Victoria's... um Secret?

19676PCN_Tisdale
Originally uploaded by Han Rei Sourei

I was in the elevator with a neighbor who was holding a package. Being friendly, I turned to her and said "I hope you got something fun!" Her response, "Yeah, this was my first Victoria's Secret online order. I certainly thought it would be packaged better than...well this."

She was right as we both stared at the flimsy envelope the dull color of duck tape. I had never thought of it. As someone who has been a loyal Victoria's Secret shopper, the drab envelope is something I've come to expect.

When I tweeted my neighbor's disappointment, which being a cancer became my own disappointment, @samkale responded: "I think your neighbor is missing the point".

Ahhh - the mind of a man to also miss the point. See he thinks lingerie and assumes the consumer would to hide what they are purchasing. But not, when its a Victoria's Secret shopper!

See Victoria's Secret has became a major brand. From the fashion shows to the Pink line to the stores themselves, a Victoria's Secret shopper doesn't need to see the store name to know where they are. Everything is bright and glittery in order to make a bold statement. Even when leaving the stores, the bags are striped in bright pink and pale pink with the store name embroidered in a shimmery silver. The Victoria's Secret shopper loves to make the same bold statement as the brand itself.

I agree with my neighbor. Victoria's Secret needs to step up its game in its cataloging and online business. They've correctly segmented their consumers and targeted the right segment so why stop just at the store experience?

I can't wait for the day, I place my order and receive a sturdy cardboard box with delicate tissue paper in all shades of pink and maybe a dash of silver confetti ensuring me that I've made the right purchasing decision by sticking with the Victoria's Secret brand.

Airport: Stationary not welcome here

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok :: HDR
Originally uploaded by Artie | Photography :: Not Lazy | Super Busy

On a recent personal trip, I had an epiphany that this type-A personality with a tendency towards control issues, needed to start journaling more. I needed an outlet for my thoughts and a place to reflect on all that was good - a la Oprah. What a more perfect place to start this endeavor than on vacation!

But the airport had other plans for me. I was early for my departure and scoured every store and every wing of the airport. Not one store sold one piece of paper. Not a simple notebook, not a fancy leather bound journal could be found.

I thought this quite odd. With all of these people going on trips, doesn't anyone want to write anything down. Think of the possibilities: creating and enhancing memories? writing down work to do's so as not to dwell on them? and more?

Then on a recent business trip, I thought I really had something going here. My employer has established strict expense reporting guidelines almost to the point of getting meal receipts notarized by the waiter themselves.

The week had been hectic. Besides these new guidelines, I had new deadlines, a teammate who was out to get me, and a birthday party to plan. I had no time to even think about getting a folder or an envelope to store all these receipts.

And again, I thought back to my airport-stationary dilemna. Imagine a Container Store or even Staples at the airport. Now lets go beyond the thought of just a pad of paper. Think about brightly colored folders for client presentations, envelopes of all sizes to store documents, adapters to replace those lost or broken, and printing and faxing services for signing new contracts. And now think of all these business travelers with expense accounts to pay for it all it.

Now think why there isn't some store doing this already?

Just Dance

New songs that you absolutely must "Just Dance" to (and if you don't please tell me how you are sitting still):

• When Love Takes Over, David Guetta
• I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
• Knock You Down, Keri Hilson Kanye West & Ne-Yo
• Rock That Body, Black Eyed Peas

And the token retro song for the list:

• Tell Me No, Whitney Houston
  

Birthday Playlist

This playlist is in honor of me... :) 30 fantabulous songs that will bring a smile to your face and your dance shoes to the party!

1. Jai Ho!, The Pussycat Dolls
2. Cruel Summer, Ace of Base
3. Walking on Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves
4. Candy, Mandy Moore
5. How Do You Do!, Cascada
6. Out Tonight, Cast of Rent
7. Miss Otis Regrets, Bette Midler
8. Sure Looks Good To Me, Alicia Keys
9. Since You've Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
10. Suddenly I See, KT Tunstall
11. Against All Odds, Kira
12. Girlfriend, Avril Lavigne
13. Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Pease
14. Stronger, Britney Spears
15. Come Clean (Remix 2005), Hilary Duff
16. Fly On The Wings of Love, XTM
17. Boys Boys Boys, Lady Gaga
18. Move Over, Spice Girls
19. Breathe, Michelle Branch
20. One Step At a Time, Jordin Sparks
21. Tell Me No, Whitne Houston
22. I Want You to Want Me, Lindsay Lohan
23. Bubble Pop Electric, Gwen Stefani
24. Stars Are Blind, Paris HIlton
25. 4ever, The Veronicas
26. Travelin' Thru, Dolly Partin
27. Blister in the Sun, Violent Femmes
28. Damaged, Danity Kane
29. Fantasy, Mariah Carey feat O.D.B
30. Lose Control, Missy Elliot

Honorable mention to God Bless America, which at one point I did own but since I don't actually have it there is no way to get it into the official playlist to listen to for reals.

Am I missing anything? And if so, which song should I replace?

Personal Cheerleaders

female-jogger-morro-bay-coleman-avenue
Originally uploaded by mikebaird

Running can be a very lonely sport. It would have been very hard for me to get through the Navy Seals Challenge without a great support system. Not many people may be fortunate enough to call Lady Gaga, and the Pussycat Dolls part of their personal cheer squad, but you most certainly can if you create the right playlist!

Those that know me, know I am a 100% old fashioned Pop Princess. I love my songs to have a dance-tastic beat, lyrics full of attitude, and photo-shopped performers. How else does one stay motivated?

So without further adieu, I never would have survived the challenge without these fantabulous songs:
Hush Hush by The Pussycat Dolls*
Jai Ho by The Pussycat Dolls*
Goodbye by Kristinia DeBarge
I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
If I Can't Have You by Kelly Clarkson
Eh, Eh (Nothing else I can say) by Lady Gaga

My favorite cool down song:
Unbeautiful by Leslie Roy

*Normally I hate duplicating artists in playlists, but these songs are just too good so I had to violate my own rule.

Navy Seal Challenge

Workout
Originally uploaded by Camster Factor

Most of you know I have had a-MAZ-ing success with the Navy Seal Challenge so I wanted to share it with you! Now, I know there are many versions of the Navy Seal Challenge out there, so to caveat this is the one led by the trainers at my gym at work.

Get ready to grab your sneakers and your gym towel because my results were pretty spectacular if I do say so myself :) Highlights include:
My 1.5 mile time prior to the challenge was 16:44, post 13:41 (and I have asthma!).
I lost 1 inch on my chest, 2 inches off my waist and half an inch of my hips.
I also lost 2 pounds.
I couldn't even move the leg press machine and was able to do 50 squats in under 2 minutes at 95 pounds post-challenge.
Similar results with chin-ups; prior to the challenge I could barely lift 50 pounds, by the end I was up to 80 pounds!

So here goes:

Week 1 3x per week:
Run 2 miles
Push-ups: 3 sets of 10
Sit-ups: 3 sets of 10
Chin-ups: 3 sets of 3
Leg press/Squat: 3 sets of 10
Bike-optional: 20 minutes

Week 2 3x per week:
Run 2 miles
Push-ups: 3 sets of 12
Sit-ups: 3 sets of 15
Chin-ups: 3 sets of 3
Leg press/Squat: 3 sets of 10
Bike - optional: 20 minutes

Week 3 3x per week:
Run 3 miles
Push-ups: 3 sets of 12
Sit-ups: 4 sets of 15
Chin-ups: 4 sets of 3
Leg press/Squat: 3 sets of 12
Bike - optional: 30 minutes

Week 4 3x per week:
Run 3 miles
Push-ups: 4 sets of 12
Sit-ups: 4 sets of 15
Chin-ups: 4 sets of 3
Leg press/Squat: 3 sets of 15
Bike - optional: 30 minutes

Week 5 4x per week:
Run: 2 miles, 3 miles, 4 miles, then 2 miles 3 miles
Push-ups: 4 sets of 15
Sit-ups: 4 sets of 20
Chin-ups: 4 sets of 4
Leg press/Squat: 4 sets of 10
Bike - optional: 30 minutes

Tips/Notes:
I never did the bike which may be way I didn't lose much around my thighs.
Modified push-ups were my friend.
Having the leg press and chin-up machine to modify the weights were extremely helpful.
I also stopped eating gluten.
And I never could have made it without the help of my own personal cheerleaders.

So what do you say: Are you up for the challenge?

iTunes could could learn a thing or two from Netflix (cont'd)

After daydreaming on the way to work this morning, I thought iTunes could even be so bold as to offer:

• Songs to get you through the work day featured in a Soundtrack
• 1960's inspirational songs covered by contestants on Reality Talent Competitions
• Songs that make you want to put on a pretty pink dress and twirl
• Melancholy songs to get you through a break up
• 1990's Pop songs about girls who want to be cheerleaders

iTunes could could learn a thing or two from Netflix

Music
Originally uploaded by PhilipZeplin

In iTunes 8, the Genius concept was launched in order to increase downloads (and revenues) by providing users with song recommendations similar to the songs already in their library. But I have to wonder how much more effective Genius could be if it followed Netflix's recommendation philosophy.

Netflix has very smartly combined emotional desires of movie watchers along with their favorite genre and actors. A few of my favorite suggestions that came up under my account are:

• Critically-acclaimed Visually-striking Gritty Movies
• Romantic Dramas Featuring a Strong Female Lead
• Feel-good Teen Sports Movies
• Sentimental Coming-of-age Movies
• Critically-acclaimed Feel-good Movies from the 1960s
• Dark Movies starring Kate Winslet

So imagine in iTunes, instead of receiving blah recommendations like "because you've purchased Lady Gaga we recommend...." you would get an emotional response of:

• 100% Pure Pop Dance Songs
• Uplifting Songs by a Strong Female Singer
• Ballads by Hair Bands from the 1980s
• Gritty Hip Hop Songs Featured in Soundtracks
• Fun Summer Hits for the Beach

Now granted, many of what I just suggested may be available in iTunes under the iMix section, but those are user-generated. iTunes needs to use the data they have to create value by deriving an algorithm that would provide sound recommendations - ones that resonate with the consumers. Now that's Genius :)

Guilty Pleasure

This album review sounds like my soulmate:

"Guilty Pleasure is definitely just that, great, danceworthy pop music."

But the artist behind this great album is a bit questionable though: Ashley Tisdale.

The review continues: "Since 2007's Headstrong, Tisdale has experienced a breakup and undergone a more mature makeover, so expect what she calls an 'edgier rock sound.' Gone are the days of the bubbly, blond High School Musical star."

I'm a huge fan of Ashely's "He Said, She Said". In fact, I even incorporated the remix into USC's Cheer Routine for C4C Weekend 2008 (check out the video below starting at about the 1:45 mark).

So maybe this album is a possibility. What do you think? Will YOU be buying this album?

Cable-less commercials

With watching all this TV online, I sort of feel like I've missed out on all those crazy commercials. But thanks to MSNBC, the best commercials are now shown in this video:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Which one is your favorite?