Yesterday at work . . .

Our Global CEO, David Jones, was in our offices
and gave us a talk. I was kind of in awe, I have never
seen him in person before. He seems like such a neat man,
not to mention powerful and extremely intelligent!
He is the CEO of Havas Worldwide, including all
233 Euro RSCG offices around the globe! This is a
little off color, but I found him fascinating to listen to,
in part, because he sounds like Hugh Grant. (who doesn't
love a good British accent, right??)









When he was done talking, we watched several videos of recent work created by Euro from around the world. This one for Volvo, done by our offices in Amsterdam, really got me. From a marketing perspective it was just an awesome idea on launching a product when they couldn't actually show the new car. But personally, I thought this video on the whole idea was so inspiring. I'm that weirdo at the meeting who was blinking back tears watching this. On a side note, why do I seem to get teary eyed at the drop of a hat?! Check out this video and let me know if you experience anything like I was feeling :)

language of the homeland

I started Italian lessons on Tuesday (!!!!!) I am beyond excited, I have been wanting to do this for awhile and finally took the plunge and signed up for a 10 week session. We have a great Italian cultural center in Chicago that offers lessons. If you want to take classes sign up here :) They also have events like wine tasting (count me in), dinners featuring different regions' traditional food and Italian movie night.

My text book! (infinitely more exciting than Spanish books I had in high school...)

And because I love an excuse to post pictures from Italy... 

Sister and I in front of the Vatican, Summer 2006

View of St. Peter's Square after our climb to the very top of the duomo (summer 2008). I love the symmetry of the columns surrounding the square. It just looks so, well...perfect. I read (and probably heard this during our tours of the grounds!) that Bernini designed the two walls of columns to symbolically embrace the crowds. The square can hold up to 100,000 people during religious ceremonies outside. Pretty darn amazing. 

Alright, that's all I'll say about Italy today. 

HAPPY, HAPPY FRIDAY!

Blooms

It's so nice to have flowering branches inside in the Spring. I picked these up at Trader Joe's.

Speaking of blooms... All the bulbs my neighbor and I planted last fall are just about ready to burst. I am so excited!! I'll post pictures when they are in full bloom, of course. I'm pretty familiar with planting bulbs, from growing up around my green thumb Mom - but this was the first time that I had a yard of my own (well OK I share it with 5 other condo units) to plant bulbs in. I was irrationally nervous they wouldn't come up. But they're doing great! After a long, cold Winter, I can hardly describe the excitement it brings to see little green stalks popping up.

A few weeks ago...

...and now.

Spring is here! Hopefully all this rain we've been getting in Chi will giveway to some sun soon. I hear better weather is on the way just in time for the weekend. But you know what they say, April showers bring May flowers...

Words for Wednesday

Isn't this cute? I would love to hang this in my kitchen or somewhere near my bar area. This print and the words for Wednesday this week come from the Keep Calm Gallery. I'd say they are most well known for their really cool Keep Calm and Carry On print.

I love different typefaces and fonts, really makes me wish I could use a graphic design program of sorts so I could make some prints for myself! I have lots of good ideas, just no photoshop or quark, etc. knowledge. Oh well, for the time being I can look through their shop!

Words for Wednesday

I know, I know...it's Thursday and I need to get with the program...but busy day at work yesterday and also a little crazed with tickets...Sister and I bought tickets to the Final Four yesterday!!! We are so pumped! We have tickers for all games but probably won't be staying for the Monday night game, but we sure as heck will be there Saturday to see the boys in all their glory :)

In the past few basketball-filled months I don't think I've ever sang the fight song so much in my life. At the MSU bars in chicago (and there are lots of them!!) they play the fight songs at half time or when we win the game or even at random commercial breaks! The whole place gets pretty into it and we're all usually clapping along and singing, it's pretty cool. Feels like I'm right back in East Lansing again. Without further ado, the words for Wednesday Thursday....

Picture taken by Ali at our Homecoming trip last year!