One year later; only 7 blogs

What on gods earth have I been doing with my time...

Well, This fall I worked on a huge charity event for Sunnybrook Hospital. The event was called MUSE09, and was a first timers art auction. I've joined the New Leaders, as the creative director, and we've planned and conceptualized this event to help raise money for a Transcranial Ultra sound machine, as well to help raise funds for the Brain Imaging research center of the hospital. 

The event turned out to be a huge success. We had big corporate sponsors, a sold out venue hosted by the Shamba Foundation.  We raised over 25,000 dollars, and had a wonderful and exiting evening of art buying, and selling, networking and schmoozing. A night to go down in the books. I'm very proud of this accomplishment, and look forward to next year being even bigger and better.

I've also been working for the Nanny Angel Network who launched in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. The founder Audrey Guth was on the news the other night, and my logo was plastered all over the screen. It was super cool to see my hard work on t.v. - and to think I haven't even been out of school a year. Its truly amazing, I'm so thankful. 

My boyfriend just returned from 2 weeks in England, where I've managed to land myself a contract job to work on hopefully at least 30 design projects. This should keep me busy for part of the year, and I'm really looking forward to networking, and managing my contact in the new year to fill up the rest of my time. England was amazing. Traveling is always a wonderful experience. We rented a car, and drove from Scotland to Birmingham, then Manchester, Liverpool and finally London. It was great, the sightseeing, and touring. I'm in love with the architecture and culture there. I even got to see some old friends, we shared fabulous times together. 

We came home in November for a wedding, and were off again for two weeks in Baja California - Cabo San Lucas, and then a week in Florida. Yes i know you're jealous but someone has to live this life. If it makes you feel any better we had our computers and did do some work in between sitting on the beach, swimming, atving, reading for recreation, and overall enjoying the atmosphere. We decided to go one a timeshare presentation, and what a great idea that was because for 3 hours of our time we scored free breakfast, a trip for two to the mountains for atving at sunset, with a view of the Pacific. Two Swedish massages, dinner cruise for two, and transportation. We also got 140$ worth of restaurant vouchers, we were very happy campers. 

I read two great books, "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, and "The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga. Aside from getting a horrible case of heat rash, I had a great time. Florida however was just ok. The usual trip to my grandparents - complete with berating from my grandmother. I just don't think I'll be visiting her again. Apparently she said I used staying with them as a stepping stone to going south. What a crock of shit, I could have gone straight to Miami, and stayed at my uncles place on the beach. Trump towers - the sweet life. Its too bad she'll never realize how sick she really is. I've never in my life seen someone so miserable who has so much to be happy for. She lives a good life. She drive a sweet Jag, lives in a stunning house has five beautiful grandchildren, and travels the world at the drop of a hat. Her houses, yes she also has an incredible condo in Toronto - are filled with expensive china, and gold cutlery, and art, and and and... everything in excess. I really don't understand how this woman is never happy. 

She is not suffering from any life threatening disease, she is not alone, like my other grandmother who lost her husband at a very young age- with four boys to take care of. She is the epitome of the poor little rich lady. She says all she ever wanted was love, but anyone that tries to love her, is shot down by negativity, and verbal abuse. All I can do is shake my head, I really feel sorry for this woman, but I will not spend anymore time talking about her. 

Aside from this I had a great time with my safta (my other grandmother) a true lady, she is a real pleasure to be around. Very encouraging and supportive. She knows how to love. I'm very lucky to have her in my life. We spent three days together, she's such a blast. I also got to spend time with my close friend Michal who recently got engaged. We all went out for dinner together, it was great. The next day she came to the beach and we had lunch together before she had to go to work. It would be amazing if I could make it to her wedding in Israel this summer. I guess only time will tell. 

So I've just realized that in the last year I've spent all my seven, well now eight posts on talking about myself. This blog was supposed to be about design, art advertising, and I've babbled on about the boyfriend, the cat, and now the grandmother...geeze I guess I really am an ad gal, I just love talking about myself. In the new year I vow to talk more about interesting topics, maybe discuss other things, industry things that people want to read about. So for now I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday. See you in 2010. 

Goodnight. 

Summer Lovin

Another summer comes to an end, and what an end this summer has come to.
So it's September 27, a beautifully warm sunny day, with a mild wind in the air. My new cat Sherpa is sitting next to me. She's a bitchy pretty cat. You know the type. Incredibly majestic looking, stunning cream and mocha coat, piercing blue eyes, and claws sharp as blades. She has the cutest face you've ever seen. Like those white fluffy cats you see in toilet paper commercials.

Sherpa has taken a liking to cuddling up to me. She curls up right under my left arm while i'm typing, and rolls over for a stretch. She allows me to rub her white little belly, and puts her plump chocolate coloured paw on my leg, like she's trying to pet me. Then she quickly flips over, and thrashes at me as if I just tried to kill her. Her demeanor abruptly changes and she begins to get aggressive and almost psychotic. Oh the joys of getting used to a cat.

I guess your wondering what my cat has to do with this blog. Well its all a part of my new life. My new living situation, which at this point isn't all that new. It's been 7 months since Sherps and the man moved in. Lucky me, I scored my self a boyfriend, and a cute cat. Exactly what every girl wants. I'm the evny of every single Jewish gall in town. I have to say. I am very luclky! Last week was the Jewish New Year, and I think this year has a lot of fun exciting things in store for me.

The summer started off all up in the air. I could have been hired by Saatchi and Saatchi, but I wasn't. I was pretty upset about it until my older, wiser, and super successful indusrty professional cousin from California said. Their work was shit, and I could do better. I have to giggle when I think about him saying it. I had put so much pressure on myself for this job, and I ended up doing pretty ok in the end. So he was right, I did do better, and I did it on my terms.

I finished my internship. Worked my butt off. Selling advertising is a great way to understand the industy. I ended up getting hired to handle some of the corporate clients, and even bagged my own account. Sweet-

I've also spend a ton of time working on some charity projects as well. The Nanny Angel Network is launching in October. I spent all summer working on brochures, and marketing material for the hospitals. What an interesting experience that was. The co-ordinater and I seemed to speak different languages, everything thing took as long as humanly possible, and had to be done over and over again. Technology is a great tool, but when your working with people who are out of date, you have to learn to work backwards, and have serious patience. Once I got the hang of working with her, I just let go, and by the end of August I was in the clear. The clients are very happy with the brochures, and I'm thrilled, to be done, and obviously that they were hapy with the outcome.

I've also been invited to sit on a committee for Sunnybrook Hospital. I was invited to join the New Leaders of Sunnybrook. We a group of young professionals contributing our time, energy and creativity to raise money and awareness for the hospital. So far I've been working on an event called Muse: Grey Matters. It's the 10th annual art auction for New Leaders. Not only have I curated the art in the auction, i've helped brand the event, with help from my amazingly talented designer sister Courtney. I've also been involved in every aspect of planning and exicuting the event. I'm so excited for the 22nd. Althought there is still tons of work to be done before then. www.muse09.com

I like working for myself, although there seems to be no end to donating, and working for free, I see it all as a blessing. This is a great way to get my name out there, and network. I'm also very passionate about giving back. I feel like you have to do good things to recieve good things. You know. In that respect my parents definelty did good. My grandparents, and parent are all very generous and have always instilled those qualities in my sister and I. Plus for all the shit that I talk I could use the good karma.

I love your personality...bla bla bla

You know what sucks? Going for an interview, and having the creative director tell you they love your personality, and they love your book, and then not getting hired. I know everything happens for a reason, but I can still be peeved for a minute or two about not getting the job I want. Good thing I'm one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason, and that when one door closes another one opens. I really can't complain. Most of the student who graduated my section are going to work for free for the next 6 weeks. They are going to slave away well at least those who were lucky enough to score an internship. I am very lucky in the end. I was hired to do a marketing internship. A contract position with three projects making some pretty great dough for a student job straight out of school. Not to mention the economic downturn I think I did pretty well for my self. It's a god thing I know the boss. They say its all a matter of who you know. I think it goes one step further. Its all matter of who knows you!

Portfolio repoo

So as I will be graduating in two weeks, our program encourages us to put a sample of work together, and pay 30.00 to the advertising and design club of Canada (the ADCC) and sit down with three creatives and get feedback. This is so we know where we stand, what we need to work on, and what the competition is like, so that we understand just how competitive this industry is. Well what an interesting evening it was. I was seated at table 9, and had meetings with John St. Taxi2, and Agency 59 (who i'd never heard of opps....). It started out easy enough, who are you, where did you come from bla bla bla. I came prepaired with an interactive business card / mint box just incase any of the people I was meeting with had suvere halitosis or garlic meetballs for dinner. They all seemed to like my bc, but as for my portfolio the comments were obviously subjective. I like this, I hate that, get that out of your book, you're going to need a lot of work. Your photoshop skill are week, your copy wititing at this point is ..... the list goes on. It was interesting, spirit crushing and overwhelming. I was pretty depressed when I left, but i spent the next day going over the comments I recieved and I realized that they must have liked me, and seen some potential because they all told me to keep working and looking at my ideas from different perspectives, and call them when I've re worked my book. I went out and bought a bunch of photoshop book, and i'm going to spend the summer working on my skills. For the meantime I just can't wait to be done with school, and have a life again. Talk soon.

To my 1 follower

I'm so sorry my most important fan. I've neglected you since January and now it's almost May.
Will you forgive me? Have you completely given up? I hope not. I beg you to forgive me. Will you forgive me? Please pretty please... pretty please with a cherry on top? I promise then next time I write to you won't be in 5 months from now. Maybe 5 days or 5 weeks. Or even 5 minutes.
You see i've been so crazy busy. I decides to quit my silly job at the restaurant doing marketing and pr. They wanted to change the balance of my duties, and I did not like that 1 bit. So I decided to ditch the place. Besides they were in the middle of a identity crisis, and probably on there way out. What kind of a bar/ restaurant has the name temple in the title? What a degenerate way to try and brand yourself. The debaucherious temple where perverts sexually harrass each other, and drink too much, and sing and sway and reminiss about this time last year when they were drinking Stella instead of Harp beer. Yes this silly job where they wanted me to be a glorifyed flyer girl. Idiots... the few events I handeled there were amazingly susccessful. We raised 1400.00 dollars, for a local charity, made relationships with surrounding businesses without harassing them to come in for a 5.00 off coupon for lunch. As well as conceptualized on ongoing event with a celebrity host. Oh yes lets make the smartest girl we've ever hired quit, because we think stalking people in the neighbourhood over 9.00 hambergers. Good call :) I'm not bitter really. Quitting this job allowed me to have the time to start my own business. JLove Designs, website coming soon so look out. I've also been invietd by two charities to come on as a board member to help create their advertising and marketing plans, as well as help conceptualize their fundraising events. OOohhhlala it is unpaid, but giving back to the community is a good thing. What goes around comes around. I believe it! Just like karma. So I think i've made some excellent descisions. I've also had more time to focus on finishing school, and finally starting my career, not just a part time job. So for the last 5 months i've been busting my ass, getting my portfolio together, and working of freelance oppprtunities. My new favorite word is invoice. Its a liberating feeling to invoice someone for work you've done. Another great thing about it I'm my own boss, so when I feel like tajking a mental health day, I reminds my self that I can only invoice if I work from the comfort of my own bed! Yes days off have been few and far between, although I did take a "mental health" day two weeks ago. Althought I don't think it was a proper one, since I spent the day looking at ads, and reading Applied Arts, and thinking about billborads. I think a proper mentle health day includes a deep tissue massage or a matinee with large buttered popcorn. Perhaps I'll treat myself to one of those in two weeks. In two weeks i'm finally done. School will be out for summer, maybe even ever, but I guess that all depends on the 5W'S (what, where, when , why, who the fuck knows). So now i'm scrambling to finish up school. Work on my portfolio, and like my dad always says get a real job. Hmmmm.... will report back soon.