Planner

Sunday, March 28, 2010


What got me through 4 years of college filled with sorority activities, jobs, an internship and many, many homework assignments and projects?

That's right. A handy dandy planner. Without a planner I can honestly say I'm not sure I would have gotten half my work done or been at numerous activities. But upon graduation it seemed I had hardly anywhere to be or anything to do. Well with no full time job and all. And when I got a part time job it still didn't call for the work of a planner.

However, since I have started my freelance and my social schedule seems to be picking up I found myself standing in the planner aisle. It was one of those "ahhhh" moments. Serene and at peace. As if the world was back in its place.

It took me about a half hour just to figure out which planner would suit my needs for the rest of the year. Did I want the simple day by day one? Or the day planner that has hours all lined out? Then there were the more expensive binder planners that would allow me to just refill paper.

As tempting as it was I decided on the simple day planner with hours. I figure maybe next year I will make the jump to the heavy duty planner.

Having activities and deadlines to put in my planner and in my life just makes me feel like I finally have a purpose. My life is focused on something and there are tasks to be done and someone is counting on me again. I realized that no part time job could ever do this for me. I am finally doing something I went to school for and what I know.

That planner that sits on my desk signifies I'm on my way somewhere. It might start out a few hours here and there are occupied. But I hope it makes its way to having every hour planned out because if I don't I might not know which way to turn. That's what I love. That's what I crave.

So thank you planner for bringing me back. You are so much more than a planner.



-One pointed focus turns dreams into reality-

CARRIE. UNDERWOOD.

Friday, March 26, 2010


It started 5 years ago when she made her way into a room with Simon Cowell on American Idol. I voted for her every week. literally. Loved her singing and voice and just her.

Then she won American Idol and oh man. I seriously love her. I have wanted to see her since that very moment. I watch her on every American Idol finale, every awards show and any other place she might be. She has always has a down to earth attitude and her voice is amazing. Oh and she is absolutely gorgeousssss.

This past birthday my boyfriend made my dream come true. He got me tickets to her concert. omgosh omgosh omgoshhhh. yup that was my similar reaction

The concert was this past weekend and I can't believe I have waited until now to share my obsession.AMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZING

And that doesn't even do it justice. She had amazing backdrops for every single song. Which there were 23 that she performed by the way. Carrie flew over the crowd in a blue pick up truck singing "Country Roads Take Me Home," the Grand Ole Opry was there that included a recording of Randy Travis. She had about 10 costume changes and looked wonderful in each one. And I can't forget there was a light up dress. That's right her dress was a screen that played during her song "Change."



I was seriously like a little kid. Just...wow.

She is one of the artists where majority of her songs remind me of a time in my life because they describes everything that a person goes through.

One of her newer songs, "Mama's Song," really does make me emotional. At the concert she had pictures of her and her mom in the background and it definitely reminds me of me and my mom and the special bond we had.

All in all Carrie Underwood is my all time favorite. No question about it and saturday night was a dream come true.

Oh and I even got a pretty sweet shirt :)


-The only blocks to success are in your mind, everything around u is an opportunity to grow, express and learn!-

Freelance. And Go.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010


That's right. I have entered freelance for PR. Tell all your friends, colleagues, etc. etc. This is kind of exciting.

Who am I kidding? This is super exciting! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a job within the PR field just like millions of other Americans since I graduated. SO I finally get to put my awesome skills to use and lets not forget that all important degree I have sitting on my desk..haha. yupp still no frame.

I also got an interview for Target today so I will at least be working two part-time jobs. That's kind of like a full time job when you add it up right? Or not so much money or benefits wise. But definitely a step in the right direction.

Time to brush up my skills and get some new books to read and!!!! oh man I am so excited to be back in the PR game. And money being paid to me game. 

What should I spend my new money on...tattoo?...vacation?....concert?....oh who am I kidding. Two words. STUDENT LOANS. Major bummer but that's life right?

Life has definitely taken a step in the right direction today and I am so very excited for what else is to come :D


"Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it." - Rabindranath Tagore

Facebook Apparently IS Taking Over

Tuesday, March 23, 2010


Facebook rules the world.

Or at least the internet..in the United States..for a week.

Facebook became the most popular destination on the internet surpassing Google for the week ending March 13. Feel free to read the full article right here.
How appropriate it ties into my last few posts about being addicted to Facebook and always worrying about what is going on through the site.
Now it was and wasn't a huge defeat. Wasn't because Facebook had 7.07 percent of visits and Google was right behind with 7.03 percent so not exactly a huge win.

Was because this is the first time a social media network has gotten more visitors than a search engine. It also shows the direction the country and the world is heading in. More and more people are relying on social netowrking and access the internet for just that purpose.

I'll use myself as an example. I log in to Facebook twice a day on the computer. One of those times it is just to check Facebook. I don't look at news or email even sometimes. I just want to check my statuses. This could be why the hits are increasing for Facebook. It's a quick check and done.

Don't get me wrong. I still Google pretty much everything that I need an answer to. Just don't do it all the time I access the internet. It has also been said that more and more people are relying on social media to answer questions rather than Google. You can chat with a friend on Facebook and ask them what they think should go in a certain recipe. Or post in a status what is a good restaurant around an area you are in. Chances are you trust friends on Facebook more than searching it on Google.

Delving into why this particular week Facebook grew, I feel it coincides with spring breaks across the country. More and more college students are procrastinating on papers and homework by checking Facebook. Or they are on spring break uploading pictures of where they are at the moment and posting statuses to make others jealous that they aren't in tropical paradise.
This is definitely a new direction that we are headed into with social networking. And I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.


-You've got to be before you can do, and do before you can have-


Whoops.

Friday, March 19, 2010


So I guess too much a detox. It's been awhile and I do apologize.

Update on my social media detox.


I would say it went pretty well. I learned to turn off the computer when I wasn't on which was something different. Usually I would leave it on and constantly come back in the room and check my Facebook homepage. Turning it off was a huge difference. I do my usual check in the morning and then at night. I do still have Twitter and Facebook on my phone but I feel that has helped me. 

Most people log on to see who said what on their wall or worried they might miss a picture comment. Getting that stuff instantly to my phone actually makes me want to check it less. Same with Twitter. I know if anyone is responding to my Tweets and I feel better. 

I have gotten back into my reading more and being all crafty. I do more cross stitch (I know, can you tell I'm from the country?) and overall I feel lifted so to speak. There isn't something drawing me to the computer 24/7. I'm more at ease.

I recommend this to everyone. If anything, to get perspective of how much time you really do spend on all these social media sites. Some people don't even realize how much of their time is spent checking all the comments, Tweets, requests. It allows you more time to collect yourself and your thoughts. And like me you can get back into other hobbies that you might have pushed away because Facebook was calling your name. 

So step away from the computer and enjoy your day!



-Each day is a fresh start! You aren't defined by the past and can create any future you want! Start NOW!-

Social Media Overload

Thursday, March 4, 2010




FACEBOOK.

TWITTER.

YOUTUBE.

LINKEDIN.

FLICKR.

DIGG.


ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR HEAD EXPLODE!


I am sure that there are many other websites that can be lumped into the social media category (myspace, photobucket, etc...) these are the leaders. I must say I am a frequent visitor to all of these. Facebook very much so. 

But today after I spent my second shift checking all social media, it made me wonder how much is too much. I sat there looking at the same statuses, tweets and pictures that were there 3 hours earlier. And going through all of these multiple times a day really does take up time for, well the normal stuff in life.

So let's take a look at why people are borderline addicted. Yes, sadly even me.

Is it just to pass the time? For me, yes most of the time. What I read doesn't interest me all the time, it just gives me something to do at that moment I am sitting at the computer with no website to visit. It becomes second nature to some people. Go online, log into facebook. See who's doing what today. Or who broke up with who.

Is it to keep in touch? In small quantities all of these tools are very useful to families and friends that are far away. It is much easier to keep in touch than just via the telephone. You can post pictures of the newest addition to your family or a funny video that you took of your children. It's the always adding pictures from the cell phone and the incessant status updates or tweets. I'm talking 5-10 a day. Yes there are those people.


Is it to always be in the loop? With more and more social media sites, it becomes very hard to STAY OUT OF the loop. You become engaged in multiple websites and multiple checkings throughout the day. It becomes almost an addiction. 

Wait, if I don't check facebook today, I won't know know who uploaded pictures. What if someone finds out information before me? And I need to see what the celebrities are tweeting on Twitter. And I need to make sure to upload my pictures from last night on Flickr to share with everyone. Oh wait, there's a video posted here I should watch on YouTube. This video is similar so I should watch it. because it looks funny. 

And on and on and on it goes...

It is great to be in the loop and involved with social media. It has become very widespread within businesses, companies and society as a whole. It is important to utilize these pathways to get across to the public. I personally enjoy my Twitter page filled with celebrities tweeting about their days. Why? I don;'t know but it is what I check it for multiple times a day. But I do realize it is necessary to keep in check. Step away from the buzz and the information before it gets in you.

So I decided today to make a conscious effort to check each ONLY once a day. Especially after looking at this article. It is true. I am ready for a detox. It won't be easy but I want to see if I am able to and how it feels when I do sign on.

Other suggestions to detox.
1. Maybe cut down ths social media sites you are on. Reevaluate the purpose why you signed up for each one and if it is really necessary to be a part of it.
2. Segregate work and play. For example, use Facebook for all your fun and utilize Twitter for business and don't use TwitPic to put up silly pictures or vice versa. 
3. And most importantly. TIME MANAGEMENT. ----My detox plan. Cut down time on all of these. If you spend a half hour checking ALL of your social media sites, that is a reasonable amount of time.

And maybe if you or I don't make it through cold turkey,  we can take a little trip to Lorien Hotel and Spa in Virginia. They are offering a nice Social Media Detox plan


Let the detox begin.




-It takes huge courage to take a good long look at your life and decide to make a change-
CopyRight © | Theme Designed By Hello Manhattan