Dream Big & Execute Even Bigger with Improv Techniques

Improvisation can lead to innovation.

Research shows teams that utilize improvisation skills and embrace the possibility of failure trust each other more, increase their collective creativity, and experiment fearlessly.

After studying, performing, and facilitating improv comedy for over 6 years, the values and techniques gleaned from this exciting art form are now a formative part of my professional as well as personal life.

I work with clients to generate a creative, supportive, collaborative culture, which results in a ton of fun along the way. The “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?”-style teachings and tactics help break the mold, developing and discovering brands that invigorate and create value for my clients.

“Oh, I could never do that. I’m not (creative, brave, funny) enough to do improv! WRONG. Improv theory and framework is universal and accessible.

Below are both examples of improv in action and techniques that you can start using in YOUR professional and personal life. Internalizing and experimenting with these concepts will increase your confidence as a creative and a leader.

Coca-Cola: the world’s greatest improviser?

For more than 100 years, Coca-Cola’s embraced and embodied improv tactics in memorable ways. The world’s favorite carbonated sugar water enforces one simple idea: “Drinking Coke makes you happy.” Happiness is directly and subliminally conveyed through the brand’s visuals, voice, touch-points, and messaging.

Coca-cola advertisement

The results include “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke,” Santa Claus, and the effervescent family fun at The World of Coke museum in Atlanta. Everything is red. Everything is the same font. The taste hits just right. All of it makes us feel good.

Intentionally or not, Coke utilizes the following classic improv techniques to great success:

Game of the Scene

Effective brands elicit emotion and inspire action by consistently communicating one core idea across all their touch points.

Brand architecture creates a framework for everyone and everything in the company to follow. This spans visual identity (colors, logo, fonts), organizational messaging (mission, vision, values), and creative outputs (campaigns, social media, advertising).

The big belief, emotion, or idea that defines how the brand makes consumers feel—is traditionally referred to as the Brand Essence. In improv, it’s called “The Game of the Scene.”

When our “scene partners”—the combination of clients, creative, and strategy— understand and align on this core belief, every deliverable follows the through line, eliminating personal preference and bias in favor of strategic consistency.

Receive, React, Respond

Every quality interaction or conversation breaks down into three parts. Skip one, and we miss an opportunity to develop a great idea, together. Here’s how to do it:

1. Receive the information. Give yourself permission to ignore any assumptions and stay fully engaged with your “scene partner” by actively absorbing incoming data without judgment.

2. React. Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve heard, then physically acknowledge that you’ve connected with what was said.

3. THEN Respond and add to the conversation.
   

This informs every part of my process, from conducting research and developing audience personas to presenting creative concepts to clients.

Don’t Think

It’s easy to overthink and “get in your head” on stage and in real life. Sometimes it’s better to follow intuition and rely on emotional knowledge instead of technical information.

Making decisions that don’t align with the holistic nature of the brand—no matter how data driven or deeply analyzed—introduces an opportunity to miss the forest for the trees.

Every marketer worth their salt knows about "New Coke"’s disastrous campaign. The company attempted to compete with Pepsi by creating an updated, modern soda pop. The new formula’s taste was backed by significant consumer research—in a blind taste test, New Coke won!

Both scientists and marketers concluded that consumers would like to try something new from the old company. New Coke was intended to energize the U.S. market, but instead ignited an incredible uproar of consumer fury.

Americans naturally trend towards nostalgia. Whether it’s 1953 or 1993, remembering “The Good Old Days" harkens to a simpler (albeit sometimes inaccurate) time, “Classic” Coke—a familiar, friendly treat—built generations of contented, devoted brand advocates.

By changing the formula—one of history’s greatest mysteries—Coca-Cola turned its back on The Game of the Scene. We know how that turned out.

A to C

Out-of-the-box results require out-of-the-box thinking. It’s easy to create connotations between ideas that are only one step removed from each other.  “Sunshine” makes us think of “Summer” - that’s an “(idea) A to (idea) B” connection.

Summery sunshine campaigns are a dime a dozen. What does it take to discover a unique idea? Dig deeper and connect the second idea to something new- a more indirect expansive concept that still lives in the world of the brand.

Idea “C” opens a wider variety of creative avenues to explore. “Summer” could be associated with freedom, childhood play, travel, relaxation, and family. Now there are dozens of ways to creatively convey sunshine.

Going from A to C opens more opportunities to expand and play in ways that are more fun and compelling.

Santa + Coke = an A to B correlation. It’s a classic, successful combination that can be a challenge to present in a refreshing light after being around for so long. Decades later, the company made a less direct connection with a campaign that’s just as delightful and memorable.

Where does jolly old Saint Nick live? The North Pole. (A) If he lives at the North Pole, it must be a happy place. (B) What else lives at the North Pole that might be happy? A polar bear! (C) Coke’s A to C thinking resulted in a fresh campaign that fit into the pre-established association between the brand and Christmas.

Those adorable little cubs rolling around with classic Coke bottles probably live right next door to the Claus family. Without the campaign, would you associate them with the brand? No. But… does it work? Absolutely.

Yes… AND

The number one rule in improv is “Yes...And”. This concept promises positive support throughout the creative process. I host two day workshops for my clients to kick off our projects, collect stories, and start brainstorming together. Building on each other to discover parts of YOUR brand is the special sauce that sets Meráki Creative Solutions apart.

The phrases “Yes... BUT” (that idea won’t work because... etc.) and “NO” instead of “And” blunt new voices, kill exciting ideas, and stop the conversation in its tracks. “Yes... AND" cultivates an environment where every voice is heard, everyone feels free to fail, and every new idea is accepted—not because it’s perfect, but because it is a potential launchpad for great work.

It's human nature to find fault with innovative ideas. If a suggestion feels silly, unrealistic, or potentially fallible, defenses come up, and the idea gets shot down. The results seem safer, but they are always small. The Power of “Yes &” intentionally reverses this psychosomatic thought process.

The method is two pronged:

YES—acknowledge and validate the information

AND—actively contribute something new.

The team - my clients and I - trust each other. No matter what comes out during this process, there will be supportive feedback. Initial ideas don’t always (or ever) make sense - and that’s okay. Practicing the process is challenging! Choosing the best idea out of many instead of accepting the last idea standing produces striking results.

Calling back to New Coke: changing the fundamentals of the brand was a risky move. The decision seemed solid. Everyone agreed it was a smart business choice. Ignoring The Game of the Scene resulted in an expensive, embarrassing moment that’s reviewed and made an example of almost 40 years later.

As time created distance from the disaster, making this bold, chaotic choice paid off by irrevocably transforming Coke’s internal culture. According to one CEO, “the most significant result of 'New Coke' was that it sent an incredibly powerful signal ... that we really were ready to do whatever was necessary to build value for the owners of our business."

As the world’s most spectacular flop illustrates… there are no mess-ups in improv. “Mistakes” are opportunities to pivot and explore unexpected pathways leading to connection and innovation. If the world’s biggest brand can fall on its face and get back up again, so can we. What could we create together if we weren’t afraid to fail?

Let’s find out.

Ringing in the New Year

WOW. anyone else experience a post holiday crash and burn? It was all I could do to get out of bed this morning after a compressed week filled with travel, love, friends, and opportunity. On the last work day of the year I’m taking stock of everything that’s been and planning a vision for what’s yet to be.

Sending you energy and vibes to gather your own thoughts, push down the lies, take realistic stock of where you’re at in this moment... and dare to imagine the life you deserve to live.

You can do it, darlings. If you don’t believe in you, reach out, and I can help give you that little power up you might need.

It's a Privileged Day in the Neighborhood...

Today I yelled at a white woman who was taking 'artistic' pictures of a crime scene that happened on my street. She didn't introduce herself, say hi, or acknowledge any of the people standing around, witnessing. She snapped the tape, the cops, the crying families, then turned around to get a shot of the colorful mural on my house, and I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

I walked over to her. "Hi, do you live around here?" I asked, in my preppiest White Girl Voice. "no," she said. "Are you a journalist?" My voice got tight. My neighbors were across the street, watching us warily. "No. I take pictures of crime scenes." "For fun?" "for art." "Please don't take pictures of my house," I said. "We're trying hard to support each other and build up this neighborhood, and don't need bad outside press." She said nothing, and I went back across the street.

She paced up and down the yellow tape, searching for angles, crouching on her haunches at one point for a lower angle. Never mind the keening of the women who witnessed their loved one getting shot. Disregard for the brother who stormed out to his car and took off, fueled by grief and rage.

And then, she sauntered off. Funky tote bag and cute outfit perfectly in place, red DLR slung over her shoulder. I looked around and realized I was the only other white person for blocks. No one was going to say anything to her. I jogged around the corner and yelled. "Hey MAGGIE!" She turned around, surprised. "Do you have a website? Are you going to put these pictures on Instagram?"

Admittedly, I didn't give her a chance to reply. It finally clicked. "Who do you think you are to just drop in and capture other people's pain? That boy was someone's family, and it was so rude and gross for you to barge in and make it your art project." She stammered, and I ignored her. "Check your f*cking privilege, man."

Dear ex-neighbors of OTR: I'm sorry for all the times I didn't get it. I'm trying to do better. Hoping we can all do better and keep taking care of each other. Fellow artists, remember your context.

Three Years in Baltimore

Today marks three years since I packed up all my stuff, attempted to sedate my cats, and 12 hours later, ended up in Baltimore. Leaving Cincinnati - and everything and everyone along with it- forced me to grow and change in ways I never imagined.

Growth is not easy. What may seem like failure is never fun in the moment. But my empathy, experiences, abilities, have all been stretched beyond what I thought was possible. I've had to examine who I am without the anchor of a Place as part of my personality.

Baltimore is beginning to feel familiar and come into focus. I am excited to be starting year four alongside my Person, a little more faceted and experienced, with the small beginnings of roots taking hold and ready to flower in the Spring.

I am grateful to my loves who are far away- that we still remain connected through effort and technology. Never hesitate to reach out; you are always on my mind and welcome in my home.

And to newer friends who are closer, I am so happy you are in my life- and hope to see you sooner rather than later.

Connection is everything.

Thoughts from a Nasty Woman (or, so you've decided to try out civic responsibility...)

Yesterday was a fabulously interesting social experiment. I am fascinated with how strangers interact with each other. Marching, maneuvering, and mingling with hundreds of strangers resulted in these observations:

- the majority of tension and negative energy I experienced stemmed from white men and women attempting to exercise their privilege and meeting resistance (possibly for the first time). I've been in crowded situations before, but standing at the rally there was literally no room for movement. Many people were overcome by the crowd and pushed their way out, but there was no way for anyone to take their spot. Yet again and again, white men (and some women) kept trying to push their way closer to the front. One such gentleman yelled at me after I told him there was no way anyone could move- and angrily condescended when I pointed out the irony of him clapping back to me in that space and time. He was so rude- it shocked everyone in the immediate radius. But no one stood up to him. I was initially humiliated, then outraged.

- It was fun to help lead and grow all sorts of various chants and songs at various points in the protest. The only one that went over like a lead balloon was when I started yelling 'White silence is White violence!' Corrie and Liz of course joined in, and a few others. But the air immediately clammed up with tension. Most of those who could hear the chant were white, and they were struggling with how to respond. And whether they should join in. I kept it up for way longer than necessary. My fellow white people- ya gotta get comfortable talking out loud about race. Start practicing- it will get easier with time.

- This was a first brush with civil engagement for many people. The rally ran super long- maybe partially because the slate was enormous and partially because they were stalling to reconfigure the route. I watched my fellow protestors get bored, uncomfortable, not get their way, not have their expectations met, get lost and confused... and passive aggressively- and overtly aggressively- get mad and complain. News flash: political discourse is not always fun and is almost never easy. Buying a pink hat and a cool sign and a bus ticket was baby step number one. We can't give up after we go home. Time to start building political muscle and engaging in the boring stuff.

- Music is one of the greatest connectors. America the Beautiful. Lean on Me. This Land is Your Land. This Little Light of Mine. We would start singing quietly, and by the end of the second chorus it would swell and start to ripple through the crowd. They were looking for a conductor, and connector. We sang together loud and clear and it was so powerful, so electric.

Yesterday was beautiful, inspiring, exciting- but very clear many need help, education, support and motivation to continue taking political action. If you've got the knowledge and experience, please mentor and encourage those just starting out.

On loving and leaving old things behind

I walked into Park + Vine two weeks after it opened in 2007. I was a sophomore in college, and had just finished a building walkthrough with my classmates for our office design studio (the building was the current Revolution Rotisserie & Bar space). The rest of my classmates fled OTR in a hurry; I walked around the corner and into this neat store filled with tire furniture and cool T-shirts and bought an IZZE grapefruit soda, striking up a conversation with the kind and gregarious proprietor. Little did I know how that drink with Danny Korman would change my life.

Almost 10 years later, we've been through Parking Days, multiple boyfriends, puppy snuggles, mac and cheez chow downs, dozens of conversations and revelations, silly and serious. This little store and I grew up and watched the neighborhood we worked so hard to rebuild take off and leave us in the dust.

The same weekend I returned to Cincinnati, I said goodbye to another old friend. The Famous Neon's Unplugged. I shudder to think how much money I spent at that bar. It was my living room; my refuge; my kitchen table; my therapist's couch. I made out, made up, fought, flirted, schemed, celebrated, cried, wrote, networked, and had hundreds of drinks and conversations that cemented the most solid foundational friendships in my life. 

I was there in Where's Waldo glasses for the pre-opening party in Halloween of 2009 - preparing for the first streetcar victory and drinking the newly revamped Hudy 14k. I hosted my college graduation party, bachelorette party, both Keith and I's going away party, and our wedding after-party at Neon's. When Mike revamped the upstairs with comfortable leather sofa's, a cozy fireplace, and cable, I was there, bourbon in hand, to catch up on Mad Men, Downton Abbey, and Family Guy. I WAS THERE. Cincinnati.... do you remember when I was there?  I am starting to forget. It feels sometimes like a dream. Another life. 

The afternoon sun was fading as I walked around the corner and down 12th Street. A loading van was parked out front; various workers - no one I knew - were hurriedly hauling random bits of leftovers away from the barren courtyard. The cafe lights were strung all alone. Bocce court covered over. Dan's Grill never to be lit again. I did a lap for the last time, tears in my eyes. 

Like the rest of Main Street, something new will take the place of these institutions, and will do very well. With the passage of time the original heroes that gave their souls to restoring the neighborhood will be forgotten to the memories of old farts like me.  We'll smile, juggle our babies, and reminisce about the Good Old Days, when walking down Main Street meant a smile and hello from friendly faces, and a welcoming puppy and guarantee of seeing friends no matter what time you walked through the gates of The Famous Neon's Unplugged. 

I am learning to let go of my death grip on my memories. On my pride in claiming the very small part I played in helping bring the beauty back to one of the most amazing neighborhoods in the country. And I know I have to keep it to myself - it sounds weird and sad and unbelievable to relay my past life to new friends in Baltimore. I swear... I used to be a big deal. 

Part of my journey this year has been unpacking the grief I tucked inside me after leaving my OTR Jenny Kessler self behind. This is another layer of that pain that leads to growth, and eventually peace.

You are not your jacket!

Our personal frames, perspectives, and biases manifest in sometimes opposing world views. The key is being able to take off or recognize our own framework and put on or view someone else's without feeling like we are denying our core beliefs and Self- which is where so much breakdown is happening.

It's 'I have a jacket' (an opinion or view that I can take on or off as I please) versus 'I am my jacket' (where my view in inexorably linked to who I am as a person).

This exercise in empathy is increasingly important to me, as someone who proudly wore her 'I am Cincinnati! I am Streetcar! I am urbanism!' Jackets for many years- and had to really examine the person that was left after I finally took them off. It's difficult to do... but so liberating, and so needed, these days.

You are just you. Not your jacket! 👘✌🏽️🌎❤️

STFU

“A wise old owl lived in an oak.
The more he saw the less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can’t we be more like that wise old bird?”

I've been in plenty of conversations and debates with men that dominated the conversation- but came nowhere close to putting themselves or their arguments in a good light.

One of my biggest lessons learned this year is the vital importance of listening and NOT talking as a competent, effective leader.

Domination does not mean coherence, substance, or 'winning'.

Why your next non-profit hire should be a creative.

Storytelling is essential for non-profits, and everything on the Internet tells us that the most compelling stories these days are visually based. Creating calls to action that drive emotion are the lifeblood of charitable organizations. Unlike for profit businesses that provide tangible goods, services, or value, the non-profit sector operates in changing lives - a currency somewhat harder to measure.

My degree is in interior design. I graduated in the midst of the Recession and hustled my way to my first job by shifting focus - from picking paint colors to becoming a Jill of all Marketing trades. I started writing for websites and news outlets, and picked up on social as it was becoming relevant for brands. Graphic design, PR, strategy - taking every opportunity available to keep money coming in landed me in the communications department of one of Cincinnati's largest non-profits. 

I used my design skills and creative thinking in a myriad of ways that benefited ArtsWave. Over 100 designs for print and web, managing apps and website redesigns, social media graphics and posts, event organization and execution - I shifted my hustle to the cause, and was able to exercise my creativity in ways that directly benefited the organization to help make change in the community - to the tune of 11.5 million dollars, which is what the 2013 ArtsWave "Make Cincinnati Amazing" campaign raised for the arts in Cincinnati. 

After shifting to agency work in the public sector, I had trouble putting my creative passion and talents towards projects with the end goal of selling stuff that people may or may not have had a use for. Creativity for the sake of capitalism was harder to muster enthusiasm for... but it paid the bills! And I learned a great deal about people and project management. 

Ultimately, I have a non-profit soul. Being able to ignite creatively with the purpose of bringing good things into the world has kept me up late, getting up early, and jam packed the days in between. Driving the creation and development of the Sharp Dressed Man brand is showing tangible benefits - we watch the numbers slowly tick upwards as our crowdfunding campaign soldiers on and continues to grow. One of the first things changes made when I started working with Sharp Dressed Man was revamping the website. We had a good platform with Squarespace, and access to wonderful pictures - I spent a weekend and pulled it together, and after some tweaking and updates, we get compliments and comments on the site every day. Despite the small size of the organization, our design and communication is on par with much larger and better funded non-profits. 

Great design and storytelling are no longer optional in a world that is screaming for attention at every turn. By investing in creative, multitalented staffers, non-profits can bring relevancy and emotion to their brand - which will ultimately lead to increased profits and increased visibility. Humans react to beautiful, compelling content - even more so when the brand behind it champions a worthwhile cause. 

Take a look at your staffing budget, and consider hiring an in-house designer. Having someone who intimately knows and understands the organization day in and day out and can execute smaller projects quickly, as well as oversee larger projects from outside vendors, will help your organization's message to the world stay relevant, rise above the noise, and draw in new supporters. Invest in a brand champion (or two) - this overhead is worth the cost!

Anniversary

Keith and I have faced joys and challenges this year. I am yoked with a man who gives as much or more than he gets, and who dances with me through any weather life sends our way.

Investment - in people and places- means you don't always get to see the rewards of the seeds you plant. It takes some time to bear fruit. This weekend I got to experience in person the results of cultivation- the Cincinnati streetcar opening and a year of marriage with its roots in the city.

Moving away from Cincinnati as the fruits of investment began to bloom has sometimes been a challenge for me. But by passing the streetcar and city love torches on, I got to focus on tilling new soil and strengthening the most significant relationship in my life.

Wherever we go, whatever we do... I will show you my love in as many ways as I know how, till my last breath, or yours.

A Sea Change for Social in 2016

Anyone else feeling a tiny bit burnt out on social media as we stare down the end of 2015? There's so much to cycle through.  Facebook. Snapchat. Imgur. Reddit. Insta. Twitter. It's a little overwhelming, even for a professional junkie like me. Noise. Distraction. I'm ready to move forward and explore what's next. Over the next year, I suspect we may see a shift in social advertising that is quieter- giving consumers relief from the deluge. 

Over the years I've built social campaigns and managed multiple brands personally, professionally, and as volunteer work. I've watched the rise and fall of Facebook for brands- the early swell of open engagement and the subsequent tightening of the noose. Nothing comes for free, friends.

These days most marketers, myself included, can set your brand up for social. Anyone with a brain, Google, and a halfway decent writing style can enlighten you on the differences and values of varying platforms, curate some content, and suddenly, you have a social presence! Welcome to 2015. Showing up is no longer enough.

How are brands are winning the game, garnering those elusive likes, shares, clicks, and views these days? It's not through traditional Facebook posts- this past month showed a discouraging and drastic drop in engagement across the space.

Some brands are looking ahead. They are finding trends and showing up where their audience is playing, drawing patterns. conclusions, and stepping outside the box to reach for something new. They are tapping into creative outlets and producing beautiful, quality, interesting work. They are thinking and acting strategically.

A major part of my skill set lies in creative brand and social strategy. To me, strategy means sifting through culture, history, and archetype to find the meaning and story behind a brand, developing a consistent voice and personality that rings true to that brand's essence, looking ahead to forge an intentional path. It's making smart choices and finding patterns to achieve something meaningful in your marketing. It is rising above the noise, capturing attention and winning affection from potential customers.

Growth for growth's sake is the path of a cancer cell. Our audiences are growing weary of the noise and starting to tune out. How do we engage in a more authentic way?

Three brands have hit advertising home runs over the last month. The first: Pepsi's collaboration with the hit show Empire. Jamal Lyons crafting the perfect Pepsi jingle makes sense. It fits seamlessly into the story without taking too much attention away or seeming forced- and the segue from show to ad in the season finale (sorry for the spoiler!) was unbelievably perfect. People don't mind product placement when it's unobtrusive and works in context.

Two: Target's Adele ads on Hulu- watched during Empire! They weren't ads at all- just 30 second clips of her new record with a branded art card at the end. No words. No promotions. The subtlety of the ad made me notice and appreciate the silence- each ad spot was a different clip from the album. It wasn't grating or repetitive (I'm looking at you, every other Hulu commercial in existence). I can't wait to get 25 on vinyl, and yes, I will shop at Target first.

Last but not least -  Old Spice's foray into Imgur. For those not in theknow, this platform is the beginning of the viral Internet. Every hilarious meme you see on Facebook is uploaded to Imgur days earlier. There are countless Facebook pages, websites, and Instagram feeds that exist solely to scrape original content from this anonymous black hole of creativity and regurgitate it (with or without attribution, TheFatJew) for profit. It is the playground for nerdy young men- the target demo for Old Spice. Over the last three months, this brand's inserted themselves into the conversation by creating Photoshop GIF battles with their hilarious spokes dudes. Some members balked at Old Spice's presence, but many moreappreciated being reached on their level, in their language. They definitely made some new fans of the brand.

So how does this outsized work scale down to the thousands of brands and companies out there with fractions of the budget and manpower of these behemoths? Take the rest of December to put some strategy behind your output. Now is the time to review what's working, what's not, and look around to see how your content can be a breath of fresh air to consumers drowning in mediocre noise. Can your company be a champion for an artist that embodies your values and deserves the spotlight- and helps you create content worth sharing?  Maybe it's cutting down on quantity so each post is truly quality- and putting money being it to ensure its visibility.

Maybe it's dropping a platform that isn't working (outside of basic SEO purposes) to focus where your message resonates best. Maybe it's looking outside the Big Three platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or even towards something more traditional, as a way to make waves in your space. How about email? Take a breath, look around, notice the empty spaces where you can fit in a way that isn't forced. Stop shouting, and we will listen.

Trends swing on a pendulum, and my sense is that 2016 may point consumers back towards the analog, or at the very least, get a little quieter. Whatever you do, be strategic and intentional about it. Take the time to develop a plan. Don't worry about missing out- the river of social noise will be waiting for you whenever you're ready to jump back into it. Let's greet the new year with a refreshed outlook and new ways to tell our stories.

And if you find your team struggling with finding your voice, discovering your story, or developing a plan? Holler at me. This is what I do.

A fresh start (again)

Sometimes you've already got lemonade, and life gives you vodka to go with it. And sparklers. And a pony. 

Sometimes you're all snug and cosy in a great little apartment, then you happen across what can only be described as a once in a lifetime housing opportunity. There was no reason to us to move, except, ya know...  

This. 

Back in the fall, my random internet wandering stumbled upon a couple preparing to leave this gem of an apartment - the entire second floor of a former shipbuilder's mansion in the historic Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore. 

One visit and we were in, hook line and sinker. The former entertaining floor was repurposed into apartment living- 3 main rooms, a kitchen, and bathroom. Marble fireplaces. Elaborate plaster molded ceilings. TWO chandeliers. The only answer was, YES! Let's live in a ballroom. 

(our TV lives above this fireplace)

Packing up, especially when you feel like you've just settled down, is a little bit crazy. But if I've learned anything over the last year, it's that a change can do good. We were looking for a place with a little bit more room (when you both work from home, it's hard to take phone calls when the desks are back to back), and a neighborhood that was more our style.

Moving from one city to another is always a bit of a crapshoot. It's really hard to judge a city's neighborhood character based on a weekend visit, no matter how much internet research one does. We lucked into a great spot when we first moved to Baltimore... but it wasn't 'our' spot.

Fell's Point is incredibly fun, historical, and vibrant... but also a little crazy. Every weekend (and most weeknights), the streets are filled with people having a great time (and letting us know about it through the window.) It was a great introduction to the city, but for the most part, my partying days are over. I really missed meeting people from the neighborhood - and it was hard to do with so many coming in from the suburbs to have a good time. Not bad! Just not for me.

Mt. Vernon, on the other hand, is a little quieter. Still very centrally located - and even more walkable/closer to transit than Fells! It's right by the highways, the train station, and a short walk down to the harbor. The houses are all older and absolutely gorgeous, and the *first* Washington Monument (suck it, DC!) is right outside our window, located on a little park. People sit on stoops and walk their dogs. And say hi to each other. It's kind of amazing.

I wish there had been a site like Urban Compass out there for Baltimore when we were trying to figure out what neighborhood to settle in. It's only for NYC (for now), but the site gives a feel for a lot of popular boroughs of New York, and what to expect if you move there. From Chelsea (diverse, fast-paced, for foodies) to Park Slope (elegant, for families, serene) and everywhere in between, you can find the right fit for you - and an apartment in the area! Pretty perfect. Now, expand please! Cincinnati and Baltimore need a service like yours.

SO ANYWAY...

Here's a few more shots of our place. I'm excited for a fresh start, a new year, in a new neighborhood. More room means plenty of space for guests- come on over and visit us, already! We've already had a few people over, but the goal is to host a NYE 2015 party filled to the brim with friends we made this year.

The kitchen - huge built in pantry that I recovered with contact paper (may revisit in a future post). Gas stove! And plenty of room for dance parties. If you're into that sort of thing.

This is the view when you first walk in. I am an extremely amateur photographer, and would love someone who knows what they're doing to come and take real pictures sometime. 

It's difficult to furnish a ballroom. I've been spray painting a lot of things gold. The trick is to find the balance between the art, furniture and accessories we own to feel grounded in the space, not randomly just stuck there - without filling it to the brim with new things. Odds are any future place will not have 18' ceilings. 

The kittens are pretty happy with the new digs. They like climbing on things.

Click through the slideshow to see the rest of the setup. Better yet, come see it in person. 

Thanks, Urban Compass, for inspiring me to write this post! I didn't get paid, just asked nicely - and I needed the motivation. So now you know. 

A Handy Guide to Lady Laundry

I put up a tip on Reddit last night, and apparently it was quite helpful. So here's a bigger graphic and some attribution. P&G Fabric Care and related agencies, you're welcome. Hire my agency for more cool work.

Handy tips when doing lady laundry:

When you're switching clothes from the washer to the dryer, remember:

If it's Sexy, Stretchy, See Through, or Sheepish (wool) - hang it up to dry.

When in doubt, leave it out (of the dryer) - messing up/shrinking/ruining her bras, sporty stuff, and delicate clothing will put a sour note on your nice gesture.

BF and I came up with these rules when we moved in together- 9 months later and no ruined clothing!

It sparked quite the debate on gender roles, laundry care, and general puns/jokes/sexism that is the reddit community. In our house my boyfriend and I split household chores. He does laundry because I'm terrible at folding clothes. I cook, he does dishes, I tidy up and clean the bathroom.. it all works out in the end. 

I just wanted to help out any guys that wanted to surprise their ladies with taking on a chore - so that the surprise is GOOD, and not full of tears and anger. No one likes ruined clothing. 

Go forth and launder, for yourself or your loved ones... however you choose!

Fall down seven times. Stand up eight.

I went skiing for the first time this week. Before Monday my winter sports experience consisted of ice skating and sledding in the Midwest. But my best girl moved out to Denver and demanded I come out so she could introduce me to the mountains. I stuffed all the random winter clothing I had in a duffel and flew out to Colorado.

Pictures don’t really do the mountains justice. No lens can truly capture the way the light reflects off the snow. How blue the sky gets when the clouds are blown away. It’s a juxtaposition of untamed wilderness… and hundreds of people trying to tame it with wooden boards buckled to their feet.

I wasn’t sure how it would go – but people I love really love skiing – so I put on my brave face and went with it. We went to the ski shop the day before and I got fitted for some concrete manacles covered in shiny plastic – ski boots, they called them. I think it’s what the mafia uses when they make you swim with the fishes.

We know I don’t do heights – but I was surprisingly okay with the gondola. Going up the side of the cliff – watching the trees float beneath me – hell, even in the chair lift – was completely serene. We shared a ride with a pair holding a power meeting, discussing marketing and branding opportunities for their snow bound start up – presumably before spending the rest of the morning boarding. Pretty good way to do business, if you ask me.

Learning to ski is not for the proud of spirit. You end up looking – and feeling – like a giant doofus. Not only are you hobbling around in those crazy heavy uncomfortable boots, THEN you finally click into the skis and turn into a human baby giraffe. Let’s put it this way – I fell trying to get on the chairlift. 

My instructor doesn’t believe in bunny hills – so we started on the easiest trail level – a short little trail with a very gradual slope. It was me, La, a few other schmucks, and a gaggle of children fearlessly flinging themselves down the mountain.

Nothing about skiing is intuitive. Not a damn thing. Your feet are suddenly 4 feet longer than normal, and you have to shift your body weight around in order to stop. After receiving patient instruction on the finer points of digging in my upper sides, making pizza instead of French fries, and facing perpendicular to the mountain when stopping or getting up after a fall, I tried it out. And fell. And then took five minutes to get up. And confidently pushed forward a few feet. And then fell again. And then got up again. And made a turn, made another turn (with much glee and excitement) then started hurtling down the hill, freaked out, and (you guessed it) fell over. Again. Wash, rinse, repeat. 45 minutes later, I made it to the end of the first trail – and somehow Lauren hadn’t throttled me.

By the second or third time around, I was starting to get the hang of it. When I let go and let my body take over, for the most part, good things started to happen. By the fourth run I was figuring out muscles – playing with small body weight shifts, using the poles for balance. I made it all the way down, and then fell as soon as I got back in line for the lift. Typical.

The voice inside my brain was freaking out. All these people, in their fancy gear, who’ve been skiing since they could walk, are judging you. They think you’re stupid and inept. They’re laughing at you. And then I ‘d say these things out loud and La would balance them out with a laugh and an affirmation of the opposite. You’re never going to see these people again. Who gives a good goddamn?

I hate being bad at things. I guess most people do, but this is why I don’t go bowling. I suck at it, and get grumpy. So after I took a little break (and Lauren went and did some actual skiing), we (she) decided we should try a bigger trail – with a medium level start and an easy finish.

We took a mega super lift up to the top. And I freaked. It was so much steeper than the little trail I had gotten comfortable with! It was more narrow, there were way more people. But there was only one way back – down. So, slowly, slooooowly, with much cursing, screeching, and general freaking out – we made our way down. There’s not a ton of snow in December, so most of the people out that Monday were locals and ski patrols training for the season. This meant after every fall, we were approached by 2-4 overly zealous patrol people asking if I was okay. Things that get old quick….

But when I was getting it, it felt a little like flying. I marveled at the ease and efficiency of swishing those skis (left one Gordon, right one Rightfoot. Yes, I was talking to my skis.) around. It was worth the fear and the humiliation.

By the end of the day, I nearly understood why people pay a ton of money to strap themselves into uncomfortable equipment to fling themselves down a potentially treacherous snow bank. Almost. Apparently I won’t fully get it for a few more times. It seems like a sneaky ploy to get me to come back.

And now for the analogy…

I feel like I’ve been learning to ski this whole freaking year. I’ve been throwing myself into new situations, feeling awkward and uncomfortable and trying really hard to get it right. At the gym. Just getting around. I thought I would have more friends by now. I thought trying harder would help- and it has. But I'm not there yet. Better than I was, but still gaining speed, freaking out, and landing on my butt.

I need a break. I need to fly a little, to feel the wind on my face. After the ski adventure I counted 13 bruises on my legs. I fell probably over 25 times in the span of 6 hours. But I tasted a little of that freedom, speed, exhilaration, and am willing to get up and try it again.

Maybe I need to switch the trail – and moving to a new neighborhood feels like we did that, in a way. But my hope for 2015 is that these internal bruises heal a little bit. That I get a taste of something exhilarating and exciting – friendship. Community. Flying.

About Me

This is the story of a country girl who found her soul in the city and never looked back.

I'm a jill of all trades - I do whatever it takes to bring people, products and places together. 

My design journey started with an incredible 5 years in the interior design program at DAAP. I've been carving a new path for myself ever since, with stops along the way in design, non profits, and agency life. I'm currently working in account management - but my past experiences help bring a lot of perspective to everything I do.

I connect people and their ideas to each other. Writing, tweeting, designing, concepting... from meeting with clients to getting projects out the door, I love getting my hands all over every step of the design process.

I'm guided by my personal sense of "meraki" - a Greek word meaning "the love of creating - putting one's self into one's work." I can't wait to see where it leads me.

I started writing in April of 2009 to reach a wider audience for a furniture product I designed and am producing for small scale retail distribution. I've grown a little and so has my writing and experiences. I was the Operations Manager for UrbanCincy from 2009 to the beginning of 2012, and have had several articles published in Soapbox Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Business Courier.

I'm in the midst of living and loving my life. I hope you'll stick around for the ride.