Patagonia: Ad Spotlight

I write advertising spotlights from time to time when I deem an ad or visual campaign appealing enough to mention. Our society is so drenched in advertising's millions of messages, that I like to point out (in-my-mind) well-done initiatives & executions. 

 I subscribe to daily emails from ADWEEK.Normally the day is way too busy to read through them, but I clicked on this particular email on Tuesday. Patagonia launched a few ads & digital messages with the headline, "Don't Buy This Jacket." Playing up the environmental appeal to consumers, which can prove risky at times, I think they took a huge leap in basically --- calling themselves out.

If you aren't aware of the context of this ad, Patagonia has a jacket (the R2 Jacket) that uses enough water to meet the daily dietetic needs of 45 people. That's just tipping the iceberg & I won't use this space to relay the rest, but please go read up on it! A further synopsis of the development process of this one jacket can be found here.

The good news is that Patagonia encourages its loyal consumers to "Take the Pledge" by pledging to limit the amount of jackets bought & being sure to recycle a jacket when its worn out. (Patagonia accepts worn jackets & will recycle accordingly.)

"...as is true for all the things we can make and you can buy, this jacket comes with an environmental cost higher than its price," reads the ad copy from Patagonia.

Back to why I chose it as an ad spotlight...

There is a lot of discussion around this campaign. While some think it shows Patagonia's genuine concern for the environment by providing a raw & truthful claim about its own product, others feel that they will benefit from consumer reaction to the ad. In turn, lifting them up high on a pedestal which then, in turn, furthers customer loyalty and ultimately ....  sales.

Though it can be argued both ways, my opinion is that this was fantastic. It's bold. From an aesthetic creative standpoint, the clean ad and compelling copy (text) would stop me in the streets, stop me from turning the page of a magazine & with an email subject line of "Don't Buy This Jacket," you better believe open click rates skyrocket. It makes people curious as to what the ad means and draws them in to find out their message.

They take a top-selling product, back-track it & present the real product to the consumer -- but though there are disappointing flaws from an environmental standpoint about the make-up of this one jacket, Patagonia PR kicks in and says, "Hey.... let's do something about it," by encouraging the Pledge & limited purchasing with higher recycling rates.

Well done, Patagonia.

Non-Vain

I hope I don't come across as straight-up vain, but my sister, AshlynJoy Photography, hasn't done a photoshoot of moi in a while! Word on the street is that I am not the best client and get very fidgety....! Here a few she snapped after our big Thanksgiving meal. Keep in mind, you Atlanta or surrounding suburb areas -- she has moved to Georgia and is available most weekends for shoots --specializing mostly in family, solo, engagement and baby/newborn.

 

Thanksgiving Break

I haven't had a vacation all year. Not to say that this was a vacation, but I sure did enjoy my 4 day weekend over Thanksgiving Break. I was the one flying down I-85 trying to get home so I could chill the entire weekend. I literally shut my phone off and barely got on the computer. I did play with my parents' iPads. Now, I officially want one. (Let's start with the iPhone first, Brittney). I have mentioned before on the blog that Thanksgiving isn't the 'big' holiday with my family. Christmas is. So, every year we seem to do something different for Thanksgiving. Sometimes we even eat out! This year, though, was a quiet one with just the four of us. I enjoyed it and enjoyed all the sleep I got to catch up on. 

Thanksgiving Day outfits

Casual lunch at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

It's tradition that we pick out our tree the day after Thanksgiving. Some years we like a huge one, but this year we didn't care so much. Of course, we get our tree at the local Home Depot!

So, I don't talk much about my job on the blog (specifically), but I wanted to explain this photo! As you know, I work in marketing for the Home Depot -- their headquarters are located here in Atlanta! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! I can hardly believe it's already time for the Holidays -- it's unreal how fast this year flew. I hope to enjoy it as much as possible. 

Volume x 10

 

Two weeks ago, I was so excited to get an email from Misikko to try the HANAair Professional hair dryer. Not being just an average product review, I was even more excited to learn that it was mine to keep and continue to use! A big 'thank you' to Misikko for the gift and pretty package! 

I have used the HANAair dryer for two weeks now and absolutely love it! It dries my hair quickly and efficiently & leaves me with lots of volume. My hair feels silky. It's seriously an amazing product.

The HANAair Professional dryer displays Ion Technology to condition the hair while drying -- there is zero static when I am done. It has multiple heat/cool & speed settings that I use depending on if I have time for a good blow out or if  I need it to work a 5-minute magic dry before heading to work.

I highly recommend this hair dryer and am so excited to have it for my own daily hair blow-outs!

515 Weekend

I wish I could rack up a ton of photos from a fun weekend I could have had, but we really didn't do anything in the 515 this weekend. Friday was a rough day, so Lauren was sweet to call me while I was still at work and go, "What flavor cupcake do you want from GiGi's?" We vegged out and watched Crazy, Stupid Love.

I slept until 1:00 Saturday (who am I?!) and woke up to a 1-hour Deep Tissue Massage appointment, thanks to Groupon. It was heaven. Knowing me though, I asked if I could go work out after the massage and they urged strongly against doing so. So, I meandered to our new Publix at Town Brookhaven. I call it Pretty Publix because it literally is just the nicest Publix I have ever been to. Sadly though, I witnessed my first fake check bust at the checkout and was scared! You just never know in Atlanta. But look at our lovely new community right down the road from the 515! Lots of restaurants and boutiques, Pretty Publix & a Costco!

This morning, I went for a good 4-mile run. In case you haven't heard, I have started running again. Not just "oh I think I will run today" but, legit running on a training schedule 4-5 days per week. I seriously hit a plateau because I work out so much, and regular cardio machines weren't cutting it for me. I do feel like the best workout for my body is running, so here I am. It's not easy, and any runner can tell you that. My body hurts. A lot. But, it's worth it so I keep going.

It was a big veg-out weekend, but we need those every once and a while, right? I sure do. With the holidays rolling around and parties, traveling, etc., I took advantage of a chill weekend!

Here are some outfits from this week. My office environment is business casual, which is great to have the option to dress more casual. I dress up many days, but here are some photos of me dressing down. And, can I just point out how long my hair is getting?! Gracious!

Recent Photo Shoots

Recent photo shoots (and my personal favorite picks) from some of the recent work of Ashlyn Joy Photography.

Ashlyn has relocated from Alabama closer to Atlanta now for anyone interested in booking a weekend session in the surrounding Atlanta areas!

Wishing for Friends

It's 1:00 in the morning on a Monday night & I can't seem to sleep, so I thought I would write about a topic that's been on my mind & heart as of late. The subject is friends. I wish I could say that I had a lot of them. Sure, I have a lot of acquaintances, but I don't have many friends. You see, I moved to Atlanta a little over a year ago and its been very hard to adjust to society here. I did not attend a southern SEC or ACC school, therefore, I didn't come to Atlanta with my whole sorority of girlfriends who seem to be able to pick up right after college and continue on as friends through their 20s.

What about childhood friends back home? I grew up in Jacksonville, FL and developed some wonderful friendships during middle and high school. I cheered with these girls, took cruises with these girls, went to summer camp with and so on....but I decided to go to Liberty (in Virginia) for college while they all remained in-state. Actually, most stayed in town and continued on. Adding to that, my parents moved to Alabama right before I left for college in Virginia, meaning that I never went back home to Jacksonville. They all moved on as I have.... but what brings tears to my eyes is that they are all in each other's weddings 5 years later.... and me.... well, I didn't get an invitation. Life moved on.

So what about college friends, right?! Surely those are your best friends. I met a lot of 'buddies' in college, sure, but my school didn't have any tight-knit sorority structures where there are multitudes of females to make friends with. I developed some sweet relationships with the girls on my hall that I do still keep in contact with today. Them? All married. Two have babies. One moved to Austrailia, one married an Army man and has lived many places & the others are (of course) involved in their married lives. We keep in touch  via facebook.

Enter in moving to DC and beginning to make a career for myself....then enter in moving back to Virginia and into the 'big white house' with 3 amazing girls.

The only thing about those girls is that they all still live in Lynchburg. And though I know they love me dearly, we only see one another maybe twice per year. Their lives have moved on with their jobs and new friendships (some engagements and some babies) and I am making my life in Atlanta.

So make friends at work! Well, I really enjoyed many of the people that I worked with at the agency, but with the way things went down in that situation, I've never seen nor hung with any of them again. Even though I would! They didn't choose to be nasty -- the company did. Still, a bit awkward though as you could imagine.

I do have some friends at my new job (which I love by the way), but honestly, work is so busy, that I am lucky to make it down to the cafeteria for a salad to-go most days.

Church..... I sit alone most Sundays. I have tried joining a small group twice, but it just was not the right fit and I knew it. I will keep trying!

So, yes, I have some friends.... but really, are they more acquaintances? To say this time of my life has been difficult is an understatement. I don't fit in with the married girls...I don't fit in with the moms-to-be.... I try to find decent girls in Atlanta, but it's hard. Really hard.

I'm not giving up hope! I am trying to focus my thoughts on things I have accomplished on my own this year. It's been crazy. But now I am ready to make some relationships. If I can't be in my childhood group, and if I can't quite associate myself with my Lynchburg group now.... who can I associate with?

Just trying to find where I belong... if that makes any sense.

Weekend!

Another great weekend in the A-T-L! Lost a big game to LSU, but still enjoyed cheering on the Tide! Here are some recent photos of the last few weekends. I need to seriously start taking more pictures -- my selection is getting thin!

Terra Cotta Paint Project

 

I have lived away from home for six years & have collected quite the stash of furniture & decor accessories that have gone from one apartment, to a DC studio, to a big house, to another apartment, to a townhome and then now to a condo. Because of this, my things have experienced quite a few bumps and bruises and the typical wear and tear is beginning to expose itself. Not to mention that many decor pieces and furniture are brown. Combined with a white wall and brown wood floors, it makes for a lot of brown in a small space.

Enter in Martha Stewart Living Project Paints (featured above at my local Home Depot store in Buckhead). Martha Stewart Living Project Paints are the perfect 10 oz. jars to add an updated touch of sparkle, texture or sheen to dated decor or furniture. Project Paints come in six finishes: Crackle, Glitter, Terra Cotta, Textured Metallic, Metallic & Metallic Glaze. 

Below you will see an old, tarnished vase that could really use some TLC.

 

Dixon decided to get in on the photo. I painted on the outside deck & he watched me ever-so-intently from the sofa. 

I wanted a 'pop' of color, so I chose the Terra Cotta paint in Paprika. 

 

I applied one coat with a 2 inch flat brush (nothing fancy) and found the paint to cover very well. I love how it creates an instant terra cotta "pottery" style! Such an easy, inexpensive update to that vase! It took me only 20 minutes & it's currently sitting on the deck to dry. 

Anthropologie

I would not typically declare myself an "Anthro" girl. Maybe I always viewed it as too eclectic or too earthy, (as I do stick to the classics), but I was on their site this week and fell in love with these pieces! Even better, most of these pieces are on Sale!

Vineyard Vines Winter Picks

Winner

I pulled the winner of the Starbucks gift card -- Comment #9, Suburban prep! Please shoot me an email at BrittneyJoyWilliams@gmail.com with your address and I will be sure to get that to you this week!

Thank you for entering the giveaway!