. Great copywriters may look strange. But in fact they tend share ordinary people's sensibilities.
28. Psychological education. The ability to read people's feelings.
29. Hardworking. Earnest about everything.
30. Suspicious. The ability to doubt everything.
31. Open to flashes of insight. In the bath, on the toilet, wherever.
32. Good at keeping things in order. Needs to know lots of stuff. Also needs to know how to put aside what is interfering.
33. Imagination and empathy. Must be able to imagine what is bothering other people.
34. Above all, perseverance. Sticks to it.

regardless, we're through week one of quarter 4. i have most of my work posted to the door site with the exception of a campaign or two and some descriptions.

cocktails, hour d'ourves, and botox.

so working at david barton gym we get invited to a lot of premieres and parties whether its from members or partnerships the gym has, or ones we put on for promotion. i have to tell you, this one tops them all. after returning from PA today [land of missing teeth and weekly bathing] i find an invitation to a party at the mandrian oriental downtown. i was kind of excited, swanky little place. then i read on 'there will be gold medalists and other professional athletes, cocktails, hour d'ourves, and each person in attendance will receive a free session of botox.' i was like.. is this for real?

welcome to miami. and why im so excited to go on quarter away. so if anyone wants to go, let me know i'll put you on the list. but i think personally, i'm busy that night.

miss me?

it's been a while. i was so excited for quarter 3 to be over that i spent the last three weeks celebrating. despite lots of plans to get some work done, i did nothing. although the quarter didn't turn out too bad [one short list and a gold award] im glad its over and ready/excited/nervous for 4th to start. im getting anxious for quarter away. im ready. im ready to get out of miami, ready to go study somewhere else, ready to meet new people. this probably stems from seeing some of my bestfriends moving on to bigger and better things this quarter, but im still ready. but im excited for this quarter and im going to try and enjoy it and not spend it rushing to get to quarter away. which i need to start thinking about. i had my mind made up about hamburg, but now im not so sure. either way, i cant wait. anyway, here are a few pics of the family from over break. im tired and will write more about it later. its a brief summary: i was in a three car pile up on the way home from the airport with my dad and stepmom, crystal was attacked by a hive of bees and her stings got infected, and my sister set herself on fire. all and all a normal week in PA.sleeping in the camper with snuggles. i still like the stupid dog.

one of my babies. kylie. youngest niece: age 2.

both of my girls. kaitlyn: age 9. at least for ten more days.

missed the family. missed PA. not extremely happy to be back, but good things to come.