My new best friend: Art of French Cooking

As I was researching how to put my account planning portfolio together I stumbled upon someone who designed her portfolio around a passport. I thought this was brilliant because not only are we seeing what she has accomplished at school as an account planner, but we are seeing what she has a passion for aside from work: traveling.


My big task was to do the same: tell a story behind my portfolio and my work.

My mom and I like to go on walks with our pup, Lexi (a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel). We always have good conversations on our walks. Whenever I am stumped about something or need advice, our walks are the perfect time for me to talk to her about what's on my mind.  It was a Thursday evening. We were walking along Birch Street towards Rice Lake School.  The temp was a little cool, but the spring evening sun felt good on our faces. I brought up my dilemma on what to shape my portfolio around.  Within just TEN MINUTES we had an idea. My mom began talking about things I enjoy to do.  Cooking and baking came up because the two of us are always talking about the new recipes we've tried and the old recipes we love. It's something we enjoy together.

Cooking has always been enjoyable for me. I remember my first cookbook - it was Minnie Mouse's cookbook - full of fun, colorful, kid-friendly recipes. We made all sorts of yummy food from that cookbook together. I have many good memories that have cooking or baking in them. For example: the first time Charlie came over to my parent's (before we were dating), he saw the big bag of chocolate chips that my mom always buys and couldn't resist from digging in. He decided to make himself at home in the kitchen and bake some chocolate chip cookies. Everyone RAVED about those cookies! My family ate the whole batch by the next day. We still talk about those cookies. Great first impression. Who knew that would be the guy I'd marry?

A portfolio with a cookbook theme. I want this to be a classic cookbook. My inspiration is Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The challenge is to make sure that my theme won't confuse the person looking at my portfolio. The most important part of this is my content - I need it to shine, be the center of attention.  The cookbook theme is just a compliment to my content - it needs to spark curiosity and interest when one picks up my portfolio. I really believe if I can pull this off, I will set myself apart from my competition and stand out.

As of right now, I am using a vintage green/blue with a splash of dark purple for my color palette.  For typography, a classic serif font. 

Not only will someone know what I have to offer as an account planner, but they will also know someone about my personal life through my portfolio.  My hope is that this will make me memorable because I am giving more than what a typical portfolio offers.

I have a portfolio critique tomorrow - so I'm trying to get as much of the layout completed as I can. I'd like to show the person critiquing a base of what the whole thing will look like.  Much of my content is revised, it's just the design that needs work.  SIX short WEEKS until graduation!

Thanks Momma for that Thursday evening walk! It has changed my life the past couple weeks and I'm sure it will continue to have a lasting impact. Love you!

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I've tried so many yummy recipes that I'm going to start sharing them with you.  So much to tell you and blog about - wish I had more time! Stay tuned.

Love.