I love Sweet Leaf Tea

I wrote a blog post a bit ago for Sweet Leaf Tea. The opportunity was random, and I contribute it to Twitter. (I’m an activist for Twitter, and I will defend it until I die...or, until it's replaced by another SM tool.) Basically, I rambled about why I love the tea and dramatized a time when my life was less busy that it is now…

What makes Sweet Leaf Tea so great? Well, let’s talk about their values. Their number 1 value states: “We Believe in Laughter, High-Fives, and Good Music.” But, what does this have to do with tea? Everything. But that’s because Sweet Leaf has branded themselves in such a way that they aren’t solely about a product. They are about creating opportunities, experiences and good times.

Sweet Leaf Tea has loyal customers, obvious involvement in Austin activities, and perhaps most importantly, amazing employees. The Sweet Leaf Tea’m is composed of a passionate group of tea slingers that reach out to their customers (Which is how I landed the guest blog opp.)

Developing a brand is about finding something that makes you distinct, and building your product or service in a way that will differentiate you from the rest. Branding consultant Karen Post relates branding to a “brain tattoo.” It’s something you put there by choice, that you can’t necessarily remove. In the most basic sense, it’s self-identity. I think businesses go on a journey just like the rest of us – a journey searching for who they are, who they want to be, and how they want to be perceived by the rest of the world.

My first experience with Sweet Leaf goes back to Austin City Limits of 2007. Everyone was walking around with tall blue cups with sweet goodness inside, it was 105 degrees, and I had been dancing my cottontail off all day… I’ll always remember my first taste of Sweet Leaf, and it will be forever correlated with my first ACL fest experience. They’ve made themselves part of music festivals around the U.S.; they’ve established themselves as a product that emanates creativity. And for me, they have made themselves part of my college experience, whether it be ACL, grabbing a bottle in-between classes, tortuous tutor session for STATISTICS, or spiking it with Titos before the Girl Talk concert on campus. Sweet Leaf Tea has been with me along my journey of college; and though I graduate in May, I don’t plan on moving on to a new tea anytime soon.

ACL 2009

ACL 2008

As a final thought, Sweet Leaf's last value: "The greatest rewards come to those who embrace risk and follow their vision with passion."

Raise your Sweet Leaf Teas and let's make a toast to many more passionate journeys!

Check out “The Sip” for the Sweet Leaf Tea'm's “Sweet Beats and Eats” picks for this upcoming ACL Weekend. (Because I'm pretty sure music + food = happiness)

Art City Austin. Oh, and hello, again.

So, it's been awhile. It's fine. Really. I don't even want to talk about it.

All right, a little. Apparently I'm not the greatest at keeping up with posts. And luckily, I'm sure many of you haven't noticed. (Considering my blogging streak lasted a whole 3 posts.) So anyway, with summer approaching (certainly not quickly enough)...I've decided to give it a try...again. This relationship (ya know, you and me) has the potential to get sticky. I can't say I'm all that committed. So let's just start things slow...One post at a time.

A few weekends ago, I worked at Art City Austin. And it was pretty fantastic. The festival brought in 190 juried artists from all over the world. The city closed off Cesar Chavez and lined the street with booths of Austin local eats, drinks and of course, art.












There was too much to take in. Because I was "working," I only walked through the entire festival once... and it wasn't enough. I wanted to spend hours looking at the booths. I collected about 17 business cards. I'm keeping them in a safe place in case I have money some day.

I actually ended up buying two pieces, sadly just prints. (It's all my college budget can afford). One was by Greg Davis. Check out his photography. Beautiful images.

The festival also had two stages of live music. My favorite locals, The Bright Light Social Hour, ended the festival on Sunday with a fun, but sweaty, show. I really love these guys...perhaps a little too much (I shamelessly tweet them weekly). The guys played their last Austin show for the summer at Emo's the other night *because they're about to start recording their first full length album!* The local indie group combines bluesy, Spanish influenced vocals with the perfect balance of dirty jam rock and funky beats to make you dance. Their personalities are adorable, and Jack's moustache is glorious. Put on your dance pants and listen.

Pictured Below:
Curtis Roush - lead guitar
Jack O'Brien - bass (mouztache)
Jo Mirasole - drumz
A.J. Vincent - keyz




How I got involved with Art City: Well, it happened rather quickly. I emailed the contact for Art Alliance Austin because I knew the festival was within a few weeks. They referred me to their publicist, Giant Media. And 3 days later I had an interview...and one day later I had an internship. Luckily, (for me anyway) they had just fired their previous intern and needed someone as soon as possible. So that's when I picked up my second job of the semester (in addition to 4 classes). So there you have it. You can probably see why I haven't had the time to blog...or go grocery shopping...or brush my hair.

Now, had I been on top of this, I would have written about this 3 weeks ago, right when it happened. But sleep may have been more important. Which, I honestly do regret a little. It's hard to go back and write about things that happened when they aren't fresh and exciting. That was my problem as a child. I would start a diary, and I would write one entry. Then, 4 months later I'd find it and try to catch up on the past 120 days...Kind of like...now. I still have the patience (or lack there of) and commitment as my 12-year-old, buck-toothed, frizzy haired self. And I still spill my food on myself daily...so I'm not expecting much to change.

Lend a Helping Paw

Everyone must love dogs. (And some love cats...)

The Animal Rescue Site wants you to vote. (Just click on the link!) Help these organizations save animals! I did it. It literally takes 5 seconds!

Type in an animal shelter and cast your vote. Don't know of one? Well, help out Austin Pets Alive. I've volunteered with them and they do a great job. You can vote everyday!

The puppies need you. And really...who could turn down a face like Bella's?

"Get Art. Give Hope."

This past weekend, Art from the Streets hosted their annual art show. I found out about this organization, and coincidentally the art show, through my Public Relations class with Dr. Dave Junker. For the class, each group of around five students chooses a local nonprofit to work with on a semester-long project building a new Public Relations plan for our organization. My love for art landed me with Art from the Streets.

AFTS offers free art classes twice a week to the homeless community of Austin, and in addition, holds an annual art show downtown. This was their 17th show.

The talent of these individuals is utterly amazing. Most have had absolutely no professional training, and many have never picked up a paintbrush until attending their first AFTS art class.

Top Left: Richard Vasquez
Top Right: Howard Cook

Bottom Left: Debbie Owens (aka Zebra)
Bottom Right: John Monbelly

Left: Richard Vasquez
Right: Howard Cook


These artists were personable, friendly and proud. I talked to a few of the artists at the show, and they all wore huge smiles, blinked kind eyes and seemed genuinely happy to be there.


Hugh Miles with his work.

It was late in the last day of the show, and every artist was willing to negotiate their prices. Though it's obvious they enjoy making a profit, many of the artists said they didn't do it for the cash. They create art because it gives them passion. For many, AFTS has done more than give them a bit of income; it's given them a reason to believe in themselves. It's helped them start new lives, find friendships and love and restore their confidence.

I knew I wouldn't leave without a purchase. I decided on a piece by Larry Miller. This man was intuitively kind and radiated with excitement. I honestly wish I could have purchased more art, but I'm very happy with this piece. Now if only I can find the wall space in my house to hang it...

Confessions of an Artist Drama Queen

Just kidding. While maybe not a drama queen, Gabriel Contreras is an artist through and through. He has talent, and certainly doesn't fit one type of mold. You could say I'm biased; we've been friends for awhile now, but his art is unique, eye-catching and most importantly, from the soul. You don't believe me? Well, see for yourself.


He comes over for his interview, and like always, he's energetic, smiling and spilling out hilarious one-liners. His mind moves 150 mph, and I can barely keep up. The first question I ask him may be an obvious one. I ask him, why? Why be an artist?

He responds, "Well, I didn't choose to be an artist. I knew when I was really little, as soon as I started school. I would constantly make things with clay, and had my first easel as a toddler. I would get beer boxes and cans and make Transformer suits out of them. That's when I knew, and when my parents knew. Not many toddlers make beer-can Transformers."

After years of clay molding and Transformer building, Gabriel decided his senior year of high school to attend The Art Institute of Dallas after graduation. Since then, he's transferred to The Art Institute of Austin, choosing Graphic Design as his major. Gabriel's style can be described as Pop Art, Surrealism and Projected Emotion.


He says his influences range from music to video games. "Alex Pardee is my main inspiration. I also listen to 80s Hip-hop when I paint. Oh, and playing old-school video games, like Zelda, reading comic books, really anything Pop Culture and dark humor. I try not to take myself too seriously."

Gabriel's ideal job is creating album art work or t-shirt designs. I ask him what else he wants to accomplish with his art. "My art is for me, but I want everyone to see it," he says. "I want my art to do the same things Alex Pardee's art does for me. He's the one who first inspired me to start painting. I never thought I could make a living as an artist. Now I know that I can. He's overcome a past, and so have I. Maybe someday I'll share that story."

Gabriel touches on his past, and begins to describe one of his pieces. "I was extremely angry! When I get mad, I need to get it out, get it out of my head. My art is like a dream journal."

Whether it is happiness, anger or annoyance, every one of his paintings has a purpose.

"Sometimes there's not a direct meaning behind my art. Sometimes it's just a feeling or emotion."

We look through his portfolio online together. I stop him at one piece that I love.
"Somewhere in my art is me," he says. "My view of my own self image...I like to cram cute and ugly into the same piece."

"Like a Beauty and the Beast parallel?" I ask. Gabriel responds, "Exactly, finding the beauty in everything in the world."

He hurriedly clicks through a few more pieces, prompting me to ask him how he feels when he sees his own art. "I know what I was thinking when I created each piece, but I imagine people must think I'm nuts! There's no upfront theme. I want them to take away their own personal message. An artist is someone whose artwork raises more questions than it answers."

That one line, and I'm sold.

"I just want to inspire people to create," he says.

"Well, get busy," I say jokingly.

"That's what I say! You've got to get busy living or get busy dying," he says. He starts to laugh, "What does that even mean?"

I guess you can take it however you like.

To see more art by Gabriel Contreras.

I'm Melissa and I'm a junior at the wonderful University of Texas. I'm majoring in Public Relations and "minoring" in Business.

What do I want to do? Where do I want to go?
Everything. And everywhere. But Austin will always be my home.

I decided to start my own blog when I realized I actually had stuff to write about...
I am right in the middle of a unique, quirky, artistic town with much to experience. Here, I'll blog about what keeps Austin weird and maybe, just maybe, you'll understand why it's many people's favorite place on Earth.

Randoms:

• PETS: My spoiled, stubborn, smarty-pants Beagle, Bella
• SNACK: Jalapeno Chips
  
• MOVIE: Breakfast at Tiffany's & Almost Famous
  
• COLOR: Turquoise
  
• DRINK: Sweet Leaf Tea & Coffee
• HOBBY: Creating

Current Obsessions:

• MUSIC: Regina Spektor, The Avett Brothers, Santigold & Phoenix
• SHOPPING: The Buffalo Exchange
• ODDITIES: Researching and learning about starting a business
• ART SCENE: Art shows! - Art From the Streets & East Austin Studio Tour
• OTHER: Plaid & song birds
  

A little more about me...
I love Austin.



I love animals, art, falling in love with movies, live music, escaping into books, hot tea in the morning, finding new passions, always believing, the colors of autumn and creating - writing, painting, crafting, taking pictures, etc. etc. -

What to expect? Art, music and anything else in between.
Let's not keep it too structured...
Leaves a little mystery, right?



Until next time,
xoxo