Melissa Diskin

A fun Vera Wang piece

2012-05-26T22:37:18Z

Writing for Vera Wang has kicked up this spring; this is an especially fun piece I wrote for a newsletter partnership with Dyson. I love it -- partly because I avoided that "I'm married to my cleaning products" vibe that so many cleaning supply ads give off! Read on for more of "Cleanup in Aisle 1"...

]]> Cleanup in Aisle 1…

Tuxes and gowns have it easy – a splash of champagne, a stray crumb, and off to the cleaners they go. But what about the floors in your parents’ house, where you ate your wedding breakfast with one hand while applying mascara with the other? Or the carpet at your place, where wedding gifts – along with reams of packing material and odd bits of paper – are looking for a little attention?

Dyson and your BFF both know this: a bridesmaid will hold your train, help you navigate church steps, and dance with your little brother -- but cleaning up after a dropped shimmery eye shadow, a ground-in slice of wedding cake, or (heaven forbid) an overeager Labrador retriever “flower dog” goes beyond the call of duty.

Enter your new maid of honor: the DC41 Animal, a Dyson Ball™upright vacuum with a low center of gravity for super stability. With key components located inside the ball, it turns on a dime and maneuvers easily around furniture or other obstacles, meaning you can re-live your wedding dance while removing crumbs from your nice new rugs.

The DC41 Animal has the latest Radial Root Cyclone™ technology, generating strongest suction power at the cleaner head to powerfully eliminate dust, dirt and pet hair from your home. (Stray flower petals and after-party grime? Gone in a flash. Talkative in-laws bearing white elephant gifts? Sorry, you’re on your own.)

Use the Mini turbine head to clean pet hair and stubborn dirt from upholstery, stairs and the car. (What do we call the man who does this before the reception getaway? A keeper.) The Lifetime washable filter traps microscopic allergens -- but sadly not your prankster brother or his stash of “just married” shaving cream. That’s what your bridesmaids are for.

Getting social media right

2011-11-28T12:28:33Z

Social media writing. Tweeter for hire. The brain behind your FaceBooking. What's the job title for that -- Social mediator? Hmm... it sounds like someone who does introductions at parties. But really all this means is that I am now writing social media for third parties for pay. I can't talk about my current fabulous job much, but it's focused on the luxury market and has been a blast to write.
Remember: social media writing isn't just a matter of throwing a bullet point or sale alert at your audience. The tone has to be spot-on. Details need to be crafted, not tossed into the media stream. How do you condense an 8-bullet alert into a 140-character tweet? How do you create a two-way relationship with your audience? How do you get it right? Email me, for starters: melissadiskin@gmail.com

New client: Nine West!

2011-09-28T14:03:06Z

Mama's got a brand new bag (er...shoe): I'm now copywriting for Nine West! Their copy has gotten edgier over the last year so it's no cakewalk, but it's right up my alley.

IA: my Bruce Wayne existence

2011-05-27T02:48:31Z

So before I had babies and started writing I was an information architect. IA isn't a fancy synonym for rockin' writer -- it's a discipline at the intersection of user experience, web design, and information structuring. If you're saying "arrrgh!!!!" when you're making your way through a site or online checkout process, then Praise the Lord -- you have just justified my existence (professionally speaking).
Good IA undergirds everything on a site, from search functions to browsing findability to when and where you encounter the right buttons with the right labels that help you get your task done. That's just the tip of the iceberg, but the typical IA elevator speech is "I restructure your site to help you make a lot more money, and I help reduce calls to your call center."
I do this in bits and pieces sometimes. For example, right now I'm redesigning a checkout process for a huge auto parts store online. I'm also mocking up wireframes for their content management system and redesigning their parts finder. Of course, everything I do is part of a long chain of design, from strategic info planning through to graphic design and technical development.
It's fun to juxtapose my IA skills with the writing I do. (Auto parts guys, have a seat next to Vera Wang and my beauty blogging!)

Newish client: Spanx!

2011-05-13T14:16:13Z

This client work took place a few months ago -- I wrote some big spreads for Spanx's 10th anniversary catalog, from a founder's history to various employee experiences over the years. Lovely people, prompt payment, and a week of interviewing Sara Blakely and her employees about 10 years of Spanx hose and hijinx. I loved my headline that got away, about the launch of Man Spanx: "Bros before Hose".... it ended up edited out but was a fun laugh til final proof.

New client: Vera Wang!

2011-03-26T14:39:53Z

I'm happy to announce a new writing client: Vera Wang! Examples of my work to follow soon, of course.
It's been such a long year (or more). After having 3 kids in four years and spending 3 years straight with one child with major sleep issues that are finally being ironed out, it's incredibly fun to be back in the writing saddle and engaging with a fun, fabulous client.

Working, working, working

2010-03-13T19:27:18Z

I'm still here and writing! Just incredibly busy. I've been copywriting for Kelloggs UK on the Special K See if You Can Get Slimmer campaign (we have this here, too-- you know it in the US as the Special K Challenge). Emails, contests, site copy, you name it. In short: I'm still here, still available for work. Shoot me an email: melissadiskin@gmail.com

Daily Candy: Paw Prints

2009-07-28T12:45:38Z

You say you can't rest til you've seen hamsters in American Gothic dress? Searching for the perfect gift for your animal-loving friend? Check out these cute animal prints by Cindy Jerrell.

Read my piece at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.

]]> July 27, 2009

Paw Prints

Custom Pet Portraits by Cindy Jerrell

The fart machine for your brother just plain stank. But it was the Lord of the Rings sword letter opener for your niece that sealed your rep as the worst gift giver.

Ever.

Ditch the SkyMall catalog and earn points with custom pet portraits by Cindy Jerrell.

The Athens-based graphic artist combines a love of visuals and fascination with pet personalities (she owns three dogs and a passel of cats) into one spectacular art form: hilarious portraits that go far (far!) beyond the dogs-playing-poker meme.

Visualize your BFF’s labradoodle as an old-timey newsboy? Chuckle to thoughts of your nephew’s gerbil as a trophy-winnin’ fool? (C’mon. Who hasn’t?!) All Jerrell needs is a hi-res photo and a short list of the animal’s quirks. A few days later, you’ve got a unique, frame-worthy gift.

Perfect for getting out of the doghouse.

For more information, e-mail wonderbarn@bellsouth.net. To see samples, go to flickr.com.

Daily Candy: Blue's Clues

2009-06-22T11:08:48Z

If you haven't trekked out to Whippoorwill Hollow Farm lately, make the trip! It's prime blueberry-picking time. Read my piece (a little different from my usual) at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.]]> June 22, 2009

Blue's Clues

Whippoorwill Hollow Farm Blueberry Picking

Holmes: Watson, I detect a curious indigo stain upon your shirt.

Watson: Yes, I’ve discovered an amazing spot called Whippoorwill Hollow Farm. Fresh air, blueberries ripe for the picking, farm animals to pet, and organic summer produce for sale.

H: I wish you’d leave the discoveries to me, Watson. But go on. What else did you find?

W: That light clothes and a little mosquito repellent would make my next berry-seeking excursion all the sweeter. After all, there were pheasant eggs to be purchased and wildflowers to be picked, and — ahem —I’ve had fresh blueberry pancakes every day this week.

H: By George, I believe I’ve solved the mystery.

W: Is it me, in the library, with a candlestick?

H: No, you fool! Both of us, at the farm, with a pail and cash or check. We can finally put the case of what to do when we weary of city life to rest.

Whippoorwill Hollow Farm, 3905 Highway 138, Covington (678-625-3272 or whippoorwillhollowfarm.com).

Daily Candy: Float Your Boat

2009-06-17T21:58:55Z

Float is a blissful spa experience with a new take on massage and other beauty-wellness treatments -- not as luxuries but as affordable treats that can fit into any budget. Read the piece at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.]]> April 6, 2009

Float Your Boat

Float Spa

Thanks to the current financial slump, the only pampering you’re doing involves the tub and a bottle of Calgon.

But now Float is here to take you away. The new Inman Park oasis is committed to rubbing you down without draining your bank account.

Address your complexion with a two-hour corrective session, tailored to clearing up issues like acne and fine lines for just $78. Only got time for a quickie? Opt for the half-hour mini facial (just $21). Trained therapists work from a customized massage menu that includes prenatal, deep-tissue, and couple’s sessions, which run a mere $39 an hour (per person).

Super spendthrifts can save even more by joining the monthly membership program or opting for a spa party, which gets you a group rate.

Suffice to say, this joint is a hot deal.

Float, 240 North Highland Avenue, suite f, Inman Park (404-228-4423 or floatforvalue.com).

Daily Candy: Smell Ya Later

2009-04-01T11:50:27Z

At last! I wrote this piece on a blanket that is poot-retardant ages ago and Daily Candy was just waiting for them to go into production to publish it. Read it at Daily Candy or view it after the jump. ]]> April 1, 2009 Smell Ya Later Better Marriage Blanket

Your relationship of late: fresh, fruity, and (sadly) rooty-tooty.

Your partner’s nocturnal emissions have you worried that the honeymoon is over. And great meals just keep amounting to a hill of beans.

Bring back the love with the Better Marriage Blanket.

The BMB’s activated carbon fabric layer lessens the blow of late-night bombings using technology that originated from government-issue chemical warfare suits. In other words, your Aunt Agnes’s bean-and-sausage soup has finally met its match.

Plus, it’s washable, dryable, and even flame retardant — for those nights when cabbage is on the menu.

Put one on the guest room bed and tell your family and friends. You may feel silly tooting your horn over a blanket, but don’t worry.

No one gives a poot about that.

Daily Candy: PS, I Love You

2009-02-10T11:26:09Z

Here's my latest Daily C -- cute little notes from Heidi Geldhauser that you can leave for your sweetie (or anyone) to find. Read it at Daily Candy or view it after the jump.]]> February 10, 2009 P.S. I Love You Heidi Geldhauser’s I Love You Card Campaign

Your fifth-grade teacher. The hot neighbor who let you in when you locked yourself out. (Twice.) Yo mama.

And all you have for them is something you picked up in the birthday/friend aisle? Pathetic.

Give them their due with notelettes from I Love You Cards. Local photographer and self-proclaimed social experimenter Heidi Geldhauser started leaving small, sweet missives anonymously for anyone to find and pass along. (How very Amelie.)

Sign up to receive an envelope containing 25 “i love you” cards. (She takes requests for other languages, too.) Then put them on windshields. Tuck them into doorways. Make a surly waitress smile. Geldhauser asks only that you post pics of your efforts on her site.

Life’s a gamble, but these cards are guaranteed to please.

So hold ’em. Fold ’em. And most certainly show them.

Available online at iloveyoucards.org.

Daily Candy: The Right to Bare Arms

2008-11-11T22:05:52Z

Tell me these running sleeves aren't the coolest. They even look good off the track. Read more after the jump. November 11, 2008 The Right to Bare Arms Moeben Running Sleeves Fitness boot camp finds you at 6 a.m. lying in cold, wet grass. Freezing your ass off. Twenty minutes of running suicides and bear crawls and you’re surprisingly toasty. Unfortunately, shedding your pants is for booty camp. (Another pursuit entirely.) Good thing you wore your Moeben running sleeves. Designed by ultramarathoner Shannon Farar-Griefer to regulate temperature during long runs, the easy-on, easy-off tubes offer UV protection and are super soft, with perky designs and colors that dress up alma mater tees and sleek tanks alike. Pick a camo pattern to buff up your workouts or leopard or zebra print to sass up a hot, sweaty date with the pavement. They’re just as cute worn off the field as on. And so much tougher than wearing your heart on your sleeve. Available at The Broadwell Cottage, 765 Mid Broadwell Road, Milton (770-777-0444).

Daily Candy: Tacos, Macked

2008-10-17T17:38:39Z

Another recent Daily Candy piece, on Shaun Doty's new gig as consulting chef of The Original El Taco. October 17, 2008 Tacos, Macked The Original El Taco Opens Yes, we know. Money and gas are super tight. But that’s no reason to haunt the 99-cent menu of every Tom, Dick, and Wendy’s within driving distance. Degrease a wrapper and grab a pen. The Original El Taco opens Tuesday. The new taqueria in VA-HI/Morningside does modern interpretations of Tex-Mex dishes. Traditionalists will go for chili cheese enchiladas; creative cravers will stay for pork belly tacos and Mexican Coke floats. Exec chef/partner Shaun Doty’s take? Effortless and fun. The proof: an open salsa bar; SCAD-commissioned murals of lucha libre figures, Frida K., and tacos; a roulette wheel for win-a-drink contests. The casual setting (did we mention the margarita machine?) means you won’t need fancy threads to make a night of it. And you know what that gives you. Another day, another dollar. The Original El Taco, 1186 North Highland Avenue, Morningside (404-873-4656).

Daily Candy: Charleston in Charge

2008-09-27T12:22:13Z

I went to Charleston on a babymoon and had a blast (well, as much as you can blast when you're 5 months pregnant).... click further in to read my piece here, or go straight to Daily Candy Travel to read it there.

]]> Charleston in Charge

DailyCandy Goes to Charleston

Drop the hoop skirt and step away from the juleps. With a booming food scene and a subtropical climate that invites four-season travel, Charleston makes a Southern drawl seem cosmopolitan, from the shaggy East Bay to the snooty Battery.

Shrimp and Grits
It’s not food; it’s an icon. At Slightly North of Broad (192 East Bay St.; 843-723-3424), they make theirs with local grits and house-made sausage. Or get your usual a.m. suspects with grits on the side at Hominy Grill (207 Rutledge Ave.; 843-937-0930).

A View with a Room
You’re in the thick of it at the posh Market Pavilion Hotel (225 East Bay St.; 843-723-0500) at the corner of Market and East Bay. Head to the rooftop bar for great views of the water and Old Market. For quieter charm, stay at The Battery Carriage House Inn (20 S. Battery St.; 843-727-3100) on the exclusive residential tip of the Battery.

Gadabout Walkabout
The grid layout, gardens, and architecture make this a walker’s paradise, but the heat and humidity can get sweaty. Skip the pricey carriages and call a rickshaw (843-723-5685), the ideal late-night tippler’s taxi.

Get Out
Drive or jog over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island. Rent a bike and get up close with birds, fish, and, if you’re lucky, dolphins in the marshlands. Follow the locals to Shem Creek to scarf down just-caught seafood at The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene (106 Haddrell St., Mount Pleasant; 843-884-0052).

Spendy Thrifty
Hit King Street for antiques (sourced from local mansions) at Palmer Davis Antiques (436 King St.; 843-579-2888). Miostile (346 King St.; 843-722-7073) has well-edited designer clothes and cute kids’ jammies. At open-air Old City Market (Market St., b/t Meeting & East Bay Sts.), you can score everything from estate silver and wooden toys to sweetgrass baskets woven while you wait.

Americanarama
You’re in one of the older American ports, so you may as well get your history on. Hop a ferry to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War started with a bang. Live out Gone with the Wind fantasies at Middleton Place (4300 Ashley River Rd.; 843-556-6020), where 65 acres of beautiful gardens surround a 1740s house. The plantation’s restaurant serves Hoppin’ John, she-crab soup, and other low-country fare from recipes developed by renowned chef Edna Lewis. Or grab a cuppa at Charleston Tea Plantation (6617 Maybank Hwy., Wadmalaw Island; 843-559-0383), the only tea plantation in the U.S. Tea is harvested every eighteen days during spring, summer, and fall — and you can taste and buy the freshly harvested teas on site.

And about those tea leaves: We predict a great time.