A new face for Pepsi...

From time to time, companies and brands will rebrand themselves to reposition themselves in their market. Sometimes, the brand has changed/progressed over time, and the current logo or slogan no longer suits them. Sometimes it's simply to bring "new life" to a brand, or to increase lackluster perception by its consumers. The latter seems to be the case for Pepsi Co, in addition to facing a difficult economy.

Changes generally excite consumers, but I'm a little indifferent towards the new packaging. I for one don't prefer Pepsi, so I'm not really going to be influenced by its snazzy new packaging. But as far as the new logo? It's ok. It looks a little weird and "off-brandish" to me, but I'm guessing that if we look back at the old logo years from now, it will look weird too. What do you think?



Pepsi's new cans should be out by early 2009!

Project 52.3

A tall caramel apple cider, just for me. One of the things I love about fall and winter is Starbucks seasonal drinks. Pumpkin lattes, peppermint mocha's... it's all I need for a blustery afternoon like today!

Heaven in a 12oz. cup. 

...Speaking of Starbucks

At the Starbucks near my work, there is this girl who is always working the drive-thru window on my lunch hour. I know this girl; yet I could never seem to remember where it was that I recognized her from. I couldn't place her for the life of me, and it was very clear that she didn't recognize me the least bit. Weeks pass, and I was still struggling to figure out why this girl looked so familiar to me. As I pull up to the drive thru window today, it finally hit me; the reason I didn't recognize her because she had all of her clothes on. (Stick with me here.) The last time I saw this girl she was fully naked, standing on a white platform, and her tall, slender frame was being sketched by twenty-some odd students in a college Life Drawing class. I was one of those students. In fact, I have 3 figure drawings of her hanging in my guest bathroom... Small world, wouldn't you say?

Sketches of naked starbucks girl.

All these thoughts were running through my head. Should I say Hi? "Hi, I think you were in one of my classes. You may not remember me, but I remember you..." Ask her what she's been up to? "Soooo... are you still nude modeling?" Nah. I think I will just let her keep making my coffee and let the anonymity between us remain so.

Ok, kids. We've got 30 days...

I had figured that the last 10 weeks of pregnancy would be the absolute longest. I'm getting bigger by the nano-second, my feet are swollen, and rolling over in bed is darn near impossible. To my surprise, things are going by pretty fast (though I might change my mind when things aren't progressing at week 38), and it's hard to believe that we'll have a baby boy in our presence in just about a month! 

Looking back, I've had a pretty easy pregnancy; I never had morning sickness, and I've felt pretty good the whole time. Oddly enough, I haven't enjoyed pregnancy much, and I can't say I will miss lugging our son around- inside of me, that is. I'm ready to fit into my regular clothes again, and say good riddance to anything with an elastic waistband. I want to drink as much coffee as I want without getting evil stares from people at Starbucks. And I miss wine like nobody's business. I was also looking forward to not receiving unsolicited parenting advice from the "been-there-done-that" type, but I'm gonna guess that giving birth is just the beginning of such. More than anything, I'm ready to hold the baby that has been in the works for the last 8 months, and I'm curious to see who he looks like. 

These last few months, Jon and I have been doing a lot of things together, enjoying our time together, and just being together. It's been great but I am positive we'll get an even greater outlook on life raising our son together. Only one month left, and somehow I think I'll look back and wonder how a month, and even a year can slip though our fingers so quickly. I suppose I ought to enjoy these last 30 days, huh? 

Project 52.2

Hi ya, Bambi. 

We've been taking more walks in the evenings now that it's cool, and we are spotting these guys every night if we are quiet and observant. They seem to like us ('cause we're friendly), and they let us get pretty close. 

Project 52.1

Behold the first installation of Project 52. I decided that instead of taking a picture a day for a year- Project365, I would do one per week (hence, 52). The original purpose is to be able to document your life, events and surroundings, and be able to look back and remember them by the pictures you took.

Gas prices beginning with a 2 as the first digit: haven't seen that in over a year!

Monday's thoughts...

1. I am really, really tired of the little gnats that have been flying around my house. This summer, we had an ant problem in the kitchen. Now, it's gnats. We (ok, I) keep a tidy home! If I were a ant or a gnat, I'd rather invade a home that has food and dirty dishes left out on the counter, wouldn't you?

2. Jon had been bugging harassing me about getting a 4-wheeler lately. He claims that he has a "toy fund" for things like this, and buying one wouldn't set us back. I've been a little more frugal about money lately- I'm working a drastically reduced schedule at work, and my maternity leave I'm about to take will be unpaid. I also tell him that with the current state of the economy, his said "toy fund" should really become an emergency fund for "just in case." That wasn't what he wanted to hear, of course. He calls me the "fun police."

3. I've been debating doing this "picture project" I keep hearing about- Project 365. Basically, you take a picture a day, documenting an entire year of your life and surroundings. I thought it would be a really neat thing to do, but I think it would be tough to remember to take a pic everyday (like taking a daily pill- I always forget!). Anywhoo, I'm compromising and doing my own project- Project 52. I think I can handle this. So, once a week I'll take a picture of something-anything- and post it here. Perhaps when the baby comes, I'll do a separate project for him, too. I need you to hold me to this, OK?

Baby Shower today!

Man, I tell you what. It's the little things in those last few weeks of pregnancy that really wipe you out. I'll unload the dishwasher and wipe off a few counters, and then reward myself with a nap for my hard work. I had a wonderful, wonderful shower today- I opened gifts, and stuffed my face with awesome food. I really had no idea how much energy I expended in those few hours, but I find myself on the couch not wanting to move 'till um, Monday (at the earliest).

So, the shower! It was more than I ever could have asked for! My 2 friends from college hosted it, and it was so awesome. There was no shortage of delicious food, and I was overwhelmed with great gifts for our little one!

Opening an abundance of cute clothes, blankets and necessities!

My sister got me my favorite childhood book 'But No Elephants.' It's no longer being printed, so I feel lucky to have a copy!

Me and the shower hosts! Pardon my hugeness.

One of my old college roomates made the cake. Not only was it the cutest cake I'd ever seen, but it was probably one of the best cakes I've ever had, no lie. She is so talented!

Isn't it adorable?

Playing a shower game- candy bars melted inside diapers. We had to decipher what kind they were by how they looked and smelled. It was tough! Some of them were NASTY looking. I'm praying for a baby that never poops. Ever.

Now I've got to get to work organizing the nursery (pics coming soon!). I don't think I have the energy for all of that now, but I think I have just enough to get off the couch and get me a slice of that delicious cake.