Favorite Things Archive
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People are Talking About: Cameron Russell’s Ted Talk
Posted on January 18, 2013 | No CommentsDon’t hate her because she’s beautiful. Cameron Russell, an accomplished and in-demand model, shares some very compelling insights on the power of attractiveness, the insecurities of even (perhaps especially) physically... -
BMP in the Road – Safety Dance
Posted on January 8, 2013 | 1 CommentI like to think of myself as a problem solver with a good sense of design. There are a handful of illustrators I’ve had the good fortune to work with... -
Revisiting Willpower: A Book That Could Change Your Life.
Posted on January 4, 2013 | 1 CommentHappy New Year to all our blog readers! Because we’re now into the first few days of our bold New Year’s Resolutions, I thought I’d dust off a blog from... -
iGave in
Posted on January 3, 2013 | 1 CommentLet me start by coming clean: I still know all the words to ‘80′s rap and dance songs; I still style my hair a little too high on top; I... -
Great Fiction 2012
Posted on December 11, 2012 | 1 CommentWhen it comes to our blog, the end of the year is my favorite time, because I get to share with you the great works of fiction I enjoyed. Either... -
Tuning in in Philadelphia. KYW…why we’ve always loved it.
Posted on December 4, 2012 | 1 CommentI didn’t realize until I visited an area with no traffic issues that “drive time” radio isn’t something every living being relies on to stay sane. Drive time radio advertising... -
Don’t forget your coworkers this Black Friday.
Posted on November 20, 2012 | No CommentsFrom all of us at Alstin, have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. If you also happen to have built into your plans the shop till you drop... -
Great Fiction: What Did You Love Reading in 2012?
Posted on November 8, 2012 | 1 CommentI can’t believe we’re already into November. In addition to my work “to-do” lists, I’m also starting to compile some of my favorite fiction of 2012 for my annual, end-of-year... -
BMP in the Road – Print is dead…
Posted on November 8, 2012 | No CommentsThe tale of print’s demise has been a common one in the past decade. Online work can give you live links, interactivity, and even motion! Animated gifs. Flash. Video! I’ll... -
Come. Click. Stay.
Posted on October 23, 2012 | No CommentsStatisticbrain.com reported on the factors that companies consider when they are choosing an advertising agency. At the top of the list? Agency/specialty type (duh), timely approach by an agency (if... -
Happy Birthday Google! The web is what you make of it.
Posted on September 27, 2012 | 2 CommentsToday marks 14 years since Google has transformed the way we find things on the web. I still remember logging on for the first time. My first impression: “Well now,... -
A job I want. The AP® Reading and why I want to be there!
Posted on September 26, 2012 | No CommentsDisclaimer: I had to submit this blog post to my bosses before it appeared online. Hopefully they saw the title and realized I am only kidding. Kinda. I’ve written in... -
BMP in the Road – Go to Helvetica
Posted on September 25, 2012 | 1 CommentThe other week, I’d watched the movie “Helvetica” and I know what you’re thinking. 1) Seriously, there’s a movie about a typeface?, and 2) Seriously, you watched a movie about a typeface? Well,... -
Olympic Fever Continues! Reflecting on Lack of Paralympics 2012
Posted on September 13, 2012 | 1 CommentYou would never know by watching the TV box but the 2012 Paralympics wrapped up in London on September 9th with China topping the medal board and the United States... -
The Funniest Recruitment Video of 2012?
Posted on September 7, 2012 | No CommentsWhen I saw the title, “The Funniest Recruitment Video of 2012,” on socialcontent.com, the snarky part of me thought, “Oh, really? Well, I’ll be the judge of that.” Okay, this is... -
With a Name like Alstin, of Course She’s Creative.
Posted on August 24, 2012 | No CommentsI recently wrote a blog about how Google Alerts are still a great tool. As I said then, part of the fun of receiving a Google Alert are the “happy... -
Find Your Olympic Body Match
Posted on August 2, 2012 | No CommentsDon’t know if infographics are a trend or if they are here to stay, but I DO know that they are among my favorite things to discover on the Internet.... -
I’ve got Olympic Fever.
Posted on August 1, 2012 | 1 CommentI totally have a case of Olympic Fever right now. I admitted last week to having a love of the Olympics that goes way back. Watching them with a pair... -
Old Commercials To Make You Smile (and Cringe). PART 6: Who’s Hungry?
Posted on June 29, 2012 | No CommentsIt’s been too long since I’ve highlighted some classic commercials to make you smile—and cringe. This time, I’ll focus on food commercials. Cheerios Watch as Bobby overpowers unshaven louts thanks... -
What’s Old is New and Google: “MADE IN THE U.S.A.”
Posted on June 28, 2012 | No CommentsWhile Google made a big splash at their recent software developers conference with the demo of “Google Glass”, the new “smart” eyeglasses created to deliver information without having to scramble... -
I Grant You the Queen in all of Her Pantone Glory
Posted on June 5, 2012 | No CommentsI am not a big royal watcher, but did find this tribute to her royal highness, the Queen of England, having spent 60 years on the throne, almost as entertaining... -
Soon I will be Moonwalking with Einstein
Posted on June 1, 2012 | No CommentsThe next nonfiction book on my shelf is Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything. Perhaps you’ve the buzz about this book or seen or... -
Appetite for construction.
Posted on May 17, 2012 | No CommentsSometimes, when you’ve known someone — or, some agency — for a long time, you think you know everything about them. That’s why it might surprise some of our recruitment... -
And the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction Goes To: Nobody
Posted on April 27, 2012 | No CommentsFans of our blog know how much I love fiction (see my favorite novels of 2011 here), so I was excited to see who would win this year’s Pulitzer Prize.... -
The Science (and Magic) of Color Selection
Posted on April 2, 2012 | No CommentsMany years ago, I was expectantly preparing my baby’s nursery. I chose soft yellow for the walls and painted the ceiling sky blue. Clouds and stenciled birds added finishing touches.... -
Khan Academy: The Best Site on the Internet (Seriously)
Posted on February 2, 2012 | No CommentsA really, really smart guy named Salman Khan (three degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard) wanted to help his niece in another city bring up her math grade.... -
BMP in the Road: Stepping Out?
Posted on January 19, 2012 | No CommentsLike anyone with a favorite pair of sneakers or some worn-in flannel pajamas, I enjoy being comfortable, but comfort has a way of letting the mind and body get sleepy.... -
Willpower: A Book That Could Change Your Life.
Posted on January 13, 2012 | 2 CommentsAs our blog readers know, I prefer to keep my reading in the land of fiction (to see my top fiction picks of 2011, click here). However, every once in... -
Viral Videos of the Year
Posted on December 20, 2011 | No CommentsMashable recently posted a video created by the fine folks over at You Tube with the top 10 most viewed videos if 2011. I think it’s awesome to see the... -
Best of Year Post: So What Did You Learn This Week?
Posted on December 16, 2011 | No CommentsAs we wind down 2011, this December I am taking a second look at some of my favorite blogs. In case you missed it the first go-around, here’s my favorite... -
The Ten Questions That Show Who You Really Are (And My Answers)
Posted on December 15, 2011 | 2 CommentsEarlier this year, we featured a blog highlighting the Ten Questions that James Lipton asks his guests at the end of each interview on “Inside the Actor’s Studio.” The format... -
Great Fiction 2011, Part II
Posted on December 9, 2011 | 4 CommentsIn Part I of my blog on my Favorite Fiction from 2011, I talked about some great reads by Chad Harbach, Adam Ross and Emma Donahue. There’s always so many great... -
Great Fiction 2011, Part I
Posted on December 2, 2011 | No CommentsCan we really be in December already? This month not only means the holidays, overeating and the end of the year, but also the time for my annual wrap-up of... -
Start spreading the news – the guy who owns Alstin is ALMOST a published author!
Posted on November 22, 2011 | No CommentsThat’s right – me, Mike Schluth, the advertising guy, is putting on a new hat that feels great. 2012 is the year my first book will be published. It’s called America’s Dazzle... -
Fare thee well, TBar. I’ll miss you.
Posted on November 18, 2011 | No CommentsIf you read our blog (or ever see me out at a meeting) you know how obsessed I am with iced tea. That’s why I’m so sad to report on... -
BMP in the Road: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs…
Posted on November 10, 2011 | No CommentsAs a long-term graphic designer and the resident Mac tech-guy at Alstin, I found Steve Job’s’ recent demise to be the closing of a window that I’d often peered into.... -
So this is why people love Apple
Posted on October 21, 2011 | 1 CommentIt’s official: I love Apple. I’m part of the cult, I’m drinking the kool-aid and I am a card carrying member of the club I used to mock. Actually, I’m... -
Revisiting the Greatest Commercial Ever
Posted on October 14, 2011 | 2 CommentsWith the passing of Steve Jobs last week, I was reminded of Apple’s landmark “1984” commercial. Over the years, I’ve given many presentations on branding, and I never fail to... -
The Most Honest Car Commercial You’ll Ever See—and Love.
Posted on September 30, 2011 | No CommentsI don’t know about you, but I can’t think of any product that’s more advertising-saturated than the automobile. By my unofficial estimate, every NFL game shows an average of 6... -
Picture This Contest – WIN a $50 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble!
Posted on September 21, 2011 | 25 CommentsThey say a picture is worth a thousand words. In today’s economy, it’s more like 20 or 25. If you choose them efficiently, that should be enough. See if you... -
I think I can, I think I can … I know I can!
Posted on August 24, 2011 | 1 CommentI dedicate this blog to my dear husband who right about now is spending his last dwindling days of summer vacation working on about half a dozen different do-it-yourself projects... -
Are you an outlier?
Posted on May 13, 2011 | No CommentsAs those who read our blog know, I am a huge fan of great fiction. Every once in a while though, something from the world of reality catches my eye.... -
When logos tell the truth
Posted on May 13, 2011 | No CommentsDo a quick search on YouTube for “cat videos” and you’ll get close to 100,000 results. Some of those videos have more than 20 million views. Viktor Hertz, a Swedish designer, took it... -
Old Commercials To Make You Smile (and Cringe).
Posted on May 6, 2011 | 2 CommentsPART 5: How cheesy can you get? We’re so accustomed to commercials that use exaggeration and hyperbole to get their point across—in fact, we expect it. The not-so-subtle messages we... -
There’s no crying in softball.
Posted on May 5, 2011 | No CommentsThat’s the rule, right? Well, I’m happy to report that one month and two games into little league softball season, I have yet to have a player tear up. That’s... -
The Love Story Continues: An Honest Tea Update.
Posted on April 8, 2011 | 2 CommentsI can’t believe it’s been nearly 2 years since I wrote about my love for Honest Tea. That posting cemented my reputation as an iced tea addict—and I also received... -
Butterflies in the Hornet’s Nest (Ignorant and Proud! Part II)
Posted on March 17, 2011 | No CommentsMy hunt for Double Bass information and opinion led me to a popular site (for enthusiasts, that is). Instead of starting a “newbie needs help” thread, I just read. And... -
And the winner is …
Posted on March 9, 2011 | No CommentsThis week’s winner of the “Picture This” caption contest and lucky recipient of a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble is: Kathleen Osterhoudt, with the entry, “The concept of... -
An Ocean (City) of Opportunity
Posted on March 3, 2011 | 2 CommentsOcean City, New Jersey has been “my beach” since I was two years old. It was the town my family visited every summer for two weeks, renting a converted garage... -
Photo Tip: Shooting from the Hip. Literally.
Posted on February 24, 2011 | 1 CommentUntil Spring arrives for real, I thought I’d brighten your day with a hot pink photo of flowers. I also wanted to share the unconventional method that I used to...
