Archive for the ‘Childhood’ Category

Summer Camp for Grown-ups?

Posted by Julie | July 2nd, 2010

 “What do you mean you have to go to work in the summer?”

This from the lips of my precocious, yet insightful, 9 year old son.

I have to admit, I’ve had the same thought lately.

As both a parent and a career person, the rhythm of my life is very much affected by the rhythm of my children’s lives…including the seasonal changes driven by the calendar of a student.

In the fall as they prepare for back to school, I often find myself also exploring and committing to some new learning opportunity (e.g. honing my social media skills, attending a conference on a marketing topic I want to learn more about or flexing my creative muscles through a writing class or cooking etc.).

Similarly, when school ends in June and they get to kick back and take a break…I find myself longing for one too.

Sure things slow down in the summer a bit at work, there are half day Summer Friday’s, long holiday weekends, and the requisite summer vacation.

But sometimes it still doesn’t feel like enough.

I think what I am really longing for is…camp.
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Category: Childhood, Inspiration

The Tale of the Boy and the Box

Posted by Julie | March 9th, 2010

My Mom got me snow shoes for my birthday.

Having just tried out a pair at my friend’s house in Vermont, I was very excited.

But not half as excited as my 8 year son who promptly got to work transforming the empty LL Bean box into a fort.

I looked at the box, determined it had served it’s shipping purpose and started to put it in the recycle pile.

Fortunately, his imagination stepped in and he quickly reclaimed the empty box as a toy.

He spent the next hour cutting out a peep hole in the side, covering it with black paper (better to hide) and rigging a pretty sophisticated system to attach a light bulb to the inside corner of the box “just in case”.

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Category: Childhood, Creativity, Inspiration

My Last Meal

Posted by Julie | March 3rd, 2010

We all know that food really isn’t about sustenance- at least the physical kind.

Sure we need food to fuel our bodies and keep them functioning. But it’s no great secret that food is about emotional nourishment and associations.

I find exploring favorite foods and the feelings they evoke is actually a great exercise to do in brainstorming sessions. It helps to warm up the creative juices and can sometimes have direct implications for developing stronger brands.

I remember once pitching a large Atlanta based airline where we recommended that they serve ice tea to everyone who comes on board to really bring their promise of southern hospitality to life. We even recommended finishing each glass with a small mint leaf in each cup to demonstrate (not just talk about) the special touches the airline was touting in its ad campaigns

I am sure many of you are familiar with the power of the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on Midwest Airlines. It’s not about the physical need of hunger that’s satisfied. It’s about the emotions of comfort and security that the taste, and most importantly the smell, of the cookie evokes.

Here’s a great game that explores these food feelings. It may seem morbid at first blush, but I find that it actually unlocks a lot of creativity and inspiration if you allow yourself to get into it. It’s really fun to do in groups.

It’s called “Last Meal”.

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Category: Childhood, Creativity, Inspiration

More Great 70’s Brands

Posted by Julie | March 2nd, 2010

This Flowbee hair cutter example was sent in from a BrandTwist reader in response to yesterday’s post on The Pet Rock and other Great 70’s Brands.

Does anyone remember it? Did anyone try it?

Thanks for all the great responses (and the birthday wishes).

Any other nostalgic faves?

Category: Childhood, Favorite Brands, Product Branding

QuickTwist

Posted by Julie | October 16th, 2009

What was your best Halloween costume?

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Category: Childhood, Inspiration, QuickTwist

QuickTwist

Posted by Julie | September 14th, 2009

What was your favorite lunch box branded character when you were a kid?

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Category: Childhood, QuickTwist

Stop Recording…Start Living!

Posted by Julie | September 10th, 2009



Often the wisest words come from the mouths of babes.

Or in my case, the mouth of a very bright 8 year old boy…my son Sacha.

On our recent holiday in France, I was so busy trying to record every moment to share (via Facebook, and email etc) with friends and family back home…that I wasn’t fully experiencing the moments as they were happening.

In this particular instance I was trying to capture an adorable picture of Sacha during his circus lessons.

Obsessed with gettting the perfect shot, I wasn’t really watching the trick he was trying to show me.

“Stop taking picutres, and look!” he cried.

Instantly I knew he was right. The real value of the moment was in the moment.

Not in the picture or pithy update quote to be posted or tweeted later.

So I put down the camera and I really watched. And it was pretty cool.

And then I took a few quick shots.

And maybe I didn’t capture exactly the perfect smile or get the ideal shot.

But when I close my eyes I can see it vividly and I can hear the excitement in his voice when he realized I was really present and paying attention.

Experiences are great to share, but first they should be…well…experienced.

That’s my point of view. What’s your twist?
Has recording gotten in the way of experiencing for you?

Category: Childhood, Digital Media, Finding Balance

Back to School Blues

Posted by Julie | September 8th, 2009


Today is the first day of school for my kids and I’ve got the blues.

It’s not because the summer is over (although it did whiz by).

It’ not even because the passage of time is so clearly marked as my kids march through the grades (it really does seem like yesterday my 7th grader was starting Kindergarten).

No, I’m blue for one simple fact- that they are the ones going back to school and not I.

I feel this way every fall.

In the real (working world) those of us who are lucky, and who make an effort to seek it out, do continue to learn.

But it’s just not the same as the larger “unknown” that students face this time of year.

I miss the anticipation of learning new things, delving into unfamiliar territory, discovering new teachers and even making new friends that comes with official “Back to School”.

So this year I’ve decided to do something about it. I’ve decided, in my own way, to go back to school.

I’m not talking about a graduate school kind of commitment.

I’m talking about taking stock this September of what I’d like to learn and setting out a plan (class schedule of sorts) to get there.

Right now I am still in the audit phase. High on my list are yoga, Hip Hop, Conversational Hebrew, and finally mastering the art of advanced Twitter.

OK it’s more of a varied Freshman liberal arts curriculum – but it works for me.

The important thing is I am committing to learning something new.

And the prospect of this is exciting…hey maybe I’ll even get a new backpack…or at the very least some new back to school clothes.

That’s my point of view. What’s your twist?
What are your back to school plans

Category: Childhood

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