Wine and Gen Y

I write for The Next Great Generation, a blog written by Millennials (those born between 1982 and 2000, also known as Generation Y and Echo Boomers). It was started by some really smart people at Mullen who thought there should be a place for young adults to blog about things that are relevant to their lives. It's an educational medium that teaches other generations. Many people wonder what makes Gen Y tick, and by reading some of TNGG, people can get an insider's perspective without looking at marketing research stats.

Amidst all the technology talk people go on about, I've noticed that there's one other trend among Millennials that's slightly overlooked: wine. It's surprisingly affordable. Brands like Yellow Tail have simplified the wine buying experience so younger consumers can easily learn the difference between white and red and pick out one that suits their wants. By adding that educational element Gen Y doesn't feel so intimidated by what some consider a drink only for rich, mature consumers.

The industry has some really visually appealing labels too. Yellow Tail really has some nice colorful ones that not only look great but help differentiate which wine types are which.

I really love what The Creative Method did here with their Build Your Own labels. It's very unexpected and adds a fun, personalized touch to wine but still has a clean black and white design that's easy on the eyes.

What a great idea!

I was scrolling through Apartment Therapy as usual and found these amazing trash bags. Maybe they're not the most eco-conscious or wallet friendly choice ($16 for 1 box of only 12 bags), but I'd sure try them out just for the fun of it. I love the package design! The green and blue color blocks compliment the white boxes very nicely. The best part is that shoppers can see exactly what the bags look like full. Browsing the aisles, consumers like to know what exactly they are paying for, and these boxes convey the products effectively.

Mrs Meyers - Clean & Bright

I spent 5 hours cleaning my apartment today, mostly because I wanted to and can't function unless dust is gone and my space is tidy. Like many I have used some "natural" products that simply haven't cleaned the way those potent heavy duty products do. Mrs Meyers really does the job, though, and smells fresh. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people that doesn't really believe something is disinfected and fully clean unless you can smell the chemicals. Mrs Meyers is a great alternative if you're serious about natural products, want something gentle for baby (they have a line just for little ones), or even want your laundry to smell like geraniums. Eventually I'd like to switch the majority of my household products to Mrs Meyers.

Packaging wise this brand is on top, using pretty colors, nice spacing, and no-frills fonts that still play up the brand to make you excited about cleaning your house. The little cartoon lady is perfect too. 

*Helpful tip: Marshalls sells a limited selection of Mrs Meyers at discounted prices if you want to save a few bucks.

Sweet & Brides Boston

The new issue of Brides Boston features a place I mentioned awhile back, Sweet. Sweet just opened a new location in Harvard Square at Zero Brattle Street (between Tealuxe and the Curious George shop). I prefer the original Back Bay location but they're both adorable. I brought a Sweet 16 batch of cupcakes to Florida for my family and they loved them. They didn't rattle a bit and remained completely intact. From the subway yesterday, to my apartment, to the subway this morning, to airport, to Tampa. BEAUTIFUL AND TASTY! 

Melissa Adams on The Dieline

I can never go a day without reading TheDieline. It's constantly updated and always features fresh package design from people and companies all over. I found some really great stuff by a student named Melissa Adams. She did a line of things for Loyal Jack, a large breed dog product company. The colors and graphics work great and I want to download the fonts so bad! Choosing to use paper bags was a smart choice as well since it goes back to the clever idea of a "doggy bag". 

simple philosophy

let me start by saying that if you do not have a daily skin care regimen, please use philosophy products, they are wonderful! i have stuck with the make-up optional kit for over 2 years now. it leaves my skin super luminous and soft so i truly don't have to wear foundation. 

the microdelivery peel has vitamin c so it perks up your pores and smoothes everything out. i'm a sucker for quality products even if it demands shelling out a little extra money. philosophy is just one of those brands that i remain completely loyal to and intend on continuing so. philosophy uses a classic serif font and labels its outside packaging with optimistic thoughts. as a brand philosophy values well being and providing its customers with extensive product lines that benefit both men and women's lifestyles. 

their body & bath soaps have 3 uses: shampoo, bubble bath, and shower gel. carrot cake and fresh cream are my favorite fragrances. unlike most scented body products, though, philosophy's are unbelievably realistic. many flavors come in lip gloss tubes and body lotions too. i love how the brand created different gift sets of their inclusive soaps inspired by cocktails (margaritas, mimosas, and daiquiris), birthdays (strawberry ice cream, chocolate frosting, vanilla cake), nuptials (bouquets, bubbly, wedding cake), and other celebrations. my favorite thing about philosophy? each bottle includes a recipe for whatever the scent is. not only is my body covered in deliciousness, but i can recreate that food without consulting a bulky cookbook. philosophy  is synonymous with functionality and  happy lifestyles, so it only makes sense that their packaging does the same. 

Cupcakes!

I feel like cupcakes are that new, trendy delicacy. Many people--even me--will drop $5 on these itty-bitty treats and think nearly nothing it. Whereas a quick pastry/coffee run used to be the usual routine, I think more people, today, would rather slow down and indulge in something more dainty. Perhaps with the current economic state consumers are realizing it is important to value the little things. Modern brides-to-be have even opted to go with cupcake towers instead of traditional cakes.

Sweet on Massachusetts Avenue and Sprinkles (coming soon to Boston) all have winsome, but practical cupcake boxes. I am absolutely in love with Sweet's whole image: cardboard containers, loopy logo, even the background on the website (which also happens to be the wallpaper pattern inside the shop). I've had their cupcakes before, and they are just as tasty as they look. Sprinkles uses brown and minimal bright colors for its packages but the execution is wonderful. I particularly love the star-burst logo and individual cupcake boxes.