Pregaming

Tis the season for Kobe VII activations. Ellen on the flat screen of the Nike Suite @ Staples and the Lakers warming up.

My relevance?
Babysit 10 swag bags.

Ahh product demands...

I Died...but then I took a U-Turn

The neon leaves distract you from your impending doom.
The distracted me at least and I blacked out again only to wake up to a body bag of Nike. Crap.





Oh yeah so I went to Portland this weekend...but first maybe I should back up a month or so.
NWM!
Nike Women's Marathon was last month in October but I worked on the back end a few weeks leading up to race day. Nike Sportswear put it's stamp on the amazing event promoting the "cool look of running" with their activation, Run This Town. 8 girls were chosen to be in the Runway Crew (and that was the point I wanted to quit and enter the contest...lucky, lucky girls) based on their submitted photos of their Nike style. These girls got hooked up with some of the hottest product across Sportswear, Training, and Running categories before their ultra-VIP experience even began.

BEFORE this though, I got a true feel for the life of an agency. They actually don't sprinkle a little swoosh dust before big events and watch it all come to life. Go figure.
I had the super fun task of managing all the product going into this activation. Basically a dream come true for me, I almost made snow angels in all the boxes of beautiful Holiday product that was brought in for a runway show and for the Runway Crew's experience.
A couple sleepless weeks later I found myself back in the city I fell in love with at the same event that triggered this unreal Nike ride for me exactly one year ago. This time around though I stepped up my game from gait analysis and boxed myself into a room at The Handlery Hotel. I literally slept with boxes of product in the bed with me...the one night I slept that is. I've never been so absorbed in a project and so "on" at such a crazyfrusturatingexciting level. The night before the girl's arrived at their 3 story palace in The Mission District, I finished up loose ends on their Welcome Packages which translated into a 33 hour day and a constant flow of coffee. Death.
Probably the sweetest death anyone ever died though as I got to work alongside the amazing stylist (part of the Runway Crew's entourage...photog, bloggers, and chef close behind) on the official photoshoot.
The rest of the week unfolded into the big runway show that was a crazy beautiful mess that was "Run The Runway".

Once work was over I took a quick breath, ate a full meal, and woke up to run my very first half marathon. I woke up like WHY did I sign up for this...but all 13 miles turned out to be an incredible experience I'm so glad I didn't miss (and there were many moments through the week I thought I'd never even survive to see race day). I ran with my first four miles with my Nike soul mate Tatiana and took on the monsterous hills with my cute new Lunarglides. So many moments I was tempted to stop and walk and my knees actually told me many times to do just that but the amount of women around me pushing through the same pains didn't allow me to actually entertain those thoughts. Aside from the sheer "girl power" (is it still cool to say that?), the inspiring momentos on race shirts and sideline posters kept me going. I had my own reason for running (aside from the Tiffany's box waiting for me at the finish) that ran along with me. My grandpa died in 2003 from Lukemia so he was integrated onto my race day shirt with one of his favorite verses along with the blue ribbon tied to my wrist which is my grandma's favorite color. With the struggles he endured, my 13.1 was absolutely nothing.

Post race I fell in love with 3 firefighters and proceeded to down 5 plates of VIP tent breakfast...probably had no business being there but what're ya gonna do :)

Since the marathon life has slowed a bit, Montalban events have been few and far in between but I did make my debut to a few hundred Filipino grandmas and grandpas waiting in line for the Pacquiao fight...still waiting for my check on that guest appearance...

I spent this past weekend in Portland visiting my favorite Nike family and hopefully opening some huge doors to a very promising position. Portland is exactly what everyone pumps it up to be...incredibly cold and dreary. Aside from that though, it's gorgeous. Gorgeous, inviting, and without 1 am LA traffic nonsense. I have a feeling of peace there...a calm that goes hand in hand with a deep hunger and motivation to work harder on the palace that is the Nike Campus. So many put the environment down and warn me to really think twice before I sign up for that "type of lifestyle". "That type of life style", I've concluded, is in less words meaningful work. Meaningful work in a city that is actually human and not self-seeking or pretentious or angry or "in the studio" <----all = LA if you weren't following...
I love the neon trees, I love the funky antique shops, and I love that I can compost my banana peel at any given public establishment.

Nike World Headquarters

Take me away P-Town! Maybe not forever, but I'd love to come hang for a bit :)

The Knee Bone is Connected to the Hurt Bone

I ran 14 miles on Sunday.
Double digits baby!
Never did I ever (ever never ever never) think I could do such a stupid, stupid thing. I didn't think my mind or body was capable of it.
And I ran all 14! On accident no less. The goal was 13.1 and the amazing Phyllis I made it a goal to hang tight with the last 2 miles had a GPS watch that was about a mile slow. At that point it hurt just as much to stop as it did to keep going so I'm grateful for the extra mile.
After maneuvering through the Venice beach bum slumber party we finished up near the Santa Monica pier and then back to Marina Del Rey where I proceeded to help myself to every single breakfast food available at the Souplantation spread. Twice.
The beauty of struggling through 14 miles is the 1500 calories you burn. I don't even mind that my knees feel like they're being shanked with a crude weapon every time I take a step. That cinnamon roll was beyond worth it :)

I wish I could have crawled into bed after that mileage and food overload but it was off to the Montalban for an EKIN soccer university. Of course the girl with busted knees and no medical insurance was the one who had to climb a ladder 47 times (I counted) to change the theater marquee TWICE and trek 5 flights of stairs numerous times to the rooftop futsal court. Of course!
The university was pretty neat though and the nighttime soccer session was not a bad way to get paid.
Ladies and gents, The Ricardo Montalban theater rooftop:

The Monty is taking a little 3 week nap while John Leguizamo performs his comedy "Ghetto Clown". In the mean time I will be working on a product project for Nike Sportswear's activation at Nike Women's Marathon. SO excited for this! Last year I was just the event staff trying to make a few extra bucks for my CalTrain ticket, unaware of the Nike flood that was coming my way. This year I got an e-mail from the event company On Board Entertainment to join their staff again and with an appreciative and humble smile I was able to respond with a "Sorry, I'll be working alongside Nike this year."
HA! How rad...AND I'm running! I'll be putting in some work in SF leading up to the race as a stylist and managing product for the Run The Runway contest that I wish I could enter...

Great Scott!

Yesterday we brought the future back in out "It's About Time" themed event at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood. Nike finally released the Nike Air Mag shoe from the Back to the Future II film and everyone in the shoe scene lost their minds.
Like, lost them. 34,000 dollars lost them. That was how much our pair at the Montalban was auctioned off for along with commemorative ceramic Air Mags which were basically a steal at $88 a piece.

Cray.

Last night's event was the big release (read:HUGEENORMOUSDON'TTELLASOULORWEWILLFINDYOU release) where the press, VIP's and ultra VIP's (since there is a thing apparently) were invited to come enjoy passed hors de vours and drinks in our upstairs rendition of the movie's 80's Cafe. The lobby housed a floor to ceiling shoe wall where the Air Mags lived (lit up of course) and also props from the actual film. The auditorium was the stage for Arab Music, the official reveal (up through the floor of course), a talk by Tinker Hatfield. Michael J. Fox also had a video and all the proceeds of the night went to his foundation. Check out more HERE.

Earlier that day I worked at a precursor to the big event at Universal Studios where a small group of top Nike execs were given a stage tour, stopped along the route for a talk at the courthouse by Bob Gale (I was his personal golf cart chauffeur for the day. Huge deal. lol), and dine on the green screen of Universal's Stage 36. Pretty rad driving into Universal NOT as a theme park goer and Tokyo drifting the cart through the street facades of the back lot.

I helped Pete Wentz with his 88 dollar ceramic shoe purchase last night from Fall Out Boy and had no idea until someone pointed it out. Whoops.

Round two tonight!

Project: PARADOX

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

We're Busy Making Memories

swoosh on swoosh on swoosh on swoooosh

2 am commenced the road trip of dreams.

Big shout out to Ana #1 and her man the Words With Friends Ninja, MrBuys for not leaving me on the side of I-5 with the hitchhikers and road kill. I probably would have left me...especially after I locked my keys in the trunk. See what happens when you over-pack, under-sleep, AND come back with the entire Nike Employee store? Someone put me in a cage I'm out of control...but so happy :)

After a quick cup of coffee, retrieving my phone from the resturant I left it in, and being rescued by Geico's super-efficient emergency roadside assistance, I said my real goodbyes to Tatiana and Joe (the most solid road trip team you'll ever come across) and bounced back to the Bay...on the free bridge side of course. 

I was counting on this silent drive to let God give me the clear answer I have obviously been missing for my impending move. LA or Portland? Where am I supposed to be next? I've gained more insight, more opinions, and a ton more life-long memories but it truly isn't 100% clear one way or the other. 

But then again why would it be? Here's where that thing called faith is going to come into play. I know I've got to just jump in, work, and keep my goals within sight. One location or the other isn't going to make or break God's plan for me. That guy ain't going to let me and my mind mess get in the way of where I'm supposed to be...kind of makes me laugh that I feel that pressure to even make a "right" decision. I really don't have that pull in this thing called life. Silly girl...

I still don't know what I'm doing and it's basically decision day. I'm still in PJs and feeling pretty gross but that's only because of my roadtrip hangover (I'm still car sick and my knees are broken. For reals). I'm confident in the fact that the decision I end up going with will be the right one...because it has to be. And if it doesn't go anywhere I just redirect, refocus, and keep moving forward. 

Thankful today for the orchestration of this past weekend, for the new people in my life and their investment in me. 

Oh and for not getting left on the side of I-5.

Honey, I'm home!

Yesterday I visited the Nike campus. And died.

Like the good kind of died though don't worry.
I'll go ahead and put my excitement level up there with a child's anticipation for their first Disneyland trip....yeah, that good. We pulled into the unneccesarily long driveway that all places of mysterious importance have and I felt that swooshdrenaline that's been sneaking up on me since day 1 of this experience.

This is where I want to be.

Even the over-sized poster of Tiger Woods didn't phase me in the Tiger Woods building. Everything at campus just feels so official, so champion-like...they practically pump excellence through the vents.
They do, I smelled it.

I got to check out the building that houses all the marketing hot shots, pass by the soccer fields and Lance Armstrong Gym.
Afterwards I went to the Nike employee store which was an absolute disaster. I felt like I was on supermarket sweep and I had to fill my bag and arms as fast and as efficiently as I could.
And I did.
No sales tax AND stupid prices?
Dirty trickers.

Recap of the Recap

I'm back in LA for some Nike-sitting until the final stretch home.

My last day at the tent was bittersweet since I was beat and ready for some calm but also sad to not be returning to the excitement. Watched some of the finals on our big screens and handed out 32,016 more swoosh bands. 6.0 riders won the junior titles but Mr. Slater and a chick from Australia took the men's and women's titles.

Here are a few random shots from USOS!

Paul Rodriguez's Q&A and signing

6.0 rider's signed boards up for raffle

Bourez' ride...I wish they would have raffled him off instead... 

Schwayze concert...parties ALL over!

The End :)

Actually it's just the beginning...now onto these photos for the official recap!

All Good Things

I don't really remember everything that has happened the last couple of days but I know its been delicious.I also know the 6.0 tent's show featuring Marc B was a much needed break from the brand experience's looped soundtrack that now plays in my dreams nightly. 

Today is the 8th and final day of the Open! I'm beat but really sad its all coming to a close. The EKIN shuttle is taking its last trip down to the water and the naked kids are already...well, naked.

Tgif

There's a free jazz concert tonight at the Hyatt that I'm listening to through my open window as I get ready for the Red Bull party at Sutra tonight in Newport Beach. They're killin it I could stay here and jam all night! Gotta get after that elbow brushing though ;)

Today was long but fun, went down to the beach early and met some more Nike peoples...so ridiculous listening to shop talk at such a huge level. Name dropping different athletes and analyzing, brainstorming, creating up and coming activations...all while on the beach watching Kelly Slater tear it up on the water.

Paul Rodriguez (aka P-Rod, a Nike SB athlete) came into the 6.0 tent today for a Q & A and signing. He was a really cool guy, down to earth and excited about what he does. Skateboarders get a bad rap but this guy was inspiring!

I missed the Jimmy Eat World concert because I was working but did have a blast putting flag tattoos in risque places of beach goers and even got a burrito delivered to me. I could pass out right now and skip the party but...just got to keep grinding ;)


Inappropriate award of the day goes to a teenaged girl in a blue floral bikini with a hand painted advertisement for "50 cent butt grabs" slathered on her lower back. Classy.

Room Service

Welp, I'm still here. So is the pool, my big cushy bed and all 8 of my pillows. The fridge of beer on the other hand has gone missing...odd.

Here is a shot from outside the 6.0 tent yesterday. Dance contest stage left!

Nike Wasted

I can't even put this day into words...or pictures because I was way too buzzed off the Nike sauce to snap anything that really captures how fabulous this day was!

Checked myself into the Nike Villa this afternoon...unreal. First of all the Hyatt in Newport Beach is BEAUTIFUL. Really a pretty property with the World Record number of palm tree species (who knew there was more than one?). But the villa I'm getting put up in?

How's THAT for a walk of shame? I'm basically staying at the Nike party spot that's got three bedrooms, a living room, stocked kitchen, and private pool. I could barely get a full work out in at the fancy hotel gym because I was so excited. I did sprint uphill for a solid 15 minutes though so the Nike-adrenaline did me well.

 

Work hard, play hard baby!! I absolutely love these people. 

I barely had time to shower and pound a complimentary post-workout Muscle Milk before work started on the beach. Today was nuts (I feel like I say that every day). The people multiply more and more every day I don't understand how this isn't a fire hazard (Except because of this, the fireman-to-beach goer ratio is high and they ONLY hired hot ones for the positions. No complaints from me).

Made another handful of really great contacts while playing around with customization in Jack's surf shop across the street from the beach. I have a bunch of pictures but they will have to wait since I'm still bubbling with excitement and cannot operate my phone correctly at the moment.

Tonight is my old CU roommates birthday so we're hitting the town in Newport before heading back to the crackin spot that is my new home for the weekend.

I really can't handle all of this. Who needs drugs when you're high on that Nike hype? MY goodness...

Wear Sunscreen...and pants.

I fell in love on Sunday.

I got a little tap on my arm and a perfectly bronzed 4 or 5 year old stared up at me and said so sincerely, "I got this for you". He handed me a purple piece of a shell with a very business-like look on his face.

I gave him a Nike swoosh silly band. 

Even at that age they know how to make females melt! We're doomed from the start I tell ya.

On the flip side of the youth card at USO, the demographic on the sand is very young and very naked. 

Like, very naked. I don't know if these kids are just stripping as they approach the beach or if parents are really okay with their 12 year old daughter wearing cheeky bottoms and a push-up bikini top (which btw, thanks to Victoria's Secret Summer Bombshell collection, is extremely popular down here. It looks ridiculous. Put a swimsuit on not a bra). 

The PacSun tent is encouraging the skin fest by providing body paint where kids are branding themselves in all the places you can (and shouldn't) think of. 

Quickly! Who can put this in the most obscene place readyy-GO!

I wish I could snap some pics but I'm sure it's against child pornography laws. 

There is some great beach style happening amongst the Ke$sha look-alikes. The messy beach bum thing actually creates opportunity for some solid creativity. Chop up a tank, mix and match bikini, sprinkle with sand and blend well. 

EKIN dinner last night on the water in Newport. It's actually fun being back in the old hood from Concordia days. Definitely wasn't hanging at spots like this though back then:

The Cannery, Newport Beach

I had seared something-encrusted tuna, grilled asparagus and a perfectly caramelized creme brulee. 

The last one was an accident.

Back on the beach today! Peep this video...the girls are tearin it up!

FACT: You Snooze, You Lose.

I wish I could just upload my brain onto this thing because there's so much that I visually soaked in on my first day and I knew I wouldn't be able to do it justice in a text recreation. Just think sun, skin, and 14 acres of action sport-influenced interactivity...here's a scratch on the surface to the sandy excitement that is USOS!

Fusing art, action sports, and fashion all over the beach...a free-for-all art wall that changes out every day

The Nike 6.0 tent and it's stage where The Chosen

Contest experience lives and where I preform a solo

tap number every day at 1:30 and 3.

Converse built this little treasure...on the beach.

Caught up with a friend from Concordia over 2 baskets of tortilla chips (get me every time), took a punishment run, and then had a Yogurtland reward. 

Life. Is. Good.

Day 1 at the office LEGGO!

just do[ing] it...again!

I'm falling asleep on day two of another socal Nike trip. This round the US Open of Surfing is the main dish in Huntington Beach. I've been excited about this for months and my anticipation couldn't even prepare me for the Nike 6.0 takeover on Huntington beach that greeted me as I cruised up PCH.
The entire set up isn't even completed yet and it's already amazing.

Couldn't even complete training without having Nike swag shoved at me...the horror. ;)
Pay me in the swoosh, I'll be a happy girl.

Today I tagged along at the EKIN Women's Training University (why, SURE I'll get up at 5am!). It was held at The Standard hotel in downtown Los Angeles...which is hideous. Don't go it's totally confusing and there is absolutely no continuity in theme. Unless I just REALLY missed it, I was incredibly confused and bothered by the interiors and uniforms. Incredibly.

Watching the EKINs in action was both informative and exciting. Not to mention a bit overwhelming! Learned all about the new Nike Free XT Quick Fit Training shoe, new bra line, and legend pant. It sounds so underwhelming when you list it off like that but all this stuff gives me such a warm  and fuzzy feeling inside. Watch this and tell me you don't get swoosh-bumps!

The associates at the University tested out their new product in a trainer-led Nike workout and then we all had a catered lunch rooftop in the LA sunshine.

Tomorrow is a beach day with the homies and my chance to "mentally prepare" as everyone has been advising me to do for the USO madness to come. A week long surf competition, a BMX and skate exhibition on the beach, concerts by MGMT and Jimmy Eat World, shirtless boys everywhere...this is conducive to a productive work environment?! Fine by me!


Check out the USO's site or their facebook page...and get a load of this hottie:

Brazil really knows how to grow 'em and Nike 6.0 really knows how to pick 'em. I will trade all of my new Nikes for this guy. 

Well...maybe 1 or 2 pairs...

kicks before... :-x