New logo design trends for 2012

Are you ready for that new logo? Are you ready for a remake of the old, tired one? Here are a few trends for 2012.

1. Environmentally aware logos
 The environment is a large concern to most clients out there. 2011 saw a lot of green in logos and 2012 shouldn't be any different. Experts expect to see the use of a lot of earthy tones to make the companies seem more conscientious.

2. Grey is the new black
Grey seems to be replacing the harsher black as the new go to color. Grey seems to be a sleeker, way to go.

3. Buttons and bubbles
This trend has been around for a little bit, but it seems it will continue on for 2012. I am not a huge fan of the overused bubble design the likes of Facebook and Digg, but there seems to be no end to the button craze.

4. Funky shapes
Where loops were all the rage a few years back, free form shapes seem to be taking over. Better get out the shape books.

5.Triangles
Triangles are being combined, colored with shades and textures and gradients to create new shapes.

6. Fruit
Blackberry and Apple led the way and fruits of all sorts seem to make their way into logo design.

7. Animals
Lions, Tigers and Bears.. oh my. Yes indeed. So many attributes can be associated with animals, very fitting for many businesses: Powerful, aggressive, strong, domineering.

Whatever it is you fancy, don't delay, a logo is an integral part of your business. The belief that a small business doesn't need a logo is often a step in the wrong direction. If we want to succeed in the 21st century marketplace, we must make certain to stay on top, nobody can get there if they are not memorable.
Get on it guys, call me for that important piece of your business.

Just not good enough until you beat the boys???

"We showed the boys", "We wanted to beat them all year long", "The girls stuck it to the boys". Why? Isn't it counterproductive to have those kind of thoughts as the parents of a girl playing in a boy dominant sport? Why do we make the distinction ALL the time? My daughter has played "boy" sports since she was five. She never says "I am playing boy soccer or boy hockey!" "She also never says "I am playing girl lacrosse", to her playing ice hockey is playing ice hockey. Is the game faster and more challenging when she plays with the boys, yes of course, it should be, there IS a difference between boys and girls when they play the same sport. Should it be pointed out every time? No! My daughter plays on an ice hockey team, she is an ice hockey player. We never say "You are a girl ice hockey player, playing on a girl's team". Why do others feel the need to point it out? I see Facebook pages for girl's hockey teams plastered with "I cannot believe we beat the boys, we've been trying to do that all year long". Really? So all the wins beating other girl's teams were "not as important". Aren't you doing exactly what you are yelling at others NOT TO DO? What are you saying? "Yeah sure you beat the girl's teams, but that's just girls, now this is an important win because you beat the BOYS". Wake up parents, and yes mostly these are dads, your daughter plays hockey, a wins a win a win. 
Are you going to be unsatisfied with her as a hockey player because her team NEVER beat THE BOYS? Come on! Haven't we learned anything from civil rights movements, women's movements? 
Your child is playing a sport, your CHILD is playing hockey, soccer, lacrosse, your child is dancing, swimming, running. Your child's team won, they lost, they tied. Your child won against an opponent or lost against another team, player, opponent. 
That's IT!
Winning is great, it shouldn't matter if your daughter won against a boy or a girl, she won! congratulations! Losing is great too, does it matter if they learned a valuable lesson losing against "the boys" or "the girls"? 

15 things a mom needs to teach her son before he turns 18! WISE WORDS

1. The kitchen? Not just for girls. Learn to use a stove.

2. If a girl tries to change you she doesn’t really love you no matter how much you want her to.

3. Shower daily, keep your nails trim and use deodorant.

4. A dutch oven is never funny. EVER.

5. It is NEVER acceptable to break up with a girl over the phone. 

6. Understand how to use basic tools. 

7. When you ask a girl, “Is something wrong?” and she says, “No.” She’s lying.

8. The job of a stay-at-home mom is equally as hard as yours. 

9. Table manners. Use them.

10. You will never know a stronger pull than that of your friends trying to get you to participate in their wrong doing. Resisting makes you a man. Succumbing makes you a coward.

11. NEVER use your fists to solve ANY dispute. One wrong punch could take a life and it could be yours.

12. Condoms will save your life.

13. Never use the word gay in a derogatory manner. It’s ignorant. 

14. Sexting is a federal offense.

15. Real girls do not look like Victoria’s Secret models.