My G License Test Experience

I'm waiting in the car to take the test, and after awhile the driving tester comes out and he's this small old asian guy.  I pull the window down and he says he wants me to press the brake and turn the signals on.  I'm fully pressing the brake and he's like okay test the brake and I say I am.  He comes back to the driver side and says...

Little Asian Man: press on the brakes
Me: I am pressing the brake
LAM: are you sure you're pressing on the brake? press on the brake
Me: I AM pressing the brake
LAM: Do you know which one is the brake?
Me: yes i do (in my mind, if I didn't even know that would I even have my license to begin with? or be alive after driving?!)
LAM: Sonia do you understand English? Do you know what I'm saying?
Me: (in my mind I'm like what the hell? I think I know English better than you do) yes I do, and I'm pressing the brake
LAM: Just press on the brake okay?
Me: okay (I am)
What a rude rude lil man!

So I already have a feeling something must be wrong with the car since I AM pressing on the damn brake.  After going back and forth in conversation, he finally realizes after looking at the right brake light that the left brake light wasn't working.
Because of this...I couldn't even take my test.

That was the result of my G test....I have to rebook it and pay another $75 for the test.  So upsetting!
I only pay 1/2 the fee, and the test I didn't even get to do I only pay 1/2.  I think you pay $34.50 before the test and then another $34.50 after the test.

Happy Driving everyone! ...I know I won't be.. =(

p.s. Lesson Learned: Check all lights, and everything else like making sure you have at least 1/2 a tank of gas (didn't know that), before going in for you G test.

Put to the Test: Adidas Women's Deodorant

A couple weeks ago, my sister and I went to Wal-Mart with the inital intention to purchase just feminine products when I realized I needed a new deodorant.  My sister uses Adidas so I thought I would test it out for myself.  As we were looking at the various kinds of deodorants (not even just different brands but different types under each brand), we saw that Adidas had one with 0% aluminum (which almost all deodorants there had - aluminum zirconium tetra....) and had a cotton component instead.

So which did the job of keeping the pits dry and odor free?

 

Adidas WITH Aluminum (aka anti-perspirant) vs. Adidas WITHOUT Aluminum (aka absorbent-deo)

The results thus far: Adidas with aluminum or the anti-perspirant did the better job of keeping the pits dry and odor free!

Really it's up to you if you want to go with or without aluminum.  How harmful can it be?

So I did some basic basic research (Googled):
1. AAKP Answer (<--click to see article)
"...FDA issued a final rule establishing conditions that antiperspirants, which often contain aluminum, were safe and not misbranded."
2. Searchwarp 7 ingredients to avoid in deodorant (<--click to see article)
mentions how it can lead to Alzheimer's, however in the first article it only suggests that it would lead to that if large amounts are absorbed, under certain health conditions, or if you're a child (but what child uses deodorant??)

I then decided to confirm these findings with more concrete sources (using PubMed), I found that many articles (looking more towards a link between breast cancer and use of deodorant with aluminum) did not have any sound findings, or that they needed to do additional research to see the long-term effects if any.

So I think I will be at peace with anti-perspirants since "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products."¹

That's good enough for me!

Happy Being Sweat-Free Everyone =) (and not worry about the aluminum)
p.s. Have to thank my sister for being a good sport about the picture! hahahaha <3

Next Product Test: MASCARA!
¹Food and Drug Administration, HHS. "Antiperspirant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human use; Final Monograph. Final Rule." Federal register 68.110 (2003): 34273-93. Print.

The Future of Marketing

As I was reading through this weeks Canadian Business Magazine, I came across an interesting and relative article to me: The Future of Marketing: Dewing it Alone - how the power of social networks could render traditional marketing departments obsolete.
It's not a very comforting thought that marketing departments may get smaller as there may be more reliance to use social network channels (cuts costs, integrates consumers opinions).  Although this may bring about opportunities for new types of jobs in the marketing field, it does make one prospective marketer think about the future.
The article did, however, seem to focus more on marketing/advertising campaign firms/departments.  So maybe the future isn't too bleak for me, since I'm interested more in being in brand management or something to do with event planning/organizing (which isn't related really lol).

Anyhow, all those whose future lies in marketing...this article may be a good read for you too The Future of Marketing

Warning: Construction Up Ahead

Hellooo
You may start to see some lil changes here and there and hopefully I can become a master at HTML and CSS! Hehehe.  I'm slowly teaching myself, and figuring out things here and there, testing out each thing I change to make sure I'm changing the right things to what I want.  There may be moments where it's kind of ugly...like right now...but just be patient with me.

It may be a slow process...
but it will be done!

:)
Sonia

Good Eats: Korean

Yesterday went out for dinner with my parents and we went to a place known for good mool neng myun.  It's a Korean dish.  It's super refreshing, so it's perfect to have to cool off on a hot summer day.

It's made with arrowroot noodles (at least I think) in a icy broth.  I like this one especially because they put a slice or two of Korean pear.  There's also hard boiled egg, cucumber and etc.

Maybe I can get my mom to write out the key ingredients.

Also had this...

I believe it's called dweh-jee chim? (wow I seem so not Korean right now lol)

It's stew pork and kimchi...I love kimchi like this.

Anyhow, it's delicious and I'm probably not doing justice to either dishes.

I'm not sure how appealing this looks to non-Koreans, but it's always good to try something new right? =)

Oh yeah the restaurant is Cho Sun Ok

HAPPY EATING EVERYONE~! =)

Trust: Key to Any Relationship

Building trust between companies and consumers


Speaks about consumers seeking for more information about what a company is doing as a basis of building trust with that company.

Another really insightful video is from TED, speaker is Joseph Pine on the issue of what consumers what.  He goes over the changes in what consumers want and further talks about authenticity, which is where consumers are now.


- Staying true to who you are; know that what you have done in your past limit what you can do in the future (get away with)
i.e. being known as a family oriented service, then later buying out another business that is for a more mature market.  Brings distrust to the brand or company now for families as the business has gone away from their values.
- Provide places for consumers to experience who you are; not advertising
i.e. Starbucks - they don't advertise, to experience Starbucks you must go in to find out for yourself

Those are just a couple key points to be a real - real company; being authentic
Watch the video though to learn more.

Enjoy, Learn, Grow!

Some 'Kick' Back into Old Spice

A friend of mine showed me a new ad from Old Spice, and we both enjoyed it.  We found that it was a big improvement from their last advertising campaign.

Let me know what you think.


 
I'm sure that there may be people who disagree with us, but it seems to really grab the attention. We also found that since people tend to have shorter attention spans going towards the younger generations, this ad really keeps your attention as it is constantly changing and quick paced.
It's also interesting that it's for men, though they are directing it towards women. It's not exactly like Axe, since Axe directs their ads to men by saying women will be attracted to Axe. Old Spice takes a slightly different approach and tries to prove to the women that Old Spice is the right deodorant that a 'Real' man should have, which I guess is indirectly speaking to the men.  This is shown by, not only is the direct dialogue to a woman, as well the very first scene being that of an attractive male, and diamonds and other details in the commercial that would attract a woman's eye before a man's.
Another thought, viral is a great way to spread news, and if something is interesting to a person, most likely he/she will pass that along...
Have something memorable, and it'll get passed along.  That's how I came across this commercial, by a friend sharing how she liked this ad.  Maybe it's cause we're marketing students and I like sharing ads I really liked and didn't like at all...(memorable/made impression) or maybe it's not just us. =)

That's my thoughts on it for now, let me know your opinion.

- Marketer in training =)

Hockey: This is Our Game

On Sunday, February 28th, it was not only the last day of the month but the last day of the Olympics.

And not only that, it was the Gold Medal game for Men's Ice Hockey - Canada vs. USA

It was such an exciting, intense game! Canada scoring the first goal of the game; USA ties the game with about 25s left of the 3rd period; goes into OT and Crosby scores the golden goal assisted by Iginla!

That moment made me so proud to be Canadian! haha...and the fact that Canada went away with the most gold medals! 14 to be exact :)
Awesome game Canada! Way to end the Olympics! =)

True North Strong and Free~

Badly Needed Update

Going back to the Superbowl that I hosted at my house for some friends =)
Some food that go hand-in-hand with such an event:

Ingredients:
3 l/b (1.4kg) chicken wings
2/3 cup (150mL) buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp (5mL) salt
1 tsp (5mL) hot sauce
1/2 cup (125mL) cornmeal
1/2 cup all purpoose flour
1-1/2 tsp (7mL) chili powder (optional)
1-1/2 tsp (7mL) ground cumin (optional)
where I put optional you can put your own choice of spices :)


Blue Cheese Dip
1 cup (250mL) crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup (125mL) buttermilk
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp (1mL pepper)

Preparation
Remove tips from wings and reserve for stock if desired; separate at joint. Wash wings and cut off excess fat (something I do after seeing my mom do it).  In a baking dish, wihisky buttermilk, egg, salt and hot sauce; add wings, tossing to coat. Cover; regrigerate for 4 hours (Can refrigerate for up to 24 hours).


In a large resealable bag, shake together cornmeal, flour, chili powder and cumin (or your desired spices).  Remove wings from buttermilk mixture, letting any excess drip off.  In batches, shake in cornmeal mixture to coat; shake off any excess.  Arrange on rack on foil-lined rimmed baking sheet (which is supposedly to make it crispy? but I think it should be fine to just put it directly on the foil ..I have yet to try).


Roast in 400F (200C) oven, turning once, about 45 mins or until crisp and juices run clear when wings are pierced.  


Blue Cheese Dip: In a bowl, mash blue cheese with buttermilk until fairly smooth (unless you like it a bit chunky). Stir in green onion and pepper. (Make ahead: cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours)

Nachos!

Ingredients: I added sausage, ground beef, green onion, tomato, garlic.  You could also add cajun seasoning, jalapeno peppers, coriander, lime juice...There are a number of combinations.

Directions/Prep: Take sausage and cut into small pieces and put into a large skillet; add beef and saute over medium-high heat, breaking up with a spoon until no longer pink (about 5 mins).  Drain fat.
Add garlic and seasoning; saute until softened (about 2mins).  Add jalapeno peppers, tomato, onions, coriander and lime juice (or any other veggies); stir to combine.

Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a baking sheet or as I did in a baking dish.  Sprinkle with sausage mixture and cheese. Here what I did was do two more layers like the first one ontop of the other.  Make sure that every chip gets some sausage mixture and chees :)! Then bake in 375F (190C) oven until cheese is melted (about 6mins).

And one thing missing: BEER! What is a Superbowl event without beer?
Haha but if not beer, don't forget to provide some kind of beverage.  I did punch - mix sprite, cranberry juice, and orange juice.

Both Recipes Adapted From: Best Recipies Ever 

Happy Eating Everyone! =)