Simple Changes

My overwhelming pile of Real Simple magazine dates all the way back to October 2000. When they are organized next to each other, I am able to compare the slight cover changes that occurred over the years. After August 2005, Real Simple made the switch from having a sub-headline of life/home/body/soul to | life made easier |.

It changed once more to its current look in all caps, | LIFE MADE EASIER |, after the October 2009 issue was published.

That same month, Real Simple started adding coordinating blocks of color to the spine.

Though subtle, I think the changes are important because they help update but not completely alter the overall look.

Real Simple Solutions To A Rainy Day

It’s raining outside, and has been for the past three days. I haven’t been able to spray mount my project, so instead, I’ve been doing one of my favorite rainy day activities—reading Real Simple magazine.

You should do it too!

It might inspire you to get creative.

Make Real Simple steps so your dog can get on the bed!

It will definitely inspire you to get organized.

Chronologically order your stack!

In the end, you'll be happy you did!

Verbal Definition: Super Pasta

Introducing Super Pasta - the only pasta that has it all!

This ad is an example of a verbal definition because it comes right out and names the product, and then explains why it is so super/everything it has to offer - one serving of whole grain, excellent source of fiber, calcium, and vitamin D, 10g of protein per serving, and 260 mg of ALA Omega-3. It's to the point and might even look tasty if I didn't dislike tomato sauce so much.

Visual Definition: Häagen-Dazs Five Ads

1. These Häagen-Dazs ads are perfect examples of visual definitions. The ads clearly show the five ingredients used in the ice cream. I don't think the ads even need words, but with a maximum of five, the point comes across just as simply as the pictures. This is a clever campaign because the simplicity of the ads reflect the simplicity of the ice cream. People feel healthier when they feel they are eating simplified foods. I would probably buy this ice cream over another one just by its packaging.

Search ResultsHäagen-Dazs

Nature's Color Palette

To me, nothing is more beautiful than nature. It is just so effortless and inspiring. Today when I was walking my dogs, an acorn with the most beautiful combination of colors fell at my feet. I had to pick it up and bring it home so that I could copy the colors and use them as my very own color palette. I’m not quite sure how I am going to use this palette yet, but I know that when I do, it will just come…well…naturally.

Served With A Side Of Angel Hair Paste

I work at a local restaurant that was voted “best neighborhood gem” by Baltimore Magazine. The menu offers an eclectic mix of Mediterranean inspired dishes, contemporary American cuisine and dishes with Latin and Caribbean influences. In addition to the consistent lunch, dinner, and carryout menus, my boss creates two more full menus (one for lunch and one for dinner) of unique specials every day. Because English is his third language (Spanish and Italian being his first and second) he always hands me the sheets of freshly printed specials for their daily spelling and grammar checks. He’s mostly accurate, but if I didn’t review his work, there’d be days where our customers would be ordering grilled double lamp chops or cream of crap soup. Not to mention the entire menu is in papyrus. Just reading a page full of the 80’s typeface makes me lose my appetite.

Fail.

I am standing in the middle of the Apple store right now updating my blog. Why? Because my hard drive has failed!! Fortunately, I am an avid backer-upper, so all of my documents, pictures and other files are saved. However, I am now computer-less for up to a week! This is a very sad day.

Good Food Writing: The Whole Truth About Whole Grains

This article “The Whole Truth About Whole Grains” is from a 2006 issue of "O Magazine", and although it is nothing new, I find it to be a great example of food writing. It is broken down into several small, distinct columns that don’t overwhelm the reader and still provide all of the necessary facts. It is well written. The pull quote speaks directly to the key audience and sparks the interest of the reader. It’s educational; it names and defines the three edible parts of a “whole” grain. It’s scientific; it provides facts from a study conducted at Tufts University that proves eating whole grains can be beneficial in preventing certain diseases and cancers. And lastly, it’s motivational; there’s a whole section that helps the reader take what they’ve learned from reading this article and apply it to their own lives.

Welcome To My White Space

I stare at the large blank white space that is my blog and I ask myself, “what should I call this space?” A space for design purposes but still a space that is my own. I select several different options from the color palette above, but each time I go right back to white. I like this white space. It is simple. It is clean. It is mine. Welcome to my white space.