Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Astle

Freelance Writer
Articles
76
Views
713,000
Location
Kansas City
Member Since
Oct 2008
I was born in New Brunswick, Canada. At the age of seventeen I had to break free from the chains of the small community in which I was raised and fled to study at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB. There I studied Criminology and Sociology. After leaving STU, I attended grad school at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I quickly learned that academia was far too restrictive for my tastes, and left after completing my coursework. My next step was managing a clothing store in Oakville, Ontario for a popular Canadian clothing chain named LeChateau. There I came into my own in fashion, managing, marketing and merchandising.

Wanting to accomplish much more in my life, I decided to pursue a career as a freelance writer. I now live in Kansas City where I am a slave to my PC, a professed news and politics junkie, and a lover of all things pop culture.

My dream; to publish books and write for a living!
What's your favorite accomplishment?
The first short story I ever submitted to a literary journal. It wasn't published, but it was the first time I took the plunge and it was absolutely exhilarating.
How do you define cool?
Canadian winter? And anything on TrendHunter.
What is your secret to uncovering trends?
Spending ridiculous amounts of time online.
What do you enjoy most about Trend Hunter?
The community and the opportunity to be part of something so unique.
What is your favorite trend?
At the moment, anything Lady Gaga related. But that's subject to change.
What are your tips for writing a juicy post?
Don't be afraid to say what really you think.
How do you reset to be creative?
Tori Amos' album "Little Earthquakes" always puts me in the mood to write.
Predict something awesome for 2020?
My book!
Rhino Fashion
Rhino Fashion
The Eric Tibusch Fall 2010 Haute Couture Collection is Wild
Designer Eric Tibusch went a little wild with his Fall 2010 collection in Paris. Rhinos might be an endangered species, but they are making a runway comeback. Nothing completes a haute couture look like… MORE
Profane Nail Polish
Profane Nail Polish
Lindsay Lohan's Courtroom Nails Send a Strong Message
When Lindsay Lohan trotted into court for a slap on the wrist, she had a secret message embedded in her manicure. How very Russian Spy! Lindsay Lohan’s courtroom nails had a very clear message painted… MORE
Ultra Luxurious Job Offers
Ultra Luxurious Job Offers
Tourism Queensland Offers 'Best Job in the World'
What's "The Best Job in the World?" Tourism Queensland has discovered an innovative way to attract quality job applicants: offer them a ridiculous amount of money to live on a gorgeous island--and blog… MORE
Salt Hotels
Salt Hotels
Please Do Not Lick The Walls in This Bolivian Inn Made Entirely of Salt
Bolivia is home to a rare hotel made entirely of salt  This 15 room hotel also has a dining room, living room, and bar. It was built on the world’s largest salt flat by a salt artisan (no one ever told… MORE
Scandalous Vaginatising
Scandalous Vaginatising
GlaxoSmithKline Lactacyd Commercial Takes a 'Different' Perspective
In case you have ever wondered what the world looked like to your lady parts, GlaxoSmithKline’s Lactacyd vaginal cream commercial shows you. I suppose it’s essential to keep the point of view of your target… MORE
Nude Shockvertising
Nude Shockvertising
AnimaNaturalis Strips Women for Animal Rights
Animal rights activist groups such as PETA and AnimaNaturalis have discovered the fine art of using the nude body to send a message. These images of AnimaNaturalis activists in Spain depict something much… MORE
Social Networking Censorship
Social Networking Censorship
Fighting Facebook's Curious Nipple Policy
When artist Phil Hansen learned that Facebook was enforcing its ‘no nipples’ rule by removing images of women breastfeeding, he decided to put Facebook to a gender equality test. How? He created a collage… MORE
Macabre Perforated Paper Art
Macabre Perforated Paper Art
Papel Picado Celebrates the Day of the Dead
Papel picado, or perforated paper, is a form of traditional Mexican artwork celebrating the Day of the Dead. This stunning and haunting form of artwork depicts the deceased using tissue paper and scissors… MORE
Rebranding Classic Board Games
Rebranding Classic Board Games
Monopoly's Packaging Gets a Modern Look
The classic board game Monopoly gets a modern look with Andy Mangold’s repackaging design. The new and improved Monopoly draws the focus away from the youth market and rethinks the packaging for--gasp--grown-ups.… MORE
Menswear for Women
Menswear for Women
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits
Menswear-inspired fashion for women demonstrates that this has been an epic year for women in positions of power and their fashion choices have been no exception to this rule. From questions about Sarah… MORE
Motion Activated Messengers
Motion Activated Messengers
The Echo Bot Plays Your Voice Whenever People Pass By
The Echo Bot is a machine with a motion activated message. Record your voice on the Echo Bot, attach it where you want the message to be heard, and watch it scare the crap out of your friends and family. … MORE
Space Saving Capsule Seating
Space Saving Capsule Seating
Cool Compact Patio Table and Chairs Looks Like a Bullet
What would Emily Post think of having your guests unpack their own compact table and chairs? This wicker set is designed a la Jenga to lay neatly stacked together until you are ready to use it.  When… MORE
Credit Crunch TV Specials
Credit Crunch TV Specials
Oprah Goes Thrifty, Tyra Does T-Shirts
Oprah Winfrey is the golden child of product marketing. Oprah’s Book Club is guaranteed to launch the most obscure and unknown authors to fame (just ask James Frey). Perhaps one of the most anticipated… MORE
Lingerie For Pets
Lingerie For Pets
Sexy Chew Toy Trousseaus Your Canine Will Love to Tear Into
It was only a matter of time before someone invented lingerie for pets. No, your pet doesn’t wear these bras and panties (thanks for small blessings). These bras and panties are stuffed and are designed… MORE
Caroling Kitchen Appliances
Caroling Kitchen Appliances
Microwave Installation Sings "Jingle Bells"
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...oh what fun it is to have a microwave that sings... People do strange things, especially around the holidays. This group decided that a stack of microwaves… MORE
Adhesive iPod Speakers
Adhesive iPod Speakers
Sleek, Portable Sound That Sticks
iPod accessory providers like Yorozu Audio are really “milking” it these days. The latest addition to your trousseau of iPod-related gadgets is this set of milk carton speakers.  Evidently milk cartons… MORE
Viral Coed Breakdowns
Viral Coed Breakdowns
Sobbing Sorority Sister Just Wanted Snow
This video, which features a sobbing sorority sister, has been causing quite a stir in the blogosphere. The video went viral after her sorority pals filmed her breakdown following a prank gone wrong. Jezebel… MORE
Stylish Subway Entrances
Stylish Subway Entrances
Toulouse, France Introduces Modern Art to Public Transit
Artists are introducing style to the subway system in Toulouse, France. Imagine you are walking down the street on a rainy day, off to ride public transit yet another time. Of course, you feel good about… MORE
Bloodthirsty Lighting
Bloodthirsty Lighting
The Liquid Lamp Oozes Drama and Creativity
Fans of Twilight will be delighted to see these disturbing designs by Caina's The Design Shop. Based in Japan, The Design Shop produces these blood lamps to have a doubly dramatic effect: they appear to… MORE
Edible Designer Replicas
Edible Designer Replicas
Nancy Wu's Clutch is Made Out of Real Beef Jerky
Chanel and beef jerky were two seemingly unrelated ideas, until now. Just in case you are so poor after purchasing that new Chanel replica handbag, Nancy Wu has designed one that is edible! Wu is a design… MORE
Controversial Drinking Glasses
Controversial Drinking Glasses
Yes, That IS a Dog Peeing On The Side of Your GLass
Take a nice big gulp from these novelty drinking glasses from the “Moist and Merry” series by Donkey Products. The Donkey Product drinking glasses are sure to spark conversation at any dinner table as… MORE
Wii Remotes for Hippies
Wii Remotes for Hippies
The Hemp-Mote Is Perfect For Tree-Hugging Gamers
Wii accessories are all the rage this holiday season, with the newest addition to the Wii family being the Hemp-mote. This Wii remote speaks to the hippie, who wants their video games with a side of eco-love. … MORE
Custom Nintendo Proposals
Custom Nintendo Proposals
Will You Mario Me?
Geeks and gamers can do almost anything with Nintendo products, including propose. This software for the Nintendo DS allows your Peach to solve a puzzle before being prompted with a custom marriage proposal.… MORE
Credit Crunch Toilets
Credit Crunch Toilets
The Payday Toilet Seat Has Real Money Inside
When people say that the economy has gone down the toilet, I doubt they had the Payday Toilet Seat in mind. Now you can show the economy what you really think by settling onto your brand new throne to… MORE
Fastfood Perfumes
Fastfood Perfumes
The Burger King Flame Lets You Smell Like A Cheeseburger
Burger King has resorted to inventive marketing strategy recently; undoubtedly as an attempt to capitalize on a credit crunch market that favors cheap and fast food. Combine that with the powerful psychological… MORE
Naughty Christmas Sculptures
Naughty Christmas Sculptures
Paul McCarthy's Santa Isn't Kid-Friendly
Paul McCarthy is known for his bizarre art and his versions of Santa seem to surface each December, with this year being no exception. Gone are the days when Santa held a tree in McCarthy's sculptures,… MORE
Latex-Coated Desserts
Latex-Coated Desserts
Korean Condom Ice Cream, A Treat You Can Suck
If you can’t, just can’t, seem to get enough of the taste of latex, you’ll love Condom Ice Cream. This treat comes packaged in cutesy wrapping depicting a turtle suspiciously, placed behind a blob of what… MORE
Fabulously Feminine Flasks
Fabulously Feminine Flasks
Pylone's Luscious Designs for the Lush
Mix it up a little with these fantastic flasks from Pylone. Does your Nana like to sneak a sip from her flask over Christmas dinner? With flasks designed by Pylone, give her the gift of falling off the… MORE
Gifts for Weirdos
Gifts for Weirdos
Trinkets and Toys for the Strange
In keeping with TrendHunter.com’s ongoing quest to bring you the best gift ideas this holiday season, here are the most insanely bizarre gifts for the person who thought they had everything. Whether you… MORE
Gifts for Geeks
Gifts for Geeks
10 Nerdtastic Educational Presents
Experiment with your gift giving style at ThinkGeek.  This site offers a wide variety of science-related novelty items for the resident geek in all of us. There’s no harm in giving educational gifts as… MORE
Exhibits of Iconic Photographs
Exhibits of Iconic Photographs
"Vanity Fair Portraits" Documents Hollywood's History
Vanity Fair has reached deep into their photo archives for their new exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art succinctly titled 'Vanity Fair Portraits.'  A total of 130 photos document the history… MORE
Cross-Branded Pleasure Toys
Cross-Branded Pleasure Toys
Eurythmics and JimmyJane in “Let's Do It Again”
What happens when a relatively obscure musician like Dave Stewart (Eurythmics...and yes, I had to look it up) teams up with a virtual sex shop like JimmyJane? A music video featuring the lead singer having… MORE
Peculiar Bauble Jewelry
Peculiar Bauble Jewelry
Unusual Accessories for Quirky Tastes
Feast your eyes on Clever Girl Industries, which produces some of the most stunning and fabulous costume jewelry you'll ever see. If you're gifting for that exceptionally strange, hard to buy for person,… MORE
Social Networking for MILFs
Social Networking for MILFs
UrbanCougar Blends Kitsch and Mid-Life Crisis
UrbanCougar is a social networking site designed for women who enjoy a little kitsch with their mid-life crisis.  You can browse the cougar gallery featuring “cubs” (or cougars-in-training, just in case… MORE
Presidential Anti-Smoking Campaigns
Presidential Anti-Smoking Campaigns
Will Obama's Example Inspire Smokers to Quit?
The new President-elect has a nasty habit, and it has nothing to do with Washington escort services: Barack Obama has admitted publicly that he is a smoker struggling to quit. Tom Brokaw recently grilled… MORE
Subverted Iconography
Subverted Iconography
Reinvented ‘Jesus Fish'
The Jesus Fish is an iconic symbol for Christians. They’re commonly found on the backs of minivans, right below the appliques of stick figures representing each member of the family. (Fun fact: The fish… MORE

Featured Ideas

Wall Backpacks For Toddlers
Wall Backpacks For Toddlers
Babykeeper Basic Lets You Hang Your Babies
If you are the kind of mother who requires two hands to purchase your $300 shoes, the Babykeeper Basic is the answer to your Prada prayers. Basically, it is a take on the marsupial mom movement that started… MORE
Profane Nail Polish
Profane Nail Polish
Lindsay Lohan's Courtroom Nails Send a Strong Message
When Lindsay Lohan trotted into court for a slap on the wrist, she had a secret message embedded in her manicure. How very Russian Spy! Lindsay Lohan’s courtroom nails had a very clear message painted… MORE
Female Pundit Power
Female Pundit Power
Rachel Maddow Doubles MSNBC's Ratings
Look out Chris Matthews, Tom Brokaw, and Wolf Blitzer: Mainstream media is no longer an old boys' club.  The rise of female journalists, who not only report the news but also dissect it, critique it and… MORE
Macabre Perforated Paper Art
Macabre Perforated Paper Art
Papel Picado Celebrates the Day of the Dead
Papel picado, or perforated paper, is a form of traditional Mexican artwork celebrating the Day of the Dead. This stunning and haunting form of artwork depicts the deceased using tissue paper and scissors… MORE
Fastfood Perfumes
Fastfood Perfumes
The Burger King Flame Lets You Smell Like A Cheeseburger
Burger King has resorted to inventive marketing strategy recently; undoubtedly as an attempt to capitalize on a credit crunch market that favors cheap and fast food. Combine that with the powerful psychological… MORE
Subverted Iconography
Subverted Iconography
Reinvented ‘Jesus Fish'
The Jesus Fish is an iconic symbol for Christians. They’re commonly found on the backs of minivans, right below the appliques of stick figures representing each member of the family. (Fun fact: The fish… MORE
Rebranding Classic Board Games
Rebranding Classic Board Games
Monopoly's Packaging Gets a Modern Look
The classic board game Monopoly gets a modern look with Andy Mangold’s repackaging design. The new and improved Monopoly draws the focus away from the youth market and rethinks the packaging for--gasp--grown-ups.… MORE
Space Saving Capsule Seating
Space Saving Capsule Seating
Cool Compact Patio Table and Chairs Looks Like a Bullet
What would Emily Post think of having your guests unpack their own compact table and chairs? This wicker set is designed a la Jenga to lay neatly stacked together until you are ready to use it.  When… MORE
Ugly is the New Hot
Ugly is the New Hot
Modern Studies on Ugliness
We can’t deny that we are fascinated with beauty.  One look at Hollywood and the consensus is clear.  Beautiful is hot, ugly is not. Or is it?  Academics, lawyers and other dispensers of truth are beginning… MORE
Menswear for Women
Menswear for Women
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits
Menswear-inspired fashion for women demonstrates that this has been an epic year for women in positions of power and their fashion choices have been no exception to this rule. From questions about Sarah… MORE
Video Games Gone Wild
Video Games Gone Wild
Vagina Hero
As I sit here writing this, my husband is downstairs playing Guitar Hero. I’ve often thought of more useful ways he could spend his recreational time (like learning to play the real guitar, for instance).… MORE
Transsexuals on TV
Transsexuals on TV
WETV's ‘Sex Change Hospital'
Transsexuals make their television debut on WETV’s ‘Sex Change Hospital’ this fall. With the controversy surrounding Prop. 8 in California and a deep and resounding call to acknowledge equal rights for… MORE
Resource-Based Economies of the Future
Resource-Based Economies of the Future
The Venus Project
The Venus Project is the future...of the future!  The brainchild of Jacques Fresco, architect, social engineer, and avant garde thinker, Future By Design reflects Fresco’s vision for the world economy,… MORE
Edible Designer Replicas
Edible Designer Replicas
Nancy Wu's Clutch is Made Out of Real Beef Jerky
Chanel and beef jerky were two seemingly unrelated ideas, until now. Just in case you are so poor after purchasing that new Chanel replica handbag, Nancy Wu has designed one that is edible! Wu is a design… MORE