on Sunday, 30 November 2014
Happy 43rd National Day to my second country
 There is no place on earth I would like to be other than this country. 
Growing up in this country and living here, it grew close to my heart, almost closer that my own country. Every year brands personalize their packaging designs to fit the national day theme

This year Du gathered up the opinion leaders of today and dedicated the song and video to UAE. 

I personally really enjoyed it, and I hope you do too. 




Google created a short video of the remarkable history of today. 



Of course what is national day without a song from Hsein Al Jasmil










Happy 43rd National Day UAE
الله يديم عزك و خيرك 
Love, 
Sandra 

on Sunday, 23 November 2014
Walking out on the day of graduation I thought to myself : 'I will look for work and I want to work the day after I finish my MBC Internship.'

Summer passed, the internship passed, and there I was, stuck. At home. Doing nothing. Absolutely NOTHING.

What you may not know about me is that I love reading books, so I borrowed 'The monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma' from a friend, and started reading it. I found this book really interesting for a lot of reasons, mostly for the optimism boost it reflects, the advice's you can pick up, and for being easy to read.

Being at home, doing nothing really killed me slowly. I was getting fatter, sadder, I had nothing to do. Absolutely nothing !!

There was a line I picked up from the book that really hit me. Although I don't remember it word for word, it said something like: If you wake up thinking you have no reason, or purpose then you will find yourself doing nothing, every single day, but when you do, when you have a motive you believe in, you will see that everyday you will wake up early, achieve things you didn't think you can, or do activities you never did before.

That line, and meaning spoke to me. First, I was doing NOTHING with my life, except for applying to jobs and getting no reply back. I decided to go ahead and create a purpose. My goal was to lose weight. Since, I was applying for jobs already, I added this new goal.
I started eating right, meals, snacks, and blablabla in addition to working out.
Due to the boredom state that I was I was in, it came to a point where I worked out for 3 hours a day.
I would wake up at around 12pm, go to gym from 2-3pm do cardio, then have lunch at 4/5, go to boot-camp at 6:30, and then continue to the gym and enter any class that is going on, which was either body pump or aerobics.
I was EXTREMELY happy !
I wasn't losing any weight, on the contrary, my weight would rise and go back down, but I was doing something with my life and most of all I was busy !
I would cancel plans for the sake of gym.

So I thought everything was going well, I was busy, I was sleeping 12 hrs a day, being at home.

Until one day I got a call, to start work the following day. After discussing it with my parents and making sure that that is the career path I want to choose, I accepted.

I am a big believer in God, and I really do believe that God works in mysterious ways.

The week before I got the offer, boot-camp ended. The day I got the offer, my gym trainer came up to me and told me that I should stop working out for more than an hour, and that if I want to attend classes I should stop doing doing anything else.
For example, on the days I attend classes, if I want to go to the gym then I should just do cardio. Nothing else.

Instead of 12pm I started waking up at 7:30, and gymming for an hour a day, not because I didn't want to, but because I had no time to.

Right now I feel like I have a purpose, everyday my goals change and I achieve those goals.
I wake up capable to wake up and energetic because I have something to do and things to achieve.

My understanding of that statement that I picked up from 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari' changed. It became: When you wake up everyday with a new motive, a new set of goals,then you will see that everyday you will wake up with a larger energy than ever before. 

My message to you guys is find your purpose, set new goals everyday, and always have a WIDE SMILE on your face.

Here are  a few quotes from the book:

“Your "I CAN" is more important than your IQ.” 

"Never regret your past. Accept it as the teacher that it is.”

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” 

“investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. it will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.” 

“never overlook the power of simplicity” 

“Push yourself to do more and to experience more. Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams. Yes, expand your dreams. Don't accept a life of mediocrity when you hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind. Dare to tap into your greatness.” 

“Laughter opens your heart and soothes your soul. No one should ever take life so seriously that they forget to laugh at themselves.” 
“happiness is a journey, not a destination."
“Worry drains the mind of its power and, sooner or later, it injures the soul” 
“Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure, whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.” 

Hope you guys liked the not-your-regular-adpost,
Don't forget to spread your smiles =D
Don't be shy to comment below ^.^
Love, 
Sandra



on Sunday, 2 November 2014
Hello readers,

Hope your Halloween went better than expected ! ^.^

I was honestly surprised to see that some firms do actually invest in a Halloween Special Commercial ! 
It made so much sense to me when I watched the commercials ! I loved Subway and Crest+Oral B because it made so much sense. 
However honestly, Ikea's commercial just killed me, and I kept on fast forwarding until I reached the end. Sorry Ikea but your Halloween commercial is a NONO. 

In the Subway commercial, Subway tried to prove Halloween's myth right, Halloween is a girls' excuse to dress shorter and sexier, but I found it to be smart and funny at the same time. 
So YAY for Subway !


Nothing is better than a focus group with children. They are just so cute, fun and just so innocent ! 
I ALWAYS watch Jimmy Kimmel when he gets children and pranks them or gets the parents to prank them ! It's so funny and they are ADORABLE <3 !!!!

Anyways, here is a small and hilarious focus group with children, 
Crest + Oral B topped this one !
2 minutes just passed so quickly with this one.

IKEA, I don't know what to say about this one. It really bored me, but it got me thinking about how Ikea is assorted, and how the store takes you through every corner and room of your house in a very systematic and smooth way. 


To end today's post I think it's only fair that I share Ellen Degeneres's & Jimmy Kimmel's Halloween segments.



Hahaha these two are my favorite !!!
Hope you liked today's post !

Let me know which commercial you enjoyed the most
ALSO if there are any more Halloween special commercials let me know.

Love, 
Sandra


on Sunday, 21 September 2014
"No one should pay for a mistake with their life. When we drive, we share the road with others, so the speed we choose to travel at needs to leave room for any potential error." 

This was what was written below this video on YouTube. 

I can not describe how amazing, and how real this video really is.
The visuals are soo strong that I can't find the words to describe or critique it.
I think you should just watch.

Hope you like it,
Love,
Sandra

In  my last post I wrote about the rivalry between Samsung and Apple.

It doesn't stop there! Competitive advertising is something I ADORE !
Unfortunately, I can only view it online, since it is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates. 

Then how will I indulge the advertising genius' work !

Let's start !

Samsung created videos to promote the GALAXY NOTE 4 but also make fun of Apple !
 (Again, sorry Apple fans)

The "It Doesn't Take A Genius" ads are a series of 6 ads that Samsung uploaded onto their 
YouTube channel

I have to admit, I didn't get them at first, but when I did, I realized that they weren't THAT funny, but they are interesting to watch.  

I think Samsung needs a lesson at comedy.





Did you understand the light comedy here?



Hope you liked this post, 
Love, 
Sandra




on Thursday, 18 September 2014
EVERYONE IS going CRAAAAZZZYYY about the IPhone 6 !

This is definitely something very different than the IPhone 5C/S that I blogged about earlier. IPhone 5 C/S

Seems like every time Apple releases a new product, fans go crazy, rivals start pushing their advertising business down everyone's throat.


These days every phone that's newer is thinner and bigger !
Mobile phones are getting bigger than the size of your hand, soon bigger than your face. Phones have become notes, notes  have become tablets, tablets will soon become computer screens with the weight of a feather.

Seriously though !

And what is the deal with connecting the phone to the watch !
Samsung already did that !! WAKE UP APPLE !! SAMSUNG - ARE YOU GEARED UP ?
But I don't blame Apple, because what are they going to connect the IPhone to ?
A bracelet that counts your calories !
OH THERE'S AN IDEA ! Instead of competing or doing the exact same thing Samsung did, compete with others OR !! merge and enhance the development of the products and technology.

Anyways that's not the point of this post !
[ Sorry, told you guys I tend to get off topic !]

The release of the IPhone 6 and IPhone 6 PLUS is tomorrow, the only difference between these two is the screen size. (I really don't want to get into details)




This is Apple's ad that presents the two phones:


This is Samsung's video:






Samsung's video is an IN YOUR FACE video against Apple !

Hahaha sorry Apple, Samsung made me laugh !


Let's go back in time a bit to another rivalry video:
This is S2 vs Apple: 

Samsung has always called its innovations as THE NEXT BIG THING. which in my opinion is really something genius ! because everyone will always want the next BIG thing. 



Apple fans please do not take this post too seriously.

Hope you liked this post, 
Love, 
Sandra

on Saturday, 9 August 2014
Every person uses a certain browser, whether it's Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari, we all use the product that suits us most.

I've gotten used to Google Chrome, so that is what I like to use, however, recently my home computer's Chrome started to lag, and freeze whenever I try to use it, so I got frustrated and uninstalled it to re-install it again. 

I came across a really nice video that I would like to share with you too !
But it also got me to think.... let me search about the other browsers. Maybe they have cool video's too !




This is what I found: 

None of the other browsers have videos; however something else caught my eye !
The way each website is designed.


Starting with Internet Explorer.


The way this webpage is designed doesn't attract me. It's filled with words and information. I feel like I don't even know where to look !
In my opinion, they misused the space and the simplicity of how a webpage should be, instead the focused on throwing information at the viewers.  And OH ! we've got some cool images too !! 
If I had to rate this, I would rate it a 2/10
Sorry old Internet Explorer. 



Next lets look at Safari. 
Safari's page is consistent with Apple's theme. 

The white space, and simplicity is used properly. 
Everything is big enough to read or see from a mile away. 




 Something made me smile on Safari's page.
It wasn't a funny picture or anything, but the use of Safari's advantages against its competitors !
Safari sets itself to have a  longer period of browsing than Firefox or Chrome .



Google Chrome:

Google Chrome, follows the same theme of Apple, it uses the white space efficiently.
The whole page is just calming. The use of white makes the whole page look not only professional but also welcoming (same goes to Apple's webpage above).

Chrome does not have any competitive advantages on its webpage.





Finally we stop and look at Firefox.
Firefox's webpage is very attractive and interactive.
Design wise, it attracted me, I felt like the colors and how the webpage is set attracted me personally however I doubt if I show it to my parents it would even appeal to them.




Just like Apple's Safari, Firefox set its competitive advantage on its website showing that Firefox is faster than the rest of the browsers.


 Funny thing about today's post is that I never thought that I would ever write about browsers. It never even occurred to me that they compete but I guess that was just a miss judgment from me after all, it is a product, a digital product and today's world is turning digital.


 So which website do you guys use? Which website appealed to you and your age?

Hope you liked this post,
Love,
Sandra =]






on Sunday, 3 August 2014
Apologies, apologies....

It has been a while, NO. it has been SO LONG since I last blogged, and I'm so glad I'm back !
Hello, family, friends, readers, fellow bloggers and Helen !

Today's post is dedicated to my cousin, my number one fan that keeps on telling me to blog and write !

This post is a bit old, but I wanted to share it with you guys.

I don't know how but I have to applaud Coca-Cola  for looking and digging deeper to give people the dose of happiness needed. The simplest things are always the best things in life, it's the simple things that make us happy, and it is the simple things that Coca-Cola provides.

Coca-Cola probably has the best research department cause what they keep on acknowledging and using those things to their advantage is really spectacular.

For example, they used the separation of friends in India and Pakistan to bring people together and "open happiness"


Then, what shocked me even more, was when they looked at those laborers. This is a really good video. Coca-Cola continues to show its humanitarian side and how it is not just a cold-drink brand, butut a brand that spreads a smile and cares.


Finally, who thinks of the freshmen students that enter universities eveeery semester? 
They are always ignored, looked down upon, we think that they are FRESHMEN ! as if that word is an insult which is absurd because we were all freshmen once. Or did you all forget ?
Coca-Cola obviously did not !!!




Do you guys have more Coca-Cola videos you like?
Which are your personal favorite?
I would love to hear from you.

Love, 
Sandra
on Monday, 28 July 2014
For those of you who live in Lebanon you probably know about this by now, but for those who don't, I will briefly explain what Dewar's is then move on to what they are doing.

Dewar's is a Scotch brand that is recognized globally; what Dewar's in Lebanon decided to do is launch a 'Worth Doing Campaign' to save Lebanon's heritage. So....

WHAT DID THEY DO?
 What they did was they located the houses with old architecture around Lebanon and helped preserve them. So how is Scotch relevant to heritage? 
I guess it's because Dewar's as a company has a long history since it was founded in 1846 and that the product hasn't changed so "heritage" is a very relevant topic to chose here, and is more in-context than out-of-context.


Watch the campaign & it's results =]


For more information you may read:
TimeOutDubai

or visit Dewar's Official Website
on Wednesday, 11 June 2014
So the World Cup starts tomorrow ! WHO'S EXCITED !!!!
yes, I bet all of you are, my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and even Whatsapp and BBM are turning into nothing but the flags of the countries, I've seen Italy, Brazil, and Spain. Of course I've seen more but I honestly can not recall. No-one is posting anything other than football !

And I'm of course in my own bubble still recalling my university graduation and missing my friends
Oh well...

Now, back to the main topic !

Have you guys watched the newest Nike commercial  !!! I am absolutely IN LOVE WITH IT !
* I hope I like football & the World Cup as much as I'm loving the ad's*
This commercial is SOMETHING ELSE !
But, something is confusing me, I understand that NIKE has launched a commercial that goes with the trend, but it is not a sponsor of the World Cup !
Anywaaaaays good job Nike ! Because when I watched this commercial I thought that they are a sponsor !

The best thing about this commercial is that it's animated ! ANDDDD I love how they kicked out the players from their fame then portrayed what they would be if they weren't all famous football players ! (That was smart)
So, good job Nike !

Enjoy the show guys !



Oh and one more thing, I love how in the end the "big boss" Ronaldo (yes, I had to research to know who he is, because I'm football illiterate)  told them that the clones play like it's a job, and you play like it's just a game !
It kind of spoke to me, because you only really succeed doing something you enjoy and love ! If you think of your job as just a "job" then you won't really go anywhere. 

I guess that is my advice for everyone. 
If you're just entering university, then learn or chose a major that you love ! 
If you're working, find a job that suits your personality, something that drives you crazy, and won't stop you thinking about it !

For more information of the World Cup's partners / Sponsors Click Here

I really enjoyed this, did you?
Love,
Sandra



on Monday, 9 June 2014
Since the FIFA world cup is just around the corner and I don't know who to support, I might need your help !
I would love to  hear from you, and hear your advice to know who should I support and why !









We were all bombarded with Samsung's S4 commercials or more likely their in-stream ads on YouTube;
In case you don't remember or didn't see them
here is one:


Now, one year later, Samsung is launching a new phone ! The S5 !
But this time, with The FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Samsung created a twist. With good imagination came a great story and used the best football players to their side.
Four minutes may be a lot for a commercial, but four minutes is not a lot for such a commercial !

I mean, I don't even know or  understand football but this was just THE COOLEST THING EVER !
Every enhanced criteria, or factor that Samsung has fixed, was shown in this commercial !

Football will save the planet ! 
Before this cmmercial I would've thought WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT !!! NO WAY !
But now I think: HELL YEA IT WILL ! LET'S WATCH THE WORLD CUP !!!

Hmmm who should I support? 
I would love to hear from you  !
Love, 
Sandra 

on Sunday, 8 June 2014
What? Coke left happiness alone ?
HOW COME !!!!

I'm just kidding, if you are a regular reader you'd know how much I ADORE Coca-Cola's happy ads and praise them however this is a bit different. Coca-Cola released this 'Social Guard' to keep people away from social media.



Even though I don't see the relation to Coke's mission of happiness, but this is nice

What do you think?
love,
Sandra 
on Tuesday, 1 April 2014
This is my third and last hashtag revolution post. The first was : JACKIE CHAMOUN CAMPAIGN 2014 - LEBANON ( HASHTAG REVOLUTION PART 1) then came STRIP FOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN - LEBANON (HASHTAG REVOLUTION PART 2 ) and today comes the I Am Not a Weapon Campaign.

Domestic Violence. Two very heavy words put together. March became the month for Domestic Violence awareness in Lebanon. This issue has become very sensitive, for many mothers and daughters have gone through domestic violence and have not spoken of it because of fear. Most of the time when someone outside tries to interfere and fix a problem inside a family, the words "Do not interfere, it is a family situation, we will handle it" is said. Sometimes the violence does not only cause scars but also DEATH.

Protests happened in March for the Lebanese Government to enforce its law to protect the woman.
Here are some pictures from the protests and the online #BeatDomesticViolence Campaign























This is my second post about the Hashtag Revolution. The first was  Jackie Chamoun Campaign 2014 - Lebanon ( Hashtag revolution part 1).

The reason for this title is due to the fact that hashtags ( #) have become so mainstream and so powerful ! Also, the word revolution was added because when I first researched for the #stripForJAckie pictures I ran into the I Am Not Naked Facebook Page that showed how the #StripForJackie became #StripForChange and now it has become #BeatDomesticViolence

Today's post is about #StripForChange. The concept of these pictures is that there are so many problems that should be addressed in today's world and nudity should be the least of our problems.
Pictures were taken from Lebanon, Paris, Boston, London, and  Montreal.
















The pictures may not address issues precisely, but in my opinion they do address issues unconsciously. For example, when I looked at the sentences "I am a dancer" or " I am a student" I thought about how underestimated we are. "I am a woman" gave me the feel that feminism is taken very lightly, our role as women is still being mocked and laughed at.

If you got any other thoughts let me know,
I loved the average Joe picture, who did you?
love,
Sandra