I can’t quit you, commercials.

February 5, 2013 By 1 Comment

Awww, baby horse!

When I was a kid, my family took many road trips from our small semi-rural town into the city to visit family. Both sets of grandparents, plus all of my aunts and uncles and cousins, lived an hour away from our house. In order to entertain us and/or keep us quiet, my mom often encouraged my brother and me to play The Billboard Game.

In the billboard game we would look at every billboard we passed, counting up the number of ads we spotted for radio or television stations. And so began a lifelong love of media and marketing.

Now that I have a DVR (yes. finally.), I’m told that I can skip right through those pesky commercials and get back to the good stuff, my shows. But more often than not, I forget to fast forward and watch the ads anyway. Don’t tell my shows, but I really like watching commercials.

Honestly, I get such an enormous kick out of good marketing. (I want to say that nothing makes me happier than good marketing, but I’m trying to exaggerate less. So.) I could gaze at the Dollar Shave Club website for hours, just grinning at their brilliant strategy and excellent execution.

And that is why I’m sharing a list of my favorite Superbowl ads with you today. Even though tons of other websites have done it, and we’re now two days out from the big event (which is light years in the world of the wide web). Because I appreciate good marketing. Because I love commercials. Because I want to know which ones were YOUR favorites!

My Top 10 Favorite Superbowl Ads:

  1. Budweiser: Brotherhood – Awwww, baby horse! It’s cute, it’s sweet, and darned if I didn’t tear up a tiny bit!
  2. Coca-Cola: Security Camera – People being nice to each other, caught on camera? Gold.
  3. Samsung: The Big Pitch – Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd bickering and bantering was, refreshingly, smart-funny not raunchy-funny.
  4. M&M: Love Ballad – Look. Chocolate. Anthropomorphic chocolate. Singing anthropomorphic chocolate. Need I say more?
  5. Taco Bell: Viva Young – Old people acting like crazy young people. Maybe it shouldn’t make me laugh, but it does.
  6. Best Buy: Asking Amy – I love Amy Poehler. The end.
  7. Tide: Miracle Stain – This was so goofy, so typically Superbowl-ish, but I loved it anyway. *sigh*
  8. Jeep: Whole Again – I get it. This ad was manipulative and a whole bunch of other things, too. And it had Oprah. Still, I stubbornly refuse to be cynical when it comes to a chance to appreciate our military. Thank you to all of those who sacrifice. I don’t care what you drive, but I am grateful for what you do.
  9. Dodge Ram: Farmer – Paul Harvey plus gorgeous images plus appreciating farmers is good stuff. Even better is Ann Voskamp’s post inspired by this ad.
  10. GoDaddy: Your Big Idea – Don’t hate me! I know every other GoDaddy commercial is downright heinous. I KNOW. But this one, where the guy has a “unique” idea and the woman encourages him to start a website, just in case he’s not as original as he thinks? Worked for me.

A couple other thoughts on this year’s Superbowl ads:

  • Prior to the Superbowl, I liked the Bud Light commercials about fan superstitions. But the ones played during the game on Sunday with Stevie Wonder and a random assortment of voodoo were just plain weird. What a disappointing development for a campaign that was working (for me . . . which doesn’t matter to the company, because I don’t drink Bud Light . . . but still.).
  • The Calvin Klein commercial with the guy and the abs and the black and white was just . . . ugh. I didn’t like it at all. And I’m pretty sure I was supposed to.
  • The Deion Sanders commercial for the NFL Network was funny – until he was supposedly drafted by the Chiefs. And then it was just depressing.
  • Every article I’ve read about this year’s Superbowl ads has panned the singing fish in Beck’s commercial for Sapphire (which is a drink, I think?). But for me, the combination of a singing animal and “No Diggity” is going to get my vote every.single.time.

What were your favorite Superbowl commercials?

This post will be linked to Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings.

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Top 10 Superbowl {2012} Commercials

February 6, 2012 By 15 Comments

Football Field

“If I worked in an ad agency and someone told me I’d be working on a Super Bowl spot,
I’d be thrilled. If they then told me I’d be working on a spot for a real-estate company,
I’d wander off into the night, weeping gently, never to be seen again.”
~ AdAge review of Century 21′s commercial

I really love commercials. And billboards. And magazine ads. It’s no wonder I ended up working at an advertising agency, albeit briefly. [And speaking of jobs, after working for a national real estate company, the AdAge quote above resonates with me. A LOT. Because it's true. Marketing real estate was actually worse than pitching pet food.]

So while I don’t give a flip about football, I look forward to the Superbowl every year. A ridiculous amount of money is spent by the biggest and baddest companies out there to craft the message they want people to be talking about on Monday and beyond. And I love every ridiculous second of it.

As usual, some of the commercials were annoying, lame or disappointing. I’m talking to you, Jerry Seinfeld, Elton John and stupid Jillian Michaels and Danica Patrick. (Seriously. Way to go, ladies. *huge eye roll here*) I didn’t like the NFL commercial, either (What’s the point? We’re already watching your big game!), and I was bummed out to see none of the Budweiser commercials was moving or funny.

But it wasn’t hard at all for me to come up with 10 commercials from this year’s Superbowl that I really enjoyed.
 

Top 10 Superbowl {2012} Commercials

The Coca Cola polar bears are just cute. The end. [Click here for Coca Cola video.]

 

Sassy chocolate girl candy? Yes, please. (And, as fans of the The Wedding Planner know, the brown M&Ms are much healthier.) [Click here for M&Ms video.]

 

Yes, the couch is annoying (and, as one article I read noted, not comfortable-looking at all). But a blender that plays Lionel Richie? And, duh, rain that makes you skinny? IT’S LIKE THEY READ MY MIND! [Click here for the Toyota Camry video.]

 

Who hasn’t been there? And, really, making something related to taxes kind of fun deserves major kudos in my book. [Click here to see the TaxACT video.]

 

“Should we tell him?” “Nah, let him tire out first.” This commercial was completely over the top, but it cracked up every person at our party! [Click here for the Camaro video.]

 

“Dave drove a Ford.” Ha! Even if my husband didn’t detest Ford as much as he does the Jayhawks, the combination of Barry Manilow, tough guys, the end of the world and frogs falling from the sky would make this a winner in my book. [Click here for the Chevy Silverado video.]

 

Once I got past the creepy extra neck factor, I couldn’t stop grinning at this one. I really thought, “Why yes, you are right. My confidence should be dancing and singing disco!” [Click here for the Cars.com video.]

 

Ahhhh, Ferris Bueller. After seeing the mini teaser ad on Facebook several days ago (and hearing my friend Amy tell us how very awesome the whole ad was), I was excited to see this spoof on what really is one of my favorite movies. I’d say it lived up to its hype, even though I wasn’t sure what the ad was for until watching it again on Monday. Also, I am sure the heavily made-up Matthew Broderick was entranced by the walrus simply for the fact that he, too, is long in the tooth. Overall, though, this ad was a ton of fun. [Click here for the Honda CRV video.]

 

Okay, fine. I will admit that handsome, ages-so-well Uncle Jesse was the main draw for me here. But every single one of us burst out laughing at that head butt, and when Mark and I discussed the game commercials later, this was the first one he mentioned. [Click here for the Dannon Oikos video.]

 

With the kids [mostly] relegated to the downstairs toy room, my three friends and I watched the game from the kitchen, while the four husbands lounged in the living room. And throughout the game, we ribbed each other about the commercials banking on sex selling anything, from clothes to flowers (ICK on both accounts.). So when this commercial began, we started mocking the guys, noting that while they changed the channel during the David Beckham skin-fest, they didn’t bother with this one. But we soon realized there was more to this commercial than girls in bikinis. And after watching the whole thing, I decided this was definitely one of my favorites. It was creative, it certainly had something for everyone, and the ending was a good payoff for both genders. And the tagline is great. [Click here for the Kia video.]

A few more commercials that I couldn’t help but comment on:

  • The Voice – Vocal Kombat: I don’t watch The Voice, and I suppose you could say that Betty White has been overexposed to the nth degree, but I loved this one. It was exciting and fun and had a funny surprise ending – which is a lot more than I expected from a TV show promo.
  • Audi – Vampire Party: I thought this one was kind of dumb. But as someone who has less than stellar night vision (and I’m underplaying that a LOT to ease the minds of anyone who has ever ridden with me at night), I want me some of those headlights.
  • Chrysler – Halftime in America: Was it too much? Too much sap? Too much gravelly Eastwood gravitas? I don’t know. I really couldn’t decide. Hence it not making the top 10.
  • Chevy Sonic – Stunt Anthem: Though this was one of Mark’s favorite commercials of the night, I found nothing remarkable about it other than its choice of song. Apparently “We Are Young” is the new “Mercy.” (I like both songs, but hearing them in widely varying commercials, movies and TV shows is bizarre.)
  • Swamp People – This is Your Boss: Am I the only one who thought this was going to be a truck commercial? (And for the love of classy reality TV everywhere (*snort), why is this show still on and making enough money to broadcast a Superbowl commercial?)
  • Volkswagen – The Dog Strikes Back: Obviously, as someone trying to lose weight, I loved this dog’s quest to fit through the doggy door. But the Star Wars tag at the end was awkward and a little weird. Don’t get me wrong; I love Star Wars. But that seemed like an afterthought. An awkward afterthought, at that. (Whew! Say that five times fast!)
  • MetLife – Everyone: I loved seeing all the cartoon characters together in this feel-good commercial. But the commentary from AdAge cracked me up: “But it raises more questions than it answers. How many characters are inthere? How did they get the rights to hold this prom? What is Daphne doing in Richie Rich’s limousine? When did MetLife turn socialist?” Valid questions, all.

P.S. How stinking AWESOME was Madonna at halftime? That was undoubtedly my favorite halftime show EVER.

Now it’s your turn. What did I miss? Do you agree with my list or disagree? What was YOUR favorite commercial during the Superbowl?

This post will be linked to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda. And it has affiliate links.

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If You Give a Perfectionist a Party . . .

November 1, 2011 By 18 Comments

Sometimes things (parties) don’t exactly turn out like you expect . . .

When I graduated from high school, Smitty and I had a joint party at my granny’s house. Before the ceremony, we twisted red and white streamers all over Granny’s deck. It was so festive. And then . . . it rained. So not only was my hair super frizzy for all the obligatory photos, but our decorations were ruined. (And Granny’s deck was pink. Apparently the ink from the red streamers ran.)

A couple years later I planned a big surprise party for my parents’ 25th anniversary. Which, for reasons that are better left un-blogged, made my mom mad. That was not a fun party.

At my wedding reception my new husband didn’t want to dance with me after our first dance, and almost every one of my college friends left early to go party at their hotel. And every single photo of Mark and me cutting the cake also featured our photographer’s wife, who was showing us how to cut perfectly proportioned pieces.

My first fundraising event was a huge success and hundreds of people attended, which you would think would be a great thing. Unless you know just how small our event space was and how loud, crowded and hot it would get in there before the night was over.

The next year, we planned accordingly and rented an enormous space – only to have a LOT fewer people show up. As a critical volunteer pointed out, it seemed like we were in an empty airplane hangar with all that extra space!

Hours before the surprise party I’d spent months planning for my husband’s 30th birthday, his dad brought a puppy to our house. For Mark. To keep. We then proceeded to have a rip-roaring, headache-inducing fight because We Did Not Need a Dog! I was tempted to call the whole thing (the party, that is) off, but instead managed to get him there on time with only slightly puffy eyes and a something-is-off smile to show for the fight.

Because I delivered Annalyn seven weeks early, one of my baby showers was held after she was born and just one day after I was released from the hospital. I hobbled in, wearing [basically] pajamas and glasses and slightly high on pain meds. And when one of my friends (who will remain nameless) arrived, she walked up, gave me a hug and said, “When are you due?” I said, “Ummmm . . . you didn’t get the email, then???”

At Annalyn’s third birthday party we reserved a shelter at the park. As we were frantically unloading the car with food and decorations, I noticed something colorful on one of the picnic tables. I walked over to see it and OH MY. It was graffiti. In the naked woman variety. (Thankfully I had kraft paper to cover the tables, but still. Ick.)

Then there was the time I invited 27 people to a party and only three showed up. (Three awesome people. But you understand my sadness, right?)

That’s just nine examples of parties or events not exactly going according to plan, despite my best control-freak perfectionist efforts. I’d like to say I handled every situation with calm and a sense of humor, but, well, that wouldn’t exactly be true.

Thankfully, I’ve learned a lot from those events (and, *sigh*, more) – and I’ve written an ebook about it. Plan a Fabulous Party {without losing your mind} is my first ebook, and it launches next week. (Woohoo! And – let’s be honest – yikes!)

Until then, I’d love to round out this Top Ten Tuesday list with some help from YOU.

Have you ever planned a party that didn’t exactly turn out right?

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Why I Keep Going Back to Weight Watchers

September 27, 2011 By 49 Comments

A friend of mine has started going to Weight Watchers with me. Today was our second weigh-in together, and we each lost three pounds. Happy tears may have been shed. Internal happy dance may have been performed.

I’m so thankful she’s decided to do this with me, because when I try to do this alone, it does not work. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Weight Watchers works. But I don’t. Since my first few weeks (when I was actually successful) of my most recent WW membership, I’ve basically just been donating my money every month. Just like six of the other seven times I’ve done Weight Watchers.

Yeah, don’t do the math. It’s a lot of money I’ve wasted. But the thing is, I couldn’t just stop. I knew if I did I’d be admitting defeat, maybe forever.

On about the fourth day of my friend’s first week on Weight Watchers, she and I took our kids to the park with a few other moms from the preschool they all attend. My friend mentioned that she was doing Weight Watchers, and another mom – this mom, if you must know – went on the attack.

She ranted about how Weight Watchers was stupid and didn’t work. She raved about how HER diet was the better way – no, the ONLY way – to lose weight. And I seethed and shoved a few Doritos in my mouth to keep myself quiet. (I’m kidding. I did seethe, but I would’ve eaten those Doritos no matter what. What?)

Yesterday morning when we weighed in, I was relieved that both my friend and I lost. She’d told me that she believed me, that she knew Weight Watchers would work, no matter what that other mom said. Still, I had admitted that this is my eighth time doing Weight Watchers, and only once have I lost any real weight. Seeing the scale was evidence that the problem really is ME, not the program.

For all these reasons and more, I was inspired when our meeting leader suggested we list 25 reasons for losing weight. Her theory is that by the time we’re digging for reasons 20 through 25, we’ll finally get to the heart of our weight-loss issues. My theory is that by the time you get as overweight as I am, you’ve got a whole closet full of reasons to lose weight without even thinking hard.

But, since I have a couple different things on my mind here, I’m going to make this list a combination of the reasons why I want to lose weight in general and the reasons why I keep trying Weight Watchers to lose weight.

Why I Keep Going Back to Weight Watchers

  1. I want to shop in regular stores (i.e. Not Lane Bryant).
  2. I want to set a good example for my daughter.
  3. My husband has lost a lot of weight and now he’s way skinnier than me.
  4. I want to wear my “thin” clothes that live in the back of my closet.
  5. My back hurts when I stand – or sleep – too long.
  6. My knees hurt sometimes. They shouldn’t.
  7. I want to wear smaller shoes. Or shoes with heels.
  8. One time I said I would never have back fat. I do now.
  9. I want to feel pretty again.
  10. I’m so tired of failing.
  11. I really like it when people say, “Wow! You’ve lost so much weight!”
  12. I don’t want to get diabetes. Or heart disease.
  13. I want to feel healthy enough to have another baby.
  14. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin.
  15. I want to have fun when I take my daughter swimming.
  16. I’d like to see if a smaller me would sweat less.
  17. I want to water ski again.
  18. I’m afraid that I’m known – even if it’s never out loud – as “the fat girl.”
  19. I’m tired of extra weight holding me back.
  20. I want to feel like myself again.

21. Weight Watchers has taught me how to eat well (portion sizes, no empty calories, etc.).
22. Weight Watchers is teaching me to eat more fruits and veggies.
23. Weight Watchers is a lifestyle that is manageable forever.
24. Weight Watchers is smart and healthy (I really do eat more fiber and protein now.).
25. Weight Watchers is a group of people like me, who get me and don’t judge me.

Those are my reasons for losing weight (and doing it with Weight Watchers). Are you trying to lose weight? If so, will you tell us why in the comments?

This post will be linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda. Even though I shared more than 10 reasons. Don’t tell on me. I’m also linking up to Share Your Sunday Best at Feels Like Home.

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10 Reasons I Needed a Massage (GIVEAWAY)

September 6, 2011 By

Tara Spa

For my 30th birthday, I scheduled my very first massage. I’ve been wishing I could get a second one ever since. So when I was contacted about getting a massage from Massage Envy and then blogging about it, I didn’t hesitate for a second.

I jumped on the chance to get a massage from Massage Envy.

Once it was scheduled, I knew I needed to write it on my calendar. Because while it doesn’t seem like something I would forget, you can never be sure – especially when it’s scheduled for the first day of preschool. So, I headed to my calendar to write it down.

But once I picked up the pen, I did hesitate. It just seemed so extravagant, so I’m such a spoiled brat. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I wrote, “10:00 Mass.”

Oh, that’s better. Now I’m lying to my own calendar, telling it that I’m attending MASS. (I’m not even Catholic! Like the calendar is going to believe that anyway!)

Here’s the deal, though: I needed a massage. And I bet you do, too. I’ll give you my reasons first, then I’m going to need yours. Because I’m giving one away.

1. It’s been a really long summer. Fifteen weeks (between preschool years), by my count. We’ve had lots of fun, but it’s been long.

2. Cleaning is hard work. Have I mentioned lately that I washed our over-sized living room and dining room windows? Because I did.

3. I need to pack. I’m going out of town this week, and traveling (the prep, the packing, the airsickness) always stresses me out.

4. Owning two blogs is fun, but hard. As much as I love Mama Loves Her Shows, finding a balance between two blogs and, you know, the REST of life if proving harder than I anticipated.

5. New TV is around the corner. We are mere minutes – okay, days – away from the official start of the fall TV season. And you KNOW that makes me happy, but trying to figure out how to watch everything? Well, it’s making my remote arm twitch a little.

Day 3/366.....Fire, Wood & Stone

6. Family = drama. My family has had a bit of drama over past few months. And family drama always, without fail, means a flare-up of my insert-stress-pain-here shoulder issues.

7. One of these days, I’m going to write an e-book. And I’d really like that day to come soon. I’m pretty sure the anticipation of the work is more back-aching than the actual writing will be, but until I’m sure about that, I’m getting pretty good at stressing over just the possibility of this project. *sigh*

8. I’m a working girl. Did you know that I do freelance work? It’s true, and I’m just getting started on a huge project. I’m thrilled to have the work (a.k.a., the money), but adding a project of this scale to my schedule is a little intimidating.

9. Money talks. As in, I’ve recently had several money talks with Mark. And while we agree on most things and feel good that we’re accomplishing the goals we’ve set, discussing budgeting and doing math is not my idea of a fun time.

10. It’s been a long summer {yes, I’m saying it again.} Last but not least, this summer was apparently my cue to abandon all forms of self-discipline, including my new dedication to exercise. And a non-worked-out body is not a happy body. It may not be a personal trainer’s recommendation to get a massage before pulling yourself out of bed to work out, but it sure is what I did. (Now to add “pull myself out of bed to work out” to tomorrow’s calendar…)

Wondering how my clearly-much-needed massage went today? It. Was. Awesome. The facility was clean and quiet, and I was relieved that I didn’t have to put  on a robe and sit in a supposedly relaxing room with other people in robes. (Maybe that’s not stressful or uncomfortable to anyone else, but it is to me – and that’s what happened before my last massage.) From the moment I walked in the door, everyone I met with was professional and truly nice, and my masseuse, Berlinda? She was ah-maze-ing. She didn’t even laugh when I maybe-sorta-kinda fell asleep for a minute. And snored. (Seriously.)

Honestly, I have heard of Massage Envy before and wondered if a franchise spa with such reasonable prices ($49 for an introductory one-hour massage) could be that great. It was.

But you don’t have to take my word for it! {Woohoo! Here comes the giveaway part of the post!} You can win your OWN one-hour massage at a Massage Envy near you. (Massage Envy has professional massage therapy clinics in 43 states. Visit www.MassageEnvy.com to find the clinic nearest you.)

To enter, leave a comment telling us why YOU need a massage! For additional entries, follow Massage Envy on Twitter (and then leave a separate comment telling me about it) or follow me on Twitter (and leave a separate comment telling me about it). This giveaway will be closed on September 13. Good luck!

This post will be linked to Top 10 Tuesday at OhAmanda.

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