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.

name that celebrity.

we were going through an email about things that are signs you grew up in the 80s. ie. banana clips, fraggle rock, oregon trail, tshirt ponytails, just to name a few favorites. and apparently im a shame to the 80s kids because i've never heard the song 'we are the world' anyway, so to solidify my shame they made me watch a youtube video of the song, upon which we stumbled an even funner game. see how many celebrities you can name in this video. [pay special attention to michael jackson's socks and glove.]



and if anyone can figure them all out. let us know.

flash website.

check out my portfolio website i designed in flash. not that i'm biased or anything, but i dont think its half bad for a copywriter. although, i've already decided i want a different one for real. and while this one needs a few tweaks, check out the first draft fully functioning and on the web.

www.carrenokeefe.com [because we all know how narcissistic i am]

i'm basically a clone stamp master.

a favorite tutorial on the only tool in photoshop i know how to use: the clone stamp. basically, if it can't be done with the clone stamp tool, i can't do it.

i need motivation.

for some reason, i've been completely boycotting doing my final radio assignment. it's due tonight at 7pm, i've had a week. and i finally opened the document. this is not good. heres a little motivation from alyssa:
thank you for the inspiration alyssa. unfortunately it caused me to blog about my procrastination rather than actually doing it.

just a little something we threw together.

so here's a few videos i helped out with for fun this quarter.

how dew does diet: surprising facts campaign contest.



post-its contest: there's a note for that.

i like my friends. we're fun.

here's a little video made by the one and only christy pregont capturing our memorial day celebration this year.

happy hurricane season.

so today kick's off the first day of hurricane season. now i consider myself a pretty strong, independent person who can handle just about anything, but i have to admit that i'm terrified of hurricanes. my only thought when considering the move to miami was the hurricanes. so far so good. only a few semi-bad storms. but now its officially hurricane season and i heard the first tropical storm is already on its way over the yucatan peninsula. people tell me i'm crazy for being so scared, but tell me this isn't intimidating.

looks like the eye is heading right for miami. anyway, in light of the opening of the season here's a checklist for hurricane survival:

FOOD SUPPLIES
Get enough nonperishable foods now for two weeks. Then put them in a box and leave them alone Don't buy foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein; they'll make you thirsty.

Water: 2 quarts to 1 gallon per person (get a week's supply)
Ice
Shelf-package juice and milk boxes
Canned and powdered milk
Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, packaged pudding)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Dried fruits
Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)
Cereals
Raw vegetables
Sugar, salt, pepper
Bread
Dry and canned pet food
Extra formula, baby food

HARDWARE
Hand tools - hammer, screwdrivers to use now, shovel and pickax for after the storm
Power screwdriver
4-by 8-foot sheets of plywood 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch thick to put over your windows. Make sure you ask for exterior plywood.
1/4-inch machine screw sockets and screws
Plastic sheeting to cover furniture
Rope
Sturdy working gloves
Duct tape to waterproof items. Masking tape isn't strong enough
Canvas tarps
Nails. There are many kinds, so look over your home now and determine what you will need. A nail too small, the wrong shape or hammered in wrong will fail, and that will give the storm the breach it needs to get into your home.

EMERGENCY TOILET
Small can or garbage can with tight lid
Plastic bags for liners
Disinfectant or bleach
Deodorizer

HURRICANE KIT
Assemble this now. Put aside in a special box in garage. Keep heat-sensitive items inside home and rotate stock throughout season. Batteries can go in refrigerator.
Flashlights and extra bulbs
Battery-operated TV or Radio
Fully charged battery-operated lanterns. Don't get candles and kerosene lanterns. They are fire hazards.
Extra batteries
Matches
Clock (wind-up or battery- operated)
Plastic garbage bags
Working fire extinguishers
Scissors
Toilet paper
Clean change of clothes, rain gear, sturdy swamp boots you won't mind throwing away later
An inexpensive rabbit-ears television antenna to use when cable goes out
Map of the area
List of phone numbers
Copy of insurance policy

KITCHEN SUPPLIES
Manual can opener
Bottle opener
Matches in a plastic bag
Pocket knife - preferably Swiss Army-style
Camp stove or other cooking device and plenty of fuel. Use canned fuel, not charcoal or gas
Ice chests or coolers
Paper plates, napkins
Plastic cups, knives, forks, spoons

so there you have it kids. my apologies to morgan now for the stock pile of supplies that will soon be appearing in the living room. i intend on completing this list. twice over.

minnie plays for the colored team.

despite how glorious i look after a day at disney [and a drenching at splash mountain] i made sab take this picture in honor of all my girls who play for the colored team. those past [ming mei, tara] and present, this is for you. because even minnie mouse plays for the colored team.

last soccer sunday til the end of the summer today. color for life.

miami ad school gets a face lift.

so many from home have often wondered if i 'dreamed up' this miami ad school that i would have thought of, [and lets be serious, i wouldve come up with a better name than 'miami ad school'] i finally have proof that our school does exist.

so while our school spends our tuition money on many beneficial things like kegs, Heineken soccer sunday prizes, just to name a few. the new addition to miami ad includes numerous flat screen tvs to 'showcase' our work instead of hanging it on the old boards. all in a movement to 'go green.'

the lobby: [points of interest: clocks from all miami ad locations, giant giant screen for soccer posters.]


work space in the gallery: [points of interest: seven televisions not including the two mounted to the side with the Xbox 3 and Wii]


gallery/stage for guestspeaker: [points of interest: orange foam seats.]


so there you have it. it's real. and congrats to miami ad for going paperless to be green. let me know how much CO2 those new tv's emit with all the new electricity needed.

next picasso.

to try and unlock some creativity and showcase other creative talents on my portfolio website, i've decided to get back into painting. starting with water color
beef would be so proud.

dun dada daaa, dun dada, dun dada daaa, dun dada da daa!

in light of the indian jones movie coming out tomorrow, or in 14hrs, 44mins, and 46 secs according to the beautifully crafted flash site, i thought i would share a very insightful someecard.com [an obvious current obsession. but hey, nothing makes you feel better than some glorious cynical saracastic humor. at least me anyway.]
just a little something to ponder. funny part about it, i don't even like indiana jones. or burger king. so i guess the fact that im blogging about it is the power of advertising.


what i DO like however is sex and the city and all the new advertisements and trailers for the release of the movie are getting me excited. [just about the movie] thank you hugo for rescheduling another glorious radio class from 6-9 on the night it opens. because this isn't a movie you can just see. this is monumental to a lot of people. i think a cosmo, manolo blahniks and about 3 girlfriends is required for entrance.



so while i may not one to be a girly girl, this is one day/event i'm all about it. cheers girls.

sinking.

this may be the first post where i actually rant a little. sorry i havent posted in awhile, i've been too busy spending ours of my time doing fruitless labor. i'm just so frustrated at this point in the quarter. this time last quarter i was finishing up a few solid campaigns and feeling really good about the quarter. that was only q2. here i am in q3 where we're supposed to get the most stuff for our book and i see potential in one maybe two things, when i ended up with 5 campaigns from last quarter. all ones im excited about.

i keep trying to make excuses like 'im so uninspired by this brief. and this wont go in my book anyway. or we arent supposed to have nonprofits.' but maybe i just suck and got lucky the first quarter. i got all of my good ideas out the second quarter and im washed up. it really shows me how working with a good partner can make or break you and even still, if they're a good partner and they don't inspire/motivate you through your brainstorming, the ideas will never come. or maybe it was just the partner that did all the good work and i suck all together.

the thing that has been getting me recently is im starting to feel like all of my ideas are being used up on other peoples projects. not projects i'm working with them on, that i could then in turn use in my book as well, cause thats one thing. but people run things by me and im like oh what about this or this, and then it completes their campaign and makes it a really good one. now don't get me wrong, i dont want credit, i just wish i could get some reciprocation. or maybe i'm just finding another excuse for why i suck. i feel put in the hours, hours and hours of hours, and still nothing.

i just don't understand what was working for me last quarter that isn't this quarter. one, i took more vacations. i had so many visitors and people coming i prioritized. maybe i'm putting in too many hours. but if you dont crack something you cant just give up on it. and when you have four days to do three full briefs actually being presented to the client, there isnt time to take a picnic and relax. maybe it was less pressure, because i really only had one demanding class and it wasn't demanding, i just made it so. or maybe it was i had a partner that i knew i worked good with, but after this quarter, i didnt realize just how well.

regardless, i need to figure out what it is or stop wasting my time and money in ad school. and some people may say 'well you had something presented to the client', but really that doesn't mean much. because while what i've been producing is 'smart' or 'strategic' its not creative. i may as well go to the account side.

so with that said, i'm going to keep some words of advice from our friends as someecards.com in mind:

dreams.

so i dreamt last night that i had really bad cancer and less than a year to live. creepy. so while having my coffee this morning i decide to use a dream interpreter to see what it meant. i think our mind is too complex for dreams to be completely random. dreams themselves are so sophisticated that i really believe there's some meaning in at least some of our dreams.

so this is what it said:
Cancer - Dreaming of cancer is not necessarily a negative thing and does not mean that you have or will have cancer at any time. However, to dream of cancer often indicates an unfortunate condition in your life that has been consuming you physically, mentally, or emotionally for too long.

hmm... wonder whats been consuming me for too long? because i obviously need to get rid of it. theres numerous possibilities. input or ideas welcome.