Mint Condition Celebrates Earth Day

This Earth Day, 2009 is a very special day for Mint Condition Creative Solutions. As many of you know, our fundraiser ends this Friday, which will cover our start up costs and officially signal the opening of our doors for business.

A long time coming, Mint Condition is the culmination of my career in graphic design and event planning and marketing in Chicago. It comes at a point in my life where I have gained much experience, not only in design, but in business management and practices.

It also comes at a time when I am more in tuned to our environment, global issues and crises and the negative impact we, as consumptive humans can have on our planet and its inhabitants.

Because I’ve grown into this awareness, it is important that Mint Condition not only be an environmentally aware company, but an environmentally ACTIVE company. In fact, it’s written into our Mission Statement:

Mint Condition Creative Solutions strives to be an environmentally active company that provides customers with a one-stop shop for all of their visual communication services. Mint Condition Creative will listen to our customers' needs, anticipate their wants and deliver exceptional creative solutions and unparalleled customer service whilst striving to make a positive impact on our environment.

Sure, it’s one thing to say it and yet another to do it. This week, we are “retrofitting” our home office in an effort to further lower our carbon footprint.

In addition to employing environmentally conscious service providers and printers, Mint Conditon’s home office personnel start our commitment by:

• Using recycled papers and vegetable inks as well as refurbished high capacity ink cartridges,
• Reusing printer paper for in-office prints as well as recycling all waste paper,
• Working solely with the MacBook Pro family of computers, the world’s greenest family of notebooks,
• Traveling via public transportation (CTA, Metra), bicycling and walking to all appointments when possible. If not, Mint Condition uses the care-share service Zipcar for long distance travel or large delivery
• Pending an affiliation in the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance,
• Offsetting our electricity usage with Wind Power RECs via Renewable Choice,
• Supporting environmentally conscious and local businesses, and
• Giving back to the community and the world.

Let’s all make an effort to think about the impact we have on our world in every action we take today and every day.

Well, I think I'm in Love!

Valentino...
he's the man of the moment, isn't he? I knew he was going on a PR blitz when he outfitted nearly EVERYONE at the Oscars this year. So, what does he roll out for spring?

My favorite of his bags... perfected.
HISTOIRE FRAMED TOTE

The previous bag was the same gorgeous leather (pearlized or patent) with the same pockets up front and the luxuriously tactile braided handles. I carried one during one of my trips to Vegas last year... I couldn't get enough of that handle. Hard to explain. I'm just a tactile girl.

The downside to the original Histoire is, if you're a city girl, the top flap closure was a bit obtrusive. Whilst carrying your cell phone in one hand and a Latte in the other, if you have to reach for anything in the bag to facilitate in your commute, shopping excursion, lunch, or wherever you're going... it's much to difficult to fumble around with a top flap.

City girls need top loading (And CLOSING... this is directed at Signora Prada!) handbags.

Although I will always adore the aesthetic of the original Histoire... the Sequel (unlike Monsieur St. Laurent's consecutive Muse bags) hits the mark! (ed. note: my Muse bag is still the darling of my closet, alhough Groovee is the bag of the moment!)

Unfortunately, we're in a down economy, and I'm embarking on a new business venture, so I won't be spending $2,400 on this bag.

1.40.4.10

Tomorrow (the 10th) I will be 40. Yes, you read that right... 40.

Every year I get myself a "Birthday Present". Last year it was my YSL bag. This year it needed to be big... like BIG big. I thought about a bracelet or a ring. But I'm not a jewelry girl. I like timeless pieces. Simple Metals. Stainless. White Face. Black Numbers. And maybe one Sapphire. Round. Really Round. And big... like BOY big!

So, I bought myself the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch in the men's size. I've had links removed to fit my wrist. And it will debut on Friday. Lunch with my friend Sarah who is in town from Berlin, Germany... then a spa day (gift from my mom) before I head home to prepare dinner for my closest, dearest and most special friends (those in Chicago anyway).

So, Happy Birthday to me.

Double Header Wednesday

Just a brief update to the happenings on this blog.

I have been sadly remiss in keeping up to date on this blog, and I apologize for that. I'm going to work on being more regular on here.

There have been a few changes in my day to day activities. I am currently shiftless... but in the embryonic stage of finally opening my own design firm. Stay tuned for details on that. Our temporary website is www.mintconditioncreative.com and I expect to be up and running by mid summer.

Also, since I have more time on my hands, the VIDEO bug has hit me. In fact, tomorrow, I expect to shoot a fair amount of footage for an upcoming mini documentary project that I'm working on. So, watch this space for more info on that. And I've been helping out (disguised as helping out... but more like learning from) a friend who is currently filming a full length MS Related documentary called ON THAT DAY

Until I have updates on my mini documentaries, you can have a look at a quickie little video I edited. Film footage is mine, obviously, and the photographs are mine as well.



You'll note that I just posted a FASHION blog. And since this is my birthday week, I'm working on a MUSING.

Thanks for stopping by... and stay tuned for more fun and excitement

The Old Woman Who Lived in Her Shoes

I fear my days of very high heels are behind me. If that truly is the case, I have about 200 pair of 8s if anyone wants to take a look.

Basically, these days, I reserve them for very special occasions.

So, this weekend is my birthday, and my couturier friend is making one of his designs for me... a scandalously short black and white dress (which I will be wearing leggings under, because scandalously short is VERY age inappropriate for me!) And at my last fitting, I brought along shoes, so he could help me decide on them (and a bag)

So, I'll be wearing these shoes to my birthday party Saturday night.











Aren't they Fabulous!!!

Then, tonight I'm snooping around the internet cuz I can't sleep, and I run across these:

How CRAZY amazing are those?!?
Ok... yes, they are limited edition Louboutins, and you can only get them in Paris... but I would imagine they are something crazy like $5 grand or something. But oh, wouldn't they be the bees knees?!?

My fascination with the Loubs continues... (even tho I can no longer wear the two pair I own, but can't bear to part with them)
And forever... I will live in my shoes... even if it's just sitting around the house in them whilst I blog about them!