Creative Briefing - June 2023

RENAISSANCE. REBIRTH. REVIVAL.

We’re sensing a theme rise to the surface everywhere we look this summer. Whether it’s fresh takes on beloved classics, readiness to jump back into mega-concerts and festivals, or embracing the all-out joy of doing things YOUR way, it’s like a much-needed renewal of the human spirit is in full swing. Ready to dive in?

If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all

-Michelangelo; artist of David, Pieta and Sistine Chapel ceiling

PRIDE! 1.

2. JUNETEENTH

3. FATHER’S DAY

4. SUMMER SOLSTICE

WHAT PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING PRIDE!

PRIDE, marked by festivals, parades, live music, dancing and more, is the celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies in the month of June in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Here’s how brands across the country are celebrating:

And LEGO’s campaign celebrates PRIDE month creatively and sincerely as a testament to their commitment to equality and acceptance. Featuring inspiring interviews and free virtual backgrounds, their “Everyone is Awesome” campaign comes with a rainbow-colored set of 346-pieces and 11 mini-figures.

Calvin Klein launched its 2023 “This Is Love” collection, a campaign celebrating the euphoria at the heart of the LGBTQIA+ community, for PRIDE. The specialty line updates the brand’s signature underwear and apparel with vibrant colors and new cuts for a selection of essentials that can bring unity and be styled with anything.

Absolut’s yearly release of PRIDE-themed cocktails and its ongoing contributions to LGBTQIA+ charities demonstrate its dedication to promoting inclusivity and acceptance.

Reebok also released a PRIDE clothing collection, in addition to releasing their latest “Proud Notes” digital film to highlight the love and lives of LGBTQIA+ activists, featuring the Iconic House of Ninja and highlighting LGBTQIA+ history.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth celebrations on the 19th of the month commemorate the end of slavery in the US, specifically honoring the day in 1865 when Union troops announced that enslaved black people in the state of Texas were free by executive decree.

In celebration, brands like McDonald’s have partnered with iconic artists like multiplatinum rapper Saweetie. The fast-food chain featured her “Saweetie Meal” throughout the month. Similarly, Cadillac partnered with actress Regina King as a brand ambassador and the star for its campaign for the newest line of the Escalade SUV, and Chase Bank partnered with comedian Kevin Hart to promote financial literacy amongst communities of color.

Heavy-hitters like Adobe, All-State, Apple, Lyft, the National Football League, Nike, Peloton, and Starbucks recognize the 19th as a paid corporate holiday.

Ready to join the celebration? We suggest attending a local or virtual Juneteenth event, visiting a museum or cultural site, supporting Black-owned businesses, or watching a movie like Hidden Figures, The Color Purple, Black Panther, The Butler, or Miss Juneteenth.

Let’s party for the papa’s! Here’s a look at how brands are celebrating Dads on June 18th:

WHAT PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY SUMMER SOLSTICE

WATCH THE AD HERE

Prepare for this year’s LONGEST day of light on the June 21st Summer Solstice!

Okay, maybe they’re not actually ‘super’… but they are pretty great. That shared love of Dads drove Michelob Ultra’s #DEARULTRADAD campaign, where consumers are asked to chime in with a thank you note to dads for all that they do.

Gillette puts viewers ‘in their feelings’ after watching their newest, heartwarming ‘Go Ask Dad’ campaign, with dads describing how today’s kids can find any info they need at their fingertips, pushing them away from asking their fathers for advice. After asking those kids to look up a few answers on the internet to things like “how to tie a tie” and “how to shave,” they found it hard to pick them up. Cue the SUPER DADS!

THE LAST OF US

FROM VIDEO GAME PHENOMENON TO HBO SERIES WITH 30.4 MILLION VIEWERS

Anyone watch that show with the crazy, killer zombies in a post-apocalyptic world? (Plot twist- we’re not talking The Walking Dead here).

The highly-anticipated show ‘The Last of Us’ first aired in early 2023 on HBO Max, and almost immediately took the world by storm. At first, we thought it might be Pedro Pascal’s brash-but-fatherly instincts, or maybe Bella Ramsey’s straightforward, ‘poke-the-bear’ personality and thick sarcasm… and THEN, we realized that the show is based on an award-winning ‘Game Of The Year’ video game… from 2013?! In fact, the original game’s success led to a sequel, The Last Of Us Part II, which went on to win awards of its own. With big shoes to fill, what makes this story so intriguing to gamers *AND* T.V. bingers alike?

Simply put, it hit the ‘re-birth’ sweet spot: playing into the nostalgia and appreciation for the classic video game, while offering up FRESH challenges and surprises. “The show offers brilliant storytelling in its own right, but it manages to find a renewed take on the zombie apocalypse while including a ton of instantly-relatable protagonists for viewers to identify with,” said Robert Vaux with CBR.com. For instance, the opening act in Season 1 respectfully recreates the opening of the game, but also takes the opportunity to expand and develop the narrative, starting its story a few hours earlier as a father and daughter enjoy a seemingly normal day. After earning 30.4 million viewers, it’s safe to say that the re-invention and re-telling of the right stories in a new perspective or medium can pay off.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING

Putting ‘AIR’ Beneath Struggling

Nike’s Wings

In today’s world, it’s crazy to think about powerhouse-brand Nike struggling in the shoe-selling department. But in 1984, Nike found itself in third place behind the two industry leaders of the time, Converse and Adidas.

The new movie ‘AIR,’ directly by Ben Affleck, tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), a basketball guru and a major promoter in the high-school and college game, who is employed by Nike to provide contacts in the basketball world and ultimately secures the famous partnership between the brand and Michael Jordan, leading to the iconic Air Jordan shoe. Critics say “it’s a story of cultural change, of the invention of a ubiquitous style and its wider implications.”

Will the movie increase sales and interest in Air Jordan shoes of today? Time will tell. Will ‘Air’ go down in the history books as another Affleck/ Damon masterpiece like ‘Good Will Hunting’? Guess we’ll have to wait on that one, too.

2. BEYONCE’S TOUR

3. THE LIVE MUSIC

RELAUNCH

4. AUDIO RULES THE DAY

WHAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO TAKE-OVER (TAYLOR’S VERSION)

Taylor Swift is a household name and inexplicable icon that spans across generations and general musical interests. Even die-hard rockand-roll fans probably have one or two of her hit singles on their go-to playlist, because her storied discography is somewhat reminiscent of nearly every genre one can think of.

It makes us question…What IS IT about this girl that makes the world go crazy? And when we say CRAZY, we mean it. In case you haven’t heard, TicketMaster took some major heat after crashing due to historically unprecedented demand when MILLIONS of fans showed up to buy tickets for her ongoing ‘Eras Tour.’

And, in case you didn’t know, the show gets its name from the fact that it consists of her re-performing hit songs from every.single.one of her previous albums, all the way from ‘Taylor Swift’ to ‘Midnights.’ It serves as a celebratory affair of her work toward re-recording each of her former albums as ‘Taylor’s Version’, granting her the ability to own the rights to her music following the original versions being sold by her former record label to a 3rd party.

Getting rich AND getting sweet, sweet revenge as she does it? Her fans are HERE for it! Taylor is known for exciting the world with her ‘clapback’ moments where she responds to haters within the lyrics of her songs, and dips into the nostalgia of simpler times as she takes back her original albums and gives her fans a major throwback experience in the process.

Something unique about Swift is her presence as a social media powerhouse, with over 336 million fans and followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and 48.8 million YouTube subscribers.

To put that into context, she has a bigger social audience than Rihanna, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and even Kim Kardashian. She is blazing the trail between singer, songwriter and social media influencer that has never quite been done before.

And the other thing? She’s consistent. There are many bands and well-known artists that seem to go through a musical drought, a period of years without a release or a successful album. However, Swift has seemed to avoid this drought and has continued to produce hit albums regularly since 2006. Let’s just say: the woman has won a LOT of hardware.

She’s also making a LOT of money. According to research, “concertgoers are spending about $1,300 per show, with 71 percent saying it was worth it because the experience was so rewarding and 91 percent saying they’d go again.” Plus-- it’s not just Swift that’s benefitting. Forbes reports that local economies in the cities hosting the Eras tour stand to make a significant amount of extra money in tourism-- like $4.6 billion in the U.S. alone. In addition to the lucrative tickets, ‘swifties’ are splurging on various other aspects, such as clothing, hotel accommodations, travel arrangements, and meals in different cities. Talk about leaving a LASTING impact.

Plus, she’s backed up her fame with generosity and support of causes that she feels passionate about, including schools, libraries, and non-profit organizations.

With all that in mind, what’s not to love?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO SPEAKING OF RENAISSANCE, BEYONCE’S TOUR:

If we’re taking ‘Renaissance’ here, then Beyonce’s summer tour needs to have its moment as we welcome back the queen of the dance floor with Renaissance: Act 1, marking a revival of living life in a post-COVID world.

“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world,” Beyoncé explained. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous at a time when little else was moving.”

While we’re all here to listen to the sweet sounds of Queen Bey, listeners will definitely hear some others, too. Renaissance offers a history lesson in dance music by paying homage to the genre’s many forms, like “Break My Soul” celebrating vocal house music of the ‘90s with a sample of Robyn S.’s “Show Me Love”; New Orleans bounce music with help from the Queen of Bounce herself, Big Freedia; and even Beyoncé hitting the high notes of Donna Summer’s Studio 54 classic, 1976’s “I Feel Love.”

This album also serves as a musical love letter of sorts to the Queer culture which inspired it. “Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. This is a celebration for you” she said in the liner notes.

And we can’t forget the FASHION - the singer announced that she worked alongside Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing to bring the album “to life in couture.” The limited-edition

collaboration—with hammered metal breastplates, and crystal pendant bustiers meant to look like chandeliers—relate directly to the lyrics in album songs.

Aside from the couture fashion looks being born from Renaissance, a cultural phenomenon is also taking shape--on social media. “This retro-futurist extravaganza, like all modern big gigs, is intended to look good on someone’s phone so they can prove that they were there.” Kate Mossman from The New Statesman writes. As we’ve seen with other tours from major artists like Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and the 1975, Queen Bey’s fervent fan base will keep everyone up to date via socials on all of her song changes, new sparkling outfits, and surprises pulled out of her bag of tricks on the road. However, the artists herself has said that this show is about jolting people awake again-- bringing us all back to the dance floor. Maybe Beyoncé means for this album to produce more feelings than thoughts. Maybe “Renaissance” is intended to be enjoyed not in front of a computer screen, but among human bodies, in a night club.”

“I can’t help but be thrilled by the history-making aspects of this collaboration. This appears to be the first time that a Black woman has overseen the couture offering from a historic Parisian house. And those designs were created in partnership with the first Black man to ever oversee all the collections at a historic Parisian house. Let’s hope those two firsts help inspire plenty of others,” the brand’s creative director noted.

To that, we say: bravo!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THE LIVE MUSIC RE-LAUNCH OF 2023:

Bring back the MUSIC!

Concert-lovers rejoice, because it’s not just T. Swift & Beyonce’s shows coming back to life in 2023… this summer boasts 52 MAJOR events *and counting* on the entertainment scene. Front-runners in both fan excitement and ticket sales include Ed Sheeran’s ‘Mathematics Tour’, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Journey’s ‘Freedom Tour’, Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Night at a Time Tour’, Luke Combs’ “World Tour’, Lizzo’s ‘Special 2our’, Katy Perry’s ‘Play Tour’, Adele’s ‘Weekends with Adele Tour’ and like… 40 more. 2023 is the encore that EVERYONE has been waiting for!

AUDIO RULES THE DAY:

Since the pandemic, audio entertainment has played a significantly larger roles in people’s lives.

“If 2020 was a ‘cultural wake-up call,’ we’re now shaping up to a cultural rebirth,” Spotify Chief of Content and Advertising Business Officer Dawn Ostroff says. “One thing is certain: Audio is playing a major part in this rebirth.”

Just like the generations before them, both Millenials and GenZs care about what’s happening in the world… but they

aren’t turning to the 6 o’clock news to find out about it. Rather, podcasts have taken over as informants for these age groups, as 40% of Millennial’s and GenZs ranked their trust in podcasts higher than in such traditional media sources as national TV news, newspapers and radio.

An unintended plus of listening to podcasts for entertainment and information is that seven in 10 GenZs and four of five Millennial’s say that audio has helped reduce stress.

LEGEND OF ZELDA

Our own Savannah Summa, Graphic Designer II, chimes in on her experience playing the game for the first time:

“It’s uncommon for a video game to expand on the previous game by just making it bigger and grander, but Tears of the Kingdom (totk) is a special case because Breath of the Wild (botw) was the first Zelda game created in that open-world style. The player could explore the game in whichever way or order they decide, and take on missions and quests in the same manner. You could finish the whole game quickly and test your skill and speed on one straight line, or you could take your time to explore and gather armour and make you character stronger while experiencing all of the fun side quests before tackling the larger quests.

Botw was a masterpiece, and I don’t think anyone expected it to get much better than that, but with totk, we see that it was only just a stepping stone into the possibilities of totk. Players can expect layers of new maps to explore, islands in the sky and depths below the land of Hyrule, new abilities and new enemies.

The best part?

All of this comes with a surprisingly connecting story line that expands on the previous game and makes you never want to put it down.”

The Legend of Zelda action-adventure series debuted for the first time over 35 years ago in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. With over 130 million units sold worldwide since then, the iconic game started a phenomenon that has reached the gamers of today with the same level (maybe even greater?) of sensational appeal.

On May 12th, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game for the Nintendo Switch system released and sold over 10 million units worldwide, becoming the fastest-selling game in the history of the Legend of Zelda series. With over 4 million sold in the Americas, The Legend of Zelda: TOTK is also the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch game, and the fastest-selling Nintendo game for any system in that territory.

Barbie is BACK!

“WANNA PLAY BARBIES?”

We bet some of you have said those words (or at least have heard them!) before. Back in 1959, the unique doll with silky blonde hair and tons of fun accessories first came to life—err, plastic. The children’s toy had its hay-day in the mid 1990’s, with the release of Mattel’s ‘Totally Hair Barbie’. After interest started to wane at the turn of the century, many newer versions of the same concept seemed to take over the toy scene including Bratz Dolls, American Girl Dolls and Polly Pockets. And that was the end of that. Or, was it? A-list actors Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Will Ferrell and Helen Mirren are bring BARBIE back… to the silver screen, that is. For doll maker Mattel, the film stands to raise up a 78-year-old brand with wistful millennial’s and Gen Xers, and encourage sales of other Barbiebranded products. Their big plan might not be too far off from reality. We hear that the world has

literally run out of pink paint due to demand sparked by this movie, and we’ve seen brands like Hollister adorning their window model in BARBIE graphic tees. Brands like Ruggable are encouraging customers to build their own ‘dreamhouse’ with a Barbie collab featuring Barbie-pink ombre rugs. And who knows-- it may well plant a seed with movie viewers that leads to the revamp of Barbie and her Dreamhouse being purchased as nostalgic gifts for their kids or young relatives.

The brand believes that playing into the nostalgia of childhood bliss in a renewed, modernized light might be just what it needs in today’s competitive marketplace.

Leading up to the film’s release this summer, months of social media teasers and commentary have surely created a buzz that leaves the movie with big shoes to fill. Barbie fans like Melissa Ried, 35, and her friends have *already* made plans to dress up as the Barbies of their youth — awash in Barbie Pink, obviously — and hit the theater together, a plan echoed widely on social media.

Reading is ‘In’ Like Never Before

Some might believe that books have become irrelevant in today’s digital age.

Please enter: Reese Witherspoon. Her book club, with new monthly selects of ‘must reads’, has become a phenomenon that pulls in first-time readers like never before, while also giving way to a new, viral TikTok theme: #BookTok. Folks who might have scoffed when asked ‘whatchya’ reading?’ before are now voluntarily standing in lines at Barnes & Noble’s across the country to pick up their 5th Colleen Hoover paperback, or anxiously awaiting their favorite recent read to make its way to a Netflix or Amazon Prime series. “As of March 2022, the BookTok hashtag has 42 billion views, and these views only seem to be growing as readers rush to join this thriving community.”

The Book Club started on Instagram, where Reese would often create social media posts about books she loved. As someone who had always gravitated toward female writers and female protagonists, Reese also decided to start a production company that aimed to construct more projects which provided roles for women. Her success has been pretty amazing, to which she (probably) responds: ‘What? Like it’s hard?”

Re-brand Here, Re-brand There

Nothing says renewal and rebirth quite like shifting the entirety of your brand presence.

Powerhouse brands Nickelodeon, Pepsi and 7-Eleven Slushies underwent a re-brand recently, all citing a return to heritage and history as guiding principles for their new designs.

READ

Fans echoed the sentiment on Twitter with tweets such as: ‘okay, Nickelodeon definitely struck a nostalgia cord with that one ”

It’s the channel’s first new look in 14 years, but it will feel familiar to many, bringing back its orange ‘splat’ but softer, more rounded and textured for a warm modern look. It’s close enough to the 1980s design to be immediately recognizable while still feeling fresh.

In a similar manner, Pepsi recently released a new brand design which showcases a bold typeface, signature pulse and an updated color palette, including the color black highlighting the brand’s commitment to Pepsi Zero Sugar. It’s also their first update in 14 years.

“We designed the new visual identity to connect future generations with our brand’s heritage, transcending everything we know and love about the brand to create something current and undeniably Pepsi,” PepsiCo chief design officer Mauro Porcini said.

simultaneously remaining iconic and timeless.

Just as the historical leaders of the Renaissance period before them, Pepsi has inspired its drinkers to question, rethink, and take a hard look at how to enhance the ideas of the past to make something new that fits the ‘now.’ In an increasingly digital world, the revitalized and distinct design introduces movement and animation into the visual system, unlocking more flexibility for Pepsi to move between physical and digital spaces, from retail shelves to the metaverse. It also allows for more seamless and creative collaboration with partners and retailers and more versatility to engage fans in the places they shop, dine, work and play.

The logo and visual identity thoughtfully borrow equity from its 125-year history and incorporates

An old, gooey friend is returning to screens as Nickelodeon recently announced their new brand campaign and identity that re-imagines their classic Splat logo with a modern feel.

“The SPLAT is back! And so is the irreverent and unexpected humor that created a generation of “Nick Kids” - including myself!”, says executive vice president of global kids and family marketing Sabrina Caluori.

Throughout its storied history, Pepsi has maintained a bold challenger mindset and a strong link to pop culture. From the Pepsi Challenge and re-imagining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, to creating some of the most iconic ads of all time with the world’s most renowned musicians and actors, Pepsi has always been a staple of striking the perfect balance of both pushing culture forward and evolving, while

modern elements to create a look that is unapologetically current and undeniably Pepsi. For the 7-Eleven staple drink, the timing of a re-brand just felt right. Founded in 1966, customers have been drinking Slurpees for close to six decades. With more competition than even before (cough-cough ;)) in the c-store space, the brand is taking the wraps off a NEW and IMPROVED Slurpee packaging.

To maintain the nostalgia and brand recognition of a product that many love, some aspects will stay the same. Consumers can expect a similar cup of shaved ice, available in familiar amusing and occasionally inexplicable flavors, including Blue Blunder, Fulla Bulla and Awa Awa Ukulele. However, the product itself sports a new look and vibe.

“Anything Flows,” 7-Eleven’s new campaign created by Dentsu accompanying the drink’s revamp, aims to furnish some of those reasons why folks pick a Slurpee over hundreds of other convenience store drink choices.

But, if it ain’t broke…

While it may seem like a refresh is the right move for all brands and design pre-dating the 2000’s, New Yorkers have a bone to pick with one very specific regeneration: I <3 NY.

Celebrated graphic designer Milton Glaser created the original “I <3 NY” logo for the city for free, first drafting it with red crayon on the back of a scrap of paper (some say a napkin, others say an envelope) while riding in the back of a cab. It was used as part of a campaign to attract tourists to New York State during an economic downturn.

Nearly 50 years after the original logo debuted, officials are rolling out an updated take on the iconic design. But many locals—and design professionals—are less than thrilled.

“I can’t imagine any person with a background in graphic design made that thing without a committee of bland politicians sanding away its edges until they felt safe enough to unveil that to the public,” Tag Hartman-Simkins, the Brooklynbased director of design at Futurism.com, said. Other commentary goes so far as to say: “The original looks like the voice of a city. The new one looks like the voice of an investment bank or possibly a healthcare provider.”

The purpose of the rebrand from ‘I<3 NYC’ to ‘We <3 NYC’ (complete with new font and design lockup), was created as an ode to the city overcoming the darkest days of the pandemic and to honor the selfless work of everyday New Yorkers.

While many New Yorkers agree that the sentiment is honorable, they don’t believe that the application of the new design work does the iconic original the justice it deserves. As artist Ryan McGinness said, “It ain’t broke, so don’t fix it. Instead, let’s build upon it.”

5.23.23 ARNOLD PALMER SMOOTHIES

Get all the things you love about the classic golf-course drink in a smoothie from Sheetz! Tee-time just got a bit more refreshing with these featured drinks including the Arnold Palmer Smoothie and our Passionfruit, Dragonfruit, and Strawberry Refreshers.

5.23.23 6/$6 TACOS

Why get your typical three taco set when you could get SIX for only $6! And Why the Sheetz Not get them ALL for YOURSELF?

SHEETZ SHOP MERCH REFRESH

NEW 16OZ COFFEE MUG DESIGNS

2023 SHEETZ FOR THE KIDS GOLF OUTING

6.28.23 PREMIUM APPZ SAMPLER

Don’t get us wrong, we know our regular appz are AMAZING, but we’ve up’d our game! You don’t even need a ticket to this VIP...exclusive...Premi-YUM order.

Glam up and behold the mouth-watering goodness of our new Premium Appz Sampler. They’re so tasty that you’ll want to stop here with your date after a fancy night out to indulge in these deep-fried goodies!

6.28.23 SH’MOREZ MILKSHAKE

We all know that the outdoors can be MESSY! And in the summer it’s almost impossible to avoid those nagging bugs and smell of campfire smoke that lingers on your clothes. But now, you can celebrate the classic campfire treat in a delicious and playful way!

Inspired by the flavors and textures of s’mores, this rich and creamy shake is packed with Hershey’s chocolate, graham crackers and toasted marshmallow flavor. Allowing you to ‘stay in’ and enjoy all the s’mores flavors without the hassle.

BUY FAVES GET FUEL CAMPAIGN

SHEETZ FOR THE KIDZ RECAP VIDEO

SHEETZ SHOP FASHION SHOW

APRIL FOOLS VIDEO

SOCIAL CONTENT

VANILLA COCONUT COFFEE MAC & CHEESE SOCIAL

TITLE: TENURE: DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE IN 3 SENTENCES:

> 2 Years

As a Graphic Designer, I provide visual solutions and support for the Sheetz brand at all levels of the company. Day-to-day, this translates to brainstorming, planning, prepping and executing visual campaigns that make people remember Sheetz and create life-long loyalty with the brand. It’s my mission to create fun, real and relatable quality visuals to show why Sheetz is the best… (because it very OBVIOUSLY is!)

PROJECT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF:

The project that I’m most proud of is probably the 2022 Sheetz for the Kidz Annual Report. This was a larger project that really allowed me to flex my creative muscles and put to use some playful typography styles as well as whimsical illustrative shapes and patterns. I enjoyed working closely with Brittany Funcheon in order to create a report that met her goals and brought to life a year’s worth of reporting in a fun easy-to-read deliverable.

HOBBIES & INTEREST: FUN FACT:

My hobbies and interest include cooking, writing poetry, watching Law & Order SVU, getting a cup of coffee with friends and of course, running – surprising; I know.

I’m a graphic designer who is also color-blind. Yep, go ahead and think on that one!

IF YOU WERE AN M•T•O, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

If I were an M•T•O I’d be my go-to order of something sweet and spicy – an order of Cinnapockets with Cream Cheese icing and an order of Hottzarella Stickz. Not only do these two snacks cure the cravingz of my sweet tooth and the want for some heat; but also relate to me being nice, caring person with a touch of a spicy, sarcastic sense of humor.

SH’PECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:

On April 17, 2023 I ran at the 127th Boston Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:33:39 (5:50 average per mile). This was a race I had been training for since November of 2022 and to finally cross the finish line at such a historic event is something I’ll never forget. For the entire 26.2 miles, the streets of all eight cities and towns were filled with people from all over the world cheering for the 30,000 runners taking on the marathon. The support and love from family, friends and even strangers is so overwhelming, it carries you the entire way to the finish.