Teaming up with Gensler - Chicago Design Firm and heading to Ronald McDonald House to CREATE A MEAL; CREATE AN IMPACT!  I am truly humbled and equally excited to announce my first charity engagement at the RMHC!  December 18, 2012, a creative team of talent will be joining our ingredients, hands, and hearts to make a difference in the lives of the family's staying in the Ronald McDonald House - Hyde Park.  In 2007-2008, Gensler - Chicago completed an amazing pro bono rennovation and addition to this Chicago Branch of RMHC.  Falling in love with their mission, vision, and impact on families lives, Gensler has stayed in close relationship with RMHC by volunteering team services to prepare meals for family's being served within the home.  December 18th is my first time joining this team to give back and make a difference! I am super excited and cannot wait!  I know this experience will be so rewarding, as well as so yummy - hooray, we have decided on a "Breakfast for Dinner" Menu!  We will be creating a delicious meal balanced with crunchy french toast, granola and yogurt alongside seasonal fruit, varieties of keish with meats and assorted vegetables, hash browns, and even yummy cinnamon rolls for dessert!  Think of ways you can give your time and your heart to charities such as this... There is so much need out there in the world - so join in and CREATE YOUR IMPACT!

Come one, come all... Calling all guys and gals of Chicago to join us for an evening of fun and fundraising, drinks and dancing, mingling and marveling! A night you don't want to miss! I will be volunteering at this event, so be sure to find me and say hello! Can't wait to see you all there for this fabulous event!

Event Details:

2nd Annual - Black Wednesday's Ladies Night Out - Chicago!

Plenty of Shopping, Spa Services, Live Music and Surprises! Drink Specials ALL evening and plenty of chances to see and be seen!

ALL Women "Dressed in Black" enjoy Complimentary Champagne and immediate entry!

Amie Hana is the official event Photographer
Real Russian Vodka
American Laser Skincare
It Works
SPUN Confections
Flirty Girl Fitness
Juice Plus
Silpada
Stella and Dot
and...ALL proceeds at the door for raffle tickets go to an amazing charity : FLASHES OF HOPE - flashesofhope.org

Location:  
THE JOYNT - thejoyntchicago.com
650 N. Dearborn (at Erie)
Chicago, IL  60610

*More details/directions/ticket info:
 blackwednesdayladiesnight-eorg.eventbrite.com




 



 



 



 

24 hours!  Yes, that is what each of us are given - 7 times per week, 28-31 times per month, 365 times per year (BONUS: we get 366 every 4 years, hehe)!  The question at hand is this:  What do we choose to do with our 1,440 minutes per day?!  We may have a career to tend to, a family to care for, studies to work at, or hobbies to have fun with...and these are ALL good things…  BUT, do we go beyond that?  Well, let me share with you ONE way that I do and a way that YOU can too…  Hello, I am Christie, born and raised in the Chicagoland area, and I want to share with you what gives me the greatest joy in life - giving my time, energy, and passion towards the greater good, inspired by the love of God!  Hearts, hands, and time joined together for ONE PURPOSE is one of the greatest TOOLS out there!  This is the way we can actively contribute to building the Kingdom of God…  So, fellow brothers and sisters, pick up your TOOLS and begin BUILDING!  The cause I am sharing  with you today is:  Samaritan’s Purse:  Operation Christmas Child!  
 
What is this organization you may ask?  Samaritan's Purse is a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.  Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.  I volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, and have for going on 7 years, and what we do is pack shoeboxes with essential needs, a Christmas present, and the Gospel for boys and girls around the world.  We then bring them to local churches / drop-off locations to have them shipped overseas.  Millions of little lives are touched through this amazing and inspiring shoebox ministry!  Each year that I participate, I am more and more filled with joy and love knowing I am helping children in a practical way with vital needs like clothing, shoes, toothbrush, soap, etc., and also in an eternally spiritual way with the Gospel, and even a cute little present to open to celebrate the gift of Christmas, such as a special doll or neat lego set!  I love this ministry so much!  It has truly been life-changing…  Upon bringing these shoeboxes to the drop-off locations, you see PILES upon PILES of shoeboxes stacking up, and you are immediately humbled at the thought of the BUNCHES of children’s lives that will be impacted by a square sized object created of cardboard filled with little things that you and I might take for granted each day…  Think about it – this is bound to be the highlight of their ENTIRE LIVES…  Wow, what a humbling and motivating thought!  This organization has made a name for itself throughout the world, and rightfully so- the lives that have been impacted are innumerable!  Just check out this video and have a look for yourself…  *WARNING* - I promise your heart is going to be touched and you are going to be moved to HELP!  Ok, goody goody, get  watching, hehe!  Click on this link or copy and paste it in your URL bar and enjoy:  http://player.multicastmedia.com/player.php?video_uuid=mx0601x0&v=mx0601x0&aid=1009052

Ok, so now you have watched and I JUST KNOW that you are asking, “So, Christie, how can I help?”  Ok, yay, I am so glad that you asked!  Allow me to share:  You may go to the website of Samaritan’s Purse by visiting www.samaritanspurse.org and hovering over the tab titled:  WHAT WE DO, and click on:  Operation Christmas Child…  Here you can read all about this ministry / organization, watch MORE  videos, read testimonials, and most importantly - you can find out HOW to become  involved and even get information on local churches / drop-off locations that you can bring your completed shoeboxes to (be sure to take note of the dates, as there are different drop-off / deadline dates for each location)!  I hope you are filled with much joy, overwhelming love, and many smiles as you pack up the GREATEST GIFT and send it all over the world!  Thank you for reading, and happy shoebox packing to you and yours! :)

People often copy another’s work due to design immaturity.  We don’t really know how to properly find inspiration so we default back to mimicry.  Hopefully people go through this phase quickly in their career.  If you have no originality or self-inspiration to draw from, design is the wrong industry for you!

It is natural to go down the road of self-doubt, and question our design work, especially when working under a stressful deadline or pressure to produce a masterpiece for a client.  However, we must detour ourselves off this path, for there is a difference in inspiration and imitation.

Design is subjective and knowing WHY choices are made is one of the most valuable tools you have as a designer.  Knowing WHY something works so well and is well received by it’s audience is never learned through copying – it’s learned through criticism, evaluation, experimentation, and testing… but NEVER copying!  As a designer we should always be original.  To gather inspiration is one thing, however to mock and copy and duplicate is merely SHAMEFUL!  Copying shows you don’t understand the relevance of design…  Copying DEVALUES a designer!  

It’s like cheating on a test.  When you cheat on a test you don’t know why the answer is what it is, and chances are you’re not going to take the time to find out, cause if you wanted to know you would have done it in the first place.  Copying design or copying answers to an exam are not any different.

When you create designs based upon your own ideas you know why the design works or doesn’t work.  You know the genesis of the concept and you know where and how the concept can be altered without losing its appeal.  When you own the design, you own the map to the maze, you know where you are at no matter where you are.  By owning the design you have the knowledge to better your design strategy next time.

Copying may seem simple at the time, but you really hinder your imagination in choosing this route.  Not to mention, copyright infringement laws and regulations you violate.  If conscience does not stop you, hopefully a justice system will.  It is a wise move to NOT copy another’s work or words, for it leads down a dark and foolish path.  Copying goes against the very definition of the word designer.  Rather than copying – go out there and allow yourself to be inspired, let your imagination loose.  Design is in our everyday world…set your imagination free and create it!