Road Trip: OHIO

Took a week off to visit my grandparents in Dayton, Ohio. They kept us pretty busy while we were there too. Went to a Dayton Dragons baseball game - they are affiliated with the Reds.

Some things you have to do if you are ever in the area: Check out Caesar Creek State Park. They have an amazing visitors center that is a must to check out so you can get your free permit to go fossil hunting! Apparently a few years ago they were carving through the bluff to build a highway and found a 450 million year old preserved ocean floor. They allow people to dig for the fossils and take them home. Needless to say, we stocked up.

Also another beautiful find as well as wonderful hiking and fishing grounds is the Caesar Creek dam.

Also, Fort Ancient State Park and Indian Mounds. They have a very interesting museum with all the history of Ohio Native American tribes. They left behind these incredible mounds. Its just unreal how they were about to build those without the use of any real tools. Just loads of dirt in baskets! Amazing.

The real crown jewel is found just in my grandparent's garage. The soda/beer can airplane hanger. Since my grandpa has retired, he's been trying his hands at different things to pass the time. He stumbled upon this crafty idea from a garage sale and started his own little business. HOW CUTE, RIGHT?!

Anywho, we are back in the Lou and missing them greatly. If anyone is interested in a plane, just let me know and I will relay the message. He sells them for $7 a piece or 2 for $10. He invented the cutest little wooden tools to help cut down the construction time. Such a cute old man :)

Have a great night!
The Royal Wedding is tomorrow. Gonna try to hold off on any coverage until I get together with my girls on Saturday and watch the DVR while eating and drinking british inspired goods...

Better Late Than Never: Home Decorators

For a couple months at the beginning of the year, I worked with Home Decorators in producing the last of their catalogs before they closed down the St. Louis Office. It was pretty simple production work, but I was happy to help out and the people were great.

The Art Director, Will working on organizing the pages for one of the spring catalogs.

Just 3 of the catalogs I worked on that were printed before I left.

Couple of page layouts for the Home Decorators Catalogs.

I wish everyone from St. Louis Home Decorators the best of luck as they currently look for new jobs. I had a great time working with you during that time. Not to mention getting to look at the Martha Stewart collection on a daily basis! It was a blast.

Currently Reading: Never Let Me Go

A book of many covers:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Read Wine met last night to Discuss Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It was a very long and boringly written story (6 pages devoted to a pencil case leaving more interesting facets unmentioned) with a very interesting and tragic premise. I think the main disconnect between us readers is as Americans we cannot fathom how someone would just lie down and accept their terrible fate without putting up some sort of a fight.

The movie, however, was much more fast paced and included all of the important criteria of the book tweaking only here and there. I feel like some of the character development was lost in the short time span and I probably would not have understood anything without having read the book. However, the movie did help me more appreciate the story as a whole and the sadness of love lost and life short lived.

Who is to say one life is more important than another…

Anyway, last night was our 10th Book as a group! And it was the first time we got to be outside since the fall. Absolutely gorgeous night full of friends, interesting debate, a little gossip, and watching the film based on this book - which I think helped make the story more enjoyable. Time said it was "the greatest novel of the decade" ...maybe for Europe...
All in all though, I give it a 2/5.

Words to Live By: College Freshman Edition

Everyone in my family was asked to write a letter to my little cousin who will be leaving for college in the fall. Memories. Tidbits. Advice. How much we love him. I decided to go more for the advice part of it and designed this little number:

Its got all the things I wish people would have told me before I went to college, including taking interesting classes just for the hell of it and how important quarters will become.

But then I found this (How to be a Freshman in College)! Discovered Thought Catalog from a retweet on twitter and I have loved everything they've written since. I kind of wish I would have found this before the deadline. Anywho, if you get anything out of this post, its FOLLOW THOUGHT CATALOG. It'll get you through the day and give you interesting things to think and talk about with others :)

OPENING DAY, Part II

ST LOUIS, March 31, 2011

Opening Day Rally on Keiner Plaza

It really was a beautiful day, even if the Cardinals didn't end up pulling out the W. I just love the atmosphere of downtown St. Louis - And the pride in the city, the traditions, and baseball.

After the rally was over, headed over to the stadium and watched the game at Paddy O's. It was just like one huge tailgate party. Even got to meet up with my friend and very talented photographer, Megan. You really must check out her stuff. She is just a phenomenal artist. I almost want to have a baby just so she can take pictures of it...

After the game, we were headed over to Beale on Broadway, when kind of randomly, a homeless man gave me his baseball cap sporting a #1 pin. I tried to give it back or give him something in return but he told me to keep it. I felt kind of bad about taking it, but tried to pay it forward later in the night by giving away something else to a stranger.

Beale on Broadway was hoppin' with the bluesy sounds of #winning. Love that place. Such a chill place to unwind with live blues music after a Cardinals game (or Blues game).

All in all, a great day.
And here's to warmer weather and a great baseball season...

VIP: Jim Butler at Opening Day

It was a beautiful day for baseball, yesterday in downtown St. Louis. The streets were a buzz with Cardinal fans and marketing.

(The view from the top of the parking structure)

As the marketing team behind the Jim Butler display, which included 4 vehicles from the 4 different dealerships, we got to partake in the Y98.1 VIP area at the Opening Day Rally. And I am one to never turn down free food or drinks. I believe it was hosted by Hacienda and Chips and Salsa are my jam. So I was thoroughly pleased :)

Designed the graphics that were on each vehicle which was really just the URL of each dealership to their corresponding vehicle.

(The Hummer to Jim Butler Plaza)

Also designed flyers for the sales person of each dealership to hand out.

(Flyer to Jim Butler Mitsubishi)

The star of the show for sure was the Chevy Camaro. People loved taking pictures of it, but it is indeed very photogenic. Total chick magnet, ay? Sporting the Cardinal red ;)

(Camaro from Jim Butler Chevrolet)

The rally ended at two. But it was a lot of fun. Stay tuned for part 2 of my Opening Day adventure after the "working" part was over. GO BIRDS!