personalized pop

Cat Johnson — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:13:34 +0000

Today’s confession is this…authors (at least this author) procrastinate. I will do anything, including clean the house on rare occasions, to avoid work at times. Yesterday’s procrastinating yielding something very fun and exciting that I figured I’d share here.

JONES SODA

I love when food products go above and beyond and this company is off the charts in the cool factor. I’d often seen their bottles on the shelves in the food store. They were different first because they were actual glass bottles rather than plastic and because the labels were always really fun. What I didn’t know then that I do know now is that Jones takes photo submissions from people like you and me and turns them into the actual labels on the bottles on the food store shelves.

How cool is that?? You can submit your photo to the gallery for consideration or you can order custom labeled bottles to be shipped to you. A great idea for party favors for a bridal or baby shower, engagement party, a milestone anniversary or birthday party, or a wedding. A great marketing idea for my books if I upload for instance, my book cover as the label.

For now I uploaded some really artsy pics I’d taken a few years ago. Pictures I’d taken and loved but didn’t have any idea of what to do with them. You can download the label mockup as iPhone wallpaper. You can also share the link and have people vote for your picture. Meanwhile, the people at Jones are pawing through the many submissions and deciding if any are label-worthy. If they decide yes, you’ll be notified and your photo could be on my grocery store shelf.

Below is what I did while not working… Go try for yourself!

…tis the season

Cat Johnson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:39:20 +0000

Christmas is upon us. I know this because my friend Donna is on her annual pre-Christmas pilgrimage to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx today to buy all the delicacies necessary for her family’s Christmas Eve dinner. You can buy just about anything there. Lamb, goat, rabbit, fresh baked Olive or Prociutto Bread, imported Columbian Gorgonzola cheese to die for, handmade ravioli…see below

Being Italian/Catholic, Donna’s family does it up big, with the meal of the 7 Fishes and all. Sigh, now I need to go Google the significance of the 7 fishes…hang on…okay, looks like you can’t eat meat so you had to eat fish, and the reason for the 7 is not confirmed but it could relate to the 7 days of creation or possibly the number of Sacraments. Thank you, Wikipedia. Moving on…

Anyway, the trip to Arthur Avenue signals I have very little time to finish my gift shopping. Yes, that was a confession, I’m not done yet. Luckily I am down to just a few gift certificates and a quick trip to the liquor store and I will be done, but for those of you in a tighter bind, here are a few suggestions of some of my favorite gifts to give.

FOOD- Who doesn’t love a big basket packed full with tasty treats? And unlike the unattractive sweater that you have to wear or risk insulting the giver, food gifts can be easily eaten, donated, or re-gifted at one of the many holiday parties you’ll be attending. I personally like a theme. I’ve put together a ’spicy’ basket with various fun hot sauces, chocolates I found online that contained hot pepper, and even beer made with chili peppers. Throw in an attractive bottle opener, perhaps a tree ornament or cute cocktail napkins or bowl and Viola! Fun, unique, done! With not much time left for shipping, you procrastinators will have to go to a local gourmet shop or beer importer and buy your basket purchases there.

BOOKS- I’m an author, of course I love books and bookstores are open late during this season and the larger chains even email you 30% off coupons if you sign up. Children on my list have gotten the Eloise books since I LOVE The Plaza Hotel in NY. My nieces have also received a fun book I found “Auntie Claus” about a child who finds out her aunt is Santa. For adults, cookbooks are fun. Amy’s Fork Me, Spoon Me Aphrodisiac cookbook is a great gift, wrapped up with a serving fork and spoon perhaps?

WINE – It’s no secret I buy wine by the name and the label. I’ve gifted wines by the name of Bitch, Fat Bastard, Il Bastardo, Menage e Trios, Old Fart, Seven Deadly Zins, Daddy’s Day Off, Mad Housewife, even Big House (with a sketch of a prison on the label for my lawyer friend)… you get the picture.

Use your imagination, connect it specifically to the person you’re giving it to and wrap it attractively, and even a last minute gift won’t look like it.

As I plot out my day and its errands, I wish you all a wonderful holiday.

Cat

Confessions of a Romance Writer » gifts

personalized pop

…tis the season