Drum Roll Please!!!

It's the FAVORITE THINGS swap! No, we're not talkin' Oprah here, but it may as well be something of that magnitude. I am so excited to be part of this blogger swap - it's like Christmas in July. (Sidenote: can you believe it's already July?!? I woke up this morning and thought wha?!? It's like winter just ended here - and it's only 65 degrees today - what's up with that?!? I mean, c'mon...we wait MONTHS for sun and heat...I shouldn't be complaining...at least there isn't any white stuff on the ground. You locals know what I'm talking about...soon enough).

Anyway, off the tangent and back to the task at hand...the swap. Get your friends, neighbors, cousins twice removed, best friends' dogs... WHOEVER ...involved in this - it's going to be HUGE! But HURRY - you only have until THIS FRIDAY (July 3rd) to sign up to participate in this fun gig. Find all the information you need here. Email your particulars to Kelly from According to Kelly (her email is listed in her blog post) - packages will need to be postmarked by July 31st. Check it out - it's sure to be a blast! There's nothing like getting a goodie package in the mail from a complete stranger! OH, the excitement!!!

(image courtesy of According to Kelly)

Hope in a Jar

Today's inspiration is philosophy.com product packaging - my favorite product, Hope in a Jar. I thank my wonderful hubby for always replenishing my supply of this miracle cream. Not only do I find beauty in the simplicity of their design, but the packaging adds a bit of *glee* to my daily routine. It may be because I am a font geek that I am so attracted to their design. It sure is tempting to buy all the products and line them up in the medicine cabinet only to wake and look at the pretty little display you can create. Oh, how fun would that be...but expensive and oh so worth it!

Packaging truly defines the success of your product branding. My husband is a packaging designer (and obsessed with all things relating to it) - {tangent: our Target shopping trips are two hours long so we can absorb as much package design possible when all we originally needed is formula and diapers} - anyway, people are drawn to certain packaging 'looks' and styles...some I cannot avoid, like a moth to a light...I confess, I have certain products I will most likely never use but I bought it solely for the beauty of it's shell. Ah, bliss.

On that note, please know that you CAN buy Hope in a Jar and enjoy Philosophy's simplicity and success of their brand.

Shop Philosophy

As the jar states: Where there is hope, there can be faith. Where there is faith, miracles can occur.

Well said.
C.

(photo courtesy of philosophy)