Cupcakes and Neuroticism

New Gorillaz Video – yay for the cartoons

Laura Lynne — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:19:57 +0000

The new Gorillaz music video is brilliant. Now this is not just cos I like their music but cos the animation is awesome.

Sometimes I am astounded at the developments in animation. Just look at the changes from the early Pixar movies to the 3D cartoons like UP and this Gorillaz video that we are seeing today.

I really can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings…

Not paddling towards an iPad

Laura Lynne — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:43:29 +0000

There has been much written on the new Apple iPad – how it is going to shake up the tablet market, what it will do for ebooks, etc. So I am not going to spend to long on this as there are better experts out there.

Here is what I want to say about it. Having watched Steve Jobs present the iPad through Gizmodo first reactions were – what a crap name (as a good friend said – it sounds like a next generation sanitary towel) and its a massive ipod touch/iphone. So do I want one – nope. I have a laptop and an iPod Touch and I am perfectly happy. I don’t need something in-between.

It turns out I am not the only one to think this. Dom Joly has created a nice little skit to show the absurdity of it. http://www.funnyordie.co.uk/videos/d2b714361c/hello

(I did try to embed this video but struggled with this Funny or Die video. If anyone has any advice on how to do this it is most welcome)

the smooth process of buying something online

Laura Lynne — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:38:43 +0000

In this day and age it should not be necessary to write a blog post that calls out the great and terrible experiences that we receive on websites that we use on a daily basis. The internet is ubiquitous now and most retailers have an online presence which is often the first port of call. So why do some sites make it so difficult for you to buy their products???

Apologies for the grumpy posting but one of the things that ‘grinds my gears’ (in the words of peter griffin) are websites that fail to deliver a good user experience.

So I am now going to keep a rolling list of those websites where i receive a great service and those bad experiences. This is purely my opinion and I am sure some would disagree. I would welcome any additions to the lists

Here is what I have so far:

GOOD

BAD

new year – it’s resolution time

Laura Lynne — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:08:09 +0000

so it’s the beginning of a new year and a new decade so I guess I should make some resolutions. Perhaps if i write them and publish them then i might just stick to them. So here they are:

Loose weight – its no surprise that this is number one but I really do feel that it is time i took pride in my body so I will loose weight and get fit
Work Hard – I love my job and I am lucky for that. This year i want to become a stronger PR consultant and learn even more about the industry i work in and where it is heading
Cook more savoury foods – the last few years have seen me focusing on cupcakes and brownies and honing the skill of how to make an awesome cream cheese or butter icing. My aim for this year is to learn to cook great Italian dishes.

So they may be a bit lame but I think that these are easy to keep. Perhaps I will do a check-in in three months and see how we are doing.

Keep your fingers crossed for me :O)

Happy new year folks!!!

my blog is like waiting at a bus stop…

Laura Lynne — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:01:05 +0000

My blog is like waiting at a bus stop – in a way that i don’t write anything for a while and then two posts come along at once (shame on me). Anyway…..

I was on Twitter after midnight just playing around and a Twitter message came up from John Mayer linking to his Tumblr site. So being nosey I had a look around at past postings and fell in love with this image of a mic on stage. I just simply think it is lovely and the light catching the balcony is magestic. Anyway, i hope you find the same… (sorry if you can’t see the whole image, click on it and it will send you where you need to go)

Sound check, Beacon Theatre by J Mayer

Merry (belated) Christmas

Laura Lynne — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:37:18 +0000

Merry Christmas to everyone who passes along this blog. I am sorry for the late posting but i was knee deep in turkey, ‘pigs in blankets’ and red wine. Happy to say among the lovely gifts i got was a new cupcake recipe book and a cupcake candle – woop woop (the obsession continues).

my noughty life

Laura Lynne — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:41:26 +0000

Reading Becky McMichael’s blog post about the last decade inspired me to do the same. So hold onto your hats folks, its the last ten year of my life!!!!!

2000 – Spent millenium NYE at a house party. Droppped out of university much to the dispair of my parents and landed a PA role with the Orient Express head office

2001 – Landed by my surprise a job in PR and have not looked back since

2002 – I turned 21 and did not have a great year (lowest point of the decade)

2003 – Bought my first flat and moved in by myself at the ripe age of 22. I must have been mad to take on a mortage so early. It was my first home and i am still proud of it today!

2004 – A mad Moroccon lady comes to stay with me for 3 months and it was so much fun that summer. Sunbathing on the roof of the building was a highlight along with droppping water bombs on cars from the roof (sssh – don’t tell the building manager). I also started working at Ruder Finn with Becky and the rest of the corp/tech team!

2005 – Met my wonderful boyf twice. The second time i fell for him at my birthday party. BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!

2006 – Join Trimedia (soon to be Grayling) as an account manager and start using the likes of Facebook, Flickr and Twitter (and my obsession to social media begand :OP)

2007 – stand out thing for that year was the first time I travelled to Thailand. It was awesome and as I had managed to loose two stone i was thin too!

2008 – Boyf moved in with me (yay!)

2009 – Boyf and me buy our first place together and start to feel ever so slightly grown up. I also went to California for the first time and it was amazing trip and one I would love to repeat again. I think i loved the big sur the most!!

2010 – WATCH THIS SPACE…

[pingback: Beck McMichael]

Interesting stuff I found today – 01.04.09

Laura Lynne — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:00:23 +0000

Wall Painted Animation that makes your mouth drop

A brilliant example of Time Lapsed Graffiti and a video that kept me in awe by how clever it is.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

[Pingback Robin Wilson at Opposite Direction]

2. The Samsung Sheep Video

I know I am one of the many digital sheep (pardon the pun} who has re-posted this video but I don’t care. It is so great and has really captured people’s imagination. It is a superb example of creativity and brands taking a chance. Long may it continue.

[pingback: Nick Burcher]

3. Welcome Back Wired!

Whilst other media outlets are dying out (local newspapers and trade magazines) It is great to see new ones emerging. I think the most exciting one to emerge is Wired, which is finding a new lease of life on these shores. WELCOME BACK WIRED UK – WE MISSED YOU.

Conde Nast has gone live with a soft-launched Wired.co.uksite, ahead of next week’s UK magazine relaunch – 12 years after the title first left these shores. The publisher will ready a big online marketing campaign across sites including its own GQ and Vogue

it’s been a long time, I’ve been west coast living

Laura Lynne — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:50:47 +0000

I have been away from this blog for a while but with good reason. I have been on holiday and had the trip of a lifetime.

I made it....

I finally made one of my dreams come true – to visit the west coast of America and drive down it. This month I got to do that and it was a amazing. Although we were only there 10 days, I got to spend time in San Fransisco, Carmel, the Big Sur, Cayucos, Santa Barbara and, finally, LA.

Highlights fo such a trip included:

Putting my feet in the Pacific Ocean (it was cold!)
Seeing the awesomeness of the Big Sur (including Pfeiffer Beach)
Experiencing a US parade (courtsey of St Paddy’s Day)
Seeing G-Love and Special Sauce at the Warfield in SF
Eating Clam Chowder out of a bread bowl
The Simpson’s ride at Universal (unlike any other roller-coaster I have been on)

Lowlights included:

The poor service we received from Alamo (would never rent from them again as they had us standing in line for 2 hours)
The ants in our bed in the Sheraton at Fisherman’s Wharf (disturbing experience)
Dan and I’s inability to work out the petrol pumps at several gas stations throughout our drive

I am sure there is so much more to say but this is the general summary.

Bring on the next trip….

getting that good feeling from my skills

Laura Lynne — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:58:49 +0000

Just a quick post today.

One of the things about working in PR means that you get to learn and experience lots of different things. So farm in my career I have been lucky enough to work across different types of technologies and it has allowed me to see what an impact online, technical manufacturing and traditional technology can have on the greater good. Whether that be how the manufacture of injections needles can prevent the spread of hepatitis or HIV and how online projects has the potential impact a child’s education in Africa or South America.

I have been lucky to work on these awareness campaigns. Just looking at my own personal experience and the great effort that has gone behind Twestival just goes to show that the skills one has can help as much as money in a collection tin (although that is still important too!)