Snow day at Urban Influence. Thought you might enjoy these pics from outside the office. Stay warm, everyone!

The sun has been out in Seattle for a few days now and it is quite nice! The office was in much need of some vitamin D. Although it is nowhere near spring, this sun has me thinking about warm weather and all that comes with it. I can dream, right? Right. Something I've been doing lately to keep my dream alive is creating warm weather inspired sets on Svppy. Don't know what Svppy is? You should check it out! http://svpply.com/

So nice to get the blogging itch again, let's continue along with something nice and easy on the eyes–shoes. A fluff piece, maybe, but I like it anyway.

Nike once again proves why its the most innovative company in athletic equipment and sporting style with its latest announcement, the ultra-lightweight HTM Flyknit running shoes…

Here's an entry I think Mike would love. It's an iPad app for The Better Bacon Book. It's filled with 20 HD videos on how to make your own bacon, build your own smoker, find the best bacon, etc. And the list goes on—Search through 150 high-resolution photos and 31 recipes from top American and Canadian chefs.

I'm happy to say my new family addition has made his appearance at the Urban Influence studio. Our new French Bulldog, Bartlett (Barty for short, Barticus occasionaly) has now met everyone and is settling in nicely both at home and here. He's twelve weeks old, and probably the cutest thing you will ever meet.

The power of social media never ceases to amaze me. Whether it’s asking a question, searching for an answer, or just simply sharing your thoughts, you can usually always someone in the social sphere who is listening.

I’m a sucker for old beer ads from the 1960s and 1970s – this much I’ve known for a while. Until today though, I couldn't quite pinpoint why these ads resonate with me. 

On March 21, 2006, Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey sent the very first tweet. Six years later, Twitter has become a force to be reckoned with in the social sphere, hosting over 500 million users. With its 140-character limit, @-tags and hashtags, Twitter is by far my favorite social networking site for it’s brevity and simplicity to connect with users from all over the world.

I first heard about "kanban" years ago, when a former boss and agile coach, started talking about it more and more. At the time, I let it slide as a fad, but it was in the back of my mind as I went through life. It wasn't until last year, when I started looking for a replacement to my failing to do lists, reminder programs, and GTD systems, that I returned to the idea.

Alright, I’ll admit it. I’m addicted to social media. Whether on my phone or on my computer, I am constantly cruising the social Web updating not only my networks, but also listening to what my friends are saying, looking for breaking news, cool pictures, entertainment, the latest deals, and the list goes on. I spend the majority of my time on Twitter, followed by Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and the rest, so when I stumbled upon (no pun intended) this infographic a few weeks ago, the data caught my attention for a couple reasons. 

Love it or hate it, Facebook Timeline is here to stay. The new design, which officially arrived to all Facebook Pages on March 30, heightens the visual aspects of the social network giving special attention to the cover photo. The cover photo is essentially a blank canvas and is the first thing a user sees when they land on a Page. As the saying goes, first impressions matter, so it’s no surprise that brands are utilizing it to their full advantage to promote their product, their beliefs, their work, and the essence of who they are. 

Here are a few cover photos that definitely succeeded in grabbing my attention. What are your favorites? Share in the comments! 

Nike Football

Today is foursquare day! April 16 = 4/4^2 = 4sqDay. Get it? 

We’re excited to have Jordan Denmark join the Urban Influence team as our new Managing Director! 

Yesterday we picked up a copy of Monsa’s Hotel Brand Identity by Marc Giménez, and took turns passing it around the office (namely to pages 60-63). What grabbed our attention? Take a look…