I think the most creative gifting initiative that I have recently seen from a brand is Revolve's festival at Coachella. Coachella is one of, if not, the biggest event of the influencer's year. Everything is thought out months in advance -- including the outfits, housing, and transportation. Revolve capitalized off of this major event by throwing their own "festival" near the site of Coachella and invited all of their supportive influencers to attend. These attendees were drinking out of glasses that said "Revolve," eating off "Revolve" plates, and many of them were wearing Revolve clothes. This was an incredibly creative way to keep their name out there because they were not only dressing big influencer names, they were creating an event specifically gifting these ambassadors. Since it was an event, consumers everywhere were talking about the photos from the event, the people there, and any drama that occurred. I was very impressed with how they put this strategy into action.

In order to effectively evaluate competitors in an efficient way, I would follow these steps: 1. Identify the outcome I desire. 2. Find competitors that are achieving the desired outcome 3.Watch/ follow/ view their projects, posts, and media. Take notes on what I think they are doing well and what they could improve on. 4. Compare these notes with my own media. What am I doing well? What could I improve on? 5. Brainstorm and create ways to implement the changes I decide on in a unique and personal way. Make sure I am sticking to MY brand through these changes and not attaching my name on to ideas that I do not believe in.

A meal that I absolutely loved, and love each time I make it, is a maple- brown sugar glazed salmon with fresh, local vegetables and a rice pilaf. Northern California is a great place to eat seafood, especially salmon, because of how much is caught in the Sacramento River. This freshness of fish paired with the sweetness of the maple- sugar glaze, along with the oven roasted veggies make for a delicious duo. The two flavor groups compliment and build off of each other in the most subtle, yet amazing way! Topping it off with a simple rice is a great finisher, as well, due to rice's ability to be diverse and delicious.